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What happened to the man on the wall? How did it change? He was everywhere and now he's nowhere...

( it's disconcerting. who was he? or who is he? what did it mean by terminated, exactly? Carrie's still trying to decide if this is Hell. Peter might not believe her, but she knows what happened to her back at the house before she woke up back in her dress again. something ain't right, that's for sure, but Peter seemed nice so what's he doing in Hell? it's all confusing, but she's been poking around on this thing in her arm and stumbled across what looks like people talking to one another. they don't seem to have answers, but she's also noticed that there's new faces the more she scrolls, so maybe they're coming in new and everyone's just sort of in a limbo before they're getting into Hell proper or something.

it makes her wonder what they did to deserve it and if it's as bad as what she did, maybe they should move the process along and just get to it so they can suffer for their sins together like they all ought to, herself included. )

Did everyone else...I mean, am I the only...one who died before here? That's what this is, right? We're all just waiting to go wherever it is we're supposed to go?

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( Well, that's rude, isn't it? Or isn't it? Is it normal to ask people how they died when you're with them in a limbo on the way to Hell? How did Betty Cooper die, Carrie wonders? )

My house caved in on us.

First person who's said I died? Didn't you...?

Oh, god, I'm sorry that sounds terrible.

[It, also, doesn't necessarily mean that Carrie died, though - in Betty's mind. After all, whoever put them here implanted technology into their arms in a vital area without killing them. Obviously they know a little something when it comes to medicine?]

No, I definitely didn't die. I was drugged before I woke up here, but I definitely wasn't dead. It could be possible that they pulled you from the rubble of your house, though, and nursed you back and put you here, though, maybe?

( Inwardly, Carrie bristles a little. Perhaps Betty isn't willing to admit to herself an overdose, but that's what it sounds like to Carrie, so she's not convinced that they aren't both here for the same reason, however much more heavy Carrie's sins than Betty's one. )

I really don't think so. It's hard to explain, but I'm pretty sure. It's okay. If it was my time, then it was my time. God doesn't make mistakes, so I'm here for a reason.

( Which doesn't mean that she isn't afraid; she is. But all the same, she's ready. )

If not then it's possible that they're able to do more here than we even realized. Ben, he's another person trapped here, he brought up the idea of magic or something...otherwordly going on because so much of what's happening we can't really explain.

I was a little too shocked at the time to think on it much, but it's seeming more and more likely knowing something like this on your part.

[Betty isn't fully convinced, but she's not going to argue. After all, the other girl was the one there.]

Are you all right, though? Do you have any injuries from the house still?

I don't believe in that stuff. ( Not that Carrie is as pushy as Momma had been about their religion, Carrie knows that there isn't any such thing as otherworldly, there's just God and His miracles. ) The only thing that makes sense to me is what I already said...

Yeah, sorta. I mean, I still have an injury, but I think it's okay. It's not so bad. I thought it would be worse.

( The stab wound in her back is still aching, but it isn't still bleeding and it hadn't been upon her arrival, so that just feeds even further into her theory that she's on her way to Hell. She's dead, so there's no blood to be bled, but she's headed to Hell, so of course she's still feeling the twinges of pain in the wake of the knife Momma tried to kill her with. )

I'm okay.

...is it just me, you, and Peter here?

And you could be right, there aren't really any available answers right now, unfortunately.

[Betty really isn't sure what to make of her, but she reminds Betty of some of the other girls - other teens - that were fully indoctrinated, fully in, and stuck well and truly at the Sister's of Mercy. Then again, just because Betty, herself, isn't particularly religious doesn't give her the right to judge anyone.]

I'd say keep an eye on it but I don't know where you'd even find something in this house to keep an eye on your injury. It's good that it's not still bad, though.

[But why send someone here injured?]

Oh, no, there are about 20 people here, give or take, based on the last time we all checked in and a guess based on other mentions of people.

( As confident as Carrie is that she's right and the other girl is wrong, she wills herself not to pushback, because that will draw more attention onto her and if there's one thing that makes her uncomfortable, it's too much unwanted attention. )

It doesn't really matter. It'll be fine. But thank you.

( That...actually surprises her a little. )

That many? I haven't seen anyone, yet... How big is this place, anyway?

[Betty doesn't really get her, but she also doesn't know her either. So she's going to leave that at that.]

Yeah, I'm not surprised that you haven't because the layout changes so often, honestly. It makes it kind of hard to find people when you get separated and sometimes to run into other people too. There's like 4 different floors based on what I've gathered (and if the elevator buttons are to be believed).

What do you mean the layout changes so often...? What does that mean?

( Because it can't mean what it sounds like, right? Even if they're not on Earth anymore, or in the living world, Carrie just can't wrap her head around that. )

The walls, doors, etc move. So the layout of the house can and has changed a lot already.

You haven't seen any of that yet?

