ROLEPLAY HQ - alive

Vava 08-Dec-21 02:30 AM

@EnchantedNymph @VampirateShip

Vava

@EnchantedNymph @VampirateShip

EnchantedNymph 08-Dec-21 02:30 AM

Thank you

Ash BOT 08-Dec-21 05:55 AM

¦Day 1: Dad says the world as we knew it is gone, and I believe him. I can hear the people in the streets screaming, guns being shot and cars crashing. To think this all started when the news channel announced an emergency lockdown after some kind of outbreak at a concert... I feel like I’m living in a horror film or something. Dad told me not to go outside, we have provisions and until we know more of how the disease is spread it’s safer to stay inside. ¦ ¦Day 11: The power went out; I don’t think it’s coming back on. Dad said the water is probably next... We filled up the tub up just in case... We heard through the wind-up radio that the outbreak is some kind of variant of Jacobsen's disease that spreads rapidly, the government still doesn’t know how it’s transmitted. The radio said it has also evolved to target the brain. I don’t understand it. Aren’t they just zombies? They attack anything that moves or makes a sound and react with inhuman strength... That’s the definition of a zombie to me. I’ve read enough comics to know that much. Dad told me I’m just a kid, and to stop letting my imagination run wild... ¦

¦Day 24: It has been way too long since we have been locked in our building, our apartment is dusty and humid and I feel like the more I breathe in this stale air the more I lose a piece of my mind. I miss going to the ballpark the most, the feel of my arms swinging my bat as the ball comes at me. Dad tries to distract me but it doesn’t help much. He’s teaching me how to defend myself, but I don’t see the use... everything will be fine after we are rescued. ¦ ¦ Day 27: Dad left to go find food two days ago and has yet to return. My stomach hurts, I finished the last pack of saltines we had left, I’m almost out of water we had in the bathtub. The more the hours tick by the more I’m worried that dad isn’t going to come back... ¦ ¦Day 30: Dad still hasn’t returned. I waited three more days before I decided the best course of action was to leave home and go search for him... I’m not going to lie, I am terrified. I can still hear those things, the infected outside. Dad did teach me how to use a gun, and I have my baseball bat. But can I really kill a person? They don’t look like regular humans... are they still alive? I have so many questions but my resolve is still the same. I will stay alive no matter what. Don’t worry dad, I’m coming.¦

Ash BOT 08-Dec-21 06:22 AM

Ash carefully placed her notebook she had been writing in on the kitchen island. A picture of her and her father beside it, she had written their names on it in case someone came to search for survivors. She didn’t think anyone would, but it never hurt to hope. She grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder as she got one last look around the apartment. She was really going to do this; she had no other choice really, being out of food and only enough water to last her a couple more days was not a good thing. Ash picked up the aluminum bat that she had sat beside the door to the apartment. It looked wrong, seeing her bat wrapped in duct-tape, but the way she figured it it’d help with the noise if she were to hit something hard. She took one more deep breath of air to strengthen her resolve and slowly opened the door. She peeked out from the small crack she had opened and didn’t see anyone, or anything. Ash figured there may be other survivors in the apartment building, but with how people freaked out in the very beginning she didn’t want to risk coming into contact with an unsavory character. She opened the door wider and stuck her head out, her medium length black hair swishing as she did. Ash looked left and right down the halls before she made her way quietly down the stairs. The lower the floor level she went the more trash and decay she saw lining the floors and walls. There were blood splatters and body parts in places as well, but Ash tried her best not to focus on those.

Her father had told her he planned to try for the corner market that was a few blocks from their place to check for food, and if that had failed, he planned on going to the restaurant that was just a few more to the north. Ash continued her way down; it was inconvenient that they had lived on the fifth floor. She tried her best to be as silent as she possibly could. Ash accidently tripped over a metal trash lid that had been on the bottom of a step of the second floor and her heard hammered wildly as she hid against a wall and waited. She counted to twenty Mississippi before she felt it was safe to continue her way down; her bat clutched tightly in her hands as she did. It felt like it had taken forever for her to reach the ground floor, she used the red scarf that had been around her neck to wrap her face for protection; in case the disease was transmitted through the air. She eyed the metal door and reached for it with a shaky hand, it was now or never. She yanked on the door and it slightly creaked as she was exposed to a bright morning sky. Ash repeated what she had when she opened the apartment door, checking both ways to make sure it was clear. There were a few infected about twenty feet from where she was currently crouched. She bit her lip nervously as she stealthily followed the edge of the building, behind the big metal trash cans that lined it. She thanked the universe they were there, as there was nothing else to hide her presence. Ten nerve-racking minutes later and she was running at full speed down the empty street heading north.

Declan BOT 08-Dec-21 12:54 PM

Declans father had always been a bit racist and sexist but he last six years had just made him worse. He started watching and listening to radio shows talking about the end of the world and how globalist we're going to kill them all. His father had spiraled further and further down a manic hole of hate and paranoia to the point he was basically dead to his son. The only good thing that came out of it was the man had been stocking guns, food, and survival supplies like he planned on living a century in his concrete bunker, the man even had a personal well made and connected so he could have his own water without the "chemicals" that his tap would give him. He didn't know what the morbidly obese man who spent the majority of his life in bed, his old recliner, or a mobility scooter thought he was going to do in a second civil war or the apocalypse but it didn't amount to anything. The man had died from a heart attack while watching the news not having even made it long enough to see one of the infected in real life. Honestly the death hadn't even affected him. In the days that followed he saw so much death and chaos the man who had once been his father was just another face of those that died. With all the planning and hoarding the man had done the idiot didn't once think to himself more medical supplies then what could fit it in a small first aid kit might be a good idea and that's what left him in his current predicament.

Declan had made his way back to the more populated area of the city the few small stores he found had already been looted or were just too dangerous to get into reliabily. He rummaged through the shelves of a small corner store on his hands and knees looking for anything that could have been missed, his knee pads he used for roofing making it more comfortable. He had managed to get a few needles and thread, some antibiotics, and a few bottles of heavy prescription pain killers but he couldn't find enough to last him. He rolled the sleeves up on his thick work jacket as he reached further back underneath the shelf where anything may have fell. He came back empty but he heard something crashing in the back of the store and couldn't risk trying again. Slowly he stood up and pulled the heavy metal wrench from his back and crept slowly forward trying to see if it was.more infected.

