Todd Wants Key's Face

Todd: *he smiles meekly* Ah... well then, I can try to still be Mr. Positive, it it means making you happy... <:)

Me: A good place to stop, because AFKASFNANDKCN I AM SO TIRED. G'night.

Key: Ah... you don't.. *closes her eyes and shakes her head, smiling* alright. *looks up at him and takes a step closer so she's right in front of him, and puts a hand on his shoulder, closer to his neck* ...don't be so hard on yourself, okay?

Me: a'ight, cuz i was dozing off too. g'night!

Todd: Alright, alright... I... I won't. *is looking directly into her eyes*

Key: good... *is looking right back*

Todd: *leans closer*

Key: *is thisclose to him*

Todd: *clos -*

Harry: Um.

Todd: *jumps* AHGAWDHARRY!!

Harry: You guys were taking a while... >_>;

Key: *is startled, and moves away from Todd* Ah... sorry, Harry.

Harry: Were you guys fighting?

Todd: No.._.

Key: *shakes her head* no.

Harry: Oh, because I thought I heard you guys sounding all angry at each other. I guess I was wrong.

Todd: Yes you were. What now?

Harry: We should go back to the dog bed area.

Key: *nods* right. llllet's go then. *starts making her way back to where they started*

*they arrive at the dog beds*

Todd: *checks the door*

Outside: *no infected still*

Todd: Did I ever mention how much I love Winter right now? Because I love Winter right now.

Harry: mm. *he sits down in a corner* We should get some rest.

Todd: ... kay. *He buries his head in his arms, unable to sleep*

*the next morning*

*surprisingly, there is a single infected at the door, trying to claw at them. It was wearing a parka*

Key: *had woken up early. she hadn't really gotten much sleep either. she looks at the infected on the other side of the door* ...huh. one of the lucky ones.

Todd: *pushes Harry over*

Harry: *he falls over - Harry had still been asleep* AH!! WHAT?? D8<

Todd: *points to the door* If you kill that infected, maybe we can give Key the Parka, so she won't be cold! :D

Harry: |8C ...

Key: *has to contain laughter at the exchange* Todd, I think you need that jacket more than I do.

Todd: Yeah, but you lost a lot of blood. :/

Harry: She's recovering. You're blood is the thinnest of us, and that's permanent.

Todd: Well... <:/

Harry: You're going to look hilarious in that thing. If anyone's wearing it, it's you.

Todd: Is me looking funny the only reason why you want me to have the parka? :(

Harry: It's my main reason.

Todd: Lies. <_<

Harry: *he takes out his shotgun from his gun bag and shoots the infected in the head*

Infected: !!!!! *dies*

Key: *stands up from her spot on the dog bed, and tries to stretch without hurting herself. she is somewhat successful* mmmmmh. Let's see how far we go today.

Harry: *unbars the door* can you walk?

Todd: *quickly opens the door, removes the parka from the body, then scurries back inside* ._.

Harry: *shuts the door again* ...

Key: I might need a little help if we want to travel faster, but I think I'll be okay. *pulls her hood up*

Harry: If you say so. *pushes the door open*

Todd: *quickly gets the parka on. It is an ugly orange color, and it is far too big for him, practically swallowing him whole* o_o;

Harry: *glances back, and immediately starts laughing - genuinely LAUGHING - at both the largeness of the parka, and Todd's own expression*

Todd: *smacks him* shaddup! D:<

Harry: *still laughing* hahaha! I - *gasp* GAHAHAHAA! I knew you'd look so stupid in that thing! XDDD

Key: *fails to completely contain her laughter, and it comes out as snickers* I-If it's that big on YOU... it wouldn't have fit ME at all! XD

Todd: |:C

Harry: *he forces his laughing to finally die down* heheheh... heh... at least you'll be protected against things like Hunters, Todd. XD

Todd: |8C

Harry: *pats him on the back* I'm only teasing you. XD

Todd: |:/

Key: *her laughter dies down as well* Come on, we gotta get going. XD *gets across the room without much of a problem, but puts a hand on Todd for support as soon as she reaches him*

Todd: *nods at Key, acknowledging her presence*

Harry: *grabs his gun bag, and pushes the door back open*

*they start walking once more*

Todd: Oh wow... this is a LOT of snow...

Harry: Good thing.

*they walk for another hour*

Todd: *turns his head to Key, a mischievous smirk on his face. His voice is a whisper* Hey, how much do you think Harry's kill me if I snowball him?

Key: *also responds in a whisper, grinning* i think i might have to take his guns away from him. XD

Todd: *his smirk evolves into a toothy grin* challenge accepted. *he bends over just enough to dig into the snow with his fingers, but not enough to forced Key down with him. He then threw the snowball at Harry. It hits him in the back*

Harry: *he immediately stops, and turns his his head. His next words were spoken quietly, and through his bared teeth* ... who threw that?

Key: *is slightly terrified, and takes a step away from Todd* ._.

Todd: I AM NOW A SATISFIED YOUNG GENTLEMAN! *immediately makes a run for it*

Harry: YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT shoot?? *immediately gives chase*

Key: *gets out of their way, laughing all the while. fighting over a snowball in the middle of the apocalypse--it's absurd. and it made her laugh even more*

Harry: *still chasing Todd, huffing and puffing like the big Bad Wolf* THIS ISN'T EVEN FAIR! YOU CAN RUN FOREVER IF YOU WANTED!

Todd: THANK GOD FOR THE GREEN FLU! *still runs*

*they run around Key in a large circle*

Harry: *notices this, and cuts through, body slamming himself into Todd, knocking him down*

Todd: shoot, shoot, LEMME GO!! D8

Harry: AFTER THAT SNOWBALL? LET YOU GO? frack YOU! *grabs a pile of snow and dumps it on Todd's head*

Key: *is doubling over laughing, clutching her stomach* oh my god, you guys, I'm gonna die over here...! XD

Harry: *gets off of Todd, brushing the snow off his hands, grinning like an insane murderer, again he speaks through his teeth* glad to know SOMEONE appreciates my handiwork. >:D

Todd: *sits up. His hood had fallen off, and he desperately brushes snow out of his hair, and off his face* Aaah...! Why'd you go and do THAT?

Harry: Snowball. Did that snow get into your brain, or something? >:)

Todd: ffff... okay, I might have deserved that. MIGHT.

Key: *her laughter subsides into giggles, and she's able to stand up straight again* A-At least i didn't have to take his gun... XD

Harry: *snorts* like you would have been able to, anyway.

Todd: Can we start walking again? ._.

Harry: Sure, sure.

*they continue the walk once again*

Key: *notices the safehouse symbol on a building ahead* Hey guys, I found the safehouse. *points*

Harry: Oh, good.

Todd: Maybe there's a razor or something for you to use in there, Harry. :D

Harry: ...?

Todd: Well, I'm only saying... since you've grown a freaking BUSH on your face.

Harry: >:/ ...

*they arrive at the safehouse*

Harry: *opens the door for them*

Todd: *enters* :D

Harry: *follows after him* ...

*the safehouse is a gun store*

Todd: oh wow. Not the most friendly place to stay in. ._.;

Key: No kidding.... *unconsciously stays close to Todd* At least we-- *remembers Harry's infinite-ammo guns* well, I can get some ammo here... just in case...

