Shop Searching (Open)

[Sara Artexa Murpheys]

Digging through the empty scrap of the shop, Sara cringed at the stench behind her. A corpse was lying a few feet away, decomposing into a rancid lump of gloop not even edible to the other creatures that wandered around here. These ‘Leichen’ these walking corpses that fed on anything alive, and the rotting bodies of the slain. They made her sick, and afraid.

She pulled up what she thought was a bottle of water, only to find that it was something yellow, opening the cap she moved to sniff it but the acrid smell hit her a mile off, someone had been trying to keep the place clean, and lacking flushing toilets, this had been the next best thing. Grimacing, the put the lid back on and rolled it away quietly. She was trying not to make too much noise, there had been things outside not long ago but they seemed to have gone. She had spent a good half an hour behind the cashier’s desk, hyperventilating until it finally moved off, then she had resumed her search.
Her search continued for another twenty minutes before she managed to uncover a bottle of water and the squashed remains of a chocolate bar, promptly eaten and the packet thrown over her shoulder and she scrambled to her feet and tried to make her way over the mounds of rubble and ruined shop front in the wedding dress, torn on one side revealing far too much of her leg for her mind but there was little she could do about it now. She sighed and sneaked out of the shop.

[Liz Burke]

“Aghhh!”

The shriek pierced Liz’s ears. Liz was very callous, that was a given, but she was not without complete emotion. But when all things cards came onto the table, when all things were said and done, it was a dog eat dog world – and being eaten was not something on her agenda. Liz ran. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her trying not to look back at her former ‘scavenging’ partner whose pleas were gut retching. The woman’s pleas made Liz want to throw up. But albeit, she didn’t turn around, nor did she try to help her.

Roughly 15 minutes earlier Liz had been searching around by the newsagents with Samantha. Funny, Liz had laughed with Samantha, she was sweet, innocent and very funny and Liz didn’t even bother ask her surname – amazing how such a bad situation was able to bring people together.

While searching the newsagents the strollers had attacked – and they had come in a swarm. Seven of them in total. Knowing she had to make it out alive Liz dragged Samantha along to get free of the street only to trip her up by accident. Selfishly, a plan etched in Liz’s mind. If she left Samantha, left her on the floor, then the zombies would kill her, leaving Liz time to escape – cruel, but it was logical. Liz would then lie to the rest of the group when she got back.

Liz took the plan and implemented it. She left Samantha on the floor – now, well, by now she was dead.

Running as fast as she could own the street, Liz’s eyes were drawn to the bride in the tatty wedding dress – should she stop? Or leave her to slow the zombies down again? No more death, she thought. “Run!” Liz shouted as she closed in on the bride. “That way!” She hollered pointing down the street.

[Sara Artexa Murpheys]

Barely out of the shop front, Sara turned to hear pounding footsteps and a shout. She panicked, her eyes widening those of a startled doe and she leapt, running with the woman, her powerfully fit and muscular legs driving her forward like a wild horse. She easily kept pace with the woman beside her, her breathing settling into the level breaths she used on the machines. Fair enough this was a lot faster than she might normally run but it was the same principle.

She looked at the woman she was running beside and trying to calm herself down she took to memorising every one of her details, from her blonde hair to the shape of her eyes. She could feel her panic and now she was trying to knock her dose down on the antidepressants. She had less than 20 tablets left, and on her normal dose, that would normally only last her maybe a week, or less if she was bad. And now she only took them when she was really on the brink... if only she could reach the bottle now.

Her arms and legs were quivering, but she breathed hard, trying to work her way through the panic as she paced beside the woman. Finally to calm herself she spoke. “Vere are ve going?” She asked, her accent more pronounced than normal with her fear.

[Liz Burke]

Liz glanced once or twice at the blonde running besides her, her mind was more of the distance of the strollers behind them. She didn’t want to become the afternoon snack like Samantha. The accent of the female made Liz glance once more before answering her in a panted breath – she was trying to conserve energy until they were around the corner. “That... way...” Liz effetely pointed at the corner of the street.

It didn’t take them more than 3 minutes to hit the corner of the street – it wasn’t the longest of roads, but it was long and far enough not for them both to become next on the menu. With her back arched, Liz began to get her breath back. What a run! Obviously she wasn’t as fit as she thought, then again, when you’re running everyday from them things it does take the energy out of you.

“Oh God...” She muttered, she still hadn’t had a good look at the blonde woman. “That was close. Too damned close!” She hissed. The thought of Samantha and her screams filled her head.”Shit...” Liz felt bad for Sam’s death, but no regret. It was either Liz or Sam, so Sam had to go – it was easy math. Liz had to think of an excuse to tell the rest of the group, but she had plenty of time for that – and she had had enough experience lying to them – first with Andrew and Jess, then with James, and now Sam – she was getting quite the professional at killing off her team members by accident.

