Dawn of the Dead

[krazykyotee]

Brad got up from kneeling down, and fell in step behind Linda on their way to their first stop on their shopping. Definatly could use some ammo for sure, maybe make up some improvised explosives. That few weeks ranger training in that would finally be of some help.

Man, if only my old Ranger buddies could see me now, Brad thought. The almost washed out convoy Ranger made it thru. Took two hits in Somalia getting those guys out of that shithole, and now right back into a worse situation. Nevermind the fact combat fatigure and shell shock had him out of the service and a almost a walking psychiatric zombie. He wont let him get him again, couldnt go thru that again.

AS the walked, Brad checked out the other survivors. Linda definatly was the strongest of the bunch, had a cool head on her, and not half bad looking, really. Good person to be near in a gunfight. Herbert on the other hand looked to be close to keeling over for a heart attack. Brad was getting older, being in his mid 40s, but Herb must have 20 years on him. Matthew was going thru his own personal hell watching his girlfriend or wife die, made worse by the fact she would end up going after his brains. When that happened, Matthew might crack. Both those two were ones to keep an eye on. This Jason guy reminded him of new Ranger recruits, full of piss and vinegar with guns to play with. Long as Brad kept himself on the safe side of that guy's arsenal he'd be alright. The guy in the S&M outfit, well, who knew about that one..

Glancing down to his smoldering stogie, he tossed the stub aside. Definatly a new one be needed... hah, maybe pick up one of those high class Honduran ones..

 

[poohlive]

Matthew followed Kaitlyn, the gun in his hand, pointing off hand ahead of him. It felt good, almost a relief to have a gun, although, from how everyone else was packing, he was highly underarmed.

To be honest, though, he didn't care. Guns weren't going to do much. If there were only a couple of zombies, only a couple of guns would work, and if there were more...

If there were more, it didn't matter how many guns you had, they'd get you in the end. That's just the way they worked.

He moved up to the weirdly dressed sex freak, pointing him to a nice clothing store.

"Seriously, put something on."

 

[badbabysitter]

Linda

The mall seemed earily quiet now that all the explosions and gunfire had ended. She mused to herself, at least the muzak isnt on yet.

She slipped on just ahead of the rag tag band of survivors, stepping lightly yet surely and quickly. She kept both her hands firmly on her .44, keeping her eyes peeled. Linda glanced behind her every now and then to see how the others were doing.

Brad had his shit together and he responded instantly to her hand gestures if she felt they had to stop to listen or slow down. He obviously had some training or was one of those weekend warrior survivalists. Either way, she had a feeling she could depend on him.

Poor Herbie huffed and puffed along in the rear trying to keep up.The evidence locker was along way from this world. She could probably only imagine when the last time Herbert had even more than oiled his service revolver, hell, he was like a year from retirement. What a world to spend your golden years in.

She couldnt bear to linger on Matthew and Kaitlyn.When the time came..she didnt know who she felt worse for. Kaitlyn was putting up a strong face, didnt even look sick yet. When the time came..what were they going to do.

As for thong guy..no comment.

They humped along till they reached Radio Shack, she completely disregarded Guns and Guns where she had dumped her bag. All she whispered was, they will still be there in a few minutes and continued.

Naturally it was locked. Her master keys were no good here.

'Clear and watch your eyes' Linda said clearly for the others.

She stepped within a few feet of the lock and took a shot.

BLAM

She put a hole in it the size of her fist. With a mighty wrench she yanked the grating open and they maded their way into Radio shack.

Thong guy came along sheepishly with the others, now wearing a trenchcoat. On some level making him look like even more of a pervert than when he was nearly naked.

The group rummaged through the gadgets till they found what they wanted. Brad even came up with an improvement on their idea and brought out handless walkie talkies. They were set up as head sets, with a mic and an ear plug.

They all wired up and switched on. Perfect.

Linda wandered behind the counter and pulled out a simplified map of the mall and threw it on the counter.

'Gather around folks'

Linda waited till they wandered over before she continued.

'We're here' she pointed on the map,'on the main floor of the mall. There are two floors above us, both are shops, one mixed with a few offices and dental centres and a clinic.There are also two levels of parking below us.'

She pointed to a red marked area on P2.

'This is the generator, if the power goes out, the mall has its own independ supply. I heard it can run for 2 months without maintenace, but who the fuck knows what shape its in now. So while we probably wont have to worry about our power kicking out for a couple weeks, we might have to check it out at some point'

She sighed and leaned onto it a bit more with both hands.

'Here, ' pointing again, ' is the security and loading bays for the mall. The security has remote access to all the locks in the mall. Entrances , loading bays, parking lots'

She looked at the others steadily.

'That brings us to a future problem..the parking lots. They arent shut at night, for maintennace crews and fire regulations. They are in an emergency. But odds are we have creepy crawlers roaming down there. The good news is the access intot he mall from the lots are also remotely secured and are locked down tight.'

She cracked her neck and stretched her sore torn shoulders.

'Odds are we also have ghouls in the mall..if those bodies at the entrance showed earlier.Hopefully not many, but they have to be dealt with before we do anything'

She looked at the others as they took this all in.

'We can either split up into groups and hunt them down..which I dont suggest, or we go in as a mob and get them, the only draw back is it may take a hell of a lot longer. Anyone have some ideas..'

