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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 28, 2012 10:16:22 GMT -8
HEIDI
I looked at her sideways as she looked at Jordan once again, at a loss for words. She was sorry I had to see him like this? I'd only just met him. Yes, it was a traumatizing thing for anybody to see but she'd been engaged to him. I couldn't even imagine what it felt like to be in her position.
She was feeling sick, needed some rest, and just wanted to be alone somewhere. That perfectly described how I was feeling. I stood up. "If you need someone to talk to..." the rest didn't need to be said.
My rest and alone time would have to wait. People were expecting me to return with vines for finishing the tent. If I was gone too long, someone might look for me and not only did I not want to keep people waiting or worried, but I also didn't want anybody to find me in the middle of my personal pity party. I would just have to keep this bottled a little longer and the queasy feeling would fade away as I distracted myself with things that needed to be done.
Already gone for an amount of time where people may be wondering where I was, I made quick work of gathering some thinner vines and before stepping back onto the beach, I used my sleeve to wipe away any remaining signs of tears, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I put a smile back on my face and made my way back to the group.
***Heidi leaves for F3 - Area of Survivor's Camp - Day 2***
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Post by Lady Lee-o on Jul 31, 2012 9:50:07 GMT -8
Jinx
Jasmine waited several minutes, making sure Heidi was gone. Then, she sunk down against the tree and sobbed. It wasn't those small fake tears she was use to crying, those she used to gain sympathy. Jordan was gone, her Jordan and she would never see him again. All she could see now was his half eaten face and, she didn't want to think about it, but she couldn't stop the images. she reached into her pocket and pulled out his wallet, opening it and flipping though to see the picture of them together. That day was such a good day, one of the very best days of her life. Getting up off the ground she slipped the wallet back in place before moving away from Jordan, she couldn't stay here, it wasn't safe.
*Jinx leaves for F3 - Fuselage and Surrounding Area - Day 2*
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 12, 2012 17:18:52 GMT -8
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 24, 2012 17:07:58 GMT -8
***Heidi enters from F3 - Area of Survivor's Camp - Day 3***
HEIDI
I walked carefully, readjusting my hold on the 'shovels' so I could better watch my steps through the foliage. I remained silent, not entirely sure what to say in such a situation.
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Aug 24, 2012 19:20:51 GMT -8
***Mia enters from F3 - Area of Survivor's Camp - Day 3***
As they walked, Mia thought back to something Heidi had said earlier that confused her. "So, this guy's fiancee was on the plane, but you were sitting beside him," she repeated. "And the fiancee's okay? She's back at the beach?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 25, 2012 17:01:15 GMT -8
HEIDI
"Yes, she's fine. Physically, at least." I was quiet as the final moments on the plane replayed in my head. "She didn't know he was on the plane. He was going to surprise her." A ghost of a smile flitted across my face as I remembered his enthusiasm. "He had these big plans. He was so excited--" Realizing I was babbling, I stopped myself. My smile disappeared and I tried not to dwell on the memory. "When the turbulence got really bad he--Jordan--asked me to find her in case he didn't make it. He wanted her to have the speech he'd been working on. It explained his plans."
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Aug 25, 2012 17:10:23 GMT -8
Severin listened calmly and grimly. It was a tragedy that bordered on the horrifically absurd. The man had just wanted to surprise his loved one. Well, he had.
"We can do our best to ensure she finds some measure of peace," he said. "Even if it's a small one."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 26, 2012 15:08:50 GMT -8
HEIDI
"Thank you, Severin. I know it'll mean a lot to Jasmine."
I slowed as we approached the small clearing and nearly gagged at the smell. Composing myself, I turned to face Mia and Severin. "He's just right through here. I'm not sure if Mia mentioned it, but some kind of animal has gotten to him. His face is...not all there." I had a brief image of what I'd seen before which thankfully hadn't been nearly as bad at my angle as it must had been for Jasmine. "I don't know what's happened to him since yesterday and... I just... I can't look. But I can dig," I added with determination.
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Aug 26, 2012 16:37:39 GMT -8
Yep, that was the smell of death, she thought as she held a hand up to her nose. Funny how it translated from one continent to another. Only decomp would be accelerated here because of the humid environment and the animal life. Maybe she should stop the inner monologue and get to work.
"No, no, digging is good," she nodded, limiting herself to shallow breaths. "Maybe you can find some soil that's not too sandy or densely packed. Sev and I will get the body, and then we'll help you with that."
She walked toward where Heidi had indicated, where a section of the plane's seats had come to rest on the jungle floor. The man was still strapped into his seat, the visible skin showing signs of bloating and discoloration as well as the evidence of ravenous predators. After a moment's contemplation, she uttered "I call legs" before looking to Severin for confirmation.
