[IC] Festival of the Dead

[Carlyle]

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Marigold Festival
Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon, Afternoon

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Ah, the Marigold Festival.

During the early days of September, hundreds of individuals find themselves flocking to the quaint town of Pekin for celebration. Held in honor of Senator Everett Dirksen, the grounds nearby the Lagoon are quick to be covered with tents, dotting the edges of the water with people selling concessions and arts and crafts. Music plays from concert stages, echoing whatever jazzy or country sound the musicians are playing, whilst families frolic towards the various carnival games hosted throughout the festival.

Yet, what if this peaceful time was turned upside down? What if the expected happy memories were those of horror, cannibalism, and death? Could the festival goers survive through it all?

[Carlyle]

ᴇ ʟ ᴇ ᴀ ɴ ᴏ ʀ ᴄ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ɢ

---

_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

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They all look so fancy.

Standing at one of the various arts and crafts tents, Eleanor found herself glancing through their selection of necklaces. According to the merchant, they were all homemade, painstakingly and artfully crafted just for this event. She wasn't the type to wear a lot of accessories, but seeing as the profits went to charity, Eleanor decided splurging a little bit of her hard earned money. It was just a manner of seeing which necklace Eleanor preferred.

"What about this one?" The man spoke, holding up a silver chain with a locket attached to it. The locket itself was just as silvery, and could hold a picture inside if the buyer wanted.

Taking the necklace in her hands, Eleanor looked over it in her palm. The necklace itself was quite pricey, but jewelry tended to be expensive depending on the quality of the item. However, Eleanor was more focused on whether or not it would suit her. Working for just a little over minimum wage, Eleanor could only afford to buy one of the necklaces, therefore she needed to be absolutely sure to pick which necklace she liked the best. Thankfully, there were a few people that had been browsing or generally walking around the festival that could help Eleanor in making a difficult decision.

Turning her attention to a brown-haired man that had wore casual clothing for an equally casual outing, Eleanor held the necklace up to her neck as she asked him. "Hey, can you help me? What do you think of this necklace? Does it suit me?"

[mickilennial]

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_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

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Charlie wasn’t really much for festivals, but after handling his business in town he didn’t see a big reason to rush back on his way to the cabin his family owned due south of the small Illinois town. Especially considering this was supposed to be his time off; his vacation time. Not that there was much to look at in Pekin of all places, but it seemed like a nice distraction and a place he could stretch his legs. He just so happened to arrive in town during a festival, so that was pretty neat. Before he knew it he was casually meandering through an assortment of tents.

As he was looking over some of the niche, homemade necklaces and baubles a thin, female voice to his left called out to him, asking for his input on if she should buy one of the necklaces. He paused in hesitation as he turned, eyebrow raised, as he looked at the necklace and the girl in question. A twenty-something girl who stood out like a sore thumb. Almost like a jewel of Pekin. Before he ended up staring rudely for too long he let out a clear hum from his lips, thinking on it.

“I’m not much of an expert on this kind of stuff.”

He knew that wasn’t exactly a helpful response so he figured it would be best to amend it with some kind of compliment.

“You’d probably look good with just about any of these things.”

It honestly wasn’t an attempt to be ‘smooth’, but he had a habit of saying friendly things and them being taken the complete opposite direction. The woman was just about to respond before a sharp scream filled the air nearby, the sound of someone colliding with a waste basket and then the ground being apparent. As Charlie turned and peaked out of the tent he noticed almost immediately that an old man was lying on the ground next to a tipped waste-bin in arm’s reach. The man seemed to have suffered from a heart attack in the middle of his time at the festival. How unlucky.

A younger boy, about the woman's age ran up to the man and started attempting to resuscitate the man.

It was a taxing thing to watch, but what was even more taxing was what came next.

[Carlyle]

ᴇ ʟ ᴇ ᴀ ɴ ᴏ ʀ ᴄ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ɢ

---

_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

---

Eleanor returned his answer with a curious yet cautious stare.

