Parental Madness

((So, uh. Max and Summer are still dealing with her dad. Not to mention Max is still holding a chainsaw… So if you guys can stay in the hallway, since mostly everyone is there anyways…that’d be cool. Me and Nell had something planned for papa-dearest. But he’s still very much alive as well [MENTION=1402]Faith Eliza Cord[/MENTION]))


Summer struggled to get the words out, but when she did Max was more relieved in the situation, the girl looked fairly beaten. As she seemed to gather herself, she yelled at the man at her feet, confirming his suspicion that this was her dad. Maxwell made a choice along the way to stick by her for now, just in case she did need his assistance. The rest of the adults had escaped or been killed by now, and there were only a few of the group left here.


It also didn’t sit well with leaving the girl alone with a man who apparently killed her brother, and she couldn’t fine the strength in her to kill. “He’s not your dad Summer” he tried to help her along the way, remembering when the virus would infect people in movies. They all did it so easily in movies, but he knew that if his dad had come along, he’d be facing the same issues right now.


“Mels is waiting for you” he tells her, not fully trusting the somewhat prone adult figure on the ground, and remembering that Leigh was with Mels. His heart seemed to be calling for her, but he didn’t like the situation right now, he would stay with Summer.
 
Rai looked to the others as she heard them come up behind them, then looked to Will and Anthony still with a slight smile, "Never mind, seems they're here." She then notices as Angelina is put down, that she clings to Hunter and she is crying, of course. She's just a child, she shouldn't have to go through this. None of them should. But Angelina especially. Her eyes soften as she looks down at the girl and she finds herself muttering to Hunter, "Look after her Hunter."


To Hunter of course, Rai's words are ridiculous, of course he was going to look after the little one. Especially when she was so upset. He turned his attention to the sobbing human, not even caring that she was wetting his fur, as he nuzzled against her emphatically, whining with worry for the little being. He licked her tears on her face, as though trying to get rid of them, as he rubbed against her still. He didn't like it when his humans got upset, and Angie now counted as one of his humans alongside Rai.


Rai glanced at Hunter and Angie, checking Hunter was doing one of the things he did best - comforting - before she suddenly felt a warm hand grip hers and she looked up to see Jared had smiled at her, and it was him indeed holding her hand. Even if she wanted to she couldn't stop the instant smile that she gave back to him, also squeezing his hand back as he spoke of leaving the school. She was listening to his words, but every second her mind was reminding her that Jared was holding her hand, she was distinctly aware of his skin against hers, the warm weight of his hand in hers, and she had to remind herself to concentrate.


If she swooned she would probably have to shoot herself from embarrassment.


A thought suddenly occurred to the girl who was desperately trying not to blush and/or swoon, and she looked to Jared, "Uh, I can't drive yet, so do you mind if me and Hunter jump in the car with you guys?" She assumed Jared drove, since they must of gotten here somehow, and he was old enough. Plus, it seemed that Angie and Hunter were becoming inseparable now. It was most likely to be a good thing if Hunter stayed with the girl for now.
 
Summer stumbled a bit and fell onto Max, but she didn't care at all. She was exhausted and in pain and it felt good to just lean on someone at the moment. She had to be strong for her cousin. Mels was young and she was relying on her, but right now? Summer wanted someone else to be the leader. She just wanted to let someone else make the choices. She wasn't sure if Max would mind her leaning on him, but it hurt to stand on her own as well.





"S-sorry. I don't think I'll be able to stand for a long time or walk well. I guess driving is out of the picture too," she said with a dry laugh. She wondered if anyone else was hurt. If Mels was hurt. She hoped she was safe with the other girls, but she still had her problem to deal with. She looked up at Max, her face open and vunerable at that moment.





"I can't do it. I know... I know he's not my father anymore, but I can't do it. Will you..." Summer swallowed, trying hard to get the words out. She spoke them as a plea. "Will you take care of it for me?" She said take care as she wasn't sure if he wanted him to kill her father or just make it so he could not follow for quite some time. "Please. Then I'll go to Mels." He said she was waiting, so that meant that she was alive. At least that part was taken care of.





----





Jillian gave a nod at Anthros. Even if he hated killing, even if it made him sick, he knew he couldn't have let her die. Jillian didn't want anyone to die, adults included, but he had a feeling no one else shared that opinion. It's not one he would be voicing anyways. With people like Rai and Will, Jillian knew he'd be viewed even worse. At least he had done something during this all besides hide.





"You're welcome," Jillian managed to say. "I think it's best if we go and meet up with all the others," Jillian said with a small nod. He'd feel better being around the others. The ones that survived at least. He hoped they all did and as he wondered if Max was okay, his cheeks got warm. He mentally kicked himself. There was no time for that now.





----





Mels didn't know Jared all that well, but he seemed to have help protected them. But when he answered her question, she was scared again. Summer was hurt? What had happened to her? Jared didn't look like he was upset and her 11 year old rationalized this as he didn't care about her. But Mels did. It didn't matter how badly hurt she was. Mels couldn't loose her too.


Tears sprung up and Mels looked away, ignoring most of the conversation and what was going on. She didn't want anyone to see her cry. She's be considered a baby and she wasn't one! Mels was a big girl. Big enough to have been some help to her cousin. She had done as she was told.


Still feeling self-conscious, Mels realized that Jared had said more to her as well. "As long as I'm with Summer, I don't mind."
 
When Summer uses him as a ‘wall’ to lean on, Maxwell actually has to exert force on himself to not back up, not freak out and not hyperventilate. The girl was really hurt at the moment, and despite the situation the fact that a girl, an older girl, was depending on him. She apologized of course, but he was too busy getting over the fact it was happening to respond to her. The boy tried to remain strong, and hold her weight, but as she starts telling him she can’t do it, he realizes it’ll take another kind of strength.


