Daybreak Oneshots

A Single Dart

Oil.

There was nothing but oil everywhere.

Finley felt his insides light on fire as he retched out more of the disgusting black stuff. Hunched over the ground, oil spread around him as more poured out. It was pure, never-ending torture. He felt it cascade through and out of his gills, drip out of his nose, and stream out of his mouth. Oh how he wanted to cry, how he wanted for it to all be over soon. He struggled to stay conscious, feeling himself slowly slip away from the waking world.

How long would this last?

Dakari strode through the gloomy forested intermission area, taking a break from the last round he was in. He contemplated it, thinking about what happened. The killer at that time was The Polluted, however, he seemed to be in much more pain than usual. The Polluted was walking a little slower and his oil seemed to cascade out of him. As much as it hurt to see animals in pain, Dakari had to remind himself that this particular fish was out for his and others' blood. Attempting to help him then would have been a death sentence.

Squinting through the mist, he could barely make out a large figure on the ground. It seemed to be vomiting something out amidst cries of pain. It sounded familiar.

Is that... The Polluted?

Eyes widening, he hastily took his heal gun out of its holster and a few bullets from his belt pocket. He quickly loaded the gun and aimed at the figure. Standing firm and keeping a wide stance, he pulled the trigger.

BANG!

A few more drops of oil cascaded out before coming to a complete halt. Finley felt his senses become sharper, and his insides felt just a little cooler.

I was sure I was a goner... What happened?

Dakari ducked behind a large tree, hoping he wouldn't get spotted. Finley looked down at the large oil puddle around him and resisted the urge to hurl again at the sight. He got up, letting any remaining oil drip from his body. Vomiting oil was unfortunately a part of his daily routine (if there even were days to begin with) and it tended to occur after a loss on his part. It seemed like The Mist didn't like the fact that he had been struggling in the last few rounds he was in, and punished him severely.

Normally he would've blacked out and ended up back in his cabin with no problem, but something prevented that.

Then, he remembered.

There was only one person who could magically heal wounds and ailments, all within an instant.

Frantically, he ran his hands over his upper body until a fingertip brushed against something not a part of his being. He grabbed and yanked it out of his back, investigating it. A small dart shone in the very limited moonlight, empty. A thin needle poked out of it, now tinged with oil and something else.

This was The Marine Biologist's doing.

"I know you're there, Biologist," he growled. Dakari flinched, his heart skipping a beat. "What do you want? Come out."

Dakari sidestepped from behind the tree, hands up in the air to surrender. Finley glared at him, staring daggers into his very soul. He gulped.

"I don't want to hurt you," he croaked.

"I'm sure you don't. But tell me: why do you tamper with things beyond your control?"

"I just wanted to help-"

"You could've helped by turning around and never coming back!" Finley spat. "What would you have to gain by helping a killer? A vengeful beast out for the likes of you?"

"I... I don't know..." Dakari murmured.

"You don't know!" Finley mocked. "Tell me, when will you stop messing with nature-"

"I'm a doctor!" Dakari interrupted this time. "It's my job to help those in pain, especially animals. You're no different. Believe me, I'd love to help you if only you would let me!"

Finley stayed silent, scanning Dakari's body. Dakari was kind of shaky, and his gun was back in its holster. Instead of his swimsuit, he was wearing a coat with fluff around the edge of his hood, and a hoodie underneath. He looked similar to The Hunter. Not that he cared. They were all the same to him, even the man he fell head over heels for a long time ago.

"I told you. You can't help me," he whispered, no longer glaring at him.

"What's stopping me from trying?" Dakari retorted. He slowly took a step closer to Finley. "I don't have any tools, a team, or access to research and technology, but I can do something else to help." Finley shook his head.

"There's no point." He threw the empty dart he had been holding onto the floor. "Now, leave before I end you. On the count of three."

"What-"

"One," Finley warned. "Two..."

"What are you doing? You don't even have your spear."

"I have other means of killing you," he said. "Now go."

Dakari pressed his lips together, frowning. "It doesn't have to be this way."

The Biologist sounds just like him. "I know. But do I have a choice?"

Dakari sighed. "Alright, I'll go. But if you change your mind, I'll be around." He turned around, grass crunching in his wake. He faded into the mist, not to be seen until the next time he's pit against Finley. Finley felt melancholic, and he too left, though in the opposite direction.

Maybe in a perfect world, Finley would've been eager to seek Dakari's help.