For Whom the Bell Tolls

[Alex Viera]

Panting and wheezing was all that would escape the soft pink lips of Alex as she sprinted for all she was worth from what appeared to be zombies. quickly ducking into a corner Deli she closed the door behind her and looked around. Knowing she was in Manhattan she behind the counter and smiled. she grabbed the small black handgun and looked around. She was so worn out having ran for so long, she had lost track of how long exactly, her legs felt like Jello her muscles soar and aching. trying to relax she walked down one of the isles and found a back pack. She began to load the bag with food and juices. She then smiled and grabbed a package of hair ties and pulled one out. she pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail to keep it out of her face. lacing the gun in the back of her low rise boot cut jeans she continued to pack the bag. Once she felt she had enough food for a few days she turned on her heel and walked back to the door. Looking out at the chaos that was before her.

Taking a deep breathe she opened the door and stepped out. Wrapping her arms around her upper body. It was cold and having only a tank top on didn't keep her warm. Tugging on her hair to tighten the hair tie she stepped forward then gripped the handle of her gun, tacking off the safety and cocking it she let out a deep breathe and looked around the corner. "Alright you can do this.." She said to herself then saw it was clear and found herself a hard top Jeep Wrangler the zombie inside of it trying to get out. "Alright I take it you're the driver.." She licked her lips and waited until the zombie hit the glass again and pulled open the door. The zombie fell out and she quickly stepped on his back and pulled the trigger. "Sorry" She quickly surveyed the car it was empty. She climbed in and closed the door behind her and smiled locking it.

It felt good to not have to walk. Setting the gun in the cup holder she looked around for the keys. "come on... if you were running they have to be in here... where the fuck are they?" She mumbled and finally found them under the seat. "Thank you." She turned the ignition on and slammed on the gas. The jeep sped down the street. Alex looking around to try and see if anyone was alive out there hoping she wasn't the only one left in this city. But then again it has been four days, what were the chances?

[Robert Wells]

*He had the music blaring from the CD player in the semi-worn out silver SUV. Sure these bastards where tough but when met with the front end of an Escalade going at 40mph they didn't stand a chance. He didn't quite mind the solid thumps against the hood as un-dead after un-dead found there way in front of the vehicle and idiotically attempted to grab on. If anything he was having a bit of fun... tearing through the city without any fear of getting pulled over or getting a ticket. On the seat next to him was the small black back with everything he needed to survive and on his lap was the two swords he had lifted from the deserted weaponry shop.*

*Being raised on the other side of the states, he didnt really know his way around these street, but he had nowhere he needed to be so it didn't really matter. The streets were absolutely void of life which at first would make anyone think that they are the only one left... which could in fact be a very scary thought. Although he tore through the streets like a mad man and would seem to be aimless driving to any other... he was actually searching for any signs of legitimate life... so he could be sure that he wasn't the only survivor. It had been weeks since his fiance had fell victim to these freaks and since them he hasn't seen a single face that wasn't baring its teeth or trying to eat him alive so his hope was almost lost.*

*He turned down another empty street... no surprise there. He began to look around when he heard the rumble of another engine... which could possibly be a sign of life nearby. As he drove the rumble got louder and louder which meant he was on the right track but where could it be coming from. As he looked around he didn't he didn't notice the jeep that was speeding towards the intersection he was now crossing. To avoid getting rammed in the side he swerved to his right and went head first into traffic light post. The air bag deployed and his face smashed directly into the soft pillow like contraption. He sat back and moaned a little as he felt his forehead which was bleeding a little. He grabbed his bag from the passenger seat and hook his sword strap onto his back. The air bag had saved his life and possibly a few injuries as well. He stepped out of the vehicle and looked around for the other car while still keeping a look out for any un-dead.*

[Alex Viera]

As the Jeep roared down the street the massive wheels and ramming cage did the work for Alex as she ran over the un-dead. With a disgusted look on her face she turns on the wipes to wash the blood off the windshield. Temporarily blinded by the thick blood on her windshield she didn't notice the other vehicle until the last minute. Cutting the wheel left she panicked thinking the Jeep was going to flip but thankfully it didn't. The screeching tires kicked up smoke as the Jeep did a full 360. She looked up to her rear view and saw the other car crash. Taking a second to regain her composure she looked around the Jeep finding a tire iron. She gripped it tight and stepped out of the Jeep. Keeping her guard up she looked side to side her aqua colored eyes scanned her surroundings.