Not really, no. I've seen some tricks of the light, but nothing like that...

You've lucked out here so far, then. Just be on the lookout and be careful, okay?

And if Peter is who you woke up with and he's stuck around with you, it's a lot easier to get around and stay safe here with someone to watch your back.

What is there to stay safe from exactly?

( She's still not convinced that they aren't just all dead and waiting for Hell anyway so it's morbid curiosity in what Betty believes than a general question she plans to absorb the answer to, but the question still stands. )

Ghosts, as odd as that might sound with you believing you're dead; plants that grab you in the greenhouse; an elevator that takes you for a ride; doors that drop you into a swimming pool insanely; laying down for a nap and waking up in a straight jacket with something looming at you in the padded room...and those are only a few of the things that I've either heard about or experienced myself

( Carrie bristles a little bit at that because she doesn't believe anything, she knows she's dead. But she also doesn't have the self-assurance to insist upon it, so she doesn't contradict Betty. Even after everything, she knows her place on the social ladder and someone who looks like Betty is clearly higher up on it than Carrie could ever even wish to be. )

Is all of that really true?

( That's...worrisome, if so. )

100% true. I'm one of the people that woke up in the padded room in a straight jacket and most of the others are accounts from people that have no reason to lie.

( So what happens, Carrie wonders, if you don't trust anyone to have your back, because you don't know how to? What happens if you don't know how to trust people, because no one has ever given you reason to think that you can? )

I don't like that...if I woke up like that, I would panic.

( And it would be bad. Very bad. Dangerously bad. )

I definitely did. I don't want anyone else to have to wake up like that, or go through what Ben and I went through waking up terrified in there, that's why I want to give warnings and communicate with you and everyone else here so I can save someone else the terrifying experience.

That's nice of you.

( Which, to Carrie, means this girl is lying. She's trying to trick her. Nobody is nice to Carrie. She's still trying to figure out what Peter gets out of it, now trying to lump Betty in is making her head hurt. How do they know each other? Why do they want to hurt her? She doesn't know them, she hasn't done anything to either of them.

Maybe this isn't a layover to Hell at all, maybe this is just what Carrie will see in a Hell that's catered directly to her suffering.

For the first time in a long time, Carrietta White really and truly does not know what to believe. )

How long have you been here?

We've all been brought here and even if we don't know the reason this place suck enough when you have to go at things alone, the least that we can do here is look out for one another considering we're all in the same boat.

[Betty doesn't know if this girl believes her or not. And really it doesn't matter. The teenager isn't going to let that change the way that she is naturally inclined to deal with her at the moment.

She's got to be herself, as much as she can here anyway, because she's not going to lose herself in this place if she can help it.]

Almost two months, I think. I might be a week or so shy, but...close.

You just help people you don't know because they're in the same place as you?

( Is that a thing people actually do? She's never experienced it; it's a genuine curiosity. )

That's kind of a long time... If it's just a house, can't you just go outside?

Yeah, I mean, we're all we kind of have here, so looking out for one another just makes sense and keeps everyone safe overall, even if having specific people to have your back also makes sense.

Nobody has been able to get outside yet - the doors that look like they're front doors lead to longer hallways and even busting down walls and out the few odd windows hasn't gotten anyone anywhere so far, unfortunately.

Even though you don't know any of us?

...that doesn't make any sense.

But I am probably going to get the chance to get to know at least some of you while I'm here.

Btter to have people, to be kind, than not. This place is already bad enough as it is and we don't have to add to that even if we're strangers right now.

Would it matter? If we're dead, I mean, why would it matter, getting to know people?

( that only invites them to hurt you, Betty. But then, looking like that, Carrie suspects Betty's never had anyone try to intentionally hurt her in her entire life. Carrie can't decide whether she's jealous or resentful of that suspicion. Maybe it's both. )

I wouldn't know. People weren't very nice back home, so.

Well, yeah, honestly. I mean, we're stuck here for the time being and if we're dead and have a potential eternity here it's going to get pretty bad being alone, you know?

We've only run into one person who was, apparently, terminated from all of this - picture on the wall notation and everything. And nobody knew him or had talked to him before we got that notification and I, personally, don't like or want that for anyone here again - nobody knowing something happened to them or that they're gone.

[Betty isn't surprised by the fact that the other girl says people weren't very nice - she wears it pretty obviously in her actions and outlook, honestly, but Betty isn't someone from back home for her.]

I'm sorry that people weren't nice to you back home, but you aren't home anymore. I can't speak for everyone here, but this place is horrible enough, I don't think we need to treat each other that way.

I'm not alone.

( That all sounds really nice, but Carrie doesn't know if she believes that anyone will or could actually care if it were her face on the wall. It'd be admirable if she weren't so cynical. Betty reminds her more of Sue Snell the more she talks. )

I guess so. Thanks for letting me know what you could.

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