Kyle had settled in for the night on the edge of where the multitude of survivors were setting up their sleeping spots. Loosening his tie, he found some blankets from the gift shop and grabbed his piece of the floor. With at least 50 hotels in the general vicinity, why they were sleeping in the Space Needle was beyond him, but he was tired of being alone.
Sleep took him quickly that night and he dreamt again of Nachton and a coppery haired woman he had left behind in that god forsaken dark city. It was the murmur of voices and finally a hysterical screech that made him sit upright from his makeshift bed and peer bleary eyed at the other occupants. People were talking about the head guy...uh, Vern he seemed to recall. Only Vern wasn't there.
Standing up Kyle pulled on his shoes and hopped over to the elevator. He followed some other survivors to the bottom floor and stepped out into the chilled morning. Kyle crossed his arms and tucked his hands into his armpits for warmth as he took a step out and was greeted by the bloody mess that once was Vern.
He had seen far worse, but not this early in the morning and not before a large cup of coffee. Kyle grimaced and walked around the genetic mush. He turned and looked up at the Space Needle, leaning back as far as he could and then looked back down at Vern. Why bring all these people here, just to take a short walk off the observation deck? Unless...
'Ok so whoever pushed him has to clean this up.'
DAY ONE - MAFIA HIT
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
--The Second Coming, WB Yeats
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
--Don’t Fear the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult
Vern was the last one to go to sleep that night, but for the first time since the flu hit he thought he might be able to rest easy. It was a well-earned rest, after all – the culmination of three days of hauling and copying and planning had been a fair success. Seattle had felt so empty and abandoned that he was at first amazed when the first people began trickling in, but then as more and more arrived he started worrying about what to do with them all.
That was, in fact, what he was doing now – lying wide awake in his sleeping bag on the floor, listening to the quiet breathing of everyone around him, and wondering just how he was supposed to lead these people anywhere, much less to some promised land where the flu was nothing more than a bad dream. He hadn’t expected to be looked up to as a leader when he sent out the flyers. He just figured that once everyone came together, some more forceful personality would take charge – that was perfectly alright with him.
Eventually, though, he must have drifted off, because the next thing he knew he was standing in front of a crowd of people, each demanding to be heard, some shaking the flyers at him while others looked to him in open handed despair. He stepped back, nervous and flustered by all this attention, but the crowd followed him, pressing him out the door and onto the balcony. He looked from face to face, imploringly, hoping only to be left in peace, but now the faces of the survivors were hard and demanding and relentless.
It was just as his panic was reaching its peak that he noticed one survivor standing a little ways away, his arms crossed over his chest and a huge, mocking grin on his face. He wore a jean jacket and cowboy boots, and might have looked ordinary if not for the slightly mad look in his eyes.
The strange man (the Dark Man, Flagg, the Walkin Dude, his dreaming mind helpfully supplied) reached up with one hand, drawing his finger from one ear to the other in a gesture both obvious and gruesome.
Vern woke up gasping and disoriented, looking around wildly without registering his surroundings. Finally he calmed down enough to understand that it was the middle of the night, and he was standing in a tee shirt and boxers on the observation deck of the Space Needle. Immediately old wives tales of what happened to sleep walkers who were disturbed came to mind, but he brushed off the omens of insanity and rubbed blearily at his eyes.
Damn, some leader he was. Sleep walking around in his underwear, that really inspired faith and hope in the (admittedly small) masses. Vern shook his head and made to go inside, but then he noticed the figure standing in the shadows. His blood went cold and he stumbled back, certain The Dark Man was going to emerge. The person who stepped out of the darkness, though, was not the man of his nightmares at all, but just another survivor. Vern grinned sheepishly, feeling more foolish than ever.
“Well geez if you didn’t just about give me a heart attack! Whatchu doing up, we got a big day ahead of us tomorrow…â€Â
The survivor smiled, grimly, and continued to walk toward him at a slow, but unhesitating pace. Vern stepped back, hitting the guard rail, unnerved and shivery in spite of the July heat. His mouth went foul-tasting and dry when two more figures emerged from the shadows.
He thought he could smell the sickly sweet stench of death in the air, and he shivered again.
