42Hey, guys. Welcome to another chap of TWAA. I hope you all liked the last chapter. Things will get really tense here!
Let's start!
DISCLAIMER: The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead Game does NOT belong to me, but to Telltale Games.
Episode 2: The monster inside us
Part 2: The hunters
Bigby tried not to breath that much. The girl smelled a lot like blood, and he didn't like it one bit. However, she was a fable, and she needed help. Once he got dressed, he walked to her.
"Get on my back. I'll bring you to the place I'm staying in."
She seemed unsure.
"Are you with… more fables?"
"Just one. The others are mundies." She blinked, surprised. "Don't ask. I think it's a good idea sticking around them, so the Adversary can't get suspect that much." He paused. "You were with someone else before, who was it?"
She bit her lip.
"… These… lips are sealed."
Bigby sighed and kneeled down.
"I don't know why you keep saying that. Just get up so we can go."
"Why don't you carry us as a wolf like you did before?"
"Those humans don't know about me, nor about… my partner either. So, it's better to keep it that way."
"I see…"
She got on his back and he started running to the motel. He just hoped Lily and the rest wouldn't judge him because of this. Snow wouldn't be mad; if he found a fable, then it meant something. And this girl needed help, so she would get it from them.
"So… the Big Bad Wolf is not so bad after all…"
"Refer to me as Bigby. Don't say it again."
"These mundies wouldn't believe it even if they tried, you know?"
"Their own species came back to life; I don't know if they can't believe in other things anymore."
"Good point… who's at that place with you?"
"Snow White."
"Oh, they ice queen, I see." She muttered with a smile. "She's actually really kind. Once, she gave me money when I needed it, though she didn't even know my name." She remembered that day. She was wearing her magic cloak so she could go around the streets safely. Snow thought she was distraught and she gave her money. She never said anything, but she was grateful for that.
"I can believe that. Snow just doesn't like to show that soft side of her."
"Yeah… so, she's the only one with you?"
"Yeah. Her sister died in front of her when this shit started."
"That's sad."
"I don't know how she feels, really. They didn't get along."
When he approached the Motor Inn, he saw Snow, who looked at him right back.
"Bigby!"
They opened the fence for him and they noticed the girl on his back.
"Who…?"
"What the hell? Why do you bring more mouths to feed?" argued Lily.
"Why can't you keep your mouth shut?" growled back.
"What did you…?!"
"For fuck's sake, would you shut up?!" snapped Carley. "This is getting ridiculous! Can we please hear the man?"
Bigby stared at Snow, who frowned at him, confused of his behavior. He didn't bring that girl for nothing. There had to be a good reason for it. And speaking of her, she seemed pretty tense near these guys.
"Snow, do you remember her? She the friend we thought we lost at New York, right?"
The way he stared deeply at her made her realize what was happening. She stared shocked at the girl. Those green eyes were so colorful that they didn't seem human at all. She had to be…
She had to be a fable.
"Oh, my god…" she muttered before approaching her and hug her. The girl tensed. "Don't worry, we'll talk soon." she whispered.
"A friend?" Lily narrowed her eyes. "Really?"
"Yes…" Snow took a step back. "She's… like family to us. So… I need to patch her up."
"Do you need help?" Katjaa walked to her.
"That would be good, thanks." The blonde took the girl's hand and took her to her room to examine her wounds. She glanced at Bigby, who nodded at her. Snow walked to him. "Thank you… for saving her." She smiled at him. "Where are Lee and Kenny?"
"They're not far." He could smell them. They were almost back. "They caught something. I guess it was a good idea leaving a map for them." He smirked. "And I brought some food too, to make some changes… just this once."
Snow giggled and nodded. Then, she turned deadly serious.
"We need to talk to her in private" she announced. "Can someone please take charge while we do this?"
"I'll do it." Said Lily before anyone else could say anything.
"Okay. Thank you."
Before getting to Katjaa's room, Snow and Bigby went to the princess' one. There, she looked through her belongings and found a book. The wolf frowned.
"Did you keep the book of fables all this time?"
