CYOA Page 64

[lumy12]

Page Sixty-Four

Joel stares at you in disbelief. For longer than you feel is warranted.

"Well?" you say impatiently. "Are you gonna help me or not?"

"I'm sure I didn't hear you right. 'Cause I thought I just heard you say you wanna fight a Bloater for no good reason."

You tug on his arm. "It's a totally good reason!"

"The only acceptable reason is because you have to. You don't have to."

Now you roll your eyes. "You're being kind of ridiculous. Remember that time we killed three of the fuckers? Practically all at the same time?"

"It was not all of 'em at the same--"

"Whatever! Joel, this is just one. The big ones bleed just like--"

"Uh, no. That don't apply to Bloaters."

"Well, it kind of does? They're very killable. And there's no other infected in there."

He quirks an eyebrow. "You sure about that? You checked all the rooms?"

You hesitate. "It's just a little store."

"So... that's a no."

"I didn't go inside, no." You wrap your arms around his neck -- it's time to use one of your best weapons: physical persuasion. It always helps your cause. ...well, usually. "Look, if there's any other infected, I'll take care of them myself, I promise."

Joel just sighs, which makes you laugh for some reason. Maybe it's the thought of him sitting back and watching you dispatch the infected by yourself, just enjoying the show. "Watch that one on your right there... you've got a couple behind you now, too -- shit, how are you gonna get outta this one? I'd help you out, but... a deal's a deal, kiddo." ...Yeah, not happening.

"I'll make it up to you later," you whisper in his ear -- mostly as an excuse to brush your lips over his earlobe...

He does that little groan-chuckle thing that you love... but then extracts himself from your embrace. "Fine. Let's do this. Here... shoot it with this an' I'll flame it."

You take the rifle he hands you. "Wait... other way around. Since I'm already infected--"

"Don't matter," Joel interrupts. "That thing will rip your face off. An' you gotta stop usin' that argument."

"Well, it'll rip your face off, too -- and it's my stupid idea so I should be the one who--"

"How 'bout we just kill it before it can do that, yeah?"

"Okay. Only if we can't sneak around it, remember."

Joel frowns. "I think it's best we take it by surprise. Keep it in that confined space an' just take it down before it has a chance to hurl that shit at us. With both of us hittin' it hard, it should go down pretty quick."

"Okay," you say again. "But let me do the flamethrower."

"No way."

"Why not?"

" 'Cause I trust you with the gun... I know you're a good shot. But this, you've never used before--"

"And whose fault is that?!"

"Beside the point. You ain't used to it."

"You aim, you press the trigger -- what more is there to know?"

"It's heavier than the rifle. Some other time, all right? Not now."

"Whatever," you grumble. "Let's get this over with already."

You hear Joel grumbling, too, as you head back to the comic store. Something like "all for a goddamn comic."

And something about that resonates with you... You hear a voice inside your head -- a very judgmental, scornful female voice -- that belongs to no one in particular, talking to someone else. Telling them, "She traded his LIFE for a stupid little comic book. Can you believe it?" ...And you know they're talking about Joel. About you sending Joel to his death right now. As if you would just casually go back to Jackson and tell the truth about what happened. -As if you would go back to Jackson at all, and not just die right here -- if not with him, then immediately after. Because you can't live without Joel.

"Joel, wait!" You realize he's gone on ahead without you. Not far, just a little bit ahead. He turns and looks at you expectantly. Waiting for you to explain why you stopped him.

...Why did you stop him?


If you've changed your mind and want to just leave, it's not too late to turn to page 70.

If you're having second thoughts but ultimately decide you're being silly and wish to continue with your plans to kill the bloater, turn to page 119.

Comments

Carlos

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, those things were a pain in the ass in the game I always try to avoid them. But this look like a good action part so I will go for it and see what happen.

RE: Carlos

[luminations.livejournal.com]

Me too, I wouldn't bother with one for a comic! I might have killed the one for a Firefly pendant once but after getting that trophy nope no way not agsin!

RE: Carlos

[(Anonymous)]

LOL, I think I just kill the one on the gym school and the two on the tunnel at the end. I don't remember fight another one, those asshole are hart to kill.

Re: Carlos

[luminations.livejournal.com]

And one with David! Can't run from that one.

Carlos

[(Anonymous)]

Oh yeah...