OUTBREAK (Sandbox/Survival/Horror - IC / ALWAYS OPEN)

[Hastur]

Ingrid Zakharova.
Atlas Security Division.
Twenty five days since initial outbreak.
3935 South Archer Ave Chicago, IL 60632, USA.

---

Ingrid could finally see the school, the educational establishment laying a mere fifty meters away from their position, but it still felt like a whole world away with the current situation. Like an remote island oasis surrounded by an unsteady and violent sea, ready to take anyone down below into the dark depths if they weren't careful in their approach. The freaks where that sea. They stood almost shoulder to shoulder, hundreds of them desperately trying to get inside. Punching, kicking, bashing and trying to scream their way in, driven by a primal need to feed. Whoever was inside probably feeling like sardines in a tin can by now. Feeling like they where about to become a later afternoon lunch. Ingrid was going to have to climb into that can if she wanted to find her own salvation.

She moved slowly and stuck close to the ragtag group of survivors, throwing up her hand in a fist to bring them to a halt. Ingrid taking in her options as she tried to plan out their advance. It was a good thing that the Samuel would be running interference, they wouldn't stand a chance of getting in unharmed otherwise. For the kid however, it probably wouldn't help out his own life expectancy, drawing the shit end of the stick. It wasn't like they had a choice, or could turn around now. officer Rudy, the mastermind behind the plan, contacted him over the radio, telling him that the team was in place, and that they where ready to go.

Soon enough, the howl of the police cars engine become audible, quickly followed by the screeching sirens alerting everything within a half mile radius that it was coming. Something that once scared some people away now bringing everyone down on it. The car sped past the school, and hell quickly followed with it, the horde attention now drawn, they quickly turned and followed, chasing down the car in a full on sprint Samuel tried to get away. The street was now clear, Samuel now taking the brunt of it. Ingrid certainly hoped that he was a good driver, less he'd be stuck inside a thin steel coffin which would be heading into a very premature grave.

The main problem had been dealt with, but sirens would draw more in, they'd have to move fast. Ingrid and the others moved quickly, moving across the open ground quickly, heading stright towards the front door to make entry. Probably not the smartest plan, but it was the most direct, given the limited time. the door opened, and the survivors poured in. But it had been too easy, and life was keen to throw a wrench into their plans. Someone outside had noticed them, and soon enough, an infected soldier had jammed himself into the door, the six foot something man clad in body army shoving himself through the gap as he let out a loud scream. Ingrid and the survivors they attempted to jam the door shut, but to no avail. The huge fucker got in, and soon enough a small group of his friends quickly joined him. That two options in the playbook. Fight or run, and run was seemingly the one that prevailed.

Ingrid sprant in the oposite direction, darting down the long corridor of the school as she tried to get away, shovel still clutched tightly in her hand. Fear and adrenaline kicked in, her heart racing, hands shaking and brow sweating as her body throw everything into survival mode. Ruby was ahead of her, and it seemed like the following her had the best chance of survival. Soon enough however, they'd have nowhere to run, reading a dead end which would decide their fates. They'd have to find the soldiers, or simply find a room to hide in, otherwise they'd all be dead soon enough.

[Tayner]

Luke LaForge
Willis Tower, Chicago
Day 25

"This is a bad idea, this whole place is a death trap, and she wants us to walk right into it?" The blond woman in the EMT jacket whispered back to Luke as the rest of the group headed forward. Deep down she had merit in her skepticism, but something inside Luke pushed aside any fear that he would've had.

"Just keep your head on a swivel, and your flashlight on, and we'll be fine. If it makes you feel safer you can stay behind me, so if we run into anything you'll be clear." He said, his voice a deep whisper. The woman seemed to heed his advice, lagging behind on their accent. Luke was besides the little girl, and behind Sarah the dog. For a little while they pressed on, taking a short break before stopping on floor 61.

Luke wouldn't admit it, but he was tired out and ready to call it quits like the rest of the group. His days of marching with 80lbs of gear were behind him, and the apocalyptic diet wasn't really doing him any favors. He helped clear he floor, and the group was beginning to make camp in the center of the office. A campfire was started inside of a metal desk drawer (likely to keep the fire controlled), and people were making themselves comfortable.

Sam had sat down by the fire, leaning in towards the heat source to get away from the chills of the night. Luke walked over and motioned for the notepad, hoping to ask her some questions. What's so important here? being most prominent amongst them.

[Kentucky Fried Land]

Ruby Almanza
Wishful Thinking
Kelly High School

They were fucked. They were unbelievably fucked.

The pitter patter of her own feet followed by two other pairs, which were in turn followed by a mass of booming stomps and shrieks. The dark corridors of the school did little to assist them in their escape, the infected more aware, the infected more able to chase them. In fact, despite her training, Ruby felt her breath leaving in rapid doses and spurts. Her heart felt like it was near overflow, bursting from the seams of her ribcage and spilling chunks from her throat. She almost stopped and let them take her. It was easier that way, it would be so much easier that way…

Lucky for her, her mental state was rejuvenated by two lights in the distance.

Ruby gasped, eyeing the source of the lights. Metal double doors sat at the end of the hallway, the gateway to heaven just in reach. Behind the glass windows the obvious sight of a gymnasium was before them. It might be a good place to hold out or escape for the moment, if they could get in.

Ruby hit the door, turning her head and seeing Hess and Ingrid behind her. She pushed on it, but to her horror it did not move. “No! No no no!” She kicked at the door and bashed it with her fists, to no avail. She readied her shoulder (but really readied herself to die) and neared crashing into the doors as one suddenly opened. She fell in, Hess and Ingrid right behind them as the doors slammed shut.

Two soldiers flanked them from both sides now, one of them shoving what seemed to be a pole through the door handles, the infected on the other side screaming in fury. Two barrels went up at them, and another soldier emerged into view, his rifle now aimed at the trio. “You a cop? And they’re with you?” One of them said, the one who had barricaded the door.

