IC: This is how the world ends

[IXIHawkeyeIXI]

Malcolm finally decided that he needed to leave the apartment. Everything felt like it was beginning to close on him, the walls seemed small. He looked out his apartment again, seeing a few cars that were stopped on the street, the drivers had died inside trying to escape the city. It did them no good. Malcolm turned off his TV. He had bene watching a video recording of himself doing some standup, like he did on many afternoons. Leaving his apartment building, he was suddenly even more terrified. Looking out the window into an empty city was one thing, but actually hearing an empty city was completely different. There was nothing - no people yelling at each other, no cars zooming around, nothing. After only being out of his building for a few moments, he was starting to feel terrified again, he needed the noise.
"Hello?" he yelled out. "Is there anyone out there!?!?"

 

[poohlive]

"A singer? Unbeliebable. Do you know I personally know the C.E.O. of Virgin Records? Fifteen minutes with you, and he'd sign a contract in no time, I know it. Come on, join us... please."

He smiled, slapping the water, inviting her in, both of them. He missed company, and people did business better in the water. A hot tub is just what they needed to go to work.

That, and a lot more alcohol.

He finished his own glass, refilling it, and both of theirs as well.

"Am I to be in here all by myself, ladies? Lonely? Don't ruin the party. We're having so much fun, aren't we? This is just us three in here, this is going to be fun, it can be our fantasy... our own little world for a few hours. Let's enjoy it, please."

Both eagerness and desperation hinted in his voice, and he wasn't sure if he was going to laugh or cry, but in the end he laughed, and gave them both warm inviting smiles.

 

[wit.riles]

Naomi sat on the ground outside the trailer and wondered when it was she first started hating her summers visiting her grandmother in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She remembered being a little girl and loving the freedom that her unchi gave her, and exploring the endless prairie that was so different from the city. And she remembered her last few summers, when all she could think about was getting away from the poverty of the reservation to her life of indulgence in Chicago. When did it change? When did she change?

That was all she had thought about as she sat outside waiting for someone to come and get her. But she was done waiting. Last night the generator for the trailers had stopped working.

Today she had to come up with a plan, but she kept dwelling about the same old subjects. News took a long time to get to this remote group of families, as did the plague, so the last thing she had heard from her family was to stay where it would be safe. And this safe place now had 16 rotting corpses and no power.

The first step was to find out if the people she cared about were ok, so she needed to get back to Chicago. There were three cars she could take, all junkers, but her unchi’s was the only one that was automatic, which meant Naomi at least had a chance at driving it. There wasn’t a map either, which meant there was a good chance she was going to get lost.

Naomi took what food she could find from the trailers, packed the same suitcase she brought months ago, and started south, or was it east?

 

[Britwitch]

Aoife Patrick, Aboard the Jet

"Scott Kingly, and you simply must join me Aoife. Please, come in here, it is nice and warm, with lots of bubbles. If you don't want to get all your clothes wet, please... there are some bathing suits in the back there."
Aoife watched as he took hold of her hand, his fingers gently stroking the skin, feeling a rush of strange emotions. Relief once more at finding others alive, nervousness at wondering what kind of people she had found herself with.
"You must be a wonderful writer. Look at these hands, they create... like art they move against the paper, or the keyboard. You design works of genius. I would love to read your work."
He kissed her finger tips softly, his eyes looking into her own. Under other circumstances it would almost have been seductive but in this bizarre situation it was a simple action of appreciation almost. Aoife blushed a little at the feel of his warm lips against her flesh, carefully withdrawing her hand from his and moving towards the back of the jet, deciding that a relaxing soak in the spa would probably help relax her still tense body.
Trying to convince her aching heart, as she walked, that there was nothing wrong with sitting in a spa with a man…it didn’t mean she’d already forgotten about Rick or that her love had lessened in the slightest. Listening to Scott’s words as she rifled through the collection of bathing suits and found one that didn’t look too revealing. She slipped out of her jeans and vest, bra and panties, pulling on the black suit that clung tightly to the curves of her petite figure.
"Let me tell you about myself…I am a businessman, through and through. I have contacts all over, any company, just name it... and I know someone there, and not just anyone. Not secretaries or pagers or mail room guys, we're talking C.E.O.'s, presidents, people of power, people of swing. You want to negotiate, you want to talk to the people who can get it done, you go through me….But, we're not here to talk about me, Aoife. We're here to talk about you, and the new book you're going to write us? Tell me, do you have any ideas?"
“I…I don’t really have any ideas…not yet anyway…” Aoife replied softly. “I was here to try and promote my newest book…but I doubt anyone will ever read it now…there’s a copy in my bag, you’re welcome to read it if you really want to…”
"She's a writer and I’m a singer" Melody said quietly.
“Wow…” Aoife’s voice came through from the back. “I always wanted to be a singer but I guess my talents were for the page, not for the stage.”
"A singer? Unbeliebable. Do you know I personally know the C.E.O. of Virgin Records? Fifteen minutes with you, and he'd sign a contract in no time, I know it. Come on, join us... please….Am I to be in here all by myself, ladies? Lonely? Don't ruin the party. We're having so much fun, aren't we? This is just us three in here, this is going to be fun, it can be our fantasy... our own little world for a few hours. Let's enjoy it, please."
Aoife heard his confident, loud voice falter for a moment, wondering if the realisation that the world he spoke of was no longer in existence had finally hit him. Walking back out of the back, her head lowered shyly as she climbed into the spa, sitting opposite Scott and sighing a little as the warm water caressed her skin. Aoife took the offered glass of champagne and sipped it. The fizzy, dry tasting liquid feeling so odd against her tongue. The bubbles going a little to her head on such an empty stomach as she finished her drink, thirst compelling her more than desire. After all, she didn't want to become tipsy so soon in front of her new ‘friends’.
"So...Scott...where were you thinking of heading...?"

