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Dead inside, but somehow still kicking.

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Here, and on board with C, as well as the smaller family idea
Silence hung over the large cabin, tucked away in a neat little clearing in the woods. That had been the biggest change. Before everything had happened, it had never been truly silent. Now though, the sounds of humanity had died, leaving only the soft sounds of nature, seemingly oblivious to the chaos that had gripped the world.

Danny and his family had been at the cabin for six weeks now. When shit hit the fan, theyโ€™d been here, playing board games and watching tv. His father had tried to call everyone he could, get a helicopter, a plane, but nothing had worked. People had been panicking too much, rushing around. With no help in sight, his parents decreed theyโ€™d stay at the cabin. They boarded up most of the doors and windows, tried to make it look run down so no one came looking. It had worked for a bit.

Now though, their supplies were running low, not that his parents wouldnโ€™t admit it. They were trying to hide things from him and Marina, but heโ€™d snuck down to the pantry the night before and seen that their food was dwindling. They needed to find food, soon.

Thatโ€™s why his dad had gone out that morning. As the sun was rising heโ€™d gotten up early, picked up the rifle he used to keep over the fireplace, and headed out. Thatโ€™s why he came home carrying a deer, and sporting a fresh scratch on his arm.

The gunshot was the part that stuck with him. The sharp, piercing bang that rang out through the night, sending a bullet tearing through the reanimated corpse of his father. The gunshot is what invaded his thoughts, haunting him. That damned gunshotโ€ฆ





โ€œDanny?โ€ Charlotte Foster stared up at the hardened face of Daniel Esposito, who had trailed off mid-sentence. His gaze was vacant, as if he was somewhere far away. She couldnโ€™t blame him. This place sucked.

Charlotte and Danny had only known each other for a week, maybe less, but theyโ€™d found a strange rapport already. Danny had vouched for her to stay, when sheโ€™d initially stumbled upon the ever expanding group of survivors. Her company was calming, and she could tell Danny needed someone to talk to, so she made an effort to be around him. The end of the world happens, and here she was, still trying to do her job.

These episodes seemed commonplace for the former college student, Charlotte had observed. During their talks, he would occasionally drift off. Sometimes it was slow, subtle and unnoticeable. Sometimes, it was abrupt, and jarring, like this time. Sheโ€™d dealt with traumatized patients enough times to recognize one. Then again, who wasnโ€™t traumatized right now.

โ€œDanny?โ€ Charlotte repeated, this time successfully pulling him from his trance. Startling slightly, the boy regained his composure after a short moment of confusion, and turned his head to Charlotte.

โ€œSorry, sorry. I gotโ€ฆ distracted.โ€ he said, shaking his head as the duo pushed on, doing their best to ignore the muggy heat that had them all gripped tightly.

โ€œSeems to happen to the best of us nowadays,โ€ Charlotte said, offering Danny a slight, but encouraging smile. Those were still hard to come by since the world had ended, and if she could add to the supply, well it couldnโ€™t be that bad.

The pair walked in silence for a few more minutes, somewhere in the middle of the pack. Eventually, Danny broke the quiet, with a question for the therapist. โ€œWhat do you think about us heading into the city?โ€ he asked, his eyes focused on the interstate that stretched out in front of them.

Charlotte stayed quiet while she mulled over how to answer the question. Sheโ€™d come from Minneapolis, and sheโ€™d seen what it was like when she left. She wasnโ€™t very sure that there was much for them there, but then again, she wasnโ€™t in charge. The only reason she was sticking along was the security the group gave her. It was nice, having people to rely on somewhat. Being out there alone, it had taken a toll. It was harsh, and exhausting. This, well, at least she could sleep at night.

โ€œFor now, itโ€™s a plan. I donโ€™t think we should head to far into the city, but we need more supplies, and thatโ€™s gonna be the best place to scavenge I think. We need to find shelter too,โ€ Charlotte said, sighing. The groups list of needs was long, and discussing it only reminded her of their grim reality.

Danny nodded along as Charlotte spoke, but refrained from voicing his opinion. When it came to bigger issues like this, Danny tended to go with the pack. He didnโ€™t have the expertise to take a stand, nor the desire. He figured that following Freddie was better than being alone out there.

Their trek had led them to an unremarkable spot on the interstate, where the group milled about while Freddie and the doctor messed around with a car. Seeing them return with water sent both Charlotte and Dannyโ€™s hearts soaring. Water was becoming a greater luxury every day.