“Yes. Officer Almanza.” She stared at the man, shaking still. The soldier glanced at her nametag, before his eyes settled on her shotgun and her compatriots. “Drop your weapons, slowly.”

Ruby did as ordered, setting the shotgun on the floor. The soldier who had been speaking kept his rifle trained on her with one hand, reaching down to grab the shotgun and pulling it away, setting it behind him.

[Fantrum]

Madeline Hess
Kelly High School

Things needed to slow the fuck down. In a fit of retardation, Madi had decided to follow the wildly sprinting pair of women. At first she'd been intent on letting them run themselves to a quick death inside the school, but that plan had been put to rest as every pair of ghoulish eyes locked on the trio. All pretense of stealth was therefore dead and Madi had run her ass off just trying to keep up with her older companions.

By the time they had even reached the school's front doors she was huffing and puffing like a chain smoker, and had been absolutely not help in trying to seal the door against the fatigues clad ghoul who had busted in. As she sprinted through the hallways, desperately clinging to her rifle like a lifeline, she could feel herself slipping farther behind the other women and closer to certain death. Black had encroached on her vision, her heart was thundering out of her chest, sweat poured off her, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She could have sworn she felt the ghouls swiping the air just behind her, and as she rounded a corner into the straightaway leading to the gym, she heard the mighty crash of several ghouls failing to make the turn and slamming into the lockers a hair's breadth away from her. Fighting through it all, she could see the Ruby beating the door fruitlessly, and she almost gave up right then and there. But then, providence intervened and the doors swung wide open. With a renewed scream of determination, Madi put her soul into her feet and passed through the threshold, promptly bowling over one of the soldiers in her panic and going flying into the open space behind.

She slid across the polished floor and slammed head first into a bank of military looking computers, rifle only a few feet away. In her adrenaline filled haze, the girl grabbed her weapon and flung herself over the overturned plastic table, putting it between herself and the group of soldiers just a few meters away. She rested the rifle on the table and sat there, hyperventilating, while the soldiers ordered the trio to drop their weapons. "You won't take my gun!" She practically screamed at them. As the officer put her shotgun down, wild accusations and half baked conspiracies filled Madi's already addled mind. Of course they knew the soldiers. Why else would they both drop their weapons so quickly! They were expected... and... and... Madi jumped backward as her vision in her right eye went red.

Reaching up a hand, she felt around the top of her head and it came away red and sticky. As though a dam had broken inside her, exhaustion overtook the small girl and she felt the rifle fall out of her hands and clatter to the ground. Her body stopped responding to her commands and she slumped forward to use the table as a support, blood now streaming freely down her face from a large gash across her forehead. "Awe, fuck me..." She managed to stutter as one of the soldiers rushed to her with a medical bag. She didnt have the strength to fight him off, and instead let him start to dress her wound while staring blankly at the ceiling and whimpering as he put alcohol on it.

[Hastur]

Ingrid Zakharova.
Atlas Security Division.
Twenty five days since initial outbreak.
4136 S California Av, Chicago, Illinois 60632

---

And there it was. A beacon of hope within the sterile hallway of the winding school. A lit room behind a set of double doors leading into the high schools gymnasium. No doubt the place housing the soldiers that had sent out the call, assuming that they where still alive inside. The group moved quickly over to it, now seemingly much smaller in numbers than before, some of them likely getting lost or falling behind, a scenario that was bound to happen in the insanity of the situation.

Maybe following the cop in blindly wasn't the most well throughout plan, but she was stuck in it now, and it'd probably be the death of her if the door that they where placing all of their chips on was locked. They reached the door, Ingrid watched intensely as she tried it, only to find herself stuck yet again within the worst case scenario, the door being locked. The cop began struggling with it, kicking it, doing whatever she could to get the bastard thing open, desperate in her attempted. Ingrid looked back. She could see the fuckers, the infected darting round the corner and charging right towards them, seven of them at-least. Somebody would have to hold them off.

Ingrid turned to face them. Readying her entrenching tool for a fight, her heart almost beating out her chest, hands shivering with excess adrenaline as she prepared for a fight she would lose. It was interrupted by the doors flying open. Fate had other plans. Three figures quickly forced them inside. Ingrid being pushed to the floor as they did so. When she made it back on her feet, she was greeted by a very uncomfortable sight. Three rifle barrels pointed directly in her face, guns held by three very tried looking US army soldiers. Her hands almost instantly darted up to her side at the sight, Ingrid not fancying the idea of having a new hole to breath out of.

“You a cop? And they’re with you?” One asked, whom Ingrid could only assume to be in charge of the group, due to his silver bars and poor attempt to muster up an authoritative tone.

Rudy complied, giving the truthful answer.

“Drop your weapons, slowly.”

Great.

She didn't exactly want to part with her rifle or trusty shovel. She trusted these grunts about as she could throw them, which wasn't far at all. The gun in her face however was a big incentive. Although she wasn't sure that they had much ammo left. Otherwise why would they still be here? Ingrid slowly unclipped her rifle from it's sling and lowered it to the floor, placing it down gently. Before one of the troops could receive it, the mosin girl had decided to resist. Screaming that they wouldn't take the gun that was almost twice the size of her. She was scared, and the gun was the only thing that offered her a sense of security. Something that Ingrid found to be was very understandable in these times.

One of the soldiers however obviously thought that wasn't the case and decided to slam her in the head with his rifle stock. Ingrid jolted forward at the man, hands curled into a fist, ready to strike him in the head for his stupid action, only to receive a sharp jab in the chest with the lieutenants rifle, clearing the stupid idea from her head. She remained still as the lieutenant ordered one of the troops to get a medic bag to treat the laceration the violent soldier had dealt.

"We heard your distress call. We came here to provide backup." Ingrid spoke up, hands still upwards. "Before we could get in, my team ran into a little trouble as you can now see." She had no team. Not anymore at-least. But if they believed that she did, it'd no doubt help them out in the long run. The infected only helped to back up the half truth, as they bash their way into the now barred door, desperate to get inside. "Picked up these stragglers on the way in. Now, where is your radio?" Ingrid asked directly, looking towards whom she assumed to be the leader of the group.

