Chapter 8 - The Helicopter Trip

Sophia POV I was one of the last to get on the helicopter, my mood right now is not one of the best, but that didn't mean I would be rude and I greeted everyone briefly with a nod and then I took the tablet to do the last checks. The Houroux Family had their own doctor on board to supervise the transfer and he was also checking everything before the helicopter takes off. Too much ego fighting for my taste, the doctors at the hospital thinking it was absurd to be supervised by an outsider, while the family doctor started pointing out mistakes that weren't mistakes at all, as he seemed to have information about the physical condition that we didn't. we had access. To avoid a confrontation I just went to my house, packed a small suitcase, when I got back the chaos was almost over as it was time to leave. My date with Joshua wasn't the best thing about my day either and in the end we ended up wrapping up something that hadn't even started to get serious. When Dr. John Ioannidis started to say something about what I was doing, I looked up and met him. In two and a half hours my life had turned into chaos because of that man and now he wanted to talk about my job? Dr. Ioannidis is a man with short, almost shaved hair, dark skin, light brown eyes, strong features, an enviable athletic build for many, but it seemed to be something common in the people around that family, he has around a few 1.80 m and doesn't seem to be the type to feel threatened, as he threatened more people than Hyperion himself had ever done. Whatever he had thought to say died in his throat when our gazes met, it didn't take long for him to look away and flinch slightly. That was better, not that I was better than him, but I just wouldn't tolerate him criticizing something just because he thinks he's better than me or because he thinks he knows more. I looked back at the tablet. There were only five of us on the helicopter. It is Hyperion, Doctor John, Perseus, myself and the pilot, whose name I don't know. I was told that it will take a few hours before we reach the helipad at the family hospital and it appeared, by all indications, that it will not be a pleasant flight. As I got onto the helicopter, I was, once again, overwhelmed by the woodsy scent that I now knew came from Perseus, but I didn't mention anything about it. I have come to realize that, as with Achilles, the scent I get from them, their very own unique scent and not a perfume at all. Perseus's scent was stronger now that he was awake and I get the feeling that, if I look into Perseus' eyes, something similar would happen as that which happened between Achilles and myself just yesterday. So I decided that it's better for me to remain silent and just focus on my work. The good thing is that by helicopter we didn't need to talk, or rather, if you wanted to talk, you had to open the call through the headset. I preferred to keep quiet and focused on the information John had put into the system about the treatments he considered appropriate and I couldn't help noticing that practically he had questioned everything we had done. I took care to read each statement a few times, while using the stylus that came with the tablet to take notes in the notes application I had installed, several doubts came up reading the report, but I didn't say any of them out loud, I'm sure that it had to do with Hyperion saying he needed to show me something. I finished reading all the new information entered by Doctor John and then put the tablet aside to take out my cell phone. I open my reading app and start reading the book named "Cthulhu Pulp”. It is a roleplaying book, on which the game we play is based. It has supplementary rules for the 'Call of Cthulhu'. It has sections where several scenarios and outcomes are given as well. It has many pages, chapters and sections, and it is definitely not a 'light' read and I only started reading it recently. I have been making all kinds of excuses to not finish reading it but reading it now seems to be as good a time as any. It's at least a way to pass the time and prevent boredom from kicking in during the trip. I found some parts in the book that I had my doubts about so I took screenshots and saved them in my phone's gallery to look them up on the internet later. Some of the things I read gave me a few very good ideas for campaigns and short, unique adventures for the next play. “How did I not think to use this here?” I spoke in a low voice, smiling, looking at the description of one of the monsters. I felt a slight push on my shoulder and I looked up to meet Hyperion's and showed him the picture of the monster and the description that appeared. He motioned for me to open the communication and I did. "What are you reading? You appear to be quite happy since picking up your phone.” Hyperion asks. “Oh! I'm reading a Cthulhu book, a system that is basically you face monsters and if you look too much you can end up going crazy. Very briefly that's it, I'm about to start a campaign with the guys and I'm going to use the system I'm reading and here are some different monsters and I liked this one.” Sophia “Will it be something similar to what I listened to you playing the other night?" Hyperion asks. “Almost like that, the idea is the same, we're just going to change the system, now instead of being vampires, werewolves, wizards… Wizards, damn wizards… Sorry, after all a wizard killed me!” I rolled my eyes remembering the scene where my character had died. “Never face a mage.” I gave a low laugh. “They are stolen, but sorry, back to the question. This time I'm the one who will tell the story and my friends who will play the characters, I don't usually take a lot of notes and plan a lot, unlike Mercy which has about 30 pages of planning, I just like to plan the initial plot, have an idea of how the world is going to work and what the final challenge might be, but in general I let the guys loose and just use what they tell me as fuel and in the end everyone has a good time.” I tell him. “Got it! At least I'm trying to