#i was going through my files and found notes about a zombie apocalypse with my own characters...

[honeycreammilkshake]

au where zombies are hiding among regular people and only a small few can detect the differences between the uninfected and the infected. will is one of the very rare people who can do this, so he's hired on by jack to go out into the field and detect if suspects are possibly zombies. hannibal, an expert on zombies, was selected to train will how to better detect and eradicate them, and teaches him all about the lifestyles of the infected: they're extremely territorial and solitary, the infection they carry is mostly used to hunt (they bite their human prey to weaken and mark their victims which allows zombies to hunt their marked quarry across many miles) but the infection can also turn those bitten into zombies if those bitten consume human flesh.

overtime hannibal and will grow increasingly close to each other: hannibal often invites will to his house for dinner, they hunt infected together, they spend time reading in hannibal's library and having philosophical debates together. hannibal is the only person will feels close to, the only one he can truly be open with, and the only one who really feels alive….

but when will wakes up with a bite mark on his neck, he pieces together that hannibal is just another undead flesh-eater like the rest of the infected. hannibal has extensively studied will's ability to detect the zombies, but is somehow able to disguise himself from will's senses. he has been using will to kill off lesser zombies on his vast territory, revealing himself to be the longest-living zombie ever as well as the most cunning and dangerous. will goes to hannibal's house unannounced to confront him and arrives to find his undead mentor digging into a beautifully arranged feast of his victims.

will intends to eradicate hannibal without saying a word to him... but he hesitates too long, long enough for the curiosity and fascination to take hold of him, and asks how hannibal was able to go undected for so long. hannibal explains that he has been alone his whole life, and that the only one to ever understand him was will — that will is also alone without hannibal because he is the only person will could ever be open with. the fact that will didn't even detect hannibal was an infected was because he ignored it completely, even if mostly subconsciously, because all the little signs were there but will refused to confront them until now.

hannibal reveals that he bit will's neck and gives will a choice: he can either remain with hannibal and become a zombie like him — that they could hunt and feast together, and live as closely together as they were meant to be — or that will can let the infection weaken and mark him for hannibal to hunt down and consume.

hannibal says the choice is entirely up to will what happens next —but they both know what he'll choose.

and when will comes to sit by hannibal's side, hannibal feeds him the well-prepared meal of his preys' flesh and they finish together, now bound to an eternal undead life spent with each other.

[trvelyans-archive]

i am on my hands and knees begging for u to tell me about lila and margot 🙏

jasmine.............. thank you for this gift

under the cut because i expect it’ll get very long <3 :) update after i finished writing: it is, in fact, very long and also took me over an hour. so. take that as whatever sort of warning you might want.

let’s start with margot !

she was born to a couple of really young parents who..... did not want to be parents. at all. they were still in the party-and-get-drunk phase of their life and didn’t want to have a kid to worry about, so a large part of her childhood was spent couch surfing between relatives, mostly her grandfather.

they were really close! he would help her with her homework, they would cook together, he would let her drink underage so that she was well-versed in beer by the time she was like. idk. 16 lol. but she felt closer to him than her own parents, who were good when they were around but. they mostly weren’t around <3

when she was 19, her grandpa starting showing pretty serious signs of memory loss and whatnot and eventually had to be moved into a home. she was living with him by that point, so she had to continue to spend a year or so of her adult life couchsurfing. it didn’t help that she was in school full-time to get an engineering degree of. some kind. i think mechanical engineering. idk. and didn’t have a job, so to pay back her roommates she took up a majority of the housework as well as picked up odd jobs on the weekend. her grandpa’s health continued to decline through this time so she didn’t actually mind being busy because then she. didn’t have to think about it at all <3

and then.............. when she was 20......... her boyfriend of a year  suggested that she not only move in with him but that they get married and margot, who has never had stability ever in her life, jumped at the opportunity !

after she graduated, she found it incredibly hard to find a career (even though they were in the same program and He had no trouble finding one), so she was back to not working but her husband didn’t mind and he supported her whole-heartedly. during this time she started running and then eventually started going to a gym with a couple of her female friends from their neighbourhood! she would also spend a lot of time at her grandpa’s but his health was still rapidly declining. eventually her now-husband said that she should probably stop visiting him and margot was like “.... ok i guess”

And then. :)

she kept spending time outside of the house and started taking self-defense classes with a few of her friends and her husband was started to get very antsy. he wanted her to be at home, told her that he didn’t like her going out at night or, eventually, at all, and would find ways to keep her home every night so she didn’t go out. during this time he also started getting. um. very manipulative. he was easily triggered into starting arguments. so she increased the frequency of her self-defense classes and, eventually, they became Very Useful in an argument with her husband. so. we hate him :)

after that she filed for a divorce, moved away and changed her name to her late grandmother’s last name. she started working at a gym in her new town and eventually decided to open her own ! she had gotten the building about 2-3 weeks before the outbreak hit and didn’t have any furniture or equipment of any kind, so she met up with 2 middle-aged women from her old gym and they travelled together until one of them was bitten in a fight with walkers and dragged into a big crowd of them to be eaten and the other one was bitten and margot had to shoot her when she got zombified and tried to attack. :(

that’s where i have left off for now but i am going to develop her More the more i watch the show !!!

okay. backstory over. now for the fun bits:

her faceclaim is mackenzie davis specifically in terminator (without the. lines on her arms and whatever idk what those are) and this picture is the most margot-vibe imaginable.

the haircut was an incredibly recent choice but it came in handy during the outbreak because she didn’t have to worry about keeping hair out of her face. girlboss !

she is 6′2 :) her and her husband were funnily enough the 2 tallest people in her graduating class

she spoke occasionally to her parents after graduating and moving away but they fell out of touch a year or so before the outbreak began and she......................... unsurprisingly doesn’t miss them at all

she has 1 keepsake and it’s an old keychain of her grandpa’s and if anything happens to it. she will kill everyone in any room and Then herself !!!

she likes to where tank tops to show off her big arms. is this very ergonomical in the apocalypse where zombie bites can kill you instantly ? nope! will she do it anyway to intimidate people ? yup!

she Cannot cook. at all. she lived off of take-out and microwavable meals for the first 20 years of her life and then she always had someone else making food for her until she moved away on her own when it was back to takeout.

on the topic of food :) her fave foods are mac and cheese with breadcrumbs and meatlover’s pizza !

she will do literally anything for a good beer. anything. she keeps an eye out for them every time she goes scavenging in buildings and will try to get at least 1 bottle per trip. girlboss !

she cannot sing. in fact she’s not just average, she’s Terrible. she can, however, play mad guitar because her grandpa taught her.

now onto miss lila :)

she was born in a town a couple over from rick’s and was the younger sister of 2 ! she had a really great family and a very very happy childhood :) her dad was a wildlife rehabilitator and her mom was a landscaper who took a lot of pride in their nice big backyard and garden and Land where they. you know. rehabiliated the wildlife and what not

she worked a lot with her dad and mom at their wildlife centre and also helped her mom garden a lot (their house was on the same property as the centre so it was a nice big plot of land). she took a lot of interest in rehabilitating animals and it sparked a very early childhood interest in Caring for things (namely little wild critters) which extended to her helping out little kids on the playground when they got scraped knees and things. she always had a package of bandaids in her backpack from second grade on. an angel <3

in her final year of high school she had a very quick fling with a boy from her high school that ended… poorly. and then she got pregnant! which she. Did not expect. nor want. nor need in her life because she was planning on moving to atlanta to go to medical school and kickstart her career. her sister, who had recently dropped out of school and lost her job, decided to Take One for the team and claim the baby as hers so lila could go to medical school and stuff. their parents promised to take good care of her and they all made a plan to hide lila’s pregnancy from their town (although i’m sure literally everyone knows anyway) and then she moved away in the summer after giving birth to go to school

she quickly finished up her nursing program but was out of job for a few years until she got a job offer to be the nurse at king county elementary school aka the school were one Carl Grimes goes to school. she moved there in may and one night, when her car Squealed to a stop in front of a dog who had run away from his home and was being chased by. Um. a certain sheriff’s deputy who was intending on bringing the puppy back home <3 they got to talking and. Well. the rest is history…..

she was a very beloved member of the staff and kids would often fake sick just to come to her office and get a sucker and she grew esp close to the grimes family :D after a couple of years living in king county she got a job to start working at some fancy prep school in atlanta and decided that actually she might want to. You know. start being a mom now that she was finished with school and had a career. so she moved away from king county at the end of the next school year and was unfortunately in atlanta when it was bombed by the government at the start of the outbreak so she and her daughter and sister all died :) and that’s that !

some fun facts because that was a very depressing end to her story:

she always has suckers in her office at school and her favourites are the watermelon ones.

she can often be found gardening in her backyard or watching the birds in the trees like a little nature baby !!!

she is very meticulous about planning. she Does have a daily agenda. she Will kill you if you touch it. shane likes to leave her little notes in it for her to find when she’s at school. sometimes they are not Just cute. she usually erases those.

she likes collecting ugly thrift store paintings of animals and hangs them up in her dining room and she Does think they are incredibly funny.

she is a vegetarian !!! very unwavering about it. shane finds it annoying because he’s good at cooking steak but she just has a salad and then they’re both perfectly happy <3

sends basically everyone she knows a Christmas/holiday card every year. even the teachers at the elementary school who don’t like her and or barely talk to her !!!

she is a terrible maker of tea and usually forgets about cups before she’s even halfway through them (thank god for her). makes everyone tea when they come over except shane (stupid ass) because he doesn’t like it and usually people just politely swallow it even though it’s too steeped or. sorry idk how tea works. she just Makes It Bad ok

she perpetually forgets to do laundry. Most of her non-scrubs have dirt stains or dressing stains or whatnot (except for her Really nice clothes) which is why she tries to buy a lot of patterns. makes things easier to hide <3

and that’s it for now !!! i have so much other lore for them but i will stop here for now :) thank you very much if you read this also i’m very sorry i have twd brainworms i cannot help it. anyway ok that’s it thanks love you bye

[ofmymuses]

i’m really interested in getting back into adminning  &  i’ve tried to go about it on my own recently but i’ve found that running a group entirely by myself is rather  ...  hard  DFGHJK  sO this is a call for anyone who is interested in helping me run a group??  maybe like,  1 - 3 people??

any help would be super lovely:  keeping the main active, answering messages, updating pages, bouncing ideas off each other for tasks / events / plot drops, helping with graphics, promoing the group, etc

a few ideas i’d love to do:

01)  (murder tw)  a murder mystery group that’s not really focused on a group of friends or anything but rather 1 (or 2) masked killers going around and just having their fun with the entire town, sending anonymous messages  +  showing up at events to scare (and hurt) the locals

02)  (murder tw)  a murder mystery group that is focused on a group of friends but also has a town-aspect to it. in which the group’s mutual friend goes missing shortly after they all go off to college - 1 of them went back to pay (mutual friend) a visit and then they were filed as a missing person the day after.  &  people could apply for one of the mutual friends or as one of the town residents: all of the friends would have a motive for wanting (mutual friend) dead  +  the town would basically be split between those who don’t think one of them is the killer and those who think one of them is  ...  spoiler: it is one of them  -  i have a blog set up for this idea which you can see at this link; i unfortunately don’t remember the login for the account

03)  a college roleplay that has a secrets element. i think this is always fun; i love seeing what kind of secrets people come up with  &  how characters react when said secrets slowly start getting revealed. note that i know literally nothing about greek life

04)  a zombie apocalypse group!! anyone who knows me knows that i love me some zombies. there’s so much potential: we could do it 20 years post-outbreak and have all of the survivors living in a safe zone (think the beginning area of the last of us 1) or maybe 1-2 years post-outbreak so it’s not super long after but long enough that the survivors would’ve gone through some shit  -  i have a blog set up for this idea which you can see at this link; and i have the login for the account so everything will already be set up if we decide on this idea  (though i’m totally open to making changes to the pages)

05)  a pre-doomsday town group (semi-inspired by the film greenland) in which the end of the world is slowly approaching but it isn’t here quite yet.  so basically: an interstellar comet is going to simply “pass” the earth but it’s eventually realized that it won’t just pass by; a few particles will actually make contact but the government is assuring everyone that it won’t be dangerous by any means.  it’ll basically be ran like a typical town rp but have plot drops / news report posts updating on the comet (or whatever we decide to do). i’m thinking this could actually be a limited-run group that could close with a news report of a countdown to the big comet hitting?

06)  a sweet + simple small town group:  the town is inspired by arcadia bay from life is strange in which it’s a picturesque seaside town  &  there’s a family that’s been living there literally since it opened and they’re super rich and influential and own like, half the town’s businesses (aka the prescott family)  +  everything is just super nice and chill and :)  (btw i’m def down for it being in a different location too and not inspired by lis, i just think a seaside town sounds so nice)  -  and i.... may or may not have started setting up a blog for this idea which you can maybe or maybe not see with this link; 99% of the pages aren’t done tho

i’m totally open to doing things other than the ideas listed above  &  throwing ideas around, though i’m personally not interested in doing the following:  marvel / dc, multifandom, smut-based, celebrities, superheroes

a few ending notes:

i would honestly prefer not to have an ooc discord for the group, though i’m not 100% against it  -  i’ve just had some pretty nasty experiences with ooc discords in the past and think members posting ooc on their blog and / or having an ooc sideblog work just fine

i would, however, like to make an admin server for us  ~  i think this would probably be the best way to talk all together if there’s more than just 1 person who’s interested  &  i can make different channels for ideas + worldbuilding n stuff like that

i really like the idea of not doing activity checks every week but rather interest checks every month and also having “doing tasks, replying to memes, doing character development memes” all counting towards activity  -  this is to help with the stress of being active and so people don’t feel like they need to get on every day and write, yknow?

if you’re interested, please either give this post a like  +  i’ll slide into your dms or send me a dm here on tumblr and i can give you the link to my discord or we can just toss ideas around together here (unless more than 1 person is interested  -  then i’ll make the admin server and sent a link to those interested so we’re all in one place together)

[worryinglyinnocent]

Fic: The Zombie Outbreak Response Unit

AU-gust Day Five: Post-Apocalypse AU Fandom: Once Upon A Time Pairing: Rumbelle

Rated: T

Summary: Caught up in the middle of an unexpected zombie apocalypse, Belle is rescued by an elite if unusual team: the Zombie Outbreak Response Unit. She quickly becomes close to their leader, the enigmatic Mr Gold.

Note: This is more ‘during-apocalypse’ than ‘post-apocalypse’ but enjoy nonetheless!

===

The Zombie Outbreak Response Unit

When Belle had first seen the advert in the local paper, she had not thought anything of it. She had assumed that someone had put it there for a dare or a prank, and she had left it alone.

When it appeared there again for the second week running, she took notice of it, clipping it out and storing it in her purse. She wasn’t sure why, because she still had no idea why she would ever use the service that was being advertised, but something about its persistence made her wonder. Better safe than sorry, after all.

Now, three weeks later, with the ad having appeared in every edition of the paper since, she knew exactly why she had kept it and exactly why it was there in the first place.

There had been reports on the news of strange occurrences for the past few days, but nothing weird could ever happen in a town as quiet and sleepy as Storybrooke, right? Mad, apocalyptic nightmares like, for example, zombie outbreaks, always started in big cities where they could spread quickly and easily.

Well, that was what Belle had thought until she had woken up this morning and started going about her daily life to realise that the rest of the town had been turned into the flesh-craving undead, and a crowd of them was now converging on the library that she lived above.

Never had she been so happy to have clipped out a newspaper ad on a hunch, as she sat huddled in her flat, looking at the barricaded door and listening to the moaning of the horde that was making its way ever closer, clutching at her phone in one hand and the cricket bat that her mother had insisted on her keeping under her bed in the other. The ad was on the table beside her, and it was with shaking fingers that she dialled the number. It couldn’t be a hoax or a prank, not when she really needed it.

In the event of being caught in a zombie apocalypse, call your local ZOMBIE OUTBREAK RESPONSE UNIT immediately. Our highly trained professionals are on call 24 hours a day to assist you.

The call was answered on the first ring.

“Zombie Outbreak Response Unit for Storybrooke and environs. My name is Emma. Are you in immediate danger from zombies?”

For a moment, Belle was completely struck dumb, amazed that it had worked.

“Hello, are you in immediate danger?”

“No,” she said eventually. “No, I’m barricaded in my apartment.”

“Ok. How many people in the property?”

“Just me.”

“Do you suffer from any medical conditions?”

“No.” Just overwhelming fear.

“We’re sending a team to your location. I’ll stay on the phone with you until they arrive. How easy is it for you to exit your property?”

“Well, I’ve got zombies coming up the front steps and up the fire escape… I guess I could jump out of the window.”

“No jumping will be required although we will probably get you out that way. Can you describe the zombies, are they fast or slow moving? Do they have the power of speech?”

The questions continued in this vein for a little while until Belle heard the rumbling of a large vehicle coming up the main street and Emma instructed her to open a window if it was safe to do so.

Opening her bedroom window, Belle had to gawp at the sight of a heavily armoured black van inching its way down the street, very slowly mowing down zombies as it went. At last it parked up below her, and a team of what appeared to be riot police in full SWAT gear jumped out of the back, setting up a defensive perimeter as one of their number extended a ladder up to Belle’s window and began to climb up.

“Hi!” The voice was female and remarkably chirpy considering the circumstances. “You must be Belle. I’m Ruby. Let’s get you out of here.”

Still shaking with fear and adrenaline, Belle let Ruby help her down the ladder and bundle her into the back of the van with the rest of her colleagues. For a very frightening few moments, Belle wondered if they were in fact government agents who, trying to cover up the fact that there had been a zombie outbreak in her town, were about to kill her and dispose of the evidence. Rationally, they probably would have just let her be eaten by zombies. Or firebombed the entire town with her still in it.

“Do you work for the government?” she hedged to Ruby.

“God no.” Ruby shook her head so vehemently that Belle thought her goggles would fly off. “No, we very much do not work for the government. They are absolutely not interested in saving people from zombie outbreaks. I’m so glad that you called us. We’d picked up some chatter that Storybrooke had been hit and we hoped that there were some survivors, and that they’d seen the ad and would call us before…”

A huge explosion rocked the van.

“…before the government did that,” Ruby finished.

Belle just sat in mute horror. There were no windows in the back of the van, but she knew that her theory about the town being firebombed to wipe out the evidence of the outbreak had just come terribly true.

There were several questions that Belle wanted to ask, ‘where are we going?’ being chief among them, but she couldn’t make her mouth form around the words. The masked figure sitting on the other side of her patted her shoulder awkwardly. It would probably have been less awkward had he not been armed to the teeth with more anti-zombie implements than Belle could name.

“It’s all right,” he said. “It’s always a shock when it happens. We’ve all been through it.”

The rest of the journey was made in silence, and when the van stopped and the doors opened again, Belle found herself in the middle of what appeared to be a disused aircraft hangar, filled with crates stamped ZORU in large letters. She pinched herself, but it was definitely not a dream. She had just been saved from the zombie apocalypse by what appeared to be a private army.

