CH4: Open Season

After some time, we come up with a battle plan. We all decide that Esme and Arleth are open season, while Grace is only if she shoots back. I still can’t make myself shoot at her in case she really wants to help me. Maybe now with Calliope gone, she can listen to reason. So the plan is to go to the art classroom and get Grace and me to talk about some things while possibly taking out Esme. I am not happy to eliminate another player, but at this point Esmeralda is not very high on the list of people I want to survive with. So she has to go.

We leave the bathroom back to the main hall and cover each other as we try pushing to the art classroom. Arleth is back in her position and keeps getting expertly placed shots at us, so the only way to proceed at any point is to apply heavy fire towards her and have the others move. It isn’t looking too good for our ammo situation but we make it to the other side. After patching each other up, the med situation is also not looking too healthy. I peek into the art room and see Esme looking around nervously with Grace sitting close by. They are obviously holding the room. If I would have to guess, Esme is all out of meds and can’t risk getting hit while Grace is also either out, or unwilling to spare hers.

“I’ll shoot here, you guys go in!” Vinora whispers and I nod. I get against the door and put my hand on the handle. Vinora shoots into the room through the window and we hear the two scramble inside so I open the door and jump in. It’s very risky. Maybe one of the riskier things I’ve done, but it’s also the fourth day. I have to take risks to win this thing. I meet eyes with Grace who gets behind a desk and I do the same. The art classroom has some canvases up on stands and plenty of desks for cover. The place was looted long ago by either the Recreationists or the Retreaters, so now it’s only the place for the fight that’s about to ensue.

“No! No, no! Stay away! Don’t come here!!” Esme screams from the other side of the room and I almost feel bad. It’s obvious that she’s afraid. “We’re sorry, but there’s no other way!” I shout back and see her peeking from behind a canvas. “P-please! C-could we team up? I have plenty of ammo on me! We can share!” She tries and I keep my sights on her. “I… I can… I can give you all head! You can take turns on me! J-just, please! I need this!” She is really **** and I know it’s hard for her too. I heard her earlier when she was with Hope, and she absolutely doesn’t prefer being on the bottom. Suddenly there’s a swoosh and a ripping sound.

I look behind me and see Vinora with her crossbow. I look back at Esme and see a hole in the canvas and the redhead stumble out from behind cover with a bolt stuck to her shoulder. She collapses and moans scared. “Ha, gotcha!” Vinora cheers and I am glad it’s over at least. Suddenly I see two hands rise from between the desks and Grace’s head peek out: “Ok, ok. I give up. Don’t shoot me with that thing.” She gets up and seems to have left her guns down.

“Yeah! You keep those hands up, or I’ll shoot you too!” Vinora says and I get closer to her as Faye follows close behind me. I reach her and look at her as she’s standing with her hands up. I get stunned for a moment as I look at her body. Her hands up like this, her curves are so pronounced. Her tight belly and firm breasts. I take a moment and then look at her eyes. She looks at me silently. “H-hey, Grace.” I say and she stares back. “I… I’ve missed you.” I admit and she looks at Faye behind me and opens her mouth: “I honestly think you should’ve been eliminated right after Wicky. I don’t know what kind of ninja shit you pulled, But gee. Wicked stuff…” She says and smirks. I smile back and almost feel comfortable with her.

Vinora walks closer too while keeping Grace in check and I go fetch Grace’s two tactical SMGs. They are the ones Sofie had briefly. That reminds me. I put them aside and turn to Grace who sighs and looks at us silently. “Why did you…?” I get interrupted as Vinora bumps in: “Why’d you do that to Sofie, huh, bitch?!” I cringe and see Grace squint her eyes at Vinora who threatens her with her crossbow. “Because I liked how those guns looked.” Her cheeky comment makes Vinora’s face turn red and I have to touch her shoulder so she doesn’t shoot Grace.

“You little… What do you like about this bitch anyways, Lilah? Do you like the hat? The dark hair maybe? Couldn’t be face either. Ha. Or the bulge.” Vinora scowls and I hold onto her: “Please. Don’t say that. She doesn’t like it when you talk about her hat.” I say and smile at Grace who looks tense. Vinora pushes me back and spits: “No, nevermind our deal earlier. I’m not letting this bitch survive! She beat up my girlfriend!” Vinora shoots and Grace ducks and for a second I think the bolt hit her in the head, but then I see her hat fly to the other side of the room. I stand stunned and see Grace’s eyes go wide as she feels the top of her head.

I suddenly see her get a horrible expression as tears start welling up her eyes. She starts crying loudly as she stumbles and tries running to her hat. I am shocked to see such a visceral response to such a simple thing. It’s not like she has a bald spot or anything. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with her head. I hear another swoosh sound and Vinora fires another dart that hits Grace on the back and makes her fall down on the floor. I grab Vinora and notice just how scared I got – I can’t tell why though.