#but y'all drew me in like a moth to a flame

[sondersil]

things that were decidedly not on my 2024 bingo:

making deep connections with people that i will cherish for years

meeting my international friends (not just once, but four times)

travelling to three different countries to meet said friends

hosting a fandom event with relative success

being diagnosed with ADHD

finding out i'm aromantic

passing my exams

getting arthritis

being alive

[yuurivoice]

Just realized I’ve being watching or should i say listening lololo for 4 or 5 years. Wow the years do go by.

I was looking for comfort late one night, and I came across your channel, went on a listening marathon, and fell in love with your content and characters. When you started making stories using your characters, it dragged me even further in the rabbit hole. I didn't just listen for a pretty boy to tell me it'll be alright anymore, but because I genuinely loved the stories that you were making with these characters.

Auron is by far my favorite! I know that some people were put off by him and thought he was just going to be another rough, kinky BDSM CEO tm, but knowing the way you write your characters had me excited for what you were going to do with him, and shall I say you didn’t disappoint! (Plus, his design drew me in like a moth to a flame, Ty Jackie🙌.) I loved it most when he put down his walls and started to be vulnerable with Rook; I can't wait to hear more in Shattered.

This is all to say that I really appreciate your stories for not just entertaining and comforting me but also the other lovely people in the YV community. I hope you and the Yuurivoice gang have a delicious holiday season.

This makes me so happy! Thank you for sharing, I can't wait to show y'all what I've been cooking up. I think over the past couple of years I've leveled up significantly but I haven't had many chances to show it off. But soon. Sooooon. <3

[little-diable]

The Painting - Prof!Tom Holland (smut)

Happy Valentines! It's been a while since I've last written a prof fic, so I hope y'all love this as much as I do. Please like and reblog if you enjoyed reading this. Enjoy my loves. xxx

Summary: Professor Holland takes his students on a trip, exploring art galleries, admiring paintings he can barely spare any attention to, mind fully focused on her, the student he found himself. drawn to like a moth to a flame

Warnings: 18+, smut, p in v, oral (m&f), professor x student, tipsy sex

Pairing: Professor!Tom Holland x fem!student!reader (3k words)

header by @firefly-graphics

“Alright, we’ll meet down here in an hour.” Professor Holland’s voice echoed through the entrance hall of the hotel, drawing all excited eyes towards his frame. Anticipation filled his students, excited about their University trip, about exploring a new city and about spending more time with the professor all students were fawning over. His eyes wandered through the crowd, momentarily catching (y/n)’s gaze before he tore his eyes from her. 

There had always been something about (y/n) that drew him in, sinister thoughts daring to nestle in his mind and soul. He kept his distance, not daring to even speak to her without other students around, and yet Tom couldn’t help but give into his wandering thoughts ever now and then. Drawn to her like a pilgrim following a higher call, finding shelter in lands left unexplored. 

He watched his students leave towards their rooms, teeth sinking into his lower lip to distract himself from finding her eyes once again. And yet he was too weak to withstand the evergrowing pull inside his chest, lips turning into a soft smile as he found (y/n) already looking at him. They didn’t look at one another for more than a few seconds, and yet it felt like eternity, an eternity way too short for Tom to take in her features, the soft skin his fingers wanted to touch, the eyes that carried more emotions than mere words would ever be willing to express. 

Slowly Tom followed after his stundents, keeping a safe distance, not wanting to interrupt their excited chatter. He felt awfully out of place, even though there were only a few years of an age gap between him and most of his students, Tom struggled to deal with the power he held over them, forced to decide over the outcome of their semester. 

The minutes kept fading by as Tom unpacked his suitcase, giving him the chance to finally exhale the deep breaths he had been holding, clearly on edge. It was the first trip he was taking with students, the first time he had left the university building with them - all adults and yet Tom feared he wouldn’t be able to take good enough care of them. Perhaps he didn’t worry much about those whose names he could barely remember; perhaps he didn’t worry much about those that didn’t listen to his classes and the words he’d speak every Tuesday afternoon; perhaps all he worried about was her. 

She’d be his downfall, torn to the ground by a higher power she held over him, fully oblivious to the things she was making him feel. 

“Are you alright?” Tom found himself speaking up before his mind could catch up with the words rolling off his tongue. He had studied (y/n) from afar, wondering why she wasn’t following the group around the museum, not moving away from the drawing by Albrecht Dürer. 

