Everyone prepares for that end-of-the-world event differently. Watching the news and hoping that it would be the future's problem. Others bought thousands of dollars worth of prepared meals and put them in bunkers that cost more than some houses. Then there were those who just simply couldn't care.
That had been before the inevitable actually happened. Three weeks. It was three weeks of hell. Temperatures reached in the hundreds. By the end of it, the world had been reduced into a desert-like wasteland. There was little left in the immediate aftermath.
Years later there was still very little. Plants starting to return though it was next to impossible to get anything more than weeds. Certainly nothing edible. Animals were few and far between and water was a luxury.
Tristan had been burned more than once. It had turned him bitter and cautious of just about everything. So what had possessed him to think the rumor of a place people had managed to make a settlement was a good idea? Desperation.
Tristan was a twenty-five-year-old man. His hair short to help keep off the heat. In all these years while the temperatures never quite reached that point where everything just spontaneously caught on fire, they still usually ran hot. That also meant one had to decide if a sunburn was worth it or if heatstroke from long-sleeves and pants was more your style.
Tristan personally preferred pants and a short-sleeved shirt. It usually worked pretty well. If you could find clothes that were little more than strings or rags. Luckily it seemed that a surprising number of clothing managed not to be destroyed when most of humanity had been.
Here and there, there were a few small communities dotting this new world. Tight-nit was an understatement since just one more person could very well lead to the difference in life or death. That had been why he was currently sitting on a hill looking skeptically at the run-down and hastily built shed. It might as well be a shack but there were a few promising things. A very body of water and some actual green.
It had been so surprising he didn't notice the other person on the hill until it was too late. The soft crunch of the dry dirt beneath the newcomer's feet made Tristan spin on his heel just as a fist slammed into his head. Tristan fell to his hands and knees and his vision blurred. The pain sending signals to his body that he needed to get the hell out of there but the second hit to the back of his head came to fast and he couldn't react. Falling to the ground as darkness consumed him.
The person who had knocked him unconscious was a hulking beast of a man like Andre the Giant had been. He wasn't wearing much and his skin had been burned enough that it had a slightly rough look to it. What he was wearing was a belt of severed limbs that looked like several bits had been munched on like some macabre belt of jerky and a thick hide about his shoulders that was some strange leather he would rather not think was actually human.
Dragging Tristan's unconscious body along the ground he was tossed inside the shed and into a cage inside. The inside of the shack was decorated in skulls and ropes made of hair he'd rather not think of. There were three different cages with grime and dried blood coating the bars, and a hole in the ground. A pile of grimy skulls in another corner tossed there haphazardly with teeth marks between the bone and the little bit of meat that they couldn't get off. The building itself while not looking like much on the outside was stabilized on the inside.
In the center of everything, there was a chair that had the legs buried into the ground a bit. The chair itself had two long leather straps on each of the arms with metal buckles that had been sewn into the leather. On the back of the chair hanging on one of the back poles was another length of rope. There was more dried blood all over it.
When Tristan came too his head swam with pain. He had an immense headache and the right side of his face was tender to the touch but his eye wasn't swollen which meant he'd been punched in the lower jaw or side more than the front of his face. Which meant he was in good enough condition to try to escape as best as he could. Without wasting a second he quietly pushed on the bars of his cage and tried the door. No dice. There was no getting out of the cage from the inside.
Noting that his bag had been taken he also had nothing left but the clothes on his body and he couldn't even stand in the small cage. Kneeling was the best he could do. At least he wasn't dead, yet. Staring at the door of the shed his eyes narrowed in a glare. "Fucking idiot." He whispered chastizing himself. The smell was like nothing he had ever smelled and he couldn't place anything to describe it. It took a lot to keep the bile from coming up and making him even more uncomfortable.
That had been before the inevitable actually happened. Three weeks. It was three weeks of hell. Temperatures reached in the hundreds. By the end of it, the world had been reduced into a desert-like wasteland. There was little left in the immediate aftermath.
Years later there was still very little. Plants starting to return though it was next to impossible to get anything more than weeds. Certainly nothing edible. Animals were few and far between and water was a luxury.
Tristan had been burned more than once. It had turned him bitter and cautious of just about everything. So what had possessed him to think the rumor of a place people had managed to make a settlement was a good idea? Desperation.
Tristan was a twenty-five-year-old man. His hair short to help keep off the heat. In all these years while the temperatures never quite reached that point where everything just spontaneously caught on fire, they still usually ran hot. That also meant one had to decide if a sunburn was worth it or if heatstroke from long-sleeves and pants was more your style.
Tristan personally preferred pants and a short-sleeved shirt. It usually worked pretty well. If you could find clothes that were little more than strings or rags. Luckily it seemed that a surprising number of clothing managed not to be destroyed when most of humanity had been.
Here and there, there were a few small communities dotting this new world. Tight-nit was an understatement since just one more person could very well lead to the difference in life or death. That had been why he was currently sitting on a hill looking skeptically at the run-down and hastily built shed. It might as well be a shack but there were a few promising things. A very body of water and some actual green.
It had been so surprising he didn't notice the other person on the hill until it was too late. The soft crunch of the dry dirt beneath the newcomer's feet made Tristan spin on his heel just as a fist slammed into his head. Tristan fell to his hands and knees and his vision blurred. The pain sending signals to his body that he needed to get the hell out of there but the second hit to the back of his head came to fast and he couldn't react. Falling to the ground as darkness consumed him.
The person who had knocked him unconscious was a hulking beast of a man like Andre the Giant had been. He wasn't wearing much and his skin had been burned enough that it had a slightly rough look to it. What he was wearing was a belt of severed limbs that looked like several bits had been munched on like some macabre belt of jerky and a thick hide about his shoulders that was some strange leather he would rather not think was actually human.
Dragging Tristan's unconscious body along the ground he was tossed inside the shed and into a cage inside. The inside of the shack was decorated in skulls and ropes made of hair he'd rather not think of. There were three different cages with grime and dried blood coating the bars, and a hole in the ground. A pile of grimy skulls in another corner tossed there haphazardly with teeth marks between the bone and the little bit of meat that they couldn't get off. The building itself while not looking like much on the outside was stabilized on the inside.
In the center of everything, there was a chair that had the legs buried into the ground a bit. The chair itself had two long leather straps on each of the arms with metal buckles that had been sewn into the leather. On the back of the chair hanging on one of the back poles was another length of rope. There was more dried blood all over it.
When Tristan came too his head swam with pain. He had an immense headache and the right side of his face was tender to the touch but his eye wasn't swollen which meant he'd been punched in the lower jaw or side more than the front of his face. Which meant he was in good enough condition to try to escape as best as he could. Without wasting a second he quietly pushed on the bars of his cage and tried the door. No dice. There was no getting out of the cage from the inside.
