Sol Grim

The Dead and the Dying

"Tempting, but you're probably right," Ethan said, they could hear the nearby vehicles driving away. "I don't even know those people at the farm either. I'm no hero, I'm just a high school history teacher who lost his family. Maybe we should just go...but, I kind of have the feeling you would slit my throat in the night and take my axe."

A light whistle quickly caught their attention. Ethan spun around to see two men kneeling in the shrubs. They aimed ak47's at the pair with grins on their faces. "We kinda had the sense we was bein' watched. Oh, and did you say 'people at the farm'?"

Ethan and Elizabeth were taken, bound at the hands and a bag placed over their heads. They were shoved into the back of a gray van with one of the kidnappers with them.

"You were supposed to be watching behind me!" Ethan said to Liz. He could feel the bumpy road beneath them as they moved, inching them closer and closer to where they were already heading, he knew.

-------------------------------

Johnny watched as one by one the dead fell before him, all shot to the head. He shoved the dead body off of him and followed Reena to the horses.

"Thanks." He only could catch a breath once they reached the viewpoint of the city. "Yeah, a few drinks sounds amazing right now. I need to get shitfaced." He nearly forgot about the pack of smokes he grabbed from the trailer house, pulling it out and lighting one up with his zippo. "I have a feeling we're gonna get used to saving each others lives." He grabbed a .45 revolver and traded out his handgun, then put a mp5 around a shoulder. There were even grenades in the bag, of which at first he was hesitant about, but then grabbed one anyway and clipped it to his belt. Just in case of ferals.

It felt good to be alive, he knew that was all that mattered anymore. Seeing that Reena's wound wasn't so bad, the two slowly trotted down the path toward home. The path led into a more difficult one than the earlier used trail, heading at a long upward angle until they reached the beginning of the hill. The horses easily moved upward as Johnny saw a few walkers stuck at the base. There was dark mud all around them as they tried to head toward the farmhouse, but were blocked from that direction. Instead of going back the way they came, they just sort of got stuck there. Johnny made a mental note to come back later and take care of them.

A few gunshots rang out from around the farmhouse. Johnny raised a brow and then took the horses to some cover, just outside of view from the house. Reena didn't look all to well, so he handed her roach's strap and got to the ground. "Stay here, I'll see what's up." He took two steps, then turned back. "Yeah, just in case." He reached back into the gun bag.

----------

"Why don'tcha all just come on out now!" Ernie yelled from the front yard. The groups vehicles, including the one with Ethan and Liz, were all parked together facing the farmhouse. They all stood outside, behind their doors with weapons drawn. Ernie motioned to another, who brought out Ethan and Liz to the front. "We gotchur people here. Come on out and lets talk about...moving out."

There was a silence. The farmhouse seemed empty, with the sun high enough in the sky now to notice anyone hiding in the trees near the front. Ernie and another of his men took the two hostages, and moved forward.

"We're coming in!" Ernie said aloud. "We gotchur people."

"What if they ain't home?" his partner asked.

"Even better," Ernie said, now standing in front of the door. He dragged Ethan in with him, staying behind his body. The man holding Liz stayed outside, gripping her arm harshly and holding her close. "Maybe they don't even give a fuck about you, guy."

Ernie moved from room to room, clearing the entire house as best he could with a hostage in front of him. Nothing. Empty. The man grunted and then began to head out.

Johnny crawled on all fours under the high grass until he was close enough. He pulled out the pin to his grenade, then got up and started running as fast as he could, throwing it in the center of the group. They noticed him as he started to run, but within seconds they exploded in a loud eruption. A few of them were instantly killed, becoming slobs of meat on the grass. A few in the front of the group made it, being thrown forward and losing a body part or two. Johnny was also knocked to the ground, but he quickly regained his senses and got back up. He shot the remaining people on the ground multiple times until he was satisfied, then looked up to see the man holding Liz hostage at the front door.

"What the---" the man grabbed Liz by her hair, through the mask on her face, and was reaching his weapon around to shoot her.

A silently muffled shot rang through from the treeline and struck the man in his face, tossing his body away from the girl while also pulling off her mask simultaneously. Johnny turned to the trees, not seeing anything but the leaves moving.

The explosion set Ernie back, giving Ethan enough time to run away back outside. His mask obscured his vision, but he was able to make it out to the porch, where he tripped and fell face first into the dirt. Ernie came rushing after him, taking a second to look at all of his vehicles that were now destroyed. All of his men, dead. The second was to long, as a sniper's bullet struck his forehead, killing him instantly.

Johnny ran over to Ethan, who was knocked out unconscious, and pulled the bag off his head and untied him. He slapped Ethan in the face a little, then looked over to Liz. "...who the hell are you?"

Dallen came out from the shrubs to Reena, a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder. He grabbed her horse and walked with her back to the farmhouse. "They came back," he said. "Idiots, now they're dead."