โ€œI think Costcoโ€™s a good bet. Even if we canโ€™t find resources, we might be able to camp out there,โ€ Charlotte said, while Danny nodded along gripping the handle of his machete tightly.




Featuring: Katie Callaghan & Alison Callaghan
Location: The Callaghan Estate




As Scottโ€™s car pulled away from the Callaghan residence, Katie looked her reflection over in the mirror, checking for any sort of indication that she had left the house. After a careful inspection,she flopped down on her bed, satisfied that her appearance wouldnโ€™t give anything away. Sheโ€™d made it.

Her reprieve would prove to be short lived, however, as her room was quickly invaded by one very angry Alison Callaghan.

โ€œKatherine Elizabeth Callaghan, what the hell is going on with your brother?โ€

Oh. This was bad.

Katie propped herself up on her elbows, chewing her lip as she pieced together why Owen had come to her home. Heโ€™d been telling her mom about Jamieโ€™s article. The nuclear option. She stalled for a moment, hoping to come up with some answer that would get her out of this without invoking her motherโ€™s wrath, but also preserved her and Jamieโ€™s sacred, no snitching, pact.

โ€œI think heโ€™s on a date with Marshall...โ€ Feigning stupidity. A classic move. Too classic...

โ€œDonโ€™t play dumb with me! Whatโ€™s with your brother? Heโ€™s been weird lately, is it because of this article? Because Owen Lyon just came by our house to let me know how much of an awful kid heโ€™s been, and I donโ€™t know what to do. I know you arenโ€™t as in the dark as you want me to think,โ€ her mother said, punctuating her words with a huff and a crossing of her arms. She meant business tonight.

Katie sighed. So, sheโ€™d been right. For once, she wished she hadnโ€™t been. โ€œGod, I donโ€™t even know where to start,โ€ she said, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples as if the mere act of trying to recall all the events that had been surrounding her brother and his circle were giving her a headache. โ€œI guess, it all started when Owen cheated on his girlfriend, Trixie. Well, supposedly cheated.โ€

โ€œTrixie from the newspaper? The editor?โ€ Alison asked, recognizing the name. Katie replied with a nod, before continuing.

โ€œThey broke up, but on Monday, Trixie asked Jamie to look into it. I guess at the Helmsleyโ€™s party on Tuesday, Trixie found out that her best friend staged some photos to frame Owen. Itโ€™s a mess, to be honest bu-oh my GOD you read the article, right?โ€ Katie asked, exasperated by the endless complications that plagued the lives of her peers.

โ€œFrom what Jamie told me, Trixie said that if he found the story, he could write the article. So, he wrote it. Trixie told him everything at the party, so if thereโ€™s anyone Owen Lyon needs to be mad at itโ€™s his girlfriend. Owenโ€™s hardly even in the damn thing. If anyone should be here telling you how awful Jamie is, itโ€™s Ophelia. He did not go easy on her.โ€

Alison sighed, and shook her head. โ€œYou kids will be the death of me, you know that?โ€ Having received a smidge of clarification on the topic, Alison turned to walk out, to go tell her husband and figure out a way to punish her eldest son.

Before she could pass through the door, Katie called out for her mom, stopping her in her tracks. She turned her head to Katie, her exhaustion clearly written all over her face. She wanted to mention Scott, but something caught her. Not yet. This was unfamiliar territory still, and Katie was determined to traverse it without her motherโ€™s prying eyesโ€ฆ for now.

โ€œI love you,โ€ she said instead, offering her mom a supportive smile.

โ€œI love you too, honey.โ€


Bam.

I stopped writing an essay to say that I'm here for this.






A @smarty0114 & @Silent Observer collab
Featuring: Marshall Radley & Jamie Callaghan
Location: Atlasโ€™ Peak




The night sky sparkled over Beverly Hills as Jamieโ€™s car sped through town, one hand on the steering wheel, the other interlaced with Marshallโ€™s. So far, their night had been perfect by all of Jamieโ€™s standards, and now he was looking to really win some sort of fantastic date award.

In Marshallโ€™s mind, that award was already won. Dinner was lovely, and their conversation had been even better. It was shaping up to be one of the best dates heโ€™d ever had โ€” certainly the best first date. Everything about being together felt comfortable and right, and this night was a much needed respite from the hell that was this week. Everything might seem like it was going to shit, but as long as Marsh could hold Jamieโ€™s hand like this at the end of the day, everything would be alright. Everything was worth it.

