The Anguished Breathing (Chapter I)

[Venomarrah]

(You may join here.)


Chapter IView attachment 11476


A loud roaring hum slowly approached the small colony. Men and women seemed to tense, watching the skies. The radio picked up a fuzzy reception of someone saying; "Just passing through, peacefully. Over."


Darren turned in his chair to the scout who had just removed his binoculars from his vision at the sky from the window, watching the helicopter fly only miles away. He nodded, seeming to find no guns pointed at the colony. There was no threat.


"Alright. Traveling to Fernreld?" The Indian questioned casually into the speaker, though the information could possibly be precious.


"Yep, got some survivors from the last scavenge. Passing by now. Over." The man replied quickly.


The Indian frowned to himself. What little information this man gave. Why?


After a heartbeats notice, a trembling explosion was heard. Not a moment later, the radio screamed; "Mayday! Mayday! I've been hit! I'm going down, and fast!"


Darren turned to the scout again, shock on his face as he looked into the distance. The radio rang true.


He turned back to the speaker, determination carved in his face. "Land a best as you can. We'll bring out some scouts. Just save what you c-"


"It's no good! I'm going to hit the trees!"


And just like that, the crash sounded. Darren sat there only a moment before the radio quipped again, but with another voice. The familiar authoritative voice he has grown to respect. "We can't risk going out there. The noise attracts them."


Darren's eyebrows furrowed. "But Mis-"


"The survivors can run from there. We can't risk this, Darren."


Darren scowled, thrusting himself from the radio table and up the tower. The recently hand-made steps seemed to squeak under his fast feet, and when he reached the top floor, the tower almost trembled, itself. The view was long, but there was no need, because a little over a mile away lay a metal hep. A small fire engulfing the crash. Darren took the binoculars from another scout, who stood frozen as he watched a hoard of zombies slowly limping toward the crash sight. Darren put the binoculars over his eyes, expecting the worst. What he saw, seemed to be just as bad, but still... good. He saw heads. But they were no zombies. They were survivors scattered among the ruins.


As if knowing exactly what Darren saw, the leader of the colony repeated on the radio, barely audible to Darren, a floor higher away.


"They must run."

 

[Charlene]

"John, come outside now, look!"





A raspy voiced called against the solid door, barely managing to snake it's way through the blasting of music in the room it lead in to, nearly bumping the walls and clattering family photos to the worn wood floors. Jaded fingers delicately screwed and tugged at the different wires and metal sticking out the lunch-box sized radio, those worn, thimble fingers belonging to that very person that was wanted. John, waving his fine hips to the smooth Rock beat, thumped his leather boots while working on a project someone had brought to him. Hell, he could even say it was the sixth radio he had examined today.


"Oh for f-cks sake, John." The voice hissed, banging on the door and fumbling with the golden doorknob until the very door itself flew open against the back wall. A man, short, and awfully scrawny compared to the man swaying in front of him, marched his Hobbit-frame to the cassette player blasting in the corner of the room. With a flick of the cord, the singing harmony of Rock classics came to a sudden stop. The room grew silent until John turned, raising his chocolate eyebrows and throwing on a Cheshire grin.


"What is it, love?" He answered, slowly placing the hunk of metal onto the table in front of him.


"No time for jokes, John. Come outside and look."





Within that moment, John was already being dragged outside to join the rest of the colony to watch the scene before their very eyes. A rather conspicuous helicopter flew across the city, almost screaming "more survivors" to everyone that pointed and gasped. John, tilted his head and placed his hands onto his hips while craning his neck to look as well. Wouldn't this mean something? You don't see helicopters just minding their own business very much in the world anymore, especially around the town like this. "Doesn't that mean there-" he started to say, but was cut off by a rather boisterous bang and the screeching of metal against metal. The poor bastard was going down. Icy blue pools grew wide, fluttering to watch each movement the vehicle made until it was out of sight, another loud noise following afterwards as he assumed it made impact. "Well, shit."


John dropped the screwdriver in his fingers and stumbled forward along with the rest of the colony starting to frenzy at such a event, glancing around a few times until his eyes met one of the main buildings. "I wonder what Valencia will say."

 

[Alkonost]

Coughing the dust from her lungs, Sophia cracked her eyes open. A dull, steady pounding beat against the back of her head. She heard the sounds of a fire crackling above her but could hardly rouse herself enough to stir. She tapped the shoulder of the man next to her. "Wh-what happened?" Just speaking strained her vocal chords and set her throat on fire. Her own voice sounds muffled to her ears. Shakily raising a hand to the side of her head, she felt wet, warm blood dripping from her right ear. When the man didn't answer, she turned to ask again. A scream tore from her lungs as she saw his head, twisted at an impossible angle, shrapnel sticking out of his face and blood running down the length of his body.


She scrambled to get away, thinking he was one of the dead, but found she could not move. The helicopter had caved in on her side, pinning her legs to the chair. She ran scenarios, trying to diagnose what could possibly be wrong with her, testing each of her lower limbs. Right toes, left toes. Right foot, left foot. Right ankle, left ankle. She worked up her legs in a similar fashion, relieved that she could move everything. Back before that day, if she'd been faced with a patient like this, he shouldn't be moved, but she didn't really have that option, did she?


