CFH: The Continued Story... [Jakeozzy & Jambo1117]

(This RP continues on from another zombie survival 1x1 called 'A Challenge for Humanity'.)

Introduction -
07:00AM, January 8th, 2013 - Outskirts Area of Hope
The group of survivors were split up at 'Hope' just one night ago, driven out of their safe haven by a giant herd of undead. It is Z-Day +3 so to speak, and so far, billions have been killed and reanimated as eaters of the living. The USA is no safer than any other place in the world, as demonstrated by last night's horrors... Weary and weak, the few attempt to find eachother again in the mist of chaos.. now, in rural farmlands that had surrounded their dream town.

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In complete exhaustion, Jake lay still on the roof of the radio building in Hope. He couldn't even think, having fought the undead all night. Now there was a big pile of them blocking the ladder, so that no more could get onto the roof and pressure him further. He'd had enough, he just wanted off this damn roof so he could find his aquaintances again... Wherever they might've ended up after last night. Some fucking joke this is... Fate, you torturous bitch! We had it all! We were safe, you dick! Jake thought, cursing whatever higher power might be guiding him at this point.

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Gino, Henry & the wounded Max were still on the run. The walkers were still lingering on their tail, never slowing, but the humans they were after.. they were getting so tired now. They wouldn't abandon their comrade, and that's the only thing that doomed them at this point. "You still alive? Max!" Gino said, panting heavily. There was merely a fifteen-second gap between them and the undead now, if they slowed any further, they would be zombie chow in no time.

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Sarah & Nine, now named 'Zoe' woke up in the same forest they'd ended up in after their retreat from Hope. What happened...? Sarah thought, the memories from last night's horrific assault returning. She held her head and moaned, it hurt so much in both her heart and mind. James... Dad... Zoe was bitten, but the bite seemed to be recovering well - thank heavens she was some kind of Super Soldier...

"Miss Sarah, are you awake?" Zoe's monotone voice broke through.
"Y-Yeah. How are you feeling now?" Sarah replied.
"The infection has been surpressed, but.. I'm very tired."
"Ditto... Zoe, thank you so much for saving me. But still, let's get up, we have to find the others."
"I agree."

The two exchanged their words, and as they moved weakly towards the old Church they had seen before passing out, they said nothing more. Either couldn't bring themselves to strike a conversation. They mourned Hope.. but they weren't completely crushed, as they hoped that everyone was still alright. They had faith that they would see them again soon.

Simon awoke in the tall tree that managed to save them. James was already up. Looking into that town once known as Hope. It wasn't. "Do you think we'll see her again?" James asked, hearing Simon stir. "Yes" He replied, with confidence. He climbed down the tree. Most of the zombies must have wondered past. Got bored. Perhaps caught the scent of an animal and followed. "Let's get going. Quickly. The others have gone. We must too.". James nodded, climbing down himself. They were on there way. To nowhere special. Nowhere was safe anymore.

"Stop!" Max shouted, clearly in pain. "I'm done for. I'd love to be able to continue. To maybe see the other end of this journey. I'm not going to let you guys die for me" He said, trying to smile. The pain was too much to bear. He grabbed a pistol. "Leave me. Here." He said, pulling away from the reach. He turned to pop a zombie in the head, which fell and caused a few to stumble over it. "Go now." He turned to face them both again. "You were like my Brother, Henry. Gino, in this short time. You're a good man. Look after each other. And find the others

Gino went to grab Max's collar again, only to hesitantly let go at hearing his request to be left there. He said nothing, being astonished at this. After all the energy they'd used up escaping, he felt like laying down and dying as well - but he and Henry were to live for the others' sakes now. It was Max's final request, and Gino would honour it unquestionably. He tugged at Henry's arm as he got back up, regaining some confidence, "We got this! Don't worry about a thing, Max!" He called back as he began to leave. There was no looking back on this. Max would die letting his friends escape, wasting even a second would be disrespectful.

