Marco's Heart

[peccatore]

You find yourself in a bright white, circular room. It's nearly empty; too bare, almost clinically so. But the bareness of it means that what is visible here stands out:

A podium in the center, where a familiar figure sits, head buried in his hands. Three paths running from the podium to three different spots near the edges of the room - not corners; circles don't have corners - where three doors leading seemingly nowhere stand with no regard for their complete lack of structural support.

It doesn't take you long to figure out where you are, does it? You only have to decide where to start.

Comments

[too_cleverfox]

Do you expect us to be attacked along the way?

[peccatore]

"It's dangerous in the dark," they reiterate.

[too_cleverfox]

Alright. I do have a light though.

[He holds up the lantern but also pats his pocket]

[peccatore]

The Mother shakes her head, hands held together in prayer. Or perhaps pity.

"Poor man... He doesn't understand."
"Our son has him fooled... He isn't the one to blame."

Nikolai may cross to the other side of the door, but it seems the figures will follow him whether he wants it or not.

[too_cleverfox]

... Is it your son that you think is the danger in the night?

[But whatever, he's going to go up towards the path, even with them in tow]

[peccatore]

The sound they make behind him is mournful, but it seems to leave a strangely cruel echo in its trail.

Regardless, light or no light, details become easier to make out as Nikolai advances, even if the road is lit only by the stars. The path seems to lead to a town densely populated with stone buildings; it's late enough at night that most people appear to be indoors.

Between the town and Nikolai, a stumbling, halting figure is rising to its feet.

[too_cleverfox]

[DOES IT LOOK UNDEAD? He quickly looks back at the couple and keeps a keen eye on the stumbling figure, keeping his distance.]

[peccatore]

"Shine your light on him," says the Father.
"No, no! Keep your distance!" says the Mother.

Either way, the answer to Nikolai's question is simple. Yes, it looks undead. It also looks like this, forcing itself to breathe heavily as it looks around in apparent confusion.

[too_cleverfox]

Sshhhh.

[He shushes the both of them and just holds the lantern out, mostly to try to get a better look.]

[peccatore]

What little light hits the monster's eyes makes them shine in the dark, like an animal's. He appears to either overlook or ignore Nikolai, opting instead to head into the town with unsteady, yet oddly light steps.

[too_cleverfox]

[he turns back to the parents.]

I think I can make my way to the town by myself at this point. You should return.

[peccatore]

They speak in unison:

"Oh, you poor young man..."
"Oh, you noble young man..."
"Are you hoping to save us?"

[too_cleverfox]

Not saving, just trying to figure out what's going on.

[peccatore]

"Go on, then."
"We will be watching."

They do not appear to be giving Nikolai an option.

[too_cleverfox]

Take care now. Thank you for the light.

[He starts heading to town, keeping a healthy distance from the trudging Marco(?)]

[peccatore]

The streets are mercifully empty, save for Nikolai and the undead he's pursuing. The latter appears to know exactly where he's going, turning corners and climbing steps with ease.

... Though he seems distracted on occasion, too. The night sky above seems impossibly bright; he finds himself staring at it, after a pulsing, throbbing sound that he catches near a window makes him stop.

But he continues, all the way to a house near a small, tilled field.

[too_cleverfox]

[you know, Nikolai is considering what information he knows of Marco. And the thing is, he didn't ask too many questions about when he was turned.

So he just continues to follow for now.]

[peccatore]

A pertinent observation!

The monster stops at the front door; hesitates; knocks lightly, as though afraid to break something. It's opened by...

Well, it's a man shaped very much like the Father. He seems more real, too, more three-dimensional, more present. His features are clearer. He has Marco's nose.

"Marco! Goodness gracious, where were you?" He throws his arms around Marco, who doesn't embrace him back so much as he collapses into his arms. "Your poor mother was worried sick. Come in, let her see you."

[too_cleverfox]

[well this is a touching moment, but... Nikolai keeps enough distance so he's not spotted but will approach closer if Marco walks inside.]

[peccatore]

Marco does walk inside. Shambles inside. There is the sound of a beating heart, two beating hearts, growing louder and louder.

[too_cleverfox]

[oh he's got a bad feeling about this]

[peccatore]

The feeling proves correct. No matter whether Nikolai follows or not, he can hear screams that are quickly muffled.

[too_cleverfox]

[welp, guess we all know where the guilt started.

He stays back, waiting to see if Marco will run out of the cabin.]

[peccatore]

He doesn't; certainly not right away. As the screams and cries fade, for minutes that stretch on and on, there is only the sound of a ravenous beast sating itself.

And when that fades, there is a great wail.

[too_cleverfox]

[yeaaaah.

He very carefully approaches the cabin, trying very hard to conceal himself]