But Time Goes On

[praetorian]

C.

[Roger Stone]

Your hand dips for the radio, bringing it out into the open. In the back of your mind, you feel the Other. It's beginning to grow restless once more, as though what happened earlier had only encouraged it. Behind you, Cynthia has stood, and is looking cautiously but coolly at the intruder.

"-e, over?..."

Chirip!"Gosh dang it son, answer!" The Chief. You press down the button.

"Yea, Chief. I'm here." You let it go and look to Riley.

"Ah, I see I've chosen an inopertune time. Very well. I bid you adieu," he whispers, shrugging his shoulders. He turns and half-strolls, half-skips down the aisle, heading towards the front.

Chirip!"Thank gawd, son, ya done scared me half ta death there. Are ya alright?" He addressed the question to you, but you know he was actually asking if Cynthia was alright.

"Are you sure you just want to let him prance off like that, Steve?" Cynthia says with an edge of exasperation directed at said prancer.

"Yea. He'll be back.... I'm sure of it..." You answer, ignoring the radio momentarily to watch the guy leave. "We're fine, Chief. Both of us," you state, speaking to the comm now. You can almost see the Chief give a enormous sigh of relief.

Chirip!"Good... Good. Now, Steve mah boy, I want you to listen to me. It's dark and raining like it prolly did for the arc outside, and chances are the bigger creepy-crawlies are out now. Jus sit tight and wait it out. I'll come for the both of ya come daybreak, understand? Jus sit tight."

====

-sit tight." The Chief lets go the trigger on the walkie and leans back, his one free hand methodically rubbing his temple. Fran sits leaned over nearby, her face in her hands. She looks over to Benn every once in awhile, and follows it with another sad shake of her head.



Steve:
Just agree to Chief's suggestion and wait the night out here. The two of you can find a back room and hole up in there.
Ask Chief to come for you now; you really aren't looking forward to spending the night in a abandoned grocery.
[C]You want to leave, but won't put Chief in danger to do so. Look for a car out in the lot with the keys in it.
[D]You've changed your mind. Chase after Riley. You want to talk to him. He can't have gotten that far. Right?
[Z]CYOA

Chief (Optional):

SPOILER: Click to show

If you didn't choose B:
1. Try and talk with Fran; she's clearly upset.
2. You haven't seen Louise in awhile, it might be good to go check up on her.
3. Go find Doc. May as well slap a bandage and some disinfectant on these cuts. They're not deep, but better safe than sorry, right?
4. Go watch the monitors, you've got a feeling there's something to see.

Current Time: 8:30 PM (Dawn at 6:03 AM)

Status:

SPOILER: Click to show

==Active Party:
Steve Ames: Bitten.
Hunger: 74% (!)
Equipment: -9mm Beretta (9/13) 0 spare clips
-Empty 9mm clip
-Transceiver

Cynthia Smith:
Equipment: -Large kitchen knife

==Other Party:
Louise Shaffer: Status Unknown
Equipment: -None

Fran Geller:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (8/8) 9 extra shells
-Sharpened Rapier

Samuel "Doc" Morten:
Equipment: -None

Burt "The Chief" Williams:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (6/8) 6 extra shells
-Standard issue police Taser gun
-Transceiver

Benjamin Cooper: Dead
Equipment: -Baseball Bat


==Vehicles:

Ben's Yellow Volkswagen: 36% Fuel
Total Space:
Cab-- 4
Trunk-- 3

Current Usage:
Cab: None
Trunk: None

[Song Nai]

D 4

[Veta]

D3.

[cogs]

D, Why not, eh?
4, Why not, eh?

(Roger's Note: Cogs asked me to change his voted from 3 to 4, because he didn't feel like doing so himself. Just sayin'.)

[Tbone110 The Amurican Bastard]

C 3

[praetorian]

I'm gonna go with D 4.

[Roger Stone]

"Yea, alright, Chief. We'll stick around here." You return the walkie to your pocket, and then turn to Cynthia. "Wait here, ok? I'm going after Riley."

"...Be careful." You can tell she doesn't like it, but something in your tone of voice stills her arguments. Instead, she gives you a quick hug and a weak smile. You nod and take off jogging after the strange newcomer.

===

Chirip!"Yea, alright, Chief. We'll stick around here." Chief gives a slight nod, satisfied, and extends the transceiver back to Fran.

