there are more d e a d than alive. [ stefy && novi ]

[ohstefyelectric]

This could go as quick and as painless as possible, however she wasn't even quite sure if she should use the ammunition. She could just so easily let this scene play out as it soon would if she didn't take the three shots needed, breathing out softly as the first shot was taken. 'Fire one, down.' There went the, what she assumed anyway, was the husband of the lovely family, shaking her head lightly as she heard the noise of the ones behind her. She knew that they had to be careful out here, as not to trigger anything unnecessary coming their way, although they knew it was rather serene out here. They couldn't stay here for too long however, though the female took another faint inhale and breathed out again, second walker hitting the ground in a sputtering mess.

Then came the last of the family trio, the one who seemed to be running, or whatever the hell you considered running in their case, the fastest. She was the 'youngest', mentally judging her at being at least fourteen before the outbreak wrecked her and her family. " Fire three, down. " Well, she certainly wouldn't be going to her prom, or make it to her sweet sixteen, scrunching her nose faintly as the shot connected, blowing out a portion of her brain from the front. Whistling softly to herself as she released the gun and leaned back on her hands, the female looked over her shoulder as two gentlemen from their group so promptly moved down the ladder of the barn. Obviously, the one making his getaway from the zombies wasn't infected, as she noticed by the evident fear across his face when looking through a pair of make shift binoculars.

" Another survivor. " They hadn't seen one in quite some time, so obviously the idea was to see another and see what he had to offer. If he made them weaker as a group, well there would be things to solve that problem. Glancing off to her left as she noticed Anna sitting promptly on a bit of hay, the two women knew what could quite possibly happen in this situation, though they had already gone over what to do if something happened outside of this barn. You had to plan for every situation when you lived in an apocolypse, no matter how safe you prayed somewhere was. Honey colored eyes staring down and out the window, she noticed the man who had been keeping his life from the infected had slowed his pace a bit, fingers shifting up through her loose curls of blonde hair. " We'll see how this one goes then, shall we? "

Black boots hitting the wooded floors, both woman stood ready at the top of the barn with their guns, just in case something a bit, out of place happened. The years had gone by tremendously since the first outbreak of the infection, but it wasn't particularly for the better. The cities had been hit the hardest, after all their populations were the largest as opposed to the country side, although once it did reach the country, the animals were the first to show issues. Dying cattle, dying animals, and the crows pecking at their bodies, spreading the disease even faster. It had already been established to her that whoever had screwed this up, fucked up big time.

 

[__N o v i.S n o w]

“Fucking shit. Fucking shit. Fucking shit. Fucking shit.”

This was ridiculous. One minute he was looking down to grab his cell phone and the next minute out jetted a wild deer. He didn’t know if it were rabid and infectious, running from possible zombies, or just trying to find a drink of water. Either way he didn’t give a damn what its objective was, he was just wondering why the hell it had to stand right in front of his car at that exact moment. Why the fuck didn’t it keep going? Was it god’s payback for ruining his perfect little race? He read in a magazine once that when a deer ran out into the middle of the street that you were suppose to just ram it and you wouldn’t end up spinning out and hitting a tree. However, the good doctor couldn’t help but swerve. He didn’t give a shit about deer and didn’t care for the beauty of them. So why didn’t he hit the little bastard? He was driving a very expensive piece of utility. It was as simple as that. It was his love for money and expensive cars that landed him in the situation he was in just then.

Swerving frantically from left to right he tried to gain control over his Benz. However, his attempts were futile as just as he got the thing going straight again he flew off the side of the highway and down a steep hill flying straight into a tree. Good thing he had his seatbelt on. Well that’s if he didn’t get injured. Once the front of the car slammed into the large trunk of an oak tree, the air bag popped out keeping his face from slamming into the steering wheel. Well, at least one thing went right in his life for once. Groaning softly, the brunette weaseled himself from the wrecked vehicle. His body felt weak, his head a little light. However, the world was falling into an apocalypse and he wasn’t about to be eaten alive by the flesh eating bio-weapons he had created. As he tried to pull himself together he could have sworn he’d heard a sound deeper into the woods… Well, he wasn’t sure but he wasn’t sticking around to confirm whether it was merely him hallucinating or his time on earth coming to an end.

