Chapter 1.
Unknowing Survivors
Crimson Highschool gym, The Heartland, Shady Oaks
5:10 AM
18:50:59 ; 18:50:58 ; 18:50:57
Chet Richmond
You wouldn’t think there would be so much yelling this early in the morning. Chet sure as hell didn’t think there was any need for it as he shook his bald green head looking around after his sprint around the court warming up before joining the game.
“Come on Chris don’t be such a fucking ball hog!” Chet barked at the tall, muscular blonde human teen who was currently dribbling past the rest of the team in a flurry of jukes, faints, and fancy footwork. “He’s always gotta show off, can’t ever be a team player” Chet continues in a pissed mutter to himself. Shaking his head. He sprints to catch up and try to take the ball from Chris. Just as he gets within a few feet, Chris looks directly at Chet, bright blue eyes meeting muddy brown and with a cocky grin, he passes it to another teammate on the other side of the one blocking him.
"Sorry dude didn't look open," Chris says in false sympathy as he runs back down the court after the boy, he passed to make the basket.
“Ya screw you too Chris” Chet mutters to himself. As he begins to play defense running down the court. He knew it was no use yelling at the dick again, only to be sent to the principal’s office for fighting, alone. Again. Everyone only sees the Golden Boy Chris Desmond puts on, if they could see the real him things would be different. Everyone assumes I’m the bad guy because I’m an orc and green. I yell and get angry a lot. If they would only listen to his side and not immediately make him enemy fucking one. Then- “
“Watch out!” Shouts someone nearby.
The last thing Chet saw of practice that morning was the ball flying directly into his already flat nose.
***********
H.C. elementary, The Heartland, Shady Oaks
6:00 AM
17:00:00 ; 16:59:59 ; 16:59:58
Alexa Cole.
Alexa covered her mouth with a delicate hand as it opened in a giant yawn, trying to greet the children coming in for the morning daycare. As she does each morning, surprisingly almost none of the daycare students are in her class. Most have been with her since first year though, many parents working the early morning shift. Thank the Lord for not having to come in at five any longer. While she was still young for a human, it hadn’t taken her long after living on her own for a bit she much preferred sleeping in, to not sleeping in
“Miss Cole, you dropped your pocket.” Says little Jerry Bronson, world armpit farter champion, funnyman, and all-around class clown. The only current one of her students in the support daycare. You would never tell by watching him that Alexa had spent many a recess, holding and comforting him as he mourned the recent loss of his mother, as his father worked himself to the bone to their seven children. It's hard for orcs to find work out there
Sara Filmen, quiet, and shy followed Jerry at a distance, both her parents divorced and remarried to the same gender. We have had more grownup conversations than you might expect from a fourth grader, more aware than any child should ever have to be, elf or otherwise.
Alexa sighed knowing that there were children even worse off in the world than these, some of them smiled through anything, trying to always keep a brave face on. Others with their flinching stances, hollow-cheeked and empty gazes that left her broken inside. It’s one of the reasons she became a teacher. In the two years, she had now been teaching here at H.C.E., she had grown surprisingly close to many of these children both from her class and from the daycare group.
As the last of the waiting children came inside Alexa checked her list thinking that someone had been forgotten. Of course! How could she forget about Little Susie? She never misses school, one of the most responsible second graders she had ever met. Shutting the door, she looks out in the dark with a thought, I hope she isn’t sick the poor dear.
***************
The Kesrel House, The Heartland, Shady Oaks
7:36 AM
15:23:17 ; 15:23:16 ; 15:23:15
Susie Lu Kesrel.
*Ahhhchewww* Suzie sneezed causing her head to pound and a whimper to escape her lips. She had never felt more miserable. Last week mom had made her get the stupid flu shot. It hurt. A lot. She still got super sick. It's not fair, Susie groans her protest as a cough racks her small frame. Today we were finally getting to sing her song in music, and she was going to miss it! “Mommy I could just go-“ Susie began as a coughing fit racked her body.
“I know it's your song day in music honey, but you know the school said you aren't able to come back until you’re better.” Says Susie’s mom her hands holding a tray laden down with a bowl of soup, crackers, and half a grilled cheese with the crust cut off. "Let's see about getting you sitting up, so you can eat your special breakfast.”
