ZA RP

Final Preparations/The Move

Chapter 3: Part 1/2
Emily moved over to the seat that Levi had been sitting in, and sat down, still trying to wake herself up fully. (You can do this Em…Levi is counting on you) She tried to focus on something, and noticed Madeline looking out the window, sitting in the chair Darren had been in.
“Madeline?” Emily called over to her, using a soft voice, trying not to awaken anyone.
Madeline looked over, raising an eyebrow as if to ask what was wrong. “I’m sorry your first day of school sucked so badly.” She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Madeline grinned at her as she stood and stretched.
“Brings a whole new meaning to ‘first day jitters’, doesn’t it?” she smiled at Emily.
A couple of hours passed without much trouble while Emily and Madeline were talking. After a rather funny joke about how technically zombies already existed due to modern technology, Emily looked over at Madeline, seeing her smile.
Madeline’s smile disappeared rather quickly however, and Emily couldn’t help but be curious. Emily followed Madeline’s gaze, and she was instantly on her feet. “Quincy leave Rosy alone already!” she said, pulling him over to her chair by his leg. “Now stay!” she rose her voice, waking Levi and Darren.
Levi sprung up from his sleeping position and looked around. Not finding anything, he gave her a questioning look. “What is going on?” Levi sounded as if he was going to kill someone.
“It’s nothing…Quincy is just bothering Rosy again…” she gave Levi an apologetic look, making sure to give Quincy a glare. “He won’t do it again, right Quincy?” she was making sure that he understood. (Last thing I need it Levi killing him…)
“Whatever…” Quincy said in an annoyed tone. He looked back over to Rosy and gave her a creepy smile. “Don’t worry, they’re just jealous of what we have!” he whisper yelled to her. She squealed in fright at his remark.
Emily shook her head. “Don’t worry Rosy, you’ll be okay. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.” (I never noticed how annoying he can really be…) She sighed at the thought. Sitting down again, she tried to relax.
(How can I relax when my friends are all missing and probably dead?) The thought pierced her, sending chills all the way through her. (Jack…Annie…Allan…they might be…) A tear formed in her eyes at the thought. (No…they’re all fine…Jack would know what to do, he would know not to get close to the people who were sick. But Annie, or Allan…) She leaned back in the chair, fighting herself. (Just focus on now Em!)
On that note, she turned her attention to Quincy again, to make sure he wasn’t trying to creep over to Rosy again. Going wide-eyed, she saw Quincy was actually crawling his way over to Levi. “Quincy don’t!” she tried to stop him, but it was too late. He grabbed Levi’s leg, and made a playful rawring noise at him, imitating a zombie. Levi, who was asleep, sprung awake and reacted. His foot instantly kicked, nailing Quincy hard in the nose.
“Geez you stupid dumbass!” Levi yelled at him now. “If you keep this shit up, you’re going to wake up alone!” She could tell he was being serious about leaving him. Levi yells had woken up Darren and everyone along with him.
“What’s going on?” Darren had his crossbow aimed and ready.
“Nothing Darren, just Quincy being an annoying –“
“God I was just trying to lighten the damn mood in the zombie apocalypse! If I don’t then who will!?” Quincy said, holding his nose which was now bleeding. He stormed off, heading for the nearest bathroom.
“Quincy wait! You can’t go alone!” Emily called after him, however he kept going. Sighing, she walked hurriedly after him, just in time to see him disappear into the bathroom. She walked up to it and was about to knock on the door when she heard him crying.
Knocking gently on the door, she tried to calm him. “Quincy…I’m sorry about what Levi did. But you couldn’t have expected him to act any differently. I mean, we are in a dangerous situation, and he’s just stressed out…we all are.”
“Just leave me alone…”
“I’m sorry Quincy, but I’m not about to do that. Normally I would give you space, but it’s not safe for me to leave you alone. I’ll be out here when you’re ready to head back to them…” she trailed off, not wanting to make the situation worse than it already was. Leaning against the wall, she looked at the ceiling.
Hearing footsteps, she looked over and saw Rosy heading towards her. “Is he okay?” she asked in a small, but concerned voice. (Wow…you’re honestly the last person I thought would be concerned for him, aside from Levi anyway…)
“I think so…” she said unsure, “He just needs a little time to himself is all, to cool down.”
As soon as she finished that statement, Quincy opened the door. His eyes were bloodshot now, and his shoulders were slumped. Giving them both a look like he didn’t care, he walked quietly back to the rest of the team. Emily and Rosy turned and looked at each other after he disappeared around the corner.
