forum It’s Just Us Here. . . Alone. (Closed with Yellowqueen) (1/1 [for now])

Started April 11, 2023 by @RhysTheFirebird group

tune

(I'm going to watch a movie so I'll be back on once it's over.)

(Mk, I’ll probably have gone to bed by then, have fun watching. I also chanced the city to Abilene)

Ariella remembered the day the world disappeared. She remembered it like it happened yesterday. She had stayed up late studying for an exam. She was studying to be a veterinarian. She loved animals and wounds intrigued her. It seemed like the best option for her. It was hard work and led to many late nights studying after work. Just like that one. She had gone to bed a little after one a.m. Her alarm had gone off at eight a.m. for class. When she woke up, her roommate was gone. It was strange. Her roommate was never up before she was. She had always lazed away and slept well into the middle of the day before going to her evening classes. Ariella found it annoying and she absolutely hated her roommate. So her not being there in the morning when she certainly had been last night was strange indeed. She just assumed an emergency had come up. Only it hadn't woken Ariella and she was a light sleeper. Strange.

She had gotten dressed and grabbed her bookbag, slinging it on her shoulder. She exited her room and into the hall, empty, but that was usual at that time. However, it got stranger as she left the building and there was no one. There was no one manning the coffee shop. No students straggling around campus. No professors walking with their rolling bags. No one. She hadn't known what to think. Maybe there was an evacuation notice and she was the only one who didn't get it. She grabbed her phone, checked her notifications, then tried calling her friend. No answer. She called the next friend and the next until she had called every contact in her phone and received no answer. She had run around campus, checking every hall, every room, searching for anyone else and found nothing. She had panicked. She had screamed and cried and trashed a classroom. Her friends, her family, they were gone. They were all gone. Not dead. Just vanished in thin air.

It took her a long time to pick up the pieces. For a while there, she had laid in her dorm room wasting away. she didn't drink, she didn't eat. She lost an ungodly amount of weight, losing all the progress she had worked on for years. She just couldn't do anything. Then one day, she snapped out of it. She shut off her brain and her emotions. She went into survival mode. There was a chance that maybe her family was still alive. They lived in California. All the way across the states. She could get there somehow, search for them, see if any of them still lived. She could do it. She had spent a few weeks preparing and regaining her strength. She siphoned gas. It was not as easy as the movies made it, and then she began her journey across the States. What should have taken her a week at max, had stretched into months. It turned out, she wasn't very good at using a paper map. It was hard going through popular cities. Cars were abandoned on the road as if the drivers had vanished mid-drive. It was hard to get around and she found herself on foot more often than in a car. City after city, she found no one. Either she was the only survivor or the survivors had moved on somewhere else. But as the days ticked into weeks and weeks ticked into months, she was growing more and more despair. There was no one. No one but her.

She had driven passed the sign, Abilene. She was in Texas, she knew that much. How she got to Texas, she wasn't quite sure. Her sense of direction was not very good. Thinking back to her trips going camping and hiking, she realized there was a reason she was never in charge or in front. She likely would have led them around in circles. The familiar stutter of the car singled it was out of gas and the car came to a stop. Great. There was no car nearby and there was no way she was pushing this thing until she found one. It would be too much work and effort for such a crappy car anyways. She opened the door and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. She checked her rations the day before. She was running low, almost out. Out of food, out of water. She needed to find a store or something soon.

It didn't take long until she found a store of sorts. It looked more like a warehouse but she could see shelves with food inside and that was good enough for her. She had walked in, shutting the doors behind her out of habit. She was walking up and down the aisles, restocking what she needed. Some feminine products, water. She was looking at some ramen when she heard the door open. Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe it was an animal or something. Just as dangerous. She pulled her gun out of her waistband, ready. As much as it hurt her soul to harm an animal, she would do what she had to survive. But then she heard a voice. A human, male voice. No, it wasn't possible. She crouched down, waiting, listening.

Ean frowns when Bojaq goes tense and starts growling. “Bajaq. Sit. Calm.” The dog looked at him, obeying the commands. Ean frowns, Bojaq only reacted like Tate around other people. He moves backwards, no one was left. It was only him. Don’t tell him there were other people.

He could feel his hands shaking. God, why were they shaking? There was nothing wrong with other people. He was lonely, and hade been for a while. Even with Bojaq to talk at, he still felt very lonely. Cooking didn’t make him feel better in the long run. Only when he was eating the food. He stayed silent. Pressing back against the wall and whispers it Bojaq, “Find.”

Bojaq gets up, darting off into the store. He takes a while before finding Ariella. He barks, letting Ean know he’d found the person and sits down in front of her, his tail swishing back and forth.

Ariella's grip tightened on the gun. Oh God, there was someone here. Someone other than her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to rejoice or to be afraid. Another person meant that people had survived. If there was one, there had to be more, right? But it could also mean danger. Especially a man, because that was a man's voice. If he hadn't been around a woman for God knows how long since the world disappeared, who knew what he would try to do to her?

