Or rather, we did. Met up with Rachael today-she suggested it as a good opportunity to do something for Em, and as the poor kid certainly needs all the cheering up she can get, it struck me as a good idea.
One day, spent in the Magic Kingdom, with a six year old. We spent all day running about, trying to see and do everything. Emily, of course, took to Rach like she's taken to all of my friends she's met-enthusiastically and loudly.
Would've been a nice, peaceful day, except for two fucking things.
The first happened around 2 or so, we'd just done fucking Splash Mountain, and Emily wanted the picture. For those of you who don't know, at the top of the big fuckoff hill at the end of Splash Mountain, there's a camera set up to take your picture right before you go over. They sell the pictures at the exit of the ride.
Em wanted a copy, so we went to get it-and got a little more than we bargained for.
The entire right side of the picture was distorted all to hell. Looks like slendershit was nearby. And worse, when I got the copy of the picture (figured maybe it was just the monitor since they didn't seem bothered by it), it came with a threatening note.
"Mock me all you want, but I won't just watch forever."
Still a little trite, and yes the 'o's were all replaced with operator symbols, but the fact that they could slip the note /into/ the frame with the picture means this isn't just some idiot amateur. The fact that only our picture was distorted... Well, that means he showed up just for us. How nice.
The other thing was the chat I had with Rach, while Elliott and Em watched the fireworks. She'd been... wobbly, for lack of a better term, all day. Looked a little glassy eyed, was a little slow to react to things. Barely noticeable, especially considering how bright and happy she seemed, playing with Em and seeing us. It's such a fucking radical change from the quiet, demure, sad proxy I stayed with back in August.
But I was right. Something's wrong. She's pretty badly injured. Been shot a couple times, and has a burn on her arm from the New Years party. I only got to see her arm, but that, at least, was infected enough to look really bad. I'm fucking worried about her.
Nothing I can do, though. I offered the little help I can give, and she told me not to worry, she has a plan. So, hopefully that works out.
As for us? We're long gone by now. Gotta keep fucking moving, after all.
Wow. INTO the picture, huh? And I thought I was paranoid now... Suddenly this tin foil hat is looking a little more real...
ReplyDeleteHope everything works out for Rachael's recovery. Best of luck to you all.
Be careful Elaine, it looks like this guy's more capable then we thought.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear Emily got some happiness during all this situation though. It's really nice of you all to do that for her.
Holy fucking hell on a fucking hell sandwich.
ReplyDeleteReally, Elliott, Elaine? Really? Have your "E" names suddenly gone and made you more stupid then US Congress?
We. Were. Trapped. In. A. HELLFOREST.
And then you both waltz into Disneyland with all the grace of stumbling, newborn fawn and expect it to go all zippity do da day?
FUCK. Elliott, next time I see you, you're getting a WAKE-UP CALL. Fuck knows you probably need it.
You're making me side with Mr. Angry, wow, that's an interesting fucking sort of day isn't it.
ReplyDeleteDumbasses.
But think of the little girl Richard! Didn't she have such a nice fun time? Isn't that more important than everyone's continued safety?
ReplyDeleteI should have expected this.
ReplyDeleteHowever, seeing the title, I couldn't help but read.
Elaine, Runners like you make my siblings and I worry about job security with your level of thinking. It's mystifying. It truly is.
Really? That is totally not fair. I never got to go to Disney.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went as a kid there were always these guys in bussnisse suits walking around talking on their cell phones.
ReplyDeleteIt all makes sense now.. DISNEY LAND IS A TRAP, DON'T GO!!! Oh, you already went? Well good for you, I'm sure it was a blast.
See you around
-Cage
My question to all of you is what exactly makes Disney any more or less dangerous than anywhere else. For all of you calling me a dumbass, name one good reason why being there was any worse than anywhere else
ReplyDeleteLots of kids around.
DeleteNice try, but considering he prefers to lure people off rather than take from the middle of a crowd? That just makes it safer for us, smart enough to not get lured away.
DeleteInteresting, dear. Truly. Though, of course, that would only be true if you ignore the fact He has shown Himself amongst crowds of children in the past (enough times to be photographed) and the rather obvious fact that He has that charming ability to only be seen by those He desires to see Him (Say little Em, for example, and not you). If you ignore that, then, I suppose you have a point.
DeleteOh, and the fact His Whispers tend to be hard to ignore and touch back to the "distracted" part I mentioned above. There's that too. Ignore all that, and you're still left with another obvious piece of this little puzzle that is the Life of a Runner...
Us.
So, basically, what you did... is you took your merry little group into an area where it is highly possible to get separated, a trap would be easily set while you are otherwise distracted, where the opportunity to create amazing mental scarring is truly without limit, and where you have a number of figures in full-scale costumes offering hugs.
Sort of makes me feel like I missed out on an opportunity.
I think I could pull off Mickey or Mini Mouse. What do you think?
...Okay, I really have to just laugh. I'm certainly not as vocal about it, nor is Elliott, as Mitch who loves to bitch about it.
DeleteBut he wants us both. We are both quite intimately familiar with his 'whispers', and are quiiite good at ignoring them if need be. As long as we keep Elliott away from the trees when it starts up, we're fine.
