Bronwyn Nish's Story

((So I guess it's my turn then. Alright, I'm a bit rusty so bare with me xD Joss's introduction may not be very glamorous))

Joss's exit from the taxi was nothing unusual- just a tall business man in his work attire treading out into the night with a briefcase in hand. He slipped his driver his fair pay, waving off the change, and hastily turned with the traffic-crowded meander. He'd finally made his way back home after a night-long shift of computers parts and bugged programs. The work day rewarded Mr.McCoy with what seemed to be a quiet night- excluding the constant traffic, of course. Every night pedestrians began stripping themselves off the lamp-lit streets- and with their departure passed the less fortunate, they of which shambled toward the parks and the flaming bins.
But this was a normal night in Seattle, and Joss would have to accept that not everyone can be saved. But his heart still ached and his stomach churned with every raggedy homeless man who he happened to cross paths with, regrettably having to admit he had no change to offer as he gave it to his cab driver earlier that night.

The apartment was nothing special, but certainly not too shabby considering Joss had the large room to himself for another week before he'd have to pay the rent. Joss had enough savings to purchase his own sanctuary, but he couldn't bring himself to do so quite yet. Perhaps he was second-guessing himself to the point of procrastination? Or was he simply being stubborn, preferring this apartment that he'd made his den with his polished wood coffee table, sofa, and the humming computer in his workspace? He shoved the thought from his mind as he closed the door behind him, double-checking the lock and windows before making himself comfortable in his neatly arranged but cozy bedroom. He shrugged off his work clothes, rubbing his neck where the collar of his dress shirt constantly rubbed against, and seated himself on his bed. Now warm and comfortable in his almost snug, velvet-soft sleeping T and boxers, he glanced at his watch as he unlatched it from his wrists.
2:47 AM.



The shaking and ringing atop the dresser left Joss awake and drowsy. After a loud moment passed, he realized he'd forgotten to turn off his phone previous to sleeping and let out a stifled groan. He groped at where he thought his buzzing phone was to finally get a hold fine enough to flip it open.
"... Look, if this is another one of y-"
"Joss! Get out of bed... now." Her usually smooth speech nearly bellowed his ear enough to rupture- and his ear wasn't even near the speaker to cause such damage. "Flip on the news- a-and look out your window." Joss's old friend directed almost worriedly- that of which surprised Joss to a point of actually swinging himself out from under his sheets.
"Bronwyn, are you alright?" He asked through the small speakers, fumbling with the remote's tiny buttons in the attempt to revive his television. "-and which news chan-"
"Any of them." Bronwyn replied, her voice a dead-beat among her usually musical voice. She almost sounded distracted...


"Alright, its on. Now what am I...." It was the headline that made Joss go quiet. "VIRUS TREATMENT GONE WRONG: HOSPITAL PATIENTS BREAK OUT..." "No.... damn... way." Words failed the man to a point near shock, the remote falling from his hands. His body felt as if it never lied down to rest. All traces of his tiredness left him and he leaped over to the nearest window.

Only then did he acknowledge the screaming over the roar of what he mistakenly thought to be late-night traffic.
3:05 AM.

"-- I repeat: they will attack. I repeat: Stay indoors they will attack! Known ways to spread the virus is entering the bloodstream- they will bite! I repea-" The impact nearly knocked Joss from his feet, his hand instinctively lashing out to grab the windowsill with his previously clenched fingers. The shock-wave, though only lasting seconds, had he, the newsman, and Bronnwyn silenced. Only moments did it take the young man to find the dropped phone and listen to Bronnwyn pleading for a reply.
"I-I'm fine! I'm A-ok." He reassured the worried woman. "Are you alright?"
"Further from the impact than you." She muttered through the phone.

The young man stood up from the flattened carpet, gaping in horror as he found the nearby hospital in flames, almost completely and utterly demolished by what Joss assumed to be a bombing. They were cutting off the source of the infection. Joss straightened himself, throwing his hands to the back of his head and clutched at his dark hair. The next action was easily enough predicted.

