Jack Street Apartment Complex

Many of the civilians were understandably frightened and confused. Nothing like this was possible in their minds, and yet it was happening. Children were teary-eyed, scared and tired. the women huddled the children close to them protectively, while the men clutched their weapons, resolutely trying to act confident in adversity to comfort their loved ones, but Damian could see it was somewhat hollow.

He could see in their eyes, they all now faced an unknown foe trying to kill them, no rhyme or reason, other than just because. A foe heedless of fear and pain, and utterly relentless in their pursuit. But most frightening of all, was that this new foe wore the faces of family, friends, loved ones, neighbours and workmates, now decayed and malformed, marred by injuries of their own turning into the infected. It was an evil waking nightmare drawn right out of Hell itself.

One of the braver residents of the building asked the Lieutennant in a hushed voice"Damian, what the hell is going on? This is crazy! The whole town suddenly went nuts!"

Damian Handy wrote:Damian pulled out his maglight and trained its beam down into the apartment below. "Hello? Anyone down there?" He called down, kneeling down, checking the room from the edges. He could hear the zombies in the lower floor more clearly, which made him a bit on edge. "Shit... I hope this wasn't all in vain..." he says under his breath, and glad he had as he looked up as Donna and the man with the shotgun entered. "Hey, we're in. I don't see any sign of her at the moment. I think I'll drop down and have a look. But we have some choices now," he started slowly. "We could wait and see if Ben's distraction worked, and leave through the first floor via this bedroom with your sister," he says to the man, before turning to Donna. "Or we can haul her ass up, and then escape via the fire escape ladder in the back. We'll have to take more detours to get to the station however, as its not as much of a straight shot as it is from Jack Street forward." He explains. "We have to consider the mob out front, or the possibility there may not be a mob via the back route." He says to all the survivors, counting among them three children, a couple of teenagers, and a handful of adults. All weary eyed, equipped with random house hold items and some with slightly more effective weaponry.

Damian was interrupted by one of his neighbors who came up to him and asked a question as the handful of survivors wearily huddled around the Lieutenant and Donna.

Random NPCs wrote:Many of the civilians were understandably frightened and confused. Nothing like this was possible in their minds, and yet it was happening. Children were teary-eyed, scared and tired. the women huddled the children close to them protectively, while the men clutched their weapons, resolutely trying to act confident in adversity to comfort their loved ones, but Damian could see it was somewhat hollow.

He could see in their eyes, they all now faced an unknown foe trying to kill them, no rhyme or reason, other than just because. A foe heedless of fear and pain, and utterly relentless in their pursuit. But most frightening of all, was that this new foe wore the faces of family, friends, loved ones, neighbours and workmates, now decayed and malformed, marred by injuries of their own turning into the infected. It was an evil waking nightmare drawn right out of Hell itself.

One of the braver residents of the building asked the Lieutennant in a hushed voice"Damian, what the hell is going on? This is crazy! The whole town suddenly went nuts!"

Damian's tired eyes turned to the man, whose name escaped him. "I... really don't know. Buts its happening, and its not mere mass hysteria. People are eating each other... mindlessly milling about, they can't even open doors. Its like a goddamn horror movie. As far as I can tell, these things... they're not the people they once were. They're sick... but there's really no helping them now. We can't do anything here, and we have to keep them back. We can't let them bite or eat us, so we have to push them back, kill them if we must. I shot one ten times... it didn't go down till I aimed for their head. Its like the movies... you know just as well what these things mimic as I do... but there are too many of them. Too many 'X' factors. We have to stay together, get to the station where we have thick walls, and weapons to combat these things till either it passes or the military comes." He says, unsure if any of what he said was plausible. If it was this bad here... whose to say the station wasn't already overridden? Brian Irons had 'strategically' misplaced weapons and ammunition in fear of local terrorism recently, so how much punch back did they really have? And the Military? Who knows how big a scale this pandemic is, whatever it is. There wasn't anything suggesting that the National Guard or Army would come to their aid. They needed to evacuate the city, quarantine and set up barricades. They needed to act, in spite of the 'x' factors.

He placed a hand on his neighbors shoulder and smiled wearily. "Gotta hang in there...We'll make it through this."

