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One day I will set this right
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Post by Geoff Alen on Jul 17, 2020 23:25:23 GMT
Geoff was done with his food and pushed the now empty tray away. He had only eaten half of what they had been given. Strange to say, he was kind of craving that bread he had in his last room. Maybe slather some of the food in between to create a sandwich. It was better than the same meal over and over. He craved variety, and it was something he was not getting. It was back to the same "first world problem" routine of meals. The truth was, it wasn't just because of the routine that held his appetite at bay. It was the continuous racing thoughts he was having about being thrown into this...well, no better word for it than 'asylum'.
He looked down at the ring on his hand. The bright gold clashed with the black of his FitBit. He pressed the button to check the time. It flashed a few numbers before giving him the stark 'LOW BATTERY' signal. Yeah, yeah, it'll get a charge once the police come. If the police come. He was still "married". But like Emer said, there was no way the marriage was legal. If only he had looked closer at the marriage contract to see if it was legitimate.
How was Hannah anyways? Was she thrown into the darker, gritter rooms that were farther away from the honeymoon suites? Geoff's heart stopped at the thought of that. Sure, Hannah had more friends in this place to keep her company, but he knew that she was starting to lose hope. He kicked himself for not asking Ethan about her. He leaned against the wall.
Forced marriages....imbeciles....killed anyone who didn't listen...the pact he made with the 'wedding' spectacle to pass on new information...Helena...
That's right. Helena. The blonde woman who had spent $5,000 for years on plastic surgery (another thing Geoff had done to pass his time with Emer was run calculations with the bills they had found along with her picture). Had she been part of a group that had been captured here and went through the same motions? Was she still even alive? He closed his hand into a fist. The thoughts were racing faster than people on a Maidefield road near the mountains, and it was beginning to frustrate him. Taking that fist, he knocked onto the wall.
"Can anyone hear me?"
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we got out but at what price?
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Post by Hannah van de Berg on Jul 18, 2020 0:08:37 GMT
After catching up with jessica hannah found herself alone in the room. Hannah would be lying if she said she did not want to grab a pillow and just scream into it.
She took a shaky breath in as she however was once again sitting with her back against the wall. She did not really have the energy to do anything or get up. She just stared at the ground. How long would it take before she lost her mind.
With jess mostly writing everything hannah had gotten used to the silence. While the young girl couldn't help it, the silence made hannah much more aware of her own thoughts. Something she had dreaded before. A sudden knock on the wall made her jump a bit as she turned to the wall.
"Can anybody hear me?" Her eyes widened. But, that was Geoff! Her heart beat fastened. Oh god she had been so worried. JESSICA had been so worried! "Geoff!? It's me Hannah..! Are you okay?"
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Survivor
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One day I will set this right
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Post by Geoff Alen on Jul 18, 2020 0:26:01 GMT
“Hannah! Oh thank God, you’re safe, too,”
Geoff’s voice cracked from the sheer relief. Everyone he knew so far was doing okay. He hitched to catch his breath. There had been no weird torment going on, and while he would be suspicious at things going so well, he could worry about it later. No numbers and equations flying by his head. No “who is going to be paired up now”? Aoi was in the room with him, Hannah on the other side. Who was her roommate? Was it Kim? Jessica? Someone he hadn’t gotten acquainted with - and no, the gun game didn’t count as a first meeting. He wracked his head. Almost all the women he had names and faces of. The guys, not so much.
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Post by Hannah van de Berg on Jul 18, 2020 0:54:36 GMT
Hannah listened to his voice. She sighed in relief. "Yes I am fine, you weren't hurt either?" She asked as she was still very much worried. She did not think either of them had been in an event since the card game, but she had to check and make sure.
Hannah had never met or seen Aoi however she remembered she was someone geoff was close to. "Oh thats good.. is she well?" Hannah asked him. " I am roomed with Jessica, she is okay. Actually she asked about how you were, I'll tell her youre behind the wall once she comes out of the bathroom" She told geoff. Jessica would have a lot to tell him she supposed.
Hannah looked at her ring. She did not know if anything had changed between them after that strange game they had to play. She hoped she had not messed things up by kissing him. "Have you been in any events..? Or .. heard about them?"