Harry: And maybe something more than two hand guns.

Todd: ... I hear breathing...

Harry: What? Is it an infected?

Todd: ... it's too even...

Harry: Then another survivor.

Todd: Y'know what? I think it might be -

Old Man: *leaps up from behind the counter, pointing a rifle at them* GET BACK! HANDS UP, AGAINST THE WALL! NOW!

Harry: *he notices the old man's army uniform* ...

Old Man: NOW, OR I SHOOT!

Todd: ... *does as the old man says* ._.;

Harry: ... *does the same*

Key: *also does the same* D:

up thar

Harry: *He glances out the door, bored from the lack of infected usually stumbling about, vomiting up their own insides, fighting with each other, and other such things* ...

Todd: *he feels uncomfortable, and decides to wander off for a bit. He turns to Key* I'm gonna go walk around. Can you keep an eye on Harry?

Harry: *snorts* I'm not a child...

Key: *half-smiles* sure. *jokingly* don't get lost. :P

Todd: *he grins at her* I'll try not to. *he walks off, smile fading when he's sure they can no longer see him* ... *he wanders around a bit, and stops at a dog food aisle. He then looks down at his own hands with disgust. His nails, once normal, were now blackened and sharp. Not at all like a real human's. These, he had used to hurt Key*

meanwhile

Harry: *stares at the ground, bored* ... he's a social one. Wandering off alone like that isn't normal for him.

Key: *her smile fades* ....do you think i should go after him?

Harry: I dunno. Can you trust me to not blow my brains out if you do?

meanwhile

Todd: *He wonders how long it will be until another accident like that one would happen again. Who would be his next victim. Or if he could ever be rid of that small... ten percent. That little bit that was still this wild rabies-infected thing*

Key: ... Can I trust you, Harry?

Harry: Sure. I don't have a gun on me right now, anyway, or an actual intent to take my life, for that matter.

meanwhile

Todd: *he is lost. He smacks his head against one of the store shelves with a "thwack!" and rests it there, staring at the floor. Pondering. His emotions eating away at him*

Key: alright... *grabs a shelf behind her and uses it to pull herself up* nngh. I'll be right back... i hope. *follows Todd's path, albeit a bit slowly*

Harry: *watches he slowly walk off* ... *he runs a hand through his hair, stopping at his neck. He was nervous*

meanwhile

Todd: *keeps his head there, deep in thought*

Key: *doesn't know which aisle he turned down, so as she looks around, she starts humming quietly, hoping Todd will respond*

Todd: *as Key gets closer to him, he picks up on the quiet humming, and sticks his head out of the aisle to see if someone was there. He spots Key* H-hey! I still need you to watch Harry! D:> You aren't supposed to be walking around, anyway!

Key: Harry's fine, Todd, and I'm okay too. *is obviously NOT okay, but is trying to ignore it as she shuffles overtowards him. she frowns* Todd... what's wrong?

Todd: *immediately breaks eye contact (if he could call it that) with Key, looking down at his shoes* nothing's wrong, alright? I'm just walking around, is all - is that wrong?

Key: *stops a few feet away from him, resting her weight on the shelf next to her* You're not one to go off on your own... Harry was getting worried too. *looks up at him, trying to get him to look at her* Todd...

Todd: *he looks up at her, and immediately regrets it. Instead, he retreats to looking to the side* What?

Key: ....Something's wrong, Todd. Why can't you just tell me?

Todd: *he is now quiet* ... I really don't want want to talk right now...

Key: .... *sighs* I'll just wait, then.

Todd: ugh... and you decided to get up and walk all the way over here because of me... frack... just... fine. No. You don't have to wait. I'll just... um... I'm just kinda weirded out - SCARED - alright?

Key: scared of what, Todd? of hurting someone? You and I both know that this *puts a hand over her injury* was my fault. It would never have happened if i hadn't shot you.

Todd: Key, if I am supposed to be cured - if I am supposed to be a HUMAN BEING, then WHY THE HELL am I still acting like a Hunter if I get SHOT? It doesn't MATTER who's fault it is in the end, because in the end, someone will DIE.

Key: *was very tempted to hit her head against the nearest wall* Todd, you are cured! Would a Hunter have been able to stop a man from taking his own life? Would a Hunter worry about the people it was surrounded by? Would a Hunter have sung freaking Disney songs down the street with a girl he barely knew? No! I don't know how long it'll take for you to understand this, Todd, but you are human.

Todd: *frustrated* Explain your injury, then! Explain it! Do HUMANS do that??

Key: *getting frustrated* I know I'd be pretty goddamn pissed if one of my friends turned around and shot me, accidentally or not! People get in fights over lesser things, Todd, and they sometimes come out worse!

Todd: *he has become hysterical* Now you're just desperate to make this look like less of a big deal than it is! HOW CAN YOU CALL THAT FIGHTING? I WAS GOING TO RIP YOUR GUTS OUT!

Key: *is fuming, trying her hardest not to get hysterical like Todd, because that would only make this situation worse. she clnches her fists in frustration* maybe you should just stop taking all the goddamn guilt on yourself at let me share the blame! *her frustration starts to get the best of her, but instead of getting louder, her anger comes out as tears that are starting to form* you know what? fine. forget it. I came over here to see what was up, try to cheer you up if i needed to, but i guess this was just a huge waste of time. *her words came out harsher than she intended, and she immediately regrets saying them*

Todd: *his features soften, and his face soon shows that he is quite upset. His voice is quiet again* ... alright then... you don't have to stand around over here if you don't want to...

Key: *realizes her mistake, amd opens her mouth to say something, but she can't think of anything to say that would redeem her. instead, she stares at the ground, feeling horribly guilty. she had just gone and made everything worse, as usual. why did she even bother trying? not wanting to make matters worse, she stood silently in the same spot, staring at the ground* ....

*there is a moment of silence, then*

Todd: ... aren't you gonna go?

Key: *can't take the guilt anymore and smacks her head against the shelf next to her, mirroring Todd's earlier action* goddammit... I was just.... *keeps her head there, and sighs* i can never do anything right, dammit....

Todd: 's random... how do you mean? I haven't seen you screw up anything, yet...

Key: *briefly glances over at him, unmoving, resisting the urge to laugh at his statement. she's lost count of how many times she's screwed uo like this...* ...I knew something was wrong, so came over here to try to make you feel better... but I just made it worse. *sigh* always happens... I'm sorry...

Todd: No, don't be sorry - there's nothing to be sorry for. <:/ Fight's over - if you can call what we had a fight. We're both guilty of what happened, but we shouldn't dwell on it... I mean, we were just worried about each other, is all...

Key: *raises her head off the shelf, but keeps her gaze down* funny... that's what i came over here to tell you in the first place. *sighs and smiles sadly, looking up at Todd* i really was worried, Todd... especially after what happened with Harry...

Todd: Well, y'know... I guess it's just kinda hard to NOT worry when the world is a crapsack, and your best friend since ever is now a raving lunatic.

Me: see what I did there?

Me: don't explain the joke, critic. XD

Key: I don't think Harry's a lunatic... but the world definitely went to hell. *looks down* heheh. who knows, maybe we're the only sane people left.

