"Metal worker..." Dimitri mumbled as if trying the work on for size. Dimitri sat up just a little bit straighter when the subject of why he'd bothered to help was brought up, "Well don't take this the wrong way, but I was originally just going to leave you guys to whatever those men had planned for you. After all I earned everything I got by working myself ragged and keeping to myself. Then I saw that kid freaking out and trying to help her pa and well, I couldn't let a little girl and her father be tortured or killed. I couldn't live with myself if I just let that happen." he explained as he stopped patting Brutus' head. Brutus eyed Cliff warily, however because Dimitri didn't get worked up the dog simply lied down on the floor, glancing over at the newcomers every now and then, "Since you guys just so happened to be trying to help her father out, I figured i'd help you guys out as well. Guess you folks could say that kid saved your life.", Dimitri slipped both hands behind his head and gave a little shrug, "Now that I think about it, why were you folks helping that guy? You don't sound like the compassionate type either."

@nerminator
Hank sighed at the question. "Murphy, I know you don't understand this, but we are not safe anymore...These walls, it's false hope, they are used to keep us inline, so we will become obedient slaves to these... people. This place gave us a chance to protect ourselves from the dead, But what I have learned, the living are much worse."

Almost as if on Que the sound of trucks could be heard int he streets. The soldiers would drive around trucks all the time, but never more then one or two in the same place unless it was a checkpoint. It sounded like a convoy?

The voice of the district officer boomed over a loud speaker. "Attention, Barriers of District Zone Ten! Due to a lack of rations and over population with in this, and several other districts, Rations will be cut off 100% until further notice, any attempt to steal rations will be met with force applied to the accused and all know associates. Until rations are back into play you are too keep up your lives as they were, any attempt to not show up to work will add to your personal time of removal of rations." He would turn to his driver. "Move out!"

Hank was shocked...No more rations... It was going to be an all out war on the streets, It was going to be time to leave, if they didn't...they would both be dead.

"Compassionate?" Cliff acted suprised. "Listen, I know very well how to stay alive here and I know that a one to be compassionate in this kind of twisted world would only lead him to his own death." Cliff knew the reason why he hurried to his aid but he didn't want to share it with them. Why should he? Tommorow they may die and his words would be for nothing.

Suddenly a district officer announced about a ration shortage. "They really are going to exterminate us all, huh?" Cliff said with a smile on his face. "If we are going to leave this place, I think now is the best time."

Melissa thought about the question, her face screwing up as she tried to put some words together. She'd seen whippings before, tons of whippings, and she'd never helped those people. She didn't have any answer for Dimitri other than, "Truthfully, I have no idea. I guess I surprise myself sometimes?" Now she was actually trying to figure out why she had come to the rescue. She analyzed everything she remembered, every detail, but the answer didn't come. "I was just kind of being an idiot, I suppose."

The sound of a booming voice on a loudspeaker startled her, and as she listened, her heart sank and her stomach made a loud grumble. Melissa had her doubts that she would survive such a period of forced famine, with the amounts she hadn't been eating lately. Tears came to her eyes but she forced them back before they could fall. Don't show weakness. Not to anyone. Even if they've shown kindness.

She stood up. "I think that does it for me, guys," she announced.

@Remipa Awesome Her fathers words rang in her head, especially after the truck arrived and announced that theirs no more rations, No more rations!, and then now. Murphy was sad.

How can they do that! Everyone will die! she told her father was a Surprised but confused face now She understood why they were leaving.

"I guess that makes all three of us idiots then, huh?" Dimitri said with a tired sigh. The sudden loudness of the announcement outside caused Dimitri to jolt, which in turn sent Brutus to his paws with startling speed for such a large dog. At first Brutus began to bare his teeth and growl at Melissa and Cliff again under the assumption that they were responsible for Dimitri's actions, however another rough pat in the ribs cut the dog off before more could be done. Dimitri's face paled as he listened to what the district manager had to say. He already knew for a fact that this would mean the end of Brutus, as people were often quick to expel animals to save their food, or worse, resort to killing pets for their meat. Another issue was the fact that Dimitri himself needed nourishment to keep up in his highly physical job. By Dimitri's count this morning he had approximately three ration packs a box of crackers, and two cans of soup left, but they wouldn't last long even if he did carefully ration them and Brutus continued hunting vermin.