She clicked the safety off of the gun and waited silently. She heard him, she heard the dog. It was coming towards her. She tried scooting away, trying to get away, but there was no escaping the nose. She let out a cry as he found her, barking. She had never been so afraid of a dog as she was now. Not because of it, but because of what he represented. Who its owner was.

She could shoot the dog, sure, but he wasn't attacking, the dog was a he. There was no need to kill the poor animal for finding her and wagging its tail. It was his owner she was afraid of. She looked at the door and tried to figure out an escape. She might be able to outrun the man but what about the dog? What if he was trained to attack? Then she really would be screwed. Just as she was about to scramble to her feet, she heard footsteps approaching her, and she froze.

Ean took s a moment before following Bojaq’s bark, walking through the ‘warehouse’ with ease. Be bites his lower lip, finding Bojaq and then see’s the young woman. He flinches back at the sight of the gun, his eyes widening and he grips Bojaq’s collar. He stares at the gun, his hands shaking and then he looks to the woman’s face.

He bites his lip and then pulls lightly on Bojaq’s coller, pulling him back and he starts to move away from the other person, trying not to shake as he eels his gaze on her, watching for any sudden movements,

Ariella gasped as he came into a few. It was a man. She didn't believe it. She blinked several times and even rubbed at her eyes, thinking they might be playing tricks on her. But they weren't. He was real and he was standing there across from her. Staring and it was unnerving. But she was staring back. She was staring at him like she had never seen a person before. And, well, she hadn't. Not in a very long time.

He was young. He looked about her age, college age. He was pale and thin. He had black hair with random white spots in his hair. That was strange. She had never seen anyone with hair like that, not when people still existed. He looked as terrified as Ariella was but she didn't put her gun away. If she was smart, she would be pointing it at him but she seemed to be frozen in her spot. Her mouth was gaped open, as if she was going to say something but no words came out. She was in awe and shock and she didn't know what to do.

Ean keeps shaking, “B-B-Bojaq—“ He whispers looking at his dog, who tensed, waiting for the next command. But it never came, Ean wast back to starking at the gun. He couldn’t move. He wanted to, he was terrified. Of the gun and the other human. He felt his little cocoon of peace start to crack. He’d been comfortable, though lonely.

He backs away a step, his hands shaking more and he opens his mouth, trying to speak, only for his damned stutter to get in the way, “L-le-lead-lead-“ Bojaq looks up at him, confused before getting up and starting to walk away from the girl, pulling Ean with him.

Ariella tensed as he spoke, as the dog tensed. She gripped the gun in her hand tightly, ready to aim and fire. But then they were walking away. The dog was walking away and the boy was following him. Her eyebrows drew in confusion. What were they doing? Where were they going? She had just found someone else alive. They weren't alone anymore. Should they not talk? Try to figure something out? See if he had seen other people before?

"H-hey, wait." Ariella got to her feet. "Where are you going?" She called after him. "Are you with someone? Are there more people here?" The words started tumbling from her mouth. Before, before Ariella would have never been so forward and talkative with a stranger. But this was after and this was the first person she had seen in a long time. "Do you know what's going on?"

Ean flinches at the sound of he voice, tensing slightly, “Home-home, I’m going h-home. . .” He loos at her, “Alone-I’m alone. No-no one else is h-here.” He bites his lip, going quiet, trying to control his stutter, “I don’t know what-what’s going on.”

He straightens, still looking at the gun, biting his lower lip harder. Relax Kirean, she’s not going to hurt you. . . He keeps staring at her gun.

Ariella followed his gaze. His gaze locked on the gun in her hand. She made a sheepish face and slowly tucked it away. "So it's just you? There's no one else here?" Her face fell. She was hoping there had been other survivors. She couldn't have up hope. Maybe there still were. Where there was one there were usually more.

"Are you just going to leave me out here?" Skmething a total stranger should definitely not ask, but, if they were the only two people left in the world, maybe they coukd survive better together. Definitely not re-populate the world though. She was not doing that. "Can I come with you?"

He relaxes slightly when she puts the gun away and his gaze flicks to her face, “Ju-Just me. . .” He nods, “I’m. Al-alone.” He shifts on his feet slightly, petting Bojaq. His dog made him feel better, and touching him grounded him a little more.

He looks up at the girl, “I-I. . . I was go-going home. . .” He whispers, “You can come-come if you don’t hurt me-me.” He shifts on his feet slightly, “Where are-are you from?” He tilts his head slightly.

(I totally feel like I’m overdoing his stutter-)

(Its cute I like it.)

Ariella shifted on her feet. She kept her distance from him just in case. In case he tried anything. He didn't look like he could do too much damage with how small he was but she knew better than to underestimate him. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm coming from North Carolina. I was at state college there. The gun was just in case I ran into anything." Like a bear or a lion or coyote, or a person trying to hurt her. She definitely wasn't going to say that last part. He was already terrified enough of her.

