poly_chromatic | [ 005 ]

Saturday

Voice:

Hello. This is Gabriel. If anyone is unable to find me today, do not fret. I am still here. For some definition of "here." The city has seen fit to put some of us on a boat, it seems. I cannot claim to be unhappy.

The ocean is kind to me here.

Filtered to everyone on the boat:

Who else received a letter?

I should hope you will not follow its instruction. I don't trust these deities to do as they say, and even if the promise they make is genuine... I do not think anything can be worth the cost of what they are asking.

Filtered to Carla:

Miss Carla? I would like a word.

Action (boat):

[For anyone who wants to find her before she gets into trouble, Gabriel can be found anywhere throughout the boat, but she's probably most likely to be found leaning slightly over the railing on the bow, staring at the blue waters sparkling beneath.]

Sunday morning:

Video:

[The screen of the device is slightly cracked and positioned at an odd angle, making the image it depicts lopsided. Gabriel is lying on the floor, in a pool of blood. Her own blood. There's a bullet wound in her side, which she clutches, the dark red fluid pouring through her dress and making her gasp and wince hard, staining her hand. She'd only meant to use the device to make a call for help, filtered only to those on the boat. There is no need to frighten anyone not there, even when she is dying. But the device is currently rolling, visible to everyone.

Gabriel tries to remain calm as she stares at it, gasping several times. Her body shakes all over.]

P-Please do not be alarmed. I am n-not afraid. H-However, I would like s-some assistance, if anyone is... if anyone is...

[She is cut off by the pain.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're not. There has to be someone on that boat who can help-- I'll send out a message, something.

[His voice is rattly, expression a little shaken.]

Hold on.

[Gabriel's breath is raspy. It's coming very slowly and hard now; her dignified shell is starting to melt away.]

No! No. Just... stay with me. Please. It won't - it won't be much longer. Just keep talking to me. Please.

[The pain is everywhere oh god it hurts it hurts it hurts - ]

I'm going to get you some help! Don't talk like that!

[No one is coming. She had hoped, putting out the video, that someone might attend to her. But that won't happen.

She has to reassure Raphael somehow. It hurts and she is frightened but it's worse to hear someone so anguished, crying out to her - she has to distract him somehow - ]

Do you remember when we were small, Raphael? [Her voice trembles a little.] I fell down and hurt myself, and I cried so much, and you - you told me not to. I'm not. I'm not crying right now.

I don't care if you cry!

[He's almost shouting. He remembers. Of course he remembers. His throat is tight, eyes watering up. He doesn't want to watch this anymore, doesn't want to see her--]

[Not like this.]

You're not going to die. You've got to hold on. Listen, you've got to!