Todd: *flatly* Then going to the Safe Zone would end up being a nightmare - and YES, Harry's a lunatic. He's snapped under the stress and needs professional help that no longer exists.

Me: Crapsack World.

Me: I'M A TROPER, I KNOW. XD

Key: .... *frowns* ....Todd.... do you remember what i told you last night?

Todd: uhhh... maybe? We had a whole conversation last night. D;

Key: I asked you not to change. Remember? *looks right into his 'eyes'*

Todd: And... and I haven't. Have I?

Key: *looks off to the side* I don't like seeing you -or anyone else, for that matter- unhappy. especially you. it just feels... wrong, almost. I guess I'm too used to you being the positive influence, I forget that there's negative in there too... just like the rest of us.

up thar

Key: *is extremely worried by what she hears, and tries to stand up. she shakily manages to do so, but needs to brace herself against the wall to move. gritting her teeth and doing her best to keep from falling, the makes her way towards the sound*

Me: Go, Key, go! XD

Todd: H-Harry... w-wait a second... D8>

Harry: *still had the gun to his head* NO!! *he is hysterical*

Key: *manages to reach them without falling, though she is a bit dizzy. she is shocked by the scene before her, and has to brace her full weight against the fall to keep from completely losing her balance* H-Harry...

Harry: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY!! IT'S NOT WORTH LIVING LIKE THIS ANYMORE!!

Todd: Yes it is! Yes it is! D8> Harry, PLEASE! P-put that thing down!

Key: *trying to keep the panic out of her voice* H-Harry, we need you! We won't survive without you, Harry, please listen! D8>

Harry: *he's shaking, and tears are forming in his eyes* Y-You don't... don't understand... everything I've gone through... I c-can't... I can't... escape it...

Todd: But Harry... we... we can help you, if you'd just tell us what's wrong... PLEASE... I-I don't know what I'd do if you died... you've been my best friend for years... you can't just give up NOW...

Harry: ... ... *tears are now fully rolling down his cheeks. He slowly lowers his head, and drops the gun*

Gun: *falls with a clatter*

Key: *lets out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, and drops to her knees, unable to stand any longer because of her injury. she looks over at Harry, and can't help but feel pity for him... but also confusion. what had caused this? was his his semi-infected state? or was it... that discussion they avoided before?* ....

Harry: ... *he is rendered completely silent, shaking, crying. He felt pathetic. Weak. This wasn't how he should act. This wasn't him at all. Now the others were worried, and they'd start asking questions - questions that he was NOW supposed to answer* ...

Todd: *when Key falls down, he jumps, startled* H-hey! Are you ok?? D:

Key: ... *nods* It's not me you should be worrying about, Todd...

Harry: ...

Todd: Yeah, yeah... I... I know... *he turns to Harry* Are you ok now? <:( No suicidal thoughts?

Harry: no...

Todd: You sure?

Harry: ...

Todd: Please... tell us what's been doing this to you...

Me: brb dinner

Key: *has nothing to add at this point, so she just sits and listens...* ...

Me: kay. mom's yelling at me to get off anyway.

Harry: *finds both of them to be staring at him now* Yeesh... It's like a therapy session, or something.

Todd: *his voice is unusually stern* Harry.

Harry: ... alright, fine. Ever since I got back from the... b... *he has a hard time saying the name of the place* the Between... World... *he cringes, instantly remembering every detail of his traumatic year there* I've been... having nightmares. Nightmares of the things that were supposed to happen.

Todd: Wait, WHAT? D:

Harry: You think I'm crazy now, don't you...?

Todd: N... *he doesn't want to lie to Harry - yes, that was exactly what a mentally unstable man would say... but he HAD to know more* ... no...

Harry: ...

Todd: Please. Please continue.

Harry: You were supposed to infect me, Todd... I was supposed to mutate into a Smoker... I was supposed to kill people... and the most recent dream I've had... I was shot down. Killed. Right when the bullet hit me... that was when I woke up...

Todd: ... What's the Between World?

Harry: ! *he cringes again, hearing the name* ...

Key: *watches Harry intently. His answers and reactions to Todd's questions look genuine enough...* ...

Todd: Harry?

Harry: *he struggles to get the words out, but once he does, it all comes rushing out like a flume. He had been holding it back too long* Th-the armor... the armor and weapons I got... it all came form there. All of it. It's why the armor repairs itself. Why the ammo never runs out. It was a place that... that's very hard to describe... separated into different areas, but the one that I was forced to go to the most was... was an open, white space... *he shudders*

Todd: Wh... what did you have to do there?

Harry: Fight other characters and such. That's... that's all we are, after all... *he lets out a nervous laugh* what a hard truth to swallow...

Todd: *he's become nervous in Harry's presence... it all seemed like a delirious dream imagined by his seemingly schizophrenic friend... but he DID need to have gotten that armor and weapon bag from SOMEWHERE...*

Harry: ... I was almost murdered by a cartoon character... an insane albino bat-thing... you have no idea how terrified I was... I didn't understand what the hell was going on, or what was happening... all I knew was that you were sick, Todd, and I was pulled away before I could HELP you...

Todd: ...

Key: *was also finding the story rather hard to believe... but the facts WERE lining up...* ....How did you end up there? Who took you to the Between World?

Harry: A stickman named Bob forced The Raccoon to do so... well, not forced, but persuaded. Bob's goal was to trick two sides, the Derivitis, and the Originis to fight. Then The Raccoon would keep pulling different characters from different worlds in order to get us to fight each other together. Bob's plan was to get us to all go crazy, making us unusable. Forcing The Raccoon to only use HIM, and HIS group.

Todd: But... wait... how did you find out you were supposed to turn into a Smoker?

Harry: The Raccoon... wasn't so gentle in telling me... telling me what this... "big mistake" was... I was supposed to get infected FIRST, so that I could draw in infected from our world... but I was pulled too early. A miscalculation, or something...

Key: so...The "Raccoon" was basically pulling everyone's strings? Controlling all these other... "characters?" *is still finding it very hard to believe*

Harry: She never made that clear...

Todd: Somehow you got out?

Harry: A bunch of other guys... things... like me figured out what EXACTLY was going on. The problem wasn't The Raccoon. The Raccoon didn't care if we lived or died. The problem was Bob, who had become corrupt. We convinced him to allow us all go back, somehow... the guy was nuts though, so that was a bit of a miracle.

Todd: So, what? You just magically came back?

Harry: The Raccoon... warned me... before helping us back... she gave me the armor and stuff... and told me that I'd face MANY grievances before finding a "happy ending", or whatever. I had to... to not lose sight of things. Then I was sent back to our apartment... and everything was different... and... and I heard the CRYING... and... and... *he stops there, suddenly getting quite choked up*

Todd: You can stop, Harry... I think we get what happens next.

Harry: *silently nods, and tries calming down*

Key: *thinks about this for a bit* ......if all this is true... then there's really nothing else you can do except follow her advice, is there?

Harry: N-naw... I guess not... but I don't even know what she MEANT by that...

Todd: Be yourself?

Harry: ...

Todd: Just guessing. *he wasn't*

Harry: I'm not anymore.