Thank God for making her short. Though it was painful and she did have to use the body next to her as leverage, Sophia managed to pull herself from her seat. Only then did she hear the moans and cries of others who had survived. Looking down the where she had just been sitting, she saw her medical bag sitting on her floor, so she squeezed herself back down grab it.


The crash had made a gaping hole in the side of the helicopter, allowing light to enter and survivors to leave. "Any still here?" Sophia called. One of the children found in the scavenge let out a broken sob, and Sophia followed the noise. "Calm down, sweetie," she whispered, casting a quick glance at the fire burning through the helicopter. "I'm going to get you out of here."


The child whimpered softly. "I want Mommy..."


Luckily, the child wasn't trapped just frightened. Several others were pulling themselves from the wreckage and out of the hole, some helping others get out while some were just concerned about themselves. Sophia scooped up the child and made a mad dash out of the wreckage, gasping loudly at the sudden pain in her right hip. Not enough time to worry about that though.


Those who had survived huddled a good distance away from the helicopter. Wise decision that was because within minutes of the last person getting out, the whole thing exploded, throwing those closest to the ground and incinerating everything inside. Sophia cradled the small child in her arms. "Is every one okay? Anyone seriously hurt?" The others, either all right or too frightened to answer, just stood around in near silence.


Letting out a deep sigh, Sophia popped the child on her hip and climbed up on top of a nearby log. "Hey!" she screamed in the loudest voice she could manage. That caught their attention. "Look, I know you're all worried and frightened and scared, but we can't stay here. You know noise attracts those things. We flew past a settlement just before we crashed. That's our best bet."


She adjusted the child, trying to step down from the high log without dropping him. One of the men stepped forward, offering a hand, and she smiled brightly at him. Apparently, whatever she'd said worked. Everyone was moving around at least.


(Added some NPCs in case others join later and so that there's more than three survivors. Hope that's okay).

 

[Venomarrah]

(( Perfectly acceptable. Don't be moving the story on too soon, though. ))


Darren


The explosion seemed to blind him for a moment, leaving him stunned. Dazed. They could all be dead. They could be all dead... in that very moment.


He watched, his shoulders heavy. It was only when he saw people begin to crawl together in a group did he find hope. That hope, though, almost ran for the hills as he could hear the dead. Hear them. He looked about the forest in which they landed in, and cringed. Though mostly slow, they marched towards the wreckage. Darren had to swallow hard, as to not gag at the sight of some of them. After a year in which this reanimation of the dead began, they've been rotting away ever since. Many were bones with skin stretching over various parts of their body, or bloated masses, looking as if to burst.


Darren was suddenly brought back to reality by a voice, asking what was happening. "What are you all sitting around for?" His voice boomed from his chest, a steady tone that never seemed to waver. "Get my radio set up here, now!" He made a motion in the space in front of him, as if to say 'It should have been here the moment I stepped foot on this floor'. People scuttled around the Indian and all the man could do was watch through the vision of the binoculars. He said a quick thank you once the table was set in front of him at the top of the tower overlooking the walls, and pulled the microphone up to his mouth. "Hello? Hello? Can any of you hear me?" His voice sharp as he squinted his eyes. A radio had to survive that. It had to.


His heart fluttered a moment when some of the survivors head's turned to some rubble next to the fire engulfing what was left of the explosion. He focused the binoculars to the scrap, and seemed to smile. There was a portable radio still intact! "Yes, Good. Pick me up, quickly now! How many of them are you?" Darren released the microphone, turning to another scout. "Give a detailed description of this to Valencia. She needs to get down here, now."


His eyes then focused on the people below, most looking up at him, knowing as to what was happening beyond the wall. His face lay expressionless, as it was always, and he turned back to the forest in the north, where the fire was slowly consuming the land even farther north, away from the colony. How wonderful the thought was, that he had no worries over that. He kindly thanked the wind as he waited for some sort of movement to the radio in the rubble, hoping, praying that someone would pick it up.

 

[Le Stitch]

Kura


Small puddles of dark emerald green scanned the oncoming haven as their owner's thoughts had seemingly began to question her own judgement.


Should I really have gotten aboard this monstrosity of an aircraft? Is it worth it to be locked up in a small colony and be ordered around?


The young woman's head moved from side to side before her lips exited out a small sigh.


Upon deeper investigation someone could easily see the discomfort and frustration upon the red head's face. Her freckles seemed sketched into her crème skin more than usual which was due to the recent brawl and difficult to get upon the helicopter. Although she wouldn't admit it - the fight had drained a lot out of her, but she was unsure if it had something to do with the bombardment of new people or the fact that she had just woken up to herds of zombies chasing after these newer faces. It didn't matter. The young woman just wanted to finish off the sleep she had been shaken out of.


Snapping out of her thoughts, the mistress felt a jolt shake the entire aircraft and the pilot become frantic and flustered, "Mayday! Mayday! I've been hit! I'm going down, and fast!"


