Event 3: Exhausted [TTW with Class 1-4 || Tag: Misha]

[Naya Zafar]

[OOC: Takes place after her conversation with Something and Jamie’s TTW with Alex]

Naya was exhausted, in every sense of the word. Her head was spinning, and she needed something to eat, as soon as possible. Traipsing into the cafeteria, she was surprised to catch the end of what seemed to be a conversation between Jamie and someone on the other side of the wall. Hope surged through her. So more people were alive, even if she couldn’t reach them! Maybe whoever it was on the other side knew where Emery was!

Giving a weak smile to Jamie as they passed each other, she made her way over to where Jamie had been and pulled a chair up so she could sit. She hoped whoever it was was still there on the other side.

“Hello?”

[Misha Charisse Quinn]

Hearing from Alex that they weren’t alone nor completely isolated was a relief; being trapped in small groups was awful enough, and for as much of a loner as she was, the more survivors she could hear about, the safer she would feel. The most of them there was, the higher the chances of someone actually getting out of this.

Yet, she hadn’t expected to hear a sound on the wall so soon after Alex’ chat was over, and as she looked up, her fingers running through her locks to try and untangle her now dirty and dusty hair, she raised an eyebrow. That voice…

 – Naya? – she called, making her way towards the door wall until she was standing right next to it – Is that you? Are you okay?

The wheels were turning in her head as she leaned closer, not wanting to miss her answer. She could be wrong, but she swore that Naya was still in the entrance hall when she lost consciousness, so she had even less reason than she to be on this side of the building. So someone was truly just moving them around at random places and with different people; what she couldn’t understand, was why.

 – … have you been hurt? – she asked, cautious. She wondered if Naya would get her drift. It was obvious to Misha now that the texts were more than just jokes, and she was worried about what might have happened to her past survivor gang. Had Naya been… punished?

[Naya Zafar]

“Naya? Is that you?” Naya jumped at the sound. Misha! So she was okay, thank god!

“Yes, yes, it’s me! I’m here!” She found herself grinning despite her gnawing hunger and frayed mental state, “Misha, I’m so glad you’re alive!”

“Are you okay?... Have you been hurt?” Misha was worried about her? That was so sweet of her to worry, especially after what happened earlier. She pushed it out of her mind, shaking her head. No use feeling guilty, she couldn’t change the past. She was just glad Misha was there, alive and talking to her.

“I’m fine, I think. So, so hungry and I did black out earlier, but no weird texts. My phone is destroyed, I think I broke it in the fall,” Naya replied, “How’re you? Who’s with you? Have you had any texts?”

She hoped Misha hadn’t. After what had happened earlier she didn’t want her to get hurt if she refused, or have somebody else hurt if she complied. It was a blessing that Naya’s phone was broken, it wasn’t like she could call anyone anyway, and at least she wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone else thanks to those texts.

[Misha Charisse Quinn]

Misha smiled softly at Naya’s enthusiasm. At least she wasn’t having a breakdown now, thank God.

 – I’m glad you’re okay too. – she replied, truthfully. She surprised herself laying a hand against the wall where Naya’s voice came from. It was such a strange way to communicate… kind of like talking on the phone, yet so different at the same time. Usually she’d have no problem talking from one room to another in a normal setting… but this was no normal setting.

It was actually very sweet how positive Naya could be despite how awful everything was; like hearing her voice on the other side of the wall had been enough to brighten out her day. It was pretty sweet, actually; though she couldn’t suppress a frown when the girl told her she’d blacked out. So she is that hungry, uh? She couldn’t blame her. The only thing distracting her from how hungry she was, was how much she wanted to smash things.
Well, at least her phone was broken, so no more dares… probably. It’s not like Alex’ phone was the one to hold him by his throat earlier…

“How’re you? Who’s with you? Have you had any texts?”

 – I’m fine, don’t worry about me. – apart from a few bruises and a couple near-panic attacks, but she doesn’t need to know that. – Right now, I’m with Alex, Ryan and the principal. – she paused –... she’s really hurt. I managed to find some bandages, so… hopefully, she’ll make it out okay. She’s breathing at least, and she stopped bleeding…
Very reassuring.

