Natalie Williams's Story

Richard looked at her like she was crazy . . . Maybe she was. But she wouldn't leave him behind and really it was there only shot. She knew that for sure. She'd seen it with her own eyes.

It was a big map of a small town. Darcy could practically picture all the streets in her minds eye as she ran her fingers along them. All of them familiar. This was her life right here, her childhood . . . And it was all about to disappear in the blink of an eye.

Sadness washed over her. When she lived in Highgate all Darcy ever dreamed about was getting away and now that it was about to be blown up she couldn't stand the thought of never being able to come back to the comfort of the small town, she called home.

Pushing the depressing feelings away Darcy sat next to Richard as he ate and rolled out the map in front of them with two hands. The corners curled but it stayed flat and open.

"Well," Darcy sighed looking down at the map "This is it."

It was such a small place; she wondered where Richard grew up.

"Okay, so this is where the evac point is," Darcy pointed the position out with a finger to Richard. "32nd Street and Garden Street at the Welcoming Arch. But like I said earlier there is like no way to get in. It's impossible. It's surrounded by Zombies plus it didn't look like the people inside were going anywhere fast."

It was really quite weird, thought Darcy. Shouldn't they be trying to get people out of there as fast as they could. Yet, they were all caged in like animals or prisoners. She didn't want to think about it.

"So here are the five exits out of Highgate. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5." She stated pointing each one out. "These two are all the way on the other side of town, near the evac point. They're probably heavily guarded and too far away. Now these three are our best shots and they're all easily accessible from the back gates."

Darcy continued not looking at Richard or stopping because she didn't want him to pour water all over her plans before she finished them. The food in hindsight was an excellent deterrent stopping it from happening, mused Darcy happily.

"Now, so I know you don't want to leave with me because you're worried about me getting hurt," and blah, blah, blah "but that doesn't mean you can't leave and do what you have to do and then meet up with me later . . . that is if you still want me." Darcy teased wickedly, pressing her lips softly against Richards stubbled cheek as she gave him a quick peck and turned back quickly to continue.

"Okay, so for safety if these people are as dangerous as you say they are," And she didn't doubt that they weren't . . . trained killers . . . The harsh words rang through her mind . . .

Is that what Richard was? . . A cold chill ran down Darcy's spine and she pushed the disturbing thought away quickly, not because she was scared that he would ever hurt or harm her in that way but because how easily she, herself would forgive and accept him no matter what wrongs he may and will in the future have committed. "Then we should all separate and go in all three direction. It would make it harder for them to track any of us, especially you." Which was the whole point of her plan anyway.

"So this one," Darcy pointed to the road leading out straight from the back of the Morgan estate. "This is the quickest. So I was thinking Jin, Natalie, Leo, the scrawny blonde guy - if he lives - and the redhead with no name can take that road because I think most of them are strangers to Highgate so that will be easy and straightforward for them. Plus I passed it and although it is kind of barricaded it's not guarded or manned so that shouldn't be a problem."

She was talking a lot but she needed to get her plan out in words. So far so good, she thought. Richard was eating like he was a starving man out of the desert after forty days which helped.

"Now this road," Darcy said point to the leftmost one "now, this is the one you, Lilith and that huge flee bag of hers can take in the Jeep. It's slightly longer but I'm guessing with being a Police girl and living in Highgate for her whole life and all Lilith will be familiar enough with the road and you guys can get out that way with no trouble."

Because that's all that mattered to her, that Richard got out alive in one piece and although she would never admit it to Lilith in a million years, she was the only one, Darcy believed, in this whole messed up Brady Bunch of theirs to have a solid head on her body and the only one capable or who Darcy would remotely trust with someone else's life since Richard was out of action.

"Leon can get on his bike and go with whoever he likes." But not with me. She was not looking after that boy, he was prone to klutz-ism and she had no intention of dying trying to save his ass . . . Plus he would get in the way of her other plans . . . Hmm . . . She'd have to cajole him into going with Natalie or best bet yet Lilith, seeing as they shared certain weird hobbies like swords and crap.

"And I'll take this road." Darcy finished simply - hoping he wouldn't notice she would be going alone as it would be in her best interest to do so, still having certain things to take care of - pointing at the road on the far right. It would take her almost all the way around Highgate before she got out but she had the fastest car plus she'd had more experience with that road then any of these other guys.

