;; The Dark Inside ;; [ Maple x Shades ]

[Maple ♥]

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everyday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Welcome to The Dark Inside

------

Characters

Boys:

Oliver Brandt ; ;
19 yrs ; ;
anxious, sarcastic, curious
is a definite loner and worried he is infected
gets into trouble a lot

Zacharias Jones ; ;
18 yrs ; ;
ambitious, crafty, resourceful
is infected but drifts; able to control his killing urges not impulsive and blood-thirsty
seems to be going somewhere

Peter Levine ; ;
19 yrs ; ;
quiet, intelligent, kind
naïve, but would easily trust someone who is hurt
main mission is to protect his younger brother, Allie

Collin Matre ; ;
18 yrs ; ;
loud, optimistic, flirty
he can be serious at times of trouble
also is known to be clumsy

Flynn Stone ; ;
19 yrs ; ;
shy, gawky, shrewd
seems like a cubicle nerd
was a former medical student in his first year


Luke Stewart
Luke is nineteen years old and the second man of his 'house'. He's a hard worker who doesn't believe in being lazy and gets angry easily. His temper can flare majorly unexpectedly and he'd been in a number of fights in his lifetime, ones that he could've just walked away from but didn't. Luke likes to stand his ground and thinks he knows all and what's best and if you cross him he'll fight you to prove that he's right, or yell pretty loud. He is almost an exact replica of his father, a skinny tall man with a mustache and pony tail, a man who scolds him rarely and is prideful of his son and protective over his kids. Luke was a ladies man in high school and stayed a good hook up after high school while in college for his baseball scholarship. Now he likes to make sure he's in control an get whatever girls he can, especially to get away from his ex who never gets off of his nerves.

Girls:

Ellisa 'Ellie' King
Ellie is 18 years old and a feisty one at that. She kind of became a badass after the world started to crumble, and if she hadn't she probably wouldn't have survived it. After her mother died of cancer and her father was murdered by a random stranger, Ellie teamed up with the Stewart siblings, who had also lost their mother but managed to stay alive with their dad, and began her journey of survival. She is strong willed and sarcastic, usually opting for being a hard head and a bitch. She likes adventurous things and is usually always the first one to jump into any dangerous act or job. Ellie's not afraid to be a badass when the time comes, and rarely opens up to people. Due to the bitterness of her past, she keeps things bottled in for the most part and hates emotional subjects or conversations. Deep down, though, she wishes someone would hold onto her heart and replace the deep hole there from loosing her parents. Of course she'd protective over her two adoptive siblings, and the Stewarts in general. So, lightly, don't mess with her or them.

Marley Stewart
Marley or 'Mar Mar' is sixteen years old and a big softy. She had always been the baby of her family, with an older brother and star of the world guy like Luke as a brother, who wouldn't? She was too little when her mother died, so she was a big daddies little girl. Most of her life she played the role she was given, shy little girl who couldn't fend for herself. So when she had to start becoming a survivor, with her Dad leading them and two other teens, she still became the baby of the group. Luke, her brother, and her adoptive sister dated and she became the third wheel and it was even more embarrassing when they broke up. So always an outsider, but being framed of needing too much, she stayed quiet for the most part and stayed distant from people who could possibly judge her and goes long silently with the rest of her pack. She's pretty insecure and embarrassed about anything and everything.

Lauren Moscow
Being a young mom (hueheuheuheueh), Lauren had to fight for her young daughter in order to keep her alive. Think Lauren in Momish personality, but she's only 18 and bitter about her ex who left her when the whole world crumbling thing started. Kind of bitter about men in general after she was used so badly. Her daughter is three and named Ruby.

Jade Jones
Jade was the slut, and is 18. She was preppy cheerleader who went to college, drank her life away, and slept with every guy. She liked being the slut, she did. Both her parents were wealthy business people who weren't part of her life, and so her grandmother raised her. But her grandmother died shortly after the few years they spent together and Jade was on her own. So, she became a partier. But after the whole world thing, no one would save her. So she began practically sleeping with men in order to stay alive and be under their protections. She spreads her legs more than she cares about anything else and is a monster in bed. But she is also practically dead inside, and flirty to the maximum. She will sleep with you to get what she wants, male or female, so that she stays alive and get past the facts that her parents left her to die and fend for herself an she has no friends. Jade secretly thinks that she is infected because she feels sick all of the time, which actually turns out to be an STD she picked up from one of her nonconsensual hook ups on the road.

Autumn Macarthy
Autumn is nineteen years old with a controlling personality. She likes to control the group. She is one of the leaders of the group? An ex-military cadet, who actually only went through boot camp after she left high school but thinks she qualifies to boss everyone around. Her and Luke butt heads a lot because of this. She is professional almost and gets annoyed with people who question her. Which is why her and Oliver will be so hilarious as a hook up. She'll be like 'I'm too professional for this' and then pounce on him like crazy.

Juliet Roth ; ;
19 yrs ; ;
cynical, robust, thoughtful
though sometimes seems like in la-la-land
she relies on small size to avoid conflict

Groups

Marley x Luke x Ellie x Flynn
Juliet x Collin x Autumn 
Peter x Lauren

Loners

Oliver
Jade
Zach

Des roleplay iz for Shades and Maple but come chat if you wanna ^.^

[shades]

In the end the land was desolate and abandoned. Sure, there were earthquakes that crumbled cities and bore crevices into the streets and earth. Yet, it couldn’t be that bad, well that was often what others kept trying to say to themselves as they avoided the endless callous conditions. For those who have the infection, a ‘disease’ as it was commonly muttered upon by groups and other people, it was perfect for world takeover. Most people in power had become cold-blooded, and those who didn’t were quickly killed off. Power began going out as the massive population of those with the ‘disease’ killed anyone who stood in their way, it wasn’t hard at all. Leaving anyone who wasn’t infected with one goal: survival.