She made her way slowly to the other car and looked inside knocking on the window. "Are you ok?" She asked as she looked around. The loud crash attracted unwanted guests. "Shit." She gripped the tire iron and swung hard at one of the infected's heads. then turned on her heel and kicked another one away from her. As the un-dead woman stumbled Alex lunged forward and brought the tire iron down hard on her head. Quickly catching her balance from the lunge she turned and gripped the man's shoulder and tossed him to the side then stomped on his neck. Panting from the surge of adrenaline and the tiredness of her body she didn't know how much longer she could keep it up. But thankfully seeing one of the un-dead reach the window of the car she caught a second wind and with the knew found energy she gripped the things head and banged it onto the roof of the car then threw him down onto the floor. Flipping the tire iron in her hand she used the sharper side and stabbed it in the head of the fallen man. "Go to hell!" She yelled as she continued to fight off the zombies. "Fuck you!" She yelled continuing to fend them off.

She looked to her Jeep, she was gonna have to try and get the man she almost hit into the Jeep and find somewhere safe to tend to his wounds. But first things first, she thought to herself as she continued to fight the zombies. She looked back to the car. "Are you ok?!" She yelled again hoping and praying to herself that he was ok and that she had found someone alive and not be the cause of his death. "Ahhh!" She yelled as she was grabbed from behind and jumped back slamming the woman into the car and gripping her arm as she bent forward slamming her onto the ground followed by an axe swing of the tire iron to her forehead.

[Robert Wells]

*He rested his head back against the headrest of the seat as the world commenced to spin around him. It seemed that the airbag didn't fully do its job because blood began to trickle down his face from a gash on this forehead. He attempted to regain his composure before the sound of the accident brought about some unwanted scavengers looking to feed. Slowly the world around him began to slow with the spinning as his head became clearer. Shortly after his eyes had focused in front of him. He blinked a few times before hearing the struggle outside. He quickly gathered his things and strapped them to his person before climbing out the passenger side door and looking around.*

*The first thing that he noticed was that his vehicle was not going anywhere due to the damage it had taken and second he noticed the jeep off to the other side. Obviously the person inside was now on the other side of his own broken down vehicle fighting for her life but he soon found out that he would soon be in the same situation. He peered down the street at a few zombies making their way down the street towards him. He reached to his back and unsheathed his two swords and waited. Shortly the zombies had made their way to him when he heard the woman ask him again if he was okay.*

"I'm over here... and I'm doing just peachy... considering the situation"

*At this time he had swung one sword sideways cleaving the head from an unsuspecting victim. While slicing diagonally at another splitting them in two from the shoulder to the hip. He showed no mercy for the ruthless killers that had once been of his own species but now resemble something from some fucked up horror movie. Unfortunately though this was no movie, nor was it a dream... if only it were and he would wake up in a warm bed across the states, but this was life and you had to kill to survive.*

"Please tell me your Jeep still runs?!"

[Alex Viera]

As she was fighting she heard the car door open. Looking back she saw the man come out and begin to hack away at the zombies around him. A smirk crossed her lips as she went back to fighting off the un-dead. She heard the man speak and continued fighting put was paying attention to the man still. "Yea my Jeep works. Whatta you say we get the hell out of here?" She asked sarcastically knowing that's what the man wanted to do.

She made a clearing to the jeep and looked back to Robert. "Let's go!" She yelled as she saw more coming around the corner. "There's too many of them!" She turned on her heel and ran to the Jeep Swinging the tire iron as hard as possible knocking it back down with a split skull. She looked back "Hurry up!" She got into the driver's seat and slammed the door closed then leaned over unlocking the passenger door. Looking back to make sure he was OK.

[Robert Wells]

*He had been swinging left and right as the steel blades sliced through dead flesh and dismembered their heads from their bodies... which he came to learns was the only true way to kill these freaks. He attempted to stay a length away from them as he sliced them apart but the growing numbers started to make that nigh impossible. When it seemed like he would soon be overwhelmed he saw a gap in their line and took the first chance he had to roll through it and make it away from the onslaught of the wretched creatures unscathed.*

*When he saw the woman make a run for it to the jeep and heard her words he was relieved that they would be getting away from these foul smelling assholes. He took one last wide slash at the group and hoped he took out more than a few as he didnt stick around long enough to see the damage he did. He made a run for the jeep with the zombies slowly on his trail, but he has learned no matter how far behind you a zombie is there would always be more in front of you or would ambush you from the side... and today was no different. When he got to the jeep and hopped up to the door an un-dead came out of nowhere and grabbed him by the pants leg.*

"Damn these things are persistent!"

*When he noticed the mouth of the creature wide open and ready to bite into his leg he pulled out the bowie knife hooked to his waist and held it at the ready.

"I don't think so!"

