ZRP-2: Chapter 4, Backtracking

"Then take the strength I give you and don't let the past consume you. Have the strength to move on..."
Eve sighed softly, nuzzling Sam's hair. What was left of it.

(Sam)
"I'll try Eve. But......it's going to take some time. And a lot of caring."

"I know...and..."
Eve kissed the side of Sam's head softly. "You know I'll never stop the care...the love...I'll always be here for you...you know that..."

(Sam)
"I know Eve."
=I gripped her tightly, my face smothered in the crook of her neck=

Eve just held Sam, keeping her mouth shut.
She didn't want this feeling to end.
She wanted it to never even take a coffee break.

(Sam)
=At some point, I reluctantly let go, though my attention turned to her hand. It looked like I may have bruised it=
"Sorry."

"You should see the other guy." Eve said with a straight face.

(Sam)
=It was enough to make me grin a little=
"You were holding someone else's hand? I should probably feel jealous."

"Oh? I ahould other people's hands more often then."
Eve smiled back, resting her hand on Sam's. "It's ok."
The girl cocked her head to the right. "Um. Before I ask if you wanted to share the bed now, I just realized you never asked about my Ruger..."

(Sam)
"Eve, I didn't even know you had it on you. I'd ask where you were hiding it......but something tells me I'll probably find out in a few years."

Eve giggled.
"If you try hard, yes, you will find out."

(Sam)
"Yeah......I don't think I'll be trying anytime soon."

(Andrew)

=I was tired, and that wasn't helped by the fact that I felt like I went through five rounds with Muhammad Ali=

Well...at least she's restrained right now...

=I took of the rest of my gear and flopped onto the bed, going into a light sleep=

(Sarah)

=As I lay there unconscious, I go through a familiar dream=

Well...this isn't that bad...at least I'm having some measure of peace...

=The dream however quickly devolves into a nightmare as I hear voices scream at me, their hands pulling me to the ground=

Voices: You monster...You can never atone for what you did! You have too much blood on your hands...

Leave me alone...

Voices: We'll never forgive you...You're a creature of darkness.

STOP IT!

Voices: Only the corpses will mourn your death. Your place is among us...

SHUT UP!

Voices:...And no one can save you!

NOOOO!!!

=I wake up, letting out a piercing scream, white and shaking with fear=

Make it stop! Make it stop! Make the voices stop!

Eve giggled again.
"I'd rather you work for my heart and not my belt anyways." She teased.

Mira sat up and rubbed her eyes before walking over and slipping behind Sarah, hugging her gently and making soft noises in her ear.
"It's ok Sarah. It's ok."

(Sarah)

NO!

=My face was still white with fear, my voice trembling, and I shove Miranda away violently=

Don't touch me!

=I shudder briefly=

I-I'm a-a monster...I-I'm filth...I-I'm vermin...a-and...

=I look at Miranda, tear flowing down my cheeks=

Why do care for a monster like me?!?!

=I close my eyes, tears still coming down my face=

Mira hits the cogers and rolls.
Listening, she very calmly slapped Sarah.
"If I am hugging, being nice, and taking my time to be nice to you, then it is obvious I am not thinking you are a fucking monster. So so me a favor. IT'S A NIGHTMARE. KICK IT IN THE BALLS AND ACT LIKETHE REDNECK SISTER I EXPECT OF ANDY."

(Sam)
=At some point, I let go so I could slump back into the chair. It was more comfortable that way, and I was nice and warm under the blankets. I only wish I had a hat or something, because with the very little amount of hair I had, my scalp was getting chilly=

"Sam. Do you want the bed? I can sleep in the chair." Eve said softly. "You...please take the bed."

(Sam)
"Nah, I'm fine Eve."

"You just woke up screaming and crying and held me tighter then you ever have before. You really going to try and fool me?"

(Sam)
"Look, I get where you're coming from, but I'll be okay, really. Just had a bad dream, that's all."

"Wanna talk about it?" Eve asked.

(Sam)
"What's there to talk about? I had a nightmare, and I'm getting over it. Nothing to talk about really."

Eve sighed. "Alright...goidnight."
Eve settled back to bed, closing her eyes.

(Sam)
=I followed her, closing my eyes and doing my best to sleep. But a minute into the dream.......and I was already having another nightmare. I didn't scream when I woke up, but I drew in a shaky breath. Unable to stand it anymore, I got up, keeping the blanket wrapped around me like a cloak, and left the room. Entering the hallway, I walked for the stairs=

Eve's dream was just her sitting in the white sand, building a sand castle. She was in a two-piece bathing suit, which sadly had more material then some one piece ones. All purple, with an orange flower on the left, she watched the waves roll up and fill her moat.
A shadow covered her. Looking up, Sam smiled and patted down some sand, helped her make it nice.

Then Sam smashed it. But as Eve cried, Sam collapsed beside her and hugged her, saying sorry.
As the two began to rebuild the castle, the waves came farther and farther up.

Then a ten foot wave came. They tried to run, but it slammed down on them. Ton apart, Eve thrashed.

The scene changed to the Raider about to rape Sam. Eve raised her gun. Click. Empty.
Sam swung her knife. This time, blocked. Thrown to the side. As Sam struggled a bit more, Eve made to run...then a bang.c
Eve looked down at the rapidly growing red spot on her chest, then up to watch Sam...
"SAAAAAAAM!"

Eve shot up screaming Sam's name, gun now out and being pointed wildly, thankfully still with the safety on.

(Sam)
=I had just reached the doors for the stairs when I heard Eve scream my name. I ran back, the blanket falling down behind me and crashed into the room=
"Eve?"

