Everyday, every second of my life Is a fight to survive

[connatural]

WHO: Ashley Magnus
WHERE: Fountain, Various location
WHEN: Oct 3rd, and then the weeks after
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: PG13? Will edit if needed

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October 3rd, Fountain Arrival

There’s little that brings out the worst in Ashley than being trapped. Finding herself surrounded, having led Henry in there with her, ready to do whatever she had to for their freedom. And then there is pain. Sharp pain shooting through her body, firing through her nerve endings until every inch of her feels burned, on fire, electrified. And as she realizes what is happening, everything goes blank.

Gasping for air as consciousness comes back to her but finding nothing but water. Rushing into her mouth as she is propelled upwards, choking on it as instincts kick in. Kicking as hard as she can for the surface, with all the strength she has. Breaking the surface with a wet, choking sound as she paddles, trying to clear her mouth and lungs. Casting about, seeing nothing but the edge of the fountain and certainly no one else.

“Henry!”

Ignoring how much her lungs hurt, diving back under the water, desperate to find him, painfully aware with each dive that there isn’t anyone else to find.

Later in the week, around the village

Wherever she was, Henry has not followed. There seems to be no way to contact her mother or the Sanctuary, and Ashley has no idea what the Hell kind of game the Cabal is playing but none of it is comforting. The only thing she is certain of - and it leaves her with a bad taste in her mouth to think about - is that they held her longer than the moments when she blacked out after they hit her, and it came with someone undressing her in a medical setting. That just is never a good thing.

Sure there’s the obvious buildings, the abandoned homes that make her think of a nuclear test facility and only confirms for her this is some kind of Cabal facility, and the people, but there aren’t enough answers. Not that she expects to find them easily.

So she might be found rummaging in the storerooms as she scans through anything she can find, often sitting on the floor to make notes in a book she found and is using the print as lines for notes. Other times she might be seen oddly checking all surfaces of the appliances, the items in the forge and mill, anywhere that might have production numbers, delivery information, or manufacturer information.

In the evenings she tends to stay around the dining room, listening in on others and trying to figure out if they’re foot soldiers playing a part or others that the Cabal has kidnapped as well. Listening for any information about abnormals here, more experimentation, or even if any have managed to escape. None to subtle about it either, occasionally making notes in the book as she goes.

Comments

[borneinblood]

It has, that much is true. Druitt isn't entirely certain whether or not that's a kindness on the part of the Observers, but it has done that. And if she happens to learn of her death at some point later, at the very least it won't be from him. He might not be the best of people, but if he can spare her that much he absolutely will.

"It's not the easiest to get to." Especially given that he's not sure if anyone's set up a way to get to the tunnel without having to manage at least some swimming. And with the recent change in the weather, he can't imagine that would be a terribly comfortable journey.

"But I can show you where it is?"

[connatural]

She goes still at that, quiet for a long moment and thinking about all of this. She's in a place she's never known and learning about more things than she's lost.

"Don't make me regret saying yes," she finally says, shaking her head as she says it. "Lead on then."

[borneinblood]

"I had hardly intended to."

There's no point to it, really. He won't deny, of course, that she has every reason to doubt his willingness to offer something like this and not have it turn out to be some sort of scheme. But there's no need for it to be at the moment. No need for him to use her presence as a blunt force instrument, much less any need for him to try and pull any sort of information out of her. Still, it's hardly the first time that someone has distrusted him, and it's not like to be the last.

(And if the fact that he is being genuinely helpful for once in his life throws her for a bit of a loop, he's not above making the most of that.)

"It's this way."

There's a nod in the direction he means - towards the shore, if Ashley recognizes it - and then he sets off, trusting that she'll follow along.