Todd: That's a problem. Howsabout you 360 that attitude of yours, 'kay?

Harry: I've done horrible things, though... I can't go back...

Todd: It can't be THAT horrible Harry - after all, when you got back, it was just you and zombies, right? The worst you did was shoot Sam, and she was ready to kill you at that point, anyway...

Harry: ... *he never thought he would, but now he felt quite glad that Todd couldn't remember his few weeks as a Hunter*

Key: *obviously hadn't been around Harry long enough to know what he was thinking about* maybe she just meant that you should look out for what's important to you. be yourself, like Todd said.

Harry: Like I said before, I can't go back. *changing the subject on purpose* How are you feeling, Key? Any better?

Todd: :/

Key: *is both relieved and slightly disapponted at the topic change, but goes along with it* Well, I got myself over here, that's gotta count for something.

Harry: Yes... sorry about making you two worry, and such... with that gun.

Todd: It's all right, man. At least you didn't hurt yourself.

Harry: Yeah... *to Key* do you need Todd to help you back onto the dog bed?

Key: that would be helpful... *uses the wall to stand herself back up, but ends up having to lean against it anyway*

Harry: Alright then. Todd?

Todd: *he nods, and picks Key up* Off we go.

Harry: I'll go... rest, I guess.

Todd: Where?

Harry: Over -

Todd: No, with us. I refuse to give you another crack at suicide.

Harry: *quietly* I wasn't going to commit suicide...

Todd: *pleadingly* ... just in case, Harry...

Harry: *he sighs* alright...

Todd: *his mouth twitches into a small smile for a few seconds, before he leaves to put Key down on the dog bed, which he does* ...

Key: *after he puts her down* that was a good idea. I was gonna suggest calling Harry over here.

Todd: Yeah, well, he might try that shoot again. This is just... just in case, is all. Like I said before, I honestly don't know what I'd do without him... I might give up, myself...

Harry: *he slowly ambles over to them* ...

Key: ....

Me: since it was already morning at that point, will they just stay there another day?

Me: Ja.

Harry: ... *he sits down near them*

Todd: So... uh... this's been an interesting morning. *trying to stay positive* So we're almost at the Safe Zone, right? How much longer, Harry?

Harry: ... 294 miles...

Todd: How do you figure?

Harry: We passed a sign before we got here. We're heading to the nearest city, Kingston. That's where I heard the Northern Safe Zone was located.

Key: We're almost there, then... that's good...

Harry: Made better by the snow.

Todd: *nods* :D

Key: awesome. as soon as i can walk without using a wall, we'll be good to go... >.< *seems a bit frustrated at the fact that she's the one causing the delay* mmf.

Todd: Sorry... <:(

Harry: Once again - it wasn't your fault Todd. *to Key* Maybe you'll feel better tomorrow. Pray that you feel better before the temperature heats up.

Key: I will. *frowns when she sees that Todd still feels guilty about hurting her... she decides to talk to him about it later*

I post up thar now.

Key: *incredulously* really? *turns her head to look out the window* ............huh. that's weird.

Todd: Maybe they don't like the cold? :/

Harry: ... maybe... and maybe if we're lucky, it'll be the same tomorrow, and the day after that.

Todd: Then we wouldn't have to worry about the zombies when we finally start moving again! :D

Harry: Yes. Exactly.

Key: Thank GOD. That's the best good news we've heard in a while. Now i wish i could move D:

Harry: Maybe we can use this to our advantage. Maybe we can move you, Key, to the next safehouse while there are no infected in the area.

Todd: Good idea! :D

Key: sounds like a plan! i guess we should get going, then. :)

Harry: Todd, you carry her. You can't handle guns anyway.

Todd: But... but cold! No infected! D:

Harry: Just in case.

Todd: |:S *he walks over to Key* Kay, sssoo... *he picks her up* So... yeah.

Key: Sooo... hi. Caaaan we go now? ^^;

Todd: Yuh-yes! ._.; *to Harry* ONWARDS, DEAR FRIEND! >8D

Harry: -_-; *unbars the door, and exits the safehouse*

Todd: *exits it as well, carrying Key*

Snow: *Is everywhere*

Key: *looks around as best she can* wow. we didn't get this much snow back home... *shivers, and reaches back to pull her hood up*

Harry: Well, we ARE in New York... *he notes how very bitter cold it is - colder than he thought it would be - though perhaps this was just him. Perhaps it was that way because of the infection. What it did to him. His blood. *he glanced over to Todd, who was shivering. Yes, of course it would be the same with Todd - perhaps worse...*

Todd: Ok, you, Key - YOU are my source of heat. D8> Gaahh...

Key: i always wanted to be a portable heater... *isn't nearly as cold as Todd OR Harry, but is still rather cold* mmh.

*They trudged through the fallen snow, their path littered by the frozen bodies of the common infected, every once in a while passing by a frozen, dead special, like a Charger, or Spitter*

Harry: Huh... we should start traveling more on cold days...

Todd: M-M-Maybe that's-s w-why the S-S-Safe Zone is-s in C-Canada?

Harry: Probably.

*they reach the town of Hamburg*

Harry: Safehouse ahead.

*They enter the next safehouse. Harry bars the door behind them*

Todd: *shivering* ._.

Key: *is still being held by Todd* ummm.... >.>; I understand that you're cold, but can you put me down first?

Todd: Y-Yes. <_<; *puts Key down on a dog bed - the safehouse is a pet-shop*

A Parrot: *screeches at them. Every other bird in it's cage is dead from starvation. The parrot itself seemed uncomfortably thin*

Harry: *he winces at the screech* ... I swear to god, before we leave, I'm gonna end up breaking that bird's neck...

Todd: :C

Key: *had turned to look at the parrot when it screeched* I guess it's better than starving to death... *looks back up at Todd... to see if he was still cold*

Todd: *is* FFFFF... I'm going to go look around for SOMETHING that can heat us up, or whatever. 8C

Harry: You do that.

Key: *was about to ask him if he wanted to just sit next to her (since she was starting to warm up a bit already), but thought it would be a really awkward thing to ask, especially in front of Harry, so... she didn't* ...

Harry: I'll look around for supplies. *wanders off*

Todd: *after a few minutes, he comes back empty handed* 8C

Key: ... *moves herself over to make room on the dog bed* Todd. *when she has his attention, she nods down to the empty spot next to her*

Todd: ! *he silently walks over to her, and sits down next to her on the dog bed. He notes how much more comfortable it is down there with Key* ... :) Thank you.

Harry: *conveniently gone*

Key: *smiles back* You're welcome.

Todd: *scoots a bit closer to her for warmth* >_<

Key: *laughs a bit, and rests her head on his shoulder* any better?

Todd: Yes, yes it is. :) ... >_> ... <_< ... *he places an arm around her shoulder* ._.;

Key: ? *looks up at Todd and blinks, not moving her head from his shoulder, but doesn't object. instead, she looks back down and grins* glad to help, then.

Todd: *continues to sit in this position, very happy* :)

Harry: *was about to walk back to them, having found food and water, then spots them from a corner - he smirks and backs up*

Key: *closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, also feeling very comfortable there. she starts dozing off* ...Todd?

Todd: *looks over at Key* Hm? What is it?