 

[molly_hunter28]

Alley Martin . . . New York City

Heading into Philly Alley started getting paranoid. SHe hadn't seen anyone, no people. There was no one at the various gas station she stopped at. She couldn't believe this. Again she tried her radio, but still dead air was all that greeted her.

Alley couldn't take the solitude anymore, she needed the company of someone else. There had to be someone in this city, right. She saw cars just sitting in the road. People in them but they were long dead.

Last had had been the worst for Alley so far. She had nightmares about this, saw the dead even in her sleep. She was frightened out of her mind. Keep going, keep moving, there's bound to be others, she thought.

She saw a sign and began to head west. Hoping her luck would be changing soon. She grabbed a tissue, wiped her eyes, and began headed west. What other choice did she have?

 

[Mayu]

On The Jet

She smiled and nodded, standing up she sighed a bit and sat beside him "Im one of those voices who probably are not cut out to make recordings" She said softly, a gentle smile on her face as she took her drink and sipped it. "One thing about me I can make a bad situation into a party, I was always good at that no matter what" She said kindly.

 

[poohlive]

This was indeed a party. What a wonderful party. It had everything, good girls, scantily clad, champaigne that flowed freely, food if they wanted it, a hot tub, and him...

Everything a good party needs.

He moved so he sat between them, one arm around each, little fingers dancing and playing at their shoulders.

"I do want to read your book, and I want to hear you sing. I want everything. You two, you two are one of the last few people left. It is just you and I here, there might be others, but no one knows. I don't think there's anywhere for us to go. But, this is nice, isn't it?"

He smiled, looking around.

"We have a nice big bed in the back, comfort beyond anything we could find out there, and the battery will work for months. We could live here, we could thrive here, we could be happy here, can't we? You singing, you writing your perfect novel, and me... I could be here making sure that everything runs smoothly. I could be your managers, I could take care of you."

His hand gripped tighter, lovingly, longingly, the feel of human flesh against his skin, so delicate, so perfect.

"I can take care of you."

 

[Britwitch]

Aoife tensed a little as she felt Scott move closer, his arm wrapping around her shoulders, followed by Melody's words of,
"One thing about me I can make a bad situation into a party, I was always good at that no matter what"
Suddenly Aoife wasn't so sure that getting into the spa was such a good idea.
"I do want to read your book, and I want to hear you sing. I want everything. You two, you two are one of the last few people left. It is just you and I here, there might be others, but no one knows. I don't think there's anywhere for us to go. But, this is nice, isn't it?"
"It's definitely nicer in here than it was out there..." Aoife admitted.
"We have a nice big bed in the back, comfort beyond anything we could find out there, and the battery will work for months. We could live here, we could thrive here, we could be happy here, can't we? You singing, you writing your perfect novel, and me... I could be here making sure that everything runs smoothly. I could be your managers, I could take care of you."
She glanced across at the two people sat alonside her in the swirling water. Surely Scott didn't want to just stay here, surrounded by death...she shuddered at the thought. Aoife couldn't decide what Melody wanted, certain of one thing though, that she was as glad as she herself was to have found other people alive.
Then an unexpected sigh left Aoife's lips as his hand's hold on her shoulder increased, almost desperately.
"I can take care of you."
"And...we could take care of you too..." Aoife replied quietly, earnestly, although she didn't entirely know or realise what the implications of that phrase might be. Leaning into his embrace, feeling her heart picking up speed a little and that painful lump returning to her throat as her mind thought of Rick holding her like this. All she wanted to do was bury her face against Scott's chest and hug him until all this madness went away, but she knew she had to try and keep herself together. Only God knew what might lay ahead for them and she wasn't even certain that He knew for sure.

