THE END

[mayfield_mods]

You've walked for what feels like ages down the highway as a group- all those who chose uncertain freedom over certain death. Within an hour, Mayfield became a distant speck on the horizon before ultimately fading into the hills and trees. The only sign of the place you've escaped is the sky, which remains an eerie brown even after night falls and you've put Mayfield hours behind you.

Try as you might, it's impossible not to imagine that you've been led into a trap. What if this is all part of some new sick game of Johnson's- or even Zemekis'? It certainly wouldn't be the first time. What if the events of the past few months- saving Annie, Gray's "ghost", Zemekis' apparent death -what if it's all been nothing but the latest in a long tradition of Mayfield's-

These thoughts fade when you see the first sunbeam.

This road isn't like the ones before: the roads that looped endlessly into themselves, inevitably leading back to where they began. This road has an end.

Keep walking forward and you'll find yourself in a new town, both similar to Mayfield and utterly unlike it. The buildings here are crude and unfinished- the streets little better than paved paths of dirt. There are no drones here, no hazmats, no one in sight other than you and your companions. But all of these things are nothing more than trivial details, when compared to what you feel the moment you enter its boundaries.

There's power here- you can feel it in your fingertips. Each and every one of you can, from the most godlike seraph to the most ordinary human: power, faint but unmistakable. The power to build a world, and to destroy it. The same power that's been lorded over you for four years... but now, it's yours to command.

You can create a new life here. It isn't the home you remember- the home you remember, after all, was never yours to begin with. For some of you, that's a blessing. For others, it's a hard truth you'll have to live with. But even though you can't go home, with the power you've been given, it might just be possible to bring home to you. Bits and pieces of it- locations you remember, small creatures from your world- no people, though. That's one power Annie decided not to give you.

The place you've found isn't perfect- there will be work, hard work, and pain. The place you've found is your own: there are no overseers here, no Zemekis, no Johnson. The place you've found may not be paradise- but it's the nearest thing you're going to get.

You've found, at last, a better place to live.

Comments

[answerer_sword]

Do you see anything?

[The last few days were so chaotic that Bazett could not check for her friends any allies. Now, in this new town, she is wandering around, looking for them.]

[mayfield_mods]

Beneath the boards is a large metal door. The lock has rusted off, but it still appears very heavy.

[vytis]

I don't--ah. A door? [Lithuania steps inside, squinting a bit. Well, the door looks rusted, at least, and if you know how, it's usually not too hard to get a door with a rusted lock open.

Well, as long as you know how and have some enhanced strength. Lithuania kicks the door hard right where the rusted lock is placed.]

[mayfield_mods]

The lock will fall off, but that doesn't mean the door will budge; it has partially rusted in place.

[vytis]

[Lithuania sighs. Well, it's a minor issue compared to how Mayfield had been.

It's odd to talk about that in past tense. He pushes the door and looks back at Bazett.]

Could you give me a hand? Maybe if we push together...?

[willbeurprincess]

[Koharu followed, eventually, after looking at the houses and at his request of the other girl, she walks up to help. She pushes as hard as she can manage.] Like that?

[mayfield_mods]

Inside, the room looks like a bunker intended to live out the end of the world. There are no windows, and the walls are thick. The humming actually seems to be from the giant fan on the ceiling, which is keeping the building at room temperature.

However, the room, although it clearly used to be intended for use as a bunker, is now almost entirely filled with a massive machine. The machine sort of looks like a 1950s computer, but anyone familiar with computers will be able to spot parts of the structure that appear to be significantly more advanced. There are also strange parts, such as what appear to be vats of boiling water, but also awful smelling vats filled with other types of liquids attached to parts of the machine.

In the center of the room, there is a control panel.

[answerer_sword]

A human...computer?

[She feels a sinking feeling in her stomach.]

Is that what he used...

[burnbabyburn19]

What... is this.

[Jeanne steps cautiously toward Bazett, a sense of calm around her since they fought alongside each other in Mayfield.]

[answerer_sword]

I think it might have something to do with the way that Zemekis found us.

[She looks toward the other woman.]

I am not an expert in human technology, so I cannot operate this to confirm or deny anything.

[burnbabyburn19]

Technology...?

[Jeanne doesn't even know the meaning of the term.]

I know not this place and yet... I feel at ease here.

[answerer_sword]

It is so peaceful that it is disconcerting to me.

[Perhaps it is the stress of the past several days, but she almost expects something to jump out at her from the shadows.]

But yes, it feels good here. Strange, but good.

[answerer_sword]

[She waits by him, observing to see whether or not the door will open.]

Be careful. This place feels...strange.

[vytis]

(ooc: I replied here just to keep things in one thread. c:)