Memory Logs

Conflicted Desire

9. Conflicted Desire

[ Meeting 40; Yamaoka Estate. ]

As they set to work on the first generator of the trial, Meg and Ash were completely silent - which was extremely disconcerting, at least on his part. Ash was a loud-mouth who always had some sort of sassy comment - or a flirtatious one - for any situation; so the fact that he seemed just as introspective as she... well, that was strange. She had half a mind to ask the older man just what the hell was up, when Kate snuck up to them, eyes wide with fear. Ash perked up at the sight of the beautiful blonde. "Is it just me or do you get more leggy every time I see you?" he asked with a suggestive grin.

Ah, there he is. Meg rolled her eyes, continuing her work. "What's the matter, Kate?" she asked, noting the songbird's expression.

"Found one o' them bear traps over by the shack," she said, voice wavering. "I-I'm guessin' we've got the Trapper on our hands, folks."

Meg's fingers fumbled on a gear, causing the generator to blow up - and the gear to rip into her skin as it ground to a halt. Hissing in pain, the red-head yanked her hand out of the contraption and all three of them scattered to the tall grass for cover. Suddenly the trio heard the CLAP of a trap accompanied by the ear-splitting scream of Claudette, and fear burned through them. Ash was the first to move; always so bold, so brave, so arrogant. "I'll get her," he said confidently. "This will be cake. That asshole won't know what hit him."

"Ash!" Kate scolded from the bushes. "Don't be a fool! You need to be careful. This isn't just a game!"

He glanced back at her, all salt and pepper and swagger. A smirk curled his lips. "That's some swell pillow-talk, baby," he said, earning an embarrassed blush from the blonde. "But this is a game - and I aim to win."

Then he departed, leaving both women shaking their heads. No matter how many times he won OR lost, Ash Williams was always a fighter, always over-confident, and somehow always inspirational. "Did you know that apparently where he comes from he fought demons? With a chainsaw??" Kate said.

Meg rolled her eyes. "He's so full of it. There's no way. Demons aren't even real."

Kate frowned slightly. "Well... I'd always assumed evil Japanese spirits weren't real, either, and yet here we are," she muttered.

"Point taken," Meg sighed.

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The match had run into the ground fairly quickly. Though Ash's bravado boosted morale for the rest of them, they were eventually picked off one by one. Meg thought she'd never forget the way he looked the Trapper right in the eyes before he died, spit on him, and said "Kiss my grits, Screwhead."

That would have to go down as one of the boldest survivor moves in Fog history, Meg thought even as she snuck around a corner, looking for the hatch. Despite being in awe at Ash's antics, she was also currently afraid. Very, very afraid. Being the last one left of the motley crew, the hatch was her safest bet - but she couldn't seem to find the damn thing.

Coming around the side of the center shrine, Meg glimpsed the cold metal hiding in the tall grass - and around the opposite corner came the Trapper, 7 feet of imposing, horrifying muscle, wielding that bloody cleaver. She was fast - but he was closer. His foot slammed the door down just as she skidded to a halt in front of it; even as Meg back-pedaled, trying to get away as quickly as possible, she didn't fail to notice how even though he could have taken a swing at her and made a successful hit, he didn't.