Jamie had been keeping his lips sealed on where they were headed on the next stage of their date night. Marsh was happy enough to play along and be surprised, it was more fun this way. But as the sleek luxury car pulled down roads that took them away from the city lights and out into the hills, Marsh looked over towards his date with a teasing glance. โ€œJayyy~, do you think you can just wine and dine me into playing some backseat bingo?โ€ He tisked. โ€œWhat kind of boy do you take me for?โ€ Marshall made a show looking out the window, as if he was disinterested, but the smirk on his lips betrayed him.

โ€œOh no! Youโ€™ve figured me out!โ€ Jamie feigned embarrassment before looking over at Marshall, a grin spread across his face. โ€œYouโ€™ll see where weโ€™re going in a second,โ€ Jamie assured him.

Atlasโ€™ Peak was a lookout destination, high in the hills around LA, one with a clear view of the sky, and an even better view of the twinkling lights of the City of Angels. Jamie pulled his car into a patch of dirt and stepped out, grabbing a blanket from the backseat. He walked over to a small patch of grass and draped the blanket across the ground, before sitting down on it, crossing his legs. He looked over at Marshall, smiling and patting the spot next to him, before letting his eyes drift over to the sparkling city below them.

The entire scene was enough to make Marshallโ€™s heart do flips in his stomach. It was so overwhelmingly romantic, the kind of thing that would make most people gag. For Marshall, though, it was perfect. To be expected, even, for the boy who chases the kind of love that you only see in fairy tales and movies. With a wide grin and eyes sparkling enough to give the city lights a run for their money, Marshall knelt down to sit beside Jamie. He sat close, leaving barely any space between them, hoping that they might close that gap before the night was over. Following Jamieโ€™s gaze out towards the city below, he hummed in appreciation of the urbanic beauty. โ€œThatโ€™s one thing LA has over New York. The views from the hills are unmatched.โ€

Jamie smiled and lead his hand over to Marshallโ€™s, resting it on top of his. โ€œThereโ€™s nothing quite like LA at night,โ€ the young journalist said, taking a moment to appreciate the glamour of the city. โ€œWhen my dad first moved to LA, he spent his first night here driving around, exploring. Somehow he found this place, and he stood here and looked out at the city and he says he just knew that he had to make it. That there wasnโ€™t another option. I guess thatโ€™s why I like this spot so much.โ€

Marshall bit at his bottom lip softly when he felt Jamieโ€™s hand settle on top of his. It was such a comforting gesture, sending waves of pleasant warmth all throughout his body. He tilted his head to watch as Jamie spoke, looking utterly like a lovestruck fool as he studied the curve of the other boyโ€™s jaw below his ear. The clean, straight cut of it as it reached his chin. The smooth, tempting lines of his lips, moving with words that Marsh found himself struggling to focus on. Not for lack of interest, but for distraction. It wasnโ€™t fair, it was like he was carved out of marble โ€” gorgeous and artful. โ€œThatโ€™s sweet. You must be pretty close with him, thenโ€ฆ your dad?โ€ He asked once the object of his adoration fell silent. Marshall wondered what that felt like, his curiosity buried in the pregnant pauses of his question.

โ€œI am, yeah. I wishโ€ฆ I wish I could be more like him sometimes,โ€ Jamie said, his eyes falling to the emerald stalks of grass on the ground, stalks that Jamieโ€™s free hand found and pulled up. โ€œHeโ€™s one of the few people in this town who hasnโ€™t let it all change him, yโ€™know? He grew up in New York, the youngest of six kids, and all of them are either on drugs, in jail, or both. But my dad got out, and he got rich, but heโ€™s still that kid from New York. Itโ€™s hard to keep your head in this life, but he does it anyways,โ€ Jamie continued, before turning to Marshall. His eyes scanned the soft, pale face, his immaculate dark hair. As serotonin flooded his brain, he asked, โ€œWhat about you? I feel like you know everything about my family, and I know nothing about yours.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s becauseโ€ฆโ€ Marshall looked downward and away from him. Jamieโ€™s gaze, although lovely at times, could be intense, especially when you were feeling slightly uncomfortable to begin with. โ€œThatโ€™s because I donโ€™t talk about them much. Itโ€™s not the happiest story, and I like to be the happy kid, you know? I make people smile and stuff.โ€ The fingers of his free hand toyed with the edge of the blanket and he sighed. Relationships, if thatโ€™s what this was going to turn into, were about trust and openness, so he might as well start with the basics. โ€œMy parents are divorced. Marjorie, Marty, and me, our mom and dad are separated. He still lives in NY, they split right before we moved here, pretty much. Thatโ€™s why we moved here, Ma had to get away from him for her own sanity. He cheated on herโ€ฆ like, big time cheated, got his mistress pregnant and everything.โ€ Marsh chewed at his lip again, this time in less of a positive way. โ€œThatโ€™s why I acted how I did with Owen, when the photos came out. I couldnโ€™t believe it was happening again, that another man I looked up to could do something like that to someone that they claimed to love. Iโ€ฆ didnโ€™t even think about Owenโ€™s truth, I just reacted. It wasโ€ฆ stupid of me.โ€ He sighed, his blue-green eyes focused on his own lap now. โ€œSorryโ€ฆ that was rambly. Anyway, yeah, Iโ€™ve got two half-brothers too, in New York. They live with dad and Olivia, his new wife.โ€