Summer wanted him to take care of her father. Max hesitated, unlike any other character in the movies would, a moment of hesitation was what got you eaten by the giant octopus. He needed it though, to actually look at the girl leaning on him, and make sure she was alright with this. Her father was no longer the one that cared for her, but for him to be the one to put an end to that…


She might not forgive him.


It’s too late, as he notices a movement and attacks the body at the feet. The awful sound it makes, the resistance against his weapon, and the horrible mess that comes of it makes him bare down. His feet planted and his eyes averted, but he’s covered in blood no matter what, it only takes one cut, and he does it fast enough that he doesn’t have to suffer. Also so Summer doesn’t have to recognize his face.


The blade seems to run out of juice by then, and he sets it down after making sure it’s off, and turns to Summer. The girl had pleaded with him, but she probably didn’t expect this…not knowing what else to do in the uncomfortable situation, he slips his arm behind her head, and covers her eyes. Quickly slinging her own arm over his shoulder, he awkwardly tries to help her towards the hallway.


Everyone’s there already, but Max is covered in blood yet again and his blank stare doesn’t seem to take them all in. Why didn’t he feel like the main character of a movie…?
 
Summer had turned away. She licked her dry, cracked lips as she waited for Max to kill her father. She couldn't believe what she had asked him to do for her. She knew that this was a moment she could not take back. She had asked - pleaded - with a near stranger to take the life of her father because she could not. Logical thoughts rushed through her head. He would kill her. He would kill Mels. He was a danger. He had almost killed her already. This is what had to happened for her and her little cousin to be safe.


But it didn't make it any easier.


She choked back a sob. How could she show how grateful she was to Max for doing this for her? He didn't have to. She felt so weak and confused in that moment. She felt like a little girl except this time there was no mommy and daddy to protect her. She had to be strong and keep going. She looked at Max, but she knew what she had to do now. She forced herself to turn and look at the body of what was once her father. She choked back another sob. Even if it was the right thing it hurt her deep down.


"I'm sorry...dad," she whispered. Then she let Max lead her away. She was glad he covered her eyes. Even the small glimpse she had. It would haunt her dreams. Still she let out a cry of relief when she saw the others and Mels ran into her arms. She stifled her cries of pain as she lowered herself and hugged the girl.


"I'm so happy you're okay," Summer said into her hair, holding her so close. "I'm so, so happy."


"Summer. Please don't leave me alone again."


"I won't. I promise."
 
There was a moment after when Summer had forced herself to look at her dad and tried to keep herself from sobbing. It was probably that, probably why Maxwelll felt like complete and utter crap at the moment, the guilt for doing it. She said she was sorry, but Max was worse off, even when and if this thing was over Summer’s dad would still be dead.


He would still be a murderer. Not a hero, not the main character that found the cure and saved them all. He bit his lip, making it bleed, but Summer’s cry of relief reminded him of the one girl that he knew would still be there. As he looks for her, he sees Leigh behind her brother and approaches her with for once, confident strides.


It’s not that he had just done what was necessary, but it was that he needed her. Even though they were so close to Jared, he hugs her tightly to his frame, nuzzling her hair and smelling her. It was Leigh. Despite the blood that covers him and the weight of what he just did, his girlfriend was there and she would stay that way. He grabs her face and looks at her, “I’m so happy you’re okay” he tells her, honestly, rubbing the sides of her cheeks.
 
*is sitting on a low hill watching*wisperes:whats happened to this world....last i remember parents are supposed to help there children, not try to kill them*thinks to myself id have no idea what a parent, or family is like so that was stupid to say (my characters parents died when he was an infant and hes been pretty much on his own since then)i walk into town and see a few bloody scenes*wow....where is everyone?*my voice echoes through the city making me easily heard*
 
(runeofflames- you must sign up on my character sign up sheet before you post. Most people do not allow you to simply post without doing so first. However, I am going to tell you now that this rp is for very literate rpers, and you will not meet the qualifications to be accepted for it.)


Angelina continues to cry quietly as Hunter seeks to comfort her, her arms tightly around him. She can hear the dog's heartbeat against her chest, feels his tongue licking her face and cheeks, and after several minutes her tears become snuffling. Eventually she smiles just a little, and whispers where only he can hear. "That tickles."


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Jared watched her briefly, making sure that she was not hysterical and needing stronger comforting than the dog could give, before looking back to Rai, whose hand was still in his. Somehow the girl looked happy...he couldn't attribute that to just him, just holding his hand, could he? Because they had all survived? That had to be it.


But then Rai is asking if she and Hunter can ride with them, and it's all Jared could do not to smile too. Like he would want it any other way.


"Of course," he tells her, nodding. "You can sit up front with me, let Hunter in the back with the girls. Angie needs him, and I think Leigh does too. Because...if Hunter's there, there won't be room for Max."


He smirked slightly at this and squeezed Rai's hand again. He just wasn't ready to let go.


Mels was speaking to him again, and he turned to smile at her as kindly as he could manage. She was just a little girl too, though much less vocal than Leigh about her fears, and he told her, "You'll be with Summer, Mels. She'll need you, I bet."


As if on cue, Summer and Max stagger out of the classroom, crusted with blood, both appearing dazed and traumatized. When Max grabs his sister into a tight embrace, Jared's fingers tighten in Rai's, and his jaw clinches, but he relents again. His sister does need someone to hold her, and...well...Max has obviously had a hard night too.


Still, she wasn't riding in the car with him.