[Kentucky Fried Land]

Ruby Almanza
Wishful Thinking
Kelly High School

Ruby startled forward as the rifle butt dropped upon Hess’ head. “Hey!” She cried out, stepping forward but a gloved hand sticking out and stopping her. “Stop it.” A firm voice ordered, commanding them all to its attention. The hand released her and Ruby jolted forward, her adrenaline stomping through her body. She coughed, staring at the lieutenant, swallowing as Ingrid was battered after the poor Hess. A sigh released from her mouth, pity shuddering her mind into turmoil.

As one of them, what looked like a corporal thanks to the insignia on his sleeve, attended to Hess’ forehead, the other two flanked Ingrid and Ruby, the lieutenant lowering his rifle while the other kept his trained on the two. Ruby kept her eyes locked with the lieutenant, who was still glaring at them with bleak eyes. Ingrid made her statement followed by the lieutenant taking a step towards them and adjusting his grip on the rifle; a threat. “Hold on, hold on, I want to know just who you are. I got her name,” he pointed at Ruby, “and I get the idea behind the other one. What’s your deal? Private security? PMC?”

The soldier attending to Hess sighed in disappointment. Compassion, even. “Sorry about him. Fuck, he hit you hard.” The man continued dabbing at the blood trickling down her face, flooding her vision and choking her lips with the taste of pennies.

[Fantrum]

Madeline Hess
Kelly High

Madi had surrendered herself to her fate. Getting smashed in the head had done wonders for clearing it of any wild conspiracies... at least for now. In their place was now a constant dizzy fog Madi had to fight through even just to think straight. She knew absolutely nothing about medical mumbo jumbo, but she was fairly certain being delivered a blow upside the head wasn't conducive to her continued well being.

At first she simply sat there and took in the mercy of a man as he attended her, utterly unable to focus enough to even wipe her own blood from her eye, whimpering lamely under her breath all the while. But as the stars went away she started gathering her her wits back to her, and actually took stock of the situation. Her rifle had been piled up with the rest of their guns off to the side while Ruby and Ingrid spoke to their newfound captors. The sounds of enraged ghoul continued to come from the barred door, and she had a rather dashing, if dirty and tired, man her age wrapping her open head wound in gauze.

All told, things could be much worse. Judging by the body language from the four people still standing, they weren't exactly friends just yet, but that was fine, a cold hatred had formed within Madi's gut. Partly directed at the soldier who had attacked her, partly at her companions for letting it happen however unfair and unrealistic it was, and mostly at herself for getting into this whole mess in the first place.

Then she realized she was being spoken too, and snapped, as much as she could, her attention back to the guy who had just finished wrapping the top of her head. "Yeah... I've been knocked around a little before, but your friend hits hard." An idea flashed in her head. She had her boot knife, a pocket knife really, only a few inches long but it would be enough. She could slash this guy's throat... or even better, hold him at knife point and demand her gun back. The way it seemed they were going, it wasn't that bad of an idea. Unfortunately the sane part of her brain chimed in and reminded her that she'd already been smacked on the head once, and trying something that rash would likely end in her death. Not to mention the man now stuffing his supplies back into the bag was more than a full head taller than her, and even under his utilities she could tell he was well built.

"Don't judge him too hard ok?" The soldier sounded as exhausted as he looked, "Everyone's terrified right now, some just handle it better." He added a small smile, obviously he thought Madi's screaming fit wasn't exactly the best way to handle a life and death situation, and Madi flushed a little in embarrassment.

She didn't like it, but out of the three soldiers this one was at least friendly. She could use that, how, she didn't yet know, but it would come in handy. "You wouldn't happen to know if someone named Lisa Hess came through here... would you?" She dared to hope for all of a milisecond before the man, Jameson by his name tag, shock his head.

"The LT would probably know. Your sister? Or Mother?" He helped the girl to her feet as he spoke and steadied her as she faultered against him.

Madi was quick to push him off and shakily nodded, "My mother." She confirmed breathlessly. The pair walked over to where guns were still being pointed at people Madi was beginning to grudgingly call friends and listened to the exchange. They were out of the loop pretty bad, but the conversation seemed more or less about who they were and what they were doing in an overrun military outpost. Madi didn't really pay much attention however, her head was pounding and a small red circle had appeared in her white head wrap.

[Beiarusia]

SAMANTHA TALLOW
Floor 61, Willis Tower, Chicago, IL

The girl was sitting with her knees drawn up to her chest. Close to the makeshift campfire — contained in the metal desk drawer they'd scavenged — but not so near as to be uncomfortable or overheated, basking, like a lizard, safe and warm in the inviting glow where the cold tendrils of darkness could not reach. Smoke and embers and ash flickered in the firelight in lazy pirouettes, reflected by blue-green eyes watching in absentmindedness. A purposeful unthinking to avoid the nagging worry that had settled in the pit of her stomach.

Her father was upstairs, somewhere, and Samantha wanted so much to keep going, just a bit further, but the others were exhausted, and with night fast approaching their climb would only be that much more perilous.

They would continue in the morning.

Until then, Samantha had to do her best to keep her mind preoccupied, which, in this case, was to avoid thinking altogether. Typically she'd distract herself with a book or by wasting time on the internet. Every now and again she'd play video games, or watch the telly, or doodle in her notebook, or text her friends about nothing in particular. None of that was an option now. Just she, herself, and a multitude of unwanted thoughts. A collection of what-if's that were better left buried and forgotten. She had considering being social, getting to know the men and women who, quite literally, were all that stood between her and an untimely death a thousand miles away from home, and who'd already brought her this far. The adults seemed to have little opinion of the "kid" regardless of how mature she believed she was. As far as she could tell, to them, she was a child not an equal. Not that conversation would be easy given her total deafness. A chore that nobody was interested in partaking in.

