• The Pub •
OUTBREAK: A Survival RP
T H E M E
Millions have been infected, the victims of a plague unlike any other once before witnessed in the brief history of mankind. A deadly contagion that, within weeks, has brought the most powerful nation to its knees. Quarantine has long since failed; countless have died, and many more have been consumed by the ravages of illness. Others have suffered a worse fate. Now, in the aftermath of ruin, a new dawn is soon upon us. For those fortunate enough to have survived, whether by fate or sheer determination,
things will never be the same.
No help is coming.
No safety exists.
Will you, a survivor in the twilight of human civilization, discover the truth of our death?
Or will you succumb to infection?
Monday, August 10, 2015
74°F (23°C) - Cloudy
Samantha Tallow
McAllister's Pet Supplies, Chicago
The girl had spent the night sleeping in a dog’s kennel. Admittedly, it was quite comfortable, more so than a regular bed even what with the abundance of blankets and soft bedding, and while not for the claustrophobic the plastic walls did give a much needed sense of safety when outside there was none to be found. There was even a restroom with functional plumbing. Had there been food the girl could maybe justify staying a bit longer, but no matter how safe or comfortable she was there were more pressing concerns that had to be addressed before the coming day was out.
Namely, finding her father.
Her father was a CFO for a multinational corporation and had been in the United States for business. Samantha, his only daughter, had accompanied him as she had many times before when not in school. They had been on their way to the airport to leave for home when the attacks happened, although it wasn’t until much later that the girl was privileged to the knowledge of just how bad the situation had become, by which point it was already too late. Her father, however, was optimistic even as the civilized world fell to pieces around them, but if he truly was hopeful or else lying for the sake of his daughter Samantha would never know. He’d never tell. As for where he was now, the night before yesterday they had been separated by those things while attempting to find a safe passage out from the city. They had a plan to meet up should something like this occur, but given the state of the city it had been slow going for the girl as she had to be even more considerate of her surroundings given her disability. Still, she couldn’t be too far from where they had planned to meet and no doubt her father was awaiting her. Maybe his optimism had worked in the end.
Samantha crawled out from the kennel and stretched, feeling a bit exposed in the darkened store but otherwise having no cause for alarm. The pet store hadn’t been touched by the riots save for a broken window and a mess in a few aisles, and better still no animals were sold here, meaning Samantha did not have to contend with the thought of finding the poor creatures dead in their cages. A thorough search of the building had turned up nothing or importance, and after doing her best to lock the door to the manager’s office she had fashioned herself a bed for the night. Now it was simply a matter of making certain she had everything before leaving.
Her backpack was sitting atop the kennel and hadn’t been touched. A paranoid thought to be sure but one couldn’t be too careful given all that had happened. Inside it were some spare granola bars, a portable radio (which was useless to her), flashlight, and most importantly her sketchpad, plus a few other odds and ends. Clothing wise she only had what she wore currently: a t-shirt with black leggings, denim skirt, and a pair of fuzzy boots that weren’t all that great to run in. She’d been wearing the same outfit for almost a week now and was entirely self conscious of her need for a shower.
Satisfied that everything was where it should be, she slid the backpack over her shoulder and cautiously made her way out from the little office. The empty store greeted her. Samantha made a quick round through the aisles (and the restroom), and finding nothing to be wary of she set off for the storefront, but had she been thinking long term she would have snagged a few cans of dog food along the way. The girl was simply oblivious to the fact that she, a human, could eat such foodstuffs. The front of the store was mostly intact other than the smashed window. The registers were empty but not broken into, the lanes were tidy, and warm light was filtering in from the glass entranceway in a way that was almost inviting. Outside was another matter entirely. The street was desolate and more than a bit foreboding. Not as bad as downtown, but Samantha was reluctant nonetheless to leave the relative safety of the pet shop. Steeling herself, she stepped up to the broken window, glass shards cracking underneath her feet, and slowly she peered outside like a meerkat poking its head from a burrow. Nothing but the lonely echo of what had once been. Slowly she emerged from the store and took stock of her situation.
She wasn’t very confident in herself but regardless she had to push ahead. The girl allowed her father’s optimism to give her hope and thus determination, and slowly she made her way down the street, eyes alert for any danger that may well sneak up upon her. The girl’s only lasting concern was whether or not she was heading in the right direction.