[ 004 ] Open || It's an animal thing

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[lightning_fists]

Tifa couldn't help but think... how nice it was to see a smile in a place like this. There wasn't much of it, as far as she had seen. The walls were made of rock, metal pipes and steel walkways weaving through the darkness. And the only source of light they were given were from oil lamps and service lights littered sparsely through the cavernous space. Only when they would pop open the skyline and refill the tunnels with fresh surface air twice a day did they ever receive any natural light. And that was only in ten minute intervals.

They were prisoners in a universe that weren't their own. It was understandable that no one smiled.

"I couldn't agree more." Still, her companion had a point. Closed in with nowhere else to go, and nothing else to keep their days entertained, it wouldn't take long for the other inmates to gather around. And given the other's state, Tifa would rather not risk a skirmish for survival. They could be so cruel here...

"This way." It's safer. It'll be easier. At least we'll have an advantage. "Hopefully no one goes hunting."

[zerosuitjill]

Jill's smile faded into a more neutral look. It was a step above the guilt-stricken, apologetic expression from before, but now her features took a few similarities from the look before that one, even: serious, alert, her eyes a little harder as they did an instant sweep over her shoulder. The look wasn't quite as blank as it'd been when under the virus' hold, but it was a reflex all the same, an immediate acknowledgement of the circumstances and the potential (or probable) dangers that lay ahead.

Fortunately, Jill was adaptable. It was a characteristic that had undoubtedly saved her life numerous times, and it helped again now: she was new to the area, but she wasn't ignorant of the situation. It was clearly a prison, one with unknown objectives, motives, or methods but the power all the same to back them up. She had questions, but the details didn't matter at the moment. Survival did.

Additionally, this young woman had obviously been here some time, was familiar with the place -- and she had helped Jill, saved her, put aside precious time to lend a hand when she could have put that same effort into trying to kill her. She was trustworthy, in short. If the idea of hunting was a bad thing -- and going by her tone and word choice, it definitely was -- then Jill wouldn't bother her with pointless questions. Not now, anyway.

In Jill's life and line of work, the biggest threats often came down to two types: the type you killed, or the type you ran from because you couldn't kill it.

Going by her currently battered and weaponless state, Jill was safely opting for the latter in this situation.

She gave a small nod and moved to follow, habitually making an effort to have as wide an area of vision as possible. "Hopefully," she agreed.

Key points of her body still ached, but pain was nothing new and this wasn't a new pain by any means. She could still carry herself confidently enough, her somewhat stiff movements aside, but image could only do her so much good. She was still a woman, a relatively small one at that who was clearly unarmed -- both of them were, which by the law of every jungle would put them among the first to be targeted.

It was cruelly ironic: in a manner of speaking, Jill had probably been safer under P30's influence. Better reflexes, longer stamina, not to mention no hesitation or limits on creativity when it came to killing. True, she'd lost a couple advantages in that regard -- but she wouldn't take it back under any circumstances. Not willingly.

[lightning_fists]

It wasn't exactly personal experience that pitted her to be cautious. Not technically. Tifa was simply a person who tended to be protective of others, especially when they had no means of fending for themselves. And she had been unfortunate enough to witness what happened to those who weren't lucky enough to be within range of someone's aid.

Whether they were deserving of their sentence to this hellish home, or of the punishment that were administered here, Tifa would rather not see anyone get caught by the Hellhounds again.

"They were fed yesterday, so that should give us a few good hours before they feed again." They were high up enough to avoid too much trouble. The young woman was glad to have stopped the battle where they did before the both of them toppled over the rail to the bottom below. Because that was no place for either one of them to be when she was exhausted and the other relearning the functions of her own body. "Can't guarantee the people in the Slums below won't go searching for some entertainment, though."

And Tifa knew a thing or two about people in Slums.

[zerosuitjill]

Jill didn't respond right away, instead taking precious time to focus on her movements, her motor functions, assessing which pains were worst and what physical actions she needed to try and avoid. She heard the other's words all the same, though, and thought them over just as seriously.

"Is this place as bad as it looks?" she asked finally, having caught her breath enough to do so. "Or is there anywhere that can be called relatively safe?"

She had her doubts about that, but it didn't hurt to ask. Jill was thorough, and in that regard there were no stupid questions except for the ones that wasted time -- and while time wasn't exactly on their side, they had a little bit of it as long as they were moving. She could be thankful for that.

[lightning_fists]

Glancing upward at the question, her wine-red eyes traced over the circular plate that marked the guard's tower. It was true that appearances could be deceiving. She was walking proof of that. Perhaps they both were. But there were no misconceptions to this place. In the people who were imprisoned in the rock, perhaps. But not the planet itself. At least none that Tifa had ever seen.

"We make due with what we can. But there's only one real safe place on this place. And that's up there."

Gripping on the rail tight at a steeper part of the ramp, the young woman paused for only a moment to stretch out her hand towards the top. Her finger circled in the air high, and Tifa waited for the other's eyes to follow before continuing.

