H.O.T.D. (Highschool of the Dead) DEAD Truth [Started/Not Accepting](PG-16)

[Yosuke-kun]

The door was  in sight, but unfortunately a wall of 'them' stood between the group and freedom. After they escaped the school, it was just Alicia's car and they were safe. Still, there was at  least 15 of 'them' blocking passage. 'They' had the advantage of numbers, but 'they'were still blind and shuffling aimlessly, trying to find their food. Cody was not going to allow freedom to come so close only to have it wrenched away  by some corpses. He suddenly found himself moving faster than Alicia towards the group, and was on the infected and smashed the head of the nearest one, spraying it's blood all over the others.

 

He was no longer hesitating in his blows. He didn't like killing them, but it needed to be done, and they had to get out somehow. One of the infected came close to him, only for Cody to sweep it's legs and bash in it's  head. Another was struck down.  Then another. Then  another. They were nearly gone now, and were all still blind. Eight fell the ground before the  others finished the rest. This time Cody didn't charge without checking on the others though. He stopped just outside the door and made sure each of of the others made it out before he continued running, getting to the head of the group now.

 

They were outside, but things were in no way better. It'd taken them fifty minutes  to escape the building and the school was quickly becoming surrounded. To make matters worse, outside, 'they' were no longer blind. The noise damaged their sight yes, but they could still hear the groups footsteps. Another infected drew close to Cody, but was shutdown quickly by his pipe. The car was in sight now. They were nearly free. Nearly safe.

 

'They' had other plans though. The car, like the door, was surrounded by 'them'. Each of 'them' coming towards the school. Cody would not be able to handle this group however. They'd need to fight them together.

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

Alex was just cleaning up for the party as they ran, bashing in the heads of the few of 'them' that the others missed. The saw proved to be rather effective, even just as a blunt weapon. Then again, it could've just been Alex having the strength and dexterity necessary to land each blow. Nonetheless, the party had made it to a point where they could just see Alicia's Toyota Land Cruiser in the distance... and Alex wasn't about to let 'them' just sit there in the way. But before she could break out the saw, which she felt like she had to do, Alex needed a path to take, preferably one with a choke point of sorts. She immediately whipped out a pencil.

 

"Yo, hand me that map, Alyssa," after saying this and obtaining the map, Alex studied hard. She had already pinpointed where the party was and where the car was, and consequentially where 'they' who were surrounding it were. Alex had also circled the gym and the cafeteria, identifying them as the places to avoid at all costs.

 

"Hmm... right, so if I run along here, and turn it on there..." Alex mused aloud, now drawing a path, which ended up ending at the parking lot, "...then where do I go?"

[Kyng's Old Account]

Growling with dismay at the sight of 'them' overwhelming the parking lot, Alicia scowled and began to reload her modified nail-gun, before catching up to Cody. In doing so she patted her breast pocket and affirmed the form of the keys were still there, they hadn't been lost during the battle that had just passed, which was indeed a fortunate trinket. With this check she had by then caught up to Cody and scanned over the parking lot. It was literally flooding with them, and more came with each passing second. The bell was less ear-screeching outside, which is why they could 'see' in a sense.

 

The Toyota in the distance somewhat glimmered, like a beacon of hope almost, amongst all the dread and despair around them. Alicia took this sign to heart, and then immediately glanced back in hopes to find Alyssa; Alex did have the map by the time this happened, so Alicia was aware that their map-carrier had made it up to them to a safe degree, at least she hoped.

 

Alex began to draw on the map, which due to the overwhelming numbers made Alicia think she could've picked a better time to do so. From what she saw, there was very little to what they could do other than charge out and sprint for the Toyota. The numbers, however, were very large, and Alicia's weapon would be loud enough to hinder this sprint. Whilst in the vicinity of the protection from the Alarm Bell she did take out a few of 'them' with nails driving through decayed flesh and bone, skewering neurons which caused spasming and falling in them.

 

"Alex..." Alicia began to say. "...now would be a really good time to use that saw of your's as a distraction." Alicia continued to fire nail after nail in front of the squad, staggering any of 'them' trying to come close to the survivors. Alicia's eyes briefly caught Alex's as she said "That saw might be loud enough to create a blinding range, if you throw it somewhere whereby, between the fire alarm, could blind these things in our path."