“I am, sorry, I’ll catch up with them in a second.” Their eyes met, forcing a wave of heat through Tom, clawing itself deeper into the layers of skin he wanted her - and only her - to explore. He stood next to (y/n), not moving away as her gaze slowly wandered back to the drawing. “I don’t know why, but something about this drawing has always fascinated me.” 

Both took in the colourful wing, one could see the single movements of the artists hand, a masterpiece created hundreds of years ago. “It’s full of emotions, isn’t it?”

“Do you think he knew people would cherish his art, even centuries after his time?” (Y/n)‘s voice was just above a whisper, but Tom picked up on every word as if she had been screaming them. She had him trapped, guiding his body with a power he found himself scared of, very well aware that he won’t be able to rip himself free any time soon. 

“I hope so, he didn’t have an easy life, it’s almost comforting if you think about him wondering if the perception of his art would change in the future.” She could only hum in approval, gaze wandering back to Tom’s features as she tilted her head towards the direction the others have disappeared to. He had to bite down the urge to reach for her hand, wondering how her soft hands would feel pressed against his. Would (y/n) feel the same electricity burning through her veins? Would (y/n) feel the same heat etching itself into her soul?

“You go ahead, I’ll be there in a minute.” He needed a few moments alone, desperate to breathe the air his aching lungs were screaming for, body unable to work with (y/n) standing this close to him. And all he could do was watch her disappear down the hallway with a smile tugging on her lips. 

He had it bad, he’d drown in the oceans of sinful thoughts eventually, one with the waves of eternity he was forever trapped in.

“I didn’t take you for a wine lover.” (Y/n)’s soft voice rang in his ears like a siren’s call, eyes drawn to hers. She plopped down in the seat across from his, studying the professor with tired eyes. The hotel bar was almost empty, wrapping them in some sort of safety, hidden from curious eyes. 

“Didn’t you leave with the others?” Tom hadn’t paid much attention to the group that had left to explore the nearby bars, distracted by his thoughts, he had assumed that she had left with the others, not one to leave the group behind. 

“No, if I’m honest I had hoped that I’d catch you here.” A smile found its way to her features, followed by a soft chuckle - silently praying that he wouldn’t make fun of her for her confession. Tom visibly tensed in his seat as if he hadn’t quite picked up on the words she had spoken.

“Why?” Tom wanted to curse himself as the question left him, hoping that he didn’t come across as rude. He grew nervous, unable to guide his thoughts. But she stumbled over her words, gaze averted as she tried to pierce her thoughts together. 

“I don’t know, I thought we could speak a bit more about the drawings.” His heart skipped a few beats, racing in his chest as her words began to sink in. She wanted to spend time with him, alone. “But if you want some time alone I won’t disturb you.”

“No, please, stay.” He sounded pathetic, and yet (y/n) didn’t seem to mind the desperation dripping from his words. She grew comfortable in the seat, could see fractions of her reflection in his glasses, reflecting a woman desperate to grow closer to the man she had been crushing on for months on end. 

It had started as a simple crush, like it almost always does, but over the upcoming months (y/n) had found herself thinking of him constantly, dreaming of a life with the man she called professor. She was in deep, and yet (y/n) didn’t want to escape the situation she found herself stuck in, finding comfort in the thoughts that grew louder late at night. Tom was always on her mind, as if she needed the thought of him to survive. 

“Why Dürer?“ His question ripped her out of her thoughts, pondering over the words burning on the tip of her tongue. 

“There’s something about him I can’t quite put my finger on, I’ve always loved his art, it’s full of history, of codes only those familiar with his ideas and the period he lived in truly understand. Almost like riddles he wanted his audience to solve.” And so she started to pull him in once again, reminding the young professor of the trap he couldn’t run from. There was no escaping from her. 

“401?” Tom’s gruff voice made goosebumps appear on her forearms, nodding her head in comfirmation as they walked down the hallway. “I’m in 403.” 

She wasn’t quite sure what to do with the information, unable to reply as she kept walking. They had been chatting for the past hour, not wanting their conversation to ever end, and yet the late hour had forced them to rise from their seats, desperate to catch up on some sleep before the day ahead would start. 

