[b][u]PO1 Ethan Ryder[/u][/b]

Ethan knew the second he knocked on the door that someone was inside. He heard hushed voices--so muffled that he couldn’t make out whether they were male or female. He also heard rustling from inside the room, and he felt a growing discomfort at the situation. His grip tightened on his Mk.23, and he pressed a button activating the laser sight. If shit was going to go down, he’d be ready. Technically he didn’t [i]need[/i] the laser sight for accuracy; but there was the clear psychological impact of seeing that tiny red dot lined up with your heart that made most people think twice. And the ones that didn’t were usually the ones that the world didn’t have to worry about anymore. 

He waited a few minutes longer, hearing the shuffling, his heart beginning to pound with each stray moment. What it was some sort of bandits, people taking advantage of and praying on those just trying to survive? Even prepared as he was, however, he was caught offguard by the sheer [i]suddenness[/i] of the door springing open. Before he could even bring his weapon up to even start aiming, he felt someone grab his arm and yank him inside, slamming the door behind him. Spinning around, he saw someone several inches taller than he was shove a sofa in front of the door. [i]Oh fuck, what did I just get myself into?[/i] Ethan thought, his eyes quickly adjusting to the pale moonlight shining through the windows. While he couldn’t make out the face of the person who pulled him through the doorway, Ethan did recognize the slender body and features of a female. Obviously she wasn’t a walker either, or she’d have attacked him by now. 

Maybe he was distracted by the shadow of the girl in front of him, or maybe his emotions were running so high that he wasn’t quite on guard as he usually was. But too late did he hear the rustling of someone else in the room, too late did he hear the light spray of an aerosol can, and too late did he realize that he was now facing two people, one armed with a make-shift flamethrower. At the sound and bright light of flame, Ethan spun around, raising his pistol only to feel fire lick at his uniform--and he quickly leapt back just out of reach; though his knuckles burned from the searing heat. He might’ve fired then, but something held him back--he was staring into the face of a not quite adult woman. She was late teens at best, and a fiery look in her eyes that as arguably hotter than the flames bursting from her improvised weapon. 

[b][i]“Drop your gun you motherfucker.”[/i][/b] He heard the girl order. He arched an eyebrow as he stared--UP he noted to himself--into her eyes. She was serious. The girl would easily fry him into a crispy critter if he didn’t put his weapon away. At the same time he was loathe to do so, given the circumstances. He was about to respond when the other girl held up her hand. She called the Human Flamethrower over there “Millie.” He listened for a few minutes, as the two girls--who, now that he got a good look at their faces with the sudden brightness from the flames, were clearly twin sisters--argued about him. [i]First time I’ve had girls arguing over me,[/i] he thought sardonically, a slight smile crossing his face. He noted the irony that they were essentially deciding whether or not to torch his ass. The girl Millie, however, kept telling him to drop his gun. All things considered, Ethan decided it might be for the best. Besides, even if he dropped his pistol, he still had his survival knife in the leg of his boot--maybe they failed to notice it. He very slowly began to raise his hands, but then the other girl stepped between them. [b][i]“Forgive my sister. We don’t want any trouble. Were you followed?”[/i][/b]” 

He blinked, now not quite sure *what* to do. Deciding a compromise was fair, he quickly holstered the Mk22, and held both his gloved hands forward. [b]”No, I wasn’t followed. If I was, think I’d have wasted my time knocking on the door? Even I’m not that stupid.”[/b] He offered a wry smile, gazing the unnamed twin in the eyes for a moment. Then he sidestepped her, to get a good look at the other. [b]”Millie right? Heard your sister here use that name. Nice job there, you’re an improviser. I like that.”[/b] He grinned again, then pointed to the other girl who stood between them. [b]”Your sister here is wrong about one thing though. I’m not Army. I’m Navy; a SEAL to be exact. I’m Petty Officer Ethan Ryder, in case you missed it with all the excitement. And believe me, I ain’t here to hurt you. Only thing I wanna hurt are these fucking shufflers.”[/b] He took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He didn’t break eye contact with Millie, and he kept his hands at head level, so that she could see he was holding no weapons. [b]”Look, my team...we were overrun the other day. Went to land at a FEMA camp, and the place was swarming with walkers. Far as I know, I’m the only one that made it out. I lost my team, my best fucking friend, I’m tired as shit, and I goddamn need a break. If you’re willing to let me stay, I’ll help out with security if you need it. I don’t look like much, but I’m a pretty good shot.”[/b] He hoped his attempt at humor would win the girl over--or his story would make her see he wasn’t a threat to her. He needed to win Millie’s trust if he was to stay here tonight; he hoped he could pull it off.

