<center>
Flames still licked at the sky. All around was chaos. Things fell apart at the gradual speed of a tsunami, and it wasn't going to be over in the blink of an eye. It rolled, it was sluggish ... it crawled. The explosions had indeed stopped, but there were aftershocks upon aftershocks. Areas located close to fault lines, specifically by the Marianas Trench and most of California, experienced more misery. The rocking of booms en masse was enough to trigger some quakes. Many were small and uneventful, but there was a handful that knocked down cities that would have held firm otherwise.
Smoke clogged the air. Black waves of debris and acrid fumes drifted over towns, over valleys, over entire civilizations. In some areas the sun was completely blocked out. All those underneath the raging fumes were doomed to toxic gasses and fallout which fell upon them like black snow. If the citizens were lucky enough to escape without choking from lack of air, there was no telling what was in store for them in the future. Radiation was a high possibility at this point.
Fire was another issue. Rising from the epicenters of explosions in plumes, they jumped from building to building. No firefighters were out to stop it - not yet. Within a few moments it would be a different story, but for the time being the flames had free reign of whatever area they were in. Entire buildings crumbled under the heat which melted infrastructure and foundation alike. Those caught within would succumb to asphyxiation by the oxygen-devouring heat. Crushing was worst way to go, and many ran out into the streets aflame.
Bridges had collapsed. Whole sections of road imploded or went missing and cars were sent flying into water or cement or ravines - depending on where they were. It was always said that the fall doesn't kill - it's the sudden stop.
Whole glaciers and chunks of rocks fell into the ocean. Some port and coastal cities were going to be under siege of tsunamis very soon, unless they were very close to the area spurring them.
Eventually the quaking ground would come to a standstill. Five or ten minutes, pending on location. But a million and one things would happen in that spans of time, and immediately afterwards. The terror of confusing blasts may have been over, but the glorious destruction was just beginning.
--
[ Ashowan ]
She had hardly gotten underneath the upturned jeep when something smashed her, and the others, from behind. With the speed of a jet, they were dragged from underneath and to the other side. Dirt ground against her back, gravel burning and tearing holes in the fabric of her clothes. Hissing through clenched teeth, Ashowan scorned herself for not having iron skin or something similar to it. Or at least an immunity to pain. Anything was better than this! She could feel flesh peeling away from her back, rivets forming where gravel made contact and bore holes. Considering the yells alongside of her - a mixture of shock and agony - she guessed that Jake and Cheryl were experiencing the same.
Somewhere in the muddled pool of her brain, Ashowan realized that this wasn't normal in the least. Reapers didn't go skating across the dirt in sudden spurts. Unless there was some sort of Undead Magnet in the area, there had to be a reason. And the reason? Well ... The Voice. The Voice with no body. When she first heard it in the Jeep, Ashowan thought she was finally losing her marbles after centuries upon centuries on this miserable planet. The harshly polluted atmosphere, she concluded, was playing mindfuck games.
But now the group of Reapers was being dragged away from a Jeep that ahd flipped onto its top and was about to get set on fire by approaching embers. Oh, and crushed - there was a huge piece of stone gargoyle falling from the sky. As the vehicle was smashed underneath the megaton weight and pieces of shrapnel went flying everywhere - a stick of glass lodged itself in Jake's shoulder and he flew into a bout of raging curses - Ashowan's mind went in revolutions despite her own surprised shouts drowning out the thoughts. Here was a being who was physically pulling them away from a wreck which would have turned them all into mush. A ghost? Or an angel, perhaps? Feeling bile raise up at the last one, she turned her mentality to other possibilities. There was another creature that knew about Reapers ... who could manifest without presenting itself. She had heard about them before, though in a 'hush hush' manner that presented the level of secrecy that came with the position. Having never encountered one in her life, Ashowan was doubtful. But ...
A Walker?
They came to an abrupt stop. Feeling like they were on fire - Corey's attempt to stop the assault from the ground having failed - Ashowan, Jake, and Cheryl all sat bolt upright. They were groaning, leaning forward as though that would relieve it somehow. Even as they whined about the pain, it was beginning to dissolve. Skin was being replaced where it had been lost. The healing process spat out bits of rock and gravel that burrowed into their flesh, splaying the pavement with flecks of red. Once they were pulled from agony enough to concentrate on the situation at hand, Jake stood and thrust his fists into the air.
"Okay, what in holy fuck was that?" he snarled, bad temper quickly getting the best of him as he brushed mottled bits of dirt from his clothes. "Dragged! DRAGGED?!" He looked forward and blinked, them stumbled forward with a long, low moan. "My car! My caaaaaaar!"
Ashowan rolled her eyes. Shitty luck, yes. But better the car than them. Besides, they had legs. If they had to get somewhere, they could walk there. New York City was well-known to them after all these years. All the alleyways, all the unseen streets, all the underground routes ... they knew it all.
Cheryl slowly got to her feet with a huff. Delicate, pale hands were pressed against her right arm. In the process of getting dragged from under the Jeep, her hand had smacked a sharpened piece of metal and she had been unsuccessful in removing her limb before they all went flying. As a result, half the flesh of her arm was missing. It was mending now, but not so much that Ashowan couldn't see the knob of bone underneath. "I've been drinking too much," Cheryl hissed under her breath, walking forward. "What the hell was that?"
Feeling flames licking from behind, Ashowan got up and turned around. They were being surrounded by a inferno from hell. It would be a matter of minutes before they all started roasting. With Jake and Cheryl out of earshot, Ashowan turned around and asked the air, "Where are you?" Was the Walker, if that was what it was, still around? Wryly, she added, "You could give us some warning next time, you know."
She waited about a moment before looming after her comrades. Jake had been dragged, grieving, from his car to the wall of flame across from them by Cheryl. "This isn't gonna be fun ... " Poor kid's voice was hardly above a whisper now. "Like, at all ... "
"Suck it up, you pansy," Cheryl snapped. The purple-haired woman suddenly wheeled on him and grappled the kid's throat. "I should throw your ass in there to roast, jerkoff! Screwing us up like that - why the HELL did you hafta FLEE from the COPS?!"
"Me?!" barked Jake in outrage. His hands were spasming but he didn't dare touch Cheryl. He learned the tough way, a while back, that her reaction to being tapped was the same as Ashowan's. "Who was the one yellin' to me 'TURN HERE' and 'GO GO GO'?!"
"Children," sighed Nemo. She slipped her hands between the two and forced them apart. Jake was dumped unceremoniously to the ground."We should probably be focusing on how to get out of here before, you know," a thumb jerked back to the pyre, "our goose is cooked."
"Can anyone here me?! Hello?!" The voice was calling over the roaring flames.
Jake coughed. A thick layer of ash was falling from the sky now. "Ain't that the cop?"
Cheryl swatted the black charcoal from her face. "One way we're gonna find out." She turned to the firewall, then to Jake. Lifting him up by the scruff of his neck, and chucked him through. "You first!"
