[hr][center][b][h1][color=660099]Ja[/color][color=82CA9D]Sammy[/color] & [color=007236]Henry[/color][/h1][/b][hr][i]A collaboration between [@Remipa Awesome], [@Stekkmen] and I[/i][hr][/center]

Jean and Sammy had started their trek with trepidation, carefully travelling through the suburban streets. They were currently following his own knowledge of the streets, navigating through areas the Ivorian was familiar with. They had just started down the road but there was an ominous feeling in his gut. He didn't feel good about any of this, how they were travelling on foot and how they were currently exposed on all sides. They kept to walking as quiet as possible on the sidewalk pavement but any ambushes from their sides or from their backs could potentially split them up. He kept with his friend as close as possible, keeping his eyes to the front and sides while her eyes watched the flanks. 

He ran his hand along the Bennelli in his hand, trying to even his breathing. He was starting to panic, the eerie silence worried him. He gripped his weapon harder, trying to keep calm. He had to. He glanced back at Sammy, trying to restrain the concern he had for her. He didn't mean to sound so… distant when he told her to pack her things. He was still grieving over his friend but he had to focus on his living ones for now. The beer in his bag would be for later. He stamped down on any regrets and guilt, burying it to focus in the task at hand. Survival. That was what was important. He needed to zone everything out, to protect the both of them. Already, he was placing a weight on his shoulder that he couldn't bear but he didn't comment. He didn't say anything. He just smiled at her before facing forward again, keeping his finger near the trigger.

As her gaze floated over the ominous houses lining either side, Sammy thought about Connor. She thought about Flyback Joe. Sammy had personally killed two of Jean’s rugby team. When would that set it? She felt like there was a sword over her head and would snap at any moment- the guilt and the remorse would split her down the middle. Blood everywhere.

The wooden baseball bat was gripped tightly in her hands. Her fingernails had remnants of red fingernail paint on them, like the baseball bat had remnants of black wording on it. Something about a high school. She frowned at the thought of children. Where were they all? Would a baby crawl towards us at any moment, clawing at our ankles? She glanced down at her feet- two white and blue sneakers, a little gap of skin, and then blue jeans all the way up to her white t-shirt. She found her eyes on the back of Jean’s head. Did he resent her for killing his friends? She couldn’t imagine seeing someone you know like that. Her mind tried to conjure up a horrible imagine of her parents undead and moaning, but is simply failed to register. Impossible. 

She shook her head and her black ponytail swished to the sides- lagging just a bit behind. Have to focus. She went back to staring at the ominously dark windows of the dead suburbia around them. 


The Ivorian peered at a dark shape in the middle of the road, his eyes tearing up a little as he focused on it. It was difficult to make it out but as it and them came closer to each other, he began to recognise things. A head. Legs. A face. Eyes and a mouth. He raised his shotgun, not directly at the person but pointing at the man’ feet. He halted but failed to mention it to Sammy. As a result, the woman had to stop suddenly into him. She wondered what was going on, when someone broke the silence. 

Once in reasonable talking distance so he didn't have to be loud Hunter spoke. "[color=007236]I come in peace, don't shoot me please.[/color]" He tried to say quietly with a calm comedic tone. Truth be told he was scared shitless and he didn't want to die, but he was too scared to go it alone now. 

Samantha jumped at the voice breaking the silence. She readied her bat, glancing at Jean. He was gripping his shotgun tighter, his eyes in the direction of the voice. Before she could say anything, the oddly awkward looking man continued. 

"[color=007236]I'm...[/color]" Hunter thought about his answer, he could answer anything he wanted too and no one would know the better? This could be a new start! "[color=007236]Henry. Wait... dammit... I meant to say Hunter...[/color]" And just like that, the new chance was gone.


There was a tense silence. The rugby player eyed him warily, keeping his muscles tense in case of hostilities. However, after deeming him as “potentially friendly”, he began to speak while keeping the shotgun at the ready [color=660099][b]”Hunter, right? Look, I'm sorry we aren't very trusting right now but-”[/b][/color] He paused, hesitating to speak for the both of them but continued on [color=660099][b]”But we don't know you. Who are you? Why did you come out? It's dangerous out here, those [i]monsters[/i] are out here.”[/b][/color]

Sammy was eager to make new friends. Despite what happened at the house, she felt like banding together was the best option. What else is there? Live on your own forever and die? No thanks. But Jean was right. She bit her lower lip, tightly holding the baseball bat with both of her hands. Her left hand was on the base of the bat, and her right hand was about halfway up. She reassured herself Jean could take him. Because Jean had a shotgun. She’d have to run a good 40 feet and whack him with a bat. Hard pass. The sooner she could get her hand on a gun- afraid of them as she was- the better. She continued to say nothing when Henry responded.

Hunter had a few thoughts at mind, one of them being his planning skills were still less then great. Another being that the people he just met were not only armed, but scared as hell of him. Granted he was armed too but his guns were either on his back, or not in a good position on his hands to use. Granted, they had reason to be scared, he was too. But he figured they would be more grateful, or at least less tense. He figured a good start would be too at least answer the man’s questions. That’s always a good start right?

Hunter put the shotgun on his back as well and began to speak. “[color=007236]Well, to answer your first set of questions my name is[/color]” He stopped himself this time to make sure he said the right name. “[color=007236]Hunter. Hunter Monroe. As for being outside, I can’t start my car because I don’t know where the keys are. So I am walking. I figured I’d get to the government protection area sooner or later. Despite my lack of knowhow for Kilometers.[/color]” He eyed the girl with the bat, cute, but he worried about his skull if he spoke wrong. The guy on the other hand was like an ox, well built, the kind of person Hunter would avoid fights with, and in the lighting was hard to see well. That is a nice trait to have nowadays. Hunter was so pale that you shine a flashlight on him in these lights he would stick out like a glowstick. Part of him wished he spent more time outside, even dirt would help at this point.

