This Can't Be Home -- [Lotto&Violet]

[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/i] He shook the thought, if he could forget once he could forget again. Maybe there was a chance at life after death. Not meaning his own, or Violet's own, but the death of the human race. It left room for the little guys.

He noticed Violet looking off to someone and Lotto's eyes bugged as he watched a woman hop into a car and the tires screech as they pulled forward and out of this quickly populating hell hole. "That was a person!" he stated dumb founded, using the gun in his right hand to point after them, and his left kept the gun bag positioned on his back. He looked to Violet for direction, her face had softened, and Blackjack ever loyal by her side. He lowered the gun back to the pavement. Discouraged. He looked back to where the car and girl had been, now there was just another direction for them to head. What was happening? Had the person seen them? If so wasn't it obvious that they weren't infected, and wasn't it the right thing to do, to help people out? Especially when people were becoming the minority more and more every day!

"Now what?" he asked, a bummed voice, checking behind them to make sure nothing was creeping up on them.


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OOC: hmm not sure... I see us running into some other survivors... but obviously remaining a traveling duo, possibly Zf's charrie, or Anastasia.... or krista xP[/size]
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[Violet G. Monroe]

Had that been a look of discouragement just then? Violet looked again, though her face gave way to nothing she felt at that moment. Then, she spoke. "Yeah. It was." She said simply, though her voice gave way to slight confusion. When he said nothing else, she spoke again. "Just because the world's gone to shit doesn't mean people are any less selfish." She said, and there was a slight growl in her voice. She'd always hated those people that took things but never gave back. That woman would leave them here to die just because she didn't want to stick around to die herself. Selfish. Especially since the world was now Hell.

Lotto's voice brought her from her train of thought and she looked at him, slightly startled. How long had she been staring into space? She quickly composed herself and focused on the topic at hand. Getting the hell out of here. She thought for a moment, making a humming sound as she did so. "Well, what's the best way out from here?" She asked. They couldn't go back the way they came because of the gathered horde just two corners around on their right. This was probably the best and worst day of her life. Best because she'd found Lotto. Worst because, well, look at this place. Violet looked down at Blackjack. He was laying on the concrete head on his paws. Her gaze went back to Lotto then to the street ahead.

"Well, do you have any ideas? I'm stumped." She said after a seemingly long silence. A part of her hoped he wouldn't want to go after the girl. It wouldn't be a very nice sight. After all, Violet was one to speak her mind. If she saw this woman face to face, things would get ugly. She looked around. No ideas. Nothing. Just her mind racing with thoughts that wouldn't quiet. For a moment she swore she was losing her mind. The possibility was high, actually. The world ending was a more stressful endeavor than Violet made it out to be. She sighed in defeat and leaned against the wall. "What if we die here?" She whispered, hoping Lotto hadn't heard, though she was sure he had. He always seemed to hear her. Making out the words was usually the harder part for him it seemed.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/color] he asked as he turned back to face Violet. She was spacing out, and when she realized he was looking at her she snapped out of it. They were both losing focus, this was not good news. When you lost focus, you could miss a step, and missing a step could be just about anything that cost their lives. He was glad she realized the same thing by leading their focus back to their plan. Getting out of here? The fastest way.

Lotto searched this alley, saw some ladders that served as fire escaped for surrounding apartments- but they looked like it had been a couple years since certified safe by the Portland Fire Department. He didn't think it would support either of their weight, and as for Blackjack it- it was a vertical climb. Next plan. He looked back to the direction that the woman had sped off in, and then to the opposite way."Her car will probably attract them," he said turning back to Violet, no need to specify who they/them were, "They wont catch her, but we'll stumble onto more that way then this," he pointed in the only option.

It was getting dark, and that scared Lotto. He'd never been the victim of night terrors, or even nightmares, there was no boogeyman under his bed and in his closet, but there were some other things he would have been scared to have his parents find, but aside from that fictitious monsters never frightened him. These things didn't scare him, but being blind with the night and trying to run from them was something that really concerned him. "It's getting dark Violet," He said looking to her again, he stood about a heads length taller than her, and had to drop his head a little to not look directly down to her, "What do you want to do- we can get the hell out of here and try again tomorrow, we can try to find some place to hide out for the night, or we can keep going," his eyes lifted back in the direction they were heading, just to make sure it was still a clear shot, and then they went back to hers.

