The Affliction: New Beginnings

[crumbelivable]

After what seemed like hours, someone finally walked up to the podium, surrounded by guards. It was their leader, one Commander Bellemare. He began to speak, after signaling for silence "My fellow aviators" he said, being translated by a person next to him, "Locally, things have been going well. We have gained control over many vital points of Montreal, and the scum that is Perelin has been pushed from their former hold on the area." Cheers erupted from the crowd, with Val and Tony cheering too. Bellemare waited for silence, and then continued "However, our mortal enemies, the Boeings, are making pushes into Midwestern territory, if our intelligence is correct.  It's only a matter of time until they arrive here. We must push into Ontario, if we are to survive and grow. That is why you are here, for the briefing. The initial strafing and bombing runs shall begin over Toronto, ottawa, and other Great Lake cities tomorrow, lead by the honorable Lieutenant Phillips." People cheered and pointed at Val, and he smiled and waved awkwardly. Bellemare nodded and continued "You, Philllips, and you platoon are to go with Marc here, to get a more extensive briefing, and get rested before the big run tomorrow. We have much faith in you abilities." Val saluted and proceeded with Tony and the rest of his platoon, towards the barracks and hangars.

 

[Kerim]

"No need to tell me twice." He pointed out and followed. He stayed rather quiet and silent for the duration of their trip, his calm eyes every now and then sizing up the towering skyscrapers and buildings that were getting slowly but surely bigger and bigger. It was astonishing how quickly things could go from a perfect zero to a perfect ten, catastrophe-wise. Just a few days ago, he was teaching at a university and now, he was struggling for his own life with a woman whom he had never met in his entire life. And yet, it felt like this was the correct decision to make.


The sudden shifts of her mood and walk should have perhaps tipped him off, but his mind was more focused on the undead that every now and then were seen in the distance, occasionally chasing some small prey or big bucks. Even animals were doomed to fall under the predators' flesh-craving limbs, no one was safe from them. Sometimes, he wondered why they even kept going, why they didn't just end it all. A primal instinct, something that all the mammals and other animals abided to the T.


The metropole couldn't be too far, perhaps a kilometer from what it seemed like, the suburbs were just about to start when the sun's final rays died out and month took its place. Well, it would have, if it weren't for the attrocious clouds of smoke. "Great... got a flashlight or something? I've got my zippo if it's needed." He pointed out, tripping over something; after a closer examination, a deer with chunks of its body and internal organs spilled out like sadist's wet dream. "Fuck..." he only pointed out and quickly sprung up on his feet, his trousers stained with some of the dry dark blood that was covering the muddy ground around the corpse.


@Cassiopeia

 

[Kabboom]

Adam sat in the back of this behemoth of a van, as he listens to the whirring of the engine, delivering him to... somewhere. Adam doesn't know. He had heard about this kind of thing alot, from his Russian friends. Back when they were still with him. Stories about people who trusted other people who had vehicles, and ran off with them. Those stories end in only 2 ways that he knows about: The people who have vehicles either get killed by the hitchhikers, or vice versa.


But his attention turned to the bright orange shine that was in his eyes. The sun is going down, quick. He's seen the things when it's dark. And he doesn't like them.


Not one bit.


He asked the man. "How much road left? Sun go down soon." while clutching his gun tighter.


He was ready for a fight if it gets too dark.


@AxelWelrod @KuroNoKami39

 

[Kimbella]

"I wish," she scoffed, stepping around the corpse, swallowing down the sadness and fear that was only intensifying. With the sun finally gone, it was difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. The smoke only became thicker as they neared Atlanta, the occasional sign reminding them that they were heading in the correct direction. 


The houses were sparse until they reached the outskirts of the city. Even from here she could see the thick tendrils of smoke drifting towards the moon and the faint glow from a fire that was still burning. As much as it tempted her to go in the direction of the source of light, she knew it could only mean someone - or something - else would have the same idea. Somewhere behind her she could hear something and as she strained her ears to listen she realized it sounded like someone was choking, followed by a deep guttural growl that chilled her to the bone. 


She urged Emanuel to keep moving, unable to rid herself of the feeling that someone was watching them. "This will have to be far enough," she stated. It was simply too dangerous, or maybe she was just too scared, to keep traveling. They were unlikely to find anything in the dark anyway, so she pointed towards the first apartment building she saw. The front door was already opened, but not in an inviting way. The glass was smashed and crunched underneath her boots as she entered the building.


