His phone buzzed quietly in his pocket as he ate lunch, taking a moment to swallow his food before checking his phone and reading what Cherno had to say. The message made him drag his nails through his gold strands and huff in annoyance. He was not some lackey! And he knew Cherno had Anthony's number. Anthony would be the face they all rather see. Not his. John stood up, despite his irritation. Wiping that irritated look from his face and smiling it loose with the knowledge that he was a miracle. And the fact that he knew Cherno had a reason for nearly everything, John excused himself and found himself out in the hallway. Anthony would be easy. A text was sent, detailing what Cherno had said, and John offered him a ride too. With Anthony taken care of he took off to the place nearest him and that would be the library . His feet was quick and his voice was low as he finally found and spoke Altair and Madeline. But before talking to Altair, he took a deep breath, said a prayer that the heathens would believe him and then finished searching for others on the list in the library. When he was sure there were none, he stepped right ups and into their conversation. "Beautiful day, isn't it? Of course though. This is the day the Lord has made. Hahahahahaha. Ha." Good. Break the ice with a joke. Heathens liked that stuff, right? "Cherno has something planned, and personally wants you to meet him at the church. Well..my church. After school. But only you, Altair." He shrugged apologetically to Madeline. He held them both in his gaze before speaking one last time. "Abby, Tyler and Quintus. Where are they?"
John strode up and down the small walk way that seperated his chair from the windows of the room. His club members were deep in discussion. They were used too him pacing so they ignored him. He wanted to talk to them, but he could not. He was even too afraid to tell anyone about being so blessed that he was saved from the very explosion they were talking about! Gah! He wanted to speak to someone about this and he'd even come to school mostly, to talk to someone about it. But maybe, silence was for the best. He sighed and took his seat in the most dominating chair. Maybe when he and Cherno could organize a drama night Briefly his mind flickered to Madeline. He knew that she was one of the survivors, but for some odd reason, since allowing her to stay in his church, he been experiencing a feeling he'd never felt for her. This feeling for a heathen...what was it called again? Ah yes, worry. But worry came from care. They were not friends. He couldn't be bonding with these heathens. Hell, even Cherno was a tolerable heathen. Ugh. He resisted the urge to tell his club members to shut up with their chattering, it was bothering his thoughts. But he held himself in check, instead taking a deep breath and a ordering them to bow their heads. It was time to pray for the departed and eat some lunch.
god saved john. but left altair. all da heathens.
Even as he ran instinctively, John knew there was a possibility that he could be one of the two and he shook his blonde curls in disbelief. With all that was going on, he had even forgotten to pray. He kept looking at his feet as he ran, left right left right left right. Nothing was going to trip him like in the movies! Then WHAM! Despite his best efforts to dodge things,he bumped right into someone's car. The alarm flared and his heart began to hurt with his speed. He was too slow, this delay would be his undoing. Well **** it then. He turned to face the flames that were still able to reach him while he caught his breath. If he was to be cleansed by fire then he would face it head on and see his death coming. Hot. Hot. [HOT! It was like sunburn had a mother and she was pissed. The first wave of red fire hit him as the explosive blast finally reached him. Gritting his teeth, he prepared for agonizing pain that never came. In fact the fire was kind of cool...and seemed to be complete moving pass him. Bullshit. John covered his mouth as the two profane words left his mouth. The forceful air from the explosion should have knocked the soul out of him. Instead he merely ruffled by a very strong gust. He stumbled around the car and jetted there after. This was a miracle. A blessing. And he was going to take and run with it. To safety. Apparently the blessing did not include stamina. Disliking people he always parked in the back, near the entrance or exits to a lot. The blessing continued as the only damage to his car was a tiny dent in the door from another car bumping it when the truck plowed through them. He started his engine without thinking, instead he just sat there. Alive. He was then slammed by the reality that others had died. He would find out who, later. Right now it was time to go home and eat. He got home in record time. Mom was not home and suddenly sleep over powered food. However when he woke up at the crack of dawn, six in the morning, a foiled covered plate, still warm, awaited him. Unwrapping the foil and keeping his mind blindly blank, he kept his focus on simply living. And eating.