Leigh hugs Max back, her chest hitching with her emotion, but manages not to cry as she presses herself as close to him as she can get. "You're...bloody...Max did you....are you hurt..."


"He's okay," Jared cuts her off, not wanting to hear Max have to go through the details of what had just occurred. Jared too was bloody, and now that he had looked at his sisters again, they too had picked up sloughs of blood from hugging him. Pulling Rai by the hand, he said to the group at large, "I'm really, REALLY glad everyone is...well, alive. But we don't have any time to waste. We have to move, and we have to move now. Everyone grab what we need and get in a car, we don't have time to shower or change or anything else, this place is like a target now. I'm thinking we need to head to the woods, and fast, before it gets to be light out again. Anyone have a better idea, let me know."


Finally letting go of Rai, he knelt beside Angelina and patted her back gently. "Come here, Ange, we're leaving now...Hunter's riding with us." Prying her arms from around the dog's neck, he picked her up again as he turned to face the others.


"Rai, Hunter, and my sisters are in my car. Everyone else, figure it out together. If Summer can't drive, someone else will have to drive hers."
 
Maxwell doesn’t speak to Leigh for a while, simply just cuddling her as Jared answers the question about where all the blood came from. Then the boy is quick to turn into the leader yet again, as he is grateful for everyone that made it out alive. It soon turned into a pep talk though, as the boy told them they had to move, and they had to do it soon. Everyone just had to grab what they needed and get in a car; he supposed now that Summer couldn’t drive and one of the other boys had an injured shoulder still that he or Jillian might have to take the wheel.


They were heading into the woods which were the best idea for the group; it was a large area where the parents might not exactly find them right away. There was a problem with visibility though and he hoped the group would stick together so they wouldn’t get lost. As Jared tells them of his car’s seating arrangement, Max realizes he’s still trying to keep him and Leigh apart.


Thinking of the people present, he’d much rather be with Jillian out of the people remaining and as long as he stayed away from Kurt, he’d be okay. “I’d like to stay with Jillian if I can’t be with Leigh, then” he notes, looking back at the boy with a grin. “So me, Jillian, Anthony and…Anthros?” he suggests, trying to stay away from chef Kurt, and figuring Anthony was injured and couldn’t drive all that well anyway. “Then Grey can take Summer’s car with Her, Mels, Kurt and Will” he finishes. Although their car might be a little packed, Mels was indeed small enough to fit on someone’s lap.


“Is that alright with everyone?” he wonders, suddenly getting self-conscious of his ideas, and realizing that he still had Leigh to his chest, loosened his grip and just left an arm slung around her shoulders.
 
Summer lifted her head to see Max go over to one of the girls. She raised an eyebrow, but she said nothing, still hugging her cousin. It was not her place to judge, even if she didn't understand it. Maybe they had a good reason or maybe they got together due to the world going to hell. Summer always assumed people did that when things went wrong. Clung to one another. As long as it didn't get creepy, Summer didn't mind it.


Although it seemed her brother did. She didn't blame him. She parted from Mels, who seemed to be doing better now that she knew her older cousin was okay. She still looked unhappy.


"I'll be fine. I'll heal quickly." More of a wish than anything else. When Max offered who rides with whom, Summer found herself to be nodding. "Yeah I'd be fine with that." She looked at those who would be riding with her, looking at Grey again, smiling a little.


Jillian was surprised by Max's comment and turned away, hiding a slight blush. He just watched him comfort his girlfriend. He should have better control over this. It would do them no good. But if Max couldn't ride with Leigh and choose Jillian as his second choice. Well that made him rather happy to know. At least Max liked him and he couldn't help a somewhat goofy smile.


"Do you want to drive or...?" Jillian didn't mind driving. He had calmed down from the fighting and unlike the first time, he wasn't shaking or distracted. Maybe this time he knew he had to keep it together. Jillian was still trying to prove himself worthy of the group. He wasn't sure when he'd stop trying. "I can drive. In case none of the others want to."
 
Anthros nods and follows Jillian to meet up with the rest of the group, albeit shaky in the legs. She watched as the others discussed transportation and where to go, it seemed that her group was going to split up, Will and Grey in one car while she and Anthony went with others. She knew Grey hadn't any bonds to any of them, but what of the other two, hadn't they been together since before this all went down? Nodding her head, just wanting to get away from all the bodies, she looked around trying to place the faces of her comrades, a few of the names were still swirling around in her head and haven't matched up with all the faces she saw now.





Grey watched the forlorn faces. These were all just kids, and already had been to hell and back. Sadly this was only the beginning... but he couldn't think about all of that now, he had to focus on the current mission. Resupply and transport. Nodding in aggreeance to Jared's words, he hoped that the kids could fare in the woods and keep from attracting attention. But perhaps it was the best bet, on the plus side they could be taught survival skills out there that could end up being the difference between life and death.





Noticing Summer look his way after they started setting up means of transportation he gives her a reassuring smile, and beckons her over. “You will have to show me which car is yours, but first want to help with the supplies?” He would leave the bedding and random supplies for the others to scour through, his main concern was the packs he had assembled earlier. Finding his mark he would start to gather them, ready to pack them into the vehicles.
 
With everyone in agreement, and everyone assigned a car to get to, Jared set to work loading up everything they could cram into each vehicle that they might conceivably need for survival. Blankets and clothing, toilet paper and utensils, plates and napkins, food of all kinds, matches, towels, soap...sanitary napkins, medicine, and first aid kits from the nurse's office, sanitizer, and of course, every weapon they had. Angelina was of little help, and Jared let her be, allowing her to remain near Hunter for comfort as he, Rai, and Leigh loaded their car. Then, with everything packed, he situated his sisters in the back with Hunter, motioning for Rai to join him up front. He made sure everyone was packed and ready to go before taking the lead, driving off.