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Survivor
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One day I will set this right
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Post by Geoff Alen on Jul 19, 2020 21:23:27 GMT
"No," Geoff answered, shaking his head.
She sounded worried. Inwardly, something that felt heavy was gone. The sense that he wasn't good enough and that he wasn't going to escape this bizarre hellhole. Hannah had sounded worried for him, and it made him feel, in a strange way, like he was wanted. How long had it been since he even felt like that? He wasn't hurt physically but mentally, he was taking on way too many beatings. Some from the growing mistrust of some of the others, the rest from his own insecurity and frustration. All he wanted was to make this wrong he committed right.
Hannah said he was roomed with Jessica, and he sighed. "I was getting worried about her. She's a strong girl, but with the craziness going on, well..." And Kim would feel absolutely horrible if anyone hurt a hair on Jess' head.
The inevitable questions of games went up. Of course. It was being far too calm for there not to be a conversation about the Saw like games. "Heard about them, yes. Been in them, no. Before this, I was neighbors with Ethan. He told me about this...nasty truth or dare game. No one died thankfully. In the end, Kim's friend Sawyer was the lucky bride to someone named David. If there's been another match made, something tells me there's going to be another wedding." And when that was going to be was open ended.
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Post by Jessica Fleming on Jul 19, 2020 21:54:52 GMT
This bathroom was not the best that Jess had in her life, but it could be much worse. However, the girl still tried to make it quick. It was not like she was so uncomfortable because of the cameras as she was at the very beginning but still it was a rather tedious procedure.
The girl quickly put on her favorite grey sleeveless shirt and sage jeans and came back to the room. And she did it just in time - Hannah was having a conversation with someone behind the wall. Jessica felt her heart beats faster. It could be one of her friends, alive and okay, or just another ally in this mess.
Although she arrived at the final part of the conversation and could not hear the beginning, the girl still recognized Geoff's voice. She sighed with relief and quickly grabbed her book and crayons. Jessica knew that Hannah could read her notes for her but probably she would whisper some stuff too.
Jess has stopped on her way, hearing that Geoff was worrying about her. That was very sweet and nice of him. Like, she was not only one who was sitting idle and worrying. Especially considering that their last conversation had not so good end... And he also believed that she was the strong one, despite of her behavior during Russian Roulette... But Jessica despite all self-loathing had to admit - it could be much worse and she acted as brave as she could.
When Jess handled her emotions, Hannah has asked the most important question. Once again, they were totally on the same page. Jessica felt relief hearing that Geoff did not participate in any game and he was not hurt. Maybe there was hope for all of them after all. He also knew about the game David has told her and just hoped that Etherek avoided all these gross details that gave fuel to her nightmares.
The girl approached the wall and whispered because she could not say a word louder:
"I'm here, Geoff," she said and after that began to write, so Hannah could read it aloud for her:
"I hope Etherekan spared the details. It was just awful and I'm afraid for our future more than ever before."
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Survivor
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we got out but at what price?
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Post by Hannah van de Berg on Jul 19, 2020 22:14:37 GMT
Hannah sighed in relief. Good he had not been hurt. Or well at least physically. It made her a bit more at ease to hear he was allright. It was strange but in the short period of time she had known some of the people here, she had become very much attached to some of them. Geoff certainly was one of them. Hannah had been shocked and terrified at their first meeting yes, but knowing now what mrs baker was capable of? She was glad geoff had done what he was asked to do. She was glad the man had not angered the crazy match maker.
She looked up when she heard some footsteps behind her. Seeing Jessica return to the room she quickly waved her over as the redhaired girl quickly caught on and hurried to her side. A small smile grew on her lips as she heard Geoffs kind words about her roommate. Jessica seemed to apreciate them as well. She moved out of the way a bit. That way jess could join her. She was silent so Jessica could talk to Geoff. Her voice was soft but hearing it was returning to her made hannah glad. If there was ONE good thing to come out of being locked away in rooms, she hoped Jessica could get her voice back.
She waited for geoff to speak to jessica as she looked at her notes. "Jessica hopes you were spared the details" she said. She hoped Jess would not strain her voice too much. This would totally work. "Shes also scared for what may come.. and well I understand why to be honest. I am just glad you weren't hurt" Hannah admitted
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Survivor
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One day I will set this right
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Post by Geoff Alen on Jul 19, 2020 23:46:25 GMT
A very quiet whisper echoed through the wall.
