Forums » General Roleplay » Rot World (ENDEDed!)

Jai kicked, slowly but eventually making it to shore. He lifted himself out using his elbows, his harms were too cut up to move. Without hesitation he grabbed the shard of glass that was embedded in his right hand wrist with his teeth and pulled it out swiftly, spitting it out and almost wanting to cry In pain.

He stood up and made his way over to the others but a few steps were all he was able to manage before his vision blurred and darkness slowly crept over them. A few meters away from Nick, Jai fell flat, knocked out.

"Jai!" Nick exclaimed in concern, but he didn't dare turn his back on the Savage. He kept the remaining ones at bay while Atlas's chainsaw attracted the rest. Eventually he himself was in the clear, freeing him up to help Jai. "Jai, Jaiden, can you hear me?" He said frantically, but received no answer. "Damn it... come on, we need to get you somewhere safe." He said as he lifted up Jai's unconscious body. It took some effort, but with Atlas's "distraction" he was able to get Jai to the shack. He set the boy's body down and began checking just how badly he was hurt. "Shit dude, you're really banged up." He said. He figured that Atlas had the Savage horde covered, his priority now was to protect Jai, he wasn't going to die like this... no, not like this, not if he had anything to say about it.

Atlas watched Nick start to carry Jai toward him, "Dude shack barely held one person!" But the sound of the chainsaw was too loud and Atlas backed away giving the two the chance to get in the shack. The door was busted off the workbench was the size of a raised night stand but it was something. A Savage drifted over that way and Storm took his head off.

The straggling Savage lay in bits on the ground as Atlas powered down his new weapon, he pulled the flesh bits from the metal dragons teeth and headed to the garden shack. It was too small for another to enter, so he stood outside, it kind of resembled an out house looking building.

"He's bit isn't he..." Atlas sighed, by now the Savage venom would be coursing threw his veins, if it had been early on they could have chopped the limb off. And if they had the equipment they could have tried a blood transfusion but it was too late... "Wake him up," Atlas wasn't smiling, he was jerry rigging a sheath for his new weapon but he had stopped, "are you going to end him or will I have to?"

Jai's skin was pale, his lips were dry and he felt a burning sensation in his chest. His partly blinded eyes opened up a little, he coughed a little blood onto the floor and groaned. Sitting up weakly "I cam-e so f-far" he was wheezing every time he took a breath. He looked up at Atlas with a frown "no one has to, just leave me with an arrow" he raised his shaking hand and pointed at one of the arrows in the quiver he gave to Nick earlier.

He sat back against the wooden wall to get comfortable "I surv-survived only t-to find a c-cure" he said looking at Nick "I find him" he chuckled a little, cough too "only to get bit, cut and bruised on m-my way to ou-our final destin-ation" he groaned a little "Nick, take thi-is letter" he slowly reached into his right pocket and pulled out a small white envelope with dried blood covering the edges and dirt dried around the corners "a keep going on the r-route and stop when yo get to the s-second town" he placed the letter into his hand "before entering the to-wn, you will see a small house with border up windows around the outskirts way away from the town itself. Knock three times, wait 2 seconds then knock twice" he looked up at Atlas "Push..." Darkness crept over his slowly numbing body bit he kept himself awake "push the door open and you will know what-t to d-do" He managed a pained smile as he pulled an arrow from the quiver "take my bow as well... You'll need it"

Nick was frozen, he couldn't believe what was happening, he opened his mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. He desperately wanted to say things like don't talk like that, it's ok, you're going to be alright, and so on, but he just couldn't bring himself to utter those blatant lies. He may have not known Jai very long, two or three days at the most, and yet they've already been through quite a lot. He never really had many friends, not even from before the world went to hell, but he did know what it was like to lose someone you were close too, he hadn't felt like that since his family was taken away from him... that is, until now. There were so many thoughts racing through his head, as well as emotions through his heart, after what felt like ages of inaction, he took the items Jai offered to him, a few stray tears escaping his eyes.

"This is all my fault..." He finally said. "If I could've just made it out of there myself, found a way to escape like I always did before, then... I'm sorry Jai, but I promise you we will find this guys, we WILL put an end to this nightmare, no matter what it takes, we'll finish your mission."

Atlas pulled Nick out of the shack and he knelt down taking Jai's hand, and he bit down hard. No tears just determination as he felt the blood on his teeth, he turned and coughed, "sorry buddy," Atlas wiped his mouth out with his sleeve, "A savage bite did that to you I just thought maybe..." The body slumped to the floor, Atlas guided it down.