"SONOFAWHORE THAT BURNS!" Within seconds, Jake was on the other side. He rolled into the street with fire still grabbing at his back.
Cheryl motioned to Ashowan next. They stared at one another for a long moment before the brunette's eyes narrowed. "You're getting some kind of sick twisted pleasure out of watching us burn before you go in there, aren't you?"
A shrug was all she got in reply, before being shoved into the fire. The Goth dove in after her. When they rolled onto the pavement after Jake, they burst to their feet and patted the living flames from their bodies out - within plain sight of the cop who was chasing them.
Jake saw him first. A sheepish grin consumed his face. "Aww, shit."
--
[ Scarlet ]
In the rush of falling boxes and the roar of shaking and quaking and breaking and rolling, Scarlet didn't hear the radio go off at her hip. Nor did she see the others of the team trying in vain to climb up the stairs. They fell about five times before finally clawing their way to the upper floor, not wanting to get stuck in the lower levels of this place in case the ceiling decided to come down.
The main daddy of shakes stopped after a few long moments, only to be followed by another lesser rumble. And then another. By the third it was easy to stand up, since the magnitude wasn't nearly as great as the initial rocker. Scarlet was up by now, scrabbling out of Rodriguez's grip. She hadn't realized until now that the BOW Cat she wanted to kill somehow cleared the space between them and nestled to Rod's chest, nuzzling under his arm. Its words were lost to her ears. Mistaking the BOW's desire to hide as it trying to eat her partner, Scarlet grabbed the kit roughly by the scruff of its neck and held it to eye level. Her glazed orbs burrowed holes into the beast.
"No be's eatin' mah partner!" she reprimanded.
Rodriguez groaned, rolling onto his boots. "Scar," he managed, "it isn't - "
The ones who managed onto the first level of the building suddenly flew forward. The first two were evidently twins, and young. They couldn't be over 18. With short black hair defied by evident orange freckles, they were wearing nothing but shorts and loose-fitting shirts of matching color - teal. The woman of the duo, Marcy, pried the strange cat from Scarlet's grip and cuddled it against her chest. "AWWwwww, kitty!"
Darcy rolled his eyes, but his face was screwed up in a sort of way that explained he thought the strange thing was adorable.
Bruno was up next, though he helped Rodriguez to his feet and stood firm at his side. The man was well-muscled and rugged looking. There was a slight hint of a stubble on his chin, and the buzzcut brown hair brushed forth a bit in a wave. Brilliant green eyes stared from a face of high cheekbones. "What happened?" he was slightly unsteady on his feet, considering the ground still shook.
Rodriguez shrugged. "Earthquake, possibly?" he gestured tot he window across from them. "But the city over there lit up like a fireball. I didn't get a good look at it but - "
"It's demolished." Darcy sauntered his way over, peering out. A mushroom-shaped cloud hovered lazily over destroyed buildings. "Not a damn home left standing. Jesus - "
" - ain't got nothin' to do with it." She stalked beside the male twin, peering out, her interest in the BOW apparently lost for the moment. If it wasn't attacking anybody ... She could kill it later. A whistle zipped from her mouth. "Jeeze, think it be's a terrorist attack?" Her eyes narrowed and the lipless maw stretched into a frown. "I bet it's Umbrella ... "
"I doubt it," Rodriguez corrected, shifting his gaze away from the cuddling Marcy. "They wouldn't do something large scale like that unless they've got a reason that the government approves of - and for reasons that don't expose them."
"Like Raccoon City?" Marcy whispered above the feline's ears. Her eyes had grown wide and fearful.
Scarlet nodded. A snarl was heard. "Yea, Umbrella said dat da city was under siege of a terrorist attack an' stuff." Dust that wasn't stirred by the quake rattled to the floor when Scarlet punched the windowsill. "All bullshit."
Bruno lurched forward a bit. He was staring at the door leading out with mild concern. "Do you think we should check and see if there are any survivors?"
"Are ya nuts?" warbled Scar, frowning. "We dunno what caused da explosiooon and stuffs. Could be a nuke for all we know, yus?"
"Unless you want radiation poisoning," quipped Rod, shaking his head. His gloved hands rested on the hilt of his semi-auto. "Besides, I can see fallout ... "
Indeed, a thick coat of ash was falling quickly to the ground outside. Its expanse was stretching as the cloud grew larger in the atmosphere. Within minutes, they would be hit with the stuff as well.
News: ~August 18th 2022~ - (Old News)
The move has been completed successfully! Everything appears to have survived the move just fine, but if anyone finds a broken link or anything else that doesn't work as it should, please make a post in Away from the Woods to let me know, thank you.
RP News: ~November 19th 2015~ (Old RP News)
There is no current plot. The forests welcome new travelers within these lands.
Event Status: Not Active (each accepted character allowed to RP in multiple RP threads)
RP Season: Summer
This means everything is green, flowers are everywhere, and the shining sun creates a need for shady shelter on the warmest days.
The move has been completed successfully! Everything appears to have survived the move just fine, but if anyone finds a broken link or anything else that doesn't work as it should, please make a post in Away from the Woods to let me know, thank you.
RP News: ~November 19th 2015~ (Old RP News)
There is no current plot. The forests welcome new travelers within these lands.
Event Status: Not Active (each accepted character allowed to RP in multiple RP threads)
RP Season: Summer
This means everything is green, flowers are everywhere, and the shining sun creates a need for shady shelter on the warmest days.
-: Twilight of the Dead :-
Moderator: forgerofsouls
-
ddpej
- Oldie
- Posts: 1181
- Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2002 10:58 pm
- Location: Wandering along the edge of a black hole
- Contact:
<center>[Corey]
She didn't manage to get underneath even one of the three Reapers. A twinge of sadness flashed through Corey's mind as they slid, the yells of pain lashing out at her ears, but a Walker has no time for regrets, and the moment passed as quickly as it came. Sheer friction had brought them to an abrupt stop, though it had felt like so much longer, and as the three scraped and bloody Reapers sat up their invisible rescuer did so as well.
She was sore, scraped, and out of breath, and unlike the Reapers, Walkers had no particular healing abilities. They could not die -- they'd been through that already -- but any pain or injury was simply a greater strain of the weariness that constantly dragged at them. Recovery was simply a matter of having enough mental focus and strength to bear the added burden until the body got the rest it needed. At the moment, with her pressure-induced adrenaline rush fading and the bruises of such a nasty collision beginning to make themselves known, Corey couldn't risk shifting states just yet to show herself. It would have to wait a few more moments, at least until she'd caught her breath.
Given the initial reactions of the male and the unmet female, she thought wryly that perhaps it was best they couldn't see her just yet. The male's immediate anger quickly turned to moans about the state of his car, which though equally useless was at least less dangerous for the moment. The female, too, swore as she rose, though she seemed to have a bit more reason. A good-sized chunk of her arm had gone missing somewhere along their little journey, and Corey could not help but stare in slightly envious intrigue as the massive wound began to heal at a most visible rate.