Caine BOT 08-Dec-21 04:09 PM

Caine made his way into his last hope for finding food, he had been searching for days and each time had come up empty handed. He had traveled further than he had originally intended out of desperation. This was the last one before he would turn around and head back. It had been a couple of days since he left his daughter back home. Knowing her, if he took too long, she would come out in search of him. That headstrong daughter of his was fearless when it came to certain things. He was proud of her, for handling the end of modern society so well. It was helpful that he had taken her on camping trips where technology was banned, it made the transition for her easier. He sighed as he carefully opened the door to the small store. His worn boots skillfully avoiding cans and things strewn about the ground as he made his way to the food isles. Most of the shelves were bare except for a handful of items. Caine managed to find two small jars of buttermilk pickles, a can of pimento cheese and he scored three cans of sardines. He knew Ash wouldn’t be too thrilled about the sardines, but food was food. He shoved them all in his bag and decided to check for medical supplies. They still had some bandages and things but it never hurt to have a little extra. Caine swung his bag over his shoulder and made his way to the isle only to be greeted by one ugly mug.

The infected was facing the other direction, staring at its reflection in the security mirror hung up in the corner. Caine was slow to lift his arm, trying not to draw the things attention as he reached for his crowbar in his backpack. Just as he wrapped his left hand around it the thing spotted him. It made a loud crackling growl with its throat as it spun and came at him. In the corner of his eye, he spotted movement but he couldn't worry about that yet. He yanked the crowbar out and made an expert swing just as the thing lunged for him. The crowbar made contact causing chunks of bone and flesh to fly. The infected fell to the floor. Caine whacked it one more time for good measure before turning to where he had spotted movement, expecting another infected he raised the crowbar.

Declan BOT 08-Dec-21 05:02 PM

Declan listened closer making out the sound of an infected and the muffled sounds of something hitting flesh. He lowered his wrench and reached into his inner jacket pocket pulling out one of the three handguns he always carried on his person. The one he carried in this pocket was a Ruger Super Hawk, a revolver with a slow fire but the power to stop a bear, or an insane cannibalistic human. He moved around the corner at the same time the man turned around. The man didn't look like a raider but you could never be sure with the world the way it was. "I'm armed." He worn the man in a sternn but low tone. "I don't want anything you have on you but I also won't be giving you anything on me. If you agree to that there's no reason we shouldn't both be able to leave her alive and sane." He had already had to shoot a couple people since the apocalypse began but his hand still shook a little at the thought of having to do again. He had been raised hunting animals for food but that didn't translate well to other people. He breathed heavily as he watched the man waiting for his reaction when he saw something behind the man. Raising his gun he aimed and shot it over the man's shoulder where an infected was making it's way over a fallen shelf. He could have told the man about it but if he was in that man's position he wouldn't have believed him. If a man has you at gunpoint the last thing you want to do is turn around and look away. The infected man's head exploded out the back as the gun kicked back, an explosive sound covering the area and leaving his ears ringing. This wasn't a good situation, the infected within a hundred yards would come to investigate and he didn't have a good way out. "We need to go " he said urgently

Caine BOT 08-Dec-21 06:13 PM

Caine had raised his hands in the air to demonstrate that he meant no harm, his eyes on the gun. It was one thing to run into the infected, it was another thing entirely to end up face to face with another human. Caine shook his head. "You don't have to do that, son. Just pu-" When the shot rang out Cane didn't have any time to react. His ears were ringing as his head swiveled to see the head of an infected explode. That boy had just saved his life. At his words Caine nodded, he couldn't agree more. He headed for the back door, already the sounds of more infected could be heard. Bodies slamming against the glass window front. He didn't look behind him, he already knew the boy would head this way as well. It wasn't smart to try and get through so many infected. And if luck was on their side then they would be able to make it into the back alley with only a few to ge through. Caine swung open the door, automatically scanning his surroundings. He pulled his Ruger security 9 out from it's holster, two shots rang out as he downed the two infected closest to then. By this point he was running. They needed to find somewhere to lay low and the options around didn't look too great. He rounded the corner, an infected popped up and came at him, instead of using his gun he swung his crowbar and landed a blow in the infected's lower jaw. It wouldn't kill it, but it would stun it enough to give them more time.

About a block down Caine spotted a ladder leading up to a rooftop, it was a little more than seven feet in the air but with a decent enough jump he could make it. He slipped his gun back into it's place, quickening his speed as he avoided another damned infected. One, two. Caine jumped, his hand latching onto the bottom rung of the ladder. He dropped his crowbar but he would worry about that later. Her climbed up using his upper body strength, thankful that his daughter had kept him physically fit in his older age. He looked down below to see if the boy was right behind.

Declan BOT 09-Dec-21 12:13 AM

Declan grabbed his bag from his feet and ran after the man. If he left the medical supplies it wouldn't matter if he made it out or not so he had to take the delay. He put his Ruger back in his pocket and pulled out his M&P 9mm, it was much quicker to shoot and held considerably more ammo, while he ran. When the back door swung open he exited gun first as he started looking around seeing the older man doing the same but he never stopped moving. He watched the man shoot two close by infected and a couple more came in behind him. He smashed one across the mouth using his momentum behind the wrench and shoved the other to the ground. Although he had guns on him he tried to use them against the infected as little as possible since the noise drew in more infected and worse it might draw in people.

As Declan turned the corner and slid to the ground from going to fast. His knee pads saved his knees and his riding gloves did the same for his hands. He was up almost immediately barely being slowed and running at pace with the other man. He saw the ladder the man had been running for as well as the two infected nearby. He knew he would be able to make the jump but he wasn't confident in the older man to be able to do so. Like before he smashed the first infected in the head with his wrench at the same time as the man grabbed the ladder. When the crowbar hit the ground the other infected turn turned to look at the noise. With his attention turned away it was easy work to bring the wrench against the base of it's skull before putting the wrench away. His gun was back in it's holster a short moment after and he took a moment to grab the crowbar as well. He stopped under the ladder and jumped, barely grabbing the rung from a standing leap. He pulled himself up and rolled onto the top of the building and laid there on his back laughing as his chest rose and fell from his heavy breathing. There wasn't anything funny about their situation but he couldn't help but laugh in situations that made him anxious.

