ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

"Not off the top of my head. But I'm sure we'll think of something."

I look at my newest gun then back at her.

"Maybe what our lives were like before...?"

(Andrew)

=I look to Sarah=

You heard him. You need some sleep?

(Sarah)

=I mime a yawn=

Yeah...I'll get some shut-eye.

=I then get into a comfortable position=

To take a line from the best space marine, "Wake me...when you need me."

=I wink and then close my eyes=

(Andrew)

=I sigh and shake my head, smiling=

Well...at least she got some bit of culture in her...

=I check over the wall, waiting for the inevitable Shepherd assault=

(James)
"Ha. Well, I guess it wold be a bit cliche wouldn't it? Romantic moment before the siege....."
=A sudden thought crossed my mind. Now that we had time, now may as well be a good time to ask Book those questions=

"Book.....how do you know all this? About the shepherds, their method of attack?"

(Book)
=I sighed, already the weight of the truth and my past crimes wearing down on me=
"Now isn't the time James. If I tell you here and now, you will be too blinded by what I say, to focus. And we need you focused."

(James)
"I'm just another soldier on the wall Book. My focus won't turn the tide of this battle."

(Book)
"All the same......I won't tell you now."

Hibiki relaxed...then touched James' arm.
"We need to talk."

(James)
=I didn't want to talk, not now. It wasn't just because of the attack, but because of the argument. But....who knew when we would next get a chance to talk, to mend what was between us? Forget going to bed angry folks, don't die being angry at someone you love. So, I nodded and moved down the wall to the street=
"I'm guessing this is about....well, the past hour?"

(Sam)
=I wondered if I should say something to Eve, about her retreat, about the cowardice. But a) saying it like that would make things worse, and b) confronting her so soon wouldn't make her talk to me any sooner=

Hibiki kept close to James.
Safely down from the wall, Hibiki went to James' chest. She was sobbing now, gripping his shirt.
"I'm sorry James. I'm so sorry. I was afraid I would lose my baby. My daughter. They're my world James." She sobbed out. "Please forgive me."

Eve moved away.
"I'll be on the street." Eve mumbled to Sam before heading off the wall.

(James)
=I was sorta surprised by that. Kinda expected her to yell at me, chew me out for the arguing, call me an idiot or stubborn fool. But then, I guess she already did. So I hugged her, held her close=
"Hibiki, it's okay. I forgive you."

=Moving my face down so that it was pressed against her hair, I nuzzled the top of her head=
"You had every right to call me out on that, and to run. Even if it was with our baby. But you wanted to keep it safe, so I forgive you."

(Sam)
"Eve?"
=I looked back at her=

"Hey, I was just kidding about the ammo thing. Do you wanna talk?"

Hibiki sniffed. She relaxed a bit.
"I love you."

Eve looked back. She opened her mouth...but instead of words, a long, drawn out cry was released, and Eve collapsed onto her knees, having another utter breakdown.

(James)
"Same here. Listen, we really should get back on the wall.....but honestly, I need a drink and maybe a trip to the toilet. What about you?"

(Sam)
=Well, that was unexpected. And it also drew a lot of eyes. Nearly half the manpower on the wall turned to look at Eve, and even the walkers turned into the direction of the sound. I got up, and ran for her=
"Eve! What the hell?"

=I got her in my arms, staying crouched and keeping her cradled there=
"What is it?"

"Same." She stayed against his chest. "Please...just hold me for a bit longer." Hibiki asked.

Eve's sobs were the only response Sam got for a minute, until she had calmed down to occasional dry sobs.
"I'm sorry I'm the worst girlfriend, sister, friend, and partner ever." She hid her face in Sam's shoulder. "I'm sorry I can only break down and cause you problems. I'm sorry I can only fuck up and makd your life worse "
She hugged Sam back.
"I'm acraid of losing you. Of you finally not forgiving me. I'm afraid of you dying." She shook abit. "I'm afraid Sam, and I dont know how to suck it up anymore. I have so much to live for now, but how long until I lose everything to my own sins?"

