Futuristic BioGenesis Safe House: Surviving the Post-Apocalypse.

[Ashmorne]

Chana smiled at Christopher's alliteration as she caught the bag of chips. Nodding, she turned and walked towards where Finn stood chatting with Delsin. She paused, she hadn't seen him in a while. Walking over, she joined them at the forest entrance. A hesitant smile appeared on her face as she approached the two men.


"I see you two have already met. Delsin, I haven't seen you since Takai went on his rampage earlier."

 

[PKCV2]

Delsin laughed a quiet laugh. Finn had been a street rat, the thought made him wonder if the government had anything I do with that. He had just started to dwell on the thought when he mentally scolded himself.


No! I need to leave that mentality in the past.


He looked to Finn.


"Yeah...you aren't even a bit unnerved at this many people though? Accidents tend to happen in big groups."


Paranoia and the countless days he had been on his own were catching up to him. Waiting for a response, they were interrupted by yet another person...it was Chana...he vaguely remembered meeting her.


"I see you two have already met. Delsin, I haven't seen you since Takai went on his rampage earlier."


Delsin scratched the area behind his ear, narrowing his eyes and letting out a sigh.


"Oh yeah...I kinda remember that...I just passed out, anything interesting happen while I was gone?"

 

[Ashmorne]

Chana let out a humorless chuckle as she remembered her near-death experience with Takai, and then how she had found out that he was so closely linked to her past. Giving a sad smile, she nodded and shrugged.


"Yeah. You could say that. Anyway, Takai is unconscious inside right now with a family member of his. Christopher and I are going to try and help him out pretty soon here."


Her eyes lowered and she gazed over the garden area. Crossing her arms, a feeling of peace settled over her. This was a blessing, she realized. She wasn't even the kind of person that believed in blessings anymore. A small smile touched her face. As she stood there at the garden gate, she was filled with hope.


Life can start again.


The smile grew on Chana's face. It was the first real, no strings attached smile in awhile. She directed her gaze back to Delsin and Finn contentedly.


"Also guys, we're going to try to eat soon. So I hope you're hungry. Because I always am."

 

[Crescent]

Finn was caught off-guard by the smile on Chana's face. It was the first time he'd seen her smile without any limitations. The other times she smiled, they were very short-lived. But with this one...it sort of took his breath away. Without thinking, he instantly blurted out words.





"You're beautiful when you smile."


He face reddened immediately after he spoke, and his mouth was left slightly open as if he was surprised he actually spoke his mind. He scooted a bit closer to Delsin. Looking at the other man, he muttered a quick "F***" under his breath. He wasn't use to being around women. He glanced at Delsin. Surely the other man knew what it felt like to say things without thinking to pretty girls. But right now, Finn felt completely out of line.

 

[PKCV2]

Delsin just nodded, silently absorbing everything that was happening, while letting his eyes roam the lush garden...well, as lush as one can get in a world like this, a kind of sadness flickered in his eyes. This wouldn't survive...everything has to be torn down so that the next generation can start...a generation of monsters...then who knows...an empty world maybe?


"You're beautiful when you smile."


He turned his gaze back to Finn who had taken position to his side, cursing, face flaring.


"Yeah...real smooth...I'm just ready to eat."


He placed a hand in Finn's shoulder, gently pushing him towards Chana and waited.

 

[Ashmorne]

Chana blinked, her jaw dropping a bit. She felt her face get hot, a pink blush reddening it. Letting out a breath, she crossed her arms. Pursing her lips, she stared at the ceiling.


"It's the damn after-apocalypse, and you're talking about the attractiveness of someone you don't even know."


After a moment, she felt a bit of remorse at her harsh words. It was true that Finn knew nothing about her, but it didn't mean she had any right to be rude. She reacted out of embarrassment and inexperience. She glanced back at the two men, seeing Delsin push Finn towards her. She chuckled a bit and smiled as she tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ears.


"I'm sorry. I get cranky when I'm hungry. Thank you for the compliment. Let's just all go eat. There's a ton of fruit in the garden, and I have some dried meat as well. Once Christopher gets back, we'll start a meal."

 

[Crescent]

Finn felt his face darken a deeper shade of red. He knew that she had every right to feel disgruntled, but honesty always stung. He felt relief flood his body as a smile returned to her face, along with an unnecessary apology. He smiled back sheepishly, and nodded.





Wow. Beautiful, clever, and knows how to talk back. Now, I'm in trouble.


As Chana turned to go find food, Finn glanced over at Delsin with a comically defeated expression. His accent was thick in his words.


