THE⠀DEAD⠀KNOW⠀NOTHING⠀,

She doesn't hide her amused little snort seeing her hat hanging lopsided from his head. His boyish, and somewhat naive charm is endearing in a way that brings a bit of light since getting spirited away by the entity into this bleak and hopeless realm.

"Oh, looks like we got a charmer on our hands~" She laughs heartily, casually plucking her hat from his head and putting it on herself. A perfect fit. "Bet the girls back home are already missin' you, honey."

⠀⠀⠀⠀rosy cheeks bloom under her flattery,⠀⠀a little laugh through his teeth.⠀⠀she's a smooth talker, huh.⠀⠀better than he is.⠀⠀“⠀⠀don't think they got girls like you back home.⠀⠀”⠀⠀wherever home is.⠀⠀for now, this is the only recognisable place.

bloodied fingertips curl into his palm ⁄ support under the body of the instrument, a vice grip on the neck with the other.⠀⠀it isn't carried with any practiced technique; rather, as if he's never held one before at all.⠀⠀“⠀⠀not gonna bruise this beauty by tryin'.⠀⠀dunno the first thing 'bout …⠀⠀”

tch.⠀⠀wet crimson transfers onto the strings once it's carefully stood upright atop the forest floor.⠀⠀a subtle tune, there, as they brush over.⠀⠀“⠀⠀whatcha call this?⠀⠀”⠀⠀strange boy.

At the evasive non-answer, the animatronic chuckled.

⠀⠀⠀⠀“⠀⠀heh!⠀⠀tryna send me into a sugar high, bugs?⠀⠀”⠀⠀to knock him out.⠀⠀to be far less courteous than it is currently being.⠀⠀he doesn't fancy his chances.

“⠀⠀what kinda present we talkin' here?⠀⠀been fixin' for somethin' handy— y'all don't make this game easy.⠀⠀”

I don't know, I just had to get out of there.

We're having a party. Want to come?

You know, I could be in a whole lot of trouble.

It was foolish of me to start down alone in the dark.

It's like being buried alive.

Don't worry. I can always scream for help.

You wouldn't happen to know why [he/she/they] did it, would you?

Don't you ever stop to take a breath?

I'm afraid I've never seen you before, believe me, I'd remember.

I think the entire building's gone mad.

I've never understood why most people will do things in the dark that they'd never think of doing in the light.

I'm beginning to wish I were that friend of yours.

I am tired. Couldn't we stop and rest a minute?

One of us should have counted the steps. Maybe we'd qualify for the Olympics.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Dead? Who is it, do you know?

Haven't seen much of you lately.

Hey! What are you doin' here? I knew it was you.

I know you you're the only person who can say my name without makin' it sound like a joke.

Don't these things just kill you?

I wonder if you'd have a few minutes you could spare?

I don't keep a lot of cash around!

I know it's supposed to be fixed, but so is everything else.

This is the only place left where you can tell for sure who the bad guys are.

Where have you been? I'm beginning to wonder.

I wish you'd stop looking as if I'm supposed to know what you're talking about.

I can't just leave the country! I have a job. They'll ask questions!

Now, look. No questions…

We don't want you to miss any of the action here.

I have no idea what the police think!

I'm sure I would have been the first to know about this.

You've got to give [him/her/them] a chance. No one else seemed to care!

I was just trying to call you, but the phone was disconnected or something.

I heard you wouldn't be here at all for a few days.

I didn't know what time you'd be leaving.

Tell me, how many more of these questions do I have to answer?

Someone threatened to kill me unless I left the country!

Oops. There, you've done it. Don't you want to play by the rules?

Listen, all I know is that somebody's trying to kill me.

Forget it. Forget the whole thing!

Why did you run away from me?

You're still frightening me, [name]. What's going on?

Are you following me? What did the police say?

I don't need my head examined, [name].

Have you got something to tell me?

I don't usually make that mistake.

I really don't know you. I wish you'd believe that.

Why did you agree to see me, then?

I want to know whether or not I'm insane.

Do you know that difference? Between right and wrong?

Are you going to tell me why you doubt your own rationality?

I think you'd better tell me something about yourself.

Why are you afraid of questions?

You don't know what you were doing two years ago?

There is no such thing as the sort of amnesia you describe. There never has been, and there never will be!

Don't you want to hear about it first?

I think you better keep it. The deal's off.

I been trying to decide whether you're lying or you're just crazy.

I've been completely alone. Eating alone, spending my nights alone and I never questioned it. Not once.

I got a sneaky feeling, even if I don't do anything, I'll still earn it.

Take a look. My whole life's in there. It's so empty.

You could at least look like you believe me!

You don't even talk like a detective.

