StoreDaniel, Shannon & Amelia - Clearview Mall
Amelia followed as Daniel took point, keeping an eye for any unseen walkers as they closed towards the mall. Surprisingly the entrance they took appeared to be vacant, the sounds of one or two nearby being the only indication that they weren’t entirely safe. Amelia turned to look in the direction Daniel motioned to, giving a simple nod. “Sure, just keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, first sign of anything more than we can handle we should get out straight away” she clarified with a serious tone. She took a few steps forward, standing beside Daniel before turning to look at him, “How do you want to do this?” she asked, referring to what strategy they would use to safely progress towards the other side of the mall.
Daniel took a moment to observe the area again. “Just tread lightly and stick to knives and such, only use your gun if you have to.” He nodded to confirm to himself. He kept an eye on the right and left as they paraded through the cross-section.
It was as if she was seeing an action movie in person, as Shannon watched Amelia and Daniel suddenly become tense in their demeanor. They were unlike anyone else Shannon had ever traveled with. These two instantly understood each other in a way Shannon didn’t think she would ever relate to. She decided to can the jokes and the inane comments for the time being; She didn’t desire to become like Lexi. “Got it,” she said, following the pair obediently.
Amelia nodded before she took her knife from it’s sheath, holding it so her thumb rested on the hilt, the blade pointing the same direction as the barrel of her pistol which rested upon her wrist. She kept her aim pointed to the floor as she began her advance, moving slow and steady in sync with Daniel. Every time he’d move up and come to a stop, she’d move up a little further and do the same, simple standard covering technique as they soon came upon the store. Amelia looked to Shannon, waving her over before pointing towards Daniel, then at her eyes, then back to him. Signaling that she was going to cover him during their entrance to the store.
Daniel reached back with his right hand and slid his tomahawk from the strap on his rucksack. He gripped the middle of the hilt and held it with his right hand under his shooting arm. As they approached the large opening to the store, Daniel peered around quickly. He took a quick step in and help his pistol to the right and then to the left. “Do you want to stick together or should we branch out to cover space?”
With every step Shannon took, she felt more at ease. There weren’t very many walkers, even fewer than she expected. It was still not enough to let their guard down, but it was clear that the mall was far from overrun like they had feared. “I’m probably the least capable here, so Amy and I should look out for medicine while you try to find some food.”
Amelia moved in behind Daniel as he gave the all clear, motioning for Shannon to follow up behind her. She gave a quick glance around before nodding, “That’s probably a good idea, you’ve got the radios I gave you earlier, if you see or hear anything just give the button a press” she said before taking her own radio and attaching it to her ear, clicking the ‘on’ switch. She looked to Shannon again, “Ready to go?” she asked.
“Yeah.” She inched forward, attempting to stay very close to Amelia. It was nice to have someone like Amelia to rely on; Shannon knew she had never been the strongest of people, and that was especially true nowadays. It was an irritating thought she might actually be bringing her companions down, but she had accepted that possibility. All she could do was try her best to live and support those she cared about. “Amy, do you think that--” Shannon paused as her shoes squelched in a puddle of blood and brain matter. She looked down the aisle to find more dead monsters further down.
Before Shannon could say anything else, a man decked out in camo grabbed her roughly from behind. She cried out as she felt her body be flung to the ground, and a weight suddenly pressing down on her stomach. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw another man attack Amelia with a knife.
Amelia spun around as she heard the commotion from behind, a momentary look of shock staining her expression before she focused in on what was happening. She raised her pistol to shoot the man attacking Shannon before the other man arrived, swinging a knife towards her arm which she only just managed to avoid as it glanced off the barrel of her pistol, knocking it from her hand. She ducked as he swung for her again, charging forwards into him and tackling him against a wall before giving him a hard knee to the stomach. The man grunted, growling “Bitch!” before he grabbed her roughly by her hair and threw her across the floor. She hit the floor hard, feeling the wind pushed from her lungs causing her to cough as she pressed a finger to her ear. “Trouble!” she managed to get out before the second attacker was on her again aiming to kick her in the head. She deflected the kick, rolling to her feet before she once again re-engaged the man.
