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It had been roughly a month since Noob had appeared in what he could only describe as hell. It felt like hell. Having to run away from a killer for whatever reason until the time runs out or you eventually die. It was a steep learning curve. Noob had gotten slightly better at surviving, preserving his stamina and avoiding the killer, using his newfound abilities to his advantage until the timer ran out. He wasn’t dragging the team down anymore which was nice, or at least not as bad as before. But today his body had thrown him a curve ball. So far he had managed to not push himself too hard, but yesterday’s previous match he ran almost the entire round due to Jason targeting him. Per consequence, Noob woke up to his legs feeling like they were on fire and made of lead. Any slight shifting caused his body to scream at him in agony and painful muscle spasms.
Normally this wouldn’t have been too bad of a problem. Normally Noob would have called for his mom to bring him some pain killers and deal with the lingering feeling of pain of what the pain killers hadn’t managed to block. But this wasn’t normal, Noob was in hell and pain killers around here was incredibly rare. He looked at the alarm clock on his bedside table, reading 6:43 AM. He knew some of the other survivors would be up soon, no doubt Guest was up already. Noob closed their eyes with a sigh and a small whimper as he tried to shift to a more comfortable position to fall back asleep to and try to ignore the fire creeping in the muscles of his legs.
. . .
Noob woke up later to the sounds of knocking at the door of his room. He slightly shifted over in his bed, only to be rudely reminded of solar flares residing inside of his legs. A groan escaped him as pain raced up and down his legs in a horrible protest of movement. Risking the horrible feeling, Noob sucked in a deep breath, tensed the core of his body and quickly sat himself up the best he could. Thankfully he didn’t receive much protest from his legs from the change of position. Another knock at the door reminded Noob why he had woken up in the first place.
“Come in,” Noob said, trying to shift his hips in a way that he wouldn’t get stiff or hurt.
His door slowly opened to Guest peaking through. His gaze looking and settling on Noob in his bed.
“Hey, just wanted to check on you. Didn’t see you downstairs this morning,” Guest said walking in.
“Oh,” Noob said, looking at the alarm clock that now read 10:54. “Sorry I didn’t come down, overslept I guess.”
“It’s fine, just wanted to make sure you were okay. You went through a lot last round yesterday so I understand.”
“I’m okay I promise, just tired and sore,” Noob said, trying to laugh it off as if every movement didn’t feel like fire. “Besides I’ll survive. It’ll be okay.”
“Alright,” Guest said, grabbing the door handle to shut it on his way out, “if you need anything, holler for one of us.”
“Will do,” Noob shouted as Guest left.
A sigh left Noob as he leaned back on the wall his bed rested up against. He rubbed the palms of his hands against his face and eyes and let a drawn out groan. The thought of moving anywhere made him internally cringe at the inevitable pain that would follow any movements. Man what he would give to have some pain killers.
. . .
At some point in time he knew the others must have been taken to a new round. Every now and then the Spector would make them play with everyone involved, but that was on rare occasions. Usually there was never more than eight out of the eleven of their group in one match, so that always left three people back in mansion. Noob didn’t know for sure who else was left in the mansion but he wasn’t really eager to move out of bed yet, let alone go downstairs. The pain in his legs still making it very clear that he wasn’t going to go anywhere without difficulty. He knew he would eventually have to grit his teeth and bear it to get up, but Noob wanted to put off that fight for as long as possible.
The clock on his bedside table read 2:23 PM and he sighed. He knew nobody wasn’t going to check on him anytime soon. Noob was perfectly aware that really only reason Guest probably checked on him was because he was team leader and awake and ready incase he was taken for a round. He was aware of the kind of letdown he was for the team. After all, nobody wants a teenager in a life or death situation with them, much less a disabled one. Not that anyone really knew he was disabled. Noob kept that knowledge strictly to himself. He didn’t need to be viewed even weaker by the rest of his teammates. He could imagine the pitied looks already and the comments the others would make. He could deal with it if it happened, but if Noob could avoid, it he would.
