We ended the world

[Tx_Liquor]

We ended the world (closed for Ambrosia_64)

[From the last blog ever to be on-line]
Let's face it.
We ended the world.
It wasn't a war, it wasn't some new flu, it was us. It was the need to weaponize a virus. It was mankind playing god... And the Gods laughed.

....

It didn't take long.
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Once the world started to end, people helped it along.
Looting and killings were just icing on a cake that had been baked in hell.
When the living dead started to do more than rise, when they started to evolve, people turned even more savage.
But a small majority seemed immune for reasons unknown.

In this new world only the strong survived, and the strongest seemed to be the Inhumans...

 

[Ambrosia_64]

It was daylight, the only safe time to be out if one wanted to avoid monsters-but also the worst time to be out if one was avoiding the OTHER monsterseople.

No real choice though.

The young man spared a quick glance behind him and lifted up part of a chainlink fence-ducking through the small hole before dropping it back into place. He wasn't the biggest of kids-maybe 5'4, lean and almost entirely swallowed up in a navy blue hoodie-one that dwarfed him, loose and falling just above the knees. The rest of his outfit consisted of camo green cargo pants, a black beanie hat, and work boots.

Dark, dark eyes flicked this way and that, keeping a close eye on the surroundings as the teen hopped up the short set of concrete stairs that led to one side of the overpass wall. He slipped into the darkness underneath it, felt for the locked service door that...was already busted open.

Damn.

Someone had found the cache. This low on supplies, and the restock wasn't going to happen now, was it? Fuck.

Clicking on the beat up old mag light, the "boy" shined it into the room. Trashed. Carefully rationed stores of water, dried fruits and jerky, medical supplies-all gone, a mess of broken crates and ripped bags strewn about.

They had even stolen the extra sleeping bag.

The "teen" sighed, leaning against the interior wall a moment. Well. Maybe the thieves really needed the supplies. Some good had come out of the misfortune.

Hopefully.

Cassie Anthony had been living on the edges of things a tad longer than most. Her father had been early in panicking, taking action. They'd started out with a few like minded families, but...that was over now. Long over. One man had been infected, and then....

She shook her head. She didn't like to think about it. To think, she had come home from college NOT because she had believed him-but to take care of him, thinking he had finally lost his mind. Always about survivalism and conspiracies, previously harmless hobbies-but this time, he'd been right.

So here she was, no longer Cassie but passing herself as "Casey", an apparently late blooming teenaged boy with a rather angelic, delicate face-hadn't even made it to shaving yet. Full lips and a pert nose, dark lashes and brows framing almond shaped, large dark eyes. She made a pretty boy, but the ruse was good enough to let her move around safely, and to get out of trouble a woman could not have, here and there.

She gathered up some of the untorn bags and rolled them up, slipped them into one of the back pack's pockets-then turned to leave the place with a sigh. Might have to scavenge a few days before moving on, but she'd never manage to replace everything that was stolen. The hard times just kept on coming-Cassie couldn't catch a break.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

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While looking through what was left, a man in armor moved in with a small group of others with weapons. It was clear this was a team and they had weapons with bullets that they were confident in using.

"Stop!" Said the mechanical leader, "You have two choices; Join us and get what's left of your supplies or DIE. You're call."

Thankfully her costume seemed to cloud the leader for now, but in time it would be obvious she was not a "he".

The team, true to their word lead "KC", as they had come to call her, to the caravan and drove. It was hours before they ended up at the STRONGHOLD, and to the leader they called "Raven"

The stronghold was little more than a strip center with stores and a super market. Shopping carts were used to keep the mutants away. When they arrived Cassie was brought to the leader of the group. The MAN as he was called among the others.
http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/transformers-5-mark-wahlberg-1-600x295.jpg

"How's it going? I'm Issac, and the leader of this realm. Do you wish to yield or die?"

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Cassie had just been about to leave when she heard heaby footsteps. A LOT of heavy footsteps. Before she could decide to bolt or hide they were THERE, guns, armor, and all. How the hell had they snuck up on her?! Shit!