Her quick reflex's kicked the adrenaline awake inside her and the young woman made sure the straps securing her in her seat were tightly bound. The emerald circles from before were now dull and expressionless as they stared, once more, outside the helicopter and towards the oncoming ground. Nimble hands grasped onto the edge of the black seat as the copter finally collided into the trees.


The metal aircraft was twisted oddly and deluged in inferno. The red head had blacked out when they crashed, but only a few seconds after her eyes fluttered open and without hesitation she unbuckled herself from the seat. She inhaled a mouthful of smoke, not realizing how thick it was until it stuck awkwardly to the back of her throat. Coughs escaped her lips as she crawled out of a gaping hole in the helicopter and began to crawl away from the wreckage. Her sweater covered arm came up and covered her mouth and nose from anymore smoke as she tried her best to breath in the newer, fresher air.


"I knew I should have stayed.." The woman mumbled to herself as she sat there upon her hand and knees. Then, a low moaning sound pierced her agile ears, and she jumped to her feet. Great! Corpses Galore..





She suddenly turned as a woman's voice rang out above all the rest. Kura, which was the name that belonged to the young red head, crossed her arms over her chest at the sound of being frightened or even scared! Her subconscious had to stop her from letting out a scoff from her lips. The stubborn woman decided to comply though and walk a little closer to those who had survived the helicopter crash and it's recent explosion. But before she could focus completely on the woman on the log, Kura turned when she heard the voice of a male over a radio. Jogging over to it and lying her ear to the speaker, the young woman decided to tell the others before responding, "Hey! There's a radio over her and someone seems to be contacting us with it," her head reeled back to the radio as she pressed the talk button and began to answer the unknown voice, "Um I'm not exactly sure at the moment. Give me a second."


Kura looked over at the mistress who had stepped down from her log and held her child upon her hip, "Excuse me?" She began to frantically wave her over so the woman new who was calling out.


Clyde


A light colored hand was grasping a vial of clear/ yellow liquid. Only a about half of the glassware was full since the rest of it had been poured into a large flask - which already conveyed a secondary liquid called: Geraniol. The young man behind the hand and vial was closely examining the units he was pouring into the flask, he didn't want to mess up although even if he did nothing would explode, thankfully.


His tongue was popping out of his mouth in concentration as the last unit was evenly measured into the secondary glassware. As he straightened his posture and closed up the remaining liquid in the first vial, the man slipped it into his coat pocket and then proceeded to mix up the two liquids in the flask.


His feet carried him over to a table where a double dead corpse lie. It was rotted severely, since it had been sitting here for almost seventy-five hours, and it's milky blue eyes stared up at the ceiling. The young man's name, who was now towering over the zombie, was Clyde and over the past three days he had been experimenting with different aroma's which he injected into the corpse's skin. The reason behind this experiment was too see if these deadlings could soak up the ... fresher aroma and pass it to it's other friends once it was released.


Clyde had always been grossed out by these corpse's rotting scent, so the brainiac got the idea to make up a chemical that would ensure they smelled almost human - which would be a small step closer to find a cure.


Well that was what the young man wanted believe, although others had tried to prove that these things would never be the same as they once were, he tried to stay positive though.


Just as Clyde was going to inject the flesh upon the corpse's arm with his newest Rose aroma, the metal door of his lab swung open with an audible creak and he turned towards his guest with curiosity. It was a fellow colony member with beginning-to-grey hair and a tired face. He looked panicky and out of breath.


"A helicopter as crashed outside the colony! Survivors were aboard as well!" The man left just as soon as he came, but Clyde took no time to dwell over his rude exit. He tore of his white coat, revealing a blue button down shirt that had been rolled up to his elbows, and then scurried out of his lab. But he didn't forget to lock the door behind him, just in case his double dead corpse friend decided to wake - again.


The brown-haired male followed after the large group of people that had begun to saunter out of their homes. Some looked frightened while others looked as if they didn't care. Clyde was more of a curious soul though and he wanted to know if the Survivors had .... well survived!

 

[Alkonost]

Sophia noticed a red-head woman waving towards her from the rubble. Quickly, she ran to the woman's side. "What is it? Everything okay?" Before the woman answers, Sophia realized what was in her hand. A radio. Oh, thank God. She opened her mouth to say something else when she finally heard them.


The dead. Panic flashed through her brown eyes. When the helicopter exploded, it had most like destroyed any of the spare weapons in it. They could try to scrounge through the rubble and find a couple, but by that time the dead would probably be all over them. Hopefully some of the survivors had some on them. Either that, or they'd all have to run like hell. Of course, now with the radio, she might could ask for help if the colony would send it. With all the zombies out here, would they want to risk it though?

 

[Charlene]

A slender hand lifted up and ran through thick tresses of greased chocolate hair, John, parting his lips to let out a long breath of air in utter confusion. He couldn't do anything, and he didn't know what to do. Another thing being, what could they do? Out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by walkers, they had no chance. It was better to sit and wait rather lose a few for pure idiocy. John bent his lean frame over and picked up his screwdriver, sliding it into his back pocket while he turned his head. "Everyone calm down." he announced to the public around him, who were just as bad as a classroom of children. It was no use, their voices were just as loud.