“Oh yes – ‘big day tomorrow’,†one of the survivors said in a mocking voice. “But your journey ends tonight.â€Â
They closed in, and took hold of him. For a moment Vern’s fearful paralysis broke, and he struggled against his would-be murderers, clinging to the railing and kicking out with his legs, but their numbers overwhelmed him and he soon found himself off balance, hanging off the wrong side of the rail by his feet.
He looked up and saw lightning flash across the cold grey sky, the start of a rainless summer storm, but in that flash he was certain he also saw a pair of red glowing eyes, watching him, watching him and laughing.
Then he felt them let go of his legs, and he fell.
…To Be Continued
ROzbeans
19 years ago
Den
19 years ago
"Wha...!"
Still disoriented from sleep, Carly sat up straight and stiff as a stick, not sure what had woken her. She knew where she was...and who she was with...and why she was there, but for the moment that was it.
Somewhat reluctantly, she had allowed herself to be talked into staying there at the Space Needle. At least there were other people about, which was something she hadn't seen a lot of on her drive there. Being with people always made her feel somewhat more secure, even though she was relatively sure she could survive on her own just as easily.
Looking about she saw a group of people gathered around the railing, and wondered what they could be looking at. Without hesitation she pulled on her jeans, while still lying in the sleeping bag, and crawled out to zip them. She had removed them the same way the night before, finding them just too difficult to sleep in. Still barefoot, she tiptoed across the cold floor, and wedged herself in between two others.
What Carly saw on the ground below her filled her with a sudden urge to vomit.
"Oh my god..." She whispered, as she back away from the railing and people. Once free of the small crowd she bent forward, closed her eyes, and took deep breaths until the feeling of nausea passed. And then, just as quickly as the urge to throw up had come upon her, Carly began to weep.
Still disoriented from sleep, Carly sat up straight and stiff as a stick, not sure what had woken her. She knew where she was...and who she was with...and why she was there, but for the moment that was it.
Somewhat reluctantly, she had allowed herself to be talked into staying there at the Space Needle. At least there were other people about, which was something she hadn't seen a lot of on her drive there. Being with people always made her feel somewhat more secure, even though she was relatively sure she could survive on her own just as easily.
Looking about she saw a group of people gathered around the railing, and wondered what they could be looking at. Without hesitation she pulled on her jeans, while still lying in the sleeping bag, and crawled out to zip them. She had removed them the same way the night before, finding them just too difficult to sleep in. Still barefoot, she tiptoed across the cold floor, and wedged herself in between two others.
What Carly saw on the ground below her filled her with a sudden urge to vomit.
"Oh my god..." She whispered, as she back away from the railing and people. Once free of the small crowd she bent forward, closed her eyes, and took deep breaths until the feeling of nausea passed. And then, just as quickly as the urge to throw up had come upon her, Carly began to weep.
Tor
19 years ago
Sleeping in a room full of strangers had been pretty creepy, really. I mean, she didn't know these people, what if one of them was fucking crazy? I mean, there was a guy who taught clowns here for God's sake. She'd set up her sleeping gear as far away from him and the homeless guy, but it still weirded her out some, suburban kiddie that she was. Finally, she'd sought the ultimate refuge - the ladies room. Sure it was just a sign on the door, but every little bit helped. Plus there wasn't any snoring.
After daybreak, people had been in and out and it woke her up. She gave herself a paper towel bath in the sink (she'd have to get a washcloth somewhere soon), gussied up and saw that people were kinda freaked out. Following a group down the stairs, she arrived as some tall guy said there was a cleanup needed.
"Who's gotta clean up what?"
Looking between people, she saw the much juicier version of flier-boy on the ground.
"Ugh...that's just...gross."
Backing away from the group, Kassidy thought she was going to be sick. Taking the universal tripod position near the doorway, she breathed. And checked that she had her gun on under her coat. Great. Find people and it turns out there IS a psycho among them. This totally was Hell, she'd been right. Why else would there be killers here?
After daybreak, people had been in and out and it woke her up. She gave herself a paper towel bath in the sink (she'd have to get a washcloth somewhere soon), gussied up and saw that people were kinda freaked out. Following a group down the stairs, she arrived as some tall guy said there was a cleanup needed.
