Day 2: A Special Message Part II

[afterlifer]

WHO: Everyone!
WHAT: School Festival Day 2: A Special Message Part II
WHEN: 9/29/3013
WHERE: School Festival > wherever your character heads after that.
WARNINGS: Violence, shadows and all they entail, possibly angst, language as always-- do I really need to keep warning for language? We've got a bunch of sailors here every single one of these logs has like a million curse words in it even if they're playing checkers.
SUMMARY: NPCs freeze, turn into shadows after an eerie message from The Programmer.

[ DAY 2 ]
It's happening again. The School Festival had been going as planned, merriment all around, then everything stopped around noon. The NPCs froze in their place, most of the sound dwindled off because of how significant of a presence they hold in the school's population. There is no mirthful laughter any more, just silence and the questionings of those who were not frozen.

The wait is nowhere near as long as the previous freezings though. No, after about 10 minutes something different happens: There's a crackling in the air as the PA system flickers on. It sounds a little off though, like it may not be being accessed from its usual origin point. A male's voice comes from it, an uncertain tone plaguing his words. Like he's trying to be confident, but he has public speaking problems because who would want to talk to an entire school like this when they have no practice and have been an NPC for god knows how long?

"Hello? Is this thing-- is-- okay, yes, good, it's on. Um... Hm, I've frozen the NPCs. That was me. The last few times were a test. Everyone noticed this place has been a little off lately right? Glitches, everywhere, couldn't be helped but it's okay now. It should be. I managed to fix a few of them. Where'd the phones come from though..? That's not mine."

A cough, then the voice starts up again.

"I kept having to wake up, again, and again, and again, and I keep seeing different things and I don't get it. I don't. I don't want to disappear because I want to see her again, but you all have the chance. Some of you had the opportunity and you're still here. Why is it? That program said you were seeking continuance. He's been acting a little weird, I didn't ask him to do that, no. I'll fix him, he might be a little broken, but you all-- you all try so hard to stay but you know you'll go mad, don't you? After 50, after 100 years. Too long here and it gets to you, you're not yourself, and all you want never comes. It just hurts and it can't be fixed so I made this to fix it.

You all want to be immortal with me right? That's what the answers were, that you didn't want to die or disappear or move on, so I'm going to grant your wish. We're all going to stay here forever. I'm glad there are people who agree with me that it's better than never seeing those you lost again, than forgetting them. I'll never forget. Even if I'm an NPC, it just holds it in until I awake again, so we'll all be here together. I can do that, and I will. You're welcome."

The PA flickers off. The NPCs are still frozen and nothing moves for a full minute, then suddenly every one of the NPCs flickers, what looks like binary data sparks a few times, then the NPCs rapidly transform into shadows. They're not frozen anymore. Better run.

Comments

[crayoned]

[She's still trying to process the PA announcement when the NPCs suddenly start to transform. Something about disappearing, seeing her again, about staying here forever... It's a little like the tables had been turned from how they were back in the gallery.

While still thinking things over and running parts of the announcement over in her mind, Mary notices the shadows. She's startled at most, though the reactions of the people around her are what really get to her. She can hear people shouting, telling others to run. And so she does.

She's not sure where she should run to though. Away from the shadows, yes, but then what. Should she just keep running? She'll get tired out eventually though, she needs to head somewhere safe...

With a determined expression, Mary hurries off towards the dorms, intending to lock herself inside her room and block the door as best she can with pillows, mattresses and anything else she can find.

Once she's finished making her blockade, Mary quickly grabs her phone and starts texting people. People she knows, people she doesn't, anyone.]

Whats going on
Where did everyone run to
I dont want to be alone right now

[happyends]

[ She'll get at least one text back. There's little more to do than clutch her phone while she's sitting there and hope, hope so much that everyone is okay. ]

Mary-chan!

I'm so sorry that I'm not with you right now. ｡：ﾟ(｡ﾉω＼｡)ﾟ･｡ I should be, but this hallway is pretty crowded with them so I can't get out of the closet I locked myself in so they won't get to me.. I'm sorry. It's all since I'm so cowardly.

Are you at least hanging in there..? ╥﹏╥

[crayoned]

Im okay Im in my room in the dorms

[A few seconds pass and she sends another text after reading Madoka's reply again.]

Youre in a closet
Is someone going to find you Madoka
A friend not one of those things

[happyends]

[ Phew, so at least Mary is alright. For now, at least, but that she's still alright is important. Those things don't look like good news, even if Madoka isn't sure what they do.. ]

I'm not sure. [ Maybe some people would look for her - Homura comes to mind - but she doesn't really want them to. It means bringing themselves in danger for her sake, and she doesn't like the idea of that. ] I'm alright either way though, so don't worry, Mary-chan! (*^▽^*) Just make sure you stay in there and safe!