"What do we do?" A panicked voice shouted.


"We can't just leave them out there!" Another piped up.


"They're going to kill us all!"


It wasn't long before the area was filled with voices and scattering of feet, causing John to get shoved to the side a few times. The tall male immediately inhaled deeply and shoved two of his fingers into his mouth, whistling loudly to calm such panic. "Oi!" he called out with a stern voice. "You just calm down until we get word from Valencia." he ordered, brows beginning to furrow with pure annoyance. His level of anger began to raise, which could be seen by the flaring of his nostrils and tightening of his well-cut jaw. "Everything is fine."

 

[CharChar45]

Sighing, Rene paced the length of the room impatiently, never standing still, always moving in some way. Whether it be an obnoxious tapping of her fingers against wood, or simply bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, she stayed in motion, strands of hair falling in her face. Impatiently, she blew them away, bounding towards the edge of the tower and peering up. A helicopter rumbled over their heads, only a few miles away, the blades chopping through the air noisily. Rene blew another strand of dark hair out of her face, watching the flying vehicle with interest.


Then it lost control, spinning in the air wildly. From down below, Rene could hear the panicked cries of Mayday, her eyes widening as the metal crashed with a shuddering boom against the earth. Her hands flew over her mouth, holding back a scream of shock as the scene slowly unfolded. For once in her life, she was utterly still and silent, merely processing everything that was happening. The other scouts nearby watched with the same open mouthed shock, binoculars dangling from their grasp. For a moment, there was not a single peep. Then came the onslaught of questions.


"How many survivors are there?!"


"Will we send people out?"


"What the hell happened!?"


The questions swirled around wildly, then faded away as the soft moans of the undead grew. Back came the silent shock, the wide eyes staring at the scene only miles away from their community. They had arrived to take their meal, and it didn't matter how many survivors there were. Without any weapons, there only hope was to run towards the city for shelter, food, and water. Yet it was much too dangerous to send scouts, due to the growing numbers of those with rotting flesh, yet Rene prayed that they would find their way.


A clomp of footsteps rang on the staircase and everyone went alert, Rene spinning on her heel and turning to face the only way up, watching as Darren appeared. He peered over to the scene, seemingly shocked at the sight of the catastrophic event, at the sight of the helicopter exploding, leaping orange and yellow flames consuming it hungrily. Just as quickly, he snapped back into reality, ordering those around him to fetch his radio and bring it up, gesturing to the area in front of him. Briskly, people began to bustle around, moving quickly and with utter haste, eyes wide. Rene watched as they brought the radio up, giving it to Darren who spoke into it, staring intently at the scene. Rene jumped as he addressed her, ordering her to go get Valencia, and fast. With a brisk nod, she dashed off, running down the steps, taking two at a time.


"Valencia!" She shouted, peering into rooms as she sprinted past, keeping an eye out for the leader of their city.

 

[nyeatsrainbows]

Rowan climbed on to the roof of her house. She had heard the crash. She tried to see what had happened, but the smoke in the air was too thick. She sighed. She jumped off the roof and landed in a roll. She joined the crowd of people who were staring horror-stricken at the smoke rising from the forest. She asked the first person she saw what had happened. They responded with one word, "Helicopter." Rowan's mouth opened. Was nobody going to see if there were any survivors? She pushed her way through the crowd, trying to see it. She knew what she had to do. She had to go out there and find survivors.

 

[Venomarrah]

Valencia


"Valencia!" The guard at my door stood to attention, stepping outside to see what the commotion was about. Only by the third call of my name did I finally decide it was important, as he came back in and gave me a nod, as if to say 'Yes, this seems urgent.' My head raised slightly from the paper I was reading on the latest finds on the virus that animated the dead, lowering my reading glasses. I was in my study, cozy and large at the same time, I took this room because of the small library it had built into its walls. My fascination with books has made me trade even my own portions of food for the sum of them, but it seemed worth it. The room was filled to the brim with them, along with an old timed, soft chair I found, and a good, strong, heavy desk. That was all I needed to work throughout the long nights and short humane days.


A slight smile turned up my mouth. I knew that voice. Frantic Rene was scouring the halls for me. Usually, her energy reminded me of a humming bird, constantly going, constantly moving. Only when I heard the distress in her voice from calling my name did my smile disparate. Was it about the crash?


I stood briskly, making my way to the door of my office and peeking out, only to see her running in the opposite direction from me. "Rene." I spoke calmly, my lips forming a tight line. "What is it, little one?" I questioned in a joking manner, hoping to relieve some of the stress that was evident on her shoulders. "Is it about the crash? What's happening?"

