#event 02

Charlie:

So much was happening all at once and people everywhere were screaming and running. Scarlet splatter seemed to cover everything and Charlie was lost in the chaos. To her, it felt like Zach came from nowhere, the punch that landed on Roman's jaw pulling a shocked cry from her though the tables turned before she could do much to even try and pull him off. Ria was screaming, Courtney was dead, Rosie was shouting, Ash was trying to calm Ria and Skyler was doing his best to not get trampled. Terrified and utterly overwhelmed, she eventually found herself curled up underneath the table, knees to her chest and hands clamped over her ears as she waited for everything to stop.

Skyler:

He wanted to warn Zach, but he wouldn't listen. Not that it surprised him, he simply wished they could focus on eliminating the infected, so the mess they'd later have to take care of wouldn't get even worse than it already was. When he finally managed to get to Charlie to check on her, she looked absolutely terrified; he had never seen her like that before but neither of them had ever been in a situation like this one. "Charlie?" He patted her knee gently. "Come out, it's not the safest spot, y'know? I know you're scared."

Roman:

Roman was pissed at how easily his attempt to keep Charlie safe had been blown to shit. One punch from Zach and Roman had completely lost sight of her, and in the several long moments he had to put Zach back in his place Roman was tearing himself up inside with imagined thoughts of trouble that could find her. By the time he felt comfortable relaxing his grip on the other man, Roman turned to see another resident helping Charlie to her feet. Didn't know his name--but he'd spotted the pair interacting briefly and it seemed Charlie trusted him. Not that she was always the best judge of character. Roman took several steps away from Zach to bend down and pick up his gun. "What matters is we find out what happened to her." He replied to Zach, deciding it was better not to mention anything about the infected residents and how that was what really mattered right now.

Rosie:

Roman's retort "Be grateful I did or we'd all be in her position" did not grant any gratefulness from Rosie, whose scorn was still in place. Did she have to add a list of weapons not allowed in the diner to the board? Although she was glad Charlie wasn't marred, the men weren't doing Rosie any favors. "I'll just keep holding down Maria while she bleeds out, is that it?" Although Rosie didn't know it, Maria changed as quickly as Courtney. Seizing one moment, next limp as her eyes filmed over, then animated again with renewed vigor. Maria's mind was surely gone. Rosie had dropped her initial knife, leaving her closest bludgeoning resource the old fashioned metal napkin dispenser. One strike to the head was not enough even though she'd applied her pitcher's knowledge: arm strength over wrist. Her vision blurred with tears as she was forced to hit the young woman repeatedly, apologizing each time as though that made a difference. When Maria ceased struggling, Rosie released the metal tin from her shaking hand. Her clothes were ruined. The diner was a mess. It all happened so quickly even though Courtney was alive ten minutes ago.

Zach:

For now, going after the infected and then trying to figure out how it all started in the first place sounded reasonable. Thank God his survival instinct was still there. Zach took a few deep breaths to muster enough strength to prepare himself for more fights with zombies before he could mourn his friend, then straightened up to give Roman one more look. He could wait, he wouldn't be making it harder. Then his eyes were on Skyler as if he wanted to make sure he and Charlie were okay, and once he decided the answer was yes, he walked away to retrieve his knife and help others.

Charlie

Eyes locking on Skyler's face as he lowered down to her level, the familiarity and gradual quieting of the din at least inside the Diner gave her enough courage to finally crawl out from beneath the table. Out from hiding but into hell. Without even thinking much she'd reached for Roman, his last instructions to hold onto him still playing in her head, and a shaking hand reached out to tangle itself into the fabric of his shirt. Most people had seemingly run for the hills, so to speak, and Charlie did a mental count of those of them left. Thankfully, Rosie's voice filtered from near the counter and that was enough relief to last her a lifetime, even as sickeningly wet thuds came from the same direction. Marie... bleeding out.... Oh. It didn't take long for her to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and like a rollercoaster, her relief turned to grief. Blood and bodies were everywhere. Attention stolen by Zach storming out of the Diner, it seemed like that signaled something, or maybe that was just hopeful thinking? "Is it over....?" Voice small and trembling nearly as much as she still was, large eyes made larger out of fear, flicking from Roman to Skyler and then back again, pleading silently with them to tell her it was over and refusing to look anymore at the carnage and death around them.

