Fandom 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

[social]

CHAPTER ONE
Escape

“This is getting out of hand!! We need to stop!”

“NO! It’s too late to go back! Keep pushing forward! We WILL liberate the QZ!”

Despite any good intentions that were directed towards the civilians of Boston, this was too much. Everyone knew it. But blind ambition had pushed things past the point of no return. Bombs detonated in every corner of the QZ, between both sides, gunfire being exchanged, no longer caring who their bullets hit. It didn’t take a genius to know that the QZ was falling apart and there was no coming back from it. As the Fireflies pushed forward, their blood-soaked boots leaving trails, the civilians were left with two choices. Stay or escape.

It wasn’t surprising that most stayed. They ran to apartment buildings, basements, sewers, anything that would shield them and they hid away, holding their loved ones close. But a small group didn’t stay, they ran. Clumsily grabbing bags and anything they could carry, they made their way towards the crumbled gates of the QZ. They managed to meet up with others, all cramped into FEDRA vehicles as they fled the place they had been calling home for years. They truly had no idea where they were headed but anything was better than dying like that. They had survived this long, they weren’t going to die because of a stupid war.

The cars rattled slightly on the uneven and broken roads, passing by relics of the past. Broken down vehicles, abandoned suitcases, and even half-buried skeletons littered the highway as they drove, the fires and destruction of Boston getting further and further away. The two cars drove in almost utter silence, only the crackle of the radio when they needed to confirm where they were going based on the map. Strangers brought together by the desire to survive in a cruel world, they had to learn to work together in order to get to Jackson.

Hours had passed until the cars rolled to a stop, blocked by a rather large barricade. There was no way for them to get the cars around the barricade without doubling back and adding additional time to their route, not to mention putting them off their marked trail. They had to climb over and continue on foot. If they were lucky, they would find something driveable on the other side. But living in such a world taught everyone that luck didn’t exist. They just had to hope for the best and continue on regardless of what they had.

look for the light ✩

tagged: junegloom BeyondDandy InTheSea celestialbody

coded by social

Spoiler: uncoded

“This is getting out of hand!! We need to stop!”

“NO! It’s too late to go back! Keep pushing forward! We WILL liberate the QZ!”

Despite any good intentions that were directed towards the civilians of Boston, this was too much. Everyone knew it. But blind ambition had pushed things past the point of no return. Bombs detonated in every corner of the QZ, between both sides, gunfire being exchanged, no longer caring who their bullets hit. It didn’t take a genius to know that the QZ was falling apart and there was no coming back from it. As the Fireflies pushed forward, their blood-soaked boots leaving trails, the civilians were left with two choices. Stay or escape.

It wasn’t surprising that most stayed. They ran to apartment buildings, basements, sewers, anything that would shield them and they hid away, holding their loved ones close. But a small group didn’t stay, they ran. Clumsily grabbing bags and anything they could carry, they made their way towards the crumbled gates of the QZ. They managed to meet up with others, all cramped into FEDRA vehicles as they fled the place they had been calling home for years. They truly had no idea where they were headed but anything was better than dying like that. They had survived this long, they weren’t going to die because of a stupid war.

The cars rattled slightly on the uneven and broken roads, passing by relics of the past. Broken down vehicles, abandoned suitcases, and even half-buried skeletons littered the highway as they drove, the fires and destruction of Boston getting further and further away. The two cars drove in almost utter silence, only the crackle of the radio when they needed to confirm where they were going based on the map. Strangers brought together by the desire to survive in a cruel world, they had to learn to work together in order to get to Jackson.

Hours had passed until the cars rolled to a stop, blocked by a rather large barricade. There was no way for them to get the cars around the barricade without doubling back and adding additional time to their route, not to mention putting them off their marked trail. They had to climb over and continue on foot. If they were lucky, they would find something driveable on the other side. But living in such a world taught everyone that luck didn’t exist. They just had to hope for the best and continue on regardless of what they had.

 

[InTheSea]

Esmeralda Hull had been quick to scribble into her journal the moment they were seated in the cars and making their escape. Her heart had been pounding ever since they jetted from the QZ. It was a different kind of stress. It wasn't the "oh shit, there's Infected" kind of stress, it was an "oh shit, did we actually do this" kind. The first was of a terrifying sort, whereas the latter was exhilerating.

They drove a few hours, which honestly only felt like a few minutes considering the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She didn't really clock who had been in their car either, which didn't really matter in the end as they all had to stop in order to bypass a barricade. Unfortunately, the cars would have to be left behind becasue of it. So be it. Wasn't like she really knew how to drive one anyway.

Climbing over wasn't an easy job. The threat of falling was real and garnering the attention of Infected even more so. But finally her feet touched down on the other side and she looked out into the distance. This was her first time outside. Like, outside outside. Scavenging was one thing, but this...this was a whole new demon.