Her next question was the most difficult to answer.
 – No… Alex did, though. … it didn’t go too well. – she wondered how aware of the texts’ seriousness Naya was. She’d bought her excuses as for her choking earlier, but for how long? – He’s doing better now, but…
But what? He was hanged by an unknown invisible force because he refused to slap my ass? She couldn’t tell her that, now could she? Would she even believe her?
 – … what about you? Did you receive anything? I know you’re with Jamie, who else is with you?

[Naya Zafar]

“I’m glad you’re okay too.”

Misha’s words made Naya blush, and she was glad the redhead couldn’t see her. It was comforting to know someone cared how she felt in this place, it felt so unwelcoming that even the slightest glimmer of kindness felt like a big deal to her. She was so used to being surrounded, blanketed by her friends and family that now she felt bare and cold without that comfort she craved. Hearing Misha say that made her feel slightly more at home, but only slightly. She rested her head against the wall, closing her eyes.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”

But I do, Naya wanted to say, I don’t want you to get hurt. She couldn’t say it though, it seemed too sentimental. They were barely even friends.

“Right now, I’m with Alex, Ryan and the principal... she’s really hurt. I managed to find some bandages, so… hopefully, she’ll make it out okay. She’s breathing at least, and she stopped bleeding…”

“Oh god,” Naya covered her mouth, “What happened to her? Was she stabbed or something?” She bit her lip. Poor Principal Truman, and poor Ryan for having to see his mother like that.

She listened as Misha explained that Alex had gotten a text and had been hurt. Her expression grew grave.

“Misha, there’s something going on here. Something weird. I know it wasn’t just dirt when you started choking and I know it doesn’t sound entirely rational but... I’m scared that it’s some kind of supernatural force hurting us.”

She fiddled with the hem of her skirt.

“I didn’t get a text but Jamie did, and when she didn’t do what it wanted her phone flew back and hit her in the face, like something out of a movie. There’s no rational explanation for any of this...”

[Misha Charisse Quinn]

“Oh god. What happened to her? Was she stabbed or something?”
 – I don’t know… it looked like she was. She was already like this when we woke up here, and she hasn’t come back to her senses yet.

Truth was, Misha wanted to know what had happened to their principal… and at the same time, she truly, truly didn’t want to.

“Misha, there’s something going on here. Something weird. I know it wasn’t just dirt when you started choking and I know it doesn’t sound entirely rational but... I’m scared that it’s some kind of supernatural force hurting us.”

As Naya continued speaking, in a much more serious and personal tone, Misha looked up; at her own surprise, she actually let out a quiet chuckle as the woman expressed her worry. Oh, Misha knew all that already, she truly did. She was brought back to a frown as she heard of Jamie’s abuse. So, another person had been punished… yet, it seemed so tame compared to what she and Alex had to endure… and the principal, if she trusted her gut feeling. What was the logic behind who got choked almost to death and who got bitch slapped with a cell phone?

 – I know. – she answered, softly. – I’ve known for a while. – I just didn’t want to believe it, she added inwardly. That sounded too vulnerable for her to say it out loud. – Alex got chocked too. Something grabbed him, and there was no one touching him. And… some really strange things keep happening. – she thought back to the amulet, unsure of how to even explain such a phenomenon. – I have no idea what it is, but I know it’s not natural. I know.

She lowered her eyes in silence, her hand still on the wall. She had so much to tell her, and yet too much social awkwardness to say half of it.

 – Look, Naya… I still don’t approve of what you did the other day… I don’t think you had any reason to think someone could truly hurt us at the time, and I stand by what I said. … but you were still right, and I am happy that you didn’t get hurt back then. I trust you’ll be careful again in the future and not… do anything that ends up harming yourself. – she waited for a few seconds for her message to sink in, before she added, lowering her tone as much as she could to make sure that, if anyone was around listening to them, hopefully, Naya would be the only one to hear her. – … but don’t give in too much, please. We don’t know how far they’ll make us go if we just do whatever they ask of us. – she felt her words waver more and more, as she felt increasingly more unsure of what she wanted to say. – … just take care, alright?