It was night time, still dark outside, and Jared was relieved to see that it appeared that most adults were not out and about, and those that were could not tell in the darkness whether or not the teenage drivers were adults. Still, he instructed Leigh and Angelina to hunch down as low as they could in the back, so their clearly young forms would not be made out in the shadows.


The girls were very quiet as he drove, even Leigh, and Jared didn't talk much either, frequently glancing back at them, over at Rai, and at all times remaining alert of their surroundings as he drove. He couldn't afford not to be vigilant, not under these circumstances.


Jared knew there were woods near the school, only about five miles away, but he didn't go for those. No, he drove for nearly an hour, to a section of forestry that was as far as he could think of from any towns or suburbs. Here, they would have their best chance...here, maybe they could hide out until the world changed back. If it ever did.


If not...he guessed they'd get really good at the natural lifestyle.


There wasn't much he could do to hide the car, so as he parked, he said aloud to the others inside, "We're going to have to walk a long way still...gonna have to go in deep. Angelina, you have to hold someone's hand."
 
Will nodded in response to Rai, trying to grin a little at her cheerful tone. It contrasted strangely with her blood-splattered appearance, but she brought good news. The children were safe. Jared was alive- as he demonstrated by emerging from the cafeteria.Their impromptu leader was taking control again. Will was glad to just follow.


Anthony and Will followed the others back through the hallway, finding the rest of the group.... Covered in blood, standing near the classroom full of dead bodies. Morbid. "Everyone's alive?" breathed Will, looking from one person to the next. Max! Where was Max? And Summers? Mels seemed to be looking for her as well. Jared was holding Rai's hand, Angelina was off a ways with Hunter.


The rest of the group arrived, showing that- in fact- everyone had survived. It was... Amazing. They'd held their own against a group of crazed adults.... Or, at least, the others had. Will had run.


He was relieved. He hoped their luck held....


Max was standing with Leigh- like always- and Jillian. Kurt, Anthros, and Gray were there. Summers had arrived.


Jared was moving on; he was discussing transportation. Max was to be with Jillian. Jared was with his sisters and Rai. Max jumped in, dividing the group into the two remaining cars; Anthros was in the Subaru as well as Max and Jillian, and the rest were in Summers' car.


Wait. "Wait," said Will, addressing the group in general as they discussed who'd drive. "You guys know that car's mine, not Anthony's, right?" He turned to his friend, who just gave a shrug and a weary-looking grin. Anthony, really, didn't know how everyone was acting so normal. He'd been in fights before, shed some blood. He knew the boundary between killing and wounding. Finally having taken a life.... He didn't know what to think.


"You can drive your car," Anthony said.


"Alright," said Will. After all, the other boy would have trouble driving with his hurt arm.


The two helped gather supplies. After dwelling for a while, Anthony decided to bring his guitar. It was stupid, he knew. It would take up space, playing it would attract attention; Jared wouldn't approve. But if they were going to hide out in the far-off woods, he wanted a reminder of the world before it went insane.


Will gave it half a glance as he carried non-perishables to his car. Maybe music would be nice.


Soon, Jared was pulling out of the parking lot, and Will was slowly following in his own car. Anthony had taken Will's place in Summer's car. Both were silent. Will felt himself getting sleepy as he drive, but he kept his attention strictly on the road and the car in front of him. Now wasn't a time to be resting.


Finally, they arrived. Will eased the car to a stop, then wearily opened his door.
 
Jillian looked at Max for a moment, glad to know that they wouldn't be separated. It wasn't like the group was splitting up for a long time or for good, but Jillian would admit to liking the presence of the other boy a lot. He knew it was stupid of him to have a crush on not only a seemingly straight guy, but a taken one as well. Although Leigh could be too young for him and...


No Jillian would not go down that thought path. As much as he liked Max, he had no intention of breaking him and Leigh apart. Besides the fact it would be futile and Max would still be interested in females.


Moving on from that he glanced back at Anthros the girl he had rescued. He walked over to her and moved to place a hand on her shoulder and then pulled away.


"Are you going to be okay? It's okay to say no," Jillian told her. After all he sure wasn't going to be okay for a while. More blood on his hands. Would he ever wash them clean again?


----


Summer turned to Grey with a small smile, feeling her face get a little warm.


"Sure. I won't be driving, but I think I can do all of that." She looked back down at her cousin with a stern look. "Stay by my side." Mels nodded. There was no way she let herself be separated from Summer right now. Not after what had just happened and her older cousin's current state. She didn't want Summer to help the man with anything. She wanted her to go and sit and let him do it himself, but Summer seemed to want to help.


Mels went along with it. It seemed that Summer might like the man and she almost asked a few times. But when she saw the look on Summer's face, she kept quiet.


"So I'm glad to see that we have all made it out of that alive," Summer said, fishing for a conversation as they all got ready to go.
 
Jillian question reminds Max that he is also able to drive but before letting him Will cuts in with the fact that it’s his car. So it was decided that Anthony and Will would switch spots, the latter of which would be driving the Subaru. With the seating arrangement finally settled, he started gathering the supplies much like Jared recommended.


While he had the chance, he also changed his shirt, uncaring now of what lied underneath but rather just wanting to shed himself of the reminder of what he did. Although he was trying to get Mels and Summer into their own car, he was also trying to avoid Summer just so there was no reminder. The time would eventually some, most likely in the woods where they would have to be next to each other and he hoped by then he wouldn’t feel so guilty.


