[hr][hr] [centre][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjQ4LjcyNWQyNy5WR2hsSUV4bGJtRnlaQ0JDY205MGFHVnljdywsLjAAAAAA/corona.regular.png[/img] [img]http://i64.tinypic.com/359zksg.png[/img][/centre] [hr][hr] [color=tan][b]"A stair master wouldn't hurt you know, that or Jenny Craig's."[/b][/color] Chris was shaking his head at the sweat that was literally pouring off of Norman as he trailed behind Chris, the larger man was out of breath, quite literally from the trek from the vehicle to the mall. [color=tan][b]"Hell if we can find Richard Simmons he would get a reward for you."[/b][/color] Norman would shoot Chris a nasty glare as he put his hands up as if to surrender as he looked around the parking lot they were treking through. As he seen the entire place was fairly empty and quiet, he really did not expect to find anything here, although he kept that to himself instead of revealing this to the ailing Norman. Chris would be hit with a rather gut wrenching odor, he was pretty sure what it was coming from, wouldn't be the first time he smelled a decomposing body, the only question he was asking himself was if that body was still moving or not. From his vantage point earlier there was just a couple dead walkers, those of which they were crossing now. The bullet markings in their heads was a clear enough indication they were dead. Even so he had no intention of letting his guard down just yet, Chris was weary, but more from other survivors than he was the flesh eaters. The long time military brat was more than aware of what happened when things went to shit, true colors start to emerge when the world around you breaks down. People in life seem normal most of the time but more often than not they hide dark secret lives, sick minds hidden behind everyday eye's. Chris had been to war torn countries, where there was no law, no rules, no decency, it is these so called normal people that thrive in such chaos. He could not deny when it came to a live or die mentality these people were best prepared. Now it seemed like the entire world might be living that same mentality though, than again he "hoped" this shit wasn't happening around the entire world. He did hold out a little for the fact that maybe, just maybe there were other countries that had not been affected by this, if they could get out of here, get somewhere that isn't plagued by this hell. That just felt like a shitty pipe dream though, even if a place like that existed, getting to it would be the real challenge. With this kind of outbreak, any place deemed unaffected would be closed off, all ports of entry restricted, and those ports would be defended with lethal precision. Although his shittiest pipe dream, the thing that conflicted him daily was if this was going to end or not. It had not been that long since this started, but the devastation it caused in that short amount of time was maximum, in his heart he was telling himself that if they held out just long enough this could be beaten. That they could return to the same boring reality they had before, but his brain told him that this was not something you can come back from. Come on, bodies coming back to life and eating other people, it was every damn terrible zombie movie brought to reality. An in this movies, the world ended, every time, a hopeless dark void filled with only the strongest and the nastiest of humanities survivors. When Chris heard the gagging he would turn to see Norman on his knee's puking all over the ground in front of him. Chris would sigh as he walked back to Norman, normally he would be worried but, he was fairly sure between not eating well, the smell of dead bodies, and the walk had all combined to make him rather sick. Chris would throw a hand on Norman's sweaty back and give him a couple whacks to try and help him get it out, wasn't the first time and probably not the last. [color=tan][b]"Let it out big boy, you'll feel betta."[/b][/color] Chris imitated his father with that last word, that man was genuine south and both of them had always found his dialect funny. It was when Norman pointed his finger up from the ground that Chris cocked his head and turned silently to look in the direction he was pointing. He saw an old beat up SEAR's sigh, he was about to ask Norman what he pointing at when he noticed the movement by the sign, Chris would see someone slip into the mall. Chris immediately got Norman up to his feet regardless of if he was done puking or not. He pulled the Beretta from its holster and gave it a quick once over to ensure it would not fail him in a desperate moment. The pure tension pouring off Chris was thick as he looked around for other traces of movement, he didn't like survivors, and that was definitely a living person the way they moved. [color=tan][b]"We need to get out of here, I am calling this off. We will try somewhere else."[/b][/color] Chris was very direct as Norman went to say something but dry heaved violently as he bent over his breathing out of whack. [color=gold][b]"I feel weak, I need food Chris."[/b][/color] Chris could hear Norman's exhaustion come through his words. Neither of them had eaten much the past couple days, and while Chris could take it, Norman could not handle the lack of food. He had feinted a couple times because of it before, and the walk here most definitely drained him, Chris took a moment but he was coming to the conclusion that there was really no choice in the matter. They needed food, if Norman went down from hunger, he didn't even want to think about it. They had to do this, survivors or not. Chris would reach into his pack and pull out a small bottle and give it to Norman, it was a five hour energy. They were not the healthiest things in the world but when you didn't have much to eat and you needed a pick me up they did the trick. [color=tan][b]"Go on, drink it up."[/b][/color] It was like putting a band aide on a lost arm, the energy wouldn't last but it would last long enough to get this done. [color=gold][b]"I feel a bit better, I think I can go on now."[/b][/color] [color=tan][b]"Good. Here's the plan, you stay behind me and provide back up only if I need it. Take this and don't argue."[/b][/color] Chris removed a beat up metal baseball bat that was attached top his pack and handed it to Norman who took it begrudgingly. [color=tan][b]"I know you don't want to, and I am going to try and make sure you don't have to, but if things get rough, use that bat Normie, aim for the head, you got it?"[/b][/color] The look on Norman's face was one of fear, even now the man could not even think about harming other people even if they were trying to harm him. His pure soul was both a light in this dark hell and a huge liability at the same time, but there wasn't much to be done about it right now but be patient and hope he lived long enough to adapt. Chris motioned for Norman to fall in behind him as he crept forward the gun raised in front of him defensively. The barrel rested against his wrist as he kept his eye's on those corners just in case as they both bypassed the ruined SEAR's sigh and entered the darkened interior of the once popular retail store. Chris was heavily aware that Norman's breathing was loud as hell, and in an empty mall shit like that tended to echo so it put him even more on edge as he surveyed his surroundings. He didn't see anyone, however that did not mean there wasn't someone here. Chris quickly raised his free hand and put two fingers up he motioned Norman forward while telling him to keep his eye's open as they continued deeper into the store. The place had definitely seen better days, it was huge too which meant plenty of place to spring out from. Chris would keep close to the wall as to keep away from these hidden locations. They would stalk through the cash registers in the front of the store, Norman's footfalls echoed lowly around the store.