For Peter he was more interested in his little brother, Allie, and his safety. Since the first day he always would watch people, particularly those he had to avoid. Unlike the regular portrayal of these ‘end of the world situations’ such as zombies and mass destruction, Peter could tell this wasn’t what social media was expecting. He observed how random people were victims to whatever turned them into god-knows-what with black veins and all.

He also knew there was a possibility himself or Allie could be infected at the random leisure of it all, and though it was something he thought about. It didn’t linger long, because Peter wasn’t prepared for betrayal between the Levine boys.

Peter was also very thankful for being over-cautious with others, untrusting, cynical. But when he met Lauren Moscow, he was drawn to her protective nature towards her own little one (daughter, which shocked the small town young man who never had to deal with the pressures of adulthood at a young age). With his own younger brother on his back, always tired from walking near the end of the day, they had barely paused when they nearly ran into Lauren. She had light footsteps, and both boys had to duck when she swung at them.

Needless to say, both knew they were alike and stuck together. No matter how different they are. For instance, as Lauren would walk with Ruby a few feet away from them, there was Peter and Allie. The younger boy toying with his half-filled notebook, using Peter as a table, but not paying attention to writing in it at all. Instead he was pointing to random objects, “is it that sign?”

“No.”

“Then what’s yellow?”

“The bus we passed half a mile ago.”

“Peter! No fair!” The boy would grin, bopping his brother with the pencil before assuming his turn. “I spy something…” he tapped his chin lightly, one arm tightly clasped to Peter as elevation. “I spy something blue!”

And the game would continue like that for miles, or until Allie went back to writing in his notebook, or Lauren interrupted them.

~*~

Oliver wasn’t special, poking around corners, hoping that he wouldn’t be the prey to the next lion that came on a hunt. Or that he wouldn’t be the lion which preyed on the Lamb. Since the beginnings of the end of the world, Oliver hadn’t felt the same. He always blamed his anxiety for the feeling, knowing he was alone, and wondering if any of his family or friends survived or murdered each other.

In the beginning, even he had to tear up and then wipe them away.

Though Oliver wasn’t always alone, he had a small group of older adults who knew how to hunt and survive. Yet they had more knowledge on what seemed to be going on than he, and when the symptoms to what Oliver thought was the urge to murder, the ‘disease’ which turned the veins of humans black, and their minds against mercy, he left and never wanted to travel with anyone since.

Who wouldn’t fear becoming a monster?

Instead Oliver spent his short days and long nights in a corner, or running between buildings of the city which name he did not know. It was a game of hide-and-seek, or ‘do not get caught’, in fear he would be killed, or recruited. While he still had some sanity left, Oliver would fight.

It made him a little crazy in his thoughts, wondering if it was happening or not, or why he was feeling sick at random intervals, dizzy, drifting, and just needed a rest. He had water, bottled water from grocery stores, and food, nutrition and granola bars but hey it was food, so in terms Oliver was healthy.

Physically, at least.

Sitting in the corner was lonely, but at least he was safe. Sipping his water casually and wiping the bits lingering on his lips, wishing it would come back into a ocean, or the water would refill itself. Oliver knew it was improbable (impossible went out the door when this nightmare came to be, if this can happen, why can’t their be a genie in the lamp?) but still it gave him a good-natured and normal thought.

Leaning back, his brown eyes glanced up at the ceiling, then slowly his body would slid up to the window and see if there was anyone below. Usually, now after months since it began, the streets were empty except for what Oliver thought were patrols, or those unorganized hordes of people who went to raid a house they knew someone was holed up in and execute them on the spot.

He didn’t want to join in on those, in fact, Oliver didn’t even stay around to watch the blood splatter across the street. Another hope he still had sanity.

But it didn’t mean he wasn’t worried.

~*~

She never exactly was a big girl, in fact 5’4” Juliet didn’t look like she could take anyone on. Maybe that was why she joined someone as soon hell broke loose and it became a matter of life or death. Or maybe she just enjoyed their company, no matter how big an idiot Collin seemed and how much he bickered with Autumn.

Unlike said boy, Juliet was light on her feet from years of ballet and knew not to trip on a root, or wire. Walking near the other two, arms crossed, head bowed ever so slightly in thought. Her eyes on the ground underneath her, but the blue orbs would flicker upwards every few minutes.

Except for the shuffling of her companions, Juliet was also all ears, listening for anything that sounded like a fourth set of footsteps, or car, something that alerted them they weren’t alone. Though, even Juliet had a feeling they never were.

She didn’t mean that in ‘Jesus is always with you’ sort of way either.

“oof!” Juliet didn’t even glance back, she already knew Collin had tripped once again on something and didn’t really care. Blue eyes rolled, a silent plea for him to not have attracted attention of anyone or anything to them being there.

Everything wanted them dead, wild dogs, humans, and the crumbling earth and buildings of the cities which they are supported by. They had to be careful.

[Maple ♥]

    Luke and Ellie were racing, again. Marley wasn't surprised by this, because it happened all the damn time. She wasn't a big fan of running, let alone induced exercise that was on purpose. The two ex's were always bickering, fighting, hitting one another, racing to see who was best. Marley stayed behind, walking with Flynn and her father quietly, like she always was. She rarely talked, because if she did, it was usually pushed aside like it didn't matter. Like she didn't matter. And in most cases, she didn't. Though, she had made a good friendship with Flynn, who also seemed rather quiet and reserved. SHe walked sloppily and looked over at Flynn with a half smile. "You okay?" she offered as her Dad went ahead of them. 

