Weather torn poster reads: (Sierra-3 Health Authority) Citizens must report SUSPECT ACTS to your local officer or broodwatcher.
Smaller poster on top reads: KNOW THE SIGNS of hivespawn infancy.
- Repeated phrases
- Inability to focus
- Shivering at day
- Spotted rashes
Report suspects to broodwatchers.
Ruined poster on top reads: HIVESPAWN MUST HAVE PERMITS. Violations will be exterminated on sight. (Sierra-3 Health Authority). (The poster is ruined and difficul to read).
Bartender: A hivespawn as a broodwatcher. Don't see that too often.
Bartender: You must live an interesting life.
Watcher: "Interesting life"
Watcher: Tell me, Bartender - my human memory is spotty...does "interesting" mean miserable?
Hat Lady: Look, there's a watcher there!
Covered Lady: But they're a HIVER-
Hat Lady: That's better! A hiver can stall for a doctor!
The Watcher stands up to leave, waving at the bartender.
Watcher: Keep my tab open.
Watcher: I heard. Take me to who's showing symptoms.
Covered Lady: J-just this way
We look down over a small town. A crowd has gathered in a circle, keeping their distance from a person in the middle.
The person, a dark skinned woman with her hair in a circular braided knot, holds themselves tight. Their eyes are closed.
They think to themselves "I don't want to die," repeatedly.
The Watcher pushes through the small crowd that towers over them in stature, but not in presence.
Watcher: Don't worry folks. At this point, it ain't contagious.
Hat Lady: Please, save her.
Watcher: I'll try.
The Watcher's gun is drawn.
Watcher: I always do.
From a top down perspective, the Watcher approaches the woman. She's audibly repeating it now: "I don't want to die. I don't want to die."
The Watcher crouches down as they talk to the woman.
Watcher: Hey there. Can I see your hand?
Woman: I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to-
The Watcher holds a hand out. The woman silently gazes at the Watcher, their eyebrows furrowing.
Woman: Hand. Hand.
Woman: Hand.
Watcher: That's right.
The holds up the hand of the woman, and checks their wrist.
Watcher (thinking): Almost no pulse.
Watcher: Hey...
Watcher: Can you tell me your name?
Woman: I-
Woman: - can't. I can't.
Woman: I want to.
Woman: I don't want to die.
Woman: I don't want to die.
Watcher: Yeah.
The Watcher rolls two bullets in their hand.
Hat Lady: What...are you doing...
Hat Lady: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Two bullets are loaded into the revolver.
Hat Lady: Can't you save her?
Hat Lady: You said you'd TRY to SAVE HER - you just CAN'T DO TH
Watcher: sorry
Hat Lady: Sorry, look - we can bring a doctor, and save her still
Hat Lady: we can still save her
A gunshot echoes out.
The Hat Lady reaches out, almost a hint of disbelief on their face.
BANG! A second shot rings out, and the Hat Lady recoils back.
The Watcher stands next to the dead body of the lady. Their revolver smokes from the tip.
Watcher: You can bury the body now.
The Watcher passes by the Covered Lady and Hat Lady. The Covered Lady is trying to console the Hat Lady.
Watcher: It's not contagious.
Hat Lady: You're a MONSTER.
Watcher: Yeah.
Watcher: Tequila, please.
Bartender: It's on the house.
Watcher: Thanks.
The Watcher sits alone.