Noting that his bag had been taken he also had nothing left but the clothes on his body and he couldn't even stand in the small cage. Kneeling was the best he could do. At least he wasn't dead, yet. Staring at the door of the shed his eyes narrowed in a glare. "Fucking idiot." He whispered chastizing himself. The smell was like nothing he had ever smelled and he couldn't place anything to describe it. It took a lot to keep the bile from coming up and making him even more uncomfortable.
Scout glared up at the ceiling, trying not to lose her temper with Jack. She knew better than to ask to turn the DVD off. She was about to lose it from hearing the same theme song for the hundredth time in the last three days but Jack didn't like to drive in silence.
"Doin' great, Jack," she groaned. She wished they would find somewhere to stop for the night soon but that wasn't really how things worked out here. As long as Jack was awake, he would be driving. There was only one thing they were looking for; water. Food would be good too but water was more crucial and, honestly, when they found water, they hoped there would be a few animals nearby, too.
Scout had been living alone in her family's cabin when the world was scorched. Her mom and step-dad had gone out a couple years earlier and began their own life, traveling. They had wanted her to come too but she didn't want to leave the house her father had built before he died.
They were probably dead now. And necessity had driven her to team up with Jack when he'd come along one day.
She glanced over at the girl in the seat next to her. She hadn't known Fiona long but she was happy to get any amount of girl time she could. She had been alone for too long and if it had just been her and Jack, well... there were just some things men would never understand. It was nice to have another girl around.
"Maybe we could find an old best buy or something," Scout mused. "I bet we could find tons of DVDs; get a little variety?" She peeked up at Jack to see his reaction. It was worth a shot, though she doubted he really had any interest in other DVDs.
Sighing, she curled up in her seat and tried to let the bumping ride rock her to sleep. Her stomach had been empty for days and sleep was better than the nagging pain of hunger. If they didn't find something soon, she wasn't sure they would make it.
She turned her eyes to the window and resumed her watch. It wasn't an official watch or anything but she had taken it upon herself to be another lookout for any sign of... anything. Even with the wide open space ahead of them and practically nothing to hit, Jack seemed the type to "keep his eyes on the road," if you will. She didn't trust one person to be able to see everywhere at once. But, as always, there was nothing but brown. A flat horizon with no lakes, ponds or puddles. No smoke or buildings... at least none worth raiding. Any buildings they did pass were bare bones, whoever came before them having ripped everything useful from its frame. She sighed.
"Doin' great, Jack," she groaned. She wished they would find somewhere to stop for the night soon but that wasn't really how things worked out here. As long as Jack was awake, he would be driving. There was only one thing they were looking for; water. Food would be good too but water was more crucial and, honestly, when they found water, they hoped there would be a few animals nearby, too.
Scout had been living alone in her family's cabin when the world was scorched. Her mom and step-dad had gone out a couple years earlier and began their own life, traveling. They had wanted her to come too but she didn't want to leave the house her father had built before he died.
They were probably dead now. And necessity had driven her to team up with Jack when he'd come along one day.
She glanced over at the girl in the seat next to her. She hadn't known Fiona long but she was happy to get any amount of girl time she could. She had been alone for too long and if it had just been her and Jack, well... there were just some things men would never understand. It was nice to have another girl around.
"Maybe we could find an old best buy or something," Scout mused. "I bet we could find tons of DVDs; get a little variety?" She peeked up at Jack to see his reaction. It was worth a shot, though she doubted he really had any interest in other DVDs.
Sighing, she curled up in her seat and tried to let the bumping ride rock her to sleep. Her stomach had been empty for days and sleep was better than the nagging pain of hunger. If they didn't find something soon, she wasn't sure they would make it.
She turned her eyes to the window and resumed her watch. It wasn't an official watch or anything but she had taken it upon herself to be another lookout for any sign of... anything. Even with the wide open space ahead of them and practically nothing to hit, Jack seemed the type to "keep his eyes on the road," if you will. She didn't trust one person to be able to see everywhere at once. But, as always, there was nothing but brown. A flat horizon with no lakes, ponds or puddles. No smoke or buildings... at least none worth raiding. Any buildings they did pass were bare bones, whoever came before them having ripped everything useful from its frame. She sighed.
"Jesus Christ," Fiona muttered as the Looney Tunes theme song started once more. Her messy brown hair was piled on top of her head in a bun. A few strands had fallen loose from their constraint and blew wildly in the wind.
"I guess you could say that," she responded to Jack. Truth be told this wasn't quite her idea of fun, but nothing was the same anymore. She closed her eyes and imagined her old life. Her apartment in Boston. Sure it hadn't been much, but it was more than she had now. She imagined looking out over the city, holding a warm cup of bitter coffee and smoking a cigarette. Good god, what she would do for a cigarette. She could nearly taste it before she was violently jerked away from her daydream.
"Damnit, Jack!" she groaned as her head knocked against the side of the car. They had been flying across the deserted bumpy landscape all day, and frankly, she couldn't stand anymore of that noise coming from the TV.
"You know, that actually sounds like a good idea," she said after Scout mentioned Best Buy. "It might be nice to give it a break for the night, Jack. I think we're getting close to an old town." The houses had started appearing more often. It seemed it would be the safest place to stop. They might even be able to restock some of their supplies.
That was something Fiona knew how to do. As an orphan, she had been fending for herself her entire life. It left her with an ability to scavenge and find necessities in even the roughest places.
"I guess you could say that," she responded to Jack. Truth be told this wasn't quite her idea of fun, but nothing was the same anymore. She closed her eyes and imagined her old life. Her apartment in Boston. Sure it hadn't been much, but it was more than she had now. She imagined looking out over the city, holding a warm cup of bitter coffee and smoking a cigarette. Good god, what she would do for a cigarette. She could nearly taste it before she was violently jerked away from her daydream.
"Damnit, Jack!" she groaned as her head knocked against the side of the car. They had been flying across the deserted bumpy landscape all day, and frankly, she couldn't stand anymore of that noise coming from the TV.
"You know, that actually sounds like a good idea," she said after Scout mentioned Best Buy. "It might be nice to give it a break for the night, Jack. I think we're getting close to an old town." The houses had started appearing more often. It seemed it would be the safest place to stop. They might even be able to restock some of their supplies.
That was something Fiona knew how to do. As an orphan, she had been fending for herself her entire life. It left her with an ability to scavenge and find necessities in even the roughest places.
Sitting back on his ass his back leaned against the cold metal bars of his cell. One leg was pulled up with his arm draped over his knee. His cool blue gaze untrusting of any sign of movement. His eyes long since adjusted to the little bit of light filtering into the inside of the shack.
When that light started to fade he grew even more restless. He appeared relaxed but he could feel his body coiled and ready to attack the first chance that he got. He had to admit there was a decent amount of space in the cubicle. It was around five feet long and three feet high with three feet between the sides. The three of the cages were likely from some kind of animal humane society. Pet adoption places used to have things like these.
