Ronni had heard that before. Men weren't to be trusted.
She kept climbing and was going to get away, until she twisted her ankle on a slick step. The pain shot up her leg and she immediately dropped onto the gridded metal.
No no no no, this can't happen, they're gonna get me, they've got a dog and they're so much bigger than meβ¦
"I can help you," Alastor said, trying to sound as calm and trustworthy as possible. "I have a first aid kit in my backpack and I have some food and water if you need it." Alastor was aware that he should stop offering to give away all of his supplies, but if it helped someone else then he would find a way to manage. "My dog is well trained, he's not going to hurt you either," Alastor continued, wondering if there was maybe another way to coax her into trusting him. "Please let me help you."
"Please let me help you."
Ronni looked at him through the grid. He did seem to be wanting to help, and the kid behind him wasn't dangerous looking. Against her better judgement, she asked a question.
"Name?"
"Liam." Liam said and grabbed the bottom rung of one of the latters. "Do you need help?" he asked his, eyes full of concern.
"I'm Alastor," Alastor replied. "And this furball right here is Zeus," he said, indicating to the dog who was sitting down besides him.
Liam. Alastor. Zeus. She committed the names to memory, trying to ground herself in reality.
She sat up and pointed to herself. "Ronni." She pulled herself up on the railings into standing position and looked down, trying to decide what to do.
β¦..You could try trusting them. The voice of Tanya said in her head. Ronni swallowed hard. Hearing her former therapist was cause for, well, more therapy.
Too bad Tanya had been one of the first dead from the disease.
Ronni started to slowly hop down the stairs. She'd be fine till she got to the ladder at the bottom.
"It's nice to meet you, Ronni. I could help carry you down if your leg hurts too much," Alastor offered, getting the first aid kit out of his backpack.
Liam climbed up the ladder to meet her at the top. "Would you like some help getting down?" he said at the same time at Al. "Say no and I'll get right out of your way. your choice."
She froze as Liam got closer. Stay calm, he's not trying to hurt you Tanya said.
Ronni nodded that yes, she'd like some help.
She finished the last few steps and stopped in front of him, feeling dwarfed by the taller boy.
I sure hope you're rightβ¦
"Er, how do you want to do this?" Liam asked. His brain was catching up to him and he realised that he had no idea how to carry someone down a ladder. "If you wanted to lay in my arms, that might work, or we could do this piggy back style if you would prefer that."
"If you do it piggy back style then both of you will fall," Alastor called up to them. "Y'know how firemen carried people, like throwing a person over their back? That's one of the safest ways to get someone down, since you'll be a bit more balanced that way."
Ronni pointed to Alastor and nodded her head.
That one. That way we don't die.
She adjusted her stuff so being carried on his shoulders wouldn't drop anything.
"Good to know." He said to Al, then turning back to Ronnie said, "May I." He reached down and picked her up. Thank god she's not wearing a skirt he thought as he balanced her on his shoulders, and climbed down the ladder.
Thank God I'm not wearing a skirt she thought as he lifted her onto his shoulder.
It wasn't until then that she realized exactly how vulnerable she was. There was a moment of panic, and then Tanya in her head again. Relax. He's helping you get down, and if they're bad, you can shoot them both. And the dog⦠But the dog last.
Zeus wagged his tail happily when he saw the new person come down from the ladder and he sniffed her curiously.
"Back off Zeus," he told the German Shepherd gently as he opened the first aid kit. He frowned at the lack of supplies, but he took a deep breath, told himself it is what it is, and turned to Ronni.
"Could you show me exactly where you're hurt?" He asked, needing to know what of the minimal supplies he should use.
Liam put her down on the ground and moved to hold back zeus.
Zeus gave Liam a small warning growl before moving to be besides Alastor.
"As a police and a service dog, he doesn't like being restrained or ordered around by people he hasn't trained with," Alastor explained, scratching Zeus behind his ears which the dog clearly enjoyed.
Ronni was watching Zeus closely. He fascinated and terrified her.
She looked up at Alastor and then touched the ankle she'd twisted, before making a wrapping motion.
I just need it braced is all.
Alastor got out the wad of gauze that took up half of the space in the first-aid kit and started to gently yet firmly wrap it around her ankle. "Let me know if I'm making it too tight, okay?" he told Ronni, glancing up at her momentarily before focusing his amber-orange gaze back on the injury.
She nodded again, not saying a word or making any sound of discomfort as he worked. I will, but it should be fine regardless. She glanced at Liam, making eye contact and smiling ever so slightly. Thank youβ¦
( @Davadio @EtherealDreamer @CaseyJ I feel like it's just easier to tag everyone at this point lol. I keep getting a little lost.)
Ariella looked at the two siblings before settling her gaze on Lucas. There names were going to get a bit confusing. The sky was beginning to set and she was getting antsy being so out in the open.
She tugged on Lucky's hand, looking uo at hik briefly then back at the others. "We should find shelter. Hopefully something with running water and edible food. We can keep talking once we're out if the open."
Not that she wanted to be in a contained space with any of them really. But it was the best idea she had. And well, the bigger the numbers, the better chance of survival.
She nodded again, not saying a word or making any sound of discomfort as he worked. I will, but it should be fine regardless. She glanced at Liam, making eye contact and smiling ever so slightly. Thank youβ¦
Alastor finished wrapping up her ankle, tying the ends of the gauze in a secure knot. "There, that should help," he told Ronni, taking a step back.
(I feel like it's just easier to tag everyone at this point lol. I keep getting a little lost.)
(Agreed. @phantomflame @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)
Ronni got to her feet and put her weight on her ankle slowly, flashing a thumbs up when it functioned. She looked at Liam and Alastor both, before reaching into her pack and pulling out 2 CLIF bars. She offered them the food, holding one out to each.
You don't have to give gifts to make friends. Tanya said.
But they helped and I want them to not hurt me so I'll bribe them. she responded.
( @yellowqueen @EtherealDreamer @CaseyJ)
We should find shelter. Hopefully something with running water and edible food. We can keep talking once we're out if the open."
Lucky nodded. "She's right, we can continue this indoors." He motioned to the section of the city parallel to them. "We could band together? It's a little crazy at the moment and trust me, you don't wanna be on these roads long."
He had made the journey from Wyoming to NYC by horseback over the last week and a half since his aunt and uncle had died out there. He'd been trying to get to the coast so he could look for a ship, like he'd told Ariella, but the fuel companies had locked down everything, and no other countries were letting anyone in from the US. He was stranded.
( @Davadio @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)
Ronni got to her feet and put her weight on her ankle slowly, flashing a thumbs up when it functioned. She looked at Liam and Alastor both, before reaching into her pack and pulling out 2 CLIF bars. She offered them the food, holding one out to each.
You don't have to give gifts to make friends. Tanya said.
But they helped and I want them to not hurt me so I'll bribe them. she responded.
"It's okay, I already have some food," Alastor said, gesturing to his backpack. "I appreciate the offer though," he added politely, giving Ronni a small smile. "Liam might want one though. Maybe."
( @phantomflame @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)
"It's okay, I already have some food," Alastor said, gesturing to his backpack. "I appreciate the offer though," he added politely, giving Ronni a small smile. "Liam might want one though. Maybe."
Ronni nodded and put one bar back. She kept the other one held out to Liam. She looked back at Alastor and touched her ear, before circling her hand in the air.
Have you heard any news recently? Anything new?
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