[IC] What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

[Rystelle]

Olivia had been only been sixteen years old when the world came to the beginning of the end. It began as a sickness, a disease that seemed to pop up over night. Within the first few days in Mississippi there were dozens of accounts of people taking to bed with violent fever. Mississippi was not the only place affected by the illness. As Olivia had learned from the news it had quickly spread across the globe in a world-wide pandemic. What was most frightening was that there was no one--not one single scientist or doctor--who could find a cure to this mysterious disease that was racking up victims by the thousands.

People began to die. Then, they started coming back. But those who came back were not as they had been. They were no longer human. Instead they were unthinking, unfeeling monsters. They were rotting shells driven purely by instinct, hungry for flesh. At first the government tried to cover everything up. They worked to single out the cases, make sure the public didn't panic. It didn't work. Things grew quickly out of control and the world soon found out about the Walkers. Eventually they learned that it wasn't just those who died with fever coming back, either. People who died of cancer, of a heart attack, from drowning, from choking on food. They came back as Walkers too. Eventually the people learned that there was a cure to Walkers: You had to kill their brain. Only by then it was too late.

The Walkers numbered by the thousands, if maybe not even the millions or possibly even the billions. In the first few months the military had set up evacuation points and shelters all over the country in hopes of protecting those who had not yet fallen ill and turned. Those soon fell, however, as either they were overrun by Walkers or the military was instructed to pull out due to the hopeless situation they were left in. People were left to fend for themselves. This, coupled with the fact that they soon lost all forms of electricity and communication, began the quick and inevitable breakdown of civilization.

Three years had passed since the Walkers came to be. There was little of humanity left. Of what few people did remain they gathered in groups in order to survive and either built settlements in the ruins of the old world, or else wandered the land in hopes that their constant momentum would be enough to keep them alive. How they fared all depended on how smart they were. There were some people, however, in rare cases of either insanity or extreme confidence, that chose to go it on their own, forsaking groups for one reason or another. Some people simply liked being completely alone, but for others what remained of humanity had simply left a sour taste in their mouth.

The world had become brutal, unforgiving. There was joy to be found still, yes, kindness too and beauty as well, but people were far more wary of outsiders. Their priority was to look after themselves and their group. If you were part of a group and you weren't pulling your own weight you were given a trial to prove your worth. If you had no useful skills to provide you were kicked out of the group and left to roam the wilderness. No one needed a pair of useless hands that did nothing but consume resources without giving any back. There were other ways that the world had become more brutal as well. Loose morals, quick tempers. These often led to rash decisions and scenarios best left unspoken. What was scary was that in some groups, so long as those particular people could still provide for everyone in some way, they were allowed to stay. The one sure thing that could get you kicked out of a group, however, was stealing. Thievery of any kind begot immediate exile, or in some instances, a death sentence. Depending on the group's leader or council--whatever it was run by--if they kicked you out into the wilderness they might either be kind enough to give you some supplies, or else they would leave you with nothing. One way or the other you were on your own and had to defend yourself from the Walkers.

Olivia herself was a bit of an odd case even for the world she now lived in. Since the early months when the the sickness was still taking its toll and Walkers had just started arising she had been on her own. Helen Moretti, Olivia's mother, had been one of the first cases to take sick with the fever. When it killed her Olivia was left orphaned with no other family to care for her. Olivia's father had been an unknown figure, her mother an only child, and her grandparents deceased years before. With no one else to care for her Olivia was taken in by her neighbor Mr. Samuel Byrd. Mr. Byrd had been an old fellow in his late nineties. He had been a war veteran, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. A lot of people in the neighborhood thought he was crazy because of the huge supply of weapons and food stuff he kept stocked, the fact that he would always rattle off survival tips or war stories, and because he always smelled like gun powder and cigarette smoke. Olivia, however, had really liked Mr. Byrd.

When she was growing up Olivia and her mother were teetering right on the edge of "poor" and "working class" even with her mother working two jobs to make ends meet. Whenever something in the house broke and Helen didn't know how to fix it or didn't have the money to call a repairman, Mr. Byrd took care of it. All he usually asked for in return was a pack of cigarettes, a canned good, maybe a box of matches, or even to just sit down and have dinner with them. He was a lonely old man, Olivia knew, whose wife had taken their daughter and left him for another man who lived overseas. Not to mention the rest of the neighborhood pretty much shunned him and wrote him off as crazy. Not Olivia, though. Mr. Byrd was her baby sitter whenever her mother was working late after Olivia got home from school. She would go over to his house and he'd have a snack waiting for her. Vegetables and cheese or fruit, sometimes something sweet like cookies and milk or donuts. She'd do her homework while laying on the huge bearskin rug he had in front of the fireplace. After Olivia finished with her homework she'd listen to Mr. Byrd's stories again and again, or he would teach her some survival tactic. He also taught her to shoot a bow, how to use a knife, and he taught her about guns. What Olivia's mother would let him teach her, anyway. Occasionally Olivia was even allowed to go on hunting and fishing trips with him, and she learned how to hunt and fish and clean what she caught. Of course, her mother didn't know that she had used a gun on the hunting trips, but what Helen didn't know wouldn't kill her. Plus, the knowledge and experience was invaluable. For Olivia, Mr. Byrd was the grandfather she never got to meet.

Samuel Byrd was the reason that Olivia had been able to survive on her own for the three years following the start of the infection. Not long after her mother passed away, Mr. Byrd passed too. Before that he told her to take everything he had--weapons, food, survival gear, gas, truck--and leave. He told her to go it on her own, to trust her gut and her instincts. Others might lead her wrong either on accident or on purpose, but if she trusted herself she would be alright. He could see it coming, he said. The inevitable breakdown of society, how humans would change once their world ended. He had seen it in war before. Terrible disasters always brought out both the best and worst in people, just like Hurricane Katrina had a few years before. Of course Olivia was downright terrified to go it on her own. She was only sixteen years old. She remembered questioning Mr. Byrd, asking what if this was just something that would all blow over. He gave her an earful for that, and Olivia had wound up crying because she was sensitive to being scolded. Afterwards he had given her a hug and a Hershey bar, apologized for yelling, but made damn well sure that she understood that this was something that was not going to blow over. Not any time soon, at least. No, he assured her. She was better off hitting the road and getting a head start before the shit hit the fan. So when the time came, Olivia did what he told her to. She took everything he had left her and hit the road.