He stood up and examined the wood, "you've got a match right Nick?" He looked around, no Savage, just the bitter cry of their off spring. "Say your good byes and light it up." He took the bow from Nicks hand and slung it around his shoulder. It had been about three days of knowing these guys, and already they were his brothers, already they were laying one in the dirt. He spat into the dirt, his saliva was red, not black anymore. There was a cute in his bit after all. But no bite could cure death.

Jaiden just smiled softly at Nick "it's not your fault at all man, in this world, a death is never a person's fault when they look after the other, remember wh-what I said when we met?... Never lose hope.... Y-your my brothers... If you guys think for a second you two are to blame... I'm gunna haunt you guys so bad"

Jaiden just took inhaled deeply through his teeth at Atlas' attempt at helping him "heh, thanks man, but I don't think that's gunna cut it..." He felt the cold wood against his back again "now go, b-both of you and thank you... I'm glad I wasn't al-alone in the end" he managed another pained smile. Grasping the arrow in his hand he placed a gentle hand on Atlas' shoulder and looked between the two "lo-ok after each other... Don't talk to strangers" he said chuckling weakly

He waited for then to leave, he smiled as they looked back at him until their faces were gone, hidden behind the hard wood of the shacks door "it's amazing how... Out of all the places to clo-ock off... It just so happens to be a run down bloody shed" speaking to himself as he looked around from the corners of his eyes.

He brought the arrow up to his temple and took a deep painful breath. A tears streamed down his face "at least I die human" he whispered hoping they would burn the shack after a few minutes. Plunging the arrow straight into the side of his head, sending himself into complete darkness...

He lay lifeless... A blank stare junto nothingness... Not a twitch... No sign of the raise and fall of his chest... Just complete... And utter... Silence...

Nick silently left the shack, Atlas at his side. He looked back one last time to see Jai's smiling face as the door was closed on him. The two stepped back away from the shack, they waited for a few moments, they knew what Jai was doing in there, they didn't want to interrupt. The world was going in slow motion as Nick reached into his pocket and brought out a small back of matches, there were only three left and he took out the closest one to his hand. He slid it across the box, lighting it, he stared at the dancing flame, somewhat... no, EXTREMELY hesitant. He looked over to Atlas, as if looking for the "ok". Once he received it, he looked back at the lit match shaking in his hands, until he finally threw it, the flame making contact with the shack door. The old, dry wood caught fire instantly, it didn't take long for the whole thing to go up in flames.

Nick lowered his head, closing his eyes, feeling the bitter sweet warmth of the flame. Memories began to flood into his mind, of his first meeting with Jai and Atlas, of their raid on the Yellow Jacket base, all up till now. And somehow, in his reminiscing, he found himself thinking of his family, of the days before Rot World, and the time it had just begun. It was strange, to think that Jai had been in his life for such a small, insignificant amount of time, and yet he valued that time just as much as the ten years he spent with his family. He always thought he was fine with being alone, that he had gotten used to it, but in the end he was a human being, a social creature, and even he longed for companionship. Without even realizing it, a river of tears streamed down his face, he made no cries, no whimpers, perhaps a sniffle or two, but the water that flowed from his eyes was immense. He stood there, with the last companion he had left in this cruel world, and finally said the words he should've said before.

"...Goodbye."

Nameless James

The group had gotten tired, they passed a house all alone thinking nothing of it, "Lets set up in this town for a few days." Nameless enjoyed the looks of relief they gave him, everyone settled, each to a different house. "Get some good rest! In about three days we will have full water and gas for the bus."

Nameless tucked in for the night even thought the sun was still setting, "night friends, night yellow jackets!"

They didn't know it but they were right outside the town Jai had told them to find. Joplin, was a pretty big, but it was still only a town. and it was the one of town big towns between Oklahoma City and Kansas City. Broken Arrow, and Joplin, "Soon samurai, soon!"

Atlas put a hand on Nick's back, "we have a mission now, we can't say here and cry about him." Atlas lead Nick around the river and eventually up to the road, the tried searching for a car with any sort of gas in it but most were destroyed and empty. "Two towns," Atlas smiled, "two towns and it will all be over." He was a bit glad that they didn't even have to go all the way back to St. Louis, only two more towns.

"What does the letter say?" Storm asked as they began to walk towards the heart of Oklahoma city, "What are the instructions?" He was ready to see Jai's will in threw to the end, no matter what it took. Blood, bites, bandits, it didn't matter, as long as he didn't run into Nameless James again he would be good. And what would make him ever think he would, they were heading in the opposite direction of where they last saw them. Unknown to him a grand battle was about to go down, two towns, in two towns everything would be at end game.

