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Ryan stood at the window for what seemed like hours, watching as the dead walked aimlessly about in the front yard. He knew that there would be hundreds more by morning. There was no way that every walker within several blocks didn't hear all the commotion and add to the already growing number shambling about. He knew there would be hundreds more by morning. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to send those kids away with all those deadheads waiting for them. They'd be lucky to make it to their cars before being mobbed and eaten alive. Ryan knew that if they didn't leave, there wouldn't be enough food for the others. He knew that they had to do something...but what. Ryan let his eyes wander back over the undead, counting heads again. 5 more....Great! That's when something caught his eye...a yellow dress coming out from behind one of the cars. Wearing that dress was a little girl of about 7. Ryan's heart froze as his faced pressed against the glass and his hand went to the door knob. Just as he was about to open the door and rush outside, he saw the child's face. What once had been angelic and beautiful was now twisted and misshapen by the virus. Ryan let go of the handle realizing that this wasn't his daughter. Still, what a horrible thing to happen to a child. Silently he thanked God for the small miracle that his daughter was still out there somewhere. He felt a tear rushing down his cheek. He hadn't even realized he'd become that emotional. Ryan wiped it away with the back of his hand as he took a deep breath and settled himself back into watching. His emotions still very raw with the unsettling visage of a child the same age as his daughter. Ryan could feel the grief and agony of not knowing as it gripped his heart. He shut his eyes hard willing the tears back. He knew he couldn't lose control of his emotions. There were too many people depending on him now. He had to remain strong, not just for himself....but for them as well.

Cain's face had grown stern listening to Rella talking and crying at the same time, but behind the stoic mask there was compassion for this girl. She really is all alone in this world now, and honestly, I'm the only connection she has left to their prior peaceful, and thoroughly zombie-free, lives in that little suburb. He tried to imagine the playground that they used to play at swarming with the undead, and had to wince. All those beautiful memories, soiled by these monsters. Unlike other beings, with zombies there was no give-and-take; it was just all take and no give. They gave literally nothing to the environment around them, and destroyed everything they laid their decayed hands on. Cain feel the hate for these mindless creatures almost as steadily as his compassion for all those that were made victims.

Cain knelt down by Rella and put his hand firmly on her shoulder. "Rella, it's gonna be all right, okay? Things took a turn for the worst, but that doesn't mean we're done for. Just put a little faith in people like Mr. Steele, and we'll all get through all right, okay?" He gave a little smile, then rose and shut the window that she had been shooting out of. As he walked out the door, he stopped and stepped into the doorway. "By the way, I wouldn't recommend any more target practice. The noise from the shots will just attract more of the things, and waste bullets in the process. Besides, I highly doubt that you'll become an ace gunman in one night." He gave her another smile, a larger one this time than the previous one, then turned and walked into the crowd of people. 'Time to quiet my crew down, like Ryan asked. One look outside is enough to say we don't need any more of these dang zombies hanging around this place.' he thought as he began acting out his new job as a 'shhh-er'.

Terrence stood by the windows, watching with horrified fascination as the horde of undead milled outside in a randomized pattern. They were so horrific......he couldn't understand how people like Cain and Officer Ryan could stand keeping cool heads when faced with something like these things. Suddenly, he heard a young women yelling after her......sister. Yes, now he remembered. It was the young woman from when they had met on the stairs, with her little sister, Lily. Terrence saw Lily dash over to the door and reach for the knob, and a glance over in the direction of the young woman told him all he needed to know. Luckily, the window that Terrence had been watching out of was situated very close to the front door, and the timid man sprang with alarming rapidity over to the little child. Fortunately, the child had only been able to partially open to door and had not yet started to walk out, but the zombie standing on the deck was waiting for such an event.

Terrence swiftly picked the child up, making Lily lose her hold on the doorknob, then slammed the door shut with his foot. "Sorry, Lilly, but you can't go out there right now. It's a wee bit too dangerous for someone like you." He tapped her nose with his index finger and smiled big. Then, he carried her over to where her sister was and set her down. "Here you are. Keep a close eye, she's a slippery one."

