CYOA Page 235
Sep. 10th, 2013 10:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lumy12It's not uncommon for people to freeze up in dire situations. It is rather uncommon for you, however. It's only a split second that you find yourself rooted to the ground (it just feels longer to you, with the whole... time-slowing thing). When you're able to move again--
...Wait, what?!...
Joel is lunging at you -- pushing you -- tackling you, basically... he collapses on top of you. Did he dive out of the way of that thing? You realize quickly that the bullet didn't hit you, so... "Joel! Oh my God-- are you okay?! Are you okay?!?!"
He must be -- he lifts himself up enough to take another shot at the guy, who then falls to the ground. Apparently satisfied with the result, he re-collapses (still on top of you). "Are you all right?" he asks in lieu of answering you. "Did I hurt you?"
You might have some piddly little bruises. "I'm good..." You look around but don't see any more hunters; it appears you're safe. "I could've sworn... I thought you were about to get hit. I heard the shot, and I just... knew... or, thought I knew..."
He slowly eases himself off of you, rolling to the side. "You were right." He's still breathing heavily.
"So you got out of the way in time! I don't know why I thought... wait -- you're bleeding! Your arm!"
"Just a graze."
You scramble to sit up and look closer. "It's not a fucking graze -- look at all this blood! But you... I saw you. It didn't hit you cuz you moved!"
"It hit me because I moved."
"...What?"
"It's fine... we can fix it up with some--"
"Oh my fucking God, Joel, are you saying that bullet was going to hit me? So I wasn't right..."
"Sure you were. You knew it was gonna hit me, an' it did." He sits up, wincing, and you realize you have to get him back to the boat and your supplies.
"Here, let me help you... fuck, there's a lot of blood..." You help him to his feet.
He clamps his hand over the wound, just below his shoulder. "I can walk."
"Lean on me or something, at least... Jesus, Joel, why did you have to do that?" you wail.
He makes a grunty-chuckle noise. "You really have to ask me that?"
"Ha. I guess it was more of a rhetorical question." Joel lets you put your arm around him, but he is walking okay on his own. You wonder how much pain he's in; you know if you ask him, he'll just lie. "Where did those guys come from?"
"Don' know. The one inside... he knew I was there. Followed me in, lookin' to take me out. I should've seen him."
Of course he makes it all HIS fault! Sheesh. "You can't have your eyes on everything all at once," you console him... even though you know your words are falling on deaf ears.
"I'm glad they weren't... that they didn't find you."
"I'm sorry, Joel -- you wanted to leave and I didn't so we stayed cuz you're too nice to me... it's my fault, not yours."
"S'okay, kiddo. We can chalk it up to shit happens."
"Okay, fine, it's a tie." That lets you off too easy, but you'd rather not feel guilty if you can help it! "You think there's any more hunters around?"
"Hope not. We can check out that area over the bridge where--"
"Like fuck we will! You are going to rest. I will check it out."
"Like hell you will," Joel mimics you. "I ain't lettin' you leave my side."
"Oh yeah? Well, you're injured, so I'm in charge now."
"Is that so?" he asks with amusement.
"Yep. And I charge you to rest... relax... recline... ...respect..."
"Respect?"
"In keeping with the 're' theme," you explain.
"Hmm. An' if I re-fuse?"
"Oh, good one! Then I'll re... kick your ass."
"Uh... those don't go together. At all." Joel snorts. "We will go together, after we fix me up. You can't leave me alone in this condition."
"I... what? Why not? Did it hit you somewhere else?" You paw and pluck at his shirt, but you don't see any other--
"No, but... I might get a fever or somethin'... become delirious... fall right off the damn boat an' drown, if you ain't here to--"
"Shut up!" You almost slug him but catch yourself in time, sparing him for once.
"It's true."
"It is not. You're just messing with me."
"I said it's a possibility. That's all. I might be fine. But if it was you, I wouldn't leave you alone. Not for one minute."
It sounds like total bullshit... and yet he sounds so sincere. Motherfucker! "Well, it's not me, because you decided to play God and take the bullet meant for--"
"Protectin' you makes me God now?"
"Yes!"
"Ellie, if I hadn't done that... it woulda hit you right in the chest. Prob'ly right in the heart. This little flesh wound... it's nothin'."
"Except it might make you drown," you remind him.
"Not if my baby girl keeps me from hurtin' myself."
Ugh! You're the one who's supposed to be able to manipulate your way into... well, getting your way. But... actually, you probably would feel better having him by your side, just for peace of mind. Because he's right; maybe not about the drowning thing, but he's vulnerable, and you'd probably be worried the whole time that some asshole hunter might find him laying there, perhaps sleeping... and he won't even wake up. What if I get back, and I think he's asleep... but then I notice he has another hole in him... right through his heart! You shudder at the thought.
When you get to 'your' boat, Joel does let you help him step onto it -- like, you actually feel like you're helping him. Maybe you'll talk him into staying put -- both of you, that is. You remember that you left the gate open... maybe you can wait for him to fall asleep, then run back there and close it real quick, so the tell-tale screech will warn you if anyone's after the horses (from this side, anyway). You feel like if there were any more hunters around, they would've come after you by now. They would've heard all the gunfire. And anyone could come along at any time, so just because you check now doesn't mean you're good for the night. That's just the way it is, Outside. Odds are, no one else is around and no one else is coming and you'll be fine.
Joel won't like it, though. You'll just have to convince him. Even if you have to promise to stand guard all night in order for him to sleep (you can point out that you can sleep tomorrow at the hospital, if he protests, and that you're not the one whose body needs to heal right now!). It's the least you can do... the man saved your life. And he probably would've done it even if he knew the bullet would hit him in the chest. He couldn't possibly have KNOWN exactly where it would hit, right? For all he knew, he WAS sacrificing his life for mine...
He loves you so much. Like... you can't even stand it, sometimes -- like right now.
Joel asks you why it looks like you're about to cry... and you can't answer him because you don't even know.
If you'd like to start another adventure, return to page 1.
Carlos
Date: 2021-02-22 05:24 am (UTC)Re: Carlos
Date: 2021-02-22 12:01 pm (UTC)