(Sam)
"Eve.....I told you what to do with the fear. I told you to fight it down, lock it in chains and stow it somewhere quiet. Because you can't let the fear control you Eve. You do that, and it's over."
=I still held her tightly=

"But I forgive you all the same. And you don't need to worry about losing me, or dumping you. Nothing but a full blown betrayal and murder will change that."

(James)
"Well, I can try but....I've kinda been holding it in, and now I really need to open the floodgates if you know what I mean."

Well fuck.
Eve sniffed. "I love you." She asked quietly, her small bosy relaxing.

Hibiki pulled away. "Go babe. I don't think you'll get another pair of underwear."

(James)
=Letting go maybe a little too quickly, I rushed off for the hotel. However I stopped first, to look up to the top floors. Most of the smoke was dying down, the black replaced with white. I guess that the soldiers up there were managing to put out the worst of the fire, but it still wasn't out all the way. However, I was still able to get into the lobby and head for my room, and to the toilet. In spite of everything that had happened today, the feeling of taking a piss......well, look it was a good feeling. It always is=

(Sam)
"Love you too. Now, get up and dry your eyes kiddo. We've got work to do."

Eve shakily stood up, wiping her eyes.
"Yes ma'am." She said softly.

Hibiki stole Eve's room.
She really had to go.

(Sam)
=We got back to our post, and the moment was over. I went back to eyeing the street, sweeping the gun around waiting for a target worth the ammo=
"So, a whole day before the attack. Did you know about this, or is this something new? I mean, you know about a Pariah, but what about stuff like this?"

(James)
=Once I was out of the bathroom, I walked back to the lobby, waiting for Hibiki. That or for the shooting to start, either one worked=

"I knew. I know their tactics. The Pariah only expands upon them. The explosion was a diversion. The walkers are a distraction. The visit earlier was division." Eve frowned. "But he is not Face or Hannibal. Which means we can do this...if we use each of his points against him."

Hibiki stepped out.
"Alright."

(Sam)
"Yeah well I have no idea what his points are. Most I've got is that the guy seems to be a drama queen, enjoys the spotlight, and has a thing for sadism."

(James)
"Okay....back to the wall I guess."

"And rape." Eve added.

Hibiki nodded. "Lets go then..."

(Sam)
=I blinked at that=
"He rapes?"

(James)
=We got back to the wall, and back to where we were before, with Book. So I figured I'd ask him what was on my mind just now, seeing him with that gun=
"So uh Book. I thought the Bible said 'thou shall not kill?"

(Book)
=I smiled a little, pulling back the slide on my rifle=
"Oh it does. It is however very fuzzy when it comes to knee caps."

"Father, it does say 'sell your coat and buy a sword' so self defense is totally ok." Hibiki corrected.

Eve looked troubled. "He...said he'd rape you...because I wouldnt rejoin him."

(Sam)
=I pursed my lips=
"Well, we could always have me rigged. Either with explosives or something that cuts it off, if the worst ever happens."

(Book)
"I know what the good book says, but I don't kill, least not anymore."

(James)
"So, just shoot the Shepherds in the knee and leave them to be eaten?"

(Book)
"Well, I'm not killing them then."

"Or we kill him before he gets within ten inches of you." Eve said.

Hibiki sighed. "Your choice."

(Sam)
"That works too I guess."

(James)
"Either way, someone's dying by the end of this."

Eve nodded quietly...but moved just a bit closer to Sam.

Hibiki sighed. "Yeah..."

(Sam)
"Try not to get too close Eve. I'm going to need you ready to help load the ammo."

(James)
=At some point, I got tired of aimingygun down a street filled with walkers, and just sat down, back to the edge of the wall=
"Anyone bring a deck of cards?"

"That doesn't apply to the bed, right?" Eve muttered, stepping away to get ready. She sighed softly. "Sorry..."

Hibiki sat down and peoduced a deck. "I'd say strip poker...but yeah. Not the best time."

(Sam)
"In the bed.....I don't know sis. We could be close, but as far as cuddling, well....eh, that could still happen I guess."

