Subject: A Texan City 1,134 views

[Admin]

Theo watched shoving Rover out of sight. He wiped his face. He opened the door and stepped out and came over to Aldrid, he walked over to Mariko and took her hand gently and brought his lips down and kissed it like a gentleman. "The names Theo. Explorer Extraordinaire. Anything you need Ma'am and I'll be at your service." He said kissing her hand once more before moving to stand next to his dad. He stood in a regal position trying desperately to make up for the childish scene he had just put on.

[Aldrid]

Aldrid watched the boy suddenly change from a crying boy to a ballsy boy, and stiffled a laugh. He gently took Theo's hand in his and smiled down at him. "My such a brave soul. You're gutsy, dont lose that." Aldrid turned back to Mariko, and smiled softly. "well eat that then, then we can decided our next course of action. I dont want to of stayed stopped this long so close to the city limits." Aldrid looked back over the way they came and frowned slightly seeing the sun beginning to set. Another evening gone. "Theo, do you need to pee?" Aldrid asked him gently.

[marikoharuno]

smiles softly at theo feeling abit more relaxed now knowing they werent going to try hurt her takes a few steps forward calmly" how sweet i bet your the one protecting your dad huh?..."smiles looking back to the man"so umm where did you guys come from is it just you two here? i mysef just came from what i thought would be a safe spot but should have known better i guess..."looks over to the setting sun frowning abit knowing it was getting close to when she would have to hide for the night again

[Aldrid]

Aldrid watched the sun with a grim expression. Picking up Theo he looked at Mariko and sighed. He wasnt about to leave a stranger alone out here in the middle of nowhere. "Get in the back, strap yourself in. We still got a bit of a ways to go." With that he climbed into the driver seat, setting Theo into the passenger side and buckling him in. With a quick kiss on the forehead, he moved the crowbar then sat in the driver seat. He didnt wait for Mariko to get in, he just turned the ignition."time to go then," he had said simply. It was time to go home...

[Admin]

Theo leaned around the seat starring at Mariko. His face was badly sunburnt, but it was obvious he had taken a liking to her. He turned his head back around and looked to Dad. "Is Mommy gonna be there when we get there?" he posed the question. He had no idea what this would do to Aldrid's thoughts... "Tell me again what Mommy looks like." He wanted to immediately be able to pick her out in a crowd, afraid he wouldn't recognize her, or mess up and call her the wrong thing. "And it's okay to call you and her Daddy and Mommy?" He looked away from Aldrid. "I had a Mommy and Daddy once... I just want to be loved! I'm a good boy! I kept the whole house clean, and I did my best to clean myself. The power stopped working and I couldn't get water anymore... I couldn't clean my dishes, and I knew Mommy would be mad... I had nothing to drink... So I drank the water from the toilet... I was so thirsty... I felt dry in here." he said pointing to his chest. "I did my best so they would be proud and come back... But..." He stopped himself from crying. He was a man now. He knew if he kept talking the tears would come. So he let the silence fill the space between them.

[marikoharuno]

mariko opened the door to the back of the vehicle getting in shut's the door behind her and sits on a seat near the gear cabinet's at the back by the door setting her staff down she strapped herself in looking over to theo lisening to him talk hangging her head sadly stareing at her shoes. she understood exactly what he was going through gripping the locket she couldnt help remember the better days when she still had a loving family and looked over to him smiling."dont worry theo no matter what you'll all ways have your dad with you to protect you everything will work out for the best"smiles at him cheerfully hoping to give him some comfort yet knowing that there may very well be no one left other then them.