"Bron, pack your bags- I'm leaving but not without you." Joss instructed as he slipped on a pair of his most comfortable dark blue jeans.
"Leave? Funny, the reporter said to stay inside and I don't see much of a problem with that."
Joss slid on his brown ribbed sweater, pressing his phone against both cheek and shoulder. "They're bombing the hospitals to cut off the source but the virus is out. Where do you think their next target is?"
"...Napalm." Bronnwyn faltered. "The streets. But all those healthy pedestrians!" Joss needn't reply- he knew that tone in her voice. She was well aware of the lines the military would draw in the attempt to eradicate the disease before it was too spread. Though Mr.McCoy was in a life-or-death situation, he quickly folded his garments into his briefcase. Well, after dumping out the files and paper, that is. But his laptop remained. Folding the clothes would save more space, thus more clothing and supplies. He took hold of the empty duffel bag used for trips and began filling it with light-weight food items such as cereal, instant oatmeal, crackers, and the toiletries before strapping a spare flashlight to his belt. A bag of dice was quickly filled with two twelve-packs of double A batteries and his pockets occupied a pocket knife, flint and steel, and a bag of paperclips. He had no clue what the paperclips would be for, but you never know.

"Meet you at Lake Washington Boulevard Park? The place we'd meet as kids?" He suggested, shoving his briefcase into his duffel bag and over his shoulder.
"Boulevard!? That place is a forest and this late?"
"You and I both know that place like the back of our hand, not many have that advantage." Joss took one of his covered steak knives, sneering at the thought of using it.
"Not many kids trespassed off the path." He heard Bronwyn remark, making the nervous man chuckle. Yes, they were mischievous alright. Though he never even considered their illegal acts to become so... important.
"So, the Fort, then?" Joss pressed.
"Yep. Get there by 3:25, the same goes for me. That should be more than enough time. Don't drive, traffic is insane. Don't draw attention to yourself and don't get hit by cars. ...They... aren't all you need to worry about."
"Roger that."
"Oh!" Bronwyn exclaimed unexpectedly. "Keep the line on, will you? Like, tape it to your ear or something."
"...Tape it to my ear?" He finally replied, taking out a roll of duct tape and eying it with a stupid look. Through the line he could hear the stretching of tape, undoubtedly being Bronwyn putting her ridiculous plan to work.
"Alright. But you owe me." Joss sighed.
"No I don't. Your making me go into a dense forest at night with killer hospital patients with nothing but a combat knife to protect myself."
"I hate you." Joss sighed as he awkwardly began pressing the tape to his jaw, over the phone pressed against his ear, and the back of his neck.
"Love you, too."

((So I was thinking our characters could meet up around the park. Look it up on google maps if you don't know where it is or what it looks like. I'd post more, but I don't want to get too far in one post. :) ))

((Woot woot* :D))

The night air was drenched in the uncanny scent of exhaust and the metallic contents of shed blood, throwing Mr.McCoy for a loop. He'd never inhaled so much gore, thus the unwelcome quantity twisted at his gag reflux like a damp rag as he weaved his way through traffic and screaming citizens. So many people- he couldn't identify who was a threat or not. He dared not look behind him as the action would not only slow him, but panic him more than he already was.

Joss cut into a "supposedly" abandoned house's yard, this of which border-lined the forest. But he was smart enough to realize the people were clever enough as to turn off all lights and bunker down, and their black van parked in the driveway assured him they didn't drive off and the house wasn't empty prior.
He dared not slow his pace as a wire fence crossed his path. Through his adrenaline he jumped onto it, catching himself with fingers curled with the wire. As he struggled upward, he felt his foot catch. Assuming it was one of the vines that weaved into the fence, he tugged against the forced to yelp when it tugged back. His head turned, finding that his ankle had been gripped by what looked like an insane woman in a hospital gown. Her long black hair covered her pale face as she tried to claw herself further up using Joss's leg as an anchor.

He could feel the metal wire pressing into his white fingers, but all focus was on the crazed woman's face. He fiercely kicked his caught foot at her face, feeling as her jaw broke under his heel. But her grip wouldn't cease! Panicked, he began twisting his foot about and slamming her hand against the wire, tearing her skin as he rubbed it against the fence. Finally the woman hissed, loosening her grip and lunged with her other hand. But that was all he needed. He tore from her grasp and leaped over the top of the fence, not daring to look back at the screaming woman.