"What do you mean, "does it for you"?" Dimitri asked as he eyed Melissa. He felt as though he already knew what she might have been implying, however he couldn't be sure until he actually heard her say it.

"By the looks of it, our current situation..." Ciliff said with a pause the continued. "It is time for us that we make our biggest decision in life. We will starve to death, maybe even soldiers have seen our faces and we are dead already." He stated calmy although he knew this is not a calm matter, but he has alwaya been a calm person to begin with, a serious calm type. "I suggest all of us reach in our hearts and see what lies in it. Freedom or slavery. This is a intimate thing to do. Speak with your heart and see what does it tell you and when you decide, I propose we meet here again if it is all right with you big guy?" He was telling to Dimitri who was sitting in his couch. He already knew his answer but he wanted to hear others too, but that was serious matter that will have a great impact on their future, so he knew it needs time to decide. "At nightfall then?"

"It means I'm getting the hell out of this place even if it means I'll get shot," said Melissa plainly. She was so sick of this, of being messed around by the people who ran this place, of being treated like unruly livestock. She crossed her arms with a haughty air that made it clear her decision didn't need any thinking through: it was already made. She was careful, though, to put an extra step between herself and Brutus. The little extra distance wouldn't put the dog off if he decided she was a threat, but it made her feel safer.

Dimitri reached up and rubbed his face, exposing for a few seconds as the redness that crept in from under his eyelids. He never acknowledged it, but he always had a feeling that after everything he'd done for the colony that he'd ultimately end up leaving after a wile,be it from an outbreak of infected or hard times, he knew by now that there was no longer such a thing as a permanent safe haven. "Guess that's what I get for deluding myself." Dimitri mused as he considered Cliff's idea. On the one hand, he might not have been seen holding open the door for the group and might've been safe, but on the other, staying was risking starvation for Brutus and himself. Dimitri started to bounce his foot up and down, a nervous habit he'd developed in childhood, and spoke slowly, "Get anything of value you have at your homes. Any nonperishable food, medical stuff, and anything you might be able to use as a weapon Before we leave we can stop by the greenhouse to gather food and herbs, and there's plenty of tools that'd make good weapons. Shovels, pitchforks, sickles, machetes, shit like that. After working there so long I learned the patrol routines and all of the places one can slip in without getting seen. If we're lucky one of the night guards might've gotten lazy and left a weapon unattended seeing as no one but them are aloud inside after dark." he said with uncertainty in his voice.

It wouldn't take very long for Dimitri to pack, after all when he'd arrived all he had to his name was a large rucksack, a rifle and pistol, a fixed blade knife, an all weather blanket, some fire starting tools, and a crowbar. Everything that could be considered a weapon was confiscated, however Dimitri still had his rucksack, blanket, and half a box of waterproof matches. Some of scrounging for a month and a half had given him enough cash and supplies to use to purchase a slightly rusty but sturdy military folding shovel at the market place, though he'd still had to jump through hoops to actually prove that it was for work purposes to avoid arousing suspicion from a few soldiers. "I'm assuming we'll all be together at least until we get outside the wall, so it's fine if we meet back here come sun down. Assuming you guys can whistle do it in the same I used before opening my door, then i'll know it's safe to let you in. The name's Dimitri by the way, Dimitri Santos.".

Hank grabbed Murphy's hand and hurried to the others, he would go out alone with Murphy is he thought he was still strong enough, but he lacked food, and he was in poor condition. "Alright Murphy, we are going to meet with the other people again, you are to listen to every word i say, it's going to be like old times got it? Just be careful and do what I say when I say it."
@nerminator

Cliff knew he doesn't have anything at home he could make good use of it, but he decided to return for the time being. Dimitri was a name of the big fellow who helped them earlier and in who's apartment are now. "Names aren't important,easily forgotten if the person dies. I don't need to know the names of any of you. If we survive this, if we reach the outside, I'll tell you my name." Cliff said with calmly tone, determined in every word he speaks. He stood near the door and waved his hand. "At nightfall." He said closing the door behind him.