Three years later Olivia was still going strong. She no longer had the old pickup truck with the camper shell, a lot of the weapons had needed to be let go either for lack of ammunition or they were simply too much to tote around (sometimes she approached groups and traded for things she needed), and the food had been spent long ago. Olivia had been very careful about how often she ate and the food had lasted a long time, but it simply had not been enough for three years. However, she knew how to hunt and forage and so she got by just fine with that. She still had a lot of the survival gear, as well as several useful weapons she kept on her at all times. Her bow, with its retrievable ammo, which she could easily make more of, was in and of itself a treasure. The ax and bowie knife she kept too were useful in all sorts of ways and she made sure to keep them sharp. She had a fishing pole to fish, a compass and map so she never lost her way, a tent (even though she often slept in trees as they kept her high above potential predators), rope for various tasks (such as tying herself to the tree to keep from falling), and other numerous things that helped her survive in her day-to-day lifestyle filled with endless potential danger.

Olivia now stood at the end of a bridge, her map in her hands. Rusted cars littered the roadway here and there, some empty, some filled with skeletal remains, the flesh and sinew long since rotted away. The city that lay ahead of her on the other side of the bridge was a skeleton in its own right. Few if any people lived there now, and undoubtedly hoards of Walkers filled the streets. Buildings were beginning to crumble and Mother Nature was working to reclaim what had once been hers all along. It was mid-winter and so many of the plants had died, but you could still see the stalks of great vines that had begin climbing up the sky scrapers, could see snow settling over everything. As Olivia had learned, cold temperatures slowed down the Walkers. If the temperature dropped low enough the Walkers simply froze up, became Walker-cicles. They couldn't move to hurt you. Not unless you were stupid enough to scratch yourself on them or until they thawed in the spring. Thankfully, here in the North winters were extremely cold, and so Olivia had little to fear from the things-that-shouldn't-be. She was still cautious, of course. She was always cautious. If you weren't you could get killed, and Olivia rather liked living.

At that moment, in the early morning of that cold winter day, everything was hushed. A chill wind played with Olivia's long, dark hair, blowing it about her shoulders and face until she put it up in a pony tail and pulled the hood of her jacket over her head. Her dusty gray eyes darted down to the map once more to assure that this city that she was about to approach was indeed New York City, New York. It was, and Olivia felt a triumphant joy building up in her heart. For the last three years she had taken to traveling the States, seeing all she could see of the land. She had taken her time, meandering here and there, sometimes taking the time to go around a whole state before moving on. It was the little things in life that Olivia looked forward to and kept her going every day. Seeing national monuments she had never seen before, witnessing an entire forest change colors in the fall, visiting places she had never gotten to visit or ever would have dreamed she would have visited before the infection. These things thrilled her and was what she lived for. And now, finally, she had made it to New York City.

"Alright!" Olivia declared happily to herself. "First thing is first! Let's go find some shelter for the night and see if I can find some food." Her store was running low and all that remained was a can of peas and a can of pineapple. Olivia decided to start by finding food first and so she set about searching the cars on the bridge. Of nearly fifty cars there was little to be found, but she was lucky enough to come across some granola bars, a few more canned goods, a bag of beef jerky, and even some useful tools like matches and lighters. There were a lot of matches and lighters, actually.

"Thank God for smokers," Olivia chuckled to herself as she put her new stash into her backpack. Satisfied that she had found all she could, Olivia crossed over the bridge and continued onto into the big city. "Imagine if Mama could see me now. A little country girl in the big city," Olivia continued to muse aloud to herself. She did that often as it kept her sane to hear some sort of human voice, even it was her own. Shaking her head as in disbelief, Olivia kept one hand on the bowie knife at her belt while keeping both eyes open in search of shelter.

[Markofkri]

Serving a few tours in the army only to be exposed to this new nightmare. Shawn knew what had to be done. He had no family so in that respect he was fortunate. As the world fell around him and people got sick he wasn't the type to let whatever this was get to him. He was trained to survive. He stayed put for the first few months using the stuff from unfinished home improvement projects that were in his garage. He drove the truck into the garage and began sealing off the house bracing the doors. Shawn put plywood on both the inside and out side of the trucks windows leaving a small slit to see the front and using the reverse camera to view the rear. The bed was protected by a flat hard cover. Pinning the curtains between the windows and the plywood to look inconspicuous. He took out the stair case and used that wood to build a ladder against the wall to the second floor. Shawn also cut the gas not that there was any but as a precaution against the if's. At first he traveled on foot, at night going to office buildings raiding the mini fridges for food. Then Shawn started to raid peoples abandoned homes. The shelves and pantries were primary targets ignoring the refrigerator. Armed only with his crowbar. As time went on he would find other items left behind. Only after six month did he exhaust the local supplies in the area.

The time had come to move. Going north meant cold and surviving against the harsher elements. West would have to cross paths with Texas then dessert conditions that were inhospitable to life without the technological conveniences to survive. South was the best shot. Alabama was too under developed to be a good spot to scavenge. Atlanta was over populated. Louisiana was too close to Texas. Leaving only the state of Mississippi to give Shawn the best chance. There Shawn could find a fishing boat and escape the walkers and eat the fresh catch of the day. Sticking to the suburbs and side roads he packed the army back pack that was a keep sake, and got into the truck loaded only with a few containers of gas. Weighing it down with other stuff that he couldn't carry would only make it use more gas. He started the trip saying goodbye to his house and the dog he never got the chance to get.

The engine running Shawn could make use of the GPS. Shawn knew Tennessee better then whoever made the map and was able to go off read most of the way killing walkers with the bumper as he drove. Stopping in the woods and sleeping in the truck was safest. Sometimes a walker would be there but he wouldn't risk being infected unless the tank was low. Highways were always dangerous, either there were trapped walkers in the cars, or raiders looking to kill survivors. Using his tools in a gym bag and a gas container to refuel Shawn would then retreat to his truck. For food he always stopped a mile away from a highway exit. Down the embankment or in the woods. From there Shawn would walk into the off ramp of the highway and begin searching the gas stations and local restaurants for food. Granola bars and beef jerky. If they had running water it was a gold mine. Tap was used for bathing which he did in the rest room. Washing out his clothes and moving on.