A moment later he sat up and looked at the older man. "Well I think we're going to be stuck up here for a while." Declan said in a tired tone but with a small chuckle still in his voice. "Fuck me." He said to himself as he looked over the side of the building. There weren't any infected currently trying to get to them but they were still far from being in the clear to get away. He reached into his pack and pulled out one of the few large water bottles he always carried with him and rolled it over to the man. "I know clean water is like gold out here but you can take that I have plenty." He told the man before remembering the crowbar. "You can have this too." He added before sliding it over as well. He looked at the shadows of the building and the sun above them and sighed. "I hate to break it you but we only have a couple hours until night falls and I don't think they're going to clear away before then. I guess we're going to be roomies tonight so we might as well swap names. I'm Declan, I guess family name doesn't matter so much now "

Caine BOT 09-Dec-21 07:11 AM

Hearing the boy laugh Caine could tell the nerves were probably getting to him, he didn't blame him; he was also coming down from the rush. He rubbed the back of his neck as he leaned against what must have been the air vent. He took deep breaths trying to regulate his body. He shut his eyes briefly thinking about how close that had been, and thankful the boy had saved his hide back there. When he opened his eyes again he heard the water roll toward him. Caine gladly accepted it, because in truth he had run out of his own shortly before arriving at the store; he had hoped to find something drinkable while there, but there was no such luck. He raised an eyebrow as the boy slid him his crowbar he had dropped moments ago, "Thanks." Caine got up to observe the area below just as he had done, he was in agreement that they'd be here for the night. While he didn't see that many trying to find their way up, you could hear the clamor of a few of them nearby, and with nightfall upon them it was safer to stay put. "The name is Caine; mind if I ask how old you are, boy?" He popped the top off the water bottle and took a few deep gulps. The taste was like heaven, his body already reacting to his thirst quenched.

Declan BOT 09-Dec-21 08:56 AM

Declan sat there in silence for a moment looking up at the sky. "I'm not sure if it actually matters anymore but I'm twenty-two. He told the man before taking a drink from his own water bottle. The olderman was old enough to be his dad but they were both survivors which was more of a connection than age was. The world had gone to shit in an hand basket and most of the old rules no longer applied. Politics had been a touchy subject for him, part of him wanted to try to fix it and another part wanted to just tear it to the ground. Thanksgiving meals were a strained and angry affair for his family and it had only gotten worse every year. Still he didnt want the fall of the government to happen like this, taking the world with it. "Do you have any family left?" Declan asked as he reached back into his backpack. Grabbing a couple of his fathers old MREs he tossed one to the man. "This could be our last meal so I don't see a reason to horde. I hope you like what's supposed to be spaghetti and meatballs." he told the man before sighing deeply. Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out a battered package of Camel cigarettes. He hadn't been much of a smoker in his past life, occasionally having one when he was out with friends who did so. He just didn't see any reason not to anymore. Most likely the infected would kill him long before lung cancer could. He used the Zippo he had gotten from his dad to light it before looking back at the man.

Caine BOT 10-Dec-21 09:35 AM

Caine took a few more swigs from the water he had been given before taking the MRE. "Spaghetti and meatballs ain't so bad, better than the pickles and anchovies in my bag." He chuckled as he opened it up, after prepping it he eyed Declan, "Well thanks." He ate it pretty quickly and before he knew it his stomach was content for once. The boy asked him about family and Caine nodded, "Aye, I've got a daughter back home. She's a few years younger than you." A proud look came over his face. "Left her back at our place while I went in search of food." The proud look changed to one of guilt as he looked at the empty MRE bag. He wondered how Ash was currently doing, if she was already antsy with his absence. "What about you? You got anyone?" He looked the boy over as he smoked, and Caine felt sorry for him. To be so young with a future ahead to just nothing, a day to day fight to survive. It saddened his heart that this was the sort of world that this boy and his daughter were left with. He sighed and ran a hand through his pepper grey hair. He thought if the boy didn't have anyone, that maybe he wouldn't mind teaming up. The idea of his daughter having someone closer in age to identify with was hopeful, but the old man wouldn't hold his breath. He knew how hard it was to trust someone during these times.

Declan BOT 10-Dec-21 11:00 AM

Declan just shrugged a little at the comment about pickles and anchovies. He personally liked both of those things but it didn't really matter anymore. He listened closely as he talked about his daughter that was still around, or atleast that was when he had left. He was glad the man still had someone and something to live for. More and more he had thought about why he was bothering to stay around, he didn't have any friends or family left around and nothing he looked forward to anymore. The third gun he carried was a Beretta Pico, a tiny gun he had found with his father, and it only ever had one in the chamber. If he ever found himself in a situation where it was too late or he had no chance he knew he had it with him. Although lately he had been thinking about it more and more. Declan finished his smoke and looked at the second MRE he had pulled out. He opened it up and started to eat as he looked back at the man again. "I see to, but at this point it's just me." He told the man after swallowing a mouthful of the packaged almost spaghetti. He had been fairly popular before the world went to shit. He had plenty of people he would spend time with and a few close friends that were like family, that was before though. "I've ran into a few survivors at this point but they all ended dead or untrustworthy." There were a lot of people before the end that you couldn't trust but it was worse now than before.

Caine BOT 10-Dec-21 03:02 PM

Caine nodded his head, a solemn expression on his face as the boy spoke. He could see that Declan was struggling to keep the fight going, and he understood it. If it hadn't been for Ash, Caine thought he might have taken that way out himself. He was quiet awhile and thought about what he could do for the boy. Caine settled on telling him stories about his daughter. Told him cute stories about her as she grew up,, her personality,, and about how in the Before she was scouted to be on a college baseball team. It was clear the man loved his daughter more than anything and the more Caine talked the more he wanted to hurry and get home. When he was done telling stories he had laid down, using his backpack as a make shift pillow. "Might as well try and reserve some energy for a bit." He didn't want to admit it, but he was exhausted.

Declan BOT 10-Dec-21 04:26 PM

Declan finished his meal as the man talked and then just laid on his back against his back pack. The man talked a lot but it was sort of refreshing hearing someone who actually had a reason to live other than the next meal or drink. He obviously cared deeply for his daughter and his excitement made him want to meet her as well but he wasn't sure if that was because of her or just the man's energy. He decided at that point though that if only one of them could make it out he wanted it to be Caine. When the older man laid back Declan did the same. It was hard for him to sleep out of the bunker partially because of how uncomfortable it was but also because of the infected. He always slept with one eye open and would get up every couple of hours just to make sure that everything was okay and no infected had made their way close to the rooftop. He pissed off the roof at one point directly on top of ones head and the thing looked all over not able to locate where he was. He couldn't help but laugh quietly at that but afterwards he slept until dawn started to paint the sky.