[Naya Zafar]

Naya played with her fingers as Misha replied.

“I know. I’ve known for a while.”

Then why did you play it off like you were okay?! Naya wanted to ask, I could’ve helped you, I could’ve done something...

Realistically, though, she knew she couldn’t. What did she have, a summer’s work experience at a vet? People weren’t treated the same as animals, and some of these injuries were beyond her knowledge. She’d probably only end up doing the opposite of help, like she always did.

“Alex got choked too.”

“Oh Alex! Is he okay?” Naya asked worriedly. He was one of her friends, and she’d hate to see him hurt. She hates that anyone was getting hurt in the first place.

“Look, Naya… I still don’t approve of what you did the other day… I don’t think you had any reason to think someone could truly hurt us at the time, and I stand by what I said... but you were still right, and I am happy that you didn’t get hurt back then. I trust you’ll be careful again in the future and not… do anything that ends up harming yourself.”

“I know, you’re right... I feel awful about doing it, and before all these things happened I thought I was just a crazy hypochondriac as always... I still shouldn’t have done it, I feel awful and I won’t do anything like it again...” she looked down. The guilt had been eating her up, so it was nice in a way to hear Misha’s words. Still, she regretted ever doing it. She’d much rather have been hurt than hurt someone else.

“… but don’t give in too much, please. We don’t know how far they’ll make us go if we just do whatever they ask of us.”

Naya nodded, forgetting for a moment that Misha couldn’t see her.

“I won’t. I won’t kill anyone or anything. I’m not a monster.”

“Just take care, alright?”

“I will. You too..” Naya replied, “I really hope this all goes away. I just want us to be safe again.”

She continued playing with her hands. All of this was taking a toll on Naya.

“Thanks for talking with me. I know it sounds dumb but... this place is the loneliest place in the world. I needed this.”

[Misha Charisse Quinn]

 – Alex is… surprisingly fine. – she answered, sounding a little unsettled. How exactly was she to tell her that he was magically healed by a glowing necklace that made him hear things? She’d been there to see it, and even she still didn’t comprehend it. – … unnaturally fine. … I think he’s doing okay now.

Hopefully. She glanced towards the place where her friend had been a moment ago. So much had happened to him in so little time…
She nodded at Naya’s apology, until she remembered that the girl couldn’t see her from where she was. “It’s alright.” She answered, calmly. This wasn’t the time for more fights or more blaming.
“I’m not a monster.”

She looked up to the location of her voice as she heard those words. That was a strange choice of words.

 – I didn’t say that… – before she could correct her, however, Naya carried on, thanking her for her company, causing Misha to smile. Girl sure had a very sweet nature. – Nah, it’s not dumb, I get it. Not everyone can laugh in the face of danger like me! – she boasted, trying to put some more life into her voice. She couldn’t enjoy depressed atmosphere for this long; actually, she had surpassed her limit a while ago. – But you’ll be fine. And hopefully you can see your friends again soon.

And hopefully they’re a better support than me. She added inwardly. The feeling of awkwardly holding a sobbing Naya with no idea of what to do with her was still very fresh in her mind. At least her real friends would know how to help her. Not like her.

 – Well… I should go check on the others. People have a tendency to go and get themselves killed when I’m not watching. – she joked… kind of. – Take care of yourself and your friends alright? I’ll talk to you later.

With this, Misha gently knocked on the wall as a goodbye, before turning around and getting back to her group.

[Naya Zafar]

Naya listened to Misha patiently, fiddling with the hem of her skirt, until Misha decided to leave.

“Well… I should go check on the others. People have a tendency to go and get themselves killed when I’m not watching.”

“Yeah, probably for the best,” Naya nodded, “Hopefully nobody else is hurt.”

“Take care of yourself and your friends alright? I’ll talk to you later.”

“You too Misha. I’ll talk to you later.”

She moved away from the wall and towards the door, but not before muttering, “I’ll know I’ll be seeing you soon.”