He sure felt like an animal in the cage. There was enough room to get comfortable but not enough to stay that way if you weren't laying on the ground. As the light continued to dwindle he knew the sun was going to be setting soon. Based on what he could remember the shack had been in a slight bowl so the sun was probably just cresting the hill or something. Still, darkness wasn't welcome.
It wasn't long before the only light in the shack was coming from the small hole in the ground. He didn't doubt that was where the people, person, whatever, lived. It was better to live under the ground after all. Cooler that way.
The sound of the door slamming made Tristan jerk. He hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep. It was probably good, he felt really energized now. Crouching on his toes he watched the large man he'd glimpsed before dragging a female inside by her hair. From the water dripping from the rags, she wore he could guess she'd taken a bath in the water.
Another woman appeared from out of the hole as the man tossed the girl into the chair. He made a couple of noises rather than speaking and the woman from the hole got to work securing the wet woman on the chair. The sound of leather and metal were loud in the otherwise quiet shack. Tristan didn't have to guess what was going to come next for the female. He couldn't summon any sympathy for the girl, knowing she was probably the only reason he wasn't going to be the one in the chair tonight.
Relaxing slightly in the corner of the cage he turned his gaze away as the two worked with disgusting efficiency. First using the rope to make sure the girl wouldn't die until they were done. The dirty woman crawling back into the hole, time and again with the bits they took.
By the time the sun rose the following morning, there was a small bowl of stew just inside his cage that he didn't know how they got it there. The girl was still inside the chair her breathing shallow and her legs missing. He didn't have to guess what was in the stew. Hell, he could pretend it was cow right? He wasn't sure what would make him sicker, the fact he was contemplating eating the only thing he was going to be given, or not eating at all and hoping he had the strength to escape.
When that light started to fade he grew even more restless. He appeared relaxed but he could feel his body coiled and ready to attack the first chance that he got. He had to admit there was a decent amount of space in the cubicle. It was around five feet long and three feet high with three feet between the sides. The three of the cages were likely from some kind of animal humane society. Pet adoption places used to have things like these.
He sure felt like an animal in the cage. There was enough room to get comfortable but not enough to stay that way if you weren't laying on the ground. As the light continued to dwindle he knew the sun was going to be setting soon. Based on what he could remember the shack had been in a slight bowl so the sun was probably just cresting the hill or something. Still, darkness wasn't welcome.
It wasn't long before the only light in the shack was coming from the small hole in the ground. He didn't doubt that was where the people, person, whatever, lived. It was better to live under the ground after all. Cooler that way.
The sound of the door slamming made Tristan jerk. He hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep. It was probably good, he felt really energized now. Crouching on his toes he watched the large man he'd glimpsed before dragging a female inside by her hair. From the water dripping from the rags, she wore he could guess she'd taken a bath in the water.
Another woman appeared from out of the hole as the man tossed the girl into the chair. He made a couple of noises rather than speaking and the woman from the hole got to work securing the wet woman on the chair. The sound of leather and metal were loud in the otherwise quiet shack. Tristan didn't have to guess what was going to come next for the female. He couldn't summon any sympathy for the girl, knowing she was probably the only reason he wasn't going to be the one in the chair tonight.
Relaxing slightly in the corner of the cage he turned his gaze away as the two worked with disgusting efficiency. First using the rope to make sure the girl wouldn't die until they were done. The dirty woman crawling back into the hole, time and again with the bits they took.
By the time the sun rose the following morning, there was a small bowl of stew just inside his cage that he didn't know how they got it there. The girl was still inside the chair her breathing shallow and her legs missing. He didn't have to guess what was in the stew. Hell, he could pretend it was cow right? He wasn't sure what would make him sicker, the fact he was contemplating eating the only thing he was going to be given, or not eating at all and hoping he had the strength to escape.
"Oh, shit!" Scout swore as they hit the Prius. She watched bits of the car fly out across the desert. Sighing, she turned forward again and saw Jack pull out the pocky. She reached up and took them from him. She did love the chocolate ones.
Pulling one out of the box, she put the chocolate tip between her teeth and nibbled it, pushing the rest in. Buggs Bunny style. It seems the DVDs were getting to her.
She passed the box over to Fiona and smiled. Looks like the girls had won this round, for all intents and purposes.
Over the next few minutes, Scout kept her eyes open for any sign of a town. Then, she saw it. It wasn't much but there were building frames and some walls still standing. The farther they went, the more there was. Most of the buildings still stood with only busted out windows and kicked in doors.
"We're here!" she cried excitedly. "Find a grocery store! I wonder if there's any water left."
Pulling one out of the box, she put the chocolate tip between her teeth and nibbled it, pushing the rest in. Buggs Bunny style. It seems the DVDs were getting to her.
She passed the box over to Fiona and smiled. Looks like the girls had won this round, for all intents and purposes.
Over the next few minutes, Scout kept her eyes open for any sign of a town. Then, she saw it. It wasn't much but there were building frames and some walls still standing. The farther they went, the more there was. Most of the buildings still stood with only busted out windows and kicked in doors.
"We're here!" she cried excitedly. "Find a grocery store! I wonder if there's any water left."
It was two days. Two days of hell. The woman had woken up a few hours after he had and started screaming her head off. The underground bunker thing the people were living in had to be soundproof cause they didn't seem bothered by the yelling. Tristan was starting to get a headache. Then again he was lucky she screamed so loud and so long.
Tossing his bowl against the wall behind him the ceramic shattered. Stuffing a sharp piece into his pocket he tossed the rest since he didn't need it. Leaning against the back he glared at the lady as she struggled against her bonds and screamed. Using all the power he had he kicked against the edge of the cage. A loud clatter rang out but drowned by the screams.
For twenty minutes he worked to try and get himself out of the cage since he wasn't being heard. When he heard the cover sliding up from the ground covering he got back up against the wall and watched the large man come up and slam his fist into the side of the woman's head before walking towards him and his cage. Their eyes met but luckily he didn't seem to notice that the gate was just slightly open now.
Reaching behind him for the piece of ceramic he clenched it in his fist until the hulking man bent down. Springing from his position he slammed into the gate and it broke open the man falling to his back. He didn't have a second to think about the pain in his shoulder as he got up and slammed his fist into the side of the man's head.
The other crazy woman came up from the ground and tackled him from the side brandishing a huge cast iron skillet. The piece he'd been holding flew from his hand as he wrestled with the woman. Rolling over on top of her he winced as the skillet fell and hit her on the head and hitting his hand. Getting a moment he reached out for the ceramic and sliced the ladies throat. He wasn't going to take the chance.
Getting up he ran from the building noting that it was mid-afternoon. His stomach growled but he wasn't going to look for food when he had this opportunity.
He was half-way up the side of the hill when he heard it. The thundering roar of the man. Taking a chance to glance back he rolled to his side to avoid a huge ax coming down at him. The thud as it impacted the ground shook straight through him. Since he was slightly down he pitched forward and raced at an angle down the slope to avoid the man.