Except for LaForge. The scraggly man approached and motioned for the notepad. Samantha obliged, watching with some curiosity as he scribbled down a note. His handwriting was bad, really bad, perhaps more-so than her own chicken-scratch. Not completely illegible but just about.

What's so important in this building?

Samantha took the notepad but didn't respond immediately. It wasn't a secret, she simply hadn't told them the reason for her wanting so desperately to be here, and, looking back, it was the least she could have done considering all they've done for her. Helping her was entirely voluntary, a selfless act that benefited them in no conceivable way, shape, or form, but they did so anyway, and she was grateful, and she hadn't even said "thank you."

She jotted down her words a few lines down the page.

I'm looking for my father.

It felt odd to read those words. As if adding finality to the worry she'd been avoiding all evening.

LaForge: Sorry to hear that. When did you get split up?

Samantha: A few days ago... we're supposed to meet here.

LaForge: I'm sure we're find him.

He paused for a moment before adding another question.

Do you need anything?

As if on cue her stomach growled. She hadn't had anything to eat since this morning, and now that she had time to sit her stomach had time to demand food, as embarrassing as it was.

Samantha: I'm hungry.
LaForge: Me, too. I'll see if I can find you something.

He had no food but earlier they had found some candy bars inside the desk. No one had laid claim, and LaForge was kind enough to give them away without so much as a complaint despite having nothing to eat himself. Samantha thanked him, signing in her native BSL and assuming he'd get the gist of it, offering a small smile that felt oddly strange on her lips, as if her brain demanded her to be dour until such time she was reunited with her father.

They turned in for the night soon thereafter. Sarah took first watch, LaForge the second.

Samantha wasn't asked to help. Not that she had expected them to.

Come morning, the group of survivors continued on up towards the topmost floor of Willis Tower, if only because it was the obvious choice of where to go. In hindsight they should have gone downstairs.

---

---

GRADUATION
Kelly High School, Chicago, IL

Second Lieutenant Enos Grey sighed deeply. A sound punctuated by the knocking of Infected at the door. He ignored it, choosing instead to focus on the three women, unsure on how best to proceed with this sudden and unexpected development. He'd been expecting a military rescue, or, at the very least, some response from command, but instead he got a wayward CPD officer, a suspicious PMC, and a kid(?) lugging around a gun that was almost as big as she was. Corporal Jamerson wasn't helping matters none. The situation was understandably tense, but the corporal's "detaining" the smallest of the women had likely made the lieutenant's task of defusing the mess all the more difficult.

Diplomacy wasn't his strongest of skills to begin with, but neither did he want to shoot the civilians.

"Let's start again," he said, motioning for everyone to stand down, soldiers included, lest things escalate to a point much rather avoided. The CPD officer was thankfully cooperative, and Private Miller was keeping calm, but the PMC was looking to be a lit match uncomfortably close to an open keg of gunpowder. Last thing he needed was for her and Jamerson to butt heads. "I'm Second Lieutenant Grey, National Guard, and we were hoping to get a message out to the Army." His gaze fell upon Ingrid. "We got plenty of radios. Short-range mostly. The fancy kit is busted as far as we know. Can't get a signal out past Chicago. It's set up in the corner." He cocked his head to indicate the corner of the gymnasium where all their gear was currently stashed. It was obvious that the school had once housed more than three soldiers.

Another bang on the door as the Infected tried so desperately to get inside.

"The door should hold fine enough. So, let's talk. We've got time."

He nudged the CPD officer's shotgun with his boot and nudged it closer to where Almanza could claim it. Jamerson didn't look please, but Grey was in charge and didn't much care what the corporal was thinking so long as he bit his tongue. Miller trusted the lieutenant enough to mind himself.

"You're not Army, but whatever you're doing outside it looks to be working, so let's play nice and maybe we can get out of this when things calm down, okay? I know we got off on the wrong foot, but don't think I'm some hard-ass who doesn't know when to accept some outsider help. All I care about is getting out of this damn school. And I'm sure you don't want to be stuck here longer than necessary." Lieutenant Grey turned to walk towards their slice of the gym. "Pick a corner and stash your gear. We have a few MRE's left if you're hungry." He paused to pierce the corporal with a sharp look. "And Jamerson, do remember your manners."

Corporal Jamerson didn't loosen his grip on his rifle. "Yes, sir." He didn't trust the women, and made a point to stalk off, but he'd follow orders since Grey had yet to get them killed.

For a moment if was just them and Private Miller. He was a bit more awkward, but, of the three, appeared to be the least threatening. Jamerson was quite plainly a hot-tempered individual. Maybe the apocalypse had hardened him, but whatever the cause he'd be looking for a fight. Grey kept his emotions in-check but undoubtedly would do what was needed if threatened. Miller was just lucky enough to have survived this long.

"Do you need anything?" he asked, trying to be helpful.

==========================================================================

DAY 26
Sunday, August 14, 2016
64°F (18°C) - Cloudy w/ Chance of Rain

---

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Washington Elementary School, Naperville, IL

They had no way of burying Principal Hanover. The best they could manage was to place him inside the cafeteria refrigerator with a thin, white sheet to cover his corpse, wrapped tightly, like a mummy, and stained red here-and-there. The man had been crazy, but he was just as much a victim as everyone else. Destroyed by infection. In the end, he had come to die in his most cherished of places, and it was disrespectful to leave him sprawled out in the hallway drowned in a pool of his own blood.

The adults had explored the school afterwards, rifling through classrooms and offices and the library and the clinic, in search of any useful supplies. There was a mostly full FIRST-AID KIT and some OINTMENT in the nurse's office, as well as two pairs of UNDERWEAR. (A strange find) Hanover's CROWBAR would also be practical in emergencies. The kids, having nowhere to go, and having doted on Jessica despite her insistence of being okay, followed the adults, helping where they could, and had some JUNK FOOD and a COMIC BOOK to offer as thanks for the rescue.

