The future's in doubt, you're on your own [Week 6, Friday]

[hydrokinetics]

[Silence fills the room. They've lost one of their own and their biggest chance to end the game. It's no surprise no one's in a good mood, but they all know they have to be here.

So...who will speak first?]

Comments

[thatsthespirit]

It has been since our second week here. Since Tiara and Ao were killed.

[her frown deepens]

But where is it going?

[hydrokinetics]

[He's silently thinking...before...]

Orpheus. [It's a mumbled word and he sits up suddenly, almost falling out of his chair.]

By the gods. [His good hand runs through his hair and he laughs in disbelief.] Annabeth's last letter...she said "I want to see you again." Add that to the pile of people talking about visits. I thought it was just...you know. But no, it was a hint. [His hands wave for a moment.]

Orpheus. In her first letter to me she told me the Orpheus story. She told me about Orpheus for a reason and I thought it was to motivate me to keep going, but she told me that was part of it but also that she'd love to strangle me right now because I didn't get it. But the Orpheus story...Orpheus's wife died not long after they were married, so he went down to the Underworld to plead Hades for her life back. He said that she could come back to the world of the living with him, but he had to lead and he couldn't turn around or her soul would be lost. Naturally, Orpheus failed and turned around and his wife disappeared as he was kicked out of the Underworld. After that, he couldn't kill himself. Every time he tried, he failed. It wasn't until he was ripped apart by Maenads for not honoring Mr. D--uh, Dionysus, I mean, that he was able to die and finally be with her again.

What if...it's not about bringing them back, but it's about going to them?

[robitussin]

[uuummmMMMM]

You're not suggesting...

[hydrokinetics]

Not exactly, but there's something about that train we're missing. Milla's onto something, I think.

[thatsthespirit]

[. . .]

[ah. . . ah???]

But the train is sealed. The only way we know how to get into it right now is by dying. Certainly we aren't all meant to die, are we?

[impulsiveness]

The normal ending for this gave is one survivor. Forty corpses goes against that idea, so I don't think so.
Or hope so, at least.

[thatsthespirit]

[ha. . .]

I think, perhaps, it's time for me to tell the entirety of the town about the train's true purpose. Perhaps someone else can answer our questions tomorrow, so we don't have to wait to meet with the Sheriff.

[impulsiveness]

It's not a bad idea. Not the kind of information that would make you look suspicious, anyway.

[impulsiveness]

Where and when. All trains have a departure time, don't they?

[thatsthespirit]

[. . .]

[ah. shit]

I assume so; I wasn't particularly familiar with trains before arriving here. But if we actually are on a time limit, and our time limit is dependent on the train's scheduled departure, then. . .

[how much longer do they have before it leaves?]

[impulsiveness]

It could depart at any time, and we wouldn't know it.