. . .
He had only successfully managed to get out of bed briefly and power his way through to use the bathroom but it would have been neigh impossible if he hadn’t used the guard rails that the second floor provided. Noob was grateful for the makeshift support he got from the railing. It made his walk steadier and significantly less pain filled. There was still lots of discomfort, but the shift in weight helped. Spawn, what Noob wouldn’t do to have his crutches or wheelchair back. He knows damn well it would be impossible to use a wheelchair in a place with no ramps or even an wheelchair elevator, but it still would have been nice. Not stuck to the confines of his room as exhaustion of using his body took over and his legs felt like magma. At least he would be able to roll out of his room and see everyone in the lobby. But sadly wants are not reality.
Noob sighed as he heard his stomach rumble, an unpleasant reminder of the fact that he hadn’t eaten at all today. Not that he felt like he could stomach anything anyways. The thought of getting up and going downstairs and attempting to stay stable enough to even make a proper meal and the pain that would come after deterred all thoughts of hunger. Sure it gnawed at his stomach but Noob could handle it. He’s done it before and can do it again. The only person that might notice is Guest but Noob knows that he’s probably on the “non-important” list, and he would like it to stay that way. He’d rather nobody worry about him. He wasn’t worth the stress for everyone.
. . .
It wasn’t until around 7 PM that Noob heard another knock at his door. He groaned at the thought of Guest checking in on him again. Noob didn’t feel like turning over in his bed. He didn’t feel like facing Guest right now. He could tell him to leave him alone and that he was fine. Noob wasn’t worth the worry, so why should Guest come and check on him?
“Yeah?” Noob called out.
He heard his door open and heard footsteps and Guest entered his room.
“Hey kid, none of us have seen you all day. Mind telling me what’s going on,” a deep and rough voice asked.
Noob turned over to see Builderman standing in the doorway with a concerned look on his face. Spawn almighty he hated seeing that look on people.
“I’m fine,” Noob said, turning back over.
“You and I both know I don’t buy that lie for a second,” he heard Builderman say. A sigh came from the older man and Noob heard him walk over and sit on the edge of his bed. “Kid, we all know something is up. You’re normally down in the lobby all the time yet you have come out of your room once today. Once. Something’s going on and we just want to know what’s wrong and how to help. We’re here for you, ya know.”
Noob contemplated his words for a moment. Sure, it would be nice to tell someone but he didn’t want sad, pitying glances and looks like the one Builderman gave him a moment ago. He doesn’t think he could handle that.
“I promise, I’m fine,” Noob insisted.
“Bullshit.”
Noob turned back over to face Builderman.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m calling bullshit.”
Noob used his arms to pull himself up and sit up, “What do you mean you’re ‘calling bullshit’?”
“I mean I’m calling bullshit on the fact that you’re fine,” Builderman stated as if he was saying the sky was blue.
“I told you I’m fine,” Noob insisted again.
“If you were fine you wouldn’t have been in bed all day,” the older pointed out.
“People can be fine and lay in bed all day.”
“Yeah, but not you.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know you enough that this isn’t normal for you.”
“Oh really? From what evidence? I’ve only been here a month. You don’t even know what can be normal for me.”
“You’re right, but I know enough that this isn’t something you do normally do. This is the first time I’ve seen you curled up in your room like this. I know you’re a ‘moody teenager’ and all kid, but you don’t normally act like this. We’re worried about you. I’m worried about you.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Noob said, using his arms to pull his legs up close.
“Why shouldn’t we,” Builderman asked, full attention on the kid in front of him.
A lapse of silence filled the space between them.
“Kid, give me one good reason why I or anyone else here shouldn’t worry about you,” the builder said.
“’Cause I’m not important,” Noob whispered to himself.
“Sorry?”
“Because I’m not someone worth worrying about! I’m not important,” Noob shouted.
Another moment of silence awkwardly filled the space between the two. A sigh left Builderman.