[Aldrid]

Aldrid felt the despair that seemed to be flooding the vehicle. Morale, he thought, there is a good reason why people make it an effort to keep it up. And not just anyone, but the leader. What does that make me then? certainly im no leader. Aldrid quieted the thoughts that flooded his mind. Aldrid turned in his seat and looked at Theo, and said in a stern voice. "Theo, life isn't going to be easy, and so Im not going to say it is. You are a good boy, and I think your parents felt the same way. but you have to realize, you're still a kid, and I dont want you to grow up to fast. Im not saying there wont be responsibilities, but you are still only ten, you dont need to act like your twenty. That's what Genevieve and myself have to do okay?" He reached over and ruffled his hair playfully, hoping to draw his attention to happier thoughts. "If you're sad, its okay to cry but you have to smile when you're happy too okay? And yes, if you want to you can call us mom and dad." He watched the boy, hoping that what he was saying was making sense. Sure, it was the apocalypse, but no child should have to grow up before they're ready. Theo of course, would have responsibilities a normal ten year old wont have, but Aldrid hoped he would still play and just be a kid while he can still enjoy at least that. "We're going to be okay, alright Theo? We're going to go out to where Mommy is with Percival, and we're going to live in the woods and be happy." He turned back in his seat, and buckled up. "All right, looks like we're going home everyone." And with that he shifted gears and drove off.

[Admin]

Theo thought about this and smiled when his Dad ruffled his hair. "Daddy used to take me on Expeditions so I know a lot about woods. I'm a lot smarter than you think." He teased. "My Daddy taught me what plants I can eat, and what ones can make you sick. I have a few things in my back pack that we can use if we ever need them. Lady Gwaeth said I should take them with me. And I know she is really nice. She took care of me until you got me Dad. She brought me food and water when I was hungry and thirsty. She also made sure none of those monsters ever came by the house. She would always kill them or distract them and lead them away." he looked off into the distance. "We're going to be a family. A family that loves each other." he said it as if it had already happened, not something to come in the future.

[marikoharuno]

mariko listened to them intently gripping her locket tightly all the while think about her family too a few tears ran down her face thinking about her sister and the couple that adopted took them in. she quickly wiped away the tears before anyone noticed she knew she needed to hold a brave face for theo so at least it might make him feel abit of happiness in this world. though nothing was truely certain looking out the back window she watched the sun set more thoughts crossed her mind a worried look ran across her face turning back to the two replied"we...really should get away from here as soon as possible it cant be safe this close to the city after dark..."

[Admin]

Theo looked out the windshield and watched the clouds rolling in. There was a bad storm on the approach, and he wondered why there was such a bad storm rolling in. It was beginning to completely black out the surrounding area. "There is a bad storm coming, you should be careful, if it starts to rain. We could experience flash flooding..." He said solemnly fearing the worst.

[Aldrid]

Aldrid heard both of what they said and nodded. A flash flood would be dangerous, at this point. "Yeah if it gets too bad we'll have to stop for the night." He murmured softly, gripping the steering wheel tightly. He navigated the road quite carefully, going no faster than 50 km an hour. He flicked on the windshield wipers, watching as lightning forked across the sky, soon followed by the heavy crash of thunder. Aldrid grimaced at the image. He would not admit it, but he never liked the sound of thunder so close. It always reminded him of the sound of a gunshot. If it was faint he wouldn't of minded in the slightest, but only when it gets too close.
"Theo, close your eyes okay? try and get some sleep." his voice was calm, though it had a slight edge to it. He bit the side of his mouth, drawing his concentration to the road as his mind began to wander into depressing thoughts. He was remembering when he was young, not long after he had left Gwen. He was in an alley way, only just of stolen a pair of socks, and was putting them on when he heard talking. Looking around from where he hid. Two men surrounded a woman, talking nasty things about her. Aldrid was too scared to move, and could only watch as they started raping the woman. He didn't know what to do, until he saw it. One of the men had a gun in the back of his pants. He knew how to shoot, courtesy of one of his friends who stole his fathers gun... Also ended up shooting himself by accident.
Aldrid snuck up on the men, and grabbed the gun. Everything happened so fast. The men turning, the surprised look as a kid trembling in fear held a gun to them. The laughter, then the silence as the crack was heard, and fresh blood smattered his face. Everything was a blur, how he got away, where he hid. What he did remember, was the look on the woman's face. A look of horror that a child could kill, the men ran, as did he. He remembered long cold nights where he woke up screaming and sobbing, but no one there to hold him... "D-damn it." he cursed lightly, bringing himself out of his reveree. He tried to see past the bullets of rain, but to no avail.
Aldrid sighed softly, and pulled over, wiping the sweat from his face. "We're stopping for the night. We should be far enough away from the city, and in this weather, good luck finding us." He unbuckled then and leaned heavily on the steering wheel. He squeezed his eyes shut, jaw clenched tightly together as the wave of emotion passed through him, as it always did Gwen came to mind. He bit his lip, fighting back the tears. "I need s-some air." he stammered, his voice broken before grabbing the crowbar and throwing the door open. He stepped out into the downpour, slamming the door closed behind him. He walked around to the side of the vehicle. He bent forward, elbows resting on his knees as the tears spilled over, rolling down his face.