The third of her companions was noticeably more cool, having clearly already realized who precisely had removed them from the Jeep -- even if she didn't actually know who that person was. Making sure that her cohorts weren't in earshot, the girl wasted no time trying to find their mysterious rescuer. Corey snorted softly as the question and wry comment passed by fully in the wrong direction. Shaking her head slowly and rising with care, the Walker stepped forward, her shoes grinding against the cement, until she was close enough to give the girl a quiet, dry reply.
"I'd really rather there not be a next time. But I'll consider the suggestion."
In truth, she would have warned them if she had been able to spare the seconds. It didn't matter, though. What had been done was already done, and there were other things to consider now. Specifically, the best way to make a much-needed exit from the alley. The three visible Reapers reached their own conclusion shortly -- or rather, the first one did, and wasted no time hurling her male companion through the flames. Corey's friend soon followed, and only then did the thrower jump through herself. Shrugging, the invisible Walker eyed the wall of flames, decided that a momentary sidle was less hazardous to her health than full-body burns, and went audible only long enough to walk unnoticed through the fire.
Coming out of her sidle on the other side, she breathed a silent sigh of relief that she hadn't shifted visible earlier. Though she was fully capable of mimicking mortality, she didn't particularly want to right now. Quite often, direct interaction with humans required moments of speech as well as contact, and it almost always took no small amount of effort to coordinate the two so that they were always done alone, yet do so without the effort -- or the results -- being noticed. It was far, far easier to remain invisible and out of the way, saying nothing and moving carefully. Besides, her heroic move had left her body bruised and battered. She needed time to recover at least a bit before she could safely rely on her sidles and shifting. Stepping quietly away from the heat of the fire, the Walker settled very slowly into a squat beside the girl who knew her for what she was, brushing the girl's arm ever so lightly to let her know that the Walker was still there. Then, finally, she let her aching body relax, slowly gathering her strength as she watched and listened.</center>
She didn't manage to get underneath even one of the three Reapers. A twinge of sadness flashed through Corey's mind as they slid, the yells of pain lashing out at her ears, but a Walker has no time for regrets, and the moment passed as quickly as it came. Sheer friction had brought them to an abrupt stop, though it had felt like so much longer, and as the three scraped and bloody Reapers sat up their invisible rescuer did so as well.
She was sore, scraped, and out of breath, and unlike the Reapers, Walkers had no particular healing abilities. They could not die -- they'd been through that already -- but any pain or injury was simply a greater strain of the weariness that constantly dragged at them. Recovery was simply a matter of having enough mental focus and strength to bear the added burden until the body got the rest it needed. At the moment, with her pressure-induced adrenaline rush fading and the bruises of such a nasty collision beginning to make themselves known, Corey couldn't risk shifting states just yet to show herself. It would have to wait a few more moments, at least until she'd caught her breath.
Given the initial reactions of the male and the unmet female, she thought wryly that perhaps it was best they couldn't see her just yet. The male's immediate anger quickly turned to moans about the state of his car, which though equally useless was at least less dangerous for the moment. The female, too, swore as she rose, though she seemed to have a bit more reason. A good-sized chunk of her arm had gone missing somewhere along their little journey, and Corey could not help but stare in slightly envious intrigue as the massive wound began to heal at a most visible rate.
The third of her companions was noticeably more cool, having clearly already realized who precisely had removed them from the Jeep -- even if she didn't actually know who that person was. Making sure that her cohorts weren't in earshot, the girl wasted no time trying to find their mysterious rescuer. Corey snorted softly as the question and wry comment passed by fully in the wrong direction. Shaking her head slowly and rising with care, the Walker stepped forward, her shoes grinding against the cement, until she was close enough to give the girl a quiet, dry reply.
"I'd really rather there not be a next time. But I'll consider the suggestion."
In truth, she would have warned them if she had been able to spare the seconds. It didn't matter, though. What had been done was already done, and there were other things to consider now. Specifically, the best way to make a much-needed exit from the alley. The three visible Reapers reached their own conclusion shortly -- or rather, the first one did, and wasted no time hurling her male companion through the flames. Corey's friend soon followed, and only then did the thrower jump through herself. Shrugging, the invisible Walker eyed the wall of flames, decided that a momentary sidle was less hazardous to her health than full-body burns, and went audible only long enough to walk unnoticed through the fire.
Coming out of her sidle on the other side, she breathed a silent sigh of relief that she hadn't shifted visible earlier. Though she was fully capable of mimicking mortality, she didn't particularly want to right now. Quite often, direct interaction with humans required moments of speech as well as contact, and it almost always took no small amount of effort to coordinate the two so that they were always done alone, yet do so without the effort -- or the results -- being noticed. It was far, far easier to remain invisible and out of the way, saying nothing and moving carefully. Besides, her heroic move had left her body bruised and battered. She needed time to recover at least a bit before she could safely rely on her sidles and shifting. Stepping quietly away from the heat of the fire, the Walker settled very slowly into a squat beside the girl who knew her for what she was, brushing the girl's arm ever so lightly to let her know that the Walker was still there. Then, finally, she let her aching body relax, slowly gathering her strength as she watched and listened.</center>
"Wisdom isn't always a blessing. Sometimes it's a curse." --me
[I am always willing to help others fine-tune their RP skills. Send me a message or catch me in chat if you're interested. ^_^]
[I am always willing to help others fine-tune their RP skills. Send me a message or catch me in chat if you're interested. ^_^]
Explosions...
Rumbling....
Screams...
And why the hell was there the sound of rushing water?!?
Juno came to after the disaster, a bit bruised and beaten... trying to remember the past few moments before he blacked out...
He remembered it started with a rumble, a big earthquake... then an explosion from central. Then it was like a chain reaction. Another one, closer but several eminating from the original... Juno had heard of this incident before... but it was the first time of him witnessing it...]
course during the time of said explosion he had jumped into his car and put on his safety belt, waiting for Jake and Ani... but then... the earthquake.
It happened so fast, the ground lurched, opened up... and swallowed the car whole.
Next thing Juno knew he was falling. There was a crash and then:
Water.
Juno groaned coughing from the powdery gas that escaped from the airbags as he opened up the car door. He was a bit battered and bruised from the impact but overall ok. He had his seat belt to thank for that.
He slowly slid out and splashed into the water of his current underground location. Then slowly strained upwards and stood, sore from his current beating.
It took a few moments. His eyes diallated as his innate abilites resurfaced from being hidden to the... more mortal world.
Bright red ruby eyes glowing in the dark.
"Hunh... I'm in the sewers. Lovely."
Another rumble as the place shook. Juno turned as if expecting the place to suddenly collapse, but also to duck back into his battered car should things get worse...