=I vaguely noted that,due to my torn clothing, a large amount of me was showing=

Eve swung wildly, the focused on Sam. She was crying, the gun slipping and falling on the bed beside her. She looked down at her chest, then at Sam.
"Why won't they go away? Why won't they let me sleep in peace?"
Eve covered her face with her hands. "Why can't I just dream of you without there being bad things involved." She sobbed.

(Sam)
=Despite the fact that my clothes were practically shredded, I rushed over to the girl and hugged her, crushing her against me. Again, a portion of me realized that meant she'd be presses against my breasts......but at the moment it didn't seem that important=

Eve pressed herself against Sam.
"I don't want to wake up screaming. I don't want to be a burden. But why won't they leave me alone?!" She sobbed, burying her face in Sam's...breasts?
Ok, so, Eve was honestly not aware of what part of Sam's upper anatomy she was burying her face into, only that it was warm and soft. The same warmth and softness she always felt from Sam.

(Sam)
"You once said it takes time to heal, Eve. It won't stop hurting overnight. None of this will. That's what I'm here for."
=I should have been bothered, having her face crushed against my breasts. But the moment was too good, too important really to let such a small thing getting the way=

"Sorry for walking out."

Eve's sobs devolved to small whimpers.
"You shouldn't be shackled by me for comforr. I'm oy locming your heart with mine as best I can Sam. But I love you too much to make you stay with me every moment..."
She sniffed. "I'm sorry for ruining your walk."

(Sam)
"It's fine Eve. Wasn't going anywhere important, just the roof."
=It dawned on me that with her against my breasts like that, warm breath and air being directed at my chest like that......look,I wasn't getting aroused for her, not really. But I'd be lying if the combination wasn't causing some effect, and I found myself just a tad uncomfortable. So I eased up on the hug, leaning back=

"Think I can grab a pillow?"

Eve nodded, setting the gun on the table by the bed. She laid the single pillow out flat, ao they could share it.
"Always."

(Sam)
=I grabbed the pillow, and pressed it against my chest=
"Meant for this Eve. Be right back."

=With the pillow pressed against my chest and hiding my boobs, I walked out of the room and quickly grabbed the blanket from the floor, and walked back in. The blanket draped over me, I tossed the pillow back to Eve=
"There we go."

I was somewhat aware of somebody screaming in one of the other rooms. Sleeping was an on off deal (injuries and everything)and this happened inbetween.
So without a thought I got up and looked about. The lights were turned low for obvious reasons and I'm vaguely aware I have no shoes.
Not like it matters. The floor is smooth, if not cold. Most likely tile but that's besides the point. It's time to investigate.

Putting the pillow back...Eve ran through that again.
Wait. From...
Her face...
Sam's...
Eve's eyes widened as she realized exactly where her face had been.
"I w-w-was in y-y-your -"
Eve fainted, a slight nosebleed starting.

(Sam)
=When she fainted, I grabbed her shoulder, shaking her gently=
"Eve? Eve you okay? Wake up."

Eve regained conciousness.
"Um. Um. Um."
She blinked. "Sorry?" She said, blushng deeply.

(Sam)
"Let me guess. You fainted because of my boobs?"
=I said that all brightly, clearly amused by the situation=

(Sarah)

=I blink a few times, my mind reeling a bit=

Fear: It's not that simple...The voices are right...

NO! IT IS THAT SIMPLE! ACT LIKE A HARRIS GODDAMMIT! YOU THINK FATHER WOULD HAVE BEEN SCARED?!? NO!

Fear: But...what we did...

JUST SHUT UP AND GET THE FUCK OUT! I'M NOT A CHILD ANYMORE!!!

=I feel color return to my face, returning a smile. I felt like taking on the world=

You're goddamn right I will...just who do you think I am?

(Andrew)

=I grin broadly, my eyes half open=

That's not the same, frightened, little sister I knew as a kid. She definitely got that from dad...

=I then close my eyes, determined to get some sleep=

"Someone who needs a friend who will give them a hug and tell them it's alright. Because you're not alone anymore." Mira answered.

With a blush of scaet, Eve nodded. "N-not th-that their b-b-bad! Th-their a-a-amazing! I m-m-mean their, I....I...."
Eve shut up befor the hole she dug got any bigger.

(Sarah)

=I smile, genuinely happy, resisting the urge to make a smart remark=

I know...it's just...I got so used to living alone...

=I hang my head briefly=

And now...I'm just happy to have people who'll help me.

(Sam)
=I started to chuckle=
"What do you say we just drop this conversation here and move on?"

Eve shook her head vigorously, happy to move on.
"What now?/ she aaked quietly.

Mira smiled. "Get some sleep, alright?"

(Sarah)

Yes, ma'am...

=I grin childishly and nod, feeling emotionally drained=

Thank you...I needed that...

=I settle into a light sleep, praying that the nightmares wouldn't return=

(Sam)
=Gently, I nudged her aside to make some space, and curled up on the bed next to her=
"Now, we get some sleep. Or try anyway. it's late after all."

Mira tucked some of Sarah's hair behind her ear, then slipped back into bed, kissing Andy's cheek.
"Never told me I'd be a mom so soon idiot." She said softly to the sleeoing redneck.

Eve blushed, then rolles onto her back and scooted against Sam, so they were spooned together.
"Yes ma'am." She said softly. Then...
"I love you...goodnight."

(Andrew)

=I look at Mira and give an apologetic smile, my voice at a whisper=

Sorry...guess Sarah hasn't changed that much since we were kids.

=I look up at the ceiling, trying to get what sleep that I could=

Right, well. I leave the room quietly and out into the hall. Even though I'm certain I heard screaming from here nothing seems strange.
No zombies or suspicious characters. Or anybody at all. The hallway is clear and dim, lifeless and without motion. It's sorta creepy.
I turn back around, officially creeped out. I find my bed amongst the others and attempt to go back to sleep. Though that would be lucky.