He aimed another punch towards her head which she once again blocked, slamming her fist hard into his exposed jaw before kicking him against the wall again. In doing so she hadn’t seen the third attacker who blindsided her with a tackle, taking her back to the floor as he tried to pin her. She struggled, but the other soon joined him and she found herself unable to fight against the weight of both of them upon her.
Daniel was moving the second he heard the scream. He absent mindedly switched off the safety. Trouble! He heard Amelia call into the headset. Daniel turned the corner and saw Amelia pinned against the wall, and Shannon against the floor. It took two men to hold Amy back, but Shannon stood no chance against the man. Daniel took three heavy steps away from Shannon before launching himself into the man on top of her. The rolled twice before Daniel slashed into the man’s arm with his axe. He held the man on the floor, put his pistol to his head and pulling the trigger.
The man had been pinning Shannon to the ground, one hand over her mouth in an attempt to shut her up. She had tried to yell, but all she got were a bunch of dirty fingers on her mouth for her efforts. She had bit down on his hand, so the man instead held her jaw. His other hand pressed down on her face, so hard that she believed her nose was breaking. Then, finally, she was freed by Daniel, who wrestled the man away from her. She managed to sit up to see Daniel execute the man. The shot rang out, though muffled slightly, and blood splattered across the floor. The two men on Amelia hesitated, one of them deciding to pull away and shoulder his rifle. “Tyler’s going to be so fucking pissed!” he exclaimed, aiming the gun at Daniel. The other man shoved against Amelia so she couldn’t interfere. Shannon was closer to the man than Daniel, so she attempted jump off the ground and slam into the man’s legs. She slipped in the copious amounts of blood and only managed to get the man’s attention. He fired now, his shot puncturing Shannon’s arm. She screamed and collapsed fully to the ground.
Amelia felt the weight ease off as one of the men holding her left to confront Daniel. She attempted to use the opportunity to fight off the other, but a firm blow to her stomach caused her legs to wobble a little. She gritted her teeth, coughing as she continued to push against him. While the two men had held her they’d weakened her with repetitive punches to her stomach, causing her to struggle to keep herself standing. She turned her head as the second shot went off, hearing Shannon scream which brought back the horrifying memory of Naomi. In desperation she gave one last push of energy, moving his body just a little in front of her before she head-butted him hard, causing him to stagger backwards. As quick as she could she pulled her carbine from her back and leveled it to her arm, firing at the man who stood above Shannon reducing his head to pulp as more blood spattered across the room.
The man who had been holding her had recomposed himself and charged her again as she turned to finish him off too, but as she fired he’d got in close and pushed the rifle up causing the bullets to pepper one of the stores lights causing sparks to rain over them. They remained locked in a grapple, Amelia looking to be too weak and outmatched in strength to keep it up as he slowly gained ground over her, forcing her arms down as he pushed her onto her knees.
As the final raider had Amy on her knees, Daniel quickly stood, placed both hands on the man’s shoulders and gripped his shirt. He forcibly threw him to the ground and let him slide against one of the aisle shelves. “Help Shannon!” He shouted to Amelia. The man staggered to his feet and attempted to throw a punch, but Daniel sidestepped the blow, brought himself around the man and pulled him into a choke hold. Daniel forced the man’s throat against his forearm and bicep, roughly applying pressure until the fighting man went limp.
Amelia slowly rose to her feet once Daniel had taken care of the last Raider, holding a hand to her stomach which had been punched multiple times. She threw the carbine onto her back before staggering to Shannon where she sank to her knees, pulling out bandages as well as some medical tweezers. She wasted no time as she dug into the wound and pulled the bullet, holding the arm tightly to stop her moving before pressing down on it as she looked to Shannon, “It’s gonna be alright” she reassured, knowing this had to be painful as she hadn’t even been given any morphine. She needed to stop the bleeding, so she tied a rag around the arm tightly while she took a needle and suture thread from her backpack, taking the rag off again as she began to quickly stitch the wound. It was going to scar there was no getting away from that. But at least she’d be alive and that was the main thing. When she was finished she re-bandaged the arm firmly. Pouring some bottled water over it to keep it relatively clean. She sat back and finally caught her breath.