 

[CharChar45]

Briefly, Rene stumbled, nearly crashing into a wall as she heard Valencia, barely catching her feet on time, then spinning deftly on her heel and dashing towards the woman. Strands of her dark hair stuck out all over the place, falling into her eyes peskily, static making them float in the air. Even when in a ponytail, her hair was a disaster area, always all over the place. She still considered cutting it, with it being in the way most of the time, but she had always loved her hair. Bring your thoughts back, over here, Rene scolded herself, looking up to Valencia with wide eyes. "Darren sent me," she blurted out, speaking in a blur of words, "He sent me to get you. What are we going to do? Are we going to fetch the survivors? Oh God, what if those things get to them first?! We can't just leave them, can we? What if their hurt? And weapons, weapons couldn't of survived that explosion!" She was speaking so fast, question after question tumbling out of her mouth, her thoughts running wild as they always did.

 

[nyeatsrainbows]

Rowan shoved her way through the crowd to the gate. A guard blocked her way. "Move," she spat. He shook his head, trying to explain how no-one was going out there. She shoved him back, and screamed. She punched him the gut. He stood up and pulled out his swords. He pointed it at her. She backed up, a little. Some of the people in the crowd were yelling at her. She ignored them, "LET ME THROUGH" she yelled, "There might be survivors!" She jumped back as the guard came at her with his sword.

 

[Venomarrah]

Valencia


I sighed gently. "Rene." I spoke in a tone that would make her stop, and when she gave silence, I questioned. "What does Darren need of me?" I spoke slowly, my right palm facing downwards yet pointed in her direction, a sign to restrain the questions. I glanced at Penny, who was once sitting beside me at my desk. "I didn't believe there would be survivors, nor a commotion would erupt." A sign of stress not many people knew of, I tied my black, silky hair up in a bun to remove it from my face. I turned my body completely to Penny now, jaw set. "I need order to be held at the wall, along with every force we have protecting the wall. The fire will be a distraction, so we shouldn't be too overwhelmed." I waited for her OK, but couldn't wait after what seemed like a second. I turned back to Rene. "Take me to him." I ordered, yet not in a harsh manner or tone.


Looking down at myself, I fixed my tattered gray tank top to look presentable, grabbed the patched coat that hung on the door before me, and checked to see if my boots were on, and tied. What a funny habit of it I've created. It only came to be when I was called out one night in the winter, and had completely forgotten to put on shoes!

 

[Slinkerz]

The screams and shouts outside could be heard everywhere, and here sat Penelope, calm as day as she scribbled on a few papers about some professional nonsense. Lifting her finger to her mouth, she pulled the cigarette from her lips and exhaled slowly, a stream of smoke circling into the air above until it was no more. She couldn't help but snicker, they were all a bunch of barking dogs outside and she was sure she would have to handle it. "Hm?" she stopped before returning her cigarette, looking at Valencia with a raised brow. "It's been forever since we've seen life outside the wall." she inhaled once more before crushing the bud onto the bottom of the desk. "Consider it done, ma'am."


Penelope stood up, straightening her thin skirt before grabbing her pea-coat as well, wrapping it around her petite frame with speed. "Damn people just don't know how to calm down." she rolled her eyes, exiting the building with her hair in a messy bun too. She did her best to walk around the people in a frenzy, only giggling at the tall, greased-hair man who attempted to calm the crowd, awaiting for a word from Valencia. If it hadn't been for the plaid shirt, she wouldn't of known that it was John. "It's no use, pretty boy." she shouted, wiggling her finger in her direction for him to come over. "Come along with me, you can be of help." She turned her back and began sauntering over calmly to the other small building which held the small intercom to the colony. Penelope dug into her back pocket for another cigarette when entering the building, and sat down on the desk, unhooking the walkie-talkie from her waist and holding it to her mouth. "Those who are hearing this, grab your weapons and take stand at the wall. These damn people are going crazy and we need as many of you as we can get, this is an order from Valencia." she spoke, lowering it to take in a lungful of smoke.


Crossing her long legs, Penny looked up at John and only grinned. "This is where you come in, handy-man." She flicked the ashes, "Anyone who is giving the guards any problems, you pull aside. That's an order." She pressed firmly, lifting up the microphone.


"Attention everyone." she spoke. "No one is going out. If anyone manages to get out without authority, will be punished. Everyone seen the plane crash, but this matter is being held in the hands of Valencia and her followers. Stay calm, and stay alert. Thank you."

 

[Charlene]

John pushed a few people to the side, wiggling his way through the sea of people that began to crowd near the wall, freaking out about the possibility of walkers entering the city, or survivors being alive in the wreckage."Bloody hell." he hissed, getting jabbed in his sides a few times by a couple of hands. Of course, the damn bastards didn't listen to him. Wheeling his frame out of the crowd, he pressed his back against one of the nearby houses and breathed out, clenching his fists. The whole damn town was going to hell because of this, yet no one seemed like they were doing anything.


"It's no use, pretty boy."A feminine voice shouted to him, causing him to promptly turn his head and raise another chocolate brow. It was Penny, the assistant of Valencia who pretty much did everything for her. She was no good, a mischievous woman who did nothing but cause problems. Although.. she did have a pretty face. Shaking that thought from his head, John stood to full attention and ambled over, obviously having to listen, for she was one of the ones higher on the ladder."Yes, ma'am?" he questioned, trying his best to avoid eye contact. His question was answered immediately when seeing that finger, making him shove his hands into his pockets and follow after her into one of the buildings.