 

[poohlive]

"Could you?" She looked so young, so sweet, so sincere when she said that. He had to look at her, to see her for the first time, judging her. How could he judge her though, with those eyes, youthful and playful at the same time.

"We all... need to be taken care of, don't we?"

His arm held her close, her head resting in the crook of his shoulder, her lips... Those softy pouty lips. Those were the perfect lips, he'd never seen such lips before in his life.

"We all have needs, we all... don't want to be alone."

The other arm touched her, inside the water, her thigh, right next to his own. The wamrth of the water made it seem even more so, like soft delicate touches of fairies of pixies on their bodies. It sent a shiver up his spine...

No, no, she sent a shiver up his spine, as he looked at her, as he moved closer.

He had to whisper now.

"I don't want to be alone."

He touched her cheek, moving in, kissing her. Her lips so soft and golden, just as he imagined them to feel, just as he wanted them to taste. They were delicious and perfect, and he loved it. Her kiss, her real life kiss, it was what he needed.

He was alive, and with people.

A hard passionate kiss.

Life.

 

[Britwitch]

"Could you?"
Aoife looked up at his words, his green eyes smiling down at her face, almost curiously. "We all... need to be taken care of, don't we?"
She felt his arm draw her a little closer but there was something almost hypnotic in his gaze, drawing her deeper. Showing her a glimpse of something behind the suit and the 'show' he had been giving since they'd met. "We all have needs, we all... don't want to be alone."
She trembled as she felt his other hand glide over her thigh in the warm water, the simple action setting off a thousand tingling sensations beneath her skin, racing throughout her body as he leant closer. His voice growing quieter with each word. "I don't want to be alone."
His hand rose out of the water to rub across her cheek before leaning across the few inches that seperated their faces and kissed her. Aoife tensed momentarily as his arms drew her against him, his kiss growing more passionate, more desperate. But there was something in that kiss, something she had been missing. Not just the touch of another, something deeper. That need. The human need to be with someone. She tentatively returned the kiss, her hands resting lightly against his broad chest before she felt his tongue gently probing her lips and she pushed him back slightly.
"I...I don't think I can do this..." She flushed, glancing past him and feeling her eyes widen at seeing Melody, in the rush of emotions that the kiss had drawn forth she had almost forgotten they were not alone. Aoife looked back shyly into his eyes, trying to let him know that it wasn't him. It wasn't that she didn't want to kiss him, she did...although why she wasn't sure...but she wasn't ready...it was too soon...it was just too soon. "I...I'm engaged...I was engaged but I think...I think he...he got sick before I left and...and I tried to call him but...he didn't...he didn't..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes suddenly grew bright with tears. As if sharing the story made it even more real. Trembling and fighting against dissolving into tears, she leant forwards and buried her face against Scott's chest, hugging him tightly for a few moments while a few heavy sobs shook her body before she slowly regained control. Raising her head once more to meet his eyes she smiled weakly. "I...I'm sorry if I'm ruining your party..." She said softly, before leaning forwards to gently kiss his cheek. "I promise to try not to cry anymore...well, not for a little while..." She added, a little of her natural sparkle returning to her eyes and the slightest of warm smiles curving her lips a little more.

 

[Eiselmann]

Adam Route 66 just west of Oklahoma City

OOC: If you all like I can get the local radio station operational...well at least transmitting....

IC:

Adam had actually gotten lost and got to route 66 at a more westerly point than he had intented now five miles west of Oklahoma City he was too close to that place for his own confort...still rather than risk driving to the burg he decidied to drive a little more to the west...it wasn't exactly like he had a plan.

The repeated beeping hadn't changed but he'd found no other signal....then as he was driving suddenly a light came on.

Adam stopped his RV by a phone box , getting out rifle in hand all was silent...he took the directory book amazed it was in one peice and found....yeah the address of a local radio station.

Adam looked up the place on one of the many maps he had and smiled, it wasn't far.

A few minutes later he stopped at the building with a large Radio sign....Weatherford.

It had taken several long hours to figure this out...he'd worked as a cleaner in a station for a month three years ago....that expereinced surprisingly made him no expert on getting a radio station up and running.

Fortunatly they had manuals for everything including the emergency generator.

Adam flicked a switch on the control panel and waited ...nothing, "Ah hello" Adam closed his eyes stunning first words ....he looked at the manual smiled and tried again.

An hour later in his RV he found the signal and listened ....not too bad.

