Chapter Six: Feng

Feng saw much more than she let on.

It was part of being so observant, this in turn a smaller piece of her gaming strategy in general and thus her life.

Feng didn't plan any of it. She was just naturally gifted, a fact for which she was endlessly grateful. Most people didn't stop and think and thus made piss poor strategists-another thing that came naturally to her.

Then again, most people were idiots.

The fact Feng had somehow ended up with a semi-good team during this, the greatest challenge of her life, continually surprised her. She wouldn't go so far as to say she was impressed with most of them, but they were decent at supporting her while she got the work done and for that she was happy.

Everyone knew Feng was good at repairing generators. And she would never let them forget it. She permitted those bloody-clothed survivors to see her coming because she was going to surpass them all in the end.

And there would be an end.

Every game had its final arc. It would become boring otherwise. Too much repetition. Even hack n' slash games only went so far.

No, Feng was certain that The Entity was the final boss. She was just waiting for a weapon to appear, then she'd take it and plunge it into the beast.

She was a hero in her own mind even if no one else saw her that way.

Except lately Feng thought she just might not be the only one. It was this crew, really. Claudette was like a white mage, then there was David the barbarian. Meg reminded her of a couple of choice heroines, Laura Croft chiefly. It was all in the legs. And Jake, well, he was a survivor. Just like her.

That was what drew Feng to him initially, well before she recognized him. Yeah, she knew who he was thanks to her mom's trashy gossip rags she liked to read in the bathroom. Jake Park, the chaebol heir who left it all behind to become some kind of hermit. It had been quite the scandal.

Feng would never, ever admit it to Jake, but sitting there on the can reading his story so lurid in black-and-white had been the catalyst she needed to get out from under her parent's thumb and strike out after her own dreams. After all, if this chaebol heir didn't care about filial piety or losing face, why should a relative nobody like her?

That had been the best decision ever, even if it didn't turn out like she planned.

After she saw Jake Park here for the first time, she knew without a doubt that they were going to beat this game. Destiny and all that. She'd been made a believer by the sheer serendipitous magnitude of running into him here.

Feng didn't say anything about it, just watched him. She was good at that. She had him made long before she helped him carry his supplies back to the campfire.

Mr. Chaebol might have thought he was sneaky, but he had nothing on her. He didn't even notice when she pilfered some of his supplies and tools, or when she took naps on his sofa. But, as with every game, Feng eventually grew bored slipping past his defenses and decided to to insert herself more boldly into his life.

That didn't work out like she planned. However, like most things in her life, it ended up being even better.

Apparently, Feng thought to herself as she stared at Sally resting on the bottom bunk, she was really good at motivating people too.

Jake had delivered yet again after her casual manipulation. Yes, they made a great team. Which was why she wasn't going to let him slip up and become complacent again.

They had their weapon now. It might need some time and a few upgrades, but it was theirs along with the knowledge of how to make more.

"Hey," Feng said, breaking the silence that had stretched for many minutes now as she introspected. "Where did you get all this water, anyway?"

Jake turned his unfocused gaze away from the window towards her. He paused, then grimaced.

"What?"

"Oh, come on. Just tell me already." Feng knew about the lake. She just wanted him to say it.

Jake's lips were a thin line across his face. She smiled back, knowing how cold it would look. But he was adorable, really. No one stood against her for very long, not even Mr. Reticence himself.

He sighed and Feng's smile widened. Then he told her what she already knew: that there was a lake on the other side of the campfire.

"See? Was that so hard?"

Jake shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"Thank yooou," she said, mocking him with the drawn out syllable.

Feng got up and stretched. She regarded Jake for another moment before turning to leave.

"I'm gonna check it out. See ya."

As planned, Jake found his backbone with those words.

"Wait."

She turned to look at him, one eyebrow arched.

"Let's fill one up." He looked mortified at himself, the poor thing.

"Are you asking for my help?"

Feng could practically hear those teeth grinding.

"You're right," he said, finally. "We are getting low."

"That's all you had to say." Feng opened a locker and took out all his metal buckets. She kept two for herself and tossed the last one to Jake with a smirk. "You're welcome."

He looked shocked, probably wondering how she knew about his methods. Feng didn't bother to wait for him. It was going to be a slow process but eventually Jake would realize just how much he underestimated her.

She wanted him to know. Just like she eventually wanted to make him hers. Destiny and all that.

But she could wait. Feng, despite her reputation (so, so carefully cultivated), was actually pretty patient-except when it came to noobs. She would build Jake up from the broken shell all that family pressure had made him before she even let him realize she liked him. She was nice like that.

Feng swung a bucket like she hadn't a care in the world. She skirted the campfire, making sure she wasn't close enough to get pulled in to a match. Ace and David and Meg were all waiting there. They didn't see her, which was just as well.

After another few minutes of walking and steadily ignoring Jake who probably thought he was the master of stealth lagging behind her, the lake came into view.

It was as beautiful as ever. Still, silent, almost eerie in its perfection. A lot of things The Entity messed up. This it had down to perfection, which did make her wonder.