ÐισяєĿĿα

Are you coming to get me?......

Darn it! she felt like crying even more.. For the record, all she does is to commit mistakes and failures. Not once, she never made something right for any one..For herself... 'Worst, I can't even save mom and dad.. Is this all I am? I almost lost Cain...' Rella stared back to Cain while her tears rolled down her cheeks.. He's the only family left..the only person whom she could trust herself to..

He knelt and rest his hands against her shoulders. A small smile drawn on his face, somehow, Rella felt warm and secured being with him... It's enough... After saying such comforting words, she just nod her head as a respond. Gently, he shut the window and instructed her not to do some of her dangerous stuff. Sweet and sincere, he could be that sometimes. Though, he's kinda of a snob, Cain knew how to cheer her up in times of trouble. Deep inside, Rella knew, Cain wouldn't leave her behind.. 'You wouldn't...right?..' Words can't express how she would want him to know how much she admire him.. But, her lips kept sealed and she would just keep it all by herself...

Soon enough, Cain went out of her room.. Rella stayed there for a minute and so... After she gathered enough courage in her heart, she stood up and wipe her tears by the back of his palm and followed him hurriedly.. Cain had taken a few steps away from the door.. "Cain!! wait!"

She saw him stopped for a while and turned to see her.. "Cain... Don't leave... Promise me not to leave me...'Coz if you do.. I'm scared.." Rella rubbed her eyes eagerly. The trauma made her even frightened to explore the outside world. Leaving both of them behind, didn't know what's ahead and might be waiting...

Terrence gave a big smile to the little girl standing near her big sister. He had always found it easier to interact with little kids than with adults. Then, he heard the older sister thank him and he changed back to the unsure, scared person he had been a few seconds ago. "Oh, it was nothing, heheh. Don't mention it....." He had a hard time looking her in the eyes, his normal nervousness doubled because of her gender. He looked up and over to the window to see if he could catch another glimpse of the walkers and caught Officer Steele's gaze and they exchanged a little nod of understanding. Gosh, people made him nervous, with the exception, of course, of Cain.

Cain halted in the doorway and looked back to where Rella sat, with eyes filled with fear transfixed on him. He nodded with a little smile and said, "Don't worry, Rella. I'll be here, so don't worry so much. Things will turn out good in the end; they always do. It's just the in-between that gives us the trouble." He gave her a little wink, then continued on his mission to go quiet down the rowdy teens.

After Cain had successfully settled his little group, he walked over to where Ryan was sitting and reminiscing about something. "All right, so do we have a plan? I know we can't just sit her forever, and both you and I know that our little group can't just march on out in the quest to find a new home with 50+ undead sauntering around the house." He gave the officer a knowing look. He'd been able to penetrate some of the officer's thoughts, even through Ryan's normally morose expression. "So do we give everyone a weapon and just tell 'em to go to town? I've got my bat here, and I'm sure we could find blunt weapons for everyone else." Ryan could tell he was serious about an all-out attack, even though the idea was pretty much suicidal.

[OOC: Dang, sorry, but this is the product of a combination of writer's block and sleepyness. Sorry about the brevity and poor quality.]

ÐισяєĿĿα

Are you coming to get me?......

"...Dont worry.... I'll be here..."

Hearing those words somehow made her feel at ease.. Her heart skipped a beat and blushed after she saw that most beautiful smile he used to bestow upon her. An assurance... A promise that kept her troubles away.. How long does she like this guy? Well, this remind something about them years back.. To their childhood days.. Their first encounter..