Then he saw the open trunk, and remembered everything inside.
"Groovy."
Rumbling....
Screams...
And why the hell was there the sound of rushing water?!?
Juno came to after the disaster, a bit bruised and beaten... trying to remember the past few moments before he blacked out...
He remembered it started with a rumble, a big earthquake... then an explosion from central. Then it was like a chain reaction. Another one, closer but several eminating from the original... Juno had heard of this incident before... but it was the first time of him witnessing it...]
course during the time of said explosion he had jumped into his car and put on his safety belt, waiting for Jake and Ani... but then... the earthquake.
It happened so fast, the ground lurched, opened up... and swallowed the car whole.
Next thing Juno knew he was falling. There was a crash and then:
Water.
Juno groaned coughing from the powdery gas that escaped from the airbags as he opened up the car door. He was a bit battered and bruised from the impact but overall ok. He had his seat belt to thank for that.
He slowly slid out and splashed into the water of his current underground location. Then slowly strained upwards and stood, sore from his current beating.
It took a few moments. His eyes diallated as his innate abilites resurfaced from being hidden to the... more mortal world.
Bright red ruby eyes glowing in the dark.
"Hunh... I'm in the sewers. Lovely."
Another rumble as the place shook. Juno turned as if expecting the place to suddenly collapse, but also to duck back into his battered car should things get worse...
Then he saw the open trunk, and remembered everything inside.
"Groovy."
Eyes flicked across as he took focus, hearing the deep and tearing crackles of the fire around them, the rumbling distance of buildings unstable falling amongst one another, breaking and churning. The cops eyes took in the kid that somehow looked as if he had been pushed on through the flames. For the moment, he had no clue if it was the same one that had been in the escaping vehicle had been on, that in itself was the least on Jack's mind. Instead he turned and moved up closer, brushing the sweat from his brow slightly, leaving a smear of dust across his skin as he looked over Jake as if somewhat pleased that he had not been the only survivor out here.
For a moment he thought up the same ol' police line, keep it calm and breath, ask the questions, lead unto safety and look for more survivors... But somehow that did not make it to his lips. The kid seemed more hesitant of 'him' rather then the happenings of the city walls and buildings,
"I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one that got out" he spoke up, brushing dust from his shoulder, "You alright kid? You're not hurt?" The fact that he had just somehow slipped through the flames with nothing more then, well nothing, seemed to pass by Jack like wind. But then he began to notice others, the ones also falling in through the fire, standing behind him. It was only then that the familiarity came to him, even at the large distance they had taken on him, he could remember glimpses of the tops of their heads at least. But were they the same kids in the Jeep he was after,
"Are there any more of you?" he spoke up, a little more seriousness in his voice then before.
For a moment he thought up the same ol' police line, keep it calm and breath, ask the questions, lead unto safety and look for more survivors... But somehow that did not make it to his lips. The kid seemed more hesitant of 'him' rather then the happenings of the city walls and buildings,
"I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one that got out" he spoke up, brushing dust from his shoulder, "You alright kid? You're not hurt?" The fact that he had just somehow slipped through the flames with nothing more then, well nothing, seemed to pass by Jack like wind. But then he began to notice others, the ones also falling in through the fire, standing behind him. It was only then that the familiarity came to him, even at the large distance they had taken on him, he could remember glimpses of the tops of their heads at least. But were they the same kids in the Jeep he was after,
"Are there any more of you?" he spoke up, a little more seriousness in his voice then before.
~
-
Luxon Cobrat
- Oldie
- Posts: 1505
- Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:34 am
- Location: Questing through nebulae in search for crystal stone
The cop Zom had tried to address apparently didn't notice her. It seemed that his attention was on something else at the moment. Three other people had emerged from the flames, and the didn't seem to be as badly injured as Zom would have expected. It seemed likely to her that they were the three reapers the cop had been chasing earlier.
Maybe she needed to get closer. Even the bundle of noise she was carrying probably didn't project over the sound of the destruction in the background. She really needed to hurry up and pass that creature off, because she had no idea how to handle it. It was so noisy too, and the smell of fear it was giving off was driving Zom's bloodthirst insane. As small and defenseless as it was, though, she just couldn't bring herself to abandon it.
A voice from behind got her attention. Quickly, she turned to see who had addressed her.
"I... uh... don't think I'm broken," she answered. Then she shook her head, realizing that she had just said something strange. "I mean... I'm alright. But..."
Then she held the youngling she had been carrying out a bit.
"I could use a little help with this, though," she said. "I'm not really sure how they work, you know?"
Maybe she needed to get closer. Even the bundle of noise she was carrying probably didn't project over the sound of the destruction in the background. She really needed to hurry up and pass that creature off, because she had no idea how to handle it. It was so noisy too, and the smell of fear it was giving off was driving Zom's bloodthirst insane. As small and defenseless as it was, though, she just couldn't bring herself to abandon it.
A voice from behind got her attention. Quickly, she turned to see who had addressed her.
"I... uh... don't think I'm broken," she answered. Then she shook her head, realizing that she had just said something strange. "I mean... I'm alright. But..."
Then she held the youngling she had been carrying out a bit.
"I could use a little help with this, though," she said. "I'm not really sure how they work, you know?"
Ace's demon blood as he came closer to the lady for it was not her odd speech that told him she was not quite human, but how his demon senses reacted toward her. "Yes, I would not expect one such as yourself to know to handle such a mortal infant." One of Ace's hand by natural reaction when confronted with a being such as Zom began to reach for one of his daggers, but his hand simply stayed idle there, for now was not the time to duel with such feuds until he had a firm grip of his current situation. "It is strange is not, how in such a situation as this every person has one thing on their mind, to survive." Ace then extended out his hands to receive the creature from Zom.
There is no true endings, only new beginnings
<center>
Through the dust and debris emerged the three. Hands covered mouths, willing to keep the petulant smoke from their airways, though much had already pressed in during the initial explosions: this was made evident in the way they coughed every few seconds, harshly, trying to eradicate the irritant from their lungs. To no avail. Whatever was in that smoke latched on like parasites, eager to bother and bother until the infected got pissed enough to take some sort of medication.
It was definitely the cop. His mannerisms, his words ... the way he spoke with conviction, concern, without really regarding any danger he himself was in ... Jake was frozen like a statue. They all were. After all, the three had just been involved in a car chase with this man. How close would they be able to get before he launched at them, handcuffs at the ready? Ashowan felt something brush her shoulder and managed a glance down. nothing was there ... but something was. The Walker, no doubt. A brief nod; Torn away when Jake did something with his hand. He waved it against his maw, gesturing to the brunette ... a rattling wheeze berating his throat.
Beyond the cop's range of hearing, a brief exchange went on between Cheryl, Ashowan, and Jake. Words were tossed and ideas proposed in quick and orderly fashion - so fat that, after only ten seconds, the male and the gothic female turned tale and fled into the distance, their running figures dissipating into the horizon of fire and smoke, left to whatever fates held without ...