"Wow, mate. Did I strike out there. It's been awhile since I flirted." Finn muttered jokingly to the other man under his breath. "Of course, it's been awhile since I've seen a pretty girl to flirt with."


His eyes followed Chana as she moved away, and he clasped his hands behind his neck as he exhaled slowly. She moved with purpose, like she knew what she was doing even though she probably didn't. That girl had quite the effect on him. Shaking his head, he turned to Delsin.


"Look at me. A twitterpated idiot in the midst of the end of the world. What of it." he smiled at the man. "What about you, bloke? Did you ever have a special someone?"

 

[PKCV2]

Delsin resisted the urge to break out into maniacal laughter and clapping as Finn and Chana's predicament unfolded, it had been too long since he had done something like that. Chana had brought along a momentary flare of irritation and Finn had gotten blown off, though it all worked out in the end as Chana walked away.


Finn started to talk to himself it seemed, turning to Delsin and back to Chana who had her back turned to them. He called himself an idiot and asked a question that sent a sudden, nostalgic sting to his senses.


"What about you, bloke? Did you ever have a special someone?"


He looked down, trying his best to hide his pained expression.


"Uh...yeah...I did...ran a lot of ops together."


Delsin himself turned and walked the direction Chana had gone, throwing his arms up to the air and calling over his shoulder to Finn.


"Domestic terrorists man! They're crazy!"

 

[Mack Daddy]

Colton wiped the blood off of his face with his hand. The pain killers started to work a bit, dulling his head ache, which was probably a concussion. At least his nose was straight now. As straight as it could be now, since it was still swollen. It still prickled wit pain as he followed Chana towards the other people. This is getting almost too crowded. Why are they all just standing around as if there weren't thousands of things outside that wanted to kill each and everyone of them. Colton realized this and it kept nagging at the back of his head. They seemed happy, when this old place wasn't even secured, and limited electricity. How are they even getting in? It isn't much of a 'safe' house. His face was mix of anger, confusion, and thought. He wanted to be angry, but didn't know why or who to be mad at. Really he knew why, in groups like this people always die, and he hated dealing with the self-pitying, wallowing, shell-of-a-person mourners that seem to pop up around like mushrooms. It only spreads, unless stomped out. And much like that fungus, it feeds on the living, relies on the living to die. Mourning is okay, but keep it buried like the roots of the sadness. Despair would only hurt a community. When the hospital got reports of the horde coming people were nervous. They started evacuating some, very controlled all of it, along with barricading the hospital. There were people who were paranoid, depressed, worried about the future. It only took one to leap from the window. Within a week there were over 20 more. One of the days four people jumped together. They were selfish. Children saw it. Those clinging to hope, lost it with that. Then there were those who celebrated with no worries. They consumed, and wasted the supplies. Greedy, and gluttonous, leaving nothing for the future. For a species that supposedly survived with instincts, these instincts were pretty sh*tty. Hald of these people could be looters, serial killers, rapists even. Nothing good long term ever came from letting everyone. And that is what Colton thought this was long term - restarting the human race.

 

[Dice]

Verdun was still sitting in the corner of the room, noticing that it was about time to eat, not seeing a proper place to eat he took out the portable gas cooker he had, and set it down. He also took out a can of soup and a small pot opening the can with a knife and pouring the contents into the pot, turning on the gas cooker. He was begging to have seconds thoughts about the gas cooker, he couldn't keep it burning for a large amount of people so hopefully most of them would mind their on business.

 

[Gabe]

Christopher finished taking what others call a mug shower. Basically it's a shower that you do with a mug. Nothing fancy. Feeling reinvigorated, he found another set of clothes in one of the abandoned dormitory rooms. Actually, a lot of sets. Looks like the one who lived here left in a hurry. It was a plain dark green t-shirt, and cotton pants. He ripped some long sleeves and patched then onto his arms. A broken mirror was pinned to the wall. He looked at his reflection.


"You aren't that bad now, Christopher. I just hope things stay that way." He adjusted the sleeves, making them cover all of his arms. He decided that that would be his room, at least for the time being. A piece of paper and pen, and the word "Christopher" was crudely pinned to the door. Yeah, that should do. "You got a room now, Christopher. Does that make it official?" He smiled, and went to met Chana and the others. It was lunch time.

 

[Ashmorne]

Chana chuckled a bit at Delsin, and let her eyes wander the area. The man in the gas mask had started up something on a small burner, and Finn and Delsin were still talking. Christopher hadn't returned yet. Her eyes rested on Colton, who stood with an unpleasant expression on his face. She walked over to him and stood, arms crossed and looking at the group of people. He was still a bit bloody, and pretty disheveled.


