Thus far, he hadn't been forced to venture far from campus, and certainly not outside of the company of others. Yet here he was, the abandoned and decaying cityscape all around him. And on the horizon, a tower...
He gulped. He could clearly see the ladder leading up to the control station - at least, the part of it that was above head level. Everything below it was obscured by a shuffling, groaning, vicious horde of the infected. He couldn't turn back now, though. The university needed that weapon, to secure the campus and protect everyone in it.
James tiptoed forward, low and slow, still nursing his injured side. His breathing was shallow, and incredibly loud in his own ears. He could feel his heartbeat in his fingertips. He ducked around one hedge, and then another, slipping through shadows to the far side of the tower's base. If he could just climb around the scaffolding, he'd be out of reach.
He lifted himself up with both arms, and the pain was excruciating. He hung in the air for a few tense moments before finally pulling himself the rest of the way up. He clung to a crossbar, waiting and catching his breath as black spots swam in his vision.
When he could see clearly again, he noticed the infected were actually a bit further away than he thought - possibly far enough that he could get past. But he needed a distraction...
In the distance, something tinkled, and then he heard a pained grunt as someone slid off a nearby roof. The infected immediately turned, swarming toward the figure. James averted his eyes. He wanted to help, but he wasn't sure he could get back down, and anyway, he'd just be more cannon fodder.
Still, the pained screams and sounds of the infected viscerally tearing at their newest victim had him climbing around and up the ladder with eyes closed, shameful tears sliding down his cheeks.
Eventually, he pulled himself into the control room. He'd made it.
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
James took the stairs one at a time and slowly, making his way to the control room door. Each step sent a sharp pain running up his side, but he eventually managed to reach the threshold of the control room before entering and stopping to lean against the wall.
He stared. There must be hundreds of communication lines, controlled by various knobs and dials. Some of the technology was more modern and sophisticated, but much of it was older - probably why it still worked.
Once he'd rested sufficiently, he shut the door behind him, locked it firmly and took a seat. He fiddled with a few knobs randomly.
"- supplies shipped in daily. We try to do it from the air but we don't have many choppers left. They will dwindle after a while. --- seven days --- then ----"
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
What the hell was that? Helicopters? Supplies?! James tried to regain the lost signal, twisting the dial desperately and nearly passing up another message -
"Hello? This is-."
"Hello? Hello?!" James seized the headset and what appeared to be the mic, and shouted into it desperately - but there was no reply. Another lost signal.
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Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
For the next few, tense minutes, all he could get was static.
"Come on, come on..."
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
"THIS IS WHO?!" James cried desperately. He had hung on for months on the hope that someone somewhere was coming to rescue them - he was this close....
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
He managed to catch the mysterious speaker's channel a few more times, but it kept dropping before they could make meaningful contact.
James took a break for a moment, laying his hands flat against the instrument panel and reminding himself to breathe. It was okay. He'd made it this long, right? But what was that about seven days? Was that at the beginning? Who was receiving supplies? The military? But he hadn't seen anyone, and surely the campus would be one of the first areas to be secured...
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
James recognized the crackle of the static, and mumbled along with the disembodied voice.
"Hello? This is-"
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Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
The quiet crackle of the empty wave was almost a relief.
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Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
James fiddled with the dial some more, picking up some unclear dialog.
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Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
James sighed, burying his head into his hands - static again.
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
"This is prerecorded emergency broadcast. If you are listening to this, you are in critical danger. Find the nearest shelter immediately and hide until further authorities notify you. Do not attempt to contact local authorities. Do not leave your house. This is not a drill."
James sighed sadly, and laid his head on the desk.
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
More indistinct voices floated out of the speakers.
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Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
"This is prerecorded emergency broadcast. If you are listening to this-"
James groaned audibly and changed the station.
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
Another mysterious message about supplies and choppers. This time he tried to tune in to the station.
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Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
...and instead got the prerecorded emergency broadcast. He threw his headphones onto the counter.
OOC
Character's name: James Bridges Character's faction: University Character's journal link: Link to journals here Character's survival stats: James BridgesView BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY CHARACTERmy avatar
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