Setting the tray on Susie’s bright pink dresser, topped with a mirror in the shape of a beautiful castle with a pea-green dragon wrapped around the top tower. With a great sigh Susie, sit's up with her mother’s help and agrees with a nod. "Good now drinks this, and what would you like to read?" Susie’s mother hands her a gross green drink. Giving the disgusting drink a look, while pointing at her favorite boo. Her mother gave a high melodic laugh already having been reaching for this very book.
"Drink," She says again to Susie as she settles back and looks closely and the bright pink cover with the glittering gold letters on the front. “The Ten Rules of Being a Princess: by Princess N.” She begins to read aloud using her well-practiced regal voice, or as Susie calls it her Queen's voice.
“Hiya! My name’s Princess N. Welcome soon-to-be fellow Princess! Join me in learning the rules of being a Princess.” The first page has a smiling happy young girl with soft pink hair, waiving. The second page draws your eye to the girl again as her hands are now stopped and her once-a-happy expression has fallen, and she is looking down. “Eat too.” Adds Susie’s mom, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind Susie’s purple pointed ears. “I know, I know. How can a Princess have rules? Well let me show you how I use and live by these rules to help me be the best Princess, I can be, every day!” The very bottom of this page depicts the girl smiling again waiving to follow instead of greeting this time.
Susie takes another drink of her green drink, licking lavender lips when done. It sure did look gross but tasted really good. Seeing her mom had the page ready to turn but was looking at her, Susie quickly put a spoonful of the food on her tray without looking at it. Her Mom's words were drowned out as she tried really hard not to spit out the mouthful. Looking down she sees it is a bowl full of beef stew. Gross. Forcing it down she takes a big gulp of the green drink. Seeing her mom rolling her hand in the keep going gesture as she kept reading. With a frown, Susie does, if only to keep her mom reading.
*****************
Tim’s Moms’ house, The Heartland , Shady Oaks,
10:00 Am
14:00:00 ; 13:59:59 ; 13:58:58
Timothy Dutchman “Lil Tim.”
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“Timothy! Do you need anything from the grocery store?”
Timothy jerked awake to his mom’s yell came echoing down the stairs. A pen falling from where it had stuck to his large forehead. Looking around blinking slowly, he sees the small pile of Stamina! Energy drinks, he had quickly gotten addicted to their very potent makeup. Next to that were several empty takeout containers, a dried yellowed noodle sticking to one side of the container. Sitting in the center of his desk was his setup. It had several sized screens running along the entirety of the wall with the center screen being the largest.
“Timothy are you awake?” Comes another echoing bellow from his mom. The sound grating on his ears.
“Ya!” Timothy croaks out. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “Yeah, I’m up! Can you get me more Stamina!” Pausing he thinks before adding “Mana! and Health! Too, if they have either of those, please! I worked late!”
“Ok honey, you go back to your little games now. Love you!” Timothy’s mother shouts before shutting the door.
Timothy starts up his main screen from where it had lain idle, the fan whirling to life a little hiss of steam emitting after a moment. Grumbling to himself as he started up the latest installment of one of his series. Zombie Slayer 5. “Game tester is a job” He quickly selects his preferred Character, Rob The High Commander. The giant of a man, everything Timothy thought a man should be. Even though he only had the height of the commander, and none of the muscly bulk, only flab.
Beginning the game, He starts by killing all the zombies on this level, with the variety of weapons available. After the awesome event of the slaughter, Timothy begins the agonizing task of running and jumping into every crack, crevice, wall, and every other surface and available. Only pausing to lean over and take a quick rip from his prize bong.
He had special ordered it from a guy in Creation Row. The man Crafted the perfect wizard tower. Coughing from the harsh hit he took a gulp from his open Stamina!, instantly feeling refreshed he continues with the less interesting part of his job. The bong and drink is the only way he can handle the hours of monotony.
Several hours later, he let yet another zombie has its turn ripping him apart, noting that each motion flowed smooth, the ripping flesh realistic in its pull and tear. Zombie Slayer is well known for its realistic gore and gameplay. After the words game over flashed on the screen, Timothy spun in his chair stretching, his bulk giving easy momentum to the whirl. Spinning until he faced his wall of awesome. He made a hefty some from testing out games, having made a name for himself many years ago, on the very first Zombie Slayer. Having caught several bugs that were missed by every other tester, that could have cost The Company millions of dollars, often having competitions for the first, fastest, and finest finishes. Never lacking for work since his mother hasn't had to work in almost fifteen years. The groceries and housework are the extents of her labor. Often, she spends her day doing what she loves, baking. As Timothy’s considerable bulk could attest, she was an incredible baker.
