2.
ONLINE. TIME ELAPSED: 00:00:00
Pain arrived from a direction Peter had never experienced before. As he groaned and rolled from the cot, the sheets clung to the half-dried lacerations that spanned the back of his shoulders. He panted in the dark, blinking away the film of pain in his eyes, and tried not to move. He let out a soft cry as a shiver unconsciously crossed him, and rested his forehead against the carpet, baring his teeth. Carefully, he raised a hand, his fingers running lightly across the cuts, inflamed and swollen from heat. He winced at the sting, and slowly, painfully, made his way to the chair, leaning over the desk as his cuts throbbed in the motionless air. Nothing made sense, and he desperately typed;
Utopianserpent
Does anyone know what just happened?
xXx
Olivia looked over similar cuts that spanned the length of her pale legs, marring the smooth flesh horribly. There was no way that these would heal properly… she bit her lower lip, forcing herself to stand, and stumble painfully into the desk chair without so much as a whimper. A tear of pain welled uncontrollably from the corner of her eye, and she struck it away, cursing softly.
Pureffect.45
IDK. Boo, glass, are you there? What's going on?
xXx
Peter didn't have the energy to fight. And, truthfully, he was too afraid. He needed someone, even her.
Utopianserpent
No one is answering. There are cuts all over my back, but they feel like they were burned shut. I don't remember anything but waking up here again.
xXx
So, they must have all been like this. What happened to one must have happened to all, everything else was the same. Olivia even felt a bit sorry for Serpent, and shared his woe for a few moments.
Pureffect.45
Me too. But mine are on my legs. I can barely walk.
xXx
Walter looked over his chest at the computer screen from his sprawled position on the floor. His eyebrows knit in concern- they'd woken. He couldn't remember the first time it'd happened to him, but he could remember the fear, afterwards. He got to his feet and took a seat at the desk, sighing.
glassmouth
You're back. Are you alright?
xXx
Glass had to know what had happened- why hadn't he told them what was going on? He had to know what they'd done, who had done this. Peter demanded answers, his words a mix of pain, fear, and fury.
Utopianserpent
Glass, what the hell is going on? What did they do to us?!
xXx
Walter frowned unhappily. They were children, they had to be so afraid… he wished that he could somehow help them, but found he could offer them nothing. He had only to query the severity of the wounds, and the location.
glassmouth
I can't really say, unfortunately. Not because they won't let me, but because I don't know. Where did they get you?
xXx
Olivia let the cloth of her trouser legs fall back over her exposed flesh, wincing.
Pureffect.45
Legs.
xXx
Peter couldn't stop shivering. He was starting to sweat, now, and wondered if perhaps the scratches were infected.
Utopianserpent
Back.
xXx
Walter shook his head sadly. He could do nothing, but try to consol them, compare and relate to the awful things they were feeling. He didn't know why. It never got any better.
glassmouth
I see. Strange, as they did not take me, this time. But when they do, it's my chest, from the clavicle to the bottom of the sternum. I know how it hurts. I'm sorry.
xXx
Peter's cynicism returned, his distrust multiplied in anguish and confusion.
Utopianserpent
Why didn't they take you? What the hell is going on?!
xXx
Walter bit his lip.
glassmouth
I don't know. I know I'm being useless. I tried to hide, in the beginning, but it was no use. Don't worry, you'll heal. I'm only sorry for the scars, miss pure.
A young lady's legs… such injustice.
xXx
Scars were the least of her problems, at the moment. If they hadn't taken glass, but had taken the rest of them, there was no telling where Boo had gotten off to.
Pureffect.45
I'm worried about boo.
xXx
Peter felt a trickle of salt run down a cut like a searing brand. With renewed determination, he posted the only solution that existed.
Utopianserpent
We have to get out of here.
xXx
Glaring down at her hidden wounds through the blur of tears, Olivia simply and calmly agreed.
Pureffect.45
Yes.
xXx
An irrational response born of fear. But they had to be careful with such talk, and Walter knew; he'd not gone without his share of punishment, for misbehavior.
glassmouth
I applaud your sense of obligatory exodus, but I fear that it simply may not be possible.
xXx
He was against them, then. Anyone who could sit back and let something like this happen was wrong.
Utopianserpent
And how would you know? You sound content to just sit there and do nothing.
xXx
He could understand his hostility, but it was misplaced. Walter admitted that there was something wrong with himself, he was crazy, after so long, here… perhaps he did want to stay here… did the thoughts of the outside frighten him, now? His memories, of so long ago, it seemed like they weren't his own?
glassmouth
I've been here too long. I hated it here, when I had something to get out for, as you all do. I had a wife, a son, a family. But after so long, I doubt they care where I've gone. Do you think that I did not try to get out, to return to them?? But wishing and praying and planning have failed me, in this place. There is no longer anything else, outside these walls.
xXx
God Damn it, that smarted. Astrid ignored it, carefully keeping her forearms elevated from the desktop, his wrists bleeding slightly as she flexed them to place her hands on the keyboard.