Evening was quick upon them, and they spent the night inside a classroom, the kids sticking mostly to themselves as the adults talked about whatever it was adults talked about. Come morning, they headed for the front doors to be greeted by a cloudy day.

"What now?" asked Adam, his question directed to no one in particular.

Alex shrugged. "Anywhere's better than here."

Jessica nodded in agreement.

Cadence, being the unofficial leader, approached the adults, more curious than needing, and asked where they were heading. She didn't ask for help, none of them did, but it was obvious that the children had nowhere to go. No home. No family. No chance of surviving Chicago. They were resourceful, but they were also kids, and the world was so much more dangerous now than ever. They refused to ask for help twice, but deep down they understood the gravity of the situation. Help was something they needed.

[Kentucky Fried Land]

Nancy Kirksey
The Question
St. Joseph’s Seminary

The pastor seemed to be confused. “What?” He answered, eyes gleaming in the ray of sunlight from the window. “Do… do you know of a way out of here?” Nancy repeated, a bit more bite in her speech now. “A way out? I… the only way out is down to the street. We can… maybe climb down! But the infected are down there now, we can’t get out!”

“Look, man, I’m not fuckin’ dying up here! Okay?!” Clyde fumed, his eyes rolling back and spittle flying from his mouth. “So if we’re going to go, let’s go!” He sounded near insanity, his eyes red and lined with lack of sleep. Storming away from the group followed by Shaun, he disappeared around the corner soon enough. Nancy brushed her hair back; eager, anxious. Sweat dripped from her forehead, blurring her vision with skinny strands of blonde. “Okay. Okay.” The mutter came. She was tired. So, so tired.

Turning to Monica, the girl’s lips smacked. “Come on, let’s go.” She spoke, reaching down to her only friend.

---

Ruby Almanza
Wishful Thinking
Kelly High School

Ruby lowered herself, slow, swallowing. She picked up her shotgun, tugging it to her chest with the barrel aimed at the ground. “Thank you.” She mumbled, now looking at the lieutenant. “Can you give me a second? The reason we got in here was because of this kid using my squad car… I need to talk to him.” Grey stared at her, nothing eligible to be read off his thin expression. “Alright.” He finally said, relaxing Ruby’s nerves as she turned and stepped over to the side while the others conversed. She reached to her belt, grabbing the head of her personal radio, tugging on it. “Dammit.” Spoken under her breath as the walkie refused to pull from her belt. Finally, it snapped off, inches away from her hot breath now. “Sam? Sam, you there?” She released the button. No response. “Sam? Sam, I need you to answer when you get the chance.” The silence was horrific. Why wouldn’t he just answer? “Dammit, Sam, answer me!” Her cry was quiet yet deafening. Her eyes wide, sweat heavy.

There was no response.

---

Samuel Wayfield
Unknown

”TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF!”

The man atop the police car was broad. His eyes bulged from their sockets, wispy tears spearing out the corners. Samuel Wayfield was huddled in the passenger seat, guarding his face while the man threw his fists into the hood of the car. It had been a very, very bad day.

After the horde of infected had taken chase of the squealing squad car, Sam had accelerated as fast as he could. Speed had whipped through the vehicle, blowing off of it, shaking the foundations. One of them had taken a step in front of him and here he was. Crashed into some old mechanic’s shop, a hole in the wall, a broken nose from a vicious airbag, and an insane man beating the hood to death.

Samuel uncovered his eyes, flaring up at the infected man. He could hear more of them screaming behind him, running for that goddamned near deafening sound. The man on the hood was wielding nothing but a mechanic’s jacket and jeans and a pair of heavy fists. On his left arm a odorous, dark gash had been flayed into his skin, maggots feeding on the decaying flesh. Samuel’s mind could only conjure up one name for the creature in his frantic thoughts of escape; Maggot-Arm.

His arm flew to the door handle, fiddling with it. Maggot-Arm took notice, his watery eyes shifting upwards, saliva drooling down his chin. “TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF!”

With three swift punches, Maggot-Arm caved the windshield in. Samuel had never been given the chance to turn the siren off; the airbag had flung the controls aside in the crash along with the bone in the bridge of Sam’s nose. Glass flew across the seats as Sam fell out of the car, kicking the door shut before the man inside could grab. “FUCK YOU FUCK YOU PRETTY BOY FUCK YOU YOU PRETTY PRETTY GOOD BOY FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU!” Maggot-Arm howled. Sam flipped onto his stomach, pulling himself up and running for the front door of the mechanic’s shop. The infected were coming; he could hear them jeering and hooping and hollering in the distance, eager and hungry for their snack. Sam’s panicked breaths only accentuated as he flung himself into the front door, only for it to respond with a squeaking against a shelf wedged behind it. He looked back and forth, catching the shattered front window in his eye. A barricade of shelves sat behind it as well, sharp knives of glass sticking from the frame. But a small crack in the middle gave him just enough; just enough.

Sam scrambled through the window, one of the shards of glass stabbing into his hand. “Guugghhaaddd!” He cried, tears swelling. Pain surged through him, only furthering the adrenaline that pumped through his veins. He squeezed through the shelves, whimpering as blood seeped onto the floor from his shattered nose and punctured palm. Sam didn’t even bother putting the barricade back up, running behind the office counter and into the shop itself. Metal shelves lined the walls, pushed against broken windows in some form of a barricade. The garage doors were shut, sealing Sam and the husks of various cars behind them. But no other signs of life revealed themselves; no infected, no animals, and especially no people. Sam didn’t care. He gripped his wrist as blood ran over it, the glimmer of glass jutting from the wound. He stumbled into the manager’s office, a small room with a few filing cabinets stacked up against the sole window and a desk sitting in the middle. Sam slammed the door behind him and ran behind the desk, using his legs and uninjured hand to shove it up against it.

And it was done.

He fell onto his knees, dry heaving a string of spit onto the concrete floor. The boy wiped at his mouth, breathing heavy.