“I should go check on him.” She started walking back, and got to the corner when she realized she was still alone. Turning back to face the bathroom again, she was about to call to Rosy, however Rosy wasn’t there. Confused, she called out to her now.
“Rosy? Rosy!?” She started to panic a little now. (Levi is going to kill me…why can’t I handle things the way he does? He didn’t have a problem the whole first half of the night…) She ran back to the others now.
“Levi!” She came to a sudden stop, seeing him sitting still with his eyes open. “Oh…” she felt dumb, “Sorry, I thought you were sleeping…”
“I can’t sleep now…” He gave Quincy a side glance. She knew that he blamed him for it. Looking at him now, she noticed Quincy had chosen a corner of the room farthest away from everyone, and was sitting there, looking at the corner. She was about to say something when she heard her name.
“Em? Emily?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, right…” she started, blushing a little out of embarrassment, “Rosy is missing now! She was just with me when we both went to go check on Quincy. But she disappeared right when Quincy came back. I started walking back and I didn’t hear her footsteps, which I thought was weird, and I turned to say something to her, and she was gone!” she had blurted the entire story out so fast that Levi looked at her, and raised an eyebrow.
“Emily…calm down, it’s okay.” He smirked at her. She instantly felt better, as if him telling her everything was going to be okay meant that all her problems would just go away. (I don’t know what it is about him…he just exerts that leadership image…as though he knew everything and was in control of it…) She sighed and let him continue.
“Darren, go look for Rosy, and take Emily with you, okay? I’ll watch over Quincy and Brandon and make sure neither one decides to go missing too.” Emily saw him rest his eyes on Quincy. (Quincy would go looking for her…) She smiled to herself at the thought.
“Let’s go find them…” Darren wasn’t in the least bit happy about it. Taking his crossbow off his back, he walked down the hall that had led to the bathrooms. Emily followed close behind him, trying to listen for Rosy’s footsteps.
“Well, she could have only gone two ways…” Emily looked at the T-intersection in the hallway, hoping Rosy would just be standing in the middle of the hall, but they were both empty. (Of course it couldn’t be that easy…)
“We’ll go this way first.” Darren chose to turn left, not wanting to travel into unknown territory. “If we keep following this, it should take us back in front of the nurse’s office again…” he whispered to her, trying to listen for Rosy, or any possible threats.
They walked about halfway up the hallway when they heard a barking coming from a nearby room. Looking at each other, Darren ventured over to the door, and tried looking into the room. “What do you see in there?” she looked at him, wondering. (I really hope only people can turn into zombies…)
“Rosy’s in there…with a dog.” Without another word, he pulled the door open. “Rosy what the hell are you doing? Get back from that thing, it could be infected!” Rosy turned and looked at Darren. Seeing him aiming his crossbow at the dog, her eyes went wide.
“Don’t shoot! He’s friendly!” she pleaded with him. On that note, the dog walked up to Darren and started licking his hand.
“Whoa…good boy.”
Emily stared at the seen in shock. (She wandered off because she heard a dog? That was reckless…) “We should get back to Levi, he’s probably worried sick about us by now… (No Em…he’s not…he doesn’t worry about anything, he’s always in control…) She was still amazed how Levi was able to keep his level head, even in bad spots. (That’s just who he is.)
Darren nodded, raising his crossbow, walking quickly back to the main hall. He chuckled to himself. “I’m soon gonna know these damn halls like the back of my hand.”
Reaching the main hall, Emily stopped, seeing Levi and Quincy talking. (Oh no…now what happened…) She tried to listen in on their conversation.
“Quincy…can I talk to you for a second?” Levi was using a softer voice than normal.
“You should play football…”
“Well, the coach did offer me a spot at wide receiver not long ago…” Levi smirked at him now. “Look, I’m sorry for kicking you in the face, but you have to realize the situation we’re in. You can’t go trying to scare people like that. Just be glad I didn’t pull my pistol on you.” He was keeping an even tone. Quincy didn’t say anything but nodded his head at Levi, seeming to understand. With that, Levi, nodded back, and turned, noticing everyone else returning.
“Well,” Levi looked out the window, seeing the sun rising, “We may as well head out now, since most of us are awake already…” He trailed off as his gaze went to Brandon. “I know how to get him up. Give me one second.” Levi walked down towards the cafeteria. Returning a few minutes later, he threw a box at Brandon. It landed in his lap.
“Ow…what the hell was—“he started yelling at Levi, until he saw the box, “YES! FINALLY!” he grabbed the box and held it up. “Frozen dinner, hell yeah!” Emily smiled, looking to Levi who was smirking. (He didn’t realize it yet…) She was trying to hold back her laughter when he figured it out.