:Boolean:
Nice to know, professor Morose. But I've got other plans. ;)
XXx
Olivia sighed with relief.
Pureffect.45
Boo, are you alright?
xXx
Astrid smiled painfully, the blood caking on her skin itching and burning maddeningly; a different feeling altogether from the hope of an act of desperation that began to take shape in her mind.
:Boolean:
Yes. They cut up my arms pretty bad, but I can manage. I don't remember what happened either, but I'm thinking that we may have a chance, the next time they come for us.
xXx
Olivia's mind flickered on like a flame.
Pureffect.45
How do you mean?
xXx
Astrid glanced around the room, for some odd reason expecting for someone to be reading over her shoulder. She stared at the locked door uncomfortably for a few moments, then shook her head clear of doubts, returning to the conversation
:Boolean:
I can't say much here. They're watching. We've got to come up with a way to communicate without them…
xXx
Olivia sighed. Her kingdom for one thing that wasn't impossible.
Pureffect.45
But this is the only way we can speak to each other.
xXx
Morose? He wasn't morose… was he? Walter shook his head, attempting to focus on the point at hand. Whoever was editing them was simply editing away certain words, or they would not have been able to cooperatively discover each other's professions. Not that they had correctly deciphered his own. Perhaps…
glassmouth
This is going to seem a little… odd. But, please, try to follow. Imagine, if you would, that every alphabetical connotation commutates into numerical value- this is the basis of communication. In such a case, a simple equation could be used to communicate the desired message, providing that the one receiving the message can simply convert the algebraic formulae back into the original alphabetical counterpart. In example, 'A' could simply be written as '1', or as complicated as 'i', as the value of i is the equivalent to the square root of 1, which is 1. And 'H' could be '8', or perhaps even pi, as the value of pi is 3.14, which when summed becomes 8 again.
…I'm crazy. Does this make any sense??
What do you know? He was a teacher, even after all this time. Huh.
xXx
Peter sighed. The man was blathering- did he himself even know what he said, or did his get lost in the syllables? Taking into consideration the confused state his companions probably felt. He translated.
Utopianserpent
Yes, you're crazy, but I think I get it. He means that instead of typing the letter, you would type it's number in order, and perhaps a math problem that amounted to the same number.
There, bam, one freaking sentence.
xXx
Astrid laughed aloud suddenly at the sheer 'simplicity' of the solution. Nearly bursting, she responded enthusiastically.
:Boolean:
Glass, you're BRILLIANT!!!
xXx
Walter grinned smugly, throwing his chest out slightly. He wondered if she were sharp enough to be impressed by his creativity, when it came to such things.
glassmouth
They say that, sometimes. My name is ([6]-2) (27.0) ([10/2]²+10) (mc²) (J³°°mmm). It's nice to finally meet you… so to speak.
xXx
Astrid wondered, reddening slightly, if he were implying that they had 'chemistry'. She shook the thought away, and started to translate. He had overcomplicated things drastically- she'd not done well, in her physics class. It took her a bit, but she managed most of it; 6 could have been the atomic number for carbon, which was expressed as the letter Z. Two letters back from Z was W. 27.0, which followed, was then simple; the relative atomic mass of aluminum, Al. Half of ten was five, squared was ten again, with ten added was twenty, T. Mc squared was cute, and obviously E. She really had no idea what J300 meant…J could have been joule, but she wasn't sure. The only obvious answer that fit was R. His name was WALTER.
:Boolean:
Let's not start to overcomplicate things, W. My name is (1)(19)(20)(18)(9)(4), and I owe you a kiss, when we get out of here. Pure, serpent, is there anything you'd like to add, about yourselves??
xXx
It was difficult, to say the least. It took her a few minutes, to perfect it.
Pureffect.45
My name is (15)(12)(9)(22)(9)(1). god, this is going to be a pain.
xXx
Astrid did not need to point out the obvious comparison, but did anyways.
:Boolean:
As painful as your legs?? serpent, what about you?
He'd been silent for a peculiarly long time.
xXx
No. No, he was thinking crazy. That wasn't possible- in fact, the notion was absurd. The fact that his dead father's name had been Walter was simply a coincidence. Refusing to dispute with himself any further on the matter, Peter briefly imputed his name.
Utopianserpent
(16)(5)(20)(5)(18).
xXx
Walter fell from his seat with a crash. The chair spun unheeded as he stared up at the screen, wide-eyed. He crawled to his knees, sitting up to type.
glassmouth
Dear god. You can't be serious.
xXx
Olivia frowned at the screen in concern, suspicion fringing her words.