___

    Lauren was panting a bit, the blazing sun coming down on the back of her neck and making her sweat as she carried Ruby on her back. Blonde wisps of her hair feel into her face as she pushed them away. "You know, Allie. I used to play this game when I went on road trips a few years back," she told him, adjusting Ruby who was covered by a small tarp to keep her from getting burnt and was snoring softly against Lauren's back. She was grateful for Peter and his brothers company, and protection. Her and Ruby would've never made it if she hadn't tried to kill Peter when they'd first met. 

___

    Autumn rolled her eyes at the clumsy Collin, checking her solar paneled watch and sighing as her combat boots trudged over the forest like ground. "Get up," she instructed dully and glanced over at Juliet with a knowing look before continuing, not offering him any help. "If you keep tripoing up like that you're going to get us caught-" just as she was about to say it her eyes widened and she screamed. "Duck!" and hit the deck, pulling Juliet down with her. Make-shift spears and rocks were being thrown at their heads, and who knows if those people had guns or not. 

___


    "Well... I mean, I could help you with, you know, getting your mind off of things..." Jade bit her lip, leaning over the guy she's once again found. Her eyes studied him; he had a gun and was tall and muscular, with enough food for a good while. He'd protect her well enough, if she just spread her legs. The guy was of course thankful for her sluttiness, and accepted her offer. Yes. Another day of survival in the bag for Jade.

[shades]

Being a first semester college student in LECOM medical college, Flynn knew many things about the body and those bodies he had to dissect. It wasn’t pleasant, but Flynn was smart enough to get through it. However, when the world began to crumble and people turned on each other. He tried to help some he met, but even now he bore a scar on his shoulder from betrayal that never healed right and a lens of his glasses was cracked.

Flynn was thoughtful, always looking off in the distance as he walked, though prepared when he needed to be. His blue eyes drifted to Marley with a light smile on his pink lips, “I’m fine.” He lied. Of course he wasn’t fine, like everyone else, the world was falling apart and he has to be careful.

He didn’t need to be killed today.

It was a miracle he had stumbled upon the Stewarts and Ellie, Flynn would probably be unable to survive alone. Just walking over fallen debris and running away from the monsters people have become were difficult and tiring. Thankfully, he was able to do it, but Flynn knew alone it would only of been a matter of time.

~*~

Allie’s body twisted around to look at Lauren. Curious green eyes shone as he smiled, brown hair clinging to his forehead from the heat of the sun beating down on him. He ignored the grunt of Peter under him, the awkward position of both he and Allie and a backpack, digging the straps into his brothers body and not realizing it.

“Really? Peter always hates road trips so he just listened to music and ignored me.” The boy ran a hand through his brothers hair, making it stick up with a tug as Allie swung himself around again.

“We’re not in a car.”

“Which is why we’re playing the game, now what color was it?”

“Is it the grass?”

“No!”

Peter rolled his eyes fondly, swinging his head around to look throughout the land. It was a great game because it gave him an excuse to keep his eyes peeled and watch out for danger. Though Allie was well aware of what could happen, and what had happened, Peter was trying to give the boy what seems like a normal adventure.

~*~

Juliet ducked her head and shot a glare towards Collin, though even she knew it wasn’t wholly his fault. Picking herself up, she half crawled towards a pile of rubble where she wouldn’t be visible, peeking through a hole in the cement. Spears weren’t normal, particularly makeshift ones from large knives melted to a stick.

She reached out and blindly grabbed and dragged the duo towards them. Blue eyes flashing dangerously, keeping an eye out for the danger ahead of them. Mentally, her mind was trying to find a way to escape unnoticed and confuse the monsters before them.

After months of being in this world, she knew they wouldn’t give up until you were gone, or impossible to reach.

Collin was gripping the cement tightly, glancing at Autumn and Juliet and then where the spear had come from. “I don’t hear the cocking of a bullet, do you think we can outrun spears?” Of course, he knew they would have to be sure of the lack of guns. Neither of them could outrun a bullet, or were stupid enough to try.

Sure, Collin would joke about when he was younger, but here it was one of those fearful situations.

Green eyes peeked over the pile, before ducking as something flashed towards him. Though it was just the glare of the light off glass or metal.

[Maple ♥]

    Marley nodded, his answer the only conformation she needed. Just as she was about to ask another question, her shoulder was shoved aside by a large male lumbering past, Ellie right on his heels.

    "Luke! You cheater!" Ellie sneered as she kicked over a large rock and raced after Luke. 

    "Circles? Really? They're racing in circles," Marley grumbled and hugged her body, pushing her dirtied hair off of her shoulder and holding onto a tree to keep her balance. Her father had already told her many times that she should jump into the races that her older brother and friend got into, because it was good practice. But Marley was too scared to do much, and she knew even if she trained she'd freeze up when bad things actually happened. The fact of the matter was that she was just not as brave as everyone else, and probably never would be. 

    "You jackass," Ellie shoved Luke's shoulder playfully and bent over to try and catch her breath. If Luke hadn't taken a short cut through the forest, she would have won their last race. It made her cheeks flare at the fact that she'd lost to the guy she wanted to out-smart and out-do in anything and everything. 

    Luke grinned as he took tried to catch his breath. "Too slow, are we Ellie?" he teased and she rolled her eyes in response, eyes gazing out over the forest around them as they both waited for the others to catch up. 

___

    Autumn grimaced as her calf scraped against a sharp rock as she crawled behind a concrete slab in the forested ruins of what used to be a city. "We need a diversion," she thought, remembering all her training from the soldier boot camp she'd attended a few years back. Now her eyes trailed over the whole street over grown with foliage and the crackled building's bases, some still standing, some not. The only weapon she has was a small knife, she had yet to find a gun or any other means of it. If she could just get her fingers on a M22 pistol, then she could really show those bastards what she was made of. 

    Seeing that she didn't have much, she dug in the pocket of her dirty cargo pants and pulled out a very old and small coin. "This is all I got unless we want to throw food and water," she nodded behind her at the backpack she carried over her shoulders, pushed up against the concrete she hid behind. 