Skyler:

He helped Charlie as she got up and glanced around the diner. No new zombies around them, but he saw the injured one run out of the diner, so it definitely wasn't over yet, not until they were able to infect even more people. Zach left and he wanted to join him; together, they could be more effective and probably faster, they had almost managed to get that one killed, after all. No more distractions and they could do that. Skyler hesitated and looked at Charlie. "Not yet, so we gotta be careful." Then he turned to Roman, arching a brow. "You need my help in here? Or should I search the floor?"

Ashton:

Once Ria seemed to calm down and come back to their present, Ashton gave her a final reassuring squeeze to her shoulders and letting her go, "of course." it seemed safe enough to sit here just for a bit, despite the wreck and bodies in the diner. Ash turned his attention back out, the entrance close by to him, seeing the trails of blood that lead outwards in different directions, more had to have gotten bitten and ran. Ashton turned back towards the main group in the centre, yelling and arguing words were thrown across at each other, making his own ears ring, but the biggest concern was Rosie holding the teenager down, the waitress if he remembers correctly. His focus immediately honed in on every people, who had injuries who had bites, casualties and fatalities- “Rosie!” It was just a warning call as he noticed the teenage girl seizing. He stepped forward but paused as he watched Rosie brutally end the girl’s life. What a terrible way to go. But also what a terrible way to end someone. He came over immediately, kneeling down beside Rosie and a gentle hand to her back. Words didn’t seem to do any justice and so he said nothing, instead, looking up to the others, focus on what they need to do. What they can do. "Before we argue and try to find the cause, there are some injured- bitten that escaped, I'm going to find them, neutralize the threat and transmission, we have to stop it from spreading."

Ria:

Ria replied with a faint smile, a thank you and an apology for creating new problems. She curled up in the booth sobbing quietly, arms wrapped around her knees tightly with the feet pulled up to the seat. She sat there stubbornly until she could move again, hoping she would wake up and this nightmare would be over.

Roman:

nearly a dozen of them in the diner and yet Rosie was left alone to deal with the young woman convulsing in her arm. This is how they died—infighting, tearing each other apart just enough to let the undead come and finish the job. “Search the floor. Should probably do it in pairs.” Because none of them could be trusted to not do what the poor SOBs they were now chasing down did. Get bit, run, spread the infection. Roman approached Rosie with Charlie at his back. He did a once over of the scene in front of him. Blood and viscara splattered on the diner floors and across Rosie’s face attested to the force she’d put into her blows. He almost told her good work but decided better of it. “Rosie and Charlie, can you guys put together a list of who was in here? Names and room numbers. And if anyone else lives with them.”

Rosie:

What she wanted to do was give Maria, Courtney and any other victims a proper burial. The elderly woman had been a long time patron, although the young man with her only stopped by once in a while because she did. Rosie wiped at her mascara mixed tears, but that only smeared blood across her face. It was still warm which made her feel nauseous. Ash's hand grounded her however and the warmth felt like a little reminder she was still human in spite of what she done. She smiled at him sadly in thanks. "It looked like Courtney was... pretty determined. Do you think those people are still alive?" Rosie asked Ash, not as an argument, but genuine inquiry. "She took that woman's face off, but I guess the boy..." Walking behind the counter, she washed up to her elbows with hot water and soap. Wetting a dish towel she wiped off her face and nodded at Roman. "Let's go across the hall to write it?" She suggested to Charlie after grabbing a menu pad and pen. They didn't need to sit at the counter while the deceased bled out around them. That would be too eerie and she never wanted to be that comfortable with death.