Caine BOT 10-Dec-21 06:38 PM

Caine woke at the break of dawn and stood stretching and popping his old weary bones. The night hadn't been so terrible, though he had heard the boy get up several times, and by turn woke Caine. He yawned quietly and sighed before walking over to the boy and tapping his shoulder lightly. His hands in the air in case Declan freaked out. Caine would wait until his eyes opened and then he would quietly speak. "There's only a few out now, we should get a head start..." He stood and went to collect his stuff. "My daughter's waitin' and I don't want to take too long." He walked to the edge to look over it. Seeing the coast was practically clear, minus one infected further down the way he quietly began to climb down. Once at the bottom rung he would drop down and catch himself so that he would land on his feet. He moved behind the dumpster that was right underneath and waited for Declan to come down. He needed to head south, but Caine was unsure of which the boy needed to go so he would wait and see if he wanted to come along or part ways.

Declan BOT 10-Dec-21 10:55 PM

Declan had just gotten back to sleep when he felt the tap on his shoulder. By instinct he pulled out his gun and pointed it at the man without opening his eyes. A moment later he opened an eye and put his gun away again. "That's really risky business touching someone in their sleep like that " he said with a groan as he stood. He started stretching himself so he would be ready to run if they needed to. "I decided last night that you and your daughter can come stay with me if you want to. My father had a concrete bunker full of food and survival supplies and its own well for fresh water. The only thing that was missing was he barely had any medical supplies." He climbed down the ladder when Caine was clear. "There more then I need there and that's before I get to growing a garden." He explained as he looked around. He saw the infected and pulled out his wrench and grabbed a stone from the ground. When they got closer to it he tossed a rock and hit it in the head. He had a feeling it might have been the one he pissed on the night before but he wasn't sure. The infected ran at him and when it was within range he caved it's head in. This had been going in for a month so he had picked up a few tricks along the way

Caine BOT 11-Dec-21 09:49 AM

Caine was shocked by the boys offer, it was something that one wouldn't want to give up. The possibility of a place that was safe enough for his daughter, where she wouldn't need to experience the hells that were out in the world now. He looked at Declan and nodded. "If you wouldn't mind havin' us, we can pull our weight. We won't be a burden." With the infected being taken care of Caine stood at his full height at six foot two and his bones popped. "My apartment is that way. It's about a days travel depending on the number of infected in the higher density areas." He would lead the way for the boy, dispensing of infected when needed, avoiding the grouped ones. They had made pretty good time when they were about halfway there. He pulled out his makeshift map and looked it over. Pointing out the apartment building for Declan., "In case we get separated... this is my building. We are on the top floor, apartment number 203."

Declan BOT 11-Dec-21 06:40 PM

Declan nodded and followed after the older man as they walked. They weren't having much trouble compared to the day before but he had a feeling it wouldn't last that way for long, nothing ever stayed easy anymore. When the map was out though he looked it over and memorized the location, he had seen the apartment before but he hadn't thought to stop by it. "My place isn't actually far from here." He placed his finger on the apartment build and traced a line to where the bunker was and tapped it. "Right here. Depending on what's between the two points I don't see it taking more than a few hours of walking at a good pace. Longer if there's too much trouble in the way obviously though." He said before looking back at the man. "Do you want to take a break before heading out again?" He asked looking around and seeing that they were clear for a moment but he didn't see a safe place to stop

Caine BOT 12-Dec-21 06:04 AM

Caine eyed the map one more time when Declan showed him where the bunker was. "Alright, then. What are the odds, eh?" He offered a small smile and rolled the map back up sticking it in his bag. When he was asked about possibly needed a break the old man shook his head. "I've been away from my daughter for too long. I'm fine, let's get going." He would give a curt nod before continuing on. When they were about halfway there Caine and Declan would run into a problem. Some idiot had driven a car in the cluttered roads and had crashed into a telephone poll. The cars siren was still loudly chirping and the horn was blaring, drawing in a large number of infected. Currently hiding behind a different vehicle Caine looked at Declan. "There's no other way through this part...We're going to have to try and make it. I've got a molotov but that won't do us that much good since they'll still come at us on fire. I have maybe....seven more rounds." He gave the boy a grim look, he really hoped they'd make it out.

Declan BOT 12-Dec-21 07:07 AM

Declan heard the car alarm before she could actually see anything. He didn't like this, not a bit. He wasn't sure why there wasn't another way through since there was a whole world out there but he decided to trust the older man and hoped it wasn't misplaced. His mind did flash back to his one shot gun though. He looked down at his own gun which held twenty-eight in all but he knew he only had a bit over half that left in there. Of course he still had his larger gun but that only had a few shots as well. He was still in a better situation then the other man but he didn't much like their odds. Declan crept closer to the other car and then started going past Caine. The only good thing about the cars alarm is that the sound of gunfire wouldn't bring in anymore infected but that's only because most had already made their way here. He wished this was like a movie where he could just shoot the cars fuel tank and it would explode taking a bunch with him but he knew that wasn't going to happen. Slowly and quietly he continued to creep along trying not to draw attention to himself or his companion.

Caine BOT 12-Dec-21 06:10 PM

Caine watched as the boy went on ahead, he watched as he moved closer to the smashed Mercedes-Benz. If there was a way to disable the horn it would help them, but on the other hand trying to take on ten of them seemed a bit much. He knew what Declan was thinking, the sound of the cars horn would be enough to mute out the shots from a gun. But pullets were now a commodity and he didn't want the boy to waste them here and now. He looked around for options that might work, Caine spotted a couple but wasn't one hundred percent on most of them. He was too old and wise to try and lure the infected away, and that was a shifty way to sacrifice yourself. He was almost home he just needed….that. A grin broke out in Caine's face as he made his way to one oversized truck not far off from where he currently was. He popped his head over to the side to see if it still had the keys in the ignition, and sure enough it did. He quietly popped the door open and put the car in neutral. Thankfully the road was sloped enough to get the car moving with a slight push. Caine eyed where Declan was and felt it safe enough to let the car roll. The boy was on the opposite side of a car and wouldn't get hit. The infected however would meet the front end of a very rigged aftermarket f-150. He let go of the steering wheel and quickly, quietly made his way to where Declan was to watch events unfold. Hopefully this would take out most of the group.

