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Dead Men Walking
Topic Started: Nov 28 2014, 02:20 AM (70,981 Views)
Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Willow smirked a little. This was one little piece of girl talk that she had always wanted to have. Obviously respecting Brandon's privacy was important to her... but Julie was on her way out and wasn't going to tell anyone. She was pretty sure Brandon wouldn't mind. Maybe. If there was ever a chance for some raw, uncensored girl talk on this sort of thing, now was it. She could literally tell her everything.

She glanced toward Brandon to make sure he was out of hearing range, then leaned in close to Julie.

"Well..." She started with a devious roll of her eyes before delving into 'the details'.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
The walk down the highway was mercifully free of rotters -- and also mercifully short. After just shy of 20 minutes, Emmett led the group off of the highway and into a thicket. After weaving through some trees, the red sign on the hotel building came into clear view and they emerged onto the street in front of its parking lot.

The place was called ‘The Champagne Lodge,’ and from the outside, it looked like it might fulfill Randall’s wish. The landscaping, at least, was close to immaculate – even after more than month of rotters roaming around on it.

“I’ve got them,” Emmett said as he put down the supplies he was carrying.

Eli scanned the parking lot, identifying the three rotters Emmett was referring to. They seemed to notice him just as soon as he noticed them.

“I’ll help,” Eli offered, putting down his supplies just the same.

Together, they marched into the lot. They each picked a target, stabbing forward carefully when they got close. Eli removed his knife slightly faster, so he engaged the third one first. He faced it down, and when it lunged, he stepped aside, sweeping his leg at the rotter’s shins.

The creature tripped and fell face forward into the asphalt of the parking lot. Before it could look up, Emmett planted a boot in the back of its neck, then a knife in the back of its skull.

After that, no more rotters revealed themselves in the immediate vicinity, so Eli and Emmett returned to their supplies. Emmett waved the group forward.

After peeking through the glass door – which they would need to cover up if they stayed here, maybe with a blanket – Eli put his supplies down once again and led the way inside. The door was unlocked, and he found the foyer empty. Behind a long wooden desk, a computer sat upright and unmanned. He was surprised that it wasn’t on the ground. That usually happened when a place was ransacked.

This place, though, was in much better shape than he was used to discovering. Some things were obviously missing, and Eli could make out some recent scuff marks on the wooden floor, indicating they weren’t the first ones to come through since this all started – but mostly, the lobby looked okay. Hopefully, the rooms would be the same story.

While the rest of the group kept watch, Eli circled around the main desk and rifled through some drawers. He found a brochure he skimmed through, and then what he hoped was a master key used by management.

“There are 38 suites,” he looked up at the others and reported his findings. “We should probably search ‘em all, we don’t want any surprises.”

He looked to Randall to suggest a further plan of action. His amputation may have kept him from leading the group into combat, but it didn’t stop him from taking charge in situations like this.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Randall wasn't actually expecting it to be a 5-star hotel. He had expected some place that looked nice, but was actually kind of run down and generally crappy. But judging the from the lodge they found themselves in, it turned out they may very well get to sleep in a 5-star hotel tonight. Of course, that was part of the problem. It was a beautiful hotel with only 3 rotters in front and a clean and empty lodge. Randall could already hear the words of his father ringing in his ears;

"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is." He would grumble somewhat angrily from the Lazy Boy he had decreed to be his throne. "Just like your mother's sandwiches."

His dad was kind of a dick, but he wasn't wrong. At least not in this case.

"Agreed." Randall was quick to throw Eli his support. "We should give this place a clean sweep. No surprises. Especially not tonight. I know you're all tired, so I'm sorry to suggest this but... although it might be slower, I don't think we should split up. At least not until we are certain that we don't have people living here. I won't feel comfortable splitting up or dividing ourselves between rooms until we know we're the only ones here."

He scanned everyone in the lobby. With Willow visibly regaining strength, Randall was not too concerned about her anymore. His main concern was obviously with Julie and, to a lesser extent, Annie and Connor. Annie would no doubt want to watch how they worked but given Julie's condition, she was really the best one to watch over her. With Connor being as overwhelmed as he was, some time in a hotel room could be a lifesaver as well; for him and for everyone else. Randall still couldn't shake his fear of people possibly living in the hotel though. In that case, the safest place would be with them and not isolated in a room that could potentially be accessed by them.

