ZRP-2: Brave New World

Abel perked up when he saw people barging out of the inn, and running to an old car. He didn't know what to do, but he felt like he should do something, anything. So he got up sheathed his sword and ran to the car and sat in the backseat.

Hibiki and Eve follow, climbing into the backseats.
"Don't pause for anything! Just floor it!" she said.

(James)
=I was about to enter the passenger seat, when a man with a sword, came running by and got in the back seat of the car=
"What the fuck are you doing? Get out of the car!"

Abel froze a moment.
"What!? whatever you're doing I'm sure you could use me."

(James)
"No, get out of the car. You don't even know where we're going."
=I opened the door on the strange man's side=

"Get out, now!"

Abel put his hands up.
"No need to bite my head off mate!"
He then stepped out of the vehicle.

Hibiki scowled. "JAMES. THE CARAVAN. WE NEED EVERYONE WE CAN GET."
She hated raising her voice, but time was NOT on their side.
At all.

(James)
"Alright fine....get in."
=I was mad as hell, but at this point I cared more about the caravan's safety than some random guy sticking his nose in our business. I climbed into the passenger seat=

I nodded to 'James'
"Don't worry, you won't regret it."

(James)
=I just ignored him, not having the patience. When the doors were closed, the guard floored it, and we shot off for the East gate, the bus pulling back letting us leave. As we drove down the road toward the smoke, the only thoughts going through my head were=
Please be okay please be okay please be okay

Hibiki didn't really care.
All the same, she kept herself between the guy and Eve.

Not that Eve couldn't beat the shit out of him...but in her condition.
No.
She grabbed her bow.
She would fight to atone for the pain.

(James)
=We rode in silence for the most part. I was too busy hoping everyone was okay to even talk to the new guy about why the fuck he jumped in with us. All I could focus on was Harry, Dan, Sam, and Mike. I was so afraid. As we drew closer, the smoke itself got clearer to see. it was coming from the center of a large group of trees, spreading out to our left, a dirt road leading towards it. The driver pulled into the path, and the sound of gravel crunching under wheels replaced the silence. We soon entered the woods, trees passing us by, a glow coming from further ahead=

"No....no no no no."

=We broke through the tree line, and I saw the source of the light: all to familiar cars and tents, were ablaze in fire=

Abel looked at the destruction. It was a damn massacre. He readied his shotgun, just encase.

Hibiki was out, rifle raised. Eve was already running out in front of her, bow at the ready.

There.

Sam was crouched behind a car, the kids clustered around her. Beside them, Julia was lying, a wound in her stomach weeping blood. Eve skidded up beside them, already crying. She hugged the kids as Hibiki came up.
"Everyone else?"

Sam shook her head sadly.

Hibiki bit back a curse as she crouched beside Julia, shucking her things and taking her shirt off. She pressed it against Julia's chest.
"Hey Julia, look at me...you'll be fine, we're going to get you to a doctor."

While the two ran to find survivors, Abel rose his shotgun and made sure the area was clear.

(James)
=I was running behind Hibiki. Everywhere, bodies were scattered. Dan, a few feet away from Jennifer, their hands outstretched as if reaching for each other. Ebenezer was on the ground, bullet holes riddling his chest. When I saw Sam and the kids though, safe and sound behind a car, I was slightly relieved....until I saw Julia, lying on the ground, a wound in her stomach and Hibiki trying to stop the bleeding. I got down on both knees, kneeling beside Hibiki, tears running down my face=

"Julia, hey come on. Look at me, we're here."

Hibiki let James press on Julia's stomach.
Standing, she went and checked those who might just be knocked out.
Jennifer...Hibiki could tell she might have lived if they had gotten there just a bit sooner...the bloody...
Hibiki closed her eyes, kissing the young woman's forehead and whispering a prayer in Japanese. She did the same for Dan, Ebenezer, and did so for each of the men and woman who had died.
She then went and came back to James, draping an arm over his shoulder quietly as Eve kept the kids close to her, whispering quietly to them.

(James)
"I'm sorry....I'm so sorry.....I never should have left you, I never should have left you..."
=My shoulders were shaking as I cried. Much of my family was gone, butchered and my home burned, as I knelt beside the only mother figure I had in this godforsaken world=

"I should have been here. I could have helped you....saved you."

Hibiki was crying as well. She laid her head on James' shoulder, knowing Julia wouldn't make it.
"I'll...I'll send the car back to...bring...a truck...we....need to bury them...properly."

Hibiki got up and stumbled away, not bothering to care her upper half was mostly naked if not for her jacket.

