Transcendence ✹ Septicgab

Six

We decided to bound their arms before myself, Ethan, and Mark walked Felix, Marzia and Christine out of Old Yharnam. Amy and Gab kept their guns pointed at Christine and Felix's heads, whilst Ethan had his blade at the ready, in case Marzia had any bright ideas.

"What are we gonna do with them?" Mark asked. "Felix didn't recognise me..
Nor Amy..."

"We shake them down for answers.." Gab said. "Christine has been here for three years... she must know something.."

"And Felix and Marzia were here when
Ethan and Mark first got here... We managed to pry that out of them," Amy added. "They must know something."

"That's true.." Gab said. "Ethan told us about his theory, and it seems to be factual.... and he told Seán and me he's been here for a year."

We knocked all three of them out, tied them to the banister, and when they woke, Gab pointed her gun at Christine.

-

"What all do you know?" She asked. "You've been here for three years.... So talk." Seeing Gab in this role was mildly concerning, but as she looked at me periodically, I saw the innocence.

"Like I'm gonna talk to you," Christine scoffed. Ethan stepped in, squatting in front of her.

"Why are we all here?" He asked, staying in a calm manner.

"I don't know."

"Wrong," he said, his tone changing to its polar opposite. "There is one thing we all have in common..." Ethan paused. "Wait a minute..."

"What?" Amy asked.

"YouTube.." Ethan said. "It's not just gamers... We're all... We all upload videos.." He had remembered another piece of his life on earth, reminding us all of the social network.

"That still doesn't explain why we're... here though.." Mark said.

"Christine.. What all do you know?" I asked. "You said this world works in one way... Hunt.. or be hunted."

"It's true," she said. "If you die here, you're dead." Christine had an evil smirk on her face. "That's how this is.."

"If we die here... we're gone forever?" Gab asked.

"You're not as incompetent as I thought, Gab," she said. "If you die here, your life is over... so I suggest you let us go... or you'll find out sooner than later."

"And why should we let you three go?" Gab asked. "You tried to kill me... You tried to kill Ethan, Amy and Mark... The only one of us you didn't try to kill is my boyfriend."

"Gab.." Christine said, then sighed. "This is how it works. We kill or be killed. You've killed... All of you have.."

"If we die here.." Amy said.

"..We're dead on earth?" Ethan finished her statement. Christine nodded.

"As far as I know, anyways," she said. "When I first saw you here, Gab... I didn't realise.. it was you." Gab's eyes widened.

"You... you remember me?" My girlfriend started getting choked up as her friend nodded.

"Gab.." Christine said. "I really hoped I wouldn't see you here.. This place fucking sucks!"

"Felix... Marzia.." Ethan said. "Do you two remember any of us?" The two looked at each other, then at me, followed by Ethan and Mark.

"May.. maybe?" Marzia said. "I... I don't know.." She looked at Amy. "You.. You were the girl.. we found.." Amy nodded. "I'm so sorry.."

"You should be," Amy shrugged. "But I'm fine. Mark remembered me just in time.. and they found me quickly." Mark wrapped his arm around her. "I would've been dead if they hadn't."

"Well.." Felix said, staring at Amy. "I should be the one apologising.."

"You know what..." Amy said, glaring at Felix. "I really don't want to hear another word. I don't give a shit how much you people apologise. Sure... Christine.." She turned to her. "You remember Gab... Well, you say you do... But that doesn't mean we forgive you for trying to kill us. Same goes for you, Felix..."

"Babe.." Mark reached out, his hand on Amy's shoulder. "Breathe." She listened, calming down. "Getting angry isn't going to help."

"I get... that killing is how you survive and thrive here.." She continued. "But trying to kill your friends? I know you didn't remember us right away... but you had to have figured it out... Figured out why we're here.."

-

We all got ready for sleep, leaving the three hunters tied to the banister. Everyone was quiet when Gab started to tear up.

"Babe?" I said. "Gab.." She took a deep breath. "What's on your mind?"

"What if... What if there's no end to this?" She asked, wiping her eyes. "What if we are here... forever?" Gab sat with her knees up to her chest. "I... I'm almost thirty... I can't be here for the rest of my life.." She looked at me. "There's so much I want to do in life.. I want to be a wife... a mother... I want to be able to travel the world more... Go to California.. take you to see Japan.."

"I.." I said. "I don't know what to say..." She laid her head against me. "I'd like to say... we're gonna get out of here... but frankly, I don't know.... if this is going to be our reality now."

"I love you, Seán," Gab smiled through her tears. "How do you always know how to make me feel better?" I kissed her on the forehead.

"I have no idea," I smiled, making her giggle. "I love that laugh..."

-

I woke up in need of a drink of water, but something didn't feel right. Gab was still laying next to me, Ethan was passed out in the corner he had sat in before night came, and Amy and Mark were curled up together.... but three people were missing. I could hear a faint whisper coming from around the corner, so I carefully got up, and moved closer.

"This wasn't part of the plan, Christine!" Felix was pissed. "We weren't supposed to say we knew them!"

"That's the thing.." Christine said. "Gab is so oblivious to what's going on here.. I don't know who the hell she is!" I snuck back over to my girlfriend and woke her up, making sure she stayed quiet. Ethan sensed us awake, woke up and woke Amy and Mark.

"Listen," I said. "But stay quiet.."

"Then how do we play this?" Marzia asked. "Gab thinks you are her best friend.. and that you agree. Before we know it, Seán's gonna figure it out... or Amy will kill us."

"What the fuck?" Amy gritted her teeth. "I'll fucking do it.." Mark pressed his finger to his lips, and Amy quieted down.

"We've gotta pick them off when they least expect it," Christine said. "Amy's already violently angry with you, Felix... and Mark will be as well... As for Gab... she's all mine." Gab looked at me, worried.

"I won't let that happen to you," I whispered. "If she tries anything... she'll have to get through me first."

"She's so oblivious," Christine laughed. "I can't believe she actually believed me." The three of them laughed.

"Seán.." Gab started to cry.

"It's going to be okay," I held her close. "We can win this.. We could.. set a trap.."

"I'm way ahead of you, Seán," Ethan laid out his drawing. "I've been working on this for a few weeks... ever since I learned that Christine was still alive. Here's what we need to do."