Key: *shifts around into a more comfortable position, and raises a hand to cover a yawn before speaking quietly* ...don't ever change... okay?

Todd: *he smiles slightly, but is confused* Wh... what's THAT supposed to mean?

Key: *half-smiles, and looks up at him* exactly what i said. *closes her eyes again* you're fine the way you are... *trails off as she falls asleep*

Todd: *quietly* O-oh... *he doesn't move from that spot, feeling quite happy and warm. Did Key... like him back?*

Key: *smiles in her sleep, and snuggles up against Todd a bit. She really did like Todd. to what extent, she wasn't exactly sure yet...*

Todd: *he stays there for the night, never really wondering where Harry could have gone to*

*the next morning*

Harry: *lets out a panicked scream from where he fell asleep the night before. There is the noise of scrambling around*

Todd: !! Harry??

Key: !? *wakes up with a start, wincing at the sudden movement* W-What's going on?? D:

Todd: I-I heard Harry scream! D8 *he gets up and runs to the source*

Harry: *had put a pistol from his gun bag to his head* I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE! WHY WON'T THEY LEAVE ME ALONE??

Todd: D8 !!!!

Key: Harryyyyyyyy...!!! D:> that's.... not cool. at all.

Harry: Well, now you know why it creeps me out.

Todd: >:/ ... well, it's your turn, anyway.

Harry: My turn for what?

Todd: For you to share some things about yourself.

Harry: No.

Todd: Yes.

Harry: NO.

Todd: Pleeeaaase?

Harry: You already know everything about me.

Todd: Key doesn't - and it's to pass the time, anyway. :D

Harry: ... *he sighs* Fine.

Todd: :D

Harry: In college, I was a film student. Todd would help me with a few projects of mine if my team needed a stunt-man. I used to smoke -

Todd: Hey, whatever happened to that?

Harry: My time in... ... away from here... allowed me to quit. After some withdrawal shoot, first. Some... people helped me out with it.

Todd: With all the zombies going around? D:

Harry: ... no.

Key: *is now curious* so... where'd you go? you said you went away for a while...

Harry: Just some place horrible that I never want to go back to.

Todd: But it has no zombies...

Harry: *he shivers* There can be worse things...

Todd: ...?

Key: *looks down* i find that hard to believe... *decides not to pry any further*

Harry: We're not... we're not even real... just characters... all of us...

Todd: ._. Harry?

Harry: ...

Todd: D:> ?

Harry: ... *he gets up and walks into the other room*

Todd: D8> ...?? What... what the hell was THAT?

Key: ....i don't know... *looks at Todd, very seriously* but I think it's best we don't ask him about it again. It was abviously a very bad experience...

Todd: Are you also concerned for Harry's sanity? Because holy shoot, he was mumbling things like a lunatic! D8>

Key: I am worried, Todd, it's just... He didn't say anything about it until we brought it up. Or, made him talk about it, rather.

Todd: Hey, what if he was, like, abducted by aliens, or something? And that's why he acts all weird now? D8

Key: *throws her arms up in the air* Who knows? Considering that we're in the middle of a ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, I guess anything's possible. *huffs to blow a stray strand of hair out of her face*

Todd: ... well... whatever it is, it's getting in the way of Harry being himself again... and that kills me, it really does. *he sighs* Was he kinda crazy-ish when you two met?

Key: I don't really know. I just saw a guy trying to survive. I really did wonder why he dragged you around... and i did find that rather odd.

Todd: D: ... I want to ask him a few things, just to see, but that would be rude... but I'm worried. D:> Ahhh...! I don't know what to do...!

Key: Calm down...! D: *sighs* look... he's tell us when he's ready to do so... okay? like you said, it'd be rude to pry... and we've learned quite a bit already...

Todd: What if he never talks about it again, and it'll be too LATE...?? D8>

Key: Todd. Calm. Down. Panicking won't do anything. D: Todd, i'm pretty sure he'll tell us eventually; if not us, he'll at least tell you, because you've known him the longest. You just have to be patient with him...

Todd: *he takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. Then he nods* Yeah... yeah, ok... ok... *he glances out the door, and looks at the sparkling white snow* ...

Key: *follows his gaze, and stares out the door for a bit before speaking* really does make everything new, huh? *sighs* i wish i could go outside... sort of.

Todd: Maybe by the time you're better enough to walk, the snow will still be here? :)

Harry: *he exits the room. Despite having woken up an hour earlier, he looks exhausted* ...

Key: hopefully... *looks over toward Harry* Hey... you okay?

Harry: I... uh... y-yeah, just... a few things kinda snuck up on me...

Todd: *he raises an eyebrow at Key, then turns his head to Harry* Well, are these certain "things" bugging you right now?

Harry: n-no... no. Not anymore.

Key: *raises both eyebrows at Todd, then looks back at Harry* that's good to hear. :) *trying to change the subject* sssooooo... what now? D:

Harry: *is silent*

Todd: Um... uh... no idea. D: Apparently, talking to each other is out of the question... so... we just sit? And wait?

Harry: ...

Todd: Y'know what? There aren't any infected outside. :/

Harry: ...? *he turns and looks out the window*

Key: I'm gonna be the mane event, like no king was befoooore~!

Harry: *smacks them both upside the head*

Todd: OW... D: *runs the back of his head* Why do you hate JOY and HAPPINESS?

Harry: I don't.

Todd: Then you hate music?

Harry: NO.

Key: ow. *rubs her own head* Disney just annoys the hell out of him. regrettably... *makes a sad face* Oh, the shame...!

Todd: *snickers*

Harry: *gives him a death glare*

Todd: <_<;

Harry: Disney doesn't annoy me. It just creeps me out to think about that kiddy stuff in a world like this...

Key: Hey... it's good to take a break from reality every so often... Makes you think of how things will be...

Harry: Key. Imagine how many children died form the Green Flu - their bodies too weak to mutate. NOW think about any Disney movie.

Todd: WHY DO YOU HATE FUN??

Key: *watches the hunter outside. she can't say she knows how he feels, because she honestly doesn't, but she knows where he's coming from. she looks back at Todd...she admits that he still physically looks just like a hunter, but... just the lack of the hunter's trademark snarl and cry made him look completely different...almost normal again.* ...hey... *puts a hand on his arm* ...that's not you anymore, Todd.

Todd: *he gives her a sad smile* Well, partly. There's still that small ten percent of me that decided to rip your guts out... *he sighs* still... to think of what I may have done as... as one of THEM... I mean, I can't remember any of it. What I DO know is that I tried to attack both you, and Harry. And that really REALLY sucks to think about.

Hunter: *growls*

Todd: *he directs his attention to the Hunter* I feel for you, man! I know you can't really understand me, but I know EXACTLY what you're going through!

Hunter: *cocks it's head in confusion*

Key: *frowns. she really has no idea what to tell him... then, she has a brief moment of courage. she leans over and hugs him, despite the pain it causes her* .....don't worry about it. If you had still been one of them, you never would've stopped. But you did. that makes all the difference.

Todd: *he is surprised by the hug - this time comforting, not received from fear. He welcomes it fully, instantly feeling much better. He hugs Key back*

Hunter: *continues growling at them* rrrrr...