(James)
=I wasn't sure if I heard what Hibiki had said. It all just hurt so much. Suddenly, I heard another voice start to cry, and felt a smaller presence crawl over=

*Harry*
"Mommy? Mommy, wake up. Wake up mommy. Please wake up."
=He started crying soon after, wailing at the top of his lungs as he laid his head on his mother's body=

Hibiki came back, Eve already hugging Harry gently.

She went over and sat by Sam. "You ok?" She asked.

*Sam*
=Her upper lip curled in a snarl=
"No I'm not. I want to kill them, all of them. The Shepherds want to meet God? I'll help them along."

(James)
=Without warning, I got up from Julia's body. I walked over to the body of a Shepherd, his chest bloody and riddled with holes. It didn't stop me from picking up a heavy rock on the ground, and savagely beating his corpse with it, crying in pain or fury I couldn't tell as each blow landed on his skull=

Hibiki got up and ran over to James, grabbing his arm.
"James. Do not sink to their level."
Her voice softened. "Please James. Don't leave me."

Hibiki came down beside James, holding him.

(James)
=The rock fell from my hand when she stopped my arm. When she came down and hugged me, all sense of control fell with it. I just started crying, as much as Harry. My home was gone. Many of my friends and family were gone. All I had now....was Hibiki, Eve, Harry, Sam, Tom and Jaime. I was glad they were okay, but the rest of me just hurt. The rest of me could only kneel there while Hibiki held me, and cry=

Indeed you have...

=My voice trails off as see a few cars head out=

That's weird...something's off...

=I then look to flag a car down=

This can't be good...not at all

=I get in a car, and beckon Miranda in=

Come on...I think something bad just went down...

I wipe my eyes again and smile at him.

"Thank you again, for everything."

My stomach growls.

"You wouldn't happen to have any food, would you?"

"I uh... have some Lays chips if you want that. Maybe I could go trade for some food?"

"Chips are ok."

I can't believe I'm about to do this...

I dig inside my pocket once again and bring out the chips bag. It was opened but I had tried to keep it closed. I hand it to her.
And with this being the slightly or maybe even completely awkward situation that it is, I want to leave.
Yeah, I know she just woke from the frenzy we were in and all. I just don't have much experience with girls.

And this too.

I pull out my Berretta and set it down on the bed. "I'm going to see where Wrex went off to... use this if you need to. I'll be right back."

I start eating the chips and nod.

He was sure fast to get out of here..

I look at the gun and a cold shiver goes down my spine, fear takes grip of me.

I'm safe now, no one can hurt me here... I hope..

I stood up and left the room. Then down the hall and into the lobby as I've done so many times already. Wrex isn't here. Probably off in town.

She'll be fine. At least I hope... this is a town after all...

I leave the building in search of the lumbering man.

Miranda climbed in.
"Let's go."

______________

Hibiki gently brought James up, steering him towards Sam and the kids.
"You have them. Be thankful for who you do have..."

=I nod=

You heard her...BOOK IT!

=The driver, noting the amount of weapons we both had, stepped on the gas=

Driver: Hold on, you two!

=I grab hold of the seat in front of me. A minute later, I look at the scene=

Oh no...

=I tap the driver on the shoulder and he stepped on the brakes=

Driver, let us off here...

=The driver, noting the look on my face, simply nods. I then get out and open the other door for Miranda and let her get out herself=

This is bad...this is very bad...

=I then hike the rest of the way to the caravan, and look at the scene=

Oh my God...

=I stop and stare, utterly speechless=

(James)
=I wiped my eyes in an attempt to rid myself of the tears, but that was just on the surface. Underneath I was still in anguish, still enraged. But Hibki was right, I still had Harry and the others. And I still had her and Eve. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I stood up a little straighter. I walked over to where Eve and Harry were, the girl still hugging him as he cried, along with Tom and Jaime=

"Shhhh, it's going to be okay. Come here."
=I held my arms open, and Harry wormed his way out of Eve's hug and barreled into me, along with Tom and Jaime. I was the only one other than Sam right now they really knew, and right now they needed someone they trusted. I hugged them close to me=

Eve went and held onto Hibiki.
"It's my fault. Father gets mad; he did this, i know he did. It's my fault." Eve starts to cry. "It's my fault!"

*Sam*
"What did she say? Her father did this?"
=Sam took a step towards both Hibiki and Eve, weapon still in hand=


(James)
=I knew where things were going, and now was definitely not the time. Standing up, leaving the kids huddled on the ground, I advanced to Sam, grabbing her weapon hand=
"Sam, not now. We'll explain when we get back to the town but for now you have to trust her. You have to trust me."