She left the question open ended and waited for an answer

 

[krazykyotee]

Brad wiped his brow and replaced his ball cap before replying.

"Splitting up," as he eyeballed Kaitlynn and Matthew, "wouldnt be the smartest. WE're stronger and smarter together. Theres no way our numbers can hold even two floors."

Pointing at the map, he said, "I say we stay together, make makeshift barriers over some of these chokepoints, then stock up and wait. Leave the closest route to the generator clear."

"We also need to get in contact with someone long range. has to be SOMEONE alive out there, army, national guard, someone. The only way out of here now is helo. Maybe wire up something here, or plug into a satellite dish on the roof."

"Course, thats just my 2 cents. Walking 3 floors of mall will eat up alot of time and drain us of stamina that we're already dead tired of."

And with that Brad walked out, turning twoards the gun store and needed ammo. He waved the black plastic case of the comm unit. "I'll be right back, and i gots my ears on."

 

[poohlive]

It felt like too much planning, too much of everything. Matthew couldn't keep track of it all, but he nodded whenever he felt someone wanted him to respond. He was just going through the motions at this point, unable to do much else.

He had no strength, no ability here. These were cops, officers, rangers, marines, people who had skills, weapons, and the ability to handle themselves. They had probably fantasized about this very scenario hundreds of times in their makeshift bunkers.

But, here he was, a nobody. A fluke. He was supposed to be dead, or dying, or undead. Closing his eyes, Matthew could imagine himself outside, walking aimlessly, bumping into the glass doors, waiting to eat the warm tender flesh inside.

"The malls too big," Kaitlyn said, looking at the map, checking the sections, "If we go in a group, it'll take days. Some of us don't have that long."

It hurt to hear it, coming from her, accepting her own fate. Matthew could feel tears coming up to his eyes again, as if a hard wind had just come under his nose.

"Why don't we split up by floors. Two each. A basic search and destroy, call on the radio if we need any assistance. We could secure the mall in a matter of hours, and start to work on getting some help, getting supplies, and bunkering this place down."

 

[Suikodude007]

OOC I deleted this post so that anyone who might want to join in the future won't wonder about it. Will put up a new post with new character tomorrow. We no return you to your regularly scheduled gore and dismemberment

 

[badbabysitter]

OOC

depending on suiko's next decisions if we regard his post or not..uintill then.. lets continue as if the story was still the same

IC

Brad's plan was safer, but Matthews plan was smarter. They didnt have alot of time, even if it sent them into the lions den.

Linda nodded mutely.

"Brad.." she poked into the mic, " we have Kaitlynn to consider too, so splitting up is what is gotta be to get this done quickly. "

She turned to the others.

"The first floor is probably where the most opposition is, doubt the zombies are too acute with elevators and what not. Me and Brad will cover it. Herbie and thong boy can get the second, that leaves Matt and Kait on the third. THERE SHOULD BE A CLINIC UP THERE..MAYBE THERE WILL BE SOME ANTI-BIOTICS..SOMETHING, ANYTHING THAT MIght push off the inevitable.

(oops caps lock..too lazy to edit)

She took them in, they were beat, scared, frazzled, exhausted and scared. But they were getting it.There just might be a chance of surviving till tomorrow if they pulled this off.

"Keep in redio contact as much as you can, and if you need help dont be shy, we'll come running"

-----------------------


( new character option)

This was not how she wanted her shift to end. All she wantedf to do was go home to her boyfriend and her cat and watch some late night TV.

Amy was walking out of the food court from her job at Burger Baron, flipping burgers and taking orders when the naked woman attacked.

Her face was smeared in blood and she had come out of nowhere. Carl was escorting her to the parkade when it had happened.He saw her from a distance and was about to radio for assistance when she spotted him.

It came snarling and gaspin and lunged on him. He screamed and screamed as it tore at him. She stiood paralyzed in her cheap ass unifrm as blood sprayed from his open throat, soaking its face.

She screamed at the horror and surreality. This just didnt happen, not int he real world.

The naked woman looked up at the screaming girl, Parts of Carls neck were dangling from her lips. It began to move.

Amy turn and ran and ran and ran.She sprinted as hard as she could back to the only refuge she could think of. The Burger Baron.

She all but lept over the counter and slammed the door to the kitchen behind her. Unfortunately the slavering person/thing was right behind her too. It smashed itself snarling against the door. Amy screamed and screamed and the thing kep bashing. She had barely managed to lock the door, but the thin door shook with every smash.

This went on for hours. The thing was simple minded it wanted her, wanted her the same way it wanted Carl.

Amy leant against the door and gripped the basebvall bat her manager had hidden in there.

At some point in the dead of night it had stopped, the bashing seemd to end. Amy hesitantly got to her feet and peeked out the plexiglass little window in the door.

It was still there, merely numbly staring throught the window. Caked blood on its lips. Amy screamed and it started flailing against the door again.

Some how she collapsed into sleep. Her body was stiff from lying on the floor. Something had woken her. Was it gunshots...?

She crawled to her feet in numb shock, she knew it was going to be there when she looked again..she just knew.

But it wasnt, it was gone. It was finally gone.