"Hey. What happened to you?" She asked softly.


As she waited for him to respond, she tried to calculate how to get things moving in her mind. As soon as Isao woke up, they would all have to pick jobs or something like that. They would need some order to their chaos soon. She hoped deeply that they all had the human race's best interests at heart. As naive as it was, she had not choice to trust them...at least a little bit.

 

[Mack Daddy]

"I fell down wet stairs, broke my nose, got shot at, then yelled at for tying up the person who shot at me, reset my own nose, and now there is a bunch of people are here who I do no know at all."





He said it all in a rather flat tone not showing much anger besides just being annoyed by it all. He looked at her while talking then back around the room towards all of the new people here. He did not like big groups, it reminded him of a horde of the fleshies. His eyes eventually landed back on her as he waited for a response.

 

[Ashmorne]

Chana raised her eyebrows as Colton recanted all that had happened in her absence.


What all happened while I was with Takai?





She shifted from foot to foot as she met Colton's gaze slightly incredulously. His voice carried notes of anger, which didn't surprise her. It had been an overwhelming day for all of them. Pursing her lips, she tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear and began to talk.


"Looks like we've all had crazy days." Her eyes wandered to the people milling about the newfound courtyard. "But...I think that installing some order here would be good. A role for each of us to fill. According to what we have experience with."


Chana rested a hand on her hip as her gaze settled back upon Colton. "We're fortunate to have found so many survivors. But I think our priority now is getting our defense up and jobs listed so we can not only survive...but maybe thrive too."


She knew she was talking a lot, and then shot an apologetic look back at the older doctor. "Hey, sorry for dumping all that on you. Are you alright? Need some bandages or painkillers or anything?"

 

[Mack Daddy]

"No I am alright. I'm already maxed out on ibuprofen right now. Anyways I agree with you. We need to get everyone organized and put up a defense. Didn't all of those people just walk in here? I think that is probably the best sign we need to build up."


He gestured behind him towards the crown of people. It was supposed to be a safe house, but it is not 'safe' when anyone can just walk in off the streets. After we lock down, we need to find out who everyone is around here. He was already ging thorugh in his head how we might go about doing each of these tasks. The windows, the doors, the gate importantly. His old safe house had been very safe, but he also shut off most of the research center too. On top of that for a couple months it had been just him.

 

[Gabe]

Christopher came to the room where the people were. His hair was still kinda wet, but he had new clothes, a room, thingies to hide his arms, it was all good. He saw the dirty bearded man talking to Chana and the others. "This place was starting to gather people around. I wonder when it'll start to gather around the wrong people." He thought, while going to the gathering.


"Hi there, everyone. I heard you talking about jobs? Well, I've kinda already claimed the Green House to myself, so I guess I'll be the food guy. Oh, how rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself. The name's Christopher." He said while smiling and waving. "Let's discuss while eating, shall we? Ms. Chana here promised me beef jerky, and the only meat I've eaten in three weeks was deer meat." He gave a smile and then started walking his way to the kitchen.

 

[Dice]

Verdun was still sitting in the back of the room unmoving if anything watching his food cook. He could't get his mind of everything that could go wrong now, so he was kinda glad when a kid walked in proclaiming himself the gardener, and learning of his name Christopher, the moment he heard food thought he almost went berserk, he just trying to calm himself so he wouldn't explode he could tell that he was over worried, but how much go wrong right? Verdun told himself so much so quickly he went back to focusing on his food, still deeply troubled.

 

[Ashmorne]

Smiling a bit at Christopher's comment about meat, Chana pulled out a pack of beef jerky from her bag. There was 7 or 8 strips total, long and dried.


"Should be enough for everyone's meat cravings. Till we can get out into the city sometime and find some game that is," Chana said with a nod as she tossed the pack to Christopher.


She turned back to Colton for a moment, crossing her arms and giving him a nod. Her eyes glanced at him, then at the man cooking food on the burner, then back to the younger boy. She talked, addressing them as a whole. "I think I'm going to wait to eat though. Doc made a great point when he talked about our defenses. There's a ton of dried and old wood here. I want to secure the perimeter and fix all the holes before settling down. This place is in serious need of some TLC. And if we want it to be a haven, we have to get cracking on making it safe."


