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She had been in the city for a few days, moving by night. Emily stared up at the building in front of her. She was crunched down beside an abandoned car. The hood of her sweatshirt had fallen as she tilted her head back to stare up. Her long dark hair was greasy, lack of washing would do that. Bathes were rare in this new world where the dead came back and people were sometimes the more deadly threat.
She adjusted her pack a bit and glanced up the street. A group of shambling dead were crossing the street up there and she decided it best to be patient. Time. That was something she had. Why rush it? If Kiro was in there, he might see her and come down, right?
She glanced at the alley behind her. So far, nothing. She knew she had been lucky, so far, but she needed to find a place to hold up and hide before it got too dark. She had hoped to make it inside and be back in her old bed, but it looked as if she may need to wait a bit and could end up out here tonight.
Her hand gripped the police baton. She had found it in an abandoned cruiser. No gun, but she wouldn't have taken that anyway. She didn't know how to shoot them, and wouldn't risk hurting an innocent person.
Slowly , she pulled back from the car and slipped into the darkness of the alley. She needed a good place to defend herself, while she waited. She felt to open and exposed staying by the car.
At the sudden flash of her movement, the zombies paused, slowly tilting in her direction. She wouldn't see them, he was sure. She'd already vanished into the alley. The three intellectually bankrupt, decomposing sacks of meat stumbled a couple steps while Allen thought to himself for several seconds. He should head back- she was the perfect distraction for his escape, which required that he get around those three. On the other hand, his brother would kill him if he caught him letting anyone die when he could have stopped it. "There are so few humans left in the world. We need to stick together.", he'd say. Allen grumbled under his breath, drawing the katana that stuck up over his shoulder as he stood.
"Yeah yeah. Quit your preaching."
He gently tapped the blade against the side of a car, causing the three to turn back. He drew the dark green bandana up over his mouth and cracked his neck. As the Z's stumbled forward his right hand whipped up an severed the head of the lead one. He kicked it's chest back into his comrade, causing both to collapse to the ground. He'd take off the leg of the last one, causing it to fall harshly beside him. Turning, he stomped on it's head, smashing it into mush. Then he walked over to the other fallen Z, wincing from the feeling of squished brain on his shoe. He stabbed it through the head and started off toward the alley.
Assuming she was still moving through it and hadn't turned back at the sound, of course. He'd follow after, wanting to get close before talking.
Emily had heard the sound coming from behind her. She didn't look back though, she sped up. She didn't want to get caught in here. She figured it was the dead behind her. She moved faster, as the sounds changed. She heard thuds, like something falling.
Emily slowed and decided to look back. She saw him then, standing in the alley, coming for her. He wore a mask and carried a blade. He looked like some psycho killer from a horror movie. She wanted to scream, but that would draw attention. Instead , she froze. MOVE! Her mind screamed, but she couldn't. He was coming closer and she felt like she should do something.
He was larger than her, by , alot. She stepped back from him as he got closer, and held up her hands, gripping the baton, "Stay back." She hissed at him. If she got a little further back, she could snag the fire escape, maybe, get away. Her eyes stared at him, as she took another step. His eyes and forehead were all that were visible to her. He was American, white, or so he appeared, it was dark down here. Emily looked at the sword. Funny, her father had one of those.
As she spoke, he blinked and slowed to a stop. He was totally oblivious to what he might look like for a moment, before he glanced down at the sword. Slowly, he raised his other hand, palm out as though to say "It's okay" and slowly lowered himself toward the ground. He set the blade in front of him, the tip pointing to his left to indicate his lack of desire to hurt her. Then he raised the other hand in a "I surrender" or "don't shoot" way, coming back to his full height. He spoke in a hushed voice, likely just loud enough to hear.
"S-sorry! I won't hurt you."
He brought his hand back over and slowly pulled the bandanna down to hang around his neck. He had a little of their blood on him, but none in the mouth. Best not take any chances. He'd take a step back away from the blade. He wasn't worried about her taking it- he had his gun if she tried anything, though she didn't really seem like she wanted to hurt him either.
"You...you're the first person I've seen since...since it started. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Allen."
He couldn't really see her face, what with the darkness of the alley but...damn if she wasn't stunning. His face heated furiously at that thought, not used to such things coming to his mind. Thankfully they were both in the dark, so it was highly unlikely she would be able to see or register that.
Emily watched him, as he set the weapon down. Her eyes stared at his face as he lowered the bandanna. She didn't know him, but he was an American, and white. Why did he have a sword? She lowered the baton a bit, but didn't put it down like he had. It was one of her only weapons and she wasn't about to give it up.
She heard his voice and raised a brow, 'really? there are alot of crazy people in this city." She stepped closer, worried their voices would draw attention. "I just got back a couple days and have seen groups." She glanced around, then felt stupid. He could be lying, trying to get her to lower her guard.
