Megumi Etou (D4-D6) [[Pure Imagination, Part 1 out of 2]]
((OOC: Okay, because my post is too long I decided to split it up into two parts, again. >_> My second part not totally finished yet but hopefully will be tomorrow or day after. Approval by Daviid. Any problems/queries then come to me!))
Surely... surely it end soon...
As Megumi continue to wander almost blindly through the deep overgrown thicket, the damp surfaces of leaves brushing against her cold skin, her somewhat optimistic thoughts ran through her brain repeatedly. Although she was still highly alert, the constant rushes of adrenaline pumping through her veins enough proof, a majority of her attention turned towards her own words as if indulged into reading a book.
Got to keep moving...got to keep searching.
The reminders seem to help her keep going as Megumi's walking pace quickened, the insignificant twinge of pain rising up through her throbbing feet as she did this. It didn't matter though. Even through the burning gunshot wound from her arm Megumi had pressed on, fighting her way through the weakness that could hold her back. Even the small annoyances like her palm feeling clammy from holding the gun for so long or her eyes hurting from the lack of proper sleep had simply been pushed aside. All those matters she could reduce in a matter of minutes, perhaps seconds was no longer a factor now.
Time is of the essence...and time is something I don't have...
Again, her statements boldly spoke out to her yet the concern immediately drove Megumi to peer down at her wrist. The reduction of the light made it difficult to see where the hands on her plain watch stood but she could just make out that it was near 6 p.m. Already the next report was going to be announced and she had wasted four hours achieving nothing.
Being without a map and a flashlight was more of a challenge then she had imagined. Even though Megumi kept trying to memorize the grids from the many times she had studied it her mind stayed blank, not even knowing where the direction of the shrine was now. Even if she did, she would have most likely not returned anyway...
A large majority of the island seemed to be covered in woodland, each tree looking entirely the same, each pathway turning out exactly like the next. She had at one point stumbled across a isolated house with a large well outside. Even though the premises seemed empty Megumi didn't dare try entering, guessing that at this stage of the game most students was avoiding being trapped in a place where there was no easy opportunity of escape if need be. So she had entered back into the woods, the time quickly passing by and so, here she was now...
Three days...and there is...one left now? So when it's reached the end of the time limit then that must mean....
Breathing heavily, Megumi could feel her chest tighten at the image; the large arrows on the hands of the clock reaching it's expiration date, a noticeable click ringing out as doing so. For a moment it was totally silent, only the echo of the sound still lingering in the air before suddenly she could hear more ticking. This time faster, this time closer. And just as she realized where it was coming from, as soon as her hands went for her neck there was a stifled bang, a shower of red liquid and then darkness and she couldn't hear, speak or even breathe any more because she was...
Stop it.
Even though as tempting to do so as if like a reflex Megumi lowered her trembling fingers away from the metal collar. Secured tightly around her sweating neck for the past two days the sensation of actually feeling suffocated only seem to occur now. Maybe it was because she had actually forgotten all about it, that there was literally a bomb stuck to her. Perhaps it was best that way though, to forget.
It can't be said for everything though. Some things you have to face...to know the reality of it.
Even as Megumi continued to wander through the mist of grass though, the sound of it crunching underneath her feet sounding much louder in the tranquil environment, an opposing answer commented on her own sentiment. Maybe... maybe this is the sort of reality you don't want to face.
"Hey Megumi! Over here!"
Walking along the small path of gravel, the path ending instantly between the courtyard and the bike sheds (partially noticing that the intimidating new boy from her class, Shogo Kawada, was standing against them casually with a cigarette securely in his mouth) Megumi turned towards the source of the female call. She could immediately tell who's voice it was before she even looked in the direction of the playing field, her eyes gazing at the withered oak tree alongside it.
Underneath it's shade, the streams of the golden sunlight forming a semi-circle around it as if trying, without any luck, to penetrate the leaves, sat two girls. Although looking withdrawn from the many other students littered all over the area, many of the girls soaking in the sun while the boys nearby played a game of soccer Megumi smiled profoundly in return at Kaori Minami and Mizuho Inada. She couldn't help but add a little wave too as she drew closer to them, her bag swinging from it's strap, occasionally bouncing against her ribs as she made her way across the fresh green grass.
Days like this was one of her favorites; the sky a deep ocean blue with not a single grey cloud imbedded in it, the flowers as healthy and bright as the weather that gave it it's upmost beauty. Summer was surely the greatest season. Maybe it wasn't only her that she was glad that the holidays was approaching rapidly. Of course, she was going to miss a few of her teachers and her ideal subjects like Literature but they was soon going to return.