His gaze lingered on the Chinese-American, as if he had taken quite an interest in Eleanor. The vague response he gave–that she likely looked fine with any of the assorted jewelry laid out on the table–certainly didn't help his case, either. Perhaps he was simply giving his opinion, but it made Eleanor wary. She had known rambunctious men before, and even dated one in high school. Maybe Eleanor was simply overthinking things, but coquettish men were trouble, or so she had told herself for numerous years.

Before Eleanor could reply, however, a horrific scene began to unfold before their very eyes. Someone screamed, and all eyes fell upon an older gentleman that had recently suffered a heart attack. A man, likely around Eleanor's age, sprinted to his side and began applying CPR, but something seemed off.

"Hey," Eleanor began, though uncertainty wavered within her voice. "He's... he's alive! His eyes just opened."

Little did Eleanor know, however, that she had just signed the man's death certificate. The elderly man latched onto his savior, and sunk his brittle teeth into his lips. Blood spewed from the youth, coating the senior in the rich, red substance, yet he paid no attention to it. To him, the helpful stranger was naught but a juicy turkey leg, chowing away at what once was a man's mouth.

Others screamed. Some ran for help. And all Eleanor could do is stand in fear.

[mickilennial]

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_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

---

“What the fuck?”

Charlie impulsively remarked as he took a step back as other passerby’s reacted on their own impulses. The mumbles of “oh my god” among similarly profane reactions, even screaming seemed to fill the air. It all felt like a horror movie, just without the gloominess of a dark evening or thick clouded day. Charlie felt tense; his brows tightening as he seemed to bump into the girl who he had been talking to who appeared to be like a doe with her eyes wide open.

He didn’t blame her given the circumstances.

Almost on instinct he held out his arm – as if the protect her. His eyes went to the ground, looking for something to defend themselves with if the sick old man attacked them next. He was no doctor, but he had heard stories about attacks like this back in Indiana before he left for Illinois. Was it a new strand of rabies? Bath salts? The theories were as numerous as they were unsubstantiated. As the man’s teeth moved into the younger man’s neck, that’s when he noticed it. One of the rakes that did the festival’s laborers used to keep the paths devoid of leaves and trash. It wasn’t a real thing he could use to defend himself but it was better than being bareknuckled against someone who decides you’re fucking lunch.

“What are you guys doing, get him off him!” Someone shouted. He was pretty sure someone had gone to find a cop.

Hearing the shout the old man screeched and lunged for the woman who had shouted as the boy bled out.

Charlie went for the rake.

[Carlyle]

ᴇ ʟ ᴇ ᴀ ɴ ᴏ ʀ ᴄ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ɢ

---

_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

---

It seemed as if time stopped for Eleanor. She struggled to register the bloody sight as reality–there was no way it could've been real. How could a heart attack lead to someone eating another person? People have suffered heart attacks throughout human history, but no one ever came back hungry for human flesh! Maybe it was all just a dream. A rather horrifying dream, if anything.

Her new acquaintance stumbled backwards, snapping Eleanor back to reality as he bumped into her. He held his arm before Eleanor and scanned the ground for something to defend the two of them. With her gaze settling on the cannibalistic senior, Eleanor was at a loss as to why he was attempting to defend her from that thing. Most people would've turned tail and ran–hell, she was considering doing exactly that–if they saw someone chow down on another human being, but here he stood, putting his life before another's. He was either plain stupid or just brave, but no matter how you saw it, Eleanor was thankful for his protection.

"What are you guys doing?! Get him off him!"

Almost instinctively, the senior turned his attention to the woman who had just shouted. Her protector, too, took off, leaving Eleanor's side to snatch a nearby garden rake to fend off the monstrous cannibal. It was then, however, when Eleanor was witness to something that was ultimately impossible. The man, now with gaping wounds on his neck and face, began to rise from the ground.

"S-sir," She sputtered nervously, desperately trying to put her thoughts into words. Eleanor was no scientist, but she was certain that no one could be up and moving after suffering the injuries he had. "Are... are you..."

Eleanor could only manage a few words before the bloodied man growled in her direction, guttural and like a wolf. Seemingly provoked, the man lurched forward after Eleanor, who had been caught off guard. Tripping over her own feet, Eleanor stumbled backwards, and fell upon the jewelry stand behind them, sending table and jewelry alike crashing to the ground. Her legs kicked wildly, mostly to create distance between herself and the crazed man, but also to fight off him. No matter how far Eleanor pushed herself backwards, he continued to approach, teeth clattering and hungry for a tasty bite.