*With a downward strike he sent the business end of the long blade into the head of the creature sending it falling limply to the ground, without even a bite taken out of him. He sighed and climbed into the vehicle but the relief was short lived as he looked back and saw the group from before closing in on the vehicle. He turned to the woman at the wheel and spoke in an anxious yet excited voice. The smile upon his lips was odd considering the situation but it was exciting when you lived life like this day would be your last.*

"Um.. If you don't want to be lunch... you better floor that fuckin' pedal."

[Alex Viera]

She looked to the passenger side as he opened the door. She gasped as he was grabbed but let out a sigh of relief that he was prepared. Watching him shake off the corpse and close the door she let out a sigh of relief. She then looked to the rear view mirror and then turned looked down to the stick shift putting it in drive. Screaming as a loud thud was heard and a zombie had slammed into the window of the driver side door blood splattering against the window. Quickly she slammed on the gas the pedal taking off the back tire catching the fallen zombie causing the Jeep the bounced as it ran over the corpse.

She looked to Robert and back to the road. "Are you ok?" She asked after a bit of driving. Her eyes scanning the surrounding area trying to look for something to use as a temporary safe place and hopefully find some food. "Did you get hurt at all?" She asked not really looking over him since the he got into the car and she was too busy concentrating on somewhere to rest. Spotting a house that had seemed to be untouched She pulled over fast. and looked to him once again "Home sweet home" She pulled apart the wires so the truck would turn off. "Shall we?" She opened the door not waiting for an answer and pulled her back pack out with the items she collected from the store earlier. Reaching in the small pocket of her backpack she pulled out the gun and cocked it. Taking aim she closed the door and ran for the front door. Placing her back against the wall she turned to provide cover fire for Robert.

[Robert Wells]

*When the jeep took off and they were away from the nightmare he slumped down in the seat and sighed deeply. It had been like that for the past two weeks every time he would stop somewhere he was force to fight for his life. Although if it meant his survival he would fight nonstop for however long it took. He was only thankful for the fact that he'd found another survival, because when you feel that you are the only one left alive the life you lead is one of lonesome and pain. He smiled gratefully and looked over to the woman driving as she asked him whether he was ok or if he was hurt. All that had happened to him recently was the small gash on his forehead from the accident. He reached up and felt the cut... it wasn't too deep but it still needed to be tended too before it got out of control. As he brought his hand back down he felt along his right eye. He felt the tough rigid flesh that had recently healed over the large gash that had gone from the middle of his forehead down to the middle of his cheek.*

*This wound had been obtained a month earlier surprisingly by his own blade. It was a horrid night that he really never wanted to live through again. The night was bearing down on him and he rushed to find a place to bunk for the night when he was ambushed by a hoard of zombies that came out of nowhere. Instinctively he began to swing his blade around severing head from shoulders and limbs from bodies when a big zombie came out of nowhere. This mother fucker looked like he could of been a wrestler when he was alive and it over powered him and took him to the ground. Teeth from dozens of zombies chomped down around only inches from his face. He wasn't going to let himself die like that So with all his strength he lifted his arm and stuck the sword into the side of the wrestler zombies head. The blade went through its temple and out of its eye and when it fell the blade sliced down Roberts eye. Luckily for Robert the blade had no blood on it so he didn't get infected but it was too close.*

*He shook his head as he snapped himself out of the memory and looked over to he woman that kept asking him if he was alright.*

*Y..Ye..Yeah.. I'm fine. Just this cut on my forehead."

*When they pulled up to an abandoned house he looked around to make sure that the coast was clear. When the woman got out of the car and ran up to the house he pushed open the door and hopped out. He closed the door behind him and hightailed it towards the door. She was standing there ready to provide cover fire for him. He wasn't sure he was safe in her hands but he had no one else to trust so he would have to trust her. He reached the door and got on the opposite of the door frame. He looked over to her, back to the street, then back to her. He brought up his hand and counted silently using his fingers so she could see.*

1... 2... 3

*As he counted he checked the knob to make sure it was unlocked. When he reached three he opened the door quickly and rushed inside. When he did he reached to his back and pulled out the two sword resting in their sheaths already covered in blood. He looked around but didn't see anything but dust and the faded stains of blood on the walls but that didn't mean that the house was safe... yet.*

[Alex Viera]

Alex made sure to cover his back as good as she could. and then looked to him as he stood on the other side. "Hold on." No she wasn't prissy but her hair had gotten in her face fighting before and if she was about to fight again she wanted as little interference as possible. She loosened her hair and pulled it back tighter than it was and put it back into the ponytail. She nodded to him and took off the safety on the gun. As he said put up the third finger and opened the door she pulled up her flashlight and held out her gun. scouting around, She looked to Robert and aimed the flashlight at the open back door. She didn't think it would be safe at all. Staying close to him she stopped in her tracks and put her hand in front of him "Do you hear that?" She swallowed hard as there was the most disgusting squishy chewing sound. She scanned around with the flashlight in the living room and saw a woman chewing on what looked like a foot.

