Post by Rei Sonozaki on Dec 18, 2010 13:44:43 GMT -5
Rei's breath came in short ragged pants. She lay with her back to the floor, holding her bokken close to her chest as it heaved with the exertion she had just put herself under. Her eyes were closed, one slightly lined with the wetness of unshed tears, and she seemed to be uttering a soft whining sound, the sound of someone so terrified yet so lucky that they are unsure whether to scream, cry or laugh. She remained prone for what seemed like forever, head cushioned slightly by rotting grass, and she left herself alone with her thoughts, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. Lost in the world with her imagination, she tried desperately to escape the reality she was in. Fleeting images of flowers, of sunlight, of crystal clear lakes played out on the back of her eye lids, and in her dream-like world she was able to run through fields full of life, playing without fear until the sky darkened, and fluffy white clouds turned the pink hue of cotton candy.
Alas, no such world existed, and would never exist again. When she opened her eyes, she was met with a greying sky and bare tree branches, clouds of ash and dirt the closest she would come to the perfect white ones of her memory. Her breathing began to slow, her chest rose and fell in less defined motions, and she tightened her grip on her weapon. She had regained control of herself. She was back in reality. She knew she could not remain where she was for too much longer. It was not safe, and only a fool would stay knowing that. As she sat up in one swift and graceful motion, a single tear fell, trickling down her cheek, a silent lament for the death of the girls momentary imaginary land.
Rei doubted that she would be able to return to the High School for some time. The place had been over run. She had been away from it for two nights, dealing with other matters, and had returned to find the place infested with living corpses. She had managed to down a few, but it was a senseless fight, and she had run. They had followed her. What seemed like thousands had been at her heels for more than an hour, and each time she slowed they grasped a hold of strands of her hair, gnashing eagerly. She had no idea how she had escaped them, how she had ignored the burning sensation in her muscles. They had been right behind her for what seemed like forever, but somehow, she managed to take a few turns that confused them, gain some distance, and then vault an old wall into close by fields. She had run until she had reached woodland, even without them directly following, and then collapsed.
Now, she moved through the trees with great care, stepping carefully so as not to make any sound. The forests surrounding the old city were completely uncharted territory, and she did not think she could run again. If she came across any zombies, she would need to fight, and there was only so much she could do with a bokken and a minute amount of energy. She stepped softly among fallen branches, and held her weapon out before her, ready should she need it.
The air around her felt close, and it seemed to grow darker as she moved further into the trees, their scrawny limbs blocking out what little light penetrated the thick ash clouds above. Her free hand brushed gently over their bark, and her eyes darted left to right, making sure she was alone. So far, so good. However, she knew she could not walk the woods forever. Eventually she would need to find a route back to the old town, find a way to return to the half-wrecked building she called home, gather her supplies and eat. But she had no idea which path to take, or what the fastest way was.
Yet in her stone-like state, she did not let fear cross her mind. She had already risked too much that day by letting fear take over her, and she could not make such a mistake again. There was no point collapsing and getting lost in a fake reality. To survive, she had to be strong, and be strong she would. It was how her father raised her, it was how she needed to be. She could not be like others, emotional and flighty like most girls her age, or she would end up dead like them. A stoic calm possessed her, and despite the niggling voice that told her she would be lost, that she would die of hunger and starvation, she pressed on, hoping to find something or someone that could save her, that could take her where she needed to be.
Alas, no such world existed, and would never exist again. When she opened her eyes, she was met with a greying sky and bare tree branches, clouds of ash and dirt the closest she would come to the perfect white ones of her memory. Her breathing began to slow, her chest rose and fell in less defined motions, and she tightened her grip on her weapon. She had regained control of herself. She was back in reality. She knew she could not remain where she was for too much longer. It was not safe, and only a fool would stay knowing that. As she sat up in one swift and graceful motion, a single tear fell, trickling down her cheek, a silent lament for the death of the girls momentary imaginary land.
Rei doubted that she would be able to return to the High School for some time. The place had been over run. She had been away from it for two nights, dealing with other matters, and had returned to find the place infested with living corpses. She had managed to down a few, but it was a senseless fight, and she had run. They had followed her. What seemed like thousands had been at her heels for more than an hour, and each time she slowed they grasped a hold of strands of her hair, gnashing eagerly. She had no idea how she had escaped them, how she had ignored the burning sensation in her muscles. They had been right behind her for what seemed like forever, but somehow, she managed to take a few turns that confused them, gain some distance, and then vault an old wall into close by fields. She had run until she had reached woodland, even without them directly following, and then collapsed.
Now, she moved through the trees with great care, stepping carefully so as not to make any sound. The forests surrounding the old city were completely uncharted territory, and she did not think she could run again. If she came across any zombies, she would need to fight, and there was only so much she could do with a bokken and a minute amount of energy. She stepped softly among fallen branches, and held her weapon out before her, ready should she need it.
The air around her felt close, and it seemed to grow darker as she moved further into the trees, their scrawny limbs blocking out what little light penetrated the thick ash clouds above. Her free hand brushed gently over their bark, and her eyes darted left to right, making sure she was alone. So far, so good. However, she knew she could not walk the woods forever. Eventually she would need to find a route back to the old town, find a way to return to the half-wrecked building she called home, gather her supplies and eat. But she had no idea which path to take, or what the fastest way was.
Yet in her stone-like state, she did not let fear cross her mind. She had already risked too much that day by letting fear take over her, and she could not make such a mistake again. There was no point collapsing and getting lost in a fake reality. To survive, she had to be strong, and be strong she would. It was how her father raised her, it was how she needed to be. She could not be like others, emotional and flighty like most girls her age, or she would end up dead like them. A stoic calm possessed her, and despite the niggling voice that told her she would be lost, that she would die of hunger and starvation, she pressed on, hoping to find something or someone that could save her, that could take her where she needed to be.