Voices stirred her from her stunned reverie. A woman and a man were walking into the food court. He looked in his mid 40's a little pudgy. She was abit younger, strong and toned. Both were armed. But what really stood out was something about the woman.

She wored a black vest with the a word emblazoned in large white letters across it.

SWAT.

The police were here, the nightmare was over, she was rescued. She unbloted the door and ran to them crying.

The two truend to her with guns drawn, but when they saw she was alive they lowered them.

Amy threw herself into the arms of the woman in the police unifrom.

"Thanky you , thank you, thank you, thank you" she sobbed into her shoulder

---------------------

Linda stood there stunned.Another survivor, and she clunbg to her like glue.

She truend her face to Brad with a look as if to say " what the hell do i do now?"

She patted the girl on the shoulders uncomfortablly. She was never good with this interpersonal shit.

" We're here to help.. i think its going to be okay"

She knew it wasnt, but what else could she say

--------------

Amy Reeves

19 yrs old
counter help at Burger Baron
5 ' 4"
short red hair pixie cut
blue eyes
110lbs
slim fit young body, very perky
former high school gymnast

 

[msboy8]

Alan Font

"The first floor is probably where the most opposition is, doubt the zombies are too acute with elevators and what not.

I walked over to Linda."Sorry about my appearance, but I can help. I can rig the elevators so they can be safe havens for us. Disable the alarms, only open when instructed from inside or with a certain code on the buttons, etc. I think it would be a good idea to have a couple set up in reserve."

 

[krazykyotee]

Brad reached for another box of cartridges, standing behind the counter of the gun store. Dropping his MP5 and the box on the counter, he ejected the magazine and started thumbing in bullets, head slighty cocked as he listened to the boss lady's instructions.

He wasnt thrilled with the idea of splitting up, but as they say, dont have to like it... When she finished, he clicked the transmit button.

"Thats a 10-4 on that. I'll meet you near the food court for our patrol, ma'am. Rogeo, Rogeo."

Reloading, Brad started out of the store. He stopped at the cash register as he saw something he liked.

His hand passed over the keys to a plastic container sitting beside it.

Puffing contentedly, he strolled out with his new stogie.

Meeting Riggs at the edge of the seating area, with what looked like an acre of molded chairs and counters spread out before them, they said nothing as they started to walk, the only sound the safeties being taken off weapons.

A flurry of motion brought their guns up, turning to point at a crying flailing mass with red hair. He simply shrugged and readjusted his cap to the look Riggs gave him. AS Riggs tried to calm the hysterical young woman, Brad attention was turned elsewhere. He could have sworn he heard banging from one of the mall entrances..

 

[poohlive]

"The elevators are a really good idea, something to have as a back-up back-up. Let's secure the mall first, and if you need any help, I'll come help you."

Matthew gave the young man a warm smile.

The second floor held mostly useless stores. A pottery barn, jewelry store, bookstore, odds-n-ends, knick-knack stores, one of those cool new skating shops with all the badass clothes and hip new bumper stickers that help the youth of today stick it to the man.

All of it useless. The second floor was a ghost of yesterday, and its necessity.

Nothing was crawling on the second floor though, alive or dead. They swept through it fairly easily, went through it once more to make sure, checking inside stores, bathrooms, even a janitor's closet at a corner of the floor.

Kaitlyn sat down on the floor of the pharmacy, her back against the counter. Matthew kneeled there next to her, watching her for a minute. The life had left her, he saw that, her skin a deathly pale. He didn't know if it was cause of the bite, or cause she was thinking about the bite.

"How do you feel?"

"Hot... really hot."

Matthew put the back of his hand to her forehead, "You're burning up."

She ignored the comment.

"Ok. There's gotta be something for that. Does it hurt at all? Any pain?"

"No... none."

For some reason, that didn't sit well with him. Matthew started walking down the aisles, looking for something to help her.

Pain, for whatever reason, was always a sense of danger and healing to the body. It acted as a way to let you know something's wrong, so it can be fixed. Without pain, how can it be fixed?

But it couldn't...

Matthew stared at the endless rows of medicine. Could it? Maybe... he wouldn't put it past modern science. The perfect blend of cocktail drugs, hell it could cure AIDS sometimes. But, that had taken ten years of hard research.

This had happened in less than a day. They didn't have ten years to reasearch Undeadism.

Grabbing some extra strength Tylenol, Matthew walked back to where Kaitlyn was resting. He saw her lean heavily against the counter, her eyes closed.

Matthew froze, watching her, quiet as a church mouse, quiet as death. He searched her chest for movement, but saw none.

Panic rose in him, as he looked toward the doors, out the hallway.
No, this wasn't how it was supposed to happen. He wanted someone else to be here, someone else to deal with this. He couldn't deal with this.

He stood, iced with fear, unable to move, one hand loosely around the aspririn, and another close to his gun.

The swat girl, or the ranger, or someone else. They were supposed to deal with this, with the end. He couldn't handle this, he couldn't. If she woke up... if she looked at him with those dead eyes, those unrecognizable eyes, hungry... ready....

He couldn't stop her.

He wouldn't...

His hand went up to the radio, moving as slow as possible, as if Kaitlyn might see the movements and wake up at that moment. Someone... help. He screamed inside his mind, as his hand went up to the set.

He was helpless.

