[It wasn’t easy to see in this case, but one could glean from the tone in Hershel’s telepathized voice that he wore a smug grin on his face.]
August 18, 2025 at 7:47 AM
[It wasn’t easy to see in this case, but one could glean from the tone in Hershel’s telepathized voice that he wore a smug grin on his face.]
(You’re so insistent on telling me how I should feel about all of this. Did Ma never teach you any manners?
And by the way, you may not want to communicate this way in front of your associates, unless you want them to think you’re a complete lunatic.)
And by the way, you may not want to communicate this way in front of your associates, unless you want them to think you’re a complete lunatic.)
August 18, 2025 at 7:47 AM
(You’re so insistent on telling me how I should feel about all of this. Did Ma never teach you any manners?
And by the way, you may not want to communicate this way in front of your associates, unless you want them to think you’re a complete lunatic.)
And by the way, you may not want to communicate this way in front of your associates, unless you want them to think you’re a complete lunatic.)
[His thoughts once again wander to his best friend, and how they’ll certainly reunite when this nightmare is over. Randall’s presence often gave Hershel the courage to backtalk, and he decides to use this to his advantage. He wasn’t going to let this man intimidate him further.]
August 18, 2025 at 7:47 AM
[His thoughts once again wander to his best friend, and how they’ll certainly reunite when this nightmare is over. Randall’s presence often gave Hershel the courage to backtalk, and he decides to use this to his advantage. He wasn’t going to let this man intimidate him further.]
[So, this is it… Unless by some miracle someone were to come by them and rescue him, Hershel had no chance of escape before they’re taken god only knows how far away from Stansbury. His heart sinks into his stomach at the realization, and he’s desperately trying to steady his panicked breathing.]
August 18, 2025 at 7:47 AM
[So, this is it… Unless by some miracle someone were to come by them and rescue him, Hershel had no chance of escape before they’re taken god only knows how far away from Stansbury. His heart sinks into his stomach at the realization, and he’s desperately trying to steady his panicked breathing.]
(I’ve heard Randall mention it once or twice in passing, but no, I have no idea what it is. Randall seems to have a pretty negative opinion of it. Is it a person? Maybe a group or a place?)
August 14, 2025 at 3:20 AM
(I’ve heard Randall mention it once or twice in passing, but no, I have no idea what it is. Randall seems to have a pretty negative opinion of it. Is it a person? Maybe a group or a place?)
[Hershel raises an eyebrow in confusion. What on earth are they doing at Norwell? If Randall was able to decipher it using the scrawlings on the inside of the Mask of Chaos, what good is it to be here without it? Hershel’s attention gradually shifts to the silhouette of something behind a tree.]
August 14, 2025 at 3:20 AM
[Hershel raises an eyebrow in confusion. What on earth are they doing at Norwell? If Randall was able to decipher it using the scrawlings on the inside of the Mask of Chaos, what good is it to be here without it? Hershel’s attention gradually shifts to the silhouette of something behind a tree.]
[Hershel blinks away some of the tears that had formed in his eyes. He sighs, taking in as much of his surroundings as he can with his limited movement.]
(…If you’re not going to let me go, can you at least tell me where you’re taking me?)
(…If you’re not going to let me go, can you at least tell me where you’re taking me?)
August 13, 2025 at 3:51 AM
[Hershel blinks away some of the tears that had formed in his eyes. He sighs, taking in as much of his surroundings as he can with his limited movement.]
(…If you’re not going to let me go, can you at least tell me where you’re taking me?)
(…If you’re not going to let me go, can you at least tell me where you’re taking me?)
[Bronev’s promise to discard Randall’s body made Hershel’s face crumple up in anguish, his disembodied voice now frantic and distressed.]
(You can’t do that! Randall may be an otherworldly shambling husk of his former self, but he’s still my best friend! And by extension, he’s YOUR best friend!)
(You can’t do that! Randall may be an otherworldly shambling husk of his former self, but he’s still my best friend! And by extension, he’s YOUR best friend!)
August 13, 2025 at 3:51 AM
[Bronev’s promise to discard Randall’s body made Hershel’s face crumple up in anguish, his disembodied voice now frantic and distressed.]
(You can’t do that! Randall may be an otherworldly shambling husk of his former self, but he’s still my best friend! And by extension, he’s YOUR best friend!)
(You can’t do that! Randall may be an otherworldly shambling husk of his former self, but he’s still my best friend! And by extension, he’s YOUR best friend!)
[The boy is weary, having already spent most of his energy and adrenaline trying to previously escape. Despite this, he still can’t help but occasionally try to wiggle his way out of Theodore’s grasp.]
August 12, 2025 at 11:38 PM
[The boy is weary, having already spent most of his energy and adrenaline trying to previously escape. Despite this, he still can’t help but occasionally try to wiggle his way out of Theodore’s grasp.]
[Hershel has been hesitant to use telepathy, but the cat is well out of the bag at this point. So he speaks, not with his mouth, but with his mind, his voice sounding perfectly clear.]
(…Excuse me. You’re going to regret this, you know. Things will only become much worse now that you’ve upset him.)
(…Excuse me. You’re going to regret this, you know. Things will only become much worse now that you’ve upset him.)
August 12, 2025 at 11:38 PM
[Hershel has been hesitant to use telepathy, but the cat is well out of the bag at this point. So he speaks, not with his mouth, but with his mind, his voice sounding perfectly clear.]
