2. Explore the bunker complex fully.
It doesn't take you long to go pretty much everywhere; the bunker isn't cramped, but it's not exactly large, either. The only two doors you can't get into are the Armory and what seems to be Kyle's bedroom.
And, oddly, the exit.
Stairs lead up into what is obviously a trap door leading into the empty house, but the catch is locked with a solid looking iron bar. You'd need either the key or a welding torch to get out.\
The rest of the bunker is mainly kitchen, dining room, storage, a living room with several couches, chairs, bookshelves and carpeted floors, and a large room filled with glass tank with water and fish. There's only the one bathroom, which you haven't gotten into yet due to Jesse's shower.
Shawna watches you from her chair in the living room as you explore, but doesn't say anything.
Finally, bored, you sit down next to her. She eyes you and goes back to reading her magazine.
"So, Kyle keeps the exit locked up from the inside?" you venture.
"Yeah," she replies.
Her tone is flat and resentful. But you go on:
"Why?"
Shawna sighs and flips a page. "Because I tried to leave."
"Oh," you say. "How come?"
"Because I hate it here. There's nothing to do. He keeps me locked up in here like an animal."
"But it's dangerous outside. I'm sure he's just trying to protect you," you say.
"I didn't ask for his protection," Shawna replies.
You shake your head. "What would you do, if you got out?"
Shawna puts down her magazine and looks at you. "I don't know. Why do you care?"
You shrug. "Just trying to make conversation."
"My dad keeps me in here against my will. It's prison," Shawna says angrily.
You keep your mouth shut.
"My life was fine until..." Shawna makes a broad gesture. "All of this happened. I had friends. A job. A social life. Then my dad shows up and brings me to this place. Everything I know, gone. EveryONE I knew, gone. And being forced to sit around all day with nothing to do. There's nothing different about this place from a prison."
Shawna points at you. "And then you and that little slut show up. Eating our food. Drinking our water. Leading them right to us. You're not welcome here. You should leave."
Shawna abruptly gets to her feet and scowls down at you. "It's rude, you know. Just showing up like that."
"You don't seem like a very happy person," you venture.
Shawna's face goes red. "What the fuck is THAT supposed to mean?!"
You shake your head. Talking to this woman was a mistake. She seems determined to dislike you.
"Nothing. I just mean that I never meant to offend you."
Shawna's voice cracks. "Just... just get out! And take your little hussy friend with you!" She whirls and storms out of the room.
You sigh and close your eyes, cradling your head in your hands for a moment.
When you look up, Benny is browsing a bookshelf.
"I like her, personally," he remarks over his shoulder.
"Wonderful. Just what I need right now," you say. "My personal imaginary pervert."
Benny giggles, his back still to you. You can see something moving under his shirt. He picks out one of the books and starts thumbing through it.
"Extreme Deer Hunting: The Art of Hunting with the Bow and Arrow," he announces. "What a load of shit."
He flips the book closed and tosses it onto a coffee table. As he turns, you see the entire left side of his face has been eaten away. The worms writhe and twist through the holes in his flesh and skull. Bits and pieces drip to the floor.
"Disgusting," you say.
Benny picks at a worm and slurps it into his mouth, crunching it with his teeth. "I know! Personally, I'd have gone with a more subtle approach. Maybe dead skin, you know, a bit of pus. This is just too over the top for my tastes," he says, chewing. Greenish blood from the worm stains his lips and chin.
You turn away. Benny is suddenly sitting on a couch in your field of vision.
He smiles at you and wipes his mouth, and then puts his feet up on the table. "So," he says, resting his arm along the back of the couch. "What's up?"
"What's up? What the fuck do you want?"
"Nothing, really," Benny says. "Just checking in, you know, getting in some bro time. What about that Jesse chick? She's a tasty bitch, if I do say so myself."
"You leave her alone," you say.
Benny throws up his hands. "Hey, bros before hos, bro. I'd never touch her. You're my one and only."
"How romantic," you say sarcastically.
"But that's not the case with you, is it?" Benny says, smiling slowly. "You like her. You want to hold her."
You ignore him.
"Man, just a second ago you flipped the fuck out just because I mentioned her name," Benny says, laughing. "You've got it bad. Real bad. You think you can save her. You think you're going to be her knight in shining armor."
You grit your teeth and try to will Benny away.
"You know that keeping her around is probably the worst thing you could do for her, right? I mean, come on. I've freely admitted to trying to get her killed. You know I can take control of your body whenever I want. You're a walking time bomb," Benny says.
"Bullshit," you reply. "If you could take over my body, you'd have done it already and she'd be dead."
Benny laughs. "Alright, you got me. But we both know that what I'm saying isn't entirely untrue. You're not yourself, all the time, and it's dangerous for her to be around you. And yet, you won't get rid of her. Admit it. You're not keeping her with you to make sure she stays safe, you're keeping her with you because of your own selfish desires."
"That's not true," you say, but part of you wonders.
"See?" Benny says. "Right there. You agreed with me. Why won't you just admit who you really are? Stop pretending to be some kind of guard dog. Huh?"
You look up. Benny seems suddenly perplexed. "Guard dog. Guard dog. GUARD DO -- oh, you little bitch. That's not funny," he says, his mouth twisting into a frown. He suddenly vanishes.
The shower turns off and Jesse walks into the room, looking clean as a whistle. She's changed into some new clothes; fresh jeans, a black t-shirt and a brown cargo vest. She's pulling her hair into a ponytail. A few stray bangs fall in front of her eyes.
"I feel better," she says.
You don't reply, and she looks closer at you. "You alright?"
"We should talk," you say.
Jesse sits down and picks up the book on the table. "Canines and You: A Guide to Man's Best Friend," she reads. "Reading up on Collies?"
You shake your head.
***************************
1. "We should get out of here as soon as possible. The entrance is locked, I'm going to try to sneak in and get the keys from Kyle."
2. "You should stay here. I'm going on alone to find Nicole. It's safe here. I'll be back when I find her."
3. "You think we should tell Kyle about our plan to find Nicole? Maybe he can help us, or give us some gear at least."
Poll
4 (66.7%)
Author
Topic: The Ends (Read 59133 times)