Making his way to the coast had proven difficult. Shawn had to fight the lingering groups of dead remaining at the port towns. He ran his hand through his hair and rolled his eyes. The risk was a necessary one if he wanted to acquire a boat. He got dangerously close to the town. Taking the bags and his crowbar Shawn turned off the engine and left the keys under the seat. The truck no longer had a good spare but there was half a tank of gas and some of the containers in the back were still full. He etched a large word in the wooden windows "Runs". He lifted the hood and disconnected the battery to keep it for the next user. Shawn it to the shoulder along the road and turned to give the truck one final look of appreciation.

Shawn stuck to the out skirts increasing the trip time, but it was safer then walking through the middle of town. He had to deal with a few of the local undead but managed to not run across any large groups. He looked out of an alley to see the selection of boats. It was unfortunate he knew nothing of sailing so he was forced to take a motor driven boat. Being a mechanic in the army gave him the confidence that should a problem arise he would be able to repair it. The bag of extras he gathered would help too. a smaller boat would take more time so Shawn chose a boat that had a good size but also a decent cruising speed. He picked a cruiser with a cabin and a working bath room. Shawn set up shop storing his gear making his way to other boats syphoning fuel and gathering spare batteries from the other boats.

After a few days Shawn was confident he had done all he could He gathered water from one of the stores by the docks and some fishing equipment. The compass from his army days would be invaluable to him. He would stay within visual range of the coast and travel east. Florida would be easy to reach and a variable gold mine for resupplying before making his way to New York. By the time Shawn got there he hoped either a cure would be found or it would be empty. New York would have a large port and resources.

Some days anchored off the coast Shawn would think of the long journey to survive. Fishing was ok but not as filling as he had hoped. The alternator kept the battery running so the microwave on board was the primary means of cooking some of the food he caught. At times he shark fished to feed himself instead of waiting on smaller catches one shark would allow Shaw the eat well all day and he used the left overs for the smaller fish. To navigate the coast and scavenge for fuel took its time. Getting to New York from the coast of Mississippi would take three years. When he slept Shawn would take the boat out of sight from the coast and anchor it in place. Using the alarm on his digital watch to wake him in four hours to look out for dangers. Those years were free of the worries of walkers and most raiders. On the boat Shawn would do exercises to keep in shape and write thoughts he had that day. With perseverance Shawn made it to the Hudson The city and the historic naval ships were the identifying markers. Shawn stayed out of the channel and kept the motor on a slow speed to reduce the noise. He would anchor out of sight of land only to port at night. No one would notice another boat in the morning among the rest of them. He would leave at night and start scavenging. Hopefully some new clothes as well.

[Rystelle]

Olivia had spent the day scavenging, looking for any goods and weapons she could possibly use. With the Walkers all frozen through she had little to fear aside from other human beings--not that she came across any--so she had been able to roam the streets freely. She had explored and roamed, taking her time and really only hurrying when night was getting ready to fall. She had little want to sleep outside in the snow, though in spring, summer, and even the mild days of fall she tend to sleep in trees high out of reach of Walkers.

During the day's scavenge Olivia had found something miraculous. There was a department store that had managed to escape virtually untouched. There was clothes, camping supplies, dried food--some past its expiration date but still edible--and even weapons. Olivia was able to replenish her dwindling supply of arrows, get a new ax and knife, and she even found a semi-automatic pistol with plenty of ammo. When it came to clothes she had a complete new set of winter gear with at least two spares of everything excepting jacket and boots. After having gathered everything she needed and donning her new clothes, Olivia had ventured back out into the cold, not wanting to stay in the department store in case some other survivors should come through. She felt it best to stay elsewhere.

Toward evening, once Olivia was content with the day's finds, she began her tour of the big city. She saw the subways grown through with vines, visited crumbling Time Square, and finally made her way to Central Park.

While Central Park had been big in its heydays, it had still been small compared to the state parks of Mississippi, who had more square footage of forest than any other state. Now, however, Central Park was becoming a true forest in its own right. With no one to tend to it the plant life had grown wild. Trees had expanded out to the roads, causing the pavement to crack and crumble in order to make room for their roots. Climbing plants and crawling vines enveloped rotting park benches and lay strewn across the road. Until the snow cleared and spring came to make them green again the vines reminded Olivia of leather thongs all twisted and worn with age.

While human kind found little in this city but a snow covered wasteland strewn with frozen Walkers, the wildlife was thriving. There were no birds right now as they had all flown south for the winter, but there were still rivers yet frozen and filled with fish, deer and wild pigs that rooted through the expanding forest that had once been Central Park. Olivia could fish and hunt and have fresh meat. From the bridge where she had surveyed the land earlier she had noticed the boats on the Hudson River. She could stay there for the night, figuring it would be safer than staying on land where she could easily be snuck up on wherever she choose to make camp. If the boat Olivia boarded didn't work then maybe she could find a working one in the morning and take it further out to the bay to fish. If the boat had enough gas she could even go visit Lady Liberty on person.

With a plan in mind Olivia set her course. She made her way down to the docks where there were still plenty of boats tethered. Having grown up on the Gulf Coast, the sight of the boats and smell of the river air was like a welcome from an old friend.

Olivia hummed happily to herself as she picked a boat at random and hopped aboard. The best part was that the docks seemed to be completely Walker free. Any that found their way here tended to fall into the water since they ran on instincts alone and had no sense of self-preservation. As she forced open the door to a cabin and deposited her stuff she sighed contentedly, "Home sweet home."

[Markofkri]

Shawn was getting an early start to gather supplies in the city the frozen dead wee a welcome sight. Still he kept alert and his crowbar ready. Going to back doors and using the crowbar to pry them open his boots were done for so his first top was a shoe store. Few people wore boots preferring the light weight feel of a soft shoe. Thankfully he was right and found a light brown steel toe in his size. There were some socks on the wall he grabbed and a pair to wear. Now refitted Shawn looked out across the street for other stores. A gun store, it was looted but few people knew that a gun store had other things. He looked for a replacement knife for the one Shawn used to clean fish. The salt water destroyed it. He found a few good ones he took the one knife for emergencies and the other Swiss knife for his pocket. The ammo that was under the display case he put in his bag in case he came across a gun dropped in the street. Moving down the street he moved into office buildings. No one thought of them so he would climb the stairs for coffee and snacks to take with him. He also grabbed a coffee maker. From the roof he could get a better look at the area. Using some paper and grabbing a few black permanent markers Shawn drew a rough map of the area and the next buildings to loot next.