The letter was closed, it was wax sealed and on the back was written "My Dear Sweet Delilah" Jai wrote that letter in case something happened to him, it was for one person to actually make sense from it. It was personal, he would best leave it until it got to it's owner.

Nick had been in a haze, he was mindlessly searching the cars with Atlas and only hearing the echoes of his voice, until he asked about the letter. He snapped back to reality for a moment before reaching into his pocket and bringing out the bloodstained envelope. He examined it for a moment before finding the writing on the back, his grip on the letter tightened and his hand shook in shock, he could guess what it was.

"...It looks personal, we probably shouldn't open it." He said barely above a whisper. He regained his composure and put the letter away once again. "Maybe his scientist friend will know who this Delilah person is, so we can get it to her." With that things went silent again, returning for their search for a mode of transportation. They eventually happened upon a gas station where an abandoned car was parked, it was likely that the car would gas in it, but whether it would start was up in the air. "Maybe this one would work."

"Try to start it up," he said climbing up on top if a semi-truck, "A blue one, nice. He pulled out Jai's bow and an arrow, he aimed at a dead body in the passenger seat of a red car, he took a breathe and let go. A hissing sound was heard he had hit the cars tire and it was now flat. "Damn," he laughed and drew another arrow, "this marksman stuff is hard."

He saw a Save Us! written on the brick between two windows in red paint... Or maybe blood. Atlas took aim at the opening in the a, "here we," he shot the arrow and it broke the window on the left, "go." He was rather discouraged with his second failure, and looked up at the stars. Wait stars, he had been so busy he hadn't noticed that the sun was almost down! "Broski, we gotta find shelter for the night," Storm looked around, "unless you want to be Baby Jaw dinner!"

((Sorry, that was my bad))

Nick looked up and saw that Atlas was right, the Savage were much more active at night, even the more healthy Nestlings would go hunting with their parents occasionally.

"Alright, hold on a sec." He replied as he abandoned the car and walked over the gas station store. It was too dark to see anything clearly inside, so he was unsure if it was safe. Just then he noticed a bell suspended next to the door, apparently to alert when a costumer had arrived. "Alright, here we go." he said, preparing his crossbow. he grabbed the door and quickly opened it, ringing the bell in the process. He didn't enter and just waited, moments later, two Savages made their presence known, one from the isles and the other from the back. They both rushed towards the exit, intent on eating the flesh off Nick's bones no doubt, but as there was only one exit, the Savages practically had to line up single file to get through, giving Nick the chance to shoot at them one one one, shooting one in the head, killing it instantly, and the other in the chest, incapacitating it. He shot one last arrow at the second one's head, finishing the job.

"Ok, the place should be fine now." He called back to Atlas. "Come on, let's get inside before the hunting packs come out."

Darkness began to creep into every nook and cranny as far as they could see, it wouldn't be long before the nestlings would go out and morn for their... Parents?...

The gas station was boarded up from the inside but, for this kind of fortification, there should've been a few survivors around. Since both Atlas and nick stumbled upon savages already it was safe to say, all survivors were dead... What was REALLY rare though was that this store seemed to look untouched. Except for a few cans of fruit and some packet of chips everything seemed to be where it should. The savage they killed looked nearer to human they encountered so far... Their rough enterance may have alerted the savages and... The people in this shop got bit because of the ruckus that the boys caused. It would be disrespectful if they leave and don't set up camp, the roof is always a safe bet.

Out side the inhuman cries of the Rot Dolls were loud enough to stop anyone from having a goodnight sleep but, in times like this, there has never been a goodnight.... Because of heartache... Of a life that feels like a distant dream... And the regret of not fulfilling any dreams or not saving that person they left behind because they had no choice...

The darkness of the night crept over the store and each night, the darkness would creep over their hearts...

Despite all that happened Atlas set up his sleeping bag with a heart less heavy then usual. The loss of his friend was a bummer but it wasn't affecting his thoughts the way it should. He still had this sense of being at peace because he got to bury his sister, to most people burying a family member would be a tragedy, but to him it was an honor to let her get out of this wretched rotting world. "Nick I'm going to the storage room, you got the roof or what?"

He opened the storage room and a Rot Doll rushed out, but a quick shift of his foot brought a boot downward smashing it's head on the tile floor. "Ugly bastards," another doll just screamed from the back of the storage room and Atlas shoved his foot into the back of it's throat in one swift kick. This separated the top of the head from the jaw and neck.

