Earth, Chicago

I must of ran for half a mile before i heard someone running at me from in front of me. Then I hear it, as loud as day "Humans! A human has finnaly come here!". An An actual voice! An actual human voice! I think as the sounds of his foot steps get closer. I am beyond tired, be it the inhumanly amount of blood I lost or the fact that i have been running since i woke up in this hell.

After about a moment or two i could see him, it was actually a real human and I cheered and yelled as loud as I could. "HEEEEY!" At last another human. I ran towards him, my blade of glass in one hand, my other covered in blood from pressing on my wound but I have figured out that im not going to die anytime soon even if I don't stop bleeding. I stop right in front of him and begin to ask him questions. "Do you know how we got here?" I already knew the answer but it was worth asking anyway. "Are you the one that killed that... thing back there? Is there anybody else with you?" The blood is still dripping from my shoulder. "So this isn't my own personal hell after all. Were you heading for those lights that came from the south?"

Soon i saw the human, it was a man. I gave a slight scowl but this lifted, what did it matter if it was guy or not, what was i expecting? As soon as i got o him he asked questions in a hurry. I caught most of them like how had we got here and about 'It'.
"Calm down, i can't make sense of what you're saying if you go too quickly... no, i don't know how we got here... yes, i am the one that killed 'It' and apart from you there is no-one else".

I looked at the blood dripping from the man's shoulder "You're bleeding really bad... why aren't you dead?" i kind of knew the answer but still i waited for a few seconds before giving up and telling the man what i thought "so you didn't die either?..." i paused and then decided to introduce myself "the name's Gregorio Smith... and you?..." when i heard the comment about a light in the South i tilted my head in an effort to show confusion.

"A light? I didn't see any kind of light and i doubt i ever will here, the sky is blacked out if you haven't noticed already..."
Wait!... was it that light? I thought as i remembered the slight flash before i had passed out. "oh... damn, why do i always have to pass out when some kind of clue comes up?" i paused again, not really searching for an answer as again i had no other memories to base that assumtion off of.

"Well, anyway... i didn't really know where i was going... i was just walking here when i heard you... but if there is something to the South i must be heading the right way"
Or not... but hey what have you got to lose? I thought.

I nodded to him when he said we should look for anything useful. So as I watched him look though the shelves, I began to think where there would be anything useful in a shop like this. It was small, and it sold mostly food, though there was some odd things as well. They seemed to sell decorative plates, and other fragile things, nothing helpful. I get the idea to go into the back of the store where storage would be. That would be where the most of things would be after all.

"I'm gonna check out the back."

I kept my head up, perfect posture, and walked off into the back, showing no sway, nor any kind of confident body posture. This way, there is no distraction, with Mark worried about me. If he is, I mean, I's still feeling odd ever sense he chuckled at me. It was nice, though, even though I can't remember anything of my past, I never felt that kind of warm, happy, feel, with anyone before. To think I'm stuck with Mark till we die... Well, so far, I'm fine with it. No lines had to be drawn yet, he is a bit squirmy but other than that he seems to be a nice guy. He must know what he is doing if he manege to stay alive.

Once I went though a few boxes, I found some simple things we may need. Three bottles of water, four cans of food, mostly carrots, and who ever owned this shop had a funny collection of tools. One of them, which I found the most useful for Mark, was a one-handed crowbar. So I take the box of food and water, put the crowbar and a wrench I found as well inside it, and brought it out to see if he head any progress.

"I found some things we might need, how about you?"

I rummaged through a few shelves and noticed the stuff Noriko found. "Well I found at least a few cans of something called 'tomato soup', a couple of random pieces of rubble, and a can opener." I said as I sigh. "It may not be much but at least its something nice." I look at the crowbar and the Wrench.

"We could use these two things to defend ourselves with if they get too close to us. You take whichever one you think is best and I'll take the tool you don't pick." I simply said. I look at the crowbar and wrench waiting for her to pick her melee weapon. I would then go and grab whichever one she picked. I hoped it was the crowbar that I get. It seemed a bit more pointy for some reason in my mind. I felt I always wanted to use something pointy on they to see if they could get back up from that. I smirk at that thought. I snap out of it to watch Miss Noriko choose when I bring up a question. "Do you think we're the only ones left? I mean are we alone?"

I simply sighed putting the wrench in the back of my pocket and giving him the crowbar. He looked like he could handle it better anyways. I looked around once more wondering where we could store the food we found if we are going to keep on moving. A backpack would be nice, or a bag, but a box, carrying it all day? Goodness that would suck. I phase out of my thoughts by his question. Once again, I put thought into this... I was not sure, but, if we were... Would I be okay with being with Mark forever? I mean, I know it's going to be ten times harder than without him. I don't have have much of a choice unless I want to die faster...

"I'm... No sure... Maybe we are... Maybe we are not... Either way, what if we are? Can you deal with me forever?" I ask him.

I looked at him for an honest answer, not one of my questions where I glare at someone to influence what to say, I didn't know what I wanted from Mark other than a companion, and to live... Though what I wanted from him in general speaking... I had no clue... Though, he had made me feel unconformable once or twice, I'm not sure if I can trust him... Though, I can't just live off doubt... So... I hope he thinks the same way...

"Honestly... I'm fine if were just the last people... You are nice Mark, you seem like a very kind man and well you pretty much saved my life so I might as well just enjoy you while I got you. Though... I mean it... Be honest... Do you think we can do this till we die? Just us, surviving?"