"They're going back to Mikhail," Nemo found herself whispering, lurching gaze finding the police officer in a daze. "He's our boss ... surmat. More experience than the rest of us, hands down." Saying that made her chortle. They really had no idea about her, and she liked it that way. "Maybe they'll get back to me, maybe not ... I've already completed my Reaps for the night, they have more to do. I imagine we won't be seeing them for a few days, at the rate things are going ... " She could imagine the chaos. People burning in buildings, rubble smashing skulls to bits and brittle. So much death. The External Influences Grims had to be going nuts over all the attention.
And ahh, the Gravelings. She could see their little forms scurrying about, quills in the air like they just didn't care. Distant, hoarse laughter echoed - the clowns - unheard by the cop but audible to Corey. Those little Death Dealers were certainly enjoying themselves.
Hoping that Corey was in working condition herself - completely unaware if Walkers could be physically harmed - the Reap/ver started forward, uneasily at first. Her legs protested. They whined in complaint, straining. Smoldering clothes decked her backside, tattered and torn. Parts of her slender figure could be seen, for they were exposed - nothing too private though. The curvature of the spine ... Semitendinosus ... Semimembranosus ...
Approaching almost weakly, voice was loud and clear, not nervous at all. "They went to get help," said she to the cop, gesturing to the path of evacuation her friends had taken seconds ago. It was a lie. She hoped he would buy it. "But no ... that was all of us. Just me now." An ember lit atop her skull. She pinched the stray strands of hair together, snuffing the flame immediately.
Vision shifted. There was somebody beside the policeman ... A woman. With a baby. Protective instincts surged forth, and she started towards her and the other mysterious being (Ace). Halfway across the road (and right next to the cop), she paused. Sirens ... Sirens filled the air. Emergency vehicles. Ambulances: EMTs, Paramedics, First Responders. Fire trucks. Squad cars ... What started as one scream became two, then three ... then dozens of shrilling cars and trucks streaming into the streets in the not so distant distance, concealed by smoke and pyreflame ...
Lights flashed from beyond the ash clouds: dimmed red and blue ...
"Ahh ... A bit delayed, but ... " Ashowan's body went lax. Relief. "Sanctuary." Genuine. To their left a man toppled from the top of a warehouse. He splattered, screaming, against the pavement. Blood squelched, spraying in all directions. Nemo left half was covered in fluid. She grimaced, wiping a stray piece of gray matter from her cheek as though it were nothing special. A smear of red shone like a lucid Joker smile on the side of her face while she stood in front of Zom and Ace. A frown formed while she looked at them. Switching to the strange man now holding the new baby, bright green orbs narrowed.
"Most people tend to forget that, despite physical differences ... " Ashowan enunciated those two words, weighing them down heavily. "We're all just living, breathing beings trying to get out of one rut and end up in another."
The sirens blared. Closer ... closer.
--
[Scarlet]
"And here ... it ... comes!' Rodriguez was yelling. Hand in the air, the man flippantly waved at an approaching cloud of gray and black. The grimace 'pon his maw was evident as ash began to fall, lightly dusting the ground outside at first and then piling on more and more and more. By nightfall the place would be buried under a foot or so of the possibly hazardous material.
Michelle was leaning against the windowsill, a palm pressed underneath her chin. Eyes were half-lidded, haggard. "I guess that like ... means we're stuck here for a while, huh?"
"Cinnae be's riskin' walkin' out in dirty snow," answered Scarlet. Claws were on her hips, lips puckered and lower jaw jutting out slightly. "Not til we be's getting a command. Head out d'ere ... and BOOM, dunno if yer gonna end up with tumors growin' outta yer spleen's by da end o' da year."
"I'm gonna try and get ahold of headquarters," blurted out Bruno suddenly. His hand fumbled for the radio at his belt. Prying it out, he disappeared behind a tower of boxes. Seconds passed before the man's voice could be heard hissing orders into the radio, finding his only response to be white noise, white noise, and more white noise. After a while, there was banging as Bruno vented his frustration by introducing the little bit of technology to the wall.
It was presumed that Marcy still held Duma close, while her twin brother strayed about. Rino was ... somewhere. Close, obviously, but still. And Scar? Still standing erect, impatiently tapping her boot against the cold linoleum floor.
Finally, Bruno came bounding back. He held the radio in the air with triumph. Flicking the button, crooned the male, "Tell 'em what ya told me, Chris!"
Chris Redfield was a strong go-getter who's courage and need to do right was mightier than the sword. It was one of these many traits that made the V-ACT 32 admire him so greatly, so when Chris' voice blossomed into audible volumes, she visible swooned forth, slouching somewhat with a foolish grin on her face.
"Alright ... Be advised, S.T.A.R.S." Uneasy, Redfield was trying to get his bearings. "As of approximately five minutes ago, various bombs were heard or seen to go off in various locations around the world. The magnitude of each blast was varied - some were strong, leveling entire towns in one go - whereas others started brief blazes and that was it. Regardless, the effect is the same. Smoke has risen. There's a lot of fallout, and a lot of casualties. We're not sure if any of these events are related to Umbrella, but agood guess would hazard the affirmative so keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious and stay inside." A beep was heard on Chris' side and he paused. Then, "Emergency units and government order are together issuing a state of martial law - "
"That was fast."
" - to keep everybody calm enough so that investigations can be launched and rescue teams assembled. Expect heavy air traffic on the radio. All citizens - "
--
" - are to remain inside. Close your windows. Close your doors. Search for any possible crack or ventilation that could lead to your contact with the air outside and seal it off immediately. Remain calm - the NYPD and FDNY is fully responsible for your safety. We request for you to stay indoors only for your own safety while emergency protocols are issues. Search and rescue squads are GO. Please stay indoors and seal off any possible - "
This was the message being blared off all television and radio broadcasts, shouted through megaphones in the streets by EMS or police departments or, in some case (where available) military personnel. All across the globe in all different languages it was the same thing: get inside, stay inside, don't leave. In New York City, , those yelling orders were close to the group ... Emerging through the pyre smoke, actually. Lights of flashing red and blue. First came a squad car, sleek. Then the box-like structure of an ambulance, then another. A fire truck, fire sheriff ... Hanging out the cop car window was an officer who appeared highly decorated. The lettering on his vehicle read 'chief of police' and as he spotted the group of strangelings in the middle of the road with a scatterbrained corpse nearby, he pulled to a stop. The driver side door popped open and out stopped the head honcho. Standing at 5'4", he certainly wasn't the tallest person in the world ... But his stature and the firm set of his face made up for it. Bearded with red fuzz and graced with squinty blue eye, he looked first to Jack Panzer and then to the others. More squad cars were soon to arrive, pulling from behind the last visible vehicle in line (the fire truck) and alongside their leader. There was a catacomb of pops and slams as each officer of the law stepped into the clearing of fire and broken asphalt. The first specks of ash began to fall from the sky ... Ashowan wiped one from her already bloodied cheek.
