Clutching his plate of potato salad as if it would some how disappear in front of his eyes, David looked around the yard at everyone in attendance. It seemed that the whole town had shown up for the potluck. He knew he should feel grateful, glad that everyone in Devilās Knot was showing their support. Instead, he just felt empty. Angry even. Why was his familyās tragedy suddenly so important to the town? What business did they have in his affairs?
Leaning against the tree he stood under, David looked down at the plate in his hand, suddenly realizing that he wasnāt hungry. He just wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and listen to sad music. He didnāt want to be here and he certainly didnāt want to entertain the person he saw walking up to him. Not wanting to engage, David continued to stare at his food, waiting for the other person to make the first move. Maybe theyād get the hint that he really wasnāt in the mood to talk.
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Donāt go chasing waterfalls. Please stick to the rivers and streams that youāre used to...
David nodded his head along to the tape in his Walkman, swinging his arms to the music as he balanced precariously on a fallen tree. Today was a good day. Football practice had gone well and coach had let them out early, something that was practically unheard of as of late, and he had no set plans for the rest of the day. Beth was off doing whatever the hell Beth did in her free time (probably terrorizing freshmen or something), and Brian and mom were at home. Brian was grounded and mom was keeping him company which meant that David didnāt have to babysit or try to entertain his mother.
For the first time in what felt like forever, David had time to himself. So, of course, like any repressed football player, he decided to spend his free afternoon smoking in the woods and listening to crappy pop music.Ā
As the bridge of the song began, David took a long drag from the joint in his hand before jumping off the log and proceeding to dance. Singing along, David had a moment where he realized just how ridiculous he looked and, momentarily, felt relived that he was alone. If anyone from school caught him dancing like this and singing to WaterfallsĀ heād never be able to live it down. He was having fun though, lost in the music and letting the high wash over him.
It was a good feeling, being alone and just being himself. Before, back home in Minnesota, David had been able to keep a low profile. Because the school was bigger, the town was bigger, he had been afforded some anonymity. Here though, everyone knew his name and everyone knew who he was... or at least who he pretended to be.Ā
Gone were the days where he could sneak out and go dancing, not caring about whether or not his classmates saw him. Now this was as close as he could get, not that he minded.
He loved the woods, loved getting lost in them and watching as nature continued on around him. There was something comforting about the fact that, no matter what happened in the human world, the rest of the world kept going.Ā
Finishing his joint, David extinguished the butt before hiding it under leaves. As he did this, he heard the familiar beep that signaled that his Walkmanās battery was dying. Cursing his luck, David looked around, reorienting himself and bracing himself for the walk back home.Ā
He was almost out of the woods, listening to George Michael requested that his partner wake him up (before they go, go), when the screech that came with a dead battery played . Shaking his head, David pulled the headphones off his head, letting them rest on his shoulders as he trudged back home.Ā
Quietly singing the end of the song, the brunet made his way back home, almost missing the fact that his mom was standing on the front porch, looking panicked. When he went to go inside and was stopped though, he realized that there was something wrong. Thinking that he was about to be yelled at for smelling like weed, or told that Beth was in trouble, David never expected his mom to clutch his arm and askĀ āHave you seen Brian?ā
David repeated the list to himself as he walked up and down the isles of the Piggly Wiggly, trying to remember what he forgot. He knew that there was something elseĀ heād been told to buy. It was something mom had requested. If it had been something Beth had wanted David would have been more likely to just ignore the item. Heād been walking on egg shells around both of them but mom especially. The thought of forgetting whatever it was he was supposed to buy, of upsetting mom, made David wander through the isles, looping around again in hopes of remembering.
It was something they didnāt get often, he remembered that much. But what?Ā
Deep in thought, trying to remember what mom liked, David didnāt notice the man in front of him until it was too late and they had already collided.
āOh fuck!ā He exclaimed, backing up quickly, trying to hold onto the items he had in his hands.Ā āIām so sorry, I wasnāt paying any attention. Are you okay?ā
āHey. Um. Thanks for helping out today...ā David stated awkwardly as he handed the person in front of him a cup of coffee. It was sun down and all the search parties that had been sent out were slowly returning to the community center; tired and seemingly less hopeful than before. At first, after what happened, David had been one of the people out there, searching the town, the woods, the creek beds. Now though, he couldnāt do it. It frustrated him too much, searching the same places over and over again; calling out Brianās name until his throat was raw. Mom still went out there every day, desperately leading the search, but David stayed behind, content to be the face that welcomed everyone back at the end of the day.Ā
āDo you... did you guys find anything?ā He asked, already knowing the answer. He didnāt know what else to say though. What was he supposed to say to someone who had just spent hours out in the woods looking for his brotherās dead body?
