Last One Standing

[Ellesar]

((*shrug* you're the mastermind ))

 

[Locket]

((Well, gimme some time then and I'll think. Hmm....))

 

[jelly_bean]

((Go go go me!! I'm late, I'm late! XD))

Owen stopped to note a dilapidated sign. Welcome to the Bronx!, it read. Or at least, he was pretty sure that is what it said. It was already dark, a time Owen usually wasn't walking around. I really should stop soon... he thought, feeling a tiny bit anxious for the first time in years. He shook the feeling off, knowing it was ridiculous. This is the city! There should be less animals here than anywhere else I've already been... and even if something strange is here, I can deal with it. He told himself, pausing to look around.

His senses pricked again when he saw where he was headed to next; a deserted, impossibly dark alley. Owen frowned. I'm turning into a big wuss! A pink pansy! His frown deepening, he tightened his grip on the straps of his knapsack as he made his way toward the alley. Just as his heart was about to go back to a normal beat, he saw it. It. It took all of a second to get into fight or flight, but that was already too late--suddenly he was surrounded by the creatures, the ones he thought he'd seen the last of. It seemed as if all of them at the same time reached for him. Struggling with all his might as the creatures closed in for the kill, Owen had one last thought. I'm going out swinging!

 

[Locket]

(("I'm late, I'm late for a very important date. No time to say hello. Goodbye! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!"))

During the night came the power. Before, he had reveled in the power sheerly for its own sake, the feel of the engine humming and struggling to its maximum capacity, the sound all every last drop of horsepower working in synch to propel him faster and faster, the knowledge of the speed he was reaching, astronomical, frightening, and exhilirating. But now, the power was only a tool for a greater purpose. Whether by sports car, motorcycle, monster truck, or any other form of speed, he used it only to kill and stay alive.

Justin was driving the Bosaccio. Tonight he was cold, hungering for danger and excitement in a ways that exceeded the bounds of safety. He wanted the adrenaline, the rush, and the thrill of seeing his bullets enter another skull. They had eluded him for too long. As soon as dark fell, he had jumped into the car and went trolling, hoping for action. The creatures showed none of their usual reticence, swarming all over the city like a bed of ants disturbed as soon as the sun disappeared. But in the hour and a half he had chased, less than a handful had fallen. They were toying with him, learning his game and adapting. Well, he would not be beaten.

Instead of rushing into the sheltered buildings all around, they ran from the car while others ran to it. Wave after wave tried to break in, but the machine was too fast, too solid. A brute was leading one pack, a large creature who may have been a bouncer or hitman in his former life. Justin pressed the pedal as far as he dared, trying to keep up with the mob as they raced through the streets without killing himself on a wall or a curb or a trashcan. One hand on the wheel, he used the other to steady the gun on the edge of the open window. A grey head filled his sights and his finger tightened around the trigger. A loud bang and one nuisance fell to the ground, others stopping to examine the black blood pooling. The others continued to run so he accelerated. They leaped over obstacles, weaving in and out of alleyways and buildings, but always running parallel in their escape. Suddenly, the pack turned right and disappeared down a street.

Gone.

Justin cursed and slammed his fist against the wheel. He nearly yanked the wheel in pursuit when movement caught his eye. The car slowed as its driver peered down a dark alley. Something was in there. Turning the Bosaccio, Justin flooded the nook with headlights. Dozens of pairs of startled eyes stared back at him. The dead thing among them didn't register and he gunned the engine. Creatures scattered to all sides, most of them unable to avoid the machine as they crumpled beneath the bumper. Others were dispatched with a quick bullet to the head. By now Justin was panting with excitement, but warning signals flashed in his brain. Others were beginning to swarm over the buildings. The smell of blood attracted them throughout the city. He threw the car in reverse and as his foot hovered over the gas pedal, he saw it. Him.

Not a dead dog or anything like he expected. Instead, a human. What the human looked like he neither noticed or cared, except the pink skin, the hair, the attributes that made this man normal. They were coming closer now. So little time. Justin's rage and thirst for revenge faded in the face of survival. Within a moment, the man was thrown into the passenger seat of the car- whether alive or dead he couldn't tell- and the two were barreling down the streets, the hunter now the hunted.

 

[Sylvengard]

((Talk about late... *Gets to posting*))

Ryan smiled shyly. "You probably wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Guitar strings. You got any back there?"

 

[Lessien]

Liesel turned to face him as they walked, staring at him in bemusment. "Guitar strings? Really?" She laughed; the fact that someone would risk his life for guitar strings seemed ridiculous. And yet here he was, in Wal-Mart, hiding from Them and asking about guitar strings. "Yeah, I've got some. Right back here." She pointed to the Music section. "Take whatever you need. I don't really play guitar," she added with a nervous laugh.

 

[Locket]

"Yeah..." Wylie kicked her booted foot softly against the nearby wall. Was there some way to make her stay? She couldn't think of any, couldn't even think of something more to say. "Do... do you live far from here?"

