ZRP-2: Chapter 3, The Coming Storm

(James)
=Breaking off the kiss, I closed my eyes as I took deep breaths. God, just the kiss felt so good, especially after today. The want inside me, to go beyond the kiss reared its head and roared for more, but I all but shouted no. I still kept my arms around her though, relishing the feeling of her against me. It was only then though I realized, in a rather insignificant way, that the fact that she was still wet had now resulted in my own clothes being wet=

The man named Marcus gave us the idea of checking for walkers. I didn't occur to me that Zombies could be trapped in here.
And most likely have gotten myself caught of guard, then bitten. So I silently thank Marcus for thinking clearly.
After I get inside the complex I get my hatchet out and begin scoping out the first floor. Along with a bunch of other men.

*CRUNCH!* Something ran into the car Abel was hiding in, hard. It spun a half-circle(Or a 160) its tires screeching as it did so. Abel was whipped to one side of the car, hitting his head on one of the doors. He heard a few sounds next, like loud popping. Undoubtedly gunfire. Abel forced his eyes open, but his vision was blurred. He saw a figure move towards the car, but he soon fell into unconsciousness.

(James)
=I stepped back from her, and I made a small gesture with my hand, a sign that she could get dressed now=
"Listen, we're going to have to help everyone get comfortable in their new home. Care to get dressed and join me?"

"Yeah..." hlHibiki said. She stumbled back to the bathroom to dry the remaining moisture off herself before getting dressed.

Eve mewed in her sleep in her adorable way, adjusting herself against Sam. The cat stood as a silent sentinel.

Okay, so the group of men I went with decide that it's best to split up. It'd would be quicker to get the place cleared.
A little bit more dangerous sure but the townsfolk needed to get inside soon. Everybody is tired and need to rest for awhile.
Besides. It's not like we can't handle ourselves if we come across a Zombie. I have a hatchet and someone covering me.
Alright, back to business. We each split up into groups of two and head out. We each getting our own building to clear.

(James)
=The moment she was behind the door, I released the breath I had been holding. My heart was hammering in my chest....and in my pants. What? She had that affect on me, not counting the fact that she was wet and near naked=


=There was one pair of people from the town, two men by the names of Roy and John. Both armed with nothing but flashlights and pistols, they searched the darkened halls and rooms of the apartment building. It was a tense search, the light from their flashlights casting sinister shadows on the walls, their breathing and footsteps the only sounds they heard. As they entered a room facing the street, the sound of rainfall on the window drowned out the sounds of breathing and footsteps=

*Roy*
"Jesus.....I hate this shit. Why couldn't the Elites just clear this place out?"
=The flashlight shook in his hands=

*John*
"Kinda defeats the purpose of us claiming it, if we let someone else do the work for us."

Hibiki stepped out in a black tshirt and cargo jeans. She rtieved her jacket and slung her katana over her back before coming to James' side. She didn't speak.

(James)
=My hand went up, coming to rest on her shoulder=
"It doesn't have to be now. But....do you want to talk some more, about what happened?"

Hibiki looked away. "No." Was all she said.

(James)
=I faced her, nothing but a worried look on my face=
"What if I want to Hibiki? I'm worried.....and scared."

This guy, whose a teenager from the looks of him, had a baseball bat. One of those really big metal ones. Anyway.
We both come up close to the first apartment on the ground floor. With practically the same thought process we look at eachother.
With a curt nod from us both we enter. Silently thanking god we didn't have to burst the door open. Which would've brought attention.
There's nothing in the front room. Other than a musty old smell and some furniture. It's strangely quiet. Too quiet.

I point over to a hallway and we head over there. The smell is still there, strong as before. There's a door on the left and on the right.
I get the left while he had the right. I lift my hand up with three fingers, counting down to one. Three... two... one...
I slowly open the door and rush through it, axe raised and ready. But I met nothing but a toilet and a sink. No hostiles.
By the time I was back in the hallway, the other guy was done with his room. He shakes his head and we continue.

"I want to forget about it James. Let me." Hibiki snapped.

(James)
=I stepped back a little, almost as if she had struck me. There was anger behind her voice, along with pain. She wanted to forget it more than anything, and I wanted her to. But I also wanted to discuss this, because we were together. I felt that we should face it together, but I wasn't going to push anymore. She would talk when she was ready=

Hibiki remained silent.
She was refusing to talk about it.

(James)
"Alright then....."
=I walked away from her, which may have been colder than I meant. Stopping by the door, I stopped for a moment to look back at her=

"Coming?"

Hibiki followed quietly, but took James' hand.