"Sergeant!" announced the police chief, Lemmons. "It's good to see you alive and well. Are they all in good bearings?" A brief moment of hesitance. "And what of the car chase? Our radios cut out before we could hear any progress."
Through the dust and debris emerged the three. Hands covered mouths, willing to keep the petulant smoke from their airways, though much had already pressed in during the initial explosions: this was made evident in the way they coughed every few seconds, harshly, trying to eradicate the irritant from their lungs. To no avail. Whatever was in that smoke latched on like parasites, eager to bother and bother until the infected got pissed enough to take some sort of medication.
It was definitely the cop. His mannerisms, his words ... the way he spoke with conviction, concern, without really regarding any danger he himself was in ... Jake was frozen like a statue. They all were. After all, the three had just been involved in a car chase with this man. How close would they be able to get before he launched at them, handcuffs at the ready? Ashowan felt something brush her shoulder and managed a glance down. nothing was there ... but something was. The Walker, no doubt. A brief nod; Torn away when Jake did something with his hand. He waved it against his maw, gesturing to the brunette ... a rattling wheeze berating his throat.
Beyond the cop's range of hearing, a brief exchange went on between Cheryl, Ashowan, and Jake. Words were tossed and ideas proposed in quick and orderly fashion - so fat that, after only ten seconds, the male and the gothic female turned tale and fled into the distance, their running figures dissipating into the horizon of fire and smoke, left to whatever fates held without ...
"They're going back to Mikhail," Nemo found herself whispering, lurching gaze finding the police officer in a daze. "He's our boss ... surmat. More experience than the rest of us, hands down." Saying that made her chortle. They really had no idea about her, and she liked it that way. "Maybe they'll get back to me, maybe not ... I've already completed my Reaps for the night, they have more to do. I imagine we won't be seeing them for a few days, at the rate things are going ... " She could imagine the chaos. People burning in buildings, rubble smashing skulls to bits and brittle. So much death. The External Influences Grims had to be going nuts over all the attention.
And ahh, the Gravelings. She could see their little forms scurrying about, quills in the air like they just didn't care. Distant, hoarse laughter echoed - the clowns - unheard by the cop but audible to Corey. Those little Death Dealers were certainly enjoying themselves.
Hoping that Corey was in working condition herself - completely unaware if Walkers could be physically harmed - the Reap/ver started forward, uneasily at first. Her legs protested. They whined in complaint, straining. Smoldering clothes decked her backside, tattered and torn. Parts of her slender figure could be seen, for they were exposed - nothing too private though. The curvature of the spine ... Semitendinosus ... Semimembranosus ...
Approaching almost weakly, voice was loud and clear, not nervous at all. "They went to get help," said she to the cop, gesturing to the path of evacuation her friends had taken seconds ago. It was a lie. She hoped he would buy it. "But no ... that was all of us. Just me now." An ember lit atop her skull. She pinched the stray strands of hair together, snuffing the flame immediately.
Vision shifted. There was somebody beside the policeman ... A woman. With a baby. Protective instincts surged forth, and she started towards her and the other mysterious being (Ace). Halfway across the road (and right next to the cop), she paused. Sirens ... Sirens filled the air. Emergency vehicles. Ambulances: EMTs, Paramedics, First Responders. Fire trucks. Squad cars ... What started as one scream became two, then three ... then dozens of shrilling cars and trucks streaming into the streets in the not so distant distance, concealed by smoke and pyreflame ...
Lights flashed from beyond the ash clouds: dimmed red and blue ...
"Ahh ... A bit delayed, but ... " Ashowan's body went lax. Relief. "Sanctuary." Genuine. To their left a man toppled from the top of a warehouse. He splattered, screaming, against the pavement. Blood squelched, spraying in all directions. Nemo left half was covered in fluid. She grimaced, wiping a stray piece of gray matter from her cheek as though it were nothing special. A smear of red shone like a lucid Joker smile on the side of her face while she stood in front of Zom and Ace. A frown formed while she looked at them. Switching to the strange man now holding the new baby, bright green orbs narrowed.
"Most people tend to forget that, despite physical differences ... " Ashowan enunciated those two words, weighing them down heavily. "We're all just living, breathing beings trying to get out of one rut and end up in another."
The sirens blared. Closer ... closer.
--
[Scarlet]
"And here ... it ... comes!' Rodriguez was yelling. Hand in the air, the man flippantly waved at an approaching cloud of gray and black. The grimace 'pon his maw was evident as ash began to fall, lightly dusting the ground outside at first and then piling on more and more and more. By nightfall the place would be buried under a foot or so of the possibly hazardous material.
Michelle was leaning against the windowsill, a palm pressed underneath her chin. Eyes were half-lidded, haggard. "I guess that like ... means we're stuck here for a while, huh?"
"Cinnae be's riskin' walkin' out in dirty snow," answered Scarlet. Claws were on her hips, lips puckered and lower jaw jutting out slightly. "Not til we be's getting a command. Head out d'ere ... and BOOM, dunno if yer gonna end up with tumors growin' outta yer spleen's by da end o' da year."
"I'm gonna try and get ahold of headquarters," blurted out Bruno suddenly. His hand fumbled for the radio at his belt. Prying it out, he disappeared behind a tower of boxes. Seconds passed before the man's voice could be heard hissing orders into the radio, finding his only response to be white noise, white noise, and more white noise. After a while, there was banging as Bruno vented his frustration by introducing the little bit of technology to the wall.
It was presumed that Marcy still held Duma close, while her twin brother strayed about. Rino was ... somewhere. Close, obviously, but still. And Scar? Still standing erect, impatiently tapping her boot against the cold linoleum floor.
Finally, Bruno came bounding back. He held the radio in the air with triumph. Flicking the button, crooned the male, "Tell 'em what ya told me, Chris!"
Chris Redfield was a strong go-getter who's courage and need to do right was mightier than the sword. It was one of these many traits that made the V-ACT 32 admire him so greatly, so when Chris' voice blossomed into audible volumes, she visible swooned forth, slouching somewhat with a foolish grin on her face.
"Alright ... Be advised, S.T.A.R.S." Uneasy, Redfield was trying to get his bearings. "As of approximately five minutes ago, various bombs were heard or seen to go off in various locations around the world. The magnitude of each blast was varied - some were strong, leveling entire towns in one go - whereas others started brief blazes and that was it. Regardless, the effect is the same. Smoke has risen. There's a lot of fallout, and a lot of casualties. We're not sure if any of these events are related to Umbrella, but agood guess would hazard the affirmative so keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious and stay inside." A beep was heard on Chris' side and he paused. Then, "Emergency units and government order are together issuing a state of martial law - "
"That was fast."