A normal day for us involves trying to keep Emily from noticing the fact that he's near-constantly there.
Not to mention that I'm quite capable of defending her from random costumed proxies.
So I'm going to ask you again, what the fuck did I have to lose?
I still have to disagree, I'm afraid.
DeleteHowever, I suppose, being as assured as you are in your ability to watch everyone every second, then very well. Glad you had fun. And, of course, I suppose you wouldn't care to know for the well being of those who spent the day in your infectious company and didn't even realize it. Innocents, as it were. Majority being children. After all, if He was there with you... well, I'd be willing to bet my salary this week that He found Himself some new targets for His trouble. While it is true: He may have found them anyway. The odds certainly escalate when Billy or Mary stand in line with a group of Haunted.
But I suppose they are strangers, so it doesn't really matter. Correct, Elaine?
Not quite right, Screamer. More like if slendershit wants the kids then it really doesn't matter if they stand in line with us-Em certainly wasn't allowed to talk to them, so we are quite certain we didn't infect anyone. Anything else that happens is sad, but in no way our fault.
DeleteBesides, any Stalked spends time in crowds, and no one's stupid enough to suggest that anyone you've ever stood in the same place with, with no interaction whatsoever, who gets Stalked is your fault for existing too close to them.
Not exactly right, Elaine.
DeleteI'm not suggesting everyone you pass on the street will become a target. I'm telling you that purposely placing yourself amongst a crowd of children when you are fully aware that He is watching "near-constantly" is quite possibly one of the most selfish things I've heard this week. You brought Him there, Elaine. You. He was there BECAUSE you were there. Would He have gone otherwise? Maybe. Maybe not. That day it was only you, darling. Any poor souls who caught His attention are entirely on your head. Deny all you want, but that is the truth.
I'm certain the mothers and fathers of those children would agree with me. However, I won't expect you to understand, Elaine. You've never been a parent.
I'm sure there are plenty of nice, dark secluded places to get lost in over there... especially when they section you off from the crowds on certain rides.
ReplyDeleteBut no, she's actually got a point for once. It's really no less safe than anyplace else, so fuck it, why not?
For fuck's sake, I never thought I'd be saying this, but thank you, Gargoyle.
DeleteI agree with Gargoyle, It's all dangerous so as long as you kept a watchful eye out; what's the problem?
DeleteBesides. As I said earlier. It was really nice for you all to give Emily that.
Agree with Aura, it's was a very nice gesture.
DeleteBut the danger with Disney actually depends on the location.
Disney in California? Not too dangerous.
Disney in Florida? It's not Disney itself but there is something in the air that makes people in Florida do really stupid shit, and if you're not careful you'll wind up trying to siphon gas with a leafblower or dressing up as Captain America and groping people in bars.
Really.
ReplyDeleteYou had to bring me into that? Seriously. Shove it, Elaine. I may be "Mitch the Bitch" but at least I don't do shit this fucking stupid.
Nightprick is a rambling fruitcake, but I DO happen to agree with it/him/her/whatever in this case. There are certain places we have to make a POINT to stay the FUCK away from. Schools. Amusement parks. All of it. Why? Because kids tend to be His prime target. I don't even LIKE kids and I know this is wrong. I just... I can't even begin to understand your logic. If you want Em to have a fun day... then play a game. Build a snowman. Do something on your OWN. You don't involve other kids. You just don't.
Get your head on right, Elaine. That was a mistake and you know it. I just hope you got away with it.
Oh for fuck's sake, pull the stick out of your ass and wake up. There are kids /everywhere/, and they're no more likely to get pulled into this by existing in our space as they are doing any of a million other things kids do.
DeleteI wasn't trying to drag you into that, merely using you as a point of reference. Since you've talked about the same phenomenon at length and I'm not really in the mood to do the same.
You're really one to talk about having a stick up the ass, Elaine.
DeleteYeah, kids are everywhere. No, being in our space isn't the problem. The problem is going to where there's a horde of the little buggers and then nonchalantly saying "Oh, look, He was there with us!" How could you think that isn't a big deal? I mean what the FUCK, Elaine? I can't believe that out of the two of us... I'm the one that's taking His choices of prey more seriously.
Way I figure it, if he's staring at us he's not fucking with them. And again, I maintain that if he has interest, he takes, and the odds of that being so straightforward as our proximity seem pretty low.
DeleteAlso, fucking talk to me when you have a fucking suicidal six year old. Then and only then do you have any room to judge me.
Hahaha, correction. You're a special kind of idiot. A whole new league of their fucking own. Fitzgerald can join you on the pedestal.
ReplyDeleteThink, Logan. Kids. Him. You're quite possibly infecting a whole new generation of runners because you can't think of ways to entertain a six year old.
But hey, look at the bright side; lots of fresh meat means He won't be after us, right?
But hey, it's all cool as long as you can leave. Not like anything would prevent you from that, right? You know, aside from having Elliott with you, who apparently has a stitch wrong in his very existence, with a habit of making normal places not so normal anymore.
USE. YOUR. FUCKING. HEAD.