The girl shifted the backpack on her back before she looked over her shoulder at the ragtag group of people who fled alongside her. Among them was Jack Barone, a man who her father had worked with when he was still alive. She didn't really know him, but there was a small part of her that was glad he had come as opposed to staying in that war-ridden QZ. She doubted the Fireflies would keep him alive.

Though she was a bit of a loner, she was glad that she wasn't completely alone. There was such as thing as strength in numbers, even if she didn't want to get attached to any of them.

After all...the likelihood of them all making it to Jackson was incredibly slim, assuming it existed at all.

scavenger

ezzie.

• aaaaaaaaa
• aaaaaaaaa

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♡coded by uxie♡

Spoiler: uncoded

Esmeralda Hull had been quick to scribble into her journal the moment they were seated in the cars and making their escape. Her heart had been pounding ever since they jetted from the QZ. It was a different kind of stress. It wasn't the "oh shit, there's Infected" kind of stress, it was an "oh shit, did we actually do this" kind. The first was of a terrifying sort, whereas the latter was exhilerating.

They drove a few hours, which honestly only felt like a few minutes considering the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She didn't really clock who had been in their car either, which didn't really matter in the end as they all had to stop in order to bypass a barricade. Unfortunately, the cars would have to be left behind becasue of it. So be it. Wasn't like she really knew how to drive one anyway.

Climbing over wasn't an easy job. The threat of falling was real and garnering the attention of Infected even more so. But finally her feet touched down on the other side and she looked out into the distance. This was her first time outside. Like, outside outside. Scavenging was one thing, but this...this was a whole new demon.

The girl shifted the backpack on her back before she looked over her shoulder at the ragtag group of people who fled alongside her. Among them was Jack Barone, a man who her father had worked with when he was still alive. She didn't really know him, but there was a small part of her that was glad he had come as opposed to staying in that war-ridden QZ. She doubted the Fireflies would keep him alive.

Though she was a bit of a loner, she was glad that she wasn't completely alone. There was such as thing as strength in numbers, even if she didn't want to get attached to any of them.

After all...the likelihood of them all making it to Jackson was incredibly slim, assuming it existed at all.

 

[BeyondDandy]

Look for the Light

Jack Barone

Soldier

The Road

The Boston QZ, caught in the vicious crossfire of FEDRA and Fireflies, was an inferno. The turmoil offered a glimmer of optimism for Jack Barone, who had been waiting for a sign to get out. Jack led one of the few cars that made it through the QZ gates, leading a group of survivors into Jackson, a supposed safe haven amidst the loud explosions and fires.

Esmeralda, a reserved young woman who had lost her father to the infected years prior, was seated in the backseat. Jack had vowed to protect her in return from her father, who had previously saved his life. Alongside Esmeralda, a few others clung to Miss Blanche's tales of Jackson as a place where people could rebuild and find safety from the effects of war and the infection. Before the conflict started, Miss Blanche herself had mysteriously disappeared, taking with her a knowledge of Jackson that none of them could entirely comprehend. Jack had a sneaking suspicion that she had allies or access to intelligence outside of QZ.

Hours passed as they drove, Boston smoke tainting the horizon. However, the road finally caught up to them. Their only path forward was now barred by an immense barrier that was constructed to keep the infected out. Jack listened to the eerie silence as he slowed the car and looked around, his gun grip tightening. The only sounds were his own breathing and the crunch of gravel beneath his boots; there were no birds in the sky as he gazed above.

Jack turned to the others and looked at them sternly. “We go over.” He spoke steadily, but was unable to stop the cold that was descending on the group. "We move on foot," he said. He assisted them over the barricades one by one, his eyes constantly returning to Esmeralda.

Jack was aware that this was only the start of their journey. Jackson remained a hope, a fable. He could sense hope dwindling with every step forward but knew the possibility of finding his family out there was worth risking everything for.

social
InTheSea

♡design by beyonddandy, coded by uxie♡

 

[celestialbody]

T

hey had been driving for some time now and Em couldn't stop her leg from its nervous bouncing as they moved further and further away from the QZ. It was strange. She didn’t care for the place at all, but she had spent years there with her family and now she was leaving…by herself.

She kept her gaze focused on the outside scenery beyond the car's window, trying to distract herself from her anxieties by letting her eyes trace the abstract shape of the desolate buildings. She knew it'd be best to conserve her energy and rest while they were driving, but she couldn't stop her mind from hyper focusing on all the worst possible outcomes that could come about from this expedition. Her own thoughts were consuming her, disallowing her even a moment of levity. Sitting there lost in her own head Em almost didn’t even realize that the group's vehicle was slowing, only looking up when it had fully come to a halt.

There was a blockage in the road and it didn’t seem they’d be able to find a way around with the cars. Great. Sighing to herself she started to help as everyone moved to gather their things from the cars, preparing to continue on foot. Funny, in one of the worst case scenarios that she had thought up in the car during her worrying she had thought that there was a possibility of them losing the vehicles. Though even her own pessimistic mind couldn’t imagine it happening so soon.