Both came to a halt in front of her room, forcing Tom to clear his throat, thinking of something to say to her, anything that would express how grateful he felt for the past hour he got to spend with her. Almost unnoticed by him, (y/n) took a step closer, a bold move urged on by the drink she had poured down her system, not drunk and yet tipsy enough to ignore the signals her moral compass kept sending out. Their eyes didn’t break contact as she reached for his hand, wordlessly interlacing their fingers, giving him a few seconds to pull away before she’d close the gap between them.

The air between them was crackling, one could feel the rising tension, a tension forcing them closer and closer together. Tom didn’t move, stuck in a trance as (y/n) shifted her weight, breath fawning over his lips. The distance between them grew smaller, lips about to touch as a soft “(Y/n)” left Tom. “We can’t, not here.” 

It took her a few moments to snap into motion, reaching for her room key to unlock the door. She wouldn’t back down, not tonight, not when the moment felt all too right. Without another warning she pulled Tom into her room, door falling shut with a heavy thud. Within moments their lips met, pulled closer as if their bodies were forced to give in. 

Their hands found one another’s frame, while Tom’s carefully rested on her throat, fingers pressed against her jaw, (y/n)‘s fingers found the hairs at the nape of his neck, tugging on his roots. Moans rumbled through the pair, urging them on to add more pressure to the first kiss of many they’d share. A moment filled with lust, anticipation and excitement. 

“Are you sure about this?” Tom murmured his words against her lips, darkening eyes forcing her to look at him. She could only nod her head, chasing his lips as if she was high on the taste lingering on his tongue. “Need to hear you saying it, love.” 

“I am, fuck, haven’t been so sure of anything before. Just, please.” His groans forced a few giggles out of her, gasping in surprise as Tom gave her a push back, body falling onto the mattress. For a few seconds he stared down on (y/n), hoping to etch this very moment into his thoughts. Forever to remember. Forever to cling to when his days grew darker. 

“Tell me what you want, (y/n).” Tom’s voice carried more authority than ever before, making her breath hitch in her heavily rising and falling chest. 

“I want to taste you, professor.” He didn’t reply, at least not verbally. Tom’s veiny hands undid his dark trousers, freeing his hardening cock for her trembling hands. She didn’t hold back, spat into her palm and started pumping him, eyes flickering up to meet his every now and then. Fuck this is what he had been dreaming of when his hands had started wandering, taking care of the blood rushing down to his cock, forcing heat to spread through his body. 

“Taste me, huh? Open your mouth then.” Set on his commands like a woman without a mind of her own, (y/n) parted her lips for him, greedily swallowing his cock. Her gaggs echoed through the room, forcing Tom to moan, finding pride in the way she was struggling to take him. Rough tugs on her scalp forced her to bobb her head faster, wanting to push him closer towards the edge.

Trembling hands pumped the parts her mouth couldn’t reach, saliva was dripping from her slightly swollen lips, she was making a mess neither Tom nor (y/n) paid much attention to. She felt him twitch in her mouth, already riled up, set on giving into the orgasm threatening to clash through him any moment now. 

“‘M close, love, gotta pull away.” But (y/n) didn’t dare move, desperate to taste his release. His cum filled her warm cheeks as Tom gave in with a moan, head thrown back, eyes fluttering shut to relish in the moment. His taste stuck to her tongue, a taste she’d remember till the end of her time; (y/n) was sure of it. “Fuck, I should have known you’d be good at this. C’mon lay back down for me.”

Excitement bubbled through her as (y/n) fell back against the mattress, raising her hips for him to pull her trousers and panties down her legs. Her still trembling hands pulled her shirt over her head, bra following the other clothes down to the ground, body fully exposed to Tom’s dark eyes. She found pride in the way he was marvelling at her, as if she was a painting he’d teach his students about; and yet Tom wouldn’t ever share the view he now got to admire, forever his to take in. 

“You’re dripping, love, so ready for me.” His warm hand cupped her core, fingers brushing through her arousal covered folds. Her moans urged him on, pressing his tongue against her clit as he pushed two fingers into her. Sucking Tom off had already pushed her closer and closer to the edge, spurred on by the way he had moaned for her, it wouldn’t take long till her own orgasm would force her down the edge, preparing her for his cock. 

“You taste so good, fuck.” He was addicted, had tasted the forbidden fruit and now he’d gladly pay for his sins, one with the woman that kept moaning his name. Tom curled his fingers against her swollen spot with every thrust, feeling her walls clamp down on him. His tongue picked up its pace, allowing the strong muscle to add more pressure to her bundle of nerves. 

