Alice Munroe (ex_barebones985) wrote in the_colony, @ 2009-12-05 23:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | ^ week 01, alice munroe |
Week One, Wednesday
Characters: Alice Munroe and Cody Davidson
Location: Outside an abandoned apartment building
Summary: While out raiding, Alice finds Cody on his own
Rating: PG-13 for unsettling scenes.
The weather so far that afternoon had been relatively merciless, the clouded sun a feathered and diluted force even as it warmed the black pavement and the crumbling bricks beneath an equally weathered hand. The hand paused, scraping flesh against the roughened surface as Cody stopped to allow himself a break, his weight heavy against the wall. He supposed it hadn't been as bad as the day before, the clouds overhead just managing to soften the blow. Still, he had been sweating for a while and his body was tiring from lack of sleep, not enough water and no food in days. The dog at his side sat down beside him, forlornly staring upward as though he might see her and remember to provide food. Unfortunately for the both of them, Cody had been unable to find anything of real substance in his brief journey, the safety of the apartments he'd been living in not quite the same when one was slowly starving to death.
He could feel the touch of the wind, moving through his clothes and pushing the fabric against his back, the slightly dampened sensation making him shift. He groaned and closed his eyes, shutting himself off from the world for the moment. It was dark behind his eyelids, quiet, isolated; it gave him time to think. He wouldn't make it on his own like this, not for much longer. Soon his bitterly weakened body would bring him down, leaving him vulnerable and finally left for dead. Cody didn't want to think about that, the very thought of death creeping into his throat and closing it off, tension filling his chest and lungs. Death would bring him nothing in the end. He wouldn't be going to some magical place where his family would be waiting for him.
No, death meant defeat. Cody didn't want that, but he was losing hope.
He felt the nudge of a wet nose against his hand and opened his eyes, his blue gaze dropping downward. "I'm sorry for how miserable this is," he told her calmly, swallowing against the unbearable dry sensation on his tongue. "We'll find something, Shep." The dog responded suddenly, but to Cody it was just the sight of her opening her mouth wide, fast, her body jerking hard and then falling still again. He was grateful to at least have found her in his travels. It made the lonely nights easier to withstand.
Shep had barely managed to settle down again before her body went rigid, ears perked and muscles tensed. She was back up on her feet in a moment, head turned toward the door of the apartment building as she listened -- and just like that, she was gone, running at full speed into the dark of the entryway.
Cody stared after her, eyes widened as the sudden departure sank in. He called her name out, glancing around him as he moved to follow behind her. Something had to be wrong; the dog rarely left his side for more than a few brief moments every day. They were all they had left in the world, and Cody was fearful he might lose that as well.
"Shep!" he hissed, pausing at the doorway to peer inside. He couldn't hear her, didn't know what was happening, knew he was unarmed. This was turning into much more than he'd been prepared to handle. Cody took in a deep breath though, sucking the air in through barely parted lips as he moved to follow her. His eyes were wide in the semi-dark, adjusting to the light change, scanning for movements.
The light from the open front door was bright as he moved down the hall and into what had previously been an abandoned and emptied living room, temporarily blinded in the sharp change. There was silhouette of a person in the square of light it cast. Shep was jumping up on the figure relentlessly, the figure's hands up near its head in a defensive posture. As his eyes adjusted to the indoor light, the figure took on the shape of a woman. One of her hands moved down to the large rucksack hanging from her shoulder, reappearing a moment later with a scrap of bread which she then tossed to the dog. Shep lunged for it, giving the woman enough of a chance to shut the door. Her hands came palms up in front of her again, lips moving rapidly as she spoke:
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't know anyone else was here. I was just looking for supplies," the woman said in a rush. "Er, I'll just--" she couldn't help but stare a little as her own eyes adjusted. His face, hands, and arms were covered in long, twisting scar tissue, some of the skin still peeling in places. "I'll just go. I'm sorry."
Cody was shocked to see someone standing inside the apartment building he'd come to call home over the last several weeks -- or had it been months now? He saw her hands, her mouth moving, and his heart started and leapt into his throat. A few bracing seconds passed for him as he struggled to catch up, to regain his senses for long enough to figure out what to do about the fact that he had no idea what she was saying. He stared hard at her mouth as she talked, barely managing to pick up the words "anyone" and "was", the shape and movement of her lips unmistakable. Everything else flew past him, and as Cody reached into his own shoulder bag for supplies he carried with him, he noticed her gaze had lingered, some sort of clear pause in her actions. She was staring at him.
He sighed and withdrew a small pad of paper and a bent ink pen, pressing the two together as he extended both objects toward her. "I can't..." Cody heaved a sigh, shamed, his eyes falling to the floor. "...can't hear you," he finished, whispering.
