4. "I think we can get the story later. What's important right now is getting me X-rayed again."
"I guess you're probably right," Jacob says, sighing. "Let's go."
Jacob starts leading you down the hallway toward the X-ray room. As you walk, Nicole skips along behind you, stopping every now and then to inspect some invisible object on the wall.
"I'm also worried about staying here much longer," you say.
"I was thinking about that, actually, this morning," says Jacob ahead of you. You strain to hear him, partially because he's talking away from you, and partially because Nicole is saying something in singsong behind you. "If the faceless are moving outward systematically, in --"
"London Bridge is falling down, falling dow --"
"-- obably using scouts at the edg --"
"-- on Bridge is falling do--"
"-- king for concentrations of food. Survivors, maybe, Or --"
"Ring around the posy, ashes, ashes--"
"-- could see a full scale attack any minute. But I --"
"-- ashes, ashes, ashes, ashes--"
"-- things seem to have at least some form of intel--"
"-- the worms go in and the worms go out, some are dead but some still live--"
"-- hen relay the information about what they find back to the main group."
You turn. "Nicole! Sweetie, please." Nicole goes quiet, folding her hands in her lap as she walks behind you.
You reach the X-Ray room. Jacob looks at you. "Well, whenever you're ready. No, Nicole, stand back. Here, with me. We're going to give him a X-ray so we can see what's inside him."
"Like his bones?" Nicole asks, wide eyed.
"Yeah, exactly," Jacob says.
"Gross," Nicole says. "But, also, sort of cool."
You shake your head. "Jacob, I couldn't hear you back in the hallway. What did you say? Nicole was--"
"Oh. Uh, let me think," Jacob says. "Just that, well..."
"If the faceless are moving outward systematically, instead of randomly, they're probably using scouts at the edge of their widening circle, looking for concentrations of food. Survivors, maybe. Or whatever. If they're more random about it, we could see a full scale attack any minute. But I don't think that's the case. These things seem to have at least some form of intelligence. I suspect they're using scouts who then relay the information about what they find back to the main group," he finishes.
"So you're saying that the first time we see any faceless here, it's only going to be one or two?"
"Exactly," he says. "Though I could easily be wrong. I agree with you, we can't stay here, regardless."
You go and lay down on the table. Jacob starts the machine and you close your eyes.
Good to have two again, you must admit. You'll be able to aim a lot better, at least. Depth perception was a bitch with only one eye.
Speaking of which...
The machine clicks and whirrs above you. It's over. Jacob says you can get up, and you do.
You've got a bit of time before the X-ray develops.
*********************************
1. Tell Jacob everything. Leave nothing out.
2. Tell Jacob everything, but say you chose Benny. Omit the fact you are continuing to see him, but admit you still think you're suffering hallucinations.
3. Tell Jacob everything, but say you chose Benny. Admit to seeing him after you woke up.
4. Ask for your guns.
5. Go see if you can talk to David. You did promise, after all.
6. Take Nicole aside, and talk to her alone.
**********************************