The library. Research! Gathering information! Just like he'd said and it appears that his good friend listened, though he was on the phone at the time John spoke. "Like I said earlier, someone had to have heard or written about her. Or at the least, our given situation." He whispered a brief prayer for the ones on their way home already. And another for the ones Cherno choose. But especially one for himself. Because he was going too. "I'm going too. I dislike computers.., but my wpm would tell you otherwise." He knew of Anthony but he knew nothing about the boy as a person, at all. Well, the Lord didn't shirk away the poor and strange, so why should he. Taking a deep breath he spoke to Anthony directly. "We all seem to have found each other on Tumblr, but you're right, a phone call or text is much faster. Let's exchange numbers. Before something stupider then this happens."
Jayn beats me.
His words were null in a sea of heathenistic....HEATHENS. He sighed and snatched up his phone from the table, Cherno had hung up as soon as his voice was lost. Thinking of his best friend made him note the multicolored square that lie on the table also. Sighing John stood up and picked up his napkin and the cube of his friend, tossing the paper in the trash and walking out of the building. Once he made sure that Cherno had stopped shaking, he placed the cube in his friend's hand and straightened his sleeves almost nervously. "And here I thought, that nothing could compete with the drama of a Payn in my Jayn." He said to Cherno as he scanned the parking lot and sky for any signs of danger. Haha. A joke, not relating to Christ, he was truly shaken then.
John was beginning to think this was all a big mistake. And given that he knew pieces of Madeline situation, he was not surprised that she suddenly snapped. He spoke from his chest, years of speaking with no microphone in crowded places coming out in the way his voice could reach every ear. "The email said that we all had one hundred days to live. That there are rules to obey and that breaking them causes death to the breaker. The email also said that we could live freely and with no regrets. So we can assume, warily, that these rules will keep her entertained just because we obeyed them." He sighed when he finished speaking, wishing he had ordered a drink or something. " Of course I say we fight her, after all she is not the angel of death, therefore she has no right to decide deaths, but it does appear that she has two favorites that she is allowing to live past one hundred days. We figure that out and we could have a huge advantage. Also there was mention of a predecessor indicating that there was or is another game happening. Humans. Demons. Two creatures known for leaving behind history or notes or messages. Sometimes useless, sometimes pivitol. Understand? A previous game could mean a previous human winner or winning. And this demoness..her powers are simply too big! I cannot believe that some historian or human being has not written about her." "My main point is that we were chosen for a reason. Be it by her the Lord Almighty himself. And on top of that, we were brought here for a reason also. I cannot believe that you would be so hostile if you were doing this alone. So take comfort in the fact that there are others! We have something unholy attack us. Not you. Not me. Not just one person, but all of us. So everyone, chip in. Because by the end of of this discussion, one of us could die and the only thing we have done is speculate and *****. And I am not talking just talking about the angry girl over there. I mean those of you clearly bitching at and fighting with yourselves. John felt weary after his rant that was supposed to not have been so long and tiresome in the first place. He rubbed his temples. "We need something to do and we can't keep having this truancy meetings. Pray to your favorite deity and let's move on. I'm done." And it was a good thing too, because he brought words to a girl fight.
He listened intently, gathering information quietly until an alternate form of his name was bellowed out loud from Cherno. John sighed and fished in his pocket for his cell phone. He didn't know what to say, especially because he was yelled out of a serious state. So humbly he simply placed his cellular device, square into Cherno's shaking palm.
John was late. How late? He didn't know. He was not there after all. Suddenly breaking his perfect attendence took longer then expected, making him leave at 12:00 instead of before it. On top of that he'd never been to the filthy place named Lacey's. Nervously he turned into the parking lot of Madeline's meeting point but muttering 'do not judge' seemed to help a little. Thinking about the situation also made him forgive Madeline for not saying she found a ride. Not that he worried about the poor unfortunate souls who slept in the church. Thinking about Crestatia also made him remember that he was going into this devilishly dirty place for survival. These thoughts swirled through his brain as his dual colored eyes narrowed and sliced into any that met it. They softened when they alighted on his schoolmates. Thinking about the files Jesus surrounded himself with helped John calmly place a napkin down on his crisp blue jeans. He didn't take in anyone's face, accept Cherno's. Whatever they discussed must gave left him ill. Bah, there was no time to worry if they weren't concerned. He had sat down seconds after Kallisti had finished speaking. And could only agree that it was something he'd rather focus on. John leaned back in his chair, folded his arms and then opened his mouth. Speaking to any who'd reply he said, "Recap. Please. A quick one."