"Where are you from? Are you from around here or are you traveling too?" She kept her hands in front of her, her empty hands, so she wouldn't seem like a threat. Maybe he would relax a little if she didn't appear threatening.

Ean takes a moment and then looks at Bojaq, then back to the woman, “I-I’m from around here. I-I’m from Merkle. . . Just-Just outside the city. But I moved deeper into-into the city shortly before-before the vanishing. That-That’s what I call it-it. . .” He rubs the back of his neck, looking down.

“I-I’ve stayed put. . . Getting comfortable with-with my new life. . . I didn’t want-want to go too far. . .” He shrugs slightly. He slowly relaxed as he spoke, getting used to the presence of the other person. He smiles ever so slightly, “I’m Ki-Kirean. You are?

He was unsure if he was introducing himself right, as he had always been introverted, and then the time that had passed since he’d had to talk to anyone, it made him slightly uncomfortable.

Ariella nodded her head, listening. She was on her way to California, or at least trying to. She wanted to see if any of her family remained, if any of them lived. Perhaps they just didn't have access to a phone before the service went out. She didn't know. But hope that one of them lived was the only thing keeping her going. If she stopped believing that, she might go crazy.

"I'm Ariella but you can just call me Ella." There, a nickname. Maybe it would help her feel more familiar, more like a friend. Maybe then he would be so terrified of her. "Where are you staying?" She was taking a few tentative steps to him. Well, not to him, but to the door. He had said she could come with him hadn't he? And maybe if they were outside neither of them would feel so crowded.

Ean shifts slightly, “Ni-Nice to meet you, Ella-Ella.” He smiles slightly, watching as she took the few steps. Bojaq sensed his unease and watched her, tense, but relaxed at Ean soft touch on his head. “Heritage-Heritage Park Apartments.”

He shifts slightly, “Though I may-may have taken oer the garden’s. . . For-for my own gain. . .” He laughs softly.

He walks towards the doors, wanting to get outside. It’d be easier to run if she pulled the gun ack out. Don’t be silly, Ean, she’s won’t shoot you. . . Right? He looks back at her and then pushes the door open, “Do-Do you have cell service?” He asks quietly, “I managed to do a few things s-so my phone was-was still useful. . . But I haven’t looked at the cell-cell towers yet-yet.”

"It's nice to meet you too." Ariella tried to give him her kindest smile. It had been a long time since she had smiled. Not since the world disappeared. She was lucky enough if she didn't have a frown on her face much less a smile. She nodded her head. "Lead the way." She didn't know where they were going so it only made sense to follow him.

"There's nothing wrong with that." It wasn't like there was anyone there to disagree. "What are you growing in the garden?" Ella had never had a green thumb. Most things she planted always died. Actually, everything she planted always died or it never even grew to start with. She was better at scavenging and knowing what fruits and berries were poisonous or not. Much easier than growing in her opinion.

She walked out the doors after Kirean, trying to keep her distance so not to crowd him. She shook her head. "No. The signal went down not too long after, well.." She knew because she had kept trying her family. Then one day, it just stopped ringing. She stopped using her phone on that day. It was dead somewhere in her backpack and she hadn't bothered to try and charge it.

He nods, picking up the pace, bending down and murmuring to Bojaq. The dog looks at him, licking his face and then running ahead. Ean straightens, following after the dog at a walking pace. He looks back at Ella, smiling slightly, “I’m grow-growing food. Like carrots and green beans. Took-took me a while to get it started, but-but now I have enough for my-my cooking.”

“I-I enjoy it, it give me something-something to do when I can’t pick something on my TV to watch.” He looks back at her, tilting his head, “So-So you’ve just been traveling?”

“Oh. . . I can-can still use my phone. I can’t call or text. . . But emails and the like. I have wifi at my-my place. I-I managed to get it to work. I have-have a power generator as well-well.”

(Sorry its short— Idk what else to put)

Ella smiled as she listened to him talk about his gardening. "I bet it tastes a lot better knowing you grew it too, versus the stuff in the grocery stores. Are you a good cook?" Ariella was able to cook some of the minimum, plus some. Being on the road made it hard to cook gourmet meals. It was what she could scavenge or on the occasion, hunt, even if she hated it. She did what she had to to survive.

"Yeah," she nodded her head, "I'm trying to get to California. It's where my family is from. I'm hoping that maybe I'll find them there, alive." A voice in her head was saying she hoped to find her sister's alive. Her parents had never shown her love, and while she would mourn for them, she wouldn't be incapacitated at the loss. "You should come with me. For all we know, we're the only two people left. We should stick together."

Was he telling her that her GPS still worked? Well, she supposed it depended on if the satellites were still working. But if they were, she was running around like a chicken with its head cut off for nothing. Part of her hoped it didn't work solely so this wasn't for nothing.