ZRP-2: Chapter 4, Backtracking

Joe realized nothing was going to be done. He put the files back in his backpack, and he began his journey once more to the mid-west. It may take a long while, but he will be able to get there.

As he exited towards the gate and down the main Interstate towards Denver, where last he heard was that the military had a compound down there. Hopefully it was still there.

Mizore half opened her mouth in shock.
She was alone...?
"I had imagined you were with a group... You were alone?"

(Allie)

I shake.my head.

"Yup. Everynow and then I would hook up with a caravan for a day or two but then I would go my separate way."

Hibiki nodded. "I just want to sleep honestly...curl up in a real bed under warm blankets and have a long nap."

Eve sat near the wall, giving Sam space. But she stared her way longingly, knees hugged to her chest.

"I can't imagine what it must be like to be alone."

Mizore fell silent, at a loss to what she could say next.

(Allie)

"I'm used to it so it didn't bother me that much. Oh, I'm Allie by the way."

"You must be very strong to have survived."

(Allie)

I grin at the statement.

"I wouldn't say strong, more of smart."

(James)
"Seriously? You have like no stamina, because out of all of us you sleep the most."

(Sam)
=I could feel her eyes on me, and half of me enjoyed it, the other half was a little creeped out. I don't know, made me feel like I was being watched by a predator=

"It must've been difficult, being on your own."

Mizore looked up at Allie from her seat under the tree.

(Andrew)

=I continue to hit my targets when I hit upon an idea of sorts=

Well...it wouldn't hurt to have a bit of fun...

=I look over and see Sam a few lanes from me=

Now...let's see who's the better marksman here...

=I place the rifle on the table and stroll on over, a smug grin on my face. I keep my grin as I stop behind Sam=

You up for a bit of a friendly competition competition?

(Allie)

I frown.

"It was.. at times. But I got passed."

"What were you... Before this?" Mizore asked, before quickly adding "If that's okay to ask."

(Allie)

"Marine sharpshooter or sniper, either fit. I had been on tour and Got home when the outbreak started."

Mizore stared at Allie, half shocked.

"So you... You killed people before this?"

(Allie)

I nod.

"Yeah, I went in 2006 in the middle east. Hunting down terrorist and what not."

An arrow whizzed by Andrew's ear, and impacted the center of the second row seat in the balcony behind them - having shot right between the handrail and the wall. While seated.
"I win." She called over.

Mira had followed Andy.

Hibiki smirmed. "Hence why I have more stamina when it counts. I conserve my energy well. Unless you want to kiss the matt....babe."

(Andrew)

=I feel the arrow whiz past my ear, and I mutter a curse, whirling around to face Eve=

Damn good shot with an bow, let's see how good she is with a rifle...

=I feel my face redden with anger briefly, allowing a smirk mark my features=

Come on, I dare you to do that a second time, my dear...

Eve stared right back at Andy, nocked another arrow, and, without breaking eye contact, turned the bow to a dummy and fired, impaling it between the eyes.
She smirked back.

(James)
"Ha, no kissing the mat for me."
=I stood up, and started walking back for the hotel. I wasn't planning to lay back and relax just yet though=

(Sam)
=I saw the smirk on his face=
"Cool it Andrew. Honestly, stop being such a hot head."

Hibiki followed silently.

Eve didn't get up, instead laying on her side and closing her eyes.

(Sam)
"Really? You going bi-polar on us now?"
=I sorta waved my arms, flopping them uselessly at her=

(James)
"Well....do you really want to go out of the compound and have a look?"
=I looked at Hibiki, silently walking beside me=

"Yes." Eve called back. "It's that or I can get clingy again. Your choice." She delivered, deadpan.

Hibiki nodded. "I wanna explore."

(Sam)
"Then by all means, stay at a distance Eve."
=Turning back to the firing range, I let off a few more shots from my gun=

(James)
"Well....it's probably stupid, but what the hell? May as well right. Who knows, we'll probably find useful supplies or something. Come one, let's grab our gear."

Eve got up and walked over.
And then stuck one hand in Sam's jacket pocket.
"I have invaded your pocket and captured it for the Kingdom of Clingy Archers." She reported.

Hibiki grinned. "This'll be fun."

(Sam)
=Now......that was the dumbest thing she could have done. Because I was still firing the damn gun, and since I was so focused and not expecting her to actually do that, my grip sorta loosened, and the stock dropped from my shoulder right as I fired. So the recoil sent the butt of the rifle flying under my arm, and right into her forehead=
"Holy crap Eve, are you okay?"

=Because you did not just startle me while I was handling a live weapon=

(James)
=We soon got back to the room, and got our gear together. Mostly the same, though I figured I'd ditch the P90 in favor of my bow and arrows. I needed better practice=
"Okay, so all we need now is a map. That or we can just walk around the city aimlessly."

Eve didn't think she'd fire another shot.
She had miscounted.
And now she was unconcious.

Hibiki shrugged. "Get a map to find out how ay back. Wander aimlesy."