John stood there when she gave orders, watching her closely as she smoked and casually took control of the situation. It was actually a bit nice, seeing someone for once do something about the riots outside. "Come in?" he replied, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "What do I get out of this order, eh? I'm just the local technician, why would you pick me out of everyone else you've got?"

 

[CharChar45]

Rene snapped her mouth shut as Valencia quieted her with a calm, commanding tone, twiddling with her thumbs mindlessly and moving from foot to foot, standing on her toes, then rolling back on her heels. "I am not sure what he needs of you," she said sheepishly, impatiently blowing hair out of her eyes, "I wasn't paying too much attention." Her eyes flickered to Penny as she waltzed out of the office, keeping the same, calm air about her as Valencia had. She entwined her hands nervously, chewing on her lip and wiggling her toes in her shoes. It was impossible for her to stay still, which was a good bad thing, in her opinion. She was unsure on what others thought of it, but it didn't matter at the moment. Jumping to attention, she nodded hastily as Valencia ordered her to take her to Darren. She spun on her heel, walking quickly, yet trying not to walk to fast, as she tends to do when as antsy as she was currently. She paused briefly at the edge of the stairs that led up to the tower, then dashed up them, taking two at a time, her ponytail swinging from side to side. At last, she burst onto the roof, a loud presence rather hard to ignore, darting over to Darren, and barely out of breath. "I got Valencia."

 

[Venomarrah]

Darren


"Hel---? Can ---u he-r me?" Static filled what was left of the atmosphere's silence. It was a female voice that rang through the speakers. The only thing I could hear in that moment was the threatening static. the possibility of not getting a reply, but only that very static.


Darren shook his head, happy to have some sort of communication, but he wasn't sure if he even wanted any form of that. Once you speak to someone, to hear them die... It's worse than hearing a stranger die. But Darren believed there was a chance. "Yes, I can hear you, but not quite well. Listen. You need to-"


"Darren." The female authoritative voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned slightly, only to meet eyes of... worry. Though, hidden behind a narrow gaze. Valencia, with the scout, who he know realized was Rene by her side, was watching him. Her stance stood tall, yet she was actually of normal size. He always noticed how curvy their leader was, but constantly brushed it off. Who could possibly get swept away by another's grace at this time? And it was her posture that made her look so tall; powerful. Upon meeting her gaze, her eyes softened. Yes. Worry. Worry over the situation and of the people, and Darren who seemed to be trying too hard for this situation.


Darren understood this, and feared he would be too caught up in this. People like this... didn't survive.


"Valencia, they have a chance. Those dead haven't fed in weeks. They're slow, and-"


She stopped his explanation with a raise of a hand, then retorted; "Are you sure this is worth it?" Straight, simple question. She constantly had this strange power to get straight to the bottom of things.


"Yes." Darren replied, his face stern as he turned back to the view of the crash site.


Valencia only nodded, then turned to Rene. "Dear, you seem to still be fit to run around a bit more. Have medical staff ready to help at the north gate. Tell Penny to distribute what guns we have left to every other man; but keep tack of ammo. Get the other lower leaders out here with me."


More men shuffled around Darren, who suddenly felt... brave. Valencia believed he could help them get through to the colony. She was helping him.


Darren spoke into the microphone again, this time much more strong. "Go south. That large stone rock right to your left- Yes, that one. Follow that. Be careful. The faster you get away from there, the more chance you have to survive. Those things will check out the crash first."


Darren stopped, turning in his chair again to look at the leader of the colony once more, feeling her equal. "We need people out there."


But this time, she could not do so. She shook her head half heartedly, strands of dark hair fell from her hair, seeming to obscure her vision. The obvious reply hung in the air without her to even open her mouth to say it. She had said it before.


It was too dangerous.


He sighed inwards, and continued with what he could do. Without noticing the people who began to gather around him, he began to think allowed into the microphone. "Grab any supplies you can before you start running. Make sure everyone you can get walking is with you. We have medical supplies, people here to help." He dodged around the possibility to get recruits out there, hoping the woman on the other side wouldn't ask.

 

[wormz]

Seneca was way back behind the large crowd of people, sitting against a building and scribbling little drawings into a notebook. She didn't once look up at any people that passed. Why were all these people out here, anyways? It was just a helicopter. She pursed her lips and finally looked up from her notebook and towards the sky. It was then that she heard a large crashing sound that made her feel sick just from hearing it. She shot up, running towards the crowd of people and pushing past a few of them. The helicopter had crashed, that much she knew. The crowd got larger and louder, she tried to squirm her way through it to find an exit to the endless gathering of civilians. It wasn't long before she knew what was going on though, just by what some of them had been saying. There must've been survivors.


As Seneca was pushed further back into the crowd she finally found an exit, shoving past people aggressively now just to try and get out. She had an idea of what was happening, but just like many others, a million questions pulsing through her scattered mind. It was giving her a headache, the yelling and panic just adding to it. All 83 civilians were probably crowded together. It had been so peaceful the whole time she was here [well at least somewhat peaceful], until now.