“Why would you think that,” he asked.
“Because I’m not. I slow everyone down and just add more time to each round. I don’t need your sympathy or pity when all I do is mess things up,” Noob said, refusing to look at the older man in front of him.
“Do you think I didn’t mess up all the time when I first got here,” Builderman asked.
“Yeah, probably, but not as much as I have. All I do is mess up.”
“Kid I still mess up. I mess up a lot. Those sentries I put up during rounds a lot of the time don’t work properly and I shock myself half the time putting up dispensers. I mess up a lot and still do. But something is telling me that whatever is going on, isn’t about being useful in rounds. Is it?”
Noob nodded his head. Builderman let out a hum.
“Do you mind telling me what it is,” he asked.
Noob looked up at the admin. He just wanted this stupid interrogation feeling conversation to be over. Maybe he could trust him. Trust him not to treat Noob like some sort of fragile vase.
“It’s my legs,” Noob said quietly, letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding in.
“Your legs,” Builderman restated, a bit of confusion hinted in his voice.
“Yeah, my legs,” Noob said back, almost annoyed, “I have a condition. It’s something I’ve had for a while. Causes my legs to feel like they’re on fire. If I push myself too hard it causes nasty flare ups. I don’t really like talking about it often.”
“Ah,” the admin said before being quiet for a moment. “Is there anything I or the others can do to help out?”
“Unless you have some pain killers or my crutches laying around somewhere, not really,” Noob said.
“I can’t really do anything about crutches, not right now at least, but I do think I can do something about getting you some pain killers,” Builderman said, getting off of Noob’s bed and heading for the door. Before he could say anything, the admin was gone. Noob sat there in his bed for a few minutes before Builderman returned with Chance in tow.
“Sup kid,” Chance said with a small grin on his face, “Builder said you got a bad headache?”
Noob looked at Builderman who gave him a nod.
“Um, yeah,” Noob said hesitantly.
“Dang that sucks. I get ‘em too so I’m sorry about that. But hey, we can be headache buddies together,” Chance said as he walked over and pulled a small bottle out of his pocket and handed it to Noob. Turning the bottle over he read the label.
“How did you get these,” Noob asked in astonishment, quickly realizing it was a bottle of ibuprofen.
“I take them from the medkits littered around the map during the rounds. I found out they teleport with me when the round ends when I survive,” Chance said in a nonchalant manner. Noob quickly opened the bottle to see a bunch of white pills inside. He poured out three pills and quickly swallowed them dry, trying not to let the horrible dry texture get to him.
“Thank you,” Noob said with a sigh of relief leaving him. Now all he had to do is wait for them to kick in.
“Anytime man. If you need anything just let us know. We’re a team remember? We have each other’s backs, no matter what,” Chance said, holding his hand out in a fist. Noob lightly fist bumped Chance with a small laugh.
“No matter what,” agreed Noob.
“Anyways I’ll get going, Elliot is about to start on dinner and I promised to help him out. If you need anything kid, holler and I’ll come help as best I can,” the gambler said as he left Noob’s room. Builderman slowly walked over and sat back down on Noob’s bed.
“Feeling any better,” he asked.
“Not yet, takes roughly fifteen minutes for them to kick in, but I’ll be fine,” Noob said. He heard the older hum in understanding. “Thank you for not telling Chance. Or at least not telling him the real reason. ”
“It’s the least I could do,” Builderman said.
“Still, thank you.”
“No problem kiddo,” the admin said with a smile. “Plus, I can help out better. I used to make crutches and such for people a long time ago. I can help you make a cane or something to help you out if you want.”
“Are you serious,” Noob asked with a wide eyed look of astonishment.
“Dead serious. Whenever you feel like you’re not hurting as bad I can take your measurements and make you something. Just tell me when and I can get started.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just take care of yourself and let us know if your hurting so we can help. Sound good?”
Noob smiled and Builderman.
“Sounds good.”