The "teen" threw his hands up immediately, dark eyes widened.
"Okay, okay!" He said quickly, in a panicked but convincingly male tone, seemingly surprised at being 'recruited'. What need for a boy did they have, anyway?

Herded away from the overpass in the midst of the larger, imposing men, "Casey" gave his name when asked for it, keeping quiet otherwise. He seemed anxious but not rebellious-though secretly she was panicking. This was bad. This was terribly bad. Hours of driving later, Casey was finally brought before the Man.

The young teen paled, licking his lips as he glanced around, then back at the man. "Well, uh, Mr. Isaac, sir-" They weren't the friendliest of sorts, were they? "I don't know how much help I'll be-" Casey said nervously, shifting the straps of his backpack. "But I don't want to die. I'll yield, whatever...whatever you need." He couldn't have been more than 16, and looked plenty scared of them. The kid had been picked up alone, too.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

Issac grinned, laughed and got out of the large recliner he was using as a makeshift throne. "Damn, you're just a kid, aren't you." He moved to look 'Casey' over, walking around the new recruit. "You ever kill anyone before?"

Issac finished his walk around and stood, eye to eye with the person he assumed to be a young man, "Actually, don't bother. One way or another, you'll kill. Not for survival. Not for self defense. You'll kill someone because I tell you to kill someone. Not today and maybe not tomorrow but eventually."

Issac reached down and undid his belt, then his pants. The men around them shifted, a few of them growing uncomfortable and the others hissing out laughter as Issac freed his limp cock. A glance from him and everyone was silent.

"You see, Casey, you're going to do what I tell you to do. If you're not willing to do that, then I have no use for you. We have to trust one another. You take care of me, and I take care of you. Get it? So as the newest member of my army I'm giving you your first command."

Issac pointed to his groin, "Suck my dick." He let the command linger in the air for a moment and added, "This isn't about be being straight or gay. You understand? This isn't about me wanting a blow job either. This is about you, being willing to do whatever it takes to be a part of this crew. So get on your knees, put my dick in your mouth and suck it."

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Kill someone? It might not have seemed possible, but Casey paled even further. Christ. Christ!

Those dark eyes flew up from the limp member to Isaac's face, a look of panic. The kid backed off a step, hands raising a little in that same surrendering, open palm gesture. "W-whoa mister, there's g-got to be s-something else I can d-do to prove myself."

Casey looked like he might be sick, and he also looked frightened.

Cassie's heart slammed into her chest as it quickened. Yeah. Sure would be building trust, oral rape. Jesus. Her disguise wasn't protection enough-the world had just....had just gone to shit.

"P-please, I'm like, s-sixteen." That might not matter. Fuck she hoped it did. Otherwise, she was going to either get shot or need mouthwash. The lie wasn't obvious-she'd gotten so good at pretending, at being Casey it felt half true. She was lucky that at 20 she could pull it off well enough.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

Issac laughed and slapped Casey across the side of the head. "Yeah, I'm fucking with you!" He put his pants back together, "It wasn't even hard. Now lets get you a sleeping roll and some meal tokens." He gestured to a large man with a dense beard, "This is Bear. He's going to show you around."

As Issac walked back to his recliner he snapped his fingers at another one of his crew, "Get me a whore! The blow job joke kind of got me worked up." When he sat down he pulled a working tablet from the side table and powered it up.

As it turned out, the shopping center had been easily converted. Car batteries and solar panels were used to recharge devices and tools or just turn on a few led lights inside of buildings. The former restaurant was now where the group ate meals and the former Mattress store was obviously going to be a place to sleep. A dozen people with guns roamed around while others, without weapons, seemed to be doing more of the labor and maintenance.

Casey was given 6 poker chips by Bear who explained how they were used as currency. If spread out, the 6 chips could buy basic food for a day or two, but after that working or doing supply runs were the only way to get more. "If you get a confirmed kill on a mutant, Issac gives you 5 chips. A gun will cost a hell of a lot more. Either way, we don't worry too much about guard duty shifts since people are-"

The sound of gunfire across the way cut Bear's words off. More guns joined and then cheers from the far off area. Bear just gestured in the direction as if to say the point was made for him.