“What… How…” She looked around her new surroundings in disbelief.

“We’ll explain everything later,” Ruby said. “There are a few things you have to do first though.”

The few things turned out to be a decontamination shower and a full medical exam from a cheerful little nurse in heavy-duty hazmat gear named Astrid, who took off her helmet and gave her a huge hug after proclaiming her not to be infected. Having been sourced some clothes that were not a hospital gown, Belle emerged from the medical room into the Zombie Outbreak Response Unit headquarters.

“Hi!”

She jumped out of her skin at the voice, turning to see a tall woman with bright red streaks in her hair.

“It’s Ruby,” she said, holding out a hand. “Now that we’re not in quite such life-threatening circumstances, I think introductions are in order.” She sighed. “It’s quite rare for us to find survivors. Hardly anyone takes our adverts seriously and I can’t say I blame them. Zombies aren’t exactly an everyday occurrence for most people and since the government just blows them all up every time, no one really knows the danger.”

Ruby led her down a corridor into what was obviously the nerve centre of the unit. They were evidently a rather small outfit, but they were meticulously fitted out. A large table was set up in the centre of the room, and there was a control desk with several screens and phone at one end, manned by a young blonde woman in earphones.

“Everyone, this is Belle, Belle, this is, well… everyone.”

Belle looked around the table. The five others she assumed were the rest of the team who had rescued her with Ruby. The blonde at the control desk waved distractedly over her shoulder, that must be Emma who’d taken her call. Astrid rushed into the room and took a seat beside the older man at the head of the table. He had greying hair and dark eyes, and a cane rested on the arm of his chair.

“Mulan, Neal, Jeff, David and Mary Margaret. You’ve met Astrid, you’ve spoken to Emma, and this is Mr Gold, the mastermind of the entire operation.”

The older man held out a hand, which Belle shook before taking the vacant seat that Ruby waved her into. “Welcome to the Unit, Belle. We may only be small, but we do what we can.”

Emma took off her headphones and turned in her wheelie chair; Belle could immediately see why she was the one handling the phones as she rubbed her very pregnant tummy.

“All the government channels are reporting no survivors, we’re in the clear.”

“I have to ask,” Belle began, “what happens to me now?”

“Well, you’ve got a choice,” Gold said. “We can arrange for you to travel to a safe colony for survivors that’s been set up in Seattle, or you can stay here and become part of the unit.”

“We need as much help as we can get.” Jeff was the one to speak, and Belle recognised his voice as the man who’d spoken to her in the van. “It’s up to you, of course.”

“You’re welcome to stay for a few days whilst you make your mind up.” Astrid smiled. “I love it when we have visitors. I need to bake! This is a situation that calls for cupcakes.”

Jeff shook his head with a sigh of mock despair. “Only Astrid could be concerned with frosting and sprinkles in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, but that’s what we love about her.”

Belle didn’t pay much attention to the banter as the unit debriefed from their excursion to rescue her. She couldn’t exactly go back to the life that she’d led before; it was a smoking ruin in the middle of the Maine coastline. Getting as far away as possible sounded like a very inviting prospect, and she couldn’t deny that Seattle was certainly very far away. On the other hand, she couldn’t help wanting to know more about the people whom providence had thrown her in with here.

It took her a moment to realise that the talk had stopped, and everyone was filing out of the room.

“Come on, Belle.” Ruby was standing by the door, waiting for her. “I’ll give you the tour.”

There wasn’t a lot to be seen on the tour, really. The place was a large converted barn, the main area housing the van and all the myriad zombie fighting equipment, and the rest of the building partitioned off into living space.

“You’ll be bunking with Astrid whilst you make your decision,” Ruby explained, showing her into a small room with two beds. One half of the room was a riot of pink and stuffed animals and twinkling fairy lights, and it made Belle smile to see it. Even though it wasn’t her style at all, it was good to see that there was fun and life and personality in the otherwise purely functional building.

All the same, Belle was still having trouble believing that all this was happening and that the zombie apocalypse was underway, much less that she was in the headquarters of the only people who cared about rescuing their fellow humans from said apocalypse, and indeed, she was having a bit of trouble believing that such people even existed in the first place.

“How did this place even come to be?” she asked, once they were back in the main living area. Neal and Emma were there too, and it was clear that they were together. It was nice to see love blooming in adversity.

“Well, you’d have to ask Gold what possessed him to start prepping for the zombie apocalypse. He’s the one who got it off the ground, well, him and Neal. Father-son zombie hunter team.”

“I honestly never thought I’d see the day when Dad’s zombie apocalypse obsession paid off,” Neal said, “but I’m very glad that it did.”

“Anyway,” Ruby continued, “he spent years slowly building up an arsenal and now we’re here today. Apart from Gold, Neal, and Emma, we all came here in the same way as you did – we sensibly called the helpline number and got ourselves rescued.”

“Oh.” It saddened Belle to think that so many of them had lost everything.

“It’s ok.” Ruby patted her shoulder as if she could tell what Belle was thinking. “It’s not all bleak. My granny got out with me; she’s in the safe zone now with Jeff’s daughter and Mulan’s uncle. Sometimes we manage to save quite a few households. There are scientists working in Seattle looking at the causes and triggers and identifying all the different strains of zombie-ism. We’re getting more informed and better at fighting them every day, and we’re all certain that there’s a cure out there somewhere.” She paused. “I know it feels wrong to be positive about it all, and you’re probably feeling about as far from positive as possible right now considering that your home just went up in smoke, but I promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Belle was very grateful for Ruby’s hug.

X

Two days later, Belle made the decision to stay.

She was in the control room when it happened. Gold had been telling her the next chapter in the tale of what made him start the response unit. He’d been happy to tell her when she had asked, but it was a long story, and he was having to give it in instalments in amongst all of his strategic planning and his many phone calls with the leaders of the other units around the country. They hadn’t even got to the part of the story which involved the ZORU branching out into different states yet.

Neal was at the monitoring desk this time, and everything had been nice and quiet until an alarm started going off on one of his screens.

“We’ve got a new cluster. Newport this time.”

Belle went over and peered over his shoulder at the scrolling lines of government and web chatter as Gold settled into the seat beside him and began typing. Everything was talking about a zombie outbreak in Newport. Belle didn’t want to think about how they had access to all this information, but she couldn’t deny that she was glad they did.

“Everyone stand by, we have a new active cluster.” Neal’s voice echoed through the PA system around the building and Belle heard running footsteps as the others raced to their stations. Neal left Gold in charge of the comms as he went to get ready himself.

“We won’t go out unless we get a call,” Gold explained as he continued to monitor the situation. “There’s no point in sending the team out into danger unless we know that there’s a possibility we can save someone.”

It was then that the bright red telephone on the desk began to ring with shrill urgency.

“Zombie Outbreak Response Unit for Storybrooke and environs, my name is Aiden, are you in immediate danger from zombies?”

Belle could only watch in stunned and fearful silence as Gold guided the caller through the same questions that Emma had asked her, at the same time despatching the team and pulling up all kinds of metrics on the computer. On one screen, she could see several camera shots from the van and the team’s body armour as they pounded down the roads towards Newport. Her heart was beating painfully in her mouth at the thought of the danger that they were willingly putting themselves in, and she could only imagine what it must be like for Gold, knowing that his son was going into the fray.

He glanced sideways at her. She had so much admiration for the way he could stay so calm on the phone with the caller, and she had a hugely newfound admiration for Emma, knowing that she had been in just the same nerve-wracking position whilst taking Belle’s own call and watching her boyfriend heading out to save her.

“Ok, we’re here, we can see the survivors.” Neal’s voice came over the internal comms and Gold acknowledged.

“Ok, if you look out of the window you should see the team,” he said to the caller. “Can you confirm to me that you can see them?” He listened to the muffled voice on the other end. “Ok, you’re in safe hands now, I’ll leave you with the team.”

The call ended and Gold could give his full attention to the control screens. Belle watched the camera footage with her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. There were more survivors this time, and Jeff and Ruby were shepherding them towards working vehicles whilst the others covered the exits. She screamed as David was caught by a pair of walkers, his camera going offline.

“David!” Gold was half in and half out of his seat, fingers clutching his cane with white knuckles. “David, report!”

“I’m ok!” David sounded winded, and then Emma saw him getting to his feet on Mary Margaret’s video feed as she ran to help him. “I’m ok, I took them out, but my camera’s shot.”

Gold sank back into his chair with a sigh of relief, but Belle couldn’t release the tension thrumming through her veins until everyone was safely back in the van and they were driving away from the town with the survivors in convoy. Once they were en route, she chanced to take another look at Gold. He was leaning back in his chair, looking satisfied with a job well done, but just as exhausted with fear as she felt.

“Do you get scared when they go out?” she asked.

“Every single time.” He paused. “It does help, having someone else here.”

Belle smiled, her heartrate finally beginning to return to normal, and Gold smiled back. There was something a little shy in the expression, and she had to wonder.

Once the survivors had been brought back to the base and undergone due process, it was decided that they would head straight out to the Seattle safe zone. Three households had been saved, too many people for them to house in the unit headquarters, and there was a general air of jubilation around the place that they had managed to rescue eight people in one go.

Jefferson, who was heading out to Seattle to see his daughter anyway, was going to act as an escort for the long drive, and he came over to Belle.

“If you want to go to Seattle, this is probably the best time to come,” he said.

Belle looked around at the rest of the group who were wishing the survivors well on their way. David and Mary Margaret, Emma and Neal, Mulan and Ruby. Astrid bouncing up and down and around.

And Gold, standing alone, a little apart from the rest, happy at having been able to help save lives and needing no gratitude for it. He caught her eye, tilting his head as if to question. Are you going?

Belle shook her head.

“Thank you, Jeff, but I think I’ll stick around. You’ll need someone to man the phones when Emma goes on maternity leave, after all.”

Jefferson gave her a hug.

“Stay safe,” he whispered to her. “And for what it’s worth, I reckon you’re definitely in with a chance there.”

They both looked over at Gold, who turned away with an embarrassed cough. Belle couldn’t help but laugh.

“Take care of them, Jeff,” she said. “And of yourself, of course. And say hi to Grace for me. Well, she has no idea who I am, so maybe not. You know what I mean.”

“Of course.” He bowed low before going to take his seat in the convoy of cars that would be heading out west. Everyone gathered to wave them off, and Belle found herself going over to Gold at the back of the group.

“So, you’re staying then?”

Belle nodded. “If you’ll have me.”

Gold smiled. “Absolutely. I’m certain that you’ll fit right in. Welcome to the Zombie Outbreak Response Unit, Belle.”

“I still can’t get used to the fact that it exists, let alone the fact that it’s needed.” Belle sighed. It was going to be a strange new life, but one in which, hopefully, she could make a difference to the world. And perhaps to one person in particular.

“I’m glad you’re staying,” Gold said. “I know we haven’t known each other all that long, but I would miss you if you were to leave.”

“I would miss you, too. After all, you still haven’t told me the rest of the unit’s history yet. I couldn’t miss that.”

Gold looked at the rest of the team gathered in the hangar. “We could always resume the tale now if you want. Get away from this lot of rabble rousers.”

Belle laughed at the description. Considering how few of them there were, they were making an inordinate amount of noise. She didn’t mind at all, and she knew that Gold didn’t either. In these times, every little victory ought to be celebrated, and this was more than a little victory.

Still, it would be nice to have some time with Gold without a crisis looming over their heads.

“I’d like that,” she said, and she took his arm when he offered it to her, leading her out of the hangar and into the main living area, settling on the sofa.

He didn’t begin to speak, and for a long time, they both just looked at each other. Belle worried her bottom lip between her teeth. Would it be too forward to just go for it? They’d only known each other for a couple of days, like Gold had said, but Belle knew that there was something there, and there had been something there from practically the first moment that they had spoken to each other properly, and Gold had begun to tell his tale.

She took the plunge, leaning in closer and feeling a huge inward sigh of relief when Gold did the same, meeting her halfway in a soft, tentative kiss.

Belle broke away, looking into his eyes, and on finding only encouragement there, she went back in for another kiss. Gold’s hands came up to cup her face, and she smiled against his mouth.

“I’m so glad that you didn’t go,” Gold breathed once they finally broke apart again. “Thank you for staying.”

Belle pecked her lips to his again. “I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”

Maybe it was a little too soon and they were moving a little too fast, but the times they were living in were dangerous, and they had to make the most of all the opportunities they had, just like all the causes for celebration. This was not a time for holding back. This was a time for living.

[sandalaris]

WIP Title Game

Tagged by @youbecool @alwaysupatnight and @fortysevenswrites Thank you all so much! I

rules: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and interests you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!

Some are repeats because of how I do my writing, but here we go! (under a cut because there’s a lot of them)

1A - the document I use to edit the latest chapter of multi-fics I am working on, currently A Lesson in Navigation’s next chapter

A Lesson in Navigation - holds all future chapters/scenes/snippets/notes for my WIP

A SethKate Community - fusion fic! the FDtD characters are now a study group at a community college… also has some scenes for the reverse

ALiN Alternate Scene - deleted scenes for A Lesson in Navigation

ALiN Pieces to reignite - I got writers block a while back and so just started randomly writing whatever came to mind for SethKate

ALiN Seth’s POV - what is says on the title

All The Little Pieces notes - because that sucker got complicated and I kept forgetting where people were at

Andy x Lauren - an in-pieces drabble/fic for the show Gifted exploring Andy and Lauren’s mental connection and what all it means. Kinda shippy

Baby, We’re a Cliche part 2 - sequel to a Sterek AU fic

Biscuit Teacher - from the kdrama Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy. I really wanted Bo Ri to find out that Hyun Woo lied about Tae In wanting her there and then have them break up sooner, probably won’t ever be finished but I’m glad I wrote it

Chapter something - I’m shortening this list because I technically have Chapter 26, Chapter 27 and Chapter 29 and this vaugly named Chapter something all as separate document for All the Little Pieces (the main document was getting too long)

Document1 - creatively named. SethKate, inspired by the tumblr post about someone’s grandparents meeting with their grandpa tried to rob their grandma

Document2 - a rough scene from a Community fic

Document3 - has two scenes from two different FDtD fics that I need to put back where they go

DW - a Doctor Who AU where nothing is alien and everything is fae

FDtD Fire Us - post-apocalypse SethKate fic based strongly on the Fire-Us series (or rather the set up for that world and the disease that killed almost everyone). Seth and Richie find a set of siblings squatting in one of their safe houses… except they shouldn’t exist.

FDtD Seth Kate Richie - probably Gen fic where Seth and Richie are Kate’s imaginary friends… until they aren’t

FDtD Touching With Intention - a post-series Kate-centric fic about her taking her healing into her own hands, background SethKate

FDtD - a shit ton of random snippets and fic ideas that are all firmly on the backburner until I either get the overwhelming urge to finish them, delete them, or post them as chapters in my never to be finished fic (mostly SethKate). Including scenes from: Zombie AU, dark Amaru/Brasa (+Kate) fic on those six months between season 2 and 3, cursed!Kate is stuck in an alternate reality dreamstate and the Gecko brothers have to go in to get her out, and superpowered S1 AU (featuring precog!Richie, Scott can “do the math,” Kate can make people tell the truth, Freddie’s not sayin what he can do… yet, and Seth the badass normal one)

 Good Bad Kinda Fairytale - FDtD inspired by the Kinda Fairytale series where people are born either Good or Bad. SethKate featuring oblivious!Kate and pissed off!Seth.

Leverage!Life With Derek - Derek/Casey fic where the McDonalds and the Venturis are each a crime family that decide to start helping people with their skills

Lydia and Peter - an exploration of the connection between Peter and Lydia from Teen Wolf

MacGyver weirdness - what it says on the title, :P

Mr. and Mrs. Smith AU - actually just lightly inspired by the movie. SethKate. After a year of marriage, Seth, a semi-retired master theif who never told his wife how he got the money, begins to suspect that Kate is also some kind of wanted criminal… she’s not, but he’s not the only one to make that mistake and now people are shooting at them.

Murdered by Pirates is Good - a Richie/Kisa Princess Bride inspired fic where Kisa is telling Scott and Kate her story

Murdered by Pirates is Good 2- the SethKate sequel or possible alongside fic

(another set of multidocuments that are technically all the same) Nano 2, Nano Edit Numero Uno, Nano - all various edited stages of the Community/FDtD crossover where Jeff is Seth’s lawyer

Random Rumbelle - what it says in the title, lol.

Rene x Trevor - probably another fic I won’t finish, but Rene’s reaction to finding out that “Trevor” is actually a traveler in her boyfriend’s dead body

SethKate - my attempt to write smut for the first time, post-season one with kinda-a-werewolf-but-not-really!Seth

Shin x ET - The Lonley God kdrama fic where Shin struggles with not kissing his newly found bride

Spark Stiles - a semi-dark Sterek fic where Stiles climbs his way out of hell to get revenge for Scott’s murder

Sterek - two Stiles/Derek fic ideas that are on the backburner for now

Sterek SS inspired Part Two- the sequel to Intervening Process (We’ve Got This)

Stolen Kisses of an Ill-Begotten Age - Jeff/Annie post-Debate fic where Jeff gets to finally talk to someone about how Annie knocked him on his ass with one kiss

The Salt of Man - Life with Derek, Derek/Casey post-apocalypitic fic

Tumblr - the SethKate sequel to the drabble of Kate finding a drunk and high Seth and running her fingers through his hair…. that’s actually pretty much done, I should post it

Untitled tumblr drabble - a Richie/Dakota kissing prompt from @alwaysupatnight

Untitled tumblr drabble 2 - a SethKate kissing prompt from @yossariandawn

Waiting - a Criminal Minds fic involving none of the main characters, lol

What the Hell - a Big Bang Theory AU where Penny ends up Sheldon’s roommate and Leonard moves across the hall

wtf - a collection of The Umbrella Academy scenes involving Five dealing with second puberty, Diego and Vanya bonding during their teen years, and a slight AU where when they jump back to 2019 with ghost!Ben something to goes wrong, or right, and now Ben’s alive!…. and in his fourteen year old body

[holdin-out-for-a-hero]

Rookie (Leon Kennedy X Reader) Chapter 10/?

Words: 2631

Warnings: None

A/N: Sorry it took so long! I had the draft written for over a month before I got around to editing it

You looked down at the Licker's body before you; Its blood and tissue stained your clothes and the floor below. Disgusting. Although the sight before you was truly revolting, you took an audible sign of relief. They're better dead and gross then alive and slightly less gross. Killing the lickers wasn't easy, it required a lot of planning and a rather dramatic gesturing argument with Leon. Your plan was to call them over, and take one out each. Leon wasn't too happy to see those things again, but without a plan of his own, he gave in.

"You're a good shot." He said, still breathless from the adrenaline rush.

"I know," A small smile formed on your lips

"Like a REALLY good shot." he exclaimed "You killed that thing mid-air!"

"My father taught me," the smile on your lips fell away. You missed your dad. And everyone else, too. But this was not the time, you thought.