Sam’s eyes moved up to the desk, an opened, bloody first aid pack sitting atop it. He pulled himself up, looking over the desk with his wobbly legs. The siren outside was fading with a series of smashes and screams, the infected reacting to the devilish cries that bled their eardrums like a pig. Sam’s good hand, his left, fumbled over the bloody thing. There was just enough to help himself; he smiled weakly, chuckling for the first time in a long time.

He had helped his hand as best as he could when night fell and he fell asleep on the cold concrete.

---

DAY 26

---

Nancy Kirksey
“How Are You?”
Edgewater Antique Mall

A soft crest of sunlight fell from the heavens, glancing off of the antique shop’s window and blinding her cold, bitter eyes. She winced, swallowing and leaning her head against the wall to shield herself from any more harmful rays that may pounce her sight. It was the twenty-sixth morning that she was brought back into the land of the living by the shrill sun’s inconsiderate glare.

They had met up with two girls and an EMS in a cookie store to the west of Loyola. Lynn, Morgan, and Daniel. Nice people. Nicer company than Shaun and Clyde were. The group had fallen back to the Edgewater Antique Mall, where few infected roamed and the floor was surprisingly soft. Softer than the street, she supposed. Nancy yawned, sitting up, her legs sprawled out confusedly. Dazed, she could only make out Lynn, Morgan, and Daniel in the darkness of the antique store. She didn’t bother waking them, instead standing up and turning to groggily face the bust of a nonexistent man. She slapped his marble face playfully, wobbling her jelly legs over towards the strange straw rocking wheelchair combo. Nancy plopped down into it, crossing her legs and poking a finger into her cheek thoughtfully while the trio woke up.

She looked them over, smirking as they rose from their positions. “So… how are you?”

---

Clement Willoughby
The Next Day
Washington Elementary School

The dispatching of Principal Hanover went over with a few large, large hitches.

Clement was still shaken up from the previous day’s events, the death of Hanover being the primary factor in his despair. It was selfish, wasn’t it? A girl almost died and he was shaken up from killing her attacker. An indirect killing at that! And here he was, near blubbering like a baby because he shoved a man over.

He looked over the kids who were talking amongst each other now. He hadn’t slept the last night, keeping watch the entire time. “My apartment is safe. We can go there.” He looked at everyone, hoping they would agree. “Then we can get out of the city. Find the military.” He pursed his lips, sighing. “Your parents too, maybe? What were you kids doing here, anyways? School was out, wasn’t it?”

---

Ruby Almanza
Escapism
Kelly High School

Ruby had spent the night patrolling the gym and playing catch with her walkie. She had been kept awake by the anticipation of Sam’s response, but her longevity was not rewarded. Nothing but stiff, desolate silence. Some murmuring from the soldiers aside, not a sound was heard over the muttering infected. Ruby looked at the lieutenant now, sitting on a bleacher near Ingrid and Hess. Grey was thinking over something Jamerson while Miller milled about the gymnasium. “Hm.” Ruby mumbled, looking over to Ingrid and Hess. “You two alright? Ready?” Her eyes were spotted and blotchy now, guilt pumping her heart full of succulent blood.

---

Mawuli “Jackie” Jackson
Morning
Willis Tower

Jackie followed the rest of his crew up the steps pitifully. His pistol hung from his hand, waving decidedly at the staircase. “I’m startin’ to get tired.” He grumbled, behind Luke and the poor deaf and dumb girl. He supposed he felt bad for her and to an extent the rest of the group, but that didn’t necessarily matter at the current time. He needed to look out for himself and not anybody else. A cigarette burned in his mouth, smoke trailing behind him as his lungs began to give out. “How many goddamn floors are in this tower?” He didn’t even bother with trying to pass himself off as prim and proper. He was seriously getting tired of this shit.

[Fantrum]

Madeline Hess
Kelly High School

Madi didnt like this. No sirree, she didnt like this. The soldiers hadnt implied that she could have her gun back, not like they had with Ruby, but that hadnt stopped the girl from blearily picking it up anyway and hugging it to her chest. Everything felt... off. Her head was killing her and she was having a hard time focusing. Madi didnt say anything as the group seemingly broke up for the night for fear of sounding stupid and went to find the MREs the soldier in charge had mentioned.

She managed to find them after some digging, and possibly an unwanted word from the man named Grey. Sitting behind the bleachers, she fought with the damn thing's packaging until she gave up and simply stabbed it open with her bayonet, spilling its contents across the floor by her feet. Reaching down she stopped, and stared at her wildly shaking hand. She'd never had the shakes before, and she just sat there, watching her hand, willing it to still. The girl's heart was pounding, her breathing was short, and why was her goddamn head spinning so bad!

Trying to shake it off, she forced herself to fight through it all and collected her drab army food. She didnt manage to eat all of it before she felt sick to her stomach and nearly vomited it all back up. Not being a medical expert she couldnt be sure, but she probably had a concussion. Racking her disorganized brains, all she could come up with about the subject was that it was bad, you got it by getting knocked on the head, and you shouldnt sleep when you have one. The reason for the last bit escaped her, but she felt it was important.

That sucked because her eyes really wanted to close right then. Again she fought through the haze covering her mind and stood up, catching herself on a metal support beam as she lost her balance. Slinging her rifle over her shoulder, she left her gear under the bleachers and emerged from her impromptu cave. It seemed like by the time she had finished eating, everyone had settled down for the night. Everyone except Ruby it seemed. Madi couldnt see where Ingrid was, but was probably doing something sneaky.

Wordlessly, she hefted her rifle and walked up behind the officer. She was doing the restless pacing Madi associated with worrying. It must have been the bonk on the noggin, but she actually felt bad for the officer. She had good reason to feel guilty about Sam, she'd used him like a sacrificial lamb for her own gain. Sure Madi had never said anything against it, but a small part of her swimming mind felt just as bad for not speaking out. But that was just the nature of the world now. People died and only the ones who cheated got to live. Madi should know, it had been her life for weeks now.