She stepped back away again, 'Emily." She looked down the alley, "I ..guess I owe you a thank you." She wanted to get out of the darkened alley. "I used to live there, I'm looking for my brother." She glanced up and then heard a sound, like someone shuffling a bottle along the road. "We need to go." She didn't wait for him, she turned and went up the fire escape. She didn't stop at any of the entrances into the building, it was too risky. She didn't know what was inside, instead she headed for the open area of the roof.
Coming up into the lowering sunlight, she squinted. She glanced down to see if he was following her.
He heard the shuffling too, his pupils dilating a little from the jumpshot of adrenaline that flooded his body. As she turned up the fire escape he moved forward, picking up his sword and re-sheathing it. He'd follow her up quickly, pulling the bandanna up again to cover his mouth. He would push himself up without much ado, not paying attention to the girl (which, of course, meant she would have an opening to attack him if she wanted.) as he did so, trusting that they had bigger things to worry about.
Once up top, he'd let out a little breath and look around.
"I hate to tell you this Em....but I've been all over this area of the city. There's nobody left that I can see. When did you last see your brother?"
It was odd. An odd coincidence. See, he'd been struggling for the last two years to track down his sister, Phoebe. She'd been lost when the shit hit the fan, and he'd only stuck around in the hopes that he would find her. He knew, at this point, that it was unlikely. She was probably...one of them. But if it was more recent that she lost her brother...he'd do what he could to help.
Emily stared out at the city around her. She could see the larger buildings in Manhattan from here. She stood very still, hands on the side. She glanced at him as he spoke, 'I...don't know, it was awhile ago." She wasn't sure about trusting him, but she had to hope , right?
She turned around and faced him. It was best to be upfront and honest, right? She stared at him, as he looked like some kind of wild west outlaw. Emily wanted to laugh, but restrained herself. "We were getting out, my parents were bitten, and the city was burning, and we got separated,I was taken, but I got away and just found my way back here."
She looked at him, 'Have you been in that building?" She pointed at her old home, 'is it safe, do you know?" She wanted desperately to get inside, to see if there was something, anything. Hell, she just wanted to go home. Home. It was like some kind of a dream, to be this close and still so far away.
"Allen, how have you stayed alive here, I mean, 'she felt embarrassed, "I mean, alone." She didn't want him to think she was insulting him or anything. Most all people she saw coming here were small groups. You needed other people to help you. "I need to find Kiro, I can't be alone." She stared down and saw a few rotten corpses walking around.
Allen turned and looked at the building. Most buildings like that were locked down....due to the dead inside. People locked them in so they could more freely explore the streets. He actively avoided them, except in cases where he heard people needed help. He'd shake his head.
"Most people stay away from those buildings because of the dead. Very rarely will I go inside them because of the risk involved."
He turned back, looking her over. Without the building blocking his light, he can see that his assumptions were right. She was an angel. His heart thudded in his chest- not just because of that, but because he'd been alone so long. Having company- any company- was a gift. He searched her eyes at the next question, then reached up and scratched his head.
"My brother is ex special forces. Pretty much since I could walk, he'd give me training exercises and tried to teach me survival techniques. He used to keep food and weapons at my house, which I used to just stay inside for several months. After that I...never came out in the day, and only got what I needed before going home."
He'd glance at the building, taking a deep and slow breath. Dammit Allen....this is exactly what got you killed. Turning back to her he gave a big smile, and though she wouldn't see it, she'd probably see the happiness in his eyes.
"Well, let's search that building then. Together. I won't leave you til we find him. Then, if you or both of you want to stick it out with me, We'll go from there. How about that?"
He was really putting himself out there. For all he knew, she could be bait. To take advantage of him and slit his throat in his sleep. But...he trusted her.
Maybe it was her eyes. He chose not to think about it. Unstrapping his sword from his back, he'd hold it out to her.
"Here. You can have this. It'll work a little better than your baton, I think."
Last Edit: Apr 18, 2016 14:15:57 GMT -5 by Deleted
Emily stared at the building as he spoke. She was confused for a moment, 'Wait, you mean, it's full of the corpses, or actual dead?" She didn't want to think about that. Her brother wasn't dead! She leaned against the wall for a moment, she hadn't thought this through. Would they be there, her parents? Had someone locked them inside?
Emily felt like she was shaking, but she looked at her hands and saw they weren't. He spoke and she tried to smile at him, "Fine, we can stay together, but I won't make you do that, I won't ask you to risk yourself to help me. It's my burden, mine alone." She saw him hand her the sword.
Why would he do this? You never give up a weapon. She stared long and hard at it, and took a breath as her hands reached for it. "w...where did you get this?' Had he found this? Was she mistaken? It looked like her father's, the one Kiro had been wearing the day they got split up. "Allen, I, can't go in there, if my parents could be in there, their dead bodies, or worse.." She couldn't think of killing her parents.
