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Elodie nodded and followed Jesse.
She edged a burnt broken bored with the tip of her shoe, and grimaced when the smell of burning wafted through her nose again, she had been breathing through her mouth to avoid this problem.
"This place is a fucking wreck." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jesse kneels to a few boxes, opening one. Though she barely had to open it since the cardboard fell apart at her touch.
Inside were burnt papers that didn't make it. At the bottom was a small pistol that had melted to the bottom.
She cursed under her breath before standing, deciding nothing good was around here.
"No people to save. Let's keep moving" she says turning around to Elodie, rubbing a piece of red ash between her fingers, staining them black.
-
Jezariah stepped into the side of the building, looking up the railway where he had come out of the building the last two times he was in there.
He looks up, the big exit sign above the doorway melted and burnt.
The metal steps were still intact but barely, ash and black blood covered them.
On it lay the almost-dead body of a small screamer, its long limos stuck in between the steps.
It lifts its head to look at Jezariah, its eyes melted out of its head…it out a small croak as if it were trying to scream.
He steps back in disgust, a shiver going up its spine. Though Jez plugs his nose and gets out his knife, going up the steps to the screamer as it lay limp.
Jasper was just waiting for them all while on the roof.
Elodie smiled and nodded at Jesse.
"Okay" she said quietly.
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(sorryyyyyy I vanished big-time there T.T)
Darius nodded, "am I hungry?" he shrugged.
June rolled her eyes, "lets just go, I want to see if there are any other roofs nearby, afterall I like being on roofs, and sleeping up there, its very relaxing"
"Safer too, sometimes," Gus remarked, pulling himself up the ladder. "They're called 'screamers' after all, not 'climbers'." He peeked up at Jasper. "Hey kid, is it ok if June 'n Darius join us up here for a picnic? I feel bad leavin' 'em to stew inside on such a nice day."
she shrugged, "its fine, i don't mind."
"Awright." Gus left the ladder and got out of the way so the others could join them. "Here, looks like Jez left you all the candy." He tossed the chocolate bars to her and started looking for a way to open the can of beans. "You can have 'em, I already ate one."
she caught the chocolate bars, he's still nice to me even though..he thinks I'm..? she looked down at the chocolate and opened it taking a small bite out of it.
"Boy, this is gonna taste good," Gus said, using his jackknife to pry open the can. "Here, I brought some 'o them plastic dishes for everybody. I'll split this with you. How's that chocolate? Looks pretty old but nothin' was chewin' on the wrapper that I could tell."
"it tastes good," she just slowly took bites out of it before looking at the can. "whats in there?"
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June and Darius came up onto the roof.
June looked at the chocolate and shrugged, "the only time you should worry is if it becomes discolored which usually takes about 5 years for the good kinds to start, the cheaper ones are more ify on the date".
Darius walked to the edge of the roof and looked down, he was standing about a foot from the edge.
"Beans," Gus said cheerily, holding out the can to show her. "Wish I had some ketchup or chili sauce for 'em, but they're kinda salty so it ain't bad. I have corn too, in this other can, an' jerky if you like that."
Noticing Darius's precarious perch, he gave a whistle. "Watch yourself Darius, there ain't no water down there to catch you if you fall."
Jezariah stops beside the screamer, its skin melted and stuck to metal steps.
It moves its head to the side, its jaw slowly snapping towards Jez.
“Ew…what are you a zombie?” He scoffs, his stomach feeling as if it were rolling over.
He kneels down and takes the knife to the back of its spine, hoping that would do something.
Severing its head from its body, he was lucky its neck was bone thin. Its body went limp but its jaw continues to snap at him.
seriously?
He steps back on the wobbly stairs, leaning back on the railing and eating out a deep breath. Just then the railing slips from the bolt in the wall, clanging down against the metal stairs rather loudly. Jezariah falls down the stairs along with the railing.
-
Jesse turns around and walks out of the room to leave but her head whips around to the noise of loud clanging and the sound of some idiot exclaiming.
Jesse puts her arm in front Elodie out of instinct, her eyes wide towards the direction, her other hand on her gun.
she moved to hold the chocolate out to June, "you want some?"
June grabbed Darius' shirt collar and made him sit down so he wouldn't fall before turning to Jasper, her eyes lighting up, "chocolate is my weakness" She said taking a small piece and eating it.
Elodie grabbed Jesse's arm in fear and instinct.
"what was that?" she asked, her mouth close to Jesse's ear so only she could hear.
"Eat some beans too, they're healthy," Gus said with his mouth full. "If y'all want, I'll play banjo for us while we eat, howsat? You like banjo music?"
June shrugged, "no thanks on the food, I don't eat much, but the music would be ok"
Darius started to drum his hands on the roof edge.
Gus brightened. "I'll go get it then! Be right back." He hopped up and clambered down the ladder, ducking inside to grab his banjo. It was nice to travel with a group after so long in solitude, he realized. He was making friends again and he had people to watch his back hen he wasn't watching theirs. He couldn't wait for Jez to get back so they could settle their differences and make a plan of action together.
Once back on the roof, he sat down next to June and started plucking at the banjo strings. "Here we go. I guess we better not get too rowdy in case screamers are around, but a little tune can't hurt."
June smiled softly "Music is a great way to relax"
(Jesses like 6’3” btw.)
Jesse leans down to her so El could talk to her.
“Someone’s here” she says lowly, her arm around her to keep El close.
“I’m going in. Stay by ze doorway” she says taking her hand off her gun and to the machete, handing it to Elodie. “Sving if anything happens“ she says, offering it to her. Though she was more ordering her.
_
Jezariah groans, his hand on the back of his head as he lay on the ground.
that..happened too quickly he thought to himself, pushing himself up off the floor.
He sits up and leans his head back against the ashy wall, his eyes flicking up towards the direction on slight sound. Though..was that his ears ringing in his head or did something move in the room over. He wasnt far from the lobby.
Gus nodded in agreement with June, picking out a song and starting to play it. He'd known people back home who only wanted to play sad music after everything happened, but not him. Music was supposed to make you feel good, he thought. So he played a tune that was undeniably cheerful, sneaking bites of food between chords as best he could.
June yawned and fell asleep listening to Gus play.
Elodie nodded, then; while Jesse was still leaning down, Elodie raised herself up to her tiptoes and gave Jesse a soft kiss on the cheek. She didn't care how Jesse took it, as long as it signaled that Elodie wanted her to be careful and not die.
She took the machete and held it tightly by the blade, she blushed as she realised Jesse's arm was around her, she watched Jesse let go then walked slowly towards a corner, before she went around it Elodie grabbed her wrist and whispered to her.
"Be careful…" she said, meaning it, Jesse meant alot to her, even if they had only known each other for less than a day technically. She let go of Jesse's wrist and watched her disappear. A feeling of fear and sadness pinged in her chest, two things she knew the feeling of all to well.
Gus smiled when he saw that Darius had fallen asleep and played a bit more quietly so he wouldn't wake him. It was a warm, beautiful afternoon, and he felt a little drowsy himself after the day's excitement.
"After today," he said quietly to June and Jasper, "Did y'all have any plan for where t' go next? I mean, this store's nice 'n all, but the neighborhood ain't too friendly. Jez 'n I were thinkin' of going further north over the next few days."