[color=fdc68a]"And on today's news, there have been reported over 4 dozen more cases of cannibalism in the streets. Most of the perpetrators have been apprehended and quarantined as per protocol. We have yet to find a cure for this mass hysteria that pushes someone to perform such acts. But rest assured, the[/color] .....[b]*screen tears with buzzing sounds*[/b]..... [color=fdc68a]are still[/color] .....[b]*More buzzing*[/b]..... [color=fdc68a]they guarantee[/color] .....[b]*Buzz*[/b]..... [color=fdc68a]cure[/color] .....[b]*Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz*[/b]....."

Rik was lying on the bed, his belt tightened around his right arm, a syringe laying on his left side. A pink hairpin danced on the fingers of his left hand just above his head. Every time he thought about going down that path again that was the only thing that pulled him back into the light. The rewards that came from resisting the urge were far more important to him than temporary satisfaction. Removing the belt from his left arm, he pocketed the pin, took the remote and turned off the TV. He was currently staying in a crappy hotel with worn down furniture and walls, no hot water, creaking floor tiles, bed and doors but worst of all, the TV was complete garbage. It barely picked up any signal with its burned antenna on top of it and when it did pick signals the news channel was the only thing it could play. He had to go check on them. With all the chaos going on he had to make sure they were okay, that his hope was still living. Now sitting on the edge of the bed, both hands on his head he remembered.

[hr]
[b]*Flashback*[/b]
Rik got up from the table and pulled her chair back, she responded with a courteous smile.
[color=708090]"So, I hope you enjoyed the dinner. Was hoping that next time we could go to the movies together. Even take Meridith along? What'd'ya say?"[/color]
[color=bc8dbf]"I'm busy next week, the working hours are terrible extending up until midnight."[/color]-she saw Rik take a breath as if to say something before she quickly added-[color=bc8dbf]"Don't worry about Meridith, she'll stay with her grandparents as usual."[/color]
It was clearly obvious how disappointed he was but he didn't insist. She had already taken a chance with him, for him to redeem himself. He had time, he would make sure this worked. He accompanied her next to a taxi.
[color=708090]"I love spending time with you and Meridith. No matter how long it takes I will prove to you that I'm worthy of her, worthy of you both."[/color]
With a meek smile she got close to him and kissed him in the cheek.
[color=bc8dbf]"Good night Rikkard."[/color]- and off she went.
As the taxi drove away he could only stand and look after it. He could do this, he would do this.
[hr]

Getting dressed, a dark green jacket, black jeans somewhat baggy, brown shoes, his wrist watch, wallet and cell, he left the house. Before turning the door he decided to take one more thing. Going back and opening the drawer next to his bed he pulled out a hand gun, 20 bullet clip, fully loaded, along with a handful of bullets from the open box next to it. He pocketed them all and tucked the gun back under his jeans. His eyes made contact with a bag of white powder just behind the box. He shouldn't...he was already over it.
2 more things...he thought to himself as he also pocketed the small bag of drugs in an inside pocket of the leather jacket.

The hotel he was staying at was in the block surrounded by the Fisson street. A small rundown apartment building with an even more rundown grumpy manager. Ignoring the warnings of the receptionist of the dangers outside he hurriedly made for his car. It was parked 2 streets away due to lack of parking place near the hotel.
[color=708090]"On second thought..."[/color]-he said to himself as he turned around and decided to make the trip on foot. There were too many obstacles, trashes, bodies lying on the ground which he hoped were sleeping hobos, for the car to even get out of the its parking space. Their house was directly in across the south side of the park. A short walk if he was fast enough. He was too in a hurry to notice the lying figure being beaten and clubbed to death just a few meters in an alleyway left of him. Only when he passed close to it did he hear the cries. Turning to them, they seemed to be a bunch of boys, teenagers at most. Bottle of alcohol in hand and melee weapons in the other.
[color=708090]"HEY! STOP THAT! GET AWAY FROM HIM!"[/color]
The boys noticed Rik and they all turned to him, one of them tapping his bloody baseball bat on his left hand.
[color=598527]"You want to take his place?"[/color]
There were 5 of them, none appeared to be carrying a hand gun and they were clearly looking for trouble. It would waste too much time to take them one by one so instead...
Pulling out the gun and pointing it at them he said once more:[color=708090]"Leave, now."[/color]
At first they backed up a little, then they looked at each other, then they all burst out in laughter.
[color=598527]"D'you even have the balls to use that you old cu[/color]..[b]*POW*[/b].."- the gun shot echoed through the alley walls as the kid fell back on his ass holding his right shoulder. Crying followed after. No one waited to help him up, they all ran as fast as they could with the last kid limping as fast as he could behind them. Now that they were gone he approached the unconscious man and placed a finger on his neck, trying to find a pulse.
None.
He was too late. Turning his back on the dead body he made for his wife's house. If he had only noticed him sooner maybe the man would be still breathing. Turning back to look at the corpse again...nothing...here was no corpse.
[color=708090]"What the.."[/color]
Maybe the man wasn't dead after all. He saw a trail of blood leading to where the teens were headed. He had more pressing matters than to play Sherlock. No in a frantic rush he was half running for the house. That guy, he could swear he was dead. That whole thing had put him on edge. Passing the bar he carried on until reaching an intersection of alleyways with one on his left side leading back. There he heart screams, trash cans crashing and a loud cry. Rushing to the alley he saw the kids again, but now the old man along with the kid he shot in the arm were on top of the other 2 teens while another pair were lying motionless on the concrete blood pooling around them.
[color=708090]"BACK THE FUCK AWAY FROM THEM!"[/color]- he yelled at the homeless man and the other teen. They didn't seem to listen. Firing a shot next to them, hitting a can he started again-[color=708090]"I SAID GET THE FUCK OFF OR THE NEXT BULLET IS IN YOU!"[/color]- and to that the homeless man turned his head, meat stretching from the kid's body to his mouth, blood dripping on his chin and he turned to Rik with a feral gaze. His head was half smashed, how could he still be alive. After the brief pause the man returned to his dinner. Police sirens could be heard rushing close by as 2 police officers exited their vehicle and aimed their gun at the cannibals.
[color=0072bc]"HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE BODIES!"[/color]- was their first and final warning before they were both filled with lead. How could police shoot others so freely, cannibals or not. What reason could they have. These man were sick and needed treatment, not to be put down.
Through all the commotion Rik had managed to get away and backtrack until he found his way in front of the bar. It was all a haze how he got there, sat on a chair and ordered a shot. What the hell was happening?