Her fingernails left marks on his neck, clawed into his skin to find something to hold onto. Fuck, he was making her see stars, desperate for the sweet release no partner had ever made her feel, at least not like this. 

(Y/n) came with a moan of his name, back arched off the mattress, pushing her cunt further against his hot mouth. Tom gave it a few more brushes before he pulled away from her, watching her panting frame with a smirk tugging on his arousal covered lips. He gave her a few seconds to catch her breath as he took off his clothes, naked body searching hers like lovers made to reunite beneath the dark sky. Bound together by a promise only those willing to listen would pick up on. 

He pulled a condom from his wallet, eyes finding hers as he rolled it down his cock before aligning himself with her entrance. Wordlessly he seemed to ask her once again if she truly wanted this, chuckling at the “Please” (y/n) whined. Both moaned in unison as he pushed into her, cock forcing her walls apart, giving her a few moment to adjust. 

“You’re so big, feels so good.” She kept blabbering her words away, barely paying attention to the praises she spoke. Tom fucked her slow at first, needing to slow down before he’d give in all too soon, unsure if he was stuck in another dream of his or if she was truly moaning for him with her naked chest pressed against his. He wanted to take in every expression tugging on her features, wanted to study her till the end of their time, but the way her walls kept fluttering around him forced Tom to close his eyes. 

Their bodies met over and over again, searching their closeness as their desire spurred them on. Heat filled their veins, spreading through their system like a drug they had taken. Tom tightened his grip on her waist, drawing a pained whine from her, a pain she found herself addicted to, a pain she never wanted to let go of, if it meant being with Tom. 

His eyes flickered down to where their bodies met, cock disappearing inside her tightness with every ferocious thrust. One of his hands found her middle, circling her pulsing clit to push her closer and closer to the edge, wanting to feel her cum around him. Bodies made for one another, fit together like a puzzle, perfectly aligning with every part of their limbs. 

A kiss full of emotions was shared between them as (y/n) let go, moaning into his mouth as her orgasm wrecked through her. Tom couldn’t stop watching her, marvelling at the gorgeous woman he never wanted to let go of again. She was his, as much as he was hers - if she’d take him that is. Tom gave it a few more thrusts before he let go, eyes fluttering close, lips slightly parted to let his sounds roll off his tongue like a prayer spoken in the quiet of the night. 

“Fuck, I won’t be able to think about something else in class now.” His words were met with her chuckles, hand searching his as she placed her head on his chest, listening to his racing heart. And for a moment they were nothing but two lovers, enjoying the heat their bodies produced, and the sound of their hearts beating in sync.

[ohmygillygoshoppler]

I gotta see some Secret Saturdays content from you because I haven't even though about that show until I read your bio there. I used to looooove that show, I was obsessed with cryptids and paranormal pseudoscience and all that fun stuff, and when the Secret Saturdays first aired I was so pumped! Please tell me you have something to say about that showw? Do you miss it? Did you make and killer OCs for it like you do everything?!

I loved this show sooooooooooo much, it made me look stupid. I think it was like 2008 when the show started and I had never heard of a cryptid until I watched that show. The whole Science Family protecting monster creature dudes and even adopting them screams found family, you know I'm drawn to that like a moth to a flame. Plus, I loved how Zak and Fisk we just sweet little dudes that were brothers and got into trouble, like I loved them, They're my fave character out of the whole cast. Komodo and Zon are cool, don't get me wrong, but my boys are my boys, I'm sorry, I don't make the rule. (I totally make the rules)

But I will not let y'all catch me slippin on Doc and Drew, the were couples goals. They're still couples goals. I love how they have their little disagreements and their banter and witty flirting and still be badass like crimefighters??? Because shiiiit, they're like canonically badass, like black belts and ray guns and hand-to-hand combat, hello??? I loved that. AND THEY SPAR TOGETHER?!?! BABE, SAY LESS. (also Doc is so fine, I know, Gilly has a type, boo boo booooo-)

I realy liked when they interduce Doyle, too. Like woah, wtf okay, Zak's Mom Trauma Hour, she lost her parents in the Himalayas and then was separated from her baby brother in a blizzard- wooooooah, didn't expect that but it made me feel so hard for Drew. He ultimately became such a cool and sweet Uncle to Zak through, so everything worked out in the end.

