The South Wing

The walk had been long and tiring and dangerous. By the time they reached the college, Felicity was warn out and wanted nothing more then to sleep. Still she managed to stay awake and re-gain some energy as Gyles ran his ‘check’ on the other survivors he had found. She watched him from where she leaned on the wall, chewing the inside of her lip while counting and grouping each word that was spoken. He had saved her 3 times already, and given her basic knowledge of gun use. Plus he was attractive. She found it hard to keep her eyes away from him. Still, they had to sort things, arrange the hall space and scope out the college. She have vaguely heard someone say there had meant to be help here – food, supplies, safety. If there ever had been, it was long gone. Finally Gyles paired them off, a buddy system to scot out the grounds and find out what was there. The red-head had to admit her disappointment at not being paired with the male himself, but shook it from her mind. She chewed her lip as her partner approached.

“Hi, I’m Felicity.” She muttered, looking down at her shoes in awkwardness. She didn’t do well with meeting new people and had only coped with Gyles and Luce because they had been thrown into companionship. But then, wasn’t that the same case here. “Gyles said the south wing right? Shall we head out….” She waited for him to fill in his name, her hands twisting round each other nervously.

“My mother’s voice, singing me to sleep… I still hum the tune from time to time when I’m really afraid. I can’t remember the words though….”

Checkpoint: The Breakroom

lucedurand:

She had passed with flying colors it seemed as the obviously United Kingdom-born male provided both his and the red-head’s identities - Gyles and Felicity. Whilst Luce redressed rapidly she thought over the prospects of being in a trio. Perhaps that had been where her and the other survivors she’d chanced creeping through the small city with had gone wrong; they’d thought pairing up was better than taking on too many other tag alongs to worry about. A note-worthy revelation for later…

“Luce,” she then offered at length and smiled despite herself. For some inexplicable reason things felt a bit right now, some of the tension eased out of her shoulders like a temperamental knot loosened.

Felicity’s freckled hands seemed to be doing strange, repetitive little motions, chocolate irises flickering at Luce, then the floor as she spoke to her with a slight interest. She curiously did not let that nervous flicking go toward Gyles and Luce’s smile warmed. Felicity was glad to have found female company. She gave candid, though brusque answers to the leggy female’s inquiries, brushing only slightly on the events that had transpired at Cedar Crest - a fresh cadaver from one of the labs had gone tearing, naked and savage through the halls - scrambles of people had been ushered out beating and thrashing for safety - no better than the reanimated corpse. She laid out her .40 S & W, rummaged from a fallen police officer (not even from being mauled, but trampled), and the kitchen knife she’d taken from ducking out through the cafeteria so her new allies could assess her defense, however meager. 

Her hand wrung in circles, twisting about each other in habit as she counted out the sequence in her head. Gyles had given a nodded and moved, leaving Felicity back to her own devices as Luce dressed herself once more. In truth, the red head was glad to have another female in the group – it was the first time she had seen a girl survive. Not that she was sexist or anything, but in the groups she had seen before, the girls had either been killed or split off. Maybe that’s why so many of the groups had been willing to protect her. Maybe she was lucky and she had just met some incredibly kind people. She honestly didn’t know.

At first, Felicity kept quiet, her eyes flicking occasionally to Luce across the room as she thought of questions she wanted to ask the female. Finally, she worked up the courage, taking a seat across from the blond and spoke, all the while her fingers going to and clutching her number 8 necklace. It was understandable that Luce grazed over her first contact with the infected, and the story of how she got there, but when the female started to pull out her two weapons, chocolate eyes widened.

“W-wow…” She muttered, looking at the police gun and flicking her eyes to Luce with a small, shy smile. “You swiped this then?” She asked, forgetting that now that the infected roamed, laws were hardly the first priority in anyone minds. “I don’t even know how to fire a gun.” She admitted, nervously looking between the two, worried they’d abandon her like the first group had. “B-but I have a good strategic mind and I’m quick with numbers.” She stumbled trying to give them reasons to keep her and not abandon her. “Can be useful, I promise. Just give me a chance.”