The stairs were easier going down as his sea legs adjusted to the stable ground. He smirked thinking if he had joined the navy instead. Shawn shook his head and stopped at a off ice on the second floor he grabbed a pair of scissors taking a minute to trim his beard. He used the bathroom mirror on the floor to help guide his work. Shawn decided to keep some of it to avoid the week of itching. Satisfied he tucked the scissors in his bag side pouch. Moving down the street staying to the side walk he hit the jackpot. A clothing store. No winter apparel except the discount rack and thanks to this being New York a full rack of coats. Shawn grabbed a few pair of jeans and some long sleeve shirts. He could cut off the sleeves in the summer.

The watch let him know it was getting late. He added the clothes to the bag and made his way back to the the boat in a round about way. Shaw was glad to be home and although it was a just a boat it was starting to become more. The new boots went to the side of the door while the clothes went into the dresser left empty by the actual owners. There were other boats on the docks and Shawn would have to find some more food. Right now he was grateful for the coffee that was brewing and the snacks that were left behind.

[Rystelle]

At the camping shop in the department store Olivia had managed to find an electric lamp and plenty of batteries that were still good. She put some in now and used the lantern to look around the ship's cabin. The thick layer of dust denoted that the boat had been abandoned for a long time. There was a mustiness in the air making it hard to breath, but the window leading out to the bow opened up and so Olivia slid it aside to air out the cabin. There was some cushioned benches she could sleep on. No blankets, though, but that wasn't a problem since she had her own. There were some old towels, however, and these Olivia used to dust off everything she could. She went around the cabin again with a towel wet with water from the river.

Once the cabin was clean enough for Olivia to be satisfied, she looked around for other things. There was a small bathroom with a mirror and a working sink and toilet--how long had it been since she had some sort of luxury! She was simply ecstatic about being able to clean herself of using the water from the sink. It was cold, but when she got dressed again she quickly warmed up and felt better than she had in a long time.

The sun had set and Olivia was not yet tired. Hungry, but not tired. So after digging through her backpack for the can of pineapple she had found earlier, Olivia took it and the lantern and left the cabin to go sit on the back of the boat. She had considered laying on the roof of the cabin but it was too dangerous to do at night. There was always a chance she'd slip off and into the icy cold water while trying to climb up and down the roof. No, the back of the boat was the safest place for her to sit out and watch the stars. Her bow stayed inside, but she kept her knife and her new fully loaded gun just in case. It was never bad to take precautions.

Sitting on the back of her boat and enjoying the sweet pineapple while gazing at the stars, Olivia felt a sense of peace and happiness. From time to time she still mourned for her mother, Mr. Byrd, and all the others lost, but she had long ago learned that you had to still find joy in life, no matter what was happening. And seeing a million stars and a brilliant full moon shining bright and clear in a sky no longer filled with light pollution gave Olivia immense joy. Being on a boat again reminded her of a song that Mr. Bryd had taught her, one from his Naval days. She began to sing:

"Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky.
We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh.
Sail Navy down the field and sink the Army, sink the Army Grey.

Get underway, Navy, Decks cleared for the fray,
We'll hoist true Navy Blue So Army down your Grey-y-y-y.
Full speed ahead, Navy; Army heave to,
Furl Black and Grey and Gold and hoist the Navy, hoist the Navy Blue
Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky.
We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh.

Blue of the Seven Seas; Gold of God's great sun
Let these our colors be Till all of time be done-n-n-ne,
By Severn shore we learn Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true With honor over, honor over all."

[Rystelle]

((Double post.))

[Markofkri]

The first pot of coffee was Ambrosia to him. Shawn let it filter and couldn't wait for it to completely get warm but the weather outside forced him to wait. He burned his tongue on the first cup, but it was worth it! The caffeine in his body and the flavor was great the sugar and powder creamer made those stairs seem trivial now. He let the warmth grow in his body. The second cup was interrupted by a voice out side. "A navy song? Who would..." Shawn put the cup down and listened intently the voice was a woman's voice!

It was a sound from a silent city. He grabbed his crowbar and ran up the stairs. Getting only half way Shawn rushed back down stairs and put on his pants and boots. He shook his head as he did this. "Easy Shawn, don't get us killed now." He stood up letting a sigh go to help him relax. Shaw rose out of the boat to see a light on one of the boats and a female voice singing a navy song. Was this a trap? If it was it was a good one. Too bad had seen this movie. He put the crowbar back and tucked the gun in a fresh hole from the leather coat he found. A knife taped to his forearm just in case. He waited a moment to see who else might of heard this.

Five minutes passed and the song was over he made noise as he walked down the wooden dock to the boat with the voice. Letting the heavy boots announce his presence before he even uttered a word. Regardless of her actions he stood his ground. "Please don't be alarmed I heard the singing and thought it an invitation." Shawn raises his hands to show them as empty. "My name is Shawn and I'm a neighbor of sorts. Could you douse the light? You'll attract other scavengers who would think of you as a cast off treasure. I'm going to walk slowly away and it was nice meeting you."

[Rystelle]

Having thought herself the only person at the docks--maybe even the entire city--Olivia damn near jumped out of her skin when she heard the heavy thuds made by feet hitting the dock. At first she thought it was a Walker that hadn't frozen over, but the footsteps were too even and heavy with sureness. Walkers were slow and uneven, often dragging their feet and moving with no real purpose.

She quickly scrambled off the railing of the boat to stand on the main deck, not wanting to give whoever it was an easy chance to grab her if that was their intention. Instinctively her hand reached down toward her pistol holstered on her right leg. She didn't draw it quite yet, though. Instead she waited for the person to come into sight to see if they might pose a threat. Olivia had run into people before that had less than pleasant ideas regarding what to do with her. However, she had met nice people too during her travels. For instance, early on after the infection she had met a group in Georgia. She remembered the man called Daryl who had given her some good hunting tips. Rick, the group's leader, had invited her to stay with them. Olivia had kindly turned them down. Rick bad been a nice fellow, but there had been something about him that hadn't been quite right, so she had continued on her own once more.