[ At least for someone as young as Mary she can put on a brave face. ]

[crayoned]

[Oh she's not too worried, not now that she knows Madoka is safe and that she's safe herself where she is for the time being.]

Its okay Ill stay here
I hope someone comes and gets you though
You should text someone and tell them where you are

[She knows that texting a lot of people at once will get results at times like these. So Madoka should definitely do the same!]

Then after someone finds you you can come to my room

[happyends]

It might sound a little strange, but.. honestly, I don't really want someone to come and find me. There's a lot of those strange things around and they'd probably just get hurt trying to save me.. I don't want that.

[ She'd rather suffer by herself than cause other people problems, really. ]

[crayoned]

[Surrounded by strange things, not wanting anyone to come find her. If Madoka had that sort of atittude in the gallery she'd never get out.]

I want someone to find you though
Im sure theres someone really close by who can get to you
I can talk to people using this and I can tell them about you

[Having someone else cause problems for other people for Madoka's sake is a lot better, right?]

[happyends]

[ Oh gosh, Mary, you're going to make her freak out. Don't bother other people to make them risk life and limb just to save her..! ]

No.. It's fine, it's really fine, Mary-chan! I promise I'm hanging in there just fine..! （⌒▽⌒ゞ

[crayoned]

[Madoka please, freak out over the shadows and not Mary trying to help, what is with you. She's going to do it. She's going to bother people.]

Madoka
I really want someone to come save you
Even if you say youre okay

[Madoka is a friend, you have to treat your friends right. Leaving them in closets? Probably not the best way to look after your friends.]

[happyends]

[ She has clear priorities, okay. Being selfless > everything else, even her life being in danger.. she almost forgets the shadows entirely with how much she's trying to convince Mary here. ]

Why..? Don't you trust me?

[princesspool]

[Since Sonia is using her phone to broadcast as much info as possible, of course she gets the message. Thus, she texts this back-]

Where are you? Wherever you are, keep the doors locked and the windows closed!

[crayoned]

The dorms in my room
The door is locked
I moved some furniture in front of it so no one can get in

[After sending her text she realises that it was Sonia who replied in the first place, so she quickly writes up another text.]

Are you doing okay Sonia
You should lock your doors too

[princesspool]

You should be safe there. I'll be telling everyone how to keep safe, and I'll be safe.

[crayoned]

Then everyone should be safe together
Thats good

How long until we can go back to the fesitval

[princesspool]

I am not sure.

But when this is all over, we will make up for lost time.

I'll even show you the Jason movies.

[crayoned]

Oh okay
That sounds good I can see some of them outside the window

[Her text about watching movies ends up blending into what she wanted to send next. She didn't want to waste time sending one text and starting another when she can see the shadows right there.]

[princesspool]

[ahhhhhAHHHHHHNOOOO]

board the windows block the windows do not let them see you in there

[crayoned]

[Why didn't she get a room on a higher floor why this.]

I closed the curtains [SHE CAN STILL SEE THEM THROUGH THE CURTAINS.] I can't block them everything looks too heavy to move what should I do

[Curse her awful strength when it comes to moving heavy objects!]

[princesspool]

[if she goes to save mary, the shadows might follow her. but if she doesn't, mary might be doomed anyway.]

it's okay it's going to be okay people will come for you i promise you are going to be okay i promise i promise you will be okay

[onewayroad]

[somehow, Accelerator finds a moment during his fleeing escapades to text back a response. He has no idea whoever it is he's texting to aside from the name, but who gives a fuck.]

GO TO THE DORMS. NPC SHADOWS LESS LIKELY TO BE THERE

[crayoned]

Im already there
There werent any here when I came in so its okay

[She's not familiar with the person she ended up texting, but... Maybe there's a potential friend here. Situation aside.]

Are you okay
You can hide in my room if you want

[onewayroad]

don't bother worrying about me whoever you are
just stay there for now and look for any girls there
mary's a girl's name right?

[crayoned]

[Well she is a girl. And that's her name.]

Yes its a girls name Im a girl
And your name is Accelerator it says so on my phone
Should I really go looking for other girls Ill have to move the mattress and pillows

[onewayroad]

look using your phone, genius.
use it to ask them if anyone's in the girls' dorm.
no need to leave the room for that

[crayoned]

I didnt think of that
Im not used to using a phone

[But she quickly put together another text, making sure to send one to Accelerator just so he knows she's trying to look for people.]

Is anyone in the girls dorm
Im on the first floor at the end of the hall
Room D110
If youre here send me a message back