no where to go but home. OPEN

[hopeburnsbright]

it was ironic really. The amount of times Jake had yelled "Drop dead!" from his car at the less talented drivers of LA, and now he was staring at a street full of the dead. He used to wish he could leave the city. And when he had, Jake ended up getting nowhere and with his only option to go back and try and find somewhere to live.
"No." Jake mused to himself as he crept through an alleyway, stepping over rotten bags piled in dumpster until they were overflowing. He really didn't want to think what was in them. Jake shook himself, he seemed to be having trouble concentrating and would continuously loose his train of thought. "what was i talking about? oh yeah! this barely counts as living. More "existing" really." He muttered, a slight hint of hopelessness in his voice at the thought.
There was a choking sound, as behind him one of the infected staggered it's way into the ally. It was what used to be a young woman, one of her arms was torn away and her throat was missing completely. Which was a small mercy, in so much as she couldn't moan loud enough to call her friends.
She would have been pretty if she was alive. But all he could do was freeze in terror as it approached, raising it's arm towards him she grasped at the air as if impatient to grab him.
"move." Jake told himself urgently, his legs ignored him. "Move!" the way was blocked. he could go towards the infected, or towards a brick wall. neither seemed tempting.
the creature made a strangled noise that sounded like meat being slapped against bone. which it probably what was happening the state her neck was in.
And that finally got Jake to move, his instincts kicked in and he moved on autopilot, swinging his cricket bat at its skull. "Shut up! no one cares what you think!" Jake yelled with a slight hitch in his voice.
the weapon collided with her skull, the tremor of the blow making Jake's arms vibrate in shock. The creature staggered, almost falling before it lunged at Jake who dived back frantically to avoid it.
"you're not alive. you're not alive. you're not alive." Jake muttered frantically as he raised the bat above his head and brought it down again. This time the infected fell and Jake took the chance to start frantically stamping on its face until she stopped moving.
"She wasn't alive. she wasn't alive. I didn't kill anyone." Jake chanted, closing his eyes to block out the sight of what he just saw. "I'm sorry." Jake whispered to the body, his voice hoarse and scratchy. "I'm so so sorry." he said, for the fourth time since entering the city he was begging forgiveness from a corpse.

[Krista M. Thorn]

The highway seemed to stretch for miles before her older style corvette. It's black paint seemed to draw more and more heat, and while the windows were down, it wasn't cool enough for Krista. Her blonde hair was being tossed and tangled in the wind, while her bright blue eyes stared at the road. Only her right hand was on the wheel. Her left hand rested on the open window of the door as she did at least eighty on the roads. Countless cars were totaled. Some were flipped. Others had been smashed inward and looked fatal.

That's what she saw the sign. Welcome to Los Angeles, California!" How the hell had she ended up in California? She simply shrugged it off and continued down the road, taking a right at a stop sign, but not bothering to stop as she turned. She drove slowly down the streets. Infected roamed here and there, but not together. It was almost as if they were all heading somewhere else. But where? Wherever it was, Krista wanted to be there. It would be a killing spree! A deadly killing spree, but all the more exciting to the twisted woman.

That's when she saw him. He killed her with a blow to the head and Krista stopped her corvette to watch. His lips moved, but she heard no sound. She then honked her car horn and leaned out of the window. "Hey, stranger! Need a ride?" She asked with a simplistic smile before she opened her car door, rolling up the window as she did so. She killed the engine and grabbed her keys, locking the doors behind her. There was no way she was leaving her car to anyone else. She approached the man. He had long, black hair and emerald eyes. His hair was pulled back. He looked slightly malnourished, and Krista frowned at his appearance. She looked up him up and down, her hand causally on her hip.

Then, she heard the sputtering sounds from behind. She pulled her pistol from her holster, turned and fire, hitting the creature directly between the eyes. "Don't get back up now." She said mockingly, a smile spreading to her lips as she turned back to this man. She was insane. An escapee from a mental institute when the outbreak happened. She was mentally unstable. Mentally unhealthy. She looked at him for a moment, knowing her eyes and face gave way to her insanity. However, she still reached out her dainty, pale hand to him. "I'm Krista." She said flatly. There was no need for last names. Not anymore.

words; 451

[hopeburnsbright]