___

    Lauren smiled subtly, shaking her head as she moved along the trail laid out in front of them. They were reaching a more forested area, which she was thankful for due to the amount of heat the sun was giving off. She hoped they could take a break soon in the covering of the trees. 

    A small whimper vibrated against Lauren's back and she halted in her walking for a second, hands moving to pull Ruby higher up on her back. "What's wrong baby?" she asked her daughter, concern running over her features. 

    "My tummy," the toddler pointed to her stomach as Lauren's head turned to look at her. Ruby's pudgy little fingers moved some stringy hair out of dirtied face and her bottom lip trembled. Lauren glanced at Peter hesitantly, knowing they shouldn't stop, but worried about Ruby at the same time. 

    "We're going to stop in a few minutes," her eyes met Peter's. "Just hold on until then."

    And then her poor baby threw up on her mother's back.

[shades]

Stopping, Peter looked back at the sound of retching filling his ears. The feeling of his brother twisting of his brother on his back, his necklace pressing into his skin as Allie whispered “ew” with his nose plugged. That was the sign they had to stop or split up, and though Peter wasn’t overly concerned with company or if Lauren decided to leave or stay. He really didn’t want to be the one to ditch her without reason.

“We should stop, if we continue like this she’ll only get worst.” Feeling Allie slip from his back. Of course he wouldn’t let the boy out of his sight, Allie pulling out a deck of playing cards and setting up cross-legged, his dirty smudges on his face showing as the boy bowed his head, the overly large necklace of a cross (they grew up in a small church community, both Peter and Allie have similar necklaces on their chests, Peter’s being black from being burned slightly) touching the ground as he began to play.

Peter himself moved towards Lauren, pulling out a small first-aid kit. They didn’t have much items or skills to sew wounds, but they had aspirin and TUMS for those headaches and stomachaches. For Peter and Lauren, it was praying that was it: an ache, a cold, the flu at most.

If need be, plenty of houses were abandoned, it was just a matter of finding one with useful resources or well water for a shower. But a house in the woods was hard to find, and the ones in the city had a possibility of being raided.

It wasn’t worth the chance, leaving the two to set up camp where they were. Pulling out a small bottle, Peter handed it to Lauren with a quiet “here.”

~*~

“I don’t think those would work.” Collin pointed out, having only his wits, a pocket knife, and whatever he finds on the ground for defense. Unlike zombies, people die very easily, or get knocked out, which leaves them with many ways of taking out people. However, it’s a matter of finding them.

Nodding tersely, Juliet only had knives and stones herself. Moving towards the edge of the rubble pile, she looked out carefully. Thankfully, she had speed and agility to strength and brute force. Sure, it was nothing compared to a gun, or even a guy who catch up to her from behind, but it was something.

“A distraction would be no use if one of us dies.” She pointed out, knowing that sure, one of them could lure the others away or one, but it didn’t mean they would get out of this situation alive. Flicking her brown hair back behind her shoulder. They really were in a pickle.

~*~

Flynn rolled his eyes, hastening his pace with his hands shoved in his pockets so he was caught up with the other two. “Glad you settled your differences in agility.” He said briefly, turning around slightly to watch Luke and Ellie as he passed.

His converse scuffed the ground lightly, covered in duct tape on the bottom. Sure, he could raid a clothing store and buy a new pair. But, there wasn’t much need whenever duct tape presented itself.

Brushing a strand of brown hair out of his eyes, pushing his glasses up Flynn’s nose.

~*~

For Zacharias, he always kept a calm external face. Plush pink lips upturned, he looked onwards in the distance from the building he stood on. Like he was on top of the world, or part of it at least.

The wind ruffled his hair before Zach turned around and climbed down the stairs one-by-one. His body on edge and mind weary of anyone who might be nearby. For Zach, he didn’t care if they were good or bad. He didn’t want them around him, leaving Zach with himself.

Honestly, his mind was the worst thing in the world. Always tricking him, and always making him feel like crap. Hands in his pockets, coat buffered up from the wind, eyes casting downwards as Zach watched the world by ear and the ground by eye.

[Maple ♥]

    Lauren not to gag as she slipped Ruby off her back and set her on the ground, smiling briefly and gratefully at Peter while using her own hand to wipe the throw up off her neck. "Oh the perks of having a kid," she joked to lighten the mood, her worrying instantly evident on her face. She got most of the vomit off of her, though her shirt clung to her still with dampness, and then turned to Ruby who was sitting with her hands open expectantly, little gross things from her throw up sesh in her hair. Unluckily, Lauren and her were going to smell until they found a place to wash off. 

    She handed Ruby a TUM with her cleaner hand and the little girl took it delicately. "I'm sorry," she told Peter, worrying that he might leave her and her daughter behind if they became too much of a burden. She was also worried that Ruby was sick; really sick. And she didn't know how to help at the moment. 

___

    "I don't think they'll advance if we stay put..." Autumn said thoughtfully, putting the coin back in her pocket with her knife. "We're going to have to wait until they give up or attack. And we'll have to fight..." Of course, she didn't have a problem with fighting, she'd been a soldier in the US government before the world started to get 'sick'. She could easily take down the biggest of guys if she really tried hard enough. And yet, none of these thoughts reassured her and her heart was beating heavily in her chest, strands of her blond hair on her face, coming loose from her low pony tail.

___

    Ellie pushed Luke harder this time, sending him falling back off of his heels and tumbling down a small ravine. She laughed before she felt her own ankle being drug over the edge and her own body fell with an oomph to the ground. Just as she was recovering, she heard voice. Before Luke could say another word her hand went to cover his mouth and she sat up to listen, eyes scanning over the forest around them. "Do you hear that?" she whispered, heart beginning to palpitate, though of course she wasn't scared. Ellie was made for survival. She craved adventures. And if there were other people around, they were most likely threatening to her and her groups survival, and she had to protect the people she cared about. 

