Nightshift 33: Main Hallway, 2 - West

[quickdrawbkiddo]

[from here]The Bride paused at the top of the stairs and listened. Quiet. It was quiet. If it hadn't been for the knowledge that there were people up here being tortured, she'd have thought she was the first to make it to the second floor. The Bride headed down the hallway, not even bothering to give the hallway where the torture was done more

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[officer_leon]

[from here]

Leon emerged onto the landing, and pulled out his map of the second floor. He shone the light on it, and squinted at the rough drawings. So much of this was incomplete... He frowned. Hopefully he'd be able to get a more filled in map soon.

"This seems like it'd be a good place to start," Leon suggested quietly, showing Clark the map and pointing out the janitor's closet. "Someone told me there was a staff kitchen with knives up here, too, but I don't know where that is." He hoped it wasn't behind one of the doors that you needed a key to get into. That would slow things down considerably.

[son_ofkrypton]

"Wish I could help, but I've never been there." Come to think of it, the furthest he'd been so far was the Chapel. Probably not what Leon wanted to hear, but there it was. Clark was pretty much in the dark about this as much as the cop. At least there was a cop here, Clark thought. He might have powers, but he was more than happy to obey the law and follow orders in a situation like this.

[officer_leon]

"Well, that makes two of us," Leon said wryly. He studied the map, memorizing the route they'd need to take. Straight across this main hall, then up the last hallway. Janitor's closet was the third door on the left. The 'extra storage' room behind the closet looked like it might have some valuable stuff in there as well.

He refolded the map, and nodded at the dark hallway stretching out before them. "Let's go."

[to here]

[numberii]

((From here. ))

Okay. Hauling Luxord up a zillion flights of stairs? Not so good. At least he hadn't needed to shoot anyone for using them, that wouldn't been bad. Same if he'd had a gimp knee or something. Even still, each stair felt like it took a year to get up, and Luxord's leaning didn't help matters either.

Once they were at the top, Xigbar slumped against the nearest wall, breathing heavily and grumbling to himself. "Dude... diet time, 'kay? And I'm never doin' this again. Ever."

[clockmongler]

"Excuse me?" Luxord coughed out incredulously before smacking his friend on the shoulder. "I am perfect. You, on the other hand, have the frame of a teenage boy desperately needing to hit puberty. 'Tis no wonder you can hardly carry me, love. Please, on no account should you resign from chess club because of me."

Insolent twit thought he could insult the Gambler of Fate? It was a well known fact that X could argue with more vigor and zeal than anyone else in the Organization. He could do so all night, if he wished.

"I feel the need to call you Troy. It seems like a pathetic enough name for you." And they said Luxord was weak... How dare II call him fat!

[numberii]

Xigbar winced at the smack, though he most definitely rolled his eye at the juvenile insults. Anyone who looked could totally tell that Xigbar had been a jock. Or perhaps a henchman. He was, after all, the only person in the Organization who'd ever worn a gray robe to an attack. "Dude, can it. Seriously. With your extra weight, it feels like my heart's about to explode. Maybe you should stop washing down your booze with more booze."

And oh yes, they could keep sniping at each other all night long (or until Xigbar really decided to snipe him,) but that wouldn't do anyone any good. So then, on they went!

((To here. ))

[cnflctofintrst]

[from here]

Mello had expected to find the hallway silent, but apparently, there were two others here engaged in some kind of witty banter. If anything out there had been attracted to sound, it would have already attacked them. Good.

Other than the two men, the beam of the flashlight revealed nothing but the space he'd seen the previous night. Mello continued, following his mental map.

[to here]

[quickdrawbkiddo]

[from here]

Beatrix ignored the presence of the others in this hallway. At least it showed signs that she'd been prudent in moving as quickly as she did. Even if it meant being turned into one Krispy Kiddo. She noted their positions and then headed down the stairs.

[to here]

[cnflctofintrst]

[from here]

Was this an example of what he'd theorized? Each time Mello moved past the other two in the hallway, he felt that he'd heard the last syllable of a statement, followed by a casual intake of air as if someone were preparing their next line. It seemed natural enough, but how long did they think they'd been here?

The desire to observe was strong, but if Mello knew anything about experimental physics, he knew that it was impossible to observe something like this without becoming involved in it. He might have even lost hypothetical hours considering the fact. With a scowl, Mello forced his mind back to the hallway and continued onward.

[to here]