The pain was incredible. Shannon could not discern what happened after she was shot. All she could think about was the pain, how it felt like a hot knife was plunged into her arm. She cried and moaned on the ground, trying to focus on her friends. Eventually, she realized Amelia was kneeling over her. Shannon tried to sit up, tried to reach out for Amelia, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She coughed, realizing it was not just her arm that felt like it was on fire now. As Amelia pulled the bullet out, her reassurances fell on deaf ears as Shannon screamed. It wasn’t long before she was passed out.
Daniel lowered the man to the ground, turning him over and pulling both his arms behind his back. He looked around for a moment. Rope; he needed rope. He reached down and untied the man’s boots and pulled out his shoelaces. He tied the man’s hands together and stood up.
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Winter said
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Awesome, definitely accepted. ^^
Tyler - Catacombs - The Bull
After leaving Katie, Tyler went on a search for Lauren, but he hadn't been able to find her. He needed her to look after Katie, at least for a few hours. It was about time for the trade, and Tyler didn't need to worry about his daughter for the time being.
Tyler eventually found the next best person lounging about in the dining hall. "Bull, I need you to either find your girl or go watch Katie. You mustn't let her out of your sight."
The Bull looked up from his bowl of peaches and sighed. "I'll find her, but-"
"But?" Tyler put a hand on the table and glared at Bull. He wasn't in the mood for debate.
Bull looked almost hurt at this. "That guy we captured. I think we should extend an offer to him."
"... Ah, yes." Tyler looked off to the side and tapped his fingers on the table. Normally, he himself examined the potential recruits, but he simply did not have time today. He just hoped Brad hadn't fucked up the supplies somehow. "Go ahead and ask him yourself then, but don't let him near the armory, for fuck's sake." The new ones tended to be dangerously trigger-happy.
The Bull grinned. "Hell yeah! And don't worry about the little girl, boss."
Tyler nodded. "Good."
Brad - Outside the Catacombs - Tyler
All of the supplies were ready and accounted for, Brad knew. He had checked once, twice - no, at least five times. As much as Brad was against the deal, this is what Tyler wanted, so Brad spared no expense. He was in the gated parking space outside the Catacombs' entrance with the supplies. Al and Gregory stood off to the side, their hands in their pockets and looking quite exhausted after moving the supplies. Brad couldn't sit still like them; No, he had to be moving between the boxes, ensuring everything on the list was there. It had to be the sixth time now he was checking, maybe seventh. The other two raiders gave Brad odd looks, but he ignored them.
"Is everything here?" asked someone from the gate.
Brad spun around and saluted Tyler. "I've checked a number of times, everything Haywood's asking for is here." Tyler stood for a moment staring, before eventually giving Brad a smile.
"Good job, I'll need you three for the deal."
Brad nodded obediently. They would make the trade at the gate; Al and Gregory would carry the supplies into whatever vehicle Haywood brought while Tyler looked the girl over. Once everything was packed up, the girl would move across the gate and the trade would be complete.
Brad already hated the bitch.
The Bull - Floyd's Cell - Floyd
The Bull came waltzing into Floyd's cell, a big grin on his face. "He-llooo! Floyd, my man, do I ever have good news for you!" The man burst into a laugh that almost sounded like giggles. His belly was always bursting with laughter. "See now, I told the boss how impressive you were in the arena. I mean, yeah, four deadheads is only four deadheads --" He shrugged. "-- But you were stylish, man. Entertaining. Creative. I like that, and so do the other guys."
Bull extended a hand to Floyd. "We'd like you to join us, man."