    Slowly, Luke got up besides Ellie and listened, pulling the small hand gun he had on his hip out and making sure their was no one waiting to ambush them. Before he could even take a damn step Ellie grabbed his shirt. "Go get Dad and tell him we have company." He hesitated, not liking to be told what to do, ever. But Ellie was right, someone had to go warn the others. But why did it have to be him? "Now, Luke!" she hissed and before he could argue she was low to the ground, speed walking to hide behind a tree and kept up that process until she was too far away. With a grunt, Luke pulled himself over the edge of the ravine and ran back towards the others. 

    Marley jumped as Luke came tumbling out of the bushes in front of them. "Dad!" he gasped. Her dad's mustache twitched as he lowered his shot gun. ( Her Dad's name is Rogan )

    "Jesus Luke, don't do that," he growled.

    "Dad, we have company. Down in the ravine," Luke pointed towards the place he'd just left and her dad's face turned focused. In an instant his gun was cocked and loaded, ready to shoot. 

    "Well, don't just stand there. Go after her. I'll be behind 'ya," he instructed and Luke did as he was told. Marley's chest rose and fell, adrenaline pumping through her sore muscles. Instantly she wanted to hide to make sure that she didn't get hurt, taking a step backwards. Rogan made sure his gun was ready as he put a hand on Flynn's shoulder. "Boy, watch over my daughter. I'm countin' on you." Then he stomped off into the brush behind his son. 

___

    Jade's sore body slid up in the make-shift bed she was in, naked. Her tired eyes swept over the man she'd banged the night before, wistfully sleeping like a gem. Eh, he'd been too hairy for her taste. 

    Slipping out of the bed, she grabbed her low cut shirt and shorts, dirty but still slutty, and tied up her old Converse and headed out of the tent before her night stand guy woke up. Just another day in paradise, she told herself.

    Soon after, she was walking a bit more into the city. Girls like her usually lurked around these parts, living in some of the old buildings. She even knew of a make-shift brothel in town that sold sex for food and other recourses. You'd be surprised what men would pay to get some. 

    The soles of her shoes slapped on the sidewalk as her eyes darted around to make sure no gangs or malicious groups wishing to kill found her. She took back routes, like alley ways and what not, to get around, trying to find her next target in the emptiness. Without these men, she'd be dead. It was a little price to pay, giving herself up for sex so she could survive. And Jade didn't mind it one bit. 

    Okay. Maybe a little. But a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. 

    Tired, wanting a break, she leaned against an ally way wall and rubbed her dirtied face, her wavy but slightly stale hair falling off of her shoulder. 

[shades]

Sitting down on a rock, tilting his head towards the sky. “Nah, everyone gets sick.” He told her quietly, briefly glancing at Allie as the boy played with his cards and notebook. The notebook full of brilliant things, sometimes Peter would add his own thoughts to it, but it was mainly Allie and his poetry or entries on life. It was how he was dealing with the problems of the world. And mentally, Allie was fixing it.

He pulled out a water bottle and tossed it towards Lauren. “It’ll make the TUM go down and use the rest to wash up a bit if you want. We’re not too far from a town, I’m sure we can find some more.” Peter smiled wryly, noticing Allie had looked up in a different direction, wide eyes.

“What—” Peter began, but was interrupted.

“Voices.” Allie hushed, knowing the drill and moving his cards and notebook back to their spots respectfully before moving to cling to his brother who was now standing on alert, arms wrapped around his leg.

Peter listened hearing a voice in the distance or two, and the ruffle of brush and undergrowth as they approached. He picked up his bag, with a frightful glance to Lauren. Knowing it was time to move again.

~*~

Nodding, knowing not to let Mr. Stewart down, Flynn moved to Marley’s side. Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, glancing down at the girl. “We can a few feet behind, but we should keep and eye on our backs in case they are sneaking up on us also.” He spoke, knowing Marley never did like being left out, but was also the peaceful girl of the group.

His blue eyes flickered back behind them subconsciously, noting the empty space and many trees to hide behind. Biting his lip, with a light chew, and once again pushing up his glasses.

Flynn also didn’t want to be nearby if Mr. Stewart had to kill anyone, because even though they would kill first, and it was their survival. They still were human, human organs, anatomy, they weren’t zombies and dead; which would be much easier to kill.

They were human, sick humans, but still human nonetheless.

~*~

Zach found himself wandering down the first darkened alley he found, eyes on the ground and not even hearing the soft footfalls of another. When he finally noticed a woman’s shadow, his eyes snapped up towards her and his step halted. Though he take on a threatening stance, his shouldered tensed as Zacharias took a step back towards the alley.

He didn’t say anything, just eyed her warily. Not one to socially interact unless he needed to do so, or it was in his favor.

Obviously he was capable of taking the girl on. His tall build, black hair, blue eyes looking away from her pretty face. He didn’t need anyone right now, not permanently right now.

~*~

Bobbing her head, Juliet felt her legs move to a more comfortable position, knowing they would be there for a while.

[Maple ♥]

    Ellie moved swiftly through the underbrush, her foot steps barely making a sound. Just through the branches of bushes and other plants/trees, she could see bodies, hear voices. From what little she could see, there were no major weapons in their hands. But one of them, the tallest one, stood up to look in the direction of the footsteps she also heard. Rogan was coming with Luke, both sloppily and could undoubtedly be heard. But Ellisa could be silent as a cat, ready to pound on her prey. Her large messy braid slipped off her shoulder as she crouched, trying to crawl closer and quietly with her long spear, made from a pocket knife and shaved branch, to see them better. 

    Luke and Rogan were getting closer, their footsteps meant to be light, but not quiet enough. Rogan held his gun up beside Luke with his and together they advanced closer and closer.