(Source: gylesmeritt)

OOC

So sorry guys, getting dragged into hanging out with the rents since I’m home for the weekend. I’ll try and post either later tonight if its not too late or sometime tomorrow. Sorry sorry.

Checkpoint: The Breakroom

lucedurand:

Gales of wind had whistled passed Luce’s ears - he was fast and efficient, had favored a melee weapon in lieu of the gun he’d used only for distraction, and didn’t mess about in getting them the ever-loving fuck to somewhere already barricaded. Upon his whistle, followed by a tall ginger young woman ushering them in with large, doe eyes, she was inside.

A normal, however resilient, department store - its breakroom to be more specific - all the right vulnerable nooks boarded up, fortified, canned goods stacked atop each other neatly as if in systematic rations. This was a little piece of Heaven; better than she could have done for herself or had done. The faculty office at Cedar Crest College had weak spots - doors and windows on all walls.

She finally heard his request, blunt but very important, as one overlooked graze with any Infected led to disaster. No hesitance marred her features, only a mindful acceptance as she took off her blazer, kicked off boots, double tank tops, even went so far as to displace her bra, then shimmied out of torn skinny trousers and spread her arms for assessment, going in a slow circle. It was the least she could do. She also waited for him to introduce them; it seemed more profitable that if he trusted her she’d get their names and then return the favor.

The moment the door closed, Felicity was pulling her blouse off and rushing back to the sink. She was quick in her actions, pulling the cap off the water bottle and pouring a lager amount into her hands then before. With out hesitation or thought she started to scrub at her skin, washing each area precisely eight times before signing in relief. It wasn’t perfect but it was enough to keep her going until she could find a shower or bath or in the worst-case scenario, a lake or stream.

With her anxiety quenched, the tall, lender red head got to work on other things. The food she date checked and shorted into eights, putting those more lightly to go off at the front and the longer lasting things like can and dry goods towards the back. She counted the water bottles figuring between the two of them they had enough for three days. She then turned her attention to the furniture. She wasn’t strong, so it took a while but she was partially silent as she moved the chairs and tables, ready to block either one of the doors and support what barricading Gyles had already put up.

That’s when she heard the car alarm. Her head whipped straight to the door’s window, peering through the glass to try and see anything. Her heart hammered in her chest. Had Gyles set it off on purpose? A distraction, maybe? Or perhaps it had been a mistake… Feclicity shook her head. No. Gyles was smarter then that. His scratches body and the way he saved her were proof enough of that. Still, she was on the edge of her seat until she heard the whistle, relief flooding through her. She unbolted the door and throw it open, moving quickly to let the rushing forms through before helping Gyles to barricade it once more. The red-head didn’t even have a chance to breath though before the taller male was pushing her behind him and ordering the other figure to strip. Feclicity peered over Gyles shoulder, looking the girl over. Slim, blond, perhaps maybe just a few years older then Felicity herself. The red head opened her mouth to tell Gyles to turn around and give the girl some consideration by letting her check, but the newbie seemed to have no qualms about ditching her clothes. Felicity blushed and looked away. She waited for Gyles to give the okay before looking back.

(Source: gylesmeritt)

Checkpoint: The Breakroom

gylesmeritt:

Watching the girl undress, Gyles took note of every inch of bare skin, to be sure that there was nothing on it. When she was finished, he nodded. “Yes. I apologize for the crude words, but there isn’t much else but sharp talk and death left for us all.” Gyles said and then put his knife away. “My name is Gyles. I’ve been in here since yesterday. There were a few of them that followed me into the store, but-“

He looked through the window in the door and then smiled some. “-Seems they got bored. It looks pretty clear. If we’re quiet, we can probably bring in some supplies. This room is pretty safe, at least for now. I don’t want to stay here to long, but until we make sure there’s no one else around, we should stay put.” Gyles said.