Shannon - Clearview Mall - Daniel & Amelia
As Shannon hopped out of the truck, she felt a chill that made her shiver. She hugged herself and looked skyward. It was harder to keep track of time these days, but Shannon figured it had to be November now. She'd lost count the last few weeks she had been traveling with Lexi. "We should make sure to get some candy," she suddenly said. "You know, like a belated Halloween. Besides, I promised James chocolate." She giggled to herself. Halloween had been one of her favourite holidays once upon a time, but the 31st had lost some of its grandeur once monsters started walking the streets every day. An absurd image of walkers ringing a doorbell and receiving human limbs in their treat bags entered her head.
Christ.
Shannon rubbed at her eyes. "So, you guys have some crazy military moves to show me, right?" She was only half joking.
After leaving Katie, Tyler went on a search for Lauren, but he hadn't been able to find her. He needed her to look after Katie, at least for a few hours. It was about time for the trade, and Tyler didn't need to worry about his daughter for the time being.
Tyler eventually found the next best person lounging about in the dining hall. "Bull, I need you to either find your girl or go watch Katie. You mustn't let her out of your sight."
The Bull looked up from his bowl of peaches and sighed. "I'll find her, but-"
"But?" Tyler put a hand on the table and glared at Bull. He wasn't in the mood for debate.
Bull looked almost hurt at this. "That guy we captured. I think we should extend an offer to him."
"... Ah, yes." Tyler looked off to the side and tapped his fingers on the table. Normally, he himself examined the potential recruits, but he simply did not have time today. He just hoped Brad hadn't fucked up the supplies somehow. "Go ahead and ask him yourself then, but don't let him near the armory, for fuck's sake." The new ones tended to be dangerously trigger-happy.
The Bull grinned. "Hell yeah! And don't worry about the little girl, boss."
Tyler nodded. "Good."
Brad - Outside the Catacombs - Tyler
All of the supplies were ready and accounted for, Brad knew. He had checked once, twice - no, at least five times. As much as Brad was against the deal, this is what Tyler wanted, so Brad spared no expense. He was in the gated parking space outside the Catacombs' entrance with the supplies. Al and Gregory stood off to the side, their hands in their pockets and looking quite exhausted after moving the supplies. Brad couldn't sit still like them; No, he had to be moving between the boxes, ensuring everything on the list was there. It had to be the sixth time now he was checking, maybe seventh. The other two raiders gave Brad odd looks, but he ignored them.
"Is everything here?" asked someone from the gate.
Brad spun around and saluted Tyler. "I've checked a number of times, everything Haywood's asking for is here." Tyler stood for a moment staring, before eventually giving Brad a smile.
"Good job, I'll need you three for the deal."
Brad nodded obediently. They would make the trade at the gate; Al and Gregory would carry the supplies into whatever vehicle Haywood brought while Tyler looked the girl over. Once everything was packed up, the girl would move across the gate and the trade would be complete.
Brad already hated the bitch.
The Bull - Floyd's Cell - Floyd
The Bull came waltzing into Floyd's cell, a big grin on his face. "He-llooo! Floyd, my man, do I ever have good news for you!" The man burst into a laugh that almost sounded like giggles. His belly was always bursting with laughter. "See now, I told the boss how impressive you were in the arena. I mean, yeah, four deadheads is only four deadheads --" He shrugged. "-- But you were stylish, man. Entertaining. Creative. I like that, and so do the other guys."
Bull extended a hand to Floyd. "We'd like you to join us, man."
Shannon - Clearview Mall - Daniel & Amelia
As Shannon hopped out of the truck, she felt a chill that made her shiver. She hugged herself and looked skyward. It was harder to keep track of time these days, but Shannon figured it had to be November now. She'd lost count the last few weeks she had been traveling with Lexi. "We should make sure to get some candy," she suddenly said. "You know, like a belated Halloween. Besides, I promised James chocolate." She giggled to herself. Halloween had been one of her favourite holidays once upon a time, but the 31st had lost some of its grandeur once monsters started walking the streets every day. An absurd image of walkers ringing a doorbell and receiving human limbs in their treat bags entered her head.
