Surviving IC

[Mike Smyth]

James Mason, worked the nightshift in his local, 24 hour supermarket, he was basically just stacking shelves, and had worked there for the last 8 years. Most of the staff got on with each other, and most nights were boring, occasionally a group of drunks would come in and cause a commotion, but this night in particular something much worse would enter the store.


James had started his shift as normal, dragging out one of the cages to his aisle and stating to check what was going on the shelf. The clock was getting closer to midnight and James was looking forward to going for a break. He overheard shouting, coming from outside, but thought nothing of it.
The guard will take care of it he thought to himself.

 

[ZombieSlayer]

Rowan Sage, a long time customer at his local 24-hour shopping mart, was just...well shopping. He's been shopping there since he was a child and nothing exciting ever happened....until now


Rowan was searching the shelves for Breakfast cereal and other breakfasts, when suddenly, He heard shouting come from outside the store. He decided someone else would come them down, or so he thought

 

[ZombieSlayer]

(OOC) Sorry "come them down" i acctually meant to say "calm them down"

 

[Jersh]

Jersh was browsing through the pharmacy aisles, looking for something that would calm his nerves. It was just a freak accident... or maybe it was his imagination. He thought he had taken that man down but perhaps he had completely missed....the alternative was too scary to think.

Jersh fumbled for some cold medicine, taking on the cap and taking a quick swig of it right there in the aisle. His mind kept on flashing back to that alleyway where the man had ambushed him. The attack had been a day or two ago but still he found trouble sleeping. There was shouting from the front of the store and Jersh could have sworn he heard the crash of glass. Jersh put the bottle back on the shelf and made his way up front to find out what was happening.

 

[ZombieSlayer]

The shouting and crashing got louder, this time, curious Rowan started walking toward the sounds, but decided not too.

The shouting turned into screaming and now Rowan was extremely curious. He started walking toward everyones worst nightmare

 

[Medevelin]

A typical boring night at the store, the usual suspects were shopping albeit there were a few who normally made routine visits who hadn't shown up at all. It wasn't really a problem for her however, she was getting paid to check her nails and slip in texts on her cell to her friend who was at the women's baseball nationals.

Jen had been on the team but a wrist injury bumped her off, devastating at the time but eventually she got over it. Now here she was working while her friend and teammates were partying it up. Life could be worse she supposed.

(ooc didn't want to put too much in this post so I could see where the story goes)

 

[Mike Smyth]

As the shouting turned into screaming and continued James started to notice some people migrate towards the entrance to see what was going on.

He noticed Rowan, walking past the bottom of his aisle. They kind of new each other to let on to, and had chatted a few of times during work. With a look of curiosity on his face James shouted to Rowan,

"whats going on, man? Can you see anything?"

When Rowan didnt answer, James jogged down to see what he was staring at. They continued towards the entrance, moving past Jen on the till, it dawned on them that what was happening, was definatly not good.

James recognised the security guards voice shouting at someone to get back, then another scream ripped through the air.

 

[Medevelin]

At first it seemed distant, then the screams became louder, then they were on the door step of the store. Customers and employees alike were congregating to the front. James passed by her and then the screams became apparent as to who they came from. The security guard hollering for someone to get back.

"What's going on James?" She asked, leaving her station and coming up to his side if a bit behind him.

 

[Mike Smyth]

"wish I knew Jen, it doesn't sound good whatever it is. We might have to close up for a bit if it gets too bad"

The lights from inside the store only lit a short amout of the carpark in front of the store and the lights had been out for a while, people had complained but nothing had been done about it, So not much of what was going on was visable from inside.

"whatever it is, it sounds like its getting worse, has anybody phoned the police?"

 

[Jersh]

"I don't think the police can help" Jersh said somberly form behind the pair of employees. This was exactly the type of 'rioting' he had been reading about in the paper. Just then he heard it, that screaming noise that sent chills down his spine.

"We have to get out of here. Something is not right" Jersh said and looked around for another exit, an intense feeling of desperation driving his search.

 

[ZombieSlayer]

He heard Jersh and James talking and exchanging words, he knew them both and all of them got along pretty well "Well we need to get SOME kind of help." He said, nervously. He really didn't want things to get bad, he was going on a date tonight, so he couldnt die, or nothing could happen to him

 

[Mike Smyth]

"We have to get out of here. Something is not right" Jersh said and looked around for another exit, an intense feeling of desperation driving his search.

"wouldn't it be better if we locked up and barracaded ourselves in, I mean whatever is going on out there we don't want it getting in here, plus there is enough food and stuff to keep us comfortable for a time. That is if the manager allows it anyway. Speaking of which has anybody seen him?"

James looked round but the night manager could not be seen, and whatever was outside sounded like it was getting closer.

 

[ZombieSlayer]

" Come on then lets do it!" He shouted, The crashing and screaming was getting really loud by the time he said that sentence.

He scanned the store for anything that could block the doors. He then pointed to the shelves.

"There movable, right?"

 

[Jersh]

"Only one way to find out" Jersh commented and moved up to the glass doors that served as the primary entrance and exit to the store. It was late and there were almost no customers left in the store, but as Jersh gazed outside into the parking lot... it was a completely different story.

If he had to choose a word, it was chaos. Cars had crashed into other vehicles, some were even turned upside down and small fires had started. Dark shapes moved around, their details hidden from sight by the moonless night. One of the flaming cars exploded, the small fireball revealing the scene to Jersh. Groups of gore covered people hovered in small packs around...bodies... they were ripping and tearing at them. The sight of it made Jersh's stomach rebel against him and he leaned against one of the shelves, trying his hardest not to vomit all over the floor.