"Route 66 , Weatherford just west of Oklahoma City , is there anyone there ? this message is sent in the hope that others are out there , its day 15 since the governments Emergency transmissions ended , I'll be here for another 15 days", the message repeated...again and again......15 days if the generator held out ....15 days hoping enough decent non nutter people could hear the message.......and unknown to Adam....the message wasn't just local....it repeated along a network of transmittors and could be heard to some degree along all of route 66.

 

[OPositive]

Jeremiah Fairfax - L.A.

Elena's death had been tragic. Jeremiah had no idea how long she'd been sick before it became unbearable, before she collapsed on deck. They'd been looking forward to this boat trip for months and she wasn't about to let the flu ruin it. By the time her body betrayed her, it was too late. They were days away from civilization. Radio calls went unanswered, as did his GPS distress beacon. So it was that Jeremiah watched his love die.

Her final evening, as she tossed and turned and suffered below deck, Jeremiah caught sight of a freighter outlined against the setting sun. Thinking they would be more prepared for emergencies than he had been, he pulled up along side it. The freighter did not return his distress calls, did not make notice of him. Surely someone from her slim crew would take notice of the boat alongside, of the man frantically screaming for attention. As the night crept in, the ship remained silent. No lights went on, as if no one were home.

He was still trying to get the crew's attention when she passed away. Near the end of his sanity, he pulled away from the dead ship. Though her body still laid in the bed they'd shared, he had to get away from the place where she died, had to get away from that freighter.

He was nearing L.A., not that it seemed much like it. The California coastline had been in sight since yesterday afternoon, yet he still hadn't gotten anyone to respond to his signals. No boats were on the water, and no cars seemed to be moving along the coastal highway. He watched for airplanes, but saw none. Something was wrong. Really wrong.

His arrival was completely unheralded. No one met him at the pier. No one wandered the docks or the clubhouse. When he stood still, he couldn't hear any cars on the nearby road. Not a soul to be found. No one responded to his screams, first concerned pleas for his wife followed by angry damnations before breaking down into gutteral bellowing as he himself collapsed.

The emotions poured out, so that by the time he stood he was empty. The life he knew was gone, as was any chance for any semblance of that life. For the first time in a long time had no aspiration. No goals. For the moment, he was simply resigned.

Wrapping Elena's body in bedsheets and snatching a shovel from the boatclub's gardening shed, he went down to the beach where he would bury her.

 

[poohlive]

"Its ok," He said, holding her head to his chest, letting her curl around him as he sat in the spa, her legs on his lap, her body forming to his. He smiled, as he hugged her, hearing the sobs until they stopped.

"Don't ever say that. If you need to cry, then cry. A lot has happened, and you are a writer. Artistic types are very emotional, it is why they can create such art. That is who you are. We can wait until you are ready. Everyone can wait."

He brought his lips down upon hers, but only a small kiss, a small intimate touch between the two of them.

"I will wait," He whispered, letting her head rest back on his chest, finding that crook a woman always finds when she lays against a man.

"Here we are though, we who've found each other. That is a miracle in and of itself, do you not understand? We have survived where millions were left scattered, still here. To be with each other, to help each other, take care of each other. I think... when we are all that we have left, that is what we need to do, isn't it?"

 

[Britwitch]

Aoife Patrick, Aboard the Jet

"Its ok...Don't ever say that. If you need to cry, then cry. A lot has happened, and you are a writer. Artistic types are very emotional, it is why they can create such art. That is who you are. We can wait until you are ready. Everyone can wait."
Aoife sighed as he kissed her, relieved at his response as she embraced him once more. Now almost sat in his lap.
"I will wait,"
"Thank you..." She whispered as his arms encircled her.
"Here we are though, we who've found each other. That is a miracle in and of itself, do you not understand? We have survived where millions were left scattered, still here. To be with each other, to help each other, take care of each other. I think... when we are all that we have left, that is what we need to do, isn't it?"
Aoife had to agree, there was something more than a little miraculous about their meeting. She could have missed him entirely had she left the airport earlier, or had he not gone through the metal detector.
"I think...I think we have to be there for those around us...especially when there is no one else..." She looked up into his face, almost shyly. "I know we don't know each other very well but...but I...I have the strangest feeling about you...in any other situation this would be so very strange, sitting here like this...but with you...it...it feels...I don't know...almost right..." She knew she was rambling, the champagne and tiredness all combining, but hoping he understood what she was trying to tell him. That she trusted him.