And Argost. My man V.V. Argost was such a campy villian, I adored him. His theatrical vibes, his hamminess, his autistic ass stance. And his gay little spiderman henchman, too. Yeah he might have tried to groom a child (yeeesh) but he was funny as shit about it, and he ended up being a yeti???!?! Okay, jumpscare, but that was dope! I loved it!

I don't know why they had to kill off Van Rook though, but his voice was super annoying, so I'm glad he died. :)

I would love to see a reeboot or spinoff or something, like I wanna write a fic about Zak growing out of his old friend group and slowly wedging himself into a new one over Visit of the Week fics. Maybe go into some stuff regarding Zak's relationship with his family, how the family copes with him not being around as often, new school, new life, no cryptid powers, maybe new differnet powers. Fuck it, I'll throw in a warewolf if it makes things interesting. I just really like these characters and this universe, and It'd be cool to see it expand and change.

Also Ben 10 and the Secret Saturdays canonically share the same universe, and I never even knew there was a crossover episode.

[silvervivienne08]

THE LEVEL OF CRINGE, ITS OVER 9000

Part 1 out of the 6 Cringy Poems I wrote that y'all gonna have to suffer through with me :)

I lay here, wide awake Thoughts consumed by you, and you alone I know not how it started Nor where it all began Maybe it was just me but There was this thing about you that just drew me in Like how a moth would towards an open flame And as time passed by, The pull has only gotten stronger, So irresistible that the strength of it terrifies me For I have never felt this way before Or maybe I did? For I know exactly what I’m starting to feel for you That feeling, it’s such a familiar feeling yet the magnitude of it differs greatly A part of me knew that I was attracted to you Though I never paid it any thought Dismissing it as a simple and harmless crush Never knowing that throughout the time we spent together, Conversing about everything and all that is between, that tiny, almost inconspicuous crush would become a seed A seed that would spread and dig its roots in to my chest to create what seems to be the makings of a garden with a flower blooming right at its center watered, and kept alive by you

so I lay here, wide awake finally aware of my feelings towards you it hurts, oh how it hurts for I know that it would never happen that the idea of you reciprocating these feelings are naught but thoughts of wishful thinking so I choke back down my anguish as my traitorous mind turns against me clouding my sight with visions of us together, of what we could possibly be if given the chance it would’ve been wonderful to be able to lean against you as we laugh and talk under the sun without a care in the world how it delightful it would’ve been to hear you laugh, knowing that I was the reason for it to feel the softness of your hands intertwined against mine that in times where I am so unsure of myself and this world it’s alright to fall right into the warmth of you embrace safe and secured, cradled in the comfort of your arms and that in turn, you would trust me enough to accept my shoulders as something you could lean on in hard times to know and experience the happiness and joy of what being someone loved by someone like you would feel like how lucky, no blessed, I would’ve been sadly, tis nothing but a fantasy so I lay here, wide awake with tears streaming down my face as these thoughts, these fantasies continued to torment me it burns, oh how it burns like a wildfire spreading through my veins crippling me with unending agony, as it sets my nerves ablaze its smoke, suffocating me as it fills up my lungs leaving me greedily gasping for air as its absence painfully constricts my heart my heart, oh my poor dear heart forgive me, for I am only human I couldn’t help my self I couldn’t stop myself from feeling this way I do not know how to put a barrier against this this rush of feelings that is starting to take over me because if I could, then I would gladly do so oh, what I would’ve given for all of this to dissipate for it to vanish as if it was never there to begin with so that I could stop myself from hurting so I could prevent the pain that I know is coming my way from ever reaching my dear heart a heart whose aching for something it could never have but quietly wish for… so I lay here, wide awake for what could’ve been hours thoughts filled with nothing but you and me, and my ever-growing feelings for you I didn’t mean for this to happen It was never in any of my intentions to fall for you But I’m just a woman, a woman who fell hard and fast Whose heart, you unwittingly stole Held captive, in between the palm of your hands I would ask you to take care of it But that would mean confessing all of this And the mere thought of it is absolutely terrifying I wish that I had the courage that others had That I was brave enough to admit it, speak it out loud But I don’t think my heart would be able to handle it The thought of your rejection is already agonizing enough But to hear it fall from your lips? It would’ve crushed me, leaving me wrought in devastation So, as I close my eyes, I content with myself with the knowledge That I had the pleasure of knowing you, Of being able to build a bond of friendship between us That this is enough, it’s more than enough Because it’s better than not having you at all