[color=660099][b]”You headin’ to the apartments too?”[/b][/color] Jean stowed his shotgun away, the sparking tension was dulled now. He looked back at Sammy then at the man. The man was armed but if befriended, that rifle could be a valuable weapon. The shotgun was close-ranged and couldn't be aimed very well. All in all, he would have to come up close and personal to take the monsters out, creating a danger for himself. While he liked the nitty gritty combat, he would prefer it if he could keep his limbs intact. He raised a hand in Hunter’s direction in a pausing motion before turning to face his companion. 

Jean scratched his neck, glancing backwards every now and then to make sure the pale man didn't pull anything. [color=660099][b]”What are you thinking Sam? We take him with us?”[/b][/color] He was usually one to take charge but he wanted to make sure that his friend approved. After all, maybe she could see more in the guy than he could. He wasn't the best at dealing and interpreting emotions.

Sammy gave a comically “mean” glare to try and intimidate the man or something like that. That’ll show him she means business. Even though he had a gun and she had a bat. Still, it was some rule of business that you couldn’t let your opponent know how much you wanted something. She really wanted a new friend. The more the merrier. This time it would be different.

He looked harmless. Really pale. Yeesh. Probably never went outside too much before this happened. Doesn’t look like some kind of craze serial killer (but she wouldn’t particularly know that.)  A guy who wanted to kill them probably could have killed Jean from the shadow and then killed Sammy. She shuddered at the thought, reminded of everyone’s mortality. What if he had done that? But he hadn’t. He had them totally outgunned just with that rifle.

[color=82CA9D]”He looks nice, Jean. I think we could... [/color] She looked down briefly, before looking back up at Jean.

 [color=82CA9D]”I mean, we can’t alone forever, right? The more people we get, the better, I think. If he was going to...you know…” [/color]

 She paused, and her smile wavered. [color=82CA9D]”[i]Kill[/i] us, he could have done it already. With that rifle. I’ll keep an eye on him, if you’re worried he might steal something. Steal one of the things we don’t have.” [/color]

She inhaled for once and decided to shut up so Jean could say something. Don’t want to go on like her mother does. 

Jean nodded, turning towards the pale man and indicated that they were coming towards him. He trusted his friend’s decisions and her call was final. He led her through ruined cars and came to a halt in front of Hunter, swapping his shotgun to his left. He looked straight into the man’s eyes and placed a hand on his own chest [color=660099][b]”I'm Jean and this-”[/b][/color] He indicated towards his companion [color=660099][b]”Is Sam.”[/color] She gave a small wave.[color=660099][b] “We’re heading to the government enforced area, like we said. Decided that some extra company won't hurt too much.”[/b][/color] He then eyed the rifle and shotgun combo on the man’s back, raising an eyebrow.

[color=660099][b]”That's some serious hardware you've got there. Where'd you find it?”[/b][/color] He was genuinely curious. They were valuable “assets” as it were, especially if Hunter could actually shoot with the thing.

Hunter motioned to the rifle on his back. “[color=007236]I got the rifle a few months back so I could go on a hunting trip with some family. I wasn’t able to get a lot of practice in with it since I got it but I know how to shoot it? I was actually on my way to meet my dad and uncle for the trip when...[/color]” He motioned around them. “[color=007236]All this fun stuff happened. The mechanic took my keys on the way so now my car won’t start.[/color]” 

Hunter pulled the shotgun off his back, it felt different in his hands compared to his rifle. “[color=007236]This on the other hand, I found while looking for food. Not a lot of ammo but it’s easy to use. I think everyone that can hold one knows how to shoot one in my family? And with the right loads they make good distance. Hard to say on this one but I think the choke allows to about forty yards with the pheasant shot loaded inside of it? I never fired this one off yet but the chamber is clear so it should work fine based on how I found it.[/color]” He looked at the gun in his hands thinking. “[color=007236]...A rifle is still better for range don’t get me wrong, but pointing and shooting is nice when you need to get a shot off within ten feet,[/color]” did a quick look around to make sure his immediate area was safe. It would suck to die just because he was too busy talking. Seemed clear so far though. 

He eyed the shotgun the new duo had. “[color=007236]I don’t suppose either of you know how to use it? Because the only thing less safe than someone who knows how to shoot a gun is someone who doesn’t...[/color]” He stopped for a moment thinking that he may have come across as rude. “[color=007236]Not to say you’re not safe or anything but…. If you don’t know how to use it I can give you the basic runthrough I went through a few years back?[/color]” He was trying to be helpful, that and he didn’t like the idea of getting his back blown open because of lack of firearm safety instructions.

She listened to Hunter’s explanation of his miniature arsenal, and when he got to the end, Sammy rubbed her rubbed the vague ache of her shoulder at the mention of gun safety. [color=82CA9D]”I think we’ll be fine, [i]thank you very much[/i].”[/color] She said unhappily. Jean nodded, gripping the shotgun a little tighter in his hands. He eyed the bruise on her shoulder concerningly but was waved off. He turned back to Hunter and nodded at him, indicating to follow before leading the way to hopeful salvation.

The three of them got moving as the sun crawled towards it zenith- emptied rain clouds dotting the blue sky. Whether the government complex was to be salvation or not, time would tell and luck would decide. Peering eyes stared at them from the dark.