After paying their bills, he was left with plenty of money for him to start building his wall. Replica arms and armor from history, as well as a few replicas from some of his favorite games, including the entire equipment for The High Commander as well as the arms and gear of the five other main storyline characters. Even going as far as to have many of the heroes that had perished from the series. Each piece of arms and armor was made with care and perfection. Having paid several blacksmiths from Creation Row and a specialist who lived down in the Hold to make several of the historical pieces.
Several Mannequins holding suits of armor of all makes none of which fit Timothy, the exception being a special copy of The High Commander he had made to fit him earlier this year. He had planned to wear it to the reveal of the game. He was homesick after getting his flu shot, unfortunately. Man, he was getting hungry hopefully Mom was making food. “Mooooooom?”
*************
Boulder Town, The Heartland, Shady Oaks
4:55 PM
07:05:22; 07:05:21; 07:05:20
Andrew Milton POV. Luis Ramirez. Howard Jewdge, Jeremy Heartwick, Mike Newmen.
"What's up, dude?" Andrew Milton asks his best friend, and coworker Luis Ramirez.
“Oh, you know, time to make that cheddar.” Luis reply’s bumping the large mocca fist, his much larger sun-kissed fist, twice the size. Moving away from the time punch to allow Andrew space to clock in.
Laughing as he punches in, they head towards the kitchen. “Ring and Fork here?”
“Ya, already working. Mike put the NEWman into them. They were already dicking around.” Luis shook his head in mock severity as they went through the door into the kitchen. Causing the pair to laugh.
“Yo, if it ain’t Cris P Nugz and Bacon Bitz. How are we doing fellas?” Says Jeremy aka Ring as they come into the back. With a wide face and bulbous nose, a set of ears that stuck out. His pudgy form so wide, Andrew never could tell why he was the one deeper in the dish pit, where it was so tight and narrow.
“Cutting it close my dudes!” Howard aka Fork adds, a wide grin spreading his sharp nose and pinched rat-like features. His tall and lanky frame making him appear towering and skeletal next to his ever present companion. Making the pair, the widest and tallest people Andrew had ever met. Making eye contact with Andrew he flicks his eyes to the turn past the walk-in freezer where Mike is often seen waiting got anyone who dared to arrive late.
“Don’t worry, we still have five minutes to be on the line. Prep time, remember?” Andrew reply’s, putting on a cocky grin and changing his causal walk into an arrogant strut. Just as Mike comes barging around the corner in a huff like he just caught the biggest pair of criminals in the world. A glare on his face managed to take in the four in the room at one time.
His nasal voice piercing as he speaks. “I’ll be waiting” not bothering to hide the sneer, as it began stretching across his thin lips highlighted by his sharp nose and high cheekbones. His pointed ears gave him a distinctly villainous appearance.
Andrew laughs, heading back to the locker room. Luis already in uniform stays chatting with the pair in the back. Quickly changing Andrew comes back, out. Just as Ring is spitting out a rhyme. Not a very good one at that.
“Tacos I Plop those, Crisp ain’t got no. Bac’n a clutz though. Blew out his, no Oh oh ho no oh!” Ring finishes with a flourish bending to touch his knee and reaching to the ceiling “Whatchu think ma-“Ring begins to ask Andrew before Luis cuts him off. Shouting one line before storming through the swinging door back to the line.
"Fuck you, Jeremy”
His shout still echoed as Ring's much softer voice. “I’m just out here telling um about the baddest Mothafuckers I know.” His voice seems even smaller as Mike could be heard screaming at Luis.
“You wanna leave? Stop slamming doors or you can get out!" Mike's nasal voice took on an ear-piercing quality that could be heard clearly even to the rest of the back of the house.
“You know how he feels about it. I get it but maybe I better get out there, let's get this done tonight guys!” Andrew finishes washing his hands, and waves at the pair before heading through the door to the line. As he’s coming through, he can tell he is coming in at the end of a very heated conversation. Mike is glaring at Luis, his eyes hardly more than slits. Until finally Luis responds his voice filled with iron and withheld emotion.
“Sorry, I’m good I would like to work.”