"Hey," Madi said as she finally gathered the courage to approach Ruby. The cop turned slowly, shielding her face and wiping it with her sleeve before actually facing Madi.

The cop's eyes darted to Madi's bandaged head, the red spot hadnt grown larger than the size of a few quarters but was pretty damn noticeable, "Are you alright Hess?"

The much shorter girl touched her aching head and smiled mirthlessly, "My head hurts like a bitch, I think my brain's messed up." She looked around and her smile disappeared, "Dont feel bad about Sam." Madi's sudden change of topic must have surprised the officer, after all, Madi hadnt really said much about herself all day. But she was feeling strange, and the cop was the closest thing to a friendly face Madi had seen in forever. She cut Ruby off as she started to say something, "Sometimes we have to do things we dont want to do in order to survive." Madi cast her eyes downward as she spoke, trying desperately not to slur her words, "The world is full of Sams, people dying so someone else can live." Then she lifted her gaze to meet the cop's "Hes probably still alive, you shouldnt doubt him until you find a body." Without anything else to say, Madi started to walk away, but paused and turned back to Ruby, "Madeline, by the way." At the older woman's confused look, she clarified, "My name is Madeline." She had no idea if her words meant anything to Ruby, but she felt better for having said them anyway.

Everything she wanted out, out, Madi turned around and crossed the gym. There was something she wanted to explore. Talking had done her some good, it seemed, and the pounding in her head was a dull ache now instead of a screaming migraine. The small girl ducked into what looked like a generator room and started to poke around. If this place was anything like her old school... There! In the corner, behind some machinery, was a small metal latter leading into a hole in the ceiling.

Swallowing, Madi grabbed the lowest rungs and steeled herself for the next part. For some reason, the roof access hadnt been locked, and Madi found herself four stories above the ground clutching her rifle for dear life as she crawled around the roof. Heights and Madi did not mix. She was fine up to a point, hell, she actually liked elevated positions, but there came a point where it was too high. This was one of those times, and if it hadnt been for the roof having a railing, she would have retreated back down the ladder.

The sun was setting off in the west, and she was tempted to watch it. But she had a reason for being up here. Slowly, carefully, she poked her head over the lip closest to the football field they'd run through. The majority of the ghouls who had been milling around were gone. Madi unslung the rifle and rested it on the railing, using her scope to glass the surrounding buildings. The growing twilight made it difficult to really see clearly, but what she could see was encouraging. She repeated the process again on each of the building's four sides before finally retreating back to the safety of the ground.

She'd share her findings tomorrow, until then she curled up in her sleeping bag under the bleachers and hoped like hell she'd wake up.

Day 26
She did wake up. And her headache was back. Miserable, she packed up her gear and migrated to the bottom row of seats shed just been using as a cave. Ruby didnt look like she'd slept at all, the soldiers were a little uneasy, and Madi couldnt get a read on the Russian. When Ruby asked if she was ready, Madi merely groaned and rubbed her bandage. It was gonna be a long day, but at least the school wasnt ass deep in ghouls anymore. "Most of the ghouls are gone, I think Sam might have drawn them all off." She winced internally at mentioning the subject, Ruby was bound to still feel horrible about it, and Madi hadnt intended to pick at the wound.

"Whatever you all plan to do, it should be soon, before they start to come back." Madi then went back to picking at her half eaten MRE from yesterday.

[The Grand Rift]

DAY 26
Shaun Wilds
Edgewater Antique Mall
The Ride Never Ends

In the cold silent back room of the Edgewater Antique Mall, Shaun lurched forward awake with his eyes almost crusted over. The room was entirely dark besides the light pushing through the bottom of the door, which Shaun didn't mind much, after all, he and Clyde decided themselves to sleep in the back storage of the dusty antique shop.

The little light that came under the door was enough to give small hints of the room of scattered busts, bookshelves and model ships. Shaun picked himself up from the frigid floor and began rummaging through his putting a Nature Valley Bar in his mouth and tossing another one at Clyde who laid sleeping next to him, hitting him on the back of his head.

With a muffled mouth full of energy bar he said, "Clyde get up and eat we should start getting ready." Clyde rolled over and fired back in a groggy annoyed voice "Yeah sure whatever man. Can we have a day where you don't wake me up by hitting me?"

"Sure man, maybe after the apocalypse." Shaun let out with a chuckle. "Now get up and get your bag we should see what the others are doing"

Shaun pushed the door open to reveal the sun blasting through the windows of the shop gleaning off the polished porcelain and silver sets in the shop. The two Mertz Hall girls and the preacher he had inadvertently met up with sat on the right side of the shop with the asthmatic girl whose name he learned was Nancy was sitting up talking towards the new survivors, while Monica and the preacher man stayed laying down.

The new folks included Lynn, Morgan, and Daniel. The girls who seemed to be a couple had escaped from the science hall and met with the group while we pushed towards the plaza. Daniel, seemed your gruff average Joe, with him meeting up from the north. Shaun himself went around to the other side of the counter and sat upon it. Clyde sat next to him with a thump, and Shaun began digging through his bag. He pulled out a small orange capsule and popped two small blue pills into his mouth and washed it down with water.

Shaun sat and watched as Nancy began to try to talk to the newcomers of the group. All the while he passed snacks and drinks between Clyde and him, looking at the sealed time capsule of a safe house they had found themselves in.

[Hastur]

Ingrid Zakharova.
Atlas Security Division.
Twenty five days since initial outbreak.
4136 S California Av, Chicago, Illinois 60632

---

Great.

The entire trip had been for just shy of nothing. With no functional long range radio at the school, another channel of escape closed itself and she'd be caught within hellish cityscape of Chicago for a little longer as the window of opportunity closed and the proverbial noose around her neck stiffened. She wouldn't be able to survive in this climate, not for long.