Bear finished his tour along the strip center where a stand alone bank had been gutted, the drive through teller lanes now partitioned off to be shower stalls. A few had curtains but Casey could see men and women standing in the open, naked, and using buckets to wash off with. The women, in particular, tried not making eye contact with the men who were obviously getting an eye full.

"Hope you're not too shy." He turned to leave then stopped as if having a thought, "And if you see something you like, don't rape her. Offer her chips to fuck you. There is no shortage of whores and a few of the guys will do it for free." He clapped Casey on the shoulder and walked away.

Seconds later more guns went off to be followed by more distant cheers.

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Casey's relief was evident, the "kid" relaxing a tinge. Well, thank God for that. He offered a weak, if unsure smile-giving a nod to Bear and following after him, grateful to get away from Isaac and his 'joke'. His calling for a whore made her cringe internally. She'd get out of this. There could be safety in numbers, sure-from mutants. But it was far safer to be alone, when one had to worry about the humans too.

For now, Casey listened intently to what Bear said, dark eyes still nervous but serious as he pocketed the chips. He averted his eyes from the showers and a tinge of color heated his cheeks, but he nodded to Bear. "Uh, right. Just like gym class." He muttered-but Casey wouldn't be washing up anytime soon.

Bear's casual addition got a wide eyed nod. "C-course. Thanks for showing me around, Bear." Jeez. Well, at least Bear wasn't advocating for taking what one wanted. Still though-she felt bad for women being forced to sell themselves like that to avoid starving.

Yes, much better to be alone, of you could swing it.

The 'teen' moved along the sidewalk, keeping 'his' head down. Either there was a way to slip away unnoticed-might have to wait for nightfall-or, she had to figure out how to join up with a scavenging team, something. They had driven her hours out here-who knew how long it would take her to get back to the city.

Well, long walks she could do. She fumbled with the chips in her pocket. She might as well use them to buy some water, maybe some hard bread or something for the road.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

"Hey. You!" A man wearing a black apron was pushing a shopping cart with what looked like the remains of a large dog or what a large dog would look like if someone had removed all the fur and added small horn like structures all of it's body. The mutant must have weighed over a hundred pounds and it was dripping some kind of blackish ichor. "Hey, kid! I'll give you 2 chips to push this thing around back. I still have to go back for the other one."

The man fished out a few poker chips from his pocket and gestured to Casey with them. "Easy money."

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Casey's slim shoulders jerked, the boy turning to see who was calling out to him-and making a bit of a face at the monster in the cart.

"Oh uh, sure thing sir. Thanks." He accepted the chips and pocketed them, accepting the cart. Well, couldn't hurt to be at least mildly useful, for now. With a slight noise of exertion, Casey managed to get the cart going again, struggling a little-but finding it easier once it was rolling. The smell was pretty gross, but it was an easy enough task.

Casey passed laughing men and somber looking ones, a tired looking woman here and there-lots of makeshift stalls hawking various things for chips, plastic crates upturned for seating, men shooting the breeze while cleaning knives and guns.

Struggling to turn the cart, a passing burly man gave it a tug to drag it around for the boy, giving a nod when thanked. Casey rounded the last corner alone and pushed it the rest of the way towards some waiting men at a back door. "Uh, a man in a black apron asked me to bring this around." He explained awkwardly, releasing the cart. She wasn't sure what they were doing with it-hopefully not eating it, because ick.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

One of the new men nodded, "Thanks." And then tossed Casey another chip.

They didn't seem to do anything right away son of the guys introduced himself, "I'm Arron. This is Erick. You the new Tender Horn they brought in? I heard someone new was being brought in."

They waited a bit, letting Casey fill in or move on.

Moments later the Big guy was back with the other body. It was even bigger than the first but looked very much the same. "What? You guys were just going stand there?"