Jillian had strolled away to talk to Anthros, and now that he was in a cleaner shirt he stood next to him. Eventually all three of them would climb into the Subaru and he’d claim a back seat, waiting as they drove down the endless road. Eventually, they stopped at the forest and Max looked around wearily…in the movies the parents were usually already here…
 
Anthros watched the group running around getting together, they seemed so organized, efficient. Like a killing machine. Closing her eyes and shaking her head of such a thought when she opened them Jillian was approaching. He reached out and she braced for the touch, unable to remember the last time someone had squeezed her shoulder in encouragement or anything comforting. But fighting and deaths were on her mind. After a few moments she realized he didn't even touch her and had asked her something, giving herself a moment to let her brain catch up she finally heard his words in her head. Anthros offered a brave smile, or at least her attempt at one. “I will be” she said nothing at his attempt and uncertainty of it, hell she felt uncertain about everything now. Perhaps it was time to change. “Thanks again... for everything” Giving one last smile she went to help gather supplies before jumping into the car, surprised that it was now Will driving, and that Anthony had gone in another vehicle.





Grey would nod at her acceptance, only to watch her interact with Mels. They were cousins... or was it sisters? Either way the pair seemed close, a good sign when the youth would have to rely on her for a lot, hell in ways she would help Summers as well. Distracted by his own thoughts of family and bonds he didn't notice Summer's issue until they were collecting the bags. “What's wrong?” he asked, watching how she moved. And here he had pegged her as a slow walker, just how much have the past few days wore on him now? “Here, use me for support” he spoke more so as a command than a comfort. He couldn't help but to smile at her exuberance, but with a leg like that she had to take it easy and keep it on the mends, unless she wanted to worsen her condition. Yeah, she most likely needed some sort of cast. Good thing they were heading towards the woods, there would be many a supplies to help craft an impromptu one.





“Let's keep those odds in our favor” Grey would respond when Summer spoke up about everyone making it. So far so good, but the idea of them all making it through, it seemed too good to believe. Still Grey was one to fight til the end, even if it was a so called lost cause, so he liked his odds. His group was a strong one, he just hoped that joint efforts could keep them all together and that none of them lost it. When he got to the driver's seat he adjusted the mirror and looked back to his new comrades, it was something of unease being in a new car with new strangers. The idea of their faces always shifting and changing made him think of losing and regaining companions. Yeah so much for together, centering himself so that the negativity wouldn't plague him Grey started the car up and fell behind the other two vehicles, keeping his eye on the rear view mirror making sure no vehicles would follow.


When they got there Grey started handing out supplies and tried to evenly distribute the necessities before turning to Summer, more so to her leg. "Hop on" he said moving so that she could climb onto his back and hold on rather than walk through the wild with whatever injury she was maintaining. Making sure to maintain a pack of his own and a knife at quick access he would start the trek almost blind, and swallow back curses if and when he fumbled some. Navigating the woods in the dark wasn't so much a problem when you were by yourself, but having another dependent on you for motion made each movement that much more and threw him off some without sight to counter the balance.


 
Jared waited about five minutes for the others to come up behind them and to join them in taking up their needed gear for the woods, not talking more than necessary. The truth was that he was beginning to heavily feel the impact of his weariness hitting him, and to have conversations just to have them would drain more energy than he was willing to put out. With items slung over his back and under his arm, Angelina dragging on one hand, leaning heavily against his side in a wordless request he did not grant her to be lifted, he already feels much too weighed down.


All he wants is to sleep, but he knows the chances of this are faint. They have to hike a considerable distance into the woods, then they have to set up their site and make it halfway comfortable and safe. He would have to soothe Angelina to sleep, possibly even Leigh, make sure Leigh wasn't sneaking off to do something with Max he didn't even want to think about, and he would be stunned if one of them didn't have nightmares that would make them wake up screaming. Hell, he would be stunned if HE didn't.


He couldn't think for more than a second or two at a time about everything that had occurred today, or all he had to keep doing from each day forward from now on would seem all too impossible. No, it was better not to sleep at all if it came to that.


Leigh, of course, seemed nowhere near sleep as she paced around him in a circle, her eyes anxiously scanning the horizon for the car Max would arrive in. Once he had piled out with the others, she made a beeline for him, throwing herself at him.


"I wish you'd ridden with me...did that girl...or WHATEVER... try to touch you or anything?" she said in a loud whisper that could clearly be heard by several, her eyes cutting to Jillian as she possessively slid her hand into Max's. "Max, sleep by me tonight, I don't care what Jared says..."


"Jared cares what Jared says, we're all tired, Leigh, just stop it," he snapped back, and Leigh lifted her chin, her voice rising up shrilly in her protest.


"Why do you CARE, what does it MATTER, everyone is dead, what does it matter when everyone is dead and we're not gonna get to do ANYTHING anymore, and we might even DIE-"


"We are NOT going to die, now stop it!" Jared cut her off, looking quickly at the wide-eyed Angelina clinging to his leg. "Everyone...just start walking. Let's go."


He wasn't really in the mood to try to sound diplomatic anymore, but then sighed, realizing that he did sound harsh. "It's late...if we're going to set ourselves up tomorrow, we need to get to sleep soon."


The walk in the woods was tedious and difficult, to say the least. There were only two flashlights for them all, and so they had to move very slowly and carefully to pick their way through the forest. At one point, Angelina stumbled, scraped her knees, and started to cry, hugging Hunter around the neck and refusing to walk anymore, and this meant that Jared was forced to carry her near dead weight too as well as all the gear he was hauling. Every step felt painful and very, very slow going. It was difficult to tell if everyone was keeping up, and though he didn't encourage talking, just in case there were in fact adults somewhere about, he was sure they were making considerable noise.