The intruder on her otherwise lovely night turned out to be a man. From what Olivia could see he was young. Older than her, but still young. He stopped just outside her source of light and held his hands up to show that they were empty. But Olivia wasn't stupid enough to think he was completely unarmed. She also realized he had come from the far end of the dock, meaning he was staying on a boat too. Olivia was really glad she hadn't accidentally boarded whatever boat he occupied. That would have probably ended badly.

So he had heard her singing? Damn. Perhaps she shouldn't have acted so freely unless she had been one hundred percent sure she was alone, but the damage was already done. He--Shawn he said his name was--was right about the light too. If he was in New York, who knew how many other people there might be? Probably a few, and some likely a terrible might less friendly than this guy currently appeared to be. At the same time it could be a trap to distract her so he could act. But even without the lamp Olivia could easily see in the light of the moon and stars, so she cautiously turned off the light while keeping an eye on her 'neighbor'.

Suddenly a thought struck Olivia. How long had it been since she had talked to someone other than herself or even seen another human being? Half a year? A year? The point was, Olivia hadn't met anyone else in a long time. The sound of another human voice was both strange and comforting, and that accent was awfully familiar.

For once Olivia decided to forego her initial urge to run away. Instead she called out, "Hold on there, uh... Shawn, right? I didn't mean the singing as an invitation, but... Well if you want you're welcome to stay for a bit. By the way you talk I know you're from the South--just can't tell where. But from one Southerner to another, it'd be a shame if we couldn't keep our reputation for friendly hospitality and good manners alive even in a time like this."

[Markofkri]

Shawn caught her face in the light she was younger and very pretty despite the conditions of the world. A little thin guessing from the tough times and all. He was glad to know she was from the south and from the look of her, home grown. He took a few small steps into the light so as not to scare her. The fact that two southerners had survived and traveled to the north only to meet was against the longest odds. He was grateful to see another human soul in this god forsaken place.

As the light went out on the lamp he had hoped he got to her in time and was the only one that saw the light and heard the singing. He was blind waiting for his eyes to readjust to the night. Widening his stance just in case it was a trap. Three years give or take and now this. It was worth the risk just to talk to someone and share tales. In the army it was what people did to keep their mind off where they were and what they were trained to do. Two people on a post looking out at nothing and sharing tales of what they would do if they were home. When Shawn returned from the base to his home he often wondered why people had stopped talking to each other. Saying hi to a neighbor and just acting like a human instead of a hermit.

This would not be an opportunity he would let pass. Especially since she had accepted. He would move slow and not ask too personal a question. Keeping the conversation civil like. He wouldn't do anything threatening. The fact that another person had talked to him Shawn couldn't help but let the warm smile a person gets when they are met with kindness shine like a torch. She became a more impressive figure then lady liberty herself.

"Well I know that's right I recon without the southern back drop our slow southern draw would hint at where we're from. I'm from Tennessee just a short ride north outta Jackson." He scratched his head and flashed a smile at the kindness to a stranger would produce. He was glad to be southern. "I'm going to put my hands down real slow like. I would be munch oblige for the conversation I haven't had someone to talk to in a spell. I had some coffee going but it will keep." Shawn climbs the boat and smiles again. "I'm sorry miss I didn't ever catch your name."

[Rystelle]

Olivia continued to watch Shawn closely, giving him plenty of space as he climbed onto the boat. She knew she was taking a risk by talking to him and letting him aboard, but it wasn't like she couldn't handle herself in a fight. Olivia had had to take on larger men than Shawn before. If she needed a quick escape though she could always jump into the water and swim to shore. She would possibly lose some of her supplies if he took them, but she knew where to get more now if she should need them. Mostly Olivia would be sad to lose the pictures of her mother and Mr. Byrd and the bow Mr. Byrd had given her.

However, it seemed like she didn't need to worry too much. Shawn took care not to make any sudden moves, telling Olivia that he was going to put his hands down and taking it slow when he climbed onto the boat. Overall he seemed friendly, and his smile seemed genuine.

Ah, Tennessee, Olivia thought to herself. That was why the accent had sounded familiar and still a little strange. One kid in her middle school had transferred from Tennessee. He had the same drawl most everyone in the South had, but his accent had been just a bit different. The mention of coffee piqued her interest, but she didn't ask about that since she didn't want to seem intrusive.

Holding out one gloved hand for a handshake, Olivia finally returned his smile with a brilliant one of her own and told him, "My name's Olivia Moretti. North Woolmarket, Mississippi is where I'm from. So, what's a guy from Tennessee doing up here in the big city?"

[Markofkri]

Being slow and gentle in the hand shake it was surreal that Shawn found another person in this wasteland that was easy on the eyes and kind to him. "It's nice to meet you Olivia. Mississippi that would make us practically neighbors. Honestly I had my money on Alabama but guess I lost that bet." Shawn shrugged still smiling at the hostess and her generous hospitality. "I came up from the coast figured by now it would be empty and a good spot to scavenge. I'm not too fond of the cold and thought more people would feel the same. I was in the store when the sickness hit. It was on the news and the hospital was quarantined. It just seemed to spread from there in Jackson. I ran across my first walker a few days later he had bite taken out of him and limped towards me like a zombie or some such. After that I tried to stay in my home town but lack of food push me to make a choice to move south and get a boat. I've headed east ever since."

Sitting down on the boat with his knees bent in front of him. He looks up at Olivia. I would very munch like to hear your story. Only as munch as your comfortable with of course." Shawn sat and listened to your story. The sound of another voice was so soothing. He would ask about inconsequential stuff just to keep the conversation going and not make it feel awkward. The way she retold her story was not as interesting as Olivia herself. She got all the way here by herself. There were times when the fishing was scarce and Shawn had thought about other options. The gap of supplies from north Carolina to Virginia was especially trying. Shawn wanted to sit and talk to her all night but he didn't want to wear out his welcome so soon. Shawn also thought of Olivia and how she would need her own strength for whatever challenges would come tomorrow.