@Remipa Awesome The old times wasn't very fun at all. Hank and Murphy spent their times wandering the wastelands trying to survive another day, it was harsh and Murphy lost count of all the times she nearly died.

Murphy Follows her father, silently nodding, things were getting serious now, Especially when her father said that "this will be like old times"

Melissa lingered at the door for a moment, glancing from Dimitri to Brutus, then to Cliff as he left. The thought crashed down on her again: she was betting her life that these people were worthy of trust. She swallowed dryly and agreed, "Nightfall. See you then," before quietly walking out and making her way down the stairs. She was already working on a mental list of everything she would pack. Normally food would be on the list, but that could be crossed out immediately. Luckily there was water, and some good heavy metal tools, and her contraband knife...and a few raggedy clothes, and that was it, save for feminine hygiene products that couldn't be considered very high-standard.

Dimitri got up from the couch and locked the door after his guests turned temporary comrades made their exit. With little time to spare deciding whether or not putting his faith in these people was a good idea, Dimitri forwent taking Brutus out for a walk and moved in a brisk pace down the hall and into his room. Brutus -being somewhat accustomed to having to wait to be let out as Dimitri sometimes took a nap after work-, followed behind his owner and let out a soft whine. "I know bud, i'll take you out in a minute but I have to get everything ready to go." Dimitri grunted as he pulled his rucksack from out of the closet. It was a large bag by most people's standards, however Dimitri's size almost made it seem normal. He tossed it onto a lumpy old mattress on the floor which served as his bed and pulled his shovel out from the closet's top shelf. Brutus sat in the doorway and watched patiently as Dimitri ran his thumb carefully along the serrated edge that took up one half of the shovel's blade, then swung it experimentally. The shovel was a relatively small thing, just over a yard long when fully extended, but it was remarkably sturdy, having survived everything Dimitri put it through when he actually brought it in to work. The blade of the tool would make short work of anything fleshy that it hit, and provided Dimitri with a small comfort, though he couldn't help but wish he had his guns back.

Dimitri grabbed the rucksack from his bed and opened it to ensure that his weather blanket was inside, then placed the shovel inside along with the blanket before closing the bag up and moving out of his room and for the kitchen to repeat the packing process anew.

After leaving Dimitri's apartment Cliff could not be at ease. Could he trust them. They don't seem trust worthy. But they were his one way ticket to get out of this place. After leaving the apartment and gone down the street, Cliff was stopped by a group of soldiers. "Stop. Daily routine show your ID." Cliff stayed cool although he was nervous. It wasn't just daily routine he knew they were searching someone, he knew they were searching for people who helped the punished man a while back. After seeing his ID they continued marching forward. It was a close call, but they didn't seen his face back then. Although that is just what he thinks. He continued to his basement to get ready.

Hank went to Dimitri's apartment, When they got their he looked over to Murphy. "I need you to wait inside for a little while, I'll be back in an hour or so...I have something I need to do." Hank hugged Murphy. "Don't worry, things will be better soon. Just give it time. Daddy just need to take care of a few things before we do anything else." Hank stood up. "Be a good girl for me okay?"

Murphy gave her father a nice strong warm hug Okay daddy. She answered and sliently prayed her father would come back and this time. not on the verge of death.

It was a while since she hugged her father. in fact their was a bit of a rift between the two. but now she was closer than ever to her father. She let go of him. she wished she could hug him for a bit longer. but she couldn't. whatever Hank was doing. it was probably very important

They needed food...Anywhere that the colony held food in this area would be on lock down with more soldiers with machine guns then this district could take. Though he knew one person that had food in the building, No soldiers to stop him, Only him and the owner of the apartment complex. Everyone paid rent to him, and their was only one of him.