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Aug 26, 2012 17:14:30 GMT -8
Severin looked at her and held back wildly inappropriate laughter. The smell didn't get to him; he'd smelled worse. Bodies piled high, burning slowly into nothing. That was a smell that stayed with you.
He grasped the body underneath the arms, but then looked up. "I can lift the entire body if you like," he said. "I've done this before."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 26, 2012 17:53:03 GMT -8
HEIDI
"Maybe you can find some soil that's not too sandy or densely packed. Sev and I will get the body, and then we'll help you with that."
"Okay." I walked into the clearing and made it a point to keep my face turned away from the body. Choosing a spot without too much foliage to try to dig past, I placed the other two shovels to the side and tested the soil with a couple of digs. The ground wasn't too densely packed so I continued digging, throwing the dirt in a pile to the side. 'I'm digging a grave,' popped into my head in an incredulous tone and I quickly pushed it aside. 'I'm digging a hole. I'm just digging a hole,' I kept repeating to myself.
"I call legs"
I was mortified that I almost laughed at that. I was in no way offended but I was in awe at how casually she handled the situation. It made me wonder what it is she did for a living. Then again, maybe I didn't wanna know. One thing was for sure; I definitely asked the right person for help.
"I can lift the entire body if you like," "I've done this before."
'Done this before?' Looks were definitely deceiving. He did not look like the type that would be handling dead bodies. Maybe it was a fluke unfortunate situation he'd found himself in. Again, maybe I didn't wanna know. 'Note to self: Don't piss off Mia or Severin,' I thought, distracting myself with humor.
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Aug 26, 2012 18:57:39 GMT -8
"I can lift the entire body if you like. I've done this before."
"And let you have all the fun? I don't think so," Mia countered, making sure the seat belt restraint was undone and that there were no other injuries that would be aggravated by moving the man. "Besides, it's the 21st century. Women can help dispose of a stranger's corpse just as well as you men."
She positioned herself at the man's legs, which ended in clearly expensive shoes. Which led her as always to wonder what this person was like in life. The slip-ons made it easier to get through security and the leather looked scuffed from multiple collisions with roll-on luggage, so he was probably a frequent traveler. Maybe he traveled with his fiancee, Jasmine, a lot. Maybe that didn't matter anymore.
"Um, okay, count of three?" she asked, meeting Severin's gaze after she got a firm grip on the man's ankles.
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Aug 28, 2012 11:49:31 GMT -8
"Besides, it's the 21st century. Women can help dispose of a stranger's corpse just as well as you men."
"I believe that was a demand of the suffrogettes," he commented. "I think the documentaries mostly downplay that aspect, though."
"Um, okay, count of three?"
Severin nodded. "On three, then," he said, tightening his grip. The corpse's head was slack and hung backwards, looking directly at him. "One...two...three." He lifted with Mia.
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Aug 28, 2012 15:49:19 GMT -8
She tried to keep her steps small and measured as they lifted the man's body from the seat and walked in tandem to where Heidi had begun digging. When they were close enough, she carefully lowered the body to the ground and straightened out the pant legs that had been wrinkled by her grasp. She was never around for this part. They were bodies on her table, physical evidence to be examined, and then they went elsewhere--morgue, crematorium, funeral home if they were lucky enough to have a family to claim them. Going into the ground just seemed to put a big, bold period on that death sentence.
It was oddly comforting to leave him and pick up a makeshift shovel instead. Moving dirt was more impersonal.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 28, 2012 23:50:34 GMT -8
HEIDI
Knowing that the body was now close behind me, I picked up my pace. The sooner this was done, the sooner I could go back to the beach and push this whole event to the back of my mind like it never happened. It was hard to ignore an event when you were currently in it.
We were losing light but it was too soon for sunset. I glanced up and could see through the canopy of trees that clouds had rolled in. "I think we might be getting rain again. Good thing Sayid has people setting up rain catchers." But bad timing for the three of us if we have another sudden downpour like yesterday.
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Aug 29, 2012 15:37:22 GMT -8
"Yes," agreed Severin, affording the corpse's stare until he set it down with Mia. "He's certainly taken charge, hasn't he?" There was something odd about the entire situation. It wasn't a normal situation even at a basic level, but there was still something...off about the entire thing. It was like being somewhere else, somewhere with a stronger sense of realism than outside world. As he dug into the earth with a makeshift shovel, he couldn't help but recall something an old friend had once said. What strange places our lives carry us to...what dark passages.FLASHBACK
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Aug 29, 2012 16:08:37 GMT -8
"I think we might be getting rain again. Good thing Sayid has people setting up rain catchers."
Mia paused for a glance at the sky. Cloud cover was good, and rare in Arizona. Whenever storms blew in, they usually brought a massive wall of dust and dirt. The rain and lightning and thunder was a welcome change.