Kailyn opened her eyes, her neck turned sharp, staring right at him, staring him down. Matthew stopped his movement, standing there in fear, waiting for her to come to him, tear into his flesh.

"Are you ok?" She said in a weak voice...

Matthew took in a huge breath, sighing his relief, tension moved off him like a butterfly, fluttering to the winds. A tear fell down his face as he kneeled down, giving her the bottle of Tylenol.

"I'm fine," He said, touching her cheek, caressing it. She didn't seem as hot anymore. Maybe it was just his imagination before.

It was a small bite. Maybe it would take longer than a few hours. A day? And with medication.

"Something to drink?"

One of the aisles held juices and vitamind drinks, he got one for her.

"Here you are."

"Thank you so much," she took a good half a dozen pills, and drank most of the juice.

There was a long pause.

"I'm dying Matthew."

Matthew nodded.

"If I do, I might come for you. I might come for everyone."

"Yeah..."

"You ever killed someone before?"

Matthew shook his head.

"Neither have I."

Kailyn shifted her position, leaning against Matthew's shoulder, letting him hold her.

"I don't ever want to kill anyone. I want to leave here with that much. I've held a lot of sins, some I'm proud of, others I'm not, but I couldn't live with myself if I knew I might end up killing others."

"That won't happen," Matthew said, kissing her forehead.

"Promise me," She looked up at him, truth in her eyes, a scared truth. He saw so much of her in that look, her whole life, her memories, her past. He saw everything that belonged to her, everything that was a part of her, including himself.

"I pomise," He said.

She smiled, moved close, and kissed him.

(I can't believe it. I hate myself... lol)

 

[baroque]

OOC: Sorry for falling off the face of earth, PMed babysitter about it. If you will take me back, can I just jump in as Amy?

 

[msboy8]

She has my vote for jumpng back in, as long as she lands on all fours, hehehe.

 

[badbabysitter]

Linda/Amy

Linda patted the girl in a gesture she could only hope was sympathetic, and held the girl close for a second. She gently brought the girl and sat her down at aplastic chair at a typical food court chair.

The girl was in tears and wringing her hands. Linda knelt down in front of her and took the girls chin gently in her hand and lifted it.

" i'm Linda, my friend here isBrad, we're here to help you"

The girls sobbing stifled a biot as she began to compose herself.

" I'm..I'm Amy" Amy stumbled out.

"Okay, Amy, are yiou okay , are you hurt at all?"

It only took a second but it felt like a lifetime. They couldnt deal with another victim, they couldnt watch someone else slip away like that.

"I'm ..I'm okay..but Carl.." Amy answered.

She wasn't hurt. Thank whatever heaven was left for small miracles.

" Who is Carl? Where is Carl?" Linda continued softly asking.

" Carl's a security guard..he was walking me out ..and then..then that woman..that thing..it came out of nowhere"

Oh yeah, she knew all too well this story. AShe had heard it a hundred times at the hospital before the survivors started turning the hospital into a charnel house.

" i understand.. " Linda said numbly yet with compassion.

The girls head popped up in hope.

" can we leave now, I really want to go home to my boyfriend, will you please take me home?"

Linda could almost feel Brad as she said that. No, she didnt want to be the one having to explain this either. But here she was, it seemed she was in charge now.She fucking hated every moment of this.

" i'm sorry Amy, we can't leave..." she watched the hope drain from the girls eyes, she steeled her heart and cotinued, " ther e are..hundreds..of those things out there Amy and miore are coming"

Amy was begining to panic again and almost stoiod to run.But Linda's strong hand on her kept her still and reassured her.

" But we're safe in here..the mall is shut down, and there are others of us. We're just going to stay here untill some help comes"

Linda didnt think any help was coming. Not now.Not ever. But she had toi hope too, and if the others gave up, she'd have to hope for them.

" we have to g and make sure there arent other of those things in the mall..I want you to go back where you were hiding and not to come out. "

Amy nodded, she knew that was safe at least. Linda had to give the girl some credit after all.

"Take this"

Linda unholstered the other glock from her hip and handed it to the teenaged woman. Amy's small hand tentatively took it

" You go back into the kitchen where you were hiding and you dont come out no matter what you hear or even if someone else tells you to come out. Do you understand?"

Amy nodded mutely, shakily holding the gun.

' When I come back, I'll knock on the kitchen door and say 'Its me Linda, you can come out". Only then will it be safe. Do you understand?"

Amy nodded again.

" I won't let you down Linda, only when you come back will I come out"

Linda smiled for a moment.

" i didnt doubt that for a minute Amy"

Amy stood up and hugged Linda quickly and ran back to the Burger Baron.

Linda and Brad watched the girl dissapear from sight, they waited a couple seconds before Brad broke the silence

(ooc..hope you dont mind krazy)

' excuse me boss-lady, but do you think giving a piece to a scared little girl was the wisest call, she'll probably end up shooting herself"

Linda smiled

" Would have to agree with you Brad..except for one thing"

She turned her hand around and showed the clip from the glock in her hand.

Brad chuckled around his stogie

" ha. You palmed it! A little more SWAT training?"

" Naw. I have two kids"

-------------------------------

Brad and Linda secured the floor in record time. The main floor was suprisingly empty. Except for a mens store where a ghoul was attempting to eat a mannequin in an armani suit. They dispatched him quickly enough.


