Betrayal at House on the Hill

[angelcage]

[ You sleep, the ground cold beneath your cheek. The ground is hard as stone, cold marble beneath a fine layer of dust that doesn't come anywhere near acting as a cushion. The dust stirs with your breathing.


>> Wake up ]

Comments

[withintreason]

And why should I?

[angelcage]

I was hurt.

[ He agrees, and wipes the blood trail from his nose with the back of his hand.

Was, of course, being the key word. ]

The rats will kill you, with enough of them. Die here, and you have to stay here. It hurts a lot, every time.

[ He sits up now, starting to look through the statue shards— mm, no, no top there. Not here, either. ]

So now I just want to distract Jonah from it.

[angelcage]

Do you want to die?

[ She sounds almost incredulous. ]

[aliiiens]

Every... time you die. [Uh.]

I gave the top to your brother so he'd calm down. Is that a problem?

[withintreason]

Of course, I won't die. There isn't anything powerful enough to kill me here.

[angelcage]

[ She looks at her burns anxiously and doesn't say anything at all. ]

embraces

[aliiiens]

[Aaaand with that III snaps to awareness and sits up sharply with a yelp. The adrenaline is enough to push Yuma off of him, and then he finally realizes who he is, and (sort of) their situation.]

Y-Yuma? What are you--how did we--

[They're handcuffed. Also, wait a sec.]

Why are we handcuffed? Are you wearing a drumset?

[dendarii]

She's right on some level. We've already been through quite a lot. I'd say we'll be fine here.

[angelcage]

Even if he finishes the ritual?

[ She twists her hands, anxiously. ]

[dendarii]

We'll stop him first, of course. And deal with the rest after.

[angelcage]

Yes. [ He agrees, still distracted until III mentions he gave Jonah the top. He looks directly up at him. ]

Which way did he go, then?

[angelcage]

Alright.

[ She looks down at her feet, then sets her jaw. ]

I can't fight.

But if I can.

I'll help.

[dendarii]

... Mmm. I know you will. Come on, let's get moving again.

[angelcage]

[ She nods a few times, and moves closer to follow—

Jumping back when she notices the madman.

. . . then moving closer again when she realizes she's jumped back into the pentagram circle. ]

[dendarii]

[ Thaaat's. Probably a bad idea. Miles gently reaches out for her wrist. ]

Here, this way. Don't mind him.

[angelcage]

[ She lets him lead her. ]

Um.

I'll . . . try . . .

Re: ABANNDONED ROOM - GROUND LEVEL

[runawaystory]

[waking up to find herself slumped in a dusty corner of the room.

the last thing she remembers is talk with...Miles, and Yuma...how long ago...?

whatever happened, she's alone now.

still groggy and disoriented, Rosalie staggers her way around the dark room, and winds up heading east, to the organ room.]

RATS

[angelcage]

[ Rosalie enters the organ room to see: an unusually large rat on the pipe organ, perched on the apex of the pipes. Watching her, looking right at her as the door opens. ]

[angelcage]

[ Enter the Organ Room ]

RATS

[angelcage]

[ The plume of coal soot has cleared— but something is moving now. Skittering, big and black, on all fours.

The girl immediately recoils, trying to shrink behind you. ]

[angelcage]

[ Return to the Basement Landing ]

Re: RATS

[runawaystory]

[...at least it's not on fire? though it's more than a little un-nerving.

oh well, this place's rodent problem isn't her business. and now she's managed to orient herself at least.

backtracking through the abandoned room to the ballroom.]

[dendarii]

[ Aw hell. Time to pull out his knife then and get to rat murdering. ]

Stay behind us and you'll be fine.

[ Says the 4'9" dude with bones approximately as durable as glass. ]

[angelcage]

[ She believes in him— not like she has a lot of choice, right now. She nods, obviously terrified, but doesn't run. ]

[ The rat, however, runs straight at them. ]

RATS

[angelcage]

[ There's a shadow moving across the floor. The chandelier above is swinging— a great rat upon it.]