Better Left Forgotten

*Eve just rises off, then puts her clothes back on and exits*

<Ready.>
===
<Oh...>

Azuma: "It's more about not blabbing about other peoples sex lives. Regardless of their own lack of subtlties."

===================================

Taiyo squirms.

Taiyo: "It's not like we were any faster."

*Thiera looks at her feet, pouting.*

L"Really? I thought it was about you getting bitchslapped for trying to guilt trip my sister?"

*Now Thiera just looks annoyed.*

T"Can you both just stop?"

*Meanwhile, the others walk in, Sabroma most likely holding hands.*
=========================
*If they're coming from the dorms, no, they come right to the forested path.*
=========================
"Well, you heard the lady. We should probably get going now."
=========================
<But, the good news, you can go just as soon as you've co-paid.>
=========================
<I guess it all boils down to it being damn funny.>

*And so Eve heads out*
===
<Ok, awesome.>

*Cameron goes to do that*

Azuma: "Not at all."

===================================

And so Taiyo follows Euryale out.

"Hello, everybody," Hector said, gesturing to the others. "I bring fresh victims. Of the Shadow, that is."

"And are you the mastermind behind it all? Do you control the creatures of this forest?"

That works too, I suppose. They keep going on the fastest way to the Library.

--

Totally holding hands. With her free hand, Sab offers up a little wave.

"Hello, Lilith," Noct said, since that was really the only one she was particularly friendly with.

*Aroma also waves. Gabe & Mortal come in behind them, having miraculously not been attacked as well.*

L"Hey, Noct. Sab. Aroma. And apparently...Gabe & Mortal."

T"Lilith knows, but she's in denial. We should find somewhere quiet to talk."

*Lilith folds her arms.*

L"Really, that was rude. Shriveled little green men is one thing, but I haven't seen any living shadow."
=========================
*Euryale closes her door behind everyone.*

E"I'm not so sure if we should go through the forest. It's a pretty convenient spot for an ambush, don't you think?"
=========================
*The receptionist takes his money & wishes him a nice day.*
=========================
<You're wrong on 2 points. First of all, it's more of a complex system of bribery.>

*Grim can hear the floor boards creaking as he walks around.*

<Second of all, we only found the Shadow in these woods. The others came to me more recently, during my...let's call it a vacation. You could say they're on loan from America.>

<Is there another why to go?>
===
*Cameron calls his parents to come pick him up*

"I sent you a video of one," Noctis said.

Mortal quickly jumped in, "I can already tell this is going to be a great conversation, but I'm really only here to drop off the remaining crazy person, and pick up the key, so..."

"Right," Noct pulled out her key and handed it over to Mortal, "Just... make sure it is safe before getting too comfortable."

"Sure thing, have fun with the Ghostbusters," Mortal said, "Later Sab, and Aroma. Later everyone else." With that, Mortal began heading back to her dorm.

"Is there a conference room or something in this library? We could use one of those," Hector suggested.

"Are there more like you?" Grimm asked, keeping his pistol aimed where he could hear the creaking.

"Yeah, we could go around, & enter from the front."
=================================
L"...If this were a movie, something would have jumped out & bit her head off just now."

T"There are probably a few empty rooms like that."

*Thiera heads over to a map.*
=================================
<Iunno. There were, but maybe they all died. It's a tough line of work, what I do. Not many can handle being near the Shadow for very long. And give over, will you, you can't kill me.>

"Too bad it isn't a movie," Noctis said waiting for Thiera, "Ladies usually have a higher rate of survival."

"What about the boys?" Sab asked.

Noct shrugged, "Well, I guess they're thankful it isn't like a movie."

Azuma: "She's a regular barrel of laughs."

===================================

Taiyo: "We're pretty late as is. Although it would be safer to go another way."

"Nice of you," Hector grinned, standing with his arms folded loosely.

"So you can kill me without resistance?" Grimm scoffed. "I don't fear death, but I refuse to die without action."

<Let's be safe and go that way.>
===
*Mr Sorenson comes to pick up Cameron*

Mr<God damn it Cam, we're so happy you're not that badly hurt. What happened?>

Cameron:<I'll tell you all later. Can you drop me of at school?>

<Are you crazy?>

Cameron:<It's possible. Please?>

*Mr. Sorenson sighs and heads for the college*

<Look, dumbass, I don't think you quite get how this works. I make the fucking rules, here. If you're going to try to break them, I just can't be held responsible for who I'm gonna have to kill, or how many, to make you behave. Rules exist to protect us.>
============================
"That's what I was thinking."

*And so Euryale turns & starts to head around.*
============================
*Thiera wrings her hands.*

T"I hope it isn't like a movie. Roatha's already gone missing, & now Nero won't answer me either."

A"I'm so sorry."

*Eve follows*
===
*Mr. Sorenson drives up as close to the library as possible before letting cameron out. He heads inside*

Azuma: "Was Nero with Roatha or when did he stop responding?"

===================================

And Taiyo follows.

"Tell me what you want, then!" Grimm barked. "Why did you bring me out here?!"

*Something bangs on the cabin behind him, & the walls rattle.*

<One, don't tell me what to do. It makes my friend out there very cross. Second, you wanted monsters, you got monsters. Hey, can you hit the lights?>

*The lights come on, revealing the homeless man, completely uninjured, the Shadow at his side.*

<Was it everything you dreamed it would be?>
==================================
T"He stopped answering my messages this morning."
==================================
*They come across Cameron on the path up to the library.*

*Cameron waves and moves towards them*

Eve:<Cameron?!>

Cameron:<The shadow...I think he got Monu...>

Eve:<No...>

"Actually," Sab said, a bit sheepishly, looking at the ground, "I think I might know what happened to Roatha. He went into our room to check on something, and never came out again, but the Shadow did."

"Well, really, we shouldn't jump to conclusions," Noctis said, "He might have made it out of there, we're not really in a position to know."

Astarte's grip on Noctis tightened.

"What do you mean? It certainly is despicable," Grimm said.

*Thiera reaches up with a hand & covers her eyes, prompting Aroma to look down as well.*

A"We're so sorry...it probably--"

T"No, it's...if Roatha's...at least he was doing the right thing."
==========================
E"What?! When did this happen?!"
==========================
<Now, there's the question of what to do with you...let's see....>

*He puts his finger to his chin.*

<Why were you stupid enough to involve yourself with something like this again?>

*He turns to the shadow, which does the Catholic cross gesture.*

<Ah, right. That kid. Well, you want the truth? We didn't kill him because he was special. Quite the opposite, in fact. He was a loser. A nobody. A walking abortion. He couldn't do anything right, there was no amusement in letting him continue to run around, & you know what? I think we did the world a favor. I bet the Big Guy even felt bad, & killed him to put him out of his & everyone else's misery.>

*He points to the Shadow, which shakes its head "No."*

<Of all of the mindless prey we gathered, he put up the least amount of fight. Hell, the Fruity Neopagan with the "completely real" tits managed to crawl away from it.>

*He actually does air quotes.*

<I actually wanted her to die first. Can't stand a whore, let alone one that lies with other whores. I'm sure you can relate. But this Stick in the Mud doesn't care about that kind of stuff.>

*He gestures to the Shadow again.*