Hearing the blade whistling through the air he ducked and rolled again. This time he misjudged where the man was and rolled into his foot. Getting a kick to the gut which sent him back down the hill. He could taste blood in his mouth. It hurt to even try to breathe.
Wrapping a hand around his gut he watched the hulking man coming down the ax in the air. His life was surely going to be over. Then he rolled and sliced the tendon of the guy's ankle. The beast roared and swung down at him but lost his balance and missed his swing. Tristan took a breath despite the pain and jumped up at the guy getting a right punch to the face but he did manage to cut the man again. His vision was faltering but the last thing he was able to see was the man falling face first on the ground and felling the smug grin on his face before he passed out.
Tossing his bowl against the wall behind him the ceramic shattered. Stuffing a sharp piece into his pocket he tossed the rest since he didn't need it. Leaning against the back he glared at the lady as she struggled against her bonds and screamed. Using all the power he had he kicked against the edge of the cage. A loud clatter rang out but drowned by the screams.
For twenty minutes he worked to try and get himself out of the cage since he wasn't being heard. When he heard the cover sliding up from the ground covering he got back up against the wall and watched the large man come up and slam his fist into the side of the woman's head before walking towards him and his cage. Their eyes met but luckily he didn't seem to notice that the gate was just slightly open now.
Reaching behind him for the piece of ceramic he clenched it in his fist until the hulking man bent down. Springing from his position he slammed into the gate and it broke open the man falling to his back. He didn't have a second to think about the pain in his shoulder as he got up and slammed his fist into the side of the man's head.
The other crazy woman came up from the ground and tackled him from the side brandishing a huge cast iron skillet. The piece he'd been holding flew from his hand as he wrestled with the woman. Rolling over on top of her he winced as the skillet fell and hit her on the head and hitting his hand. Getting a moment he reached out for the ceramic and sliced the ladies throat. He wasn't going to take the chance.
Getting up he ran from the building noting that it was mid-afternoon. His stomach growled but he wasn't going to look for food when he had this opportunity.
He was half-way up the side of the hill when he heard it. The thundering roar of the man. Taking a chance to glance back he rolled to his side to avoid a huge ax coming down at him. The thud as it impacted the ground shook straight through him. Since he was slightly down he pitched forward and raced at an angle down the slope to avoid the man.
Hearing the blade whistling through the air he ducked and rolled again. This time he misjudged where the man was and rolled into his foot. Getting a kick to the gut which sent him back down the hill. He could taste blood in his mouth. It hurt to even try to breathe.
Wrapping a hand around his gut he watched the hulking man coming down the ax in the air. His life was surely going to be over. Then he rolled and sliced the tendon of the guy's ankle. The beast roared and swung down at him but lost his balance and missed his swing. Tristan took a breath despite the pain and jumped up at the guy getting a right punch to the face but he did manage to cut the man again. His vision was faltering but the last thing he was able to see was the man falling face first on the ground and felling the smug grin on his face before he passed out.
Scout hopped out and stretched her legs. It felt wonderful after so long in the vehicle. She rolled her eyes at Jack's joke and shook her head, continuing to stretch.
"Jeez Jack, you're not a dad, you can cool it with the dad jokes." But she grinned at him. She supposed she owed him that much. She wouldn't have made it this long without him.
She took the rifle from him and looked it over quickly, running through the movements in her mind. Moving forward, she crouched down as she made her way into the gas station.
She held still and barely even breathed for several minutes as she listened for any sign of movement. When she was confident she heard nothing, she crept along the edge of the wall and looked up and down each aisle, holding her gun ready to shoot.
She had learned long ago that it didn't pay to hesitate when you were in a situation like this. Anyone who had made it this long was a shoot first, ask questions later type of person. If you paused for even a second, you'd get a bullet between the eyes if you were lucky. If you weren't it'd be one in the gut.
She had made it to the last aisle and not seen a soul or heard any movement from anywhere in the store. But that didn't mean she could go yelling for Jack to come on in. Anyone anywhere nearby would be able to hear her calling for him and know there was a girl there.
Knowing Jack was there wasn't enough to bring them out. But knowing she was there? Well... women didn't usually last as long in this new world and most of the men out there would kill to get within arms reach of her.
But she didn't think about that. She couldn't. She'd had plenty of breakdowns because of that thought alone and she couldn't afford it now.
She snuck back up to the front of the store and nodded to Jack that it was safe.
Once he was inside with her, she didn't have to sneak around so much, but she still kept her voice down when they spoke.
She grabbed a basket and loaded up on beef jerky and hot fries. She also grabbed every lighter she could find and as many drinks as she could fit in the basket.
Setting her haul next to the door, she went back and found the section of the gas station where they kept the camping and car equipment. Jack would know what to get for the car, but Scout picked out a few bundles of logs, lighter fluid, and the rest of the charcoal that sat under the window.
That was when she heard the gunshot.
She hit the ground immediately and looked over at Jack. Getting to her hands and knees, she looked up, over the windowsill. She knew the shot had come from too far away to be directed at them but it wasn't good that there was someone else out here with a gun.
On the hill a ways out, she saw two figures. It was clear that they were fighting and she watched as they attacked each other.
Less than a minute later, they were both down and not moving.
"Jack," she whispered, "I... I think they killed each other." She bit her lip. She knew he would ask her what she wanted to do. He was trying to train her, after all, in case something ever happened to him.
"They might have some useful stuff on them. We... we should go see."
"Jeez Jack, you're not a dad, you can cool it with the dad jokes." But she grinned at him. She supposed she owed him that much. She wouldn't have made it this long without him.
She took the rifle from him and looked it over quickly, running through the movements in her mind. Moving forward, she crouched down as she made her way into the gas station.
She held still and barely even breathed for several minutes as she listened for any sign of movement. When she was confident she heard nothing, she crept along the edge of the wall and looked up and down each aisle, holding her gun ready to shoot.
She had learned long ago that it didn't pay to hesitate when you were in a situation like this. Anyone who had made it this long was a shoot first, ask questions later type of person. If you paused for even a second, you'd get a bullet between the eyes if you were lucky. If you weren't it'd be one in the gut.
She had made it to the last aisle and not seen a soul or heard any movement from anywhere in the store. But that didn't mean she could go yelling for Jack to come on in. Anyone anywhere nearby would be able to hear her calling for him and know there was a girl there.
Knowing Jack was there wasn't enough to bring them out. But knowing she was there? Well... women didn't usually last as long in this new world and most of the men out there would kill to get within arms reach of her.
But she didn't think about that. She couldn't. She'd had plenty of breakdowns because of that thought alone and she couldn't afford it now.
She snuck back up to the front of the store and nodded to Jack that it was safe.
Once he was inside with her, she didn't have to sneak around so much, but she still kept her voice down when they spoke.