 

[Mike Smyth]

"yeah, the shelves can be taken apart, I'm going to get the keys first, they should be in the office."

James ran to the office door and burst through it. looking over for the keys, they were not there,

"what the fuck, where the hell are the keys, this is the last things we need"

So the manager had disappeared and by the looks of things, he has the keys with him.

Running back to the main doors, Rowan had started to empty the shelves and take them apart while others helped. Jersh was just outside the door, he looked like he was going to be sick.

"The keys aren't there, we're going to have to just barracade the doors, as best we can"

 

[Medevelin]

What was going on? Everything was so chaotic and they all were talking about locking themselves in this building.

"Wait. We should run, my car is close to the entrance. We should make a run for it. We'll just corner ourselves in here." She exclaimed as the others went about taking apart shelving.

"Besides we don't know who else is in here with us. Do we really want to get ourselves trapped in here?"

 

[Jersh]

"No one in here can be worse than what is waiting for you out there" Jersh said in a quiet voice. Although he was looking at Jen, his eyes were glazed over... his thoughts still back on what he had just seen. Jersh shook his head to try and snap himself out of it.

"I dont think its a good idea either.... but i am not seeing alot of options here. We can't make it outside to the cars, the parking lot is swarming with...." Jersh paused, what was the word for what those people were doing out there. He had seen his fair share of horror films... but still.

"Anyways... alot of the cars are broken down or on fire... I hope you have insurance" Jersh said, though he did not really feel like laughing at his own joke at the moment.

 

[ZombieSlayer]

Rowan, after his outbreak earlier, calmed himself down and said, "Do we really have a choice?"

He looked around at all the faces that were staring at him. "Go or stay? Because i just took apart 5 shelves so i need to know if im gonna take more apart or not."

He gazed around and then took a fire extinguisher That was in the corner, the glass already broken, and said,

"Well lets first arm ourselves, because if those...those...things get to us, we need defense."

 

[Medevelin]

"Fine, whatever... Someone come with me to the back so I can make sure the other exits are locked." She sniped as she stomped down the soup aisle with a shopping basket, gathering up cans of soup envisioning them as baseballs. She figured she was just as secure with something to throw as with something large and blunt.

"Well? Are any of you coming?" She wasn't usually so abrupt and bitchy but the circumstances were a bit.... tense, to say the least.

 

[Jersh]

Jersh sighed and figured he may as well escort Jen since the others were busy dismantling the shelves to block the door. He had seen Jen around the store before when he was shopping for food, but had never really talked with her much beyond basic pleasantries.

"Alright then, lets go make sure the building is locked down" Jersh said and fell in line behind her. "You lead, you know the store better than I do". A terrible headache was starting to form and knew it was going to be with him all night.... lovely.... things just kept getting worse....

 

[Mike Smyth]

Rowan was right we needed to arm ourselves, just in case. James grabbed a trolley from near the door, and ran down a few aisles picking up what he thought might be usefull, the small sports section held out a few items wooden cricket and baseball sets, he threw them into the trolley and made his way to the gardening section, throwing in a variety of trowels, hoes, shears and the like.

"Hey Rowan, how are these for now" he ran with the trolley, down to the crowd of people at the door. "best I could do for now"

 

[ZombieSlayer]

He looked at the cart James just pulled in, even though it wasn't much, it would have to do, even though he knew half the people in the store were good with weapons, he also knew others werent as good with weapons.

"Thats good, James. Alright! Everyone grab an item! Now dont go bursting out the door screaming and trying to take those things down, stay in here, James, your in charge was should we do?" He shouted, then asked James the question

 

[ZombieSlayer]

He looked at the cart James just pulled in, even though it wasn't much, it would have to do, even though he knew half the people in the store were good with weapons, he also knew others werent as good with weapons.

"Thats good, James. Alright! Everyone grab an item! Now dont go bursting out the door screaming and trying to take those things down, stay in here, James, your in charge was should we do?" He shouted, then asked James the question

 

[Mike Smyth]

trying his best to think under the circumstances James thought that securing the door should be the first priority

"We've got to get those shelves against the doors we need to be secure, you guys start on that I'm going to check the fire exits and the shutters in the back"

James set off around the store checking on said fire exits, making sure that none had been opened by anyone, things were looking good so far untill he got to the warehouse area, the large shutters at the back had been left open. They must have been expecting a delivery wagon, James made his way out of the back to check the gates at the bottom of the yard, moving slowly and keeping his eyes peeled he made his way to the gate. When he got there he saw that although the gates appeared to be shut the lock was lying on the floor just infront of them. He quickly picked it up and locked the gates up again, he prayed nothing had got in.

He turned to head back to the warehouse. When he heard something from behind the gate, he froze and listened, hoping whatever it was would leave, but whatever it was came closer and started pounding on the gates, James moved quickly, if they get through the gate while the shutters are still up we wont have a chance. James ran towards the chain hanging from the shutter mechanism and began pulling it down as quick as he could, it needed a good tug first but pretty much fell easily once had it started, it hit the ground with a metallic clang.

 

[Medevelin]

(sorry was away for the back half of the week.)

She held tightly to a can, her other hand holding the basket as she walked down one of the long aisles, perfectly faced items lined the shelf with eye-catching labels designed to draw ones eye to them. Now the trivial nature of it stood starkly juxtaposed to a new reality.

"Sorry for being a bitch back there, this is just really freaking me out." She spoke without looking back to Jersh. Pushing through the wide double doors into the back room she glanced from left to right and saw nobody down the long hallway.

"God I hope we're alone." She uttered as she started towards the storage bay where the receiving door was. That would be the first place to secure, then it would just be a matter of making sure emergency exits were shut.