John had had a question to ask but kept his mind shut as he absorbed and watched the unnatural events around him. Possession. Clear thought and speaking. Even her reason for doing it all was typical. Her kind tested mankind since their birth. A game, ha! Ninety-six days, hm? Then the game has only just begun. Well traitor to the one and only King, this soldier was ready to play. As the others left and life slowly returned to the crowd it briefly crossed his mind to locate the others emailed that sticking together would probably be best and boring to the vile creature that haunted them. He shrugged the thought away figuring that heathens wouldn't want to listen to him anyway. Unfortunately to get his question answered he needed more information and a refresher on the rules. But as he stood up, one person stuck out to him. She kinda looked like the junkie he gave a ride too. Face palming he realized she was his junkie from earlier. After verifying that it was her he crept towards her. Remembering her cars state as he spoke, "M. I am heading home immediately. Pressing matters have come up. May I ask if you'd like to stay here and I take you home. Or take you to your car, maybe give your car some kind of jump."
John carefully absorbed the information being delivered to them, never once thinking about the email he and the others received. When he finally heard their principal announce the parents of the energetic photographer would be speaking, he gasped. He may have thought that Thomas wasted his talents on the wrong heathens and things. He never once turned John away or shirked him as a Jesus freak. This death left a sad feeling in his heart, Thomas Adams may have been a heathen, but even John would admit that this felt too soon. His mother would hear about this.
The announcement to go to the auditorium still rang through his skull. He shook his head and and cleared it away. He spent the next five minutes with his club, praying for everyone as they did daily on every school morning. With that done, they dispersed into the halls, leaving John a few minutes alone until he opened the auditorium door and coolly kept his mouth closed. Keeping quiet for once and taking in the dark building's interior and the roses scattered on the floor.
Ah. A semi decent junkie who was so out of it that she thought she was still in school. He shook his head yes and backed away five feet from the car door. No telling what sort of defense this strung out girl had. He spoke slowly and clearly to her through the cracked window, "We have plenty of clothes for you. I will get the newest and freshest for you. And why yes! We do go to the same school. I'm on my way there, so I will gladly give you a ride if you'd like. And it is now...7:37 in the morning. " That's it. Treat her nice and gentle. She is the is the poor and less fortunate afterall. It didn't bother him that she seemed to be a new junkie in their small town, the darkness of her car kept her obscured and that didn't bother him either. Rummaging through the clothing donations he was true to his word, finding the most fitting garments and delivering it to her with a small and polite smile, vanishing across the lot to pull his car up beside hers. He waited patiently for her in his own car, turning on theheater, glad he got her a matching coat as he got out to open and close the door behind her when she entered his car. He ignored any stares his gentlemanly habit might have got and once again he did as he said. Without a word or question towards this stranger, he took her right into the student parking lot.
John had awakened an early amount for today was a school day. No one seemed have come in despite their best efforts to spread the word about their free service. John had stood with his mother, partly like a sentry but more like a future Deacon. As the members left the pews he shook hands with his sister and brethren and then conversed with the remaining church members who made up the cleaning, serving, and overnight crew. His mother retreated with the pastor and the board. With a small smirk, he took command, issuing orders until there was no one with idle fingers but him. John thought about the concert in the park, but as soon as he felt he did, he felt guilty and asked forgiveness in putting something before the Lord's day. He hummed a hymn, distracting himself before noting that he assigned no one to the duty of bum checker. The one who basically offered the comforts of the cots and kitchen in the basement of the church. He took the job upon himself, seeing as how the others were being diligent on their own. Opening the backdoors of his church he stepped into the cloudy early morning air, it was pretty brisk to him, but he liked the cold. No homeless insight...Hello hello, what's this? An unknown car. Possibly some heathenistic junkie trying to "shoot up" on church property! His right fist curled up and his light eyes narrowed as he brought his knuckle down to rap against the glass of the driver's side. "Open up heathen! I can see your need to be saved. So be glad our God is merciful and righteous enough to have you. Also, try not to die in our parking lot."
