Here We Are

Unknown Date
Unknown Location

Fading in from a first person point of view, a CRT television glowing with static hums a short, unsettling orchestral loop. This lasts a few seconds, before the television abruptly cuts to a silent white screen with Tizona’s silhouette.

With the new silhouette, the same options are given to the player again: PALM TREE and KILLER WHALE. Regardless of player choice, the television turns off.

?????
By now there’s typically an identifiable distinction…but if you insist, then I can recommend you to someone who can perform a more thorough examination.

The television displays white pixelated text, before the screen cuts to black:

HERE WE ARE

08/22/2016
Blackthorne Infirmary

Plague slowly wakes up to a series of weak knocks at the infirmary door. He gets up and, while keeping his eyes on the door, lifts a pillow from one of the infirmary beds and loads the pistol hidden underneath it. The knocks continue as he slowly approaches the door, leaning against it with the pistol ready.

PLAGUE
Who’s there?

No response from the other side.

PLAGUE
...Tristan?

Following two more weak knocks on the door as if to say yes, Plague opens the door and finds her shaking with anger and holding back tears.

PLAGUE
Is it Lyra again?

Tristan nods.

PLAGUE
Alright, that about does it for me...get some rest, and then we can go pack your things and get you settled here for good.

TRISTAN
•~•’

PLAGUE
If Lyra’s got a problem she can take it up with the vanguards. I’m sure they’d be just as eager to bring me to justice for taking the only outlet for her anger away...

TRISTAN
-~-

PLAGUE
Sigh...I apologize, I’m being sarcastic. Let me make you something light to eat before I go back to bed...

In reality, the infirmary is actually just another cabin. It’s the bedrooms and common room being equipped with cabinets of supplies, extra curtains and less-than-comfortable “hospital” beds that make the difference. Plague walks over to the kitchen, putting his gun on the counter while Tristan rests on one of the beds in the common room.

PLAGUE
I’d ask that you take one of the bedrooms when you’re ready to call it a night. The doors still have locks from before this place was an infirmary, and if it makes you feel safe then you’re more than welcome to use them.

TRISTAN
:’)...

PLAGUE
You’d think with only a handful of people living here, living conditions would be a lot less comfortable...would you like to know a little bit about how this town came to be?

Tristan shrugs and nods.

PLAGUE
Okay. Well, a long time ago, in Astra Dominus...a group of researchers, doctors and engineers were put in charge of a secret operation that would span decades, if not longer. Astral knights were sent here to design and build this entire place for them, making sure any wants or needs could be met with as little outside travel as possible. Even after the revolution thinned out a majority of the population here, it only took a few minor adjustments to infrastructure and some very lucky trade negotiations with Fenix Gradivus before we were stable again...
Wait, what are you writing?

Using a pen she found and her forearm as a makeshift notepad, she holds it up for Plague to read:

TRISTAN (Written)
nevermind i’m too tired for all that

PLAGUE
Oh, of course. I was just waiting for your grilled cheese to finish warming up anyway...here you are. There might be some DVDs lying around in the bedroom, if you want to watch something while you eat.

TRISTAN
^-^

Not even an hour later
Blackthorne Infirmary

With the kitchen clean, lights off, and gun returned under its pillow, Plague too returns to his bed in the corner of the common room and lays down. He can hear the bedroom television, albeit muffled behind the closed door. He cracks a small, but peaceful smile. And then the front doorknob thrashes about, followed by some extremely panicked knocking. Annoyed more than anything, Plague opens the door with a lot less caution and nearly gets knocked to the floor when Clover storms in with Abel over her shoulder. She drops him onto a bed and stares at Plague.

CLOVER
You have to fix him.

PLAGUE
...okay. Tell me what happened first.

CLOVER
Zeke and Abel fought, Zeke won, and now Abel’s not waking up.

PLAGUE
And where is Zeke now?

CLOVER
Still back at Sanctuary, where we left him.

PLAGUE
Did he get hurt at all?

CLOVER
...he said he was fine.

PLAGUE
I find that very hard to believe.

CLOVER
Well it turns out he had a catalyst all along too, so anything he says at this point is bullshit to me.

PLAGUE
What? What do you mean, he had a catalyst?

CLOVER
He pulled aura catalyst armor out of his ass the same way Rubedo does. That’s what I saw, that’s all I know.

PLAGUE
Then I find it nearly impossible that he doesn’t have injuries that require attention. So I will ask again, and -- hey -- look me in the eyes, Clover. You’re not making eye contact. Look me in the eyes and tell me again that he’s not injured.

CLOVER
I’ll say it one last time: Zeke. Is--

Pigeon nearly slams into the doorframe, leaning against it while she catches her breath. After collecting herself, Pigeon drags herself over to Clover and tugs her arm.

CLOVER
What, Pigeon?

PIGEON
Clover I did something...

PLAGUE
What happened, Pigeon? Are you hurt?

CLOVER
What did you do?

PIGEON
Hey, I...did something...and none of you are going to like it...

Pigeon covers her face, welling up with tears. Clover wraps her in a hug.

CLOVER
You can tell me, Pigeon. Just...tell me.

PIGEON (Whispering)
Clover...I killed him...

CLOVER
You...you what?

PIGEON
Don’t make me say it again!

Clover lets go of Pigeon, stunned into silence for a moment.

CLOVER
I-I’m sure you didn’t mean to...

PIGEON
He just made me mad--

Plague walks past both of them as he throws on his coat. Clover grabs his arm.

CLOVER
No! You need to save Abel!

PLAGUE
I looked him over for critical injuries and didn’t see anything fatal.

CLOVER
W-well I...I just want you to-

PLAGUE
Clover, Abel is a grown man. A grown man who, might I add, holds the title of Blackthorne’s Vanguard of Arms. Zeke is a CHILD. Even if Zeke managed to leave Abel with injuries he ABSOLUTELY CANNOT SURVIVE another half hour or so with, I’m still going to prioritize the thirteen year old over that arrogant prick who thinks bullying a bunch of kids makes him our savior!
...
Let go of me, Clover. NOW.

Seething, Clover shoves him away and looks at Pigeon. Overwhelmed with conflicting emotions, Pigeon opens the door to the bedroom Tristan was in, trudges in and locks the door behind her. She curls up against the door, and her attention drifts from the opened window to the movie on the television. It’s an old action-horror movie, currently on a scene involving a werewolf dying in a girl’s arms. Zooming into Pigeon’s spiraling pupils, the movie dialogue echoes in her head.

MOVIE GIRL
After everything I did because I was scared of you...why, why would you risk your life like that for me? WHY?!

MOVIE WEREWOLF
Because I was scared too. Scared that I would end up hurting you like everyone else I’ve loved...but I couldn’t leave you alone. That’s why I had to protect you...from the truth and from myself.

Outside, Plague carries an unconscious Zeke right past the infirmary. Walking a little further, he goes from the edge of town all the way to the Blackthorne mountainside. In front of him is an ominous metal door, which moves to retract its panels into the sides of the doorway after Plague presses some buttons built into it. He looks around. Unaware that Tristan is watching from behind a tree, he walks in and disappears into the dark corridor. After some time, the metal panels of the door begin to converge again, with Tristan slipping between them just in time to follow Plague deeper into the Red Aquarium...what’s left of it, at least.

END

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