Post Apocalyptic (Closed)

[RibRipper]

An old gas station could be seen in the distance. It would be slightly beaten down, but still in tact for shelter. The gas station would be coated with red paint, although most of it has faded off to show the metal walls. The sign in front has fallen down, and half of it has been buried, making it impossible to read unless you dig it up. Half of the roof of this gas station has fallen in, and smoke could be visibly seen floating out. As well with all this, the sound of objects trashing around could be heard from inside... there are no windows to see inside(as they all seem to be boarded up), only a wooden double door is in the front to enter it.

 

[Sarah Blume]

Sarah paused, holding up her hand for her group to do the same. Everyone shifted about uncomfortably as they listened to the noises... It had been a rather un-eventful trip so far, and they all didn't want to risk that. Sarah, being the adventurous girl she was, took it upon herself to check it out. Some people protested, saying they should avoid it completely! Sarah only argued it could be a scavenger, a human, and besides the group was running low on rations due to a prior detour they had taken, they couldn't afford another and needed all the food they could, as well their captain and another had fallen ill due to being pierced with poison thorns from a monstrous plant like creature, it was them that needed all the strength they could muster. So the food was spared to them first.


Sarah went on her own, someone behind her a few paces as back up. She slinked to the door and listened for the noises... trying to determine what the creature could be.

 

[RibRipper]

Through the door, the thrashing continued at a seemingly non-stop rate. It sounded like various thing were hitting each other (pots, containers, etc). In a mixture of this, the sound of a muffled man's grunts could be heard very gently... they are not constant, but they keep poping up every few moments. You can also hear a little crackle of fire, which may be linked to the smoke shooting out of the gas station from before.

 

[Sarah Blume]

Pulling forth her spear she used it to slowly open the door.


"Hello?... Whoever's in there I don't want to cause any harm..." She pushed the door open a little further.

 

[RibRipper]

The thrashing stops, the same muffled voice is now screaming for attention as best as it can, the voice sounding relieved and scared simultaneously. The only noises that could be heard now were the muffled voice, and the fire.

 

[Sarah Blume]

The door opens the rest of the way, and in steps Sarah. Displaying much more bravery than she had, as she looked around and listened more for the muffling voice she smelled the slight smoky scent of the fire. Her back up was waiting outside the door, trading worried looks with the others who waited on them at a distance.


"Hello! Answer me properly!" She demanded.

 

[RibRipper]

The inside of the gas station was fairly empty. Most of the aisles were gone, only two empty ones sat in the back, out of the way. Most of the floor was gone as well, leaving about 90% of the floor to just be normal dirt. In the middle of the building laid a fairly well built campfire, surrounded by rocks. There would be a spit over the fire, although there would not be any food attached to it. Also, assorted goods were scattered around the fire, (pans, rations, cans) though most of them looked empty. Near the entrance was a counter, it too was in bad shape... the cash register was still on top of it, however. There was a door leading to a back room behind the counter, the door would be tightly shut and locked.


Next to the fire laid the maker of all the sounds. He was a young man, seemingly in his teens. He was on the floor, face down with his ankles and hands bound together (with rope). He was also gagged with a cloth. Surprisingly, the man looks very well fed (perhaps even a little fat). He wore blue jeans, a leather jacket, and brown boots. He had brown hair, and blue eyes. He looked to be Russian as well.


Once Sarah enters, the bound man shifts his focus over to her. He yells for her attention as best as he can, it still being muffled by his gag.

 

[Sarah Blume]

She jumps, gripping her spear tighter and points it at him. Once realizing what was actually happening she blinked and retreated her hostile advances.


"Oh! Oh dear me... sir!" She then pulled her gardening shears from her belt and went to cut him free. "What happened?" She easily snapped the rope and used her cold hands to ungag him.

 

[RibRipper]

The now free man was not given any time to respond, as the door behind the counter creaked open. Out walked a new stranger. He says in an annoyed and reasoning tone, "Now, Albert... I aint guna take off yer gag until you stop yellin' like a banshee... you an-." he stops dead in his tracks as he notices Sarah over with him.


He looked to be fairly tall, around six feet. He wore a black poncho over his body, with a long sleeved grey shirt underneath it. He had a black belt and blue jeans on. He wore grey cowboy boots on his feet, they looked very worn. His skin was very tan, perhaps even a little sun-burnt. He has a goatee, matching his grown out, black hair. He wore leather gloves on his hand, the long sleeves covering up his wrists. He looked to be a white American, but he had a grey mask covering up his nose up to his forehead.