Being driven to the church was lovely. Not a single annoying soul in sight, just a nice quiet drive with mother and the Lord. John sighed in happiness, smiling as he let his mother out of he car and even held the churches door open with her. As if on their arrival, the choir started to sing, as they well should, his mother was the church's top donor, and her word, was rivaled only by God. She had ordered them to sing and start the Sunday service on her arrival, which was also never a problem because she always came on the service's scheduled time. Once they settle in their traditional front pew seats, John settled in for a hell of a preaching.
John was on fire. A religious fire that us. Since leaving his house he'd been keeping busy, you know, idle hands- and all that. His candy cane stripped sleeves rolled up, he flashed a multitude of smiles that da, for free he even gave out a warm bowl of steaming stew. John had been serving up deliciousness for the poor for over six years. It didn't make him as happy as it used o be but the people here knew him. Trusted him. Listened when he spoke. And the best thing is that he changed more then a few heathens. Four more bowls went put to the less fortunate via John before he had to mop his brow and realize that he was jut as hungry as they. Grabbing a bowl of his own stew and a slice of bread, John sat down in a chair, listening to the most wise and blessed bum the world had to have ever seen.
John walked across his living room, stared at his picture of Jesus on the wall and sighed. He contemplated alerting his friends that church would have to do without him. He was going to a concert on Sunday after all, he stretched and roved over to his room, settling down at his desktop, smiled at the screensaver filled with pictures of the cross and began to surf and dig through Tumblr. It was amazing, Jesus really is everywhere.
He yawned softly, and saw someone stand beside him. He placed a big grin on his face when he discovered that the person beside him was Q. "Hey! This place must be good. You don't seem like the type for having bad tastes. Maddy too." He thought about what he should tell her, he didn't want Madeline to think he was telling everyone about their meeting. But he was so excited, so he opened his mouth and said, "I'm actually planning to meet Madeline here...I asked her out!" Suddenly an alarm outside began to blare and he knew it was his. "That's me." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, heading out the door and towards his car. Once he disabled it, he sighed and shoved his fingers into his pockets, standing outside and scanning the parking lot. He didn't see Maddy yet.
His hair was combed neatly, a bit of gel here and there, and his black locks curled and shifted to his designs and into what he thought was a charming but cool looking style. His glasses where wiped cleaned, dismantled and re-tightened before he put them back on his face. Nothing would make them fall off, not today! The sleeves of his shirt were black, and in the center of his shirt were two black eyes with white in the center of them. Closer examination showed that his shirt was a cute panda head. His jeans were a fitting and a normal shade of black, and they were held up by the black and white checkered belt that adorned his waist. And as he laced up his black and white converse, he grinned and glanced at his bed side clock which told him that he had forty minutes to get where he was going. He slipped his tiny red camera in his pocket, took a deep breath that filled him with courage but didn't stop the rapid beating of his heart. "Well they say that bravery is just hiding your fear very well.." He slapped both his cheeks at the same time to shock the nervousness out of him. His car keys entered the space beside his camera in his pocket and he was out the door, once again he somehow beat Madeline to the cafe, with two hours too spare. There was no way anyone would come to a cafe date, over twenty minutes (9:40am) early...except maybe... Madeline. He double checked for her car too, and glanced up and down the street as he ignored the cafe for a moment and crossed the street to a small flower shop across the street. He left the store missing twelve dollars, but he'd gain some confidence and a prim red rose, and his nerves even seemed to calm down. A quick hop and a skip back across the street and he found himself in front of the door of the cafe, which seemed to make that meager confidence boost from purchasing the rose, vanish. Shutting his eyes and clutching the handle to the front door, he breathed softly, in and out and in and out. But that took so long that he was stuck holding open the door for at least four other people. One of which, noted his rose, and wished him luck. "Thank you, sir, I'm a pretty lucky guy, so it'll work out." He said shaking the man's hand but before long he was dragged into a bit of conversation, apparently, he looked like the man's grandson...a lot.
