Ash had been on his own for a while. He thought it was a Tuesday... maybe? He had kept up with the days while he was at his home. He had used his watch to keep up with the hours, had a calendar he used to X off the passing days. He really believed they would be saved. He really believed that the military would take better action or that a doctor would find a cure and everything would right itself, eventually. He wanted to know what day the world was saved, wanted to be able to remember what day he felt such relief and joy at the infection getting beat.
When his house was broken in to and he had to flee before he was attacked by a group of thugs, his faith had shaken but still held. When he ran out of food and water and nearly got sick enough to get himself killed, eventually finding the things he needed, his faith was crumbling. When one of those things... whatever the hell they were... attacked him and ripped his shirt, almost scratched him, and he killed it with the hunting knife he had found along the way, his faith was gone, turned to dirt underneath the heavy weight of this horror he was experiencing.
He was so tired. He hadn't seen another person in so long. In a big place like Dallas... someone else had to have lived, right? He didn't even know how long it had been since the outbreak. He didn't know how long he had been out here, sneaking around and finding what he could to eat and drink. Three days, three weeks? He barely slept, barely ate, just moved. Kept moving, didn't stay in one place too long. The last time he had seen people, they were tearing his house apart and yelling at each other and two even threw fists. It was the reason Ash knew he couldn't trust them and fled. It felt so long since he had seen someone trust-worthy, since he had seen someone willing to help anyone but themselves.
It was the reason when he came face to face with a crossbow, arrow in place and ready to fire, the gun he had gotten from the back of his father's closet was in his hand, pointed with his finger on the trigger. His hand might be shaking but he'd shoot, to live. He thought he could but there was still doubt in the back of his mind. He tried to ignore the doubt the best he could. The crossbow stayed up, the face behind it dirty with a twisted scowl. They were obviously a woman though; with messy hair in a equally messy bun and soft features. But she was obviously strong and could hold her own. If she couldn't, she wouldn't be here.
Ash had been exploring through a small market on the corner of some street - he wasn't even sure what street, didn't really care, it didn't matter. Thankfully, it had been empty but there wasn't much food. He had managed to drop a can of beans in his bag and get up before he came face to face with a dangerous weapon. The crossbow stayed steady as the woman's brown eyes flickered down to the gun. Ash tried to look tough, straightened himself out, even puffed his chest out a little. He had to try and look like he knew what he was doing but honestly? He had never shot this gun off in his entire life.
Slowly, the crossbow began to lower, but it still stayed up, aimed at his gut instead. It nearly collided with his gun, since they were standing so close, but he kept his arm up, the barrel pointed towards the woman's chest. She was older, a lot older, than him. From the looks of it, maybe her thirties. Really, Ash didn't care. He just wanted to get out of here and away from her and that crossbow. When, suddenly, she smirked. It wasn't nice; it wasn't a soft smile or a reassuring one. It was an amused smirk, one that tipped to the side and didn't look too pretty. "Kid, before you point that thing at me, try clickin' the safety off." she said, Southern accent strong, and cocked an eyebrow. "I bet ya ain't even got a bullet in the chamber, do ya?"
Ash bit his inner cheek. No, he didn't. The safety was on and he didn't even have a bullet ready. Wow, he felt really stupid right now. And reckless. He should have checked the gun out more, fiddled with it. He had seen them used in movies, he should have guessed from that. What if he had needed it, like right now? This was so stupid of him and now he was going to die. Or just get mugged. Either way, both were bad. Being mugged would mean death in this world. Without any supplies, with the water and food he did have, or the tarp he used as cover, or even the knife on his waist, he would die quicker than he would with all this. "How do you know?" he asked instead, readjusting his grip on the gun and keeping his breathing even.
The woman tilted her head to the side, looking almost offended. She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'd find out if I came at ya. You'd pull the trigger and nothin'. Don't take me for an idiot." she said and narrowed her eyes slightly. She looked Ash up and down and looked to be considering something. Her eyes lingered on the knife attached to his belt but she shrugged before using the strap on the crossbow to swing it over her shoulder, the weapon banging against her backpack. "You got a name?"
Ash squinted his eyes once the woman disarmed herself. She didn't look to be intimidated by him and that... that bothered him. He would surely die without the knowledge to defend himself and that wasn't something he could accept. He was strong, physically. He had worked out a lot but before and even after, while he was still at his house, but that didn't mean he knew how to fight. He didn't lower the gun, instead holding it higher, more towards her face. "... Ash." he said slowly, watching her with wary eyes.
