[IC] Hunting Grounds: A Survival Horror Experience

[mickilennial]

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_{“She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene;
with her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean.”}

The radio on the old ferry hummed softly as the old man looked at the island in the distance. Queen’s Island, some called it. The eastern Abenaki called it klahigan, an ominous name if there ever was one. Upon it stood the township of Starkhaven, though its denizens liked to call itself a “rural city”.

It was no Portland. Hell, it wasn’t even a Lewiston. But it was home.

Upon the ferry stood a small group of visitors. Starkhaven didn’t get many of those, for whatever reason. Archibald Mithers, an frail-looking man of advanced age stood on the ferry alongside them as the ship continued its course. The silhouette of the Priswell Estate Hotel stood in the distance. In his youth Archie thought it a magnificent place, but he knew its secrets. He knew Starkhaven’s secrets.

His old, grayed eyes looked over to some of the guests. They looked to be the strange bunch. As far as he could tell they were a bunch of punks with their tattoos and posture. He counted at least a half-dozen, but there had been a few others that had arrived on the previous ferry line to Queen’s Island and the one before it. This was the last one. He used to memorize every visitor's face, but he had lost that dog inside him years ago. For many reasons. There was a sigh that left him as he pressed his hands against the ferry’s bow-side railing.

His lips moved into a weak smile as he looked to the nearest one, “Quite a sight, isn’t it?”

A girl with fire red hair almost didn’t notice he said anything, stammering herself before correcting herself. “Oh, sorry, I… I was zoned out. It does look fascinating, I’ve never stayed in a hotel before.”

“It’s an experience.” The old man remarked. A double meaning. “We shall be there rather soon, I’d wager. You’ll like it here. You all will.”

[Polaris North]

The further away they got from the mainland, the more at ease Howard felt about the decision to accept the invite. It was only by a stroke of luck that he had won it. He thought he could use a break from it all - he halted accepting commissions and projects and set off to this two week break. Maybe then, he could find the muse that eluded him for the past months where each stroke felt heavy. It had greatly bothered him since he was crunching a lot of his projects and when things don't go to his plan, he got frustrated. One of his friends suggested a vacation and he was the main reason why he had accepted this.

Howard leaned back onto his chair, the gentle rocking of the ferry making him feel a little queasy. He couldn't wait to get back on land. They say that it was calmer on the seas but Howard wanted to argue against that. He had planned to make a few sketches here and there, just idle ones to keep himself occupied, but found himself putting down the tablet multiple times after his stomach twisted in a way that definitely wasn't good. Was it seasickness or was it because he was using his tablet? He wasn't sure and he didn't want to stay long enough for that hypothesis to be tested.

He made his way outside to get a breath of fresh air, his tablet safely stowed inside his bag. He folded his arms against the railing of the ferry, watching as the island came closer and he breathed out a sigh of relief. He found himself wondering what it was like in Starkhaven. Howard hadn't been to many places but he hasn't heard much of Starkhaven. As far as he could search, it was just some town on an island. It was perfect to just relax, he supposed. Not that many people around and lacked the suffocating air of the city - a place that always seemed to be on the move no matter the time of day.

Howard was pulled back from his thoughts when an old man started to speak. He wasn't talking to him but he curiously listened in. Fueled by curiosity about the town and this old man's familiarity of it, he let out a question. "So you've been here before?" The answer was pretty obvious so he continued on. "Any tips about the places?" He wanted to at least get down a list of places he could visit so he could make a plan for the two week vacation. Might as well see every sight there was to the town right?

[mickilennial]

“Well, sure, son.” The older man chuckled, “Of course I have. I live here.”

The old man and girl looked over toward Howard as the former thought about his question about tips. Queen’s Island was fairly large. Many people had gone missing in the past forty years. Maybe ever since it was founded in the 19th Century. As the boy joined him and the girl he pointed out the hotel in the distance. The hotel everyone on the ferry had been invited to save for the captain of the ship and the old man himself.

