[ WEEK FIVE – KILL LOG (RUSSELL) ]

[sheriffexe]

[ Russell has been in the stocks for nineteen hours at this point. While others in the town have probably taken pity on him, given him food and water over the course of the day, maybe a chair --

Right now, is alone and it is very, very silent.

Then, of course, there are the sounds of footsteps. ]

Comments

[alcobrawlic]

[ And here she is, Miss Bandit, walking closer with a pretty unreadable expression. One hand's got its fingers wrapped around the handle of a pistol, but for the time being, she isn't cocking it at him or even raising the gun.

She just stops in front of Russell, looking down at him--

And sighs, softly. ]

Why?

[guiltlevel]

[ Ugh, look. He doesn't want any pity. It just makes him feel bad?

Nonetheless, he's become pretty accustomed to the stocks... Not like he'd complain in the first place, he can't really feel right complaining about much.

He glances up at Sara for a moment noticing that she's approaching, but looks back down. ]

Why, what..?

[alcobrawlic]

I promised I'd take care of Annabeth's killer. [ And her voice is tight now, even if she doesn't look angry. If anything, it's probably frustration. ]

So why is it you?

[guiltlevel]

[ Ohh.... So, she knows. Russell doesn't look too surprised in any way though. ]

The sheriff told me to. That's all... He said it'd be easy, if I chose that girl.

[ Do you really think he can 1v1 anyone without having the advantage? There's a short pause before he explains just a tad bit further. ] Then the sheriff gave me medicine as a reward that was . . . Helping me, I guess.

[alcobrawlic]

... Because she was in the stocks.

[ This is incredibly ironic, but Sara pinches the bridge of her nose. ]

It wasn't the medicine to help you sleep?

[guiltlevel]

[ ISN'T IT? Like the people at the rehab center told him -- Buddy, this is called "Karma"...

He shakes his head though. ]

No, it helps me sleep. . . It's the medicine that I was used for testing it... [ So he lied, but not... 100%? ] But now the nightmares follow me, and I'm too scared to take it anymore.

[ He definitely noticed the gun, though. He's not completely oblivious to the bandit role either, for obvious reasons. ]

Are you going to kill me?

[alcobrawlic]

... Yeah.

[ Slowly, Sara shakes her head. ]

I didn't want to risk Percy going after her killer, and the Sheriff made me agree to the kill before he told me who it was.

So, here we are.

[ She's really not as calm about this as she sounds. ]

[guiltlevel]

[ Sounds like something the sheriff would do, honestly. ]

Oh. . . I'm sorry. If you want to tell Percy, the diary in my room... Talks about how I killed her.

[ "Do you just casually log about your murders", yes, actually. ]

And Mr. Barnham... I don't want him to feel bad, or pity me. No one should, I know I deserve this. Everyone should know I'm a murderer.

[ He should've confessed before he ended up in the stocks... He should've told Percy himself. Should've told Barnham he's not as innocent as Barnham believed. ]

So . . . I don't want to be here anymore, it's fine if you kill me. You can give me the gun too, and I'll do it myself.

[ He just wants to get this over with. ]

[alcobrawlic]

I'm already bound to it. I'll take full responsibility. [ It's that or literally everyone in her world suffers the consequences. Sara hesitates, though, before she rests a hand on his head. ]

You've been through a lot, haven't you?

[guiltlevel]

[ Russell stiffens up at the touch, as if he was ready to accept his death right then and there -- then he relaxes.

He's quiet for a moment before he just nods. ]

I'm . . . Really sorry.

[ It's all he can really say now, isn't it. ]

[alcobrawlic]

So am I. [ She says this softly, keeping her hand where it is. ]

... But I'll probably be seeing you soon, so hold down the fort for me in the meantime. We're gonna have a long talk about valuing yourself more.

[guiltlevel]

[ Is she going to confess too? Seeing at how the previous trials went, it's only natural... But for some reason, Russell really doesn't want that? Sara shouldn't die!!

But voting another innocent person would be . . . Bad. ]

You ... Don't have to but . . . Thank you? [ Not too sure how to respond to that, really? ]

I'm ready though... Whenever you are.

[alcobrawlic]

... I was really hoping you'd be asleep.

[ Siiiigh. ]

Was there anything else you wanted to say, or are you actually ready, Russell?

[guiltlevel]

[ After a moment of thought, he just shakes his head. He's just finally relieved that he can finally atone for his mistakes like this. ]

No . . . I'm fine. I'll... Be fine. I'm ready.

[alcobrawlic]

... Close your eyes.

[ And she'll keep one hand on his head, ruffling his hair a bit, as the other brings the gun up to press the barrel between his eyes.

Just like with Higekiri, she thinks, and feels a little sick. ]

[guiltlevel]

Alright ...

[ And with that, he'll close his eyes. Finally, this can be over, huh? ]

. . . Thank you for this...

[ Don't feel bad about this, Sara. He definitely wanted this? ]

[alcobrawlic]

[ HE SHOULDN'T HAVE WANTED THIS AT ALL, but she'll at least murmur something - a prayer, maybe, even if she isn't the type - before she pulls the trigger. ]