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[Violet G. Monroe]

She knew she'd probably missed some of what Lotto had said when she'd begun spacing out. However, this was no time to ask him to repeat himself, so she didn't. When he spoke again, she nodded in response before looking up at him. The top of her head probably went to the middle of his neck, maybe a little lower. Her cheek would rest perfectly on his chest because of how tiny she was. But, Lotto was right. It was getting dark, and fast. She sighed, and the sound was almost defeated. She looked back at the ladders of the apartment complexes before biting her bottom lip in thought, looking back out against the street.

Her gaze fell to Blackjack before she looked back to Lotto, catching his eyes with hers. "What do you think is best? I'm all for getting the hell out of here, but it's already getting dark. If we leave the city now, there's no why we'll be able to find shelter before nightfall. We don't need to be out during the night. We'll be too vulnerable." She said. She wasn't really worried about herself more than she was worries about Lotto and Blackjack. Both of them were a part of her. Blackjack because she'd raised him from a newborn pup. Lotto because she'd saved him, and he'd saved her.

Admittedly, despite the short time period, she liked Lotto. She couldn't tell you why, but she just did. Probably because they'd clicked instantly. Most people would be on edge constantly. Angry. Fearful. That may have been why Lotto had been chained up to a tree root. Perhaps the duo traveling together had been together throughout the outbreak and knew that neither one was infected. When Lotto came around, they decided to not take any chances and leave him cuffed to a damn root. It seemed plausible, though the entire scenario could have been wrong. These people could have just been some crazies that had been released from a mental institute or prison. Either way, their actions had been wrong. Violet couldn't help but hope that they were dead now. No deserved to be left behind for the infected to come. It was wrong, and pure torture. To literally be eaten alive... It had to be painful.

Violet shook her head to pull herself from her thoughts again. She knew she had to stop doing that, but her mind seemed to be reeling, and she knew it was from exhaustion. She needed sleep. She needed a long night's rest. She put her hand on Lotto's arm."We need somewhere to sleep comfortably. Do you think we can get into one of these hotels from a back entrance?" She asked, looking down the alley in the direction they'd come from.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/color] he assured her, and gave a small smile. If this woman asked him to carry her across the city he would, and if she wanted to sleep in a hotel, well damnit he was going to make that happen. If it wasn't for her, he'd be long dead and probably rising as one of those.

"Alright, let's go," he nodded for her to follow him over towards the buildings, one of these towering buildings would be one of the many hotels that hosted many business men and women, international guests, and even a few celebrities if he had read that right. He pulled the bag back up, it kept slipping. Why was it all allies looked the same from behind, all the buildings were darkening, and looked nothing like the front. Enough of this alley, they came to the part where you cross the street to get over to the next one.

Lotto looked both way, just the way his mother taught him, but this time was for different reasons he was sure his mother would never had imagined, and then crossed, there were a few of them on the street, but they didn't seem to notice, the active ones were probably still chasing that car, or trying to get into the artillery. They were able to get across safely. Night was falling quickly, chasing at their heels practically. That was when he saw it, the beautiful green and white Embassy Suites, "There she is," he whispered, the valley parking still had vacant cars sitting with their doors open and he was sure keys probably in the ignition, that would be one idea if he wasn't so sure that the batteries were dead.

They walked around the back of the hotel, Lotto in lead and still armed with the six bullet pump action shot gun, that would make a pretty loud bang but destroy whatever was charging them.

"I'm sure it's infested," he said turning back to Violet, as they stood behind, he felt the need to whisper as to not tip off their location.


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[Violet G. Monroe]

Violet smiled as Lotto began to lead. The alley looked as though it had been destroyed years ago. Vines climbed up the sides of the buildings, and trash littered the ground. Blackjack followed close to the duo, his paws making a slight click with each trotted step he took as his claws hit the concrete, filing them down. She kept her eyes on Lotto when he stopped at the edge of the building, looking across the street both ways before heading across. Violet could see some of the infected wandering the street, and almost froze with shock. However, Blackjack almost ran into her, so she kept moving forward to prevent a calamity.