Jake felt a little sickened with himself when he knelt down and used the corpse's clothes to clean the blood and brain matter off the end of the bat. it got most of it off, but there was still a dark stain on one of the corners. Jake tried to smile at a job well done but didn't have the heart.
And that was when the impossible happened. a car pulled up. a CAR pulled up!
Jake stared open mouthed in shock when a young woman got out and smiled at him. She was beautiful, but things like that were the furthest from Jakes mind as he tried to handle seeing another none infected for the first time since the infection had begun.
"i... i. I’m happy to be anywhere but here." Jake managed to reply weakly, grinning at the offer of a ride. Maybe he would end up somewhere worth being this way. If there was anywhere nice left in the world. He just couldn’t stop himself from staring at her, unable to believe that after all this time he was actually around a human again.
Jake flinched when the woman pulled out a gun and only relaxed when he saw she was shooting an infected. But still there was something in her expression and willingness to start shooting that worried him. She may not be all there. But Jake knew for a fact he used to be saner. Besides beggars could never be choosers.
Suddenly remembering how long it had been since he had actually looked after himself, he quickly ran his hand through his hair, trying to smooth it down at the very least. “I’m Jake.” He smiled at her, shaking her hand he tilted his head in the direction of her kill. “You’re an impressive shot.” He offered, thinking that right about now compliments were all that he had to offer.
Jake glanced at the direction Krista was driving and tried to figure out where she was going. Unfortunately he didn’t know this part of the city well enough to be sure but it seemed that she was heading further into the city. Jake assumed that she was looking for supplies and wondered if he should try to direct her towards the stores and buildings that he knew his way around. Maybe she would actually waste her time talking to him if she thought he was useful.

words: 408

[Krista M. Thorn]

She gave him a crooked grin. Her blue eyes gazed at him when he spoke his name. Her blonde hair was down today, and cascaded to her lower ribs in soft waves. The blonde was bright, her natural color. When her hand dropped his, she spoke."Nice to meet you, Jake." She said, and there was a purr to her lyrics. She looked back at the corpse as he spoke again and smiled."Self-taught." She said with a smirk.

She looked around. "So, Jake, where are you headed?" She asked, looking him over again. It seemed like the only weapon he had on him was his baseball bat. Her mind shot back to Sam. How he'd kicked her chair over in the lighthouse and taken her blades from her bra. How he'd pinned her down. Two mentally ill people in one room. Then, she woke up, and he was gone. She'd liked Sam, but only because he was as crazy as she was. Just as messed up in the head. He had given her the challenge she'd always searched for.

She could remember him clearly. Tall, muscular, and with that glint of insanity in his eyes that no one could dare deny. His eyes had been a piercing blue, and his hair had been shaggy from days trying to survive. No, the days he'd chased after the infected just for the kill. If he was anything like her, she knew that's what he was doing. Getting himself into trouble. Or maybe he was dead. Her gut twisted at the idea. Not because she was sad, but because she was angry. Since she'd met him, she had always wanted to be the one to kill him, and she knew he felt the same. Yet, they enjoyed each other's company at the same time. Almost like they would protect each other until only one was allowed to make it out alive.

She shook herself from her memories and looked up at Jake. Something about him threw her off. It was almost as if he felt sorrow for killing these things. Well.... She thought to herself, we'll have to toughen him up if he wants to stick with me... She couldn't help but smirk at her mind. "Would you like to travel with me, Jake?" She asked, motioning to her car.

words; 415

[hopeburnsbright]

Jake blinked, that was actually a really good question. Where was he trying to go? "I guess i was trying to get to my apartment, it's on the other side of the city. But there's no real point, there's nothing worthwhile there that most shops don't carry twice as much of." He explained with a small shrug.
It was a comfort thing more then anything, the thought at the back of his mind that if he were able to get home then suddenly he would be safe. Stupid, but false hope wasn't so crushing when you knew full well that it was a lie.
Of cause there was personal stuff, like photos of his family, he had wanted. But having another person around forced him to accept that things like that were not worth risking his or her life over. it hurt, but when compared to the position most of the people were in right now, he didn't really feel like he was allowed to bitch and moan about it.
"I guess I'm just heading forwards." Jake said with a small self deprecating smirk. It was a little pathetic having no plan or goal, at some point he needed to sit down and decide what he was going to do in this new hell hole of an earth.
And just as he was thinking that, Krista smiled and asked if he wanted to travel with her. And Jake could think of no reason to say no, it would be a lot safer not walking through the infected city, the young woman seemed a lot more confident and more then a little bit more competent then he was. 'she might actually know where she was wanting to go' he thought to himself, having to pay a lot of attention to think it rather then ramble to himself out loud like he had been for the last few weeks.
Because mostly, Jake was just feeling lonely and desperate for some kind of company.
So Jake smiled at Krista and nodded, "Thanks, i might actually get somewhere this way." He answered, trying to make himself seem at least slightly capable of human interaction. "So, err. where is it you are heading?" He suddenly remembered to ask, yeah that one was kind of important.