“Wait a second…frozen…frozen dinner. WE NEED A MIRCOWAVE, NOW!” he sprung to his feet, instantly checking the office for a microwave. Finding one in the back in a separate room, he yelled. “FOUND ONE!” he wore a huge smile on his face. Putting the dinner into the microwave, he tried pressing the ‘Start’ button. Nothing happened. “But…” he dropped to his knees, “No…”
“Good luck finding a working microwave kid…” Darren gave him a side glance.
Brandon took the frozen dinner out of the microwave and sulked back to the rest of the group, disheartened and depressed.
“We should get moving while we have sunlight.” Darren said, looking out the window.
“Right.” Levi nodded his head. Together, Levi and Darren moved the desk away from the front door. Leaning up against the door, pistol in one hand, the other on the doorknob. “Let’s move out team!”

Chapter 3: Part 2/2
(Alright, here goes everything.) Taking a deep breath, Levi threw the door open. Sunlight streamed into his face, blinding him for a second. Once this passed, he looked around the sidewalk. To his right was the sign that read the high school’s name.  Aiming his pistol around the area in front of the high school, he noticed that it was relatively clear, aside from a few stragglers from the other night.
“We need wheels…” Levi looked at the parking lot across the street, hoping to find something suitable. (Sports cars aren’t exactly what I want…) He sighed, seeing all the teen’s cars sitting there, untouched from the other day.
Walking a few more steps, he noticed a flatbed truck sitting just to his left, beside the curb. (Hell, don’t even have to cross the street. It should hold all of us.) “Let’s take that truck.” He pointed to it, taking a few hurried steps. “Emily, you driving?” He looked back, seeing her nod. Returning it, he was about to grab for the passenger door when he saw a man behind the wheel.
The man saw Levi, and aimed his gun at him. “Who are you all?” He seemed to be relaxed, however he never dropped his guard.
“Who are you?” Darren returned, aiming his crossbow at him.
“I’m not going to play this game, I’ve asked first. Answer.”
Sighing, Levi gave Darren a glare, and looked back to the man. “Name’s Levi.”
“Clark.”
“Well Clark, I don’t suppose you’d like to join us, would you? We’re heading for the abandoned factory across town. Should be the one of the safer places now, seeing as how it’s on the outskirts of the town, and kind of eerie. It wouldn’t draw a crowd in.” Levi smirked at him, trying to show him he wasn’t of any harm.
“Levi…” Emily whispered to him, “He’s got a baby with him…” He looked into the car, examining it more closely than he had before. There, in the passenger side seat, was a car seat, with a little girl. She was looking at Levi, giving him a confused look, as if asking who he was.
“Get in.” Clark opened the door, took his kid out of the car seat, and pushed the car seat out of the truck, making room for someone up front. Nodding his thanks, Levi hopped in, slamming the door behind him. He watched as Darren, Rosy, Emily, Brandon, Quincy, and Madeline hopped in the bed of the truck.
Clark was about to drive, when Emily called from the back. “Wait, we almost forgot one!” The dog, that Rosy and Darren had found earlier, came running out of the building and hopped into the bed of the truck. It laid down next to Rosy, letting its tongue hang out of its mouth. When everyone got situated, Clark started the truck up, and sped off, leaving the high school behind. Soon, it was no more than a distant memory.
“So…Clark…” Levi started, watching him drive, while cradling his daughter next to his chest. “Were you outside the high school all night?” He raised an eyebrow, thinking about the zombies at the door. (It could explain why they left us alone…)
“Not exactly. I was on my way to the hospital, when I noticed my car shut off. I had looked down at the gas meter and found that I had run out of gas.” Clark spoke, keeping his eyes on the road, dodging abandoned cars and zombies alike. “So, I coasted the truck to the curb of the high school and noticed that small gas station right across the street from the high school. I figured I could get gas there yet, all I had to do was go into actual station and flip a switch. But of course, the damn zombies didn’t make it easy for me.”
Levi looked around the cab of the truck, and saw an AK47 resting on the floor. “Damn man…” Levi looked at it, impressed.
Noticing his gaze, Clark smiled, “It was a tribute to my war days really. The only difference was that I had my daughter with me this time…” He trailed off, as he slowed the car and looked down at his daughter.
“What’s her name?” Levi looked more closely at her, and noticed purple eyes. “Whoa…”
Clark let another smile slip. “Her name is Lavender. I’m guessing you can piece together why.” He focused on the road again. Levi noticed him turn his attention to the side, as the car slowed. Curious, Levi followed his gaze and stared, horrified.