Remind me again where it says being Stalked suddenly means they can't take a step out of their houses because they run the risk of walking past a child and infecting them? Okay, yes, I wouldn't loiter in at a pre-school if at all possible, you got me there. Granted, I'm not hanging around a 6-year old who's seen more deaths than most people do in their lifetimes and doesn't have enough people her own age to hang around. Oh, and with your logic, can't.
DeleteBut if we're going along that train of thought, we should just have children the world over be kept indoors just so they don't accidentally walk past a Runner in the streets. Oh, and without telling them or their parents WHY of course; that would go over REALLY well.
Thank you, Giles, that's what I'm fucking saying.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThere is a difference between walking down the street and deliberately bringing yourself into a fucking target-rich environment. It's a case of scale Giles.
DeleteNow, the big question, isn't should you have gone to fucking Disney World, it's do you want to create a few dozen more Emily Johnsons? Because that'd be real fucking kind of you Elaine.
God, am I really doing this again... okay, firstly, no offense Richy-boy, your head is in the right place, but maybe calm down a bit.
DeleteIt was still probably stupid, but I can't see this as that big of a deal. It's like everyone else is saying, they're gonna be passing by kids everywhere they go. I suspect you're passing by kids everywhere you go. That doesn't mean the Construct is gonna latch on to them just because a Runner walked by them. Best I can tell, this thing has a much more calculated manner of selecting his victims, not just any random kid will do.
Course, you had a point with the potential for Elliot to be causing loops where ever he goes, but I honestly think that's a little more calculated of a phenomenon too. Writer is basically the one behind those things, right? So I'm pretty sure he decides when they pop up. And I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Writer is smart enough not to turn Disneyland into a nightmare hell loop. That's kind of a huge, well-known tourist destination. Kind of hard for the public to miss. There'd be a media firestorm that no right-minded Proxy (or the Construct itself) wants to see. Veeeery different from a secluded forest in the middle of nowhere.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI just thought of riding a roller coaster stuck in a loop. Now I really want to go to Disney World, too.
DeleteSee you around
-Cage
I find it...rather amusing...that the same individuals who would take it upon themselves to raise a Clarion Call of "biased!!!" against those who ally themselves with Ms. Logan, would turn 'round and enact the same kind of behavior by actively looking for any frivolous, inane reason to bite her pretty little head off.
ReplyDeleteFor what it is worth, Elaine, you have friends out there. I'll be in touch, if you'd like.
<3
Always glad to hear from a friend, Anon. Email's on the profile
DeleteOhhh, so controversial, which side to choose. Well, after reading all of the various arguments, I'll have to side with Elaine here. It's not like they were running around wearing the Operator symbol or flashing distorted pictures of Him, accidents do happen. Well, not purposely flashing distorted distorted pictures of Him. Honestly, with the number of people that visit Desiney World a year I'd honestly be superised if one of the Hunted visiting there wasn't a fairly regular occerence. To my knowledge being infected usually takes more than standing in line behind someone.
ReplyDeleteAs for the trap element, I agree that it was a stupid place to go considering the risks, but at least Elaine and Company, weren't foolish enough to advertise they were even considering it until after they were finished with their "Magical Adventure."
Most of you have no real excuss for harrasing Elaine about this considering the various foolish and "morally questionable" acts you have commited. I'm going to go ahead and say Nightscream is the exception here, partially because harrasing Hunted is her job, but mostly because it's the only argument that holds even a little weight, and most of the others seemed based off of hers.
Elaine... oh Elaine, I could have ended this post in your realitvly good graces, if not as high on the list as some of your previous commenters, but I can't drop this because it's just too funny. More of the hunted are harrassing you about this than ever did about you selling them out to the enemy for the illiusion of safety. It seems that many of your views of what needs to be judged and what should be forgiven without question are a bit skewed.
See you around
- FreedomCaged
I think forgiveness is a really important part of life and that judging people for their past actions really bad. I don't knowall of the things that Elaine did but shes really nice now! and she was trying to help! I dont see why msot of us cant seem to get along when we're all in the same boat together.
DeleteI think they're all jealous. I know I am.
DeleteI really don't care all that much about Elaine's actions, past or present. I mean they are most certinly intresting to observe, but I'm hardly one to judge her for any pervious failings. I just found it a bit amusing how so many people are getting riled up over a substansially less grevious offense. Seriously, she took a little girl to a land of wonder and magic, and for the most part wasn't that stupid about it, either. It seems a bit foolish for everyone to go after her neck just for that.
DeleteSee you around
-Free
Yeah exactly! I think she idd a good thing so people should be less mean...
DeleteNo, she did a stupid thing, which happened to have a sappy justification.
DeleteThere's a fucking difference.
I don't think there is.
DeleteOh thank dear god, I thought you were going to say He was on Splash Mountain with you. That image... is a strange one.
ReplyDeleteElaine.
ReplyDeleteI have just read through this blog. It's a fascinating story. And so many lives touched. Some enriched and some broken and some destroyed.
This may not mean much to you, but I have entered this blog into our database. If nothing else, know that your story will endure.
--SΣ