[Krista M. Thorn]

She thought for a moment. "What's in your apartment?" She asked. There was a deadly purr to her voice, though her face beamed with delight. The idea of killing more of those things was enticing. She shuddered slightly with her eyes closed and then opened them to look at Jake. They seemed brighter now than they had earlier, and Krista had to stop herself from licking her lips. She wanted to kill something. Not something that was meant for this earth, but the abominations that had taken over it a matter of hours. She wanted to kill them all. She wanted their blood on her hands. It was sick, but it was true.

When Jake spoke again, she blocked her mind to listen. Forwards. It was a good idea on his part. That meant that Krista had no obligation to take him anywhere. Otherwise, she'd leave him behind. She was that cruel. That messed up. She smiled at him when he asked where she was headed. "Well, honestly, I'm just going anywhere and everywhere. No family to see. No friends to catch up with. I'm literally alone in this world." She said, smiling as though it didn't matter.

Truthfully, it didn't. Krista had never been close with her family. She'd never had children, and no real friends. She knew as soon as she went into the asylum she would never have anything to do with the people she'd once knew. She'd accepted that fact and moved on over a year ago. It didn't make her miss them even a little though the world was shit. It made her feel better, actually. No real weight pulling her down. No worry. No concern. No needing to get there to check on them. All she had to worry about was herself and Jake. Well, if he made for good company anyway.

She turned on her heel, a bounce in her step as she walked. Then then stopped to look at Jake. Her blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders and she smiled. "Aren't you coming?" She asked, and there was a slight chirp to her voice as she clicked the unlock button on her keys, and hearing the car chirp twice.

words; 387

[hopeburnsbright]

Jake jumped slightly at the reminder and grinned sheepishly. "yeah i'm coming. if i zone out again just hit me or something okay?" he joked as he made his way towards the passanger side of the car, for a moment he saw that look in her eye and decided she probably would hit him now he'd asked.
Oh well, twice the reason to pay attention and stay focused Jake supposed.
Krista was crazy. Jake knew that now, the way she talked and looked at things made it very clear she wasn't all there and may well be dangerous. But Jake couldn'y make himself care that much. he had known from the start that he wasn't the type to survive the end of the world and was fine with it. If he found a reason to live then he would change his tune, but right now he was living life like it was a story that gave you the ending and left you wanting how to see how it comes about. he'd always liked that style of writting when done well. maybe that was ironic then?
heh. If he was gonna die, this chick snapping and shooting him was better then most fates around here.
"So what the hoo ha. let's go." he muttered to himself as he opened the door and got into the opassanger seat, resting his bat between his legs. He felt kinda bad for hetting in when he was covered in dirt blood and whatever else, but worse things happened with alarming regularity and he wasn't gonna dwell on it.
"you want to just see the world huh? i like that." Jake complimented, "Be interesting to see how everywhere reacted differently." morbid but true, were the bigger cities better or worse off then small towns? he had been wondering that a lot on his travels and maybe he'd get an answer for the question born from bordom. "My apartment has some food, though not much that'll still be good after three weeks. i've been thinking on how many weapons i, err we i guess, could get from there. You know a few kitchen knives, table legs. And it has alcohol. Something i have found to have been the first thing looted everywhere and anywhere you go." He rounded up with disapointment. being drunk was a BAD idea, but putting yourself in a state where you didn't feel much fear was a good idea. at least to Jake.

[Krista M. Thorn]

Krista hopped into the passenger seat, and she could tell that Jake was nervous. But then he spoke, and Ivrick smiled at his comment."I've always wanted to see the world. What better time than now when money is no longer an issue?" She asked with a purr. She grabbed her keys from her pocket and put it in the ignition. The car purred to life and Krista smiled. She was glad she'd found this little number. She'd always wondered what it would be like to drive a corvette. Then, Jake answered her earlier question and she smirked slyly, reaching into her back seat and lifting two bags, barely able to be zipped. She'd placed one in each floor board after leaving the lighthouse and finding the car unlocked and parked at a hospital. What luck that had been.