Leon stepped over both of the carcasses and then waited for you. You took a large step over the first carcass, but then your foot slipped in the pool of blood. Leon tried to catch you, but failed. Instead of falling onto the tile floor, though, you fell face first onto the second licker's corpse. A fate truly worse than death.

"Are you ok?" Leon asked, helping you up. Feeling the blood and goop on your face, you immediately felt like throwing up and crying. Leon wiped away the gore with his gloved hand as you tried hard to swallow what was coming up your throat.

"Do me a favor and shoot me," You said. He chuckled. "I'm not kidding."

"After we get that sample" he held your wrist and the two of you started walking down the hall. Those words stung, though you realize they shouldn’t have. Leon just couldn’t stop thinking about Ada, could he?

"She's really got a hold you, huh?" You remarked under your breath. Leon turned to you.

"This is for the government. This is so raccoon city never happens again. You know it’s the truth.” His words echoed though the hall, they stung as well.

"Never mind, forget I said it."

The two of you walked in an uncomfortable silence, around a corner, and down another hall.

"Would you feel better if I let you kiss me too?" Leon spoke up, that devious grin on his lips.

"No!"

You eventually found the nap room. And yes, it was a literal nap room. The right side of the room had a few pods built into the walls for sleeping. Most of them were open, except for one. A decaying hand dangled out of the only closed pod, dripping blood onto the floor. Was this the person who never checked out of the nap room, Wayne Li?

Leon slowly opened the pod because he too was curious (and he was running low on bullets and really hoped this person had a few with them). The body slumped out of the pod, falling face first on the floor and making a sickening splat sound. You couldn't look at it, not after the noise it just made, so you looked into the pod instead. There, you found a journal. Flipping through a few pages, you confirmed your suspicions. This was Wayne Li, and apparently he had a god complex. Man, scientists are really big headed, you thought. Was it wrong to insult the dead like that? Probably.

"Yes!" Leon whispered.

You looked over. He pried a gun from the dead man's hand and a package of bullets from the lab coat pocket. You noted how wrong this looked, two people stealing loot from dead bodies. And two cops, no less. It's funny how a zombie apocalypse can completely change your values. Then you noticed the blue flashing chip on his wristband. A security chip, high clearance, no doubt. So you took that too.

The two of you continued through the lab, entering a large, central area. It had a bridge that led to an elevator and a platform that you assumed would activate the bridges to the other parts of the lab. You looked down below the bridge, darkness shrouded the bottom, if there even was one. A fall from there would definitely be deadly, you though. But now is not the time for your fear of heights.

"Ada said it's in the west area," Leon said, you looked up at him. “You’re holding onto that rail pretty tight.” That was when you noticed your white knuckles.

Leon held his hand out to you and his eyes met yours. Slowly, you uncurled your fingers from the rail and grabbed his hand. He smiled at you, leading you across the bridge and to the platform. He needs to stop being so nice and cute all the time, you thought, because you could tell you were falling for him fast.

Leon scanned Ada’s wristband against the sensor, but unfortunately the security level wasn't high enough for the West area. He scanned it against the other sensor, and it unlocked the East area. Hopefully you'd find a higher clearance chip somewhere in the East area.

The two of you walked to the very back of the lab and scanned your wristband against the door's sensor. You were not prepared for what was inside. As the double doors slid away, all you could see was green. Though most of the foliage was behind a glass, it looked as though it was pouring out of any crack it could find, leaving stray vines hanging from the ceiling and coming up through the floor. Then you saw it, how could you have missed it? Right in the middle of the room, a man in a hazmat suit was pressed up against the cracked glass by whatever plant was overtaking the lab. A purple light flashed from the man's wrist. Your heart sunk. As much as you didn't want to retrieve the wristband from that death trap, there was no other chip: you had already checked the rest of the lab.

You looked over to Leon, and he to you.

"Well, you know what that means," he chuckled nervously. You groaned.

"Could this night get any worse?" You asked. Yes, it could. And it would.

You and Leon fought your way into the chamber with a can of gasoline and a lighter you found. Then you realized you couldn't reach the guy with the wristband, so you fooled around with some of the lab stuff and accidentally sprayed pesticides into the entire chamber. Luckily that solved your problem, and the corpse fell to the floor of the chamber. All the while, you were collecting emails and records from the computers around the lab. And now, with the wristband and a newfound fear of bushes, you headed towards the west area.

You held your wristband up to the door, and it buzzed open. This side of the lab, or at least what you had seen of it, was way different from the first side. There was a sanitation station at the entrance along with a cart full of hazmat suits. You could tell that whatever was in this side of the lab was probably not something you’d want to mess with.

You were right. The west side of the lab was far more interesting that the East, and not in a good way. The files you found on the computers detailed the disturbing experiments carried out on real human beings, and pods on the wall held some of their “successes,” which were mutated mounds of flesh and body parts. This, you knew, would haunt your nightmares for a long time.

The two of you reached the back of the lab, where one vial was left in a large centrifuge. Leon picked it out of the container. He observed the label, noticing the large letter G.

"That was easy," he said, looking back to you.

"Don't speak too soon, I have a bad feeling about this," you replied. As if on cue, the intercoms played a message:

"Attention: Unauthorized removal of a level 4 virus detected. Facility lockdown initiated. Self destruct sequence will begin when lockdown is complete."

Leon's heart sank when he heard the message. Of course this would happen, because nothing was gonna be easy in raccoon city. In fact, nothing has been easy all night. He questioned whether the universe wanted him to make it out alive since so many curveballs have come his way.

"Let's find Ada!" He said to you as he ran down the hall. You followed behind, trying to keep pace with him. You entered another platform room that led to the other side of the lab, running across the metal and praying to God you would be fast enough. You were so close to the next door, getting closer, and closer.

Then the ceiling behind you fell in. And a familiar face rose from the dust. Or rather, what was left of his mutating face. Birkin.

"You again," Leon clenched his jaw, glaring back at the creature that just wouldn't die. He raised his gun. Then the door behind him beeped open

"Move. He's mine!" A woman's voice yelled. You looked around. It was Annette. She limped in front of Leon, holding out a strange gun of her own. "This has to end."

She shot him. Not with a bullet, but a strange acid or serum. Whatever it was, it had Birkin writing on the ground in pain.

"What's going on?" Leon said, but it fell on deaf ears. Annette took another step forward towards the creature.

"Sorry William, you gave me no choice," She said to it. The creature stopped moving, and Leon walked around the creature with his gun trained on it. You walked behind him, pulling out your own in the process. When Leon was content it wouldn't be getting up any time soon, he squatted to take a better look at the monster in front of him.

"You called this thing 'William,' why?"

Annette didn't acknowledge him. She shook her head, looking down.

"It shouldn't have ended like this," she whispered.

"Shouldn't have ended like what?" You spoke up.

"It's Umbrella's fault, this whole mess!" She seethed. You don't know if she was answering your question or not, she didn't seem like she was listening.

"You're Umbrella too." Leon said.

"Yeah, and YOU made this virus," you added.

"William and I made the virus, but we never meant for this to happen!" He voice cracked as she yelled and you notice the tears running down her face.

There was a pause in the conversation. Annette's fierce eyes burned into your soul as she tried to control her ragged breathing. This took you by surprise, because in your first interaction with her, she didn't act very human. But now, you could feel her guilt, and you could feel her loss. Whoever William was, he was important to her.

"Tell us everything that happened— every detail," Leon said calmly and firmly. He definitely had the mannerisms of a cop, you thought. She took a couple deep breaths, and began to speak.

"The government was onto Umbrella, they have been for a while now," she paused, putting together her thoughts, "William was going to turn G in to the government for immunity. Umbrella heard about it and sent their special ops team in to take him down. When they raided the lab, I knew what they were there for, so I ran to find William," she choked down a sob, "I was too late, they had shot him and he had just injected himself with G.”

"So this is your fault? You created this monstrosity?" Leon accused.

"We made the G-Virus, but we never intended for this to happen!" She replied in a venomous tone.

You were listening to them argue, when you saw something out of the corner of your eye. Something moved, something in William's direction. It took you a second to piece together what was happening, it was a second too long.

"You could spin it anyway you want, you're still responsible,"

The monster rose, grabbing Annette with its clawed hand. He squeezed her tight, as she struggled to get out of his grasp. Then, he threw her against the opposite door. Her body crumpled to the ground.

The creature turned, looking at you with its many eyes. Then, it lunged at you, trying to grab you too. You screamed as you fell backwards into the floor, your abdomen grazed by it's claws. Your stomach burned as you felt your shirt grow wet, you looked down to see the tear that traveled from your bra to top of your pants.

"Y/N, get out of the way!" Leon yelled. Then you saw its claws coming at you again. You backed away as quickly as you could, though the shock of your wound kicked in, making it hard to focus on anything but the searing pain.

"Over here you ugly bastard!" Leon yelled, trying to get William away from you.

Anette slowly got up from the ground, holding her bloody side. Using all the strength she had, she trudged over to a control panel and pressed a button.

"He can't get away," she said to herself.

Suddenly, red flashed through the room and the platform you were on descended to the bottom of the lab. The lights, the pain, and the panic disoriented you.

But then you saw Leon. He was using the last of his shotgun shells to take down the monster, to keep it away from you. And then you realized:

You had feelings for him.

You had only known him for a night, but what had happened—and is still happening— in that night would surely keep you bonded for life. Maybe it was an adrenaline-fueled infatuation, you didn't care. You knew how you felt.

The platform was floor lever now, so you stepped off, one hand clutching your bleeding stomach and one hand wielding your gun.

Whatever it was, it was getting too close to Leon for your liking.

"Hey ugly! Over hee-ere!" You yelled in a sing-song voice. The creature turned around, stomping over towards you. Thank God you were a good shot.

"What are you doing?!" Leon yelled.

"I'm not letting it hurt you!" You yelled back.

"But that's what I was doing for you!"

Then you thought of a plan.

"Leon, divide and conquer!" You yelled.

So the two of you bombarded the creature on both sides, filling him with bullets and trying to light him on fire with your gasoline and lighter. Don't get me wrong, though, this was not a fair fight. William was fast and had inhuman strength He tore equipment from the ground to throw at the two of of you like it was nothing. You were also at a disadvantage with your injury, making your pace slower. Still, somehow the two of you remained unscathed. And by the grace of God, you defeated it. As you watched Williams body crumble to the floor, you made a note to go to church again after all this was over.

"You still in one piece? How’s your stomach?” Leon asked, walking past William and over to you.

"It’s just a scratch,” you replied, looking down at your would. The bleeding had stopped, and it looked like it was already scabbing up.

Leon grinned at you, still breathing heavily. That stupid smile of his. Perhaps it was best that you never got to work with him, because you knew if you had seen that smile at the precinct, you would have fallen helplessly in love. You could even hear Marvin yelling at you for it.

“Then lets get going”

[milkcartonbastard]

The Apocalypse Presents- Hairspray

Fandom- Z Nation and The 100. (John Murphy x 10k)

Warnings- Zombie violence.