"Who's gotta clean up what?"
Looking between people, she saw the much juicier version of flier-boy on the ground.
"Ugh...that's just...gross."
Backing away from the group, Kassidy thought she was going to be sick. Taking the universal tripod position near the doorway, she breathed. And checked that she had her gun on under her coat. Great. Find people and it turns out there IS a psycho among them. This totally was Hell, she'd been right. Why else would there be killers here?
Calimaryn
19 years ago
All them lil gurls made Henry sad. Gone were their lives of innocence an opportunity, ta marry a nice boy or go ta college on Daddy's dime. He hoped they didn have to be bums for very long. The thoughts quickly evaporated as them lil gurls turned up their nose at him jes for bein homeless. Like them homes meant somthin now. Shopping cart nearby, the hobo snuggled into the comfortable sleeping bag and slept deeply.
The ruckus woke him up but it wasn tha cops bustin them for squatin. No, instead it was evryone feakin out. With a yawn and a scratch on his ponderous belly, Henry followed em all down an outside. Spyin Vern splattered was a sad shame. The fall even ruind his shoes, which was a darn shame cus they looked ta be Henry's size.
"Ya think tha blood would wash offa them shoes?" He wondered aloud vaguely while he itched at his nose.
The ruckus woke him up but it wasn tha cops bustin them for squatin. No, instead it was evryone feakin out. With a yawn and a scratch on his ponderous belly, Henry followed em all down an outside. Spyin Vern splattered was a sad shame. The fall even ruind his shoes, which was a darn shame cus they looked ta be Henry's size.
"Ya think tha blood would wash offa them shoes?" He wondered aloud vaguely while he itched at his nose.
Jetamio
19 years ago
Jet had fallen asleep curled upright on a seat in the corner of the room, her jacket over her as a blanket. She awoke suddenly, with a slight gasp, disturbed by strange dreams. Looking around she found the room half empty, but there was a tense atmosphere. Getting up, she followed a few others down the stairs and found a crowd at the door. Pushing gently past to see what the fuss was about, she wished she hadn't when she saw the guy whose name she seemed to recall was Vern, splattered over the pavement.
"Uch!" Now glad that she hadn't eaten yet, she pushed her way back inside and leaned against the wall, letting out an involuntary shudder.
"Uch!" Now glad that she hadn't eaten yet, she pushed her way back inside and leaned against the wall, letting out an involuntary shudder.
Temprah
19 years ago
The noise woke her and Tempy sat up with a sleepy yawn. People seemed to be milling in and out of the room and there was obviously something going on. Sitting in her sleeping bag for a few minutes her curiosity finally got the better of her and she stood, grabbing her red flannel shirt and pulling it around her. She'd stripped down to her black lacy underthings to sleep in and wasn't sure how well walking around in them would go over, so she opted for some modesty.
Silently following a few people down and outside she stopped and looked at the carcass that was once their leader. The redhead blinked at Vern several times and swallowed hard. Oh my. Oh my my my, she said softly, a hand on her hip and one running through her hair. Well ain't this a fine mess. Now who's gonna be in charge?
Turning to go back inside, she began to wonder just what the hell was happening in the world today.
Silently following a few people down and outside she stopped and looked at the carcass that was once their leader. The redhead blinked at Vern several times and swallowed hard. Oh my. Oh my my my, she said softly, a hand on her hip and one running through her hair. Well ain't this a fine mess. Now who's gonna be in charge?
Turning to go back inside, she began to wonder just what the hell was happening in the world today.
Four Winds
19 years ago
Lincoln tethered Charley to a broken parking meter and strode over to see what all the ruckus was about. A few people were sobbing, some looked grey as ash, and even one had emptied the contents of breakfast over the concrete. Some of the women folk however looked quite pretty in their undergarments.
But Lincoln's eyes were drawn to the smell. An old one, but familar. A dead body. Great way to start the day. The man looked like he'd either been rolled over by a steam roller or he'd taken a swan-dive off the Needle. Lincoln reckoned the learning to fly routine was the most likely option.