Chana paused, looking around the atrium for any sort of tools. There was a stack of plywood, dusty and covered in cobwebs off near the entrance. She was sure that they could all find things too. They all were here. They beat the virus. They could start again. She began picking up pieces of wood, wondering about the whereabouts of everyone in the shelter and if there was old cinderblocks somewhere that they could use as well. She directed her gaze back at the group.


"I'll be dining later. If any of you want to join me, too. That would be great."

 

[Gabe]

Christopher got the bag of beef jerky and grabbed one of the strips. He was chewing on when he heard her talking about the security. Wait.. This isn't right. "Wait, Chana. Wait before you starting doing this. Hear me out for a second. This place has strong walls, and a big door. I don't know if I'm correct, but the Compromised rely on their heightened hearing to track and attack, and they're more active during the night. We need to make a plan first. Just barricading every single window, apart from making a lot of noise, will denounce our position to potential harmful people. What would happen if you find a place like this, with all of their walls fixed, all of their windows barricaded, the door sealed shut? I'll tell what you would do. Investigate. Now, imagine if there's a group of looters on the same situation? Aside from investigating, they would pillage. And kill. We must carry out a serious plan. I find your attitude really praiseworthy, but if you want to protect those people, you must think." He approached her again, and offered her a piece of beef jerky. "The mind is the strongest organ of the body. Don't let it go to waste. Now, once again, we need to discuss things while eating. I didn't say this for fun. You, along with everyone else, is in horrible shape. You need to patch yourself together before patching up this place. So, what do you say? Shall we discuss this while eating?"


Christopher was very serious about surviving there. Even if those people didn't know him, they helped him in the most dire moments.


"First of all, we need to discuss what each and every person will do. That assures we will have a fully functional community here. Lead the way, Chana."

 

[SliverOfHope]

Mel gave both Chana and Yasuko a hesitant smile before she turned around and briskly walked out of the room to the nearby hallway, a bit relieved that she was doing at least something to help the situation. She wasn't particularly fond of uselessness for the fact that it made her feel as if she was completely helpless and a nuisance to all those around, no matter how incorrect it may actually be. Letting out an annoyed sigh at her thoughts the brunette continued to head on by the dimly lit hallway, only briefly pausing to give Asher a small smile as it walked on by to most likely go and find his older sister.


After a good few seconds of silence had continuously passed, she finally arrived at the scarred wooden door and gently turned the dusty knob, making a mental note to somehow fix the creaking that ensued from the door because of a lack of usage. Wondering the rest of the way into the opened room, Mel let her eyes do a quick sweep along the interior, more out of habit than anything else, before grabbing the bottle of ibuprofen that had been left along the window ledge, a ghost of a frown adoring her face. She stayed in that same position for a little bit of time, looking over the remaining medical supplies, before finally grabbing a roll of gauze along with a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a few bandages, stuffing it all in the bag resting along her hip. She felt as though carrying around the materials would be a bit more efficient and convenient than leaving them in a room with no inhabitants. Who knew when it would be needed next.


Well, obviously sometime soon. With how many injuries people are sustaining now I doubt that there's going to be anything left within a week.





Rolling her eyes at how sloppy and clumsy everyone, including her, was becoming she once again made her way out of the room and down the hallway, enduring that same sweet silence as before, relishing in the quiet. She had a feeling that it would be very hard to come across soon.


Mel entered the room where Takai was inhabiting, noticing that mostly everyone, including Chana, had disappeared off to someplace in the span of time she had been gone. The brunette thought it to be a bit strange but did her best to not think too much about it, instead going to kneel beside the still unconscious asian man along with his close female counterpart, Yasuko. She opened up the bottle of medicine and poured a couple of pills inside of the palm of her hand, letting her warm chocolate eyes look up into the older female's.


"Here's the ibuprofen that I promised. I know that it's not much, nothing really is anymore, but it's the best that I can do." Mel placed the small pills gently into Yasuko's unoccupied hand as her eyes cast a small glance over at Takai, the younger girl's lips quirking up in the slightest of movements before they looked back over at the other woman.


"Think he's going to be the slightest bit reasonable when he wakes up again?"

 

[Saturnity]

Yasuko

After they'd moved Takai to a room where he could rest more easily, Chana moved on to address the others in the household, causing Yasuko to smile. She watched the younger woman with slight admiration. It was fortunate that Takai managed to find people who were so reasonable and accommodating, since most people didn't mix well with his violent and aggressive personality. Turning her attention back to the unconscious man, she wrapped one of her hands around his and closed her eyes.


She is a lot like you in some ways isn't she?