"Here ya are, Ma'am," he prompts when she gives no sign of noticing. She looks up distractedly then waves it away.

"You better keep it. You know Steve better than I do, and he probably trusts you more anyway." Chief just shrugs and clips the yellow commlink to his belt for safekeeping. He sits there a moment longer, feeling like he should say something to comfort her.

Aw hell, I never was no good at this kinda junk... Be better to just give her some time alone...

"I'ma go check up on the monitors," he says, excusing himself from the hall. Fran just bobs her head in acknowledgment, staring balefully into her hands. Chief takes his leave, weaving his way through the halls towards the monitor room.

Christ, she reminds me of Louise to a lesser degree.... Speaking of which, I ain't seen her around lately. Hope she's holdin' up alright...

He enters the room, flipping the lights on as he does. The room is much as it was before, wall of screens on one side of the room, and a small sprinkling of chairs on the other. Chief moves towards the former.

"Now... How do I turn on this confangled thang.... Ah! Here it is." It takes him a moment of fiddling, but soon he's found the switch and turns it on. The screens all light up, revealing many grainy black-and-white images of city streets.

The first one that catches the Chief's eye holds a single zed, wandering sloppily down a road. From the camera's eye-in-the-sky point of view, the Chief can see the a Murdock prowl up behind the unaware creature. It fires a barrage of needles, and the zed goes down. It quickly moves forward and begins picking over it's kill, actually eating the undead being.

Huh... So they're not above taking the zombies... That's interesting. I had it figered they were friendly enough towards each other...

Chief settles into the chair beside him, intending to simply gaze at the monitors till sleep took him. Soon, however, something came up on the monitor labeled 'HickorySt/ConswellDr', an intersection that was very close to the grocery he had left only hours earlier.

His hand flew for the radio.

===

"You know, if it was anyone else, I'd be rather miffed they'd have the sheer arrogance to try and have me wait till it was convenient for them. But you're special, Steve. After all, you're the only other Type Three I've come across so far. Imagine my delight when I discovered that your DNA was prone to such!"

You find him standing just outside of the store's awning, rain pelting down atop him. Just as you cross outside into the downpour, he spoke to you, without turning. The freezing rain pounds on your skull, and you marvel at how he stands so rock solid out here. You feel it soaking through your shoes and to your socks, some of it blood diluted by the storm.

"..."

"Well, I suppose you'll be wanting to talk now?" He says after a moment, offering a casual wave over his shoulder.

"You'd suppose right. So get to talking."

"...You'd do well to simply give into it. Give it what it wants. After you do that, why, you'll be unstoppable."

"What?" You ask, thrown off by the sudden change in the conversation.

"Zazic? I'm sure you hear him. I can see the signs," he states with tittering laughter. He turns now, and is still smiling widely enough for it to seem its cutting his head in twain, and should he lean over, the top half would fall off. Rain slides down his face in rivulets, more than a couple over his eyes, but he doesn't blink it away.

His leer falters a bit, however, when he sees the confusion written all over your face. His forehead creases a bit, as though in concentration. You feel the Other... move forward in your mind, and that's the only way to describe it. Then, Riley relaxes once more, and it retreats once more.

"The Other. That's what you've named him.... Quaint. Very quaint. Well believe me Steve. He's as much a part of you as you are of him."

"How the fu-"

"Cut the amazement; time grows short. There's much to say, and my schedule is becoming rather tight. Soon, Steve, very soon, I'll come at you. I'll come at you with the intent of destroying everything you hold dear. And if you continue as you have thusly, you will fall. So give in to The Other. Indulge it. In doing so, it may lend you it's power when called upon...

And without it, Steve, you've no chance of besting me."

And then he was gone. Just like that, leaving behind only a droplet-free tunnel to indicate his path. A split second later, it's gone as well, dissolved by the falling rain. You're stunned, amazed at the speed it must have taken to do something like that. You didn't even see him go.

You feel a hand slip into yours, and the rain stops beating down on you.

"Just don't fret about him, ok?" Cynthia, armed with an umbrella. Despite her own advise, she looks at you worriedly.

"Yea... Come on, let's get back inside. This rain is like ice." You force a smile and toss and arm around her shoulder, leading the two of you back.

===

Why do you run? We could have taken them!

Patience, my friend. What fun would that be? Short of Raven, I believe he may be the only one that has a chance of actually being some sort of challenge.

Bah, you and your 'fun'. You're a fool.

