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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 21, 2015 20:35:15 GMT -5
Natalie bit her lower lip as she watched TJ fall to the ground. He was turning fast, the infection must have been spreading quicker than she had thought. She figured they would have at least a few hours, but by the looks of it he wasn't going to have more than one. The decision had to be made, the woman was right about that. She had to decide how much longer he was going to have to suffer. Whatever science freak she was could wait, this was something that had to be done. She would have to question the woman later about where her group was, and if she would be able to get back to them.
"Can...can you give us a minute? Alone, please. I don't want him to suffer like this anymore."
She unholstered her pistol, and pointed it towards the boy. She wouldn't let him turn, let him become one of those things.
"TJ, don't look up, alright? Just close your eyes, I promise I'll make this quick."
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Post by Winters on Feb 21, 2015 23:22:44 GMT -5
Though feeling a little impatient with it now, Rey hid it well enough, and just turned away across the room to the broken window, and climbed out onto the edge. Peering outside, she looked at the street below, and seen as much as she could It was a fairly clear night, which probably made it the only good thing about it, aside from giving swift justice. The hardest part about tonight was that up until now, she had things perfect as they were in almost a whole year. Rey was involved with a good group of people, kept out in the open, but not about who she was on the inside. Even made a friend or two, or something other than just somebody she survived with. But now, the gig was up, and she cant even believe she stuck around this long to explain herself. Normally, she would have skipped town five seconds after Natalies discover. That would be best case scenario, worst would be killing her and this TJ instantly. Something was different about her though, Rey changed a lot since her old self, and she was almost a different person. One who was going to embrace her feelings while she still had a heart inside her chest. Might have been broken, but it was there.
Listening to the scene with TJ behind her though, Rey only heard mumbling, but could almost figure out what they were saying word for word beause of how many times she seen the situation before. She was going to put one in his head, didnt want him to see it coming, would ease into conversation, and pull the trigger when he wasnt expecting it. If it was one thing she hadnt adopted from her father, it was lack of patience, because Rey was content with sitting on the window sil all night. Not like she had anything else to do though, really.
"Tell Jericho ill miss his jokes." if there was any final words, that would be it. TJ closed his eyes, and still kept his head down, like Natalie said. He didnt want to look at her anyways, becuase he was scared. Was she doing this was a strauight face, or was she trembling to do it, was this going to be too much for her. He cared about the woman, mostly because she was a survivor, somebody who was going to be around for a long, long time with how good she was at staying alive. If killing a kid was on her concience, it might mess things up, and TJ didnt want to be the reason she turned into another person. Still, he just kept his mouth closed so he didnt say anything else, and didnt look as he was told. Waiting for what happened next.
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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 21, 2015 23:33:26 GMT -5
Natale looked over at the other woman as she sat by the window, looking bored, like she had seen this particular scene played out too many times before. She supposed that she probably had. How many people had been bitten, and had to be granted some small piece of mercy like this since the outbreak began? Too many to count, and now she was adding one more to that list.
Her hands were trembling, and she focused her efforts to keep the gun from shaking too badly in her hands. She didn't want to miss, she didn't want to make this last longer than it had to.
"I won't forget you TJ."
She pulled the trigger once. The sound was so loud in her ears, but she forced herself to watch as the bullet entered the boy's head and killed him instantly. As his body collapsed in a heap on the floor, she slowly slid down until she was sitting, the gun heavy in her hands and soft sobs coming from her throat. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched the blood begin to pool around the boy's body, and she pulled her knees up to her chest as she tried to take in what she had just done.
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Post by Winters on Feb 22, 2015 0:05:09 GMT -5
The gunshot let her know was over. Natalie definitely didnt it, couldnt have shot away, she didnt look the type to do something like that. But almost to be one hundred percent, Rey needed to be sure, but before she turned, she heard the second slump. First was young TJ hitting the floor, second was Natalie herself. Turned to see the woman obviously under stress, Rey felt like this could have been avoided if she just did it herself. These days, maybe having something like this on her hands would make Natalie a better survivor, being capable of more than most usually kept people alive long. That was looking at a glass half full scenarious, but when it came down to it, the woman shot a kid. There was nothing good about it.
