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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 2, 2010 1:10:55 GMT -8
Time: Day 2, Early Evening
Weather: Raining
Warnings: None
Characters: Charlotte Jacobs, [OPEN]
Charlotte wasn’t... entirely sure how she made it back to the Deer Yard Hotel (the drive was more than a little bit blurry; which she would later attribute to the head injury and psychological trauma), but she was thoroughly grateful she did. After everything that had happened she was feeling wrung out and drained. And now all she had to do was go inside.
So very close... and yet so very far away.
With a tired sigh she pulled herself from the car and limped her way slowly and gingerly through the rain into the hotel. All she wanted was to get inside, take a hot bath, and ice about every inch of her body. I wonder how many buckets of ice it would take to fill the bathtub... The fact that she was somehow still mobile with as much pain as she was in was as close to a miracle as she’d probably ever get.
She was completely aware of just how much she was avoiding thinking about what had happened at the lumbermill. And it wasn’t that Charlotte didn’t want to (didn’t mean that she wanted to, either), but she staunchly refused to think about it at this particular moment. The terror was still very much fresh for her, as well as the complete lack of control, of knowing what was going on. ("There are other places you should be.”) A cold chill shot down her spine at the remembering, and the tension in her wound itself a little tighter.
Charlotte was, however, completely UNaware of just how much a mess she was. And granted, the rain had done its part in washing the evidence off her, but some remained. Her hair was tangled and dirty, there were bruises on her brow and cheekbone, and blood was trickling down her face. Blood oozed and dripped from the cuts and scrapes on her hands. The sleeves of her jacket were torn; underneath she was bleeding from even more cuts, some of them deep. And she was simply moving as though she hurt. Which... she did.
Her head was down, and her hair fell in tangled curtains, hiding the bruises and blood on her face. But only from cursory glances. If anyone really looked, they’d see what she was unintentionally hiding.
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Post by Forrest Kaysen on Dec 2, 2010 15:57:12 GMT -8
Charlotte might have continued unnoticed...except for someone with an exceptional sense of smell that padded swiftly up towards her. Kaysen's dog? What was he doing wandering unattended in the evening? He hardly seemed to leave Kaysen's side earlier that day. Whatever the reason, here he was, eyes bright and curious, tail wagging. He darted right up to her, standing for a moment in her path and sniffing at her legs. He whimpered, ears lowering a bit as he seemed to consider her.
Blood. Blood on persons bad. Tree-smells. Fire smells. Call Master? Call persons?
Willie started barking, loudly and insistently, calling attention to the poor bedraggled girl. He bounded around her in odd hops as he barked, trying his hardest to call for someone. People came when he barked enough, he knew that. Blood usually meant no 'bad dog.'
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 2, 2010 16:21:44 GMT -8
Polly was dreaming again, but this time she knew it was a dream. She was wandering down dilapidated corridors she'd never seen before, trying to find her way out. All she had to do was wake up, but she just couldn't seem to do it. She didn't feel like there was anything bad looking for her this time, but she had to find her way out before...wait, was that a dog barking somewhere? She listened, and tried to figure out where it was coming from...
Polly woke up freezing at a din coming from somewhere in the hotel. She struggled around for her glasses, got up and put on her dressing gown. She was still tying it around her as ran unexpectedly into Willie and Charlotte. "Miss Jacobs? she exclaimed, still only half awake. "What are you doing up?" She looked closer at Charlotte's tangled hair covering her shadowed face, and at what looked like blood and dirt all over her clothes, and wondered if she was still dreaming. It certainly seemed like some kind of nightmare...
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 2, 2010 16:48:53 GMT -8
The sudden appearance of a familiar spotted dog startled Charlotte. She jumped and jerked backwards. Once she realized what it was she was seeing, the panic receded somewhat, leaving her once again tired and longing for the sanctuary of her room.
Where did Willie come from??