The loading bays were the only diifficulty and weas touch and go for a second. As they nearly tromped oblivious into a bay filled with about 8 of the freaks.

Brad was the one who stopped her from wandering into the ghoul fest. SDhe was numb with fatigue and would have kicked herself normally.

One of her flash bangs and a lot of shooting later, the loading door was locked and the ghouls were dead.Again.

On their way back, they ran into Carl. he was staggeriring through the halls, his head wobbling on a barely together neck.

Brad raised his gun to fire. But Linda stayed his hand.

" Dont waste your ammo"

Carl was a staggering twitching mess and wasnt even aware of Linda even as she stepped right up to him. She only hoped there wasnt any conscience of Carl left as she she brutally brought her night stick down over and over on his neck untill his head snapped straight of his body.

Great, she was covered in blood again.

They made their way back into the food court, but Linda stopped for a pack of smokes from a mini shop.

" Haven't smoked in years. Heh, guess i shouldnt be worried about these things killing me anymore"

They sat in the food court, him with his stogie and her with her Marlboro. Enjoying the brief respite.

She grinded the butt under her hell and got up and let Amy from her holding kitchen.

 

[krazykyotee]

Brad sat there as Linda walked off to retrieve the newest member of their merry band. Calling to her back, he shouted at first, then conscious of the silence of the mall, toned it down.

"HEY BOSS! uh, i mean, hey, any chance that little lady coudl whip us up something to chow on? Not to sound like a dick, but my guts growling like bear with out his picnic basket."

She only gave him a stern look over her shoulder and walked on.

Sheesh, was only asking, Brad thought.Reloading yet again from their breif firefight in the docking bay, he only got about halfway thru the magazine before the tears started. The images started
flashing before his eyes. Him driving his humvee thru the streets of mogadishu, watching and hearing the sounds of his friends dying around him. The sight of that fellow survivor holding the hordes off before detonating his beloved truck into a fireball. The sounds of those undead moaning and growling ,reaching for them. The split second hesitation he had shooting the zombie that almost got Linda..

Pulling off his cap, he wiped his eyes with a hand. Gotta pull it together, Brad. Can't lose it now.Suck it up. Can't let the boss lady see him like this....

 

[poohlive]

It was a long while before Matthew and Kaitlyn made their way downstairs. She looked better, and felt better, so she said. Color appeared back in her cheeks, and the cut, while not exactly healing, didn't look infected or ugly.

Her fever had gone down. She looked, for lack of a better word, normal.

Which frightened Matthew all the more.

"The second floor is secure," He said, making his way to the food court, which had in the course become the hub for them. A meeting place where the last of the living stood to battle the dead.

Kaitlyn went to one of the booths, sitting down. Matthew searched through the food court, grabbing various items here and there, food which either wasn't spoiled, or uncooked. He came back with a couple of heaping plates, giving one of them to Kaitlyn.

"You should eat."

She sighed, "You don't need to baby me, all right?"

Matthew lowered his head.

"So, we're secure, more or less. What now?"

 

[StagedFright]

Stacy McKeegan tore her car through the highway, heading back to her house. She'd been away for a week at her boyfriend's cabin in the mountains.

"God, I am making the greatest time." She laughed, putting a little more weight onto the gas pedal. It was true, the highway was almost deserted as she drove into town. Stacy just chalked it up to her good luck as she flipped on the radio.

"-And in further news, the President has declared a state of emergency as more reports of..." Stacy flipped the channel, she had no time for news right now, she wanted to blast some tunes. She flipped over to KRock but there was just static. She flipped over to the dance channel.

"We are still in a state of emergency, if you see any infected people, go as fast as you can to the nearest safe location. If someone is bitten they will succumb to the disease and develop a taste for human flesh..." Stacy couldn't believe it. There was still nothing to listen to. She increased her speed to 75 and slid a Christina Aguilera CD into her stereo. It was still blasting as she pulled into Sorority Lane, and approached the huge Kappa Kappa Sigma house.

The house looked terrible, there was a car parked on the lawn and two of the front windows were smashed. The front door was wide open. Stacy pulled into the driveway and popped the trunk. There was an awful smell in the air. She grabbed her suitcase from her trunk and walked into the house.

"Omigod, you guys, what kind of rager did you throw last night? Was it with the Gammas? They must have trashed the..." Stacy was sorting the mail as she walked into the living room but when she looked up she saw a sight of unbelievable horror. A disheveled ghoulish looking man was biting one of the girls, Stacy didn't know her name, and corner of the room was soaked in a deep red liquid that could only be blood. There were more bones strewn about the room.

"AIIGGGHHHH!" Stacy turned and ran screaming up the stairs, the rotting creature turned and followed her and she just barely made it into her room before slamming the door and locking it. The creature began to slam and crash into the door.

"Omigod, omigod, oh shit" Stacy turned around and saw, oh no, her roommates bones and blood laying on her bed.

CRASH! Again the creature slammed into her door, causing her to shriek. She could hear it groaning, it was still hungry. She started to think, obviously staying her room was no solution. She could get onto the fire escape and get back down to her car but where to go? That news report said this was an emergency and to get to the nearest safe place but where would that be? the Police station? Slowly, she opened her window and stepped onto her fire escape. She ran down the iron stairs and jumped into her car, she fumbled with the keys as she was trying to put them in the ignition. Just then a creature slammed into her car, scratching and clawing at the window. She recognized the Delta Beta sweatshirt on the female corpse.

