01: Relapse

#1

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Try to keep this to like, one or two sentences tops?

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Try to keep this to like, one or two sentences tops?

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Try to keep this to like, one or two sentences tops?

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#2

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“My hero.”

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#3

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Decrepit billboard.

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Best not to think about it.

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The protagonist lives in one room of a shared house. Overgrown grass and neighboring complexes enclose the property.

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A couple of housemates have taken it upon themselves to clean the room, as a birthday present to its sole inhabitant.

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That bedside baseball bat, for self-defense, among other emergency measures? Gone.

The resident can’t quite manage a “thanks.”

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As the housemates see themselves out, one hands over the mail.

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A letter from “S.” is promptly shoved in a drawer full of others from the same sender.

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But the second letter is more promising.

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It offers purpose.

#3

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Lots of people signed up for this. Says the welcome: Last one standing gets to go home.

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One person is asking others to share anything they know—about this place, how they got here. Introduce yourself to the masses, don’t be a stranger!

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She says they should all work together—then calls out people who aren’t listening.

The first loner doesn’t care to engage.

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The grandstander’s next target: a small girl, curled in the corner.

No response from her, either.

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Meanwhile, someone found food.

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#4

[This scene already exists as a comic. It's been loosely redone here anyway, for completionism's sake; nothing has changed but framing and palette adjustments.]

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Turns out the small girl is a med student.

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Thus meets the mildly-befuddled Joce and the surprisingly-chipper Kay Lin.

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Says someone in the crowd,
“No one has to die, right?”

#5

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With an earthquake and an ear-splitting noise, the underground begins to flood.

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Mad, panicked scrambling; the central structure starts crumbling.

(Not legibly shown: yelling, including the exchange “Let’s go, Terry!” “…Who?”)

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Joce and Kay Lin take the outer spiral; less congested, Kay Lin says it’s an escape too. No time to question that.

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But even that gives way.

Joce grabs Kay Lin and books it.

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As they ascend, Joce stays focused on Kay Lin up ahead. The rest almost fades.

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Then someone falls.

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#6

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That… was draining.

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But also… kind of fun? I-in an exhilarating way. What say you, Kay Lin?

. . . Kay Li—?

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Kay Lin is thankful and all, but doesn’t plan on sticking around. Joce is incredulous.

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“You’ll never make it out there alone.”

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Other people were gathering supplies; Joce and Kay Lin have none.

Whatever. Far as Joce cares, they don’t need anything anyway….

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#7

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Joce and Kay Lin try to ask each other about motives. Neither make much leeway, stuck in a “I’ll tell you if you tell me” loop.

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Kay Lin asks about finding shelter; Joce argues they don’t need it.

Sudden noise. It’s… a wail, of some sort. A scream? Someone crying?

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Kay Lin is hesitant. So Joce tells her to stay put. Shouldn’t take long.

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“H-hey. You okay…?”

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Quit Continue

#7

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It’s… melting.

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Kay Lin is mildly surprised to see Joce, who isn’t having it. How did Kay Lin— What did— How is she even still alive?

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But, Kay Lin points out, Joce still hasn’t told her anything. Joce relents: she’s here because she didn’t have anything better to do. End turn.

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…Fine. Kay Lin admits she’s “familiar” with this place. She’s been here… long enough to lose track. And isn’t sure why.

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“. . .

“Like an NPC, then.”

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Kay Lin sputters for a second.

Joce: “I’m kidding.”

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“M-mostly. Let’s go find shelter.”

#8

Meanwhile, back at the Beacon...

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A majority of survivors have stayed with the speaker from the underground, Addison. Apparently this makes her the alliance leader. She can work with that.

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A small guy, Caleb, claims Addison saved his life by reaching out; he stays very, very close. Addison kinda just goes with it.

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Someone asks where the group’s headed next. Addison hesitates just a second—

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A shriek from the crowd.

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#8

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Charades ensue.* The rabbit-person, who doesn’t talk, wants to join the group.

*Has been thumbnailed, seen in this roundup.

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“Err…” Addison hesitates. “I dunno…”

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“You… kinda just came out of nowhere…?”

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Abruptly the rabbit-person grabs her bat. Caleb yells; rabbit-person swings back—

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—gestures to duck, then smashes into the nearest rock.

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From the point of impact the stone cracks like glass—

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—and blasts straight out the other end.

#8

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“Sold. Welcome aboard.”

#9

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For lack of decent shelter, Joce and Kay Lin have taken to higher ground.

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Kay Lin asks why Joce is still with her.

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After all, Joce doesn’t know her. She could backstab Joce overnight. Or disappear.

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Verbally Joce brushes it off. All the more reason to keep Kay Lin around, then—enemies close.

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(But… even so.

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Just look at her.

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Joce can’t.

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…Even if it kills her.)

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