Jamie offered Marshall reassuring smile and gave his hand a firm, affirming squeeze. โ€œIโ€™m sorry you had to deal with allโ€ฆ that. I canโ€™t imagine what that mustโ€™ve been like,โ€ Jamie said. โ€œBut, if you hadnโ€™t, you wouldnโ€™t be here,โ€ Jamie moved closer as the words left his mouth until he was only a couple inches from Marshallโ€™s face. His eyes ran over his full lips, his piercing blue eyes, and he could feel the desire building in him. โ€œWith me,โ€ Jamie finally said, piercing the dramatic silence heโ€™d let hang between them, and closing the gap with a kiss, letting his hands roam up and into Marshallโ€™s dark hair.

Marshall gasped into the kiss as a rush of endorphins flooded through him. The kiss was sudden, but by no means unwelcomed. Marsh loved how bold Jamie was, if he wanted something, he took itโ€ฆ and Marshall was all too happy to give. The scent of cologne and shampoo and whatever lotion Jamie used to keep his skin so fucking soft clouded Marshallโ€™s mind as he was lip-locked into this moment. A moment that he wished he could keep in a locket to live over and over again later on, kissing the cutest boy in all of Beverly Hills under a beautiful starry night sky. And that wasnโ€™t even the best part, the best part was held in the words spoken just before this kiss. โ€œWithโ€ฆ you?โ€ He fished for clarification, butterflies doing laps around his stomach after he pulled a few centimeters away from Jamie. Dark eyelashes brushed the apples of his cheeks as he opened his eyes to meet the other boyโ€™s heavy gaze. It was almost oppressive, but in a way that Marshall would be glad to be crushed by.

Jamie blushed and looked down for a moment, contemplating what he could say, before bringing his eyes back up to meet Marshallโ€™s. โ€œIf thatโ€™s what you want, I meanโ€ฆโ€ Jamie said softly, holding Marshallโ€™s gaze in his own as his heart began to race in anticipation of the other boyโ€™s answer.

โ€œIโ€™m here, arenโ€™t I?โ€ Marshall responded with a sassy smirk. He accented the jest with a quick peck on Jamieโ€™s lips. โ€œBut am I what you want?โ€ The dark-haired boy pulled away from him coyly. He wouldnโ€™t be satisfied unless Jamie said it. Call it smugness, or pride, or vanity โ€” Marshall just liked to feel wanted.

Jamie smiled and looked over his date. He had imagined this day for months, and here it was, right here in the palm of his hand. So he did what any rational boy would do.

He took it.

โ€œYou are all I want, Marshall.โ€ Jamie punctuated his words with a kiss, before pulling away once more. โ€œSo, does this mean, weโ€™re dating now?โ€

Soaring on cloud nine, his heart had up and left his body. Marshall had never felt so wrapped up in his feelings before. Was this lustโ€ฆ or was this the real thing? Love. The only thing that he knew, was that this feeling was new, and heโ€™d never get enough of it. Never. โ€œYeahโ€ฆโ€ Marsh replied breathlessly, the wind clearly taken out of him. He moved from his seated position on the blanket-covered ground and straddled over Jamieโ€™s lap. โ€œBoyfriends.โ€ He confirmed with a grin. He traced the line of Jamieโ€™s jaw with his thumb, the delicious line heโ€™d been admiring so much earlier, before pressing a hungry kiss into his lips. He didnโ€™t let up in his urgency and passion, not even when Jamieโ€™s back was flush with the blades of grass beneath them.
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