 

She then returned her attention to the fray and continued to prevent those close enough from overwhelming them. But a dreaded look came across Alicia's face as he nail-gun simply staggered and cocked. It was out of ammunition. Alicia's hand swiftly dug into her pocket to find it empty; she was all out. Sadly, even the additional ammo from Jaden's nails were gone. With that, she simply kept the weapon as a traumatic attacking device, to swing in close range.

 

Alicia's eyes glanced to Cody, him leading so far of course, indicating there was no time spare for them. She knew action was needed immediately. So with that she called out back for the skeptic of the team.

 

"Jensen, any ideas?!"

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

"Hm?" Alex looked up as she heard Alicia called her name, only to return her attention the map the second she finished listening, "Well I was thinking of just running past, dropping it and coming back full circle, but... suppose throwing it is the better option. I'll be back in a mo',"

 

With that she headed off, putting on her brave face. Getting as close to 'them' as she'd dare, Alex started to practice her throw. Yes, she was a natural when it come to pitching for softball or baseball, but circular saws were much heavier than any ball last time she checked, and she wouldn't have that extra hand to support the throw either. After all, she needed that hand to turn the saw on in the first place, which would make it a more reliable sound emitter. Alex only had one shot at this.

 

Supposing she'd better just get on with it, Alex hurled the saw with all her might, which was thankfully enough to clear the wall. As predicted, 'they' were immediately attracted to the sound of the saw's motor, but unfortunately one of 'them' had get itself stuck on the wrong side of the wall, and lost interest in the sound before it could figure out a way round. But Alex was on it in an instant, delivering a fatal roundhouse kick to the back of the head, followed by a couple punches for good measure.

 

"F***ing brain-dead retard," she spat in a low hiss, before signalling for the rest of the party to move forward.

[a bad post]

Alyssa sprinted through the hallways of the school barely making time to stop only when she noticed Jensen wasn’t with her, afterword she would then retreat back to him. As they burst out of the school sweat dripping down Alyssa’s forehead from doing so much running, much more than she had done in a long time, and the only reason Alyssa had managed to stay in shape was due to gymnastics. Alyssa turned toward Alex handing her to map, slightly startled that girl was talking to her in the mist of their escape, but soon after limply walked away from Alex and the map. It was hopeless they were soon going to be surrounded by ‘them’ and  then they would join the ranks of the infected wandering aimlessly with no free will; not even given even the luxury of death. These dark thoughts, this despair consumed Alyssa eating her from the inside out.

 

No!

 

She was smart, and if there was anything Alyssa could do it was think her way out of something, and she raked her brain for something… anything that could help. What did she know: they used sound as a form of sight as they were blind, only a blow to the head could kill them… and that was about it. There was a key here is only she could find it… something that could help them. And then it hit her, how obvious it had been the pieces slid into place the x variable revealing itself. She wanted to confirm with everyone first getting their input and make sure she did not make a brash decision.

 

“Alicia, Cody, Alex” Alyssa said speaking to the people immediately around her, and pulled out her  I-pod, “they’re attracted to sound right, so maybe if I blast my I-pod they’ll be attracted to the sound emitted from that instead of us.” Alyssa said, a small glimmer of hope growing inside her, something that had not been present in a very long time.

[Hotaru987]

Though gruesome, bloody, tiring and very much frightening everything seemed to be going relatively smoothly. The formation was helpful, with those behind able to watch out for the people in the front from the infected. Though seeing as he and Alex were the caboose he periodically looked behind them for safety measures. Slowly but surely the group crossed the distance from the crafts room and found themselves staring at the one thing that could get them out; Alicia's car. Unfortunately there were still plenty of the infected surrounding the vehicle despite the fire alarm drawing most of them towards the school. Alex took the map from Alyssa and began circling different places, and muttering to herself. He wasn't sure exactly what she was doing or think by that. It was then that Alyssa proposed her idea. "I doubt that would work. It won't be loud enough to cause much of a difference with the fire alarm still on. But you should definitely keep that idea for later." He added that last part to show that he wasn't just trying to shoot everything she said down. Though it was a good idea, the small ipod wouldn't be able to compete with the fire alarm and would just get drowned out. They needed something with a sharper sound that would stand out. 