Donna smiled trying to be as reassuring as she could to the random stranger, but right now she felt like throwing up. Her mind was racing trying to make sense of the things she'd seen this morning. Hooking up with Damian last night might well have saved her life, if she'd woken to this carnage in a strange city she might already be one of those.. those.... no don't even think it! She pushed the thought out of her mind, turning back to Damian.
"I think Ben drew most of them away from the front, and the gunfire across the street attracted the rest, it seems pretty clear out there" She'd managed to take note of the situation after she'd watched wide eyed as Ben had run off trailing a horde of zombies like some kind of demented pied piper.
"And besides if we go out the back way there could be a whole other bunch of them there!" She used the word "Them" simply because she didn't want to admit she appeared to be in the middle of a zombie holocaust!

Donna Marie Marchant wrote:Donna smiled trying to be as reassuring as she could to the random stranger, but right now she felt like throwing up. Her mind was racing trying to make sense of the things she'd seen this morning. Hooking up with Damian last night might well have saved her life, if she'd woken to this carnage in a strange city she might already be one of those.. those.... no don't even think it! She pushed the thought out of her mind, turning back to Damian.
"I think Ben drew most of them away from the front, and the gunfire across the street attracted the rest, it seems pretty clear out there" She'd managed to take note of the situation after she'd watched wide eyed as Ben had run off trailing a horde of zombies like some kind of demented pied piper.
"And besides if we go out the back way there could be a whole other bunch of them there!" She used the word "Them" simply because she didn't want to admit she appeared to be in the middle of a zombie holocaust!

Damian noticed Donna's emotional state, in spite of her smile and wrapped an arm around her, tugging her close and comforting her. "Okay good, we'll head on down then since there isn't as many of them." He says, turning to the others. "Grab what you need, but only what you can carry. We can't afford to slow down, we need to get to the station as quickly as we can. Anyone with guns, try not to use them unless you have to. Stick close." He says, turning to the bag of supplies gathered between Donna, Ben and himself. A decent sized cache of ammo, food, water... basic medical supplies. He lifts the duffel bag dropping one of the grenades inside, keeping another clipped to his belt. He hefts the thing around one shoulder and double checks his 9mm. They were ready. "Okay..." He says, turning to Donna, cupping her cheek and drew his warm lips to hers.

Once he pulled back, he winked. "For luck." he smirked, looking rather boyish for a moment, before turning to the hole. "Okay, dropping down!" He says, gripping the edge of the hole and dropping down into the apartment below! It was a short drop, his feet nearly touching the floor before he dropped. The weight of the gear on his shoulder tugged on him, and he adjusted the shift in weight. He took his maglite from his belt and swept the room... in hindsight he didn't think about if his sister was even home at all, in spite of calling out for the burly man's sister. "Hello?" He called out, trying not to be too loud; he didn't want to draw any of the creatures back... he pulled out his hunting knife again with his free hand, since Ben had his club or it was out laying in the street now; he didn't check before dropping down.

He could see a bunch of furniture about, a bow window with the sheets covering it. He was in the first floor room's living room and kitchen area. Pictures of the burly man with his shotgun were framed, a curly haired blond with him in some of the photos. "Hello?" He called out again.

(OOC: ...so when are the mobs coming back...?)

The burly man in the hunting vest put on his trucker cap, his Benelli in hand as he got closer to the hole. "Viv, you down there?" He called down, getting close to the edge of the hole before dropping down to assist the officer. He raised his pistol gripped shotgun and kept some distance behind the officer, sweeping the room for his sister. A wimpering could be heard in the bedroom, and the man recognized the voice. "Viv! Its me, Cliff!" He exclaimed, but not too loudly as he headed for the direction of the bedroom. The doorway burst open and the pair were reunited. He hugged his sister tightly as she explained her ordeal to him in sobs. "Shh shh... it's gonna be fine. We need to be quiet though, them things are... good listeners." He explained softly. He then returned to the hole and looked up at the survivors, strapping the shotgun to his back. "Okay, it looks safe to me... start handin' me the lil' ones first!"