They had walked for what he estimated to be nearly an hour before he finally decided they could go no further, at least now, and he set down his gear and Angelina, slumping with relief. "This is enough...set everything down, get out the bed stuff, and let's just go to sleep."


He opened up the backpack he had stashed items with, taking out the spare clothes to make a bed for Angelina. At this point he was so tired he could just lay down with nothing to rest on at all.
 
Leigh would throw herself at Max when she noticed him, complaining about the fact they couldn’t ride together and asking him if Jillian touched him. Or rather, in the way she put it ‘that girl…or whatever’, Maxwell turned a rather peeved look on her. “Why does it matter if Jillian touched me or not?” he emphasizes his friend’s name, and asks her why she seems so jealous.


Jillian was a friend, and no matter what he looked like; it didn’t mean he acted like a girl…or liked what girl’s liked. Max glanced worriedly at Jillian, hoping to look apologetic for his girlfriend’s antics. Leigh wasn’t done yet though, as she grabbed his hand and asked him to sleep by her tonight, which confused him. The girl really was jealous of Jillian, and Max couldn’t see why, it seemed like she just wanted to cling to him.


Even in the circumstances, the young girl being worried he may leave her, for a boy none-the-less made his annoyance grow. When Jared denied the two their love affair, he did not speak up, but he should have expected his girlfriend to. She reminded him of death, of the people who had died and he was forced to remember Summer’s father. Once again, he remained quiet; he was far too shy and awkward to fight Leigh, and he tried to remember her good points.


Leigh liked him.


Was that really it? Was he really with this girl because it seemed nobody else in the world would be with him? In the movies there was always that character with a vain cheerleader girlfriend, that you would always hope be killed first. Although he would never say the same about Leigh, he couldn’t help but notice the parallels between the characters.


As Jared yelled at the girl once again, he did no move to comfort her, even pulling his hand from hers when they began walking. This time, he let her be yelled at a little, she crossed the line by calling out Jillian as if he was gay. Maxwell looked at his friend, slowly diagonally his path to walk next to him, and punching his shoulder lightly.


“Sorry about that” he mutters, stuffing his hands in his pockets and looking him over again…There was no way Jillian was gay.
 
Rai felt sort of numb as the others spoke, as they gathered supplies and piled them into the car, even as they piled themselves into the car. Everyone was talking, everyone was acting as if this would go away, as if one day the parents - the still alive ones - would wake up and realise they loved their kids, that they didn't want to kill them. They all seemed to think that it would just go away.


Rai admired that, but in L4D the zombie apocalypse never ended. The zombies didn't just change back one day. No. The people just survived, every, single, day. They would have to do the same.


She watched the siblings argue, noting Leigh's pessimistic attitude - sure Rai didn't think the adults would turn back, but she did think they could survive, together. She stuck close to Jared as they trekked through the woods, telling Hunter to walk to heel and smiling lightly when he did so. She moved forward to grab Angie when she fell, but Jared beat it to her and carried the girl. She subtly took some items from him, lightening his load, though he probably didn't notice, he seemed a bit out of it too. They all did.


Rai almost sighed out loud with relief when they FINALLY stopped, and she noticed the others' seemed to be having the same thoughts. Simply nodding to Jared's words, she went over beside him and began to unpack with him. She didn't notice how, when laying the beds out, she sub-consciously put hers beside Jared's, Angie on the other side of her. Once everyone had made a bed for themselves - some making beds for others - she sat down on her area, looking around at the battered, beaten, still-surviving group.


"Everyone get some rest, if you wake up and need to pee or something, go in pairs okay? Don't go anywhere by yourself." It may sound strict, and gross, but it was necessary, the girls could just go with the girls and the guys go with the guys, simple. She looked to Angie then as she lay down, speaking directly to the girl who looked on the verge of passing out from tiredness, "Angie sweetie, if you need to use the bathroom at any time let me know okay?" Even if Angie was a kid, she still thought the girl might want an older girl to go with her rather than her brother. Sure she could always ask Leigh, but Rai wouldn't mind being woken up; she had a feeling Leigh might.


-------------------


Hunter meanwhile, had kept up with the group, sniffing around at the surroundings occasionally, but still sticking to Rai's heels like glue. The walk of course didn't bother the energetic dog, it was quite nice for him, and he couldn't sense any danger immediately nearby, so he was relaxed for now, but ears pricked up in case any sounds did occur. When the group of humans stopped, all seeming to be panting with exhaustion, he realised it must be time for bed, and watched as they all made beds.


He was very proud of his pack for defeating the evil, and for sticking together, and was glad both his Rai and his little being were both alright. He waited until Rai had settled down in a spot, and noticed with a wag of his tail that there was a nice spot for him to curl up inbetween his two favourite humans. He crept over to them, then circled his spot and laid down, his head on Angie's leg and his butt against Rai's leg. He let out a content sigh, eyes still open for now as he kept one ear up, listening for sounds.
 
Jillian nodded at Anthros. He felt Max's presence nearby, but for the moment his attention was on her. In some ways he felt that the two of them were alike. Maybe he could talk more to her later. But being around her also brought up memories of what he had done. Self-defense. To protect someone. Jillian could not justify the kills he had made. Not to himself despite how the others may view it. It filled him with guilt and he felt like he might cry.


He turned and looked at Max. For a moment, he wanted to hug him. Find some sort of comfort in his friend. But he knew better. It might be okay for two girls, but if Jillian hugged Max, it might be taken the wrong way. He might want it to be taken that way. For another moment, Jillian wished he was a girl.


He moved silently into the car and was quiet for the entire trip. He kept on glancing at Max and a little at Anthros. He was sort of glad he had used up his gun. If they had to fight, Jillian would be running. He couldn't do it again. Couldn't kill again.