"I'm here, Geoff."
Jess? Jessica was getting her voice back! It was a miracle, and probably one of the only good things Geoff could say happened in this place. Jessica had been holding on, probably going through a lot. He wouldn't make her strain her voice. He made a note to ask for Morse Code 101 from Jess when he was done with the 'telegraph' relay. Ironic. Here he was, a robotics engineer, learning Morse code, which was invented by an engineer. He remembered the lesson from the grad school days. Boy that made him feel old. Older than the people thrown in here.
"Hi, Jess," he greeted her, "Glad to be close to you. I'm sorry that our last talk was so awkward. But it's in the past, so we can move on."
There was some silence for a while. Jessica must have been writing something down and Hannah was looking at it so she could dictate. He knew the redhead was probably getting frustrated. Like he expected, Hannah read him a note from her.
"He told me what happened on his end and about Sawyer and David being matched up, but that's it," he answered Jess' question. "As for what's to come, I think I'm on the same page.I'm happy to be close to people I can trust and talk to, I'm still weary for what could happen next. This matchmaker lady could pull the wool over our eyes."
Was this her new strategy? To put people close to those that were in relatively close speaking terms with each other side by side or even in the same room? I mean, it didn't make sense with his situation with Emer. While he had apologized and respected her space, the fear had still been there. Whittling it to even being a few feet to talk about Helena was a milestone in of itself. Part of him wondered where she wound up. Was she someplace safe as well, surrounded by people she could let her defenses down with?
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Post by Jessica Fleming on Jul 22, 2020 16:13:37 GMT
Jess could not but smile, hearing Geoff's voice talking to her. Yes, their previous conversation did not end well but still, the girl had a lot of time to think about it. She made some important conclusions during this process and the most important one was forgiveness. She knew from the beginning that it was not Geoff's fault and he was just another victim but still he was a part of her nightmares. However now things were much clearer and even though Geoff could not realize the inner struggle the girl had, she believed that she needed to say this out loud. Even not to write.
"I forgive you," Jessica whispered, holding closer to the wall. It was hard for her to speak even in such a quiet manner but she hoped that Geoff gets what she means anyway. Russian Roulette, not just their last conversation when Jess was between two fires. Actually, Geoff has not done anything wrong about other things...
Kim
Jessica sighed and decided to write this part down for Hannah to read.
"Kim (our mutual friend) was in my previous room but she asked me to be careful and just disappeared and I got Dean instead," the girl believed that Geoff would like to know more about Kim's fate. "She was hurt in a neck and her hair was cut but overall fine. Still, there is something fishy about all of this," she finished her writing and passed it to Hannah with an awkward smile. Jessica did not want to inconvenience but it was not like she had much of a choice.
Jess could only be happy for Geoff. David's story was horrible and now Jessica knew what exactly she should be afraid of. Being killed or handicapped for some unclear motives.
...Gosh, they were clearly NPCs in some GTA + Horror game.
"So... no escape plan?" Jessica sadly smiled when she was writing this. "Because it seems that for now the best strategy is just to follow these ridiculous rules and hope that SHE forgets about us for a long time." Really, what else they could do? All of them were helpless... and worthless, the kidnapper chose the most appropriate word to describe the prisoners.
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Survivor
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we got out but at what price?
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Post by Hannah van de Berg on Jul 23, 2020 16:58:17 GMT
Hannah looked at jess with a soft smile as she decided to let both of them talk together. Clearly they had been worried about each other. She was glad that she had picked up on Geoff calling out. The brunette did not know what had happened between the two of them but she hearing them make up to each other made her glad. Hannah thought Geoff was a nice person and Jessica was as well if she had to be the judge of it.
Hannah took the papers as she looked at what Jessica had written down. "oh goodness.." she mumbled softly as she read about their friend. " Geoff, Jessica said that she was roomed with Kim. She told her to be careful and after that she was gone and jessica got roomed with Dean instead. What is concerning though is that kim was looking different. Someone hurt her neck and her hair was cut. Jessica added she seemed mostly fine though. It is just concerning.. And i gotta say I agree." she spoke. " was kim in some kind of event..? " she asked. She couldn't remember recent events where kim could possibly be involved in.