Looking up at the barricade Em was thankful that one of the others in the group was helping people over the barricade. She wouldn’t say she was weak but she wasn’t an especially physically fit person either and while she probably could’ve made it over on her own at a slower pace she was grateful for the assistance in the end, muttering a soft thanks as he helped her up.

Dusting herself off as she settled on the other side, Em tucked her hands into her jacket pockets taking the time to actually look over the group members she’d be traveling with from now on. They looked just about as on edge and anxious as she felt, which brought her a sort of comfort. Shuffling a bit to the edge of the group she steadied her mind, preparing herself mentally for whatever their next step would be.

MEDIC

Emiko Sallow

C

hoosing to come on this journey had been a difficult choice for Eden. He really hated change and definitely didn’t like jumping into the unknown but abandoning the sinking ship that was the QZ had been a necessity for him. Even if it meant traveling somewhere he’d never been before with people he didn’t really know. Things with the firefly’s were getting much too heated and the effects of the war were starting to hit too close to home. Especially since finding out that a ghost from his past was a part of the fireflies organization. That was one skeleton in his closet he absolutely didn’t want to face. No, he absolutely needed to leave after finding that out, no doubt about it. But leaving because of necessity and because of want were two different things and Eden wasn’t happy about having to step out of the comfort of his routine.

Pulling out of his own thoughts Eden leaned forward in his seat, looking up as they came to a stop in front of a large barricade in the middle of their path. This happening wasn’t too surprising to him, he’d ventured beyond the walls of the QZ many times for hunting and gathering and while he would only roam so far he knew how hectic and maze-like everything could get outside the structured confines of the QZ. As one of the group members vocalized that they’d need to climb over the obstacle in order to continue he eyed the obstruction in their path, evaluating the likelihood of everyone being able to scale it.

Seeing that the same man was already staying back to help people over, Eden continued on quickly getting himself over and onto the other side without too much difficulty.

As everyone slowly made their way onto the opposite side he walked around a bit, stretching his legs and getting a look at the surroundings, letting his eyes cautiously scan the perimeter.

HUNTER

Eden Sims

 

[social]

Blood rushed in his ears as he leaned back against the seat, taking in the feeling of being in a car again. It had literally been years since he last sat in one. The cold leather squeaked slightly as he leaned over to look at those seated in the back of the car. Two young women, one of which was his neighbor, Helena, were back there, looking rather shocked by the whole ordeal. The dog seated between them looked rather unbothered, simply panting and leaning against the small girl who hugged him, clearly not comprehending what was really going on. He couldn’t blame them.

Turning back to the front, he looked at the driver, recognizing her from her work around the QZ. The blood on her fingertips had finally started to dry and the sweat on the side of her face streaked through the mud and blood spatter, telling a story of something going wrong before she let everyone into the vehicle bay. He didn’t question it because he understood that shit happened. It always did. Instead, he readjusted the bag at his feet and pulled out the map with the haphazardly drawn red road that directed them to their future.

Communicating over the radio, the three F.E.D.R.A trucks made their way further and further from the QZ that everyone had called home for years. The hours passed and soon each vehicle rolled to a stop due to the large barricade that stretched across the highway and of course, it was the only usable one around. So in short, they were fucked. Leaning out the window, Leo narrowed his eyes as he looked around, hoping to find something that would lead them through but he couldn’t see anything. He could only assume that this was deliberately placed.

“Hey you two,” turning in his seat, he looked at the two girls seated behind him and pointed a finger at each of them, “Pay attention out there. Don’t wander.” Turning back around, he nodded at Farah before gathering his things. He got out of the vehicle and swung his backpack onto his back. Walking to the back of the truck, he assisted the woman in removing the various weapons and handed them out to their intended owners. He walked alongside the three women and raised an eyebrow at the older one, her gaze hyper-focused on the barricade.

“Come on. Let’s get over it.” The group moved to a separate area to climb the barricade, and Leo helped whoever needed it, though he insisted on carrying the backpack of the younger girl as she had enough weight to carry as she maneuvered her dog up with her. Reaching the top, Leo rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, looking at the chaos that was in front of them. Empty highway and a city in the distance, he could only imagine who or what was waiting for them. Being quiet and quick was their best solution. “We’re looking for what I assume to be an abandoned railway or something, it’s underground at least so I would bet that’s what it is. But you know what that means.” Spores.

“Spores. Clickers. Lots of other shit.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he closed his eyes for a moment before he continued on, knowing that they couldn’t help it. They didn’t know where they were going so deviating from the plan wasn’t exactly ideal. Once everyone was over the barricade, he did a head count and began walking, not minding the eerie quiet that penetrated every corner of the world at that moment. No cars, no easy way forward, he understood that it was foolish to hope for anything else. But he didn’t intend to dwell for long. It would take about an hour of walking before they reached the city. He just hoped that nothing would notice their presence in the meantime.

Tags: Teagan ( junegloom )| Location: The Highway

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