"I think we're good on weaponry." She said with a friendly smile. Then, her smile became a smirk."But, alcohol? That is an excellent idea, Jake. I like you already." She said, putting on her shades and putting the car into first gear and driving to the end of street. She shifted into second, but maneuvered easily around the scattered obstacles, running over only a few bodies, which was good for her, really. "So, is there anything in particular you want from your apartment, or is it just alcohol?" She asked. If it was just alcohol, she knew where a liquor store was, and they'd just stop by there. If not, Jake's apartment it was.

She stopped at an intersection and looked both ways as a habit. But, her car never moved. Instead she killed the engine and looked out her window, crossing her arms and looking out at the scene that had caught her attention. A woman's blood curling scream began to echo as the creature bit into her arm, and another at her leg. She looked at Krista and reached out a hand, still screaming, though now the words 'help me' were clear in the screams. "Nothing I can do for you now." She mumbled, pulling out her hand gun. She aimed, firing two bullets back to back, hitting both of them in the head. She infected creature fell on the woman's body, and the streets became silent. Krista looked at Jake. "So, where's your apartment?" She asked with a smile, as if nothing had ever happened.

words; 426

[hopeburnsbright]

Jake didn't like himself for it, but he nodded in agreement. "Only upside to all this really, no more bills and jobs making me hate my life." He said, thinking that while it had been a better world before the infection. This life he had now? things actually happened to him rather then the same day over and over in constant repeat. but he would give anything to go back to it and a world where he could phone his parents.
at the weapons bit, Jake's eyes widened and he weakly smirked. "well alrighty then. is there actually anything about this you aren't doing much more competently then i ever could at?" He asked, frankly flabbergasted at the fact that she seemed to have everything except her marbles.
At her question, Jake sighed and nodded. "yeah, no reason not to admit it. There's some stuff there that's worthless to anyone unless they happen to be me." He admitted, thinking that she seemed to be looking for excuses rather then reasons to do what she wanted to do. So she probably wouldn't mind that much.
of cause that would mean he knew what she was thinking, and seeing as Krista happened to be a woman. then it was pretty unlikely Jake could ever figure out what she was thinking.
Jake almost laughed at that thought until Krista stopped the car at the sound of screams. Jake was almost about to try jumping out the car to try and help, not even thinking it over when their were gunshots. and the screaming stopped.
Jake froze in place, staring in mute horror at Krista's cheerful smile. He could rationalize the fact that there was no saving the woman who had been bit. he agreed that the blond woman had done the most merciful thing possible in giving the stranger a painless exit and saving her from becoming a monster. as much as that thought made him want to cry for the stranger who had made it three weeks in a city this infected before whatever caused her to be caught. it was tragic, horrible, depressing and heart breaking to see a young woman partly eaten alive and then shot as a mercy kill. A film would have given her focus and last words and more then just this senseless blunt moment.
But Krista was smiling. she was SMILING. looking innocent and care free.
What the hell was she?
"So." Jake finally managed, giving Krista a flat, emotionless look. "let me know, do you have any empathy whatsoever? You KILLED someone!" He yelled, his tone raising at the last sentence to an angry yell. "at least pretend you have enough God damn humanity left to give a shit!"

[Krista M. Thorn]

Krista had turned left, drove past the two lifeless bodies on the street. It didn't bother her. Death never had. Death by her own hand? Well, that was even better. It was just something that she liked. Enjoyed thoroughly. Why? No one would ever know. Not even her. After all, how could a mentally unstable woman know why her mind worked the way it did? It just didn't seem logical.

Jake had admitted he wanted personal belongings, and Krista didn't object. After all, if she were like anyone else alive, she'd probably won't personal things as well. But, she wasn't, so she didn't. Simple as that. She was just about to ask where his apartment was when he started yelling at her. Her car, which had been flying in fifth gear, screeched as her foot slammed the pedal to the floor. Her head snapped to Jake, and she glared. It was an icy stare, and her blue eyes were piercing. She grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him and leaning over so that they were almost nose to nose. Despite the anger that was flashing in her eyes, her voice was calm as she spoke, but spiked with venom.

"Listen you little fuck, there wasn't a damn thing I could do! Would you have rather seen her get up and start moving towards us with the intentions to kill? I put her out of her misery. Don't like it, then too bad. You can deal, or get the fuck out and manage on your own. From what I've seen, you have the guts of a guppy. You wouldn't last long, so your best bet is with me. Since I found you and offered you a ride, deal with it or leave. That's that." She said. A wicked smile twisted on her lips and she released him, pushing him back into the seat as she did so.