I prefer the term Jester, Zazic. Or royal fool, if you must.... Speaking of 'royal', I do believe it's time to pay our good friend Charles a visit.

Sigh... Very well. Grab me something along the way, would you? I am starting to become quite.... ravenous....

===

"Jeez... I'm f-f-freezing," you chatter, shaking visibly. Hindsight tells you you were an idiot to go out there without a shirt, which you failed to grab earlier.

"Here, I'll go get it," she says, as though reading your mind. She hurries off towards the back, leaving you standing at the entrance, shivering.

Chirip!"Steve? Ya there, son?" You quickly fumble the transceiver out of your jeans.

"Y-Yea, Chief. What's up?"

Chirip!"I just saw som- Say. You alright?"

"Fine, just a l-little cold at the m-moment."

Chirip!"... Well, I just saw something on the monitors. Close by to the two of you. It's a small gang of the zeds, all bunched up at the front of some gas station. I'd bet my watch there's survivors in there. Ya might wanna go check it out."

"Where at?"

Chirip!"Corner of Hickory Street and Conswell Drive. Again, that's Hickory Street and Conswell Drive... Now, I'm not sayin' you should just go in there guns blazin' tryin ta save them folks; they look pretty secure... Jus' givin' ya some info. Do what ya will, but be derned careful, and tell me whatch'er gonna do beforehand."

"Ok, Chief, thanks..." Cynthia comes back at this moment, your shirt clutched in one hand. She pauses when she sees the look on your face.

"What's going on?"

Just let it be, and stick it out at the grocery. After all that's happened today, you're beat, and sleep sounds wonderful.
See if you can find a car to head over to the station with. They may actually be in trouble, and the quickest way would be better, despite the noise.
[C]Walk to the station. You know where it is, and you're probably less likely to be noticed on foot. Like Chief said, the people there are probably fine.
[D]Get a car and high tail it to the Center. You have a gut feeling you need to leave, and ASAP.
[E]Ignore the survivors at the gas station and try to contact The Other. You're not sure what will happen, but...
[Z]CYOA


Current Time: 8:38 PM (Dawn at 6:03 AM)


Status:

SPOILER: Click to show

==Active Party:
Steve Ames: Bitten.
Hunger: 76% (!)
Equipment: -9mm Beretta (9/13) 0 spare clips
-Empty 9mm clip
-Transceiver

Cynthia Smith:
Equipment: -Large kitchen knife

==Other Party:
Louise Shaffer: Status Unknown
Equipment: -None

Fran Geller:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (8/8) 9 extra shells
-Sharpened Rapier

Samuel "Doc" Morten:
Equipment: -None

Burt "The Chief" Williams:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (6/8) 6 extra shells
-Standard issue police Taser gun
-Transceiver

==Vehicles:

Ben's Yellow Volkswagen: 36% Fuel
Total Space:
Cab-- 4
Trunk-- 3

Current Usage:
Cab: Total: .5
Baseball Bat-- .5

Trunk: None

[Veta]

B. They might need the noise as a distraction and someone might go out to help us elimimate the zombies. Or we tell them to run. But I'm willing to take mah chances.

[Will]

Z. Wait until morning to go to the gas station, but have Chief give you occasional updates on what is happening at the gas station and be ready to try and help them out if you need to. No need to go out in a thunderstorm with all sorts of who-knows-what ready to tear you limb from limb.

[Tbone110 The Amurican Bastard]

B if only take a quick looky-loo. After that, head for the center like a bat out of hell.

[Song Nai]

A

[Roger Stone]

"There's some survivors close by. We're going to go take a look," you say in a matter of fact tone.

"Are you sure? I mean, you're tired. Well, you look tired at least. I don't like to say it, but if they're alright maybe you should just rest for awhile. Those bags under your eyes can't be healthy." She hands you your shirt, which you quickly struggle back into.

"Chief said they look fine now, but still... Things have a way of going real bad real fast. I'd rather go now," you say, deciding against telling her how she was looking a little haggard as well. Besides, it probably wouldn't be safe to sleep here.

"Alright, I see your point," Cynthia admits, "but how are we going to get there? I really don't think it's a good idea to just try and walk there...."

"There'll be a car in the lot with the keys in it. There's just bound to be."

"And if there isn't?"

You shrug.

She sighs and shakes her head good-naturedly. "Alright then, go look for your miracle car. I'll gather some food in the meanwhile. Call out if you run into any trouble."