---

[b][u]Elendria Price[/u][/b]

Elendria’s eyes opened, her tear stained cheeks red, eyes bloodshot and glossy. Crying always made her eyes even more beautiful than they normally were, setting them aglow like the radiant blue flames of a fire burning hot. And that matched her feelings now, the burning in her heart and soul. She’d lost everything. All gone, dead. Her mother, her father….but what of her friend? Her best friend, Tess!!! Eyes shooting open, Elendria knew what she had to do. With her parents dead, maybe she could connect with the one person she had left in this world. The girl she shared everything with, the girl who trusted [i]her[/i] with everything too. They were beyond friends, they shared a connection that few ever had the chance to experience. 

There was nothing for her here now. Elendria walked back into the bedroom, looking at her fallen parents, tears once more stinging her eyes. Sniffing, clutching her temples in her hands, she looked around for the pistol she’d dropped after fleeing to the bathroom. And sure enough, there it was, a few feet away from her father. Gingerly stepping around his bloody corpse, she grabbed the weapon, then rifled through the drawer for the spare boxes of ammunition he’d kept. She made to leave the room, but paused at the door, turning around and gazing at her parent’s. Swallowing hard, she whispered, her voice coming out a low croak, [b]”Goodbye mom...dad. I love you...always and forever.”[/b] 

Blinking back another wave of tears and an impending breakdown she made her way into the living room, grabbing the backpack she’d slung on the couch. She went through the house, grabbing what she thought would be useful. In the kitchen she found an old thermos that she filled with water, and searched the cupboards for food. All she really found was a few protein bars and some beef jerky which she readily took, throwing them into her backpack. Moving through the house, she also took up a map of the Gatesville area, and an emergency flashlight--a big heavy Maglite that her dad swore by. Slinging the backpack over her shoulder and tucking the gun into the back of her jeans, Elendria opened the front door and stepped outside. Moving forward, she looked across the street towards Tess’ house. Taking in a deep breath, the headed down the street, to her best friends front door and pounded on it, banging with the underside of her fist. [b] “Hello? Tess, are you there? TESS?”[/b] she screamed as loud as she could. There was no answer. She tried ringing the doorbell, and again--no answer. A sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Elendria twisted the doorknob, pushing the door open and stepped into the living room.

It was a mess. The couch was overturned, table tipped over, TV smashed on the floor. Blood stained the floor, the coppery odor filling the air, making Elendria want to gag. Hesitantly she stepped forward, reaching behind her and grasping the handle of her gun with her right hand and calling out in a shaky, trembling voice [b]”Tess? Tess, it’s me Elendria...are you here?”[/b] She was answered only by silence. Creeping forward, she peered behind the couch. More blood--and Tess’ father, throat ripped out. She brought her hand up to her mouth, eyes widening in horror, and stumbled backwards. And then she heard it. A noise from the stairway. She spun around, and there was Tess. Covered in those red boils, several of them oozing blood and puss. Her face, her once beautiful face was now pale and sickly, pale blue eyes glossed over and dull. Her mouth was curved into a perpetual grimace, and there were several gunshot wounds in her chest; she could see this from the torn blouse. Her jeans were ripped, one shoe was missing, a deep gash was sliced across her cheek. And there was no life in those eyes; they were empty, devoid. [b] “TESS!!!!”[/b] Elendria screamed. She was on the verge of breaking down again, her eyes filling with tears, and now she saw Tess in double as the person who was her best friend lunged forward. Blinking rapidly, she drew the gun she was still clutching, firing the glock several times at Tess’ head. Someone had obviously shot her in the chest before, and it did nothing--but she remembered how her father had been killed. he’d been hit by a shot to the head. So that was where she’d aim this time. She squeezed the trigger, once, twice, three times. The first shot veered left, slamming into the wall, the second to the right striking the banister. But the third shot hit home, right through the eye, blowing out the back of Tess’ head and sending her body cartwheeling down the last few stairs and smashing into the ground. 

Elendria ran. She didn’t stop until she was outside and several feet down the road. She was screaming, much to her surprise. She’d been screaming and hadn’t realized it. She stopped then, sucking in deep mouthfulls of air, her heart pounding, her head hurting, and emotionally broken. She took several moments to collect herself, then decided she had to leave. There was nothing for her in this place. She had a map of Gatesville and the surrounding area in her backpack--but for now, she just needed to go somewhere. Anywhere, it didn’t matter as long as it wasn’t right here, right now. She started slowly walking down the street and then stopped, casting one last look over her shoulder. With a silent goodbye to her family and to Tess, she turned her gaze back ahead, adjusted her pack on her shoulder, and walked down the lonely road. She didn’t spare another look back.