(Book)
=I picked that moment to quietly cough=
"Yes, not the best time. Or company."

"You think I am aiming for more then to go to sleep with you holding me?" Eve pointed out.

Hibiki laughed. "Yep."

(Sam)
"First time for everything."

(James)
"This is going to get boring, real fast. And I can't believe I'm actually complaining."

"I'll save the fantasizing for when we are dating. Happy?" Eve grinned slightly, still recovering from her recent breakdown.

Hibiki sighed. She just sighed.

(Andrew)

=I was almost laughing at the spectacle I was watching through the scope of the rifle I had=

Now you know how I feel, man...

=I then give into slight laughter, lowering the rifle=

(Sam)
"Heh, okay."

(James)
"So, if we're going in shifts, then who gets first shift? Hibiki, do you want to take a break?"

Hibiki nodded.
"I need to find Eve."
She ran off before anyone could get a word in edgewise.

Eve smiled softly. "Thanks...for forgiving me..."

(James)
"Okay. Be careful."
=So there I was, left alone on the wall with Book and the other soldiers. The only noise I around was the moaning of the walkers=

(Sam)
"No problem Eve."

As Eve stood quietly...she turned around and looked down to see Hibiki running their way.
Eve clambored down from the wall and jumped a few feet down into her arms.
"Mommy!"
The girl seemed to melt into Hibiki's embrace, slightly sobbing again, but more happily then the sorrow of earlier.
"I'm here baby..."
"Daddy?"
"He's ok...everything is ok babe...everything is ok."

(Sam)
=I looked down a the two of them=
"So I'm guessing James is alright? Save for maybe being bored?"

"He is. Everyone is."
Hibiki nuzzled her daughter's cheek. "Is my baby here ok?"

(Sam)
"She's good. Nothing to worry about."

"Sooo..."
I lean back against the wall, let the rifle rest on the wall and take my fedora off. Setting it beside me.
"I'm bored out of my mind. Do you... uh"
I squint so I can see easier. I actually need glasses but back on subject. The guy looks familiar, yeah. It's Abel over there.

Hibiki smiled gratefully.
"Thank you Sam...thank you."

(Sam)
"It's what I'm here for. Well, that and killing zombies."

(James)
=Well, this was starting to get anti-climactic. Sitting here with our guns out and no targets worth the ammo, I felt a little foolish. But if the Shepherds weren't coming, then maybe it was a good thing. After all, let us get into position and more prepared=

Hibiki kissed her daughters hair.
"Keep that your job."

Eve was quiet, mewling once or twice.

Abel took another puff of the cigar as he turned his head to see one of the men staring at him.

He looks kinda familiar...

"Tyler...  Right?"

"Yeah. And you're Abel, right?"
I get up and extend a hand towards him.

"You bet."

Abel looked down at the shotgun in his left hand and his cigar in his right.  He put the cigar in his mouth as he shook Tyler's hand.

"We didn't really talk much, before, just some brief conversations if I recall.  Of course, I never really had too long of talks with many of James' crew, 'cept one."

"Yeah just a few conversations. But it's nice to see a face I know the name of."
I shrug as I take my hand back.
"It's like I joined a club I have no friends in."

"I was back out at the old Lockdown town before I came here, noticed it was completely abandoned, save for a few new dead residents.  What the hell happened there?"

Abel puffed on the cigar some more.

"The Shepherds attacked, that's what happened. Had these vans bust through the walls and release zombies inside the town while they attacked the walls.
Total chaos, nobody knew which way to shoot. It was a slaughter... so we moved here."
I scratch the back of my neck and stifle a yawn. I wasn't even tired.
"Weren't you there?"

(Sam)
"Heh, I'll try."
=I looked back at the walkers, half expecting bullets to start flying our way=

"I think this is part of their attack. The waiting bit. Get us on edge, jumpy. They want us unnerved for when they attack."

"Yeah." Hibiki answered. The she smiled.
"Sam. Why don't you take my place here and let me keep watch? You two made up, right?"

If they hadn't, it was clear Hibiki was going to make them.