"Hey... Isn't that my line?" She smiles wanly and walks off, leaving you to watch her go. Soon, you turn and march back out into the pouring rain, snagging the umbrella by the door as you go.

===

"Why hello, My Good King Charles!" Riley called happily towards the back of a blob slumped over in a nearby booth. Several pizza boxes are piled on the ground nearby. The man startles badly, bolting upright with a surprised snort. He had been napping... How appropriate... He whips about in the booth; no mean feat considering his girth. Atop his balding head rests what is clearly a plastic crown, adorned with several equally plastic jewels. He wears a white muscle shirt that he has no business eve owning and a pair of tan, lumpily bulging slacks. His feet are supported by nothing more than two lime green flip-flops.

"Jester! D-don't sneak up on your King like that!" Despite the flabby body half-spilling out of the booth, his face is relatively chiseled.

If one were to squint, and it were dark, one could almost mistake it for something nearly on a modeling level. Riley titters a quiet 'Teehee' of a chuckle at the thought.

"How... How did you get past Bud and Jeff?" The 'King' bumbles, not catching the the laugh.

"Those two? I beg your pardon for saying so, My Lord, but a blind quadriplegic could slip past them! You should really consider finding other guards. Your Highness deserves better protection." Riley coats each honorary with a thick layer of sarcasm, holding a dirty gleam in his eye all the while.

His Jester is making a fool out of him, and he doesn't even pick up on it! Teeheeheheahaha.....

Yes, yes, Riley. Concentrate, damn it! Can you take anything seriously?

Can you not?

...

The King waves his hand dismissively. "I couldn't replace those two. They're no use anywhere else!" At this he quakes with great chortles of laughter, as though he had just made the joke of the century. Riley grins wider, humoring him. After a moment, the King wipes a theatrical tear from his eye and his laughter dies down.

"Now- haha- My Jester. Hast thou brought what thoust has promised?" With some effort, Charles starts to pry himself from his seat, a greedy look suddenly in his eye.

Maybe he'll get a heart attack trying to get up! Won't that be a hoot?

The plus-size man manages it though, and waddles over to the short hoodied teen.

"Well? Where is it? I want my followers!" the man cries, forgetting his faked old English in his excitement.

"Patience, my Liege, patience. I have but one small condition before I bestow the gift," Riley says, reaching into his hoodie pocket and withdrawing a small syringe

"Yes, yes, name it, Magician, and it is yours!" He looms over Riley, like a vulture over near-dead prey, knowing his meal will come soon.

"Once you get it, there's a small nest of... Rebels- Yes, that'll do nicely- Rebels that refuse Your Almighty's rule. I want you to stir it up..."

===

Chirip! "Hey Chief? We're going after the survivors. I'm looking for a vehicle now." The sound of rain pounds strongly in the background. Chief turned his gaze to the monitors, quickly picking out the one with a view of Hodges'. He sees a single figure walk from the store, moving to the nearest line of cars. Chief picks up the radio.

"I can see ya. As to goin', I'm against it, but seein as how I can't turn ya from it, just be real careful like."

Chirip!"Aren't I always?" Chief had no reply to that. Instead he simply kept to the screen, watching as the little person moved from one car to the next.

A crash from behind him; Chief's hand instinctively falls to the butt of his shotgun. It's only Fran, however, having burst through the door. Her hair is askew, and she's panting heavily.

"Chief, come quick! It's Louise...."


The urgency in her voice gave him cause to leap to his feet.

===

"Aha!" You exclaim, spotting a glint in the ignition through the car's window. It's an Expedition. You pull your pistol from it's holster and slam the butt of it through the window. Replacing the gun, you reach in and unlock the door. You sloppily fold the umbrella and jump in, out of the rain. There is indeed a key in the ignition.

"Jackpot!" You start her up and squeeze the gas, sending you straight into the rear of the car ahead of you. The damage is superficial, but you're glad there was no one around to see your mistake.

Well, this is what you get for not taking Driver's Ed. "I can do it at home over the summer from Dad!" you say. Well, it doesn't look like that's going to happen... Suddenly not liking where this train of thought was going, you push it away and slap the truck into reverse. You back out without further mishap, and make your way towards the front of the grocery. You wonder offhandedly at how all the pink spike from earlier had disappeared, but set it aside as a mystery for another day.