 

[bigladypleaser]

the night is the worst time

steve decided he had to stop. his was so afraid of being alone and falling asleep, but he was weaving back and forth, nodding off at the wheel.

since leaving the pittsburg area, he had headed sort of northeast, not following any real route, just driving. he's gone around hundreds of wrecks, seeing bodies sprawled out everywhere. he'd just drive around them now, not even caring to look any more. from time to time, he'd just take a random turn, either as a whim, or just to avoid a pileup at an intersection.

one thing he hadn't seen, though, was another living soul. he'd seen lots of animals, domestic and wild. guess the flu hadn't effected them much. he even stopped a couple of times, trying to get a wandering dog to come close, but no luck.

he was never good around people, being shy near women and defensive of other men, but he ached for someone or even something to come along to pass the time with. and more than just company. he was scared to go to sleep alone and unguarded. he'd seen a few houses near the road, but with cars in front, he assumed that meant there were dead people inside and he didn't want to sleep with that stench all around. time to play boy scout and rough it, he supposed.

finding a wide spot along the road, he pulled in. he hurried in the failing light to gather wood for a fire. sitting on a couple of boxes with his back resting on the hummer, he ate a couple of the mre's. no exactly 4 star, but it filled him up. then digging out a bottle, he set back and began drinking. only then did he realize how quiet it was. even on his farm, the was a faint rumble in the distance from civilization, but now, nothing but the wind. then he heard a twig snap! he jumped up, grabbing his dirty harry 44 and pointing in the direction of the sound.

"somebody there?" he he yelled. his own voice frightening him in the quiet. "come out where i can see you".....reaching in the hummer, he grabbed a flashlight and swung the beam back and forth searching for who or what ever was sneaking up on him. from low on the ground, a small whimper sounded, then two eyes shining in the light. lowering the gun, he stepped closer and saw a small puppy cowering in the beam. as he moved closer, the pup turned to run. "please, oh please don't run...i won't hurt you." the dog stopped but came no closer. desperate now, he tried to coax the little thing closer, but the pup backed away at every little advance. finally, he had a thought and going back to the hummer, her reached in and pulled out anther mre. tearing it open, he ripped the top off the entree and set it down on the ground and moved back. the little dog's nose came up when the smell of the food reached him, and he hesitantly began to come towards steve and the food.

"yes, ...good pup...that's it....come eat....please, please come to me" the aroma soon won out over the fear of the stranger and the pup was head down, his face buried in the can. steve eased closer as the dog concentrated on the food and was able to kneel beside it. the can was quickly emptied and the pup looked up, it's tongue wiping the sides of it's mouth. carefully steve reached down and scooped his new friend up. the food had changed everything. now the pup threw it's self against him, tail and tongue going a hundred miles an hour as it licked steve's face.

"i dont know where you came from, but god i'm happy to find you. he hugged the pup close, as if afraid it would disappear. he could feel it's ribs, it was so thin. "how 'bout some more grub?" the tail wagged even quicker, as if the dog understood and steve was only too happy to open another ration. this one vanished as quickly as the first. "damn, son, been a while since you've eaten. i suppose you're lost out here, same as me, with no one to be with. well, we both found a partner tonight!" steve sat back down now and played with the pup, completely oblivious to the dark night. as he went to get more wood, the pup stayed right on his hells, not letting him get two steps away. for the first time in steve's life, he felt real joy at having a companion of any kind. they played for a while by the fire. steve used one of the cans as a water bowl and the pup finished off his meal with a long drink, then squatted and relieved himself. steve laughed, "don't take much to please you, huh? a good meal and a poop and you're happy." the pup came back up and begged to be picked up. after licking a quick thak you, he curled up on steve's arm.

only then did steve come back to the present. time to sleep. here, all alone. but not alone now. now he had a friend. it made it seem better, somehow, even if this little pup couldn't protect him, he could protect it and that made it seem better. he had planned on sleeping in the hummer anyway, but now he took the time to make a small bed for his pup in the other seat before settling in. the pup took a second to lick his fingers before nodding off again.

settling himself down, leaning the seat back, he realized it was chilly away from the fire. all this stuff he had gotten, but never thoiught about a sleeping bag or blankets. well, i suppose i can run the motor a few minutes and warm it up in here. not wanting to fall asleep with the motor on, he sat and looked out the windshield at the starry night. things were looking up now.

the sky was clear on that night and he sat there in central pennsylvania alone with his new dog, happier than he'd been in years. out of habbit, he reached out and snapped on the radio, wishing he could hear a little music. he hit the scan button and settled back in the seat, watching the numbers fly by without finding any signal. oh, well, just a thought and as he reached to turn the radio off, he saw the dial stop for a couple of seconds on one number! tuening the volume up, he heard a voice....

"weatherford oklahoma..i'll be here for 15 days". steve sat up straight and listened intently, but nothing else was said.

"well, little buddy, looks like me and you got a road trip coming tomorrow". steve turned off the motor and snuggled down in the seat, his hand going over to touch the dog. he drifted off, wondering where in the world weatherford might be.