Rey felt for her, but hoped that this wasnt it, that she wouldnt just sit here for the rest of her days, and mope about it. People couldnt give up this easily, and Rey was tempted on playing the 'TJ would want you to be strong', but knew that it was much too early. She herself lost the ability to gauge other peoples emotions anymore. It wasnt that she didnt understand people, it was that she didnt like them. That train of thought changed as less and less people were among the living population, it wasnt as if the world had been filled with idiots, or creeps. The world was filled with survivors, ones who were capable. They had to be capable, otherwise they wouldnt have lived this long. Thats what let Rey know that Natalie was capable of moving on, and just waited for it to sink in that she was one of the rare few that she didnt hate because of it.
Her own selfish urges clicked a little, seeing the womans bare skin. It was the first time in awhile that she had, and stepping closer, Rey took in what she could, seflishly, but wasnt hurting anybody. It was human nature, and if it was something normal, she was holding onto it. After a good fifteen seconds though, she breathed in, and then let it out, mustering up kind words to go along with her feeling of being a human being. "Most people never get a good chance. TJ was lucky to have you." Rey hovered her hand over Natlies shoulder, sensing that she was in disttraught, hearing it. But she didnt her her hand touch her, for obvious reasons, and some not so obvious. Quickly retracting it, Rey spoke again. "We can stay here if you want, for the night. Or head back to the museum. Ill even take watch, if you need to sleep, or something."
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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 22, 2015 16:07:28 GMT -5
Natalie didn't know how long she had sat there, but she listened to the other woman speak, and finally nodded wordlessly as she tried to pull herself back together. For right now it was just Rey and her, she needed to take care of things, and make sure they both made it back to their community. She had to be strong, and had to make decisions. She could crawl into a hole of self pity later.
"Okay, we should stay here tonight. Just for a little while. We...we need to take care of TJ. I'm not leaving him there like that. Then we need to scavenge supplies, maybe find a shirt for me that isn't covered in blood. We can move at first light, that way we can see them before they see us."
She holstered her pistol, and kept the bunched up bloody shirt in her hands. She shivered a little in the night air, her exposed skin getting goosebumps. She went and stood over the unmoving body of the boy, and put his arms and legs together so he would be easier to move.
"Can you find a blanket, or a sheet we can wrap him in? I know we can't bury him, but I can at least give him a proper send off."
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Post by Winters on Feb 22, 2015 23:06:58 GMT -5
Was this woman really serious, spending this much time on one person. Getting attached was the worst thing anybody could do, Rey of all people knew that, but maybe thats what made her the way she is today. On one had, she was somebody who stayed alive, always and forever, but on another hand, she was somebody who eneed up pushing everyone else away because of her actions. Like these actions, it probably wasnt giving her a good impression, so Rey played along, just because there wouldnt be anything left if she had just been cold the whole time. Besides, she was trying to change here, a clean slate, where nobody knew how bitter she was. Rey didnt have to be.
Without saying anything, she wandered off into another office room of the radio towers top floor. Lots of equipment, probably still couldve been used, if the power in the place was on. Though one thing got to her, and that was kerosine lanterns that lit the place. It meant the people who were here, lived here, or at least been here at the time when things went down. That meant somebody stayed here, and if they stayed here, there would be supplies. And there it was, in the control room. Two duffle bags of who knows what, probably lots of useful stuff, and a makeshift bed. Didnt seem like a good idea to take the blanket from the makeshift bed, but it wasnt that good this season anyways.
Wanting to take time to look through the bags, Rey decided to take the blanket back to Natalie. Seemed like a waste of a perfectly good blanket, especially when finding good blankets was a challenge on its own, but she did it anyways without giving away how she really felt. This wasnt some sort of situation where Natalie was going to be the kind soul to change how Rey felt, but she didnt want an excuse this time around, she needed to become a better person, and she was already off to a good start as any. "Heres a blanket a found in the control room. Also found some suppies we can look through, after you do what your going to do, I mean. Take your time, im gonna be back in there, or at the window. Youll find me." Trying not to seem like it had been a forced smile, Rey passed Natalie the blanket, and turned away, walking to the other side of the room. She really needed her pair of gloves back. Rey couldnt believe she lost them. Why that was on her mind now should have been first, but it wasnt, and now she had been a little concerned about it.