That's something I can manage without. Surely that's it?
No, she couldn't think of anything else...she was certain that she would see her friends throughout the holiday. They mainly did meet up at each other's houses on the weekends unless they had other unavoidable plans. Apart from that it was usually a weekly activity. Getting out of the house more was something she needed rather then being cooped over on writing her poetry.
She indeed knew her parents was worrying and it was only a matter of time before they got to the bottom of it but... she didn't want to burden them with her meaningless troubles. It was something she had to manage alone.
"It seems I guessed right that you be somewhere around here."
"Well the library shut so makes sense." Kaori answered with a grin, budging herself over to allow room for her to sit down. Although the grass tickled Megumi's legs she ignored it as she situated herself, carefully placing her bag against the roots of the tree. "Thankfully though, it's nice weather today. Should help with my spots hopefully..."
Megumi nodded confidently. She very well knew that Kaori was sensitive about the acne that swarmed her rosy cheeks. She would sometimes see her applying cream or some kind of product to it when she thought no-one was watching but it was understandable. She was aware that she was bullied because of it by numerous individuals but like herself, she kept her problems secret. "Maybe I should work on some kind of tan while I'm here? Think my skin needs a bit more colour."
Kaori giggled, adjusting her wide-framed glasses as she answered, "I didn't know that was something you wanted Megumi."
"I don't normally but...maybe it's time for a change?" Megumi sarcastically spoke, a laugh of her own blurting out as well, "Could give me a new image..."
"Lorela Lausasse Kaori knows that image is not of importance, only the will and understanding to become a warrior will prevail all in the mission to sustain the Holy Dikianne Tribe."
The unexpected flurry of words came from Mizuho who was now facing them, before busy trying to put a comic book back into her bag. Although she could feel Kaori's body stiffen up in embarrassment next to her Megumi exclaimed, "Oh...? Is that from one of your comics Mizuho?"
"Dear Megumi," Mizuho spoke, her voice sounding formal and knowledgeable, "Facts like this doesn't just come from stories. A majority of it is as true as you and I. Maybe someday the great Azhura Mazda will inform you of the reality we sacred warriors face to obtain the light of victory. Lorela Lausasse Kaori knows of this, isn't that correct?"
Bewildered, Megumi turned her astonished gaze towards Kaori, her entire face bright red, "Well...um...Mizuho wanted to play a game...I mean 'uphold the mission we have been given' before you came..."
Although slightly speechless Megumi nodded again. She knew of Mizuho's sudden change in personality from being her usual enthusiastic self to being 'a chosen space warrior' by some kind of god. It only seemed to be on certain days she would appear to transform into this super-being which although predictable, was always alarming for a while. It was something she had gotten use to because she knew Mizuho meant no harm although aware that Kaori would get deeply flustered by the whole process. "Well...can I join...?"
"You wish to know the ways of the Holy Dikianne Tribe Megumi?" Mizuho questioned modestly, her eyes shifting from her to the spindle-shaped glass attached around her neck. She knew that although the whole 'game' was eccentric Megumi couldn't help but ask. As long as it didn't happen in class then so be it. "Well if you are to be a chosen one too then a suitable name will have to be in order..."
"Thank you..." came a whisper next to her. Turning towards Kaori, Megumi gave another pleasant smile. As she waited for Mizuho to decide, her hand peculiarly rubbing her pendant as she seem to recite words to herself Megumi peered up at the still beautiful sun in the horizon. Maybe we all sometimes need to let go of reality for a while?
The report had come and gone now a little over a hour ago yet her sense of direction seemed to be dwindling.
Every time she came across a unfamiliar dirt track in the grove Megumi found herself immediately taking it, hoping that it would lead out into some wide, open space. Her legs, hands and cheeks was covered in shallow red marks from the many thorn bushes and branches hanging above that had swiped at her as if they had a mind of their own. She couldn't even find a strong stick that could be use to whack her way through, the ones she passed instantly breaking as soon as she picked it up. Everything seemed to on the verge of collapse. Soon enough, without any food or water, she would be too.
Keep going...at least it's lighter now.
Dawn was certainly on it's way, the particles of yellow light sprinkling through the gaps overhead a definite indication of this. Of course, the stars had gone long ago but now...now she could seem to manage by herself. Of course, she was still lost but at least she wasn't panicking as much as she thought she would. Gradually, it seemed she was controlling her fear.