For now however, Ingrid picked up her rifle, pulling the safety lever to the top and found a secluded out of sight spot, folding the rifle's stock before flinging it onto her back. She could relax for now within caged school's open gym. Sure, it was surrounded the freaks as circled outside like vultures, eager for a feast, lingering. But on the interior, the individuals keen on their sustained existence kept the barricade manned, and in effect, kept them all safe. Sure, she couldn't depend on them later down the line, and the feeling with likely mutual, but for now, an aura of safety radiated from them all.

Ingrid tapped the switch on her radio, sending out the beep yet again, and the response was swift. The sharp tone accompanied by the welcome voice, now cracked and weak.

"Где ты был?" Vitaly asked, the concerned tone punctuated by a spluttering cough, a symptom that the disease was only becoming worse. Ingrid feeling a tinge of regret in her abdomen as she listened to her friend die, with her being able to do nothing about it. The hail Mary attempt at discovering an alternative out for the pair of them failing, with her having nothing to show for it. Maybe if she stuck around, he wouldn't have perished alone.

"У них нет радиостанций дальнего радиуса действия" Ingrid said with disappointment in her voice, her volume low so not to attract attention, and seeing no reason in lying to him. "Нам нужно подумать о чем-то другом."

"дерьмо." Vitaly replied, his crackly and static filled voice sounding even further troubled as his own hopes were shattered. A minute of silence followed, marked by a spluttered cough from the other side of the radio. "А как насчет башни?" Vitaly pondered. "Разве это не используется в качестве зоны эвакуации?"

He wasn't mistaken. Willis Tower, the base of operations for the Atlas corporation had been used as a evacuation zone for high level representatives of the corporation. There would be something they could use to signal them there. That being said however, they had a metropolis of infected between them and a salvation that might not even be there. Giving the belief that walking might be a stronger solution.

"Иди туда." Vitaly ordered, struggling to clear his throat before collapsing into another coughing fit. "Это ваш лучший шанс."

Ingrid paused, considering it as she peered with a blank expression into the gym's laminate floors. She couldn't go now. It was growing dark, and the infected around the school had yet to disperse. She would have to go on in the morning.

"Я пойду на рассвете." Ingrid answered sheepishly. "Тогда я вернусь и возьму тебя."

Another slow pause ensued. Both knew the final statement would never take place.

"Удачи." Vitaly stated, his voice weak. The radio went falling silent again, the limited conversation ending with a singular beep.

---

Twenty six days since initial outbreak.

---

Time passed within the desolate halls.

And soon enough, it was first light. The pillars of morning light piercing through the gym windows signaling a new day. Ingrid had discovered her resting place on one of the wooden bleachers, her hat tugged down over her eyes as she slumbered on the benches wooden surface over the course of the night in cycles. Having somebody on watch over the course of the night. Ingrid had taken first watch, Ruby second. While the bench had not been a good resting place, it leaving her rather stiff, it was better than the other alternative outside.

Rising from the bench, she fixed the brim of her cap away from her eyes, her injured arm stinging as she did so. A searing, throbbing sensation running deep in the muscle of her bitten forearm, Ingrid let out a low groan of irritation as she peeked at it. She'd have to remove the dressing soon, but it looked like everybody else was planning to advance out, watching Ruby and Hess gathered close to the bleachers.

"Whatever you all plan to do, it should be soon, before they start to come back."

"I think I saw a humvee we could use." Ingrid chipped in, rifle resting in her arms as she glanced towards Hess. "That'd probably get us where we need to go."

[United Human Planets]

James Henry Barrow, Jimmy to most, awoke with a snort and a cough in the dusty air of the church. He peered around through bleary eyes, taking in everything for the second time since had had arrived. He had only had a cursory glace at his surroundings when he arrived the night before. It had been to dark then, and he didn't have a flashlight or lamp or any other light source, so he had simply stepped his way lightly through the pews, groping carefully and methodically so as not to knock anything over and possibly attract unwanted attention. Now as he sat up from under the old blanket and newspapers, he took a better look at the little office he was in, a big wooden cross resting on one wall, even the windows in here made of stained glass. It was different than he was used to, having been raised by baptists. Much prettier, he thought.

Jimmy stood, tucked his t-shirt into the front of his pants, and stretched, pulling the shirt right back out of his pants. Jimmy sighed, and brushed a stray lock of hair from his eyes, smacking his lips some as the taste of morning breath hit him. Jimmy reached down, picking up a Nalgene of water and unscrewing the cap before drinking long and deep. The water was cool after the night, though he knew that wouldn't last as the day snuck its way forward, the late summer sun already burning off the mist that lay outside.

Jimmy screwed the cap back onto his Nalgene, and spat on the floor. He placed the water on the desk, before kneeling down and gathering his things about him. He took of his flannel, leaving only a blue t-shirt, and pulled a pair of jeans over his legs. He packed away his clothes and food, laying his gun, machete and knife in a neat line by his backpack, and pulled his boots quickly and efficiently over his feet, flexing his toes a little. The boots were still new, and needed to be broken in. He picked up and old hat, a little crumpled, and put it on his head with a flourish that was for him and for him only. He had taken the hat, a genuine Stetson, from the same house had had taken the boots from. Whoever's they had been wouldn't be missing them now, Jimmy had found the body of the previous owner in the same house, their brains blown out on the wall.

Jimmy stood straight, putting the machete in his backpack so that handle stuck out an opening in the top, and tucked his pistol and knife safely in his belt. Jimmy swung his bag onto his shoulders and opened the door to the office he had been staying in, walking down the pews of the St Patricia Catholic Church like he was the priest, come to save the sinners. He was however far from a priest, and every moment more he spent in the church the closer Jimmy came to catching fire and being dragged down to hell. He was far from a good man, and instead was the opposite.

Jimmy grinned into the sunlight as he left the church, and stepped out onto the street. He looked around, already feeling the sun on his head like an old friend. In the distance he could see the skyline of Chicago rising up like a middle finger to the natural world. A smoke plume lilted softly into the sky to the north, and two gunshots rang out. Jimmy sniffed, and rubbed his nose, before setting out, heading towards the massive towers that rested on the short of the Great Lakes.