 

[Locket]

Sierra sighed softly and leaned against the wall when she saw Wylie stiffen. "Sorry if I offended you." she apologized softly. She glanced around at everything, but didn't make any effort to move just yet.

The day passed quietly, Wylie having reverted back to her quiet, wary self, not sure of her own social skills and unable to see into Sierra's mind for cues. But unable to let the contact slip away, she waited for the girl to finish eating before completing the tour around the museum. One unique thing about her home was that as a public place of tourism, there were clocks everywhere, but each had been stopped, its face shattered. Why this was Wylie never said, but she also studiously avoided looking at them.

Night was nearing and Wylie was more anxious than ever. Fidgeting with her cup of water, she finally spoke. "I-I suppose you'll be leaving now."

 

[Ellesar]

Sierra had noticed the smashed clocks and the fact that Wylie didn't look at them, but she didn't ask about it, for fear of offending Wylie. She knew that night was nearing, but she didn't move from where she was. "I probably should..." she said softly to Wylie's comment, but she was loathe to leave the only person she had had contact with for years.

 

[Sylvengard]

"Yeah, guitar. You should at least try to play...it's a great way to pass the cursed night." Ryan commented. "Oh, I thought it would be only a minute and then I would be back on the road. Looks like I'm stuck here for the night." he said, followng Liesel. Looking for something to say, he searched his mind. "Do you listen to music? Like...you got any favorites?"

 

[Lessien]

Liesel nodded, not knowing what else to do. "I'm...not all that good at music. I like acting though....not that there's much opportunity for that anymore," she added, somewhat bitterly.

"Do you listen to music? Like...you got any favorites?"

"Music? Oh, yeah," she laughed. "Love music. It's pretty much what I do all day....I like the Goo Goo Dolls, Jack Johnson, Rob Thomas....stuff like that. You?"

 

[Sylvengard]

"Good choices," he said, smiling. "Me? I'm an oldies fan. Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Boston . . . stuff like that. 'Course the new stuff is good too - Nickelback, Korn, you know?"

Regarding her comment on not acting anymore, he added, "What if you acted in front of a mirror?"

 

[jelly_bean]

Owen almost didn't notice when he was suddenly scooped out of the hands of death. He, in fact, still felt the claws in his flesh... their ugly faces still looked too grotesque to be real... still heard the sound of impending doom. He was still tensed for what was surely to come! Blinking, he noticed his starkly different surroundings. He glanced around and measured the situation quickly--he was in a car, and that man driving said car had saved him. Probably. Owen's first adrenaline-laced thought was that the dude had grabbed him so he could cannabilze him or something terrifying. But as the horror and the panic ebbed away, his cheerful nature resurfaced with a vengeance.

"I'm.... I'm alive!" He squeaked, which was unusual as he was not a squeaker, cheery as he was.. "Whoever you are... you saved my life! Did you see those... those... things?! Animals I can handle, but those monsters, they are a different thing altogether! I was chow for sure! Thanks a bunch! I didn't even know anybody was still alive! What's it been, three years? I've never seen anyone." Owen gushed, mainly because he was so grateful he was still alive. He usually tried to be more reserved, as he felt that was more... manly.

Suddenly, he had a thought. "My name's Owen Parren, by the way. It's nice to meet you. Really nice."

 

[Ellesar]

"Yeah..." Wylie kicked her booted foot softly against the nearby wall. Was there some way to make her stay? She couldn't think of any, couldn't even think of something more to say. "Do... do you live far from here?"

Sierra was quiet for a few moments as she thought. Finally, she said, "I'm not sure exactly. Maybe a 15-20 minute bike ride."

 

[Lessien]

"Good choices," he said, smiling. "Me? I'm an oldies fan. Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Boston . . . stuff like that. 'Course the new stuff is good too - Nickelback, Korn, you know?"

Smiling, Liesel nodded. "Yeah, that stuff is good too. Not a big fan of Def Leppard....the Beatles are good, though...."

"What if you acted in front of a mirror?"

"Tried that. Sort of makes you feel stupid after a while, just reciting lines to yourself. I tried it with the mannequins, too, but that just seemed stupider. I guess there's not really anyone around to care, but still..." She paused. "What kind of music do you play?"

 

[Locket]

((El, I'm at a loss. Think of some reason for her to stay))

Owen almost didn't notice when he was suddenly scooped out of the hands of death. He, in fact, still felt the claws in his flesh... their ugly faces still looked too grotesque to be real... still heard the sound of impending doom. He was still tensed for what was surely to come! Blinking, he noticed his starkly different surroundings. He glanced around and measured the situation quickly--he was in a car, and that man driving said car had saved him. Probably. Owen's first adrenaline-laced thought was that the dude had grabbed him so he could cannabilze him or something terrifying. But as the horror and the panic ebbed away, his cheerful nature resurfaced with a vengeance.

"I'm.... I'm alive!" He squeaked, which was unusual as he was not a squeaker, cheery as he was.. "Whoever you are... you saved my life! Did you see those... those... things?! Animals I can handle, but those monsters, they are a different thing altogether! I was chow for sure! Thanks a bunch! I didn't even know anybody was still alive! What's it been, three years? I've never seen anyone." Owen gushed, mainly because he was so grateful he was still alive. He usually tried to be more reserved, as he felt that was more... manly.