She looked back at Jessica as she saw what she wrote. " Jess is asking about a possible escape plan. She hopes the woman forgets about us by playing by the rules. " she said out loud. " I think that playing by the rules and keeping the woman as a "friend" is smart for now." She lowered her voice a bit as she looked away so the camera wouldn't pick up on it. " I spoke to Dorian and we came to the conclusion that we have to wait for a slip up. There are so many people, she is bound to make a mistake some time.." she said " But even though we have to wait for that moment, we should not be reckless. We can not help anyone when we are dead.." she said.
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Survivor
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One day I will set this right
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Post by Geoff Alen on Jul 23, 2020 17:34:26 GMT
“Kim was tortured?’l
Geoff’s voice cracked. No, no, no. Of all the people, he didn’t want Lim to be there. The Russian roulette had been enough. She was good and sweet, afraid of what could happen. She would do anything to everyone who was here. The nightmare was beginning to show its ugly head, like a zit. Was that zit ready to pop? Geoff didn’t know. He tried to reason that at least Kim was alive. A haircut was fine, but her thrust nearly sliced? Geoff clenched his hand into a fist. He wanted to punch the walls. Punch until a hole was made so he could crawl to that basement, confront the Chinese woman that had locked everyone here, and punch her. She was the only one he thought of that was even capable of such torture. There had been no name drops, and Kim was Jess’s best friend that told her everything, so he knew there was no one to blame but the woman.
Hannah mentioned that someone named Dorian was suggesting a possible split up. He didn’t know a Dorian, but Geoff would agree that spreading ideas out was good. As for an escape plan, he was drawing blanks. Escape was nearly impossible. Not without dying after just getting our.
“It’s like what Katherine said. Following the rules, no matter how bad they are, is the best means of survival. I’ve also been looking for clues...Yeah, surprise. I found a phone jack in the room, as well as my Fitbit. It shows the day and time, and well, I doubt number of steps doesn’t matter now.”
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Post by Jessica Fleming on Jul 24, 2020 20:26:02 GMT
Jess was feeling uncomfortable thinking about Kim and her wounds but her peak of emotions was over. She accepted the fact that she got hurt but still she could not accept that she was gone. Jessica has promised to find her and she will, even if it is the last thing she will do.
Hearing Hannah's question, Jessica closed her eyes, trying to remember what exactly her friend said. "She said she didn't," Jess wrote. "But tbh, I doubt that. She just did not want to tell me because she tried to protect me." What this event could be? Maybe another matching game and Kim was gone because she became someone else's wife? Maybe she was with Evan now, or Etherek... the last variant is more possible since love-hate relationships were classic. However, Jess could not but feel mad just thinking about it. And not just mad... but jealous.
"She was not tortured, I hope," Jessica hurried to add to calm Geoff down. "It was looking more like a warning... Maybe that was why she was so careful."
Hearing Hannah, Jess nodded. She could not stop surprising by the similarity of their perception. It was a real case for her and she appreciated that.
Now Dorian reminded her of Aaron Burr. Wait for it, because fools who run their mouths off wind up dead... Jessica was sticking to this strategy her whole life and maybe Dean was right. That was why she was still alive. It's enough.
"Let's wait for it," Jessica wrote, feeling how hideous she was. Maybe she was just a coward? She wished to be a hero but... they don't live for long. "It seems that this woman becomes more and more insane. She cannot think rationally anymore."
Geoff's words got Jessica interested. She missed her precious gadgets and the genius engineer not ironically got at least something. "What day and time is it then?" Jessica wrote, wondering. It was hard to say for sure how long they were there. Eternity or something close to it.
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Post by Hannah van de Berg on Jul 24, 2020 20:44:49 GMT
Reading what Jess had written made her think. A secret event? "Do you think she is being blackmailed?" She asked. "You and Kim seem close, I think she would tell you if there was important info.. it could be why she was taken away from you as well." She thought out loud.