When they were safely across, Lotto pointed out the hotel he had in mind. Violet gazed at it. It seemed empty. As if no life existed inside, though she knew better. She knew that something had to be inside. After all, no place was vacant these days. Infected were everywhere. Around every turn. Not even really hunting their prey. Just waiting for it to cross their path. It was odd how everything seemed to work in the favor of something so brainless and destructive. Violet sneered before looking to Lotto with a slight frown as he spoke. "I wish it wasn't..." She mumbled and sighed. She adjusted her bags and looked at Blackjack who had already tensed up. Violet wasn't sure if it was because something was behind the door, or if maybe he'd just learned that there was no such thing as safe anymore.

Violet chose to go with the ladder. After all, it would be much easier to deal with than some damn infected creature behind the door, just waiting to spring on the trio. Violet had begun to shake now. All of this was getting to her. "Let's get it over with." She said in a weak voice, looking at Lotto with as much certainty as she could muster. Typically, she was energetic, ready to take on any challenge. However, her body was working on nothing but water and little sleep. She was beginning to feel the negative effects, and she regretted not have taken time to sleep and eat. Then again, had she have done any of those things, she may not have found Lotto. Then where would she be? Sitting in some tree, struggling to balance Blackjack on her lap despite how huge he was. No food. Little water. Little to no ammo. Nowhere to sleep.

Admittedly, in Violet's eyes, it had all paid off. She'd been able to get more ammo, some food, more water, and even food for her dog! Of course it was all thanks to Lotto. If she wouldn't have found him, she was pretty sure she wouldn't have made it into the artillery; as a human that is. Then, her body tensed instinctively, ready to put up one more fight if she had to. Then, she'd rest.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

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[Violet G. Monroe]

He opened the door, and Violet caught her breath, ready for them to be attacked head on. But, nothing came. She moved around the corner and looked into the black hole. Quickly, she fumbled with her shoulder bag and grabbed a tiny flashlight. It was nothing more than a key chain decoration, but it would help a little. She patted Lotto's shoulder and handed it to him with an almost fearful smile and then took a single step back to let Blackjack pass her. She could hear him pawing throughout the area, sniffing. He was checking.

Violet lifted and eyebrow. She was surprised by how quickly Blackjack had adapted to the new world. She shook her head and moved so she was right behind Lotto, immediately holding her breath as the first whiff of the stench hit her. The best thing they could do at this point was stay close together anyhow. That's when she heard it. The slight rustling over the silence. She called Blackjack and heard him panting up to her in the opposite direction of the noise she'd head. She placed her hand on his head, and he sat, not making a single sound. Violet listened. The shuffling had stopped. She put her hand on Lotto's shoulder, as if to tell him she knew something bad was about to happen.

However, nothing did. Instead, the shuffling just returned. "Maybe it's just mice or something." She whispered close to Lotto's ear so she didn't disturb the quiet that surrounded them. She wanted to stay just one step ahead of the infected, and the element of surprise seemed to work well. It was easy to slip by them if you didn't run within their line of sight or make a sound. They were pretty much clueless unless you gave yourself away obviously.

Violet moved around Lotto then, her impatience of getting to a bed overwhelming her instinct. She could see two round windows sitting perfectly beside each other. Doors. She moved towards them, looking through the tiny glass panes. The main floor seemed empty for the most part, though there were pillars she couldn't see around, and there was also the space along the wall where the doors were. She looked back to Lotto, as if waiting for his cue. Blackjack stood ready at the doors, and he seemed to be anxious about getting them open.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

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[Violet G. Monroe]

Violet wasn't sure what the ultimate plan was. She was more or less just winging it. Making last minute decisions. It wasn't the best way to go about the new world, but it was the only way she knew to do it at this point. Especially since the world was so unpredictable. What would they do if they ran into one of the infected? Shoot it? Wait for it to move on? But, leaving it alive would make it dangerous, so, ultimately, they would have to kill it.

But, what if there were so many inside that they died? What if they became one of the infected? Violet shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts. She didn't want to think like that. You just need rest, Violet. You're not going crazy. You can't go crazy. She thought to herself. As long as she could convince herself she wasn't crazy, then she couldn't go crazy, right? Wasn't that the way it worked? Violet didn't really know, but it was worth her best shot. She knew that eventually she'd end up breaking because the world would probably be this way until she died.