What if someone wants you playin' this thing all alone without any help?

What's the name of that place?

I'm beginning to wish I had a gun.

What do you think happened to [him/her/them]?

I don't know? What do you think I hired you for?

What do you think that means?

You know, every time I decide you're sane, you come up with something like that.

You don't look very surprised.

Now what do we do now?

What do you think would happen if you told me something?

People don't belong to people, [name].

[He/She/They] are taking a chance…on keeping you alive a little longer.

What will you do for me then, when the shooting starts?

Look, what good will it be knowing that if you're dead?

Is this any different from being dead!?

Isn't temper an awful thing?

Better take this. You might need it.

You said you were the same as dead. But you're not!

The police are coming! That's why I came up!

There was nothing I could do to stop it!

I should have known what [he/she/they] wanted to do.

I was worried when you didn't call.

Well, you better start practicing some happy unemployment jokes.

You don't really want to remember anything, do you?

I'm beginning to think you're all alone for a reason.

Listen forget what I said. It's been a day. Let's talk it over in the morning.

How many times have you been here?

You're something of a perfectionist.

You wanted me to commit first, without promises.

Do you really think that keeping me alive will help buy back your soul?

Don't you know why I'm here, [name]?

How can I make any promises when I don't even know who I am?

You'll be dead before you hit the bottom.

You didn't grow old in this business and taking those kind of chances.

You deserved better. You don't have to worry about me.

Killing isn't my job. There are plenty of people to do that.

There's no one to help you. No one you can talk to.

Didn't I make it clear that I never wanted to see you again?

Why do you go on asking me these stupid questions!?

You don't really want to remember anything, do you?

You're not sick, You've been bruised.

If you have the courage to face that thing that made you forget. Whatever it is, I don't want to know about it.

It's too bad you missed the funeral.

Isn't that why you killed [him/her/them]?

No. I couldn't have done anything to [him/her/them]!

For God's sake, [name], what are you doing?

You were right. I had nowhere else to go.

I think I've found what we've been looking for...

Violence is something new to you, isn't it?

I didn't know how to handle something like this.

Fuck you, you killed [him/her/them]!

Whatever happened to human beings?

Do they look like human beings? They are just statistics.

I won't let you have this, [name]!

At least I'll know why I'm being murdered.

For once in your life, you've chosen the wrong side!

I…don't know anything about killing, [name].

One phone call, and it'll be too late.

          she  hadn’t  meant  to  leave  him  alone  with  the  killer.   honest!   it’s  simply  an  unfortunate  coincidence  that’s …   exactly  what  ended  up  happening.   

          mi - kyung  did  not  consider  herself  to  be  a  particularly  guiding  presence.   never  sought  after — at  worst,   actively  avoided.   and  this  was  fine.   she  would  take  care  of  herself  first  and  foremost,   by  herself.   the  others  knew  well  enough  how  things  operate here.   would  not  flock  to  her  with  flighty  demands  she  cannot  and  will  not  supply.   

          so  when  the  responsibility  of  shepherding  a  new  lost  sheep  back  from  hellish  pasture  befell  upon  her  for  the  evening,   it  did  not  necessarily  inspire  confidence.   she  found  him  there,   someone  she  had  never  seen  before.   confused.   out - of - place.   not  unlike  herself  just   ███  before.   oh,   great.   she’s  on  the  welcoming  committee.   but,   god,  she  had  tried!   gentle  in  approach,   clear  in  explanation.   even  when  it  felt  silly  to  metaphorically  hold  a  grown  man’s  hand  when  he  easily  could  have  found  a  better  teacher.   and  the  generator  she  showed  him  how  to  fix  would  have  been  completed  if  someone  hadn’t  intervened. 

          a  command  to  run.   she  went  left.   he  went  right.   and the  killer  made  a  decision.

          did  she  feel  a  little  bad  she  had  basically  let  them  harass  the  new  guy  instead  of  her when she could've prevented that?   yes!  it’s  not  like  she  was  trying  to  get  him  murdered.

          … would  she  do  differently  if  given  the  opportunity?   well,  she  had  to  protect  herself,   too.   

          chance  was  inside  the  chapel  now — that’s  where  she  spotted  him  after  the  fact.   alone.   perhaps  not  unscathed,   but  in  one  piece.   ignoring  the  pang  of  guilt  resonating  within,   she  rushes  over.   ❝  hey!   hey,   you  got  away.  that — that’s  good.  ❞   she  presents  the  first - aid  kit.   offers  a  nervous  smile.  ❝  i - i’m sorry  we  got  separated —  are  you  hurt?  ❞   do  you  totally  hate  me  already? because you have to understand that wasn't entirely my fault.