In fact it really wasn't a road at all - well it must have been at one point, like a gazillions years ago like this map which was ancient too, that's why it still showed it - but it was a dirt road that eventually joined onto a highway that the teenagers of the town used for racing. Darcy had spent much of her teenagers years there and how in-turn she was so familiar with the HGPD.

"So," Darcy finally said with a lift of her shoulders, taking a deep breath and turning to Richard. "What do you think?"

Jin gave a crestfallen face when being told he couldn't get chocolate chips. His smile returned just as quickly when Natalie told him there was a chance if he oils convince her. His mind went to the gutter and back again.

He launched himself down the last few stairs and stood right in front Natalie. But just as he started to lean in again heads and bodies attached to them started coming around every corner. On top of that they all seemed to have problem with him hitting people over the head with his new bat.

"Okay so, there is a horde of nearly a hundred of those things." Jin's face was serious as he gripped his bat and eyed Natalie. "Is there enough time for pancakes? I've been chocolate chips." He smirked in Natalies direction but his smile was for everyone.

"I hope so because we seem to have an important meeting in the kitchen. I mean what is a meeting without food,right?"

That blonde kid was way to loud, he could hear him all the way from the lounge, Leo was way too annoying. If teasing Leon's accent wasn't bad enough, he had no respect. Darcy and Richard were getting on Leon's last nerve, all this secrecy and protecting and lovey dovey crap. Felt like the only sane ones that Leon could actually bring himself to be nice to was Natalie, Jin and Lilith. Ofcourse that was because Lilith wasn't in sight and she was quiet, also that she hadn't bugged him from the start. He had always thought Jin would've been a cool guy ever since he called Darcy topless. Yes he had teased Natalie a bit, but it was fun when she got back at him, it felt like he was back in school, teasing the popular girls. Except that they'd just fall inlove with him, not that this was his plan with Natalie. Jin was the man for her! He chuckled at himself thinking this way. Leon, the love doctor. Keeping/ Bringing couples together since the zombies started. He shook his head, no way. He was the player before this zombie apocolypse. Thank God though, he was getting sick of it.

The blonde kid had said that a new horde was coming its way over. Like that last one wasn't enough, but then again Leon didn't really do anything and it was a struggle since Richard had gotten shot. Really? Theres enough evil in the world and then some random dude just comes around and decides to shoot one of the important people in the group. Leon took his sword out following Jin who had taken his bat in his hands. Leon smiled, he had grown way too fond of killing Zombies, he enjoyed it. Was that bad? He didn't care, it gave a certain rush. He wouldn't miss this horde out for anything in the world.

“Aw diddums,” Natalie cooed sarcastically at the blonde kid with a bump on his head. Honestly she did feel kind of guilty for that but his interruptions were quickly using up her patience. “Do you want me to put a band-aid on it and kiss it better? Maybe you should be more careful yelling and running around a house full of armed people who spent the last couple of days living on adrenaline.”
“And as for you,” she turned to Leo with a wicked grin and waving a crowbar. “We are friendly here indeed. And if you look at me like I’m crazy I will feel the need to live up to expectations.
Natalie took a calming breath and lowered the crowbar. Then Matthew informed them of the impending infected horde. Dammit. She let out the breath with a sigh. Jin smiled at her and she felt better.
“Is there enough time for pancakes? I've been chocolate chips. [OOC: ?] I hope so because we seem to have an important meeting in the kitchen. I mean what is a meeting without food, right?"
Natalie nodded and placed her crowbar on a bench and pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
“There’s always time for pancakes. Ok boys and g- just boys actually- anyway, let’s stay calm. There’s a hulking great fence around this place and most of us have dealt with these things efficiently enough before. So... English,” she turned to Leon with a friendly smile. “Your mission, should you choose to accept it, locate for me some chocolate chips.”
She got out a bigger mixing bowl and went to the fridge for milk, dancing between the two sullen-faced boys she’d had a go at and the still smirking Jin.
“Hello!” she called out towards the stairs as she heaved a large bag of flour onto the bench and brandished a wooden spoon. “Darcy! Marcus! Stopping making out already and come be social. You’re missing your own damn meeting!”