For weapons, his right hand wielded a brass knuckle, the knuckles looked sharp and stained with blood. He had a brown holster with an antique revolver inside of it, wrapped around his waist.


He had a terrified look fixated on Sarah and Albert, he slowly raised his hands up and in front of him. His southern voice picked up again (sounding scared now). "Eer... ma'am, I aint blamin' yah for thinkin that this looks bad... but please... let me explain myself..." he would be shaking in fear now, sweat rolling down his face.

 

[Sarah Blume]

Sarah got to her feet and stood in front of the now free man, using herself as a wall between the two men.


"Don't move. Explain yourself then." She demanded, pointing her spear at him as she placed her shears back on her hip. She kept a strong eye contact with him, she was strong and alert now, and definitely not hesitating to attack.

 

[RibRipper]

The new man stares at the spear being pointed at him, he never moves his position like she asked. He starts talking again, still frightened "Eeer, look ma'am... I aint good at talkin' with a weapon pointed at myself..." he looks at the floor, with a pondering expression on his face. "How... how bout I lay my weapons down... and we can talk... I have food, you look very hungry..." he says back, looking at Sarah with a now convincing expression.

 

[Sarah Blume]

She looked him over, using her eyes to tell him 'put the weapons down, now.' And the she swiftly returned her spear to its place on her back. Though she kept her hand on her pocket knife.


"Stop stalling, speak." She tried to waver off the fact that she was hungry, not letting him know of any weakness about her. She gave a casual motion that seemed to be nothing more than to adjust herself, but in reality she was signaling her backup to wait.

 

[RibRipper]

The man slowly takes off his brass knuckle, and tosses it to the right of him. He also unties his holster and lets it drop to the ground, he kicks it to the side, next to the brass knuckle.


As the stranger does this, the used to be bound man says "He is a crazy man, do not listen to him." he has a thick Russian accent.


The stranger (looking more calm now) starts talking again, "Want answers now and food later? Aint guna blame yah... I used to be on my toes too, a while back." he wipes some sweat off his forehead. "I'm a mercenary, yah see?" he points a finger at the other man "This youngins' father hired me to capture him, and bring him back home."

 

[Sarah Blume]

She raised an eyebrow, looking to the captive and back to the man curiously. "Oh yah? And what if I choose not to believe you..." She kicked the captive's knee with her heavy boots and turned slightly to look at him. "Oi, you're turn... tell me what you know about the situation." Sarah was the kind of girl that liked to hear both sides of the story before making her decisions.

 

[RibRipper]

The captive man says in an attempt to be convincing tone "No idea why I'm here, this crazy man beat me up and tied me, he is going to eat me or something, you ha-."


The stranger interrupts the captive, sounding a bit angry "Now you and I both know that that is a load of baloney, Albert."


The two men then start to argue angrily over the story.

 

[Sarah Blume]

Sarah grows aggravated and stomps her foot on the ground with a whistle just loud enough to shush them but not loud enough to attract outside attention.


"Seriously, are you trying to attract imps, they'll feed off of your stupidity until your both bone." She rolled her eyes then hit the Russian man in the back of the head with her hand and then flicked the cowboy in the forehead. "Either you both start making sense or I'll take you both as hostages to the districts, and at that point I'll have no control over what happens to you... " Sarah gave a slightly evil smirk...

 

[RibRipper]

"You crazy woman, get away from me, you are idiot!" the Russian man exclaims.


The stranger pinches in-between his eyebrows, and looks at the ground for a while (not acknowledging the Russian's words). He seems more calm now, and he looks back up at Sarah. "You're right, I lost my temper there for a moment... but there aint no reason to make threats, ma'am." He says in a hushed tone, also with a sigh. "I'm guna make one of them wild guesses and say that group out there is with you, please let me explain myself over some food, I might have enough for y'all." he says, trying to hold a half smile.

 

[Sarah Blume]

She winked at the Russian, after all he wasn't wrong. But her attention was quickly grabbed by the hushed tone of the man, and his offer.


"You guess would be correct... good job." She clapped her hands in a sarcastic manner, Sarah got a bit bitchy when she was frustrated and confused... it was a trait she really hated about herself. She perked up at the offer of food again... and the fact there was enough for all of them. "Do you have something warm, like soup or... something that would regain strength?..." She seemed a bit desperate, slightly stepping towards the door to get her group. Her snarky behavior seemed to dissipate when she was offered with the opportunity to put the Carriers before herself, maybe it would make up for almost getting them killed.

