Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDI 21c: The Glinting

Barf Bag and Pen were talking about forming some sort of alliance; Teardrop wasn't really too sure on why they were discussing that, considering how there were so few contestants left.

Ever since that... *incident* a little while earlier, TD had been unable to focus; she thought that that little hiccup from back then was a bother, but *now* she was really unable to pay attention to anything. Where did that thing come from? How did it end up attached to her? How *was* it attached to her? Was it just a piece of debris or something that was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or was it something more sinister? If the latter turns out to be the case, who made it? And why? What could it have possibly done to her? Could *still* be doing? And that's not even saying *anything* about the alarm that just went off a while ago. The thoughts just kept on piling up in the back of her head, so much so that eventually that there just wasn't enough room and it started pouring into everywhere else. What was just a mild feeling back in the day now completely overwhelmed her; it was a feeling completely alien to her, it was just... *Ugh*.

As a result, the drop of water became *incredibly* paranoid of anything and everything surrounding her. Really, the fact that *nobody* raised any concerns about these apartments until now was absolutely baffling. Absolutely preposterous. Every corner, nook, and cranny had the potential to hide basically anything, something that could potentially bring to them more harm than they were already subjected to. Every second she spent continuing to stick around here was a second she could potentially be vulnerable, be exposed.

She'd try to focus on the discussion going on, of course, but every other second her eyes would wander to something else entirely. Maybe a new face was now peeking out the window, or something had shifted by just a tiny bit, or something changed color or shape, or *anything*. Anything that was out of the ordinary, anything that could possibly be perceived as a threat. Teardrop was constantly readying herself for battle, preparing to get up ASAP and fend off whoever, or *whatever*, it may be.

And the other two were so *nonchalant*. Did they know? Were they just acting like they normally would to keep whoever it was at bay? Or maybe...

TD heard some faint rumbling going on a couple rooms over.

She instantly stood up and looked around, immediately ending whatever conversation may have been going on up to that point. "Huh?" Barf Bag went over to her. "TD, what's wrong?" "Yeah, what's up?" Pen asked. "Did you-" The water drop immediately gestured to them to remain quiet, then indicated that they should listen in. The noises continued on for another minute or so; easy to completely miss if you're not tuned into it, but once you heard it... You *heard* it.

Teardrop made a few more gestures, 'asking' them for their thoughts. "Probably just someone wandering around again." Pen remarked. "People have been doing that a lot. Apparently." "But *why*?" Barfy asked. "Besides us, there's only three others left, and they've probably explored everything this place has to offer by now." "Well, obviously it's not to look around." The writing utensil answered. "Whenever I asked- and before they pushed me away -they tell me that they're just thinking about stuff. Clearing their heads." He'd frown. "Done it a few times as well, actually; thought about all the strange things going on, stuff happening to *me*. Whatever could've happened to Needle-"

Another noise. *Definitely* closer. Probably just outside.

All eyes turned to the door, their single possible escape in case things went *really* wrong. "Yeah, we *really* have to check that out." The bag remarked. "I don't think it's just someone walking around anymore." Teardrop quickly went to do just that, only to be stopped by Pen. "No, no; I'll do it." He'd get up. "It's too dangerous." TD angrily folded her arms in response. "Er, I mean..." The one with the cap scratched his head. "I'll be the one to look, while you guys prepare yourselves for if things don't turn out too well." Teardrop was still a bit miffed about the whole thing, but she couldn't complain about it, and he was already on his way to the door.