"Ha, doesn't sound like it. At least your girlfriends are here to watch your back. You and pretty boy there get to clean the employee toilets tonight.”
Seeing Luis clench’s his fist, Andrew steps forwards and pats his friend on the back. "You got it, Mike." Pushing Luis in front of him as they head to their stations, Andrew to the Broiler, Luis to Salad and Pasta. Both being veterans of the line it doesn't take long for them to set up their stations. Mike was grumbling and pacing on the expo line, only pausing to take a swig of his Stamina!. Andrew grabs his fresh pair of tongs.
*clack* * clack* *clack*
Giving them a few test clacks, he leans over towards Luis who was topping of his oils. “Looks like it's gonna be a fun one. The first one that gets him to storm off wins a drink?"
"You're on, only took him two tickets going long last weekend," Luis says with a laugh. "Only if most walk-offs don't pay for the pool?" Presenting his fist.
"Deal" Andrew replies bumping the presented fist. Just as Clara comes in and slaps the first ticket of the night into Mike's open hand. Flashing a very pretty, toothy fake smile into his scowling face as she walks past him. Giving the fry cook Tony a gorgeous smile and a wink with her vibrant green eyes. Before she struts out, her short frame is curvy in all the right places. The dramatic sway of her hips draws the eyes of the currently only male line.
Mike seems to be the first to regain himself taking a swig of his Stamina! again he turns back to the line. Quickly scanning the ticket before speaking in a soft roar the entire line could hear clearly even at its loudest. “Walking in! Fry! Appetizer plater O rings 86 legs. Four Fries, Two stuffers. Broil! Two silvers, Mid rare. Four patties, two med, one well. Sautè Cajun sub Chix. Two Goddess salads. One no Cheese. All Mike received in return was a chorus of “Heard!”
************
The Company’s research Facility edge of the Heartland, near the Hold Mine
11:28 PM
00:32:27; 00:32:26 ; 00:32:25
Elizabeth Lee (POV) Julian Scranton, Julis Scranton, Yodinhin Lotova, Ciena Ramirez.
Elizabeth steps off the taxi barge giving a wave to the grumpy and frumpy pilot as she guides it back out to continue down the canal. The towering structure above caused heavy darkness to make both the pilot and barge disappear quickly from view. Elizabeth looks up at the cause of this great shadow her eyes scanning as they drift farther up this imposing colossus. Up, and up, and further still until the dark of the night hides even its size.
Suddenly feeling quite small Elizabeth could not help but look around with the realization that she was very alone. Quickly making her way from the wall and canal she could feel it still looming over her, forever the protector and prison. Having never been this close to the wall before she always used the plentiful Zips to get around the city. As if, why would she want to take a taxi for hours, sometimes days depending on which part of the city she would need to get to. Glancing to the homes to her right, seeing the state of disrepair, broken windows, many with holes in walls, looking empty and barren she knew they were packed with people. With a shake of her head and a thought, Zips were a little pricey.
Numerous warehouses stood to her left, many vandalized and tagged, it all added a stark contrast to the homes. Elizabeth knew the sad truth unless you live near one of the great schools or close to the Eye your priority was little to none. Seeing the street sign, she had been looking for, Company Row, she turned left into the warehouses.
As she grew closer to her destination, she could hear a soft conversation in the otherwise calm night. Peeking around the corner she saw a small group of people standing under a singular light pole. Just as her instructions of Zed studying them briefly before deciding she needed the money in Midnight can't be too far away, she made the decision to strive foreword with a sigh.
Four sets of eyes swung to her, two stood close together, the similar features suggested they were kin. The Pale skin, silver hair, narrow faces, and pointed ears, said they were elves. High plains elves at that, oh joy. The other two stood as far from everyone else and still be in the light. Elizabeth's eyes were drawn to a hulking figure who stood in a heavy cloak, no not a cloak. Hair, everywhere. A Mountain man? This far from the mines and their home among the caves and caverns was almost unheard of unless they had needs, they could not meet themselves. The last person had soft features, short and lean her sun-kissed skin and dark hair helped to obscure her even in the light. A desert elf? This had to be the oddest group she had ever seen outside of one of the schools.
Felling quite awkward with everyone staring, Elizabeth gave an awkward smile and a wave. When she opened her mouth to greet the group a deep voice directly behind her made her jump and remain silent.
“Finally, we can begin”