Notes- I'm a slut for this ship and there just isn't enough stories for them. Requests are open. This takes place in the Z Nation universe.

~~~~

   If 10k knew he would meet an apocalyptic asshole who made his heart flutter like a screen door in a hurricane, he would have stayed in the truck when it ran out of gas. But he didn't, so now he was face to face with some guy. He had light blue eyes and dirt and scratches covered his face. He was wearing old, dark clothes and a hood covered his head. Or it did, until 10k had scared him and sent him backwards, the hood dropping off his head as he moved. The guy's left ear was sliced towards to the top and his hair was matted with blood. 

   If he hadn't yelped in surprise when 10k dropped from his little perch in a tree, the taller boy would have thought he was a zombie. The guy grabbed a knife from his pocket and prepared to swing it in 10k's direction. 10k drew his slingshot out, loading a gear into it.

   "What are gonna do with that? Bruise me?" The guy asked. His voice wasn't as deep as 10k imagined it would be, but it was as cynical as the guy looked. Growling sounded off to the side of the two and they both swung around.

   Without saying anything, 10k shot the gear towards the two zombies. It shot through the first one's skull and plowed into the second one's skull. 10k lowered the slingshot.  "5,477."

  "Nice shot." 10k turned his attention back to the other guy before he snapped back towards the lining of trees surrounding the clearing they were standing in. More growling sounded out and the guy- who had to be the same age as 10k- turned toward it. He ran his finger across the bottom of his nose while holding his knife. 10k felt his chest thrum, but he shook it off. Soon, dozens of zombies appeared and his eyes widened. He grabbed the stranger by the arm and started dragging him away.

   "Don't fucking touch m-"

   "Shut up and run!" 10k yelled and they were off. The sound of boots smacking and crunching down on sticks boomed out as the two boys ran from the horde of zombies that were hot on their trail. 10k's brain was in overdrive. Had he passed anywhere they could hide in? He didn't think so, but he wasn't sure.

   "There's a building this way! C'mon!" The other boy grabbed 10k's hand and started branching toward the left. Trees flew by as they ran. They jumped over rocks and logs, never once stopping for breath or falling. The zombies were rushing behind them, black goo dripping from their rotting teeth. 10k's chest tightened, but he pushed forward, trying to keep his pace. Sure enough, a bunch of buildings appeared at the bottom of a hill. It looked like a little shopping plaza. 

   Neither of the boys hesitated before rushing down the hill. They struggled to stay upright when going down and it was like they were in sync. The guy grabbed 10k's arm again and dragged him towards a Barbour shop with fancy letter on the glass windows. They busted inside and slammed the door behind them. The guy grabbed a big filing cabinet and started dragging it towards the door.

   "What if there's some in here? Where are the other exits?" 10k asked. The guy shook his head and 10k helped him move the barricade in front of the door.

   "I cleared this place about thirty minutes ago. There's one exit and this is it. Better than nothing, though." He said.

   "So we're sealed in here now?" 10k asked. The guy sighed and nodded. Anxiety rolled across 10k's skin. How the fuck were they supposed to get out now? How long until the zombies busted down the door to this shitty little Barbour shop? They had about four minutes until the dead would be busting down the doors. The hill had bought them time. 

   "Yep. Now we need a plan."

   10k stared at the door and the glass window beside it. How the fuck were they supposed to survive this? A zombie could easily smash the window in and the door didn't look too heavy duty. 10k looked around the room, trying to figure something out. It was a one-story building, so he couldn't break a window and start sniping at the zombies without leaving them vulnerable. 10k's eyes scanned the room. All that was in the shop was tons of hairspray,  and shampoo.

   Hairspray. 10k felt around in his pockets and felt the lighters he had ran across earlier. He'd was planning on giving them to Doc when he saw him again. All he'd meant to do was take some gas back to the group, but the apocalypse happened and now he was in an empty Barbour shop with a stranger. 10k could see his new friend was trying to come up with something too. He was digging through drawers and cabinets in the front of the store.

   "I have a plan." The words caused the other guy to stand up and turn toward the raven haired boy. 

   "Great. What is it?" He asked. The other hands dropped away from the drawers.

   "It involves fire."

   "No! That won't work. It'll just set them on fire and then we'll have a bigger problem." The guy looked around the room, blue eyes searching. 10k sighed. They had about two more minutes until they were completely fucked. 

   "But I think you have the right idea. Grab all the hairspray and put it in this basket. Now!" He yelled. He and 10k got to work and threw the containers into the trash bin. It took about a minute to get it all rounded up, since Mystery Guy had found more in the back. 10k's internal clock was clicking.

   "Now what?" 10k asked. Then he got the plan. They were making a hairspray bomb. Mystery guy smirked when he saw the look in 10k's eyes. He grabbed the basket and 10k moved the barricade in front of the door. When 10k looked out of the door, he could see the zombies had made it to the bottom of the hill and were standing up. Mystery Guy rushed back into the shop, leaving the door open.

   He'd put the basket about twenty-five feet away from their shelter. 10k slung his rifle off his shoulder and lined it up with his shoulder. He looked into the scope and Mystery Guy stood next to him. 10k handed him his spare pair of goggles and pulled his own down over his eyes. When they passed the basket of hairspray and it was in the middle of the 37 zombies- he counted- 10k took the shot. A millisecond after he pulled the trigger, the basket exploded and the heat from the blast hit the two boys in the face.

   Zombie guts and parts rained down from the sky and splashed the inside of the Barbour shop. 10k felt the liquid hit his face and cover his torso. He smiled. "5,514."

   "What does that mean?" Mystery Guy asked. He had a fresh coat of blood on his face and the goggles over his eyes made him look dorky. 10k's heart fluttered again.

   "I'm going to kill 10,000 zombies. I'm at 5,514. That's my name, too." He admitted. 

   "What? 5,514?" 

   "No, 10,000. It's 10k for short." He admitted. The other guy nodded and they stood up. Once again, they were in sync. Mystery Guy stuck his hand out and 10k shook it.

   "My name's John Murphy. Murphy for short."

   "Well, shit. There's already one of those in my group. I already like you more." 10k's mouth lifted up at the corners without his permission. And for some reason, Murphy's cheeks went rosy. There it was again- 10k's heart fluttering like a screen door in a hurricane. Or a bullet hitting a trash-bin of Hairspray. 

[turnupswritessometimes]

The One With the Zombies - AshEiji - Ch5

Title: The One With the Zombies

Chapter: 5

Word Count: 4673

Description:  Another what it says on the tin from me - it's a Zombie Apocalypse AU because how else could this anime/manga get any darker? Whilst on the run from the outbreak of zombies, reporters Ibe and Eiji stumble across a New York street gang, safely huddled in an abandoned warehouse. As if the undead weren't surprising enough, Eiji finds himself becoming closer and closer to the gang's leader, mysteriously dubbed Ash Lynx. But safety doesn't last forever and soon it's only Ash and Eiji. And they're up against more than just zombies.

Note: This is available on A03, and I would recommend you follow it there, as I remember to update it. I would post a link, but then Tumblr wouldn’t include it in search results.

5

Eiji had never been glad that he hadn't been able to pull a trigger.

The two dark shapes had not been zombies. They were moving slowly, but they hadn't been dragging their limbs behind them. No, it had only been a very tired Ibe and Max.

There had been no time for a happy reunion. Ash had given them a sharp nod and they had nodded back.

They kept walking, though Eiji had wanted nothing more than to collapse into Ibe's arms and sob. He ha been scared - so scared - and he wanted someone bigger than him to tell him it was okay now, the danger had passed.

The danger hadn't passed.

They had walked until dawn. After an hour or so, Skip had gotten tired and Ash had given him a piggyback without saying a word. So they had continued walking – until they had been bathed in amber light and they could see a house in the distance.

Nothing was following them. Eiji glanced back every ten seconds until they had reached the building. Every moment that he wasn’t looking behind him, he was sure that there were hands reaching out towards him – fingers ready to grab at him. But no one had followed them. Which probably meant that the zombies had been occupied with other things.

It was a farmhouse. They climbed over the wooden fence and passed empty barns and stables until they came to a sprawling, wooden house. It was like something from a book – from Anne of Green Gables or the Wizard of Oz. Empty windows with checked curtains were visible from outside and there were two rocking chairs on the porch.

As good a place as any to stop had been the thought that Eiji was sure was going through everyones minds.

Max kicked the door open and had traced the room with the nose of his gun. With the light outside, the inside looked pitch black, the furniture just shadowy shapes that looked like crouching figures. It was empty.  So they had entered.

They had found Skip a room with a quilted blanket and a painting of sheep grazing outside pinned to the wall. He had fallen asleep before his head had even hit the pillow. Max and Ibe had taken the double bed in the backroom, with the gun resting on the bedside table. Bones and Kong collapsed in the attic room – twisted around each other on a twin bed.

Ash had volunteered for the first watch. Eiji had followed him. He had expected Ash to sink back on one of the rocking chairs with a ciggie and watch the dawn. Instead, he was leaning against the door, still looking taut.

“Get a few hours sleep.” Ash said. He hadn’t even needed to turn to know Eiji was there.

Eiji pushed past him – he had started to ignore Ash’s commands. Whenever he told him to go to sleep, he had always stubbornly stayed up, leaning against the door and standing with him. It didn’t matter if they didn’t say a word. Ash was lonely. Eiji wanted to make him less lonely. Everyone else had thought he was crazy when Ash would tell him to get him something and Eiji would say “no,” even if he was getting up to oblige. Ash’s bark was less than his bite. So Eiji settled himself into one of the rocking chairs, his back aching from relaxing after so long.

“I can’t,” he said, and it was the truth.

“Yes, you can. There’s not as many of us now, you have to take a turn sleeping so you can take a turn on guard. We can’t share it anymore.”

“I really can’t.”

Ash’s eyes softened. He was still holding his gun. Not fiddling with it; he was ready to shoot it. “You’re scared of what you might dream.”

Eiji nodded, his gaze not leaving Ash’s green eyes.

“From my experience, your brain stops giving you nightmares once life becomes one.”

“Experience?”

“Maybe I’ll tell you one day,” Ash said. “But the main thing is that you will be able to sleep. You need to sleep, Eiji. You’re exhausted.”

“So are you.”

“Two hours,” Ash said. “Sleep for two hours, okay? Sleep in the living room and I’ll wake you up if you have a nightmare.”

“You promise?”

Ash nodded. There was dark smudges under his eyes. “Two hours.”

“Can I sleep here?”

“Inside.”

Eiji pushed himself out of the rocking chair, feeling his knees give way as he stood. He caught himself on the door and passed Ash again. He felt a hand on the small of his back and turned to see Ash giving him a sleepy smile. The sun behind him made him glow.

Eiji opened his mouth slightly – then realised he didn’t know what he was going to say and closed it. Instead, he put a hand on Ash’s wrist; making sure that he was real. Real and warm and here. He could hold him.

It was strangely hard to pull himself away, but he eventually managed it. Managed to make the two steps over to the sofa and collapse onto it.

Ash had been right. Eiji drifted off almost immediately, and when he did, he hardly dreamt at all. Everything was dark. Not a scary kind of dark – a warm, comforting dark that was protecting him from everything. There were arms around him. He didn’t know whose arms, but they were warm and real and there.

So he slept.

*

Ash hadn’t meant to watch Eiji. He knew it was exceedingly creepy, so he only allowed himself a glance every five minutes or so. It was just simply less nerve wracking to glance inside than to look out over the day. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched; of being followed and he hadn’t wanted to stop at all. It had been for the others. They needed to rest. He didn’t.

So he allowed himself a single glance every five minutes. The door was half-open and golden sunlight brought out the browns and reds in Eiji’s dark hair, like the iridescence of a blackbird’s feather’s. His hair was thick – thick enough to cast a shadow on his expresso coloured skin. Expresso coloured, apart from rosy pink cheeks and rosy pink lips. It was only obvious because of the bright orange jacket.

Ash loved that jacket on Eiji. He liked it more than the sweaters and the button up shirts. It just suited him more – the boy who didn’t bat an eyelash at a gang leader. Who lit up the room with his smiles and glowed when he laughed. A boy like that should wear huge orange jackets. He needed to stand out.

Of course, Max Lobo couldn’t know that Ash was doing this – and as he appeared from one of the backrooms, Ash glanced away, back out the door.

“You decided whether to tell him or not?”

“We leave once everyone’s had a couple of hours sleep.” Ash said. He didn’t bother to keep quiet – Eiji hadn’t moved a muscle in almost two hours and was breathing deeply. He was far gone. “We can’t stop.”

“Are you going to sleep?”

“I don’t need to.”

“Right.” For once Max wasn’t patronising. He leant his elbows against the porch railing, looking out over the abandoned farm. Ash joined him, after a moment. He didn’t want to, but he suspected that it wasn’t the end of the conversation.

“We can’t stop,” he repeated.

“Is it about Griffin?”

Breath left Ash for a moment, so he nodded instead. He tapped his fingers on the wood in front of him and wished he had thought to roll a cigarette before. He hadn’t realised quite how much he wanted one until he remembered.

“There’s no time,” he managed to say. “He’s running out of time.”

Max was silent for a moment. Ash had barely been able to get the words out – hadn’t, really, been able to get them out – and he wondered if Max understood them.

“Are you sure there’s time?”

Ash didn’t reply. He watched a woodlouse crawl out of the woodwork and scuttle across the top on the bannister, the sun glistening on it’s back. Ash let it crawl across his cracked fingernails. Cracked and dirty, he realised, with a certain satisfaction. Worker’s hands. Man’s hands. He wasn’t impeccably clean anymore and there was a certain relish in that. It was easier to think about the state of his fingernails than the state of his brother.

“Ash, what happened back there,” Max said. He was still looking at the horizon. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“You see a lot of zombies?”

“A fair few coming out the city. They didn’t behave like that – that was –“

“Organised.”

“None of the others have organised themselves like that. It was like they were after something.”

“Someone,” Ash said. He tapped his fingers with more speed. “Some brains. That’s all they want. They must have – they must have figured out that there were a lot of us in there. All drawn to it because it’s the only place with anyone in it for miles.”

“They figured it out, did they?” Max repeated. He sighed. “Smart zombies.”

“Fuck off, Lobo. I know as much as you.”

“You’re – admitting that you don’t know something?” Max put a hand to his chest, rolling his eyes in mock surprise.

Ash could have knocked his teeth out. He hoped he conveyed that with a facial expression. If he did, Max had no reaction. He lowered his hand, and smiled slightly.

“Rest,” he said.

“No thanks, dad.”

He got a wince at that and remembered to file it away for future reference. ‘Dad’ got under Max’s skin.

“Then just sit. Your legs need to take a break.”

“Like I would do anything that you tell me to do.” But Ash’s body was betraying him. He was sinking into one of the rocking chairs and suddenly it hit him just how tired he was. Every muscle that he had suddenly relaxed, as though he had just stepped into a hot bath. He was sore. Every part of him was sore. He had been tense for so long and it felt good to relax.

Just for a minute, though. Just until everyone had rested. Then they had to get going again. He had to go to New York. He had to get to Griffin.

After all, he told himself as he stared at the silhouette of Max Lobo, Griffin had been abandoned too many times.

He hadn’t even realised that he had fallen asleep until he heard his name being called from somewhere high above him and he realised that he had to open his eyes. He did, peeling eyelids back that felt as though they had stuck in place.

It was hot. A hot day. One side of his face was boiling hot, sweat trickling down his temple in the humid heat. He was sweating – right through his shirt, he was sure. The air felt thick and he could hear bugs chirping in the distance.

Eiji was over the rocking chair, one hand on it to steady it. His brown eyes looked gold in the morning light and for a moment, Ash had forgotten everything. He smiled up at Eiji, because he was alive and there – because he looked absolutely wonderful in the daylight.

Then the previous night hit him like a freight train.

“What’s the time?” he demanded, all but jumping out of the chair. It creaked and groaned, rocking to itself as if it was consoling it’s loss.

“Midday,” Eiji said.

“We need to leave. Have you got your stuff together?”

“Max and Ibe left.”

“What?”

"They've gone to find more supplies," and at the look on Ash's face, he added. "You're out of bullets. Max is too. And the others."

"Fuck." Ash said. "Fuck – fuck that. As soon as we get to New York we'll get more bullets."

"I said you'd be angry." Eiji had stuck his hands in his pockets and the jacket made him look small. He looked up at Ash from below his fringe.

"What did Max say?"

"Something like 'oh well.'"

"Of course he fucking did."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Ash said. He found himself smiling slightly. "You don't have to apologize for everything, you know."

Eiji shrugged.

"Did they take Skip with them?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck," he ran a hand through his hair, looking out over the porch. The sky was blue – midsummer blue – the kind of deep blue that you only saw in story books. "We could go – just us. I can send a message to Skip and ask them to wait here for a couple of days."

"Here doesn't seem safe," Eiji said, carefully. He hesitated, drawing the jacket closer around himself. He must have been boiling. "I don't think it's a good idea to go alone."

His English had gotten better – loads better, since he had arrived. But now he seemed to be struggling – hesitating to find the words.

"You don't trust me?" Ash found himself smirking.

"I do." Eiji's voice was strong. He made eye contact as he said it, then he wavered again. "I don't want Ibe-san to worry about me."

"You don't want to lead him." That was the answer behind the puzzle of Eiji's hesitation.

He nodded.

Ash sighed. A long, heavy sigh that he exaggerated just to make Eiji smile. He wanted Eiji to keep smiling. It was as important as keeping Skip smiling. He leant on the railing, feeling it wobble underneath him.

"This house is like the one back home," he said. Mostly to himself. Mostly because he was thinking of Griffin. Partly because he wanted to tell Eiji about himself, and that was the only thing he could say. "I used to wish for a cyclone to take me away to Oz."

When he was eight. When he was eight his class had watched The Wizard of Oz on a rainy day. Ash had still been sore. But when he had seen Oz, with it's too bright yellow roads and popppy fields and Emerlad Cities, he hadn't been thinking about it. He had been completely transported – the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion all rolled into one.

But then Dorothy had clicked her heels and said 'there's no place like home,' and Ash had crashed back down to the real world.

"I wish that could happen now," Eiji said, softly. He leant against the wood next to Ash, his face turned up to the sky. There was a mole under his jaw. Ash had never noticed it before. And he needed a shave – his jaw was covered in the thin, downy hair of a boy who hasn’t shaved enough to grow a proper beard.  Ash let a hand run over his own skin. Barely anything. He felt that he would be cursed with a baby face forever.

"You don't get cyclones here."

"Or in (!!)?"

Ash smiled then – a genuine smile that he couldn't stop from spreading across his face. "Not there, either."

Eiji paused. "You're not supposed to get zombies here, either. There's always hope."

"You're weird."

Eiji shrugged. He was still smiling as he looked up at the sky.

Ash should have hated this. He should have hated being trapped on a farm with no bullets when his brother needed him. It might be too late already – every voice in his head was screaming at him to leave – to run to New York if he had to. Maybe he was scared.

He was scared to see Griffin again.

So maybe staying on an abandoned farm with no bullets wasn't too bad.

"Well then," he said. "Come on, Dorothy. If we're stuck here, we might as well explore."

He wasn't sure how Eiji's hand found its way into his, but he wasn't going to point it out. It was warm and real and there and he didn't want to let it go as they padded back into the shade of the house.

It was humid inside too – the kind of heat that you could taste. The curtains had been closed and the relentless sun outside burst through them, casting everything in a rosy light.

The living room was cliché. Sofas with patchwork cushions and handstitched embroidery in wooden frames on the walls. But then there was a large t.v and a stack of blu-rays that felt hideously out of place. Skip's room was similar – a wii U set against The Jungle Book and Alice in Wonderland. A poster of Spiderman next to a cross stitch of a forest scene.

Max and Ibe’s room still had a rotary phone in. Ash played with the dial in silence, smirking slightly when it dinged back into place.

“It’s all empty,” Eiji said. Ash turned to him – he had been opening the chest of drawers. “Everything is empty.”

“They must have cleared off.” Ash said.

“I hope it was long before all this happened.” Eiji said quietly. He drew lines in the dust on the top of the chest of drawers. It looked like Japanese – Ash assumed it was Japanese. “Do you think they went on their honeymoon?”

“What makes you say that?”

Eiji pointed to a framed photograph. A young couple were all smiles – both women holding their hands up so that the light sparkled off of matching engagement rings. A snapshot of unspeakable happiness that was now gathering dust.

“Maybe,” Ash said. “Maybe this place is only rented out to honeymoon couples. Maybe I should have carried you over the threshold.”

Eiji looked at him, tilting his head to one side. “Ash.”

“I’m serious – come here.” He was wrapping his arms around Eiji’s waists before he could protest, lifting him from the floor. Eiji didn’t yelp – he gasped, his hands going to Ash’s as if to disentangle himself. Ash stumbled – laughing, but surprised. “Shit, I didn’t realise you were so heavy.”

“That’s not very polite.” Eiji landed on the floor with a thump. He turned to Ash with a pout on his face and shit – shit, he was close. But he didn’t seem to notice that he was almost pressed flush against him – no, he was smiling up at Ash with a mischievous look on his face. “It’s very rude to comment on someone’s weight.”