"That's where most of the guards are stationed when they're not disciplining or feeding down here. [ Wipes at her forehead and resumes their trek upwards. ] It's the safest place you could ever been here. And that's not saying much.

...Even the surface is dangerous on Crematoria."

She stopped it there. No need to go further on the details about the place. Not unless the other really wanted to know about the gritty details.

[zerosuitjill]

Jill followed the gesture, eying the indicated place with a narrow look and no comment. That was as much detail as she needed for the moment; her imagination could fill in some blanks.

"Makes you wonder why a place like this would exist in the first place," she murmured. It was low, but not inaudible to her companion. This place's purpose aside -- its faulty purpose -- everything about it felt like overkill. Jill had her demons, her skeletons, whatever she wanted to call them, but her guilt aside, she knew she didn't deserve an end like this -- neither did this young woman, she was sure.

"And no simple way out, either," she guessed, loud enough for it to be conversational.

[lightning_fists]

At the clank of gears and squeal of springs turning to life, the young woman's gaze instantly went up. Much like they all did. Whether out of habit, curiosity, or some sick semblance of hope, Tifa looked skyward while they moved to open up the vents and lift up the guard tower above the surface. - 'Popped the cork' as some inmates called it. - And with it came the first real, fresh breath of new air since the day before. A fifty-two hour wait well spent. And even then, there was lingering traces of sweltering heat from the approaching dawn.

Twenty more minutes of that and the countdown would start all over again. What happened in between, well... that was for the prisoners to tell.

"Isn't it obvious?" Taking in one last, deep breath, she willed herself to turn away to continue the trek onward. A little more of that and she'd start to miss home again. A little bit more of that hope, and Tifa would likely decide to do something stupid. "People get sent here to disappear."

[zerosuitjill]

Jill's eyes followed the other's reflexively, taking in that sight just as briefly.

She gave a sharp exhale at that comment -- irritation, exhaustion, skepticism, maybe a little of each -- but instantly regretted it as fresh pain shot up her side. Wincing, she paused mid-step and leaned more heavily on the wall.

Sent here to disappear.

Why? If they had that power, why not just kill them outright?

Jill knew the answer before she even finished the thought.

A game. It was all a game, it was why she'd been twisted and somehow subjected to the virus again -- all for someone's disgusting amusement, a roll of the die in a random scenario to see how things played out. No matter how, it would be no loss for those observing.

"Sorry," she breathed, shaking her head to try and clear it, but the pain stayed. She could feel fresh blood pumping against her makeshift dressings in time with her uneven pulse, maybe a result of her sudden surge of anger. It was sapping what was left of her strength, too, so she did her best to try and clear her mind. She could be mad later, when they were something closer to safe -- if there was such a thing.

[lightning_fists]

"It's alright." She understood the fatigue. She understood the process involved in getting your life back together in the midst of this prison - that it was probably nearly impossible to even manage that. Hope was a scarce resource down in the pits, even for someone so full of it like Tifa. When everything seemed so bleak and dark, a little bit of light was hardly enough to combat against it. While not quite as bad, it had been a similar revelation for her when the realities settled in.

Tifa was stuck there. And short of some miracle or saving grace that would free them all from this hellish nightmare, it was likely that she, as well as the rest of then, would spend their last days just waiting for the next breath of fresh air. And that was a sobering thought for anyone.

So it was a good thing that the young barmaid wasn't just anyone.

Reaching out, she paused for one brief moment before placing a hand against the other's arm, offering without words help if Jill wanted it, or simply a chance to decline if she didn't. "Come on, it's not much further."

And she only managed a step further before the quiet hiss of steam from the pipes and dead silence of the day was utterly interrupted, an alarm blaring a warning that everyone learned to recognize after experiencing their first Feeding Frenzy. She gripped Jill's shoulder hard, then, thinking more of finding shelter for the both of them rather than the other's comfort as she began tugging the other woman along. Now was not the time for pleasantries. "Time to go."

[zerosuitjill]

Jill was about to voice her thanks when the alarm pierced through her head like a fine needle, earning another wince but at the same time sharpening her concentration. She didn't need the grip on her shoulder to tell her the nature of what it meant, but the touch confirmed the unspoken and added another level of urgency.

She would have nodded, or agreed, but instead chose to save every bit of the little strength left by just stumbling along after the other. She didn't fall, but her limits hadn't been pushed this far and stretched this thin in a long time -- each clumsy step made her ache all over, her throat was dry and her lungs felt like they were full of ash, and she was certain she was going to end up twisting an ankle in this stupid heels. She managed to stay upright and keep going, though, directing all of her focus to the person in front of her to try and block out the pain. It didn't exactly work in numbing the agony, but it kept her pushing on.

Just a few more, she told herself every few steps. Just a little more and you can stop.

With those few, feeble words sustaining every ache and pain racking her body, Jill gave herself entirely to her guide in being led along, practically blind as her discomfort limited her vision to the few feet around them.