Christ.
Shannon rubbed at her eyes. "So, you guys have some crazy military moves to show me, right?" She was only half joking.
Current Characters
So, what time does everyone usually get into the chat? I keep missing everyone.
Shannon - Truck - Daniel & Amelia
There was a long moment of silence after the man left the truck. Shannon looked toward Daniel, but there was no discussion between them as they continued on their journey. Briefly, Shannon worried that the man would go back to attack James and Polyester in anger. Polyester was there to protect James, but could he protect James against that kind of man...? She tried to put it out of their mind; This supply run was not going to take very long.
Finally, after a morning that had felt like forever, they had arrived. Clearview Mall stood across the parking lot, its grey concrete walls looking pristine contrasted with the litter and refuse scattered about the parking lot. Between the white paint stood a few vehicles, the remains of garbage, shopping carts, and the dead. She spied the word Target in big red letters by the shopping mall entrance. It was smeared in blood, and it appeared someone had been using the logo for target practice.
She turned in her seat and looked toward Amelia. "You guys ready to do this?" Shannon asked.
Bex - Cells - Emma & Lynn
Bex had been standing off to the side, trying to avoid conversing with the young girl any longer. Of course, he couldn't just let Lynn and the girl talk all they wanted. Bex moved to interrupt them when Lauren emerged from the deeper part of the cells. "Bex," she said, calling him over.
"... How'd the food go?" he asked.
Lauren paused to look over at Emma's cell. She grabbed Bex's arm gently and moved him further away from the occupied cells. "Bull likes the guy. He's going to tell Tyler that he should be offered to join us." Lauren hesitated slightly, and Bex put a hand to her shoulder.
"Did something happen?"
Lauren shook her head. "No, not exactly... Look, I'm going to tell you this because I trust you, okay? But if he does end up joining us, I want you to keep an eye on him."
Bex blinked at her. "Uh... huh?" he stammered. "Shouldn't you tell Bull this? Or Tyler?"
"No. No, really..." Lauren sighed in frustration. "I'm just really tired, Bex. Okay? Just do what I ask, please."
Before Bex could respond, Lauren was quickly walking away. She offered a wave over her shoulder before she was out of sight. Bex resumed his business and knocked on Lynn's cell door. "I'm going to need you two to quiet down," he said.
Tyler - Katie's Room - Katie
"No."
Tyler stared into his little girl's eyes, and his heart broke. He wished more than anything to let her out of this world and to give her a normal life.
"I'll send in Lauren to look after you, okay? But daddy has some very important business to take care of." Tyler hugged Katie and held her closely to his chest. "Soon, you'll be able to do whatever you want. I promise."
His other children would be his progeny. They would carry on his legacy and wipe clean this city of the virus. In that new world was where Katie could live her life again, and he as well if he ever lived to see it. For all of Tyler's grandeur dreams, he wasn't entirely sure he would live to see them complete.
"Soon." He placed Katie on the bed and stood up. He looked briefly at her drawings and smiled. "Next time, ask one of my men to go get me if you need me. You can't sneak out on your own, Katie."
There was a long moment of silence after the man left the truck. Shannon looked toward Daniel, but there was no discussion between them as they continued on their journey. Briefly, Shannon worried that the man would go back to attack James and Polyester in anger. Polyester was there to protect James, but could he protect James against that kind of man...? She tried to put it out of their mind; This supply run was not going to take very long.
Finally, after a morning that had felt like forever, they had arrived. Clearview Mall stood across the parking lot, its grey concrete walls looking pristine contrasted with the litter and refuse scattered about the parking lot. Between the white paint stood a few vehicles, the remains of garbage, shopping carts, and the dead. She spied the word Target in big red letters by the shopping mall entrance. It was smeared in blood, and it appeared someone had been using the logo for target practice.
She turned in her seat and looked toward Amelia. "You guys ready to do this?" Shannon asked.