“I’ll go out in a bit,” he walked over to the fridge and pulled out a water bottle and handed it to her, “you stay here. I’m faster alone and I need someone to make sure I can get back in.”

Felicity pulled her clothes back on quicker then she had ran, covering up her skin and rubbing her arms though the jacket. She was surprised by his change in attitude and carefully edged around the conversation. “Felicity.” She said, cracking open the bottle and taking a few sips. “Thanks.” She said before walking to the sink and pouring a few drops onto her hands. She ran her fingers over each, scrubbing into the crease, counting slowly to herself as the male checked outside.

“Okay, sounds like a good plan.” She muttered walking back over to her back pack and pulling out her note book and pen. There were pages and pages of scribbles about the movement patterns of hoards, the varying speeds of sprinters based on their infection stage, the different howls of howlers… She finally found a blank page and started to sketch the lay out of the room, shifting chairs and tables with her pen until she had the best lay out of defense and easy escape if needed. Her eyes glanced up toward Gyles. “Thank you… for saving me, back there. You didn’t have to, considering you knew I’d be a burden…” She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small torch, handing it to him. “I haven’t narrowed down the type yet but some of the infected are stunned by light in the eyes. So… just incase. Be careful out there.”

Checkpoint: The Breakroom

gylesmeritt:

Gyles was glad he hadn’t found a complete idiot. Nodding, he dropped his jacket to the floor, revealing the gun and holster at his side, before loosening his tie completely and stripping it, and the shirt under it, off. Doing a 360, he showed her his upper body, before pulling his knife from his belt and flicking it open - for safety  - and then undid his pants and dropped them, showing her his bare legs.

“Don’t worry about the scars, they’re old.” He uttered as he pulled his clothing back on and fixed it. “Now, show me.” Gyles demanded, before pointing his knife in her direction. “You’re speaking and breathing. I’d hate to have to end that, just to find out you’re clean.” The man said and then sighed. He knew it was ridiculous, but he’d do it to anyone he met, just to be sure. “Seeing your cunt is hardly worse than anything I’ve seen today, I’m sure.”

She couldn’t help the flush that rose to her cheeks as he dropped his clothes to the floor. Her eyes automatically flicked away to the wall but she forced them back, knowing there was no point in doing this if she didn’t a least check. With out a word, Felicity nodded for him to return his clothes and spent more time examining the room. It was a solid holding point, with only one door out into the open and the other leading into the complex of the department store. Both could be blocked and unblocked easily with the furniture and there were taps and a fridge to boot. The idea of being able to wash was heaven to her plagued mind.

She glared at him as his words floated across the room, dropping her back-pack to the floor. “That’s disgusting.” The red head muttered, slipping her jacket from her shoulders and staring to un-button her blouse. Unfortunately, her flippant anger was swiftly over taken by embarrassment. Brown orbs flicked from wall to fridge to floor, anywhere but him, as she pulled the blouse over her shoulders and exposed the black lace of her bar and the pale white of her unmarked skin. Quickly she turned round and let the thin fabric drop, showing the male her freckled back as she kicked off her boots and un-zipped her trousers. She let them drop to the floor, revealing the matching briefs she wore. Her hands did what they could to cover her front as she turned back around, still not looking at him. “S-satisfied?” She asked, annoyance some how pushing through her embarrassment.

Checkpoint: The Breakroom

gylesmeritt:

Grunting as he fought off the few Undead that were in the alley, Gyles quickly cleared a path. He had a gun at his side, an extra clip as well, but he didn’t want to use it. It was much too loud and it would surely draw attention to him. The few he encountered were mostly Walkers, nothing he couldn’t handle, at least for now.

When he heard the yelling, he whipped his head toward the sound. Stupid, stupid woman. He thought and then made a face. “Son of a bitch.” He uttered under his breath, before rushing over in her direction. There were only a few Undead around her, and the way she was frantically searching, he knew she’d be dead in seconds, if he hadn’t been there.