" - to keep everybody calm enough so that investigations can be launched and rescue teams assembled. Expect heavy air traffic on the radio. All citizens - "
--
" - are to remain inside. Close your windows. Close your doors. Search for any possible crack or ventilation that could lead to your contact with the air outside and seal it off immediately. Remain calm - the NYPD and FDNY is fully responsible for your safety. We request for you to stay indoors only for your own safety while emergency protocols are issues. Search and rescue squads are GO. Please stay indoors and seal off any possible - "
This was the message being blared off all television and radio broadcasts, shouted through megaphones in the streets by EMS or police departments or, in some case (where available) military personnel. All across the globe in all different languages it was the same thing: get inside, stay inside, don't leave. In New York City, , those yelling orders were close to the group ... Emerging through the pyre smoke, actually. Lights of flashing red and blue. First came a squad car, sleek. Then the box-like structure of an ambulance, then another. A fire truck, fire sheriff ... Hanging out the cop car window was an officer who appeared highly decorated. The lettering on his vehicle read 'chief of police' and as he spotted the group of strangelings in the middle of the road with a scatterbrained corpse nearby, he pulled to a stop. The driver side door popped open and out stopped the head honcho. Standing at 5'4", he certainly wasn't the tallest person in the world ... But his stature and the firm set of his face made up for it. Bearded with red fuzz and graced with squinty blue eye, he looked first to Jack Panzer and then to the others. More squad cars were soon to arrive, pulling from behind the last visible vehicle in line (the fire truck) and alongside their leader. There was a catacomb of pops and slams as each officer of the law stepped into the clearing of fire and broken asphalt. The first specks of ash began to fall from the sky ... Ashowan wiped one from her already bloodied cheek.
"Sergeant!" announced the police chief, Lemmons. "It's good to see you alive and well. Are they all in good bearings?" A brief moment of hesitance. "And what of the car chase? Our radios cut out before we could hear any progress."
"We all change, when you think about it, we're all different people; all through our lives, and that's okay, that's good, you've gotta keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be."
-
ddpej
- Oldie
- Posts: 1181
- Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2002 10:58 pm
- Location: Wandering along the edge of a black hole
- Contact:
<center>[Corey]
As befitting the luck of the day, the policeman from before narrowed his eyes suddenly, looking thoughtful. Chances were good that he had recognized the three as those he'd been chasing just moments before. Funny, Corey mused, how the chase felt so far removed now, as though it had happened much earlier. There was nothing better than a stressful situation to focus one's thoughts on the immediate situation.. and speaking of which, the current predicament had just gone from strange to bizarre. Though as a successful Walker she was difficult to phase, that only meant that she could keep her head on her shoulders. It said nothing whatsoever about her ability to understand just what the hell was going on.
The male and the dark girl were gone, having initiated a huddle, discussed matters, and raced off into the smoke all in the matter of approximately fifteen seconds, leaving the cop and the invisible Walker blinking bemusedly at their backs. A whispered explanation from Ashowan didn't help her comprehension much, other than letting her know that the retreating two had a basic plan of action for at least the next few minutes. This tidbit did nothing to help those left behind, however, especially if further word from the Reapers was really a few days off. Adding to the confusion was the raucous, ghostly laughter of gravelings that could be heard all around her. As a Walker she could hear them, but Corey didn't usually have many dealings with the small creatures, which made tuning out their cackling that much harder.
Finally, of course, there was the intrusion of three other figures -- one small and screaming, which was quite understandable all things considered, and two that seemed to be of approximate adult age. She couldn't hear their words, and wasn't close enough to see any of them clearly. Simple precaution and statistics both, however, said that she would be safest if she assumed them mortal, whatever they might be. Following that logic, then, she could do nothing more than remain unseen for now. She was already audible and physical -- any shift would require going visible, and even in a state of confusion and emergency, the average mortal mind would wonder should she suddenly appear where she crouched. Sidling would have neatly solved that dilemma, but it was for the moment quite out of the picture. She was good, but she wasn't elite, and there was no sense in taking unnecessary risks.
Ashowan, though the only person aware of the Walker's presence as yet, could have no idea of her injuries. For that matter, Corey mused, it was entirely possible that the Reaper -- or whatever she was -- knew very little about Walkers at all. Her kind was a rare and mysterious crew, which seemed to grant them an almost mystical air among certain factors of the Afterworld. It would not surprise her in the least to find that she was thought invincible, untouchable.. and yet nothing could be farther from the truth. She was at this moment highly vulnerable -- wounded, strained, and so low on both physical and mental strength that she dared not act yet without, if not a regeneration of energy, at least a shot of adrenaline to boost her muscles and focus her mind.
So it was that, as Ashowan headed across the road toward the baby and company, Corey made no move to follow. As the sirens made themselves heard, and the flashing lights broke through the smoke, the Walker turned sharp eyes toward them but did not rise. As the blared message assaulted her ears, she winced but did not move away. Even as the newest addition to their cluster emerged just at the edges of her hearing, another policeman clearly of higher rank than the first, still she remained where she sat. This was the time for a Walker's specialty -- secrecy. Invisible to all eyes, her body heavy against the pavement, her breathing strained but inaudible, she waited to see what would happen next.. and swore suddenly and silently to herself as ash began to fall. Damn. So much for that idea.
Drawing a quick but steadying breath, the Walker rose from her squat as quickly as she dared and inched her way silently over the asphalt toward a large pile of smoldering wreckage. There were many to choose from, but with ash wafting downward and her progress necessarily slow and tedious, she didn't have time to be picky. Finally circling around behind the nearest heated mound of rubble, she collapsed to the ground again in near exhaustion. She'd been just in time. Mere milliseconds after she got out of sight range of the others, the ash began to cover her invisible but very much physical body, outlining it nicely. Grimacing as it settled onto bloodied and burnt skin, she collected her thoughts determinedly and shifted states, relinquishing audible in order to become visible.
Though her groaning muscles would gladly have remained as they were, sprawled across the pavement in aching unhappiness, the smoldering pile she had hidden behind was of the expected temperature -- hot. Hot enough to cook her even more than she already was, in fact, which was not a pleasant thought. Dragging herself to her feet again, the now-visible Walker staggered and stumbled out from behind the pile into view. As she ventured slowly back toward the spot she'd occupied invisibly before, she performed what was in fact a very convincing impression of a tough young woman too stubborn to cry out in pain but nevertheless obviously injured. It was, of course, convincing mostly because it was all very true. Even in life, Corey had been prone to clamping her mouth shut and glowering in silence when hurt, rather than raising a loud fuss, and it had served her well over her years as a Walker. When she looked as though she was stubbornly refusing to scream, no one questioned the lack of sound that went with it.