Bex - Cells - Emma & Lynn
Bex had been standing off to the side, trying to avoid conversing with the young girl any longer. Of course, he couldn't just let Lynn and the girl talk all they wanted. Bex moved to interrupt them when Lauren emerged from the deeper part of the cells. "Bex," she said, calling him over.
"... How'd the food go?" he asked.
Lauren paused to look over at Emma's cell. She grabbed Bex's arm gently and moved him further away from the occupied cells. "Bull likes the guy. He's going to tell Tyler that he should be offered to join us." Lauren hesitated slightly, and Bex put a hand to her shoulder.
"Did something happen?"
Lauren shook her head. "No, not exactly... Look, I'm going to tell you this because I trust you, okay? But if he does end up joining us, I want you to keep an eye on him."
Bex blinked at her. "Uh... huh?" he stammered. "Shouldn't you tell Bull this? Or Tyler?"
"No. No, really..." Lauren sighed in frustration. "I'm just really tired, Bex. Okay? Just do what I ask, please."
Before Bex could respond, Lauren was quickly walking away. She offered a wave over her shoulder before she was out of sight. Bex resumed his business and knocked on Lynn's cell door. "I'm going to need you two to quiet down," he said.
Tyler - Katie's Room - Katie
"No."
Tyler stared into his little girl's eyes, and his heart broke. He wished more than anything to let her out of this world and to give her a normal life.
"I'll send in Lauren to look after you, okay? But daddy has some very important business to take care of." Tyler hugged Katie and held her closely to his chest. "Soon, you'll be able to do whatever you want. I promise."
His other children would be his progeny. They would carry on his legacy and wipe clean this city of the virus. In that new world was where Katie could live her life again, and he as well if he ever lived to see it. For all of Tyler's grandeur dreams, he wasn't entirely sure he would live to see them complete.
"Soon." He placed Katie on the bed and stood up. He looked briefly at her drawings and smiled. "Next time, ask one of my men to go get me if you need me. You can't sneak out on your own, Katie."
Lauren - Floyd's Cell - Floyd
Lauren didn't flinch; She barely even moved. Perhaps she expected him to snap at her, or perhaps she had wanted him to say what he did. She turned on him fully now, a stern expression set into her face. "I'll be long gone, then," she said. "What do you want me to do? Go out there? On my own? I can't do that. Maybe you can --" She looked around the cell. "Or maybe you can't. Either way, I'm not taking a gamble on my life." There was a strained moment of silence, where the woman hesitated. "... Yes, it's sick and disgusting, but some of those girls would never survive out there, especially not after coming down here. For now, my best bet is stick down here, and I will continue doing that until it's not." She opened the cell door and took a step out. "And don't assume I'm any better than the rest of them."
She exited the cell and locked the door behind her. "You keep talking like that, and you won't be living much longer." Then she was gone.
Lauren didn't flinch; She barely even moved. Perhaps she expected him to snap at her, or perhaps she had wanted him to say what he did. She turned on him fully now, a stern expression set into her face. "I'll be long gone, then," she said. "What do you want me to do? Go out there? On my own? I can't do that. Maybe you can --" She looked around the cell. "Or maybe you can't. Either way, I'm not taking a gamble on my life." There was a strained moment of silence, where the woman hesitated. "... Yes, it's sick and disgusting, but some of those girls would never survive out there, especially not after coming down here. For now, my best bet is stick down here, and I will continue doing that until it's not." She opened the cell door and took a step out. "And don't assume I'm any better than the rest of them."
She exited the cell and locked the door behind her. "You keep talking like that, and you won't be living much longer." Then she was gone.
Tyler - Katie's Room - Katie
Tyler sat across from Katie, on the other side of little red carpet he'd found for her room. The room wasn't much to look at, even if it was the nicest room in the hideout. It had been impossible to get a bed frame down there, so all Katie had was two mattresses stacked on top of each other. Tyler had given her the softest sheets he could find; Quilt blankets covered in hearts, flowers, or whatever girly pattern he could find. He had men come down and change Katie's sheets most ever day. It was a pain to do, as the men had to carry the sheets aboveground just to wash them. Lauren in particular did this job the most, as she seemed to be one of the few to even enjoy Katie's presence. The rest of them simply tolerated the child of their intimidating boss. Tyler was glad to have Lauren for this reason, at least.