She grabbed a basket and loaded up on beef jerky and hot fries. She also grabbed every lighter she could find and as many drinks as she could fit in the basket.
Setting her haul next to the door, she went back and found the section of the gas station where they kept the camping and car equipment. Jack would know what to get for the car, but Scout picked out a few bundles of logs, lighter fluid, and the rest of the charcoal that sat under the window.
That was when she heard the gunshot.
She hit the ground immediately and looked over at Jack. Getting to her hands and knees, she looked up, over the windowsill. She knew the shot had come from too far away to be directed at them but it wasn't good that there was someone else out here with a gun.
On the hill a ways out, she saw two figures. It was clear that they were fighting and she watched as they attacked each other.
Less than a minute later, they were both down and not moving.
"Jack," she whispered, "I... I think they killed each other." She bit her lip. She knew he would ask her what she wanted to do. He was trying to train her, after all, in case something ever happened to him.
"They might have some useful stuff on them. We... we should go see."
Mariah Hart was raised riding horses in the deserts of the American southwest, but that doesn't mean she's enjoying the eternal Death Valley summer that seems to have overtaken the country. Worse still, with damn near no food, no water and no hope, society seems to have disintegrated far more quickly and succinctly than young, idealist anarchist Mariah would have thought possible. The horrors that have replaced it...they made the woman's skin crawl and stomach lurch once, but now she can see the men like the one that assaulted Tristan for what they are.
Monsters from the old tales.
She'd been watching this particular monster den for a few days, staying on the outskirts, keeping track of their schedules and being careful not to get too close unless she's sure that no one is around so that she can steal a bit of water from the pond. She has a shotgun and side arm, but ammunition is damn near as scarce as food these days and she'd rather not waste a bullet or a round of buck shot if she's not in immediate danger.
Unfortunately skulking around the edges of the shack and stealing scraps is no way to survive. She's going to have to decide whether or not to make a frontal assault soon. Just when she was beginning to think the time had come, Mariah watches as they drag Tristen into their little shed. Another piece of meat for the grinder. Her teeth grit and her fingers clench around the barrel of her shot gun. Well, the time has come indeed. Now all she needs is an opening.
That opening comes in a form she hadn't expected. She had been hoping to make a night assault, catch the family by surprise, but it seems that now that they have fresh supplies someone is always awake at one hour or another. Always alert. Watching. Any attack at this point would just become a shoot out and while Mariah has absolute faith in her straight shooting skills, even a graze could be lethal if it gets infected.
After two days she is finally getting fed up. Knowing that anyone in that shed is running out of time, the young western woman had decided that tonight, is the night no matter what. But then, as she's laying flat on her stomach on a nearby hill and watching the house through her father's old rifle scoop, the dark haired man makes a run for it.
Mariah is up, on her feet and pelting down the far side of her hill in his direction (on the opposite side of the murder shack from where Jack and Scout would be 'scouting' the gas station). Frustratingly her guns aren't much use at long range. By the she finally gets close enough that she feels she could accurately take the hulking brute out with a pistol round to the head, Tristan has already dealt with his monstrous attacker.
Out of breath and feeling like a damn fool for waiting so long, she keeps her pistol out, checking to make sure the monster won't be making some sort of surprise come back when her back is turned. Fucker is still breathing. One round between the eyes fixes that problem. Closer to the shack she can see the woman, wild and unkempt with her throat slit. She won't be needing one of Mariah's precious bullets.
Finally she turns to kneel down beside Tristan to check his pulse. Her gun is still at the ready. Just because this guy was someone else's prisoner and prey doesn't guarantee he won't turn on her in a heartbeat.
Monsters from the old tales.
She'd been watching this particular monster den for a few days, staying on the outskirts, keeping track of their schedules and being careful not to get too close unless she's sure that no one is around so that she can steal a bit of water from the pond. She has a shotgun and side arm, but ammunition is damn near as scarce as food these days and she'd rather not waste a bullet or a round of buck shot if she's not in immediate danger.
Unfortunately skulking around the edges of the shack and stealing scraps is no way to survive. She's going to have to decide whether or not to make a frontal assault soon. Just when she was beginning to think the time had come, Mariah watches as they drag Tristen into their little shed. Another piece of meat for the grinder. Her teeth grit and her fingers clench around the barrel of her shot gun. Well, the time has come indeed. Now all she needs is an opening.
That opening comes in a form she hadn't expected. She had been hoping to make a night assault, catch the family by surprise, but it seems that now that they have fresh supplies someone is always awake at one hour or another. Always alert. Watching. Any attack at this point would just become a shoot out and while Mariah has absolute faith in her straight shooting skills, even a graze could be lethal if it gets infected.
After two days she is finally getting fed up. Knowing that anyone in that shed is running out of time, the young western woman had decided that tonight, is the night no matter what. But then, as she's laying flat on her stomach on a nearby hill and watching the house through her father's old rifle scoop, the dark haired man makes a run for it.
Mariah is up, on her feet and pelting down the far side of her hill in his direction (on the opposite side of the murder shack from where Jack and Scout would be 'scouting' the gas station). Frustratingly her guns aren't much use at long range. By the she finally gets close enough that she feels she could accurately take the hulking brute out with a pistol round to the head, Tristan has already dealt with his monstrous attacker.
Out of breath and feeling like a damn fool for waiting so long, she keeps her pistol out, checking to make sure the monster won't be making some sort of surprise come back when her back is turned. Fucker is still breathing. One round between the eyes fixes that problem. Closer to the shack she can see the woman, wild and unkempt with her throat slit. She won't be needing one of Mariah's precious bullets.
Finally she turns to kneel down beside Tristan to check his pulse. Her gun is still at the ready. Just because this guy was someone else's prisoner and prey doesn't guarantee he won't turn on her in a heartbeat.
As Tristan fell to the ground darkness came over his field of vision. He knew that he was probably going to die. At least he'd made sure that at least one of those bastards were not going to kill another person. If he had managed to take out the man it would be even better.
He was only out for a few minutes considering it was from a lack of oxygen but feeling someone press against his throat he coughed and sat up grabbing his gut as pain radiated through his body. Falling back onto the hard ground he squeezed his eyes tight trying to regain any semblance of cognition.
Tristan's breath was shallow as he opened one eye to see a woman. The sun was behind her so she was shrouded in a bit of shadow. It wasn't anyone that he knew then again he didn't know many people in this godforsaken land but he ignored her and sat back up slower this time.
Looking behind her he noted the man's body and the red that was seeping into the hard and thirsty ground. "Killed him?" He had cut the man but doubted all that blood from his small bit of ceramic. Wincing as he stood he kept one hand around his side checking out the woman who was looking him over as well. At least it seemed there was a bit of an understanding for some still in this world.