[Sara Artexa Murpheys]

The run drew out, but trying to ignore the shrieks and cries behind her, she concentrated on the feel of the pavement beneath her feet, him mind focussing on the rhythem. In, out. In, out. Breathe carefully. Her mind calmed as she counted her breaths and paced her running, she was in the gym, trying a new speed was all. She felt the familiar heat in her muscles as they warmed up to the exercise, after a couple of months of not being able to run she finally found the stretching of her muscles to be a relief. If only they weren’t being chased.

When they finally stopped, she didn’t double over but breathed quickly, feeling her heart beat slowing quickly as she got her energy back. “It vas. I’m pleased ve can run at least.” Her ‘R’s rolled gently, on the tip of her tongue rather than the more typical throaty accent of Germans, but it was strong none the less. “I’m Sara, who are you?” She asked, looking at the woman and smiling. The energy that rushed through her system brought the endorphins out and she was feeling much better, much calmer and the shaking had stopped, for now.

When she came down she might face catatonia which would not be good to have in the middle of a street. She ran a tanned hand through the white blond hair that lying all over her face, rather wild after the run. She shifted uncomfortably in the wedding dress, trying to straighten it.

[Liz Burke]

Liz’s head was pounding; it had been a fast run from the strollers from the newsagents then down the street, collecting the bride and a further run to the corner to safety. The doctor breathed heavily catching her breath, once she had regained herself and brought herself back up to an upright position she gave the blonde a smile in return. “Liz Burke.” Liz gave a small nod before stepping from the wall and onto the next street, looking where to go next. Quietly to herself she began to call out the streets. Liz had been working in the city for some time now, but her memory had gone blank because of the sheer panic she had jus encountered.

That way, she thought. Liz turned to the blonde bride. “Are you alone? Or am I expecting three tatty bridesmaids too?” It wasn’t supposed to be light humour, but it came out that way, in fact it was just Liz’s sarcastic attitude. Liz wasn’t known for her jokes, in fact she was interested in jokes at all – but she had a very sarcastic and dry humour. It sometimes came across as abuse, or small digs – but she didn’t care.

Liz pulled the needle pin out of her blonde hair allowing it to fall around her shoulders. For a minute Liz too in the girl’s physicality. Blonde, beautiful, shapely, and donning a very nice (albeit tatty now) wedding dress. It looked as if she had just come off Claudia Schiffer’s catwalk. “From around here are you?” She remarked with a smirk.

[Sara Artexa Murpheys]

“Pleased to meet you Liz.” She grinned, flashing a series of white teeth (which had been maintained with obsessive brushing even without toothpaste) She laughed casually at the woman, as if she were sitting drinking tea, her mind in denial about the situation to protect her, for now. “I’d afraid this dress isn’t mine, it vas something I had to pick up lacking anything else.” She smiled and brushed down the dress, looking at it and shaking her head. “It doesn’t really match the bow and arm guards.”

Her bow was on her back, tucked behind her bag, unstrung to protect the precious string. “I have been living here for some years, but as you can probably tell I am not local.” She began to walk after the newly introduced Ms Burke. “I am from Germany, as it happens. I vork at the gym here... vorked.” She shook her head as if to physically remove the thought from her head and trotted to catch up to Liz.

“Are you here alone? You are one of the first person I have seen since... vell, since it started.” She frowned and shuddered again, feeling the depressing weight of the apocalyptic situation hitting her head by a ton of bricks, again. She pulled a bungee off of her wrist and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it back into a loose pony tail which lay nearly all the way down her back, swaying as she walked. “vere are ve heading?”

[Liz Burke]

Liz stared at the dress as the woman explained how she came across it. It would have been very beautiful, before the stains and shredded pieces. The thick German accent, Liz decided not to bring it up. Did it really matter where she was from? What mattered right now was staying alive, that was the main thought on Liz’s mind. That accent would drive Liz mad, but for now she’d block it out.

“No, I’m not alone.” Liz decided it was best to not tell her about the ill-fated Samantha who had been accompanying Liz. “I live with a small group of people in the police station,” she paused for thought, “which I think is this way...” But she wasn’t sure. Liz glanced around at the streets again, since the disaster all the damned buildings looked the same!

“Hopefully to the police station...” Liz replied trying to concentrate. “You don’t happen to know which way it is, do you?” Then Liz thought of the clinic. Maybe she could detour and head for the clinic and get some supplies. But that would be dangerous, but the gym trainer could be handy.