Randall sighed. Perhaps this wasn't even his call to make. Maybe it was just a matter of biology. If Julie physically didn't have the strength to help clear (or watch everyone else clear) 38 rooms after walking so far, then they would have to make due.

"There is only one possible exception. Julie, how are you holding up?" He asked her. "We can get you situated in a room before clearing this place out if you'd like. Leave a couple of people and a radio to keep you company. Or if you're feeling up to it, you can make the rounds with us. Your call."
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"I can do it. I've still got more than enough left in the tank. I don't want us to split up again." Julie said.

There was irrational fear there that something bad might happen again if they did. Maybe it was just the pressure of her situation at work but she wanted them all to stick together. Besides, she could pick the best suite this way, nobody was going to deny her that. Unexpected perk of having a terminal illness.

She used to work in a place like this. Luxury suites. Totally over the top. Clientele were usually okay people, often couples more interested in each other than the services they provided. As with all services though there were a few problem guests for whom nothing short of perfection was adequate. She imagined drugging their food and then smothering them from time to time. Then she got her internship and things only got worse.

For anyone who's worked at a hotel or motel or lodge, staying at one is always a slightly uncomfortable prospect. Just thinking about all the different fluids that have been thrown around in the room... disgusting. Beat sleeping on a couch or a recliner or in an attic though.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
It looked like they were sticking together. Honestly, that had been the answer Randall was hoping for. Despite his reservations about the kid so far, he knew they could cover for any potential mistakes if everyone was there.

"Alright then." Randall nodded his approval.

Despite the abundance of natural light in the lobby, the hallways were already starting to darken as the day was coming to an end. If the rooms didn't have windows, then they would be as dark as night. Randall took a moment to fish the flashlight out of his bag and make sure it still worked. Which it did.

"Nothing left but to do it to it."

Kelsey shot her father a confused look as he said that.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Eli frowned a bit at the suggestion. He knew it was the safe choice, probably even the right one, but that was a lot of rooms to clear one at a time.

Like Randall said, though – they had better just get to it.

Eli took the initiative and led the way once again. Even after the car crash, the escape to and from the warehouse, and the walk over here, he still felt like he was in good shape. He was also eager to get Julie off her feet. Despite her protestations, she was looking weak, and the sooner they were done this the sooner she could rest.

Of course, that rest would likely be her last. But he couldn’t dwell on that when there was still potential danger.

He knocked on the door to the first room and listened for rotters – or people, even. He heard nothing, and when he used the master key to open it up, he also saw nothing. It was the same story with the second room next door, and with the third on the opposite side of the hallway.

Methodically, he and the group continued searching, opening room doors and then sweeping them with two or three people at a time. Each room contained a bed, a tub, a fireplace, an LCD TV, and no rotters. So far so good.

The search was becoming routine until they entered the tenth room in a row, and they were hit by a smell. After living in this post-outbreak world for over a month – and after surviving the warehouse escape – the smell wasn’t too bad, but it was noticeable. Eli readied his knife as he led the way into the shower.

He found a pile of rotting bodies. From the looks of it, they were dead even before they were dead. When he kicked the top one over on its side, he saw a stab wound in its forehead and assumed the same of the others.

“Looks like someone else has been through here,” he observed out loud. “Killed the rotters, stored them all in here.”

He wasn’t sure it was cause for alarm. He had already figured that people had been here before. The only concern was if they were still here. Judging by the quiet, he wanted to guess that they weren’t.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"That's not concerning at all." Willow commented with a frown at the pile of dead rotters.

All it did for Randall was confirm his earlier suspicion that people had either been here or were here at some point. There were no other signs of human habitation here, though. Which could mean a lot of things.

"Whoever did this..." Randall started a thought. "They wouldn't have bothered piling the rotters if their plan wasn't to stay here for a while."

"My gut tells me whoever was here was just trying to get by. It doesn't look at all like what you said the Blue Water Bridge was like."