Declan BOT 12-Dec-21 08:59 PM

Declan stood patiently where he was waiting for Caine to follow after him. carefully he kept an eye on all the infected and the surrounding area for if more dropped in. He wasn't sure what the old man was waiting for but the longer they took the longer he would feel like a sitting duck and more time for something to go wrong. When he saw the man's face and the truck Declan understood what he was planning. He didn't think it was a bad plan but he wanted to see where it would go first. Declan watched as the truck started to roll and wile it was a good plan he wanted to see what would happen first. As the truck rolled a couple of the infected looked when it got closer. One happened to move out of the way but the others were hit by the truck. He didn't know if they were killed or pinned but they weren't much a of a problem at the moment other then the single one. His gun was still out for if it was needed but he held onto his wrench instead. When he was able to sneak up close he took it out before looking back at Caine

Caine BOT 13-Dec-21 11:28 AM

Caine nodded as he watched Declan remove the remaining infected, when the coast was clear he walked over to the boy and patted his shoulder. “Decent job there. I want to try and disarm the alarm before we head out...” He glanced from the boy to the car. “It’s risky but it’ll remove the risk of more coming to the noise if anyone needs to come this way again.” Her went through his bag and grabbed a pocket knife out. He glanced inside to check if there was an infected and it seemed to be clear. He made his way to the driver side and popped the door open. Caine bent over and began to cut the wires and before long the cars horn was quieted and it was silent. He sighed and began to get back up but halted when he heard the sound of a baby’s cry. Worried he looked into the back seat and moved the clothes and blanket that had been in the backseat. As he did it a small hand grabbed him and before he had time to react, he felt teeth sink into his skin. He swore under his breath and used the pocket knife in his other hand to stab at the thing. Once it stopped biting and moving all together, he moved the blankets to see, In the whole month since the end had begun Caine had never seen such a thing. Most children had either died of natural causes or mauled to death. But this...this was something. He covered the bite on his arm and climbed out of the car. His face grim as he looked at Declan, “Well... the clock is tickin’ now.” Tears filled his eyes and he shook his head. “Oh Ash...”

Declan BOT 13-Dec-21 05:27 PM

Declan kept his guard up after the remaining infected was death with. Just because they hadn't seen anything didn't mean there wasn't anything around. He was silent as he stood there providing back up for Caine. His muscles physically relaxed a bit when the alarms stopped although he hadn't realized they were tense. They instantly tensed up again when he heard the sound of a baby's cry. He hadn't heard that noise in a month and it was the last noise he was expecting to hear. He whipped around for a moment looking for the source of the crying until it stopped a moment later. When Caine climbed out of the car and showed him his arm he had to look in the back seat. Upon seeing the mangled form of an infected baby he felt his stomach churn. He moved to the back of the car before bending over and expelling the water and spaghetti from the night before onto the ground. Water and food were precious now and throwing it up might as well have been a deadly sin but he couldn't help himself. When he was done he took in deep breaths for a moment before straightening back up and moving toward Caine realizing what he had meant. Declan stared at the man and his defeated eyes filling with tears. Declans own eyes started to tear up and he turned away. He had always been a sympathetic person and now this man and his daughter most likely wouldnt meet back up. Angrily he started kicking the tires before punching out the the rear window, the sharp class leaving a few cuts in his hand. If anyone should have had that happen right now it should have been him. He didn't have anyone at home waiting for his return, no one who would be destroyed by him not returning. He made a decision a moment later.

Wiping his eyes he turned back to look at the man. "Don't worry about your daughter, I'll do what I can to get to her. If I can I'll do whatever I can to get her to my bunker where she will be safe and not worry about food and water." He couldn't do much for the man other than promise to take care of what he held closest to him. Reaching into his pocket closest to his heart he pulled out the small compact gun. "Here take this. It's only got one shot but." He trailed off not wanting to finish what he was about to say. "I always held on to it Incase I was bit or in a situation I had no escape from. Or if I just couldn't take it anymore " he added with the last part barely being audible. He had a reason to push on atleast for the moment now so he wouldn't need the gun. "Use it if you want or don't I won't push anything on you. Do you have anything you want me to give your daughter or something to show that I met you? Something you want her to know?" The tears had started again by this point as his heart threatened to switch places with his throat.

Caine BOT 14-Dec-21 01:50 PM

Caine accepted the gun, his body falling against the car as he let the defeat take over. Tears now streaming down his face. He removed a necklace off of his neck that held two wedding bands. He looked over at Declan and nodded. "Just...tell her that I love her, it's all you can do." He placed the necklace in Declan's hand and closed it. "Take care of her, will you? She can be head strong but...that's my girl." She would smile a soul shattered smile and nodded in the direction for Declan to go. "Get going, no point in you staying around here to witness what's about to happen..." Caine would watch as the boy left and would watch the slowly setting sun. A cloud drifted slowly in the sky and Caine put the gun in his mouth, tears streaming down so hard that his vision blurred. His last thought crossing his mind as he pulled the trigger. Sorry Ash...sorry. Bang

Ash BOT 14-Dec-21 01:59 PM

Ash was currently hiding in what use to be the qwickie mart gas station, her breath coming out in long breaths as she tried to regulate herself. It probably hadn't been the best idea for her to have ran so much but she wasn't quite ready to fight any infected. The small corner store had already been looted to it's dry bones and she was frustrated. She took a long drink of water from her bottle and tightened the lid back on. There were groans coming from two infected currently sniffing around outside the store. Ash was thankful for the dirtied glass door and windows haphazardly covered with newspapers. Shit shit shit shit She peaked out of a small ripped piece as one of the two growled a nasty gargling sound and sniffed the air close to where she was. She had two options, make camp here or fight her way out. She finally made her decision when one of the infected wandered off towards something she couldn't see. Ash quietly made her way to the front of the store, opening the door just enough not to trigger the bell and slipped out. The infected was facing the opposite direction and Ash thought about making a run for it but thought better of it; she was still out of breath and it was a stupid choice to make. Steeling her resolve she ran up on the thing her bat at the ready as she swung for the soft spot on it's bloated head. There was a wet whacking sound as the bat made contact. Ash hit it a second time as it fell to the ground to make sure it was dead. Shortly after she was bent over leaning against the wall puking. It was the first time she had ever killed...was it killing? Ash wasn't sure but it made her sick to her stomach.