Her eyes re-opening, the smile on Yasuko's face faded as she began to whisper, "Don't worry... if it's too much to accept... if you still suffer when you wake... I'll make sure we both can move on." The boyish woman didn't realize it, but her other hand was clenched mindlessly on the handle of her combat axe, which was still tucked in Takai's belt. "I promise."


As Yasuko returned her hands to her sides, Mel reentered the bedroom and moved beside her, handing her several ibuprofen before addressing her. The girl asked her opinion on what Takai would do once he awoke, which didn't come as a surprise.


"I honestly don't know..." she said quietly, nodding her thanks to Mel before proceeding to give Takai the medication. "He's never been stable, and he almost always overreacts, it's in his nature. But..." she turned to the girl, a placid expression on her face, "I will do what I can to keep him calm... if it will even help. I know I'm one of the objects of his anger, so it may do nothing."


She returned her attention to him, sitting back in her chair and folding her arms in a relaxed manner.


"If he becomes violent," she remarked, "I won't let harm come to anyone here, I'll make sure things end appropriately, so you don't need to worry."


~

Takai


Memories: Part I

Isao...


Leave me alone.


Isao you need to wake up.


Shut up... I'm still sleeping.


Takai... the Compromised are breaking in!


Why the f**k didn't you tell me that the first time?


~

Leaping to his feet out of bed groggily, Takai stumbled forward.


"Where are they!?" He shouted, still only half awake, ".... wait... where are who? What am I supposed to do... again?"


Gazing around, shafts of morning light breaking through the windows in the room, the young man recognized his location. He was in the abandoned Royal Park Hotel, where he and his gang took up residence to keep off the streets. In the corner of the master suite, fast asleep in one of the luxurious plush chairs, Yasuko reclined alone, her head pressed into a pillow she held tucked between her arms. Her short black hair was splayed outward from her head in disarray.


"Hey! Wake up Yamato... I think something's wrong."


She stirred, but there was no response. Takai marched up next to her impatiently and slapped her leg, not enough to hurt her, but firmly enough to wake her up.


"Comon idiot... I said wake up."


Frowning, the young woman slid an eye open and peered at him, then glanced at the watch on her wrist.


"What the hell do you want, a**hole...? It's barely 6 am..." she groaned and tossed her pillow over onto the bed, then stood up and stretched while yawning. "Agggh.... getting me up at this time of morning... you'd better have a good reason or I'll kick your a**."


Takai turned, a scowl marking his features. "I'm telling you woman, something doesn't feel right... I woke up this way just now, can't you tell something's wrong? Normally people are awake and noisy as hell right now, but it's too quiet."


"There's... nothing wrong," an indecisive tone swept over Yasuko's voice, "Just forget about it."


The unusual response threw Takai off guard. "Hey... is there something going on I don't know about?" He approached the girl, fist shaking. Her eyes averted, Yasuko backed away slowly.


"Calm down... there's nothing wrong. Just forget it please? Let's get something to eat, I'm starving."


Scrutinizing her momentarily, Takai backed away. "I know you well enough to realize when you're hiding something Yamato, and you're doing it right now. You'd better tell me before I find out and get more pissed off!"


Her shoulders slumping slightly, the girl sighed, then blew her bangs away from her eyes.


"Dammit all... listen! I tried to stop them alright, but they insisted they had to do this!" She paced frantically now, her arms shoved nervously into her jeans pockets. "Hideki and a bunch of the others... they told me they were tired of getting into wars with the Crows. They... they set up a meeting with them for this morning... when they knew you'd be asleep. It was a meeting to form a truce..."


Takai first felt his limbs go numb, then his face flush red. His hands grasped his hair as if he was attemptingto keep his head from exploding. "ARE YOU... F***ING KIDDING ME!? Those dumba**es have a damn death sentence!?" Takai began pacing frantically, his jaw clenched in rage.


"Isao... calm down-"


"NO DAMMIT!" He screamed, kicking the wall violently. "Tell me where they went! What time were they supposed to hold this meeting!?"


"... 30 minutes ago, they went straight to the Crow hideout..."


"SH*T! I'm going over there, are the weapons still loaded into my car!?"


"Yes... Isao... take me with you."


"No." He pivoted, a finger jutted at her. "I need you to stay! Keep the other morons in line! Understood?"


"I... yes Takai." Yasuko rushed forward, a hand gripping his elbow urgently. "Come back okay? Please don't get in over your head."