“So?” Ash tried to stay calm – to look as unfazed and teasing as he always did.

Eiji’s arms were around him in the next moment – strong, stronger than Ash thought he could be – and then Ash was light as a feather. He was looking down at Eiji, his hands on the Japanese boy’s shoulders to steady himself. Eiji was grinning at him – triumphant.

He felt helpless, in the air. He couldn’t figure out if he liked that feeling, because it was Eiji and Eiji wouldn’t hurt him – Eiji would never hurt him. And yet he felt completely helpless and it made his stomach squirm and writhe. But, he still had to be Ash Lynx. So he huffed, blowing hair away from his face and looking away from Eiji as though he couldn’t care less.

“Very clever of you.”

“Sorry.” Eiji was helping him back to the ground. And they were still close. Still very close and it didn’t seem to matter to Eiji that Ash stunk of sweat and mud.

“You’re strong.”

“I did high jump back home.”

“Did?”

Eiji looked down then, a small smile on his face. Ash knew that smile – it was a deflecting smile. So he went to take Eiji’s hand again. He couldn’t quite do it this time – not when he was thinking about it – he brushed his knuckles against Eiji’s instead.

“Let’s keep looking.”

All of the rooms were the same mix of modern and rustic. They couldn’t see any signs of life from the stables or barn and decided not to investigate in too much detail. The longer they looked the more Ash was aware that he was carrying around an empty gun. He wasn’t sure what he would do if they came across a zombie now.

There was a shed around the back. Although the wood was new, it wasn’t hard to break the lock on the door. Eiji’s eyes had sparkled with such excitement at the possibility of breaking in that Ash had counted them down and they had ran at it with their shoulders.

At first, the wood juddered from the frame but did not come away. They tried again. It buckled.

The shed seemed even darker than the house had been. There was nothing especially exciting in there – forks, shovels, empty buckets. Dead bluebottles and cans upon cans of paint. But there was a rather large chainsaw. With several spare blades.

Eiji ran his finger along the edge of one.

That was when Ash heard it. A thud. His first thought was that it was Max being the general lummox that he was, so he stuck his head out of the shed.

“Lobo?” he called. “We’re round the back.”

There was another thud and he heard a groan. He frowned stepping out of the shed and heading around the house. Were they hurt? It sounded as though someone had fallen. As he came around the side of the wooden building, he saw a figure on the porch step.

“Lobo?” he tried again. “Max?”

The figure twitched its head towards him, looking weary. Scared. It must have been someone like them. A survivor. The sun was blinding him and even when he shielded his eyes with his hand, he couldn’t make out any details.

“It’s okay. We’ve got supplies and we can help you.” He walked as he spoke and knocked a stone in the grass with his foot. The head followed the movement. That was when he first noticed how fluid the movement was, like the head was loose on the neck.

There was the groan again and as the figure pushed itself into an unsteady standing position Ash realised his mistake. He had let his guard down. His mind had been filled with emerald green grass and blue skies and expresso coloured skin. He had been away in Oz.

This was reality.

It wasn’t one of the women in the photo – but he had seen this man – this boy – in the photos in the house. He was tall, taller than Ash but even thinner. Broken glasses sat skewed on a face that was once pale and shy. Now there was a deep, ragged gash running from temple to chin, oozing dark blood that was crusting in a pool over him. Skin hung limply, as did his left forearm, from the elbow down. Ash could see bone poking through the flesh.

He wondered how the smell hadn’t hit him before. The smell of decay – an overpowering, vomit-inducing smell. Maybe he had gotten used to it.

No, as he stumbled back, he realised why. The barn was open. It had been punched at and the wood torn away until a hole was in the bottom of the door. That had let the smell out. A rat hung, dead, over the opening.

The boy had heard him, yellow eyes had focused on him like a sniper targeting it’s prey and he stumbled forward. Stumbled faster, picking up speed as Ash did, darkened lips curling over yellowing teeth in some resemblance of a smile.

Ash wasn’t looking where he was going. He was just walking backwards – running backwards – as quickly as he could. This was helpless. He didn’t have a gun that would work. He didn’t have any defence. He had been careless and he would pay the price.

Eiji would pay the price for his carelessness. He heard his voice, like he was underwater and it was coming from above the surface, “Ash!”

The boy’s head rolled to Eiji’s voice and Ash clapped. He didn’t know what he was doing – keeping it away from Eiji, he supposed. He was clapping and walking backwards and he didn’t have a plan. Ash Lynx didn’t have a plan. Ash was meant to have a plan. Ash always had a plan.

His back hit wood. It was such a shock that his legs gave way beneath him. Dead end. The boy was over him – close to him now – close enough that Ash could see maggots in the gash on his face, feeding hungrily at still moving flesh. Flies buzzed around yellow eyes – Ash could see every vein.

Not dead end.

Just another building.

Fucking move, Ash Lynx.

Don’t be helpless.

Never be helpless again.

His hands found the dirt, went to start dragging himself away from this monster as far as he could before his strength gave out completely.

A new sound appeared.

It sounded like a roar. A dinosaur roar.

Then his eyes adjusted. It was too mechanical to be a dinosaur roar. It was the whirr of a machine.

He stared up at the boy in confusion – just in time to see silver above his head. Then everything was red.

Red splattered out from the boy, the device still whirring away as it cast the world with crimson paint. The drops caught the sunlight as they flew. Red poppies. He covered an arm with his face to avoid the warm, wet feeling of the blood touching his skin.

When the whirring finally stopped, when he peeled his arm back to see the boy’s split body falling to one side – guts and organs spilling out like the insides of a cracker – he found a silhouette above him. He shielded his eyes with his hands and this time he saw clearly enough.

It was Eiji. Standing with a chainsaw hanging heavily from his arms, panting as he stared down at Ash. Eiji, covered in scarlet from head to toe. Eiji, who had just saved his life with a chainsaw of all things.

Ash stood – stumbled – using the wood behind him to support himself.

Eiji had just saved his life.

He was alive.

Eiji had –

He was stepping – bounding – over the body – moving without thinking.

Eiji had saved his life.

His hands were on Eiji’s cheeks, not taking a moment to look at him before he was slamming his mouth onto Eiji’s. He tasted of copper and sweat and nothing in the world had ever tasted better. He was alive. He was alive because of Eiji.

Fuck.

He was kissing Eiji.

He pulled away, stumbling back over legs that looked like they belonged to a broken puppet.

“Well,” he said. He didn’t want to acknowledge that. He wanted to keep moving. “That was-“ the word came to him – where he had seen a chainsaw before. “’Groovay.’”

Eiji shook his head – scattering poppy petals of blood onto the Emerald City of grass. “I had to help.”

“Thank you.” Ash said. He swallowed, got the courage to touch him again and put his hands on Eiji’s shoulders. “Thank you, Eiji.”

“You said that already.” Eiji said. At Ash’s confused frown, he pressed a hand to his own mouth. Smudged with blood still.

“Sorry – I’m – sorry, about that,” Ash said. “I didn’t believe I was alive.”

“You don’t have to apologize for everything, you know.” A ghost smile sat on Eiji’s lips.

There might have been a laugh, if there wasn’t a dead boy between them. Ash looked down at the body, flies still buzzing around it, readying themselves for a feast.

“We can’t stay here,” he said. “It’s not safe.”

“Max and Ibe-”

“We don’t know when they’ll be back. I don’t care about waiting for bullets – we can’t wait, Eiji.”

“They won’t be long, they said-”

“Eiji, no.” Ash’s voice was a snap. He forced himself to swallow, though his throat was too dry to manage it. All he could taste was blood. This was it, he told himself, he had to come out with some small truth. He had to let Eiji in on this one. “We have to go to New York. My brother’s been bitten.”

[crashdevlin]

Zed Word: Ch. 2 Carpe Diem

Zed Word Masterlist

Author’s Note: Originally posted to ao3. This was inspired by a series of tweets between Jeffery Dean Morgan and Jensen Ackles…. Sam and Dean never found John, but everything went the same way anyway until Season 5. Adam never said ‘yes’ to Michael. The fight at Stull Cemetery never happened but Lucifer (jumping from vessel to vessel ‘cause Sam wouldn’t say ‘yes’) and Pestilence managed to infect everyone with Croatoan, turning everyone into zombies when they die. The boys have traveled the apocalyptic landscape killing zombies and saving people ever since.

Summary: Reader has been living in Alexandria since Daryl saved her life. When she ventures out of town for the first time in months, Sam and Dean save her life and she takes them back to Alexandria, a town on edge since Negan showed up. Dean takes an instant interest in the woman, and when Negan shows up again, he does, too.

Pairing: Dean x Reader, Negan x Reader

Story Warnings: Kidnapping, torture, Non-con/dub-con, unprotected sex of a forced nature, pregnancy, mentions of abortion, PTSD, *THIS IS A DARK FIC*

Chapter Warnings: Kidnapping

Eric walked in halfway through the sermon (one about faith in the face of overwhelming odds and humility after surpassing those odds) and stood next to you. You could see him appraising Dean from the sidelines as Gabriel preached. "He's super cute." He whispered.

"Told you."

"You still need a wingman?"

You scoffed. "You know, I don't think I do. He was flirting with me. Even I can't deny that's what he was doing."

"Ooh, good for you! Is he coming to pasta night?"

"They both are." You cast your eyes to the front of the room and smiled politely at Gabriel, who was looking at you and Eric with disappointment.

"Well, I got your water started. You'll just have to kick it up to high when you get home." He winked and walked to the back, sitting in a single empty chair.

After Gabriel wound down the sermon, everyone stood and greeted each other. Eric walked up and smiled at the men. "Sam, Dean, this is Eric Raleigh."

"And do you two have surnames?" Eric asked, shaking their hands.

"Winchester. Like the rifle." Sam responded.

"Ooh. That's a name. Well, I will see you at the house for spaghetti, right? You can meet Aaron."

"Yeah. We'll be there. Who are we to turn down a home-cooked meal?" Dean put his hand on your shoulder as he spoke. You froze and Eric definitely noticed.

"It's actually pretty amazing what this girl can do with canned tomatoes and dried pasta. She's had that that sauce going for hours."

You rolled your eyes and pulled away from the men. "Okay, y'all, let's... head back to the house."

"You know, if you can't handle him touching your shoulder, you're never gonna break that dry spell." Eric whispered as you walked out of the church.

"Thank you, Eric." You groaned.

"Hey, Maggie! Are you coming to dinner?" Eric called.

"No. I can't take the acid. Thanks, anyway." Maggie dropped her head as she headed toward the Grimes' households.

"Her husband was one of the ones Negan killed. She's pregnant. So sad." You whispered as you walked toward Eric and Aaron's house.

"It's a tragedy." Eric agreed. "To lose someone like that."

"Yeah." Sam could barely be heard. It was evident that they had definitely lost people, too.

As you approached the house, you could see Carl on the porch, bouncing Judith up and down. "Oh, the Grimes kids are here. They've been really eager about these dinners since Carol left. Carl!" You rushed toward the porch, with a big smile.

"Those the guys?" Carl asked, resting Judith on his hip.

"Yep. They saved me. I know distrust is your first instinct, but don't be a jerk."

"When am I ever?" Carl asked, with faux innocence, as you pushed the door open. Carl followed you into the kitchen.

"Who else is coming, you think?"

"Dad and Michonne said they might be coming. Dad was kinda... uh..."

"Pissed? You can say it. I knew he wasn't gonna be happy about us bringing in new people." You clicked the pot of water up to high and stirred your sauce as the front door opened and Eric entered with Sam, Dean, Michonne, Rick and Eugene following behind. You grabbed two boxes of pasta and set them on the counter, before walking to the fridge and pulling out a six-pack of beer. "Will you take these into the living room, Carl? And tell everybody fifteen minutes on food, please?" The teen took the beer without a word and disappeared from the kitchen.

You could hear snippets of conversation from the living room, filtering in over the sound of boiling water. "... a mechanic. I got into it by fixin' up our Dad's old Impala. Just had a knack. Sammy was gonna be a lawyer. Went to Stanford an' everything."

"Is it just you two?" Rick's tone was accusatory, like he didn't believe the brothers had survived together alone.

"That's kinda our life story. Sam and Dean against the world." Sam responded.

"Gotta say; cold beer, I thought I'd never have one again. You guys have it so good here. I can see why other people might be a threat."

"Don't worry. We know you aren't here to take what we have." Michonne's tone was warmth and strength. Of all the females in Alexandria, she was definitely the one you were happiest to call 'friend'.

"... brings you to Virginia? Headin' anywhere specific?" Eric cut through as you placed a strainer in the sink.

"...best to just keep... one place for long. Makes you a target. We didn't have a place with walls like..." Sam's voice went in and out as you poured the starchy water and spaghetti into the sink.

Suddenly, you were aware of a presence at the stove, stirring your sauce. You turned to see Dean, beer in one hand, ladle in the other. "You should be out there, mingling, making new friends." You said as you set the giant pot on a cold burner.

"Well, Sammy has their attentions right now and I realized that you are all alone in here. Doesn't seem fair. You're doin' all the work and not even gettin' company in return."

You grabbed a stack of plates from the cupboard and began to plate the pasta. "Maybe you just wanna spend time with me. You sweet on me, Dean?"

He smiled, brightly, at that. "I thought I was hidin' it pretty well."

You pointed to a cupboard beside the sink. "You wanna open that and grab the bottle on the second shelf?"

Dean set his beer on the counter and reached into the cabinet, coming back with a bottle of mahogany red liquor, about three-fourths full. The label was faded, but 'Macallan' was still legible. "What's this?"

"It was my Dad's. Macallan Cask Strength. It survived the journey from Florida to Alexandria."

"Cask Strength?"

"Scotch gets diluted down to about 90 proof, usually. This isn't watered-down. Sits at about 130 proof. A little goes a long way." You answered, beginning to ladle sauce over the plates of pasta.

"So, don't drink from the bottle, is what you're tellin' me?"

You pointed to another cabinet. "Cups."

"How many people are gonna imbibe?"

"It varies. You should get a head count from the living room."

Dean crossed the kitchen, bottle in hand. "Hands up if you're havin' some of this kickass Scotch. Yeah, nice try kid." He returned and grabbed 6 cups. "Assuming you're having a glass."

You grabbed the first round of plates and headed to the living room with them. "Bon Apetit."

Dean helped bring in the rest of the plates and you smiled as everyone waited to take their first bite until you'd taken a seat in a chair next to Aaron. "I wanna dedicate this meal to Sam and Dean Winchester. Without them, I'd've been a meal for walkers this morning, so... thank you, enjoy and... go slow on the Scotch. Salud." You held up your glass and everyone held theirs up, too.

"Salud." The room chorused.

You watched as Dean twirled his fork in the pasta and shoved it into his mouth. "Aw muh gaw! Ish ih uhmay-ing." You laughed as he swallowed. "After years of dehydrated shit and cold Beanie-weenies, this is like a porterhouse."

Sam nodded his agreement. "This is the best thing I can ever remember eating. Thank you, so much."

You blushed and took a sip of your Scotch.

*******************************

As everyone slowly filed out of the house, you found yourself sitting on Aaron and Eric's couch, nursing the end of your first glass of Scotch. Dean was sitting next to you, nursing his second one as Sam helped Eric and Aaron with the dinner dishes. You were suddenly very aware of Dean's proximity and your levels of anxiety skyrocketed as you began to worry about his obvious interest in you and your lack of experience and if you maybe you forgot to shave part of your leg when you were in the shower.

Dean reached over and placed his hand on your thigh and leaned over, whispering, "I'm not going to ask you to bed, y/n."

"What?" You squeaked, turning to him.

"You looked nervous, so I thought I'd take the pressure off."

You swallowed. "Did I do something... wrong?"

"No, not at all. It's just..." He cleared his throat and set his glass down. "You're pretty much a virgin. It's been a decade for you and I doubt your high school boyfriend knew what he was doing. And I, for the first time in years, I'm actually drunk and I'm not gonna rush into this with you and fuck it up."

"But... I... we could die any day." You whispered, looking down.

"You're right, and 'carpe diem' is a great way to live in the apocalypse, but we are relatively safe here and if I'm gonna seize you, I'm gonna do it right."

"Right. Guess that makes sense."

"Hey, but I do plan to carpe. Just not tonight."

You chuckled, scooting backward on the couch. "That definitely takes the pressure off."

"That's what I was goin' for." Dean said, as the water in the kitchen turned off.

Eric seemed a bit disappointed that you and Dean weren't all over each other when they entered the living room.

"Ready to head back?" Sam asked.

Dean nodded, standing and wiping his hands on his slacks. "Thanks for having us over. This was an amazing welcome. Hope we can live up to the hype." You stood, walking to the door and letting them out. "Tomorrow?" Dean asked, quietly, as he passed through the doorway.

"Tomorrow." You confirmed.

You closed the door and turned to Eric and Aaron, both of whom were staring at you. "So?" Eric asked.

"So... what?" You deflected, picking up your empty glass and draining the last bit of Scotch from Dean's.

"So, Dean Winchester, that's what. Do we hear wedding bells?"

You rolled your eyes and headed for the kitchen sink. "We've known each other a day, Eric. Let's hold off on the 'Say Yes to the Dress' event, okay?"

"Oh, come on. Does he like you?" Eric asked, frankly.

You turned around and sighed. "There was some talk about carpe-ing my diem. Yes, I'd say he does."

"Good for you. You deserve the happiness." Aaron smiled as he spoke.

"Like I said, I met him this morning. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"Yeah, but..." Aaron tilted his head away from his boyfriend. "...you could get lost in those eyes."

You sighed, deeply. "I know." You shook your head at yourself and walked toward the stairs. "See you in the morning, gentlemen."

************************

The next morning was more tense than other recent dawns and it didn't take long to find out why. Negan would be there in just a couple hours. As the time dragged on, you decided to check on the Winchesters. Sam answered the door. "Have you guys been told? That Negan's coming?"

"Yeah. Maggie told us to stay in. She doesn't want him seeing us." Sam gestured for you to come in, so you did.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. I mean, he doesn't know you exist, so he can't hurt you. We're gonna pass him off some of our stuff, he'll leave. Least, that's how it's supposed to go, but last time he came in contact with our Alpha males, he killed two people, tried to get Rick to chop off Carl's arm, then he abducted Daryl. It's better he doesn't know you're here." You said, as Dean walked down the stairs.

"I don't see why we don't just go against the man, head-on."

"Because it's not just him. It's him and his Saviors and Negan seems to have prepared for every contingency. He's not just crazy, he's smart, too. Please, stay in."

"You gonna keep us company?" Dean asked as shouting from the gate drew your attention.

You looked out the window to see people running toward the gate. "No, I'm sorry. I can't. I... he has Daryl. Daryl's the one who brought me here, gave me the chance to be a damn person again. I have to know if he's okay."

Dean grabbed your hand as you reached for the door. "What if he kills you?"

You chuckled and grabbed the doorknob with your other hand. "Then you should've carpe'd last night. Stay in. I'll be fine." You rushed out the door without another word and ran for the crowd at the gate, pushing your way to the front.

Your stomach flipped to see him; black leather jacket, holding that barbed wire-decorated bat. 'Menacing' wasn't a strong enough word, but you couldn't think past your fear to a better one. "This can't be all of it, Rick."

"We... don't have more to give."

The bat came down on the ground next to where Rick was kneeling. "You're gonna give me twice this next week, understand? Or I start culling your herd 'til you can do your job without worrying about how many worthless mouths you gotta feed. Do you understand, asshole?"

Rick nodded, quickly, and Negan pointed the bat at two of his men, who rushed forward to grab Alexandria's offering. The nightmare man turned and started to walk out of the gate, so you pulled on every bit of your courage, screwed your eyes shut and called out, "What about Daryl?!"

Gasps went through the crowd and you had to force your eyes open and deal with your actions. Negan was walking toward you, a sickening grin on his face. "What about Daryl?" He stopped five feet away, holding the bat, menacingly.

"I-is h-he..." You couldn't control the shaking in your voice any more than you could the weakness in your legs. "Is he dead?" You pushed out.

"You wanna know if Daryl's okay? That's sweet. You know what, princess, 'cause you asked so nicely... you can come see for yourself. Take her." Negan turned to Rick as you were grabbed under each arm and dragged out the gate. "You've been holding out on me, Rick. You've got women; soft, curvy women who don't remind me of my old drill sergeant. Hard to find a bitch without hard edges in the world today, so I will consider that one the other half of your payment."

Negan's eyes fell on Michonne, who was staring after you in fear. "Oh, don't worry about her. I'll treat her like a fuckin' queen. Assuming she doesn't fight me, I won't even hurt the little cunt. Hell, she might even like it." He stood straight and walked out the gate, a happy bounce in his step.

[notgonnarememberthis]

Resurgence Chapter 2: Repetition

Melinda wakes in a morgue with little to no memory as to how she got there. Her only clue is the broken bits of information provided to her by the coroner, Phil Coulson. All she knows is she was murdered and she has to stop the people who killed her from doing it again. Even if it means she has to help Coulson find his missing daughter along the way.

And I am back once more. Life got a wee bit hectic especially in the lew of returning to classes for this semester. Anyways enjoy!

Melinda jerks awake with a gasp only to be met with complete darkness. Where is she? How the hell did she get here? She wracks her mind searching for something, anything. Any possible situation. She shuts her eyes once more trying to calm herself. Panic would get her nowhere.