Jen's two cents worth struck Randall as naive -- which made sense given she had been living in Flint for so long -- but he hoped that, if people were still here, trying to get by was all they were doing. He had seen his fair share of psychopaths and murderers already.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
The beds were still made in the rooms they had checked so far. Brandon wagered the minibars were probably untouched too. It was a nice place. It would be a lot nicer with power and running water but still it would be a big step up from their usual accommodation. What Brandon didn't feel comfortable with was that they had to stop at all.

They were practically a stone's throw from their destination. All they had to do was get in a car and drive down the road a little further and they could finish it. He knew why they had to stop, there were the kids and Annie, Jen, Willow and Randall with their injuries and especially Julie to be concerned about. Splitting the group wasn't his usual suggestion but he, Eli and Emmett were all mostly fit and could run the cure the rest of the way. It was something they could do before Julie succumbed, to show her that this wasn't all in vain. The people at that lab might even be able to help her. If they knew how to cure this thing they might know a way to deal with her infection.

If they didn't though, or if the lab was history than she would have spent her last moments struggling for nothing. And despite his personal conviction that the cure was the real thing and thaf the lab would still be functioning, he had to recognise that he was probably wrong. He just hated doing nothing. He wanted to fight this to the end.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Eli found himself agreeing with Jen, which surprised him a little. But even though they’d had a long run of bad experiences, it made sense that there were at least a few others out there that were just passing through without raping and pillaging.

“Let’s just us all stay on our toes,” Eli said. “Could be whoever was here is long gone. An’ if they’re not, we’ll deal with it.”

He returned to the hall, where Annie was standing over Connor. Annie was composed, but Eli could make out some nerves in her posture. Connor was breathing deep, like he was forcing himself to and focusing on it. He had been doing that since the warehouse escape. His way of staying in control, perhaps.

“What is it?” Annie asked. The rooms were only so big, not everyone could go inside.

“Just some dead rotters,” Eli said. “Nothin' to worry about right now. Just keep behind us.”

Annie nodded back, and put her hands on Connor’s shoulder, comforting him. Eli squeezed past her and continued down the hall.

The routine continued – Eli unlocked the door, he and a few others made the sweep. They looked under beds and in the closet, finding nothing else for another nine rooms straight. Finally, at the end of the hall, Eli stopped. There was a handwritten note on the door, written on Champagne Lodge stationary in block letters.

MATTHEW,

WE HOPE YOU’RE READING THIS. WE COULDN’T WAIT ANY LONGER. WE’RE ON OUR WAY HOME.

WE HOPE WE SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

GOOD LUCK,

FELICITY & ELIZABETH


It was stuck there with a piece of clear tape. Eli ripped it off and passed it back to Randall. It didn’t tell a whole story, but Eli figured it told them enough of one to ease up on their worry.

After all, he thought, as his gaze swivelled to Julie in the small crowd. We got enough to worry about right now.

Again, Eli unlocked the door and let Emmett head in first. He followed with his knife raised. He didn’t need to use it. After checking under the bed and in the shower, they once again concluded the room was empty. The only difference between this one and the others was the room was unmade.

“I think we’re good,” Eli said, approaching Randall in the doorway. “Emmett and I can finish up. If you’re okay with it, I think you an’ the others can settle in.”
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Randall carefully looked over the note. Looked like Jen was right. Just some people trying to get by. He wished he knew how long ago it was written and if this 'Matthew' might be showing up anytime soon. But if two people, two women no less, were thanking him, he couldn't have been too terrible of a person. He didn't want to get too relaxed just yet, but it did help him ease up. And considering how thoroughly cleared this place seemed to be, he found himself okay letting Eli and Emmett handle the rest of it.

"Alright, be careful guys. Just in case. And if you find anything weird, just radio us in." Randall motioned his right arm down the hall they had come down. "I think we're gonna go get Julie situated in that big 'executive' suite we saw earlier. I'll have everyone else settle in rooms in that general area too so we aren't too spaced out."

The executive suit was pretty impressive. It may have been more impressive with electricity and running water, but between the comfortable King-sized bed, the Jacuzzi tucked in the corner, the personal working space, and the giant wall-sized mirrors, it definitely would have been a nice place to stay. Hell, they even had a pretty decent sized flatscreen hanging on the wall. This particular room had a single window in it too, which was great since, well, no electricity. Part of the reason he had picked it out for her.

* * * * *

"Hey, doc..." Willow got Annie's attention as the others were getting settled.