So much for a new beginning. Lincoln cursed under his breath as he stared about the the small gathering of people. Vernn didn't seem like the bridge walker type, so one of them were most likely responsible for the pancake that was now Vern.
Accident? Not bloodly likely. Lincoln rolled his eyes and headed off back over to Charley.
But Lincoln's eyes were drawn to the smell. An old one, but familar. A dead body. Great way to start the day. The man looked like he'd either been rolled over by a steam roller or he'd taken a swan-dive off the Needle. Lincoln reckoned the learning to fly routine was the most likely option.
So much for a new beginning. Lincoln cursed under his breath as he stared about the the small gathering of people. Vernn didn't seem like the bridge walker type, so one of them were most likely responsible for the pancake that was now Vern.
Accident? Not bloodly likely. Lincoln rolled his eyes and headed off back over to Charley.
vwinsect
19 years ago
Lanna had slept better here than in the ER. At least here there was a quiet place without the beeping machines, rasping respirators, and the unending crisis that only she could deal with ASAP. Wrapped up in the sleeping bag, she wondered about her parents and if they had survived the sweeping miasma of death that had taken so many. Part of her wanted to rush back home to find out, but realist that she was, she knew that would be impractical as well as impossible with all of the mass transit systems shut down for lack of living workers.
This morning waking with the grey dawn, she sat up still feeling the residual emotional fingerprint of the dream she had experienced. She wasn't one to have the time or inclination to dwell on her dreams. However, this time with this situation she had found herself in, she did just that as she scuffled down into the sleeping bag and used it to cover her changing of clothing.
A while later, as she snacked on the granola bar she had aquired from one of the little news stands on her way to the needle the day before, she heard the commotion outside. Seeing several come back in looking quite ill, she hurried outside to see what was going on. Her nurse's training taking over. When she saw the body, she paled but didn't react other than that. She had worked for years in the ER after all, and all sorts of things came through there. She looked around at the various faces.
"Well, someone have a sheet or something? To cover ummm" she looked at the body, "what's left of him up."
She looked at the fellow that spoke about the shoes. She made note of his appearance and gave him a shrug.
"We have to use what is available at the moment. They might be usable but I doubt you will get all of the gore out. Better luck would be found out there with the dead from the illness." She was ever practical and if he was to make it further with them, he would need sturdy shoes.
This morning waking with the grey dawn, she sat up still feeling the residual emotional fingerprint of the dream she had experienced. She wasn't one to have the time or inclination to dwell on her dreams. However, this time with this situation she had found herself in, she did just that as she scuffled down into the sleeping bag and used it to cover her changing of clothing.
A while later, as she snacked on the granola bar she had aquired from one of the little news stands on her way to the needle the day before, she heard the commotion outside. Seeing several come back in looking quite ill, she hurried outside to see what was going on. Her nurse's training taking over. When she saw the body, she paled but didn't react other than that. She had worked for years in the ER after all, and all sorts of things came through there. She looked around at the various faces.
"Well, someone have a sheet or something? To cover ummm" she looked at the body, "what's left of him up."
She looked at the fellow that spoke about the shoes. She made note of his appearance and gave him a shrug.
"We have to use what is available at the moment. They might be usable but I doubt you will get all of the gore out. Better luck would be found out there with the dead from the illness." She was ever practical and if he was to make it further with them, he would need sturdy shoes.
Tor
19 years ago
Hey, that was something she could help with, and it would get her the hell away from the squished body. With any luck the take-charge lady would have this all squared away before she got back.
"Oh, yeah. There was a good boot store not too far from here that wasn't looted too heavily. S'where I got these. I can show you where it is if you want, mister."
She'd take her chances on the company of a bum than with a group of panicky people any day.
"Oh, yeah. There was a good boot store not too far from here that wasn't looted too heavily. S'where I got these. I can show you where it is if you want, mister."
She'd take her chances on the company of a bum than with a group of panicky people any day.
Eve
19 years ago
Angel was so not a morning person. Therefore, when everyone around her seemed to be waking and wandering off, a few coming back in looking rather ill, she truly had no desire to go see what it was all about. She rolled back over in her makeshift sleeping bag and tried in vain to go back to sleep.