(Sam)
=Now, one of the guards (bless his heart) had immediately rushed over to check on Eve while I was on my knees beside her. We had both checked to see if she was still breathing, which she was thank god. The other guard though was doubled over, laughing his ass off and I could hardly blame him; panic aside, I'd have been laughing with him=

(James)
"Heh, we could always leave a trail of bread crumbs."
=We walked out of our room, headed for the lobby=

Eve was running.
The moans of the undead followed. Newborn, they were cwtching up.
She turned, pistol raised.
All of them were Sam.

She cried, gunning down the endless undead Sams.
Then, finally, there! Alive!
Eve ran towards her, arms outstretched...until Sam was stabbed through the chest by Jonah.
"Time for my daughter to meet the knife instructor again." He said.

Eve shot up screaming, looking around wildly. When she finally registered Sam, she immediately latched on with a vicegrip hug, crying and speaking, which meant no one could understand her.

Hibiki laughed. "Riiight...how about dead zombies?

(James)
"Yeah, that could work."

(Sam)
=I was tackled to the ground by the girl, letting out a 'woof' as the air got knocked out of me=
"Damn Eve, glad to see you're okay."

Eve's crying was a bit less now as she calmed down.
"Is this just another dream? Am I awake?"

Hibiki chuckled. "First one to fifty zmbie kills wins?"

(James)
"Wins? Wins what?"
=We neared the North gate=

(Sam)
"Yes Eve, it's not a dream right now. You're in the real world."

She sniffed, not letting go.
"All the walkers were you, then when I found the real you...Father killed you."
She cried a bit more. "Why won't the nightmares stay away?"

Hibiki shrugged. "I don't know, bragging rights?"

(Sam)
=I was stupid at the moment, so convinced she was ready to call James 'father"=
"Wait, why would James kill me."

=Epic fail in 3..2..1=

(James)
"Heh, yeah I guess. Hey, open the gates we're going out on patrol!"
=I guess I had pull here, because low and behold, the gates opened up and we were outside. There were a few stray walkers, but they were far enough away that Hibiki and I could still talk=

"James is daddy. Jonah is Father." Eve said, mostly calmed.

Hibiki followed silently.

(Sam)
"Eve....there's a difference, trust me on this one. Jonah may have once been your father, but he's not anymore. Now he's just Jonah. James is your dad, your father now. He wants to be there to help raise you, care for you. But Jonah? He only ever wanted to use you. That's not what a father does."

(Andrew)

=I sighed, rolling my eyes in the background. What a joke=

Tell that to Abernathy...

=I then take the Winchester from the table, load it, and fire 10 successive shots in twelve seconds, each a headshot=

Eat your heart out...

(Sam)
=It was childish I know, but I glared a little at Andrew. What an ass. Sometimes I wondered what the hell Mira saw in him=

(Andrew)

=I feel the glare from Sam=

Well...you have every right to glare at me...

Go on, feel free to yell at me Sam.

Mira took cover.
"Nice loving you Andy."

Eve held her tighter. This was gonna be good.

(Sam)
=I inhaled slowly through my nose, eyes closed. Then when I opened them, I was calm, my anger stifled=
"That Andrew, is how you stop being an impulsive hot head. Now, please put down my gun so I can take it back."

Mira peeked over. "Damn. I thought there'd be nothing left."

Eve sighed. "There went tonight's entertainment." She said, wiping her eyes.

(Sam)
"What, you guys wanted me to cut loose and yell at him? In a firing range? Honestly, I'm not that stupid. But seriously Andrew, you need to stop being so....hot headed. For god's sake, you act like you have something to prove, like there's an eye in the sky meant for you. But that's not the case here Andrew. You're in a group, with people that rely on you, and vice versa. It will all fail, if you can't learn to be more mature."

Eve smiled slightly. But no more.
Drawing back, she kept her hands on Sam's sides, breathing. It looked like she was gonna be calm in a second.
But. Uh.
Headache incoming for sure

(Andrew)

=I keep my face neutral, not letting her see the remarks stung me. I set the gun down, my eyes staying locked onto Sam the whole time=

I know, and that's a part of me that I've tried hard to keep down.

=I hear the slightly sullen tone of my voice as I said it=

(Sam)
=My voice softened a little=
"Then try harder, but not on your own. You have Mira now Andrew, listen to her."

=I walked out of Eve's embrace, and over to the table where my gun lay=
"You're not a bad person Andrew. You're an ass yes, but you're a good ass."

=Grinning, I decided to lighten the mood=
"Am I right Mira?"

"Is it safe to make sexual innuendos with such an impressionahle young child around?" Mira asked, nodding towards Eve, who now was holding her head from the obvious headache that was invitably coming.

(Sam)
"Trust me, she can take it."
=And that was an innuendo in and of itself=

(Andrew)

=I get a silly grin on my face, trying hard not to laugh=

Dear Lord...and I thought I was bad.

=I shake my head, smiling=

"Yes, my Andy is one fine piece of ass." Mira said with a straight face.
Meanwhile, Eve looked up. "Anyone got any tylenol?"