The woman's jaw fell open a little, her chest expanding as she gave a sharp inhale and nodded. Empathy swelled up in her so hard and fast that for a moment she felt like she was drowning in it. Deaf, injured, and alone. The nudge from the dog's wet nose into her hand brought her attention around; he wasn't completely alone. How is it that I've come across two dogs now, when I couldn't even find a squirrel before? she thought in a mild, fleeting moment of irritation. It took her a moment to realize what he was holding out, and flushing slightly she picked it up and jotted down everything she'd said.
Sorry to bother you - didn't know anyone was here. Looking for supplies. I'll leave you alone.Cody glanced to Shep as the dog nosed the stranger, feeling a slight twinge of concern there. He didn't want to be left behind, abandoned by the animal as though they'd never bonded. But then, this stranger had provided her with food, and that was sometimes enough to sway the interest of an animal. When the paper was shown to him he read it, eyes narrowed and lips pressed tight together. This was going to take a lot of adjusting to, he realized, and he straightened while his mind worked at wrapping itself around the situation. "You aren't bothering me," he said, bending down to be on Shep's level. It was a relief as well as a means to get the dog interested in him again, his body aching, begging to be allowed to lay down and give up. "You don't have to go." He let out a brief whistle afterward, pleased when Shep turned to him, tail wagging, tongue lolling out of her open mouth.
The taps still work. I don't know how treated it is, so I've been boiling it and running it through filters.Handing it back to him, she reached for one of the bottles in the smaller pocket of her rucksack, holding it out as well. "Here," she said, making sure to speak slowly. "Drink."
Small bites, chew twenty times, swallow. I'll get you more water.Without waiting for his response she moved back into the kitchen, opening a few cupboards before she found a quart pot, which she brought to the tap to fill.
There's plenty of houses that still have food in them. Don't hesitate to go raiding them, or you'll starve to death.She paused, frowned slightly. She considered adding that he was lucky she found him, but it sounded rude as just words on paper, so she refrained from writing it.
I'm Alice."Hi Alice," he said, smiling, jaw stuck forward a little as he met her eyes. "I'm Cody." There was a brief pause as he took in a sharp breath, moving to gesture to where she'd written the bit about raiding houses. "Not here. I've looked." It was strange, trying to use his voice to communicate after being alone for so long. He spoke too loudly the second time, not even realizing it, which resulted in Alice wincing and unconsciously drawing back a little. Cody had found that most of the buildings surrounding the apartment had been picked over, though he didn't tend to wander too far away from his temporary shelter. He was defenseless and concerned about being attacked. It'd happened before.
You'll have to spread out more, then. Don't give up. This neighborhood was one of the first to get evacuated. You'll have better chances a little closer toward the strip and some of the stores. Smell is awful though, but you'll get used to it.Alice's head moved up toward the stove, checking to see if steam was rising yet from the covered pot. It wasn't. Her eyes moved back to what she'd written, adding
I live nearby. I can go on raids with you if you'd like, but I can't really afford to do double-duty in this heat.Cody nodded as he read what she'd written, soaking up the information as it was given. "Yeah," he offered, eyes brightening a little with a renewed level of enthusiasm. "That would be good, um... you coming with me. That would be nice." He wondered where it was she lived, if she were with others like them. Cody wasn't sure how he felt about the idea of there being others, his mind flashing back to the last group of people he'd banded with. It had been disastrous, and he'd barely survived. Still, here he was, and this woman - Alice - was trying so hard to help him.
I live alone. But there's an empty townhouse nearby where I am.Cody bit at his bottom lip, body leaned slightly so that he could see what she was writing as her hand moved. He took the message in stride, understanding what was meant by the first statement. It was fine; he'd grown used to being alone for the most part -- but all the time...? Well, it wouldn't be a concern if she were living just next door. He would have company when he needed it this way, and it was more than he could have asked for. "Okay, I..." Cody's fingers touched the white gold wedding band he still wore, turning the cool metal in a slow movement as he considered what to say. It was so unnatural, having a conversation like this. In time, he tried to remind himself. It was not going to be easy. "And I can live there...?" he ventured, just to be sure of the offer.
How much time do you need to pack? All I have is a motorcycle, but I can probably hotwire a truck.Cody noted the chain and his eyes fell to his lap, lingering there as though he were ashamed. He hadn't meant to bring up negative feelings, but the ring was something he couldn't lose, couldn't let go of... and it was his one real companion, that simple band of metal keeping him close to his memories. It was as close as he would ever be to her again. Pain filled his chest and throat, and Cody's eyes were reddened when he looked up again. "I can leave now," he told her, his voice clearly more strained than it had been before then. "I don't need any time." Cody had a backpack nearby with some supplies he'd gathered, a few pairs of clothes he kept shoved inside that and a sleeping bag he could leave behind.
I'll turn off the water then. Meet me out front when you're ready; gotta find a truck.