Clark had stopped the car now, looking at the scene. Looking to his right, Levi saw a dead body hanging from a tree. It looked as though someone had beaten it like a piñata, as bones were sticking out in various places, and there was gore all over the ground underneath it. The body was suspended by a rope, hanging on a branch.
Levi listened in on the conversation coming from the back of the truck.
“That just isn’t right. Goddamn people are sick, and I’m not talking about the zombies either…” Darren stood up, steadied himself in the bed of the truck, and fired an arrow, hitting the rope. The body crumpled to the ground, obviously still as dead as it was beforehand. (Even Darren knows this isn’t a damn joke…) Levi sighed. (Some people are just ignorant I suppose…) Noticing a few zombies getting close to the truck, Clark stepped on the gas, leaving the horrid scene behind them.
A few moments went by as everyone sat in silence. Breaking the silence, Levi spoke. “Military huh?” He looked back at the AK47, “What was your specialty? Or were you just a foot soldier?” He was curious to know what Clark could help out with.
“I was an army medic, and a damn good one. After I left the army, I got a job in this town at the hospital as one of the head surgeons. Been here ever since with my wife and my daughter.” He cringed a little at his last statement. Levi noticed he wasn’t about to make any further conversation on the matter. (His wife…) Facing the window, he closed his eyes. (Just another casualty of the zombies…)
“I think we should head to the hospital honestly.” Clark turned, looking at Levi for a second.
Levi shook his head in response. “Sorry man, there are just way to many entrances and exits in a building like that…” He was set on what he told his team. Not getting an answer right away, he looked back at Clark to see if he heard him.
In the short silence that followed, they heard Brandon’s voice from the back.
“Geez…this is going to take forever to thaw out!” Looking back now, Levi noticed Brandon holding the frozen dinner up high above his head, as if trying to get the sun to thaw it out for him. He smirked to himself and faced forward again. (So glad others of us are only worried about food.)
The next couple minutes of the car ride were spent in silence, aside from Lavender making a few sobbing noises. Every time she did, Clark would hush her, and start singing a song under his breath. Looking out the window and leaning back in his seat, Levi thought to himself, finally having some free time to do so.
His first thought was on his sister again. (Payton…you’ve got to still be alive, you were with dad…he wouldn’t let anything happen to you.) He tried to stick to this train of thinking. (Meaning…you have to still be out there somewhere. Hell, maybe dad thought about the factory too.) He knew it was a long stretch, but he tried to stay positive. His sarcasm couldn’t stay silent long though. (Yeah, and maybe he has an entire army there, and a mountain of food, and the football game is on…) His thoughts were broken by Clark.
“We’re here…” He trailed off, noticing the sheer number of zombies in the area. “And it looks like we weren’t the only ones who thought of this idea.” He slowed the car to a park, looking over at Levi. “How do you suppose we get in?” Thinking Levi should have planned for this.
“Well, try around back…” Levi looked at the scene in dismay. (Dammit…like I have all the answers to everything…) He pulled out his pistol, checking its magazine again. (Eleven shots…) Trying to make that number stick in his mind. (And only about forty zombies, piece of cake…)
Driving around to the backside of the factory, there were less zombies. However, they were still too many to deal with. (We need something to get their attention.) Forming a plan in his head, he spoke. “How much do you care about this truck?” Levi questioned Clark.
“Well…it’s the only one that I know works…but what did you have in mind?”
“What if Emily and I took the truck, distracted the zombies, led them away and then came back? You guys would all be able to make it inside without much trouble. The only hard part would be getting back without dragging the zombies back with us, but let that to me.” Levi smirked at him.
“What if we just started a fire? Zombies are attracted to fire and noise.” Darren chimed in, hearing their discussion.
“That actually might work…” Clark was getting an idea. “Everyone out!”
After everyone was out, Clark called Levi over to the driver’s side window. “Here, take her for a second.” He handed Lavender to him. Levi watched as he squealed the tires, driving straight at a crowd of zombies. (What in the hell is he doing?) Levi watched as Clark leaped from the car, firing a sidearm that he must have had concealed. His Ak47 was strapped to his back. The bullets penetrated the car, hitting the gas tank. The car exploded, and was engulfed in flames.
Running back to them, Clark smiled, “There’s our distraction, let’s hurry up and get inside already!” He took Lavender back from Levi and started running for the backdoor of the factory.
Following his lead, the rest of the group followed close behind. Levi waited at the door, until everyone was inside. Once everyone was in, he stepped inside himself. Before he slammed the door, he let one final thought cross his mind. (Hope the inside looks better than the outside did…)