Ah.. Those memories... Rella sighed as her tiny feet take a few steps following Cain's trail downstairs.. Though it's been a long time, she can smell the fresh paint of newly embossed wooden china and the cherry blossoms' scent, which reminds her how she first met him. It was near mid-spring. Little Rella and Nana head their way home from school. She's fond of leaping her way through and giggle every time the old nanny would call her attention not to wonder too far..Until she's caught by the glimpse of a large cherry blossom tree, two houses away from their home. And underneath that splendid tree, stood a boy about around her age. Maybe he felt that someone was watching him from afar, he turned and meet her eyes.. From that moment, they become good friends and playmates. They were five years old back then.. Cain's only months older than her and yet he does act very matured than his age.. Reminiscing those days, Rella could still recalled clearly how excited she was while dragging her nanny out from school.. Can't wait to see and play with the cute little boy who lived nearby. Cain is sometimes quiet and most of the time his hands would fiddle any logical toys that would challenge his intellectual capacities.

Since then...a day without seeing Cain is like breathing with no air.. For a little girl’s heart, Little Rella knew he’s her first puppy love.. Nana would always accompany then leave her to stay in his house. Her parents are too busy to spend their spare time and kept themselves locked to their jobs and might have already forgotten that they had an only child waiting for them.. Hence, it’s okay! She’s already used to it, how many birthdays did they missed? Those school events? And the field trips? Nana stood beside her in everything. And of course there’s Cain to play with her, right? He’s not just like a brother but someone whom she could trust her whole life for. But the most cherished memory for her was their pinky promise.

One summer day, Rella hanged out with Cain in the garden. As usual, the boy's busy playing his colored blocks while she..Can’t concentrate playing with her dolls because recently, she noticed that he starts to ignore her. She found the courage to stood up and dang the poor wooden table across the boy's position. "Hey! Cain!"

Startled, Cain almost jumped off from his seat, “W-what???”

“I—I like you Cain!.. I like you a LOT!” what’s wrong with confessing right? Besides, it was taught at school to say and express what’s on their mind. And it didn’t come from anywhere else. The boy smiled and continued on what he’s fond of doing. Seems like it doesn’t affect him at all! She’s expecting that he would say ‘I like you too..’ but to her dismayed it looks like she’s been rejected! Her body starts to tremble and soon droplets of tears showed from her large set of eyes. She leaned her body while her face reached for his face across the table. Her little hands grabbed his head and kissed him directly on his lips. Little Cain gasped in her sudden movement after she let go, “Why can’t you look at me??? Am I that ugly?? Do I look stupid? I can’t understand why do you keep on ignoring me?” she cried helplessly it was her first kiss after all! While the young fella panicked and tried to console her, telling Little Rella not to cry.. He just shook his head as a respond in the midst of shock..

“I LOVE YOU Cain! I really do.. and I want to marry you! I want to be your wife!.. so I don’t understand why you kept on ignoring me?.. Do you have someone you like??” She saw him blushed and turned away, maybe it’s his first time also to be confessed and kissed by a girl.. “I don’t!.. And I don’t want to marry anyone..” Somehow, her spirits lighten up. “Then.. promised me Cain.. Swear that when we become older and still haven’t found anyone.. I will be your girl and be your wife when the right time comes!” she held out her pinky.. Cain blushed even more.. “What are you saying??! I don’t want to marry anyone else and that includes you. We’re friends and its sounds gross if we become more than that!”.. Still, she held to his pinky and somehow, Cain, who already starts to get her into his nerves, finally agreed to their vow. Which up until now, she still holds on that childhood promise..

Blushing, Rella starts to giggle and walk her way through the lobby.. It may sound absurd and funny but for her, a cherished memory she would keep as long as she live.. If they could ever survive this apocalypse.. She paused for a while, Wait!.. Once more she head towards back to her room and starts to look for her sketchpad. "Dang! where is it?.. I need to show him my portrait.."

Searching all over the place, she still failed to find her precious sketchpad. Now, where was the last place she had been to?..Hmm.. Could it be... She trailed her way to the nearby window and stared at the bottom. Just as she thought, there's her valuable item. It might have struck it down from the window by the cold wind. All she have to do is get it without passing the front yard and be seen by those fools..

Out of nowhere, her eyes caught the satin sheets of her bed.. "I guess.. have to use the window to go down..It won't probably hurt if I do it...right?"