(OOC *chuckles* That was supposed to be "I've been promised chocolate chips" I was trying to have Jin cheat and say you already owed him them even though he didn't earn them yet)

Jin looked around in the cupboards, and he found lots of nothing. He moved to the other side of Natalie gently brushing against her back 'accidentally' and started checking the cupboards on her right. His mind had instantly noticed she was in good shape. Pictures of her back played through his mind as it was quite comfortable in the gutter now, getting used to its new home.

Jin's eyes lit up.
"Ahoy Captain," Jin said with his best pirate voice to Natalie and the others. " Chocolate chips ahead off the starboard bow!" He said as he held up the large bag as if held golden trophy. he then calmly walked it over and placed it next to Natalie. He leaned over looking at the process only to gently blow along Natalie's neck and gently brushed against her again as he joined the others at the table.

"Okay due to stupidity on my part I have been seperated from this group and we seem to have new members." Jin said looking at Mathew and Leo. "Name, Age, and favorite pass time?

"Hey Leon," Jin said as his eyes didn't leave Natalie's frame. "Go get that one girl that was travelling with The war machine. She had a dog, but I didn't catch her name."

Leon searched the cupboards and everywhere for the chocolate chips as Jin suddenly stopped and smiled with delight, holding the chocolate chips in his hands. Oh yay! He had found it, Leon leant against the fridge as he watched Jin do the many moves that he had done at least once in his life. He chuckled at how ridiculous it actually was, and he had done it was. Natalie practically offered to make the pancakes as Jin asked, Leon had only gotten normal pancakes but he gets fancy Choc chip pancakes! If Leo and the blonde kid got some this just wouldn't make Leon happy, he wasn't hungry so he wasn't going to eat the pancakes if she offered but if the others ate he would hang himself over the balcony where he had seen Natalie almost naked and Jin drawing her, it was kind of creepy but in a romantic way. Jin told him to go get the girl not know what her name was.
"Lilith." Leon said nodding and walking off.
He searched the first room, slowly opening the door. Nope, just Darcy and Richard getting it up. Ew. He opened his room that he had stayed, thank God she wasn't in it. Smart that she wasn't it was probably the messiest out of all the rooms, having blood stains all over the furniture because he took his clothes off before he even got the bathroom when taking a shower. He opened another and saw Lilith laying on the bed asleep, he didn't know whether to wake her up or not.
"ARRGGHHH!!!"
Leon look down to his hand and squrimed with pain, he looked at the dog that gripped on tightly, what was he supposed to do? Hit it? It was Lilith's dog and god damn it hurt but he couldn't kill it, there was nothing in sight to hit it with, without damaging or killing the dog. He felt the blood pumping out of his hand.

“Do you want me to put a band-aid on it and kiss it better?”

Matthew put on a mock smile and started to talk like a baby. "Tank you for the concern, but I tink I be okay."
Matthew walked off to the window and sat down. "Jerks." He looked by the gate, where a few runners grabbed inside. But right behind them, 15 minutes away was the horde."Fuck. Hey, we might wanna start that meeting now!" Matthew ran on back to the kitchen.
The asian dude asked him and the other kid a question, so Matthew sat down. "Lets see... My name is Matthew. Age.... 14.And favorite pass time? Hmm,that's a tough one. I think it's really just...Goddammit. Sorry, excuse my french. But I think I really just like to watch movies. Or read books. Hey, go figure. "

The asian guy was freaking Leo out, same with the blonde haired girl who had been waving a crowbar around a few minutes earlier,
the other guy didnt seem to care that his forehead was bleeding anymore, and apparently the others werent too fond of him..
What the hell was wrong with these people?
After the asian was finished with his pirate impersonation, he looked over at Leo and the other kid,
"Name, Age, and favorite pass time?" He asked.
Leo was about the ask why he needed to state his favorite pass time, it sounded like a stupid question, but the other guy spoke first, "Lets see... My name is Matthew. Age.... 14.And favorite pass time? Hmm,that's a tough one. I think it's really just...Goddammit. Sorry, excuse my french. But I think I really just like to watch movies. Or read books. Hey, go figure. "

Well, atleast Leo wasnt the youngest one here.
When the group of freaks looked expectedly at him to answer, he felt a bit uncomfortable with all eyes staring at him.. it was, weird.
"Uh..." Was all he managed to say, "... I'm Leo."
They probably already know that, dumbass. He thought, he was just making a fool out of himself.
"Im fifteen, believe it or not," He continued, he knew full well that these people thought he was like... ten or something, maybe they wouldnt believe him?
Whatever, it didnt matter.
"And... I dont really have a favorite pass time.."