Charlie:

Seeing Rosie covered in blood made her stomach turn at the absolute atrocities that they were going to be faced it with everything was said and done, unsure if she'd even be able to bring herself to do it when the time came. Even from where sat she could see chunks of flesh on the floor, and blood on seemingly every surface. Spreading, The very idea made her blood run cold, grip tightening on the anchor of Roman's shirt, reluctant to let go even when he made a very good request. "I don't...." She didn't want to leave the safety of the group, of Roman and Skyler's presences, but there was little they'd be able to do to help quell the situation with her hanging off of them. Swallowing back the ball of terror in her throat, she finally pried her hand away and gave a little nod. "Let's go in the storage room... and we can lock the door. It'll be safer... just in case." Someplace closed and locked and safe from another one of those things finding their way into them was all she wanted. Who knows where everyone had taken off to, and how many had been bitten. "I think between the two of us we know almost everyone in the building, but... I wasn't really paying attention before, to who was here. We'll do our best, though."

Skyler:

He nodded to Roman and patted Charlie's back to let her know that he'd be careful searching the floor and didn't plan on dying anytime soon. Of course his reassurance would be enough. "I'll find someone alive and well to join, the sooner we get rid of these the better." Charlie and Rosie shouldn't be left alone with the most difficult part of that, which was cleaning up all this mess. Killing others in self defense was one thing; this would be even worse, when all the adrenaline wore off and the zombies still looked like their friends and neighbors. "I'll be back to help you when this shit's over."

Ashton:

Ash nodded to Roman, the most calm amongst the lot, one might find that unsettling, yet Ash understood it well. The decompartmentalization came almost too easily for him too. "Roger, let's at least secure the diner as well, get the rest under lock down to stay in their apartments." Most effective way to minimise contact with the rest of the residents. He thought for a moment as Rosie asked him, "Marie was the first, the others may still be alive but I don't know if we can save them." Wasn't Vince talking about some cure of something? Whatever, they can't take this risk on a maybe right now. They can't lose the one safe zone they've built for themselves. Ashton stood up looking for one of the knives to prepare to head out. He got too comfortable and complacent, not even his combat knives were with him that afternoon. He's never going to leave them in his apartment ever again. "We can follow the trials, at least 3 from first contact in the diner, they seem to be bleeding."

Rosie:

With freshly clean hands, Rosie felt reassured in taking Charlie's. "That's a good idea." Rosie genuinely meant it; she wasn't just appeasing Charlie. Charlie, who was taking this in like a normal person. Rosie frowned internally; was she abnormal for blowing up lobbies and beating co-workers to death? What constituted as normal these days? "At least if we're locked in we're safe and the others know where to find us." "We'll recall what we can and see you soon." Rosie nodded at men. She smiled at Skyler as an offered thanks for his return to help surface the diner. She knew others would come, those closest to Courtney and the other victims wanting to put them at rest properly. Sitting on an unopened cardboard box of dispensable coffee cups once they were safely locked in the storage room, Rosie drew a plain outline of the diner on her pad of paper. "Maybe if we break this down by tables we can remember everyone." She suggested, resting the end of the pen against her bottom lip after numbering the tables and barstools. "I should have brought highlighters... you were working the second half of the room and Maria was working the first half, right? That's why she was closer to the door and saw Courtney leave."

Skyler:

The teenage girl, Marie, who had taken to working the diner had been the one reaching for Courtney, asking if she was alright, and it was her who leaned down now to check on her. Turning to shout for help, the first syllable was cut off into a scream as the once unconscious Courtney came to sudden and shockingly violent life, teeth clamping down on the arm of the girls hand that cradled her head.

Taking an entire chunk of flesh with her, eyes clouded as if covered by a milky film, she pushed off the girl to launch herself onto a man who'd been brought close by the commotion. It was the crook of his neck that took her teeth this time, the sound of her hungry snarling and tearing flesh drowned out by the explosion of panic by the other patrons of the diner. As the body beneath her went limp, the creature that had once been Courtney turned her attention only able to sink her teeth into the wrist of a middle aged woman before it was yanked away as the lady fled along with everyone else. Including those bitten but still able to run and hide.