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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 23, 2015 13:51:50 GMT -5
Natalie waited until the woman left before she started preparing TJ's body. She laid the blanket next to him, and then rolled him onto it, closing his eyes as she did so. She just couldn't bear to look into them as she wrapped him up, starting with his legs and finishing with his head. She had always seen her father say a few words over the people that had died in their community, but it felt strange because they were alone, and she didn't really know the boy that well.
"You saved one person today TJ. You did good. I will remember you, always."
With that she left his body where it lay, wanting to make sure when they leave that the doors were locked so nothing could get to it. She owed him that much at least. She wet to the other room, and found Rey along with the supplies she was talking about. She dried her eyes, and sniffled a bit, then pulled herself back together and began to peer through the bags, wanting to see what could be taken and what would be left behind.
"You didn't come across any clothes did you? I could stand for a new shirt."
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Post by Winters on Feb 23, 2015 21:28:07 GMT -5
After removing her longsleeve coat, Rey looked it over, sticking her finger through the knife cut into the back. There had been blood, but really not all too much, and she quickly wiped it all away. Hearing the door open, she looked, seeing it had been Natalie, who was collecting herself, though she didnt speak at first, and neither did Rey. Just and look out into the main sever room through the large glass window. When she started to go through the supplies, she spoke finally, and now Rey felt that conversation could start without sounding like she was completely hearless.
"No. Nothing." But after looking at the coat, she tossed it on top of the table, and looked at Natalie in the eyes. "But here, take this. Better than that." Rey had been wearing a black tanktop underneith. The air had been cool enough for her, the only reason she wore a coat was because it had some sort of sentimental value to her. It belonged to Madison. "Little blood, but itll dry." This was where the awkward social interaction came in. Natlie would say no, Rey would insist. She hope that the near topless woman would just accept it. "Please?" The sentimental value needed to go away, that part of her life was over.
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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 23, 2015 22:20:28 GMT -5
Natalie looked at the shirt as she caught it, hearing the way the woman spoke, she thought it would be better not to argue with her. Whatever she was going through, evidently Rey was not a stranger to the loss either. Slipping the shirt on, she shivered as the cool material covered her, and the slightly damp spot of blood came into contact with her skin.
"Thanks. Feels better to be covered. I don't think I'd love it down if I came back home without my shirt. My father would be asking what woman had talked me out of my clothes."
She blushed a little, turning her back and opening the bag, finding a few older MRE's. They were probably still good, but she would let Rey decide that. They had a few odds and ends, and a way of possibly communicating to the community, and possibly to Rey's people as well.
"Anyone out there looking for you? We could radio them maybe, and then we could maybe get them to either come here, or make our way back to my community in small groups. There is plenty of room, and it is safer than being out here in the open."
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Post by Winters on Feb 24, 2015 2:03:37 GMT -5
It was an interesting choice of words. Natalie had actually made Rey grin, even if it was a little, but it most definitely wasnt forced. When she took the meals ready to eat, she checked along the sealed edges, finding any sort of markings. Wasnt for an expiration date, she knew these things lasted forever, if stored proply. But failing to find anything that gave it away, she ran her fingers along the sides, feeling for any moisture. None, perfect. Next, she opened it up, and seen it had been a small, cheap candy bar, freeze dried cheese, and a packet of tomato paste. Just add water, and you had food for a meal, easily between two or three people with how rationing went.
Rey had already been into the candy bar when Natalie asked her if anybody was trying to find her, a search party, or the like. Half of the bar had been gone already, it was only two bites anyways, but she lay the other bit back in the bag, knowing it was all she needed to tide her over. They were high on calories for a reason. "Dont belong to any of the groups here. Or anywhere. I trade with the museum, your ans TJ's people, from what I gathered. If I didnt know better, I wouldve thought you were part of the search party."