Yup... good job, Leo. He thought, shifting his feet, They probably thing your the most boring person here.

Darcy tried to help Richard get up and dressed but obviously he didn't like being helped very much. Men. She thought rolling her eyes. So Darcy simply bared with his macho insistence that he do most things for himself still, even though he cringed at every move. However mobility for him at this point required assistance so he had no choice but to put an arm around her shoulder to get down the stairs.

Richard smiled at her and kissed gently on the cheek. "Let's go babe." He said. Darcy smiled back; she couldn't resist him when he looked at her like that.

“Hello!” They heard a voice – Natalie call out – as they reached the bottom of the staircase “Darcy! Marcus! Stop making out already and come be social.” Natalie yelled “You're missing your own damn meeting!”

Normally Darcy didn't take kindly to being ordered about by anyone, let alone some selfrighteous women, however she had learned from recent experience that with this lot it was better just to get on with it, as it wouldn't result as it would have done in her normal life with getting her way, instead it would just create a big blown out argument over nothing consuming time. Time, they no longer had.

Darcy simply smirked at Natalie as she helped Richard into a chair at the Island in the center and said “I prefer making out to socializing.” as she stood in-between Richards legs and then kissed him suddenly, taking everyone in the room, even Richard by surprise and it wasn't a simple thank you kinda kiss. It was more like a hot almost indecent 'Rated R' kind of affair.

One that Richard wouldn't forget for a long, long time; Darcy wanted to make sure. Her heart hurt. Every second took them closer to being separated and it would be a long couple of days or weeks before she saw him again and all that time she would be agonizing over whether he was alright, whether his wounds were infected or whether he was taking his medication and not doing stupid things like putting his life in danger as he was constantly prone towards doing. She loved him beyond reason and couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to him again.

Pulling away, Darcy lips curved up the corner as she saw the dazed look on Richards face - Oh yeah, he'd be remembering that for a while – as she removed his hands from around her booty and the inside of her t-shirt.

“Maybe you should try it sometime.” Said Darcy innocently, grinning as she turned to look at a speechless Natalie and then turned back to an equally speechless Richard and said “You can start the meeting I'll be back in a minute.” and then dashed out of the Kitchen, heels clicking on the glossy marble tiles.

She was beginning to feel like herself as she felt all eyes on her back as she strutted out of the kitchen. Yeah, maybe Natalie should try making out – with Jin – It might stop her from being so uptight and anal Darcy thought with a cynical laugh. It was so obvious, what with their playground flirting.

Anyway, what did it matter to her? Leaving the insignificant thought behind, Darcy headed up the stairs and grabbed her backpack and reloaded the gun she had left there and then headed back downstairs. Stopping in the foyer, Darcy looked down at the large elegant white box that lay on the chaise lounge chair. Her pure gold, strapless Valentino gown.

Her life had been so simple, so normal that morning she had gone shopping in the city. Darcy's only cares had been what to wear, control over her sycophants and keeping William Hawthorne at bay. She wondered what had happened to the young Presidential Candidate who had been after her hand and heart and whom she had paid no attention to.

That day had been so very normal - her cares so small and unimportant to the ones she carried now - and when she had returned . . . it had all changed. Darcy ran her fingers along the cool box. She wouldn't be able to take any of her other priceless collection of gowns. They would all be incinerated to ash. It was such a violent crime against fashion; her wardrobe would most probably range in the millions. But it wasn't about money . . . it was about art and history. Most people wouldn't understand Darcy knew; in the scheme of things it was nothing not even a dot but to her it was her life.

And now? . . There would only be life before the bombing of Highgate and after it. She grabbed the box with the Valentino gown and headed out to her Porsche.