He moved quicker despite his body wanting to just give out gathering a case from the back seats. Slowly but surely he made his way up the hill his car just had to fall down. Once he’d made it back onto the road…he started on his way. On his travel, he’d run across a pit stop, and to his luck it look deserted. Looks could always be deceiving but he didn’t give a damn at the sight of a white van sitting in the lot of the gas station waiting ever so patiently for him. Maybe there was a god, and he wanted him to succeed in fixing what he’d inevitably fucked up. He was quick and silent with his movements as he made his way over to the piece of shit rotting van that was to be his transportation. No matter how much it pained him to think of riding in such an embarrassment he had to get over it. This was a matter of life and death. He hadn’t the time to waste on finding a better ride. It wasn’t as if zombie chicks gave a shit what he drove in anyhow… either way they’d be pushing at each other to get a taste of him.

Not to the brunette’s surprise there weren’t any keys in the van. With a smile he hopped in anyway. Having a shady past had its perks, and right now it was showing a quite convenient one. Working his magic, Nathaniel managed to hotwire the car. Once it started up he was pulling out of the lot so fast he thought he might give his own self whiplash. At the speed he was driving it took him less time than he thought to reach his destination. Even in the world’s darkest hour, rural areas still looked beautiful. Driving up to a large house on a larger farm he parked at the front door. There was a huge barn pretty far from the house he figured he check out once he was done rummaging through the house. The ride into the city was going to be an excruciatingly long on and he needed some supplies. Probably should have raided the gas station but, he’d gotten to ADHD about it the car pulling away a large majority of his concentration. Pulling forth a small black pistol from the case he held so close you’d think his heart were in it, he started on his way into the house.

Everything happened so fast. One moment he was checking the kitchen cabinets, case and first-aids in hand and the next he was screaming like a little bitch. The little combat training he had under his belt done him no good under the extreme paranoia he was in as he searched the home for what he deemed as valuable. The gun he had, evidently he couldn’t aim it correctly as he was holding too much. So what did he do? He ran so fast, one could have sworn he was the flash. If he could make it to the car… If he could make it to the car… If he could make it to the car he was going to jet straight by it because the angry zombie family behind him was gaining on his ass. All he needed was some distance and he’d drop everything and start picking them off. All he needed was a good distance so he could drop to the floor and start wasting ammunition. Sparkling emerald eyes caught sight of the barn and that would be his place for space-- that is if he didn’t trip first, sprain his ankle and get eaten alive. Yup… God hated him and was punishing him for the plague he’d bestowed upon the world. “I’m gunna fucking trip….” He told himself as one of the first aids lodged itself from his arms and dropped onto the grassy field below. It was then that his right hand was free, the hand he had like no fucking aim with, the one that oddly enough he had the gun in. “I’m gunna die anyway…” he murmured as he looked back and let off a couple of shots at the family of four hoping he’d kill at least one. One of the zombies, the man of the house probably suddenly dropped. Now, he knew damn well he hadn't shot the guy-- turning his attention back to the barn he was drawing closer to he noticed he could see movement inside. Ah, a guardian angel perhaps. He continued to run, not looking back until he heard the last body drop. With a heavy sigh, the doctor dropped to his knees trying to catch his breath.

"Well...no more checking into random houses without a bag..." the male thought to himself. Once he'd caught his breath and his legs didn't feel so much like noodles he stood to his feet and turned to face the barn. Quickly, he made his way into their clever little hiding spot. Two women, and two men. Hmmm.. Those were quite surprising numbers seeing where they were and all. He doubted however, their numbers would stay the same once they reached a city. That is....if they wanted to travel along side him.