Joss navigated himself through the tightly packed forest, panting with every footstep that might have been his last. His eyes strained to catch the light the reflected against a tree in his path, but through his temptation he resisted his flashlight. His movements were all of memory as he turned and jumped. Someone who watched might think he was insane and lost- well, maybe a little insane at the moment- but not lost.


The man felt his way when the adrenaline faded, forcing himself to slow and lean against a tree for a few moments. Joss put his hands against its trunk, feeling the etching picture Bronwyn had made five years ago. Though faded, he could tell that she'd been back here to refresh it maybe a month ago? He couldn't place it. He ducked under the overlaying branches that sprung from low-laying trees. They weaved into each other beautifully, making a natural 6-foot roof over a small expanse of sand underneath. For a moment he actually felt at peace, walking back into his memories. Even the small plastic table they'd bought at a yard sale was still there. Who knew it would become more than a play fort?

He placed his bag atop the table, sighing before placing a finger on his ridiculously taped phone. "I'm here"
"Almost there. Don't get into any trouble." He acknowledged Bronwyn, though barely. Her voice was clouded with the sound of humming- what must have been traffic.
Joss walked outside the small covering, scouting out the area. He'd traveled pretty far from the camp when he saw a small figure knelt by the lake. Instinctively he crouched behind a nearby shrub, watching the figure. He couldn't quite place a gender, but he safely thought one of crazies wouldn't kneel beside the lakeside. Just off to the right he caught a limping figure atop the path and he immediately got a sickening feeling. His gaze swapped between both subjects, not knowing what to do. He couldn't just let them get killed! He couldn't bear that. Carefully he picked up a palm-sized rock, eying the distance behind the shambling shadow. With his good arm, he chucked it far behind it, causing it to immediately turn. While it was distracted, Joss took hold of his flashlight and shone it to the side of the kneeling figure, flashing it four times. Hopefully she'd get the message.

Her breathing had calmed and her adrenaline had almost completely gone back to normal except for a slight shaking in her body which also might be a cause of the muscle strain in running so far. It was quiet around here. You could here the noises from the distance, but here it was calm. There was a small pattering in the distance but she was too tired to care about some rodent. She was sure she would here a crazy come up. All they seemed to do was scream and eat... people.
A light caught her eye and she turned her head to gaze at a bright spot on the grass... it was weird. It was pitch dark. Why was there a light spot next to her. It flashes four times and she struggled to her knees.
She turned her head to see a dark shadowed figure in the bushes with a flashlight. That would have been the cause of the lights.
Help! Maybe it was the police! They had found her! At last everything would be ok.
"Please! I need help. These... they're injured. And dead." she croaked out. Her mind was still a little crazed at the moment and she got to her feet.

"Please! I need help. These... they're injured. And dead." Joss managed to catch the young woman rasp, his gaze exchanging between her and the now far off shadow. He stood up from behind the shrub, walking out enough so the woman could see him more clearly. He waved his arm in a welcoming but rushed motion, "Over here- but be quiet." He whispered back. She appeared shaky from his point of view, but he thought it might have simply been that she was out in 35 (F) degrees in nothing but a nighty and a pair of combat boots. But judging by the circumstances...

"Joss, where are you? Who are you talking t-" Bronwyn hissed over the speakers only to be shushed back.

She was only a little disappointed when he stood up and he was just some ordinary guy-
She blinked at him then as he ushered her over.
She followed what he said of quietness but couldn't stop staring at him. Even when she was safely hidden in the shrubbery.
"Is... is that a phone ducktaped to your head?" she asked confused after hearing a faint voice coming from the speakers. She shouldered her duffel back then momentarily forgetting she was still spattered in brain matter from an old man who shot himself after blowing his wife's brains out because she'd suddenly become a man eating crazy person.

Gabe finally built up the courage to run out from behind the shrubs in front of his newly abandoned house. He stood up to two steps and stopped. "This is a nightmare..." He said as he looked around at all the blood, abandoned cars, and limbs in the street. He saw woman sitting in the middle of the street, she was clenching onto something Gabe couldn't see. He wasn't sure if she was on of those things or not, but he had to check to make sure, he couldn't leave her there. He slowly started to creep up to her to see what was in her hands. A loud scream cut the silence as a man from across the street, covered in blood, started to run toward the woman.