understand. This is all very new for someone like me.” Hyperion chuckles. “Well, at some of the events that I've taken part in, I've met people who are much older than you. It's quite amusing to watch sixty-to-seventy-year-olds playing against an eight-year-old. But, in general, roleplaying is fun. Age doesn't matter." I say. “Which one do you like best?” He asked me. “Terror. It's not a system in itself. Despite loving Werewolf the Apocalypse, after all, it was one of my first RPG’s, but now I love Cthulhu. The whole scenario behind it is wonderful, despite me not liking the creator. But what he created is beautiful. Now, why do I like horror? I like narrating. Which means being the master of the game, which brings a special taste, at least for me. Those who usually look for me to play, look for me because they know they're going to be scared and know that I can do that. It’s wonderful! I've already made a lot of people cry at the table." Hyperion's look was one of disbelief and surprise. “Hey, in a healthy way. Before starting a game I ask to what level the person is comfortable with the situations that can happen. Hmm… How can I explain it better? Imagine that the people who play horror with me, are like those people who go to the cinema to buy a ticket to a horror movie, they can choose from children's horror to Hunger Games, including Bone Collector, among other titles. Then the person will watch the film and know that the people who participated in the film are seeing their reaction and being happy because they fulfilled their role, which is to frighten them.” I tried to explain without sounding too psychopathic. I think I succeeded because his expression softened. "I think I understand. It's like someone who participates in a championship, knows that along the way he will get tired and can often get hurt, but in the end the adrenaline of participating is what counts.” Hyperion states. "That's it! That's exactly right.” I exclaim. I saw him laughing and smirked. “Hearing you talk about this topic makes people want to join in and play too. Your excitement is contagious." Hyperion said. I threw my head back and laughed out loud. “This is the purest truth, the more people I bring into this world the more I can cross out in my notebook of corrupted souls.” I managed to speak after a few minutes. “I'm sure with this animation there must be a few hundred scratched names already, isn't there?” Hyperion “Not hundreds yet, but a few dozen yes.” I smirked and then turned my attention back to the cell phone. “Now I have to finish reading the book.” I turned off the comm and turned my attention to the screen in front of me. I know that this whole interaction with Hyperion was the focus of both Perseus and John's attention.Ignoring Perseus' gaze on me is a constant challenge and now it was even harder to focus on the cell phone’s screen. Somehow I managed to control my feelings and not let myself be swallowed by that desire to look, touch and become involved with Perseus. It was enough trouble being attracted to Achilles, who from all I'd seen and heard was second in command. It was already dawn when we landed at the family hospital and my eyes were a little heavy. I heard the propellers stop turning and then the green light to open the door came on. Hyperion left first and I followed right holding his left arm. “I need to take my medication and sleep a little. I need to adjust my schedule before I suffer another episode like yesterday's.” My tone of voice is serious, indicating that I knew I wasn't there just to look after Perseus. I know it had just been an excuse for me to come with them, but for whatever he had to show me, I needed to rest and prepare. “I see. Your room is ready. Alexander will show you the way.” Hyperion answered and pointed at Alex, who looked distant and cold. I rolled my eyes.. He really took offense at the joke I made. I instinctively brought my hand to my eyes and took a deep breath. “Um, I asked him to be here because you two seemed to get along so well.” Hyperion's voice held a hint of concern. “I know, don't worry. The important thing is that I'm going to rest.” I walked towards Alexander, there were several other people there on the terrace, but I didn't bother to look at them. I grabbed my headphones and turned on my playlist, my little way of indicating that I didn't want to talk, if that's how Alex preferred it, then so be it. I noticed that the feeling of anguish, as I walked away from Perseus, did not happen this time, and I tilted my head to the left side as I entered the elevator and looked at the movement of the medical team taking Perseus' bed and helping him. For a brief moment our eyes met, but it wasn't long enough for me to notice much as the elevator doors closed. “One more weird thing to add to my list.” I whispered, putting my hands in my pants pockets. “Sophia… I…” I saw Alexander turning to talk to me, but I quickly cut him off. “I don't want to hear any lame excuses. You got what you wanted. And you can call me Miss Turner.” I answered dryly and saw him take a deep breath and look straight ahead again. The floor I would be on was close to the penthouse. As soon as the door opened I followed Alexander down the hall. This was not a very big building. It only has 10 floors and I was on the 8th. The place looked like a hotel with a leisure area with some sofas, tables, armchairs and a mini bar on the left side, while on the right, there was a giant television. All decor was in shades of white, silver and navy blue. There were 12 people there. Six men and eight women. Some were in the bar area while others were playing cards at one of the tables. I noticed that everyone turned to look at me. Yes they were looking at me, ignoring Alexander and paying attention only to me, as if I was some intruder. Well, it was true, in a way, but I'm not here because I asked to be, but because I was invited. I smirked in an ironic way at the thought. If not Hyperion couldn’t manage to intimidate me, these people definitely wouldn't be able to. "This way." Alexander gestured.