Allen knew the code- to never give up a weapon. But he wasn't about to leave someone with nothing but a nightstick to fight back against the walking dead. Especially when she seemed very...uncertain. Unwilling to fight alone. He wanted her to be or feel confident. He'd shrug.
"It's no big deal. The only things that separate us from them is rational thought and capacity to care. If something happens to me, I want it to be because I'm helping someone do something noble."
He chuckled.
"That sounds really stupid and cheesy but I suppose I can't take it back now."
He'd tighten the shoulder straps.
"My older sister. She loved boxing, and our mom brought her that sword as a birthday present. Was a gift from one of the Japanese delegates she met in japan. It's no model sword though- so no need to be careful with how you use it."
He figured, since she agreed to stick with him that they would be together a while. He furrowed his brow.
"You sure you don't want to check it out? I mean...if...if something did happen to them, I could...I mean...wouldn't you want to know?"
Last Edit: Apr 18, 2016 15:00:26 GMT -5 by Deleted
Emily shook her head, "I do, but I won't ask you to risk that. " She looked at him and held the sword out to him, "I can not accept this, it was a gift to your sister, it is special to your family.' It was old world traditions, but her father had been very strict in teaching his children.
Emily looked at the building, 'I know my parents died, they, were bitten. But if, if they have been locked away inside our home, I can't, I won't kill them." She shook her head and balled her fists.
"Are you sure, that building has corpses in it. Can we look? If it does, then it is decided, but if it looks clear, i do wish to try. Kiro could be up there." She was struggling to hide her emotions. She wouldn't let him see her cry. She must never let a man see her cry, especially an American man.
She glanced at him and moved back to the fire escape, looking down, she saw it was clear, and headed down.
Allen shook his head, backing away from the held out sword.
"No. You carrying it helps us both. If we're gonna be together, I need you able to bring them down not stun them. To defend yourself properly. One strike, one kill. Think of it as a loan, if you need to. You can give it back if you ever want to leave."
She at least wanted to take a look inside and he could understand that. Nodding, he'd clear his throat and let her down the ladder first. This...was a weird day. He found medical supplies, canned food, and now a companion. He didn't know why the God's chose to smile down at him all in one day but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He could tell by how she spoke, responded and carried herself that she was clearly ingrained with tradition. He loved it. That culture still mattered to her and to the world. He headed down the ladder and hopped off, pulling out his knife and burying it in the skull of the Z that had been coming toward them earlier, sneaking up behind him to do so. Then, he drew his handgun.
"C'mon."
He'd start off at a very light jog toward the building, heading along the side toward the back door, where a chair had been wedged under the door to hold it in place. He'd wait for her to arrive before peeking in a window to see if anything was moving. He saw nothing.
"Alright. We take a look inside, see if it's over run, and go from there right?"
Emily took the sword, "a loan." She gripped it as she went down the stairs. She watched the corpse that was ambling around, but didn't kill it. Allen did that when he got there. She had waited for him.she was true to her word and would stay with him.
She ran behind him, he jogged, but for her short legs, it was a run. She stood and tried to see inside, but was far too short. He said it looked clear, so she nodded, "We look, if it's too bad, we leave, that is the plan."
Emily smiled at him and walked up the steps. She waited for him to take the chair away, and unsheathed the sword. In her hands it looked far more deadly, for some reason. She knew how to use it, a bit, from watching her father and brother over the years.She was by no means an expert with the blade though. Emily nodded that she was ready, and then spoke, 'Thank you."
He gave her a little nod and pulled the chair away, pleased that she hadn't argued about the sword. She probably had as much training and practice as him- really all he knew was that the point end could poke people and the sharp side cut stuff real well. He also knew to keep it up to par, so made a point to find a whetstone. After pulling the chair aside, he brought the gun up and rested it on top of his left forearm, his left hand clutching the knife pointed out toward the door. He flipped the safety off and would gently open the door. He'd whisper.
"So we're clear...I've never been in here, so I don't know if there are dead, or if they are your parents. So...don't give up hope."
He'd step inside, unfamiliar with the layout but knowledgeable on breaching tactics. He pointed the gun to the right and left, listening intently for the slow and dull shuffle of the dead. He didn't know if he should let her lead, since she did know the place but...he figured if one of her dead relatives wandered around a corner, he should be the one to put them down. He glanced at her.
Emily stood frozen for a moment, hesitating. His voice broke her out of her own thoughts. He had never been inside. She shook her head, and answered him in Chinese. She paused and blanched, "sorry, I, we were never allowed to speak English at home, only Chinese." She looked at him and stepped past him. "I'll go."