He hadn’t been in the lobby when she first entered... she didn’t think, anyway. He was certainly here now she realized, watching the dog bark and bound around her with a detached, woozy sort of curiosity. I think he’s trying to help me... She was having a slightly difficult time stringing thoughts together, and she KNEW it should bother her... but all she wanted to do was go up to her room and get some ice and some Advil. A lot of Advil...
Charlotte didn’t notice Polly until she heard the older woman say her name. She blinked, first down at Willie, and then up at Polly. The owner of the hotel was wearing a robe, which struck her as odd. Willie must have woken her up? she thought distractedly, until realizing that Polly was asking her a question.
“I... um...” Don’t tell her the truth. Not all of it... “I just... was out. Taking photos.” Charlotte touched her head, absently noticing that her fingertips came away bloody. “I... fell. Down some stairs.” She tried to offer the other woman a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine, I just...”
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Post by Forrest Kaysen on Dec 2, 2010 17:18:35 GMT -8
Willie briefly turned towards Polly when she approached, his bark becoming excited. Someone had come! That was what he wanted, even if it wasn't his Master. For now, he stopped the frantic hopping and yelping, instead focusing on...something else. He stood at Charlotte's heels, stretching out his neck and sniffing at her coat pocket. What was that he could smell?
Once he had done this a couple of times, he growled softly, nosing at the pocket with evident interest.
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 2, 2010 17:26:32 GMT -8
Polly took in the way the young woman's fingertips were trailing blood and the way she couldn't seem to stay focused enough to finish a sentence. How did she even get back here without fainting? Funny, she's the second guest here to come back injured. What's going on? Of course the woman didn't just fall down the stairs. Where would there even be stairs in town for her to fall down?
"No, you are obviously not fine, young lady," she replied to Charlotte's trailed off statement. "Why don't we find some place to sit down so we can take a look to see just how bad you are. We might end up taking a little trip to the emergency room too, if you're as bad as you look." Polly really hoped Charlotte was better than she looked because Polly reallywasn't supposed to drive at night. She looked for an uninjured part of Charlotte to take hold of and guide her to a chair. It wasn't an easy thing to find.
Suddenly, Polly noticed Willie nosing at Charlotte. She patted him on the head. "What ever is in your pocket, Miss Jacobs? Willie seems to want it very much."
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 2, 2010 17:40:46 GMT -8
“I... no, honestly, I’m fine,” Charlotte replied, as Polly began fussing at her. Her concern was appreciated, but she did not want to go to the hospital; though she could not explain her reasons for it. “I just need a lot of ice.” Ice, Advil, and rest. That’s all... “I’m okay.” Except I don't think I am...
She glanced down at Willie nosing at her pocket. It took her a minute to fumble the camera out of her pocket, but that was all she had in there, to her knowledge, anyway. “Just this,” she said, holding the battered camera up for Polly to see.
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 2, 2010 17:51:54 GMT -8
Polly frowned at Charlotte. "Nonsense. What if you do have a concussion? And we should at least get you cleaned up a little." Polly relented. "But I can see where you'd just want to curl up in bed after a bad night like tonight." She shook her head. "What were you doing out in the rain like that? Don't you know that no one here goes out in the rain?" Polly's mind was involuntarily dragged back to the reason no one went out in the rain anymore.
She shook her head again, and focused on the object Charlotte had pulled out of her pocket. "Willie wanted your camera? How strange. What would a dog want with a camera?" She touched the camera. "That looks like it took quite a beating tonight. Does it still work, do you think?" Not that that was important right now. But still...
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Post by Forrest Kaysen on Dec 2, 2010 17:59:32 GMT -8
Nothing would be immediately apparent about the camera - it still looked battered, as it had. It was anyone's guess if it would work or not.
Except for one little detail...there were grimy, sticky spots on it, as if someone with filthy (bloody?) hands had held it to take a photo. Coating the outside of the camera was a grayish-brown substance...something dry, gritty. Not sawdust.