A vicious growl filled the air as a Zombie who had managed to crawl under the tight space of the gate ran towards her. Bang! Raising her gun she shot it straight through the head, ten feet ahead of her. It was a nothing more then a small child. Rage, anger and sorrow filled Darcy. How could have Joshua done this? She contemplated as she opened the trunk of her car, shoving the box with the gown inside it and unzipping her matching Louis Duffel Bag.

Darcy starred at the file and the three vials that sat atop the over stuffed bag. Sighing angrily she pulled out the two hard drives from her backpack that she had taken from her brothers girlfriends house and placed them in the duffel bag while taking two of the vials out and zipping it back up, closing the trunk she headed back to the kitchen – Lilith and the scrawny blonde boy whose name she still didn't know needed the injection with the formula from the vials and Darcy had both now, thanks to her little trip to Morgans Pharmacy.

Just as Darcy walked into the Kitchen, Leon and Lilith entered too . . . and Leon's hand was bandaged. Oh my God! Thought Darcy in exasperation. This is exactly what she was talking about when she said Leon was prone to Klutz-ism. That boy could not move without harming himself in one way or another.

“Please God, tell me that's not a Zombie bite!?” Darcy questioned over dramatically.

“Umm . . no.” Said Lilith a little nervously, obviously not happy being in a room full of people. “It was Jake.” she whispered in a barely there voice.

Darcy looked at the dog with a raised brow and a pout. Jake wined in response like he knew he was about to be told off. Well, who knew? Thought Darcy, she had the same affect on animals as well as humans. She should throw the damn dog out if he was biting people but then she looked at Lilith's face and saw the tension in her pallid features just waiting for Darcy to do just that.

Frick! Damn her stupid annoying ass conscience. Darcy sighed as she opened the fridge and pulled out a steak and threw it on the floor. “Here Jake.” Darcy commanded and the dog padded over happily but a little wearily and devoured the steak in no more then a couple of seconds.

Crouching next to him Darcy pulled out a bandage from her backpack. “Bad dog.” She said to Jake as he came towards her and started rubbing against her happily. “You can't bite people,” Darcy told him as she tied the bandage loosely around his muzzle and then behind his ears so he wouldn't be able to paw it open. “Even if you are hungry and the person is annoying and won't shut up at times.” She said with a small smile and a quick look in Leons direction “There,” She finished ruffling the big dogs fur as she got to her feet “We won't have a problem now, will we?”

All eyes were on her and the kitchen was silent Darcy realized uncomfortably as she looked around the room at the familiar faces. Oh no . . . This was making her look soft . . . and human. Not. Good. Not at all. Thought Darcy. She didn't want anyone thinking she was weak. She was the one in control and command!

“What?!” She pouted with a hand to her hip “I'll do the same to any of you, if you don't do what you're told. Got that?”





((OOC: Hey guys I know I said I'd tried to get Part 2 up today like some of you requested, so you guys could start posting your character profiles. I know I haven't done it yet but I'll still try and get it done by the end of today, as I've still got a lot of home-work I need to do for work and I'm trying to fit it all in. I just managed to get this post done quickly while I take a break. Anyway I'll try my best and really should have part 2 up by the end of tonight (UK time, lol). x))

Natalie started combining the milk, eggs and flour in the large mixing bowl as Jin moved around her searching for the chocolate. The grey shirt he was wearing showed the lean muscles of his arms, the lines of his shoulders, the arch of his back much better than the sweater had, and he kept brushing against her; she was having difficulty concentrating on ingredient measurements.
While she was distracted with thought of how much better those lines would look without the shirt Jin found the chocolate chips. He put them on the bench next to her then and leaned over to watch her stirring. His breath played along her neck and his body brushed against hers drawing a slight intake of breath from her. She turned her head to say something but he had gone to sit and converse with others; his eyes stayed on hers though and he smirked knowingly. Natalie narrowed her eyes and tried not to blush, but when he looked away to listen to one of the kid’s responses she found herself watching him too.

Darcy and Marcus finally arrived as she had the first few pancakes cooking. Natalie remembered her earlier comment as Darcy’s eyes settled on her with a smile that was vaguely unsettling.
“I prefer making out to socializing,” the other girl stated before proceeding to kiss Marcus; very passionately. It was like she was going to do him right there in the kitchen.
“Maybe you should try it sometime,” said Darcy innocently as she pulled away from the kiss, grinning, and left a dazed Marcus to start the meeting.
Natalie opened her mouth to shout some retort after her but only ended up closing it again. Her eyes flickered to Jin. She raised her eyebrows challengingly, popped a choc-chip in her mouth and casually turned away to tend to the pancakes on the stove.