Erick shook his head and pulled the bandanna from his neck to his face. "Hells na, I jus' didn't wanna open this up more than once." The moment Erick opened the door in the floor of the loading dock the smell of rotted meat and rancid death poured out. All three men scrambled to shove the bodies into the hole as quickly as possible. The limbs made it awkward but the eventually managed to shove the beasts. As they dropped the sound of them hitting something dense and wet slapped loudly. The second beast was in and the men dropped the door and moved for fresher air gagging and coughing.

Arron explained, "We let them rot to make an alternative to diesel fuel. There hasn't been any real gas for months. Anything out there in cars is just sludge but we keep the engines going."

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Another chip. "Thank you." Casey said with gratitude. And to think, he would have helped for free!

"It was join or die." Casey said with a shrug and a 'what are ya going to do?' smile. "My name is Casey. Or uh...K.C., I guess." The kid was polite, if a little awkward. "Nice to meet you guys."

Casey lifted his right arm, left hand grasping the oversized sleeve and pressing it over his mouth and nose, those large dark eyes watering. He staggered away before the door was even closed, coughing.

"That's-that's smart." A wheeze before the kid straightened. "S-some good out of 'em, at least."

 

[Tx_Liquor]

"Yeah. Issac came up with the process. Don't let the whole Royal Recliner fool you, the man knows a lot. He's always working to fix some problem we might not even know we have. Anyway, good work kid. Lets just hope there are no more mutants for a while."

Erik added to Arron's words saying, "Or a whole lot at one time."

The big guy, Luke, thought for a moment. "You know. I don't know which would be worse."

About the time a small thin girl, probably younger than Casey pretended to be, wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Her high-top running shoes looked comically large on her thing ankles. "Hey! You're the new guy." she started to catch her breath having been running around the complex trying to find Casey. "Bear wants you." more breath catching, "Salvage run." she waved over her shoulder "Big Truck. Where you came in." She let out a sigh and sat back against the wall.

Erik said, "That's Mercy. Fastest runner. You need to get someone a message, she'll do it for 2 chips guaranteed."

Mercy waved the praise off, "I just... don't stop... asking."

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Maybe it was only Isaac who was a psycho. These guys seemed fairly normal, maybe even nice. Then again, suppose with a "join or die" stance, all sorts of people had been recruited, forcibly or willingly.

A young, actual teen came sprinting up, red in the face and panting. She brought good news. Casey's face lit up, then turned serious. "Okay, right-thank you." He shifted his backpack, a moment of hesitation-before he reached into his pocket and withdrew a chip to hand her. "Here. Nice to meet you, Mercy."

Cassie had a soft spot for kids. She felt terrible for them, having to grow up in...this.

With a final wave to the group, Cassie started off on a quick jog back towards the entrance, weighing options. Once she had enough supplies and an idea of where she was, she'd light out of here. In the meantime, hobo baths behind closed doors and naps tucked away and hidden somewhere. She didn't dare for a solid eight or even six hours-did anyone?-of sleep, not alone, and definitely not in a group.

"Bear!" A wave and smile as the 'boy' approached the truck. "Mercy said you wanted my help?"

 

[Tx_Liquor]

Bear nodded his confirmation and gestured to a large black armored vehicle. Already with the vehicle were two men with assault rifles and tactical gear. Bear got to the driver's side and started to put on his own vest. "Sorry, kid. We don't have spares and we bought all this stuff ourselves."

He put a M911 hand gun on a holster at the front of the vest and gestured for Casey to get in the back. "I'll explain on the way, but you're going to grab while we cover you."

Bear, Max and "Fish, short for Fisher" all climbed into the Renault Sherpa. The vehicle roared to life and someone moved a line of shopping carts and ply wood so Bear could take the black armored suv out onto the road.

"We're going to be hitting an old CVS that the scouting team found. Issac says we need supplies in the form of medicines. If people start getting stick, it could turn deadly. Not just the illness but less people on patrols."

"the Problem is, the Scout team didn't come back whole. Only one person made it back. Seems they were hit by Marauders. The only reason she got out was because they had stopped raping her to cut up the men. I supposed they planned to keep her captive for a while." Bear shook his head, "Fucking savages."