“That there is the great Priswell Estate Hotel. The jewel of Queen’s Isle.” He explained with a gentle voice, “There are many places that are beautiful on the island, but the hotel is definitely the centerpiece. The main attraction. Did you know Connie Converse stayed in that there hotel? Before she vanished, of course.”

“Can’t say I’ve ever heard of her.” The girl stated.

He nodded. That was normal. She was certainly no Elvis Presley. Nobody talked about Connie Converse.

“We don’t get many people out here, so you tend to remember them. She had a pretty voice, I’d say.”

“What else is there?”

More insistence from the girl. She was a curious one. Then again, he was trailing off. The two youths likely didn’t want to hear him ramble about some songwriter from his childhood. Queen’s Island had many places to uncover that had a natural beauty to them and he had to remind himself that visitors never had a chance to see them so he often didn’t explain them often. He thought of the waterfall on the old caves, the French fortress, the old hunting lodge, and other things. Native American burial grounds. The hiking trail. The closed down insane asylum.

“There’s the old lodge in the Bloom Brush Forest. Some old indian sites. You can go up the old hiking trail inward. There’s the ruins of Regarder les Reines, the old French fortress. Pre-Civil War. We really ought to take better care of it, though. Guess it all depends on you kids and what interests you. Some people find the old asylum interesting; others with the natural caves by l'oeil de Dieu, the old waterfall that runs off the few mountains we have. It’s a pretty diverse island. Great for photography. ”

[CaliforniaState]

Images of seafoam washing up on an obscured beach played in his mind while the sound of waves crashed in the background of his mind. The image was still, peaceful, as the waves receded back to their home before crashing against the sand once more. A dream so serene was seldom in the mind of Sylas so the change of pace was nice. But there was something wrong with the sound of waves, they were being drowned out by this incessant knock of what could only be described as wood. Tap, tap, tap. The droning on of wood jolted him awake and washed away the dream theatre he had fancily built for himself.

The tapping of the wood was the bartender trying to get his attention for last call. The ship was docking soon, and Sylas had spent the entire morning ordering a mix of old fashions and whiskey sours. The only remnants of his dream that did survive was the sounds of waves crashing against the ship. Groggily, Sylas removed his death grip on his glass that was already watered down from the ice melting. Not wanting to waste his drink he gulped it down with a wince and a shutter of the body. Whether or not he was jump starting his body or cringing at the taste of watered-down whiskey was left to be seen. “Thanks for the drink compadre.” Sylas’ hands found their way into his pockets and out came some crumpled bills along with a pack of Marlboro menthol's.

The cigarette met his lips while the money was left behind on the table. He didn’t have much time to collect himself, but that was alright it was the start of a brand-new slate so he could go at his own pace. Making his way below deck he saw a small crowd of people forming around an old man. Striking up a match he lit his cigarette before making his way behind the girl and the old man. “Is diving allowed off that waterfall? Or am I gonna have to be the first one off the top” he asked before realizing where his manners went. “I’m Sylas by the way, Sylas Reed, pleasure to make all of your acquaintances. You mind if I smoke here?” As if asking really mattered since he was already well into a few drags at this point.

[Mixtape Ghost N]

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The longer Myeisha sat on this boat, the more out of place she felt. Maine was definitely far from home, and she was super out of her depth here. She sat on the side of the Ferry, staring off into the seemingly endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean to ease her mind. However, it was very foggy, and even though she was trying to distract herself with music blaring through her Beats. Through blaring rap music loudly through her headphones, she was able to ease herself, and finally simmer down.

She was acting like she was on a slave ship!

It wasn't long until the fog broke through and she could see the island approaching... and she was hoping that these were the friendly kind of racists. Just what was she thinking? Leaving Atlanta? Especially for New England, of all places. All dressed up like some kinda gangster... sagging ripped skinny jeans with red and black Air Jordan 13's. She had a bright-red long-sleeved Polo t-shirt with the blue polo logo, and her hair dyed blonde at the tip. Of course, she had three gold chains with crosses on them... and she was hoping that God was looking over her when she took the invitation. Though there was a bit of a crowd forming around an old man and she figured that she'd see what was up.