(…Excuse me. You’re going to regret this, you know. Things will only become much worse now that you’ve upset him.)
(…Excuse me. You’re going to regret this, you know. Things will only become much worse now that you’ve upset him.)
[A stifled scream escapes Hershel’s mouth before he’s ripped from his hiding spot and swiftly silenced. He can’t communicate much beyond muffled protests and fruitless writhing, so he instead opts to call out via telepathy.]
(Randall! Please, do something!)
(Randall! Please, do something!)
July 6, 2025 at 11:09 PM
[A stifled scream escapes Hershel’s mouth before he’s ripped from his hiding spot and swiftly silenced. He can’t communicate much beyond muffled protests and fruitless writhing, so he instead opts to call out via telepathy.]
(Randall! Please, do something!)
(Randall! Please, do something!)
[Hershel has been hesitant to start making noise out of fear of endangering his parents, but he feels he has no other choice.]
MA! PA! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!
[He then glances around him, as if looking for someone.]
…RANDALL! RANDALL!!
MA! PA! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!
[He then glances around him, as if looking for someone.]
…RANDALL! RANDALL!!
July 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
[Hershel has been hesitant to start making noise out of fear of endangering his parents, but he feels he has no other choice.]
MA! PA! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!
[He then glances around him, as if looking for someone.]
…RANDALL! RANDALL!!
MA! PA! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!
[He then glances around him, as if looking for someone.]
…RANDALL! RANDALL!!
[His right hand begins to glow, and a bit of teal glimmers in his right eye. It looks as though he’s trying to fire some kind of warning shot, but it only comes out as a few measly sparks from his hand, and he groans in frustration at his dwindling options to protect himself.]
July 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
[His right hand begins to glow, and a bit of teal glimmers in his right eye. It looks as though he’s trying to fire some kind of warning shot, but it only comes out as a few measly sparks from his hand, and he groans in frustration at his dwindling options to protect himself.]
[Hershel bares his teeth at the intruder and retreats further beneath the bed, as far back as he can go (which isn’t very far back at all…)]
Stay back! I’m warning you!
Stay back! I’m warning you!
July 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
[Hershel bares his teeth at the intruder and retreats further beneath the bed, as far back as he can go (which isn’t very far back at all…)]
Stay back! I’m warning you!
Stay back! I’m warning you!
(That’s very thoughtful of you, but I still feel like I’m going to be sick.)
July 5, 2025 at 8:31 PM
(That’s very thoughtful of you, but I still feel like I’m going to be sick.)
(I don’t like the texture of beans, Randall. Forgive me.)
July 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
(I don’t like the texture of beans, Randall. Forgive me.)
(NO, I DON’T, RANDALL. I FEEL LIKE I’M GOING TO THROW UP.)
July 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
(NO, I DON’T, RANDALL. I FEEL LIKE I’M GOING TO THROW UP.)
(Uno?? Randall, there’s no way he wouldn’t hear us playing card games under my bed.)
July 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM
(Uno?? Randall, there’s no way he wouldn’t hear us playing card games under my bed.)
[Images flash across his mind. The pitch-black outdoors. Fragments of Randall’s face. The darkness of the hallway.]
(…Randall? What’s going on?)
(…Randall? What’s going on?)
July 4, 2025 at 1:02 AM
[Images flash across his mind. The pitch-black outdoors. Fragments of Randall’s face. The darkness of the hallway.]
(…Randall? What’s going on?)
(…Randall? What’s going on?)
[If he wasn’t in the doorway, surely he hadn’t seen him, right?… Hershel tries to steady his breathing, soothing himself from the thought of Randall’s physical presence beside him.]
(He’ll just think he heard the sound of my parents. It’ll be fine, it’ll be okay…)
(He’ll just think he heard the sound of my parents. It’ll be fine, it’ll be okay…)
July 3, 2025 at 9:26 PM
[If he wasn’t in the doorway, surely he hadn’t seen him, right?… Hershel tries to steady his breathing, soothing himself from the thought of Randall’s physical presence beside him.]
(He’ll just think he heard the sound of my parents. It’ll be fine, it’ll be okay…)
(He’ll just think he heard the sound of my parents. It’ll be fine, it’ll be okay…)
[The door creaking was enough to make Hershel’s heart drop into his stomach. He abandons his tea and scrambles to the floor, taking refuge behind the covers beneath his bed.
(No, no, no, no! Randall, I think he’s inside my house!)
(No, no, no, no! Randall, I think he’s inside my house!)
July 3, 2025 at 9:26 PM
[The door creaking was enough to make Hershel’s heart drop into his stomach. He abandons his tea and scrambles to the floor, taking refuge behind the covers beneath his bed.
(No, no, no, no! Randall, I think he’s inside my house!)
(No, no, no, no! Randall, I think he’s inside my house!)
[Despite this, Hershel finds a still somewhat warm kettle of water sitting on the stovetop, seemingly left behind by his Ma. He breathes a comforted sigh of relief, pouring himself a cup, taking it to his room and placing it on the desk by his window to let it steep for a few minutes.]
(Randall?…)
(Randall?…)
July 3, 2025 at 1:04 AM
[Despite this, Hershel finds a still somewhat warm kettle of water sitting on the stovetop, seemingly left behind by his Ma. He breathes a comforted sigh of relief, pouring himself a cup, taking it to his room and placing it on the desk by his window to let it steep for a few minutes.]
(Randall?…)
(Randall?…)