⠀⠀⠀⠀on the contrary,⠀⠀there was seldom she could have done to prevent him from becoming a distraction — guiding the killer out of her harm's way, looping around & over all the different show tents for what felt like more than those two short minutes; momentum broken by one large swipe to his arm— blood flying with the speed of both him & this attacker.

one slam of a pallet to blind and he's free, stowing away in the chapel's pews, his eyes fixated on every entryway.

that girl was trying her best, god bless her.⠀⠀he imagines that it isn't an easy task to explain all of this, time–after–time, to every unfortunate soul who is dropped down into the flames.⠀⠀their fellow teammates have attempted such, too, for him, and he gets the gist: if he needs to take a beating to guarantee everyone else's safety, that's exactly what he will do.⠀⠀and he will welcome any advice into his back–pocket for safe keeping.⠀⠀just another learning curve …

so when mi–kyung joins him, med–kit in clutch, her question isn't registered; picking himself up & placing an ever–so–gentle hand on her shoulder, evaluating her person for any scratches.⠀⠀as if he's the experienced one.

“⠀⠀didn't get ya, did he?⠀⠀”⠀⠀exasperated, that precious crimson dripping around the left–side of them.⠀⠀there's no indignation in his features, no reluctance. only a worry that could move the hardest of souls.⠀⠀it's not her fault,⠀⠀“⠀⠀c'mon.⠀⠀almost got it—⠀⠀”

now, it's his turn to shepherd ( something that is, subconsciously, familiar to him ), a nod up to the first floor where a different generator stands — the last in need of fixing.⠀⠀he resists the urge to sprint, climbing the stairs while keeping his attention on her, already tuned into the unpredictable.

but that naïve optimism is no match for the warmth that spreads from his throbbing limb to his chest … the effects of a haemorrhage taking hold.⠀⠀his drop down to repair is strident, cussing under his breath with fumbling coordination; wanting— needing this to be over,⠀⠀“⠀⠀y'alright—?⠀⠀”

send one for my muse’s reaction to your muse --

"An' what do you think you're doin', darlin'?" Kate asked calmly, her Southern lilt as sweet as honey. She came up from behind Chance, brow raised and arms crossed over the other. She wasn't mad by any means. Actually, she was quite amused.

⠀⠀⠀⠀that voice …⠀⠀it moves him far greater than it scares, rise slow from her small array of possessions, shoulder turned & her cowboy hat visibly lopsided on his head.⠀⠀there, follows a sheepish smile — that of a boy who knows he's done wrong, yet means no harm whatsoever.

it's a rarity in itself: the first semblance of joy he's displayed since his quiet arrival.⠀⠀of course it's at her hands.⠀⠀how could it not be— someone with a spirit so kind, so bright?⠀⠀it's infectious.⠀⠀not even he, in his hidden woes, is immune to it.

“⠀⠀ain't polite t'creep up like that,⠀⠀”⠀⠀which is some form of responsibility taken, eyes wandering down to her guitar.⠀⠀there's a glint within them in his survey; a familiarity that he struggles to pinpoint.⠀⠀it shows in the twitch of his nose ⁄ crease of his brow.⠀⠀strange …

unsteady fingers toy at his neckerchief, gash on his throat peeking through.⠀⠀itching— dismissed.⠀⠀“⠀⠀pretty things for a pretty lady.⠀⠀nothin' bad by it—⠀⠀”

MACABRE — BLOOD

SHIT--

Meg inwardly cursed her luck getting stuck with the newbie. Not that it was his fault. She just wasn't good at this sort of thing like Claudette or Kate would be. Hell even Dwight might have been a better choice with all his knowledge. Just anyone but her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀“⠀⠀know howda breathe—⠀⠀”⠀⠀not with an ever–flowing wound in his back, he doesn't; elbow bent to push himself up— a howl of agony threatening to give away their position, straight back down in the bloody dirt, the immediate taste ⁄ texture causing him to sputter in all directions.

“⠀⠀sorry— m'sorry,⠀⠀”⠀⠀it isn't in his nature to be so harsh, but he's also never endured a pain of this calibre in his short life.⠀⠀at least, that's what he believes to be the truth.⠀⠀seconds into minutes, minutes wasting valuable time to relocate …

another attempt at stability; a successful one, if not for how his body lands on hers, knuckles white in his desperate clutch of her jacket.⠀⠀an eerie sort of laughter, to soften the moment — to dumb down the urgency that only grows as the now–distinct steps of the killer close in on them,⠀⠀“⠀⠀can … can jus' leave me 'ere— go—⠀⠀”

a forceful push away, floundering— bolting with this newfound adrenaline, this stupid excuse for heroism.