Declan BOT 15-Dec-21 06:27 PM

Declan took the rings and put the necklace around his neck, his hands shaking as he did so. He held them for a moment in his grip before turning. He was still crying as he ran off. This life wasn't fair, it was a dark shitty place where the bad people got ahead and the ones that should still be around died before their time. He should have died instead of Caine but he could atleast take care of his wishes. Declan ran at a jog for another hour dodging around the few infected he had seen. Ahead of him he saw a couple infected sniffing out around an old corner store. He had been there weeks earlier and knew there wasn't anything in it but their activitiy made him think that someone or something was inside. Eventually one of the infected spotted him and started moving towards him. It waddled at first before it turned into a run. Pulling the wrench out he readied himself, always hating when they charged. If he messed up he would most likely die but he pushed that thought down. With both hands he swung at it's head not hitting the skull but still managing to snap its neck. It laid there staring at him it's body not cooperating but he ignored it. He looked back up to confront the other but saw that a woman was currently over it with a baseball bat. He put the wrench away and pulled out his gun. Still yards away he held his out to her in a warning motion with the gun in the other. Looking at her he realized by all luck she was who he was searching for. "Don't yell, stay calm. Is it Ash?" He asked her worriedly hoping she wouldn't freak out before he could talk to her

Ash BOT 15-Dec-21 06:33 PM

Ash spun around, her eyes wide snd her bat at the ready. She needed to wipe her mouth after vomiting but it would have to wait. How this guy knew her name was suspicious. She took a step back and warned him, "I don't know who you are...or how you know my name but I will fuck you up if you come any closer." Her voice was a little shaky but her arms were as steady as if she were waiting for the ball on the field. She narrowed her eyes; the dude had a gun and she wasn't sure if she'd be able to run away quick enough. The guy looked pretty fit, about her age. She couldn't tell if he was attractive or not but she honestly shouldn't be thinking in terms like that. No one could be trusted I'm this new fucked up world, only her father and this was definitely not her dad. "What do you want from me?"

Declan BOT 15-Dec-21 08:02 PM

Declan watched her carefully, feeling like he was dealing with a cornered animal. His hand that had been out Infront of him slowly moved to his neck where the rings were located. "I was sent to find you. I was with your dad trying to get to your apartment to rescue you." His heartstrings tugged for a moment knowing she was going to ask where he was and why he had his rings. "I have a bunker with plenty of food and water. If you can stay calm for a while we can go." He told her putting the gun back away so she hopefully wouldn't feel as threatened. He took the necklace out from around his neck and held them out for her. "Regardless of if you decide to come with me these are yours." He looked down at her feet now not able to make eye contact with her. "We were on our way here together to get you but." His words cut off as the tears from earlier started to come back. He moved next to the wall and leaned against it before sliding down to the concrete of the sidewalk. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry." He choked out a moment later before wiping his eyes on the back of his coat sleeve. Damn it he had barely known the guy, held a gun up against him at one point but it was still hitting him hard, harder than when his own father had died. He wasn't sure if it was just the stress from the world finally beating him down and that was the final straw or if it was just the fact a good man left his daughter behind. "An infected child got him. Neither of us had seen it and when he heard it cry he was trying to find it. He was just trying to rescue a baby and." He cut off again not finding the voice to say it.

Ash BOT 15-Dec-21 09:24 PM

Ash stared, dumbfounded and shook her head. She felt the lump in her throat form as the guy continued on. She knew those rings, knew them like she knew the one she wore around her own neck. Her father carried them everywhere. The smaller, thinner band had once belonged to her mother before she had died of cancer just three years prior. The other her father's that should have been still on his finger. Tears began silently pouring down her face, anger as clear as day on her face. She wasn't angry at the messenger, she was angry at the world, at the fucked up fate they had been tossed into. Her bat fell from her hands, it clattering with a muffled clank and rolled to end at the guys feet. Ash shook her head furiously, the tears flying from her eyes as she did. "No...no no no no." She didn't want to believe it, refused to believe it. She snatched the rings from the guy and clung them so hard in her hand and against her chest that it throbbed. It would take her awhile to calm down.

Declan BOT 15-Dec-21 11:47 PM

Declan wasn't sure if he could fully understood what she was feeling now. He had lost his mother a couple years before his father went off the deep end, hell it might have been part of the reason why he had done so. Even then though the loss was very hard for him but he still had friends and things to do do distract him from it. She didn't have that now, all she had was a shitty world that was doin everything it could to kill her and bring her down. When the bat hit the ground and clanged his head jerked up and he looked around. The sound was loud and if there were any infected around he wouldn't doubt if atleast a few came their direction. Grabbing the bat from near him he jumped to his feet and held it ready for if something came. "He wanted me to let you know that he loved you. He said all he wanted you to know was how much he loved you." He told her not knowing if the words would help but knowing he needed to tell her regardless. When it looked like they were clear he lowered the bat and turned back to her. "He asked me to bring you those and to take care of you. We were going to pick you up and all of us going to the shelter. He just wanted you to be safe and not have to fight tooth and nail for every drop of water and bite of food."

Ash BOT 15-Dec-21 11:59 PM

Ash looked down at the body of the infect on the ground. She had stopped crying now, or so she thought but tears were still streaming. She knew what Declan was saying was probably true, it sounds exactly like what her father would say. She just didn't want to accept it. She used the sleeve of her jacket to wipe at her eyes and she graded the end of the bat with chunks of the dead infected on it. With a tug she'd pull it from his hand. With her other she placed the necklace around her neck, the rings falling slightly below the one she had already been wearing. "Alright...lead the way." Her voice was monotone, deflect of any emotion. She swung the back and let it rest on her shoulder as she began to follow him. She was alert enough if they needed to run she would, or if she was needed to fight. But she wasn't sure she could deal with killing another yet so hopefully they wouldn't need to.