"Yes. He's certainly taken charge, hasn't he?"
"I guess someone has to. A bunch of people wandering around and worrying doesn't help anyone," she said as she tossed another shovelful of soil to the side. "He strikes me as former military, or maybe police. He seems pretty confident in his ability to get that transceiver working. And he's hot so it's not that hard to do what he asks."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 29, 2012 20:36:29 GMT -8
HEIDI
Mia's last comment made me smirk. "I don't mind people who know what their doing trying to take charge in the interest of helping us survive until rescue arrives," I said with a shrug. "I have zero experience. I've never even been camping."
I paused, sweeping a stray lock of hair out of my face with the back of my hand as I looked at our progress. "How deep should we make this?"
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Aug 30, 2012 11:47:00 GMT -8
"He strikes me as former military, or maybe police. He seems pretty confident in his ability to get that transceiver working. And he's hot so it's not that hard to do what he asks."
"Military," said Severin with flat confidence. "Without a doubt." He smiled at Mia's second comment, almost bashfully. He attributed the response to a long time without human interaction that delved any deeper than formal acquaintance. "You've just tapped into why I joined the army. Princess Diana was still a royal."
"How deep should we make this?"
"Six feet," he said abruptly before quickly adding, "...ideally, six feet. But three would be deep enough to prevent the body...ah, resurfacing in the event of erosion."
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Aug 30, 2012 15:56:18 GMT -8
"Six feet...ideally, six feet. But three would be deep enough to prevent the body...ah, resurfacing in the event of erosion."
"Right. That would keep him out of the elements, and out of the way of any passing carnivores," Mia observed. "And three feet sounds a lot easier than six in terms of time and upper body strength right now."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 1, 2012 17:50:04 GMT -8
Heavy rain that's been anticipated by the
dark clouds that have been rolling in finally begins.
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Sept 1, 2012 19:08:10 GMT -8
Their pace had quickened as the raindrops began to fall, but it didn't seem quick enough. "Maybe we should wrap this up?" she advised. "Before we end up with a small lake on our hands?" She planted her makeshift shovel upright in the ground and resumed her place at the body's feet, waiting for Severin to collect the man's upper half.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 1, 2012 19:36:39 GMT -8
HEIDI
The dirt was turning into mud and Mia was right. With the way the rain was picking up, we'd have a lake soon. "Probably a good idea."
I looked away as they stepped toward the body and tried to distract myself with other thoughts as I watched a stream of rainwater make it's way down from one leaf to another until it finally fell to the ground, forming a quickly growing puddle.
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Sept 2, 2012 14:14:29 GMT -8
Severin laid his shovel aside, and turned his face upward to let the rain fall on his face. He then reached down to take hold of the man's upper half. "What was his name?" he asked following the sudden realisation that he didn't know.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 2, 2012 16:13:12 GMT -8
HEIDI
"Jordan-" I wracked my brain. "I don't remember his last name," I added remorsefully.
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Sept 2, 2012 17:39:54 GMT -8
Mia almost quipped that at least they were on a first-name basis but thought better of it. Time and turning soil were of the essence right now. Not eulogies or headstones. The fiancee could deal with those details later. Mia placed the man's legs into his island grave and went back for the shovel.
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Sept 3, 2012 14:33:21 GMT -8
"Jordan," he said. "I used to have a friend called Jordan."
Severin leaned down, helping Mia to place the body fully into the makeshift grave. It felt odd to be doing this at all; if rescue was coming, why not wait? Let the bodies be recovered at a later time? But then there was always the chance of animals getting to the corpses more than they already had or the elements simply speeding up decomposition. Either way, he wasn't going to argue.
He grabbed his shovel. The rain was starting to make the soil dark and wet, turning it into mud. "Should we wait before or after the rain stops to find his girlfriend?" he asked, shovelling heaps of dirt onto the chest.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 3, 2012 18:30:53 GMT -8
HEIDI
"I know where she is." I opted for a spot by Jordan's legs to shovel dirt back in, trying my best to avoid looking into the grave at his body. "I'll let her know it's done."
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Post by Doctor Lassie on Sept 3, 2012 19:57:46 GMT -8
"I'll let her know it's done."
"Yeah, that's probably best," Mia remarked. After making some headway in covering the body and filling up its makeshift grave, she paused to catch her breath and wipe the rainwater from her eyes. "We should probably get back to some shelter on the beach before we drown. Don't you think Jasmine would be satisfied with our efforts so far?" she asked Heidi.
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Severin Darling
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Post by Severin Darling on Sept 4, 2012 11:25:39 GMT -8
"I agree," said Severin. "There's little else we can do here except make the ground looser."
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