"Jesus christ, you skanky Delta bitch just fuck off and die!" She finally got her keys in the ignition and frantically pulled out of the drive way. Her CD started blaring at her before she popped it out. Now she was desperate to find that news report but there was no help. There was nothing but static on the radio. She pulled onto Harrison, and made her way to the police precinct. After fifteen minutes of driving she was there.

"Oh no, oh no" She was crying now. There were more of the creatures, some of them wearing police Uniforms, feasting on some poor guy. Stacy quickly threw her car into reverse and made her way North. The enormity of the situation started sinking in. All her friends were probably dead. Were her Parents safe? What about Chad? Tears were streaming down her face as she just drove, unsure of her destination. She passed by the campus, the theatre, the mall, wait a second, the mall!

Stacy worked at Sexy Girl Lingerie and they had a stock room that almost nobody knew about. It had a solid metal door and heavy locks. It was a leftover from when it had been a gun store. It would keep her safe until the army started cleaning up this mess.

She pulled into the Mall parking lot, it looked deserted too. She couldn't see any of the weird creatures so she pulled up in front of the employees entrance and got out of her car. She ran towards the door and kept running until she was in the shop. She didn't notice anyone else in the mall, she just ran until she was in the stock room and slammed the door behind her.

She fell onto the ground and began to sob.

That had been 8 hours ago.....

Stacy had wished she had remembered to grab some food before hiding in the room. Her stomach began to rumble. Was it safe to go out? She had sworn she could have heard gun fire a while ago but she hadn't heard anything for a few minutes. She could always run back into the room if one of those things was out there. Slowly she opened the door and poked her head out. There was nothing but silence so she crept her way out, she made her way through the silent mall until she made the food court. Then, to her surprise she saw a man and a woman. They were both carrying guns and, at least, looked human.

"Um, hello?" She asked and threw her hands up as they quickly turned around

"Oh god, don't shoot, I'm human. I was just wondering if you two were, you know, Zombies."

 

[badbabysitter]

"Um, hello?"

Linda spun in her seat to the voice. A bubble headed blonde by the looks of it. Hair a mess, a little wacked out.But then again, who wasn't by now.Linda's hand had instinctively gone to her holster, but she relaxed just as quick. Getting way too jumpy.

"Oh god, don't shoot, I'm human. I was just wondering if you two were, you know, Zombies."

Linda just stared at her numbly. That was possibly the most absurd thing she had heard all day, and today was a day for absurdity.She fished out a smoke and lit it.

" Do I sound like a zombie?" she said between puffs.

She should probably get up, probably go comfort the girl. Probably go play hero. But she was too damn tired and the girl didnt look hurt or psycho. Fuck it, she was tired.

She saw Matthew and Kaitlynn wander into the food court towards them. She nodded to them and rest her arms on her legs and leaned into them, hanging her head a bit.

"The second floor is secure," Matthew said moving into a food stall with Kaitlynn.

Another mute nod. Another drag.

It just felt so good to sit down for a few minutes. She could feel the acidic fatigue burn into her muscles as she began to relax for the first time in roughly 14 hours. They were secure.

Huzzah. They were fucking secure.Like rats in a cage.

She looked at the rag tag survivors and theuisituation. What were they.. 7 or 8 people against a horde of flesh eaters. Great odds.One of them bitten, two were outright liabilities

The blondie was still standing there with a deer in the headlights look. She was probably waiting for the cavalry to come sailing in on unicorns. Linda just didnt have time to care right now.

"Sit down" she grumbled at the blonde.

Matthew and Kaitlynn came back in carrying plates of food. Hmm..chinese.

Her stomach growled. Fuck, when was the last time she had eaten...last night about 630..she was sitting down for porkchops with Ronny and the brats and..

Fuck it. Don't think about it. Please just dont fucking think about it.

"So, we're secure, more or less. What now?" matthew quipped around some egg-foo-yung.

What now? Indeed, what now. Her midn wandered back. Bottlenecks, exits, entrances, easy acces, escpae points.. SWAT kicked her ass when nothing else could.

She leaned up, butting out her smoke.

" Barricades.. who knows if the doors will last forever, and I want to make sure our friends outside cant get in anytime soon..plus I just dont want to look at them in the morning"

Morning. Fuck, it was time to really consider that.

" we're here for the duration people, untill a rescue, or untill they completely rot out ther, untill we escape or untill we die. So we're going to have to adjust to living here"

She pointed down the halls from their center point in the cross of the "T" which was the mall.

Take anything big and throw it, weld it, pound it infront of the outside access doors.. and maybe throw some fucking drapes or paint on the windows. We dont want them coming in"

" but first..lets eat..and wait for the others to check in with us"

 

[badbabysitter]

bump

 

[StagedFright]

Stacy simply stood there, quietly, as the guy and the girl walked into the food court. The buff chick with the gun, who was almost definitely not a zombie, talked to them for a while before looking back in Stacy's direction.