You honk the horn, trying to bring Cynthia's attention to your new find. You soon realize there was no need; the sound of an engine is now very out of place, and she'd been waiting at the front door for you to pull up. You wave at her, beaming. She trots over, a basket of food in one hand.

===

He called me Stevie. Christ, I just realized that. Riley called me 'Stevie' back at Hodges'... Only my mom ca- No! You've been avoiding those thoughts too long to cave now... Nope... No way Jose. Not now... No-

"Steve? Slow down!" Cynthia says, slightly nervous. You glance at the speedometer and see you'd been steadily creeping up past 50, and in these conditions, combined with the fact it's the first time you've actually driven, is somewhat suicidal. You force yourself to relax.

After a few more minutes of relatively silent (You hear a couple of howls, but that's become the norm now) travel, the station comes into view. Over a dozen zombies are massed out front, pressing against the entrance. They don't seemed to care you're there. You spy a brilliant flash of orange above the top of the barricade inside; its a redheaded girl with her face pressed up against the glass. Her eyes light up when she sees the two of you in the car, briefly before being yanked back down behind the 'cade.

"Well, what are we goi-" Before Cynthia can finish the obvious question, a splintering sound comes from ahead. In the time it had taken you to look to Cynthia and then back, the undead had found their weak spot, and exploited it. In moments, a hole is opened, and they begin swarming in.

Jump out and start taking shots at the hoard. It'd be completely safe, and likely wouldn't help much, but you can't just stand by and do nothing.
Honk the horn, and try and draw some of the zed's attention off.
[C]Plow the car through the undead outside. Hopefully whosoever inside can handle however many get in....
[D]Try to call upon the power of The Other.
[E]Just drive off. There's nothing you can do here...
[F]Shoot a gas pump and leave. The people inside are screwed; you may as well rid the world of a few zombies.
[Z]CYOA

Current Time: 8:50 PM (Dawn at 6:03 AM)


Status:

SPOILER: Click to show

==Active Party:
Steve Ames: Bitten.
Hunger: 84% (!)
Equipment: -9mm Beretta (9/13) 0 spare clips
-Empty 9mm clip
-Transceiver

Cynthia Smith:
Equipment: -Large kitchen knife

==Other Party:
Louise Shaffer: Status Unknown
Equipment: -None

Fran Geller:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (8/8) 9 extra shells
-Sharpened Rapier

Samuel "Doc" Morten:
Equipment: -None

Burt "The Chief" Williams:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (6/8) 6 extra shells
-Standard issue police Taser gun
-Transceiver

==Vehicles:

Ben's Yellow Volkswagen: 36% Fuel (Parked at the Center)
Containing: Baseball bat

Your Expedition: 87% Fuel
Containing: You, Cynthia, basket of food.

(OoC: Oh my, there's quite a bit happening in this update, and so many questions unanswered. What's Farson up to? What has happened to Louise? And will I update again any time soon?!? Tune in next time for the answers, same some Roger-time, same Roger-place!

Oh. And I simplified the Vehicles section in the Status deal. That's what I really made the OoC in order to say... =P)

(Also: A little over 9k! That's good for me.)

[Song Nai]

C

[Will]

C.

[praetorian]

F sounds harsh but that's my choice.

And I'm calling it should you people end up having them wreck the SUV or get trapped in the midst of the horde or something.

[Tbone]

B

[Veta]

I would vote B, but naw. C.

[cogs]

B

[Roger Stone]

"Buckle up," you order Cynthia. Guessing what's coming, she does so without question. You floor the pedal, launching yourself at the hoard. What follows is a tangle of flailing limbs and screeching metal.

===

Chief follows Fran at a mad sprint, doing his best to ignore the flaring pain that had built up in his hip. Their jaunt ended at Doc's office, the door open. Fran got in first, and let out a groan as she did.

"What, wha-... Oh no," Chief breathed as he turned the corner. Doc is knelt on the ground over a sheeted form.

"How.... How?" Chief heard himself ask. Doc threw something over his shoulder with a stiffness that bespoke his age. The Chief caught it in reflex. A NyQuil bottle. Empty.

"Is she..." Chief is unable to finish the sentence. He'd cleaned up his share of suicides before as a cop. More, in all likelihood. But it'd never been someone he actually knew. Actually cared about.

Morten shook his head slowly. "No pulse. Hardly even warm. She'd been gone some time before I found her." His shoulders started to sag even more than they already were, if that were possible.