"Ash?" she repeated, as if she was testing the name out. She re-shouldered her crossbow and lifted a hand up. Ash tightened his hold on the gun, tried to get his hand to stop shaking. She put her hand on top of the gun and gave him a look. "Well, Ash, why don't ya lower the gun? You ain't needin' it, trust me."
Ash shook his head and shook her hand off the gun before leveling it at her face. His other hand came up, holding the gun too, trying to stop his shaking. "How can I trust you? If I put my guard down, you'll just attack." he said, sure of it. No one could be trusted in this world. Now this place was full of liars and thieves and cheats. He wasn't sure if he fell in any of those. He hoped he wouldn't but he wouldn't know what he'd do if he got desperate enough. The first people he had saw made him believe that.
"Boy, you ain't got no guard. Not with this gun or your poor fighting stance. Look, I ain't gonna attack ya. You're the first person I've seen since... shoot. Since the damn beginnin' of this hell. You're a sight for sore eyes, let me tell ya." the woman said and put her hands on her hips. She briefly reminded Ash of his mother; all stern-faced, hands on hips, looking like she was ready to argue. Ash didn't like it. "I'm Jo. Now c'mon, I ain't gonna stab ya in the back. I doubt ya can do the same to me so... hell, why don't we just stick together?"
Ash stared at her for a few seconds, silent. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck, rolling down his skin and settling on his lower back, making his shirt stick uncomfortably to himself. He rolled his shoulders, just slightly, and bit his inner cheek hard, almost drawing blood, before huffing and lowering his gun. Even if she was lying, he was going to get mugged or killed or even both later so he might as well just agree. He slipped the gun into the back of his jeans, where he always kept it, and still eyed the woman - Jo - warily. "Why do you want to stick together?" he asked, truly curious.
Jo got that smirk again and turned to the shelving beside them, pushing a dented box of cereal aside to look behind it. "Well, for one," she began, voice amused and dripping with venom, "you don't look no older than fourteen. Thought you could use the protection. Obviously." she pushed another box aside but Ash didn't pay attention to that; he watched her face more.
He frowned at her words. "Hey, I'm sixteen! And I can take care of myself-" he stopped when Jo sent him a widening smirk. Oh. She wanted to get a raise out of him. She wanted him to be offended and get defensive. She found it funny. His lips turned into a scowl and he looped his thumbs through his backpack straps, rocking back on his heels. "Whatever." he grumbled.
Jo grew quiet for a few seconds, quietly moving around a few boxes to get a peek behind. Cans roll and with people probably snatching them at the beginning of this... they could be anywhere. She knelt down, checking out the bottom shelf, before giving a slight sigh. This time she wasn't smirking; actually, she looked almost sad and it was almost weird, considering Ash's first impression of her. "And ya know... strength in numbers? I don't know, some bullshit like that. But... maybe it'd be best if we had someone else." she mumbled the last sentence. Ash almost didn't catch it but when he heard it, he almost smiled.
His lips twitched but it didn't become a full smile. "Yeah... maybe." he said quietly, turning away to shuffle through another shelf. They rummaged in silence, both keeping a look out as they looked through everything. Ash moved a box of mac and cheese - god, he missed that cheesiness - over to the side and heard something slide against the shelfing. A glass jar of mushrooms - he didn't want to know how they got beside the mac and cheese - slid and went towards the floor. He tried to catch it but it brushed his fingertips and hit the floor. The crash sounded loud in the silence they had created, mushroom juice and the mushrooms themselves splaying across the dirty tile of the store.
Ash looked up at Jo just as she looked at him. She looked annoyed and gave him a glare before looking towards the broken windows of the store. They had been talking quietly earlier, their voices barely carrying along the store's messy conditions, and that crash had been much louder than their voices. She quickly dropped down when she heard that strange clicking sound and Ash did the same. He felt his heart beginning to pound the way it always did when he heard that sound. He took a deep breath and jumped when he felt something on his arm. But it was only Jo's hand and she was nodding towards the back. One of those things came into view, out on the sidewalk, moving forward slowly, trying to find the source of the sound. Both survivors knew there would be more.
Quietly, Joanna moved forward, stepping over things and moving on light feet, going towards the back room. Ash followed just as quietly. He had gotten use to being quiet over these last few... however long it had been. He glanced back when he heard glass crunching. He remembered stepping on it when he had been coming into the store. It made his heart pound in his ears. He stepped over a box of pasta noodles but didn't see the broken glass on the other side. The glass crunched loudly and Joanna froze, looking back with wide eyes. Oh shit, he fucked up now.
