CYOA Page 24
Sep. 15th, 2013 07:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lumy12It would be impractical to try to take the guy with you, but he'll never survive on his own. He's pretty out of it right now, maybe he doesn't feel any pain... but it's not like he's comfortable, either. As Joel has told you a time or two, dying can be a very slow process. "Just do it, then," you say, certain now that giving him a quick, painless death is the best option. "I'll just be here eating lunch like it's no big deal."
"It's not a big deal," says Joel. "I mean... it is an' it ain't. It's just... mercy."
You nod and leave him to it. You don't need to watch. Gone are the days when you actually liked watching Joel kill people. Liked it beyond just feeling relieved to be rid of a threat or whatever -- like, actually enjoyed it. The exquisite display of strength... of power. Okay, so... maybe they're not TOTALLY gone... You can still appreciate the... what would you call it... the fucking violent beauty of his kills -- at least, some of them. This one -- a simple shot in the head -- wouldn't fit that category.
This isn't the first time the two of you have calmly gone about your business after ending lives. And if it's callous to loot the body of someone who never meant you any harm, well... then you're callous. Practical, would be Joel's word for it. You know he's still trying to preserve your innocence -- whatever little of it may remain -- and maybe he always will be... but you've seen too much shit now to be shocked or sad or overly upset about anything. It just rolls off you. Maybe not as swiftly as it rolls off Joel, but it does roll. And this guy will, too.
You're probably a couple hours farther down the road before you encounter another human. There's absolutely nowhere to hide to let him pass by; you're surrounded by nothingness. But it's just one person, and when you and Joel veer off the road to your left, he goes to his left (or... her? It kind of looks like a woman...), giving each other a wide berth. You and Joel have a gun drawn but not aimed... until she (yep, it's a woman) points her rifle at Joel. Then you both return the favor real quick. "You shoot him, I shoot you," you call out to her.
"Don't you dare," she snarls back. She's probably... well, in that vast range of older than you but younger than Joel. Closer to Joel on the spectrum.
"Easy," says Joel, maddeningly calm as always. "Lower your gun an' we'll lower ours."
The woman doesn't budge. "I've been through too much to get killed now. And I don't have time for this!"
"We've been through a lot, too," you reply, annoyed. Who does this bitch think she is? Why doesn't she have TIME? ...and what's 'this,' anyway?
"Let me go -- I don't have anything you want!"
"Let you go?" you scoff. "You're the one who aimed at us first! We're not lowering our guns until you lower yours!"
"Do you think I'm a stupid moron? You'll shoot me!"
Before you can answer "yes" to her moron question (and is there such a thing as a SMART moron?!), Joel says, "No, we won't. Look at us -- we've got horses. Bags full of supplies. Lots of weapons. What would we want with you? From where I'm standin', it looks more like you'd shoot us. To try an' take it."
You swallow the urge to snarkily point out to Joel that he's sitting, not standing.
"However," Joel continues, "there's two of us an' one of you. An' I guarantee we'd get two shots off -- two shots each -- before you get two off that rifle."
The woman digests this for a moment, then switches tactics: she starts crying. "Look -- I've really gotta get going -- I went so far... so far... I had to get something -- something for my husband -- he's going to die if I don't get it to him... please!"
You shoot a sidelong glance at Joel. Husband? Could she mean... you can tell Joel's wondering the same thing. "This 'something' you got... is it like... medicine?" you ask her.
She doesn't answer, but the non-answer combined with the look on her face tells you it is.
"Where's your husband?" Joel asks her.
"Close," she answers.
Not really, you think, but you suppose it's relative...
"If you're in such a hurry, why don't you just lower that gun an' be on your way?" Joel asks reasonably.
"Because I'm not stupid!"
"We won't hurt you, I swear," you try... but your frustration or annoyance or anger or whatever the fuck it is seeps into your words, which probably makes you not all that convincing.
"Then lower your guns first!" she spits back.
Joel sighs. "We can do this all day. We ain't in a hurry. Not like you are."
"Okay, what if we take turns?" you suggest. "You... point that thing over here, then Joel will lower--"
"If you point that at her, I will shoot you," Joel threatens her.
...Yeah, cuz THAT will make her trust us. Joel's declaration makes you feel a twinge of guilt; you know he'd do it, and yet you haven't shot the bitch for aiming at him. Not that he would expect you to, but... but nothing -- it's better to avoid any guns firing at all. You can't be sure you'd get a clean head shot from this distance while atop a moving -- er, not exactly moving, but... not not-moving? -- horse. She could still shoot Joel, even if you shoot her. Hopefully her shot would go wild... but you can't know...
Maybe you'd better just talk some more. "Did you leave your husband in a place called Denny's?" you ask.
She doesn't even try to hide her surprise at hearing that. "You saw him?"
Joel might be trying to give you a cease-and-desist look... but you keep your eyes on the woman. "Yeah."
"Ellie..." he says warningly.
"What?" You're defensive now. "Obviously she knows we did. How else would I know where he is?"
"How is he? Is he okay?" she asks, a new level of desperation in her voice.
Joel is silent. Either he doesn't want to tell her or he doesn't know how to. It's okay -- I got this!
If you tell her the truth, turn to page 47.
If you lie, turn to page 49.
Carlos
Date: 2021-03-24 04:21 am (UTC)Re: Carlos
Date: 2021-03-24 05:05 am (UTC)RE: Re: Carlos
Date: 2021-04-12 01:04 pm (UTC)