Gabe shouted," Look out" as he began full sprint to attempt to intercept the man convinced the woman had to be fine if this thing was running towards her. Gabe tackled the blood covered man down, quickly got up and kicked him in the head. He went to the woman,"Hurry we need to get out of here it..!" A loud bang as the woman's lifeless body fell over. Gabe fell back in the shock as he was cover in her blood. The shock didn't last long as the man started to slowly get back up and stared directly at Gabe. Gabe got up and ran as fast as he could, without looking back. He cut through backyards to lose his pursuer.

After he was certain he wasn't being chased, he headed up Lake Washington Boulevard Park. He was exhausted. When he was finally there he realized how dark it was, so he pulled out his phone to use it as a light. As he shined the light he found a rock land right in front of him. It was palm-sized. Gabe picked it up wondering where it came from, he was about to call out but was swept of his feet as a crazed individual was trying to bite him. "Get off of me!" Gabe shouted, but to no avail. This was clearly one of the crazy people. Gabe swung the rock he picked up landing a solid blow to the side of the crazed's head, the force knocked it off Gabe. Gabe then got on top of the creature and swung the rock multiple times at its forehead, each hit covering Gabe in more blood. Gabe kept hit it until the creatures arms stop flailing to grab him and his brains were exposed. He took a sigh of relieve as he got up and heard voices. He followed the sound until he saw two figures.

"Hey!, You guys normal?"

Joss's brow creased when he saw the blood that spotted the younger woman's nighty. However, he forced his grief-stricken gaze to her as she spoke. "Is... is that a phone ducktaped to your head?" His face flushed in an instant and a hand came up to painfully tear the blue material from his face. "Don't ask." He almost laughed when he heard Bronwyn complaining about it's removal. "Its...a... BAH!" He threw the now free phone up to his mouth. "Bron, I knew it would look ridiculous, don't compla-"

He heard a scream- a crazed bellow, more like- come from the direction he'd thrown the rock. With a guilty and clenching gut, he was about to rush off with the shocked girl when the screams came to a sharp end. However with it followed another voice.
"Hey!, You guys normal?"
"What the heck? How many people are you picking up there, Joss? I knew you were a people-person but-"
"Shh!" Whether it be at the man or Bronwyn, no one knows. "Yes- very normal. Come here and follow me, we're going to attract too much attention out in the middle of the road." Though his voice was harsh, it was very understandable. He'd already drawn the attention of two people- on on purpose, but that's beside the point- who knew who... or what else he might attract?

- - - - -

Eventually they weaved their way through the woods, the scent of pine and a distinct floral aroma filled their noses. Though screaming could be heard far off in the distance, the woods might actually be able to be described peaceful. Mr.McCoy directed them under the natural roof of large leaves and twisted branches, silent in the nearly pitch dark cover. Once everyone was inside he dragged a large tree clouded in leaves across the entrance. It was smaller than he remembered, but then again he was only 5'6 when he'd last saw it. But it still covered the gap decently enough.
"A childhood play-place of Bronwyn and I." Joss whispered, taking out a blanket to cover the possibly in-shock woman. In all honesty, that's all he knew about treating shock. Plus the woman would be warmer with it on that just a nighty, so that might help, too. He hoped she wouldn't think it a flirtatious move, but he could only hope. He could see the silver ring around her finger, and he didn't want to think about what might have happened to them.

As he sat atop the freezing sand, he caught Bronywn setting out her own sleeping bag. She turned to the newly met pair and dusted off her dark jeans, whispering, "You guys got your own stuff or no? We might be here a while 'til sunrise- if we don't get attacked."

((If you haven't noticed, I use whatever this is for another one of my characters so you can tell who is talking. :)

Desiree' entered the small little tree like den and found herself slightly comforted in an odd way. With the oddly placed branches and colorful garage sale like furniture it reminded her of a childs hideout. This must have been a child's den... or still?
She glanced at the man with the red streak across his skin where he'd ripped the cellular device from.
"A childhood play-place of Bronwyn and I." he explained and Desiree' nodded. He placed a blanket around her shoulders and she felt grateful. It was cold as hell and she was feeling a bit uncomfortable in just a nighty around two strange men.
She would have thanked him but her voice still seemed like it didn't know weather to speak or stay silent. With her silence though there was another voice that spoke out.
A woman was setting up a sleeping arrangement for herself. "You guys got your own stuff or no? We might be here a while 'til sunrise- if we don't get attacked." She could make out her light blonde hair and it seemed to contradict the creepy tone behind her "if".
She shivered and held up her duffel bag as if to explain she had all she needed. She didn't want to think about those crazed people finding them.