Key: mmh... *is being hugged a bit too tightly, but she ignores the pain in favor for the comfort it brings. it's been a long time since she had a hug like that...even with Alex. no, no... he's gone. she shouldn't dwell on that anymore. she contentedly stays where she is, appreciating the warmth of the hug* ....

Todd: *after a bit of hugging, he lets go of her* Thanks for that... you should get some sleep.

Key: *finds that she's a bit reluctant to let go, but does so anyway* mmkay... *leans back against the couch again, and her mind wanders... Harry was probably right about Todd, and maybe he was right about her too. she decided to sleep on it... it wasn't like they would be going anywhere for another day anyway...*

*morning came and greeted the trio with pure white. Some snow had even fallen through the bars that night, and built up around the door's bottom*

Todd: *he looks out through the bars, amazed at how white and beautiful snow could make even an apocalypse look. He found the lack of infected especially odd until some wind caught him, and he felt the cold seemingly go right through him to his bones. He shivered, but at least his heavily bandaged hoodie was insulated*

Harry: *he combs through the safehouse, and manages to come across seven cans of beans. He took three with a look of disgust*

Key: *is woken up by the cold breeze, and shivers* wh-who left the window open...? *looks outside, and stares in wonder* oh, wow... that is a LOT of snow...

Todd: Yup. How are you feeling, by the way? Any better?

Harry: *comes back with the beans*

Key: just a little bit... *sees Harry and his cargo* oh lovelyyyyy. beans.

Harry: Like it or hate it, it's calories - and we all need calories. You especially, Key.

Todd: Ew... better than starving, I guess. DX

Key: *makes a disgusted face* I know... XP *sighs* okaaay, hand it over.

Harry: Hang on... *he searches around some more, before coming across a can opener. He uses it on all three cans of beans, and hands two of the three to Key and Todd* I'm going to keep this can opener. It'll be helpful for the other safehouses. *he puts it in the gun bag*

Todd: Bon appetite, I guess... *he eats his beans wearing a look of disgust and discomfort*

Harry: *he nods, and starts eating his can*

Key: *starts eating as well* ....om nom....nom...

*after their meal*

Todd: DX ... I hope we won't have to rely on beans again.

Harry: We'll eat what we come across. It's not like there's anything else.

Todd: Am I not allowed to hope? :P

Harry: No. >:C

Todd: :C

Key: awwww. XD *looks out the window* well... i'm sorry to say we're not going anywhere today, so.... whaddo we do...?

Todd: Uhhh...

Harry: Wait.

Todd: But that's boring!

Harry: We don't have anything else to do.

Todd: We can talk? :D Pick a subject!

Key: ummmmmm.... i... have no idea....

Todd: Well... um... ok, I'LL ask one. Just to get this all going, y'know? Alright... lets see... um... Oh! Oh, I've got one! So Key, what were you interested in before the Green Flu? Like, your hobbies and shoot.

Harry: *snorts*

Key: ah... well, ummm... *rubs the back of her neck* i used to draw. for fun. just... random stuff. usually faces... people told me i was good at those.*sighs*

Todd: Oh... if only we had some paper, and a pen, or something - then you'd be able to show us.

Harry: ... *he recalls the face Key drew around the time when he first met her. Alex's face*

Todd: Anything else? :D

Key: ...not really.... didn't have many friends, so... *shrugs* i didn't really get out much. i sucked at most sports too, so that didn't happen. I WAS in gymnastics at one point... but i dropped out of that. started getting into parkour at one point, but i didn't get much practice in before all... this. *smiles sadly* that's it.

Todd: *the parkour bit peeked his interest* You were into parkour? Go figure! We have more in common than I thought! :D

Harry: ...

Todd: Well, my turn, I guess. Umm... ok, I was a pretty active person before all this... uh, well, you'd already know that, huh? Anyway, I took Track in college. My coach and I got along pretty well. I'm also into movies, like, all kinds of that shoot. I'm especially fond of Disney movies. :3

Harry: Child.

Todd: Anti-Fun. >:P

Key: Aww, Harry! Disney movies are for all ages... *leans towards Todd, grinning, and starts off* I'm gunna be a miighty king, so enemies beware~♪

Todd: *he grins* I've never seen a king of beasts with quite so little hair!

Harry: NO. NO. NONE OF THAT.

Key: *nods* mhmm. the faster we get to the Safe Zone, the better. then we don't have to worry... *frowns as she wonders how they'll explain Harry and Todd's situation to the military when they get there... it won't be easy...she sighs*

Todd: *he lets out a half-smile* The world won't exactly... return to normal when we reach the Safe Zone - b-but at least we'll never have to deal with another infected again! Right... it might be like a real city! :D

Harry: *he looks down when Todd says this* ... but still. It could've been returned to normal.

Todd: *punches him in the arm* Harry... I think it's better this way. *gives him a cheery, reassuring smile* Like hell if either of us would shoot you, anyway. We won't get far without you - right, Key?

Key: *finds Todd's smile to be very contagious, and is soon grinning as well* He's got a point, Harry. how long would I have lasted if you hadn't run into me? heck, how long would Todd've lasted if you hadn't kept him with you? :P We could all be dead right now... but we're not. :)

Harry: *snorts* sometimes sacrifices are necessary. You need to be willing to do anything for your goals. Anything.

Todd: You're such a downer, y'know? You're lucky we're still willing to hang out with you. :P

Me: I need to go for a bit, but I'll be back. Arcade, go!

Key: heheh. Besides, how far would you have gotten on your own? We barely killed that tank, and that was just the two of us...

Me: lmfao, you too? XD txt me when you get back, imma go play FFIV until then.

Harry: hmph.

Todd: Do we need to leave the grump alone?

Harry: I am NOT a grump.

Todd: Heh... *he leaves into the other room besides the bathroom*

Key: *watches Todd leave, and hesitantly looks up at Harry* ....

Harry: *without looking down at her* I am so very right about this. *finally, he looks down at Key with a smirk* Maybe it'll make this experience... a bit more fun for me. Maybe it's because of all this. Maybe Todd's succumbing to the effects of living closely with other people in dangerous situations. In odd situations. It's all psychological.

Key: *scoffs, but smiles* glad to provide you with some entertainment. *looks back at where Todd left through* ...Todd's a nice guy... but... I still don't know if I like him that way. I-- *cuts herself off, as she has no idea what to say next. She was truly confused-she really didn't know if did (or should, for that matter) feel that way about him* ....I don't know...

Harry: *he frowns. A common expression for him* Well, no. You wouldn't, would you? It seems too soon. Too soon for the BOTH of you... you, with... with Alex... and Todd with... *a small pang of grief hits him* ... Sam... but! Who knows! Just don't let him know that YOU know, because HE knows that I know, and if YOU know, then he will not be a very happy Todd.

Key: *frows at the mention of Alex, but laughs at the absurdity of his last sentence* I guess so. *looks up at Harry and smiles, an expression that's getting a bit more common for her* Okay, I won't let him find out, at least until I'm sure how I feel. *sighs* jeez. We're in the middle of the apocalypse and we're discussing this. *shakes her head, then leans back on the couch* oh my goodness.