Venom laced the man's voice as his arm tore away from the girl's grasp. "The only heads that you need to be worrying about are Crows', because in about ten minutes. they're all gonna be rollin'." With that, Takai stormed from the room, leaving her to mull quietly over his hateful words.


~

A black 2004 Cadillac Cartera came to a halt in a warehouse parking lot just outside Tokyo. Takai quietly opened the door and popped the trunk, then went to retrieve several weapons from it, namely a P-415 semi-automatic rifle he preferred for ranged combat, and a pair of carbon-steel combat axes he kept for close range. His face was dark with rage as he closed the trunk and made his way along the shadows of the ware house, gripping his rifle at the ready. They'd left the side entrance open, probably an invitation for him, knowing he'd show his face there eventually, so he slipped in to accept it. Winding down the corridors, Takai glanced warily from side to side, but met no resistance from any rival gang members. Finally he entered the storage room, a massive area for keeping stock, now used for holding crates of drugs used for trafficking and various tents where the members of Crows took residence. As he passed through, he scanned for any signs of his fellow gang members but didn't see them: No bodies, no blood. It wasn't what he expected.


Without warning, a spotlight flashed on, immediately pinpointing Takai's location, and a shot rang out. Collapsing to one knee, the man grimaced in pain and looked down to see blood seeping into the shin of his pant leg.


"SHIT WHERE ARE YOU!?" He yelled out into the darkness, trying to brace himself on one leg. "WHERE ARE MY MEN!?"


It was several moments before a response came in the form of a cold and familiar laugh. "Hahaha....heh, it's about time you showed up Boss." The lights of the Warehouse flickered on section by section revealing an abundance of gangsters lining the rafter walkways, looking down upon the now wounded leader of the Hell Slayers. "We finished the terms of the truce a long time ago." The man who spoke was one of Takai's highest ranking officers, and held the scoped rifle, still smoking, that had shot him. "Our new friends were growing impatient."


"Damn you... Hideki..." Takai growled, raising his rifle. Another shot rang out, striking his arm and shattering his humerus. The pain forced him to drop his weapon and raced throughout his body, causing him to stumble forward, but he recovered and picked himself up shakily with his good arm and leg. "What... the hell are you doing!?"


The next answer came quickly and angrily, "Don't you see!? We're tired of being ruled by your anger!" leveling his rifle once more toward Takai, Hideki pulled the trigger once more. The bullet struck the former leader's right hand squarely as he reached for his weapon. Several carpal bones were broken as a result.


"Aggh... dammit!" Takai yelled, his eyes flitting up to his subordinates, who now looked down on him coldly. "I... was the only thing keeping you alive! The world doesn't care... hah... about shits like us. I'm the only protection you have..."


Hideki frowned and nodded to the others, who filed down the stairs to surround Takai. One of the men retrieved his rifle and moved out of reach, aiming it at him.


"We 'shits'," the younger man hissed, "have to overcome that ourselves, all you did was spark wars that didn't need to be fought."


"I TOOK... RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT." Takai rasped, his face crimson with fury. "Where ONE of you died... I kept many more from the same fate... you're just too stupid to see that. Even if we didn't go to war, war would have found us... we became too powerful too quickly."


"It's alright Takai. We don't hate you for what you did." Hideki proceeded down the steps toward him. "This is purely business. You say that you've saved many with your actions, but I am saving even more with mine. As we speak, Yamato is going to be named as the Captain of the Hell Slayers. She will receive news of your death and take up her rightful mantle."


"What...?" Takai's voice fell in despair, "Are you... telling me Yasuko was behind this?"


"We need someone to lead with a cool head, not a fiery heart." Hideki lashed, "Your time is over, Takai. We're handing you to the Crows as a peace offering. Don't worry," he paused, a smirk passing over his features, "you'll be a martyr for the future of the Hell Slayers. A noble sacrifice for our future generations." He moved toward the exit, motioning toward the other members to leave. "It's over, leader."


"DAMN YOU!" Takai shouted, and, grasping one of the axes from his belt with his good hand, launched it at Hideki. He struck the ground hard from the viciousness of the throw. Before the axe could strike the betrayer, however, he deftly dodged to the side, then chuckled before ordering several men to raise the large warehouse doors. Several of the Crows quickly moved to apprehend Takai, and confiscated his remaining axe before he could arm himself with it. They beat him with their fists and kicked him to make sure he was compliant before moving him off to one of the tents. Before they brought him inside, however, one Crow dressed in all leather and sporting full body tattoos gestured to his captors.


"Wait... I want him to see this before we take care of him."