Those things had heard it. It was obvious by the noises they were letting out and they running. Thundering footsteps against the tile, stepping on boxes and glass like it was nothing. "C'mon!" Joanna yelled, grabbing Ash's arm and running the rest of the way to the break room. Ash easily kept up, yanking his arm free from her grasp and following her. He didn't dare look back. These things were fast, frighteningly so, and he wasn't sure how close they were. They ran through the backroom, hopping over fallen cardboard boxes, hoping it'd slow them down and it wouldn't bite them in the ass later for taking the time to jump over them. Literally, maybe. Joanna made a sharp right, following the signs to the exit and saw the door leading outside. She didn't slow as she slammed into the door, turning the knob at the same time and crashing through it. Ash was right on her heels, being sure to take the time to twist his body and slam the door shut. One of those things had been right there and they slammed into the door, banging against it and making the worse screeching sounds.
Joanna didn't slow down, instead running towards a fire escape and jumping. Her fingers wrapped around the bottom of the ladder and her swinging weight yanked it down. Ash took pause, catching his breath as Joanna began to climb the ladder at a pace Ash was impressed by. He quickly followed her and once they both were up on the platform, he yanked the ladder up before falling back on his ass, breathing heavily. He wasn't really breathing heavily from the quick run but from the fear and adrenaline coursing through him. He leaned his head against the rusty rail of the fire escape, trying to calm his racing heart and ignore the sweat rolling down his face.
Joanna didn't stop moving. She started to pace, the fire escape only creaking slightly before adjusting to the sudden stomping weight, and whispering to herself angrily. Her messy bun bobbed with her movements, her shirt under her button up sticking to her body like a second skin from the sweat and heat. Ash turned his head, watching her pace and mutter angrily. He knew it was his fault. He had almost gotten them both killed. It was still easy to hear those things banging and screaming and screeching. It was so scary and he couldn't calm his racing heart. Not right now. He still wasn't used to all of this. He needed help and he thought this woman could give it to him. "I'm sorry." he said, grabbing the railing and pulling himself to his feet.
Joanna froze, shoulders tensing, and slowly turned to him. She was scowling again and she came upon him fast, fisting the front of his shirt. She was taller than him, embarrassingly, and she could be scary, he realized. "'I'm sorry?'" she repeated in a harsh whisper and glared. "Is that what ya goin' to say when ya get me killed? Gonna say sorry while shooting me in the head? Or, excuse me, stab me 'cause ya can't use a damn gun! Don't ya damn say sorry. Instead of sayin' sorry," she shook him hard, once, and then pushed him back. He nearly fell off the fire escape but grabbed the railing just in time. "Improve ya damn self and learn to be more careful." she stared him down for a few more seconds before turning away, going to the other side of the fire escape and staring off, grabbing the rail tight enough to turn her knuckles white.
Ash slowly sat back down, covering his face and cursing himself. He could have got himself killed. He could have gotten Joanna killed. Granted, he just met her. But if someone had died because of him... no, he couldn't deal with that. He had already been through so much. He still didn't trust Jo, she actually scared him, but... but she could of left him back there. She could have ran the instant he made noise and been gone. But she hadn't. Did that mean something? He wasn't so sure. He wasn't sure how long they had sat there. Well, Joanna stood. But it felt like a while. He listened to sounds of those things trying to get through the door and stared at his own feet. At least the sun was still up but it wouldn't be for long.
But finally, she took a deep breath and turned to him. "We need to find a place to rest... ya look white as a sheet. C'mon." she began to climb the stairs of the fire escape and Ash got up to follow her. She paused in the middle of the stairs, turning to Ash and staring down at him. "After we find somewhere fairly safe to stay... and after we rest... I'll show ya some things. How to load that pistol, how to make sure the safety is off. We ain't shootin' it, that's stupid. But I'll... help ya learn, kid." she didn't make eye contact through her speech and immediately after she said it, she was jogging up the stairs.
Ash watched her for a few seconds with a ghost of a smile before following her. Maybe she could be trusted. He could only hope. He needed another person in this new world, just like she had said. He wasn't willing to trust her too much but... but maybe soon, he could. Maybe soon, they'd become a good team and could survive this thing together. God knew they needed somebody.