I listen to her questions whilst trying to find some form of backpack or anything else to carry the food supplies. I smile gently and put my hand on her shoulder. "I've been alone since I woke up Miss Noriko. I can deal with you forever. As for us surviving until we die, who knows? As long as we stick together, it'll be fine." I turn to keep looking for a bag of some form. "Besides I don't think I would make it any farther then where we met if I haven't found you. So I think we can say we work pretty well together."

I turn to show her I'm still smiling. "I know I look like I'm easily scared and afraid of my own shadow at times but I'm glad someone like you is around to tell me how to survive in situations like this. So thank you again for being another survivor and grouping with me." I walk to her and give her a gentle hug. "We'll make it through somehow. You'll see."

"We'll make it through somehow. You'll see."

The words I heard really got to me. For my one moment of worry and insecurity was built up and fixed thanks to my partner, Mark. I smile happily, then get my words of thank you and... Other more affectionate things to myself... My smile is all I feel should be shown at this point, after all, as much as this happy moment makes me feel on top of clouds, it can shatter at any moment... Time to go back into survival mode. My smile faded, my focus clicked back on and I searched with Mark till we found a backpack, weathered down a bit but still usable. I quickly got are food and water into the bag and but Snow, my Flare gun back in my pocket, the other pocket filled with the last of my flares. Now I but the backpack on me, I gripped the wrench and looked at Mark, nodded to him, for now, there was no more time to talk about 'feelings' for they will only hurt you if you let them free.

I looked outside, nothing but the torn road, and the sunrise, giving us very little light, if any, but is still noticeable that the sky had brightened just a little. It must be like three, four O'clock. Though, I'm not so sure being that every clock I've seen say the same time, day, month, and year. I look back at Mark to see if he is ready to go, feeling a small urge to look after him now.

"You ready?" I say sternly, showing that the conversation is over, and it's time to move.

I put the crowbar in my pocket. "Ready when you are. " I said. I felt slightly more confident now that we had that initial conversation. I think it made her a bit more comfortable. But I never really knew if I did or not. "Let's get moving." I said very quickly and quietly. I start to follow her wherever she might be taking us. I smile at how she can take charge at times.

"I'll go wherever you say Noriko. Count on it." I think in my head as I follow her.

"Lets get walking then." I saw to the man before me. "We wouldnt want them to move from their position or we will never find them." I walk past him as i say this. "Please still be near the flare so we can find you. I think to myself.

"Right..." Gregorio said as he started to follow behind the other man, who had still not given his name, probably having ignored his question.
Or does he even remember his name? Gregorio thought to himself. Gregorio had remembered his name as soon as he had woken up but maybe this man and the others, if there were others, had not been so lucky.
"So where did you wake up?... i ended up waking up in a skyscraper not that far from here... also i think you've already noticed that you should be dead by now... call me crazy" Gregorio paused, trying to think of the right words "but i think we can't die by normal means... i mean i fell from the top of a ten stor skyscraper and i didn't even get a broken bone. I'm probably internally bleeding right now but i can't feel pain..."

He paused again and then asked the question which he knew the man probabloy ha no answer to, though he just had to ask, just in-case.
"What the hell are we?"

"I woke pretty far to the north in a place named... Stewards park? Sewards Park? I cant remember the name, it just seemed to be a minor detail to me." I say to Gregorio. "
Oh by the way my name is Taven Weiss, if only the pleasure of meeting you were under better circumstances. As for not being able to die, i agree. I'm pretty sure this shard of glass cut an artery because when i pulled it out it was a geyser of blood. I was sure i would die within an hour."

"We look like humans, we walk like humans, we talk like humans there for we must be human. As for how we aren't dead.... maybe its this world?" I say looking over my shoulder. "But lets not dwell on that now, we just need to find those other people."

I nod and leave the shop with Mark close by, looking down the street, left, right, middle, all of that... Wonder where to go, we had no map, just the sights of destroyed buildings, everywhere, it reminds me that we are effected by they no matter where I choose to hide. Now, that I have someone else, it's a game changer. I was only able to take down two, with the help of Snow, my flare gun. To that idea, when I have no more shells, then she is useless, leaving me with the melee weapons. They look like they are nothing but close fighters, being that some had limbs of blade and claws, to be attack by they again, it seemed to be a heart pounding thought that will eventually come true.

I finally made my idea to begin looking for more people, sure using a flare was great to get one person. But for every human there are ten they waiting too. I don't know about you but I like to avoid them if I could. So, we walked out on the road for a good time till another cross road came. The street name said State. So might as well just travel down this road for a little while. Little did I realize my sense of direction would be slowly leading me toward the lake. I look back a Mark once again, to make sure everything was okay. He seemed fine, we had not talked for a little while and things have been dead silent other than are foot steps on gravel. I sigh, looking around at the tall buildings, knowing that we could being watched.

"You still okay?" I ask.

"Right" i said, continuing to walk with, the now newly introduced, Taven. I could see how he didn't want to dwell on it but for me it was a very big mystery and one that i had to solve. It was really the only that stopped me from going insane i mean i had been attacked by whatever 'They' were, fallen out of a building and survived, seen another human but bleeding profusely and still slightly bleeding even now.
For many normal people this would have turned them insane long ago and to some extent i was already as such... but for now my senses all worked towards survival and as long as i had to struggle to survive then i could not think about everything else that, at worst, might send me into running directly into a 'They' with no weapon and the hope to die.
By now the end of the motorway was starting to come into view as it seemed to lead into a shopping distrit.