[sub][h3][center]Archie[/center][/h3][/sub][hr]

[i]"I think we should look out for each other from now on. Help each other stay under control and stuff."[/i]

Archie smiled at this, and let Natalie's hands go. He felt the weight lift off his chest knowing that for the most part everything was okay now. He liked what Natalie insinuated, though. That they would look out for one another. The promise of not letting him go too far. It was sweeter, and 'If you go too far, I'll kick your ass' didn't have the same ring to it.

He looked over to the other two, three now. It seemed that the club had gained a new member. A new friend that he could make. He caught Lynn's eyes on him for a moment and frowned when he noticed her glare. She sharply looked away and continued conversation naturally. A part of Archie wasn't sure what to make of that other than she was upset at him for [i]something[/i]. He looked back at Natalie and gave her an apologetic smile. "Why dont you go on ahead. I'll catch up."

When Natalie had nodded and given him at the beautiful quaint smile of hers, Archie had absconded off of the sidewalk, intent on getting her and Amelia flowers as well. It dropped off into a decline for around eight or so feet before leveling off and transitioning into pines and conifers. The forest floor was dotted with ferns and other low underbrush- but Archie was looking for wildflowers again. He didn't have any particular type in mind, just some sort of flowering plant. Hell, he'd bring Natalie a pine cone back if he thought she'd get a kick out of it.

The dirt was becoming progressively more loam, and he could hear the sound of flowing water. The smell alone brought back fond memories of home, and without much thought he allowed himself to travel deeper. The trees were becoming thinner now, and he found himself by the river that traveled around the length of the ring. He looked to his left and followed the easy arch as the water, land, the small orange lights of a campground of all things, and buildings sloped easily and faded into the darkness of the sky above. He looked directly upwards and found himself trying to discern between the lights of still-lit rooms and the stars in the night. Eventually he realizes that he's still breathing— his lungs are protesting and his chest feeling as empty as ever, but it's nothing he can't handle. Archie opens his eyes ([i]when did he close them?[/i]) and looks back up at the sky, the stars—they had known all his secrets, once upon a time. The night sky stays as silent as ever. He listens to the sound of insects and frogs croaking away along the river. It's funny- perhaps this tin can in space wasn't so unlike his home after all.

He turned to his right and followed the river a few more paces in search of a flowering plant- and eventually found one. He knelt down, humming to himself, and gathered a few more flowers with the intent of giving them to Natalie and Amelia.

Then, he saw it. Less than ten feet from him. A shape had washed ashore and was shifting ever so slowly with the flow of the river. Archie didn't realize he was moving until he was almost upon it- but stopped short as soon as realized what it was. It was a body.

The man was horribly broken- collapsed chest, the leg was bent in all the wrong ways, missing fingernails, missing [i]fingers[/i]. Archie skidded to a halt, falling flat on his ass no more than a few feet from the body. He was screaming, a part of him realized. In surprise, and in fear. He hadn't even realized that he had started screaming until he had stopped. His chest pounded, and with shaking fingers he placed his hand across his chest—

And there it is, the familiar [i]thump, thump, thump[/i] of his heart, now far stronger than it normally was. His chest burned and for the first time in days he felt the call of the [i]other guy[/i]. He was scared, terrified even. He turned over and threw up, but whipped around as soon as he was finished as if the body was going to come alive at any moment. This [i]didn't[/i] happen here. The Promise had zero deaths in history and here he was, faced with a literal corpse. Someone had been [i]killed[/i] and recently, too. The body was in the early stages of decay and his rapidly sharpening senses could now detect the horrid odor of rotting flesh. He seized, his clothes tightening on his body, but he fought the transformation. He didn't need to turn- he rationalized. He wasn't in any immediate danger. He was okay. He was okay.

He felt his body physically relax without his say, as if he were an observer and no longer in control. He felt the heat and tightness in his chest fade, but he was still paralyzed in shock by the body in front of him. He pushed himself away from the corpse- further away from the water, unable to take his eyes off of it. The others must've heard him. They'd be here any moment now. They would follow his gaze and see it too.

What the hell were they to do?
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[@Typical][@Silver Carrot][@He Who Walks Behind][@levinfist]