Since neither wanted to make the first move he took a step back now that he wasn't in so much pain and then slowly started to walk around the woman back towards the shed. He didn't know if there was anyone else in the shed but he needed to know if the woman was still alive. Doing the unthinkable he turned his back towards the woman with the guns and headed back into the shed. "I'm just gonna get my stuff you can have whatever is left."
The unkempt woman lay there where they had fought. It didn't take a genius to know she had breathed her last and the woman in the chair must have died as well cause he could tell that she wasn't breathing. Slipping into the hole he was careful moving as it still hurt quite a bit to breathe. His bag had been torn open and the few things he'd had were thrown about the room.
It was very hard to see anything but there were a few lights that were still on from the monsters who'd lived here. It smelled and he didn't want to stay very long. Grabbing his bag he looked it over noting it was still in pretty good shape and started to gather his things back inside. There were a couple of things that weren't his that he decided to take to considering that woman wouldn't know. Not that there was very much here to begin with and slung the bag on.
It took both hands to pull himself out of the pit but he was wary knowing there was that person who he wasn't sure if they were on his side or not. They hadn't killed him when they had the chance but that didn't really matter when she had the upper hand. That was when he noted the two other people poking their heads over the hill. Putting his back against the wall he called out to the woman outside. "Two people on the hill in front I would get in here if you don't want to get shot at." He wasn't sure why he was offering the sanctuary but it was only fair since she hadn't killed him yet.
He was only out for a few minutes considering it was from a lack of oxygen but feeling someone press against his throat he coughed and sat up grabbing his gut as pain radiated through his body. Falling back onto the hard ground he squeezed his eyes tight trying to regain any semblance of cognition.
Tristan's breath was shallow as he opened one eye to see a woman. The sun was behind her so she was shrouded in a bit of shadow. It wasn't anyone that he knew then again he didn't know many people in this godforsaken land but he ignored her and sat back up slower this time.
Looking behind her he noted the man's body and the red that was seeping into the hard and thirsty ground. "Killed him?" He had cut the man but doubted all that blood from his small bit of ceramic. Wincing as he stood he kept one hand around his side checking out the woman who was looking him over as well. At least it seemed there was a bit of an understanding for some still in this world.
Since neither wanted to make the first move he took a step back now that he wasn't in so much pain and then slowly started to walk around the woman back towards the shed. He didn't know if there was anyone else in the shed but he needed to know if the woman was still alive. Doing the unthinkable he turned his back towards the woman with the guns and headed back into the shed. "I'm just gonna get my stuff you can have whatever is left."
The unkempt woman lay there where they had fought. It didn't take a genius to know she had breathed her last and the woman in the chair must have died as well cause he could tell that she wasn't breathing. Slipping into the hole he was careful moving as it still hurt quite a bit to breathe. His bag had been torn open and the few things he'd had were thrown about the room.
It was very hard to see anything but there were a few lights that were still on from the monsters who'd lived here. It smelled and he didn't want to stay very long. Grabbing his bag he looked it over noting it was still in pretty good shape and started to gather his things back inside. There were a couple of things that weren't his that he decided to take to considering that woman wouldn't know. Not that there was very much here to begin with and slung the bag on.
It took both hands to pull himself out of the pit but he was wary knowing there was that person who he wasn't sure if they were on his side or not. They hadn't killed him when they had the chance but that didn't really matter when she had the upper hand. That was when he noted the two other people poking their heads over the hill. Putting his back against the wall he called out to the woman outside. "Two people on the hill in front I would get in here if you don't want to get shot at." He wasn't sure why he was offering the sanctuary but it was only fair since she hadn't killed him yet.
Scout rolled her eyes but did as Jack said. She didn't often get to use an actual restroom and, though she doubted the water was running, using a toilet was better than what they normally did.
She did her business quickly and was thrilled to see a bottle of hand sanitizer on the side of the sink. She could almost pretend everything was the way it used to be.
Before she left the room, though, she grabbed as much toilet paper as she could carry. Hurrying back out to the front of the store, she dumped them all in the back seat.
"Hold on," she told Jack, and ran back in. When she came out again, she had another armful. This time, though, it was bottles of hand sanitizer.
She dumped those in the back seat, too, and went around to the passenger seat. The back was nice for relaxing but the front was where all the action was.
"Okay, I'm ready," she told him, heart pounding. Who knew what they would find over there. They had a clear view from the store window but, now, their line of sight to whoever was up there was blocked. She assumed they were dead.
She did her business quickly and was thrilled to see a bottle of hand sanitizer on the side of the sink. She could almost pretend everything was the way it used to be.
Before she left the room, though, she grabbed as much toilet paper as she could carry. Hurrying back out to the front of the store, she dumped them all in the back seat.
"Hold on," she told Jack, and ran back in. When she came out again, she had another armful. This time, though, it was bottles of hand sanitizer.
She dumped those in the back seat, too, and went around to the passenger seat. The back was nice for relaxing but the front was where all the action was.
"Okay, I'm ready," she told him, heart pounding. Who knew what they would find over there. They had a clear view from the store window but, now, their line of sight to whoever was up there was blocked. She assumed they were dead.
Mariah watches Tristan walk around her and head back towards the settlement to get his things. The place is certainly worth the looting and no doubt she'll get to that in time, but right now she's interested in something much more precious. Stuffing her pistol into its holster, the rough and tumble woman walks over to the small pond. Kneeling down she pulls a few water bottles out of her pack and begins to fill them, taking long droughts of the fresh liquid occasionally. She'd managed to steal a bit here and there to keep her going while on her little stake out but the luxury of drinking as much as she wants is far too tempting to pass up.
She's wiping a few stray drops of water from her lips when she hears Tristan call out to her. Her hand moves to her hip and that gun resurfaces once more. Damn. Apparently she hadn't been the only person staking out this little monster haven. Standing quickly, eyes never leaving the crest of the hill that her companion indicated, Mariah hustles over to join him against the wall of the shed.
"Don't suppose they're friends of yours come to your rescue?" Her tone has a bite of sarcasm to it. Obviously if he was anticipating people he knew he wouldn't have warned her that whoever it is might shoot at her. He definitely wouldn't be hiding from them at least.
"Stay close," she adds after a moment. She isn't sure why she says that last part. It just feels natural. No doubt a part of that blasted code her father instilled in her before he was killed. Protect those who cannot protect themselves. Never kill an unarmed man. Never hurt a child. Never let a monster live. She may have added that last part but she has a feeling that her old man would have agreed with it if he'd lived long enough to see what the world has come to in his absence.
She's wiping a few stray drops of water from her lips when she hears Tristan call out to her. Her hand moves to her hip and that gun resurfaces once more. Damn. Apparently she hadn't been the only person staking out this little monster haven. Standing quickly, eyes never leaving the crest of the hill that her companion indicated, Mariah hustles over to join him against the wall of the shed.
"Don't suppose they're friends of yours come to your rescue?" Her tone has a bite of sarcasm to it. Obviously if he was anticipating people he knew he wouldn't have warned her that whoever it is might shoot at her. He definitely wouldn't be hiding from them at least.