He was still upset when they reached the place. He was kind of happy though for Max's presence. Even if he couldn't date him, it was enough for now being friends and being close. Even if it was a little awkward for him as well.


"...did that girl...or WHATEVER... try to touch you or anything... Jillian looked at Leigh in surprise to see her looking back in a way he did not think he'd see coming from her. It hurt her words. It wasn't enough that Jillian knew he couldn't be with Max, but now she was feeling jealous? Why would she feel that way? It didn't make sense. Jillian was no threat to her relationship. Maybe it was enough that he took Max's attention and time, attention and time that Leigh didn't get to have then.


No matter the reason, it hurt. Jillian choked back tears. He was already a loser. No need to show everyone that a twelve year old had made him cry. He had started to walk off on his own, but Max seemed to have left his girlfriend. The boy looked at Max, confused and then smiled a little.


"No it's okay." But it wasn't. They could die and getting upset because of a girl's fit because she thought that Jillian might steal her boyfriend shouldn't matter right now, but it felt better than dwelling on their possible deaths. Just a little.


----


Summer wasn't sure if this was right. Mels was silent as she helped her cousin and the others. She giggled a little when Grey went to help her cousin out. Summer looked at the guy and blushed a little. She hadn't been one to really date before and she had always been shy about guys she liked. She thought about Max's and Leigh's relationship. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a guy in the apoloyplse. As long as they didn't distract you.


At that moment though, Summer took Grey's help as friendly not flirty. As more of a need than because he was worried. She assumed that he was, but Summer had a feeling having a wounded member of the group was not good. Any way to make her heal faster would be good.


Summer nodded and leaned on Grey. She looked at him quietly during the ride, answering her cousin's questions and talking to her in a hushed voice. At least she still had her cousin. Her brother was gone and now her father was. She was somewhat happy that Max was not in the car with them. She was thankful, so thankful, for what he did, but she felt that neither of them wanted to be reminded of it as well. She wondered if it was his first kill. She wondered why he would do a thing for a stranger. Maybe she should ask him.


But once they got there and she heard the guy's girlfriend yell she thought maybe some other time. She blushed again at Grey, but she got on his back.


"I won't be too heavy for you?" Mels giggled again at her cousin and she looked down at her cousin. "Don't go off on your own Mels. If you need anything, just ask me - or Grey if I'm not around."
 
Leigh blinked at Max's somewhat harsh tone, seeming thrown by his reaction. When he asked her why she was jealous, her mouth dropped open, and she immediately protested.


"I'm not JEALOUS, I mean you wouldn't want to be with him...or her...whatever...right? I'm not JEALOUS. I just...I mean, it's not...normal. It's weird, so..."


When Max pulled away from her, walking over to Jillian, she stared after him, stunned and increasingly anxious. Why was Max leaving her, why was he going to Jillian? Why did he even like Jillian? How could he when Jillian was so...so...


"Max, are you mad at me?" she called after him, her voice rising slightly, incredulous, but also insecure. "Why are you mad at me? Why are you going to HIM?"


Both embarrassed and irritated by her behavior, let alone what she had said about Jillian, Jared grabbed Leigh by the arm not quite as gently as he could have, pulling her back towards where he was settling with Rai and Angelina. Keeping hold of her, he shook his head hard.


"Leigh, stop. Listen to me, I'm serious, if I hear you say anything like that to Jillian again...just don't even try it," he warned her quietly but very meaningfully, even as Leigh blinked, still seemingly not comprehending his attitude.


"WHAT? I didn't do anything, it IS weird, it ISN'T normal, it's-"


"Just STOP," he said, not knowing what else to say, as he glanced to see if Jillian was listening. "You don't say things like that, and no one is going around here saying things that will hurt people's feelings, we've got enough shit going on now without you starting something unnecessary. Just STOP."


He didn't know what else to say. It was obvious she wasn't going to be very accepting of something she seemed neither to understand or be comfortable with, especially if her boyfriend appeared to have no problem with it. As Leigh threw herself down next to him, glaring into the darkness, Jared lay down beside Rai with a sigh, clinching his jaw.


"I don't know if it's all twelve year old girls or just my sister, but sometimes I want to do her a little violence myself," he muttered under his breath to Rai, then stiffened when he realized the implication, immediately correcting himself. "Not really. That wasn't funny. I never would...I would never hurt her, ever. Sorry."


After a few moments he reached tentatively for Rai's hand, and it was like this, connected to her lightly, that he fell asleep. He couldn't have explained why he did it, exactly, except that she was close, she was someone he could feel somewhat understanding of...and it was that much easier to drift off.


Of course, he didn't stay asleep long. People were moving and snoring, and every slight sound made him bolt awake, afraid that an adult was approaching. Angelina woke up crying, having wet the bed, and it was necessary for Rai to take her to change. Leigh woke up shortly after that, shaking and crying as well.


"Vicky's going to kill me," she gasped, reaching out for Jared with needy hands. "Vicky hates us...Vicky's going to kill us..."


Jared had hugged her and patted her back somewhat helplessly, not knowing what else to do or say. It was possible, after all, that she was right...and it was his fault that he had been unable to kill their mother when he had the chance.


All anger from earlier towards his sister had faded entirely away then as he tried to calm her. He had never asked for this, to be responsible for her, or for Angelina either. But he was now. He was all they had, and they were all he had to, when it came down to it.


It was a good twenty minutes before she would resettle to sleep. By that point, Jared was pretty much up.


It had occurred to him by the time most of the others were awake that they needed to find a source of water. They would not last long at all on what they currently had.
 