Without making too big a deal about it, Rey sat back against the wall, and took off her boots. If they were going to be here for the night, she was going to rest her feet. She might have healed, and didnt feel any pain, but stress set in on her muscles from constant use. Even the knife in her back urked her spine a little bit, still. Flesh was one thing, bone and muscle tissue was another. "If the ones out there owned this supplies, they mustve been making a run themselves. But judging from that flaregun in that bag, its business as usual, so nobody will be coming tonight."
That meant if they wanted to, they could sleep. Banging on the door would give away any roamers that happened to get up the stairs by sheer fluke, they would hear it. Taking watch used to be routine, but it wasnt nessicary this time. Not that Rey slept much anyways, it might be good to get some shuteye while she could. "So no. Nobody is coming for me. Or you." Natlies willingness to trust her was a little uncanny, which either meant that the woman was a little too trusting, or Rey ticked enough boxes to let her know she was okay. Just for nostalgia, Rey wanted to ask her one of the questions her father asked people. She was unsettled by taking TJ's life, but it couldnt habe been her first time. "How many people have you killed? And do you remember them?"
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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 24, 2015 7:45:10 GMT -5
Natalie locked the door, and pushed what items she could against it. Even though the undead were stupid as stumps, and had a hard time navigating stairs, she didn't want to take the chance of something catching them off guard. As long as they maintained noise and light discipline, they would be alright. Nothing would be bothering them tonight.
"I found another blanket, but it should cover the both of us. Feel like at least being warm while you sleep?"
She held out the woolen blanket, kicking off her own boots and putting her weapon belt within arms reach. She was tempted to take more of her clothes off, but she didn't know if they would need to leave in a hurry. So unless the other woman undressed more, she would follow her line of thinking and keep her clothes mostly on. Having her boots off made her feel great though. Her feet were killing her from the running about she had been forced to do that evening.
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Post by Winters on Feb 24, 2015 13:00:13 GMT -5
Probably wasnt that she ignored the question, but Natalie got up and left the room. When Rey looked through the window to see what she was doing, she seen her move down the hall, but not long after return with some things in hand. More importantly, she blocked off the door. It wasnt needed, but it wouldnt hur to do it, so Rey figured that it was a smart move overall. As she got back to the room though, Rey seen she found a blanket, and handed it to see. Definitely wasnt needed, but it was a nice gesture, and the corner of her cheek even propped up a little as she did, but Rey shook her head in the end. "No. You keep it. I cant."
Ending with an 'I cant' probably wasnt the most informative bit, but Rey really didnt feel like getting into it. Turning away, she looked back at the window, so she didnt seem like her mind was elsewhere. Which it was, but for good reasons that she again, didnt want to get into. Natalie was stupid if she was going to just sleep close to a complete stranger, she had to be. The thought was just that though, a thought, and Rey wasnt going to say it out loud. Until she did. Especially with how she avoided the last question she asked her, intentionally or not. "Youre dumb for getting close to me.
At this point, her words were nearly trivial, but thats how things needed to be. Natalie already knew that she was capable of healing on the spot from some who knows what experiment, she didnt need to know the others things she was capable of. So Reys choice of words would lead her to believe that pushing her away was because of something person, not the real reason. Even though there was something personal, Rey was keeping to herself. Tonight wasnt the night to get into it, if ever there was a night. She could be a good person, and could help people, but she couldnt be a friendly person.
Problem was, with how much people knew these days versus how much they didnt know, and how Natalie reacted to her being something not human to begin with, the woman would probably end up pressing for answers. She seemed the type. It was just in some peoples nature to ask questions. So if Rey was going to actually be around people, she was going to have to open up at some point. "Bad things happen when people get close to me. Get some sleep." Again, trivial words, with multiple meanings. Rey wasnt very good at lying anymore.