((OOC: I am so so sorry how shitty this post is. I know it's a disgrace to our roleplay how shitty it is, but this is all I could come up with. I'm having writers block and school started and AAGGG. Stress. :B I tried though. ))

((A brief time-skip ahead, so we can get moving and meet up with the rest of the guys. :) ))

The light of Joss's phone flickered off after failing to find any service. In his frustration he let out a groan, feeling the burning pain from his previously taped jaw cease as his teeth began to grind. He threw his hands up to his head and silently cursed his thoughtlessness. A worried glance from Bronwyn was the borderline of him yelling out in self-directed fury. But that would be stupid- no, more than stupid. His face grew hot as he realized he might never see his brother again. He'd been so rash, thinking about Bronwyn and himself before his own kin. He waved off the glances, stifling his emotions and whispered, "No service."
Bronwyn bit her lip, understanding much more than he'd just said. She'd known Joss's family for what seemed like her whole life, and couldn't help but feel guilt toward his distress. But they couldn't dwell on that right now, they'd need rest.

- - - -

Joss woke to the screams of a woman being torn out of her car, withdrawing all his willpower to not run over and try to save her. In the distance the calm silver appearance of the road was disrupted by sprinting people- whether they were infected was unknown to him. The screams stopped with an uneasy wail and the sound of fists battering against flesh. He couldn't stand this anymore.
"We need to get out of the city before it's quarantined." He kept the thought that it might already be to himself and hugged his shivering arms. But his shivers weren't symptoms to the cold- it was shock. Or at least he thought it might be. All he knew was that he was scared out of his mind and hoped to wake up from this nightmare any moment now. But that small section in the back of his brain knew this was real. That this infestation was actually happening and he was responsible for these people.

"The boat's just over there." whispered Bronwyn. "But... they might get in the way."

Joss was ready and eager to escape this living Hell. He waited for the others to pack up and began leading the small band to the forest line, adverting his gaze from the sound of animals tearing at a carcass to his left- the place the woman was torn from her small vehicle. His gut churned and he gave Bronwyn an instructing glance. With a small, shaky nod she slowly crept out of the brush and gazed where the sound was coming from. She slapped a hand to her mouth in shock and disgust, turning away before making her way across. Even further down the road than the car were more sprinting figures, screaming and attacking each other with animalistic roars Joss thought not even possible for the human's vocal cords. They were primal, fighting each other for dominance and the first to feast on their kill.

((You guys can throw a few enemies at the group if you feel the need. :) Or, of course, we can just push through to the boat. It's up to you! Also, sorry for not replying. With a new semester comes new schedules and classes. But I should be more active from now on. :P))

Kira picked at her scarf impatiently. She was listening to the exchange of conversation back and forth between this Connor guy and Zach. She didn't think he was bad... not by the sound of his voice, but she'd been fooled before. She got up from her seat by the door and began to pace the room. It was a dusty room. Little particles filtered through the air, highlighted by the setting sun falling behind the trees.
How long had it been? Since Karen had died? Hell... how long had it been since that little boy had died... It seemed like years when it was possibly only just last week. She felt sick to her stomach and went to open the window slightly. The cool air felt good on her skin. She heard no moans. She heard no birds or any sound at all actually. Snow had a way of hiding things... or at least their sounds. She didn't feel right. Something was wrong. Or maybe something was coming. Either way it seemed to quiet and peaceful.