Donna took charge in the upper apartment ushering mothers and children down first before sending the rest of the motley crew they'd assembled. Each one very different but all sharing the same haunted, shocked expression of disbelief. She muttered calming words to each as they dropped into the room below. Finally she was alone, her big blue eyes swept the room one finally time to make sure everyone was down. Satisfied she swung her legs through the hole lowering herself until she was almost there and then dropping the last couple of feet. Staggering a little she tried to smile reassuring to those around her.
"Well, the first step is the hardest...thats what they say right" she forced the joke to try and lift the mood.

With the sister located, Damian sheathed his blade and returned to the opening with Cliff and Vivian. "Okay, looks clear enough." He says, glancing up at the children being handed down.

Donna Marie Marchant wrote:Donna took charge in the upper apartment ushering mothers and children down first before sending the rest of the motley crew they'd assembled. Each one very different but all sharing the same haunted, shocked expression of disbelief. She muttered calming words to each as they dropped into the room below. Finally she was alone, her big blue eyes swept the room one finally time to make sure everyone was down. Satisfied she swung her legs through the hole lowering herself until she was almost there and then dropping the last couple of feet. Staggering a little she tried to smile reassuring to those around her.
"Well, the first step is the hardest...thats what they say right" she forced the joke to try and lift the mood.

Damian took the shocked children from under their arms and sets them down one by one, before assisting with the mothers and the remaining men. He watched Donna drop down with an amused expression on his face, and assisted her after she stumbled. Damian chuckled at her statement, though he could hear it was a forced joke, he chuckled honestly. "Well, its several steps to the station. We're gonna have to push forth on Jack Street, till we get to Fisson Street..." He started, before turning to the others. "Gather round." He searches Ben's bag and pulls out a map of the area.

He takes out a light green marker and uncaps it with his mouth before drawing on the map. "We're here at the Jack Street Apartments. This will be the most direct route save for going through the alleys, but since there is so many of us going down a narrow alley we'll have to avoid that."



He marks the route they'll be taking, which was a gradual curve. "We'll cut through Fisson Street, head North onto Ennerdale from there. Simple. We need to be within reaching distance of one another, and quick as we make our way through the streets. When we get close to the station *do not* charge the gate. If its as bad as it is here, then its no doubt that the RPD have already began making fortifications and are ready to shoot on sight. For your safety and my own, we will calmly approach the front gate when we get there. Till then, those with firearms, use only if its a last resort. Mothers keep close to your children, do not let them out of your sight. Everyone ready?" He asked.

Random Mobs wrote:The group of survivrs could hear the ragged breaths and soft growling and moaning of the voices of the dead souls just outside the walls of the complex. And they knew the hungry dead could hear them, and were trying to find a way in... There were however much more aggressive and louder sounding roars among their number... Zombies that had become those crimson colored twitching monsters...

Through the moans and groans outside, Damian rose his voice just a bit more. "Good to hear," he says, inspite no one saying anything. "We'll be leaving in a few minutes, prepare while Donna and I check the hall." He says, turning to her before turning his head to the door leading to the ground floor... where the zombies had been prior.

She stepped up behind Damian the gun in her hand, her palms were sweaty and she was terrified. All she could hear was the sound of her own breathing as she also lean't closer to the door. She caught the gaze of a child, a girl maybe nine or ten years old holding her dolly in one hand and clinging to her mother with the other. The mother held her daughter with one hand and a baby in her arms. Donna tried to smile but felt it was more of a grimace.
"We need to be careful and stick close!" she whispered to Damian, her lips almost brushing his neck as she stood so close.

Donna Marie Marchant wrote:She stepped up behind Damian the gun in her hand, her palms were sweaty and she was terrified. All she could hear was the sound of her own breathing as she also lean't closer to the door. She caught the gaze of a child, a girl maybe nine or ten years old holding her dolly in one hand and clinging to her mother with the other. The mother held her daughter with one hand and a baby in her arms. Donna tried to smile but felt it was more of a grimace.
"We need to be careful and stick close!" she whispered to Damian, her lips almost brushing his neck as she stood so close.