Will shut the car door gently behind him, somehow feeling that slamming it would be unwarranted. They were in the middle of the woods, far from any adults... but it was night, they were all tired, and there was a sense of tension floating about.


They were all mostly silent, anyways. Will went to retrieve the supplies he'd be carrying from Gray, nodding in acknowledgement instead of speaking. He gave a worried glance at Summer, who was nearby; but Gray helped her soon.... She and Anthony had been the only two to get any extreme injury, somehow. Thankfully.


How many adults, however, had died?


Will watched dolefully when Leigh began talking. He didn't know how she still had the energy to speak so much; maybe it was just her way of dealing with it. Chattering. One of the neighbors' kids at his apartments had always just become more and more hyper when she got tired, which had always seemed backwards to Will. It helped ignore the exhaustion, he supposed.


Anthony, holding his supplies on his good shoulder, walked up by the other boy. After a moment- as Leigh yelled at Jared, and then at Max- he opened his mouth, as if he was about to say something, but changed his mind and started following Gray into the woods instead. What a strange group they were.


Will always tried to stay neutral in his opinion of others, but Max's relationship with Leigh just sort of left a bad tinge on things. In this place, though, it seemed to matter less. The entire world had changed, and rules weren't the same.


All the yelling and argument was still tiring, though. And Will was exhausted. He was totally drained; now that he'd been still for a while, the entire day was catching up to him. Repeated adrenaline spikes, car chases, knife fights, adults crashing through the window. It had been a lot, and Will just wanted to sleep.


The two boys didn't walk as much as stagger into their final destination. When the end of their trudge was announced, Will just put down his pack and fell on the floor. Who needed bedding, anyways? The floor was comfortable.


He laid there for a little bit, while Anthony went off and began making some bedding for himself. Just a sheet spread on the ground, really. After a moment staring at Will on the floor, the boy went and also threw a blanket on his old roommate. Will started, rising and looking at Anthony; but he was already asleep.


"Thanks," he muttered hoarsely, and laid back down on top of the blanket.
 
Jillian was saying it was okay, but for Max it really wasn’t okay that Leigh was implying things about his friends. The girl immediately jumps on his use of the word jealous, inferring that once again the two boys would be together. This time the teen doesn’t care about the implications of their sexual preference anymore.


“What if I want to be with him!?” he shouts at her, but suddenly pursues his lips, slightly embarrassed for shouting. The statement came out slightly weirder than he was wishing it to be, but Leigh keeps badgering him, asking him why he’s mad at her. Max was mad because she kept poking at Jillian, and he was sure the boy had enough of that with dressing like a girl and all. Jared pulled her back and although he couldn’t really tell what he was saying, he hoped he was setting her straight.


When Leigh once again called it weird, Max found himself calling out the same word as her older brother, ‘Stop’. They had already made it to where they were camping out and Max did his best to simply just make a bed of leaves, staying far away from Leigh for the moment. Finally giving up and lying himself down on the make-shift bed, he sighed.


The others were getting comfy in their own beds, and Max spared a look at Jillian “Let’s get to sleep, Jillian” he notes, finally settling down. It takes him a long moment, but he falls asleep.
 
Jillian tried hard not to cry. This was becoming a mess. He didn't want to get between Max and Leigh. If they were happy together, then good. Even if he did like Max, he wasn't going to interfere with his relationship. Yet it seemed that he already was even without making a move on Max of any kind. In some ways, Jillian was happy that Max (and Jared) were defending him against the girl. He was happy to have found a friendship so soon.


He blushed at Max's words though even if he knew it wasn't meant that way. Still it felt good to know he had a friend and that Max wanted to be with him even if he was a cross-dresser. If the world was going to Hell, Jillian felt happy that he had found someone who accepted him without question.


He laid down not realizing how tired he was. He smiled over at Max and nodded. "Good night." He let sleep take him, hoping that tomorrow would be better.
 
When Jared opened his eyes, most of the others were still sleeping. He slowly, carefully pulled away from Rai, so as not to disturb her, should she want to sleep more, and stood, walking with deliberate softness in a slow circle just beyond the sleeping forms of the others. It was occurring to him now that never again would it be safe for him to be alone, to have time to himself to think...this, waking before the others and remaining within sight, might be the closest he would ever have again.


It bothered him, but it also bothered him that no longer being able to have privacy bothered him. How could he possibly be selfish enough to care, given everything that had happened?


How had Vicky and the others found them, last night? What would make them decide to check on the school? Were they systematically going from building to building, looking to eliminate any survivors, or had it been a rather unfortunate coincidence that they had found them? And if they were organized, then did that mean that Vicky would never give up, that she would keep hunting until she found them? Did that mean they would all eventually find them in these woods?


What about their supplies, how would they remain in the woods indefinitely? They would need to find water, but could they safely drink it? Could they bathe in it AND drink it? Could they have enough to last? What if it didn't rain? What if it DID rain, and ruined all their few precious supplies?


Could they remain warm enough, in the winter, and avoid heatstroke in the summer? What about wild animal attacks? What about poison berries or other plants-would Jared be able to tell the difference and keep the others from eating the wrong types? What if they ran out of food and couldn't hunt or gather enough? What would they do when their clothes were beyond being able to wear? What if someone got hurt, badly hurt, or lost? Summer's leg was already so bad off...they would have to send people into town as a team, to get more of what they needed. But how? They couldn't go to a store, not with adults running it. They couldn't risk their old homes, and how would they know if any home was unoccupied or not?


Jared was still worrying when he saw Angelina stir, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. He whispered her name, giving her a faint smile when she looked over at him, and hoped that Leigh would not awaken soon. Just a few more minutes without having to deal with her....
 
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