Pureffect.45
What's going on? Is something wrong?
xXx
Shit.
Utopianserpent
My name is (16)(5)(20)(5)(18). is there a problem?
xXx
Walter let out a quiet whimper in the silence, looking away from the screen and covering his lips with his palm for a few moments. He swallowed, his heart pounding in his chest as his pulse throbbed in his ears. This wasn't possible, it was too wonderful, too terrible. His hands trembled, his post arriving in the most sincere form of babble.
glassmouth
No, that can't be you. it can't be. My son? You? Ddearr ggod.. Deaar godd, xxx it's youu.
xXx
There wasn't time to sort this out. His father had died seventeen years ago, and that was the end of it. So what if Walter had had a son? Whatever this was rapidly becoming would end here.
Utopianserpent
The old guy's on crack. Can we please just find a way to get the hell out of here? My back is killing me.
xXx
Astrid looked at the screen blankly, confused. This was all together too weird.
:Boolean:
P. is your son, W.?
xXx
He wanted to yell it, yes! but did not. He must have seemed so pathetic, fighting back tears of fear, of sorrow, and he didn't even know if this Peter was his Peter. Part of him wanted it to be, while the other part wanted his dear child to be somewhere very, very far from this dark, hateful place.
glassmouth
I think he is. It would explain the connection- you and O. work together, to chase P., my son. It's you. I'm so sorry.
xXx
Peter growled with agitation, annoyed. This wasn't the point. It didn't matter, right now. Maybe it would, when they got out of here, but not now. For now, they were wasting time.
Utopianserpent
My father died 17 years ago, now shut up. If you would kindly enlighten us with you epiphany of escaping brilliance, A.?
xXx
Had Peter missed him, for that time? Had he really been here that long? The pain in the back of Walter's heart surfaced once more, for a realization he had tried to block off like a bleeding artery. The world out there did exist. It just didn't care. Peter would never come to know such thoughts, he vowed to himself wordlessly. That was his son. He'd be damned if he fell to the same madness of this pit.
glassmouth
I'll get you out of here. I don't care what it takes. I promise. I want to see you so much. I've missed you so much.
xXx
He'd really put his foot in it, this time. How awkward it would be, when Walter met a stranger that thought nothing of him.
Utopianserpent
Whatever. Just shut up.
xXx
Aww, that was sweet. But at least now, the connections had been placed. Just why they had been selected was unclear, but Astrid had no intention of sticking around to find out.
:Boolean:
Sounds like you two have some catching up to do. Okay, let me lay it out. (23)(8)(5)(14) (20)(8)(5)(25) (3)(15)(13)(5) (6)(15)(18) (21)(19), (23)(15) (8)(1)(22)(5) (20)(15) (7)(5)(20) (15)(21)(20). (9)(20) (4)(15)(5)(19)(14)(20) (13)(1)(20)(20)(5)(18) (8)(15)(18), (11)(9)(12)(12) (20)(8)(5)(13) (9)(6) (25)(15)(21) (13)(21)(19)(20). (2)(21)(20) (7)(5)(20) (15)(21)(20). (23)(5) (8)(1)(22)(5) (20)(15) (13)(5)(5)(20) (21)(16), (20)(8)(5)(12) (23)(5)(12)(12) (8)(1)(22)(5) (1) (3)(8)(1)(12)(3)(5).
xXx
Translation was getting easier; When they come for us, we have to get out. It doesn't matter how, kill them if you must. But get out. We have to meet up, then we'll have a chance.
Olivia saw the advantage immediately.
Pureffect.45
Power in numbers?
xXx
That might be the case, when it came to force. But this place seemed more like a puzzle, to her, like a huge, unanswered riddle. If they could communicate freely, without even the hindrance of using separate characters that took so much time… nothing would be able to stop them.
:Boolean:
Brilliance in numbers. The lot of us don't seem too terribly stupid, I think.
xXx
Peter sighed. He hated to be the bringer of bad news, but it seemed to be in his blood- no, no, no, that wasn't certain, yet.
Utopianserpent
But we could be miles apart, for all we know. Hit the walls!!
xXx
Brilliance- was it a family thing? Astrid got to her feet, striding up to the wall beside the locked door. She looked down at her torn arms, and frowned at the problem that had presented itself. Perhaps if she kicked it, or something… thinking back to her advanced self defense classes, and darted forward, bringing up her knee to strike the wall with an echoing boom. Ordinary plaster would have caved, under her pressure, but the wall stayed perfectly in tact. Astrid waited, listening. Then, she repeated the process. After a while, she returned to the computer, disheartened.
:Boolean:
I don't hear anything.
xXx
Olivia ran her thumb over her bruised knuckles, blowing a stray lock of hair from her face.
