Cole's Journey: Lock & Key

[Laraqua]

Cole hurries over into the store room and drops down into a crouch by the corner, slipping the door closed and waiting. As the door opens inward, he would be hidden if the door were to open and the creature shamble inside. The only question remains as to how long he will wait?

[Garrett]

I give it about twenty minutes then, if I don't hear anything continue my search, still sneaking.
sneak success 63 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3934320/

[Laraqua]

Cole sneaks to the door and slides it open a crack, peering out. The corridor looks empty and he can't hear anything.

The only question remains: Where to now?

[Garrett]

I continue searching all the rooms on this floor I haven't already checked, looking for a weapon and anything that might pertain to Mary.

[Laraqua]

As he steps out into the hall, he hears something. There's a young girl's voice coming from the direction of the nurse's station (further along the corridor, back along the right) muttering to herself. It isn't a crazed, quiet mutter but more the mutter of a girl casually talking to herself or someone else.

[Garrett]

I slowly make my way back to noise, and then try to get a look at the girl without being noticed.

[Laraqua]

Cole creeps up to the side of the corridor entrance and peers around the corner. There's the faint glow of light coming from a flashlight in the nurse's station so he doesn't need to turn his own flashlight on. A little girl with dark, curly hair bunched up around her shoulders can be seen sitting on the counter, playing with a little golliwog. The flashlight seems to be in her lap (her legs are crossed) though he can't see the light it seems to be pointing upwards.

[Garrett]

OOc-what's a golliwog?
I let out a groan, I know I'm going to regret this. "Hello?" I say cautiously, standing up so that the girl would be able to see me. "Who are you?"

[Laraqua]

The girl looks in his direction and he can make out that she has a telephone receiver to her ear. She gasps and mutters something into the phone before dropping it, the receiver clattering against the counter. She darts off the chair into the darkness of the reception office.

[Garrett]

Well, better then shooting fireballs at me. I thought glumly, I follow her at a slow pace, taking a look around the room as I do. In a voice just quiet enough for her to here I say. "Hey it's all right, I'm not gonna hurt you. I just need some help.
Fast talk success 12 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4026792/ W
While saying this I pick up the phone and see if anyone is still on the other line.

[Laraqua]

The nurse's station is much as he left it last when he had stumbled across the charred nurse before it had chased him. The girl is crouched down in the corner, knees pressed up against her chest, clutching a doll and covering her face with both of her hands. There's no dial tone, which suggests there might be someone on the other end, though there's no guarantee.

[Garrett]

"Hold please." I say into the phone sarcastically. I put the phone down for a moment and approach the girl slowly. "Hey don't be scared, I said I'm not gonna hurt you." I crouch down to be closer to eye level. "What are you doing here, are you alright?" Great, more freaky little kids, oh well she might be able to tell me something useful.I think to myself.

[Laraqua]

Simultaneously Cole hears, Hello? Who's there?" but he is already placing the handset down and turning to the girl.

The girl flinches at his words but doesn't move to run. She peeks between her fingers at him, trembling and shaking. Then she suddenly moves forwards toward him, arms outstretched, tears running down her cheeks....

[Garrett]

OOC-I'm guessing I don't know if she's going to attack me or hug me?
My hand shoots to my pocket and tazer but for a split second I hesitate to use it. And that split second is enough for the girl to reach me.
-If she claws me or tries something like that I zap her.
success 20 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4030170/
-If not I lean back to grab the phone. "Hello? Who the hell is this girl, and who are you?

[Laraqua]

She wraps her arms around his neck and buries her face into her shoulder, weeping quietly and holding him tight. Her dolly is still held in both hands across his back. "I was sooo scaaaared...."

It's difficult for him to move back over to the phone the next few steps to grab the phone and speak into it.

[Garrett]

"......There, there." I mutter out, awkwardly patting the young girl on the back. He once again reaches for the phone, as he starts to pull back to do so he speaks to the young girl. "Who are you?"

[Laraqua]

Over the phone: "The name's Murray Archer. I don't know who the girl is, sorry. I'm not even sure if she knows who she is. Who are you?"

The girl says miserably, "Mandy." She doesn't relax her grip on him though being only five-years-old she's not much of a weight to someone of his strength.

[Garrett]

"I'm Cole, I'm a tourist in the city. How do you know this girl?" I say into the phone, trying to do two conversations at once I turn back to the young girl. "Hey Mandy, do you live here?" I say, trying to sound comforting while I look over my shoulder to make sure I don't hear that thing from the hallway.

[Laraqua]

"No," says the girl rather miserably into his shoulder.

"I don't know the girl," says the voice over the phone. "I didn't even know her name until you just said it. I happened across this number and thought it might be an important clue, so I called it."

[Garrett]

Trying to push her away a little I speak again. "So what are you doing here? You haven't seen a girl named Mary have you?" I lean back into the phone, speaking quietly so that the girl doesn't hear. "Who are you, what the fuck do you mean 'clue'?"