Chief throws the bottle down with a violent curse, and stormed out the door. Fran calls out distantly for him to come back, but he doesn't listen.

Fran puts her back against the wall and sinks down to the ground, seemingly unable to support herself anymore. A shell-shocked look has entered her eyes; the news of two deaths, one being a suicide, is just too much to take for even this fiery woman.

The Doc just stayed where he was at. If not for the shallow sign of his breathing, you'd think he'd died as well.

And, if you were to pull back the shroud, you'd swear Louise was almost smiling.

===

The SUV plows into the nearest zombie, sending him onto the hood and over the roof. The rest of the ones you manage to hit go toppling like tenpins in a likewise fashion. Then, the wheels catch something and send the vehicle jerking sideways, slamming the flank of it into the building.

You screech the SUV to a stop as you clear the crowd, and jump out. A quick check of the car tells you most of the damage is superficial, although the rear door might not open as smoothly ever again. You dart towards the front of the store, taking the time only to plant a slug in the back of a zed's head as it rises. As you do, something grabs your ankle and bites in. You look down and see another floored zombie, this one likely never to walk again. You pop it too, and press on. Not like it hasn't happened before, yuk yuk yuk...

"Stay back, Cynthia, most of these are still alive," you call before ducking inside.

You easily pop the single that stands in the doorway, apparently trying to decide which morsel to go after. Several other zombie corpses decorate the floor, their skulls caved in. Of the morsels, there's two.

One is backing away from a pair of undead. It's the girl you saw earlier, and she's unarmed. She's got a bit of room to run, but...

The other one, a man that looks slightly older and related to the girl, is on the ground, a walking stick topped with a green jewel holding back the chomping jaws of the undead atop him.

You see no other active zombies in the room.

Go for the girl. She's defenseless, and the guy can probably hold out.
Assist the guy. He's closer, and looks like he can't hold the thing off much longer. The girl will hopefully be able to evade her pursuers for long enough.
[C]You think there's no way you could save them both by your own power. Try to summon The Other to help.
[D]Just stand and watch. It'll be entertaining.
[E]Leave. There's nothing else to see here.
[F]You need to feed, right? Well this seems like the perfect opportunity... Let The Other take them. Delicious...
[Z]CYOA

(OoC: Not going to bother with status this time, but you get pics! Hooray you!)

The Girl: th05.deviantart.net/fs51/300W/i/2009/266/7/e/Nostalgia_by_subaru_s.jpg

The Guy: th02.deviantart.net/images/300W/i/2004/04/a/4/Luck_o__the_Irish.jpg

[Veta]

A.

[Song Nai]

A

[cogs]

A, girls matter first.

[Tbone]

A

[Roger Stone]

Making a split second decision, you dart down the aisle towards the backs of the two undead. The girl scrambles away from them down another path anyways, determined to get away from the encroaching corpses. You see her foot catch something after a couple bounds, and she tumbles.

Crap! But I can't just start shooting. I'm a shitty shot as is, but with only 6 bullets left, I can't risk missing. For both conservation's sake and her life...

The zombies close in, and would have been within striking distance by the time she was up again if not for you. You pull up behind the nearest one, which hadn't sensed your approach. Placing the barrel of the gun into the back of it's tangled mop of hair, you squeeze trigger, and it falls. Before it even hits the ground, you're already moving; the other one had lunged and grabbed onto the girl, dragging both to the ground.

===

God damn it... GOD FUC- Chief stormed through the halls, silently raging inside. His hands clenched in and out ceaselessly, and his gaze was locked onto some unknown point beyond his surroundings.

His feet led him to the entrance he had came in only a scant hour ago. Benn's body had been moved somewhere, but the barricade hadn't been put back up, and this made his anger flair even higher.

And this made his heart skip a couple beats.


His blood cooled immediately, and with it his mind cleared. Christ, gotta calm down. This is no time to go off havin' myself stroke or some shit.... But be damned if'n I'm just going to sit here. I've gotta do something, 'er I'll go straight batshit.

Chief fishes the keys to Benn's Beetle out of his pocket.

===

Taking two large strides, you plant a kick with all the strength you can muster into the thing's side, sending it rolling away. If Bates were there, he would have sworn he was looking in a mirror for a few brief seconds. You swiftly move and plunk a slug into the back of the thing's skull. And then there were five....