[lightning_fists]

All around them, cages clanged shut in a mad rush to block out an attack from the Hellhounds. All around them, the hard slam of metal bars against rock sounded a primal rhythm of escape that had become like second nature to them after being imprisoned for so long. And with each door that was closed to them, their chances of being caught and eaten alive became more and more likely. Already, she could hear the gutteral growl and snarl of the dogs as they moved through the walkways and found victim after victims who were simply too slow to find shelter or protection.

Glancing back at Jill, she got a rather determined look in her eyes and dropped her grip on the other's arm. And with quick and urgent steps, she reached out just in time to grab at a swinging door, keeping it from shutting them out of the cell. And it was in that moment that she caught sight of a Hellhound slinking its way over, sniffing around for any stray lambs still wandering around in the open.

"Jill," she called softly, barely above a whisper, "How fast can you move?"

[zerosuitjill]

Fast enough.

Jill was too exhausted, her lungs too pained and her voice too broken to say it aloud, but it was the truth all the same. She'd used up her last strength reserve at the end of their fight, but there was more to survival than strength and stamina and even adrenaline, something that she'd learned time and time again in her life.

The ultimate key to survival was will, and Jill Valentine had never lacked that much. Not when it mattered.

It was her mind that moved her body -- the instinct to live, fear of a horrible death at the jaws of whatever was behind them (she'd come too far, faced too many of the same things to die by them here, now, lost and at the mercy of people who had none), stubbornness, and a fiercely protective flare of emotion towards this stranger, risking everything to help her. She wouldn't allow that risk go to waste by letting either of them die. Not like this.

Jill didn't reply -- her answer was her action, a will-driven, desperate dive past the girl, the door, and into the cell beyond where she hit the hard floor on her side. She would have cried out, but that was the very last of her body's capability at that point. Her final act for the time being, but it was enough.

[lightning_fists]

Granted, given her injuries, Jill had been fairly quick. But she was, obviously, not at her best. And nothing compared to a dog of war that was bred for hunting.

She needed a few seconds more of time.

And it was with that realization that Tifa twisted around the gated bars of the cell door to deliver a near suicidal kick to the Hellhound's head - after the fall of Meteor, the threat of monsters was a constant danger along Gaia's roads ways; you had to learn to deal and survive, or just stay at home - stunning it just long enough for Jill's last minute dash and dive into the stone prison. And then the young fighter was scrambling to get inside after, yanking with all her strength and slamming the cage door behind her.

Not a second after, the beast slammed its body against the bars, paws clawing at air trying to get to her and nearly shaking the entire complex to its core from the force.

[zerosuitjill]

The most Jill could manage, after a moment, was rolling onto her back, first giving the other woman a quick once over -- she was okay, no obvious injury if she'd received any -- and the door was shut, and that canine monstrosity was locked out.

She relaxed.

All at once her body's misery caught up with her, and she was aware of every little bruise and scrape she'd accumulated since this all began. Her suit clung uncomfortably to her moist skin, only increasing her desire to get out of it, and sweat stung at where it touched the wounds on her chest. She wouldn't be moving very well anytime soon, let alone doing anything even vaguely reminiscent of fighting.

Still, she managed a quiet, breathless word, barely audible above the hound's snarls and clanging.

"Thanks."

[lightning_fists]

The monstrous, over-sized pup lingered only a few moments more before turning away to seek other quarry. It became clear to him that there was no meal waiting for him beyond this point, not with the bars closed to him and his limited reach. But that didn't stop the beastly leer he sent in the young woman's direction before stalking off.

Breathing not quite as hard, but heaving for air all the same, Tifa turned her attention to the other's breathless thanks. "Don't mention it."

And it would be a good thing that Jill couldn't move much at the moment. Because until the designated 'Feeding Frenzy' was over, they were all stuck in the cell, left to wait out the screams and cries from those who weren't as fortunate toe escape the jaws of the Hounds that roamed the complex for a meal to satisfy their empty bellies.

She would have to be careful the next time they were released, Tifa was sure. There was no guarantee that the dogs would still remember her during their next confrontation, or even if they used the same Hounds for each deadly game of chase. And the barmaid wasn't going to press her luck on the matter to find out.

Kneeling down beside Jill, she rested a light, gloved hand on the other's shoulder, a soft look of concern showing in her brows. "How are you holding up?"

[zerosuitjill]

Jill needed a moment before she could reply -- or do anything, really -- and she didn't rush herself. Her breath still raked at her throat and lungs like hot ashes, her limbs were feeling less like lead and more painfully, shakily light. She knew the signs of overexertion, and she'd pushed herself way past her limits and then some. She'd be feeling the result for a few days -- but at least she was alive to do so. That, she would never regret.

Finally, her breath a near whisper, she managed a reply a long moment later.

"Been through worse."

All things aside, she couldn't hide the slightest of smiles as she said it. True, if not exactly helpful in the current situation. "I'll... need a while."