Damian felt her breath against the back of his neck, the hairs rising on his body in a stimulating manner as he turns to her with semi flustered features, the look of dread was upon her face however and he knew it was not the time to make a move. He nodded gently in response, before disengaging the lock and slowly turned the knob; pulling the door towards him at a cautious pace. He poked his head out first, gun at the ready, and checked both ways. "Okay..." he whispered, turning to Donna waving her towards him as he steps out into the hall. The hallway was mostly empty, more rooms was to their immediate right upon exiting the room, the stairwell which had a bunch of random items gathered in front of it from their makeshift barricade was visible as well. There were a few corpses at the base of the stairwell, the shambling creature's whom they had disposed of prior to building the barricade. To their left was where the door to the apartments was left wide open, and the outside of the Bar the pair had been the night before was visible across the street. It seemed quiet enough, but there was a standing, ragged zombie who was facing the bar just outside the entrance to the complex; their clothing ragged and bloody.

He turns to Donna and whispers: "Watch my back..." he then turned to the zombie, and drew his knife with his free hand. Approaching the turned human at a gentle, half crouched pace, he began to feel his heart beating in his chest, and nervous sweat rolling down his forehead. It was smelling like rancid death outside as the wind picked up the odor of the creatures, and the scent of burning flesh thanks to the molotovs from earlier. He could see a couple more shambling creatures, hear them moaning mournfully and eerily as they wandered the streets around Jack Street and Boutique Road. He didn't see any signs of Ben as he got closer to the landing where the zombie was standing still, but had to assume the Sargent knew what he was doing. His attention focused on the creature ahead of him again, Damian gently rose, before striking out like a viper! His brandished hunting knife digging into the side of the sickly human's skull as the Lieutenant forced himself to push the blade through! His left hand which held his gun, raised up under the creature's left arm as the creature slumps back into his arms! Damian grimaces... the smell was horrid, and he's been at bad crime scenes before where people have been decaying for days... this was somehow worse! The level of decomposition on the walking corpse was too advanced as well, feeling the grime in its clothing as it fell back made him repulsed! God... I need a shower to get this feeling off me! He thought, backing up with the corpse, dragging it into the building before gently rolling it with the other corpses at the base of the stairs. He had to plant his boot on the man's head before pulling the blade back out, grimacing as he did so. He wiped the blade with a nearby curtain, before sheathing it, and turned to Donna. "Okay... lets have a quick look." he says, bringing his handgun back to his right hand.

((sorry I've taken so long to reply, but I've been without my comp))

She peered over his shoulder squinting at the daylight and the scene of devastation outside. At first it didn't seem so bad, but then you saw the dead. The shambling corpses, the others lying prone. Doors to homes thrown wide open. windows broken and fires smouldering here and there.
"I'm right behind you Handy!" she whispered to him as at the same time she gestured the other survivors to hang back but be ready to move!

Donna Marie Marchant wrote:((sorry I've taken so long to reply, but I've been without my comp))

She peered over his shoulder squinting at the daylight and the scene of devastation outside. At first it didn't seem so bad, but then you saw the dead. The shambling corpses, the others lying prone. Doors to homes thrown wide open. windows broken and fires smouldering here and there.
"I'm right behind you Handy!" she whispered to him as at the same time she gestured the other survivors to hang back but be ready to move!

((Welcome back ))

Damian turned to face her and nodded. Creeping out of the building, the couple slipped out into the deplorable streets of Raccoon city. It looked like the scene of you'd see in a natural disaster film, with broken windows and open doors. The zombies in the distance didn't seem to notice them as they stepped onto the street; too preoccupied chasing Ben. There were some gun shots coming from behind the bar Donna and Damian had drank at the night before, and he was half sure it was Ben. "Everything looks clear from here.." he whispered, stepping onto the intersection of Jack Street and Boutique Road. There were a few shambling corpses out there, but nothing they couldn't handle. "Okay... lets try and clear a path. Then we can move forward." He suggested.

Trying and failing to supress a shudder she stayed close behind Handy. Gesturing back to the other survivors who now huddled closer, to watch them and move along behind them. It might be safer to move in smaller groups so she darted back to the other to whisper "Follow us when we move, but come along in groups of two or three, and stay quiet or we are all in trouble!"
Dodging back to Handy's side as they moved farther down the road.

(Continued Here)