Ashes. Ashes from cigarettes, tangible and real and visible to the both of them.
Willie growled again and backed up a pace from it, eyes fixed.
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 2, 2010 18:05:20 GMT -8
Polly looked at Charlotte. She already knew the answer to this question. She'd known it since Charlotte had moved into the hotel and had answered it then. But to keep her sanity, she had to ask. "Do...do you smoke?"
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 2, 2010 18:14:58 GMT -8
“I...” Charlotte trailed off, studying her bloodied hands. “Cleaning up... might be a good idea.” Now she began to realize just how much of a mess she must be. “I... didn’t know. I like the rain. Didn’t think there was anything different about the rain here...”
There’s so many pieces of the puzzle that I’m missing, she thought.
Then she saw her camera... and all thoughts of cleaning up, or resting, or the hospital fled her mind. Oh god... It was coated in ashes. Terror coursed through her, and her hands began to tremble ever-so-slightly. It was real. It was real. I’m not crazy. Willie was growling at her camera...
“I... don’t know,” she told Polly, just barely keeping her voice steady. “I hope it does... I’ll have to see.”
Charlotte put the camera back in her pocket, trying desperately to stay calm. Trying desperately to breathe. The she glanced up at Polly.
“No... No I don’t.”
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Post by Forrest Kaysen on Dec 2, 2010 18:20:21 GMT -8
As soon as the camera was tucked back away, Willie stopped growling for the time being. He gave another whimper, canting his head to one side and looking up at Charlotte. He looked concerned - or, at least, he looked worried. He was a good dog, and he didn't like the smell of that thing in her pocket. It wasn't a good smell.
He sat back on his haunches, tail not wagging any more. Where was his Master when he was needed? Maybe nice-lady would be able to handle it. Nice-lady was always good to him and Master.
For now, he relaxed, lying down on the floor.
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 2, 2010 18:28:41 GMT -8
"Well. We'll think about that later," Polly said. She could see Charlotte was on the verge of a panic attack, so she pushed the camera out of her mind. Not that she knew what scared her so much about it anyway. It just did.
Nope. I'm not thinking about that. "Charlotte...are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital? The nice, well-lit hospital with lots of people around?" Polly sighed, anticipating the answer. It's probably the one she would have given, too. "Well. If not, why don't we get you to your room and you can take a nice bath?"
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 2, 2010 18:40:33 GMT -8
Charlotte realized somewhat dazedly that Polly had refrained from talking more about the camera. Thank you.
She should go to the hospital. She KNEW she should go. And yet... She didn’t want to, no matter how well lit and busy it might be. I may have to go regardless, though. Polly’s right about me possibly having a concussion.
“...Can I just sit for a moment?” she asked the older woman tiredly. “I’ll think about going to the hospital in a bit. Promise. I just... would like to rest. For a minute.”
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 2, 2010 18:56:27 GMT -8
"That's fine. Don't you worry about that." Polly patted Charlotte on the shoulder, belatedly hoping the shoulder wasn't injured. "Just sit for a while. I'll go make us a cup of tea and then we'll decide. Willie will wait here with you, won't you Willie? You'll keep Charlotte company, right?" she kneeled down and asked the dog, silently asking him to keep her safe, as well.
She stood back up slowly and started to head off to the kitchen. She stopped in the middle of the room for a moment and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she moved toward the desk and threw on all the lights she could, even though she usually only kept a small lamp burning. She had hoped that would dispel some of the fear in the room, but all it seemed to do was to create shadows behind everything. Not knowing what else to do, she walked to the kitchen.
She turned on a couple lights in the kitchen, put the kettle on, and slowly paced the now empty dining room. At least my back's not bothering me too badly tonight. That's something. Giving in to a sudden urge, she opened the curtains to the large window a little bit and stood there, peering at the sky until the kettle boiled.
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