David needed to get out of the house. Despite the fact that Beth and mom still lived there, the place felt abandoned, haunted even. The town itself wasnāt much better, with everyone either locked indoors or out searching for Brian, but it was better than being home. Glancing at the calendar on the kitchen wall (and pointedly ignoring all the events that had been crossed out in the After) David realized what day it was and startled. He was supposed to go help Mayor Hawker over at his house, as he did every Tuesday.Ā
Cursing under his breath, David grabbed a coat and ran out the door, almost forgetting his keys in his rush. He doubted Mayor Hawker would be too mad if he was late, they didnāt have a set time when David was supposed to come over, but he still hated the thought of the old man being disappointed in him. He never liked being seen as the kind of person who would be late or not show up, even in times like this, when there was a reason for him to go MIA.Ā
Rushing across town, toward Mayor Hawkerās house, David ran a hand through his hair, trying to tame it and make it look less like heād just gone through a wind tunnel. Reaching the front door, the brunet slowed down, straightening out his jacket before knocking on the front door and hoping that he looked more put together than he felt.Ā
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TIME: 2:30PM
DATE: Saturday, 12th October 1996
OPEN TO: Anyone!
The forest.
Mandy could count on one hand how many times she had gone near the forest in the past decade, and driving past counted. In the brisk October chill the woodland seemed to loom, as if the trees were some distant Middle Earth variety. A gust of wind made her frown and pull the hand-knitted muffler over her lower mouth. Did Brian like Tolkien? Maybe it was too outdated for kids these days; she wouldnāt know. Her only contact with kids was Pete, and heād throw her a withering look if she even tried saying something along those lines. He was eighteen now. It was hard to believe. The very thought made her chest ache, first for Pete, then for Brian. Eight years old. Dear God.
Residual anger flushed through her, and she had to close her eyes tightly for a moment to calm herself. After exhaling slowly, she tucked some hair behind one ear and surveyed the gathering crowd. Most of Devilās Knot had turned out for the event, looking alternately hopeful or pinched with cold, clutching torches or thermoses, talking avidly to one another. Sheriff Malvo was supposed to set them all off, as if they were a Sunday walking club, but Mandy was inclined to simply start alone. Small talk felt insurmountable, suddenly, and it crested upon a swell of helplessness that made her want to cry.Ā
Pull it together. The voice sounded awfully like Sandy, and for a moment Mandy caught a glimpse of a blonde head as the crowd parted. It wouldnāt surprise her if Sandy turned up; if there was one thing that made Sandy reliable, it was her unerring obsession with other peopleās business.
Thinking about Sandy always made her feel composed in comparison. Adjusting her muffler one last time, Mandy put her hands in the pockets of her over-sized parka and started weaving through the crowd. People parted for her, but not without some glances of pity. Keeping her eyes straight ahead, Mandy walked up to a person standing on the fringe of a group. Small talk might suck, but it was necessary. Today wasnāt about her, after all.
āHey.ā Mandyās voice was whipped away by the wind; she extricated one gloved hand and gently waved it to get their attention.Ā āHi. Um. Are you walking with anyone?ā
When Daiki and the rest of the group learned of theirĀ āvacationāās true purpose, the overly nervous student wanted nothing to do with it. He spent the entirety of the prior week hiding away in his room, with all of his trips outside of it being out of necessity and without being seen. The only reminders of his existence were the daily fits of screaming that, like clockwork, came with the sunrise.
Of course, the only thing that dragged him out and kept him out is Monokumaās announcement and the fact that he had to go to the lobby to hear it, along with the possible consequences that came with him refusing to show up. Joining up with the rest of the group at last, he had no choice but to listen to what the bear had to say.
The announcement left him feeling sick to his stomach. Of course something like this would happen to them. He was with them, after all. This was just a result of his bad luck... He felt that there was only one solution to his woes, and he found himself making a trip to the convenience store in order to make that solution a reality
--
About an hour later, Daiki is back in the lobby of the hotel with various supplies in hand: scissors, a stack of paper, a calligraphy set, thread, a needle, and piles of various fabrics that only could have come from other scavenged objects. Next to him is a growing stack of good luck charms made with the aforementioned materials. Itās obvious that heās focused only on his work before him, so he doesnāt expect it when heās approached and called out to.
Itās a given for him to overreact, his entire body stiffening as he looks up with a startled yelp. However, it seems that heās used to this, apparent in how he grips the scissors in his hand rather than dropping them in surprise at the risk of hurting himself. Though, he quickly calms down, taking a deep breath before speaking.