"Stay close," she adds after a moment. She isn't sure why she says that last part. It just feels natural. No doubt a part of that blasted code her father instilled in her before he was killed. Protect those who cannot protect themselves. Never kill an unarmed man. Never hurt a child. Never let a monster live. She may have added that last part but she has a feeling that her old man would have agreed with it if he'd lived long enough to see what the world has come to in his absence.
As the woman who had saved his life, if he had failed to kill the giant, came over to the shed he noticed her face looked a bit cleaner than it had been. No doubt from the small pond of water. His eyes were sharp as they looked her over. There was plenty of light after all.
It was best to deal with the enemy you knew than ones you didn't With his back up against the side of the shed he gave a soft laugh. "I wish." Still, his blue gaze never left the woman. Hers was on the approaching new people but that didn't mean she wouldn't turn on him.
Taking a second to look out of the shed he noticed two small shapes and the set of his jaw grew taut. He wasn't about to die now. Fuck that. He'd suffered three days in this shithole after all. "I don't suppose you gathered some water did you?" Waiting for an answer he pulled his bag from his shoulder and looked at the contents.
It did seem they had filed his containers as well. That was smart on their part too. Putting it back he made sure to click the parts in front and crouched slightly. "My vote is to run. There is a gas station over the hill they probably left a vehicle there. If we run in the opposite direction they might think we're trying to get to it and leave us alone. I would rather take the chance to run than deal with them. You're welcome to take them on if you want." Taking a moment to see what she was going to do he gave her a passive look. "Thanks for not shooting me.
His gut still hurt and he knew he wouldn't be able to take on new people in his current condition. He could feel a small wet spot on his arm. He'd been cut in all the fighting but it was small for sure. He also no longer had any weapon at all. Then he closed his eyes taking a breath and darted out of the shed quickly going right to pass the water that was hidden by the shed and started for the hill away from the two newcomers.
It was best to deal with the enemy you knew than ones you didn't With his back up against the side of the shed he gave a soft laugh. "I wish." Still, his blue gaze never left the woman. Hers was on the approaching new people but that didn't mean she wouldn't turn on him.
Taking a second to look out of the shed he noticed two small shapes and the set of his jaw grew taut. He wasn't about to die now. Fuck that. He'd suffered three days in this shithole after all. "I don't suppose you gathered some water did you?" Waiting for an answer he pulled his bag from his shoulder and looked at the contents.
It did seem they had filed his containers as well. That was smart on their part too. Putting it back he made sure to click the parts in front and crouched slightly. "My vote is to run. There is a gas station over the hill they probably left a vehicle there. If we run in the opposite direction they might think we're trying to get to it and leave us alone. I would rather take the chance to run than deal with them. You're welcome to take them on if you want." Taking a moment to see what she was going to do he gave her a passive look. "Thanks for not shooting me.
His gut still hurt and he knew he wouldn't be able to take on new people in his current condition. He could feel a small wet spot on his arm. He'd been cut in all the fighting but it was small for sure. He also no longer had any weapon at all. Then he closed his eyes taking a breath and darted out of the shed quickly going right to pass the water that was hidden by the shed and started for the hill away from the two newcomers.
Jack Watched her as she disappeared into the bathroom each time returning with hands full of T.P. Which would be rather helpful, for lighting fires, and cleaning up after popping a squat in the bush and hand sanitizer! Which would also be helpful for lighting fires, medical and the usual necessary sanitation crap.
Seeing how eagerly she hopped into the front seat he walked over, leaning on the heavey door with his large and muscular arms.
“Ya sure your gonna be okay with this?” He asked tilting his sunglasses down to expose sharp green eyes and the giving a small peak into the heavy scarring he hid behind his eyes glasses. Once affirmed he turned back and walked around the front of his jeep opened the door and slid in. Turning the large key which caused the rig to once again roar into life. The tires spinning and flinging gravel off the aged asphalt before turning towards the mounded desert hill and zipping up the steep incline, gravity working wonders on the stomach as the jeep shot upwards, then dropped onto the hill the short hop of air they had causing the jeep to rock slightly before they went carried on across the desert landscape.
The radio powered once more continued to happily play its golden aged tunes, as a small set up started to peak up over the desert landscape, a rickity ghetto as all be shed scrapped together. Jack barely caught the small sign of movement in the distance and decided to stop the jeep at about hundred feet from the building, turning the massive rig with a short skid so that the drivers side faced towards them.
“Hey kiddo, go ahead and pop out at about...” he looked over to her side of the vehicle looking at the land scape.
“Riiiight over there.” He pointed to the large rock slab that the back tire of the jeep was currently resting ontop of.
“Keep close to the tire ya know keep cover and stuff. Keep an eye out Iiii’m-“ he looked at the building ahead, aside from a rather small abandoned out house behind it there didn’t seem to be any other reasonable place for cover.
“Yeah I’m pretty sure I know where they are. If they shoot back, open up in this little play fort got it?” He said putting a hand in her head and ruffling her hair as he turned and slipped into the backseat and heading into the gunners seat. Popping up in the far more exposed location but gripped the set up for the large gun and scanned the desert before aiming first at the building waiting a second, then slowly panned towards the outhouse.
With the press of the hard military grade button the gun released a loud stream of leaden death. The outhouse slowly disintegrated under a rapid emptying of a couple hundred of small cartridges. After about ten seconds the whole top half of the outhouse was reduced to splintered tooth picks.
“Hey kid?” He shouted over the rippling sound of death.
“Grab that loudy shouty in the glove box.”
‘Loudy shouty’ was Bedlamese for the megaphone he kept just for these occasions.
Seeing how eagerly she hopped into the front seat he walked over, leaning on the heavey door with his large and muscular arms.
“Ya sure your gonna be okay with this?” He asked tilting his sunglasses down to expose sharp green eyes and the giving a small peak into the heavy scarring he hid behind his eyes glasses. Once affirmed he turned back and walked around the front of his jeep opened the door and slid in. Turning the large key which caused the rig to once again roar into life. The tires spinning and flinging gravel off the aged asphalt before turning towards the mounded desert hill and zipping up the steep incline, gravity working wonders on the stomach as the jeep shot upwards, then dropped onto the hill the short hop of air they had causing the jeep to rock slightly before they went carried on across the desert landscape.
The radio powered once more continued to happily play its golden aged tunes, as a small set up started to peak up over the desert landscape, a rickity ghetto as all be shed scrapped together. Jack barely caught the small sign of movement in the distance and decided to stop the jeep at about hundred feet from the building, turning the massive rig with a short skid so that the drivers side faced towards them.
“Hey kiddo, go ahead and pop out at about...” he looked over to her side of the vehicle looking at the land scape.
“Riiiight over there.” He pointed to the large rock slab that the back tire of the jeep was currently resting ontop of.