Jin smirked at the display of ... affection of Darcy and her toy soldier. It was intense to say the least but it was crude and unoriginal. Jin was less than impressed. He met Natalie's eyes as briefly seeing her raise her eyebrows. Jin's eyes showed he was not impressed by their act and he lightly ran the tip of his tongue between his teeth and his smile grew as the thoughts of the time that Natalie would be sharing with Jin in the near future and the sensations she would be feeling would leave Darcy's playtime looking rated G in comparison. Jin watched as Natalie popped a chocolate chip in her mouth. He bet her tongue tasted even sweeter now.

When Natalie turned away Jin's eyes lingered as he memorized her body once more before turning to the new guys.

"Names Jin Bou. I'm 23 and I my favorite past times are Parkour and Painting." he paused briefly. "It is nice to meet you Matthew, Leo." Jin turned to the stunned soldier.

"When ever you are ready for the briefing there Chief." Jin's eyes fell back on Natalie's frame as he waited for the meeting to start or the pancakes. Which ever came first.

Darcy came back at the same time as Leon and Lilith, and Natalie started plating up pancakes. She was quite aware of Jin’s attention and she was purposefully ignoring him, grinning the entire time. “Well, my names Natalie.” Matthew and Leo got chocolate chips. Kids got chocolate for free. “Or Nat, I suppose.” Poor Lilith got chocolate chips to cheer her up since her dog was in trouble. “I’m nineteen.” Marcus was injured so he got chocolate chips, and Darcy wasn’t worth the trouble of arguing with if she missed out so she got some too. “My favourite pastimes are reading and drawing.” She couldn’t think of a reason for Leon to get chocolate especially with how cheeky he’d been, but he wasn’t hungry anyway so Natalie sat down with her own chocolate chip pancakes after placing a plate of the only plain pancakes in front of Jin. If he wanted chocolate chip he’d have to take them from her, because he had yet to persuade her otherwise. And she was prepared to say as much should he ask. She smiled innocently and took a bite of pancake.

Jin looked at his plate and his pancakes he chuckled quietly. He picked up his fork and reached over and cut a nice piece of pancake that had a particularly large amount of chocolate chips and poked it with the end of his fork. All the while he pulled a shoe off under the table and reached forward and without a sign he lightly traced Natalie's right knee just as she was about to protest.

"You seemed to have forgotten my chocolate chips," he said calmly staring at Natalie's eyes. "I'll forgive you this time but this bite is part of that forgiveness," he brought the fork to his mouth as he then traced Natalie's left knee with his toes. He smiled with a satisfactory bite.

"Mmmm mmmm mmmm!" he grinned with every bite. "That.... is....good." He gave her a stare that showed exactly what was on his mind. "Thank you so much Natalie." He continued to trace around her knee as he put some syrup on his pancakes and started to fill his empty stomach all the while smirking as he looked at his pancakes.

"So," Darcy pointed out. "Jin, Natalie, Leo, Matthew and red head. You guys can take this road straight out of the back gates and head out of Highgate, in the car Marcus and Lilith arrived in. It's the quickest route and you should be safe pretty soon. Lilith you take the left exist outta here with Marcus in the Jeep, I'm sure you know the road well enough. Leon you go with them on your bike. They'll need an able bodied strong youth like yourself to protect them" Darcy played to Leon's ego so he wouldn't argue with her.

"Okay, so that's the plan. Pretty simple." Darcy stated as she rolled up the whole pancake and just ate it with her hands, she wasn't particularly hungry after just stuffing her face a while ago but who knew when she'd eat something warm or cooked again. "We all get outta here and nobody has to die." Unless you try to get in the way of my plans, Darcy thought with a quick glance at Leon who had a tendency to put a spanner in her plans.

Her contemplation was suddenly ruined as a large squealing noise could be heard far in the distance.

"What the hell is that?" Darcy questioned, turning to look at Richard.