Pureffect.45
Does anyone?
xXx
Peter frowned at finding his assumption correct, knowing what kind of problems it would pose to their method of escape.
Utopianserpent
No.
xXx
Walter hadn't gotten up. He'd tried that a very long time ago, and knew that it was futile- the walls were insulated with sound proofing material, if only to stop the screaming. He did not tell them this, and only answered shortly.
glassmouth
Nope.
xXx
But there was something that confused her, and Astrid had to voice it.
:Boolean:
But if we all heard the chimes, at the same time, we can't be too far apart.
xXx
There was no avoiding it. Olivia did not know was beyond their small, dark prisons, and could not fully plan much of anything. There were certain aspects that had to be played by ear. The one thing that they had to do, for now, was get out.
Pureffect.45
We are just going to have to risk being far apart. Everyone has to hold their own, okay? If any of us do find one another, they have to find the others, understand?? We're all getting out of this together.
xXx
That wouldn't work. How could they trust each other, when they all seemed at odds, and had never met? Peter did not just plan to sit around and rot, waiting for a cop or some nut job who claimed to be his long lost father to come along and save him.
Utopianserpent
What's to stop them from just up and leaving everybody?
xXx
Ah. Evidence of what the world had already done to his beautiful son, and Walter was saddened to hear words that sounded very much like his own had been. But the answer was simple, even if Peter was distrustful of him, and everyone else.
glassmouth
Love.
xXx
What kind of answer was that? A crazy one. It was abundantly clear that Walter was unstable, a side effect of staying in a place like this for so long… Peter wondered what would happen to him, after they got out of here. Surely, there had to be some place, someone to take care of him. Someone had to care.
Utopianserpent
What a perfectly useless answer.
xXx
Walter smiled. It was times like this that told him just how old he was.
glassmouth
I've grown very fond of all of you, regardless of how our short durations of communication have been. I wouldn't have it any other way, then to finally meet all of you at last. I only hope for the best. Besides, I've earned myself a kiss, and I haven't had one for 17 years.
xXx
Astrid snorted. Very well, she supposed that it was the least she could do, and Walter seemed nice enough.
:Boolean:
LOL!
xXx
So, it had been settled. They would get out, no matter what. Olivia smiled herself, and simply asked the next step in their plan.
Pureffect.45
So now, we just wait?
xXx
Unfortunately, that was one of the many problems with Astrid's plan. And, as they would later find, the most maddening.
:Boolean:
Yep.
xXx
Peter sighed, and nearly sat back in his seat before he sprang upright again, hissing softly at himself. While he had stopped sweating, he now felt chilled.
Utopianserpent
…I think these things on my back are getting infected.
xXx
They always felt that way. But Walter had long come to the conclusion that the cuts were often simply so severe that the body went into shock, and reacted accordingly. If he did not prompt them to act quickly, they would start fevering.
glassmouth
If you go and rinse them with cold water in the sink, it hurts less. I am unapprised as of late to the sanitation of the water, here, but I haven't come down with anything to date.
xXx
Ah, anything to stop the stinging. And, what other choice did he have, than to follow his advice? The man spoke with experience, Peter was sure, and if Walter truly believed that he was his son, he would not harm him. Perhaps something he could use in the future.
Utopianserpent
Good to know. You sound more like a doctor than a professor.
xXx
Yes, that was it. Walter had been a man of healing, at first. But, soon, it had become more than fixing the body, it had become about fixing the mind, the minds of everyone. Surely his mother had told the boy of what he'd done.
glassmouth
You know full well what I was, son.
xXx
Peter smirked darkly. What kind of delusion…? Even if Walter was his father, why would he want to admit to such a reputation as the one 'Walter Bishop' possessed?
Utopianserpent
You're on crack, old man. Seriously. I'm going to go wash off. Is there anything to eat in this hell hole?
xXx
Walter did not look away from the screen as he dolefully responded;
glassmouth
The worst butterscotch pudding you could imagine.
xXx
Astrid somehow felt less alone, even if her room was growing progressively colder to indicate a need to cover up and sleep. She could not (or would not?) imagine sitting at the screen, staring hopefully, and all the while knowing she was perfectly alone.
:Boolean:
W., how did you make it, by yourself?
xXx
Ooh, admiration? What for? She was mistaken. Walter thought he could have done much better in such a situation, if only he had been a stronger person. If only he'd loved enough to keep going.
glassmouth
I didn't, quite obviously. You ladies should patch yourselves up and sleep a bit, while you can. I'll see you in a while.
xXx
Olivia shivered, thinking on how cold the water would be, on her legs. But her mind was so numb that she doubted if she would truly feel it.
Pureffect.45
I guess this is goodnight.
xXx
Astrid had to agree.
:Boolean:
Goodnight.
OFFLINE. TIME ELAPSED: 04:54:06.