Thanks Yukie...thanks for helping...
Megumi could feel a prickle of a tear form in her eyes from which she wiped away with the back of her sleeve promptly. The whole image of where Yukie could be now hurt her but...it wasn't the only thing that was upsetting her though.
"Let me remind you: that lifelong friend you have? The kid you had a crush on? The friend who saved you earlier on? They're only interested in themselves, now. Don't kid yourself otherwise: they will kill you unless you kill them first!"
Listening to the irritated speech from Sakamochi had been a mixture of disgust, anger and confusion. Another no deaths report was indeed going to annoy the officials in charge while as it was almost (almost?) a relief for herself but all those topics he had mentioned was, or seemed to be...related to her.
Of course there could be out of the remaining students left something in it to do with them as well. She wasn't the only one with a friend or having a crush on another student (So you admit it now...) but how would he know her friend, Mizuho, saved her? Did Sakamochi actually know who had a crush on who?
Maybe he, or them all, can see us...or hear us...
She had never actually thought about how was the game monitored. Taking a quick glance around at the top of the trees Megumi shook her head. Of course, if there was surveillance cameras hidden away they wasn't exactly going to be in eye-view. It was indeed creepy that they could perhaps be watching her every move or hearing every conversation she had in the past days. The paranoia of it was indeed taking affect now, her eyes darting at every obstacle she passed, her hands patting all the areas of her body in some idiotic way that could perhaps she could uncover a hidden microphone or something with the same similarities.
Maybe...maybe it could be...
Suddenly, Megumi's right foot collided against something soft as she approached a large patch of grassland. Flinching backward, her gun already aiming downwards at the obscure object, Megumi stopped her index finger from approaching the trigger by mere inches. Her drowsy eyes blinking rapidly as she looked closely, her alarmed expression contorting into confusion.
At first, it seemed like some kind of wide garbage bag, it's presence almost hidden beneath the shadows of the trees and relatively long grass by being the colour black. She could see a silver zip poking from one side, a diamond-shaped hole in the center of the object and various items scattered inside it. Oddly, the whole interior of it seemed familiar.
Could it be...!?
Lowering the gun to her side, Megumi found herself dropping onto her knees, her excited hands scrambling for it as she pulled the light bag towards her. Yes, it was indeed one of the supplied bags given at the beginning of the game, the exact same copy to the one she left at the shrine.
Digging inside the opening of it, Megumi found herself grinning astonishingly as she pulled out a crumpled map, the obvious signs of someone using it by the bold writing scribbled over it in the various zones. Finding the pen used for it after another search next to just one bottle of water and half a loaf of bread (realizing that she hadn't had nothing for almost a day, her stomach growling furiously a sign of this) Megumi began to scribble down the ten danger zones from the previous reports she had remarkably remembered.
As she finished Megumi studied the map, noticing that the shrine was now in fact a danger zone. She had been extremely lucky not to run into any of them although she still had no idea what zone she was in. Her original plan was to head over to the east side of the island so she could possibly be situated somewhere in the 'D' part of the grid but it was merely a wild guess. Guesses like that could cost me...
More gunfire in the distance rang out as she thought this, her entire body shivering as they stopped for a few seconds before starting again. The more the game went on the more she seemed to get to use it but it was who was shooting who that worried her. It could be some innocent student for all she knew or at the worst it could be...
No...no it can't be them. It won't be them.
Even as Megumi took the cap off the bottle, the cool water gushing down her dry throat that felt purely wonderful as it reached her stomach she could still feel herself quivering. The images was horrific, the scenes becoming much to bear as Megumi tried pushing them out of her mind. They kept returning though. It was as if a spirit, a curse, was latched upon her, following her, taunting her with the possibility...
Just leave me alone...
It was then Megumi found herself suddenly loading all the items back into the bag, forgetting to mark down the deceased classmates or to eat some of the hard bread. She just wanted to hurry up and go. She just wanted to find them, actually becoming more of a need as she threw the strap of the bag over her shoulder, walking faster into the distance.
Please don't be...please be okay...wait for me, just wa-!?
As Megumi looked up she found herself stumbling backwards again, almost tripping over a overgrown root as she noticed a shape lying face-up in the middle of the woods. It indeed wasn't another bag, the form more human as she looked closer, daring herself to move a bit more the nearer she got to it.
No...i-it can't....be...Is...it?