Raven and the others came out from their hidden room and peered out the windows, seeing that their group were the ones left standing. Dallen helped Reena down and motioned the first aid toward the kid, James.

"She's hurt," Dallen told him. "Johnny, what the hell was that?"

He was going to argue with Johnny on his 'tactics', but realized the man was busy staring at the newcomer. He walked along side as well.

"Ethan's out cold," Johnny said, then turned back to Liz. "I say we keep her in binds until he wakes up."

Dallen just shrugged, then turned toward the others. "We have a lot of cleaning up to do."

The Origin: A War Resumed (Arc One; Completed)

Just out of curiosity, is there a set calender for this world?

The Dead and the Dying

Okay so my laptop just decided to stop working so I'm stuck on phone. I don't know when I'll get back to computer capabilities but until then I will do my best to post using my phone. Hopefully it won't be to difficult.

@alexfangtalon

I'm in a similar boat. My laptop works but I'm rarely able to be around it. I have to be honest, I've posted once on my phone and it sucked bad lol. But that might just be me. Anyway, take your time there's no cure coming anytime soon. Unless one of you write it in!

@Sol Grim

Thats good to know, makes things a lot easier to take crazy chances than :D

Ooooooouch, dude that sounds like it fucking sucks! How did you get a ton of paper cuts?!
If there is one thing I can not stand its a paper cut. Fractured arm I can deal with, dislocated knee I deal with more than I should and I'm find. Paper cut?

HELL NAAAAAW!!!

@CloseEnough

I kept reopening older paper cuts from delivering mail. It's a never ending process...

Oh yeah, I forgot to say. I'm a huge fan of those old choose your own path books from when I was younger. Also, no one has to feel the need to save my characters when I write them in peril, though in Johnny's case I'm happy you saved him lol. I have a rule, that if I write them in a near death moment, like johnny was in or ethan back when, I have to try to think of a way out or someone has to save me. If you chose not to kill the zombie, I had a way out of that. If you chose not to kill the bad guy guy...what's his name...I didn't have a way out of that. So lets say you chose to get attacked yourself and couldn't kill that guy, I would have killed johnny. This goes for any of my characters, and I will try to put them all in danger many times. So basically what I'm trying to say is my characters lives are in your hands, during inescapable moments. Like a telltale game. And if all of them die I will make more, or become one of the horses. My god im rambling. I've been drinking...-slowly backs away-

The Origin: A War Resumed (Arc One; Completed)

So I think the score for obnoxious companion names is at: 4

Im going to keep track of this damn it

@PetiteAmbivert

Yeah sorry, I spent all of 2 seconds thinking up that name. lol. My entire thought process: "My horse needs a name so I can stop calling it horse. Horses are fast, and stealthy. BAM." the end. If I ever get a pet parrot I'll be sure to think on its name a bit longer. (Iago...cough)

The Dead and the Dying

shit I did not mean to write that much....guess I shouldn't listen to the witcher while writing. @Sol Grim tell me if you want me to cut that encase you wanted to drag out the fight. I don't mind, XD

@CloseEnough

You can write as much as you want! And I'd never tell anyone to cut anything. I left it up to you, whatever you decided was to happen next, I'll let you know if there's ever something I have planned out (which is rare). Even if I do have something planned out, then someone posts something that makes it change, I go with the change. On another note, I have like 7 million paper cuts on my left hand right now and I just poured rubbing alcohol on it and it STINGS.

The Origin: A War Resumed (Arc One; Completed)

The Day Before

"No coin, no play," the blacksmith said, he crossed his arms across his chest and grunted. They were gathered around a drinking table in the tavern playing a game of pirate dice, all taking the portion of the day to relax from their daily activities. Dalious approached appearing to be a beggar, with dirty and ragged clothes still stained from his own dried up blood.

"I have a horse," Dalious assured the working men. "There, notched just outside. Black as the night and as swift as a sparrow. She's fast and sturdy. I call her Stealthion."

The blacksmith and the others went just outside to take a look, all agreeing with the payment by shaking their heads. They sat back down at the table, pulling up a new chair for the pirate. Each man put five dice into a mug, shook them all up, then slammed them down on the table upside down. They got quiet as they were in thought, but upon the ending of every round became again loud and drunk. By the end of the hour, the last two men playing were Dalious and the blacksmith, the largest pile of coin on Dalious' side.

"Three sixes."

"Exact!" the blacksmith spat. He had two dice left, one being a six and the other a three. He was confident Dalious had two sixes, plus his own six would justify his claim. They showed their hand. Of Dalious' three dice, he had zero sixes, leaving the blacksmith's six as the only one. "Damn you outlander! You've won every single damned game since we started!"

"You've one dice leffft, mate,"he slurred.