Declan BOT 16-Dec-21 01:41 AM

Declan watched her for a moment not as much making sure she was okay as much as making sure she wasn't going to do anything stupid. "Do you need something to eat or drink beforehand?" He asked nervously not knowing what to say. "We have several hours ahead of us until we get to the bunker." He warned as he started to walk ahead of her. He didn't think the way she was just shutting down on him was a good sign but he couldn't blame her. As he walked he kept an extra close eye out for infected. With her in her state right now he didn't trust her to keep an eye out for herself. The sun was already setting and as much as he would like to be back at the bunker he didn't want to try to make his way in the dark. So walking ahead on goal he looked out for anywhere that would be safe for them to stay for the night. There was no way he would want to clear out a building tonight so he kept an eye out for somewhere they could climb to. Eventually he found a spot where they could climb on a dumpster and make it to a roof. "This is where we need to call it for today." He told her before walkinging to the dumpster and climbing up on it. He was 5'10 so not the tallest man around but he was able to jump and grab hold of the rooftop. He pulled himself up before leaning over and offering her his hand to help

Ash BOT 16-Dec-21 04:15 PM

Ash wasn't completely out of it as she was followed. Her father taught her better than that. Her eyes filled with tears as she was hit with another wave of sadness. She was more silent than a mouse as she wiped at her tears angrily. Her eyes the color of storms was currently staring at the back of Declan's head. When he jumped up on dumpster she sighed. She climbed on top of the dumpster and when he offered his hand she handed him her bat before slightly jumping and grabbing the roofs edge on her own. When she finished climbing up she took off her bag and tossed it down on the ground. She stretched and popped her neck. This was the most exercise she had had in awhile and her muscles were beginning to feel it. Ash regretted bit stretching for she had left her home. Now that they were relatively safe Ash turned to look at the guy named Declan. He was shorter than her by about an inch but where she had him in height, he had her in muscle mass. Sometimes she really regretted she hadn't been born the opposite sex. Ash sighed and sat down having finished sizing him up. She rummaged through her bag and grabbed her water bottle. It only contained about a quarter a cup but she drank only half of it. She stared at Declan and cleared her throat her eyes dry as she seemingly had run out of tears. "How'd you run into my dad?"

Declan BOT 17-Dec-21 12:41 AM

Declan tried not to take it personally when she wouldn't take his hand. He knew she had a lot going on and he didn't let it get to him. He lifted himself back to his feet and walked across the roof to find somewhere that wasn't quite as uncomfortable as the rest, sitting down across from her. He watched her pull out her bottle of water or what was left and grabbed his own bag. He had several empty bottles on him but only another bottle and a half full. He pulled them out as she suddenly spoke to him. He relaxed for a moment trying to think of what he should tell her. He undid the half full bottle and took a drink feeling thirsty but also trying to buy himself a little time. "We were both raiding the same store for supplies. He was trying to find food and water and I was looking for meds. He killed one of the infected and we had a...stand off I guess you could say. You never know what survivors are going to be like y'know?" He asked rhetorically. "Another infected snuck up behind him and I saved him. We ended up fleeing together and staying a night together on a roof kinda like this." He motioned around him at the last part before looking up. "We had a bit of time to talk that night and I decided to trust him and let you come stay with me." Declan cut himself off then not wanting to talk about what had happened earlier in the day again. "Do you want something to eat or some more water?" He asked before rolling the full bottle to her much the way he had for her father the night before. Rummaging around his bag he pulled out another spaghetti MRE and tossed it to her. If she didn't want to eat that was fine but it would be there for her. He also pulled out the can of sardines that Caine had found. "Your dad said you didn't like sardines so I figured you would rather have that."

Ash BOT 17-Dec-21 02:39 AM

Ash listened to his story and closed her eyes as she tried to picture it. Seeing her dad in her minds eye me her throat and heart ache but she shoved the feelings down. She heard the water bottle being rolled to her and she gladly took it. It gave her the freedom to finish off what she had left in her own. Her thirst now satiated more than it had been in awhile. A sigh escaped her lipsbafter she opened the one Dwclan had given her and she took a sip. One thing was sure during an apocalypse... clean water was gold. She took the MRE meal thankfully but stared at it. "How do you use these things?" She raised a perfectly trimmed black eyebrow in askance. She'd never eaten one before and honestly she didn't like reading instructions. Ash propped herself against her backpack and stared at Declan, she qas quiet foe awhile before she spoke again. "I suppose since my dad trusted you, I'll do the same. He is... was always a better judge of character than I..." She ran a hand through her slick ebony hair and scrunched her knees to her chest before resting her chin on a knee. "What'd yall talk about to pass the time?"

Declan BOT 17-Dec-21 12:41 PM

Declan watched her hesitantly not sure if she would trust him enough to drink the water. When she asked about the MRE he mimed tearing the top off. "You can just tear the top off like you would any packaged food. There's a small spot inside to eat with. We don't have anyway to heat it though so it will have to be cold." Looking back at the can of fish he popped it open and looked at it. He honestly didn't mind canned fish and knew it was good for him but all the sodium was going to leave him extra thirsty for the day and he only had so much water left until they made it back to the shelter. "We talked a bit about the past life but mostly he just spoke about you while I listened." He pulled one of the small fish out and ate it it one bite chewing up the small bones before swallowing trying not to choke. "He talked about your softball and how you were being scouted and a bunch of other stuff he was proud of you for. I could tell how deeply the man loved you ." He added when his mouth was clear before he continued to eat. They had plenty of time up there for him to eat but the smell of the fish was bothering him and he wanted it gone

Ash BOT 17-Dec-21 09:05 PM

Ash ate the food in silence. It wasn't good, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as what Declan had to eat. She tried very hard not to focus on him while he ate those nasty things. She would have to admit that what Declan was saying was the truth. Ash knew how proud her dad had been, the scholarship and he always loved talking about her to anyone. She chuckled at her memories before drinking another sip of water before capping it. Ash rolled the bottle back to Declan before laying down and using her backpack as a pillow. "You'll need that more than I will..." She shivered over exaturatedly before rolling over and shutting her eyes.