"Well... well I certainly wasn't expecting such a lovely welcoming party my first day here on the country side." he said with a smile. "Thanks for saving my life. My name is Alexander Rhodes. I'm going into the next city, would you like a ride?" Was it necessary to lie about his name? Perhaps. Their hometown could have been the stupidest place in America, but it didn't stop the fact that perhaps they could recognize his real name and know who he was and shoot him on sight. The doctor preferred to travel by himself, but whoever that sharpshooter was he thought they would be a lovely back up.

 

[ohstefyelectric]

Alright, so those zombies were done with. Let's see what this man had to offer, hm? The two women remaining where they were at the top of the barn, the 'sharp shooter' so to speak raising a brow just slightly as her gun remained aimed toward his head until it was clear that there was no sign of infection on this male. From what she could see and hear, he was the goofy sort. How the hell had he survived? Then again, how had any of them made it out? None of them were exactly from this town, she herself being from California, San Diego to be exact, judging by the lovely sunkissed skin she had managed to keep despite the current predicament the world was in. Why she had decided to make her trip toward the inner part of the United States, she didn't know. She just knew she had to get out of California. Lowering her gun as he stated his thanks and his name, the two men spoke first, the man in the over alls being Jack, a farmer from a few towns over, and Daniel, the husband of Anna, who waved lightly with her fingers from up above, " And that one up there is- "

" Delilah. Delilah Santiago. Call me Lilah. . Lily if you're screaming. " The female could speak for herself, thank you. " And you're welcome. " She added, being the one who had 'saved his life' so to speak, dark green eyes flickering between the three men before moving easily down the staircase set ladder. At first glance, and this had been pointed out the other day when she and Anna were doing something, her eyes were at their dark green stage, though often there was a ring of honey gold that circled around the iris of her eyes. Just something she herself had gotten used to. But wait a minute. He was going to the next city? " Isn't the next city like. . Las Vegas or something? " She asked, glancing between them as she looked back over her shoulder, Anna having come down the ladder as well. Leaning forward and standing on the balls of her feet, despite being in a pair of boots, it was a natural habit for the female before finally crossing her legs, unfortunately exposed due to the ripped denim material of her shorts.

Fortunately, she was rarely ever that close to one of the infected to have this be a problem; Yet. He was going to Vegas. By himsef. A crowded city. With no one but himself and whatever the hell he had in that suitcase. " Tha' sounds like a deathtrap. " Jack stated, shaking his head as he raised his trucker cap and ran his hand through his dark brown hair. " Sitting in here is a death trap. " Lilah responded, looking over to the man before there was a silent agreement that going into the next city was a high risk, but it was a get in and get out situation. They were running low to zero on supplies, and staying out here in the farm area? Not anything any better. They had to keep moving or just die of starvation. " I- I think we should go. " Anna spoke up, looking between the three others she was used to being around, Lilah nodding her head softly before turning her eyes to mister Alexander Rhodes, " We're in. "

 

[__N o v i.S n o w]

What a friendly bunch of people. They would make for a nice bait if they proved to be not-so-nice. "Yes... the next city is Vegas and quite the trap o'death." he said with a shrug of his shoulders. In the name of science, and the severity of his mission being completed it didn't matter how dangerous Vegas would be. He had to get there, and survive there. For if he died all his research would be lost and the world damned. Perhaps he was giving himself too much credit. Then again since he prided himself in his gift of memory and tended not to write much of anything down perhaps saying mankind depended on him wasn't too conceited after all. There was an underground facility in Vegas that would serve as some nice protection as well as a good base for where he would conduct his experiments. "But... I have knowledge of a place where we can hold out. That is, if you all survive the trip to this safe haven I speak of." his voice still remained that of a joking manner as he talked, bright emerald eyes gleamed with a seriousness that contradicted the tone of his voice. Nathaniel took his gun and turned the safety on before slipping it into the back his black slacks for safe keeping until he got to the car. The mild zombie invasion seemed to be over for now and he figured he didn't need the damn thing. Besides, the sharpshooter of the pack would protect them better than he.