He stared at Katie now, his eyes on her innocent face and the cute little picture. It felt almost unreal, that his innocent little girl could still exist in this crazy world. Everyone here was sick, and not just with the virus. They were all sick and corrupted; a mere shadow of their former selves. Tyler could not afford his little girl to become like the rest of them, even if he was forced to keep her in this dank dungeon. His future children would have to be corrupted out of necessity, but not his little Katie. Never his little Katie.
When Katie climbed into his lap, Tyler held her and whispered softly into her ear. He assured her that he would never leave her, no matter what happened. Never ever ever-
"Daddy? What does 'fuck' mean?"
It took Tyler a moment to respond.
"That's a bad word, Katie. It means to... mess with someone. Barney probably just wants to play a prank on the new girl." He closed his eyes. "And she's not your age, dear. She's Lauren's age. She's not going to be around long... she's just visiting."
Tyler sat across from Katie, on the other side of little red carpet he'd found for her room. The room wasn't much to look at, even if it was the nicest room in the hideout. It had been impossible to get a bed frame down there, so all Katie had was two mattresses stacked on top of each other. Tyler had given her the softest sheets he could find; Quilt blankets covered in hearts, flowers, or whatever girly pattern he could find. He had men come down and change Katie's sheets most ever day. It was a pain to do, as the men had to carry the sheets aboveground just to wash them. Lauren in particular did this job the most, as she seemed to be one of the few to even enjoy Katie's presence. The rest of them simply tolerated the child of their intimidating boss. Tyler was glad to have Lauren for this reason, at least.
He stared at Katie now, his eyes on her innocent face and the cute little picture. It felt almost unreal, that his innocent little girl could still exist in this crazy world. Everyone here was sick, and not just with the virus. They were all sick and corrupted; a mere shadow of their former selves. Tyler could not afford his little girl to become like the rest of them, even if he was forced to keep her in this dank dungeon. His future children would have to be corrupted out of necessity, but not his little Katie. Never his little Katie.
When Katie climbed into his lap, Tyler held her and whispered softly into her ear. He assured her that he would never leave her, no matter what happened. Never ever ever-
"Daddy? What does 'fuck' mean?"
It took Tyler a moment to respond.
"That's a bad word, Katie. It means to... mess with someone. Barney probably just wants to play a prank on the new girl." He closed his eyes. "And she's not your age, dear. She's Lauren's age. She's not going to be around long... she's just visiting."
Tyler - Catacombs - Katie
Tyler looked down at his little girl. "... Katie." He crouched down next to her and hugged her. "I'm always busy because I'm busy protecting you." He began to stroke her hair. It was something he did often, something that reminded him that she was alive and that she was with him. Even sitting there and holding her, stroking her hair was what brought him back to familiar days, of a life far simpler. "I know it's hard," he said. "But I'm trying my best, Katie. With your mommy and..." Tyler couldn't bring himself to say it. "They left us, so I have my hands full."
When Katie asked about the screams, Tyler paused. He pulled away from Katie and peered into her eyes. "No one's sick. It was probably just one of the men getting excited. Voices travel really far down hear, you know."
One of the said smelly men walked up to the father and his daughter. Tyler stood up to listen to his excuses. "You're not supposed to lose her," he said, grabbing the man by the shoulder. "If I give you a job, you're supposed to do that job." Tyler looked briefly down at his daughter. "I'll speak with you later." He gave the man's shoulder a threatening squeeze before taking his daughter by the hand again. "Let's go play then, but not for too long." It was very hard to say no to Katie sometimes.