Tears streamed down Eleanor's face. She was absolutely hysterical, screaming for help and crying for her own safety. What the hell kind of festival was this?!

[mickilennial]

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_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

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“Get away from her!” Charlie shouted, rake-in-hand as he came up from behind the boy, using the rake from behind to prevent him from getting to the girl.

Charlie’s instincts were sharp, sure, but he didn’t expect the boy who had gotten his neck torn by the elder’s teeth to rise up. Was this all really happening?

Either way, he had no choice but to jump to the girl's aid as the crazed man caused her to stumble backward. The smart decision may have been to run away and leave her to her fate, but the smart decision was heartless; and Charlie Sorenson was not heartless. This unexpected action, however, led him being unable to help the woman who had shouted; who, by this point, was screaming as the elderly man had tackled her to the ground. At the very least, he wouldn't have the crazed man upon him for a few moments. But still, the boy was wild and Charlie wasn't exactly sure how much longer he could hold him still.

If the two of them survived this situation, well, it would at least be one hell of a story once they got past the PTSD of it all.

[Carlyle]

ᴇ ʟ ᴇ ᴀ ɴ ᴏ ʀ ᴄ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ɢ

---

_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

---

It was as if they were living a real life horror movie.

As her protector, once again, went to save Eleanor, the previous woman was tackled to the ground by the elderly man. While she flailed about, attempting to fend off the senior, his teeth still found a target, leaving a gash in the woman's arm. Instantly, the woman cried out in pain, desperately trying to staunch the blood flow temporarily with her own hand as she kicked and fought off her assailant.

Her screaming, however, was a wake up call for Eleanor, who was still in shambles and a mess of tears. Her gut told her to flee while the chance was still there, and though that may had been the more sane option of the two, she had been overcome with guilt. The man from before was still trying his best to help out those caught up in the mess, and yet Eleanor remained numb and unmoving, completely in shock by the whole experience. She needed to do something, too, even if it meant getting into the thick of the bloody carnage.

Taking a look at her surroundings, Eleanor hurriedly searched for something that could help them. The rake had been an option, but she doubted that it would help the man subdue the bloodied youth. It was then when Eleanor noticed a white tablecloth, cast aside from the booth she fell upon.

Snatching the tablecloth from the ground, Eleanor pushed herself to her feet, kicking jewelry aside in the process. "K-Keep him still!" She exclaimed, desperately trying to bundle the cloth around the man's arms as he nipped at her with his teeth. The teeth were the real threat, but with his arms bound, it would at least prevent the man from gripping onto someone and ripping into their flesh.

Hopefully, if Eleanor was successful, the binds would at least hold up for the time being.

[mickilennial]

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_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

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“I don't think that's going to work!” Charlie protested as he swung leftward with all of his strength, causing the boy (and his rake) to be thrown directly into one of the tables nearby.

It may have been abrupt, but he wasn’t going to let the girl incidentally become a meal just because she had the bright idea of trying to restrain someone who he wasn’t going to hold back for too long. Not that her idea was that ridiculous. She was in a panic. Charlie was in a panic. Everybody was in a panic. It made sense to try to restrain people who were succumbing to their strange mania, though Charlie supposed it could’ve been an illness. He had heard stories of people eating bath salts a few years ago and losing their minds in a similar fashion. When the attack initially happened it was his immediate guess, though thinking clearly wasn't exactly on the table. He was just glad that the girl wasn't hurt and that he had been able to cause the boy to tumble into the nearest display table.

His hands moved to his knees as he caught his breath, his eyes moving from the destroyed display table and the scene that was unfolding behind them.

“We need to—”

Before he could finish his sentence there seemed to be more screams and inhuman screeches. It was farther away from their general area, though Charlie suspected that whatever mania was happening they weren’t the only ones exposed to it. They needed to leave before more crazed maniacs stumbled into the festival. He figured he had caught whatever amount of breath he needed, or well, needed to get the hell away from the festival, anyway. Without saying another word he grabbed the girl's hand and booked it in the opposite direction.