“Keep close to the tire ya know keep cover and stuff. Keep an eye out Iiii’m-“ he looked at the building ahead, aside from a rather small abandoned out house behind it there didn’t seem to be any other reasonable place for cover.
“Yeah I’m pretty sure I know where they are. If they shoot back, open up in this little play fort got it?” He said putting a hand in her head and ruffling her hair as he turned and slipped into the backseat and heading into the gunners seat. Popping up in the far more exposed location but gripped the set up for the large gun and scanned the desert before aiming first at the building waiting a second, then slowly panned towards the outhouse.
With the press of the hard military grade button the gun released a loud stream of leaden death. The outhouse slowly disintegrated under a rapid emptying of a couple hundred of small cartridges. After about ten seconds the whole top half of the outhouse was reduced to splintered tooth picks.
“Hey kid?” He shouted over the rippling sound of death.
“Grab that loudy shouty in the glove box.”
‘Loudy shouty’ was Bedlamese for the megaphone he kept just for these occasions.
Scout nodded. She had to be okay with it. This was how they had survived this long. She wasn't really sure what they would do if other people stopped dying off. Would they turn on each other instead?
She buckled in and held onto anything she could as the jeep roared to life. She nearly hit her head a couple of times but ducked just in time. She had learned how to counter the bouncing of the jeep after so long with Jack.
She was quick to follow orders and hurried over to the cover Jack had pointed out. She hated always having to be protected but she wasn't stupid. She would have been dead a long time ago without him.
When he mussed her hair, she reached up and swayed at his hand with a smirk.
"Back off old man," she teased,"a girl still likes to look pretty, even after the end of the world."
She covered her ears at the sound of the cannon and peeked up at Jack in his post to see whether or not he was pleased with the shot. At his order, she dove back over to the jeep and dug out the megaphone.
"You think they're still alive?" She asked suspiciously from her spot in the jeep. She looked up at where he stood over her and frowned. If they weren't dead... Well... She didn't like the options.
She buckled in and held onto anything she could as the jeep roared to life. She nearly hit her head a couple of times but ducked just in time. She had learned how to counter the bouncing of the jeep after so long with Jack.
She was quick to follow orders and hurried over to the cover Jack had pointed out. She hated always having to be protected but she wasn't stupid. She would have been dead a long time ago without him.
When he mussed her hair, she reached up and swayed at his hand with a smirk.
"Back off old man," she teased,"a girl still likes to look pretty, even after the end of the world."
She covered her ears at the sound of the cannon and peeked up at Jack in his post to see whether or not he was pleased with the shot. At his order, she dove back over to the jeep and dug out the megaphone.
"You think they're still alive?" She asked suspiciously from her spot in the jeep. She looked up at where he stood over her and frowned. If they weren't dead... Well... She didn't like the options.
Mariah wasn't as sure at first whether running was the right course of action. The man she'd saved certainly did, but he'd been living in hell for the last few days and she could hardly blame him at this point. It doesn't help that he doesn't seem to have any weapons with him. She can't imagine anyone surviving long in this environment without them so she can only assume the monsters must have taken them when they abducted his scrawny ass.
The woman with her cowboy hat pulled low hesitates a few moments until she hears the squeal of tires as the truck turns and begins to barrel down on them. Nope! Well intentioned people don't come charging at other people like that. Like they're going to run them down and be glad to do it. As such she's only about ten feet behind Tristan as he climbs the next hill.
Thank god she followed as the next thing she hears is the unloading of a massive, high caliber magazine into the buildings they just abandoned. Definitely not well intentioned at all. Anyone with enough ordinance to waste it on targets they can't even see isn't someone she wants to meet face to face. That's the type of person that kills, steals and hordes. They may not be a monster per se, but that doesn't mean they should be trusted and hell if she's going to submit to one of the warlords that have been cropping up in the middle of the mostly abandoned towns.
As it was, once the dust of the gun fire settles, Tristan will be able to hear her breath huffing along just behind him as he runs. She's quicker on her feet than he is right now, mostly due to the fact that she wasn't just almost murdered by the boogie man and his family.
"You're-huff-welcome-huff," she adds just loudly enough for him to hear.
The woman with her cowboy hat pulled low hesitates a few moments until she hears the squeal of tires as the truck turns and begins to barrel down on them. Nope! Well intentioned people don't come charging at other people like that. Like they're going to run them down and be glad to do it. As such she's only about ten feet behind Tristan as he climbs the next hill.
Thank god she followed as the next thing she hears is the unloading of a massive, high caliber magazine into the buildings they just abandoned. Definitely not well intentioned at all. Anyone with enough ordinance to waste it on targets they can't even see isn't someone she wants to meet face to face. That's the type of person that kills, steals and hordes. They may not be a monster per se, but that doesn't mean they should be trusted and hell if she's going to submit to one of the warlords that have been cropping up in the middle of the mostly abandoned towns.
As it was, once the dust of the gun fire settles, Tristan will be able to hear her breath huffing along just behind him as he runs. She's quicker on her feet than he is right now, mostly due to the fact that she wasn't just almost murdered by the boogie man and his family.
"You're-huff-welcome-huff," she adds just loudly enough for him to hear.
Having just been kicked so hard in the gut he passed out running was hell. He didn't owe the woman anything but a suggestion but he wasn't going to hesitate to leave her if it would give him an edge. Though he couldn't help but wonder if she was going to be alright.
As the guns began firing on the shed he moaned at the loss of a good shelter but he didn't slow. Hearing the woman behind him panting he fell to his knees as he hit the ground on the hill and evacuated his bowels. There wasn't much to throw up but he felt better after.
Catching his breath for a moment he got back up and turned to the woman. Turning to run again he ran as fast as he could. He was in no condition to outrun a vehicle but there were plenty of places to hide a mile from where he currently was.
Calling to the woman he cursed. "There is a town... a mile out if we... can get there we may just.... make it out of here alive... Got anything... to slow down a truck?" His words were punctuated with heavy breathing. Now that he was feeling a little better he was also a little faster. The only real problem was the lack of cover for the next mile. A few hills and such but not much else.
As the guns began firing on the shed he moaned at the loss of a good shelter but he didn't slow. Hearing the woman behind him panting he fell to his knees as he hit the ground on the hill and evacuated his bowels. There wasn't much to throw up but he felt better after.
Catching his breath for a moment he got back up and turned to the woman. Turning to run again he ran as fast as he could. He was in no condition to outrun a vehicle but there were plenty of places to hide a mile from where he currently was.
Calling to the woman he cursed. "There is a town... a mile out if we... can get there we may just.... make it out of here alive... Got anything... to slow down a truck?" His words were punctuated with heavy breathing. Now that he was feeling a little better he was also a little faster. The only real problem was the lack of cover for the next mile. A few hills and such but not much else.
Moderators: Manofmanyfaces Tristan Valdes (played by Animewithin) Animewithin