Eve cowered into Hibiki, who shielded her.
"You don't understand...one cannot choose who gives birth to them."

*Sam*
=It took all she had not to brush me off and raise her gun, but I guess the fact that the kids were still here helped. Holstering her weapon, she glared at me for a brief moment, and moved to help Tom and Jaime up, walking them over to the cars that had showed up=

(James)
=It took me a moment to realize I was still holding in a deep breath, and I soon let it go. Looking down at Harry, I lifted him to his feet, and cast a glance at Hibiki=
"Let's move, before the smoke attracts any walkers."

Hibiki carried Eve after James.
"Yeah..." She sighed softly, looking back at Julia. She couldn't save her.
"The town guards will get the bodies. We'll bury them with dignity James."

(James)
"If anyone's going to bury them.....it'll be me, Sam, and Andrew. We knew them best, and they'd want us to bury them."
=Getting back to the cars that had arrived from town, I got Harry loaded up in the back seat, while Sam did the same for Tom and Jaime in a separate car, climbing in with them. I saw Andrew standing near one of the new cars, a shocked look on his face as he saw what was left. All I could do was point from him, to the car he stood next to, signaling him to get ready to head out=

=I look and James, still speechless, and then head back into the car=

That bastard...I'll kill him when I see him

=I then let Miranda back into the car, and try not to let my emotions get to me=

(James)
=While I was seated next to Harry, I saw through the window how men and women from the town lifted up the bodies of my caravan, and laid them in the beds of a pick-up truck, a blanket placed over them. I wanted to help.....but my duty now was to Harry=

Miranda held on Andrew, the scene...there was now words.

The men from the town respectfully gathered up the bodies. One came up to James.
"We'll bring them to town. Is there anything specific your caravan did to honor your dead?"

Hibiki put Eve into the backseat. She sighed.

(James)
"They would have wanted to be buried, and some words said during the burial. With respect to your people.....the girl, Sam, Andrew and I will be the ones to dig the graves."
=He just silently nodded, and walked back to the others to tell them what I said. Then the car started, and we all drove back to the town, resembling nothing less than a funeral procession. The air in the car was thick with sorrow, as Harry still wept silently, head leaning on my shoulder as my arm held him close=

=I get out of the car, then opening up the door, leading Miranda out=

Well...ever the gentleman...

=I look at James, a look of silence, knowing that we had a grim task ahead of us=

(James)
=When we finally got back to the town, I was surprised to see that there was a large number of people gathered behind the gates. Most of them were regular civilians, gathering as if they sensed what had happened. When I got out out of the car, Harry following behind, I saw out of the corner of my eye Andrew staring at me with a blank look. I couldn't even meet his eye at that point=

*Marcus*
"James! What happened?"
=He had been waiting for us among the group of people, walking over to me when he saw me get out of the car=

(James)
"Shepherds. They attacked....they attacked my caravan. Sam and the kids managed to escape notice, but everyone else...."
=I cast a glance at the pick-up truck carrying the bodies of my friends and family=

*Marcus*
"My god.....James, I am so sorry for what has happened. We'll gut them for this, I swear to you."

(James)
"Just let me give my family the peace they deserve first. Then we'll talk."

I start searching around town for him. That's when I notice the group of people at the gates. I can't see past them so I go for a better view.

*Marcus*
"Alright. Boys, help hi-"

(James)
"No. They were our family. We'll be the ones to bury them."
=I heard footsteps as Sam walked up to my rear, standing behind me=

*Marcus*
"Alright. There's a small field we use behind the buildings over there for....for a cemetery. You're people are more than welcome to be buried there."

I push past a couple people so I can see. But it just turns out somebody came back from something... or maybe just arrived?
Whichever, I don't know them. So back to searching for Wrex. Maybe he skipped town? If he did then... shit.
I guess I should try the general store. If he's there great. If not I still need supplies. So off I go the general store. Walking in soon after.

I'm greeted by a mid thirties man. Sorta rough looking, like if you rub his skin you'll be cut. He's got a small scar on his left cheek.
But he has these eyes that shows that shows he cares. Like they know every sin you've done and forgive you for them...
He's wearing a slightly dirty baseball cap, a t-shirt with words so faded they're unreadable. And I see he has a pistol of some sort of his hip.
I walk up to his beaten up wooden counter.

Trader - "Hello. I'm guessing you're here to trade, no?"

(James)
"Thank you."
=Before I could move, he made a motion with his hand, his attention on the pick-up truck. It then began rolling forward, turning the corner of the street and headed for the field most likely. Sam, Andrew and I simply followed=