She scratched her head curiously as she noticed Connor. He was still breathing hard. It looked to Willow like he was doing his best not to have a panic attack. Something she was all too familiar with. The tightness in your chest, the spinning in your head. The overwhelming fear of something you may not even fully understand weighing down on you, crushing you, smothering you. It was part of the reason she had turned to weed so long ago. Hell, a week ago, she would have tried offering him a joint to calm him down; that made twice today she wished she had kept her marijuana. But if she had, she probably would have gotten slapped by Annie for even offering it to Connor. Of course, all the things she used to panic about seemed so trivial now. At least Connor had a good reason.

She disregarded what she was going to say to Annie. There would be time for that later. Instead, Willow knelt down and tried to get Connor's attention.

What would Glenda say in this situation?

"You did good today, sport." She tried to cheer him up. "If you can look me in the eyes, I'll tell you a secret. But only if you promise not to tell anyone."

She really hoped this would work. She was going to look so stupid if it didn't.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Annie’s eyes followed Willow as she knelt. She smiled slightly. She appreciated what the girl was trying to do. She didn't know if she could get through to him, but she didn't see any harm in letting her try.

For his part, Connor did as Willow asked. Still taking long breaths, he looked into her eyes.

"Okay, I... I promise," Connor said. It was the first time he'd spoken since the trailer broke down.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Willow glanced back and forth to make sure nobody was really in hearing distance. She wanted to make this a funny joke, to try and take his mind off of everything. But she didn't know if he would find it funny. Not to mention, she generally was known more for sarcasm than actual humor.

"I was not always the tough girl I am now. The first time I saw one of those things up close..."

Her voice was a little softer than usual. She was putting effort into trying to sound sympathetic; she topped it off with a wistful smile before continuing.

"I straight up peed my pants and cried like a baby. Then I locked myself in my house and didn't come out until my food ran out. Just ask Randall, I was pretty wimpy. To be honest, you're handling all of this a lot better than I did. Which is impressive, because I know how scared you are. And it's okay to be scared. It's scary out there. But out here, we're all a family and we look out for each other. We aren't gonna let anyone hurt you or your mom. As long as you don't tell anyone I peed my pants, at least."

She tried to ruffle his hair a little; he saw Randall do it all the time to Kelsey. She didn't know if it would go over well, especially since he was a teenager now. But what kind of teenager doesn't want attention from the opposite sex?

"Although even if you did, you'd still be fine. Your mom is pretty incredible too. She saved my life, you know."
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Brandon cringed as he saw Willow ruffle Connor's hair. Kid looked shell shocked but he might still have enough presence to resent being treated like a kid. If it's one thing Brandon resented as a kid, a small kid too, was being treated like a kid.

He had to teach him to shoot, and with any luck he'd turn his experience today into strength. If only people would stop babying him. It worked for Kelsey at least, he couldn't recall anyone treatibg her like a kid... except for that Beth woman who took off with the deer Willow shot, and Kelsey didn't appreciate that. He resolved not to do that with Connor. With his father gone he needed to know it was his time to man up, Brandon would treat him as such.

He wished he'd spent a little more time teaching Julie how to defend herself.

"Kelsey. Since we're staying the night, it's time to practice. You too, boss. Go and get Connor, Annie, Willow and Julie then meet me out the front." he said to Randall and Kelsey.

He walked off in search of the cleaner's storeroom.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Connor just blinked in confusion when Willow went in for the hair ruffle.

“Um… okay,” he said, after, then blinked again before walking off down the hall and away from the encounter.

Annie let him go, turning back to Willow. She gave her a shrug. A sort of ‘you tried'-type gesture.

Not much later, Emmett and Eli returned. According to their report, the final few rooms had been as empty as all the others before them. The hotel was clear and it was getting dark outside. Now it was just a waiting game.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
It was too late in the day to practice shooting. Brandon had something else in mind. Once he found the store room he was pleased to find a wooden handled mop. He snapped it near the head creating a long sharp stick which he further sharpened with his knife. Next he dumped a cleaner's trolldy of all its contents and made his way to the room with all the rotters. He emerged with a body carried on the trolley and the severed head of another.

Today he was going to teach them how to protect themselves without guns. From rotters and people.
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