"Well, time to get some sleep!" Atlas chuckled a little bit but stopped when he heard a soft sob, Nick was really beat up about losing Jai. It wasn't like Atlas was happy about it but in a world like this lose is expected. In his mind it was only a matter of time until Nick was dead too, and he'd be painfully alone again. But until then Atlas would protect his bud as best he could, but no one survives in rot world...

"Nah, man, I'm good here, I won't be able to get any sleep up there with the Nestlings out and about." he replied as he laid his sleeping bag out in one of the isles. His sadness was clouding his judgment, he knew the roof was the safest place, but he was just too tired and he didn't feel like making the effort. He laid down in the sleeping bag, staring blankly into space. He reached back into his pocket and pulled out the letter, he didn't know why he did it, most likely to not get it all messed up while he slept. He stared at the writing on the back and he found himself on the verge of tears again, letting out a sob.

'Damn it Nick, pull yourself together!' He mentally reprimanded himself, whipping the tears away from his eyes. 'You can't break down now, you have to be strong, for Jai... and this Delilah person.' Whoever this woman was, she was obviously important to Jai, just the greeting on the letter said it all. Whatever their relation was, she had a right to know what happened to him, and Nick would see to it that she did. He heard Atlas's oddly cheerful statement from the store room, he seemed awfully calm about losing Jai, but he couldn't really blame him, he had probably lost a lot more than he ever had, witnessed the cruelty of Rot World more times than anyone should have too, he supposed he was just used to it, used to Rot World...

Rot World, was this even really a world, just how far did the virus spread, did it even leave the U.S.? It definitely started in the states, that much he knew, but he was too young during the initial outbreak to understand the news and such, and by the time he was old enough, communications with other countries were long gone. He liked to think that if America really was the only one effected, than the other countries would try and help out, save them from this nightmare, but who knows, maybe they had already tried and failed and decided to just contain the virus in the already toppled country. Maybe, just maybe, this living hell was just a small part of an otherwise peaceful world.

It didn't really matter anyway, these were just random bedtime thoughts, the solemn contemplation of life and existence one does right before drifting to sleep. He looked at the letter one last time... yes, it didn't matter if this was Rot World or Rot Country, it was still his home, it was still in turmoil, and it still needed saving. he didn't know how much help he'd actually be, but he would do everything he could to get Atlas to that scientist, he swore it.

Julius felt the pressure. A horde of rot dolls were in his way but it was hard not to notice the piles of chopped up savages. There was a faint smell of fuel and that could mean one thing for him 'some asshole got my chainsaw...' He whispered to himself, actually, he paused for a second and shrugged 'I never used that thing anyway' he snuck by the rot dolls, his right hand holding a throwing knife by the tip of the blade over his shoulder and his left hand hovering over one of his hatchets.

As he approached the petrol station doors, looking in to see if his hideout was clear he noticed it was quiet which Alarmed him because he was sure he left Ariana and Dylan here to stay safe. The bell dinged as he pushed open the door, holding the throwing in ready for a stray savage... Silence. He looked around, his breathing steady as he scanned the room 'Ariana babe?, Dylan, bro, you there?' His heart racing as he thought the worst little did he know their re-animated corpses lurked on the roof.

Abe was laying in one of the cars outside the station, watching as the events played out in front of him. 'Interesting.' he thought. 'I wonder if the survivors would let me join them...' He sat so that he could watch without being seen.

Morning had come and Atlas kicked Nick gently. He hadn't slept to well between Nick crying himself to sleep and the shrieks outside. He could have sworn he had heard a person outside the gas station, but he didn't think to much about it. "Nick get up, it is about time we got out of this town," A bit of a harder foot jabbed into the boys side. "We can be to Kansa City in two days tops," once Atlas was sure the boy was up he walked the window.

Savage and broken down cars littered the outside. Sure it would be easy to drive but it didn't seem to be an option right now. But that was ok, while Nick slept in Atlas had discovered an old basement with some skeletons locked inside. It made a short tunnel to the next building where they could travel by roof top until they were out of the city. "Follow me, well wait to find a car till we get out of the city."

Atlas lead his friend down and into the tunnel, it was dark but empty surprisingly. It was probably used by the military, broken clips and empty rusted guns lay all over the floor. "Hell yeah!" A case was opened and a pristine riot armor was inside. The pants were missing but upon examination a man lay dead trying to put them on. "Do you want the arm pads or the vest?" He asked putting the helmat on Nick, it was only fair they shared.