The man whistled as Takai was turned around, just in time for him to see a line of Crows form behind his gang wielding assault rifles and SMGs. Hideki's eyes widened as he turned at the noise, just in time for the Crows to start firing....


Blood dripping from a split lip, Takai lowered his gaze, "Stupid... so... stupid."


One of the men managed to break away from the slaughter, and when the Crows aimed to fire on him, the tattooed man waved them off.


"Let him go. He needs to report what happened here to his comrades. They won't have the manpower to strike back anyway." Returning his gaze to Takai, he smiled, "Besides, it's time the big shot is taught a lesson..."


Licking his lips, he gestured to the Crows restraining Takai, who pulled him into a nearby tent. Before disappearing behind the flaps rasping whispers could be heard muttered under the fallen leader's breath.


"Yamato... I will come back... I will kill you..."

 

[Purpl]

Frank, a nearly two meter tall young man, sat behind a small bush trying to hide.


Why he was hiding is unclear. Distant noise had startled him and made him jump in behind this small bush.


His clothes ragged, face dirty and stomach empty made him look like something the dog had dragged home. He had walked for the past months. Just walked, no destination, no goal and nothing he left behind. He had nowhere to go, he had never had anywhere to be either. It had always just been himself. After a time this life had become something he saw as both a curse and relief. But hearing those distant noises made him both hope that it would be humans, and something...non human. He was terrified that it would be a human, or more than one. He didn't know how to interact, he barely knew if he could speak anymore. He hadn't said a word for months, didn't need to. But at the same time, the thought of being near people, being able to hug someone or just shake their hand was a welcoming feeling. But the noise died out, and the only thing Frank could hear again was the soft wind in the nearby leaves.


He stood up, stretching out his full length and started walking down the empty streets of the town again. He had met some people on the road, or at least seen some. But some things that he had seen made him wish that he was the only person left alive in this gods forsaken world. People eating other people, hunting them and then eating their freshly cut limbs, disgusting, was what he thought.


As he strolled down the street he walked past a small alley with a big sign across it. "Papa Jones convenient store". He shrugged, looked around and decided to go in. The door squeaked loudly when he opened it. He dragged it open with full force so it would make a quick noise rather than a dragged out one. He entered the store, looked at the dusty and empty shelves with a disappointed look on his face. What did he think? That the store would be full with supplies, food, water and who knows what else. He thought he should check the whole store, so he walked around in there for a good 10 minutes checking everything. And as he was going out, he stepped on an old newspaper, but it made a more "crunchie" sound than it should. He lifted the paper up, and saw under it a Twix bar, he picked it up and held it in his hands and studied it. He felt some kind of happiness when finding this. But, this kind of luck does not exist he felt like, something bad should happen soon.


He walked out, feeling uneasy. He turned to both sides and watched the alley, nothing. As he turned his back and walked back out onto the street which he came from, he heard some breathing from the alley. As he turned he saw one of them, one of the compromised.


Panic started to fill his body, but Frank breathed and turned, started running in one direction. He ran, took long soft steps upon the road. He did not know where he was running, but anywhere was better then being pinned down by one of those. Fire started building up in his lungs, he was tired, and had not had anything to eat or drink for a while. This was a stupid idea, why would he do this? Why did he have to go in there. He pushed away the thoughts, they were of no use now, keep running, keep running, don't stop. That was the only thing he needed to do right now. He had been running for 20 minutes without looking back, and thought that he would do it now, he looked back, and the compromised had not been lost. Running, hopping or what it now did, after Frank at the same pace as he himself ran at. He turned forward, thought of going a bit faster. And then, the unthinkable happened. He slipped outside a big institute on something wet, cold and red. He fell, tried to stretch his arms out but too late, it was in vain. He fell with his head first, instantly becoming dizzy. He tried to get up on his feet, but was too disoriented. He turned on his back, seeing the compromised hopping forward towards him. He tried to scream, but at first no words came through his open mouth, it felt like a desert. Then as the man like creature came closer and closer, now just a few steps away, his voice came back. He screamed at the top of his lungs for help, he screamed and screamed and hoped that there would be people within earshot. He prepared for the worst, hands out, ready to hold off the compromised, and lungs still screaming for air from the exhausting run and the screaming.

 

[Ashmorne]

Chana opened her mouth to answer Christopher. She agreed with both him and Colton, that they needed to establish roles for everyone. When she and Asher first stumbled on the old school turned shelter, she never imagined attracting so many survivors. Just as she began to talk, a wail pierced the air. Chana's eyes widened as it continued, forming a cry for help...a series of screams following it. In an instant, Chana had her knives unsheathed and in her hands. She whipped her head back in the direction of the men.