[tlburrell]

Train Station

It was hot, night had come and swallowed the city into darkness, but the air still clung to the heat of the day. I could feel the sweat pooling along my spine to drip down my back. Standing on the platform all I could do was wait for the sweet relief the AC air on the train would provide. I was fiddling with my phone when I became aware of someone watching me. It was late and as I discreetly glanced around the platform I only noticed a few people. An old woman who sat on a bench a few feet away from me and a trio of college frat boys who drunkenly swayed to my right. None of them were looking at me. I tried to ignore the feeling, figuring I was just being paranoid after a stressful day at work. But the sensation only grew stronger. Suddenly I became aware of a metallic clicking noise. Glancing around again my eyes found the old woman, truly taking her in for the first time. She was wearing a heavy jacket, thick scarf and woolen cap. Alarm bells rang in my head. It was nearly a hundred degrees out. What was she doing wearing such heavy clothing? A flash of light drew my attention to her hands. Long silver needles wove their way through blood red yarn, clicking as they drew it into its new shape.  I was mesmerized by her needles flashing in the dim light of the platform. Like a moth drawn to a flame I couldn’t look away, even though my brain was screaming at me too. The screech of train brakes finally snapped me out of whatever spell I had been under. I rushed forward, nearly taking out the frat boys in my panic to get away from the old woman. As the train pulled away from the platform I risked a look back. The old woman was still sitting on the bench but she had paused her knitting. She was looking straight at me with a gruesome smile upon her face. When she noticed my attention she held up her work with a manic twist to her smile. Pulling scissors from her jacket pocket she snipped the yarn dripping from her silver needles. And my world went black.

I wrote this piece for Too Many Spirits a @wearewatcher program that I thoroughly enjoy. Unfortunately it was to long for their submission que, but I wanted to share it with y'all so here it is.

[bearwithegg]

EVERYTHING ABOUT US || Joel Miller x OC || Part 1

I had this idea for a hot minute and thought I'd share this with y'all 🥺 this is a SUPER SUPER fckn slow burn so y'all have been warned 👀👀👀

Lots of words! Gore and language!

PART 2

THEY weren’t sure what they had expected, the last thing they did expect was for her to run the way she did. A woman covered head to toe with blood, as if a bucket full of it had been dumped over her in some sick practical joke — she had her arms raised ready to give them what they wanted in an instantly recognisable sign of surrender, but at the last second she bolted. They had almost mistaken her for infected, the skin that wasn’t covered with viscus blood was stained red, her hair was no doubt already a darker colour but no one could tell with the amount of blood soaked through it.

As nimble as she may be, avoiding the gunshots, they would track her down eventually. She had scuttled away, like a wounded animal trying to avoid the inevitable cycle of life that would catch up to her. 

Gunshots drew unwanted attention through the abandoned town, attracting a variety of infected like a moth to a flame. As intelligent as hunters may be, they didn’t think this one through once they had been swarmed by a horde of runners and the odd clicker. 

It appeared that the cycle wouldn’t catch up to the woman as quickly as they anticipated, by them, anyway. No doubt she would make a tasty treat to the numerous infected lurking around the town — that is if other hunters hadn’t got to her first. That likelihood dwindled as she slowed her pace down, now hearing the shouts and rounds of fire through just a mere echo.

Fucking idiots.  

The thought crossed through her mind, reminding herself why she had long abandoned firearms many years ago. It drew too much attention by both parties, those parties being Infected and Hunters of course. Both terrifying and formidable enemies in the current state of the world, but nothing was more terrifying than coming up against groups of people .

At least Cordyceps had the decency to regress a person down to their most primal instinctual need to kill, scavenge and survive. People did what they did, because they were bored or they just wanted fun and the world they lived in provided those sick individuals opportunistically. 

This wasn’t going to be her final fight, throwing down with a bunch of Hunters while they pulled her apart for supplies, fun or meat. A person alone was terrifying, but nothing compared to a person who had nothing left to lose but one bittersweet and potentially fatal final wish. 

“Oh, fuck me.” She hissed, ducking low behind the cover of a dumpster upon catching sight of more Hunters scrounging through the abandoned town. The location had been optimal for her, it wasn’t too far away from her own residence and had more than enough supplies for her to scour through. Of course, situations change.