We continue down the hallway, stopping at the doors. Waiting three seconds like before. Then slowly opening them.
Finding nothing on each side every time. Around five minutes later we're done with this one apartment. Three more to go.

(James)
=We walked in silence for a bit, and I was hesitant to say anything thing that might antagonize her. But the silence became too much, and I figured I might as well say something=
"So.....the river was nice. Been a while since I actually swam."

"Least you remembered." She said back.

(James)
"Heh, yeah. It was cold though."
=I could still feel the magnesium fire starter in my pocket=

"Good thing I keep some tools on me."

"Lucky." She said quietly, eyes on the floor before her.

(James)
"Not really. Got stuck in a small pile of rocks that served as a cave. Had to make a fire with wet wood."

(Allie)

I wandered around looking at everything and making mental notes to myself. I haven't seen Andrew, James, or Sammy in awhile, but it felt nice to take a small walk by myself.

"I would have been better then wet wood." She said bluntly.

(James)
"Heh, that thought crossed my mind, but then who would have been driving the bus?"

"Sam." She said softly. She moved closer, staying quiet.

(James)
"Sure, she could have driven.....but honestly, I would have preferred that you had stayed in the bus, either way. Would have meant you were safe."

"Still meant I left you behind." She said sadly.

(James)
"Hibiki....that wasn't your choice, not really. I got off the bus, knowing full well that bullets were flying. I wasn't thinking of myself then though."
=I stopped, turning to look at her=

"That whole time, I kept thinking 'I have to keep them away from her. I have to get the caravan moving again.'"

She stopped.
"I drove off thinking I have to give the caravan room to run. And as the bridge started collapsing...I begged God you would escape."

(James)
"Well, I may not have escaped the blast, but I survived Hibiki. I survived the river, the storm, all of it because I needed to get back to you."

Hibiki felt her knees get weak. Then she fell onto said weak knees, sobbing. "I was weak. I thought you were gone. I thought I had killed you..."

(James)
=I knelt down before her, a hand caressing her cheek=
"But you didn't. You didn't kill me. Hell, you were never even in a position to kill me."

She fell against him. "I left you there..." she sobbed. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry ror trying to kill myself."

(James)
=Crushing her against me in a hug, I let her cry=
"It's okay Hibiki. I've already forgiven you. And you may have left me there, yes....but that was my choice. There's no one to blame but me."

She sobbed a bit more, then calmed down.
"Don't leave me again."

=I lay there as they finish pumping the last of the blood back into my body. I was actually surprised I made it this far with out dying, or at least passing out more=

The doctor was right...it's a freaking miracle I'm alive

=I take a deep breath, knowing it would take a few minutes for my body to get back its color=

(James)
=Holding her against me, I whispered softly in her ear=
"I won't."

=It was starting to hurt my knees, being in that position and we still needed to check on Marcus and the others. But I was willing to keep the hug going for a few minutes, if needed=

(Allie)

I poke my head through the door that where Andrew was. I asked around and some people pointed me to here.

"Jesus Andrew, what happened?"

=I looked up at the voice to Allie, her expression one of shock=

Well...let's just say I ran into a bit of trouble.

=I feel a bit of a prick as the doctor takes out the I.V. and wraps a bandage where it was inserted=

If you know what I mean by trouble.

(Allie)

I step inside and lean against the wall.

"Trouble? More like having fun without me. I still can't believe I sleep through the entire thing.."

I shake my head then look back at him.

"What your status?"

Hibiki hugged back, then gently rose to her feet. "Let's go."

=I look down at my scarred body=

Well...I'm okay to walk...

=I lean up on the bad=

At least, I think I'm okay to walk.

(Allie)

"Well you better take it easy for awhile. Hell I won't care pushing you around in a wheelchair if you need it."

=I get up into a sitting position at the edge of the bed, feeling slightly dizzy=

You know what...

=I also feel my limbs are a bit weak at this point, especially my legs=

That wheelchair doesn't seem like a bad idea.

(Allie)

I laugh and shake my head.

"You want me to grab you one?"

=I nod, still feeling a bit dizzy=

Yes, please...

=I rub my head a bit, the emotional shock making me want to vomit=

(James)
"Alright."
=Getting to my feet, I walked the both of us out of the hotel lobby. There were still storm clouds above the city, though right now it was a very light rain=

"We're going to have to find which apartment building they moved for."

(Allie)

I walk out in the hall and grab a wheelchair from a empty room. I push it back to Andrew's room and sit it next to him.

"Here ya go. One wheel chair with a custom V8 engine and 12'inch subs in the back."