An exit was finally found, she stumbled out of the crowd, nearly tripping over her own feet. Her worn notebook was clutched to her chest tightly and her breathing was fast. She hated crowds, but curiosity had gotten the best of her. Never do that again. She silently scolded herself with a shake of her head.

 

[nyeatsrainbows]

Rowan gave up trying to get out after she heard Valencia's message, from perfect little Penelope of course. She rolled her eyes, and shoved her way through the crowd and back to her house. She slammed the door. She put some water in the kettle and hung it over the fire. She opened the cupboard door and realized she had no lavender for tea. It wasn't likely she had enough to buy any either. She had to go get some herself. She walked casually over to the weapons cabinet and pulled out her bow. She slung the quiver over her shoulder. She slipped out the front door. She crept past a few people who were talking nervously about the crash, and the announcement about no leaving the town. Rowan laughed and found the only spot she could actually get over the wall, she climbed onto one of the roofs and lifted herself onto the wall. She jumped into a near-by tree and fell to the ground. She took a deep breath, she was out.

 

[Alkonost]

Before Sophia got an answer, the voice called from the radio in the woman's hand. His voice was breaking, but knowing that the colony was welcoming them and willing to help filled her with renewed hope. Her eyes scanned the area looking for the rock he had mentioned. Ah, there! No one had moved yet when the cries of the dead rang loudly, even closer. The voice was right: they had to get away from that helicopter.


"Everyone, we have to go now!" She pointed out the rock with her free hand. "Head to that rock and stay together!"


Of course, some of them seemed to not have heard the last part of her sentence and took off sprinting in the direction she had pointed. Sophia started to hurry off after them but had barely made it two steps before something wrapped around her ankle, and she tumbled to the ground, the child falling out of her arms and shrieking loudly. For a moment, Sophia thought it was too late and that she'd finally be reunited with Calvin and Joshua, but, looking back, she realized it wasn't a zombie that had grabbed her but an injured teenage girl. "Help me..." the girl managed to croak out.


The girl's ankle was torn and twisted, and she probably couldn't walk on it. Sophia stood up, picking up the still crying child, and then bent down to pull up the girl. "Can you put any weight on it at all?" The girl tried, a hiss slipping past her lips as tears welled up in her eyes. "No time to bandage it. Just use me as a crutch." The girl draped her arm over Sophia's shoulder and they made their way to the rock.


With the girl leaning on her and the child in her arms, they were moving at a very slow pace. If they didn't hurry, they wouldn't make it to the colony. But she couldn't leave either of them out there, she wouldn't. If worse came to worst and the zombies did catch them...well, the others would have time to make it. Let's hope it doesn't come to that though.​

 

[Le Stitch]

Kura


Pressing her ear frimly to the speaker - static began to fill the air - then it went silent. She cursed softly and held the radio tighter in her hand. Her emerald pools glanced over at the woman who had put order into the small group of survivors from the crash, she was just about to tell her what was going on when the voice returned once more.


"Go south. That large stone rock right to your left - Yes, that one. Follow that. Be careful. The faster you get away from there, the more chance you have to survive. Those things will check out the crash first."


Looking up, Kura saw that the woman had also heard the voice and in no time she had given orders to the rest of the survivors. The red head was going to take off with the rest, but she noticed something silvery in the dirt towards her left - just as her nimble fingers began to etch towards it - a childish shriek echoed to her left. Her body whirled to the sound and she noticed the teenage girl gripping onto the other woman. She looked strained to be holding more weight upon herself so Kura forgot about the object and jogged over to the three.


"Let me help," she spoke with worry as she took the teenage girl's weight off of Sophia. "We should hurry though." Her feet began to move a little faster in the direction of the stone rock as her free hand holding the radio swiftly attached it to her belt loop. She had turned the volume up so she could catch the male voice again, if he aided them with mored directions.


Clyde


He had caught the message from Valencia that had been delivered by her right hand - Penelope - but he was never one to really listen. Soon enough he had slipped into a narrow alleyway between the pharmacy and the grocery store. His grey eyes searched for the makeshift ladder he had propped up against the pharmacy not two days ago.


After a few minutes of looking, he found it and began to climb up it's thin wooden boards. His palms held the edge of the pharmacy's roof before his forearms pulled the rest of his body up with ease. Feet rooted themselves on the shingled roof as he looked over the wall and on towards the crash site; at first it seemed like all were dead, but suddenly multiple figures could be seen through the trees and it seemed like they all were heading towards the large rock that marked the close proximity of the colony. Maybe these people could actually make it. Hopefully Valencia tries as hard as she can to save them. His eyes continued to scan the trees for any corpse's but without binoculars he was rendered only slim distance of sight.


With a sigh, Clyde made his way down from the pharmacy and over towards the retreating forms of Penelope and John. He wanted to help in some way. As he poked his head inside the small building, a cheeky grin crossed his face, "How's it going Penelope? Got anything for me to do?" His eyes prodded her with the silent words: 'Pleeeaaaasseeee can I help?'