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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 24, 2015 16:24:42 GMT -5
Natalie felt stung when the woman had called her stupid. True that she was giving the woman a chance to harm her, or to ambush her when she least expected it. However, the woman could have taken her at any time. Even armed she didn't appear to have the upper hand against someone that could heal so easily, and was so dangerous in the close quarters they found themselves in. No, if the woman had meant her harm, she would have done so already. This was different.
Her mannerisms reminded her of one of the older men in the community. He used to yell at people when they tried to start conversations with him, and he's say hurtful things to make them keep their distance. Truth was the old man didn't want to get to know people. He was afraid of liking someone and having something terrible happen to them. He couldn't take loss, and that was something that Rey was afraid of as well. She could choose to ignore it, or push a few buttons and see what happened.
"Pfft. Scared of me already huh? I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. All I was offering was a blanket so you won't be cold, and someone to talk to. But hey, you want to lone wolf this, go for it. Seen a lot of those types: talk about how they don't need others, or everyone around them gets hurt. More than a few of them are shambling around outside, I can guarantee it. Didn't think you'd want to be like that."
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Post by Winters on Feb 24, 2015 20:38:54 GMT -5
At this point, it was all or nothing. After what they had went through, it had to happen now, or it was going to happen a much worse way if they stayed in this room. Rey couldnt hold it back anymore, no matter how much she tried. It was one thing having these urges when somebody else knew how dangerous you really were, but Natalie had been a survivor, and Rey was going to mess that up if she didnt at least warn her. Who knows, maybe she would even try to help her, and it wouldnt be so bad. Arc could only do so much, but he changed more than she did. If there was light and darkness, good and evil, she was in between, but wanting so badly to find the light.
Not wanting to end the night with the awkwardness, and to see exactly where natalie stood in this situation, Rey got up from her side of the wall, and peered over the woman. Not with any sort of violence in her eyes, it was calm, and assuring. She reached out her hand, and eased it toward hers, slowely as to not be threatening at all. "Give me your hand." There wasnt any sort of voulentary in her face, and Natalie didnt seem to protest, so Rey took old of her hand, and closed her eyes, pressing it against her own chest.
Maybe it seemed like she was crazy, but if she really did trust her, then it would be fine, and she wouldnt fight it. Rey could feel Natalies purlse. It told her that she was confused, and questioning what she was doing, but Rey just kept holding on. From the pulses, she felt her heart start to pick up a little bit more, and by this time, Natalie would have been feeling that her hand had been going numb, and moving up her arm. Quickly releasing it, Rey opened her eyes, and stepped away. "No heartbeat. Im not even part of the living. My body is like a vessel for another virus, a leech. I get the same feelings those who turned do, only not primitive, or mindless. I can control it. But the virus in me wants your blood, it wants to spread."
The numbness would have went away, and where Natalies had had been, there was a black handprint. "I trust myself when im awake, but not when im asleep. Somebody got too close to me when I was sleeping, and I woke up, they were dead. To be honest, im not even sure whats wrong with me, not the details anyways. I just live with it. But after so many years old being alone, I cant do it anymore, which is why I stuck around here. Im sure all of this sounds completely insane to you, and I wouldnt blame you if you want me to leave."
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Post by JDrew25 on Feb 24, 2015 21:51:52 GMT -5
Natalie gawked at her, shaking her hand absentmindedly as she waited for the feeling to come back. She watched as the woman's skin remained black where her hand had been. She had never seen anything like it, and was confused and uncertain as to what she should say or do next. Not wanting to me rude, she stammered out something that didn't even make sense to her.
She cleared her throat and tried again, a nervous smile coming to her lips as she finally found her voice again.
"I've never seen anything like you before. I know it has to be hard, being around people, or just trusting yourself. But tonight, we are going to have to be together, and watch out for each other. I have a feeling that you won't hurt me. Not while you are awake anyways. Tomorrow, come with me. Maybe we can find a way to help you, or at least keep you safe. You can't just wander around the deadlands by yourself. If you do that, you might as well be one of those walking outside."
She pulled the blanket back, and patted the space of floor next to her.
"Come on, I won't bite if you don't. You don't need to sleep, just stay awake and warm with me."
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