"You talk about splitting up," Jin said as slipped his foot back into his shoe. He glanced at Natalie, apologizing for the sudden stop with his eyes, and then turned back to Marcus. "Why three and not two? Why just you and Lilith? And How long do we have?"

Jin stood up as he grabbed his bat and walked to the boarded up window. "We have to get passed that," he said motioning to the swarm of zombie things just outside the gate. "and just go in some random direction? Is there some meeting point after the Explosion or are we all just fending for ourselves after this?"

"Do you actually want to meet up?" Darcy questioned ignoring the noise for a moment " And there is a back gate that is Zombie free, so you don't have to worry about getting blood on your clean clothes." She finished sarcastically.

Lilith smiled at Leon as she finished with his bandages.
"I am really sorry," she sighed, "I was just really tired and I didn't think about all his training. He wouldn't have bitten you if I wear awake I swear. So, why did you come in?"
Leon explained about the meeting and Lilith nodded. With a sigh she headed to the door, she turned back and frowned at Leon's hand.
"There isn't anything else I can do, sorry," she mumbled, "But we should get down to them, Darcy's never seemed overly patient."
The pair wandered downstairs together and sat through some minor conversation. Lilith said nothing to Darcy muzzling Jake but silently noted that she'd be removing it when there was more fighting coming up. She graciously accepted the pancakes when Natalie gave them to her and silently listened to the others talk. She nodded until Marcus started talking. She kept mild panic and extreme confusion locked aware with things like 'I killed my best friend' merely nodding when he said she'd be going with him. Looked like things were even worse than she'd thought.
“Can you ride with your hand?” Lilith mumbled worriedly to Leon.

"Oh these aren't mine," Jin smiled back , "but if you don't mind lending me some detergent then it doesn't matter either way." He looked out the window trying to find the location of that sound and stared at the jeep. "Why on earth are we having a meeting if a plan is already set. Why are we still here?"

Jin stared at the apparently mute red head that seemed to just suck in information and gave nothing back. He sighs as he puts his hand out for the keys. " Keys please, Marcus, if you would be so kind."

"Keys please, Marcus, if you would be so kind" Jin said but Richard wasn't paying attention, he was focused on that whining sound. It kept getting closer...and closer.

"NO!" Richard exclaimed as he looked out the window "You fucking bastards not yet!" Richard yelled with an intense anger that wasn't directed towards anyone in the room. He got up as fast as he could, fighting through the immense pain, and hobbled to the window so he could see out farther. He looked up to the sky just in time to see a bright light soaring high over the city. Richard watched as the bright light soared into the middle of the sky, disappeared, and then a violent shock wave shook the house as countless tons of very toxic and very flammable chemicals were ejected out of the projectile at lightning speeds. Richard had to brace himself against the wall as the shock wave rattled the windows and caused dishes to fall off the counter and impact the floor, smashing them into dozens of tiny pieces.

"Richard!" Darcy screamed at the top of her lungs in a panic

"We have to go! Now!" Richard ordered as he threw the car keys to Jin, then gripped Darcy hard on her arm and rushed her towards the door. His adrenaline was running through him like a river, blocking out almost all the pain from his side. Time was short, they only had minutes until the jets came into range and set off the chemicals. At least they were lucky that this thing was in the experimental stages and wasn't equipped with it's own detonator yet. As Richard pulled Darcy towards the door, with the group following close behind, he began barking more orders "Cover your mouths and try not to breath!".

He threw open the back door, to reveal the outside of the mansion that was soaked in rain. However, it wasn't water that was coming from the sky, it was a chemical/fuel mix that gave a strong aroma of petroleum gas. It smelled like the city had turned into one big gas station. He looked back to make sure Lilith and her mongrel were behind him, they were. "Everybody get to your cars and get out of here! Lilith start the jeep!" Richard barked at the girl who immediately ran past him with the most fear in her eyes that he had ever seen her have.

"Richard, I'm..scared." Darcy almost whispered to him

Richard spun her around and kissed her as hard as he could, he needed to give her something to remember him as well. She closed her eyes for the few seconds that the kiss lasted then broke it off. The look on her face was of sheer joy, but it soon vanished into horror again as she remembered where she was. She embraced Richard, then pulled two small vials from her pocket

"For Lilith, I hope this is what she will need" Darcy said, and Richard quickly snatched them from her, he would need to check them later, and jammed them in his pocket as he pulled her down the stairs and pushed her towards the car she would be taking. As he hobbled towards the jeep, which Lilith had started, he reached into the side pocket of his backpack and pulled out Misty's necklace and threw it to Darcy. It may have been a horrible gesture if she knew the story behind it, but he knew it would make her happy to have something to remember him by.