Fish nodded adding, "Don't know if you've seen a Marauder. That's just the general term we gave them. They've gone all Tribal and eat people. Usually they are small little collections. Too many mouths to feed and the people eaters start eating one another."

Bear sighed, "Yeah. But seeing as these were guys, we are going without a female for them to enslave. Worst case scenario is they kill, rape us, and eat us. In that order."

 

[Ambrosia_64]

"That's alright." Casey said with a shrug about the armor. "Easier to move without it." The 'kid' climbed unto the back as indicated, going so far as to buckle up.

They were geared up for a fight, and that made Cassie slightly nervous. She tried to stay away from heavily populated sections of men AND mutants, and these guys were intent on gathering from someplace with BOTH, apparantly.

She shook her head at Bear's words, frowning. Savages indeed.

"Not up close." Casey said to Fisher, an uncomfortable shift. "I uh...I try to stay away from people as much as possible. But I've heard stories..." 'His' voice faded away, the kid pale again, looking out the window.

Bear's words didn't do much to help her anxiety, but in the very least-she'd be dead before they did the unthinkable. Better than the alternative.

Still-she was plenty stealthy enough. If they were still there, she might be able to get in and out without tipping them off. She'd done such things before. Just this time, there would be three armed men nearby for backup.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

Bear stayed on the highway for a few dozen miles, then exited and started down a side road that turned into two lanes. The trees were thick on either side and and old rail road system was to their right. A head was the CVS, tuck away with open concrete that was the start of a complex that would never be finished.

Bear drove past the CVS without even slowing down. Fish and Max watching out the windows. Fish even going so far as to lean out the window and look back at the CVS. Pulling back into the Sherpa he said, "I didn't see anything."

Bear nodded and found a turn around. As they drove by, this time they slowed but still didn't stop. "Wait." Bear said, still driving past letting Fish and Max look again. "Watch the tress." Bear said still rolling along.

Suddenly he pulled away sharply and started to speed off again.

Once back at the Freeway he turned around one more time and turned off the engine. Getting out of the vehicle Bear explained, "If anyone was watching they might have thought we spotted them. We'll go back on foot. Use the trees for cover."

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Casey nodded, hopping down out of the vehicle, landing almost soundlessly on the pavement. A shift to his backpack before following after them. The kid was definitely the shortest and thinnest of the group, small- but he moved fast, plenty agile and lightfooted.

She had been watching the surroundings more than the CVS-the old railroad was a good sign. She could find that on a map, follow it to another town. The trees were welcome cover and a place to climb up and sleep in a pinch.

Probably wouldn't be breaking off this trip, but it was good to be thinking about it. She'd noted which exit they had taken, too. "So...they'll be ready for us then? Or you think that might scare them off?" 'Casey' asked on the way, feeling a bit uneasy. She didn't want them looking out for intruders, dammit.

Then again, if they filtered outside, maybe that would leave the interior clean. She supposed she would be finding out, shortly.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

"So...they'll be ready for us then? Or you think that might scare them off?"

Bear shook his head, "My hope is that they think we made them and are going to get complacent thinking we're not coming back. We'll see." He put his finger to his lips then pointed at Max and pointed left, then Fish and pointed right. For a big guy he moved fast and moved quietly.

Staying low he focused on what was in front of him. Looking high, staying low. Stopping every few feet and waiting, watching and listening. Max and Fish were doing the same things but they were focused more to the left and right, and it was Fish who would turn around to cover the rear when the all stopped.

Nothing seemed to be moving or making sounds. Bear held the current position for longer than he had the previous times. He seemed to be searching for something. Making his decision he tapped Fish on the shoulder two-times to make Fish turn around.

The men still hadn't spoken and when Bear pointed to himself and then a direction to the left. Fish pointed to himself and the ground. Bear nodded in agreement. Bear put his hand on Casey's chest and pressed a bit to shift the 'kids' weight back towards Fish.

Turning to Max he gestured to the far left this time. A few more hand signals and the men were moving again. This time Max all but vanished into a few trees to the left as he moved forward. Bear inched up settled putting his rifle to his shoulder. He moved the aim around, then waved for Fish's attention.

