Vincent Brookes awoke from his short nap in the wreckage of the Scope Arena. He quickly got on his feet as his eyes darted throughout what used to be the concession's stand. When he realized there was no threat, he lessened his grip on his trusty shovel and made his way outside, weaving his way through the rubble that made a location so familiar to him seem so foreign, like he was on another world. When he stepped outside, his eyes didn't need to adjust to the light, or, in this case, lack thereof. it was dark and cloudy outside, despite being noon. He looked to the road that led to his favorite childhood hangout, the mall, and decided to see if any of the rumors of a possible settlement there were true. He started his short hike towards the mall, keeping his eyes open for any looters that saw him as an easy target. They'd be disappointed.

It was the rain that woke Santiago from beneath his makeshift shelter. The soft pitter-patter of raindrops danced across the roof, creating an almost rythmic sound against the dark. Dribbles of water leaked from the hastily patched up tears in the roof. Some of it dripped onto the large man's head, breaking him away from his uneasy sleep. His eyes opened and, for a brief moment, confusion flashed through the sleepy haze. Santiago's hand instinctively moved to his bat--a habit born from necessity--before realization took over and his tensed form relaxed. Right. He was safe here. Or at least, safer than walking around out there.

Santiago awkwardly stretched his limbs in the cramped space, wincing as a sharp pain filled his body. The wound on his abdomen throbbed with a dull ache, a shadow of the pain it would grow into later in the day. It was only hours prior that he had the misfortune of running into a band of bandits. They had struck hard and fast, and, while Santiago had managed to fled, the damage was already done. While a clumsily wrapped bandaged had managed to staunch the bleeding, it'd take a real medic to do any longterm fixing up.

He grabbed his supplies, hefting the familiar weight of the bat before stepping outside. The ash sky gave little light, yet far in the distance was the unmistakable silhouette of buildings. He'd heard rumors of a mall. A sanctuary of supples and possible allies. There he'd find some help, something to keep going if for a little while. But he'd need to move fast. Giving his surroundings a quick, hasty look, Santiago gathered his bearings and set off towards the city.

Vincent looked about the wrecked buildings he slowly passed by through almost knee-deep waters. Like every day, he once again contemplated on whether or not to leave the city. Even if they were significantly damaged to say the least, every building looked familiar to him. He huddled up in or under each one at least once now for the last six years, but he never expected this kind of activity.

A possible settlement at MacArthur Mall was rumored to have made its roots, and he saw at least 10 people on their way to help out. That's nine more he saw just about any other day. He was smart enough not to get his hopes too high, though. A working settlement in this kind of inclement weather never lasts.

He took a deep breath and trudged on through the flooded streets. Despite there being so many people before, there don't seem to be much now. He started hoping that he'd run into someone, just to remind him that this possible settlement wasn't just a sort of hopeful dream in between his constant cynicism.