 

[poohlive]

"I think you are absolutely right, it does feel right, doesn't it? It feels wonderful."

He held the glass of champaigne up to her lips, letting her drink. A smile crossed his face when she drank, and he lifted it further. She only wanted a sip, but he made her finish the entire glass.

"I want you to do something for me," He helped her to her feet, standing in the hot tub, her feet on either side of him, as he sat down between her legs, looking up at her. He bent up, whispering in her ear.

"I know how artistic you are, and how sexy. I was wondering, if you could dance for me. Could you dance, if I can not touch you... perhaps, perhaps I could look."

His hands cascaded down her body, touching against the swell of her breasts, caressing the curves of her hips.

"I would feel it an honor, please," He bent over, putting on some music, heavy jazz, with some deep saxophone playing, music that went right to your soul, and begged you to move with it. His other hand gave her the champaigne, not a glass, no, the whole bottle. If she needed more, she would have it.

"Please," He sat back down, between her legs, looking only at Melody once, to wink at her. They would enjoy the show, and then... when everyone was more comfortable, things would proceed.

His hands were at her thighs, helping her sway to the music, to feel it, to do what she wanted to do.

 

[brigid_fitch]

Lauren Rutherford ~ Minneapolis, Minnesota

Lauren picked her way through the devastation that was the Mall of America. Usually, she wouldn't be caught dead here and then smirked at the irony. Caught dead--she surveyed her surroundings and tried to look at them with a clinical, unemotional eye. Dozens of bodies, all in roughly the same state of swollen, blackened decay. The Flu had hit hard and fast. Some said "indiscriminately", but, based on her own obvious survival, Lauren begged to differ.

She had survived because she was destined to. Darwinism in action, she thought to herself as she tried on a pair of Asics from a half-looted Foot Locker. She had already stuffed a Timberland rucksack with jeans, shirts & sweaters from Macy's, and was planning to hit Coleman's next. She knew from watching 7 seasons of Survivor that she should be prepared for any and all eventualities.

Once her rucksack was filled with everything she could think of, she culled the contents until it was light enough to carry. Smearing a little more Vicks Vapor Rub under her nose, she headed for the main doors and into the bleakness that used to be downtown Minneapolis. What was once a sprawling metropolis was now a ghost town. She hadn't seen a soul for days--only scavenging wildlife and buzzing insects. Even those were becoming fewer as the Minnesota cold set in. At least it will keep the smell down, she thought. She took her bearings (she knew that Route 35 East actually ran South towards Des Moines) and headed for the highway. South seemed a fair bet as another cold gust blew off Long Meadow Lake.

Five days ago was just another day at the bank. She had been annoyed when three of her tellers and the branch manager had all called out sick and had suspected some sort of conspiracy. She had never liked those two giggly girls and the branch manager had never been dependable nor competent. Then the next day two more tellers, two loan officers, and the security guard. Before she could even guess as to the depth of the conspiracy (after all, she had heard of entire police precints calling out sick in lieu of going on strike. The "Blue Flu" it was called.), the news reports started flooding in. People everywhere were falling ill. Hadn't her own nail girl had to cancel because she was suddenly ill? Lauren then noticed just how few businesses in the strip mall had opened that day or even the lack of customers in the bank. So engrossed in her own affairs and those of the bank, she hadn't realized.

By the third day, it was evident that this was no ordinary Fox News scare tactic--this was a real killer flu. Lauren tried to maintain business as usual (after all, she *was* the Vice President of Woodforest National Bank), but as more and more branches had to close due to lack of available employees, she decided to prepare for the worst. She liquidated her portfolio, 401(k), and all of her accounts. She traded in her Mercedes and leased a Land Rover (she had to drive all the way to St. Paul to find a dealership still open). Once her pantry was stocked, she checked her ex-husband's service revolver to make sure it was clean and ready for use. Only one box of ammunition--she'd have to find a sporting goods store. Which had led her to the Mall of America.

Readusting her pack, Lauren weaved her way around abandoned cars, more bodies, and small fires that no one was around to put out. The fire alarms had all gone dead earlier in the day when the power went out. With only a few hours' daylight left, Lauren got into her new Land Rover and headed South. She futilely switched on the radio, which once again greeted her with static. Still, for the hell of it, she hit the "Scan" button and drove on.

 

[Britwitch]

Aoife Patrick, Aboard the Jet

"I think you are absolutely right, it does feel right, doesn't it? It feels wonderful."

Aoife smiled shyly as she watched Scott raise his glass of champagne to her lips, opened them and took the offered sip but then gasped a little as he kept tilting the glass. More and more of the chilled, fizzing liquid pouring into her mouth. She kept swallowing and by the time the glass was empty she was feeling more than a little light headed.