Hank knocked on his door. "It's a bad time Hank it better be impotent." Hank held the revolver behind his back. "Food, I need food." The owner just laughed. "HA! You and everyone else buddy! I ain't no charity boy, you should get going before..." He was cut off when the barrel of the revolver got pressed on his nose. "You wouldn't dare." He glared at Hank. "We have no food, no rations, no nothing. I have nothing left to lose if we starve to death. You can hand over the food quietly or I can shoot you and grab what ever I can in a hurry to get out of here."

The owner just stood their for a moment before sighing. "Point taken. Come inside and I'll get you what you need, as long as you don't do the same for anyone else. Last thing I need is more freeloa...I mean more people asking for food." him and Hank walked into the back room where stacks of rations lay, Not like stockpiles the colony holds...But a lot larger then most people had in the Barrier towns.

Hank started to load up his bag when he heard the clicks of an all to familiar sound. "You thought you could steal from me? You really think I wasn't prepared for this day?! I should kill you right now for what you did. Now drop the gun and stand up, facing me."

Hank set down the revolver then stood up facing the owner. He was holding a shotgun to him, It was small though, Sawn-off maybe? Problem was it was aimed at him. "Don't do this, it wont end well for anyone." That seemed to have mad him even more mad. "How are you going to explain the gun?" He just smiled.

"Help help a crazed gunman came into my home trying to steal my rations, I was able to get one of his guns before he shot me with it." He kept smiling. "You are so dead, I am going to take your Fucking head OFF!" he pumped the shotgun but was unable to react fast enough before Hank jumped at him forcing the shotgun to the side, It blasted into the wall leaving a hole. Hank was fighting with pure anger, The owner was fighting with fear, it could be seen in his eyes.

Even though Hank was injured he was still much stronger then the Owner, The gun soon turned to his head. "No no no no Hank?" Hank knew the gun wasn't able to fire, but he used the force the owner was applying to turn the gun around to hit him in the face with the stock. Hank then pumped the shotgun and shot the owner in the face before he could react. Hank grabbed his gun and the rations he could carry and ran out with the shotgun still in hands, No idea how much ammo was in it but if it was more then one it was worth it.

Having seen Hank and Murphy enter his home, Dimitri offered no complaint and had given Brutus a quick pat on the side before the dog could raise almighty cain for the intrusion, instead focusing on what he needed to get done. Dimitri finished packing up his supplies and reentered the living room and spared a quick glance at Murphy as he threw his rucksack on the couch, then snapped his fingers and pointed at the door. Brutus quietly padded over to where Dimitri pointed, pausing for a moment to give Murphy a wary sniff before sitting where he was directed. "Ah...i'm taking my dog out for a quick walk, just keep the door locked and don't open it until you hear three long whistles and three short whistles. Bathroom's down the hall if you need it and there's a bit of food in my bag. Only take what you need, we need to save what we got." he said before stepping around Murphy and exiting with Brutus.

For a moment Dimitri wondered if it was a good idea to leave Murphy unattended in his apartment. The obvious fact that she was at an age where supervision was expected aside, there was also the issue of him not really knowing her. Child or not, Murphy was a stranger that he'd just given unrestricted access to his home and supplies to. "Make this quick Brutus, I don't want to be out longer than we have to." He said as he and Brutus exited the apartment. As Brutus trotted over to relieve himself, Dimitri kept an eye out for anyone heading his way, be it his new "comrades" or soldiers.

@MonsieurShade Got it She told him and locked the door as he walked out, remembering the three long whistles and three short whistles

She sat down thinking of her future. whats going to happen next?. theirs no more food. I have to leave....its funny how quick my life fell apart She thought



She cringed upon hearing it, and cowered into the back of the Sofa in fear. I hope thats not my father! She thought, She already lost a mother. and it would be horrible to lose a father.

It was followed by another this one even more scary. Now she was cowering. a second shot wasn't good at all.