Given her current state, she was banking her hopes on this. Burned and battered, bruised and bloodied, she was not a pretty sight. The sleeves of her t-shirt were in shreds, ripped up from the agonizing slide out from under the Jeep, and though her tanktop and pants had fared slightly better due to a sturdier weave and a looser wear, they too were scraped and torn. Angry red could be seen through the tears, and the pale skin of her arms and face flashed in sporadic glimmers, the majority of its surface either burned red, bruised purple, or oozing blood. Her shoes were a lost cause, the rubber scorched and melted from the heat, and her long brown hair was clumped and cluttered with blood and bits of rubble. Add a fine layer of ash over everything, and Corey really just didn't look,or feel, so great. Clenching her jaw in determination, she took a last staggering step toward the others and sank to the ground where she'd sat unseen before, head bowed as she caught her breath again. Looking up through her eyelashes at the motley collection as if daring them to touch her, she caught the tail end of the chief's question but gave no sign that it meant anything to her. As far as any of the others knew -- with the possible exception of Ashowan, if she managed to make the connection -- she was a stranger who had only just stumbled upon the scene..</center>
As befitting the luck of the day, the policeman from before narrowed his eyes suddenly, looking thoughtful. Chances were good that he had recognized the three as those he'd been chasing just moments before. Funny, Corey mused, how the chase felt so far removed now, as though it had happened much earlier. There was nothing better than a stressful situation to focus one's thoughts on the immediate situation.. and speaking of which, the current predicament had just gone from strange to bizarre. Though as a successful Walker she was difficult to phase, that only meant that she could keep her head on her shoulders. It said nothing whatsoever about her ability to understand just what the hell was going on.
The male and the dark girl were gone, having initiated a huddle, discussed matters, and raced off into the smoke all in the matter of approximately fifteen seconds, leaving the cop and the invisible Walker blinking bemusedly at their backs. A whispered explanation from Ashowan didn't help her comprehension much, other than letting her know that the retreating two had a basic plan of action for at least the next few minutes. This tidbit did nothing to help those left behind, however, especially if further word from the Reapers was really a few days off. Adding to the confusion was the raucous, ghostly laughter of gravelings that could be heard all around her. As a Walker she could hear them, but Corey didn't usually have many dealings with the small creatures, which made tuning out their cackling that much harder.
Finally, of course, there was the intrusion of three other figures -- one small and screaming, which was quite understandable all things considered, and two that seemed to be of approximate adult age. She couldn't hear their words, and wasn't close enough to see any of them clearly. Simple precaution and statistics both, however, said that she would be safest if she assumed them mortal, whatever they might be. Following that logic, then, she could do nothing more than remain unseen for now. She was already audible and physical -- any shift would require going visible, and even in a state of confusion and emergency, the average mortal mind would wonder should she suddenly appear where she crouched. Sidling would have neatly solved that dilemma, but it was for the moment quite out of the picture. She was good, but she wasn't elite, and there was no sense in taking unnecessary risks.
Ashowan, though the only person aware of the Walker's presence as yet, could have no idea of her injuries. For that matter, Corey mused, it was entirely possible that the Reaper -- or whatever she was -- knew very little about Walkers at all. Her kind was a rare and mysterious crew, which seemed to grant them an almost mystical air among certain factors of the Afterworld. It would not surprise her in the least to find that she was thought invincible, untouchable.. and yet nothing could be farther from the truth. She was at this moment highly vulnerable -- wounded, strained, and so low on both physical and mental strength that she dared not act yet without, if not a regeneration of energy, at least a shot of adrenaline to boost her muscles and focus her mind.
So it was that, as Ashowan headed across the road toward the baby and company, Corey made no move to follow. As the sirens made themselves heard, and the flashing lights broke through the smoke, the Walker turned sharp eyes toward them but did not rise. As the blared message assaulted her ears, she winced but did not move away. Even as the newest addition to their cluster emerged just at the edges of her hearing, another policeman clearly of higher rank than the first, still she remained where she sat. This was the time for a Walker's specialty -- secrecy. Invisible to all eyes, her body heavy against the pavement, her breathing strained but inaudible, she waited to see what would happen next.. and swore suddenly and silently to herself as ash began to fall. Damn. So much for that idea.
Drawing a quick but steadying breath, the Walker rose from her squat as quickly as she dared and inched her way silently over the asphalt toward a large pile of smoldering wreckage. There were many to choose from, but with ash wafting downward and her progress necessarily slow and tedious, she didn't have time to be picky. Finally circling around behind the nearest heated mound of rubble, she collapsed to the ground again in near exhaustion. She'd been just in time. Mere milliseconds after she got out of sight range of the others, the ash began to cover her invisible but very much physical body, outlining it nicely. Grimacing as it settled onto bloodied and burnt skin, she collected her thoughts determinedly and shifted states, relinquishing audible in order to become visible.
Though her groaning muscles would gladly have remained as they were, sprawled across the pavement in aching unhappiness, the smoldering pile she had hidden behind was of the expected temperature -- hot. Hot enough to cook her even more than she already was, in fact, which was not a pleasant thought. Dragging herself to her feet again, the now-visible Walker staggered and stumbled out from behind the pile into view. As she ventured slowly back toward the spot she'd occupied invisibly before, she performed what was in fact a very convincing impression of a tough young woman too stubborn to cry out in pain but nevertheless obviously injured. It was, of course, convincing mostly because it was all very true. Even in life, Corey had been prone to clamping her mouth shut and glowering in silence when hurt, rather than raising a loud fuss, and it had served her well over her years as a Walker. When she looked as though she was stubbornly refusing to scream, no one questioned the lack of sound that went with it.
Given her current state, she was banking her hopes on this. Burned and battered, bruised and bloodied, she was not a pretty sight. The sleeves of her t-shirt were in shreds, ripped up from the agonizing slide out from under the Jeep, and though her tanktop and pants had fared slightly better due to a sturdier weave and a looser wear, they too were scraped and torn. Angry red could be seen through the tears, and the pale skin of her arms and face flashed in sporadic glimmers, the majority of its surface either burned red, bruised purple, or oozing blood. Her shoes were a lost cause, the rubber scorched and melted from the heat, and her long brown hair was clumped and cluttered with blood and bits of rubble. Add a fine layer of ash over everything, and Corey really just didn't look,or feel, so great. Clenching her jaw in determination, she took a last staggering step toward the others and sank to the ground where she'd sat unseen before, head bowed as she caught her breath again. Looking up through her eyelashes at the motley collection as if daring them to touch her, she caught the tail end of the chief's question but gave no sign that it meant anything to her. As far as any of the others knew -- with the possible exception of Ashowan, if she managed to make the connection -- she was a stranger who had only just stumbled upon the scene..</center>
"Wisdom isn't always a blessing. Sometimes it's a curse." --me
[I am always willing to help others fine-tune their RP skills. Send me a message or catch me in chat if you're interested. ^_^]
[I am always willing to help others fine-tune their RP skills. Send me a message or catch me in chat if you're interested. ^_^]