Grabbing her arm, he quickly pulled her towards the alley. He was surprised to see a living person. He hadn’t in at least two - or was it five? - days. Once they were back in the breakroom, he locked and blocked the door.

Panting, he held his weapon, just in case. “Strip.” He said simply. “I’m not a pervert,” his English accent was thick, a heavy hint of Irish undertones, “I need to know you’re not Infected. Just do this and I won’t throw you back out there.” Gyles said simply.

Felicity felt the strong fingers wrap round her arm and glanced up in frightened shock. The man was angry; she could tell from how tight his grip was. It felt like there where five, finger shaped bruises forming on her skin. Still, at least it wasn’t one of the infected and she gladly ran beside him into where he had come from, panting as he closed and locked the door.

“T-thank you.” She muttered, between shaky breaths. “I… I couldn’t stand by and see you get surrounded but I guess that was pretty st-“ She was cut off by his curt words, her cheeks flushing. Instantly she took a step back, putting distance between them. “W-what about you? How… how can I trust that you’re not?” She squeaked, looking him over. He was broad and tall and clearly could take care of himself. Still, she wasn’t going to be the only one. It was hardly fair. “I… I’ll only do so if you do.” She said meekly, nodding and holding her back-pack close to her chest.

Checkpoint: The Breakroom

gylesmeritt:

Gyles swore under his breath as he peered out the window of the door to the breakroom he was hiding in. He’d managed to make his way into the department store and barricaded himself in. There was a back door, but the alleyway behind the building seemed to be moderately empty and unoccupied by the

“Go! Run!” The call came from behind her, strangled and fragmented by gunfire. One, two, three shots. One, two, three, four, five foot falls. Felicity knew it was a bad idea, but she had to know. Her eyes flicked back over her shoulder. They widened at the sight she saw. His legs were being torn from him, two of the… things attacking him. Hunters. She choked back a scream, her brown orbs connecting with his fading green ones.

“No! Alex!” She sobbed, her legs stopping after one, two, three more strides. “W-what do I do?! You can’t leave me!”

“Run!” He cried again before there was a snap and his spine broke. The hunters had killed him. Whether by accident or on purpose was unclear, but the dead body would not entertain them for long. Chocking out another sob, the girl turned and ran, one, two, three, four steps until she was in her stride, counting each heavy footfall. She was alone again. In truth she didn’t know how she had survived this long. Her grandmother had turned into a howler, calling the hoards when Felicity had come to check on her one morning. It broke her heart but she ran. It was all she could do… She had been ready for it - seeing the signs of infection and watching them progress day by day, hour by hour - so she had grabbed her back-pack and run. She had found one group of un-infected held up in a house near-by but they left her behind when they found out she couldn’t use a gun, assuming she’d be a burden. She had held up in that house for another day before being found by another group. They had taken her in, noticing how she had held the house fast despite the growing number of hoards that passed down the street. They used her to their advantage… until they started to get picked off. Alex had been the last.

Felicity choked back another sob. Her legs where burning, but she could see a department store in the near distance. Just a little further and there could be water and clean. She pushed her legs a little harder. As she drew closer though, something caught her eye. It had already been barricaded – looked recent too – but there were a number of the things, milling around the out side. If she wanted to get in, she’d need help and there was a likely hood there was someone in their already. She ducked behind a road sign, panting and trying to catch her breath from the last 10 minuets of flat out running. Her had breaths finally slowed down - one, two, three, two, five, two, seven, two and round again – when she heard the commotion. Hazel eyes hesitantly peered over the sign and spotted the man, fighting off what he could of the few infected that where turning their attention to him. Why was he leaving the safe place? Was it out of supplies already? Or had he stripped it of what it had? Either way, he was defending alone. She did the only thing she could think off.

“Hey, Zombies! Over here!” She jumped and shouted, trying to draw those she could away from the male, before remembering… Alex was no longer there to protect her. “Oh god…” She muttered, tumbling with her bag to find anything she could use to defend herself.