Declan BOT 17-Dec-21 10:21 PM

When Declan was done eating he rose to his feet and walked to an edge of the roof away from her. He tossed the empty can as far as he could into the distance watching it crash down into the street. A few infected came running from an alleyway to where the can landed and looking around crazed. As they swung back and forth trying to find something to eat he decided to relieve himself. She wouldn't be able to see anything from where she was so he wasn't going to warn her. When he was done he tucked himself away before going back to his bag. Much like she had he laid back using his bag as a pillow while he stared at the sky. If there was one thing he did enjoy about the world it was the sky. For now twilight was still hanging but once it was fully dark the show would begin. Without all the electric lights polluting the sky more and more stars could be seen, nothing like what it had been before. He could get lost in those stars and sometimes that was the best thing to do to escape

Ash BOT 18-Dec-21 08:34 PM

Ash found herself staring up at the sky. It was the first time she had been out like this since the whole thing began and she was awestruck. With no city pollution so many more stars could be found in the the night sky and she was amazed. She had never seen this many in her life. "Well damn..." Her voice was low and it cracked at the end. She could feel the tears threatening to fall as she lay there. Her mind on what Declan has said about her father and how he talked about her more than anything. He had been so proud of her that she just couldn't fathom not hearing his husky voice cheering her on. These waves of emotions were hitting her hard and it would be a long while before she would be alright. At some point she had cried herself to sleep, her eyes no longer capable of shedding any more tears.

Declan BOT 18-Dec-21 08:46 PM

Declan stared at the sky until the exhaustion of the day caught up with him. He had been out of the bunker for nearly a week at this point and the constant running from people and infected was exhausting. As long as the coast was clear when morning came they should be able to make it within a few hours. Of course nothing ever went according to plan so it would probably be the afternoon before they made it. He was still thinking about the way home when he finally fell asleep. The first hints of sunlight had just hit his eyes when he woke up. He looked at the rising sun and remembered where he was a moment later. He looked over at the sleeping young woman and considered waking her but decided against it. After what she had been through the day before he would let her sleep as long as she needed. He went through his bag to make sure everything was ready before just relaxing there not watching her but just waiting osywstching the sunrise

Ash BOT 19-Dec-21 05:50 AM

Ash woke when the sun was almost completely over the horizon, a groan escaping her to announce to the world that she was awake. She sat up and rubbed at her neck, a knot had formed some time in the night. She wasn't used to sleeping in anything but her bed and it was frustrating. She was a newbie in the apocalyptic hell and wasn't sure how she was going to cope. But she knew that she would need to try, for her dad and for Declan even though he was a stranger. Her dad had trusted him, and so she needed to do the same. Arms outstretched she popped her shoulder and it relieved some of the pain and she rummaged through her back. She had a tooth brush and a small tube of paste that was almost empty. She put some on the bristles, just barely enough to get the job done and started to brush. Her eyes now scanning her surroundings. With her free hand she rubbed at her eyes to remove the last remainder of sleep before standing and walking to the edge of the roof. She spotted one infected walking into a glass door of an abandon shop and if it wasn't so grotesque looking she might have laughed. She spit over the side of the building and back to her bag. She didn't have any mouth wash to rinse with so instead Ash walked over to Declan. "Can I use some of the water?" She had a small like of toothpaste bubbles along her lips, her toothbrush dangling from the side of her mouth. Her blue eyes as cold as ice stared at him and waiting for a response. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the man herself, he seemed nice enough but this was the end of human civilization and people generally weren't just nice anymore. Her dad had told her so after one of his many runs into the city for supplies. She rubbed the back of her head and yawned. "If not it's fine, I know water is important."

Declan BOT 20-Dec-21 08:42 PM

Declan stirred a bit when his new companions started to rise. He hadn't exactly fallen asleep but he had relaxed and rested into an almost hypnotized state. He lifted himself up from the floor and started stretching. He hadn't ever been the type to stretch in his past life but a pulled muscle could literally be the death of him now. Reaching down to his shoes he made sure they were tied tight and the laces tucked so they wouldn't come loose and fall while he tried to run. When she suddenly came over he couldn't help but laugh at her. He raised his arm and laughed into his elbow trying not to be rude. He hadn't laughed in a genuine way since this all began but the sight of her with toothpaste foam on the corner of her mouth was too ridiculous for him. He was still chuckling to himself as he reached into his bag and pulled out the bottle with less in it for her. "here use the rest of this." He said as his chuckle died to a soft giggle. "Also go take care of your business if you need to I'll turn the other direction. We need to try to get there in as little stops as possible. Take it from me you want to go now and not have to try running from an infected while your pants are down "

Ash BOT 20-Dec-21 09:01 PM

Ash shook her head, she wasn't sure what was so ridiculous about brushing her teeth. Hygiene was important, especially now that doctors and dentists were essentially nonexistent. "Well...thanks? I guess?" She shrugged her shoulders and went off to do just as Declan had suggested. Once she was done with her business, as Declan had put it, Ash would go over to her bag and put her toothbrush back. She hadn't used all the water in the bottle, so she just stuck it in her bag as she slipped it over her shoulders. "Alright, let's go shorty." She went to the edge and peered down, she didn't see anyone or anything so she figured it was safe. She hoped over the edge and then slid down to the top of the dumpster. Once she was back on the solid ground she waited for him so he could lead her in whichever direction they were going.

Declan BOT 20-Dec-21 09:56 PM

Declan waited until she was done before turning around. When she started to hop down he momentarily panicked not sure if she was checking good enough. He looked around the rooftop and found a chunk of brick.he scanned the horizon and saw a handful of metal trash cans the opposite direction of where they needed to go. He moved to the edge and threw the brick watching it collide and hearing the loud noise of the metal banging. A couple infected nearby went to check it out. Now that they had a distraction he hopped down with her. "I'm not short, I just happen to be escorting a jolly green giant." He hopped down and started walking in the direction of the bunker. "Keep an eye out from this point forward. Slowly I've been clearing out the infected from the area to make it safer but there's still plenty around.

Ash BOT 21-Dec-21 06:35 PM

"If I'm the jolly green giant, then you're Tiny Tim..." She gave a soft chuckle and followed. When he mentioned clearing out the infected Ash thought about what that meant, the amount of infected he must have killed. Those infected had once been human, alive. She shivered and stared at the back of his head. What had doing that sort of thing done to his psyche? She shook heard head, she didn't thinj she would have had the mental strength to do tht, especially alone with no support. Ash gripped the back of her back and kept quiet. As they made their way Ash started to think about her dad,, the sadness swelled in her heart again, but no tears would fall, she had run dry. She thought that maybe her dad was trying to help them both. He saw a boy alone in the world, and he was leaving his only daughter behind. Her dad knew she would have a problem when it came to the actuall killing. She sucked in a breath and slowly blew it out. She needed to distract herself. "So before all of this," She gestured around them as she began to walk in stride with Declan.