"I want you to do something for me,"
She struggled to maintain her balance for a moment as he gently pulled her to her feet and arranged her before him, her feet parted on either side of where he sat. She stood, looking down at him shyly and a little confused.
"I know how artistic you are, and how sexy. I was wondering, if you could dance for me. Could you dance, if I can not touch you... perhaps, perhaps I could look."

"Oh I...I don't know..." Aoife's cheeks flushed a little with embarassment at his compliments and his request. Before she felt his hands flow down her body, following the natural curves and lines of her body until they rested upon her hips.
"I would feel it an honor, please,"
Music feeling the air in the jet, sultry and slow, with an undeniable rhythm. She smiled a little as he handed her the champagne bottle, taking a small sip before putting it down where she had been sitting only moments before.
"Please," Scott urged gently, his hands sliding down to her thighs, helping her begin to sway, to move in front of him.

Closing her eyes and trying to forget where she was, almost who she was, Aoife listened to the music. Her head swirling a little from too much champagne, too little food and too many emotions, she began to move. Gently rocking her hips back and forth, rolling her head back as her imagination took over. She wasn't in a private jet parked at some deserted airport of death in the States. She was at home, in their small cottage in the Highlands. It wasn't Scott she was dancing for, it was Rick. She opened her eyes and her confused mind saw what it wanted, her heart aching as it knew it was only a vision.

She began to lose herself in the music and in the daydream her hazy mind was showing her. Letting her hands roam over her body, gently caressing herself, her breasts, her sides, down to glide across her sex so very briefly, teasingly almost. Her eyes fixed on those looking back up at her, as her body slowly writhed and swayed to the music. Her hips rolling and grinding as she began to relax her knees and began to lower herself onto his lap. Still moving her hips against him as their faces drew nearer. Her eyes only half open as her lips brushed his, her arms wrapping around his shoulders, drawing herself closer to him.

The need to find others alive had changed into something else. A needed to be needed, to be made to feel alive...
"You...you can touch me..." She whispered softly before kissing the lips grazing her own. Wanting in that moment nothing more than to feel his arms around her and his body against her own. The kiss grew more passionate as she felt his arms creep around her.

 

[poohlive]

She knew just how to dance. The feel of her legs on him, as they touched here and there were to die for. He could not keep his eyes of her, where her hands would roam. In his mind, they were his hands, daring to touch, loving the feel of her under him.

And when she kissed him, he did touch. She would let him, let his hands roam. They found her breasts first, kneading them between the flimsy material of a bikini. One pull of a string and that was off, floating in the hot tub around them. His hands cupping them, the full weight against his trailing fingers, finding her nipples hard, eager against him.

He ground his body into hers, his cock pressing into her thigh. A soft moan escaped as he felt her respond. She was beginning to warm up, and as his hands trailed down further, it got more and more heated.

He pushed her down to his lap, her legs still on either side of him, straddling him. She looked perfect, and her crotch was right against his. When he ground into her, his cock found her own sex between the cloths. A jump of electricity hit him as he rubbed just the right spot.

"That's it, isn't it?" He whispered in her ear, his lips caressing her neck, kissing and licking as he touched her.

"Is that what you want? Tell me..."

 

[Britwitch]

Aoife Patrick, Aboard the Jet

Aoife sighed as she felt his hands reaching and touching her breasts, her head hazy and dizzy but her body knowing exactly what it wanted in that moment. Pressing against him as he stripped the top half of the bathing suit from her skin, her nipples aching as they were teased by his fingers.

She felt him pull her downwards, straddling him as his sex brushed against hers through the swimsuits covering them both. She heard a whimper leave her lips as he ground himself up against her, both of them tensing as the contact was made.
"That's it, isn't it?...Is that what you want? Tell me..."
Aoife groaned against him, her head rolling back as Scott's lips kissed and tasted her neck. Her long dark hair trailing down her back and into the warm water swirling around them.

"Mmmm...yes...yes, please...make me feel alive...please..." She whispered, her hips rolling on top of his, pressing their sexes against one another over and over again. Losing herself in the thrills that were running throughout her body as their mouths met once more.

 

[brigid_fitch]

OOC: If you all like I can get the local radio station operational...well at least transmitting....

(OOC): Okay, but promise me the first song you play is Pretenders' "My City Was Gone".

 

[wit.riles]

Naomi Dahl, Somewhere in Nebraska

Despite the fact she had only driven a few times since first learning, it was a skill that came back to Naomi quickly. She turned on the radio, and heard static. She thought there might be some kind of pattern to the crackle, but wasn't sure if she was imagining it.

As she continued to drive, she saw cars pulled over on the side of the road. She willed herself not to look into them, “just think of it as road kill, not people, otherwise you’ll never make it”, she told herself. So she drove past cars that would be the final resting place of men, women, and children without acknowledging them.