She quickly took aim and pulled the trigger and the woman's head whipped back as the bullet hit her in the eye. One would probably say good shot but she was aiming for the forehead. She looked to Robert and gasped pushing him out of the way as she got tackled to the floor by another one. As she fell the gun slid from her hand and she pushed the mans chin up and away from her, trying to keep from getting bitten. "Ugh AHHHHHH Help me!" She yelled in fear, She doubted he would just watch her get bit but it was instinct. Grunting to keep the thing off as far from her as possible. Until Robert was able to attack However she noticed some other ones coming out, a small girl and what she assumed was a teenage boy. Also turned the little girl missing a foot but limping on a nub. Alex didn't know how long she could hold off the heavy set man and feared for the worse. Hearing something behind her and coming from the Kitchen was another one. Probably the one that infected them in the first place. "Shit!"

[Robert Wells]

It was relatively quiet but he heard what the woman had heard and that sound was definitely not some family sitting down to dinner. The sickening crunches and the squishy slurping came from his right. He was almost afraid to look but he knew he would have to face it. He turned and looked to see the women having herself a nutritious meal of someones foot. Before he could reach his knife he heard the shot of a gun and the woman's head snap back as she fell limp on the floor. He looked over to the woman as she saw her gun aimed out in front of her and the barrel smoking. He nodded as he began to remove his hand from his blade when he was pushed away by her. He wasnt sure if the woman was unstable but he almost stood up and screamed "What the hell" until he noticed that another zombie had her pinned to the ground trying its damnedest to get to her. She held it face away from her by its chin. He looked down and noticed the gun at his feet. How hard could it be to shoot a gun... just pull the trigger right? At this close of rage there wasn't really a possibility of missing. However that would waste a needed bullet so he decided to use his own method.

He watched and waited for the opportune moment... the zombies mouth opened and closed as it attempted to get to the woman's flesh beneath him. When he saw the zombies mouth close he struck straight out with the four foot blade. As the blade closed in, the zombies jaw opened again and the blade entered into the creatures mouth. He then angled the blade and thrusts the blade upwards sending the blade through the top of the creatures skull. As he did this he also pulled the blade to the left, with a huge amount of effort, and pulled the creature off of her before any blood could find its way into her mouth or eyes.

He pulled the blade from its mouth as it lay motionless on the floor. He had heard the woman say something before he got the zombie off of her and it was the one thing he didn't want to hear. He stood up straight and looked around... as he did he saw something that mad his stomach churn. A child... did these bastards know no boundaries. His heart broke for the child but he knew what he had to do to survive. He held the gun out to the woman that still laid on the floor and whispered trying not to set the watching eyes out of control.

"It's time for you to get up... slowly"

[Alex Viera]

Alex gasped and closed her eyes and mouth tight but felt the man get taken off of her. Standing up slowly she looked to the limping girl and almost cried at the sight of how badly she was mauled. Taking the gun from Roberts hand she looked to the kitchen having lost site of the zombie that had been coming from there. As the little girl lunged for Robert Alex was grabbed from behind and instinctively whipped her head back and made the zombie stumble back. She grabbed his arm that he gripped her with and hunched forward whipping the teenage boy over her back and onto the floor in front of her. where she stomped on his neck severing the spinal column. She looked up as Robert took care of the zombie child (assuming you kill it)

Then heard something from upstairs and looked. it was an old woman making her way down the stair case. Alex raised her gun but before she could pull the trigger, the old woman tripped on her house slippers and fell down the rest of the way. The sickening thud was followed by multiple popping bones. The woman fell a few inched from Alex's foot. the woman was still alive but had no way of moving her legs had broken and her arms had as well. Missing teeth and all the old zombie woman leaned her head back and upward towards Alex's foot. the womans toothless mouth chomped quickly but was out of reach. she looked like a retarded pac-man. Alex chuckled some she couldn't help it. She wasn't sure if the sight was funny, if she was laughing from nerves of if she had lost it. But she grabbed the Tire iron that she had hanging off her belt and stabbed it through the womans head. Pulling it out and wiping it clean on the woman's pink night gown she looked to Robert. "You think that's all of them in here?" She said making her way slowly to the kitchen closing the door and looking back to Robert. "Should we throw them outside and then look around to make sure the rest of the house is clear?" She asked. She had done this a few times before but never with someone else. She was happy to see she wasn't the only one left. Plus he was easy on the eyes.

