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Chapter 5: The dangers of wildlife
🕑 Added 2024-03-30 12:42:21 +0000 UTCFrank did not, in fact, learn [Origami]. He did, however, earn a simple [Paper Folding] skill.
[Paper Folding]
You have spent a more than usual amount of focus getting just the right shape from paper.
As far as he could tell, it didn’t really do anything. In fact, Frank was beginning to question all of his Skills to some degree. [Enchanting] was the only one that really seemed to add anything beyond his own capabilities. All the others felt more like a record of things he’d done.
I suppose that makes sense though. [Enchanting] is the only Skill I got from a book, rather than through my own efforts. Maybe I’ll get a better idea of how Skills work when I get a few more. He glanced at his phone, which was currently mapping his route to the library downtown. He was hopeful that he’d be able to find people further into the population center, as well as a few more interesting Skills.
If there was ever a time to find books about psychic powers…
He grinned as he glanced outside, back at the road. The deer were gone, he’d been able to magic himself up a set of equipment, and he was likely to get more. Despite the tragedy of the situation, and the uncertainty around his family, Frank was starting to feel a bit of excitement bubbling up from under the anxiety.
“If I live through the next week, this new world might be a lot more fun. First things first, let’s get geared up.” He stepped over to his new, small armoury.
He slipped his axe, now with a slightly longer handle, through a loop he’d thrown together for his belt. On the opposite side, he had a slender, dagger shaped paper construction that he was lovingly calling ‘Papercut’.
Technically, it was ‘Papercut 2’, as he’d learned that this particular design could really only slash; trying to stab with the paper dagger, even reinforced, had a tendency to crumple the tip.
Finally, the magnum opus of today’s crafting session, a full set of cardboard armor.
He lifted a piece dubiously. True, it didn’t even dent when being stomped on or hit, but Frank had a sneaking suspicion that many things he might find out in the wild would hit harder than he could. Still, it would do for now.
He glanced at his health pool, sitting around 50%. It would have to do. He couldn’t afford to do any more.
It was a bit cumbersome putting on the entire set, as it did require him to carefully align segments with each other so the enchanted tape could hold everything in place. But, by the time he was done, he did have a sort-of functional coverage with his armor. He lacked the raw skill needed to make articulated coverings for his joints out of cardboard, but he was still proud of what he’d made.
Fully geared up, he slung his backpack over his shoulder, full of what food he could find, and supplies he expected he might need. He took one last look around the office. It feels like it’s been days since everyone vanished, but really only a few hours have passed. He glanced outside. When I get into the city, I’ll need to see if I can get to my apartment. It’ll probably be dark by then.
Anxiety warred with excitement as he made his way back down to the ground floor. As much as he was in the middle of a global disaster, he had the same feeling you get when you skip class or take a day off work to have fun. He was having fun, but he felt guilty about it. Putting aside what that says about the pressures of society, I should probably be a little more cautious. Things are different right now.
He walked toward the lobby on the ground floor, navigating cubicles on his way to one of the few bike racks for the building. With the road as cluttered as it was, cars were too big and road-dependent to be reliable. As he walked, he heard a clattering down a hall.
He turned and paused, heart beating. I didn’t search the whole building when I was picking stuff up. That could be a person… Or a beast. He strained, trying to hear any little indication of what was in the office. All he heard was the gentle hum of the air conditioning, and electronics. Is this a gamble I want to make?
His mind flashed to the wreck of cars outside. He quietly pulled his axe from its loop on his belt. With my new Skills, I think I’m in a good position to offer help. Can I, as a person, afford not to call out?
Somewhat hesitantly, he called out. “Is anyone there?”
There was a shuffling of movement. Hope rose in his chest. “Hey! Oh man, I thought I was alone here. Where were you hiding? How many of you are there?”
The shuffling continued, growing a bit louder. From the noise it was clear there were multiple bodies moving around. They moved through the office space, and as they hit the hard surface of the walkway he could hear their feet clopping-
Clopping? Oh shit. That’s not a person.
Frank turned back, just as a gray deer with jagged antlers turned the corner into the hallway. They made eye contact briefly. It barked, in the way that deer do, but a deeper, angrier version. Then it lowered its antlers and charged.
Frank sprinted away, ducking around cubicles whenever he could and throwing chairs and anything at hand behind him. The deer kept close on his heels, plowing through any obstacles he put in its path, but taking the time to reorient around corners. He only glanced back occasionally to gauge distance, and the sight of the twisted antlers behind him had his heart pounding.
I shouldn’t have called out! There’s so many things scarier than angry, dying squirrels! From now on, we have a strict Frank-first policy!
He skidded to a stop in front of a break room, just barely managing to slide in as the deer’s momentum carried it past the door. Quickly, he threw it shut and locked it, backing away warily.
On the other side of the door, he heard more of that bassy, angry barking, and a few solid thunks on the door. Those impacts set him sweating again, concerned for the doors integrity.
Hastily, he pulled Papercut from its sheath and cut his finger. On the door, the hinges, and any part of the frame he could consider to be its own part, he did his best to write ‘resistant’. Immediately, the impacts on the door got softer, less threatening.
Soon, the deer gave up. He could hear it thrashing around the office outside angrily, crushing flimsy cubicle walls and desks. Distantly, he heard the calls of other deer, growing closer and closer.
He sat shakily against the wall opposite the door, giving a quick glance around the room he was in. No windows, nondescript office complete with desk, computer, and some middle managers memorabilia.
Suddenly, he remembered he was clutching a weapon. He looked at his axe and armor, made from scraps of cardboard and paper, and scoffed. Here I was, with daydreams of adventure and glory, thinking I could fight with my life on the line. I guess getting magic powers doesn’t magically change who you are.
There was another thunk on the door, and he jumped. “Okay, I’ve got to get out of here. Can’t use the door, and there are no windows…” He took a closer look around the office, before his eyes were drawn to the empty wall at his back. “What’s on the other side of this? If it’s just drywall, I could just bust through–”
Wait–
He heard the start of a charge from the other side of the door, and turned as his stomach dropped through the floor. In a burst of drywall and wood, a pair of antlers came through the wall, borne on heavy hooves.