Harry: Well, like I said. It's psychological. *he chuckles to himself*

Todd: *walks out of the other room* This place is too small. >:I *he looks over at Harry* is Grumpy less grumpy?

Harry: Shut up, you.

Todd: Well, you two are too quiet. If I shut up, I'll go blind!

Key: *laughs* you could always tap your foot. that makes noise. XP

Me: my posts are getting short D: neoooooh!

Harry: That would quickly get annoying.

Todd: *taps his foot* :D

Harry: *points his shotgun at Todd* >8C

Todd: Woah, hey, don't aim that thing at me, man! D8

Harry: >8C

Todd: ... ._. *stops tapping his foot*

Harry: We need to get some sleep. Todd, stay with Key. I'm going in the other room. *he leaves*

Todd: Wait... what? D:

Key: A-Ah...! *silently curses Harry for leaving her alone with Todd on purpose, and sighs* Well, sleep it is... *shifts around a bit on the couch so she was a bit more comfortable. she didn't lie back down again for fear of causing herself more pain, so she just stayed sitting up* mmh.

Todd: ... um... ok then... *he looks out the window, and notices shimmering white flakes starting to float down* ... I think it's starting to snow. Huh.

Key: Oh! *sits up straight suddenly, then groans as her injury acts up again* owwwwwww. *turns to look out the window* ....heheh.

Todd: *gives her a sympathetic grin* You shouldn't sit up like that... um, you like the snow?

Key: *stares off into space* ....mhmm... made everything quieter. *looks back at Todd* everything looks new.

Todd: Yeah... I guess I can agree to that. *his grin shrinks to an awkward smile* uh... would you mind having some company on that couch?

Key: *her thoughtful expression fades, and she blinks at the question. let's see if Harry was right* uh... no! not at all. *moves over a little bit*

Todd: *he grins, then moves to the couch, and sits down* see, this is much more comfortable than the floor. I'd rather watch the door on this, than something unforgiving.

A Hunter: *has spotted them through the bars, and leaps at them with full force, screaming all the way. It smashes face-first into the door, falls down, then gets up again, quite confused*

Todd: *when the Hunter leaped at them, he nearly jumped out of his skin, but ended up trying to contain laughter as is crashed*

Key: !?!!?! *jumped and screamed, ending up clinging to Todd, wide-eyed and almost hyperventilating* D8 ..... *after she gets over the initial shock and realizes that Todd's laughing, she calms down and joins Todd's laughter... and then her injury starts to hurt again.* Ahahahahahowwwww...!

Todd: *he is surprised by her sudden grip on him, and worried when she obviously becomes pained* Hey, maybe you should lay down or something. D:

Hunter: *desperately tries getting at them through the bars, letting out cries of desperation*

Key: n-no... I'm ok... *cringes* okay, maybe not... *loosens her grip on Todd and pushes herself upright again* aaaagh. that's... ow. okay. i'm okay.

Todd: Yeah, who knew LAUGHING would be dangerous? That's sad! D:>

Hunter: *doesn't give up. It's a persistent one, damnit. No bars are going to stop HIM*

Key: Kind of is... owww... *looks up and notices the hunter's still trying to get in* ....It's...still there...

Todd: ... maybe we're the only food it's seen in a while. *he sighs* it's hard to believe those monsters were once human... but then here I am. Now I just... feel really weird around the infected. Hunters especially. It doesn't matter who they were before - I'll look at one and feel like I'm staring into a mirror. And that's creepy as hell.

Hunter: *snarls at both in frustration*

Todd: ...? *he then moves away from Key to go clean up in the small bathroom. When he finds out that he cried - with tears of BLOOD, no less! - he felt completely embarrassed, especially since he had apparently done so in front of Key*

Harry: *comes out of the other room while Todd was cleaning up* *to Key* You doing any better?

Key: hmm? *wipes the bit of blood off her fingers on her hoodie* I'm... yeah, I am. I'm still here, aren't I? *smiles weakly*

Harry: *he faintly smiles back* That's good to hear. Todd must be a mess about all this, though. *he points a thumb at the bathroom* Is he in there?

Key: *smile fades* yeah, he's in there... i think he'll be okay, though. I talked to him for a little bit...

Harry: Good to hear it *he gives her a sly grin* ... he likes you, you know.

Key: E-Eh?! *looks at him questioningly* Why would you say that?

Harry: *he looks at the closed bathroom door, and lowers his voice to a near-whisper* Because I know the signs. I've been friends with him for a very long time, after all. It was small at first, but still noticeable. Now you'd have to be blind to not see it. *he smirks at her knowingly, seemingly relishing the very fact that he knew of this, and she didn't* If he knew I told you, he'd probably beat me into a bloody pulp.

Key: well... *manages to push herself up into a sitting position to look at Harry, and winces at the pain* ...ow. Now that you mention it... *looks over at the door* I think you're right.

Harry: Heh... I'm sure that this all seems pretty awkward for you... but it does explain Todd and... him...

Key: *looks back towards Harry with a start, unconsciously putting a hand over her injury. She hadn't realized it, but it all made perfect sense now...That rivalry happened because they both wanted the same thing... she now felt guilty for Alex's death, though it technically wasn't even her fault...she looks down* ....i guess.. you're right...

Me: brb, 10 min tops.

Me: I do not have ten minutes. DX

Harry: Yeah? frack - I'm always right.

Todd: *he finally exits the bathroom, having thoroughly scrubbed off all of the blood from his face* I'm, uh... I'm clean again.

Harry: Are you feeling better?

Todd: ... yeah...

Key: *continues to look down* that's good to hear....

Todd: *to Key* Are... are YOU feeling better?

Harry: *snorts, concealing laughter. He was quite entertained*

Key: *shoots a glare in Harry's direction, but finds it pointless and looks back down* I guess so... i think we can count 'sitting up' as an improvement.

Todd: Uh... uh, yeah. Yeah! That's... that's good to hear.

Harry: If she recovers quickly enough, we might actually be able to get out of here within a couple of days.

Key: no, you're right. let's get moving. *walks a bit ahead of the other two*

*they eventually reach the safehouse*

Harry: *bars the door as soon as they enter* And we're good.

Todd: Yeah! One step closer to the Safe Zone! :D

Me: kay, NOW brb dinner.

Key: YES. *stuffs her guns back into her bag and drops it onto the floor* uff. You two sure you're okay?

Harry: *flatly* I'm fine.

Todd: *elbows him* >:(

Harry: Ow! Hey! D:< ... ok, fine. I'm just kinda creeped out is all. Every time I see a Smoker now, I'm sure as hell gonna get creeped out.

Todd: ... and I'm kinda bothered by what I've gained through infection. You know when I hissed at you that one night, Key? I swear to god, since then, I've been kinda... cautious...

Key: *sighs* well.... we've all been doing well so far... we just have to keep it up until we reach the safe zone. we're not too far now. *smiles, trying to reassure the others as well as herself*

Harry: True. We have a few more small cities to pass by, then we're there.

Todd: *he grins at this* ... and then no more zombies. No more running. No more ANYTHING... that's something to look foreword to.

Key: exactly. It's all uphill from here on out, hopefully. :) nowwwww, we get some rest.