"This place will be hell so I am going to say this now." with a deep breath he brushed back stray honey brown highlights looking over his newly found troupe. "Whatever you did to survive this so far won't get you through in Vegas. You need to double...no, triple your efforts on being safe there. Whatever you see, hear, or even smell that's weird I want to know. There isn't a detail I want to go unnoticed." It was probably clear to them now that Nathaniel didn't survive as long as he had by just pure luck. He was a man of detail. No matter where he went he would meticulously break down his surroundings until their was nothing else unnoticed by him. Today however, things were a little thrown off thanks to nature. "Now let's go... I'd like to be in Vegas by morning. Not that the infected care for whether it is day or night... It is just imperative that we get an early start, the days seemed to have gotten shorter." His final words might have seemed a little off to the others but, if they were working as vigorously as he was, they would notice that when you were constantly busy time seemed to just fly.

He wanted to drop a comment about the woman's clothing but decided against it. He was certain she knew how one got infected, and would be wasting his breath. Turning away from the group of people, he peered outside of the barn. The infected family were still lying there. Of course...where else would they be? He just couldn't help but mentally state much. It was his brain's way of recuperating from its trauma. Slowly he began to leave the barn making his way over to the little girl. He crouched down by her head watching as the blood trickled through her cracked skull and onto the soil below. He sighed as he placed the case down onto the ground. Opening it he removed a pair of tweasers. She seemed to be the fastest and most determined to eat him alive. He wondered if there was a chemical present in younger candidates that made them more dangerous than that of the elder ones. He pulled free a piece of her brain and slipped it into a small plastic bag. It was then that he swabbed some blood with rather large cotton swab. He then placed that into a plastic bag as well.

Closing the case he stood to his feet. Before taking another step he looked around, and then continued on his way toward the white van, assuming the others were following him.

 

[ohstefyelectric]

To say the very least, this man was odd just by taking a few short looks at him, and of course she wasn't going to put all of her trust into this man. There was no telling what he did before the world came crashing down, just like the lot of them weren't exactly the people they were now. Delilah wasn't a sharp shooter, and hadn't had a job involving guns what so ever. She had been a student who had just graduated college a few months before the end, moving out to California for the beautiful water and the time she wanted to spend away from her family and college. Not to mention the enormous amount of surfing she had gotten herself into, breathing in softly as her mind momentarily thought back over the smell and feel of the beach. Her eyes venturing back to the man in front of them however, when he mentioned there being a place that they quite possibly could hold out. She absolutely hated how he said possibly, as though risking their lives to get through Vegas wasn't big enough, but then their MIGHT be a safe place. Fuck maybe.

Then again, what more did they have to live on besides maybe's? Arms folding over her chest lightly as he stated that they would need to keep their guard up a bit more, despite the fact that his goofy ass had just been shooting and aiming at the zombies running BEHIND him, wasting HIS ammunition when he could barely shoot. Oh, oh ok. Cool. Lilah's eyes wandering back to this Alexander Rhodes man as he stated his goal was to get to Vegas at some time in the morning, it was still surprising to her to hear that other people were still managing to keep time. She herself was too, for the sake of it not going completely by the wayside, despite time easily being able to get lost or to seem as though it were forever. The time only seemed like it went on forever when you were in a situation like they were, or when you were in an 'I'm about to die' point of life. Of course they were going to be on their P's and Q's so to speak, each of them cautiously glancing out of the barn as their few things were gathered and moved, arm folding over her head as the sun beamed down on them.

Momentarily looking down at the man as he began taking his samples from the little girl's dead body, her brow raised just slightly in the fact that he was taking samples. Again, it wasn't odd for people to keep what they did in their past lives out, although this was just one thing that irked her about this man, ignoring it as they made their way to the van that none of them had taken the risk in trying to work. Quite frankly, none of them had known how to hijack a car, and none of them had been there longer than a few days, and even though walking on foot was tedious, it got the work done.