[marikoharuno]

mariko's gaze drifted out the back window after aldrid got out she watched the rain come down ignoring the thunder. she was lost in thought thinking back on the day she returned to her home only to find the cops at her adopted parents home closing it off after they had been killed. That day it was dark like today and it was raining heavily she could remember it as if she was looking at the house now. realizing she was alone in this dead world all she could do was press on for her sisters sake and the family she lost. she knew she wanted to cry but she fought it back now was not the time to cry over the dead too many had already been trying to kill her anyway there was no point in it she thought eyes still locked on the window. glancing over to her bo staff beside her she pulled it over gripping it tightly trying to focus on other things yet even it reminded her of back then her locket and the staff they made her we're the last things that reminded her she was once loved. she hoped that one day she could this would all end and live to see the dawn of this new age so she could make a new life for herself when that day came.

[Admin]

Theo knew sleep would not find him, he was far to worried about his father, sister, and mother's safety to be tired. He wondered what his new Mom looked like. Aldrid had said she was beautiful and kind. He put together variations of what beautiful and kind women he knew. He tried putting his lunch lady from school's head on his mother's body. After the realization of how terrible that combination was he stopped. Not wanting to ruin the surprise. He adjusted himself on the seat and took the seat belt off, it went across his face anyways. He turned into the seat and crouched on his knees. "Hey Sissy?" he asked Mariko, giving her the nickname of sister. "Everything is going to be okay, we're family now, that means we look out for each other." He crouched on his knees and pulled a can of Mac n Cheese in a can. That premade terrible junk that tastes nothing like Mac n Cheese. He grabbed his spoon and hopped over his arm rest and clamored into the back seat and sat across from her. He pulled the tab on it and opened it. "We're gonna share it. I know you're hungry. This will definitely stop your hunger..." He said joking about how terrible the mac n cheese in a can was.

[Aldrid]

Aldrid collapsed to his knees, feeling the water beat down on him, "Damn it!" he screamed loudly into the night. He grabbed his crowbar, and slammed it hard into the side of the ambulance, leaving a small dent. "God, Fucking, DAMN IT!" His swings continued to strike the side of the ambulance, leaving a series of dents.
"Why me!? WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE ME!?" Aldrid couldn't stop himself. his crowbar met the side of the ambulance, again and again. Eventually, he had felt too tired to continue and fell back in the mud and curled up on himself, sobbing loudly. He didn't care anymore, who might see. He was sick of it. Sick of having to put up with such a petty existance, of having to be strong when he wasn't and no time to be weak... No time to be just a seventeen year old, brat.
Aldrid grabbed the ka-bar, and pushed up his sleeve. He had to distract himself... again, or he'd try it. Aldrid probably would just end up killing himself. He pushed the blade of the knife to his arm, and slowly dragged it across it, gasping as he felt the warm sticky blood well up, and roll down his icy cold skin.
He made three more cuts, and sighed, his whole body trembling. It worked. The physical pain was enough to clear his mind, to allow him to focus. He slid the knife and crowbar back into their places, before just sitting there, his back to the tire, watching himself bleed. He couldn't stop himself, when he began to smile, then laugh. He tilted his head ip to the sky, and laughed, as if at some funny joke. Because that's all it is! he thought to himself. Just one, big, show for God, for him to gaze at us with that smirking face. "Oh what I'd GIVE just to punch you." he muttered softly, his voice broken from the laughing and the sobs.
Sighing, he got to his feet, and let the water wash off the cuts before heading back into the Ambulance. The cuts were already clotting, as he hadn't cut too deep, just wide across his arm.
"Theo... we have to be careful. We can't just eat whenever we feel like it." he said softly, as the door slammed shut behind him. He didn't care too much at that point though. At that point, he only felt exhausted, and in need of Genevieve. He shook his head a bit roughly, the water splaying everywhere, before he leaned back into the seat and closed his eyes. So tired... he thought. So very, very, tired.

[marikoharuno]

mariko glanced over to theo smiling abit as she reached over taking the spoon and digging into the mac n cheese taking just a few bites before handing it back to him. he was right it did taste a little funny but at that point she didn't care so much about it." thank you theo your very kind..."smiling once more to him she looked over at aldrid wondering to herself for a moment whatever was going through his head it had to be like what she felt being stuck here each day just trying to stay alive. this couldn't be easy on anyone...her eyes met the floor staring at it for a moment before she hopped out the back of the ambulance. mariko stood there looking up at the sky as the rain poured she slowly started cleaning the dried mud off her as best she could thinking about aldrid she didn't know him well so it was probally best not to try saying anything. wouldn't help much anyway she thought as she continued to scub herself down.after she made herself look somewhat more clean she just let the rain pour in her mouth slowly drinking it to wash out the after taste from the mac n cheese as best she could. "what do i do now?...."she spoke to herself asking questions hoping it would bring her some comfort but nothing she just kepted asking the samething over and over. looking herself over her she untied her hair letting it hangdown for a change brushing it behind her back and removed her vest it was ripped already from a fence she had passed a when she first met them then turned hopping back in and setting it aside on the floor before laying down on the floor herself slowly starting to fall asleep.

[Admin]

Theo made sure all the doors of the vehicle were locked. Everyone seemed to be falling asleep. He locked secured the back door and took off his jacket and laid it over Mariko. He knew that the rain would bring a cold front. Laying on the bare metal would make her cold, he hoped the jacket would balance that. Then he made his way back to the front of the cab and climbed onto Aldrid's lap and straddled him. He rested his head on Aldrid's chest and wrapped his arms around Aldrid's waist. Aldrid was soaked to the bone and Theo could have cared less. He could see it on Aldrid's face. Theo knew that Aldrid just needed to be held. Maybe he wasn't the best to do the job but he silently hoped that it would work. "Good night Daddy" he whispered and began nodding off himself.

[Aldrid]

Aldrid had felt exhausted, but for some reason couldn't sleep. He looked out the dark windshield, watched as the storm raged. he hugged his arms against his chest, his wrists still a bit sensitive from the cuts. He ignored these though, before deciding he would have to drive tonight. He looked down at Theo, and smiled lightly. He carefully adjusted so that the boy was cradled between his arms and the steering wheel, his feet over the passenger seat so that they weren't in the way of his driving. He cranked the engine, the vehicle coming to life, and he slowly made his way through the dark rain. He could feel the tires of the vehicle bumping along, dipping into the occasional pot hole. He knew he didn't have far to go, but then again it felt like he was going to the ends of the world.
Aldrid grimaced, as the storm faded just enough to grant better vision. "Almost there... Hold on, Genevieve." He murmured softly, his voice nary a whisper. He had a bad feeling... something telling him to get there as quickly as possible. He bit his lip, feeling nervous as his heart rate began to accelerate. They only had to drive for a couple more hours, and then they'd be home. "Please be okay..." he whispered, his eyes looking to the ring on his finger. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles whitening as he did so. What was making him so anxious? He was trying to remain calm, but could feel the panic slowly creeping up inside of him. He turned on the radio, keeping it low so as not to wake the others. He had to get back... He couldn't afford to waste anymore time. His gaze darted back and forth across the storm riddled road, the rain continously berating the vehicle and still he drove on.