 

As if she was reading his mind, Alicia told Alex now might be a good time to use the saw. Jaden looked at the group of infected and back at Alex. "Are you sure you don't want m-" Before he could finish Alex took off - probably didn't hear him at all since she was also saying something. He watched carefully to see if he would need to go and help but Alex didn't seem to need it. She even took care of the one straggler with a well placed kick.

[Kyng's Old Account]

"Great minds think alike." Alicia returned to Alex, prompting hopefully to sow friendly seeds which would form a strong allegiance with the survivors. Watching her swiftly go to work, lobbing the power saw into the distance, she gritted her teeth and hoped for the best, before watching with a smile as the undead were, indeed, attracted to the very loud noise it emitted. A very lucky break, Alex's throw was effective enough to space 'them' away from the survivors, and with the signal Alicia promptly proceeded forward.

 

When Alyssa's voice perked up, thus causing Alicia to instinctively turn back to her and listen in, she smiled. A good concept, but Jaden soon came into the conversation and did inform the girl about the current things going about. Alicia frowned and nodded disappointed. "Mmm, quite true; and what with the saw the sound would be drained." However a part of Alicia caught and held the girl's glimmer of hope, and she would make sure it would not be extinguished.

 

Kneeling down to her briefly she smiled and tucked the I-pod back into her pocket, taking her hand comfortingly. "Regardless, it is an amazing idea, and it will become very necessary in the foreseeable future; so, make sure you keep that safe for the right time, you clever little cherub." She spoke to her gently, with a little chuckle at the end to convey the caring side she knew Alyssa needed.

 

With that Alicia ushered forward and swiftly began to pistol-whip the undead, smacking heads aside and disconnecting the weak bonds holding the brain to the spine, leaving 'them' to fall to the floor. Even a kick to the gut, elbows, fists; Alicia was brutal with her melee and was adamant on keeping going forward. The saw loud, and her fists proud, she worked her way and yelled over to Cody "Lil' help?!"

[Yosuke-kun]

At Alicia's request, Cody spun on his heels and bashed  in the head of one that had come up behind her, and  another in  front of himself after. The  sound reduced the number of 'them' in their path but they had only a short amount of time to get out of the school. "Everyone, get to the car and defend Alicia till it's open." Cody said as  he calmly batted aside another. His rod was starting  to fail now, becoming bent and quickly losing durability, which was bad because he'd need it in the city till he found a real weapon. Never the less, he continued to kill 'them' one after another, letting his instinct control him.

 

The harmony  in which the team fought was impressive as well, striking infected  done when they came too  close  to an ally or when they were busy with another  enemy. Cody stuck close to Alicia  as she  unlocked the car and started it. Once  the rest of the  group had  piled  in,  Cody moved to take his spot, but was halted by an infected that had fallen over sweeping his  legs and pinning him to the ground. Desperately he held the monster at bay. It was all  he could do, as any attempt to kill it would result in him being  bitten.

[a bad post]

Alyssa chewed her bottom lip, “Oh, yeah I kind of suspected that might happen.” Alyssa snickered slightly at the fact that Alicia had called her a cherub, darling if only you knew, I’m about the farthest thing from a cherub. Still Alyssa did feel lighten at not being a burden to the group (no pun intended), though she did wish that she could help more. She dropped the I-pod back into her bag, and returned Alicia’s sign of solidarity quickly before returning to the task at hand. Hmm… it was funny how little things like that could make the world feel a whole lot less bleak.

 

Unfortunately the world was still pretty damn bleak, the infected were closing on them, and as Alyssa delivered a sharp kick to the groin of one of “them”, and it staggered back to be taken out by one of the others in the group. Alyssa stared in amazement at Alex as she ran with the saw, chuked quite impressively, and delivered quite a painful looking kick to one of “them.”

 

“Holy… that girl is a monster. Someone get her a medal.” Alyssa said her mouth a slight “o” of surprise.