They shook the cups again and slammed them down. At this point Dalious was incredibly drunk, and realized this was not only a game of dice, but also a game of who could stay up the longest. The blacksmith could drink as he quickly found out, both of the two having ordered whiskeys with every pint of ale.

"One four."

"TWO FOURS!!!!"

"Three fours."

"Ahhh, lies!!"

They revealed their hands again. The blacksmith had a single four, while Dalious had two fours and a five.

"Three fours," he said and smiled.

"Ahh pissoff you shit grinder!!" the blacksmith yelled and nearly waved his drink off the table. "Beginner's lu-hick-k!"

"Keep your gold friend," Dalious said, a more serious tone in his voice. He pushed even his own winnings throughout the night over to the man's side of the table, leaving him with a confused look. "Even keep my gold."

"Why for?" he asked. "No one plays for free, this I know. What do you want?"

"You are the blacksmith, yes?"

"Ah, I see," he said. "What kind are you after?"

"Only your finest."

Day of Battle

Dalious rode Stealthion near to the front of the line. He was cloaked from head to toe in fine metallic armor that fit his form perfectly. It was black as his horse, with dark red chain mail at his joints and underneath. He had two silver gauntlets that reached from his fingertips to just before his elbow, strong enough to deflect a slashing blow. At least the blacksmith thought so as much, he had never gotten around to test the theory. The gauntlet on his right hand concealed a hidden blade that propped out upon his will. A black hood hung over his head, good for disguise as well as in blocking the sun's rays. Strapped to his back was a silver long katana with a black and red handle. The sheath was of the same coloring, but the red formed a painting of a dragon that stretched from bottom to the top. At his hip was a holstered blunderbuss that the blacksmith threw in freely, just for the good game. Even his horse Stealthion was cloaked in fine leather armor at the body and the head.

As he listened to the mad king speak before his army, he couldn't help but to find himself wondering why he was even still here. His debt to the prince was already paid for back at the arena, yet he longed to follow him again anyway. In any other instance, the man would have taken his earnings and headed back to sea, but this dispute was of the most important. It gave him reason to be of use. Maybe he liked Barcea more than he ever admitted.

He left Stealthion back a ways and went forth on foot with the others. Moments later, the arrows were cast and it had begun. As Joachim and Alsius broke the line and took to the archers, Dalious followed just a few feet behind. His first attack was to be with the blunderbuss, that he took out and aimed to the nearest threat. He pulled the trigger, but the weapon just clicked and did nothing.

"Son of a whore!!" he yelled.

The sword and the armor, however, held up to expectation. He swayed in and out, hacking and slashing enemies all around him with quickness and precision. Blocking a strike with his left gauntlet, he punched the attacker with his right, sticking him in the throat with his hidden blade, then concealing it again. He then rolled past the next attack and to the back of the enemy, bringing his katana upward, splitting the man nearly in half.

He reached the archers, slicing two of them at their stomachs and spilling their guts before they could nock the next arrow. The third archer was ready for him, though, as he aimed and loosed. Dalious swayed slightly backward as he charged the man, causing the arrow to nick his armor and fling off. The archer was quick enough to nock his next arrow, but Dalious was already upon him. He sliced downward just before the arrow was let go, cutting it down, then swung the katana back upward and hacked the man from chest to shoulder.

A large and tall H'Kelan came forward weilding a warhammer that he swung back and forth with great ease. He smashed the soldier beside Dalious into the ground with a single stroke, pushing the soldier's head into his body. His next swing came for Dalious, though the pirate rolled under it and backed away from the enemies reach span.

"To your duty, then," he said, a smirk on his face.

Before the large man could attack again, his head suddenly exploded and his body fell slumped to the ground. A sniper off in the distance had seen to that kill, while Dalious huffed and shrugged his shoulders. He gave a thumbs up in the air, then went back to fighting.

The Dead and the Dying

Johnny gave a nod to the question. "I'm not...I wasn't a good person before Reena," he whispered. In all honesty, he couldn't figure out himself why he even stayed with the current group at the farm. Maybe it was a new start in life, or maybe he didn't know if he'd make it on his own. He had never really had the time to think since getting out here, and this moment was no different.

The slurred groans and moans of the dead could be heard coming from the backyard. He heard someone yell "We got company!" The majority of them went out to the back porch and began opening fire on the undead. This would be the perfect moment for the two to escape, however they still didn't have what they came for, and also these people knew where the farm was. It was only a matter of time before they headed that way.

"We have to kill them all," Johnny quickly said. "They'll eventually get to the farm. Go on ahead if you can't take it, but I'm finishing this before it even starts."

Johnny went back to the side of the house, peeking around to see them popping off the infected one by one. He turned the corner and aimed, shooting the guy closest to the door directly in the head. He fell in a thud, turning the others around in the process. Johnny opened fire, hitting all of them multiple times until he was out of ammo, not all of them died instantly like the first, but it was only seconds later that the remaining dead swarmed them. He watched as they were torn apart, almost smirking at the act. He couldn't help his coldness. He actually enjoyed killing them.