As the night wore on Shawn waited for a gap in the conversation. "Olivia I wouldn't be polite to keep you talking all night. I thank you kindly for the conversation and if you feel comfortable I would like us to be on good terms. I have a boat up the docks fifth one up on the right. It has a blue stripe on it. If you like I could put on a fresh pot of coffee for the morning if you like? In Florida I got my hands on as many water filters that I could carry so it will be fresh in that regard too. I don't have any real food supplies so breakfast will be B.Y.O.B. (bring your own breakfast) I'm sorry on that account."

[Rystelle]

Olivia found that she enjoyed the conversation immensely. It had been so long since she had talked to anyone other than herself, inanimate objects, or animals that she had almost forgotten what a real conversation was like. When Shawn first approached, Olivia hadn't known what to expect. She thought their encounter might go far worse than this. But instead of a fight they wound up talking half the night. And now he was saying he'd like to keep on friendly terms and was inviting her over for coffee. Of course she'd still go armed, but then again Olivia never slept without a weapon at hand.

"I was always more of a tea person," Olivia revealed amicably, "but far be it from me to snub my nose at any food or drink now. You simply don't have the right to be picky anymore. Coffee sounds good, Shawn, thank you. And thank you for the conversation too. I'll be seeing you in the morning then. Good night."

After watching Shawn go off, Olivia decided to turn in for the night. Not to discredit Shawn's friendliness, but Olivia wasn't taking any chances in case someone else other than Shawn HAD seen her light or heard her singing, so she locked both the cabin door and window. She then took some strings of noisy items and strung them across the two surfaces, setting various things in front of them. If anyone tried to break in, the noise would immediately awake Olivia and she'd be ready for them.

A peaceful night passed morning came. Olivia was up before the sun, but she waited a bit before heading over to Shawn's boat. She didn't want to wake him if he was still asleep. Though she tried to will her heart to be still, Olivia was rather excited to be having coffee and breakfast with someone. (Especially someone as good looking as Shawn, if she was being honest.)

Given than she had found plenty of dried goods yesterday, Olivia felt as if she could spare a little so she decided to supply breakfast since Shawn was making coffee. She had managed to find some instant oatmeal (just needed hot water) and dried mixed berries the other day in the camping store and thought it might be a sign of goodwill and the hope to continue to have peace between them.

Heading down the dock, taking care not to slip on the ice, Olivia found Shawn's boat and climbed aboard. She knocked on the cabin door, making sure to take a few steps back after just in case.

[Markofkri]

Shawn walked back to the boat looking over his shoulder to see one last glance at Olivia. He smiled the rest of the way. Looking at his bachelor pad and the fact it smelled of shark Shawn shook his head. Undaunted at the task at hand Shawn scrubbed the night away and washed his sheets they would be cold and damp but smell better. He found some old fish and tossed it. By the first hint of the suns return the boat could of been pitched as a new model. He took a quick shower and threw on some new clothes that he found yesterday. The place wasn't this clean when he found it. "Coffee!" Shawn put on a fresh pot and set out the sugar and some cream. Since Olivia mentioned it ice tea would be nice. Lipton, but god it would need a lot of sugar to make it sweet enough to his like.

Just as the timer on the coffee dinged there was a knock at the door. If he hadn't cleaned all night Shawn might of forgotten he had guests coming. "Just a sec." He left the crowbar like he always did by the door but he forgot to replace the knives into the new clothes. Shawn took a deep breath and opened the door. The coffee smell helped mask the soap smell of his late night cleaning. Shawn saw Olivia had brought breakfast. It was almost normal. "Please come in the wind is rough right now." He motioned to the bench seating flanking a table. As her eyes caught the bed Shawn was grateful for the beard that hid his blush. He walked over and closed the door that separated the two rooms. "Cough. Sorry. Honestly I was cleaning a little and once one spot was clean it made the rest look bad. Sorry I'm rambling how you take it?" He fixed a cup and brought it to her. "I must admit I didn't figure on the trip turning out like this and all. I'm glad it did." He takes a sip of the warm liquid and smiles.

He didn't get in her way and stayed moving slow. He set the table while she laid out the fixens. Over breakfast Shawn did try his best not to stare at her. The non fish flavored breakfast was a sheer pleasure. He smiled after every bite. He refilled her cup and mixed in the appropriate additives. Clearing his throat, "I had planed on doing some more salvaging later. Wasn't sure if you had plans." Shawn wore a non serious smile. "I needed to get some tea and some food to restock. Recon I'd go see what the stores had left and go from there. The sun might thaw out some of them walkers so I didn't want to impose."

[Rystelle]

"It's no problem," Olivia reassured Shawn with a half smile. She had enjoyed her morning so far. Sitting down to breakfast and coffee with Shawn, conversing casually, it was nice. It felt normal, almost. Well, as normal as it could get with both of them taking their time and making sure to move in a way so as not to appear threatening to the other.

After quickly and silently debating what to tell Shawn, she decided the truth couldn't hurt. Olivia told him, "I thought I might try doing some fishing today if my boat works, or if another does. There might not be much out there with the cold, but maybe I'll get lucky and get something anyway."

After a bit more of silent argument, Olivia asked Shawn if he had a map of the area. He did. A rough draft he had sketched out. After studying his map for a bit and recalling pieces from her own, Olivia added some more to Shawn's map, marking the department store she had found the previous day. He seemed excited by the prospect, and that's when Olivia decided to excuse herself.

"Well," she started as she stood up slowly, her eyes on Shawn's face for more reasons then one. "I think it's time I get going, Shawn. Thank you for the coffee, and again for the conversation. Guess I might see you around." Olivia took her leave and headed back to her boat. All the while her head swum with what she should do next. Should she leave altogether? Should she stay? Shawn knew where she was camping out. What if his friendliness had all been a ruse to try to lull her into a false sense of security? What if he was really a nice guy? Olivia could potentially miss the chance to actually have a companion of sorts. Maybe even a friend. All this and more she debated as she fished, having gotten her boat working. Eventually Olivia made her decision.

Toward late evening Olivia returned to the dock with a couple of fish. After an initial bit of bumpiness, she managed to get the boat in place and tied it to the dock. Olivia sat on the deck cleaning the fish she had caught and wondered if Shawn was having any luck with his scavenging and if he had found the department store she had told him about. Having debated with herself for hours about what to do, Olivia had decided to stay at the docks and wondered if her 'neighbor' might do the same. She hoped Shawn might come back soon. Part of Olivia--the part of her that was still really girly--couldn't help but think that Shawn's handsom face was definitely a nice change of pace from the rotting Walkers, but even the conversation and pleasantries alone were far better than what she could have hoped for. Olivia continued to clean her fish, humming quietly to herself as she watched the dock.