She filled her buckets before taking a seat on the quiet shore. This had to be the best place in their shared nightmare.

"It's beautiful," Feng said, as if it was her first time.

Jake started behind her. Apparently, he still thought she didn't know he was there. She turned and smiled at the man, let him see just a hint of the real her.

He seemed at a loss for words. Which was fine. She could wait.

Feng sat while Jake filled his bucket, then stood to follow him. She took it as a positive sign that he didn't offer to carry one of hers too. A few years in the woods weren't enough to wipe out the manners ingrained into him from birth. Him not offering meant he acknowledged her as strong, which was good since she was.

Feng mentally gave him a few points.

They made the trek several more times until the barrel was full. Then Feng took a ladleful for herself and sat back on the couch again. After a while she pulled a glossy yearbook page out of her pocket and stood to hand it to Jake. When burned it would send them to Haddonfield and they both knew it, although it looked like Jake thought he was the only one. Boys always thought they were so clever. She delighted in showing them otherwise.

"Just let me know when you want to get another couch or two for this place. Lots of company now."

Jake looked from the page to her, as if he had never seen her before. She smiled and it wasn't all cold this time.

"I-thanks…" he said, and seemed about to say more. She knew he wasn't ready though so she turned and left with a little wave.

"Later."

Sally was coming around now anyway and Feng didn't want to be there for it. She was many things, but a babysitter wasn't among them.

Several rounds later she returned to take a much deserved break and found Sally and Jake talking quietly. Her hands balled into fists before she noticed.

Feng let it go as quick as it came. She leaned against the house where they couldn't see her and listened to their conversation.

She'd never heard Jake talk so much. To anyone. But this was what she wanted, wasn't it? Jake getting out of his shell? Having more self-confidence?

Yes, Feng decided, this was a good thing. Which was why she wasn't going to spoil it with her presence. Feng knew enough that this would only shut him down.

He didn't get her game yet.

Stupid boys.

"I'm so sorry," she heard Sally say.

"Sally. You've got to stop apologizing. It wasn't you."

There was a brief pause and she imagined Jake with his hand on Sally's arm.

"You don't understand. I knew. I just couldn't stop myself."

Sally was crying again. She'd been doing that a lot since she got back. Feng didn't blame her. It was still annoying though. She was itching for some real action. She wanted that final boss fight.

"Hey, hey, Sally. It's okay. It's okay."

Sally cried harder.

"Thank you. I don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't rescued me…" Feng could just make out her words through the tears.

"It's not your fault." Even Jake's voice sounded rough. "No one blames you. Besides, I could tell you were fighting it. There were plenty of times you could have killed us all except you didn't. I was watching you, you know. I knew."

Sally's intake of breath was sharp, then she seemed to completely lose it. Feng felt tears well at the corners of her eyelids, but for a different reason. She blinked to clear them and one tracked down her face.

That was when she saw Claudette watching from the shadows.

Feng scowled and stalked away from the house.

"We're not in a match now," she said, as she breezed past. Idiot was left unspoken though Claudette knew her well enough she didn't even have to say it.

For once, Feng wasn't in the mood for a match. She went to the only other place she could go: the lake. Staring at the placid waters grounded her and soon her 'little mood' as she was going to refer to it was past.

When Feng turned she found Claudette there again and almost screamed.

"You scared me," she hissed.

"I'm sorry." Claudette came to sit beside her.

"You seem to be saying that an awful lot lately," Feng said, instead of rising to that bait.

Claudette nodded. "I have a lot to apologize for."

Feng regarded her with narrowed eyes.

"No you don't."

Claudette just looked at her.

Feng sighed loudly.

"Look. You're the best one here besides me. Don't apologize for anything. We're a team." Feng grated out the words, almost regretting them even as they left her lips.

Claudette stared for such a long time that Feng thought she was going to have to spell it out for her. But then she smiled.

"Thanks."

Feng grunted in reply and they lapsed back into silence. It occurred to her that Claudette had been much more vocal lately and she wasn't entirely sure it had everything to do with Sally.

"So." Feng knew she'd be pushing Claudette's buttons with this line of questioning. She didn't care. Claudette had seen something she shouldn't have. "What's going on with you and Dwight?"

To her credit, Claudette looked confused. She shook her head.

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed."

Claudette still didn't say anything.

"Poor noob is stuck on you." Feng wasn't sure if Dwight even realized it yet. She'd give Claudette this little prod and see how things turned out.

"No," Claudette said slowly. "It's not me. It's...this place."

"Geez, Claudette. Give yourself some credit." Feng rolled her eyes but let it go once Claudette didn't say anything else. She'd done what she could. It was up to them now.

Claudette had taken the time to come sit with her even though Claudette had to be anxious to get back to Sally. Claudette was a good friend and Feng appreciated it even if she didn't always show it.

They sat in companionable silence for a while longer before Feng got to her feet.

"Come on. Let's get back." It was as close to an apology as Claudette was going to get from her and they both knew it.