"I love you Darcy! I will see you again! Just live, for me! Now go!" he screamed as he got into the back seat of the jeep with Jack. Darcy hopped into the car she would be taking, and all of the survivors speed off through the rain of fuel. If they were lucky they would all get far enough away before the jets lit the chemicals on fire. Because even if they managed to escape the blast radius, which was unlikely, there was still the chance that the fuel that not only their cars were doused with, but also the fuel on their bodies could catch fire and cause them to spontaneously combust. This day just kept getting better....

~eight miles from highgate~~

"This is Raptor 1 we are almost in range to fire A-26 incendiaries how copy?"

"Copy is good Raptor 1, make sure to stay at least six miles out, you don't want to be caught in that blast, over." Raptor 1 was sent in alone since it would only take a single jet with incendiaries to detonate the gases

Raptor 1 kept his jet steady and on target as he flipped the switch on his console that read missile port 2 . A icon flashed on his HUD that notified him that the incendiaries were primed and ready to fire.

"This is Raptor 1, target is in range." he couldn't see the city very well from where he was, but the missile he was going to fire could make it to it's destination from here. He set the target into computer...then slowly squeezed the fire button.

"Warning, warning, malfunction detected. Raptor 1s HUD flashed red as a computerized, female voice called to him over his headset

"Aborting launch, aborting launch I have a malfunction with my incendiary!"

"Repeat Raptor 1, you have a malfunction? over."

"A'firm dispatch Raptor 2! I repeat dispatch Raptor 2 I have to abort mission."

"Copy Raptor 1 dispatching Raptor 2 now." Damn it, he was so close. Raptor 2 was a good fifteen to twenty Mikes out from Highgate. In theory the chemicals would still be in the air surrounding it, but the military could start pulling out if that spook couldn't keep them there. This was bad! Damn, he should have checked his firing mechanisms after that last mission, stupid mistake...one that may cost him dearly knowing the director.

The floor shook. The house shook. Plates rattled and crashed down to the ground, smashing into a million pieces. Everything was happening so fast. One moment they were discussing escape plans and the next Richard was screaming at them as he grabbed Darcy's arm hard and began shoving her out the door, while the others ran to their respective cars.

Darcy was frightened. It couldn't be happening yet, could it?!

“Richard . . . I'm scared.” She whispered, fear written all over her pretty face.

Spinning her around Richard's arms locked around her and his lips came down on hers hard. Darcy wrapped her arms around his neck holding on tight, closing her eyes and giving into the moment. It was their last kiss. She knew it.

Breaking the kiss Darcy embraced Richard and then handed him the two vials.

“For Lilith,” She told him urgently “I hope this is what she will need.”

She didn't want to let go of him as she held on his jacketed arms, her nails digging into the material.

“No!” She cried as Richard forced her to let go of him and then pushed her towards her Porsche, throwing her a necklace.

She caught it deftly, tears and chemical rain streaming down her cheeks and then looked back at Richard.

“I love you Darcy!” Richard called out as he backed up towards the Jeep “I will see you again! Just live, for me! Now go!” and then got into the back of the car.

“I love you too.” Darcy whispered as she stood there and looked at the necklace.

It was a beautiful crystal on a long chain. Placing the necklace around her neck Darcy got in her Porsche and hit the button to open the back gate. Turning the engine on she hit the gas and was doing 60 out of the gate, followed by the Jeep and then Jin and Natalie's car.

Once out the gate they all headed in separate directions. “I love you . . . I will see you again . . . Just live, for me.” Richards words rang through her mind.

Looking in the rear view mirror Darcy watched until the Jeep disappeared in the opposite direction.

Flooring the gas, Darcy raced down the road at over 200mph . . . she had the longest distance to go around the whole town before she got out. Wiping her red eyes, Darcy placed her Gucci Aviators across her eyes.

Yes . . . they would meet again . . .