Nan offers to use the axe but Pablo is reluctant. He says it will get beans everywhere.
After a moment he says if she's going to do that, at least do it over the sink, so they don't lose more food than necessary. Every bean counts!
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Nan offers to use the axe but Pablo is reluctant. He says it will get beans everywhere.
After a moment he says if she's going to do that, at least do it over the sink, so they don't lose more food than necessary. Every bean counts!
Nan brings the can to the sink so she'll have a working surface, then cleverly punctures a hole in the lid with the spike.
It smells like beans. She pries open the lid and it looks like beans too.
Nan tastes one of the beans. They taste fine, even though they're cold and mostly flavorless.
Nan hands the open can over to Pablo, who is grateful, then places the clock on the ground.
It's time to take action.
Nan swings and smashes open the alarm clock!
And then, there is only darkness.
And silence.
)
Nan calls out for Pablo, but there is no answer. Her voice echoes around her.
Something begins to gleam before her in the darkness.
Nan calls out for Pablo, but there is no answer. Her voice echoes around her.
Something begins to gleam before her in the darkness.
Nan feels she's in a haze.
The lights begin to dim unevenly, as though something were moving across it.
The shadow grows dense, and the lights go out.
The light returns in an instant, a harsh, dusky orange glare, and Nan suddenly finds herself someplace new.
A fire is roaring in the corner, burning up spilled alcohol and wooden chairs piled there. The blaze is spreading, and filling the air with thick black smoke!
This appears to be some sort of lounge, judging by the stacked chairs and tables, as well as the glasses and drinks by the bar, and the thick cloth napkins on the countertop.
The smoke is getting thicker and Nan coughs as she shoves aside the broken chair from the double doors.
Nan can't use her shirt as a filter, as it's fastened into her overalls!
Nan grabs the fire extinguisher, but she can't quite pull it free! It must be tethered!
Startled, Nan lashes out with the axe, hacking the blade into the blackened hand grasping the extinguisher. She severs two fingers, but also ruptures the extinguisher, and the force of the sudden decompression expels massive amounts of the smothering contents and knocks Nan backwards. She staggers and leans against the countertop for support, scattering cloth napkins.
The fire continues to rage, and the smoke is growing thicker. Nan is coughing badly.
Nan turns her attention back to the door, but she can barely see -- let alone breathe -- with all the smoke in the air!
She manages to get only one board off before another coughing fit seizes her. She may not have the strength to get out at this rate!
Nan wraps a cloth napkin over her mouth to filter the smoke and keeps low, and lacking the room to swing instead pries the old, damaged board off the door.
Success! The barricade is broken!
Nan opens the doors.
So this is how Nan ended up staring at a copy of herself. She might wanna check behind herself then.
The door is slammed shut on Nan's face just as she realizes her situation. She wheels around, axe readied, but whoever -- or whatever -- stands behind her grabs the handle firmly.
It stands before her, so close she can feel its ragged, uneven breath. But in the dense smoke, it's hard to make out the figure exactly.
It says nothing. It merely raises a clawed hand.
Nan spins around, avoiding a swift raking claw from the horrible figure. But when she makes to wrench the axe away, the figure responds in kind and with surprising strength sends it clattering across the floor.
Apparently, it brought a weapon of its own.
The next few seconds are a frantic, jumbled blur.
The figure swings, and Nan ducks narrowly. The fire poker splinters through the door and gets stuck, giving Nan an opening.
She charges into the preoccupied figure and with a desperate headbutt sends it staggering back.
It doesn't seem injured, but it's bought her a moment of precious time.
Nan grabs the axe and glances towards the figure, who has already recovered and is slowly approaching her again.
It's also on fire.