 

[RibRipper]

The stranger hastily replies, keeping his voice at talking volume "I have about nine cans of fresh beans that have been killing my back for the past two days." He smirks slightly, spitting on his hand, he then holds it out in front of himself "The name's Mask, ma'am, and you are?"


The Russian man angrily looks at the scene, staying silent.

 

[Sarah Blume]

The tenseness in her shoulders lessened, and a genuine smile spread across her face, she almost looked feminine. Well, until she returned the favor by spitting in her own hand and grasping his firmly. "Sarah Blume, no need for formalities so Sarah is just fine." With that she went to the door, her backup looked at her for any injury, Sarah just laughed and made a few gestures with her hands. The girl nodded and went off to the group to gather them up to the station with instructions to bring the goods and the sick. "Hope we aren't intruding on your hospitality, mind if we camp out here too? we'll be gone as soon as the sun rises."

 

[RibRipper]

Mask meets Sarah's hand with that of a firm one. He grins at the exchange, replying "Sarah... that there is a very pretty name yah got on yah, ma'am."


The Russian man in the back starts to attempt to get up, not trying to be noticed or make any sounds.


The stranger shakes his head at the statement, crossing his arms. "Naw, think nothin' of it." he says with a grin still on his face, sounding one hundred percent calm now "If anythin', y'all are helpin' me out... it can get lonely travelin' alone these days... and a buncha good folks and some beans may be enough to lift my spirits."

 

[Sarah Blume]

Sarah's ears twitched and she felt the movement of the Russian. In one swift movement of her hand she had her pocket knife, she then sent it flying at the man trying to escape. It lodged itself in the wall next to him and silence fell over them.


"Excuse me, you are going no where until I get answers. And I'd prefer not having to tie you back up, because I want to be nice~." At the very least the cowboy was being cooperative with her. "Thank you again Mask, I look forward to sharing a meal with you and your acquaintance here. I'm going to go help my group, and it would be a great kindness if you're BOTH here when I return." Sarah retrieved her knife with a strong tug before walking back out into the rubble of the city to meet her friends.

 

[RibRipper]

Mask chuckles at the sight of the Russian man getting caught, he watches Sarah leave... once she was gone, he gave the Russian a stern look from across the room "You best not run off, boy... your Papa said I'd still get a reward even iffen' you were dead." he says, killing his chuckle.


The Russian man sits back down next to the fire, looking like a mix of anger and fear. He stares at the fire crackling in front of him.


Mask stumbles into the back room (the place he came out of), and looked at the almost near emptiness. He had a orange sleeping bag already inside of the room, next to an old safe. Tools were scatter around it, suggesting he was trying to get inside of the safe. He glared over to his brown survival backpack... it seemed to be filled to the brim. Out of the back, homemade arrows stuck out, and he had a bow laying next to the backpack. He grabbed the backpack, leaving the bow. He made his way back out to the empty room and sat in front of the fire, on the other side of the Russian. He laid his backpack beside of him, and opened it... pulling out a few cans of beans. After this, he grabbed one of the many scatterd pans around the fire, and moved it close to him. "Yah damn near broke these with yer thrashing..." he says giving an angry glare at the Russian.


The Russian does not reply, he keeps his eyes fixated on the fire. They both waited for Sarah and her crew's arrival.

 

[Sarah Blume]

Sarah returns with a group of seven, three female four male not including herself. One man looks completely not happy to be here, another two were too busy getting things set up and making space for everyone, while the fourth was one of the sick. two of the females saw the fire and invited themselves over with more cooking supplies and food to make for the group, the other female was another one of the sick. Sarah tended to the weak, getting them comfortable and safe before asking around if anyone needed help. She did what she could, and again thanking Mask for everything he was doing for them. The snotty looking man sneered at this, putting distance between Sarah and himself.

 

[RibRipper]

Mask holds a grin on his covered face, he nods and waves to the group entering "Howdy, y'all!" he yelled out. He notices the two girls getting cooking supplies out, and he takes it apon himself to pull out the rest of the nine cans of beans, to lay next to the fire. He pokes his head up, asking loud enough to try to get everyone to hear "Y'all mind iffen I use my knife to open these here cans?" "I don't wanna make y'all uncomfortable is all I'm sayin'."


The Russian clenches his fist in anger, his face looking a little red now from hatred. He glares at each member of the group with mean intent on his face.