Desiree' took the small plush bear in her hands gently and smiled. She had so many mixed feelings about this baby. Could she bring it in a world like this? Where humans ate each other? Nothing would ever be safe again. Unless all dead things died off. She felt lonely then. She'd lost all contact with her fiancee, Daniel, after the outbreak spread. It spread quickly too. She wanted to make it back to him, but she lost her phone so soon after and every time she found a phone to call him he never picked up. It wasn't long before no one picked up. Sometimes before everyone was dead she would call random numbers just to hear another human. Every time the person on the other end was frantic and hopeful. They hoped that maybe the person on the other end was their savior, but she could never bring herself to tell them she was just wanting to hear their voice. Instead she'd ditch the phone and move on. She had wanted to look for Daniel but she didn't know where she would find him... or if she wanted to. Something in her belly, besides the squirming alien looking thing, told her he was gone. She didn't want to beleive it, but some part of her did. Even then she was overjoyed when she'd discovered they'd reached Colorado. Maybe they could go to San Francisco and look for him. Maybe she would find him and they could go back to their apartment. They could board up the windows. Joss could come too. Anyone really. As long as she was back with him it would be ok. The baby could be born and be happy and live a somewhat normal life again.
She imagined San Francisco in her head. It would all be ok.
She was startled out of her fantasy land by the sound of Joss searching some more in the old room. She looked back down and grimaced. It wasn't going to be ok. Everyone was dead. They could be the last sane people alive on this whole planet. There would always be the bad guys behind them and there would always be those dead things. The dead things that haunted her dreams every night. She was always running and could never get far away. They were always right behind her. Breathing down her neck... she remembered when they could run. Right when the person was turned they seemed almost inhuman. She remembered her first real encounter with one. She'd come face to face with dead back in that store. She didn't know what was going on but something had told her to run fast and hard and she was happy she had. She would have never been able to escape to the forest, find all those people. and survive this long. An image of the blonde girl popped in her head and she winced.
"Tell me more about her. When did you guys meet? I know you said you were childhood friends but how?" she asked hoping to distract themselves with memories before the destruction and death. She wanted to forget the crazies. She wanted to forget her possibly dead fiancee and dead parents or friend. She wanted to forget that soon she'd have to deliver death right into this world. One that would always be crying and alerting those crazies they were vulnerable.

((Roughly 6 or seven months :) ))

The young woman behind him now appeared lost in thought, as if the world had simply fallen into darkness and that one light she was looking for was gone. Joss's brow creased and he felt himself almost well up in irrational fury. Why? Was it that the world had simply changed for them all and forced them to live like prey to the forces of nature, hiding silently under the brush like rodents until the predator had waltzed off to find a more easy kill? He bit back the anguish and the reluctant fury he tried to hold back. There was nothing else in the room... he'd need to migrate to the other rooms...
"Tell me more about her." The world seemed to plummet into empty space, and the vacuum caught the last, shaky breath he was to manage before yelling out in frustration. Everything became still. "When did you guys meet? I know you said you were childhood friends, but how?" Joss was stopped before the doorway, a shaking hand on the door-frame. Images... so many images flashed through his brain in only mere seconds. Bronwyn's words echoed around his skull.

They stood inside what he thought was a secure building, their group forging for what they could find on only the second day of the break out. They'd only just made it out of the city before the whole place blew up in choking flames. Bronwyn was just packing up, standing before him with that witty smirk of her's when the bullet that shattered the window impaled her heart. How she didn't even feel it through the shock, just looking at the blood that had splattered his sweater with a concerned look he'd known too well. She fell dead only seconds after she said those three, picky words.
"Joss, your shirt..."


He turned back to Desiree', feeling his heart clawing its way up his throat, urging him to gag and cry. But no, he advanced toward the bed and plopped down on it's stiff mattress beside the woman. What seemed to be centuries passed by him before he managed to speak.
"Well... the two of us used to live close by the park growing up." He inhaled, running a hand through his snow-flaked hair. "We were the only kids in the area, so we started hanging out despite the age-difference. I was about eleven when we began going out-of-bounds in the park and started engraving trees and making the play fort." He was expecting to either lash out in the welling fury or to break down in tears. Yet, to his undoubted surprise, it actually relieved those feelings. It calmed him. "We... uhm... we'd hand out on a weekly basis when I wasn't working long hours. The night before the break out, we'd planned for coffee on Saterday." He smiled at himself, grinning with a grief-stricken eyes. He almost chuckled. "She was always a loud-mouth... but a witty one."