There was the missing child case. An eight year old girl named Robin mysteriously ran away from home a few months after the equally mysterious death of her father. The case got worse after an alert that a civilian had spotted Robin with shorter hair and a man who didn’t match the description of any family member. Hill proposed that it may be the same child kidnapping ring that they’d been following for three months. They’d tracked a lead only to come up with a dead end. Hand commanded her to go home as she’d been up for hours on end searching for that lead. She remembers walking back to her car and then… nothing.

She reaches a hand out carefully only to come in contact with cold metal only inches from her face. Reaching out the the sides and above her yields the same results. The box she is contained in is far too narrow to even sit up so she kicks below her. She smiles slightly finding that the bottom has more give than the rest. She kicks again realizing now that not only is she barefoot but she’s completely naked, only a thin sheet covering her. She’ll kick ass for that later.

She braces her hands at the top of the box kicking with all of her might. She lets out a gasp as the table underneath her suddenly slides out. Her eyes meet with very startled blue ones as she’s suddenly plunged into unbearably bright light.

“Oh my god.” The voice says. The shadowed figure shucks off his jacket covering her up quickly. Once her eyes adjust she takes in her surroundings. The scene is incredibly familiar as she realizes she hasn’t, in fact, been taken hostage but rather she’s in a morgue.

“What the hell.” She croaks. Her voice aches from disuse as she falls into a coughing fit. The man, who she can only assume is the coroner, rushes to the sink filling a cup with water before delivering it to her.

“I don’t understand. This shouldn’t be possible.” He stares at her half in confusion and half in wonder. She clutches his suit jacket tighter to her with her free hand, greedily drinking the water with the other. “You were…” His eyes fall on her knee for some reason. She places the cup down wishing she could pull away from his gaze. “Do you remember anything? Who you are?”

“I’m Melinda May, I’m a cop, I was on a case but now I’m here.” She states simply. “How did I get here.” Her eyes fall on the badge pinned to his dress shirt, “Phil Coulson.” The man awkwardly adjusts his sleeves trying to maintain the little bit of professionalism he has left. She takes note that it’s probably not every day that he opens one of these things to find a living person.

“You were attacked. You were bleeding out in alley and you were confirmed legally dead on the scene.” Melinda lets out a shaky breath clinging to the table. She died…

“Who found me?” Her fingers shake as she tries so hard to remember.

“Your partner, Maria Hill and Bobbi Morse. They left after your bo… you were dropped off here.” Her eyes well up with tears. To find her like that must have been devastating. Why the fuck can’t she remember any of it? She must’ve gotten shot or something…

“How?”

“What?”

“How did I die?” She asks. “You said I bled out but not how.”

“Well…” He sighs flipping open the chart. “That’s what’s confusing I suppose.” He picks up a folder lying on a nearby table before handing it to her. She clenches her teeth preparing herself before flipping open the manilla folder. The first few are typical of case files; the photo of a gun by a brick wall, her crushed radio lying next to a dumpster. Her heart sinks as she flips to the next photo. It’s her alright, eyes staring at the sky seeing absolutely nothing. Blood surrounds her neck and head. As she narrows her eyes it almost looks like the blood had come from a bite wound. She shakes the shiver out before flipping to the next photo. It’s a full body shot this time and she can make out another red stain on her knee.

Subconsciously her fingers drift to her knee only to find the smooth skin there completely undamaged. A flash of pain echoes through her body, she flinches as though burned. The pain still burns despite there being no wound. “What happened to me?” She whispers in shock.

“Well, I’m not going to lie when I first heard the pounding I was absolutely positive I was in a zombie apocalypse.” She can’t help the smile that twitches at her lips. He’s trying, god help him.

“Could I…” She gestures to herself. The room is still pretty frigid even under the suit jacket and sheet. He seems to catch onto what she means moving to a locker with his head down. He pulls a to go bag out of a locker against a wall. She gives him an odd look and he shrugs.

“It’s a colleague’s. I’m sure Sharon will understand when I explain to her.” He rubs the back of his neck with an apologetic smile. “The bathroom is out the door on your left. Nobody else is here so don’t worry about being caught without a badge.”

“Here alone on a Friday night?”

“It’s Sunday.” She groans again realizing she’s missed two days of her life being presumed dead. “At least it’ll be a good Thanksgiving story.” He tries for a joke but it falls flat in the tense air. Her family thought she was dead. How the hell is she even supposed to explain this to them? “Go change. I’ll wait here.” She nods at the command too entrapped in her thoughts to argue.

Her bare feet patter against the cold tile in the aching silence. Two days… She rakes her hand through her hair separating the tangled strands. She finds herself in the restroom peering at her reflection. Her eyes fall on the red mark on her collarbone. It’s faded like a scar that happened years ago. Yet she’s never had a scar there, she keeps good track of them she’d know.

Melinda shrugs the jacket off, a wallet bouncing out of the pocket and falling open. Two smiles look up at her from the white tiles. She picks it up slowly staring at the photo. The man is obviously Coulson. Even with the glasses perched on his nose she recognizes him. The girl next to him, however, is unfamiliar. To be fair she just met the man.

The girl looks like a teenager, probably 17 or 18. At least from what she can tell in the photo that’s how she looks. Her long dark hair falls over her shoulders bangs hanging across her forehead. It’s funny, she looks nothing like him.

She snaps the wallet shut suddenly at the loud knock. “Hey are you alright in there?” She didn’t even realize she was lingering for so long. She gets dressed quickly in the leisure wear checking herself in the mirror. It’s a simple t-shirt and leggings that are far too long on her. She still doesn’t has shoes but at least she has clothes. She’s been in worse situations.

She gathers his jacket and the sheet off the floor yanking open the door with a muttered apology. She hands him the items to him with eyes cast to the floor. “Thanks for the clothes. I’ll get them back I promise.”

“I’ll explain the situation to Sharon. Not that she’ll believe it but honestly what other excuse would I have?” He smiles down at her shrugging his jacket back on. He leads her back into the morgue to return the sheets but she can’t bring herself to enter. It’s not as if she hadn’t been in one before. Often the job had called for attending examinations with their detectives but it’s different now. When she was laying on the table… When it was her rather than some faceless corpse. “Are you okay?” His eyes are on her now, carefully looking over her. So much compassion from an utter stranger.

She shivers in the cold air rubbing her hands over her arms. “You have a daughter.” She says suddenly wishing to turn the topic off her for once.

“How did you know?”

“You left your wallet in your jacket. It fell open when I was getting changed.”

“Yeah.” He teases. “It fell open.” She narrows her eyes at him and his mouth snaps shut under her glare. Yet the sparkle of mirth is gone from his eyes. “I do but…” He swallows heavily his eyes focused on the wall beside her. “She’s been missing for a year.”

“I’m sorry.” She sighs shutting her eyes tightly. “I shouldn’t have intruded.”

“No don’t worry.” He smiles sadly. “Daisy left one night angry at me. I… She said she was going to go find her real parents and never came back.”

“Real parents?”

“I adopted her after she hacked into my radio signal while on a case. She was only 12 and a scrawny little thing too.”

“A case?” She asks with a small smirk on her lips. “You’re a man of many mysteries Phil Coulson.”

“You know normally I at least take a girl out on two dates before we’re talking about our pasts.” The teasing tone is back but there’s none of the same punch behind it as before. It’s a defense mechanism.

“I’m willing to bet you don’t normally open one of those boxes to find a living person either. Nothing about this is normal.”

“I used to work for the FBI.” He shrugs. “A mission went sideways and I got shot in the chest. I had to get a heart transplant and I almost left Daisy without a father again.” He settles back against a metal table. “I moved down to doing autopsies. Lot less likely that I’m going to get shot by corpses.”

Questions still plague her mind but they’re better left unanswered. The air is heavy with revelations between the two of them. “I’d hate to ask you for another favor but could you give me a ride home?” She shuffles awkwardly leaning against the doorframe. “I’d drive myself but I’d say it’s a good bet that my wallet and keys are somewhere in an evidence closet.”

“Yeah let me just.” He whips out his phone, likely texting someone to let them know he’s leaving. “Let’s go.” She follows him to a red convertible to which she just raises an eyebrow. “What? It’s a classic.”

“It’s December.” She says. God how it must have felt to get news days before Christmas that your daughter is dead. Bitterness clutches at her heart with fire thrumming through her veins. She’ll find answers to this.

“Are you cold?” He passes her his jacket again. She’s beginning to wonder if he’s the strange one rather than her. Who the hell drives a convertible around in late December?

“No just judging your life choices.” She jumps into the passenger’s seat just aching to get home already. Apparently being dead for two days is still incredibly exhausting. She can fall into bed to the sounds of the street outside. Tomorrow she’ll go to work and figure out what the hell happened to her. Surely someone has answers.

Phil catches her hand before she has the chance to get out of the car. He passes her a slip of paper with his number scrawled haphazardly on it.

“Is this your way of saying third date is on?” She mocks raising his eyebrow.

“In case you need something. Stay safe Melinda.” His tone is far too serious sending another chill down her spine. She only nods giving a quick squeeze to his hand. He waits until she’s safely in the apartment before pulling away. She walks up to the desk but sure enough nobody is there. Leave it to them to slack off when she needs it.

She sighs going back outside. Scaling the fire escape she makes it up to her floor. With a deep breath she heaves herself at the window breaking the glass with her elbow. With a sigh she settles against the wall taking in the familiar surroundings. A vase of flowers sits on the counter that was definitely not there before.

She has no time to linger. Surely her neighbor heard the glass break and the police would be on their way soon. The last thing she needs is to be arrested on the day she wakes up in a morgue. She works quickly grabbing all the clothes she needs as well as three burner phones she’s stashed in her drawer and the wad of cash she taped underneath her bed frame. She hesitates before she ends up taking her pistol from her desk as well. She shoves her stuff into her bag before slipping out again. She’s running from the building just as the sirens begin to echo in the distance.

She waits until she’s far enough away before she dials the number on the paper.

“Hello?”

“Hey.” She huffs trying to catch her breath. “It’s me.”

“You know I’ve always dreamed of getting a call from an unknown number and hearing that. Are you going to threaten my life or are we about to go on a grand adventure?” She can hear the smirk in Phil’s tone even over the phone.

“I need a place to stay tonight. Just one night.”

“Did something happen?” His tone is serious yet again and she swears she can hear him turning around in his car. Damn that man and all his compassion. She’d just met him hours ago and he already cares for her more than she is comfortable with.

“I’m fine. The desk guy at my apartment is slacking off again. I can find somewhere else don’t worry…” Actually it’s very unlikely. Hotels had to be packed because of the Christmas season. Everyone is visiting family.

“Please May.” He begs. “Let me help. Like you said it’s just for tonight and I have an extra guest room.”

“Thanks.” She sighs. She’d figure out where to go from here tomorrow. Right now all she can picture is hitting a bed and getting some damn sleep.

“Help!” The cry has her blood running cold as she stops in the middle of her tracks. “Help me!”

“What the hell…” She murmurs.

“May was that-”

“Yeah.” She says quietly as not to give away her position. The cry is close, just around the corner. Her fingers fall on her pistol as she creeps closer.

“Hold on May. I’m almost back there just stay put.”

“I’m going in.” She mutters.

“You just woke up in a morgue after a failed mugging and now you’re going to help someone else possibly being mugged or worse?”

“I have to do something.” Her mind buzzes with possibilities. This could be the same man who attacked her. If so then she could catch him. She could figure out what the hell happened to her if she had to beat it out of him.

“May… Don’t be a hero.” She hangs up the phone without another word. She lines herself against the brick wall, the cold penetrating her even through the layers. She takes a deep breath closing her eyes as she gathers herself.

She counts to three before rounding the corner.

[bob-giovanni]

A Casual Affair - Part 2

Characters: Simon X OFC

Warnings: Cursing, Eventual Smut, AU/Pre-Apocalypse, Mentions of Illness

Summary: Violet and Simon get to know each other a little better.

Background Music: “Feel It Still” by Portugal the Man

Violet was stirred from sleep by her alarm clock. That little gray box was so evil. Violet groaned and rolled onto her back, wiggling her toes as she stretched her legs. After just laying there staring at the ceiling for a few minutes, Violet finally sat up. She stood and stretched her arms above her head, moaning softly as she felt her tight muscles start to loosen. She walked to the bathroom and turned the water on to warm up. She opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed a hair clip. She held the clip with her teeth as she twisted her hair up, clipping it into place. She stripped out of her PJs and stepped into the shower. Violet was exhausted. She’d been up late chatting with her brother Matthew. Violet and Matthew had always been close. He was the only one in her family that seemed to understand her. She spent several hours on the phone with him telling him about what she’d learned about her new employer and the CEO. When she finally got off the phone with him it was nearly 1AM.

Hopefully a shower would wake her up. Violet stood under the water for a few minutes before washing herself. Once she was washed she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She still felt pretty sleepy. Maybe listening to some music and dancing around a bit would help. She wrapped her towel tightly around her body before grabbing her phone and scrolling through her songs. Once she found one she knew she could dance to, Violet clicked the track to play it. She started swaying her hips as the bass line started. “Can’t keep my hands to myself. Think I’ll dust ‘em off, put ‘em back up on the shelf. In case my little baby girl is in need. Am I coming out of left field?” Violet took her towel off and threw it down as the chorus kicked in. “Ooh ooh I’m a rebel just for kicks now. I’ve been feeling it since 1966 now. Might be over now, but I feel it still!” Violet let her hair down and whipped it around as she danced and sang.

Once the song was over Violet felt a little more awake. She let her music keep playing as she dried herself off. Violet walked over to her dresser and pulled out a black bra and a lacy black thong. Once she slipped them one she walked to her closet to pick out an outfit. She pursed her lips and tilted her head as she looked through her clothes. She decided on a navy blue fit and flare style dress that fell just above her knees. She also grabbed a yellow cardigan with a flower sewn on the top left side. Once she was dressed, Violet headed to the kitchen and decided to make herself some breakfast. She dug through the fridge and grabbed what she needed.

While everything was cooking Violet made herself some coffee. She yawned, deciding to drink her coffee black today. She finished cooking her breakfast and sat at the kitchen table to eat. She scrolled through Instagram on her phone, chewing her bottom lip while she decided whether or not she wanted to be a creeper. With a sigh, Violet found Charlotte Scott’s account and looked through her pictures. A few rows down she saw a picture of her and Simon, obviously on their way to an event of some sort as she was wearing a beautiful ball gown and he was in a tuxedo. Violet was a big fan of Charlotte’s. She’d seen nearly every movie she’d ever been in. And she knew that the actress was married and had seen her husband before. When she got the job at Yellow House and did some research on them she just didn’t make the connection. Though, now, Violet was excited at the possibility of getting to meet her acting idol.

Violet finished up her breakfast and quickly washed her dishes before heading back to her bedroom to do her hair and makeup. She simply pulled her hair back into a messy bun before doing very light makeup, deciding to finish her look up with a simple lip gloss. She reached into her closet and pulled out a pair of red wedges that strapped around her ankles. Once she had her shoes on, Violet grabbed her purse and a light jacket just in case her cardigan wasn’t heavy enough before heading out the door and to the train. The ride was thankfully uneventful. It is only Tuesday. Violet wasn’t ready to deal with the early morning drunks yet. She got to her stop and exited the train, heading up the same stairs she used the day before and walking towards her building.

Violet looked at her phone as she approached the building. 7:40AM. She didn’t have to be in until 8AM technically but figured it would make a good impression to get there a little early. She walked up the front steps and entered. There was no one at the receptionist desk yet. Maybe the receptionist simply stepped away for a moment. Violet headed towards the elevator and went up to the 5th floor. Maybe Simon wasn’t in yet and she’d have some time to get settled. She exited the elevator and went to her desk, setting down her jacket and purse. She noticed that there was a pretty large stack of papers and folders on her desk. She jumped a bit when she heard a thud come from Simon’s office. She looked over and noticed that his door was cracked. She took a deep breath and walked to the door, knocking lightly. “Yeah?” She heard that same gruff voice answer. Violet pushed the door open a bit and stepped inside. “Good morning, Simon.” Simon looked up and then looked at his watch, making a surprised face. “Good morning. I left a bunch of stuff on your desk.” Violet nodded. “Yes, I noticed.”

Simon stood and walked to the door, motioning for Violet to follow him. He walked to her desk and picked up some of the papers. “These are notes that I need typed up. E-mail them to me when your done. These papers here are donations. I need the donations logged. You’ll find the file to enter everything on your desktop. Then the folders here need to be organized. You need to make sure all the right paperwork is in them. They’re labeled so you should be able to figure it out. Then you’ll need to take them to the 3rd floor and file them. Oh and…” Simon trailed off and jogged back into his office, returning a moment later with a sheet of paper. “Julia gave me this yesterday. Your credentials to sign into the computer.” Violet took the paper from Simon and smiled softly. “Great. Thank you.”

“Once you’re finished with this stuff I have plenty more folders on the couch in my office. I need them done as quickly as possible. Think you can handle all this?” Violet looked up at Simon and nodded. “It shouldn’t be a problem.” Simon grinned. “Excellent. Well you know where I am if you need me.” Violet nodded as Simon went back to his office and closed the door, leaving a cracked an inch or so. Violet sat at her desk and panicked for half a second before taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. She could do this. There’s nothing to it. “He told you everything you need to do. You can handle this.” Violet said to herself. She signed into the computer, making sure she could open all of the files and folders on her desktop before starting her tasks.

Around noon, Violet finished up with the folders that Simon had left on her desk and she took them to the 3rd floor and filed them away. This all seemed pretty idiot proof. Violet went back upstairs and stepped into Simon’s off. “Just getting some more folders.” Simon looked up from the file he was reading. “Ok, good work.” He looked at his watch and cleared his throat. “You hungry?” Violet looked over at him and shrugged. “I could eat.” Simon nodded and stood. “C’mon, why don’t we go to lunch. We can talk. Nothing scary. If you’re gonna be my assistant we should get to know each other a bit.” Violet chewed her bottom lip for a second and nodded. “Ok, sure.” Simon grabbed his hoodie off the coat rack and walked to his door, pulling it open so Violet could leave first. She went to bottom drawer of her desk and grabbed her purse before following Simon out.

The pair walked down the street to a small cafe at the corner. Simon held the door open for Violet to enter first. She nodded her thanks and walked to an empty table by the window. “Is this ok with you?” She asked. Simon nodded and pulled Violet’s chair out for her. She smiled softly and smoothed out the back of her dress before sitting down. “Thank you.” Simon sat across from Violet and grabbed the menu off the table, handing it to her. “I come here all the time so I know what I want already.” Violet took the menu and looked it over, deciding pretty quickly that she was getting a turkey club and french fries.

A waiter came to their table and took their orders, returning promptly with their drinks, a water for Violet and a beer for Simon. “You allowed to drink on company time?” Violet asked. Simon quirked an eyebrow. “I own the company. I pretty much do what I want.” Violet nodded a bit. There was an awkward silence between the two of them now. Simon was the one who suggested this lunch and there he was, face buried in his phone. After a few minutes Simon finally put his phone away and looked. “So…tell me a little about yourself.” Violet shrugged a bit. “What do you wanna know?” Simon sipped his beer and licked his lips. “Where are you from? What do you do in your spare time? Tell me about your family,”

Violet took a sip of water before speaking. “Well I was born in raised in San Diego. My parents are both corporate lawyers along with three of my brothers. My other brother works for the ACLU. I was salutatorian of my high school class. And I graduated near the top of my class from Tisch. I’ve wanted to live in New York since I was ten years old. That was the first time I came here. Even if I didn’t make it on broadway, just living here was enough motivation for me to actually make the move. In my spare time I watch probably too much TV and too many movies. I love anything with zombies or sharks. I love documentaries and scary movies.”

Simon grinned a bit. “I love scary movies too. I used to hate them when I was younger but in my twenties I just really started to love them.” Violet smiled. “I’ve always loved them. My dad is the one who got me into them. The Exorcist was my first scary movie when I was 6.” Simon laughed softly. “What? That seems like way too young.” “I know! My mom was furious when she found out. But I just loved it so much. Before I moved here my dad and I would get lunch and go to the movies once a month. We’d pick the scariest movie that was showing. Most of the time was spent laughing at the people around us who jumped and screamed.”