Harry: Right. *he finds a spot against the wall*

Todd: ... you go enjoy that, then... *watches the door*

Key: *frowns* you don't have to stare at that door all night, you know... *sits down against a wall*

Harry: *tries to sleep*

Todd: *quietly* There's not a whole hell of a lot to do.

Key: *is unable to come up with an alternative* mmh.... g'night... *tries to sleep*

Me: Y'wanna do the ONE CERTAIN THING this day? XD

*That morning*

Harry: get your stuff. Eat a cereal bar. We're leaving.

Todd: Ugh... more cereal bars. DX

Me: we may as well. XD

Key: *shrugs* better than nothing. *takes a cereal bar and eats it as quickly as she can, making a face at the taste* blegh.

Todd: *eats his as well* this shoot'd better taste better in the Safe Zone...

Harry: *had already eaten his* stop whining. We need to go.

Todd: :P

*they leave, and continue their trek*

*AND SO THEY TREKKED*

Key: *walking along* .....

*An hour into the walk, and the screams of the horde rose in the air. The infected soon came running, angry and bloodthirsty*

Todd: Aw, shoot...

Harry: It's large. Get ready.

Horde: *they immediately attack the trio*

Key: *starts shooting as soon as they get within range, pikcing them off one by one*

Me: i'm guessing this'll happen toward the end of the attack?

Me: Yes.

Todd: *slashes at them*

Harry: *shoots at them*

*one by one, they fall... soon, only a couple remain*

Zombie: *runs at Key from behind*

Todd: D: ! *tries to help her out, but is unable to get to the zombie before it gets to Key*

Me: opportunity, go!

Key: *turns when she hears running behind her, and shoots. one bullet goes right through the infected's head, the other... hits Todd in the arm. her eyes widen as she realizes her mistake* AAH! D8>

Todd: *cries out in pain, which quickly turns into a snarl - a snarl directed towards Key*

Harry: *takes down the last few infected* Todd??

Todd: *he immediately pounces on Key, and starts inflicting much damage, no longer in control of his own actions. His face was twisted with inhuman rage*

Harry: KEY!! *he starts running to them*

Key: *cries out in surprise and terror when Todd suddenly knocks her down, then screams in agony as he starts tearing her apart. she still has a gun in her hand, but she refuses to shoot him again. instead, she tries to push him off, failing miserably* NO! T-TODD! PLEASE, STOP! *is getting weaker and weaker by the second*

Todd: *he doesn't stop, and WOULD NEVER stop until either Key, or himself was dead* RAAUUGH!

Harry: *suddenly runs up to them and shoves Todd off*

Todd: *he practically barks like a dog in surprise, and growls at Harry angrily. He tries to attack Key again -*

Harry: *catches him, and throws him to the ground. Harry then puts all his weight on Todd, making sure he doesn't escape* Snap out of it, Todd! D8<

Todd: *his struggling eventually ceases, and he is left laying there, an expression of horror on his face* Oh god... OH GOD...!

Harry: *gets off Todd* ...

Todd: *quickly runs over to Key. He is terrified by what just happened, and fearful for Key, especially as she is now* KEY! D8> Oh no... oh no, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... god, NO...

Harry: The safehouse can't be far from here - I noticed a sign before... you kinda lost it...

Todd: *he is shaking, staring at Key silently*

Key: *is stifling her screams for Todd's sake, gritting her teeth as she lays there bleeding on the ground. she's even more painfully reminded of Alex's death, and a part of her wishes her injuries had been as severe so she could just die right there* T-Todd... *tries to look up at him, but any kind of movement is excruciatingly painful at the moment, and she gives up* Get to-- *grits her teeth as another wave of pain rolls through her body* aagh... the safehouse...!

Todd: *Watching her lay there in that much pain was possibly the most awful thing he had ever encountered* ... K... Key... *he is horrified with himself, and it was that point in which he no longer considered himself close to human*

Harry: ... We... we can help her... if we hurry. The safehouse is close... and we have the medical supplies... maybe...

Todd: *still shaking, he bent over and picked up the now-incapacitated Key. He practically whispered out* I'm so sorry...

*They walked to the safehouse. Thankfully, no other zombies came*

Harry: *when they enter the safehouse - a lounge-like area - he once more bars the door*

Todd: *lays Key on a couch, throughly disturbed by how much damage he had done to her, and how much she was bleeding* ...

Harry: *gives him a med-kit* Here... do what you can, alright?

Todd: ... *he silently takes the med-kit in his still-shaking hands. Todd opens it up, and begins cleaning Key's wounds*

Key: *winces as Todd tries to clean the wound... Though she can barely feel the pain of her injuries as much anymore... She's very close to passing out from blood loss. When she speaks, it is very quietly* 's not Your fault...

Todd: *he finishes cleaning the wound, and moves on to the gauze. He is EXTREMELY upset, and more than anything, hates himself for even existing. Maybe Alex was right... maybe he should have been shot down when his friends still had the chance...* ...y-yes it was... I hurt you... your blood is on MY hands...

Harry: ... *he moves away from them*

Key: *still very quiet* but... i should... i should've been more... careful... *takes a deep shuddering breath* if i hadn't shot you... this wouldn't have happened...

Todd: ... *he glances at the bullet that was still embedded in his arm, visible through the hoodie's sleeve* ... it shouldn't have been an issue... friendly fire shouldn't cause... THIS... *He looks directly into Key's eyes* ... maybe it would be best if I was put down... I'll only do more harm than good as I am now... *he finishes bandaging up Key. He couldn't cry, but in the place of tears, blood trickled out of his damaged sockets*

Harry: *is in another room*

Key: *tilts her head sideways to look in his direction. She is appalled by both his words and his eerie tears* N-No! Todd, you should never think that way...! *manages to prop herself up on her elbows, causing another wave of pain. she grits her teeth and accepts it wholeheartedly, as it snapped her out of her numbness enough to keep her from pasing out* Todd. *looks him right in the eyes, or rather, where they WOULD be* We don't want you gone. We'd NEVER want you to be gone. Harry needs you, I need you! If you died... I'd...

Todd: *winces. He can tell that she hurt herself further* You'd what? You'd live, that's what. One stray bullet, and I could kill any one of you.

Key: *deadly serious* Todd. Do you know how many times you've saved me and Harry? Do you have any IDEA how much we owe you? You've alerted us to hordes, you've LITERALLY saved our skins more than once! What about that first hunter attack, hmm?? I wouldn't even be here talking to you if you hadn't saved me. THIS, *nods down to her current injury* This is my fault, and there's no one else to blame.

Todd: *he frowns, and looks down in shame. The blood had stained his face quite visibly. Maybe he could still be of use to them. Maybe. He looks back up at Key* I... just don't want anything to happen to you guys... especially not by my own hands... I... c-care about you... *quickly adds* and Harry. Very much. *he rubs the back of his neck* ... sorry to get all super depressed like that... *he forces a weak grin* ... I'm not usually like that, I swear.

Key: *weakly smiles back* I know. That's why i was worried... *lays back down, and sighs in relief as the pain subsides. she looks back up at Todd, and frowns at the blood on his face. she carefully reaches out with one hand and touches his face with her fingertips* ... *very quietly* you might want to clean that up...

up there