She kept the car still, waiting to see what he would do. Stay in the vehicle, or leave. If he left, then too bad. Krista would have enjoyed the company, and while she would have enjoyed it, it wasn't necessary for her. She was use to being alone. Confinement in the asylum had taught her that, and she'd embraced it. Admittedly, she liked being alone more than having company, though she knew that the company sometimes helped her cope with new challenges since she had someone to rant to.

"So, what's it going to be?" She hissed through clenched teeth. It wasn't like her to get angry and typically she wouldn't have. But see, he'd cursed at her. That was something she'd never tolerated well. It was considered abuse to her, and she hated being abused. Sure, playfully was fine, but when it was as serious as Jake seemed, that's when it set her off. Cursing at her was almost like lighting a fuse to an atomic bomb. She'd actually refrained herself from hitting him and pushing him out of the car herself. Why? Well, she didn't quite know.

words; 434

[hopeburnsbright]

And suddenly the car was being slammed forwards and Krista had gone even more worryingly nuts. Okay he could understand her being andry with what he had said to her, he had been pretty angry himself. but this was just worrying.
Jake palled slightly but refused to flinch or start acting afraid of a girl who seemed about half his weight. Bristling, Jake resauted to the sarcasm that seemed to come naturaly to him.
"Fuck is a verb Honey. not a noun. You can not call someone a Fuck for the same reason i can't call you "Sleep!" or "Breath!". because it makes no sense." yes it was childish, meaningless and really rather stupid, to say something like that. But he wasn't really on his A game right now, and things like that annoyed him. Jake was the kinda guy that used to correct peoples grammer at school.
At being called a guppy (he didn't understand that word but accepted it was an insult from her tone.) Jake flat out laughed, "you realise i've survived all this just as long as you have with no guns right? the amount of these things i've beaten to death....." Jake trailed off and thought it over to himself.
she was as dangerous as the infected. Jake knew that. But there was, hopefully, only one Krista in the world and that led him to conclude thats she was right. he really was better off with Krista as long as he wasn't stupid enough to trust her.
"Hell. I'm staying. If only so i get to see what you do next." Jake replied finally. This woman was going to get him killed, one way or another. But at least he wouldn't be bored, already he had grown sick of the infected (ha ha ironic pun) and so maybe she would offer him another way to die?
"Well then, two things. First being next time you do something insane i'll just shut the hell up, because you are freaking scary when pissed off." He said, thinking a joke was as good as any way to try and get things semi normal again. "And second, can you be so kind as to get us moving again? Gunshots are very loud things and i don't want to meet all the things that decide to come see what it was."

[Krista M. Thorn]

Krista erupted into laughter. It was the kind that was straight from the gut, and the sound was almost like bells chiming. When she regained her breath, she looked at him, her face not even hinting at the fact that she'd just laughed. Any other insane person might have thought they imagined the sound by how her face no longer gave way to her passed laughter. When she spoke, her voice was firm."Well, obviously, I just made it a noun, so you can deal with that, too. Secondly, it's the end of the world. Do you think grammar, or your smart ass tone, is really the worst thing I have to deal with?" While her words were sharp, her face looked as if she was the most friendly person in the world. Another sign of her insanity.

He spoke again and Krista shrugged his words off. Maybe he had survived this long, but from what she'd seen today in the alley, well, it was clear he was limping on luck. Not a good idea since none of that ever really existed. As a matter of fact, the idea of something so invisible would get you killed before you even knew you were dead. Then, that dreadful second life. Well, it wasn't dreadful to Krista. More for her to kill.

Then, Jake spoke once more, and she was a bit surprised by his words. So, he wasn't going to leave? How interesting. She was scary when she was pissed off? How odd. No one had ever said that to her before. She smirked and his words rang into her head again. Without a word, she threw the car into first gear and began driving again before speaking. "So, where is this apartment of yours?" She asked, though her voice sounded dead. She stared forward and shifted the car into second, moving around the debris and other obstacles that could damage her car.

Personally, she'd never stolen a car before, and given the world as it was now, she still hadn't. The car had been an easy take. Full of gas, running fine. It was in great condition. Perfect if you considered how much worse off it could have been. It could have been smashed up, stripped of gas, tires, or other parts. But, it wasn't. Now, it was occupied by not one, but two people. Krista and Jake. They were definitely an odd pair, though it wouldn't be clear to the naked eye. Someone would have to understand Krista's insanity, and Jake's... Guppiness. It was indeed odd.

words; 444
ooc; Sorry. My muse isn't all it should be today. /: