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Scene Four: A Quake, A Quake
Topic Started: Oct 8 2009, 12:02 AM (1,215 Views)
mdnjr70
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Shrimp Po'Boy
Ruben/Zeke/Tom – Morning

Rubén’s body trembled under Zeke’s touch, “you’re shaking are you alright?” Ruben rolled over off his stomach and back onto his back, he looked at Zeke, the light from the morning was filling the room and it danced off Zeke’s face and body, “I’m more then alright.” Ruben said with a warm smile as Zeke reach out and touched Ruben’s quivering chest resting it there, “are you cold?” Rubén laughed how could he explain, “I’m fine…it’s your touch, it’s electric, it drives me crazy, but in a good way. I don’t know how to explain it.” Rubén threaded his fingers through Zeke’s as he looked at him a sudden change in his expression, “was I…I mean was it…you know?” Rubén said very awkwardly the words almost inaudible he wasn’t sure what to say or how to ask but he needed to know he wanted to know so the next time would be better; was that even possible in Rubén’s mind it simple had been mind-blowing. Zeke’s face lit up with his crocked smile as he blushed a little, “you were amazing each time was wonderful. I couldn’t and haven’t ever had a better time with someone.” Rubén grinned very happy now. “I’m glad.” He let out a sigh of relief.

“Once you relaxed, of course.” Zeke added snuggling up next to Rubén resting his head in the hallow of Rubén's arm the energy from their naked bodies warming them both, “thanks.” Rubén said poking Zeke in the stomach with his finger playfully. Zeke grabbed his hand and rested it there. “No poking.” Zeke said holding Rubén’s hand, “I’m ticklish as well so don’t get any ideas.”

Rubén made a mental note and looked around the room, it was so calm and wonderful, it all felt so right, he belonged here, right here. No where else mattered, nothing else mattered. It was a perfect moment in time one he would remember always “Can we stay just like this?” Rubén asked feeling calm, warm at peace. Zeke smiled, “it would be nice wouldn’t it, just stay here in bed holding each other, loving each other, what more could any two people need, but” he said rolling over on top of Rubén adjusting his weight as to not make it uncomfortable for either of them. He meet Rubén’s eyes looking down at him, “we have a world to rebuild.” He said waiting for Rubén reaction, “you’ve decided then.” Zeke shrugged he had decided last night, but he was too tired and he wanted the time to try and think of a way out of it, but there wasn’t and he knew it, “I really don’t see any other choice at least to being on the list, let the people have their vote and go from there and it’s not like I’ll be alone, you’ll be on the list with me.” Rubén frowned, “But, Zeke, I’m not a leader, I’m the guy in the back ground doing all the leg work.” Zeke pat his chest looking at him with those eyes, the eyes the dug into his soul and melted his heart every time. “Do I have a choice?” Zeke smirked, “Of course you do, we all have a choice, but God has a way to get us to do what he needs us to do. One way or the other, but you know we won’t be alone, I think you’ll be surprised who else is on the list and makes their way to the council.”

Zeke rolled off Rubén and stood up he was half in shadow and half in light it was either the way he was standing or the light or it could have been something from within him, but at that moment, naked in the morning light he looked like an angle sent from heaven to watch after them to watch after him. With his hand outstretched it only emphasized the image. Rubén almost gasped at the site, “We should get cleaned up, care to join me?” Rubén blinked his eyes and smiled he tossed his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, “trying to save water?” He asked with a coy look and Zeke smiled, “we can go with that.” Rubén took Zeke’s hand and followed him to the bathroom and the hot shower that would be waiting for them together.

****

Rubén had taken stock of his clothing and pulled on the last of his clean shirts buttoning it up. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror he had a Dopey smile of joy on his face. He felt amazing and happy, happier then he had been in a very long time. Zeke was incredible, his mind quickly filled with the images of their togetherness the night before and in the shower only a half hour prior, he had been so awkward and scared but none of that made a difference to Zeke. Rubén opened the bedroom door making sure to close it again as he walked out into the hall, he only had his trainers left and he didn’t want to have one of the puppies get another chew toy. He could already smell food being cooked in the kitchen below; Zeke was much faster when it came to getting ready, he brushed his teeth ran a comb through his hair and looked like a million dollars. Rubén on the other hand, well it took a little more work, or maybe he was just more fussy, Rubén chuckled at the thought there was no maybe about it, he was definitely more fussy about his appearance then Zeke was.

He walked down the steps and made his way to the kitchen; Tom was up sipping on some tea and Zeke was at the counter mixing and cooking something, God only knew what, but he was sure it wasn’t what his nose was smelling; eggs for sure and maybe bacon. “Smells good.” Rubén said as Zeke handed him a cup of hot tea. “Well we need to eat all the fresh food, before it spoils, then we’ll switch over, until the crops are grown and harvested.” Zeke said returning to the stove. “I was going to move you upstairs Tom, but you were really out.” Rubén said looking at Tom, who was cleaned up and looking more rested then he had the day prior. Tom nodded carefully, Rubén could tell his back was still bothering him, “It’s fine. The couch was more comfortable then it looks.” His face filled with a grin, “How’d you two sleep?” He said with a coy smile and Rubén flushed, “fine, good. Great, I mean you know…always sleep well.” Rubén said rambling on sounding ridiculous like he had been caught doing something wrong.

Tom watched him and smiled a little more, “ah…well good.” He said taking another sip of his tea stifling his laugh. Rubén thought, there was no way he could have heard or seen anything he was downstairs and out like a light. “Do we want to make another run into town and get more supplies for the camp? Maybe head to Des Monies, see what we can get there.” Rubén agreed Tom had thankfully pulled Rubén out of his own thoughts and got him to move on, “I think that would make sense. I think most of the people would have come here anyway, so it should be pretty quiet.” Rubén took a sip of his tea looking down at his clothes, “I’m going to want to pick up a few personal things as well, I think we should just go to Des Monies, there will be more items to find there.” Zeke turned and looked at them, “Are you sure it’s a good idea, I don’t like the idea of you guys doing this, you’re not trained and something could happen.”

“Well we don’t have much choice, people keep coming here and we need things for them, what choice do we have? Someone has to do it.” Tom said and Rubén agreed. “Look we can be smart about this, maybe see if we can get some of the military to come with us, so nothing will happen.” Zeke sighed, “well there is plenty to do around here too, we need to get people moved into homes that are vacant, get them out of the camp, the more people we have in real dwellings the better. We need to start going through and checking what buildings we can reopen and finding out what skills people have and all that.” Zeke pulled the pan off the stove and plated the food, it looked like a Frittata. “Frittata?” Rubén asked, and Zeke nodded, “I thought you might like it.”

Once each plate was filled the three men walked over to the dinning room to eat, Rubén felt a couple of little nips at his legs and looked down to see Barker there tail wagging. He got another whiff of the frittata and knew better then to ask so he didn’t it smelled so good, looked good and he was sure it would taste amazing even if it wasn’t real eggs or meat he smelled. “I was thinking about the High School. It is really close, what if we go there and see what it would take to get it up and running again, maybe have it be K - 12. It should have all the equipment, so if it’s just a matter of turning on the power and water, then why not. It would give the kids something to do and some of the parents piece of mind.” Rubén said he was the last to sit down having to make sure not to step on Baker or sit on Hoppus who managed to get on the chair and was sitting there tail wagging away. “We could…I suppose.” Tom said wanting to go on another supply run but the idea of giving people a sense of purpose and normalcy had it’s appeal as well and it would be easier on his back. Rubén took a bite of the frittata and smiled at Zeke, “Esto es delicioso mi amor.” Zeke smiled and blushed, “glad you like it.” Rubén took another bite enjoying the taste.

“It’s very good Zeke, you’re a great cook.” Tom said taking another bite as well. “Thank you both. I’m just glad to be using up the fresh vegetables before they go bad.

“With everything that needs to be done, maybe we could go and talk to John and see what we can help with, he must have a list of things. I know we still have power and water and sewage so those are priorities, but there must be other things we can work on.” Tom said looking around the table. “Might be worth a shot maybe that is why they haven’t had a chance to look into some of this other things, keeping all this running takes a lot of work.” Zeke said and Rubén smiled, “thinking of joining us?” Zeke shrugged whipping his mouth with his napkin, “we’ll see.” Both Rubén and Tom looked at him, there was something in that last little remark that neither was sure on how to interoperate.
Edited by mdnjr70, Oct 14 2009, 09:03 PM.
May it be said, when the sun sets on your life, you made a difference.
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"Full House!" Misty crowed with delight, laying her winning hand on the table.

"Goddammit, again?" Riker groaned, picking up his two pair, "That's five hands in a row!"

Demps muttered wordlessly, his three of a kind having been beaten as well.

"Just lucky, I guess." Misty said, picking up the cards and shuffling them again.

"Think I could give you an I.O.U?" Demps said, "I'm running low here."

Misty waggled her finger, "Sorry boys, but this was your idea, so pay up."

Riker and Demps grumbled, but they stood up, and obidiently took of their pants.

"Very nice," Misty said, eyeing the heart pattered boxers Riker wore, "Care to play another hand?"

"Call me crazy, but I think I'm gonna call it quits, while I'm behind." Demps said, "Where the hell did you learn to play like that, anyways?"

"My dad taught me a little," Misty said, "but me and my friends back in Chicago would play all the time, and we got pretty good at it."

"I'll say," Riker said, "Fuck it, I'm out too. Can we have our clothes back now?"

Misty chuckled, "You want your clothes back right after you lost them? Sorry boys, but maybe next time you'll have better luck." Laughing softly, Misty gathered the two soldiers clothes in a bundle, and walked back to her room in the RV.

They had left the camp a few hours ago, driving across endless miles of desolate landscape. Misty had been bored out her mind, and she was starting to miss Zeke and Ruben, when the two soldiers had innocently suggested they played a little Strip Poker.

Misty had accepted, and the two men had shared a conspiratorial wink, thinking she would be easy money. Misty had neglected to mention she was a practiced player, and had proceeded to beat the pants off of them- literally.

She dumped the clothes on her bed. She would wait a few hours, then give them back to the men, after they'd had time to learn not to take her for a chump. Then, she walked up to the drivers cab, winking slyly at the two men as she passed.

She dumped herself into the passenger seat, next to Bridgette, who was driving. "Anything exciting happen back there?" Bridgette asked.

"Well, we have two half naked men sitting around with nothing to do." Misty said playfully.

"Oh, I might just let you drive for a bit." Bridgette laughed, "I take it poker didn't turn out the way they had planned?"

"Nope," Misty said, "How are things up here?"

"Pretty good," Bridgette said, "John's boys did agreat job on that plow, unless we run into a concrete wall, I think we'll be ok."

"And you havn't seen anything?" Misty asked, looking out the window.

"Not a damn thing," Bridgette said, "Just endless terrain and wasteland."

Misty fell silent after that. She wasn't too sure, but she thought they should be heading right through Omaha, a fairly large city.

But Bridgette was right, there was no sign of anything out there. Either Misty's sense of direction had gone to shit, or the entire city of Omaha had been wiped clean off the map.

A jagged peak loomed in the distance, off to the side, the only noticeable feature in the otherwise desolate lands.

Misty frownedm there were no mountains in Omaha, unless the earthquake had just formed them. But only one peak, and so small?

"Bridgette, look over there." Misty pointed, "what the hell is that?"

Bridgette peered out, "I'm not sure, looks kinda like a mountain."

"Just the one mountain in the middle of nowhere?" Misty countered.

"What, you wanna go take a look?" Bridgette said, grinning, "I suppose there could be people there."

"Then lets go!" Misty said, holding on as Bridgette turned the RV.

"Hang on back there!" Bridgette called, as the RV jounced along the rocky turf. As they drew closer to the mound, Misty thought she couild make out depressions set in the face. What struck her as odd, was that the depressions all seemed to be the same size, and they were set equidistant from each other...

"Those are windows!" Misty blurted out, as they got closer.

"There might be people inside," Bridgette responded, "Better give the guys their clothes back."

"Right." Misty ducked out of the cab, and ran back to her room, picking up the bundle of clothes. "Allright boys," she said, tossing them to the soldiers, "Get dressed, we found a ruined building that we need to check out."

The men quickly complied, pulling on their clothes in less then ten seconds. They must be very well trained, Misty figured.

Demps reached under his seat, and pulled out a dented metal footlocker, from which he pulled out two sleek looking assault rifles.

"Whoa, wait a minute, guys!" Misty protested, waving her hands, "We're not going in to kill anyone!"

"With all due respect, ma'am, we don't know that." Riker replied, slapping a magazine into his rifle, "We're not planning on shooting anybody, but if we got hostiles in there who will try and hurt us, we want to be prepared."

"It's standard procedure, ma'am." Demps said, cradling his rifle in front of his chest.

"Stop calling me ma'am." Misty said absently, thinking. She really didn't have the authority to tell these guys what to do, and while she didn't like guns, she understood that having two armed soldiers would indeed ward off most assailants.

"Allright, fine, lets ge." Misty said, as Bridgette pulled the RV to a halt. Riker pushed the door open, and stepped out, gun at the ready. Demps let Misty and Bridgette out before following. Marie they left on the RV, to keep an eye on it.

Misty almost laughed as Riker and Demps approached, like they expected an attack at any moment. The building itself could hardley be called as such anymore. It might have once been a tall office building or the like, but not anymore.

Reduced to maybe three stories, the building was nothing more then a facade,hollow windows glaring out like empty eyes. It gave Misty the creeps.

If there were survivors inside, they gave no indication that they were there. Nevertheless, Riker and Demps took the lead, insisting the two young women stayed behind them. Bridgette and Misty complied, if only to keep them happy.

The two soldiers stopped outside the door, one on either side. Demps made a hand signal, and Riker went in, gun ready, Demps right behind. After a moment, Riker called out "All clear!"

Misty and Bridgette followed in, looking around, noticing the heavy damage done to the building. They were in what Misty guessed to be the main lobby, a wide open area, with a destryoed desk along the back wall.

Their footsteps clattered noisely across the empty lobby, Riker went to check out the desk, while Demps stayed by the main door.

"What do you think this is?" Bridgette asked, her voice carrying across the palatial lobby.

"I don't know," Misty answered, keeping her voice low, " I've never been around here before."

"But where is here?" Bridgette asked, "What city are we in?"

"Omaha," Riker said, holding a sheet up paper up to the light, "This is Skybridge tower, some kinda banking thing. Apparently this is the largest structure in all of Omaha."

"Omaha? As in, Nebraska?" Bridgette said, "I wonder how this tower is the only thing left standing."

"Probably because it was so tall," Riker said, moving to the back stairwell, "Looks like we can't get upstairs anymore."

Misty looked in the stairwell, and saw Riker was correct. The stair had collapsed, a mass of rubble blocking away.

"I don't think there are other survivors here anywyas." Misty said, looking around the dark, empty lobby. A shiver ran down her spine, not three days ago, this lobby would have been bustling with life, people coming and going, with important business to attend to.

But not any more. "C'mon, guys, lets get out of here." Misty said, walking toward the door.

"What? But we barely checked anything out!" Riker protested.

"I don't think there's anything to check out," Misty said, walking toward the back door as quick as she could, "Let's go!"

The rest of the group followed, and they piled back into the RV, Bridgette speeding away from the dilapadated building.

Misty didn't look back as they sped away, doing her best to keep her breathing under control. She didn't know why, but she had been struck with a feeling of dread, like the restless souls who had inhabited that building had been angry at the intrusion.

Misty hoped that whatever came next, involved living, breathing people, and the chance to actually help someone.
"Alright, I've been thinking. When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don't want your damn lemons, what am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life's manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am? I'm the man whose gonna burn your house down! With the lemons! I'm gonna get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!"


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njsmostwanted651
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You can be the sinner and I'll be the sin
Lt. Johnson snapped to attention as the Humvee made a sudden jolt over a large crack in the pavement and bounced up swiftly. He peered out of the window, seeing almost the same sight he saw before he dozed off a few hours earlier. He saw the same deserted towns, forgotten cars, and other ruined surroundings. The sun peered out somewhat through the collected debris in the sky, but wasn't enough to be completely visible. Johnson looked left to the driver's seat and saw a dazy-eyed Private Dixion still behind the wheel.

Johnson zipped open the rucksack that sat between his legs and grabbed one of the three MRE rations he had left and examining the lettering on the pouch, which read "SPAGHETTI/MEATBALLS" Not too bad, he thought while opening it up.

Private Dixion looked over his way and chuckled.

"About time you got up." He said.

Johnson shoveled a spoonful of spaghetti into his mouth and shrugged. "How long have you been driving?"

"All night." He said motioning to five bottles of Three-Hour Energies that layed empty on the floor.

"Crazy bastard." Johnson responded.

In the near-distance, small dust devils were forming from debris and sand and scattering along the road.

"What do you think this is Johnson? Punishment from God? The takeover of Satan?" Dixion asked suddenly.

"I'm not much of a God believer." He replied.

Dixion laughed. "What are you then?"

"I guess I'd call myself an Atheist." Johnson said.

"Alright you rationalistic bastard, why do you think the world got fucked so hard?"

Johnson laughed. "You heard what I heard at base. And you heard the same on the radio, on the news and everywhere else. It was an asteroid. Nobody sent it, nobody wanted it. It just happened."

"Things don't just happen." Dixion quickly responded.

"Because the man in the sky got pissed and threw it down, right?"

Dixion snorted. "Pretty much, man. I don't read the bible or go to chruch. I'm not going to spout out revelations, you know me better. I just have my beliefs."

Johnson shook his head. "I've known you for how many damned years now, I know your not a crazy bible fanatic. I just don't get how you can put your faith in someone who isn't a person."

"I don't know." Dixion shrugged, "I guess it's the house I was raised in."

"Guess so." Johnson said looking back to the window. In the side view mirror, he could see the other Humvee trailing not too far behind, Corporal Mathis behind the wheel.

Johnson looked back ahead and saw that they were approaching what looked like a very small town. Most of the houses had minimal damage, just a few torn off pieces from the blast. He wondered if there were any survivors living in any of the houses, but he knew better than to try to search all of the houses. It wasn't safe to stay in one place too long anymore knowing at any time the ground under you could cave in at any second. Lieutenant Johnson couldn't wrap his mind around the idea of it, but it was true. They weren't safe, no matter where they were.
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15
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Shrimp Po'Boy
Misty awoke with a jerk, looking around the darkened room she shared with Bridgette in the RV. Bridgette, for her part, merely mumbled, wrapping her arms tighter around Misty.

Misty lay back down, staring at the ceiling, wondering vaguely what time it was. Night had fallen shortly after they had left the ruined skybridge building, and Marie, who had been sleeping most of the day, took over for driving at night.

Riker and Demps, too, had retired for the night, Riker crashing out on the fold out couch bed, Demps napping in the passenger seat, in case Marie needed something.

Misty had the sudden urge to use the restroom. She gently extracted herself from Bridgette's arms, who let out a low mumble, but didn't wake up.

Misty finished her business in the bathroom, taking a moment to stare at herself in the mirror. She looked slightly paler then usual, and she was developing dark circles under her eyes, but other then that, she looked ok.

She washed her face, and upon exiting the rest room, stared out the small window that was next to their bed. It was getting dark out, but she could still see most of the featureless landscape.

She frowned, pering out, squinting to see better. Ahead, were those lights?

She ran out of her room, up into the cab, and Marie turned to lopok at her briefly before turning her attention back to the road.

"I was about to call you, I saw these lights up ahead, there might be people there." Marie said, slowing the bus down.

"that's good, maybe their more survivors. We'll talk to them, have the boys stay on the RV, just in case." Misty said, looking at the lights as they drew closer. It didn't seem to be a town, or a camp, and the lights were set fairly low to the ground.

"Those look like vehicles," Misty said, "Like some kind of convoy."

"What does?" Bridgette's sleepy voice said from behind them.

"Those lights, "Misty pointed, "It might be a vehicle convoy."

"Great!" Bridgette said, "that means more people survived. Maybe they have information or something."

As they drew closer still, Misty saw dark shapes slowly walking toward them. The lights indeed come from vehicles, a semi-truck, a school bus, a few vans, and other scattered vehicles.

Marie stopped the RV, keeping the headlights on. Misty could make out five people, three women and two men. One of the men, a short, dark skinned fellow with a wide brimed straw hat, stood in the center of the group. Misty assumed that meant he was the leader.

"Lets go talk to them," Misty said, "Marie, wait here, go wake up the guys, tell them to be ready for trouble, but to stay on the bus. We don't know who these people are."

"Got it," Marie said, putting the RV into park.


OOC: the rest will be up later
Edited by Cale Raizer, Oct 16 2009, 08:53 AM.
"Alright, I've been thinking. When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don't want your damn lemons, what am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life's manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am? I'm the man whose gonna burn your house down! With the lemons! I'm gonna get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!"


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WeBandOfBuggered
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Alex et all - Raiding Party

January 2009

Less than two hours later, Alex found himself being escorted into an interrogation room, at the door, Glenn leaned in close to Alex, “I know this is gonna be hard. Just keep your cool, okay?”

Alex nodded, “I can hit him though right?”

“No, it’s illegal for anyone to hit a suspect in custody.”

“But the cops let Jason Lee punch Ben Affleck in the gut in Mallrats.

“Well that’s because it was Ben Affleck, Alex.”

“Fine,” Alex agreed as Glenn opened the door and led Alex in.

The man sitting at the table looked incredibly passive as he dipped a teabag into a foam cup of water. It was almost as though he was sitting in his kitchen with company. He looked up as the door opened and Alex could see even his eyes conveyed a certain calmness. Apparently, killing people was not a big deal to this freak.

“Ah, Mr. Castle. May I just say that is an honor to meet you in person. I was hoping you’d catch on eventually. Your book, it was amazing. Really spoke to me.” He casually placed the teabag in the garbage can nearby. “Joshua Millerton,” he said, extending his hand as though this were a book signing.

Alex ignored the offered hand. “So, you wanted to meet me. Any particular reason other than gloating?”

“To thank you for the inspiration of course. As I said…your novel was wonderful and spoke to me on so many levels. However, I must say, and please do not take this wrong way, your manners are deplorable. You should never refuse an offered handshake, Mr. Castle.”

“Jesus Christ…you couldn’t have copycatted something a little more worthwhile? Like Dexter?”

“I considered that, briefly. But your novel was far more entertaining. I was hoping to start small and then paint a larger canvas for you across the country. Unfortunately, I stayed in one place far too long.”

“Movies 101: keep moving. Hell, Carl did it in the book. And, if you can’t keep moving, avoid drawing too much attention to yourself. Worked for Bundy for the longest time.”

Millerton smiled at that, “I suppose it did. But what can I say? I do love a challenge. But may I just ask what inspired this story?”

“Started as an assignment in high school. I found it one day when I was moving and remembered I got an ‘A-plus’ on it, so I expanded it form a ten page short story to a full out novel. Fleshed out the killer, added more victims and switched the focus to the cop as the main character. I liked writing him…he was sort of like a mixture of DeMille’s John Corey and Connelly’s Harry Bosch.”

“While I did like him, I must admit, I spent the whole novel rooting for Carl. I was terribly saddened when Detective O’Hallorhan killed him. So I took it upon myself to recreate the story and give it a better ending. Alas, it was not in the starts, it seems.”

Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“I did this all for you, Mr. Castle. I wanted more people to be aware of your book, after all, it is an incredible story.”

“So as opposed to filming a review and putting it up on YouTube, or buying it for friends and family or recommending it on a message board forum, you recreated the story?”

“Of course. As I said, the ending was extremely sad and disappointing. I wanted to get the proper ending in place. Then, if it was still wrong, I’d meet with you personally and get you to correct it. Revised editions are all the rage, these days I hear.”

“And if I didn’t edit I like you asked? What then, you’d copycat Misery?”

“Yes, actually. I keep telling you, the end was all wrong. Carl needed to get away and continue his work.”

“You really are a psychopathic bastard, you know that, don’t you?”

Millerton shrugged and gave Alex a small smile, “I’ve been called worse, Mr. Castle. But do you want to know something really interesting? I had dreams many nights as I did my work. I kept hoping they would come true. Do you want to know what they were?”

“Not particularly,” Alex said tersely.

“Well, I am going to tell you anyways.” Millerton took a sip from his foam cup of tea. “After I finished your novel, I dreamed of meeting you. I knew you weren’t all to fond of signings, you like your privacy and I can respect that much.”

“I didn’t do signing because I figured there was no interest and the fact that the book was absolute shit.”

Millerton looked sickened by this comment. “My, my. So hard on yourself, aren’t we, Mr. Castle? Your novel, was, as I keep telling you, brilliant with the exception of the ending.”

Interesting, Alex thought. Killing sprees don’t phase him at all…but I insult my book and he acts like I’ve committed some cardinal sin. He was snapped out of his thoughts by Millerton’s voice.

“Once again, Mr. Castle, your manners are deplorable. Here I am, bearing my soul to you and you ignore me,” Millerton looked genuinely offended and dismayed. “And I know what you’re thinking now: ‘what soul?’ You could be correct, Mr. Castle, but that does not change the fact I am opening up to you. Now, as I was saying: I knew you wouldn’t meet with a fan at random or even do a signing, so I had to get your attention somehow. And then I realized: what better way to get the attention of a serial killer novelist than to copycat his novel? So I started out. My plan was brilliant in it’s simplicity. But, alas, it was not enough to garner media attention outside of Alabama. So I left a clue for the police; and had every intention of leaving Alabama and continuing my crusade in Louisiana. But then I heard you were coming to town, the police had called you in as an advisor once they cleared you of committing the crimes, that was. And I will admit, I was honored to be confused for you initially, after all, I may have done the same thing to promote any novel I wrote. And when I heard the rumor…well, that’s when my second dream began.

“I already know the answer, so I will not bother asking you. You are going to hear my dream anyways. I knew someone who wrote a novel that violent and dark had their own demons to battle inside. So I began to dream, hope, even that you would join me and the two of us could recreate the final chapters with the new ending I devised. That would have been nice, wouldn’t it have?”

Rage flickered through Alex’s eyes.

“Ah yes: the rage, I can see it! I knew there were demons inside you, Mr. Castle. Everyone has them, even the brilliant. You would have to love to have joined me given the opportunity, wouldn’t you have, Alex?”

“No. I would’ve turned you in a second, you heartless bastard.” He looked at Glenn, “I’m done.” Back to Millerton: “this interview is over.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Castle. I trust I will see you at the trial and at my inevitable execution?”

“All yours, I’m sure, there was no pleasure on this side of the table.” Alex once again ignored the offered hand and followed Glenn out of the room.

“You really should learn manners, Mr. Castle. And remember, there are demons within you whether you admit to it or not. We can sense our own, Mr. Castle.”

Alex ignored him and walked through the interrogation room door. As the door closed, he hear Millerton speak once more: “take care, Mr. Castle. I see a lot of myself in you.”

The door slammed shut and white stars burst across Alex’s vision, he vomited in a nearby trashcan.

“You okay, Alex?”

“Fine, Glenn.”

“Look, don’t listen to that asshole. He’s right, we all have demons to fight. But I know you, Alex. You’re nothing like him. I’ve seen what this has done to you. You’re a good person and don’t let some sociopathic asshole tell you otherwise.”

Alex nodded. “Thanks Glenn.”

Glenn clapped him on the shoulder, “how ‘bout a drink? I’ve got some grey goose in my desk.”

“Sounds good, Glenn.”

As they walked towards Glenn’s office, there was a sharp report of a gun firing.

The Present

Alex slammed back to reality and the present as another shot was fired. He was bolt upright in one of the beds in the tour bus. He leapt out and grabbed his Castle Contracting shirt off the floor, pulling it on and picking up his cricket bat as he bounded out in the main area of the bus.

“What’s going on?”

Adam looked at him, “some asshole shooting at us.”

“Fuck!”

“Pretty much sums up my thoughts,” Adam said, staring out the window. There were ten men dressed in leather and holding various weapons. The reports had come from the leader’s gun: a sawn-off double-barreled shotgun. Without warning, the doors were yanked open from the outside and a burly man carrying an Ingram MAC10 sauntered onto the bus.

“Everyone off the fucking bus, NOW!”

Another armed man came aboard, this one carrying two gold-plated Desert Eagle pistols. The man with MAC10 herded Adam, Alex and Gareth out of the main are of the bus, then accompanied the man with the pistols further in. A few moments later, Willow, Domenica, Sam, Cat and the kids came out of the bus. Willow was carrying Callie and Sam was carrying Lex, both kids looked terrified.

A few more armed thugs herded the rest of the convoy towards were Alex and the others now stood. The shotgun-totting man walked over to them now. “Alright, I’m gonna make this nice and simple. We get the women, the food and the kids. All you fucking men, stay here. IF all goes as we want, it, no one dies. Even one of you fucks around, and all the men die, got it? Louie!”

The man with the MAC10 walked over, “yeah boss?”

“The bus clear?”

“Yeah boss.”

“Good, those are our new wheels. Men, load ‘em up!”

With that, the other thugs started to herd the women towards the bus.

“So,” Gareth whispered into Alex’s ear. “Which one you gonna take?”

“Louie,” Alex said, watching him manhandle Domenica towards the bus.

A few other men in the convoy steeled themselves, then Gareth led the charge. In minutes, bullets were flying, but Alex managed to reach Louie before he could react. He swung the cricket bat in an upwards arc, catching the man in the shelf of the jaw and launching him off his feet. From there, he slammed the bat into the man’s head, knocking him unconscious. Then he helped Sam and Leo take out the shotgun-totting leader while Gareth and Adam went after the man with the Desert Eagles. Willow and Domenica waded into the fray, aiding the men. Terry soon joined them, only to be struck down by a bullet seconds later. Blood bubbled in her throat as she collapsed. Leo was soon at her side, tears streaming down his face. Then: rage.

He was up and running at the man who shot Terry, tackling him to the ground and beating him mercilessly. The man’s face was soon an unrecognizable pulp. Leo’s rage was contagious and the remaining thugs redoubled their efforts. Alex, Sam and Adam continued to fight, while Gareth and Leo started herding the women and children away from the fray.

Domenica was behind Alex and threw a right hook into a man’s jaw.

“Nice punch,” Alex commented, kicking another attacker in the solar plexus.

“Thanks, you handle yourself good….watch out!” Dom took a swing but missed as a third attacker charged Alex with a butterfly knife and slashed him across the face, deeply cutting Alex’s right cheek. A rock flew through the air and smashed the man in the temple, dropping him to the ground.

They traced the trajectory back to Willow, who nodded, then ran off to check on her kids.

Another attacker launched himself at Domenica and tackled her to the ground as his comrades started to fall back, lugging their wounded back to their battered pickup trucks. Alex was on top of the man, fists flying, the man begged for mercy and Millerton’s voice drifted into Alex’s head.

“Take care, Mr. Castle. I see a lot of myself in you.”

Alex stopped, not willing to cross the line; he climbed off the man and spat into his mouth.

“You come after us again, I swear to Christ I will fucking kill you. Got it?”

The man nodded weakly and scampered off to the truck. Soon, only the convoy and the corpse of the raider Leo killed were left. Willow, Adam and Sam stood in a tight cluster, hugging each other and the kids; Domenica hugged Gareth, then came over to Alex.

“You okay?”

“Yeah…sorry you had to see me do that.”

Domenica nodded, “I understand. And thank you, Alex.”

She hugged him and Alex hugged her back, staring at the blood soaked, bullet-casing covered ground around them. One of the bullets had punctured the fuel tank on Leo’s truck and a few more had punctured the two passenger side tires of Terry’s 4Runner.

“Looks like we’ve gotta arrange more cars. Leo’s truck ain’t gonna run that way.”

Domenica nodded, “there should be room enough on the bus. It’s crowded already, but we can’t exactly leave him and Dominic here, can we?”

Alex shook his head, “nope. I’ll talk to Adam, see if there’s room for two more.”

He hugged Domenica once more and kissed the top of her head. “You sure you’re okay, Dom?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “You might wanna get that checked out though,” she pointed to the deep gash on his cheek.

“I’ll see if Captain America or someone can stitch me up,” Alex said. He walked over to the dead raider and pulled the man’s bandana off, pressing it against his bloodied cheek, the followed Domenica towards the others.



That night, in his dreams, the long-dead Millerton appeared before him. “You’re dead,” Alex whispered.

“That maybe, but in the Dream World, anything is possible.”

“The fuck you want from me, asshole? I’ve got no interest in what you have to say.”

“I told you, Alex: the rage is there. The demons must be fought. I really do see a lot of myself in you.”

“But there’s a difference between you and me.”

“And what is that?”

“I won’t cross the line.”

“You will, Alex. And what that happens, I’ll be there to help.”

Alex jerked awake and walked to the bathroom where he vomited.
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Domenica/Lt. Johnson – Directions

(OOC: Takes place after Buggards post.)

The convoy had come to a stop in one of the towns along the route they were taking, they were refueling and taking a break it was slow going and Cat through his non stop broadcasting had managed to actually pick up a few people, so there were now several more vehicles and people in the group. Domenica was sitting looking at her map and looking around the area in disbelief, none of this was making any sense she had never been here before and with all the changes to the geography there was no way for her to know where they were, but she did. Somehow she did and it was driving her crazy. How did she know this? Who was pulling her strings? What really was going on here? Who were these people she was seeing? How did she know them all and why? So many questions that is why she wanted to go to Ankeny and meet this Zeke and the others she needed to know how he was doing this to her and why.

She let out a sigh marking a few new changes on the map, since the last earthquake, she blacked out one of the towns that would no longer be there. “How you holding up?” A deep male voice said from behind her. Domenica turned around and saw Lieutenant Johnson standing there, he looked tired and concerned, but really who didn’t these days. “Other then knowing things that I shouldn’t know and leading a group of people to a place that I’m not even 100% convinced will still be standing when we get there I’m hunky dory.” She said forcing a smile she even managed a level of playfulness in her tone.

He chuckled and sat next to her looking at the map, “more changes?” He asked seeing her with the marker in her hand. She nodded, “Don’t ask me how, but yes.” He inhaled deeply, “do you mind.” He asked taking the map from her hands, “No please, I’m tired of looking at it.” He nodded and reviewed the map, “Well you haven’t changed our course much, so that’s good at least. What do these new marking mean?” She shook her head, “We need to avoid those places.” He looked at them, “bad road conditions?” She shook her head and looked at him darkly, “no, we just have to avoid those places, they’re.” She stopped and looked out over the landscape there was a new river flowing north, it would be interesting to cross, but Domenica knew where they could and it was marked on the map. “Look Lieutenant Johnson.” He smiled at her, “Darren. I think we can move past the whole Lieutenant thing, at least in private, now what’s the issue with these places you’ve marked.”

She sighed, “they’re bad, there is something wrong with them, something dark and something evil, all I know is they are dangerous, but only if we go there, we have to avoid those places at all cost, I marked a route that avoids them, we don’t come within 50 miles of any of those places.” He chuckled, “you’re asking me to avoid places because they might be dangerous or spooky?”

She looked at him, her face deadly serious, “Not dangerous; deadly and evil. And I’m not asking I’m telling you we have to avoid those places.” He saw her expression and knew she was serious. “You can’t possibly know that.” She looked out over the landscape, “I can’t possible know any of this but I do. So do you. I know you do. You all do. We all have a connection bringing us closer to him.” It was his turn to frown he knew what she meant the aftershock from the earthquake they all knew it was coming and they cleared out of the way and no one was hurt. It was the same how most of the children in the convoy all talked about Uncle Zeke and the puppies. It was the same through out, everyone of them had a piece of it they new, they all did, but she, Domenica, knew the most and they had all agreed to follow her, he promised to listen to her directions it made no sense, but he did. Darren looked at her and she smiled at him, “contemplating whether or not I’m crazy and deciding if you’re going to keep listening to a former Director of Guest Relations from a city and place that no longer exist?” Her voice said almost playfully. He shook his head, “Look our goal is to get to Ankeny, I think we can all agree with the fact that I can’t explain how you know all the directions so perfectly considering the changes in all the landscape and the geography, but it’s all things that I can accept, feel and see, but now you’re asking me to take us hours out of our way to bypass a place that may or may not be evil.” He said the words and part of him knew she was right, but his rational mind couldn’t accept it, “Domenica do you know how that sounds, how am I going to explain that to my men and to the others?”

“You have to…you can’t take us there we have to follow the directions I’ve laid out, it’s the only safe way. People are dying out there because they don’t know how to get where we’re going, they can’t navigate it. Some can, but several can’t.” She said looking at him worried he was finally at his fill or her.

He looked out seeing the river flowing north, seeing hills and mountains were none should exist, seeing his own image of Zeke Costa in his head. “We’ll do our best to avoid those place, but not because I believe they’re evil, but because you’ve been correct about the best way to travel to Iowa, you’ve been spot on with that and I can’t ignore that.”

She sighed with relief, “I’ll take it. Just keep us away from those places…please.” Darren looked at her, “if it makes you fell any better we’re the best trained fighting force in the world and we have some really amazing equipment, even now, we knew what was coming, so Park City was very well planned out and I managed to make sure we got all we could before we left.” He said standing up looking around him. She looked up at him, “it won’t matter, none of that will matter if we get to close to those areas.” Her face took on a look of warning, and he was set back by it. “Let me know if you have any other changes I need to go and check on the rest of the group.” He offered her a soft smile. “My map.” She said sticking out her hand and he looked at what he was holding, “let me jot down the changes and I’ll bring it back.” She nodded looking away from him back over the area, there was no reason to not trust him.

She heard his foot steps as they left her and she continued thinking about what was going on, “Zeke if you’re real and if you’re responsible for doing this to me we’re going to have a very long talk about how it isn’t nice to use people like this even if you’re the good one, it doesn’t make it right.” She picked up her note book and started doodling in it. She had learned quickly that keeping a notebook around her at all times was a good idea, because she never knew when the spirit would move her. As her hand moved over the page she thought more and more about the dark places, why was it so important to avoid those places, what was so bad about them; maybe radiation, maybe a bio weapon got out, a supper bug or something. She didn’t know, all she knew was they needed to stay away from them. Darren would keep his word he would do everything he could to avoid those places she knew he would.

She heard the horns of several of the vehicles, that was the single they were moving out again. Domenica looked at her note pad, it was a close up view of Ankeny an over view of the town a street map with key locations marked on it. There was an ‘X’ in what looked like a field, she smiled, “Zeke you live in a field.” She said looking at the ‘X’ shaking her head, no he lives in a townhouse, two-stories she thought. There where other locations marked; hospital, school, camp, power, water, fields, gates, watch towers, fences, stores, etc. Wherever they were heading it would be secure and well supplied, that must was for sure. There were also names of people she didn’t know in addition to Zeke, there was: Misty, Tom and Rubén. Who were these people and why were they important? But what surprised her the most was the marking of a river or body of water almost surrounding the area, she hadn’t seen that before it was almost like a natural barrier to protect the town…no that wasn’t right the right word for it, it was there to protect the Capital. “Capital?” She said aloud and shook her head, she couldn’t think on this anymore.

She quickly closed the notepad and headed back to the bus looking over her shoulder one more time at the new lands ahead of them. She was looking forward to getting there if only to have all her questions answered.
Edited by mdnjr70, Oct 15 2009, 01:13 PM.
May it be said, when the sun sets on your life, you made a difference.
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Rubén/Zeke/Tom – Site Review


The small group walked through the halls the light from the outside was filling the room with enough light to see, “I don’t understand how this building fared so well.” The Specialist said, she was a Military Structural Engineer, and she was there to inspect the medical clinic to clear it for use. “It’s like that all over town, mostly just broken windows and downed power lines.” Rubén said walking next to Zeke, he would have held his hand, but…he didn’t have a good reason really, it was probably left over from childhood or his own demons and insecurity. John walked with them looking around, “So is the building structurally sound, can we use it?” The Specialist nodded her head, “I don’t see why not, once you get power and water back up, I don’t see a reason to keep it closed, it close enough to the camp and it will start to bring life back to this part of the town.”

Tom looked at them, “wait we haven’t shown you the biggest surprise yet.” They walked by a few offices and he opened one of the doors, “Holly cow.” John said as everyone stood with their mouths opened the Medical Tech they brought with them looked around, “we found 5 more offices filled just like this one.” Rubén added, “I can’t explain it, somehow they knew something was coming. This is where we got all the supplies before.” John looked at Zeke, “Did you?” Zeke shook his head, “No. I mean I knew I wasn’t the only one, but I had no idea about this.” Amanda looked at Zeke, she was just as surprised, before this all happened she and Zeke had talked about hording they thought they were the only ones, but now here in the medical clinic, “I really don’t understand this.” She said looking at them all.

“Sir, look at this equipment and these supplies, it doesn’t even go with what they where doing here; trauma trays, surgical equipment, how?” The Med Tech said he was in awe. “Have you checked the rest of the buildings?” John asked looking at Tom and Rubén they both shock their heads, “No we were on limited time and wanted to get the stuff to the med tent as quickly as possible.” John nodded his mind clicking, “I suggest we do that now.” He picked up his walkie, “This is Costa, I want two security teams here at the medical center to secure this location. Inform the Chief of Medical that I want him and his team to be ready to move their location when the center is up and running. Have them stand by for additional equipment as well.” There was a crackle over the walkie, “Understood Sir.” The voice said.

“I suggest we take an inventory of what we have and then see what we need to do to the building to better serve the community.” John said, the Med Tech was already looking around, “We can us the medical tents for a surgical ward until one can be equipped and built. The offices could be converted into rooms for patient with minimal work as for offices they can do without for now or use some of the tents.” The tech said looking around writing down several notes. John looked at the group, “Specialist you check the rest of the building I want to know anything that might bring this place down, the rest of you, you know what to do”. They quickly broke down into teams and started to take an inventory, luckily things were in cases and boxes, which made the process that much easier, to no one’s surprise Rubén and Zeke went off together to inventory one of the other offices well Tom and Amanda took another room and John and the Med Tech moved on to another well the Building Specialist continued her inspection.

“Amazing.” Zeke said with a smile looking around at all the boxes, Rubén had found a pad of paper and a pen and started counting, “God works in mysterious ways.” Zeke said and Rubén nodded, “it was so strange seeing all this, these must have been empty offices and they decided to fill them up, it was kind of creepy.” Rubén said writing down the type of equipment and how much there was.

“There is nothing creepy about it, it was all part of the plan.” Zeke said helping Rubén count. He looked over at Zeke, “what do you think happened to the people who worked here?” Zeke didn’t know for sure, but he figured it was the same thing that happened all over, “well people were evacuated, went to their families, left the area, or died.” Rubén sighed, “I figured as much.” He set the pad of paper down and looked out the window, “Do you know what’s going to happen to us Zeke, I mean do you know what will become of this place to the people here, are we doing the right thing?” Zeke’s crocked smiled warmed the room and brightened Rubén’s face, “I know that we need to be here, all of us, I know that Ankeny is going to become a very important place; a center, a starting point, a beacon. But as for people I have no idea, I know we’re suppose to be together and I know that the people on my list are important, but other then that.” He said looking at Rubén, “I can’t see the future.” Rubén laughed, “I just…” Rubén stopped and walked over and hugged him, “I don’t want to loose you, now that I have you.” Zeke kissed him sweetly, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Rubén looked at the boxes, “shall we continue.” Zeke nodded, “Sure lets get to it.” He said and they started counting again. It took them about an hour to count everything and then to double check the numbers, Rubén wanted to make sure that he was accurate as possible with this information just as they were finishing up Amanda peeked her head in the room, “you guys finished, we’re going to load up we can take for now and head back to the camp. The Captain wants to take a good mix for now and leave the rest. He and the tech guy found a couple more rooms filled with stuff, Zeke it’s incredible.” Zeke nodded, “We’re ready.” They each grabbed a couple of boxes of the different things they had in this room and made their way out to the trucks.
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Skin by Spades aka Volture.