The Atlanta-woman slid the headphones around her neck - still with the rap music loudly blaring - slid her hands into her pockets and drifted over towards the scene. As they were listening to the old man, Myiesha was staring off into the distance as if she wasn't paying attention, but anyone with a brain would know that she was listening. Not that it bothered her, it just wasn't in Myiesha's nature to stand there gawking at them. She heard bits and pieces of the conversation... just not enough to extrapolate anything worthwhile. Old bastard going on about a hotel, some bitch she never heard of, and some other boring-ass places.

Like who the fuck wants to hang out at a dusty ass fortress?

Some dude that was smoking introduced himself, after asking about the waterfall and Myeisha rolled her eyes. Like he gives a shit who he is. "Yo- I mean, hello," Myiesha started, "That's nice and all, but do you know where the good bars are at?"

[mickilennial]

“Can’t say we’ve had a diver off ol’ Dieu in my time. I don’t see why not.”

The older man shook his head when the man asked if it was okay to light up a cigarette. The boy definitely looked like the city type.

“Do as you like.”

Another girl moved from the assortment on the ferry, the soft hum of rap music apparent as she moved closer and closer to the others near him, though he would not have described the hum as soft. He never particularly liked such music. Her inclination was to immediately ask him where the booze was holed up at and it made his wry smirk widen. A bunch of city types and they still couldn’t appreciate the rural country for what it was—peaceful and serene, far from the hustle and bustle. Then again, old habits were hard to erase. Not that he’d judge. He was a bit of a drinker himself. Though, they wouldn’t relate to that for much longer.

“The hotel has a good bar.” He said as the island got closer-and-closer. “If that’s not your kind of place you have two other bars in the city.”

[Polaris North]

Howard listened intently. Sounded like some good places to find some inspiration from. It made him internally regret that he didn't think of bringing some paints and would have to settle with his tablet. As much as he enjoyed using it, it provided the extra problem of battery life and he doubted the cave would have outlets for them. He'd have to settle with taking pictures and just drawing them at the hotel. It didn't provide the same experience but he didn't want this whole trip to be a waste.

Another man had approached, cigarette between his fingers. He moved away a bit, not preferring the smoke to stick to his clothing. A little ways away was another woman approaching, music bleeding through her headphones, and quite clearly listening in. Howard looked back to the island. Interesting group of people on the boat that was for sure.

"Looks like there's at least something to keep everyone occupied." He mused. Plenty of places to go around, plenty of things to do. Maybe the vacation wouldn't be too bad. He mentally began to check out what he could do. He wasn't all that tired so maybe he could walk around town for a few hours before retiring at the hotel. If he was lucky, maybe he could find something interesting along the way.

Jokingly, Howard added. "Hey, I hope the people in your town take kindly to strangers like us. Wouldn't want to offend someone and all." He doesn't travel much so he wasn't sure what the etiquette is when it comes to visiting small towns like this one. The old man seemed friendly enough but that didn't mean everyone else was.

[Mixtape Ghost N]

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"Eh-hehe..."

Myeisha awkwardly laughed as the guy smirked at her.... her eyes drifted off to the side as she tugged on her collar. She was bracing for him to say something weird, but he answered her question... just not in the way she wanted. Just the hotel bar, and two random bars in town? Well, she's better off sticking to the Hotel because she is sure as hell didn't want to wander around here at night. This place reeks of a Sundown town. Though, she was about to say thanks, then awkwardly shuffle away from the weirdo boatman and go back to listening to Young MA. That was when an Asian guy that was only a little bit taller than her spoke up, Myeisha wasn't sure if he walked up and she didn't notice or if he was here the whole ass time! Though he didn't say anything actually interesting, it made a question pop up into her little head.

"Ayo," Myeisha was probably, again, making a bad fucking impression (but she's slow to adjust to new environments) but she had a question on her mind. "Thanks for telling me... but, uh, I ain't tryna go wanderin' 'round time but what places should we avoid?"

It was less of a question-question and more of a way to see how he'd answer.