[Sara Artexa Murpheys]

“You live in the police station!?” Sara laughed and smiled. “Small vorld. I met a man, Mr Malloy who took me there. It seems ve are in the same group.” She laughed again, as if the world was nothing but park land and small furry animals. The exercise had put her in a good mood. She pushed the dress back and tapped her fingers against her leg, looking at the streets before turning right.

“I think it is this vay.” She looked up the street, checking the darker alleys at the sides in case something was ready to spring. There was a lone figure in the centre of the street, some ten metres ahead, swaying gently with the wind. The lopsided, damaged head hung toward the floor and something like blood or saliva dripped from the mouth that was hanging open.

Sara stopped dead and quaked, her arms shaking as she stared at the creature. It hadn’t moved at all, as if it were a statue of flesh. She hesitated before her shaking hands moved to her back and drew her bow, stringing it quickly and staring at the creature. She was frightened to shoot it, but more frightened to leave it standing there. She glanced to Burke and frowned. “It’s not moving.”

[Liz Burke]

Liz raised an eyebrow when she learned they both were in the same group. Well fancy that, she thought. Liz just hoped that she wouldn’t be partnered with Sara. She didn’t want the pretty blonde to get killed like all her predecessors. “Well, well – seems we’re both with the burly brute, eh?” Liz said very sarcastically, almost snubbing Jack Malloy.

Liz sighed when Sara pointed out the direction they had to go; at least someone knew the way. But her joy of knowing the direction was shattered by the German pointing out something else, or actually, someone else. But this person wasn’t moving, as Sara pointed out. “Yeah, which in my experience isn’t a good thing – and I don’t have to be a doctor to tell you that.”

Liz winced, trying to see if the body showed any form of movement or humanity at all. The answer? No. “Hm. Maybe he’s...” She huffed with a smirk, “broken?”

Liz’s brain began to split. Did they risk going down the street and outrunning the body, or did they avoid the street and risk bumping into more uglies. “Well, kiddo, seems we’re at a crossroads – what do you want to do?”

[Sara Artexa Murpheys]

Another musical laugh. “Indeed. Although I am very grateful for the hospitality. It’s far better than living in the gym on my own.” She returned her eyes to the creature ahead and hesitantly, raised a hand to an arrow and strung her bow. “Ve need to go that vay and I think it may be better if ve deal vith it.” She drew back the bow and sighted.

She was careful and slow, taking her time to aim. “I think that he may be all the more broken after this.” She smiled and drew back the arrow and in a twang that barely echoed around the street sent a speeding arrow launching at the head of the creature. It struck with force, the feathers on the arrow giving it a twirling path, it bored into the creatures head and struck it down. It staggered for a few steps then fell backwards into a small pile on the floor.

“I hope that vas enough.” She said, carefully hooking the bow back onto her back trying to hide her shaking hands. She held them down at her side and gripped her dress as she walked forward, giving her something to do to steady them. Picking her way across the street she approached the body and hesitated a few metres away, leaning toward it, wanting to get her arrow but frightened to go any closer. “Think it’s dead?” She muttered.

[Liz Burke]

Elizabeth stopped in awe and shock as the petit blond German pulled out a bow and shot the body down. A damned good shot too. As the blonde approached the now surely dead body Liz still just stood there trying to work out what had just happened. It was like something from a movie. Liz took a breath and moved closer to the blonde, also looking at the body with an arrow in it. “So, learn any other tricks like that?” Liz couldn’t believe it.

Liz made a face of disgust looking at the distorted face on the body now laying dead – dead dead – with an arrow in it. “Erm, you want to... retrieve it?” Liz stuttered not liking the idea. A movement. Liz’s eyes twitched up to the buildings. Something ran across the roof of the store in front of them. “You might want to do it pretty quick, Maid Marion, I don’t think we’re going to be alone for very long...”

Liz didn’t like the idea of being in the open for too long, she felt far too venerable. And this little gun with a few measly bullets wasn’t going to save them for very long if a lot of the horde came to feast – at least blondie had her bow and arrows.

[Bradley Harper]

Bradley hopped over a turned over bench and towards the street full of shops, his sole purpose was to find something useful to him. The shops would no doubt have been raided many times but there were still things people over looked.
The private eye moved up to the entrance of one of the derelict shops, it was quiet. Perhaps in his mind he was thinking that this was all to quiet but it suited him even though the atmosphere seemed creepy.

Stepping through what was once a glass door, Brad moved around the shops floor. There wasn't much left to take back with him. The place was stripped and only odds and ends remained, things that not even the desperate really wanted.
Searching the shelves for anything that might come in handy during the week Bradley found himself picking up a pack of AA batteries and two meters of cable wire.

Leaving the building behind, Bradley entered the building next door where he found a can of de-icer. The new loot wasn't worth much but it all went into his back pack.
Hearing voices, Brad felt his feet glue to the ground as he tried to over hear whoever was speaking.