"Sit down" she barked. Stacy still wasn't sure what to think about this woman. Although she seemed safe, she couldn't ignore the gun on her hip. Stacy walked towards one of the fast food places and got herself a big dish of Japanese noodles. They were cold and full of carbs but, well, with hordes of rampaging flesh eaters outside, Stacy figured she could stray from her diet. Stacy caught sight of her reflection in one of the steam trays. Her hair was a mess and her face was streaked with her tears. She reached into her purse and brushed her hair back into some semblance of neatness and threw some water on her face. She was going to reach for her purse to put on some lipstick when it hit her. Her purse, and all her make-up was still in the car

"Fucks sakes" She slammed her hands down.

She returned to the gathering with her dish and sat down. The woman was still talking when she got back.

"we're here for the duration people, untill a rescue, or untill they completely rot out ther, untill we escape or untill we die. So we're going to have to adjust to living here"

Life in the mall certainly had it's appeal to Stacy. At the very least she could replace all the cosmetics she'd lost. She took a fork full of noodles, and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing. She raised her hand as soon as the woman, who she had definitely decided was not a zombie and was in charge, stopped speaking.

"Look, uh, GI Jane" she intended this to be a joke but all it got her was a scowl "I don't mean to be repeating something someone else said but shouldn't we be trying to get in touch with someone? The Marines or something?"

This was met by nothing but silence from the assembled group.

"I mean, because, like, while I'm sure spending my life with you guys trapped in the mall would be totally fascinating, I have a boyfriend and parents and, like, a life out there so instead of re-arranging furniture shouldn't we be doing something to, you know, speed up our rescue?"

 

[poohlive]

Matthew paused a moment, getting up, he turned around, so his back was to the woman. Looking at the rest of the group, he gave them a small nod, a knowing wink, for those who knew the score, and had accepted the fate inside the mall.

Then, he turned to the woman, tossing her the walkie talkie.

"There you are, communication. I've been trying it for hours. The only people I picked up... are standing right here. The marines are dead, the army is dead. Fort Baxter, which so many people thought would save them, has turned into a fucking cemetary. There are no more people."

He stepped close to her, his face becoming mean and menacing. To be honest, Matthew didn't know why he did it. He was in the same boat as her, or, well, similar, the same smart outlook, looking for that happy ending, the rainbow just out of sight, if only they could reach it.

A few hours in hell had changed that, though. A few hours with Kaitlyn had changed that, a few hours with the dead had changed it all.

"Your family is dead. Your boyfriend is dead. All your friends are now outside, knocking on the door, begging to get in and eat us all. This is it, sweetheart. This is fucking it. This is the rescue, the cavalry, the fucking welcome party."

Matthew pointed to the front of the mall, where outside they were now piling up against the glass doors, pounding, pushing, walking aimlessly, searching for an opening, a single chance at flesh.

His anger had gone, left him, like some spirit posessed his body and now drifted off elsewhere. There stood Matthew, small, scared, aware of so many eyes, so many feelings, so much hunger. God it hurt, just to see that hunger, that dead hunger in their eyes.

He didn't know if he could take it. If he could take seeing Kaitlyn look at him that way. If she did, he'd have to kill something, destroy something, enter insanity with welcome arms. Oh god, if she did, everything would fall apart.

The center could not hold.

"It's just us," His voice was small, weak, like a child's, "It's just us now. We're alone. And we need to fight, if we want to stay alive."

 

[StagedFright]

Stacy just stared at the man when he leaned into her and kept growling.

"Your family is dead. Your boyfriend is dead. All your friends are now outside, knocking on the door, begging to get in and eat us all. This is it, sweetheart. This is fucking it. This is the rescue, the cavalry, the fucking welcome party."

The enormity of those words began to sink in. Her mom and Dad were probably dead. Her little sister, who she'd just talked to before her trip, was probably dead. Chad, who Stacy was sure was going to propose at Graduation, was probably dead. All of the Kappa Sigs, who'd become family to her had probably been eaten by those ugly monsters. She didn't hear anything Matthew said after that and only barely noticed when he stopped talking. She could feel the tears welling up again.

"If..sniff...it's just going to be us here" she said meekly "The least you could do is use a tic tac"

She didn't know why she was being a smart ass, but she thought it would help stave off the tears. She was wrong. She put her head in her hands and began sobbing, thinking about her family and her boyfriend. Her sobbing turned to uncontrollable bawling as for a moment, she wished that creature had killed her. Anything would be better than being holed up in here, with these jerks, thinking about how everything you loved was gone.

 

[krazykyotee]

Brad sat there and listened to the others talk, chewing on day old pizza left under a hot lamp way too long. He let out a small chuckle to the response the teenager gave to Matt's statements.

Pushing the plastic tray away, he talked as he finished a soda.

"Well, gonna need a bunch of tools for those barriers. Plasma torches, MIG or TIG welders, some good steel rebar. Two by fours and nailguns for wherever we cant weld. Big ol sheets of pressboard will cover those windows over the doors. Some handtrucks and palletjacks for moving the big shit to the doors. Maybe even rig up something like nails in tin cans, some warning system shoudl they get thru the barricades."

Chucking the empty soda cup twoards a trashcan, he finsihed, "And as much as my aching knees dont like it, we gots to get to it. lets round up whoever isnt here as we gather what we need. What cha think, boss lady?"