 

[DozenRoses]

Nikolas


"ARGH! ******* hell!" His voice didn't even sound like his own. His eyes fluttered open to see the slow whirring of the main rotor. Turning his head to the left slightly, he threw up the contents of his stomach. His breathing was harsh and labored. "Annalise! Annalise!" He called to his sister loudly, not caring if the monsters heard him. He just wanted his little sister to be okay. "Annalise! Answer me!" Nikolas wiggled his toes and fingers to make sure he still had feeling in them. He attempted to turn onto his stomach. He successfully made it onto his stomach and looked around for any other people. He shook his head to get rid of the dirt that was clouding his vision. In his haze, he saw a mess of curly ginger hair far-away not moving. "Annalise!" Nikolas struggled to his feet. His legs failed him a few feet later, and he fell hard. "Somebody please! Is there anyone?" He cried out in desperation as he tried to move towards his sister. Efforts fruitless, he dug his fingers deep into the earth and hauled himself painfully forward. "Someone please! My sister!" He watched her unmoving body intently as he moved forward. He felt a warm liquid trickle down his forehead and cursed internally. One of his piercings must have been torn from his eyebrow. No matter, if he was bleeding from his eyebrow or bleeding from his stomach, none of that would matter as long as Annalise was okay.

 

[Venomarrah]

Valencia


I looked down from the tower, at my people. I could feel their distress, their fear and worry. Before Rene had time to leave, I asked her of one more thing. "And please... make the announcement to everyone to return to their houses. I want everyone in their houses within the next five minutes." My voice seemed sad in the slightest bit, but my firm brow spoke otherwise. My gaze kept traveling to Darren, though. This was the first stimulant the boy has had in months. He has been so stoic before, now... There's emotion. But if he doesn't get at least some of those survivors though, I doubt he will make it though, himself...


A sudden thought drifted through my mind. I reached for a scope on the table by the Indian, looking just to the east of the running survivors. a white building caught my attention, and I questioned; "Darren, aren't they close to that hospital?"


Darren stopped in the middle of instructions, frozen in space. His breath seemed to catch. "Yes." He replied.


I held out my hand for the speaker he had been using, and he paused only for a moment before reluctantly handing it over to me. "Hello. This is Valencia. I'm the leader of this colony. If you want to be in this colony, you must do as we all do, and work for it. You need to put something in this for us." I paused, grimacing at my own tone of words. I sounded heartless. Yet, I continued. "To the east, there is a hospital we've been trying to get to, but with no avail. We need you to get in there, gather what supplies you have, and once you've done that, you can move on." I stopped once more, using the scope once again as I spoke. "It'll be a good place to hold out while the small hoard that gathered moves to the crash site." I added, then gave it again to Darren, who seemed to have a, once again, expressionless face.


"... The hospital is to the left of where you all seem to be standing. You might be able to see it from there." His voice had turned bleak.

 

[Slinkerz]

Penny lowered her head and rested it innocently on her left palm, staring up at the tall man with a gentle smirk. "You're big, built, handsome," she laughed lightly, taking another puff of her cig. "That's the reason why you let you in, correct?" The woman stood up, circled around the desk once and stopped in front of him, dancing her black nails across the collar of his shirt, doing her best to make him melt into her possession. "You'd be great if I could get you promoted.." she cooed, literally batting her eyelashes while smoke escaped her cherry red lips.


"How's it going Penelope? Got anything for me to do?"


A cute voice came out of the blue, allowing Penny to lower her hand and swagger over to whom that voice belonged to, completely forgetting what she was doing. "Oh Clyde darling," she smiled, flicking her bud and crushing it with her heel. "Perfect timing, you can go along with John here." she waved to the taller man, "You two need a weapon and need to calm the commotion towards the wall. Pull anyone aside who refuse to stay inside."

 

[Charlene]

John turned himself around and casually rested his behind on the edge of the desk, keeping his icy blues glued on the scene playing before him outside. "Handsome?" he repeated, snorting loudly and lowering his head to laugh to himself. He was a thirty-five year old man, hell, he was getting old, he certainly was far from being handsome - so he thought. "Minus handsome, that's why they let me in." he turned his head, glancing at Penelope momentarily. "Add intelligent as well, I suppose." he shrugged, sounding rather big-headed. John took a deep breath and even too, inhaled a lungful of the toxic chemicals that made him ease his worries, releasing his tense fists from his small jean pockets.


"You'd be great if I could get you promoted.."Her feminine voice cooed, caressing his ears and making him shiver in his boots with every word she spoke. John knew exactly what she was doing. If anything, he knew her like the back of his hand, just like everyone else. Yet, he couldn't rip his eyes off her. She was a no-good rat and here she was.. trying to make him crumble. "A technician.. promoted?" he could only grin and cackle lightly to himself. "Only in hell." he muttered, feeling those smooth painted fingers run across his collar, only making him step back a few.


Once Clyde stepped into the situation, he could only breath out with relief when she turned her attention away, giving orders again just like she was supposed to. "Is that all we're supposed to do?" he questioned, straightening his frame and trying his best to stay on subject after what just happened. "If that's what Valencia wanted.. well."