From across the store, the sounds of struggle escalate, rising to a crescendo of a smart whip-crack before dropping off immediately. You look to see the man standing up (reaching a good 6' 2), eyes down and breathing heavy. His head snaps up to look towards you and his companion. "Annie?..." Despite the towering height and decent physique, the voice that comes out is weak, as though afraid of the answer to his question.

"I'm fine," the girl responds, sitting up. She rubs her forehead tenderly; you can see a lump already starting to rise there. She must of clipped it good during the fight. She looks up to you, eyes flashing green and shining with gratitude. "Someone came to my rescue...." she whispers.

"It's Steve," you say, stepping forward and offering a hand. She takes it willingly, and you help her to her feet.

"Anya, but Ann is better," she returns, smiling pleasantly. Before further exchanges, someone throws an arm over your shoulder, and her's as well.

"Well crud. I was hopin' to finaly rid mahself of ye'," It's the guy from earlier, grinning ear to ear. His voice is now just what you'd expect it to be: strong and confident, although now with a hint of relief. He speaks in a clearly forced Irish accent, to which Anya scoffs in good humor and shoves him off.

"And this is Roy, who is, unfortunately, my brother."

"Good to meet you, Alroy McNeil at your service," he says, the accent gone. He takes an exaggerated bow, to which you can't help but smirk. "So you're the one that took care of my 'burden' over here while I was... busy," he teases, earning an elbow to the ribs. "You've got my thanks, uh..."

"Steve. Steve Ames. And it was no problem, really," you say, noting the way Anya doesn't take her eyes off you.

"Steve. Huh. I wasn't expecting Steve. You look more like a Richard. Or maybe a Brandon. Eh... So, Mr. Hero, where'd that van-"

"SUV," Anya corrects automatically.

"-my liddle sis' tells me you have go? I wouldn't mind getting the hell outta here," Roy finishes, ignoring Ann's interjection.

"Just outsi-" you're cut off as a pink blur shoots through the smashed barricade and into the far wall.

"GET DOWN" You immediately hit the floor, seeing the other two do the same. The air above you quickly fills up with lavender needles. Beside you, Roy leans over Anya, partially shielding her with his own body.

Shit. Murdocks. And Cynthia's still outside! Christ, can nothing go smoothly?... The store's shelves will protect us for now, but soon they'll wise up that it isn't working and move in. And with only five shots and a cane, we'd be screwed.

Just have everyone make a mad dash through the needles now; it doesn't seem that thick, it could be that there's only a couple now, but more would be sure to show up soon.
Sit tight and wait it out. Maybe the hail of needles will lighten up enough for you to slip out easily.
[C]Tell the others to wait where they are, but you've got to get to Cynthia, and now.
[D]Try to bolt outside, firing wildly to attract their attention. Then maybe the others can get out.
[E]Attempt to summon The Other. You don't know how it could really help, but it's the only thing you can think to do right now.
[Z]CYOA

Current Time: 9:01 PM (Dawn at 6:03 AM)


Status:

SPOILER: Click to show

==Active Party:
Steve Ames: Bitten.
Hunger: 86% (!)
Equipment: -9mm Beretta (5/13) 0 spare clips
-Empty 9mm clip
-Transceiver

Cynthia Smith:
Equipment: -Large kitchen knife

Anya McNeil:
Equipment: -Nothing

Alroy "Rat" McNeil: (Pronounced sorta like "Elroy" but with a twist)
Equipment: -Emerald topped Shillelagh (HA! Actually spelled that right. ^_^)

==Other Party:
Louise Shaffer: Dead
Equipment: -None

Fran Geller:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (8/8) 9 extra shells
-Sharpened Rapier

Samuel "Doc" Morten:
Equipment: -None

Burt "The Chief" Williams:
Equipment: -Pump Action Shotgun, (6/8) 6 extra shells
-Standard issue police Taser gun
-Transceiver

==Vehicles:

Ben's Yellow Volkswagen: 32% Fuel
Containing: Baseball bat, Chief

Your Expedition: 85% Fuel, Minor Damage.
Containing: Cynthia, basket of food

[Tbone]

C

[praetorian]

Hmm...

Lacking the ability to come up with a decent Z choice right now, I'm going to go with C as well.

[Song Nai]

C

[cogs]

C!

[Veta]

Z... Hmm...
Grab a rag and a lighter (they sell lighters.) l, something to use as shield, run outside, place rag into truck and gtfo with everyone.