[Robert Wells]

He placed his sword back into its sheath at his back. Robert was highly trained in martial arts so the lunging girl was not a problem. The only thing that struck him was the look in the child's eyes. The ferocity that stared into his as she lunged with her mouth open. He sighed deeply as he grabbed the girls reaching arms and held them together. He whipped his body around and brought the girl to the floor where he pinned her head to the floor with his foot against her cheek. He stared at her as he realized that before ferocity took over her appearance she would of been a beautiful little girl just like any other child playing with their parents or with other kids. It pained him to have to do this but this girl was no longer human nor was she even alive anymore. He reached to his side and grabbed his bowie knife. He stared at the knife for a few seconds

"God... Forgive me."

He brought the knife down and pierced her temple into her brain. The girl stopped moving but her eyes remained open as if staring out into nothingness. At least she would be in a better place than she was... she no longer had to suffer. He pulled the knife from the child's head and placed it back into sheath on his side. He stood up and looked around. He saw the old woman fall down the stairs and couldn't help but chuckle a little. He had come across some elderly zombies since this tarted and each one was a humorous but sad experience. The way the toothless mouth chomped down in futile efforts to reach Alex's foot made him laugh even more. Ah... its good to have at least some comedy relief in a world gone to shit. He watched as she took the tire iron to the elderly woman's head. He heard her speak.. he answered her first question and just simply nodded to her second question.

"Well, we killed Daddy, daughter, son, and grandma... lets hope the flesh hungry family gerbil doesn't want revenge."

[Alex Viera]

Alex couldn't help but chuckle at his statement about the family gerbil. Scratching the back of her head she looked back over to him. "Come on let's get rid of these bastards." She grabbed the foot of one of the un dead and dragged him to the kitchen pushing his body out the back door. The did the same to the others with Roberts help. After that was taken care of she locked the back door and barricaded it by placing a chair under the handle at an angle to keep it in place. Turning to Robert she raised her eyebrows and offered a reassuring smile.

She locked the front door the bolt and the handle then did the same thing with the chair. "Should we check the place out for food before or after the shower?" She said wanting to get the dirt and grime off of her, but her stomach was growling violently. She bit her bottom lip and closed the curtains and shades making sure they couldn't look inside and lit a set of candles that were on the table. She turned and finally got a good look at the man that had aided her and he was FINE. She however pushed that thought out of her head for now.

[Robert Wells]

-He helped her as she drug the bodies out of the house. It was probably the best idea any one could ever have... it would be a pain to relax with the smell rotting flesh assaulting your nose. He cocked his head to the side and returned a reassuring grin back at her. He wasn't sure if the whole chair thing actually worked in the real world but hell he was willing to try anything to keep those starved fuckers outside where they belonged. Setting his weapons down against the wall he removed his hoody and threw it down along with his weapons. He wore a simple white t-shirt stained with dried blood from previous encounters.-

-He lifted an eyebrow when she spoke of showers and food. He of courses needed both but its not like they were gonna die of filth. Food, was highest priority at the moment and if they had enough luck the cabinets would be full of it. However, in his day the most he could scrounge was a can of spam and a bag of chips but hell shitty food is better than no food at all. With a large family such as this there was bound to be more than enough to get by, for a little while at least. That is if someone hadn't already came and scrounged for themselves.-

"Food..."

-As if his stomach heard him it roared loudly as if eating itself and he looked down then back up.-

"Definitely food."

[Alex Viera]

Alex made sure the door was locked again and pulled closed any curtains she saw that might pose a threat of them being scene. She then looked back over to him and nodded when he said food. But as she heard his stomach growl and his comment she couldn't help but chuckle. It was almost new to her that brief moment of laughter was refreshing. She turned and walked to the cabinet and looked inside. "Hmm Ravioli?... or Beefaroni?" She asked pulling out two cans and closing the door and smiling then looked back over. "Should we risk heating it?.... do you think the smell will attract them?" She looked around and felt really uncomfortable. She grabbed the cans and two forks. "We should probably eat upstairs....?"

It was obvious that her momentarily safe feeling was dissipating fast. she looked over her shoulder at him as she reached down and grabbed her back pack placed the Ravioli in it and grabbed another clip from her bag and put it in the gun and slowly began to climb the stairs. She swallowed hard and noticed that everything was clear upstairs. She let out a sigh and looked back. "All Clear. we should probably eat before they think your stomach growling is their mating call." She smiled and sat on the bed pulling out the cans and the forks. "Take your pick." She said smiling softly.