She glanced up at Lotto, then back at the ground, wanting to keep from kicking anything that had ended up on the floor. She didn't want to give them away, but her mind quickly drifted again. This time, she thought of the way the world use to be. Blue skies. Singing birds. Flourishing cities. She could remember the sounds. Children laughing. Cars moving down the street. It all seemed very easy compared to this new world. She had to wonder if Hollywood ever expected their movies to become a reality.

A harsh, cold reality that seemed to torture those left behind, but also those that had died. They now walked around like this. Mindless beings that were cannibals. But they were learning. Wasn't that what the two of them had realized today when they were luring the infected from the artillery? They were learning to anticipate. Evolving. Slowly, but surely. One day, human techniques probably wouldn't be enough.

They moved silently across the dining area, coming to the door that separated the lobby from the dining room. A muted darkness was cast into the space and Violet tried her hardest to see clearly. Then, she heard it and instinctively reached for Lotto's arm, looping hers around his and freezing as fear crept down her spine. Blackjack was growling from somewhere in the darkness. She hushed him and looked at Lotto. "Just kill it." She whispered, before she'd even realized what she'd said.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/i] his mind morbidly commented on the staggering corpse. It felt as if Violet and Lotto were children, walking through the darkness holding hands, reminding each other to not be scared, because the other was there.

He stopped a few yards away, not too many, maybe three. His right foot in front of the other, he rose the gun to eye level, Violets hand still on his arm. He closed an eye, the infected human had noticed them a few moments ago and started to turn toward them, Lotto fired, and the kick shoved his shoulder back but he quickly centered himself, seemingly unphased, even if it would leave a bruise in the morning.

The sound had made his ears almost numb. He opened the other eye as if blind to see the affect until now. The corpse had fallen, it was a disturbing sight, he seemed to have got it right in the mouth, and the lower jaw was no long there, just a big nasty impact wound that would never heal, and probably fester. He lowered the gun, and looked back to Violet, his eye brows high, no one could handle that sight unphased and he was feeling a bit queasy.

"The others are probably going to come," he said shooting his eyes back to the door way that separated lobby and dinning room, "Should we run for it?" he turned back to face the woman on his arm.


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[Violet G. Monroe]

Violet moved at Lotto did, never moving her arm. It was too dark to see anything, and it would the easiest way for them to stick together anyway. Especially with the creature moving around in the darkness. Black was at her heels. So close she could feel his breath through her skinnies. He was trying to stay close. When the infected creature noticed the trio Black was the first to see the change. His growl came again, and he stood almost in front of Lotto completely when they stopped a few yards away from the creature. His teeth shone a brilliant by deadly white in the blackness.

Violet clutched Lotto harder and pressed her forehead to his shoulder as he lifted the gun, closing her eyes when the gun fired. It was only a millisecond, but Violet was practically deaf now. Her ears were ringing and she had to concentrate to make it stop. She then looked at the creature, whom Blackjack was still snarling at. It's bottom jaw had been blow off completely. The blood that came from the new wound was almost black. Violet clutched her other hand to her stomach and struggled to keep from leaning over and throwing up. She could see into the back of the thing's throat. Everything had been torn from the blast, but the creature lay there unmoving. It's grey eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

When Lotto spoke, Violet looked at him and then at the stairs that would lead to the rooms on the top floor. "We need a room here on the bottom floor. Just in case we are trapped inside. We'll have to barge the door, so we may have to exit through the window anyway." She said and began to move towards a hallway that extended from the service desk of the lobby. She walked down the hall until she saw an open door. She peeked inside, but saw nothing. "I think it's clear." She said and pushed the door open slowly. She'd released Lotto's arm, but still stood close to his body. The room was empty, so she went back to the bathroom. Empty.

She whistled and Blackjack came inside, wagging his tail and hopping up on one of the beds. Violet smiled, sighed, and plopped down beside him. Blackjack then looked over at Lotto before turning to lay on Violet. His head rested on her stomach. She petted his gently and spoke softly to him before sitting up and looking at Lotto. She stood up reluctantly before speaking. "Ready to barge the door?" She asked as she turned to throw a lamp onto the floor and pick up the nightstand to move it by the door.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/color] he nodded over to the 40" plasma that sat on an elegant oak stand that must weighed more than just about anything in here, aside from himself. He walked around and unplugged the television, hoping the friction between the metal and the outlet wouldn't spark, it didn't, luckily. He caved his back as he began to push the stand and to his pleasant surprise it gave way with easy. Probably had those, as seen on TV sliders underneath for easy room service cleaning. He would need to take them off before they settled in for the night. Those sliders would defeat the whole purpose.