 

Finally Alicia got the car started, which she was alerted to by the sound of the engine starting up. With no hesitation she ran for the car, and jumped into the back seat, but noticed as Cody was about to get in her was assaulted by one of “them”. She recognized this one, a classmate that had been at least tolerating of her, what she did next pained her to no end, and she felt the bile rise into her throat.  Alyssa threw her screwdriver, which she had managed to hold on to this entire time, but never actually used, at the zombie’s head. It hit the mark right through the eye, all those years working with her bow paid off.

 

Once everyone had gotten into the car Alyssa notice one thing was missing, specifically one person, “Hey has anyone seen Jensen!?” This only sickened Alyssa more to the point she put her head between her legs. 

[Kyng's Old Account]

Alicia was over the moon with relief when the survivors had evaded them long enough to reach the car. Taking her seat she swiped her key from her pocket and thrusted it hard into the ignition cylinder, and twisted it swiftly, which prompted her Toyota LandCruiser to let out a purr as life was breathed into the beast, soon followed by a mighty roar of readiness. With her hands grasping onto the wheel tightly, she turned and glanced back to the team curious as to whom had made it. With all this done, and assuming the remaining survivors (being Alex and Jaden) had reached into the car, Alicia turned to Alyssa. She had to break it bluntly to her.

 

"He's lost."

 

She sighed and closed her eyes in an ever so brief moment of mourning for the loss of Jensen. Now that Cody was in the car, all doors closed, Alicia barked "Seatbelts, now!" before outright flooring it, following which the monster of a jeep prowled through 'them' like a knife through butter, not hot butter since it was a bit bumpy, but the LandCruiser did just what it was intended to do and overcame the challenge set before it.

 

Alicia's teeth gritted as she changed gears to let the car speed up. She had her eyes locked and fixed on the horizon. Assuming the remaining crew had reached the car, it floored right out of the school and stormed its way onto the road. Alicia swiftly spoke to the group "This thing is full with gas, thank God I filled him up. We'll be fine, but it isn't the most fuel efficient. We'll need to get some. Can one of you look into the boot fo-" She then paused and pondered the Americanism of the term. "Can one of you look into the...the trunk, behind your seats, for a big water container? If one's empty we can fill it up."

 

It was quite obvious a gas station would be on the map as a location they needed to hit.

[Hotaru987]

Like the others Jaden made a mad dash to the car, helping out any way he could to clear the path of the remaining infected. Though it wasn't proving to be as easy as he thought. With only the wrench he couldn't do much damage, and it forced him to get way closer to those things than he actually wanted too. He would need to get a better weapon than a simple wrench. Even so, it proved useful enough to get him safely to the car along with everyone else. He felt his heart pumping from the rush of adrenalin of running through those things and actually surviving. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said about Jensen. When Alyssa asked where he was Jaden checked the car for the young man. It was Alicia who broke the news. Jaden figured that was the case and closed his eyes as he allowed himself silence in his respect. 

 

Luckily, the rest of them managed to get away and for the moment they were safe. Though how long that would last was unknown. Alicia then asked for them to check the trunk for a water container so they could put some gas in it. "I'll check." He leaned over the seat to search, and after a moment he found the large enough container. "Got it."

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

Alex was keeping an eye on the other survivors as they sprinted towards the LandCruiser, but Jensen seemed to have tripped on his shoelace or something and slammed into the ground as a result, which not only must've hurt, but also seemed to get "their" attention, as they slowly drew near.

 

"JENSEN??!!" screamed Alex as she rushed over to try and save him, but she was too late; "they" were already all over Jensen by the time she got there, and well... the situation looked grim, let's just put it that way. Instantaneously, Alex pretty much had no choice but to high-tail it back to where she came from and bail into the LandCruiser herself. Incidentally, she was the last to arrive, not having much time to get in and throw on a seatbelt before Alicia gave it the bootful.

 

Reliable thing, that LandCruiser was. It was able to handle anything thrown at, more specifically "them". But if there was one thing the LandCruiser couldn't do that Alex really wished it could, it was to bring Jensen back from the dead. But, although Alex was gutted about losing Jensen, she had to move on.

 

"Well, if no-one has any objections, we could always just go to my place I guess," Alex mentioned, "My dad keeps a whole bunch o' guns in the basement somewhere, and we'll probably have enough provisions for one night. Only thing I can see worth worrying about is gas..."