Simon smiled softly. He was enjoying the conversation that he and Violet were having. She seemed like a great girl. Simon put his elbows on the table and leaned forward a bit. “What about music? You like music right?” He asked. Violet nodded enthusiastically. “I love music. I listen to it all the time. Especially in the morning when I’m trying to wake myself up.” “What kind of music do you listen to?” Violet smiled at the waiter as he brought their food to the table, thanking him before he walked away. “Rock and alternative mostly. But I’ll listen to anything that sounds good really.”

Simon took a bit of his food and nodded. “Yeah, me too. I love rock though. Especially 80s hair bands.” Violet laughed. “That somehow doesn’t surprise me.” Simon smirked and shook his head. They were silent for several while they ate. After Violet finished her sandwich, she lick her lips before grabbing a napkin and wiping her mouth. Simon stared at Violet as she licked her lips. He quickly looked away when she smiled over at him. “That was delicious. Thank you for bringing me here.” Simon nodded. “Yeah, no problem. I just…I’m sure that Julia told you some things about me. I’m not a monster. I’m just a guy who goes to bat for his clients.”

Violet shook her head. “No, Julia didn’t say anything like that. She said you were eccentric. That’s all. And even if she had said anything like that, I mean I know we just met, but even I can see that you’re definitely not a monster and I hope that I didn’t do or say anything to make you think that I thought that.” Simon smiled softly. “You didn’t, don’t worry. I just don’t want us to get off on the wrong foot. If our working relationship is going to be strong then it’s important that we trust each other. And if I ever say anything that sounds douchey then you have my permission to tell me.” Violet laughed softly. “Ok, deal.”

Simon couldn’t help but notice Violet’s dimples as she laughed. He smiled to himself, snapping himself out of it when the waiter dropped the check off. Violet saw the check and reached for her purse. “I know you are not reaching for money right now.” Simon said as he pulled he wallet out of his pocket. Violet looked over at him. “I just assumed that…” Simon cut her off. “Assume nothing, young lady. This is on me. Well, it’s on the company.” Violet smiled and nodded. “Ok. Thank you, Simon.”

Once the bill was paid Simon sat back and continued sipping his beer. “So…what about friends? You have friends right?” Simon asked Violet. “Yeah, I mean most of my college friends have moved to LA or are busy on Broadway so I don’t see them that often. But a few of them are coming to visit next month and I’m really looking forward to it.” Simon nodded. “Nice.” Violet smiled. “What about you? Where are you from? What is your family like? What do you do in your spare time?” Simon sighed softly. “I’m from Alexandria originally. Born there. Lived there till I was 12. Then my dad got a job on Wall Street and we moved here. I’ve lived here ever since. I don’t really have a lot of spare time to be honest. Between running things here and jetting off to swanky Hollywood parties with my wife, I don’t get too much time to myself unfortunately.”

Violet pouted a bit. “Well that’s not good, I’m sorry to hear that. What about your family? Do they still live here?” Simon thought for a second. The story with his family was complicated and few people knew about his life before he was ‘famous.’ He decided that now wasn’t the time to start down that path. “Ya know, Violet. That is a story for another time.” Violet nodded. “You said my name. Julia said it would take you a while to know my name.” Simon smiled and shrugged. “You seem like good people. I know the names of good people.” Violet blushed lightly. “Oh, wow. Thank you. You seem pretty awesome too.”

Simon grinned and stood. “Shall we head back?” Violet nodded and stood as well, grabbing her purse and sliding the strap over her shoulder. “Yes, we shall.” Simon walked to the door of the cafe and held it open for Violet. They walked dow the street back to the office and got in the elevator, heading back up to their floor. Violet put her purse away and sat at her desk as Simon went back to his office, leaving the door open this time.

Once 5PM rolled around, Violet finished up what she was working on and logged out of her computer. She grabbed her things and walked over to Simon’s office. “Hey, Simon. Do you need anything before I leave?” Simon looked up at her and smiled softly, shaking his head. “I don’t but thank you very much for asking, Have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Violet smiled. “Thank you. You have a good night as well.” Violet turned and left. As she walked to the train station she couldn’t help but smile. She had been worried that working for Simon was going to be rough because of his personality or attitude. She assumed that because he was the CEO of this company that he would be a dick. But he was such a nice person and she felt bad for making that assumption. She felt much better after having lunch with him and getting to know him a little and knew that they were getting to along just fine.

Tags: @66psychotic99 @simons-thirst-squad

[creativewriterinco-blog]

Last Survivors, Doomsday Fiction serial Number 1

Here we are. Four survivors, smack dab in the center of the city Austin Texas, in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

The shit hit the fan yesterday. Just as suddenly as the 9/11 disaster, the first attacks broadsided us all, completely changing the way people viewed the world. The initial attacks were aired on TV, and we all crouched in our homes just like before, poised to either board up the windows and hide out until it all blew over, or to head for the coast.                                                                                           Turns out, things happened faster than most of us could react, and the monsters were soon at our doors.                                                                                           My family is gone now. The zombies got them. But I can’t think about that right now. Because right now I am I am standing at the top of a department store, in the middle of Austin, with three fellow survivors, discussing a plan to maybe make it out of this hellhole of a city alive.                                                                 “What about the subways?” Frank, a middle-aged man in a button down shirt, slacks, and a tie, suggests. “The trains are probably not running at this point, but we could hoof it through the tunnels. Maybe there are less of the undead down there.”                                                                                                                       I shiver a little at the thought of walking through the dark passages of the Austin subway system.                                                                                                       “I wouldn’t count on it,” Dot says grimly. “There were probably a bunch of commuters trapped down there when it all happened. The majority of them are probably infected by now.”                                                                                       Dot is an older woman, about sixty. She is ex-military, and, although she hasn’t told me much of her story, strikes me as tough-as-nails.                                         “Driving’s out of the question,” Sarah put in. She is a short, athletic girl wearing a fashionable red sweater and skinny jeans. She mentioned that she worked at one of the shops in the department store that we are currently standing on. Macy’s I think.                                                                                                          “Right,” I agree. “The roads are almost completely blocked off by cars, dead bodies, and the zombies. The subways may be our only option.”                           “The subways it is, then,” Hank summarizes.                                                          I glance at Dot, waiting for her assessment of the plan.                                       Seeing me waiting expectantly, she nods. “He’s right,” She says reluctantly. “There is no way that we’ll make it out of the city walking the streets. I don’t like it, but it looks like we’ll have to at least try to get out through the subway shafts.”                                                                                                        That is that. Dot is the one with the most experience in combat situations, so everyone implicitly accepts her judgement as final.                                                 We file silently towards the elevator doors. My heart picks up a beat as I contemplate returning to the building that we just--barely--escaped. In all probability, we will be dead before we even make it out to the ground, let alone make it to the nearest subway station.                                                                     Dot is the first in the elevator. She holds an aluminum baseball bat that she used to beat to zombies off my ass inside a sportswear department when she found me earlier.                                                                                                               Sarah grips a small, glock pistol that looks small enough to be one of those things women carry in their purses for self-defense. Paranoid women, anyway. Or smart, depending on how you look at it.                                                             My only weapon is a long, metal crowbar. It is heavy, and ungainly, and probably won’t be of any use in my hands. The only reason that I am carrying it right now is because Dot insisted on finding me a weapon before she would be convinced to take the elevator to safety.                                                                                   “A safe haven won’t do you much good if you can’t fight your way back out of it,” she told me, shoving the bulky instrument into my hands as we dashed towards the elevator shaft. I make a quick mental note to keep an eye out for a light weapon on our way to the subway tunnels. You never know what might turn up.   Hank, a security guard from the first floor of the mall, carries several weapons. His pistol, which, today of all days, he forgot to put back on his belt after cleaning it and thus left it at home, is gone, but he carries a nasty-looking baton and a can of pepper-spray to make up for it. I find myself wondering, though, if pepper spray will have any effect at all on the mind-dead zombies.                       Sarah pushes the button. Ground level. The elevator starts to descend with a slight lurch. It moves very slowly. I hope that the power is not going to die any time soon.                                                                                                               “So, how did you escape being bitten?” I ask Hank, breaking the nervous silence that pervades the small space. When Dot and myself had made it to the roof, we had found him and Sarah already up there, staring forlornly out at the city.          He shivered. “Luckily for me, I was on break when everything went down. Somebody rushed in and turned on the TV when everything started going south on the seaboard. And then some guy, Fred, starts feeling bad and heads to find a toilet. Next thing I know, he bursts back through the door, and starts biting people. I got out of there as soon as I could. The roof seemed like the safest place to go. I was on my way to the nearest elevator, when I ran into Sarah.”       Sarah picked up the story. “Yeah, he saved me. When things started to go down for me, I was at Maisie’s, running the cash-register, totally unaware of what was going on in the world outside. Business was really slow, so I was emptying the money from the drawer into our safe in the back room. When I came back out, there were two people who seemed to be locked into a brawl in the middle of the store.”                                                                                                                       “I yelled at them to stop, but they paid me no mind.                                               “’Call the police!’ one of the women shouted. I was heading to the phone to do just that when someone ran at ME and pinned me to the ground. Luckily for me, it was just an old lady, albeit one that was very strong for her age. I threw her off, then ran and locked myself into the break room.                                                     “I didn’t venture out until everything was quiet again. There is no phone in the break room, so hoped that I could sneak up to the front counter and call the police before anyone saw me and attacked. I was in the middle of dialing when, of course, the old lady came at me again. I elbowed her off, and was going to continue dialing, but I caught sight of a man in the back of the store running towards me at full speed. Well, not a man. One of THEM.                                     “I ran out of the store. I hoped to get to the stair well. There is a fire door, so that would have kept them out.                                                                                       “I made it to the stair well entrance, but it was locked. The two zombies caught up with me as I was struggling with the handle. I managed to take out the lady, stomping her head into the hard tile of the floor. The man was that easy, however.                                                                                                                   “I found myself pinned to the ground for the second time that day. Only this time, my opponent was much stronger than me. He almost bit me.”                                Sarah stopped for a moment, pale faced at the realization of what  could have happened before plunging back into her story.                                                        “Hank showed up just in time. Just before I became one of them. He beat the zombie off with his baton.”                                                                                       “Wow,” I say. I am about to ask a question when I am interrupted by Dot.             “I hate to break this up, but has anyone else noticed that the elevator has stopped moving?”                                                                                                    She was right. The slightly off-balance of the elevator’s descent was gone. I glanced meaningfully at the doors. Dot shrugged.                                                 I I jabbed the OPEN DOOR button with my hand. And, of course, nothing happened. Dot barreled past me, taking my crowbar and shoving it into the crack of the doors. Slowly, she pried them open enough to let us out.   

[demondeanismybaby]

Touch

Pairing: Dean X Reader, Sam

Word Count: 2078

Warnings: Angst, fluff, zombies, post-apocalypse, AU

Summary: You have a feeling you can’t trust the two men that saved you but with only so many options you decide to follow them. When you show up at their bunker you can’t tell if you should be excited or totally freaked out, and then something happens that makes up your mind. 

A/N: This is part two in my Zombie!AU, I really like how it is playing out so far, I hope you do too! This is a work in progress so any feedback is always appreciated. 

Read Part 1 Alone

You couldn’t help but relax a little as his grip on your fingers tightened, with a simple twitch against your skin, and the crawling warmth of a real life human seeping into your skin it was such a comforting feeling you hadn’t even fully realized how much you had been missing it. His hand was so large that it encompassed yours completely. It was hard to even care that you were heading in a direction you fully knew was crawling with the undead.

You watched as the house you had just strode away grew larger and then he veered off onto a small street that was straight across from its front lawn, it wasn’t something you would have picked, you tried to stay on things that had enough clearance for cars to pass by on because it gave you something to hide behind. It was so narrow that you were having to walk in single file behind him but he didn’t let go of your hand. You had almost forgotten that his brother was with the two of you at all until his hand went to your shoulder and you jerked to a stop.

“Sorry,” he said at your jumpy response, “it’s just I wanted to give this to you, you forgot it back there,” he hefted your bag at you.

You couldn't believe you had left it, your only protection from the monsters that lurked just about everywhere and it one bad situation you had just forgotten it.

“Thanks,” you finally were forced to break your contact with Dean to swing the heavy canvas sack over your shoulder.

You couldn’t help but notice as you looked at the blond haired man in the leather jacket in front of you, his green eyes were watching you extra carefully measuring each slight movement and you wondered why.

“Should we get going?” You asked him as he continued to openly stare.

“Yeah,” he said as he turned back towards the little walkway, “so don’t you want to know where we’re going?” He spoke loudly so his words could travel back to where you walked a few paces behind him.

“Sure,” you thought that it wasn’t like it really mattered but figured that being polite would help to make the traveling with company easier.

You had forgotten just how hard it was to be around other people. All of the minutia that made up the human experience. The way that you had to constantly talk even when it wasn’t life and death and how you always had to pretend you cared even when you didn’t. A part of you felt that it was wasted time but you still kept up the show knowing that it was necessary for the moment if you wanted help to get to a less creature ridden area because you didn’t have so much as a map to guide you.

“...and then we’ll head left,” he was talking and you realized you had been so lost in thought you missed the entire portion where he told you your destination.

Too embarrassed to mention the fact that you hadn’t been listening you did you best to pretend that you had a clue as to where you were going, even in the stride of you step trying to fake some sort of confidence in your direction. It helped that his brother was walking in step right behind you so at the slightest hesitation he almost came crashing into your back. It was like a sheep being herded, you just didn’t like the comparison considering, at the end of being herded bad things usually happen.

You heard a faint sound off in the distance, it was familiar and reminded you of your life back before the dead had come back and started attacking people, it was a soft rushing and gurgling of water crawling over stones. There was high thick grass growing up on the side of the path you were traveling down it was just enough that you couldn’t actually verify where the noise was coming from still, you felt fairly certain you were walking along the side of a stream.

“I bet in other circumstances it was pretty beautiful here,” you pondered out loud but to no one in particular.

“It was,” Dean said as he continued to walk forward.

After the brush started to fall away you noticed there was a squat gray building lurking far off in the distance, the small walkway had finally opened up onto an actual road but you noticed something right away, there were no abandoned cars parked along it like everywhere else. It was pretty clear that even back before zombies this was not a well-traveled area.

You were so focused on walking forward you didn’t notice the arm held out in front of you until you were thrown back slightly with the strength of the muscles of the man who had found you.

“Wh..aa?” You said confused at the change in pace, it wasn’t exactly poetry.

“Sorry,” the green eyes turned to you again, “I just want to give you a heads up, the place we’re taking you, it might seem a little strange at first, but just so you know like I was saying, me and Sam we know it’s safe.”

A strange sensation swept over you as you continued to study the lines of his face, it was almost like you were a rabbit and you were walking straight into a snare and the wolf was lurking right in view but the carrot was so tempting you couldn’t turn away. It was bad vibes all around and your stomach clenched painfully. A thought came to you.

“How did you know that I was in that house?” You asked suddenly you felt like it was dire that you knew if it was truly a coincidence that they had stumbled into the same house you had slept in.

“This town,” he hesitated choosing each of his words carefully, “it’s the closest one to the place we’re staying in.” He stopped seeming uncertain of how he should continue and his eyes focused on his brother standing beside you.

Sam took over from there, “we uh, we have to get supplies from time to time and it was just a random thing that we spotted you last night going into that house, we haven’t seen any living person in so long we decided to watch you.”

You looked between the two of them, something still seemed a little off, but you did your best to assure yourself that it was nothing more than the fact that they were essentially strangers to you, handsome and well trained in escape strategies which were helpful now, but strangers you didn’t trust fully nonetheless.

“Fine,” you said not fully convinced that it actually was.

Dean started to lead the way again, you noticed the gray building was getting taller as you walked in what was an obvious line towards it. It looked like a cross between a bomb shelter and some sort of factory, which seemed almost like a reasonable choice to stay in during what could only be called the end of the world.

You decided to try some more friendly conversation that might ease the newfound tension between you and the men you were walking with as you closed in on the building, “so how did you guys find this place?”

“We kind of knew about it before all of this happened,” Sam said from behind you.

“That’s lucky.”

“Yeah,” he agreed but his tone was clipped.

You saw the edges of the cement structure start to solidify, an outline of a door becoming quickly visible, it was substantially larger than you had expected it to be. Dean was reaching into his back pocket and pulled out something gold and the size of a deck of cards, and he slipped the little box open and grabbed what had to be some super old fashioned key. As you walked up to the door you watched him fit it into the lock and the metal squealed as he pushed it forward. You hesitated as he stepped inside but you felt Sam’s gentle hand against you back guiding you inside. You took a deep breath and walked in.

“Holy shit,” you said as you came to the top of an iron staircase that spiraled downwards and opened up onto what looked like a cross between a military hideout and a museum.

Dean chuckled as he descended the stairs in front of you. It took you a moment but little detail started to sink in, there was electricity going inside of the place, the lights were on and there was the unmistakable humming of a fan.

You turned back towards Sam, “does this place still have water and everything?” You were astonished, civilized society had all but broken down with no one to run the facilities that powered it. Here it was hard to tell that the Earth had ever been touched by tragedy.

He smiled and it only encouraged you strange thought that maybe everything up until now was some sort of dream, “Yep, everything works down here,” before you had a chance to ask the question on your mind he gave you an answer, “we don’t know why.”

The blond man grabbed your hand again, this time you couldn’t help but note that as he took it he made a show at winding his fingers in between yours, and he helped you off the last step. You could feel the callouses of his fingers brushing the inside of your palm. His eyes were sparkling as he looked at your joyful expression.

“Want me to show you to your room?”

All you could do was nod.

He led you through hall after hallway, there were so many rooms and doors you couldn’t help but think of a literal labyrinth. Finally, he started to slow down and then came to a stop, there was a tiny etching on a brass plate attached to the door with some strange triangular shapes intertwining. It was ominous and almost seemed like something mystical but you couldn’t help the way the thought drifted from the symbol to the room that he opened to you. 