    As they did, before the others could move, hoping to God they didn't have a surprise gun, Ellie pushed up and out towards the small area they were in, branches scraping her bare legs beneath her shorts and her jacket smacking against her torso in the process. She held up the sword to a girl's neck with a loud cry, gritting her teeth and eyes wild along with her hair. Not afraid to kill. Going after a groups weakness, the woman were the easiest prey and her least hardest to kill. 

___

    Lauren had used the water to wash off her neck, letting it drip down her dirtied white shirt and soaking the fabric enough to show her black bra. But she didn't care, the coolness of the liquid not only got rid of the smell but eased the pain of her sun burn on her shoulders. She gave Ruby a small drink, saving as much as she could and was just bottling it back up to hand it back to Peter with a "Thanks," when she stopped at his worried expression and reached down to grab Ruby and run if she had to. 

    But the girl came out of the brush too fast and before she knew it she had a knife pressing into her neck shakily. Her muscles tensed and she craned her head back so it didn't pierce the skin, teeth clenched and eyes wide, instantly sort of panicking. "P-Please!" she begged, looking at the girl who seemed to be her age. She could easily be one of the ones who enjoyed killing, and she was glaring at Lauren scarily. "My daughter-"

    "Infected?" the girl asked, pushing the knife more towards Lauren and making her wince as it cut into her slightly. A small trail of blood trickled down the veins nearby it on the skin, pulsing quickly with adrenaline. 

    Just then, two men came out of the trees with two guns raised and aimed at Peter and her. The older one with the shotgun and a gray pony-tail growled out, "Hands up, weapons down." Immediately, just to make it clear that she didn't have anything, Lauren raised her hands and glanced warily down at Ruby who was starting to cry and crawl towards her mother. The girl holding the spear to Lauren's neck growled and pushed the little girl away, but not too hard Lauren realized, with a push of her shoe. 

    "Stop!" Lauren begged her, blue eyes still wide as hair fell into her eyes and she tried not to get cut any deeper by the spear. The blood from her wound was slipping down onto her chest now and was a bright contrast of color compared to how dull her outfit was. "She's my daughter!"

___

    Jade wasn't paying much attention, her eyes trailing over the buildings as she let her head rest against the wall with one foot propped up too. When she heard footsteps echoing around her from down the allyway, she flinched and saw the guy, about her age it seemed, standing and watching her. Her pulse instantly rose, just out of habit. She'd only survived one meeting with one of the Killers before, but it was enough to give her nightmares still. After a few seconds of just staring at each other, she reminded herself that she was near the make-shift brothel called Sinners, so maybe he was a customer she could snag. He had a nice build, her eyes analyzed, with enough strength to take on a man with his bare hands. Weapons, she couldn't see those yet, but for the most part he seemed like a good next project to take on. 

    Sultrily, she slipped from the wall and began walking cautiously, but snakily towards him with a small smirk. "Hey there," she purred and approached him, fingers running over her hips and biting her lip. "What's your name?" she asked him with glittering eyes, not taking them off of him as she got closer and closer. 

[shades]

Feeling the tingle of a gun being trained on him, Peter looked over at the people who were being aggressive. He looked down at Allie with a shake of his leg, the boy slithering down into the dirt to sit with his hands on his knees. The young boys eyes were looking at the dirt ahead of him, knowing full well that this was a situation to look innocent.

Peter took a step forward, hands raised slightly, trying to reach Ruby for Lauren.

His mind was reeling, his first mission was to protect Allie. Though Peter had no idea whether his parents were alive or dead, and lived with the hope they were looking for them, he knew they wanted him not to worry about finding them when they could very well be dead. But to protect Allie, their favorite. A young genius.

Though Peter wasn’t no dummy, in fact being homeschooled his whole life, Peter had accumulated many math credits, science credits, and done community college courses. He knew a lot, but nothing this kind of situation. Not even Peter could break into a lab and create a cure in a minute.

Brown eyes glancing towards Allie in the split second there was movement.

~*~

Hands in his pockets, Zach had heard of the clubs and places where those who weren’t infected had created in a way to return to normal life. But they held no interest to him at the moment, Zach watching the girl’s movement intently. Some would take it in a seductive way, a way which he was attracted to her. But really he was looking for the one thing that could kill him.

Zach wasn’t unprotected though, strapped onto his waist was a knife. He wasn’t much of a heavy traveler, generally preferring a gun but haven’t found which felt right. He didn’t bother too much, as he didn’t tend to get into trouble. In fact, if Zacharias loved to avoid trouble if he could.

“Zach.” He spoke simply, eyes never leaving the young woman’s body as she walked. Sure, even Zach admitted she was pretty and had a body, and yes, he knew he was lonely. He wasn’t a virgin, remembering a girl when he was seventeen or just-turned eighteen who was his girlfriend. But that was it.

Once or twice, before all this.

[Maple ♥]

    Jade's hazel eyes moved over his body, her smile seductive and inviting, like she'd trained it to be in these cases. Now very close to him, her fingers curled around his shoulder and her teeth were vibrant compared to her dirtied face. But no one really cared about being dirty anymore. 

    "I'm Jade, it's..." her grip tightened and her hand trailed down the front of his shirt. "Nice to meet you, Zach." She let his name curl off of her tongue slowly, eyes flashing as she played with her hair. "You look exhausted," she commented, pouting her lips, "Poor Zach," she told him, chest slightly brushing his in proximity. You know, desperate was all over her. But she didn't care. This was how she got what she wanted. And needed. 

    At least that's what she told herself. 

    "What could a girl like me do to make a guy like you...feel better?" she laughed slightly, fingers trailing down his muscular arms as she bit her lip, batting her eyes up at him. "All I want to do is help," she grinned to convince him, hips sashaying a bit.