Vastly outnumbered on both accounts, the pressure increased on her to find a way out by doing the least amount of work. Exhaustion had already set its course through her after a tiring altercation with several runners and a clicker, the last thing she needed was to misstep and be gunned down by a group of Hunters for the sake of it. 

Five hunters… Three eastbound by the post office… Two preoccupied with a horde…

She drew a heavy breath, knowing her perpetually insulting luck there were bound to be more around the wooded area in the treetops. It wasn’t her first run in with snipers, and it would be an incredibly stupid oversight to not at least anticipate the possibility of them. Cornered in a dingy alleyway behind a dumpster, she needed to think fast, hard and smart about her next movements or she might as well die right here on the spot. 

Backdoor access through the bakery and out onto the main strip would leave me vulnerable if deadshots saw me… rooftop would give me an advantage on grounders…

The window of opportunity was getting slimmer by the second, weighing out all potential options took time and time was of the essence. She was patient. Her family had always been patient. Rushing things made larger room for mistake and mistakes led to an untimely death, something she considered not too long ago but wouldn’t let it happen. Not here . 

Reaching over her shoulder, she drew her crossbow, quickly and carefully counting her dwindling number of bolts left. Six . They weren’t all that difficult to make, no — but supplies had been thin for her and as if timing hadn’t been anymore… Taunting… Her trusted carpenters knife had long exceeded its lifespan after numerous skulls it cut through and crossbow bolts whittled.

It was now a matter of a simple waiting game, she had boxed herself into this corner and by god if she wasn’t going to make the best out of a shit time. The distant gunfire had since ceased, now the atmosphere merely filled with ambience and the occasional humane shout.

Today had been a shit show for everyone it seemed, not just for her - who was always prepared for the worst - but also for the Hunters, who didn’t anticipate one woman causing them so much trouble. 

Regardless how grim it was panning out, she kept her eyes on all her openings as she crept forward in the alley, edging out just before hitting the street. Her head very cautiously poked around the corner, catching a glance at a target as they stopped in front of the bakery. Hand cupped to the window to get a better look at what contents remained behind closed doors. 

She took her opening, raising the crossbow like it was muscle memory and firing off a bolt. The sound of it piercing through his skull still made her grimace, no matter how many times she heard it beforehand, the inherent action of killing someone in self defence or not was enough to add yet another internal weight on her already heavy shoulders. 

As swift as the death was, she was even quicker crouching by the newly made corpse and retrieved her bolt. The over hanging rooftop of the bakery provided her enough cover if there were anyone in the trees close by, but what lie ahead was a naked street that screamed ‘risky’. It was a gamble, but not one she was willing to bet her life on. 

That was until she heard more gunfire.

Her ears piqued at the sound, instead of the rain of bullets being followed up by the sound of the infected and inevitable blood curdling screams of their victims. These gunshots had been echoed by more, which meant she wasn’t the only person in town they were after. 

East… They’re firing east of town… That should clear up the western area.

One glance up at the sky, noting the position of the now rapidly setting sun and a momentary pause in thought was enough for her to get her bearings. The least ideal situation would be if she were stuck here, at night time and twice — now three times the threat. 

There had been no indication of heavy set bullets being fired which meant her initial concern of snipers was completely futile, providing ill comfort for the dire situation. Just because one threat was out of the way didn’t mean she would get careless as she attentively crossed through town, keeping to the store fronts and near cover at any turn. 

Nearing what was presumably a bar before the outbreak, footsteps were heavy across what sounded like old wooden floorboards. She peered in, seeing yet another target searching through the already empty ruins of the bar, much like the one beforehand, she dealt with him quickly. 

His body landed with a decent thud onto an old table which looked as if it would break after years of wood rot and negligence. Unsurprisingly, the sheer weight crippled the furniture and with it, a rather loud noise. No doubt attracting nearby infected if they weren’t already at the gun show across town. 

Not willing to die over one crossbow bolt, she continues her journey through town as the sun had now begun disappearing behind the surrounding tree line. If she didn’t get the fuck out of dodge soon, she’d be giving herself a one way ticket to an early death. 

Keep calm… deep breaths…

She reminded herself, pushing back the overwhelming sense of anxiety that filled her. Stay calm, stay patient. Those two things alone are what got her this far into the end of the world, she’d be lying if she said that it didn’t at least provide comfort and some semblance of attachment to her family. 