Moments later the screams turned into muffled gargles. Another group of guys suddenly stormed out, quickly opening fire on the dead. They noticed Johnny's position and shot at him to, as he dove behind a set of stacked tires and a rusty broken down vehicle.

"Shit," he said, releasing his clip and struggling to insert the next one. There were maybe three of them, and after the undead were gunned down and they reloaded, they started walking toward his position, continuing to fire in his direction.

Johnny ducked under the vehicle and shot one of them in the shin, causing him to fall to the floor, then he shot him in his face. The others scattered and found cover for themselves, still randomly firing blindly as more and more of the undead began pouring into the area.

"Mother fucker, you're dead!" one yelled.

A walker crept up on Johnny's side of the yard, staggering slowly toward him. At the same time, one of the attackers pushed forward from the other side of the vehicle. The walker lunged down on Johnny, but he caught it by the throat and held it inches from his face, as the attacker came around the corner. He stuck his firearm into the walker's temple and blasted its entire head off. Blood and brains showered over Johnny as he lie on the ground, but the man trying to kill him was already in view and Johnny's gun was tucked under the being that just fell on top of him.

"I told you you're dead," he said, aiming his rifle at him. "Better to see you get torn apart."

Three more walkers came around the fence and were heading toward Johnny. The attacker smiled, then held his weapon ready. If Johnny was to try to get away, he'd gun him down, and if he stayed he'd be torn apart.

The Dead and the Dying

"It's not about sticking around, it's about sticking together," Ethan told her. "Everyone's scared, everyone's lost someone. I see that now. You look hungry, and I'm not sure how you've survived out here through the night, but its only getting colder. You need warm clothes, food. I have a place that can provide that for you."

The revving of engines suddenly took his attention, somewhere just beyond the trees to the west. He instinctfully ducked down as if bullets were flying by, but quickly realized they were not yet noticed, and actually had the upper advantage of the situation. He grabbed Liz's arm and yanked her down to his level.

"Shhh," he spat.

He slowly moved toward the sounds, staying low and hesitant. Unintentionally, he dragged Liz along with him. Just a few steps beyond the shrubs, then he saw what created the sound. There were three trucks on the other side, and numerous men about. They all were circled around one another as if a meeting were to take place.

"If we stay out here, we're all going to die," Ernie spoke. "They took over our homes, but I have a solution. There's a farm at the top of the hill, a safehaven if you will. The only problem, is there are people still there. Quite a few, actually. Nothing we can't handle. I say we go up there tonight when its dark, and take it for ourselves."

The others seemed to agree. They continued discussing the situation as Ethan slowly backed away with Liz. He brought her back through the brush to where they were before.

"They're talking about the place I'm from," Ethan told Liz. "I have to warn them. You have to come with me. Or...go back to being alone. See how long you last. I promise you, if you help me now, my group will take you in. Otherwise, those guys might get ahold of you, and who knows what they want..."

----------------------------------------------------

"He's not in his room?" Raven shouted down from the barn. The look on the boy's face told her no. "Haven't seen him. Maybe he just wandered off somewhere, wanting to be alone?"

Dallen snored in his sleep, making Raven winch.
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Johnny was under the bed, seeing where Reena had hid, all they could do was wait. There were muffled voices, seemingly drunk, but after awhile they calmed down to a singular voice.

"Check the house again, who knows if those creepers got in or not," it spoke. "Check every crack and cranny."

Moments later, johnny saw the door to the room he was in open. A man's feet walked in, though the stumbling and the slurs of speech told him he was drunk. The group of men were talking to one another as they searched the house, all seemingly drunk and uncaring. The one in the room went over to the area Reena was hiding.

Johnny slowly pulled out his pocket knife. He waited until the conversation throughout the household continued. A few of them, in a room not to far away, started getting into a heated conversation about survivalism. As the voices grew louder, Johnny got more prepared. He slowly eased out from the bed, behind the man in the room. As the man began to open the closets, Johnny rushed behind him and pulled his blade to his neck. The unsuspecting man instinctfully raised his arms in defense, which gave Johnny enough means to swipe the blade and tear his flesh from his throat out. It was quick, and quiet. Johnny held the lifeless body and laid it down gently. He then dragged the corpse into the space with Reena.

"I have a feeling they would kill us withought a thought,"Johnny said. "Are you ready?"

He wasn't sure if she was. All he knew was that, at least in his mind, they were going to have to kill every single one of them. It would only be moments now until they figured out one of their own was missing. Until they found them.

The Dead and the Dying

Yea hell be fine. Thanks.

The Dead and the Dying

Ok, after work today I will be posting for sure this time lol. Had a friend lose his father so had to make sure he was okay.