Some hand signals and what Casey caught as Bear saying "Three" and pointing to the right. Max had signaled and Bear relayed it as if to say "Four to the left" Fish slow blinked frustration. And then, they were moving again. This time Fish focused ahead, weapon raised and his eye looking down his scope.

Bear held up a fist and everyone stopped moving. He looked at Max then Fish. Fish took a moment lining up his rifle and gave a nod then went statue still. Bear waited for Max to give him the same sign and then the big man himself aimed at something to the right.

Reaching out Bear tried to find Casey and make sure he was ready to move with them.

Then - the Dogs of war were let slip.

Bear fired and almost immediatly, Max and Fish fired. Bear fired a second and 3rd burst from his file while Fish ran through the forrest after Max. Along the way he grabbed Casey's pack but let go once the signal to follow was given.

Max planted, started to fire just like Bear did as Bear started moving. It was like a planned system - a doomsday clock working with all it's gears oiled. The men were moving in, one would fire while two would move then someone else fired while the others moved. By the time Casey could see the Marauders a few of them were dead but some of the others were using compound and crossbows to return fire. They were clearly confused as to where the next shots would come from.

Max was the first to hit the edge of the parking lot and took place behind a tree. One of the Marauders charged the tree and while Fish tried to shoot him the black and leather clad savage moved around and slammed Max with the blade of a machete. Max had managed to get a black sleeved arm up in time but the sound of bone breaking was unmistakable.

"Help Max." Fish said to Casey while he and Bear tried to keep the few remaining Marauders from over running the team.

 

[Ambrosia_64]

This was all new to Cassie, but she was smart enough to keep an eye on all of them, following the movements of Bear in particular, a quick study. She had never been in any sort of combat mission. She was nervous about being in one now. She didn't blame them for going on the offensive-the marauders had killed several of theirs and raped a woman.

Still, she didn't relish blood shed. She could hold her own in a fight, but she had never had to kill anyone...human anyway.

It all happened so very fast-and then she was given orders, orders Casey gave a nod to and immediately zeroed in on the injured man. Casey swung the backpack off 'his' shoulders and unzipped it, retrieving the first aid kit. "Shit, Max."

He was bleeding and she had heard bone crack, but his arm didn't appear broken completely-probably just the Ulna bone, one of two in the forearm, commonly broken in self defense as it had been here.

The roll of soft bandages was unfurled, a careful, delicate touch to his wrist to draw the arm away from him, wrap the arm in the cloth. "Not as bad as it could be. We'll get a splint, keep your wrist from rotating and it'll heal right up, three, four months." Kid was knowledgeable, at least.

Blood soaked the bandages, and Casey hesitated a moment before grasping the bottom of 'his' shirt from underneath the baggy hoodie and tearing it, a large swath of cloth wrapped around the arm and tied off for further bandaging as 'he' applied pressure to stop the bleeding.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

Before Casey had even gotten to him, Max had dropped the rifle and arrested the machete, pulling it to his body and flung the Marauder over. A muffled shot from the hand cannon at his waist and Max stepped back pulling the weapon free. He fired two more shots into the Marauders chest.

Max nodded his thanks and pushed the rifile into Casey's arms. "It kicks. Brace it against your shoulder." He pressed Casey's head to get down saying "Just shoot to the air. They'll think their under fire."

Max, with only one good hand, readied the hand gun and turned around the tree saying, "Fire!" He waited for Casey to shoot at anything but them and used the distraction to pull off two more rounds that dropped another one of the savages.

Bear was not at the door and limping thanks to an arrow in his leg. He didn't have time to take it out and fell against the building letting out another round of bullets. This time Fish was not moving in, but waiting for the Maurader to dive for cover to make his move. It worked and in a less than a minute the whole fight was over.

Max asked Casey, "You okay, kid?" While Fish checked on Bear who waved everyone off. "Fuck it!" Bear said, leaning against the wall, "They might have more inside. Go slow. Breathe." He grabbed Casey before 'he' could enter and handed the 'kid' his M1911 .45 Military Pistol. "Finger off the trigger. Only shoot when you have to." He then slumped down to the ground and started scanning the area for any back up the Marauders might have coming.