[Markofkri]

Shawn thought to offer help but it might make him seem stalkerish. He just met Olivia and she was accomplished. He had other things to get done and with the new information it would be easier. The thought of one more fish dinner made his mind for him. "Ok neighbor I'm going to go back to the new spots on the map. Thank you kindly for the help and the breakfast. Maybe I'll run into some tea for the evening." As she left the boat Shawn noticed he still had the grin on his face. She was a welcome sight and a good talker. Still there were others out there who were not. Shawn emptied the bag completely and filled a few water bottles. He took the crowbar and the knives. Locking the door he headed out.

He waved as he walked past the boat and into the city. From her map it was easier to find the things he needed. He also found a gutted police uniform store. They always took the holsters and searched for guns but what Shawn grabbed was the vests and a helmet. He found a motorcycle store where he grabbed a motorcycle helmet(open face) with a better jacket with plastic plates to keep him safe from walker bites. Now he could venture a little deeper into the city to the department store. Sticking to the side walks and back alleys when he could to avoid any unwanted attention. He found a Starbucks. He loaded the side bags with various teas and a few he liked. He grabbed hand fulls of sugar packets.

Shaw did run into a walker and as the dead man shambled to him Shawn took the hook end of the crowbar and bashed in its head. It was a long while since he had to kill one. Ever since his trip started from Tennessee he learned that only a head strike would stop them. Some times even his truck failed to kill them. It never go easier to think of the guys past. Maybe he had family that looked for the dead walker. Shawn shook his head and soldiered on. The department store would have tools and he wanted to pick up a DVD player but he thought better of it. Instead he grabbed a monopoly game and a few decks of playing cards. The money from the game would be used for the poker game. Although who didn't like monopoly? A few books also made there way into the bag.

Moving his way back to the docks Shawn stopped and found a looted store. An electronic store. The risk was worth it. Shawn approached the store and found what he had been looking for. The rest of his bag was now full and he made his way back to the docks. Now his watch made the beep warning. He had to make it back. He was impressed with the days haul and the thought of Olivia still being their was making Shawn walk a little faster. As he stood on the edge of concrete that met with the dock he saw Olivia tying the boat to the dock. The smile that left during his outing, returned at the sight of his neighbors safe return. readjusting the backpack Shawn walked up the dock as he got closer to her boat he made the loud thuds with his boats as to announce his proximity. "Howdy neighbor. How was your day?" He waved at her and wore a warm smile.

[Rystelle]

Olivia had been busy at work cleaning her fish. She had put her hair up in a messy bun, discarded her jacket and gloves inside, rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, and draped a towel over her lap. She was kind of cold, but she needed to keep her clothes as clean as possible.

Earlier in the day while out on the river she had found a small table and bucket and had washed them in preparation for her catch. Now she tossed the guts and other inedible parts of the fish into the bucket to use as chum next time. In total Olivia had caught four medium-sized fish. It was a rather poor catch for so many hours of work, but it was plenty enough for her alone and a decent amount if Shawn would like to share with her.

She heard him then, his boots hitting the dock with more force than was needed in order to alert her like he had last night. Olivia looked up and sure enough it was Shawn approaching. He was laden down with his day's finds. Seemed like he had a good haul.

"Evenin'," Olivia greeted with a smile of her own. She had been trying not to get worked up, but Olivia was actually excited that Shawn had come back. She had been worrying he might leave for the same reasons she had considered leaving and in the end had decided against. Besides, Olivia hadn't gone and seen the Statue of Liberty yet, and she was sure New York had more things to offer both in the way of sites and supplies.

Pushing some loose hair out of her face with the back of one hand she said, "I had a decent day. Got a couple of fish. How 'bout you? Seems like you had a productive day."

[Markofkri]

Shaw was holding back the boyish urge to rush up the docks to be closer. "Honestly I got a little side tracked. I did manage to find some things to help out. I'm going to unpack and make some tea I have three different types from a Starbucks." He left a pause to see if Olivia had a preference. "I also managed to grab a deck of cards and a monopoly game for the money." Shawn stood by waiting for any comments from Olivia. "Ok. If you like you can come over. I'll have a second cup washed and ready for you." Shawn walked past Olivia but didn't stop casting glances back in her direction until he boarded his boat. His foot missing a rung had his shin hitting the edge of a step. This helped Shawn focus on the task at hand and for the briefest moment less on his neighbor.

The door was still locked and everything was where he had last seen it. He unpacked the goods and came above deck with the solar panels unfolding them for tomorrows light. He kept looking in Olivia's direction. He would have to tell her about the walker. It might make her leave but better that she know the dangers then wind up dead. Shaking his head while he worked to connect them to the radio he found. He plugged one of the smaller panels into the phone he carried. It was dead but the satellite should still be able to triangulate where he was and use it as a better map then the one he made from office supplies. Leaving those to charge Shawn returned to the coffee pot and let the water boil.

With the tools and the stuff from Florida Shawn could changed the bad motor oil out in the morning. Shawn sat and waited to see if she would come over he sipped at the tea. "God that's good." He sat long ways in the booth thinking on how to let her know of the walker without causing her to panic and leave. She was a good neighbor and pretty no matter how munch Shawn tried to suppress that side of his mind since they had just met. Her hair up was just as attractive as it was down. The reveal of her neck was very sensual. He needed something to take his mind off its wandering. He pulled out the cards and started a fast game of solitaire. First card was the queen of hearts. "You're not helping." He smirked and continued with the game.

[Rystelle]

Black tea was what Olivia preferred, and card games and Monopoly were fun as she told Shawn in response to his questions. She thanked him for his invitation, but didn't explicitly state if she would come. There was still a bit of work to do on the fish and one way or the other she needed to get washed up when she was finished. As she continued to work Olivia watched Shawn out of the corner of her eye. She saw him go down the dock and climb aboard his boat only to hit his shin on the ladder halfway up. Olivia knew she shouldn't have but she could help but let out a small laugh for her ears only. Smiling and shaking her head at Shawn's clumsiness and even that goofy grin he always seemed to have while talking to her, Olivia returned her focus to her work.