He stood from his pushing position, and looked to Violet, they were so close to rest, but he knew the slightest bump in the night would put him off ease for the rest of the time. She was smart about the window, it wasn't something he had thought about. He quickly crossed over and peeked to see the view, just some plants underneath, and a blackening sky. The sky was so dark from the smoke, and Lotto even mused maybe the shadow of death that had creeped upon them for the last three weeks.

He turned back to Violet, "You think the dresser too?" he nodded to the matching oak dresser next to the closet, it was a ridiculous item of furniture to have in a hotel room he thought, who would unpack everything just to fold it a temporary place for a few days. Then again he'd never stayed in a fancy one like this before.

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[Violet G. Monroe]

She watched him move the entertainment center with ease before catching herself staring. She quickly looked towards the window and the walked over to it. The royal blue curtains were pulled back, revealing the outside. The world was coated in blackness from the soot that fell like snow. Buildings were charred and crumbling in the wake of the new world. Almost as if they didn't want to show their majesty in this world. The roads were littered with bodies, blood, trash, and vehicles. It was almost like viewing the world in a parallel universe through a window.

Lotto's words pulled Violet back into reality, and she halfway turned to him and then looked over at the entertainment center. "No, I think the entertainment center is enough." She said, though there was an obvious emptiness to her voice now. She turned back to the window, looking at the world she'd once known. The world that was no longer meant to be a part of. That no one was meant to be a part of. Then, her body began to tremble, and while she knew why, she couldn't stop the panic that flooded her though she didn't move a muscle.

She knew what this was. Shock. Her mind had finally completely processed the world for what it had become. But, this wasn't a good sign. Violet knew what came next. Depression. Then, the thirst for vengeance on those things that had taken her life away. Finally, the wish for death, and her mind reeled. What would Lotto do if she died? What would Blackjack do? Then, more images, one of her as one of those creatures.

Her hair was matted, blood pouring from her mouth. Her skin was a ghostly grey, and her eyes were black and endless. She could hear Lotto speak to her, but she had no recognition of human emotion. Instead, she only wanted to kill him. Blackjack was moving about the ground, confused. Was his master now an enemy? Even if she was, didn't he still love her so? Wouldn't he still be loyal to her and her alone? Lotto pulled his gun from is waistline and aimed it, Blackjack heard him cock it, and immediately began snarling at the man, head low, hackles raised. He was standing in front of Violet, or what she had once been, protecting her no matter what. Lotto was talking, trying to calm Blackjack, and then he fired. Blackjack flew at Lotto, taking him down. Another gunshot was fired.

Violet jumped and gasped audibly as she was tossed from her daydream, and immediately, tears began to stream down her cheeks. She could see her reflected in the window, and wondered if Lotto could see it from the distance he stood. She hoped not, but at the point, she knew she'd been too sketchy to hide anything from Lotto now, though she still didn't move. She didn't want him to see her break.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/i] he snapped at himself for even thinking that awful thought. "I'd put a bullet through my head, before I put a bullet through her's." was this thought that replaced the former true? He had to think about it, but then again, Lotto wasn't really into that critical thinking, he crossed the room quickly, and stood a little behind Violet trying to peer out in the darkness to see what she saw.

"What is it?" he whispered, straining his eyes to see something that wasn't there, he unfocused them when they began to dry, and saw Violet's dim reflection in the window, her eyes were shinny? Tears? He began to soften, "Violet," his voice soft, a small whisper. He knew he had to approach the situation carefully. He placed a hand on each shoulder, not fearing that she would shove them off, even if she did he would accept that and turn away to give her the privacy she may need, "We'll find your friend tomorrow, and then we'll get out of here, and find a nice place to wait this out," he tried to give her a reassuring smile in the reflection, but the thought of finding one immune woman in a city of 48 thousand infected. But he would do anything for this woman because he owed her his life, and if that meant paying with his life at a later date, then so be it!


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