RECORDING 16: THE FINAL WEEK.

[foundationmods]

A sixth week in this place begins, with less of your number among you. It's feeling more and more like something's about to break.

There isn't any increase in Miasma, but you can tell it seems...excited. Overjoyed, like a predator bracing itself for the chase of the hunt. The fog is everywhere, and inescapable...

The Temperature is holding stead at the 50's, and nippy to need a layer or two. As before, the rooms have changed, so hopefully you kept anything essential in the static area.

13 of your number still remain.

...How will this all end...?

MIASMA LEVEL: 4
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Comments

[kaliedoscopes]

Thanks. [ It almost sounds normal, and if she concentrates hard enough there might be something sincere in it, buried beneath everything else. He's always been kind of a walking miasma-esque being himself, so adding another layer of it shouldn't be that bad. But well—

He hugs her back, a long lasting embrace this time unlike their last at trial. This time, it's far less pleasant. The contact itself is probably kind of nice, if not for the fact that there's no real heat coming off of him, though unlike the other ghosts he's not particularly cold, he just is. But what isn't pleasant is the miasma that streams from him, suffusing through her clothes and into her pores. The miasma level didn't yet rise this week, but for Marona that's no longer the case, as she's now level 5, at least for now. ]

[oxidegreen]

[There's a small cry - pain, grief, anger as the memories slam into her full force, of a younger self who trusted in the kindness of others and was betrayed over and over again, and-

"I thought you were such a nice girl, but you were the Possessed all along! I bet you're the one who caused this, aren't you?"

It's not fair, it's not fair, she did nothing wrong, it's not fair it's not--

Her eyes are purple now, and her small body shakes with rage.]

[kaliedoscopes]

How's that? [ She could break his grip if she wanted, but he seems in some bizarre way at peace with holding onto her right now. It's all wrong and not the way it's supposed to be, but the manic edge that was in his voice relaxes into something almost normal. ]

It never gets easier, but you get used to it...

[oxidegreen]

[She doesn't. Even if she wanted to, there's no one to take out her anger, her grief upon.]

I hate them. I hate them, I hate them, I hate them...!

[But she's crying now, beginning to sob.]

[kaliedoscopes]

I hate them too. We can hate them together. [ Gently he rubs her back, the touch soothing if not for how the sensation is like pressing on a scab that's all too fresh. ]

[oxidegreen]

[There's another wince as she sobs even harder - it hurts. Everything about this hurts. Loss hurts. Death hurts. Even anger hurts, because there's still a tiny glimmer in her, a little wish wrapped up ever so carefully and tucked away...

A wish that they wouldn't hate her so much. A wish that she could have friends, instead.

...

Really... what were the chances of that?]

[kaliedoscopes]

I could end this right now, for you. It won't be okay [ He laughs, odd, and chokes the emotion down. ] it won't ever be okay in this place, but it will be better than it is now.

[ A squeeze, just a little tighter. ]

[oxidegreen]

[That... gets her to raise her head, eyes still purple and tears still staining her face as she shakes it in a "no."]

I can't. I can't... I can't join you yet.

[She tries to take in a breath, but between the tears and the anger it's a struggle.]

[kaliedoscopes]

Yet...Does that mean you've accepted it will happen eventually? [ He lifts one arm to wipe away her tears with his sleeve. ]

[oxidegreen]

Do you really think there's any way for us to escape?!

[Her voice cracks, border-lining hysterical under the negativity.

She can't take this. The despair she so carefully shoved down time and time again has begun to bubble over.]

[kaliedoscopes]

You know the answer to that, Marona. I should have told you sooner, and for that I'm sorry but...it's not too late. [ Equal parts soft and sharp. ]

[oxidegreen]

[It's so tempting.

It really, really is. It could all be over and done with, and so quickly. But...

But...

With a gasp, she pulls away.]

I can't... Not yet. I can't...

[kaliedoscopes]

[ He stares, eyes vacant. ]

Don't make me wait too long.

[oxidegreen]

[She's still crying, even as she tries to force herself to calm again.]

It can't... last much longer.