It had been a long time since you saw a bed that didn’t belong to someone else, a room that wasn’t pre-designed for someone else, that you were just experiencing for a moment. This place was well furnished but neutral, no pictures of a family reminding you of what you had lost, or posters that showed nothing more than a world destroyed. 

You turned back towards Dean, “do I get to stay in here?” You couldn’t help the giant grin on your face at the thought. 

“Yep,” he matched your smile, his teeth sparkling white and perfect, “my room is right next door if you need anything.” 

You were ready for bed, so you just gave him a quick hug, not caring if it seemed strange and let your body flop onto the matrasse. 

You didn’t even know you had fallen asleep until you woke with a start your whole body jerking upright.

“Sam, you need to be quiet,” Dean’s voice strained with his attempt at quieting their conversation.

“No, Dean, you should have told her everything, when doesn’t this kind of thing end up backfiring on us?” 

Your blood felt like it had taken on a polar chill, and you strained to hear more of the argument unfolding in the room next to yours, your fingers digging into the edge of the mattress with the strange effort of trying to get your ears to work better.

“...not like before,” Dean’s voice was so hushed it was hard to tell exactly what he was saying. 

“Dude, tell her in the morning, or I swear I will, one way or the other.” 

You heard a door slam shut and then heavy footsteps in the hallway outside your temporary room. You knew it would be impossible to get any more sleep tonight. Instead, you laid back and stared at the ceiling wondering about what exactly could be so horrible that in the midst of hell on Earth Dean would feel like he would have to hide it from you. Your whole body shook and you tried to crawl underneath more of the blankets to warm yourself back up. 

You couldn’t wait for the morning to get the hell out of here. 

Forever Tags

@jarpadandjensenaremyheroes

@tardis-full-of-fallen-angels

[zrtranscripts]

Season 6, Mission 16: Poison

Report anything suspicious

JODY MARSH: Is it a bit weird that we know Pit Viper has the contract on Selma? Do they usually advertise that sort of stuff?

AMELIA SPENS: In general, their favored form of advertising is heads on spikes. I don't know how the Laundry learned Pit Viper have Selma's contract. Perhaps Sigrid wanted it broadcast to discourage others from running.

PAULA COHEN: To discourage others from running? From her Handmaid's Tale-style fertility baby serum factory?

PETER LYNNE: And they weren't even injecting babies with zombie spit in Gilead.

AMELIA SPENS: [parks vehicle] Well, this is as far as I can take you. Highgate, the badlands of London. Well, some of the worse lands. Anyway, I'm not getting nearer the Pit Vipers than this.

PETER LYNNE: Surprised you got as close as this, to be honest. You going soft?

PAULA COHEN: Or do you like us, Amelia?

AMELIA SPENS: I've always liked you, but liking has nothing to do with business. And this is business. Buying out Selma's contract is worth a shot. If you manage to deal with Pit Viper, they'll be grateful I sent the business their way. And if you don't make a deal with them, they'll be grateful I sent their targets their way. Win-win-win.

JODY MARSH: I'm always surprised. I should try to stop being surprised. That could be my New Year's resolution, actually: don't be surprised when Amelia seems helpful, but actually has an angle.

AMELIA SPENS: Oh, but if you weren't surprised, it would hardly be as much fun! Right, you lot. Pit Viper's HQ is in the London Underground. You have my directions. You'll have to do some fast talking when you get there. 

See up there, amid the plumes of oil fires and the burned buildings? That hellscape is what remains of Highgate Station, and is absolutely the safest way into the Underground, this side of the wall. Well, I've got to be back at New Canton soon for an oil treatment. Go on. Do what you do. Run!

PAULA COHEN: It doesn't sound safe.

PETER LYNNE: It's not likely to be safe. I heard the London Underground was totally filled with zombies.

PAULA COHEN: I heard there were enclaves down there. Found their way to the Cold War bunkers and have been living off old tinned SPAM ever since.

JODY MARSH: We've got to do this. Pit Viper are after us and after Selma, but they're neutral. Like Amelia, they just go to the highest bidder. So if we can buy out both our contracts, they'll be working for us against Sigrid, not against us. And I'm sorry, Peter, Paula, Five, but you've all shown you're more indestructible than most.

PETER LYNNE: No, that's fair. I've got more lives than a Christmas number one, and I like to think I'm not quite as annoying.

PAULA COHEN: [laughs] If you want annoying, I'll sing you the dreidel song if we get through this. All right, Five. Let's get down these stairs into the pit of Hades.

JODY MARSH: Amelia's map is pretty clear. She's put it together from – oh, nice. She's written, "Compiled from the reports of those of my people who made it back alive." She says at the bottom of the staircase, you turn... towards the skeletons.

PETER LYNNE: Ooh, look, there are actual skeletons nailed up to the wall here. What delightful taste in interior decoration the inhabitants of these tunnels do have. [gasps] You could ask Zoe and Phil to do a radio segment on it, Jody. "Post-Apocalypse Decor: Dos and Don'ts."

[zombies moan]

PAULA COHEN: And to add to the ambiance, there are zombies. How chic. Five, you take the lead. Time to run.

PETER LYNNE: Oh yay! Someone's smeared this part of the wall with their own blood and feces!

PAULA COHEN: How do you know it's their own? There are viscera there. I suppose it might be somebody else's body cavity contents.

PETER LYNNE: Hmm, you make a fair point, Doctor, as you always do. Someone smeared this wall with blood, feces, and viscera of unknown origin.

PAULA COHEN: Pit Viper's doing a very efficient job of trying to put people off finding them.

JODY MARSH: That's what everyone says about them. They're an unstoppable killing machine. Once they've taken on a job, they never give up. There are no lengths they won't go to to do what they’ve set out to.

PETER LYNNE: Well, if you're going to be a deadly assassin force, at least be an excellent one, I suppose. You know, I think this is almost as bad as commuting in London before the apocalypse.

PAULA COHEN: Oh, I don't know. At least we're getting somewhere. No one's canceled our transport, and we don't have to deal with Southern Rail apologizing for our inconvenience in a totally unconvincing way, which makes it clear that, ideally, they'd like to inconvenience us some more. Possibly using blood, feces, and viscera of unknown origin.

[train creaks]

JODY MARSH: Guys, a train has just come loose from its siding uphill from you. It's rolling towards you!

PETER LYNNE: Is that a coincidence, or does someone know we're here?

JODY MARSH: No time to find out now. Run!

PETER LYNNE: Paula, Five, up here!

PAULA COHEN: Five, take my hand!

[train passes, PETER LYNNE and PAULA COHEN laugh]

JODY MARSH: Wow, that was close!

PETER LYNNE: You know, last time I was in London, something similar happened to me. Your wife almost didn't save me, Paula. I think she'd have left me there to be crushed by the train. 

PAULA COHEN: But would you rather she had?

PETER LYNNE: [laughs] I think maybe I would have, then. I don't know. It's funny, isn't it? Keep expecting this grand moment. Flash of meaning where I realize what I'm for, and why I'm like this. It didn't come. Had to work it out for myself.

PAULA COHEN: Yeah, I know what you mean. For a long time, I asked myself, why me? Why was I infected? Why is it me who can't even play with my daughter without checking myself for nicks and scrapes every time? There's never an answer. Why did one person die in the apocalypse and another didn't? Because we're all subject to the laws of randomness of the universe.

PETER LYNNE: I like that. We're a playlist on shuffle. Things just come up. Sometimes you think you see a pattern in them, but it's you making the pattern, not the world.

PAULA COHEN: Ugh. More zoms I think, Jody.

JODY MARSH: Um, Amelia's map says it's an enclave of city commuters.

PETER LYNNE: I see them in the dark corner of the platform. 10 of them. Teeth filed to points, and pinstriped loin cloths. They're holding – are those broken shards of iPad?

PAULA COHEN: Not too dangerous, then.

JODY MARSH: Amelia's map says they dip them in a noxious compound of flesh-eating bacteria that can destroy even zombies. She also says, "Do remember, bankers are the ones who ran the economy off a cliff. They know how to muck stuff up."

PETER LYNNE: She's got a point. Which direction?

JODY MARSH: Straight ahead, then right. Go.

[spear thunks into wall]

PETER LYNNE: And one final spear outrun. The bankers have given up for now.

JODY MARSH: Amelia's notes say, "Don't kid yourself. They'll be back, and in greater numbers." I think she put that stuff in because she thought Sam would be on this mission. Have you noticed how they're getting friendly since they've been working on the baby rescue together?

PAULA COHEN: Yes, but I don't like to think about it. We'd better keep moving. How far are we from Pit Viper now?

JODY MARSH: Amelia's notes - mm. Get a bit sketchy here. She says, "If you get this far, you'll have done better than most people I sent down here. I think the commuters ate most of them! Well, you should find Pit Viper if you continue down the tunnel until you find another train. Or a building."

PAULA COHEN: That's vague.

PETER LYNNE: Oh, God. Look at that.

JODY MARSH: What are you seeing?

PAULA COHEN: Peter's pointing to... the wall of the platform?

PETER LYNNE: No, the shadows. The shadows, they're following us, look!

PAULA COHEN: Oh, no. It's headless zombies, Jody. Those indestructible zombies. The ones you can't kill by taking the head off! They must be behind us. We can see their shadows. God knows what would happen if one of them bit me.

PETER LYNNE: Or me, or Five. We've got to get out of here. Run!

[zombies growl]

PETER LYNNE: They're not getting any closer.

PAULA COHEN: They're not getting any further away!

PETER LYNNE: Yes. Peculiar. They've been exactly keeping pace with us, just a little behind us the whole way. Just a sec. Stop a moment.

PAULA COHEN: Stop?

PETER LYNNE: Just three seconds. I'll time it. One Mississippi, two hippopotamus, three extraterrestrial. Look.

PAULA COHEN: They've... stopped.

PETER LYNNE: Intriguing, isn't it?

PAULA COHEN: What are you doing?

PETER LYNNE: Heading back a bit to see what's going on. I shouldn't think Pit Viper will thank us for leading a horde of indestructible zombies to their hideout. Probably won't put them in a deal-making mood.

PAULA COHEN: Fair enough. Something is off here. Let's go with, Five. Huh. Would you look at that?

JODY MARSH: Again, I can't see.

PETER LYNNE: They are decapitated zombies with their heads in their arms.

JODY MARSH: So maybe get out of there?

PAULA COHEN: They're nailed to a little wagon. Look. There are remote controlled brakes.

PETER LYNNE: That's incredibly efficient. Keep everyone at bay, minimum effort or danger. Brilliant tactical work.

JODY MARSH: Yeah. I've heard that about Pit Viper. Always get the job done.

PETER LYNNE: Yes... yes, they would.

PAULA COHEN: Watch out. Someone's coming. It's... a train guard. She's still wearing her RMT uniform.

GUARD: I see you've passed the final obstacle. You must be here for the Pit Viper.

PETER LYNNE: Why, yes, we are.

GUARD: Come with me now. Run!

[classical music plays]

JODY MARSH: Where are you guys? My cams are giving me nothing.

PAULA COHEN: Jody, it's actually lovely! Nice, quiet tube carriage. Upholstered seats, curtains on the windows. Pit Viper have set themselves up well. Protected and secure.

PETER LYNNE: Feared by everyone, they can go anywhere. Talk to all sides. How very, very clever.

GUARD: Are you ready to meet the Pit Viper?

PETER LYNNE: Oh, I think we are.

PAULA COHEN: Jody, there's a door at the end of the carriage. The guard is just -

GUARD: [opens door] Step inside, please.

JODY MARSH: Where are you, now?

PAULA COHEN: An office. Very tidy. Utilitarian. A map of the new UK on the wall, and there's... a person in a viper mask sitting behind the desk.

GUARD: I'll leave you now with the Pit Viper. You parley alone.

PAULA COHEN: Yeah, um. Thank you. [door closes, music turns off] Uh, Pit Viper. We're here from Abel Township. We know you have a contract on us, and... we wanted to discuss it. [sighs] Oh, look. Would you mind taking the mask off?

[cloth rustles]

JODY MARSH: Are they doing it? Taking the mask off?

PETER LYNNE: Yup.

PAULA COHEN: Oh, Jody. You'll never guess who Pit Viper is.

JODY MARSH: Is it - ? Oh God, it's not Sigrid, is it?

JANINE DE LUCA: No, Miss Marsh. It's me, Janine.

[maychorian]

Weekly Voltron Fic Recs #23

Rules: You can find past rec lists here. This is stuff I like, and I have a huge bias toward Lance, hurt/comfort, and general fluff, in that order. Gen unless otherwise noted. Please comment on the fics if you read and enjoy them!

I have been very distracted with the Primary Big Bang, both reading the other fics and proofreading my own as I posted it, so I think there is less gen this time and more shipfics. Time to go through my AO3 History and see what I like enough to make a post about.

Project G.A.L.R.A. by GemmaRose Words:  25,101 (WIP 15/27) Author’s Summary:  Keith has been prepared for the apocalypse for a long time, so when it finally reaches his college campus he knows what to do. Get someone trustworthy to watch his back, grab something to defend himself with, and find a place to weather the storm. Making friends was never supposed to be part of the equation. My Comments: Eventual Klunk? Those are the tags, anyway. This is an absolutely fantastic take on the zombie apocalypse, starting out with Hunk and Keith on the run. At the point where I just got, they just ran into Lance, so I think it’s about to get a lot more interesting, and it was ALREADY super fantastic. And it’s tagged Queerplatonic Hunk/Lance! That makes me very happy. I’m not the only one.

Handbook of Demonology by squirenonny for Pechat Words:  5,516 (WIP 1/8) Author’s Summary: This psychic—Lance the Lucid, according to the posters, and Keith wasn’t even going to comment on that—was a charlatan, plain and simple, and Keith kind of wanted to punch him. Sure, Lance knew how to put on a show, but Keith doubted there was anything more to the act than charm and dramatic flair.Pidge sighed, catching Keith’s eyes. “At this point, they’re pretty much our only hope.” -- While searching for the truth behind their families' disappearance, Keith and Pidge hire a pair of amateur witches to help summon the demon Zarkon. They accidentally summon Allura instead. My Comments: I ADORE everything this author writes, and this one is even more exciting to me than most. Fantasy AU! All of the characters so far have very cool, individual abilities, and I love the way their relationship dynamics have both changed and stayed the same from the show. Wonderful worldbuilding, intriguing plot, fun character interactions, everything I could ask for and more.

Stardust, Silk and Steel by CalicoTomcat Words: 119,554 (WIP 25/?) Author’s Summary: Cold and alone, Pidge wakes up after the wormhole collapses to find herself in the last part of the universe she had ever expected to be…Home. Part 1: Cosmic Coincidence (Chapters 1-15) Part 2: Picking Up The Pieces (Chapters 16-?) (More tags to be added in time.) My Comments: I haven’t finished reading what’s available yet, since I keep getting distracted with other things, but this is REALLY good. Pidge is a badass, but she’s also a vulnerable kid who needs SO much love. Really cool stuff with the lion bond in this one, too, and a renegade road trip across the US. And great backstories for the Holt family, too. Highly recommended.

A Group Effort by Pale_Faces Words: 2,971 Author’s Summary: Lance catches the common cold, of which there are no proven ways to cure. The rest of the paladins think otherwise. My Comments: ADORABLE sickfic in which the entire team does everything they can to help Lance feel better. It’s light and fluffy and sweet and perfect just the way it is.

Homesick by Seliphra Words: 2,590 Author’s Summary: When he was a boy, Lance would have given anything to get into space and touch the stars. Now that he's there, he would give anything to go home again. My Comments: Very sweet little fic, though sad at first. I love Lance and Coran so much.

Chrono Story by yamimitsukai Words: 14,201 (WIP 2/?) Author’s Summary: There is usually a reason that weapons are created, and a weapon such as Voltron is no exception. When Lance digs around to find the reason from old data files he found in the Castle, he didn't expect to find eons worth of a story leading back to the very first Paladins of the Lions. And funnily enough, it's the Druids who hold most of the answers. An Evillious Chronicles AU of Voltron - Set after Season 1. My Comments: This story tricked me! I thought it was all going to be about worldbuilding and history, but NO, the second chapter started the PLOT. In a MAJOR WAY. I am so excited for more. Keith and Lance and Hunk’s interactions are fantastic, and I’m trying really hard not to get sucked into the huge, confusing saga that is fused into the Voltron universe here.

Make a Wish by treble_maker Words: 19,549 Author’s Summary: All he asked for was a hot genie, but when Lance finds a wish-granting alien named Keith inside a lantern, he never expected wishing for an adventure would lead him to Voltron and the chance to save the universe. My Comments: Endgame Klance, but it’s mostly just a fun adventure fic. This one surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Lance is super adorable, as is Hunk, and Keith is understandably scared of getting attached. Great fun.

Santa Claus is Coming to Space by yet_intrepid Words: 822 Author’s Summary: If the Galra attack tomorrow, Voltron’s going to have one angry leg, Hunk thinks, as he heads into the kitchen to do some experimenting. You don’t fuck with Christmas, not even if you’re an evil space empire. You just don’t. My Comments: This is absolutely adorable and hilarious! I’m so glad it exists. SHIRO.

Stronger Than They Know (The Caretaker) by unfortunatelynormal Words: 7,583 (WIP 14/?) Author’s Summary:  Hunk Garrett has an incessant need to take care of people, and make sure that they are safe and happy. It ends up getting him in some precarious situations. (This is kind of a shit summary, but it starts with a Hunk origin story and goes from there). My Comments: Tagged eventual Klance, but right now it’s just Hunk being adorable and kind and amazing and the best person in the universe. I love it.

Playing Catch-Up by 5557 Words: 10,666 (WIP 2/?) Author’s Summary: “But, Lance…” His voice trailed away as Hunk attempted to regain his composure, too many questions flooding his mind to ignore, “What happened? Why’s everyone in the pods?” Lance’s playful exuberance melted away and he stared blankly at Hunk. “You don’t remember the bomb?” Hunk awakens out of the medical pod to find everyone else still inside, and only Lance is there to take care of them all.He’s glad to be reunited with Lance, but as time goes on, Hunk realizes that things are not entirely what they seem… My Comments: Can be read as romantic or platonic Hance. This one absolutely broke my heart. Lance needs to be hugged for a long, long time. Fortunately, he has Hunk.

Stay Right Here by Emerald_Ashes Words: 1,243 Author’s Summary: Hunk can’t sleep. He tries, yet it just won’t come to him. But he's not the only one having a rough night. My Comments: Hance. My sweet summer boys deserve all the love and cuddles.

Previously Recced Fics That Updated:

One Week to Say Goodbye by squirenonny (now complete) Worth of A Paladin by Rururinchan Someplace Like Home by squirenonny Aid by Haurvatat Scattered by avidbeader Here Stands a Man by awkwardCerberus Bromances in Space by ptw30 Blood Brothers by ptw30 (now complete) cough syrup by EmmaLuLuChu Love and Other Questions by squirenonny Where No One Goes by earthstar (now complete)

[lucyafarensis]

Zombies Are Already Among Us…Kinda: Why ‘The Last of Us’ zombie apocalypse theory is the only probable theory.

In the lead up the the upcoming sequel of the hugely popular and successful game ‘The Last of Us’, I wanted to replay the game, not only to refresh my memory on the storyline, but also because I loved the game. I am sure I am not the only one who feels that ‘The Last of Us’ is one of the best games they have ever played.

I personally love a realistic theory. For me, realistic theories in the horror genre are the scariest. Out of all the iconic horror movie villains, I find Dr. Hannibal Lecter the scariest. Why? Because there are people like him who exist. Google it. There are one too many articles on cannibals and pies made of people. That kind of stuff scares me compared to say Jason from ‘Friday the 13th’. (I mean, he went through a wood chipper; how do you come back from that?!)

In ‘The Last of Us’, we know that a fungus is responsible for the rise of zombies on earth, where being been bitten by a zombie or by breathing in the spores will zombify you. The fungus, although never really names by the main characters of the game, it is explained in the opening credits after the prologue and little notes and files that you find in the game which contain more detailed information about an infection known as the Cordyceps Brain Infection (CBI). I find this scary. Why? Because Cordyceps actually exists.

Cordyceps is an abbreviated version of the genus name Ophiocordyceps. The species of fungus under this genus are known for their ‘zombie-like’ effects on some animals; most notably ants. Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is the most well known species of this fungus group and is found in the tropical rainforests of Thailand and Brazil. 

When ants come into contact with this fungus, the fungus attaches itself to them. If the fungus can get past the exoskeleton, the fungus quickly goes to work, essentially taking over the brain of the host. Healthy ants are able to identify infected individuals and will remove infected ones far away from the nest to prevent the colony from being destroyed by the fungus. 

This is where the stereotypical side of zombies comes in with the obsession of BRAAAAINS. Once the fungus has taken hold of the host, it will use the host to take it to a new place to grow. Ophiocordyceps unilateralis makes its host ant will climb up trees and bite into a main vein on the underside of a leaf. From there, the fungus’ reproductive body grows out of the ant’s head releasing new spores to attach to new hosts.

This links in with ‘The Last of Us’ theory where the infected individuals known as Clickers have a fungal head. Later in the infection cycle, individuals infected long enough are eventually killed by the fungus so that the fungus can releases spores from the corpse to infect new hosts. This also relates to one of the main characters, Ellie. Although she is “immune” to CBI, the fungus is in her brain. We find out at the end of the game that the surgery Ellie must undergo in order to find a cure to CBI would have ultimately killed her (unbeknown to her) as it involved removing her brain for study. 

So how could this theory become a reality? Take note of the word in the title ‘probable’. In some countries, Cordyceps is already used as a homeopathic medicine for everything from coughs to cancer, so the fungus wouldn’t find it difficult to get into our systems. The only thing that this theory hinges on is the slim possibility of evolution; for the fungus to evolve to take humans as hosts. But evolution is never a sure thing. Evolution is about perfecting imperfect designs for organisms to survive and thrive in the environments that they live in. If a design is perfect (or at least close to it), then as the saying goes, don’t fix something that isn’t broke.

To finish off, let me just say that I do not believe a zombie apocalypse is what will bring an end to mankind. There are so many other things going on in the world that are way more likely to destroy us all. It is not exactly high-ranking in its likeliness to happen. But of all the theories I have seen, this theory is the only probable one that could occur should a zombie apocalypse ever occur.