After having taking care of the fish and packing it away in a small cooler with some clean looking snow, Olivia went to wash up. Her boat was small enough that it had no sleeping quarters or shower, but she was able to make do with water from the sink. She was really glad she had found that department store yesterday as she had managed to find some bath stuff, which allowed her to get properly washed up for the first time in a long time. The honeysuckle scented soap, shampoo, and conditioner smelled absolutely heavenly, and it reminded Olivia of days gone by.

As Olivia washed and groomed she considered Shawn's invitation. Again, she had neither confirmed or denied that she would go. She could simply not show up if she didn't want to. And if he asked why... Well, she didn't owe him any explanation. Yet still Olivia found herself staring at outfit that did not conform to the rest of her wardrobe.

Ever practical, Olivia almost always took only what she needed. Yesterday, however, there had been something that had caught her eye and she had taken it on a whim. It was a sweater dress. A really cute sweater dress. She had picked out some black tights to go with it since the dress only came halfway between her knees and thighs. Now she stared at the outfit and wondered if she should wear it. Would it look good on her? She didn't know because she hadn't tried it on yet. How should she style her hair if she wore it? Would Shawn even like it?

Suddenly Olivia caught herself and realized what she was thinking. It had been some time since she had last cared about her appearance, and then Shawn came along last night and all of a sudden she was worrying about her looks and was thinking of dressing up for him. For that matter, when had she even decided to go over to Shawn's? She asked herself aloud, "What the hell has gotten into me?" The question was rather needless as Olivia knew exactly what was wrong with her. She had a crush.

"God dammit," she sighed.

It took a while for Olivia to decide what to wear. For better or worse she wound up outside Shawn's door wearing the dress and tights, boots, and her hair brushed and let loose. She still had a knife strapped to her thigh, hidden under the dress, and another blade hidden in her boot. Olivia never went anywhere without a weapon. She knocked on the door, once more carrying a food offering. This time it was a package of lemon cookies.

[Markofkri]

Shawn sat there after the first game of solitaire looking at the queen of hearts staring back at him. "Olivia has more important things to think about then you." He put the card face down just as a knock came at the door. "She must need a fillet knife." He thought. As He opened the door he saw Olivia standing there in a very attractive sweater dress. He had no words. He felt his face get hot. His eyes soaked in the view like a prepubescent boy looking at a sear's catalog. He stood there. She was so damn pretty.

A few minutes and he found the words. "Hey. W-would you like some tea?" The boiling water helped heat the cabin. Shawn made the way for you to enter. He wasn't wearing his boots or socks. Just jeans and a light t-shirt. He got a cup and asked her how she liked her tea. "They had honey so I can do that if you like over regular sugar." He made the tea. Handing her the warm cup Shawn still had a very inviting smile and the color was still a faint red from earlier. He kept his distance and was polite. Shawn made sure to sit across from Olivia. To help focus on something else he put his left heel over his right pinky toe, and pressed hard. He sat up strait. "I didn't think you would have the energy after a day of fishing. Glad to see you prove me wrong. A-and thanks again for the help on my map it really made today easier."

Shawn placed a hand behind his head and looked more at the table then at her. He took a deep breath and the color returned to his cheeks. When he looked at Olivia his eyes looked into hers and held there gaze until Shawn moved his head. "It looked like you had a good day as well." He took a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sometimes I keep it a little hot in here. Are you comfortable?" He had a knife taped to the underneath of the table. He sat there and tried to remember were the others were, anything but what Olivia might be wearing underneath that sweater. He was grateful that the nit was tight. Why did she have to breath so munch. His face got a little redder. "I'm gonna get me another cup would you like one?"

[Rystelle]

"You're welcome," Olivia said with a slight smile. She sipped her tea, tried to focus on anything other than the ball of nerves she felt winding in her stomach. Setting down her cup she managed to tell Shawn, "I had a pretty good day. The water was fairly calm and I got a few fish," before he asked if she was comfortable or needed more tea, adding a polite, "I'm find, and no thank you." She still had plenty left and was taking her time and savoring it. It had been so long since she had had tea. Yet another thing today brought her memories of her childhood and the days before the Walkers.

Olivia could tell she was putting Shawn off somehow. Maybe he was nervous like she was because of how she was dressed--was the outfit too revealing?--or maybe it looked terrible and he didn't know how to tell her. Maybe she was coming off as forward and he was simply trying to be polite. Between worrying what Shawn might be thinking and slowly but surely starting to feel more and more awkward overall in the dress, Olivia felt maybe it was time to go.

An hour at most had passed since Olivia had come aboard Shawn's boat. During that time they hadn't played any games, instead whiling the hour away with tense silence and awkward small talk. Finally Olivia couldn't take it anymore. Standing up while unconsciously tugging down her dress and trying to hide her nervousness she announced, "I think I'm going to have to call it a night, Shawn. Thank you for having me over, and thanks for the tea. I'll leave the cookies with you too. Goodnight."

Olivia tried not to seem like she was hurrying off, but the moment her feet hit the dock she was doing a fast walk toward her own boat. She disappeared inside her cabin, all but slamming the door. She felt angry and disappointed and ashamed at herself.

"Stupid, stupid, I'm so stupid!" Olivia heatedly repeated to herself over and over. How could she have done that? Gone over to Shawn's all dolled up like some tart. She didn't even like wearing the dress. It made her feel awkward and weird. Quickly she stripped out of it and changed into her regular clothes--jeans, long sleeve shirt. She pulled on her thick jacket, boots, and gloves, grabbed her bow and quiver, ax, and was about to head out the door. Olivia stopped to look at the dress lying in a heap on the floor and felt another wave of anger and humility surge through her. She snatched them up and walked out the door and down the dock.

Olivia knew she needed to cool her head and so she decided to put plenty of space between herself and Shawn by heading into the city. At the end of the dock there was a trashcan. She threw the dress and tights at it, but she had not bothered to look when she threw them and so she didn't see them miss the trashcan and land on the ground. Olivia disappeared into the night in a maze of buildings. She did not return to her boat until late the next evening when she locked the cabin door, crawled onto the bench, threw a blanket over her head, and fell into an exhausted sleep.