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Sarah & Zoe reached the seemingly abandoned Church entrance. Curiously, Sarah peered into the lobby to find it all clear. There was a quiet, soft sound inside, like treading on a carpet... "Zoe, wait outside. I'm going to take a look." "But, Miss Sarah, it could be dangerous!-" "You nearly got killed for my sake, I'm returning the favour. Besides, if it is dangerous then you know to start running..." Sarah told her friend seriously, Zoe nodding and going to wait outside the church. Sarah meanwhile went ahead and began to open the door, the sound from earlier was gone, so she opened it fully. Perfectly clear? She approached the altar, where there was still a clean bible resting. The audible light tap of one of her shoes landing on a wooden step caused the confession booth door to burst open, a shotgun-wielding monk ran up to Sarah, grabbed her sweater and held the barrel of the gun under her chin. "Don't you fucking move!!" He screamed, "You're one of them, aren't you?! Speak!" He continued to pressure the girl, to which she shook at, her breath trembling.

"Brother Malchius! Lower your weapon!" A priest said, coming out of that same booth. They'd most likely been hiding there thinking Sarah was one of the undead, or possibly one of the lower-moral humans. The priest took his subordinate's shoulder and tried to calm him, but the monk kept the weapon deadly still, trigger finger itching. "You're frightening her, she can't even speak!" The priest again tried to persuade the monk. Slowly, the robed Malchius took the gun away from Sarah, leaving a red mark where he had forced the cold metal barrel. He went over to sit on one of the bench rows with his hands in the symbol of a prayer. "I am so very sorry, my fear got the better of me, my faith.. I must keep my faith." He reminded himself. The priest took Sarah's shoulders and sat her down on the steps up to the altar, "Are there any others with you, child?" He asked, sincerely and with a tone that sounded so angelic and trustworthy. She nodded, still frozen up from the encounter, and pointed towards the door. "Just one other.." She squeaked, the priest nodding and walking calmly outside...

Max smiled as he watched them go. He knew Henry certainly didn't like to leave him behind. Max checked his clip. 5 bullets left, plus one in the chamber. He wouldn't be able to shoot all the zombies. He was merely a delay. He placed his shots well, stepping back. Untill the last bullet remained. He held the gun up to his head. Waiting for the last minute. Of when a Zombie or two was biting down on him to pull the trigger.

Henry knew it was the final bullet, once none followed. He genuinely felt sad. For the first time in his life. "I told him. I said. You heard me. This group would get us all killed." He said. He kept running. Pulling out his crowbar. More shooting would only attract them. He thought.

Simon was leading James along the Forest, he didn't really have a clue where to take the young boy. Anywhere was better than the hellhole that once was 'Hope'. Maybe they could find some more people. To help search for the rest of their group. "Jake. I don't know if you made it. I'm searching for you all" Simon said into the radio. He hoped to hear the response. One that said they were all okay, and with one another.

"Jake. I don't know if you made it. I'm searching for you all." Was heard from Jake's pocket, with a bit of static between the words. "Yeah. I bet..." He said tiredly, then snapped into reality as he had realised what was happening. He got the radio out and held in the transmitter, "Simon? Jesus, I didn't think I'd hear your voice again. I could barely see you guys down there once the swarm hit. I'm still on top of the broadcasting center. Are you all okay? What's your location? Do you have any ammo left? Who's missing?" He continued to question impatiently, believing that his comrades had all been devoured down there in the hellpit that was a peaceful town only one day ago. He rushed to get his rifle, hopefully he could use the scope to pinpoint where Simon was.

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Gino pulled out his switchblade too. "Damnit, would it have been any different if we weren't in a large group? There would just be less of us dying in that friggin' town, that's the only difference it would've made." He said, regaining his breath as they kept moving across the farmland. Max was weighing them down, Gino didn't know whether to feel relieved or saddened that the man had taken his own life. "...We lasted this long because of them." He continued.

Simon stopped in his tracks. James thought there must have been a zombie, so crouched down. Then realised he was getting a response over the radio. "Slow down friend." Simon said with a chuckle. "I've just got James with me. Nobody else. We've got some ammo. Not enough for another group. We've gone into the forest. A 10 minute walk away. We can head back to you? Maybe it's safer now. Now that they've passed. You see the others?" He asked. He looked about for zombies. He spotted a few ahead. He turned to point them out to James. And made the hush gesture.