With no flashlight, it was nearly impossible to see. She placed a soft hand on Emanuel's shoulder to stop him from continuing, not speaking and barely breathing, afraid to make any noise at all. She could make out the beginning of the hallway and slowly continued to proceed. It only took a few steps before she tripped over something heavy, outstretching her arms to break her fall. 


Cara stands up and gets the strange feeling that her hands are wet. Unable to see, she takes a whiff at the mysterious liquid that covers her hands, coming away with the thick coppery smell of blood. Her heart began to pound so loud she could hear it in her ears and she wanted so badly to wash it all off. Instead she wiped it on the nearest thing she could find - the wall. Before she could say anything, the same choking sound from earlier returned, this time much closer. In fact, it sounded like it was just outside the door.


@Kerim

 

[Kerim]

Surely, it couldn't have gone worse for them. Now they were basically trapped in the house together with an uninvited party member. His instinctive reaction was to grab the woman's shoulder and press his index finger up against his lips. "Don't. Move. A muscle." He whispered in a raspy tone; too frightened to even think about breathing or making any movements that could alert the predator. Seconds passed. Minutes did so too, and the groans and exasperated gasps kept on being emitted from outside the hallway. The undead were patient creatures from what it seemed like. Extremely slowly, as if his hands could trigger an unseen springtrap and get both of them killed, he unsheathed his weapon and ushered her onwards, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the half-open door.


What he could see was something distantly reminding him of an arm; both due to the darkness and the shape itself, it could have also been a twig. But in those circumstances, that was probably not the right guess. His shoes made virtually no noise except the almost silent wet smacking from the mish-mash of blood and mud. And then, it happened. He could more feel than see it, but the door slowly swung inwards. The outside was pitch black, akin to the colour of the hallway they had found themselves in. And in the darkness, a twisted figure stood; only the outline signifying that the person had turned a long time ago. With jabs at his arms and legs shaping nicely against the dark background, it seemed that this was formerly a human, a muscular man at that. "For..." Lukas whispered, but was interrupted by any further continuation by an ear-piercing shout coming from the creature; something that could quite as well destroy window panels, at least according to the man.


@Cassiopeia

 

[Axel The Englishman]

The lad on the wheel slammed the throttle - warp speed Mr. Sulu! Getting stuck out here in the dark with the Bod Gobblers wasn't going to be a favoured pastime all things considered. Sure, maybe - like - one or two zombies may have been reduced to their molecular structure, but it was for a worthy cause! That is these lot surviving the night. And by these light, I mean me - the narrator who is also Philip 'ere.


Why was I speaking in 1st person earlier? I ain't telling you. Because I can't be bothered and it's almost night. And night means Uber Zombies.


The white paint coat to this motorised transportation unit now had it's own coat of red 'paint' - code for blood. Lots of blood.


"Hold on to your dinner, lads!"


@Kabboom @KuroNoKami39

 

[The Black Rainbow]

After sometime of wandering around the streets aimlessly. Captain found himself walking in a main road. The road was surprisingly empty. There were no abandoned cats in the middle, justhe a couple on the sidewalks crashed in some stores in which Captai had no interest.  As he was walking, with his usual enjoyable mood. He noticed the sun was setting.

"Hmmm" he said moving his arm and opening his hand scratching the bottom side of the gas mask.  "Mr. Sun is going to sleep, what a tiresome fella...".  His gas mask was a strange one, Captain's respirator was different. It seemed to catch the light in such a way that it looked like a perpetual smile. 

 

[crumbelivable]

As they settled in the barracks, preparing for the mission, Val and the platoon listened to the sounds of the nightly struggle echoing across the barren airfield. Tony spoke up "so, big day again tomorrow. Ya think you'll be able to make it again Lieutenant?" Val turned to Tony and said "Likely so. If we could beat back Perelin, then this bombing routine should be nothing!" A private chucked from across the room and called "that's the spirit Val!" Just then, the lights went out and the barracks plunged into darkness. This was a precaution the Aviateurs did to save power. Ground and movement came from across the room as everyone lowered themselves to sleep. Tomorrow was a red-letter day.