It made more sense for her to lead, it was her building afterall. No power, no elevator, so she headed for the stairs. Emily listened as she walked. Funny how she didn't seem to make any sound, even though it was a tile floor. Her hand gripped the hilt of the sword. She stopped at the apartment just beside the stairwell entrance. She heard a thud against the door and groaning. It made her cringe, but she quickly returned to her stoic expression.
"That was Mrs. Wong, nice lady." She shook her head and pushed the stairwell door. If the dead were shut up in their apartments, best to not let them out.
The stairwell was dark, and Emily froze. She heard something and scrambled into the pocket of her jeans. She pulled out a pen shaped object and he would hear a click as a small beam of light spread out before them.
Allen let his eyes move over her face quickly, to check and make sure she was really okay. She seemed hesitant. Careful. He wouldn't answer her in Chinese- best to keep that a secret, for now. He knew five languages- Russian, English, Chinese, Japanese and German. Again, mom worked for the government so....he was raised with pretty powerful restrictions. He had to agree to learn stuff she wanted so that he could play baseball or do track or swimming.
He shook the thoughts from his head and followed her inside, closing the doors behind them to prevent any little nasties from sneaking up and dismembering them.
Once at the stairs, he pointed the gun over her shoulder. As the light came on, he'd check with her to see if any Z's were creeping. At the same time, he glanced quickly around them. The buggers liked to pop out. He also glanced back at the woman Em spoke of- her neighbor. He frowned, tempted to open that door and give the woman some mercy, but would continue to follow Emily's lead.
The light shot through the darkened stairwell. She didn't see anything, but boy did she hear it. Her eyes went wide. It sounded like quite a few had spotted the light below them, "Move, we have to more, top floor."
She held the light and the sword, and glanced at him, "Now." She hissed at him, as she started up the steps. Emily was hustling, as the sounds starting ascending. She did not want to get stuck in that stairwell with any corpses.
as she came around on the third floor landing, a hand grabbed her ankle. She plunged forward. The blade in her hand, she came down on top of the corpse, the blade going through it. Better it than her. Its jaws snapped out, trying to find flesh to put between it's teeth. She squealed, and kicked, trying to get up. It felt like it was an octopus with eight arms, but hands instead. In truth, it was a half corpse, and only had two hands.
He came up behind her without argument, his movement being the silent acknowledgement she needed. He'd take the steps two at a time behind her, and as she fell on top of a walker, his heart clenched. He couldn't lose the only other human he'd finally found in this broken ass world. Reaching forward, he'd aim to grab the back of her shirt and lift her up and away bodily, having sheathed his knife.
Pulling her away just enough to be clear, he'd push the barrel of the gun against its skull to dull the sound of the blast as he pulled the trigger. He was still holding her aloft with one arm, so he'd set her down after making the Z's skull look like a grenade went off inside. He'd pull the gun back and quickly use his finger to pull out any gunk from blocking the opening while kicking the hand off her ankle. Then he grinned smoothly, like an idiot.
"No need to thank-"
One of the Z's grabbed him from behind, Allen turning to plant a palm against it's chest in sudden shock. Holding it back, he was forced up against a wall but was able to keep it's chomping, moaning maw away from him. His teeth grit under the bandanna. He was trying to raise his gun but his arm was pinned against the wall-
Emily couldn't believe how he had listed her away. She was struggling to find her feet, and didn't even have a moment to speak ,before a corpse attacked him.
The one on the landing had slowed them down and allowed one from below to catch up. She didn't think. It was a instinctual reaction. Her hand found the hilt of the sword and she pulled hard, releasing it from the mangled dead. She lifted and brought it swiftly up and plunged it through the corpse attacking Allen. She drove the sword through and it's tip stopped just shy of Allen's nose before she yanked it back, "Let's go." She looked up and the way seemed clear. She started back up the stairs, two more flights were all they had.
She could hear thumping as she passed the third floor stairwell door. She hoped it wasn't like that on the fifth.
He blinked as the tip of the blade poked through the head. Woah. O-okay. Best not take his eye with her....she seemed practiced though and withdrew quickly, Allen easily able to push the body down the stairs if he wanted. Instead he lowered the walker to the ground, not wanting to make anymore noise and, despite himself, allowed his eyes to find the woman's bottom. He blushed and looked away quickly.
'Dammit Allen...show some class.'
This was neither the time nor the place for admiring butts. He'd draw his knife again and continue forward with her. He was impressed by her level of commitment and control, able to return to attack without a second thought. She could have stuck him through the head too and gotten away with all his stuff.
Shauna Kelly: That helped, thank you
Oct 4, 2021 14:40:44 GMT -5
Ayita Hunt: dang, January was my last post.. Jeez it's been a hot minute. o7 guys, sorry for the complete disappearance, life got.. a little interesting this year.
Oct 18, 2021 22:34:19 GMT -5