"There's pros and cons to every little thing, Gino. We could have been in and out of this little town. Bet ya nobody would have noticed. A bigger group. More likely to attract these freaks of nature. See where i'm heading? I bet we survive longer us two. Then we did with them. I say, who needs the others. We shouldn't look for dead weight" He said.

"Heh, you think they passed? Fuck no, they're swarming around this building. I have like thirty of the biters laying on the ladder blocking the rest from getting up here. They know how to climb, you do realise that? I underestimated, and now I'm surrounded by another.. I'd say another sixty or so. They can't get up, and I can't get down. Stalemates, huh..." Jake chatted away happily, even seeing as he wasn't in the best of situations right now. Just hearing another human voice instead of a moan of hunger was enough to get his spirits up. "I didn't see any of the others, and I still couldn't this morning. There's a huge farm just West of us, and further up North is what looks like an old church. I can't see in that much detail. Maybe you could check those places out? I'm not going to be moving for a while, and coming after me is going to be a suicide run. All I can do is remain in contact, polish my weapons and wait until these things clear out."

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"Yeah, yeah. I know what you're getting at." Gino agreed, though he still considered the idea of getting back with the group at first chance. He looked behind, the undead had finished Max and looked to be moving elsewhere. South, thank god. Max's sacrifice hadn't been in vain. "Phew..." He said, taking a knee. "Alright, what do you say we search the farmhouse in the distance there? Maybe we'll find some guns and food, every crazy old coot in the rurals has guns." He talked himself, and possibly Henry into it.

"Shit, we'll head towards that Farm. Perhaps there will be something useful there. I won't leave you behind. I promise you that" Simon said, half smiling. They had at least a plan in action. And maybe. Regroup with their lost. "Right. We'll head back towards the city. The farm is that way yeah?" He asked. James moved up behind one zombie and hit it. Hard with a rock. They were going to kill zombies as silently as possible.

"Let's get to that farm house. Although. Don't expect the biters not to be there. Farmers take the easy exit and kill themselves. And what, with any animals. The biters might bite them. I say get there. Make the place more secure and let's see how long we can last this shit hole out. Maybe the military or something will get a grip on this situation" He said.

"Whatever. If the National Guard was going to help, they'd be helping by now. I think it's like Jake said, 'they're -all- dead'." Gino said, continuing up the path towards the farmhouse. It seemed clear enough.. but this was only the outside. There was the smell of rotting meat as they got closer. "...Let's just get in there and find something to eat. And hopefully some damn ammo, we're gonna run dry if that huge crowd meets us again." He said, approaching the door and readying his pistol, of which had one shot remaining.

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"Mhm. West of the town... I see you in my scope, very faintly, but I can see you. Don't get too close to the town. Circle around or this whole bloody herd will come after you if you're spotted. Good luck, Simon." Jake said, turning off the transmitter to save the battery. The radio would still receive. Jake got back up onto the deck chair he had been laying on before this whole mess, and he threw his hands behind his head to relax. All he needed was an umbrella or something, and it'd make the perfect spot for a lazy sniper.

Henry opted not to use his side arm. It had little ammo. But he didn't want to bring the whole hord with them. "You think this is it then?" Henry asked, standing beside the door now. He looked at Gino as his hand reached for the doorknob. If it was open. Then there wouldn't be the noise of breaking it in. "I mean. Like nobody else left. Nobody left to clean up this mess?" He continued. And then. Himself came out again. "Sweet. A life where I can do what the hell I want to. Without no pig or goverment to tell me I can't? I say this is a good day to be living" He said, with a smile.

"Roger that, we'll avoid getting too close. Once we get supplies from this farm. I'm coming back" He said, hopeful a bit now. "Come on James. We've got to get a move on. We want to move quickly, but not make ourselves the next meal" He said. They started heading back towards town, but going around it more. Simon & James probably had the most amount of ammo left. But James picked up rocks or sticks. In this short time. he was learning how to behave in this new world. Simon was a little slower. Still wielding his standard issue side arm.