 

[Ambrosia_64]

The gunfire so close had her ears ringing, Max pushing his rifle into her hands and ducking her head down with instructions. Fuck, she was REALLY going to be deaf now-she grit her teeth and pulled the trigger, firing at nothing-and allowing Max to pick off another one.

Her heart was pounding hard in her chest, and not for the first time she wondered how the hell she had ended up in this situation, gunfire, mauraders and comrades willing and able to conduct themselves in gunfights.

"Y-yep." She swallowed. Sounded a little too feminine, a minute there. Quickly, Casey added an "Thanks for that." In the slightly deeper tone suitable, believable for a sixteen year old boy.

She was sweating. Men were bleeding and dying out there. It was the closest she'd been to violence in a while-and the only time she'd not been running like hell away from it.

Casey didn't want to leave Bear out there alone, and it showed on the 'kid's' face. A nod, trading the rifle for the pistol. "We'll be right back." The arrow would have to be cut and removed, but it should wait until they had more medical supplies than what was in her backpack, for sure.

Casey was the last to go in, dropping a little lower than 'his' already short frame required, concealed behind a counter. The place was trashed, but not emptied-good.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

Max moved in first, sweeping left to right then waved for Fish to move in and go forward. Fish moved to the next area, left to right and then pointed to Max. It was his turn. Max tapped Casey on the back to follow then pointed at Fish's position and went past.

It all happened in a blur.

Casey was hurled back, something pulling the back pack and her along with it.

The same person move forward and drive a machete into Fish's head. The blade made a dense popping sound like someone cracking open a pumpkin for Halloween. Then another and another as the Marauder made sure Fisher was dead.

The sound didn't go unnoticed by Max who spun at the first 'thok!' and leveled his rifle on the attacker. He wasted no time in firing a pair of three round bursts into the maniacs chest and advanced on the fallen man to shoot him with another three round burst.

As he changed out his ammo clips he focused on Casey asking, "Are you-" but the question wouldn't be finished as another one jumped from the dark and took Max to the ground and yet another grabbed Casey again and pulled 'him' further into the darkness.

"Fresh meat!" the dark attacker sneered and forced Casey face down while Max and the other Marauder fought for dominance in the dark isles of the store.

 

[Ambrosia_64]

Cassie was yanked right off her feet with a squeak, the straps of the backpack cutting into her chest and shoulders as the marauder-came from nowhere!-threw her back behind him and stepped forward to swing for Fish before she could even utter a warning.

Christ

Max whirled and fired into him before she could even lift Bear's pistol, her mind slamming into overdrive before she could even quite process what she had just seen happen, the blood splatter and horrific imagery of it all-

She was scrambling to rise when he asked the question but someone had a hold of her ankle and jerked her back yet again-making it impossible for her to offer Max support. She was-Cassie kicked violently at the maruader's hand around her ankle, the arm-fucking-then she caught him square in the face with the second kick-USELESS!

He had let go of her, staggered back. It was dark, she could hear Max fighting in the aisles-his arm was injured, she had to help him, fuck, this was a shitshow, fuck fuck fuck-

She hadn't even sat up yet when the crazed man came at her again, one hand holding his nose and the other raising a club-Cassie raised the pistol and fired.

The marauder jerked once, then twice when she squeezed the trigger again, this time catching him in the throat. He was gargling on blood, she'd caught his windpipe or...or something. Either way, he was falling to his knees, the small woman disguised as a boy twisting and popping to her feet, terrified both for herself-and for Max, a man she had just met, but a temporary comrade all the same. She fired the last shot and the man's head snapped back, crumpling backwards into the dark as she spun quickly around and moved for the aisles, her heart in her throat.

 

[Tx_Liquor]

She'd killed the man attacking her and the man attacking Max, but no word from Max yet. As she looked around one more figure fired at her through the darkness sending an arrow at her.

He moved through the isle trying to close in on his prey.