 

[badbabysitter]

Linda

Okay, this was enough.

Tensions were high, everyone was frayed and now they were venting because they were holed up and mildly safe. But today was not the time.

She nodded at Brad

"Good idea..but let me get some grub..havent eaten since 6 last night..and let me deal with this first"

Her muscles groaned as she got to her feet. She stepped up softly to Matthew and softly pushed up against his chest with her hand.

" Cool it down cowboy" she whispered, " i'm angry, i'm fucked, i'm scared too..but we got other shit to worry about , the others dont need this, ..Kaitlyn doesnt need this"

She looked at him straight in the eyes as she said it. Fuck, there was so much love and despair in those eyes. She could feel herself begin to choke up and swallowed it down.

" there will be a time and a place for this, but not now..she's a little girl who just wnet through hell today, okay?"

Yeah, he got it. He wasnt happy about it. Hell, she didnt think anyone was happy with it. But it would have to do.

Amy resurfaced from the Burger Baron in her messed up uniform, with a plate full of burgers in styrofoam containers.

" i know its not much..but I thought.. I thought"

Linda smiled.People could always suprise you.

" Thank you Amy, I could really use a Big Baron Bacon burger myself"

Amy shyly smiled, a pretty smile. She was feeling useful, that was good. Everyone needed to do something, be something. Keep it together.

The group tore into the burgers with a voracious hunger. She didnt think grease could taste this good.

Stacy was poking hesitantly at hers, like she was going through the motions as she softly cried.

Linda came over and sat down across from her.

" Hi, i'm Linda Riggs,not GI jane..demi has bigger boobs" she smiled.

" you've been very brave today " she said in a reassuring voice, " a lot braver than you think, you've made it where alot of others didnt."

She adjusted herslef a bit on the uncomfortable seat.

" you look like a mess" she said taking in the girl's messed features, imagining what kind of image her own splattered visage was presenting.

She took a wet wipe from the plastic tray and undid it. She got up and sat on the table and moved toward the girls face.

" dont worry hun, I'm a mother, so I'm a professional at messy faces" she said in a clam friendly motherly voice

The girl relaxed and let linda clean off some smudges.

" Yes, a little boy and a little girl..well, not so little now, shes 13 now.. just yesterday she was wearing little pink dresses and soon she'll be running off to college before I know it"

The girls tears stopped abit

" I bet you're a college girl, I almost went, but went into the police academy instead...but my boyfriend was a college boy..big hunky football player"

She smiled remembering Ronny back int e days of her youth. That wass gone now. all blown away in a few hours.

All the while she talked , Linda cleaned off the girls face, making her much more presentable.

" there we are..my my , there is one young beatiful woman buried under that dirt"

She stroked her face gently, a port in the storm.

" tell you what.. we look out for each other now, okay..you watch my back, I'll watch yours"

 

[poohlive]

It didn't take long for Matthew to ease into the seat opposite of this new girl, valley chick, if she could be called such. Although, the valley chick cliche was a bit old, the term now would be sorority chick. A sorority chick.

But even that was old, tired, worn out, leather that had been used for years and years, cracking along rough edges.

"I'm sorry," He said, diverting his gaze from her, "Everyone here has lost people close to them. We're all in the same boat, and sometime's its hard seeing people who don't understand it yet."

Matthew looked over at Kaitlyn, who had, at least for the moment, was lost in her own little world, devoid of all of this. He nodded in her direction.

"She was bitten, by one of those things. She's dying. Right before our eyes. If you get bit, you turn into one of those things. It takes awhile though, couple of hours, couple of days. No one knows for sure."

He touched at the food in front of him, pushing it from side to side, pretending it would disappear. It tasted horrible, not cause it was food, but because it was nourishing. And, at the moment, Matthew had rejected everything nurishing in the would. It had become an aspect of hate and abomination.

"If there is someone coming to save us, they'll probably use a helicopter, and that means the roof. If you want, while everyone is fixing the doors, we could go to the roof, make signs or something, get people's attention. Try to make them see there's still someone alive in here."

 

[msboy8]

Alan Font

Herbie and I went up to the second floor. "OK Herbie, please stay close, you're all I've got for protection." I smiled to give Herbie more confidence than I felt in him.

Alan led the way through the 2nd floor of the department store. "C'mon Herbie, the elevators are usually in the back." They continued to weave their way through the empty store. Alan found the elevators and called to Herbie to hurry up. Herbie replied that he was coming and just wanted to get a drink from the water fountain.

Alan pushed the button to call the elevator, expecting it to take a little time. Alan was surprised when the elevator opened immediantly. Two claws reached out and pulled him in, Alan had just time for a startled yell before a pair of blood-stained teeth ripped his throat out.

Herbie rushed around the corner pulling his .38 Special out of his holster. A blank elevator door stared at him. He could barely hear feeding noises coming from behind the door. Herbie gulped, aimed his revolver and pushed the button to summon the elevator. The door opened almost immediately and Herbie saw a zombie feeding on the throat of what used to be Alan.

It didn't even look up at Herbie as the door opened. He stood stunned for a moment, then emptied his gun into the zombie's head. Herbie spun away and ran downstairs to meet the others, as the elevator door shut entombing the two dead bodies.