___

    The second Peter moved, Ellie was on him, shoving Lauren to the ground roughly and charging over to him. "Hey!" she called. Suddenly she grabbed his upraised hand, twisted it and pulled it behind his back as best she could. She was strong, but if she was in a fight with someone who knew what they were doing she probably wouldn't win. Quickly she was pushing her toes into the crooks of his knees to make him fall forward and shove his face into the dirt. 

    But of course, Luke was an idiot. In the same minute she moved to take down the guy, he had as well. So as she tried to pin him down professional like and all that, he intervened last minute and tripped Ellie up on her own feet. Awkwardly, she fell on top of the guy, body pressed into his front as she failed to turn him around in time, faces close together and torso and legs close in proximity. Not only did Ellie blush, but so did Luke at the sight, taking a few steps back before Ellie tore off his head. 

    While they were messing with Peter, Lauren moved from her sore spot on the ground to grab Ruby and Allie out of the way, motherly instincts kicking in. No one would hurt them, not if she could help it. Eyes darting to look at Peter regretfully, pulling the two kids into her arms and wincing as the older man with gun pointed the rifle at them. "Don't you dare move!" he threatened.

    Rogan honestly didn't know who to shoot, let alone what was going on with Ellie and Luke and damn his son was stupid. With a sigh, and the gun still half aimed at the woman and her kids, he stomped over to Luke and pulled him away by his collar. "Get back here," he coughed and flung his son away, stumbling into the bushes. He himself yanked Luke's gun away from him and now held both guns poised at both adults, Ellie struggling to untangle herself from the handsome but threatening guy she was embarrassingly attached to. Of course he wouldn't shoot her, he had a better shot than that. 

    Lauren was shaking. "Please, sir. We aren't the enemy. W-We," she winced as the gun was raised more. "We're just trying to survive with our kids," she pulled them into her chest more, chest rising and falling with adrenaline and Ruby crying loudly against it. 

    

[shades]

What he thought would end up him rolling in the dirt and fighting for his life, Peter found himself staring at the girl near him as their bodies were pressed together, the only thing keeping them apart the wooden cross necklace on his chest, and her hand clasped his wrist above his head. Feeling her breath on his, making the heat move to his cheeks. Finally, Allie’s muffled sobs cut across his thoughts. Returning to reality as Lauren was speaking, Peter might not be fit but he can at least speak his way through this, tilting his head up in careful precision not to bump into the girl on top of him, brown eyes scanned for Allie by Lauren.

They had made a pact that if anything happened to the other, though their own kin were most important, the other would try and help the child if either Lauren or Peter were to…pass on. As it was phrased when the conversation was brought up one fireside night of keeping watch.

“Allie, it’s okay bud.” Peter’s eyes darted to the girl, before moving back to the hunched figure of his brother. Knowing that first the boy would have to be comforted.

The sobs were still there, but they died down at least.

Squirming under the weight of the girl, “you know, if we wanted you dead we’d probably of had a weapon out from hearing you coming down.” He talked, Peter knew how to talk. He never was a debate team boy, or even much of a social bug, but recently he learned that talking gets people to trust you in this world now.

For the most part.

~*~

His body leaned lightly into the contact, Zach trying to ignore the light shivers running through his body. However, he was able to control himself and let his eyes wander over the girl again. “I’m not tired,” he lied, after walking from city to city Zach was actually fairly exhausted. But he didn’t want to let her know that.

“But show me a good place to rest would be nice.” He really didn’t intend to stay long, he convinced himself, knowing exactly the girl would just lead him to her place or a place she frequented. Not show him somewhere private like he secretly hoped, head swinging lightly to look behind him at the sun drowning behind a building slightly and casting shadows.

He looked at her again, knowing that his body was tingling with sensations but mind trying to convince himself of that loner and rogue attitude had had drawn up for himself. “I’m passing through.” Zach stated bluntly, eyes traveling again with the only hint to his embarrassment was the flushing of his cheeks.

[Maple ♥]

    Ellie, exasperated to the full extent, pushed herself up and off of the guy with flared red cheeks, eyes darting over him very briefly before composing herself and pressing down one of his wrists with her boot sole. He could easily get away from her now, but she was too flustered and out of her right mind to think about it too much. Her breathing was heavy as she squinted her eyes closed thinking, He might be the enemy, but he is one attractive one. God, she hated female girly hormones. 

    Luke stoof rather awkwardly, taking the guys' words into consideration. "You know, Dad. He's right-"

    "Shut up, son," Rogan snapped gruffly, still aiming the guns at both the people. But as his hard brown eyes scoured over them, and their lack of weapons, he realized he was right and soon after blinking a few times at the crying kids, raised his hand. "Let 'em up. They aint hurtin no body," he wiggled his nose a bit, handing Luke back his gun with a look of We'll talk about your dumb shit later and slinging the gun over his back easily. He wasn't a brutal man, only when he had to be. Not afraid to kill, but he was a softy for kids. With a wrinkled hand, he offered it to Lauren willingly. "Sorry ma'am. Just being cautious. I'm Rogan and these are my kids. Sorry for scaring your little ones."

    Ellie was watching Rogan, not letting up on her boot stomp on the guy she held down and furrowing her eye brows. He was letting them go? Just like that? What if they were lying? Shouldn't they advance while they can?

    "Dad," she called him that for as long as she could remember. "Are you sure?"

    Rogan nodded, helping Lauren to her feet with both kids on a hip. He held onto her elbow firmly, but his eyes were kind. "I don't think I'll be hurting innocent people like us anytime soon."

    Lauren swallowed, trying to sooth the crying kids in her arms and also keep an eye on where the man was touching and doing. "Shh, it's okay," she told them, heart pounding in her ears. Rogan smiled good-naturedly and cleared his throat, holding onto his belt buckle. She looked at Rogan with wide blue eyes. "I'm Lauren and that's Peter. This is Allie and Ruby," she nodded to each kid, trembling slightly. "We don't want any trouble."