Tyler looked down at his little girl. "... Katie." He crouched down next to her and hugged her. "I'm always busy because I'm busy protecting you." He began to stroke her hair. It was something he did often, something that reminded him that she was alive and that she was with him. Even sitting there and holding her, stroking her hair was what brought him back to familiar days, of a life far simpler. "I know it's hard," he said. "But I'm trying my best, Katie. With your mommy and..." Tyler couldn't bring himself to say it. "They left us, so I have my hands full."
When Katie asked about the screams, Tyler paused. He pulled away from Katie and peered into her eyes. "No one's sick. It was probably just one of the men getting excited. Voices travel really far down hear, you know."
One of the said smelly men walked up to the father and his daughter. Tyler stood up to listen to his excuses. "You're not supposed to lose her," he said, grabbing the man by the shoulder. "If I give you a job, you're supposed to do that job." Tyler looked briefly down at his daughter. "I'll speak with you later." He gave the man's shoulder a threatening squeeze before taking his daughter by the hand again. "Let's go play then, but not for too long." It was very hard to say no to Katie sometimes.
Tyler - Catacombs - Katie
Voices traveled far in the tunnels and it wasn't long before Tyler caught wind of a small girl calling for her daddy. Putting Eli and the incoming deal out of his mind, Tyler hurried deeper into the catacombs.
When he found the man holding his daughter, Tyler glared at the man. "Come here, Katie." The man put Katie down and Tyler grabbed her hand.
"I was just-"
Tyler turned on the man, interrupting him. "You were just...?" After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Tyler shook his head. "Whatever you were doing, you're now on armory duty." The man left without protest.
They were near the dining hall, and the sound of Tyler's raised voice drew some of the men into the hall. Tyler ignored them and walked Katie away. "What were you doing outside your room?" he asked, only a little sternly.
The Bull & Lauren - Catacombs - Floyd
Bull gave Floyd's shoulder a squeeze. "Now that's what I like to hear." He turned around to the other raiders. "You two! Escort our new friend, will ya?"
Floyd was then taken back to his cell, pointedly put far away from the women. There he was to wait until a woman with bright red hair and a wiry body frame entered Floyd's cell. She carried a tray with a bowl of plain porridge and bread on it. She was one of the raiders, indicated by the rifle slung on to her back and the collection of knives she was sporting on her belt. "Here you go," she said, placing the tray on the ground. "It's not much, but we can't spare much for the..." She looked off to the side momentarily. "... prisoners."
The woman then went to leave, but she stopped at the cell door. "You know, Bull said you did really good in there. They were impressed." She then lingered, perhaps waiting on Floyd's response. It seemed she wanted to converse, at least.
Voices traveled far in the tunnels and it wasn't long before Tyler caught wind of a small girl calling for her daddy. Putting Eli and the incoming deal out of his mind, Tyler hurried deeper into the catacombs.
When he found the man holding his daughter, Tyler glared at the man. "Come here, Katie." The man put Katie down and Tyler grabbed her hand.
"I was just-"
Tyler turned on the man, interrupting him. "You were just...?" After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Tyler shook his head. "Whatever you were doing, you're now on armory duty." The man left without protest.
They were near the dining hall, and the sound of Tyler's raised voice drew some of the men into the hall. Tyler ignored them and walked Katie away. "What were you doing outside your room?" he asked, only a little sternly.
The Bull & Lauren - Catacombs - Floyd
Bull gave Floyd's shoulder a squeeze. "Now that's what I like to hear." He turned around to the other raiders. "You two! Escort our new friend, will ya?"
Floyd was then taken back to his cell, pointedly put far away from the women. There he was to wait until a woman with bright red hair and a wiry body frame entered Floyd's cell. She carried a tray with a bowl of plain porridge and bread on it. She was one of the raiders, indicated by the rifle slung on to her back and the collection of knives she was sporting on her belt. "Here you go," she said, placing the tray on the ground. "It's not much, but we can't spare much for the..." She looked off to the side momentarily. "... prisoners."
The woman then went to leave, but she stopped at the cell door. "You know, Bull said you did really good in there. They were impressed." She then lingered, perhaps waiting on Floyd's response. It seemed she wanted to converse, at least.
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