There was no time to debate about it.

[Carlyle]

ᴇ ʟ ᴇ ᴀ ɴ ᴏ ʀ ᴄ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ɢ

---

_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

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"W-we have to try something!" Eleanor exclaimed. Her attempt at restraining the crazed individual was for naught, as the man threw him aside, and into the table. The push, nonetheless, had given them temporary respite to catch their breath and consider their next actions as the kid appeared dazed and struggling to stand onto his own two feet.

"L-Look, we should ca-" She responded, speaking up at the same time the man had tried to. Before either could finish what they had to say, however, it became apparent that they were not the only ones dealing with this mess. The lively music previously playing was suddenly cut off by screams for help and the sound of violent fighting. It kept Eleanor from thinking; her body had told her to run, and yet, her mind couldn't process the horrific scene that was unfolding.

Thankfully, the man hadn't been as dumbstruck as Eleanor was. She was beginning to feel useless, as he grabbed Eleanor's hand and took off with her away from the deadly scene. Was she really having this much trouble getting her shit together? For Christ's sake, people were dying left, right and in front of her! There had to be something Eleanor could do, so that she didn't have to be a damned damsel in distress. Her ex-boyfriend had her set as a "helpless beauty swept off her feet", but he couldn't have been right this whole time, right? It was the whole reason they broke up in the first place!

Think, damn it, think!

A light bulb went off in her head. They had been running away aimlessly, simply to get away from the carnage, but they weren't that far from where Eleanor had parked her beater of a car. "Over there!" Eleanor exclaimed, pointing towards the parking lot nearby to the local mini golf and water park facilities. "My car is over there. If we can get to it, we can get out of here!"

[mickilennial]

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_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

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What was the damn reason he was here again? Stretching his legs?

Charlike took another look behind him and the girl as they moved as quickly as possible from the arts and crafts tents that were now, by this point, full of a little more than knickknacks and overpriced necklaces. He cursed the stupid thought he had about checking out the festival instead of moving along like he had told himself he would do. For a run-of-the-mill insurance investigator he found himself more-and-more unequipped to handle the crisis he had “stretched his legs” into. He almost didn't hear the unnamed woman's voice as he found himself quickly jumping from thought-to-thought. But who wouldn't in his shoes? Where were the cops? He probably would've continued pushing forward with the girls arm attached had she not screamed and pointed eastward.

"My car is over there. If we can get to it, we can get out of here!" She said, pointing to a parking lot that was a little farther out then the one to their right. They had to go. Before things got worse.

“Right. Let me catch my breath.”

Charlie released his grip from the girl’s arm, placing his hands on his knees before taking a short, but deep breath.

“Charlie, by the way. You alright?”

[Carlyle]

ᴇ ʟ ᴇ ᴀ ɴ ᴏ ʀ ᴄ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ɢ

---

_{Location: Marigold Festival, Mineral Springs Park & Lagoon}

Date: September 7th, 2019

---

Eleanor struggled to understand why they were stopping. By God, people were eating each other not far from where they stood! Couldn't the man–Charles, as he introduced himself–at least wait to catch his breath until they were safe in the confines of her rust bucket of a car, away from the cannibal freaks?

Nonetheless, Eleanor felt she owed Charles a few seconds to catch his breath. Had Charles not been there moments ago, Eleanor came to realize that she would've likely had her face or some other body part chewed off. And so, the Chinese-American stayed put, waiting for him to catch his breath even if she was already rearing to go. Not to add that Eleanor wasn't about to abandon another human being to be devoured by the walking dead. Perhaps it was smarter to leave Charles behind, but her humanity stood foremost–he was alive and breathing, just as much as she was.

"E-Eleanor. But since we're, you know, in a hurry, Elli is fine." She stuttered; her reply as rapid as her movements looking to identify any possible threat among the horrors that might endanger either of them.

"Now, I don't mean to rush you, but could we get going? Please?" Eleanor asked, watching the shambling bloodsoaked individuals slowly growing in number as they chased after the horde of fleeing festival goers out of the park and made a gruesome buffet of anyone unfortunate enough to trip and fall. "Because, uhm. They're coming our way. Like right now."