    "And I don't plan on giving you any," Rogan confirmed and scratched his head under his dirty and old cowboy hat. 

___

    Soft fingers trailed over his pecks again, Jade biting down on her lip once more. "I think I know a place." Her touched left him, breathing next to his ear. "And I'll take you there if you're up for a...challenge," she whispered and then was once more on her feet again, turning her back to him and taking a few steps away. Over her shoulder she winked at him. "Come on, Not Tired Zach. Just follow me," she offered and began to walk towards the end of the alleyway, her rear shaking prominently out behind her as she did. 

    She knew of a building near by that she stayed in if she didn't find a man to do so with, which some nights she actually did come back empty handed. Sort of living there, Jade had a small make-shift bed and a very very small ration of clothing with a gas lamp to light the area. But that was about it. 

    But honestly, what more did you need in order to have sex?

    It was becoming darker as she lead him to the four story building, a few blocks away from where they'd been at, and on the mostly completely abandoned part of town. As they reached the back entrance door that was unlocked, she suddenly turned and grabbed Zach by the shirt, pulling him into her by the wall and kissing him. Her hands ran up and down his body when they were free, other times they tugged at his clothing and brought him forcefully closer to her. This was what she needed to do. 

    But hey maybe this time she actually wanted to. He was cute, and it made her shiver at the thought of him and her being intimate. 

[shades]

Hearing the sound that they could go, Peter tugged his wrist from Ellie’s foot to sit up. A finger ran over the red spot of skin, knowing that it will bruise later on in the evening. Instead he focused on Allie, the young boy muffling into Lauren. Standing up quickly, with a brief look to Ellie, he was immediately moving to the boy’s side.

In his mind, Allie was his first priority. When his kid brother caught sight of him standing, Allie was over hugging him in the instant. Knocking Peter lightly off balance, with a mumbled “careful” to the boy.

He looked over at Ellie briefly, before letting his gaze travel to Luke and Rogan, Peter taking a step forward with Allie still clung to him. “This was a fun little tiff and all,” Peter began, looking at Lauren and Ruby. “But it’s much safer to keep moving.” There was a point, they weren’t far off from a city and people would be coming from or into it. Though they might be harmless, like Peter and Lauren, some were much more ready to kill on sight than Rogan and the others.

Peter knelt down beside Allie’s forgotten bag, stuffing the cards in it and his notebook, also placing his glasses case (it was Allie’s job to make sure his glasses didn’t get broken or else Peter can’t read) cushioned between the blanket and water bottle, and zipping up the Spider-Man book bag.

~*~

Watching the brush closely for movement, Flynn didn’t hear a gun go off, and they were talking now. A confused look crossed Flynn’s face as he motioned for Marley and him to slowly descend the slope towards where the others of the group were. When they halted, Flynn made sure there weren’t any hostile looks. Well, Luke and Mr. Stewart looked less tensed, Ellie didn’t. But it was enough for him to slowly exit the thicket.

Looking around, Flynn spoke, “is it safe?” He asked, turning back to Marley, having checked on here every minute. Flynn took orders from Mr. Stewart seriously, the elder man knowing what he was doing.

~*~

Following the strange girl, hands in his pockets. Zach wasn’t an idiot, paranoid as hell, but he was intellectual and cunning. Knowing what the girl meant, and though he could easily turn around and leave it at that, his feet were following behind the girl a few paces. Making special notes to the routes they were taking, and not realizing they were there until she was close to him and kissing him.

Shocked at first, like any man who’s mind wasn’t into the urge at the moment, his pink lips opened up slightly and his head leaned forward for his teeth to scrap her lip lightly. Hands trying to find a place to grip, one grabbing the fabric of the girl’s shirt, the other on the wall.

Sure, this was great. Maybe even it would kill the lonely urges he has been having since deciding he was best suited for solo. It might keep Zacharias from going completely crazy in the woods without another to talk too, though his mind fought against the social contact. It even gave him the slight crazy urge to kill, making Zach draw back in a second with furrowed black brows.

In the darkness, the face could easily be lost, or misinterpreted. And in that moment the odd thought, the thought which drives Zach to remain alone, it was gone.

[Maple ♥]

    Marley followed behind Flynn cautiously, her heart pounding repeatedly in her chest. When they walked into the small opening in the forest that everyone stood in, she seemed to relax at the sight. Two kids, a young guy and a young girl. To be extra sure though, she took a step towards Flynn. 

    Slightly still flustered, Ellie moved away from the guy and picked up her discarded spear, not looking at him and standing next to Luke. Her brother was narrowing his eyes at the people suspiciously, cheeks tinged with red from making a fool out of himself. 

    "Wait, Peter," Lauren hoisted Ruby higher up her hip and shuffled her feet to get to her 'partner' whom she was journeying with. "They have weapons, and supplies. What if moving out isn't the best idea?" she asked him rather quietly, blue eyes darting over to the rest of them hesitantly, then resting back on Peter softly. Ruby had settled down by now and was resting her cheek against Lauren's shoulder, sniffling here and there. 

    "Sorry we caused a disturbance," Rogan apologized again and nodded to Flynn and Marley coming out of the brush. "Nothing dangerous here."

    "Peter?" Lauren said again, blue eyes trying not to bed but failing horribly. She was scared and tired and thought maybe just maybe this might be a safer plan than traveling with only two and two halves. 

___

    Jade's leg slid between his as he pulled away, arching her neck back to see him while looking downwards, smirking. "Something wrong?" she asked, voice sensual and purr like, her hands pulling at his back and breath a bit heavier. "I bet I could make you feel better," she leaned into him, lips brushing his jaw and trailing back to his lips in a ticklish way. Of course she didn't think the change in character was anything different than him being shy, and she planned to rock his world soon because of it.