"… I know it's silly, I just wanted to have faith, you know? If we ever found someone…"
"It's not silly. I think it's pretty noble." He smiled softly at her.
Snow stared at him. She was so glad he was relaxing a little. These mundies were giving him such a hard time, just like the rest of the fables did back at their time in Fabletown. It was good to have some people back.
"So… who is she?"
"I don't know. She said she had met you before, but you didn't recognize her."
"Really? Then, we should look at the book."
They searched for the girl, but she didn't match with any of the characters. They stared at each other.
"Are you sure she's a fable?"
"Yeah. She smells like one. I'm sure." They kept looking, until a figure with a strange coat caught his attention. "Wait. This could be her."
"It's all covered. How do you know?"
"The ring. She was wearing a ring in her finger. It's the same as that one. Although I don't know from which family story is… at least, we have something."
"I have the others too."
"Okay. Let's search for the symbol."
Bigby couldn't understand the language of the second book, so Snow took care of it. After a few minutes, the figured out she was from the Donkeyskin tale.
"Her name's Faith, then."
"Yes. Why didn't she tell you who she was?"
"… This might be just a theory, but… I think she can't say it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well…"
"Guys?" Katjaa's voice interrupted them. "Kenny and Lee are here. I'm going to check on them. Your friend is in my room, okay?"
"Got it." Answered Bigby. "Thanks."
Once they heard her walking away, they got out silently. The others were with the ones who recently arrived, so they could sneak on Katjaa's room without interrogations. When they got in, Faith was sitting on Katjaa's bed. She had bandages all around her arms and knees.
"Hey there." Snow smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"
"… A little sore, but I'll be fine."
"We figured your name's Faith. Is that correct?"
She frowned.
"… These lips are sealed. Sorry."
"You keep using those phrases. What does it mean?" he walked and sat across her. "You can't talk… because of something. Some spell, perhaps."
Faith stared at him, but didn't say anything back.
"… I see. If we knew what is keeping you from talking, we could help you break it."
Faith looked frightened at his suggestion and shook her head.
"Why don't you want to break free of it?" Asked Snow. "Is it dangerous?"
Faith bit her lip. She needed to tell them where the spell was coming from, she had to find a way to tell them without taking the risk.
"I want to help, but…"
"How long have you been with this spell?"
"… These lips are sealed."
"Did the Adversary do this to you?" asked again the princess.
This time, she seemed relieved.
"No."
Bigby and Snow looked at each other.
"So, you can talk about what's been going on back at the Homelands, am I right?" Faith nodded. "I see. Then, I assume you've been with this spell long before this shit started." The girl tensed, but didn't say anything back. "Let's ask you some questions: who kidnapped you?"
"These lips are sealed."
Snow pursed her lips.
"I don't think we're going anywhere, Bigby."
"We are, Snow." He stared at Faith, who stared right back at him, serious. "She's smart. If she can't talk, then it's related to what happened to her before this. The people who trapped her as a slave were the same ones who gave her that spell. Let's just say the Adversary and them are working together. I wouldn't be surprised."
"Is it possible that you can tell us who are trapped in there?"
Faith looked at Snow with sadness in her eyes.
"I…"
"Guys! Quick…!"
Bigby frowned.
"I'll go. Stay with her. Try to ask her about the Homelands."
Snow wanted to argue, but she took a glance at Faith, and she seemed scared of being alone, so she finally nodded. Bigby got out, but as the smell of the air hit him, he stopped abruptly.
"Howdy! I'm Andy St. John and my brother Dany. You think your group can help us?"
"Back off!" Carley's voice raised.
"Lady, relax. We're just here to ask for a little of gas…"
Bigby tensed. This smell seemed so familiar… and, at the same time, so unknown. It smelled like… like…
Human flesh.
He approached to the fence, where he saw two men. Their skin and mouths… stunk like human flesh and blood.
Who were this people?
To be continued…
Sorry, guys. I HAD to put the St. John family. To me, they were the trigger to bring such a good story in this game, so…
Anyway, hope you guys liked this chapter.
Read ya soon!
Rossana's Mind.
Reviews?