Setting
INK
Elise sat shivering slightly in a tall-back wooden chair in the middle of the bookstore. It had taken a lot of hand-soap and paper towels to get all the muck and stink off her body from the sewer and the new pair of clothing was a welcome relief from the smell. The black t-shirt fit nicely, though it was a little tighter then Elise would normally be comfortable with and the sweatpants were a gift from heaven and hung wonderfully off her waist and were very warm, though a little short around the ankles. Her shoes were still in the bathroom drying out and her socks had been stained black from the filthy water, so she simply went barefoot for the moment.
She hadn’t spent much time examining her new savior, but already felt immensely more comfortable around this new female than the creepy old man with the shotgun. Her new companion was white, with a fair complexion and what Elise thought were deep green eyes (though she hadn’t gotten close enough to check). She didn’t seem to be much older than Elise herself, and if she had to bet would have put the girl at 21, give or take a year or two.
At that moment the girl emerged from the bathroom with a wrinkled nose of disgust and a faint smile.
“Those shoes are filthy in every sense of the word.”
Elise smiled back and nodded. The girl came over and sat next to her on another chair. When Elise had entered the bookstore both girls felt it best to gather some chairs from around the shop and create a semi-comfortable area in the middle of the store.
“My names Avery.”
She extended a hand. Elise paused before taking it with a gentle shake.
“Elise.”
Avery smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
The two girls exchanged pointless small talk about their lives, something to distract them both from the infected lady who had returned to the front door. Elise had learned that Avery was 20 and worked at the bookshop they were currently in, that she had lived in London for five years, and had lived in Canada before that. Elise told Avery similar information; that she had lived in London for her early childhood before moving to New Orleans in the U.S., had come back for school, and was currently in her sophomore year.
“How did you end up in the sewers anyway?”
“I was running from an infected. It was my last resort.”
Elise held up her bandaged hands.
“The manhole cover was hell on my nails.”
She said jokingly… At that moment a screeching mechanical noise filled the street outside.
“This is the Police. Please remain in your homes and ensure your doors and windows are securely locked. Do not leave your home for any reason.”
Both girls exchanged glances, Elise looking by far the more worried of the pair. The infected at the door stopped it’s banging and Elise hoped it had gone off towards the noise and the Police. Moments past and there echoed a flurry of gunshots that confirmed her hopes before all went silent once more. Elise let out a stressed breath of relief. The message repeated on the megaphone.
“This is the Police. Please remain in your homes and ensure your doors and windows are securely locked. Do not leave your home for any reason.”
Elise looked towards Avery and frowned.
She hadn’t spent much time examining her new savior, but already felt immensely more comfortable around this new female than the creepy old man with the shotgun. Her new companion was white, with a fair complexion and what Elise thought were deep green eyes (though she hadn’t gotten close enough to check). She didn’t seem to be much older than Elise herself, and if she had to bet would have put the girl at 21, give or take a year or two.
At that moment the girl emerged from the bathroom with a wrinkled nose of disgust and a faint smile.
“Those shoes are filthy in every sense of the word.”
Elise smiled back and nodded. The girl came over and sat next to her on another chair. When Elise had entered the bookstore both girls felt it best to gather some chairs from around the shop and create a semi-comfortable area in the middle of the store.
“My names Avery.”
She extended a hand. Elise paused before taking it with a gentle shake.
“Elise.”
Avery smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
The two girls exchanged pointless small talk about their lives, something to distract them both from the infected lady who had returned to the front door. Elise had learned that Avery was 20 and worked at the bookshop they were currently in, that she had lived in London for five years, and had lived in Canada before that. Elise told Avery similar information; that she had lived in London for her early childhood before moving to New Orleans in the U.S., had come back for school, and was currently in her sophomore year.
“How did you end up in the sewers anyway?”
“I was running from an infected. It was my last resort.”
Elise held up her bandaged hands.
“The manhole cover was hell on my nails.”
She said jokingly… At that moment a screeching mechanical noise filled the street outside.
“This is the Police. Please remain in your homes and ensure your doors and windows are securely locked. Do not leave your home for any reason.”
Both girls exchanged glances, Elise looking by far the more worried of the pair. The infected at the door stopped it’s banging and Elise hoped it had gone off towards the noise and the Police. Moments past and there echoed a flurry of gunshots that confirmed her hopes before all went silent once more. Elise let out a stressed breath of relief. The message repeated on the megaphone.
“This is the Police. Please remain in your homes and ensure your doors and windows are securely locked. Do not leave your home for any reason.”
Elise looked towards Avery and frowned.