[Action / Dream / Waking up?] Sweet Dreams are Made of These... :|
((ooc: Pro'lly not as heart-wrenching as everyone else's hurrr))
Sadiq stayed up with Elizaveta that final night, awaiting that moment when Gilbert, the wolves -- someone -- was to walk through that rusty old door with what could only be murderous intent. Finally, it would be their turn to oil those rusty hinges with blood, coagulated and slippery as it was sure to be. He sat on the hard cot with the girl, someone who was both a teammate and a friend, and a person he had grown to strangely respect over the course of their days -- or weeks, as he had stopped keeping track. Sadiq could only hold her hand and wait, smiling and teasing her every now and then to keep from drowning in the thick tension. To try and lighten the mood when both of them were waiting for death to come through the door.
And the door did open, but death never came.
He got up first, warily stepping forward. And he wasn't alone as he peered out to see several other familiar faces, one of them being Ivan -- the man he had voted for the previous night. Did it mean that the wolf was still alive, or...?
The new red X caught his attention then, but he didn't know to whom it belonged, and it was then that he noticed that Liz had decided to peer out herself. Both standing in the doorway, searching fruitlessly for understanding. Three pairs left, all of them equally concerned as they gathered in the middle for an explanation, eyes on that fuzzy TV, and all considering the one thing they'd been hoping for. They won the game. It finally hit him that Sindre and Feliks were gone, likely the ones behind that fresh, bloody X. The poll had been their last. The game was over.
The TV turned on and gave each of the survivors a new destination, and they all complied as if expecting Eden to be on the other side. Sadiq was among the ignorant, though he stayed close to his partner as they departed from the rest and headed for the old theater. In the back of his mind he knew something felt wrong as they slipped through the creepy old corridors. He was damn pleased to have beaten the game -- his pride wouldn't allow him not to -- but to expect an easy escape felt more like a reality he would unlikely be able to grasp. The man reached down carefully, taking Lizzy's hand in his as they walked back to the stage, a room that he had completely ignored the first time around. It was like walking towards the end; of the game, of his life. Sadiq wouldn't say anything to the woman beside him, however, not wanting to burden her with anxiety. In times of seriousness, even he knew when to shut his mouth and allow people a false sense of comfort. Besides, him and Elizaveta had made it this far, and he expected that they would keep fighting.
Thirty-seven years old. He didn't have much to live for anymore, being an old bartender with nothing but dreams. Liz had so much more ahead of her... As they walked, he could only appreciate the things that he had taken for granted up until now. The cat that mewled outside his window every morning, and the taste of sweet Turkish Delight on his tongue. He never had many friends, and got into more fights than anything else, but that was okay with him. He liked to fight. Or he did, until he was forced to in order to keep his life. Then there was Gupta, who had somehow worked his way through the walls until he finally got to the man beneath. It took a lot of effort for Sadiq to warm up, but somehow, he'd grown to appreciate the warm glow of that small smile.
It was only a memory now.
He'd never see Gupta after this, if his suspicions were correct. Never again. Sadiq held onto Lizzy's hand tighter, fighting back growing emotions. At least the boy wouldn't have to go through this. He'd live in ignorance, wondering but never knowing. The seasons would change, and days would continue on relentlessly until people moved on and forgot.
Turning into memories.
Sadiq could live with that. He was happy with the time he spent with Gupta. He was happy with the time he spent with Soren and Lili and Berwald. Maybe his life hadn't been completely worthless; he did get to smash a dolma in Garcia's face after all.
They arrived at the theater and waited then; waiting for their judgment. Gingerly, he took advantage of the short moment to turn towards Liz and leaned down to kiss her; a small peck on the lips in appreciation for... everything they had done. It wasn't meant to be romantic, but something shared between friends. Her hair was matted and oily, while her skin remained pale from a lack of nutrition, but such details couldn't bother Sadiq (for he probably looked the same, but with a hobo-esque layer of stubble).
"You're a pain in the ass," he murmured in a tone that sounded more soft than sarcastic as he mused her long brown hair, "... But I'm glad I got you as my partner, eh? I don't think I would'a survived otherwise."
Judgment did come eventually. They were to become the Game Master's next pawns, handing out useless clues to the next unfortunate victims of the game. Aware of everything.
Him and Elizaveta would go out with a bang. Together.
---
Sadiq jolted awake at two in the morning, heart racing and breath coming out in short pants as he sat up for air; as if he'd been drowning. That dream... He felt like he'd been sleeping for weeks even if it had only been a few short hours. It felt so real in there though, in what was surely a sadistic subconscious to have created a such sick fucking game like that. Even his limbs felt heavy as the man shifted to the edge of the bed, sliding his feet over while putting hand over his forehead. An incoming headache was on it's way, and it was as he touched his brow that Sadiq noticed a nice layer of sweat.
"Shit fuck damn..." Cursing. It made him feel somewhat like himself again. That night was the last night he'll indulge on a small glass of brandy before bed.
As he forced his breathing to slow to normal, Sadiq glanced at his phone, plain and untouched on the bedside table. He was wide awake now, and would probably be able to unable sleep again if he tried. He knew what he wanted to do, but he stopped his hand just as it hovered over the device. It was 2am, and hardly a good time to call people up. That's what his common sense said.
Sadiq grabbed it anyway, slowly flipping the phone open and scrolling it's contacts for a name he was, for once, thankful to have. It wasn't a contact he used often. He took his time typing a simple little text, hesitating for seconds before sighing and hitting 'send.'
To: Elizaveta H.
From: Sadiq
Time: 2:14 am
--
Hey.... Just wonderin if youre
available today.
- Adnan
He paused for a while. Sadiq sent a second to a different contact.
To: Gupta
From: Sadiq
Time: 2:17 am
--
Yo. Sorry if ive been an ass.
Id like to go somewhere nicer
than the bath house next time
we do somethin.
... If thats okay.