Driving through the unchanging Nebraska landscape had made her tired, and she stopped to rest. She pulled into a small wayside motel, and checked the locked doors of the rooms. They were equipped with magnetic card readers. Naomi had hoped there would be keys, because she might be able to get one, but a card just seemed too complicated. What was the point in trying?

She lied down in the backseat of the car to sleep, and she saw the same two faces she always saw when she closed her eyes. If she had known they would haunt her would she have done anything different? If she had done anything different would she still be alive?

 

[Eiselmann]

Adam (Weatherford Oklahoma)

Adam had found a rather big 10 bedroom house a half mile out of the small town it had power , a rare thing when so much power connection in this area seemed down, a problem that in time would worsen.

It was empty of humans, thou he had found dozens of bodies in the last day or so in other places in the town. Now as the sun passed the midway point in its journey across the sky Adam took a small amount of time to reflect in the future knowing he couldn't make any decisions that meant anything until he was part of a group.

How many people had survived ? hundreds ? thousands ? surely millions around the world enough to rebuild society quite quickly if the will was there, but where do you build society ....when do you create brake-away settlements how do you retrain a population to do, well anything. We all know how a light works , you click the switch...but not in this society not without someone knowing how truly a light works.

For a long time Adam just allowed thoughts to run wild it would be best if the new society agreed on everything but that would not happen....then a hidden thought came to the fore....survivor the tv programme one contestant had come up with this soundbite "We're Americans we're going to be a democracy in this tribe" and of course it as the worst preforming tribe in the history of the competiton, but the democracy had lasted almost to the end.

It had been a daft statement to make in the first place now it seemed to mock him...if we vote on everything nothing will happen....in truth this wasn't America anymore...it was no more than a name on a map and those who accepted that would cope those who didn't would be the ones to really watch.

Adam then drove the jeep, he had aquirred for short trips around town , back to the station his message was getting boring and so he read the manual a little longer and found the part he needed..........in between the radio station I.D and his message he had mixed in some music ,Pretenders My City Was Gone was played first, it was an easy listening station afterall , and Crowded House played next ...'Don't dream its over' rang out across the airwaves Neil Finn singing his little heart out.

Adam laughed to the song all the way back to the house..a note left on the station door said

"Hi firstly I am armed but not a gun totting nutter,
secondly HI.....glad you are here I'll be here at 7am 12pm and 5pm each day and probably more often during the day, please do hang around I won't be far away Oh yeah the radio station is open and there boxes of cookies and bottled water inside eat ,enjoy."

 

[poohlive]

She was grinding into him, her entire body sending ripples of pleasure all over. He tingled with pleasure, kissing her, nibbling on her lips, helping her drink more champaigne. She needed more champaigne, she needed to feel alive.

To have his hands on her hips, on her breasts, caressing against her ass, pulling her closer to him.

He glanced over at Melody, on the other side of the hot tub, his eyes inviting her over, to touch, to play, to feel alive like the rest of them. Melody had the option, watching or joining in. It was up to her.

At this point, all Scott cared about was her touch all over him. Aoife's body, perfect, curved, wonderful against his own.

He reached down, letting his own shorts free, floating beside her top. His cock was out now, standing straight up, feeling even better when she rubbed herself on him.

His hand covered her own, guided it down to his cock, letting her wrap her fingers around it, tentative, gentle. He groaned at her touch, the aspect of a sheath around his cock. His hips already thrust against her, unable to control themselves, loving the feel.

 

[Britwitch]

Aoife Patrick, Aboard the Jet

In between the grinding and rubbing and feeling, she drank more champagne as Scott offered it. Each mouthful making her mind more hazy but her need, her desperate need to be with somone, growing more and more insistent. Kissing him, tasting the alochol and one another as their tongues danced back and forth.
Everything seemed to be changing. She was no longer the same Aoife Patrick who had boarded the plane less than a week before to come to America.
The end of the world had been and gone and taken her with it. She was now someone new, someone different.

She felt Scott shifting a little beneath her, removing his shorts and revealing his hard shaft. Aoife whimpered feeling it's strength and warmth pressing against her, into her, through the bikini briefs. Within moments her hand was wrapped gently around him. Her soft, delicate fingers curling around him as she lightly slipped her hand up and down his length. Biting her bottom lip as suddenly the image of Scott laying her down and slipping his shaft within her flashed through her mind. Arching her back as she stroked him, feeling his hips moving upwards to meet her own movements, offering her aching nipples to his mouth. The mere thought of his lips against her flesh sending thrills through her.
"...please..." She whispered, almost begging quietly. "...please, I want to feel your hands on me...please..."