Pressing forward was a must, she was losing light and fast. Ideally she’d be out of town by dark but then again… patience was also a must. If she had to stay in the town then so be it, regardless if she wanted to do so or not, which seemed to be the most likely outcome as she crosses an open street with care. 

It was hard to imagine what the street was like prior to the outbreak, of course there were some leftover remnants of what was, but it was still hard to think about life prior to the outbreak. She barely had any memories of living in normalcy, not being able to comprehend a life that was any different than patience, travel, adaptation and survive. 

With yet another wary glance up at the sky, she made the executive decision to hole herself up in what appeared to have been a laundromat. Coming across these had been commonplace when travelling across the country as much as she had — that and it was the only building in town that had fortification, even if the wear and tear of the boarded windows indicated it’s been up since early in the Outbreak. 

It wasn’t much, but it was better than waiting out the night in the middle of the street, there was one entrance and exit and she had no desire to rest until she was home safe. 

‘home’

Sure, as much as a vacant house isolated in the forest could be home. No, home for her was not here.

She loaded a bolt into her weapon, placing it right beside her as she retrieved a small amount of food from her bag. Her eyes never flickered away from the entrance, similarly to how her ears never stop listening to the sounds outside of the building. 

No more gunshots… lets hope they all killed each other .

A grimly optimistic thought, the less people alive the better for her considering she didn’t want to deal with it. As far as food went, whatever she cooked last tasted like shit yet didn’t deter the aggressively grumbling stomach from taking it and using it as essential sustenance. 

Oh how she missed the finer things, what she’d do to kill for at least one can of soup. Minestrone to be more precise. Every grocery store, convenience store, abandoned market turned up nothing while she scoured each place top to bottom for one fucking can of Minestrone soup. Nada. Every. Single. Time.

A grimace pulled at her face, the incredibly chewy meat tasted bland and by the time she had bitten through down to the bone it was more fat than actual protein. She pondered on the way her food tasted like shit when a loud bang kick-started her adrenaline once again. 

She crouched low behind the cover of a dilapidated washing machine, crossbow in hand as two sets of footsteps entered, followed by pained grunts that remained on the opposite side of the room. 

“Think any more of them sons-of-bitches will come?” 

It was a male voice, gruff sounding and exasperated. She could gather two things; he was injured and on the older side of life. 

“Not likely… said they was after a woman, might be out lookin’ for her.” 

Another male voice, younger sounding — both had accents, then again to her everyone had accents and she wasn’t keeping track. She had bigger problems at hand than to worry about accents and a complete comprehensive guide to what people sounded like from whatever part of this Country they resided in. 

“Here’s hopin’ she don’t get caught then.” 

With that she rose from her cover, crossbow raised. At least she was confident these two must have been the source of the secondary set of gunfire she heard not too long ago. Her sudden presence startled the two men, the non-injured and visibly younger of the two drew his pistol.

No words were said, but tension was high. She had an up on the two men, knowing that it was dark and more quiet than usual it wouldn’t be beneficial to either party if a loud gunshot alerted infected. Maybe if the other hadn’t been injured, it might’ve been different. 

She wasn’t one for talking, not to people she didn’t know anyway— so that ruled out every person she had encountered in this apocalyptic hellscape. Despite this, she felt her intentions were conveyed clear enough through the stand off between her and the man before her. 

“‘lright, you’re not gonna hurt us.” He was the first to break away, her intentions had been heard loud and clear even without the presence of words. He held his hands up, placing his pistol on top of a washing machine but never breaking eye contact with her. A remarkably unusual move on his behalf, that was made known by his injured companion.

“Tommy what the fuck are you doin’?” he hissed, clearly unnerved by his choice to drop his arms in the presence of a complete stranger who they’d never seen before. 

Even though she was certain that the two men were much like her, seeking refuge for the night, she just couldn’t be too sure. She backed up until she was flush up against a machine and sat on top of it, weapon still raised, her eyes watching the too men like a hawk — more so now that she got a better look at the injured companion. 

She was surprised at just how old he was, long grey hair and a beard adorning his face, he must at least be in his sixties… seventies maybe… poor old bastard…

“She ain’t gonna hurt us, Eugene…Reckon she’s just glad we ain’t hunters.” Tommy reassured, kneeling down to tend to the older man's leg wounds. He was indeed correct, she was most definitely grateful that they weren’t hunters but that didn’t mean she trusted them wholeheartedly.

Quinn didn’t trust anybody.