Suddenly, he had a thought. "My name's Owen Parren, by the way. It's nice to meet you. Really nice."

The car swerved suddenly as a creature launched itself at the car. Caught in the headlights, Owen and Justin could see it in its true horror. Its gaunt body was stretched full like a panther in mid-spring, Justin could count every one of its protruding ribs. Nails, probably once trimmed carefully, now gleamed viciously, black with city dirt and disease. The mouth leered open, wide and ravenous with yellowed fangs shiny with spit. Most unsettling were the eyes, the orbs that once held this creature's glimpses of humanity, now completely filled by the dark, endless pupils. Animal eyes. Hungry eyes. The eyes continued to stare at them even after the creature slammed into the windshield, smearing blood over the glass before it slid off.

Unable and unwilling to answer the man's nervous prattling, Justin's knuckles tightened on the wheel. With a savage jerk, he turned down a narrow street and opened up as much speed as the sports car could muster.

 

[Ellesar]

((maybe it's later than either of them thought and she wouldn't be able to make it back to where she lived before dark?))

 

[Sylvengard]

Smiling, Liesel nodded. "Yeah, that stuff is good too. Not a big fan of Def Leppard....the Beatles are good, though...."

Ryan laughed lightly. "The Beatles...I never really heard much of their stuff."

"Tried that. Sort of makes you feel stupid after a while, just reciting lines to yourself. I tried it with the mannequins, too, but that just seemed stupider. I guess there's not really anyone around to care, but still..." She paused. "What kind of music do you play?"

"Isn't that what real acting is? Only thing is that people are not watching." He scratched his head with a free hand. "I play all kinds of stuff...a little jazz, maybe. I like the openings riffs of the old songs, mostly. But usually I just play around and write my own stuff. I mean, three years is a bit of free time."

 

[mochagirl]

Chassy jerked upright, taking in a gulp of air, eyes wide as she glanced around the darkened room. What was that noise? She was sure she’d heard something. But what? And from where?

Her breathing sounded loud and obtrusive in the still room, so she put her hand over her mouth to muffle it. Her cheek was wrinkled from where it had rested on the pillow, and she absently rubbed the imprint with the tips of her fingers.

After an interminable moment, she felt herself relaxing back into a sleepy state. “Must’ve been a dream,” she whispered, leaning back down on the bed. Her eyelids flickered shut.

Eeech.

She stiffened, and pulled her eyes open, millimeter by millimeter, peering at the sliver of window behind the dresser. It was dark, of course, with no light but the twinkle of faraway stars, but the longer she stared, the more she was sure she could see—something—outlined in shadow. The scratching noise repeated, and her heart gave a lurch.

What do I do, what do I do? What would—What if it’s one of Them? What if it breaks the window—knocks over the dresser—and grabs me with those horrible claws—

A different noise, more like a thud, pulled her attention from the nightmare in her mind toward the door. This time she didn’t think, she acted. Her hand grabbed the gun she’d put on the nightstand, and her body slid out of the bed and crouched on the floor. She checked the gun to make sure it was loaded and ready, then she waited. It could be They didn’t know she was in here. She didn’t want to make it certain to Them.

“Surprise is one of the best weapons a person can have,” she could hear her dad saying, long ago, for a reason lost to her memory. Her brother’s voice, from not so long before, perhaps, but still an eternity ago, echoed afterward, “If you have it, use it wisely. They aren’t easily surprised.” But how to use it, let alone wisely? She’d lasted this long by avoiding moments like these. Obviously, her avoidance skills were slipping. This was her second encounter lately. But the other one had been on the street—this time she was supposed to be safe and sound in her barricaded new home.

She could feel her forehead pulling downward into a frown. By goodness, she was supposed to be sleeping! How dare They ruin her night like this! But just as quickly as it came, her indignation fled, replaced with a mix of desperation and fear, at yet another scratch across the window. I’m going to die…just like—everybody else.

Please, please, please, let the sun come quickly.

 

[Lessien]

Ryan laughed lightly. "The Beatles...I never really heard much of their stuff."

"Yeah, they're good, even if they're kinda...old." Liesel laughed again.

"Isn't that what real acting is? Only thing is that people are not watching."

Liesel shrugged. "Guess so."

He scratched his head with a free hand. "I play all kinds of stuff...a little jazz, maybe. I like the openings riffs of the old songs, mostly. But usually I just play around and write my own stuff. I mean, three years is a bit of free time."

She nodded. "That's cool...." His confession made her feel a twinge of guilt. Three years is a bit of free time...What had she done with it? While Ryan was off writing songs and playing his guitar, she was hiding out here in Wal-Mart, eating Twinkies and reading romance novels. At least I'm still in shape, she thought, sneaking another peek out of the corner of her eye and Ryan's toned muscles. She made it a point to work out every day, riding the mountain bikes around the store or the surrounding area--mostly to keep from going insane, but partly because she figured They liked fat people best.