"We'll establish roles here for sure. But first, let's take care of whatever's going on. Doc, by the sound of that scream...sounds like you might be needed. I'm gonna go check it out, any of you feel up to it...come with me. We'll pick up this conversation in a bit." And with that, Chana took off running without even waiting to see if anyone was following her.


Her mind pounded with a million thoughts that were quieted while she was in the awe of the Greenhouse. Isao is still unconscious. Asher was somewhere in the house. And where was Mel again? She shook her head, and burst out into the night. A steady drizzle made everything hazy.


There was a dark haired man, tall. Looked to be right around her age. He was sprawled on the earth in front of the building. Chana froze when she saw a Compromised advancing towards him, snarling and ready to attack. This man didn't seem to have any weapons at all.


Surging forward, Chana threw one of her knives in the direction of the infected. It buried itself in his belly. The creature froze and screamed, the sound haunting and unearthly. She moved forward as the Compromised staggered towards her, and reached out and slashed the blade across his throat. The look in his eyes made Chana stop in her tracks. It was as though the infected regained his humanity for just a moment, right on the brink of death. He gave a look of pure pain and anguish before crumpling to the ground, dead.


Chana stood there, her mouth open and breathing heavily. She tried to forget the look on the Compromised's face.


F****. What was that. What just happened?





She blinked, her half bandaged side aching. With all the movement, the torn flesh at her side was even more gaping....she shook her head. Colton was a doctor, and even Christopher could help. She crouched, and pulled her knives from the man. Biting her lip, she used her hand to close the dead man's eyes. She would think about that later, it had to wait.


Standing, she looked back at the new survivor. Using some grass to clean off the knives, she inclined her head and tucked them away. She reached out a hand to help him up, the other hand pressed to her side.


"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you. Are you alright?"


Chris and Colton are gonna have their hands full. The Doc probably isn't gonna like this.

 

[Purpl]

Still dizzy from the fall Frank just lied there when a dark haired figure entered the street from inside the institution.


He tried to tell her to be careful, to stay away but no more sounds left his vocal chords. He lied there, watching the following events in a quick event of flashes.


The girl reaches her arm out, her hair sticking to her sweaty face as she looks vigorous.


From the outstretched arm something flies away.


A high groan and a snap of the compromised jaw and it started to move towards her.


Another swift movement with her arm and then everything stopped.


The girl stood there, panting, and holding her side, looking terrified.


When she staggered towards him he regained full capacity again and realised he was still sitting on the ground, muddy, bloody and sore but looking like something out of a sit-com, mouth open, eyes wide making a gold fish like state.


He saw her stretched out arm, but also the pain dancing on her face and her hand tightly pushed to the side. He refused to take her hand seeing he was somewhat unharmed except a sprained ankle and bloody knees and head.


"I am fine, you look worse off than me" he muttered as he took support on the ground with his hands and pushed himself up on his feet.


Standing tall over the girl, he watched her, seeing her eyes flicker as if she was going to faint, but standing there with a serious face and a stern look he could not help a smile.





"It looks like you do not approve of me getting up by myself? I am terribly sorry if i offended your honor or something Miss, but you do look worse off than me and having to drag me up would only cause you more damage then help"





He looked at her with a smile on his face. The first time he had smiled since all this started. It was a relieved smile, a happy smile but also a smile of uncertainty.

 

[Gabe]

Christopher was startled by the scream outside. As soon as he got to grab the second strip of beef to eat, Chana started running to the direction of the scream. "Aww, hell no, I'm starving!" He dropped the beef in a nearby table, pulled the two kukris of his back and ran after Chana. The problem with these kinds of places is that they always bring trouble. And this one doesn't look like a small one. Right after the quick battle ended, Christopher barged outside, ready to attack anything. Instead, he saw a really tall and dirty man, looking to Chana. Christopher's first reaction was to attack the man, but as soon as he saw Chana, her side and the body beneath her, he rushed to help.


"What the f*** is going on? Chana! What happened to your side?" Christopher sheathed the kukris and rushed to Chana's aid, trying to stop the bleeding. "Hurry, get inside, we don't have time to lose!" While aiding Chana, he looked at the tall man, bloody, dirty and tired. "You too! Get inside, no time for introductions! We're sitting ducks here!" He then helped Chana getting inside the building, holding her wound with the sleeve he cut to hide is arms. His burn scars were showing, but this time it didn't matter. There were more important matters to attend.