Hearing Geoff freak out made hannah bite her lip a little. She looked at Jessica for awnswers. "Jessica said that she did not look like she was tortured. More as if she was warned. That makes me think even more that she might be blackmailed." She added. She gave Jessica a worried look. "Why and what with that is the real question.." she said softly. She hoped Geoff could calm himself down. He had the brains to think along. He was most likely the smartest person she had met so far. They needed him if they wanted to make sense of all of this. Or that was her opinion
At the mention of katherine hannah's eyes widened as she remembered the talk she had with dorian. She had not seen or heard of katherine for so long. "You have spoken to katherine? How was she doing..? Is she allright?" She asked in a worried way. She had promised she would do anything to help her friend who had become more like family to her and was intending to keep that promise. She looked at Jessicas words. "Yes, I agree. Jessica says our best shot is to wait, she will make a mistake some day.. its better to be smart about it instead of brave. For now anyways" She agreed.
At the mention of the time hannah smiled weakly as she held up the watch. "Its Tuesday.. around 2 PM"
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Survivor
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One day I will set this right
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Post by Geoff Alen on Jul 24, 2020 21:43:23 GMT
“It’s Tues....” just before he could finish answering Jess’s question, Hannah finished for him. This Fitbit matched what she was saying exactly. He was impressed. Maybe art cane with the added bonus of being could at deciding things? Maybe in boredom, she had started counting the days and her scratched tallies we’re in some part of the house? There would be markings from the past events here, but Geoff hadn’t found any. all except the picture and bills from whomever Helena was.
“How did you know that?” he asked Hannah.
There was another question he had to ask the duo. If Kim had been blackmailed, like Jess described, it meant their kidnapper was doing something beyond scheduling matches. Had Kim had a near brush wit death only to walk away with short hair? Not unlike Sawyer who had her hair shaved off according to Ethan? What was the motivation behind giving the girls short hair? Was it a symbol of shame? There were no paintings to talk about symbolism with. He didn’t know what room theirs was like. His was orange upon orange, like the set of a Sunny Delight commercial - Pft, that showed his age. If his room was orange, maybe theirs was red or yellow. A sort of rainbow code to go with the medal theory. Rainbow code, or maybe even the colors of the Olympic Rings.
One teensy problem. According to their “matchmaker”, Geoff was technically married. So why would he be in the competition matchmaking room? It would make sense for him to be in a room more like the one he and Emer were in prior. Was she having second thoughts? He hoped.
“Have you two been involved in anything? Or hear from anyone. There’s obviously more than one game going on, it seems,” he pitched logically.
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Post by Jessica Fleming on Jul 25, 2020 16:56:04 GMT
Hearing Hannah's suggestion, Jessica nodded. Considering Kim's behavior and how emotionally exhausted she was... that was quite possible.
"She did not have time," admitted Jess in her writing. "She was exhausted and fell asleep almost immediately. When I woke up she was gone as if I just imagined her," but Jessica knew that she did not. Kim was real and she had proof. A piece of paper that she brought. It was from Teddy. Finishing her writing, Jess could not resist and took this paper from her pocket. It was her black and white portrait with a little sign of a cartoony teddy bear. Jessica was looking at it, thinking about both of them, Kim and Teddy.
"Maybe she was forced to play along with the kidnapper in one of her diabolical schemes." Yes, it was not a plan but a scheme, Jessica chose to write this word on purpose. "Otherwise I and/or other her friends may get hurt." That was the only explanation she could think about. But what if... that was the reason why Jessica was safe and sound. That was not about her good behavior but more Kim's sacrifice.
Jess needed to ask this question herself but Hannah got there first. The girl also worried about Katherine and wondered how she was doing. Unfortunately, Geoff did not answer.
Hearing day and time, Jessica awkwardly smiled and slightly facepalmed. She did not notice that watch and her question was rather naive. Anyway, it was weird to know exactly what the day of the week that was.
If Geoff voiced his observations regarding short hair, Jessica would wonder if she was next, since in their trifecta she was the only one with long, red hair. But for better or for worth she did not know about his thoughts and it meant that there won't be any "Shame!" reference from Game of Thrones. It would not be appropriate anyway.
Jessica wished she could tell Geoff more but she did not know so much about the games.
"I guess I know as much as you. Russian Roulette, Red and Black Hearts, Simon Says and that's it. Maybe there was something else but I don't know, I did not participate in anything besides Russian Roulette." she wrote. Because she saves me for the best. Like, what about the game where you pick cards and your left hand is cut for picking one, right hand for two, left leg for three, right leg for four and head for five because why not? Fun game for fun people.
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