endure and survive

[gygaxed]

[ It was just over two weeks since the world had gone to hell. At least, he was pretty sure that it was two weeks. The first few days were easy to separate, they were defining moments. Eddie had read about zombies before, he had controlled zombies in games of Dungeons & Dragons, and he had a certain understanding. Of course, that understanding was limited to the fact that zombies were fake, that the dead didn't rise, and that he only ever had to be as afraid as movies like Dawn of the Dead had made him.

And then the world had shifted without warning.

It had started on the news, broadcast on the tiny tv in their living room. Big cities were seeing an unprecedented amount of patients, of people who were impossibly sick. It had been easy enough to ignore for a day or two. But the... virus, or whatever this was, because nobody really knew what it was-- it had spread so quickly. It was difficult to keep up with, because as fast as news channels could come up with answers, they disappeared from the airwaves without warning.

The school closed first, and the hospital soon after, and it was only a handful of days before Hawkins itself was only the barest shell of a town.

Eddie had spent most of it holed up in his trailer. He was flighty, prone to assume the worst, more ready to accept the strange horror than most. He heard the groaning from outside the trailer, occasionally punctuated with screams, and had stayed safe inside. It was all too much, outside of his understanding. But inside the trailer was safe, familiar, until Wayne had ventured out. Eddie had argued against it, nearly begged his uncle to stay-- but supplies were dwindling by the day and survival demanded venturing out into this strange new world.

It had been days since he had said goodbye to Wayne. There wasn't any food left in the trailer. Even then, Eddie tried to hang on, wanting to stay where he was sure it was safe. He had peered out through windows at the shambling dead, and told himself that staying inside was safer.

But nothing was safe anymore.

Eddie crept out the front door of the trailer for the first time in... It wasn't that long, but it felt like forever. Hawkins was quiet, eerie, still. It all settles in his stomach like a concrete brick, and despite that, he pushes through. He picks his way through the his hometown that has now become silent and still.

Without realizing it, his feet lead him towards the Cunningham house hold. Maybe it's because he wants some sort of comfort, the kind he can't put a name to. The Cunninghams should be long gone by now, he knows that, but there's a strange compulsion there. He just wants to, needs to, know.

Chrissy Cunningham can't possibly still be in Hawkins. But that won't stop him from skulking around the perimeter of her house, just in case. ]

Comments

[cheerleader]

[In those first days, Chrissy had been so hopeful that her mother was right. That if her family stayed together, if they prayed hard enough, that they'd be spared. When Jason comes to try and get her family out to the country club to hole up safely there with his family, that hope is dashed. He shows up a day late and infected, and watching her family be killed by him is traumatic.

Having to kill him with a golf club repeatedly against his head isn't as scary as she thought it'd be. The fact she could do it at all probably speaks a lot to how much she didn't really care for him.

After that, her hope is lost completely, and she works to close off her house using fence panels and plywood from the garage. She's used to going without eating, so the food that's inside can be rationed for a while. She settles into a pretty lonely routine. She showers, she runs up and down the stairs to stay fit, and she tries using her radio to catch any broadcasts that may still be operational. She still sleeps in her room, still listens to her tapes. And she tries to keep up with her school work, despite the fact school isn't ever going to happen again.

It keeps her mind busy, which keeps away the despair and paranoia.

She's close to reaching a point where she's just about to give up completely when she hears the alarm go off. It's the one time she's thankful for her mother's insistence that her father spend a ton of money on a state of the art home security system. Going to the panel lit up in the hallway, she tries to stay calm. It could be one of the infected, and she has to be careful. But when she sees the perimeter alarm alerting her to someone in the front right side of the house, she decides to head upstairs and check it out.

Her father's guns finally have come in handy, and she's holding one of his hunting shotgun as she makes her way up the stairs and into her bedroom. The plywood nailed to her window is pulled back enough that she can open her blinds and pull back the curtains. She's expecting an infected, or a desperate neighbor that's looking to loot things to find food.

She really isn't expecting to see Eddie Munson standing in the middle of her mother's now dying tulips, staring up at her bedroom window. But oh my gosh, is she glad to see him. The shotgun is lowered and she tries to pry the plywood off the window completely. It's loud as it happens, and it has to draw his attention. Maybe even the attention of any infected in the area.

But Eddie's there, and he's fine. He's safe. As soon as her window is open, she leans out, pressing her finger against her lips to signal that they need to be quiet for now. And she motions to the trellis that's still attached to the house beneath her window. He can climb that, or the tree. Either way, she motions for him to come in through her window. Then they can talk. ]

[gygaxed]

[ This is a bad idea. The kind of idea that can get him killed, with each passing second, with each time he loops around to walk back across the same block. Survival is supposed to be the only thing on his mind, and it is, because he can hear some part of him screaming to get inside, to stop being so fucking stupid for nothing but-- sometimes the mind craves more than just survival.

Eddie takes in a sharp breath, shoves his hands in his pockets and gets ready to head back home. It was worth a shot, sure, and this was probably several shots worth. Whatever good luck he might have accumulated in his life has surely been spent on this fool's errand. He reorients himself, thinking about what convenience store he might be able to pick through on his way back, when he hears it.

It's impossible to miss in the relative silence that has settled over Hawkins. The creak of nails coming loose, of wood splintering and being yanked away. His head whips around in search of the source, looking everywhere but the Cunningham house at first because there's just no way. It's too much to hope for, but at some point he has no choice but to look in that direction. His stomach plummets as he braces himself for the worse, but then he sees a glint of steel in the window, followed by an almost alarming shock of strawberry blonde hair.

The world has become so dark-- figuratively and literally- that it takes a moment to process what he's seeing. His mouth opens instinctively, ready to shout her name, a greeting, but the words catch in his throat. Which is for the best, given how important it is to remain quiet. Eddie's jaw snaps shut, and he gives a frantic glance around to his surroundings before hurrying towards her window.

The trellis is easy enough to climb, and as he rises above eye level he can see the vague shape of them. But nothing is terribly close at the moment, and there's something worth desperate pursuit at the top of this trellis.

Eddie clambers over the window sill, nearly collapsing into her room. Once he's steadied himself, Eddie can only stare, wide eyed and disbelieving. She's here. Alive, but here. How he wishes she were far away, somewhere safe, and yet-- there's no denying the relief that floods through him. ]

Chrissy? [ His voice comes out in a faltering whisper, as his mind still races to take in the sight of her in her dim bedroom. This feels like a dream. This has to be a dream, because-- ] I-- Oh my god. You're-- are you okay?

[ Of course she's not okay, he knows this based solely on the fact that she's here. But he asks it anyway. ]

[cheerleader]

[She slowly nods, staring at him with wide eyes. It's hard to believe that he's real.]

Not really.

[Despite her nodding, the words that come out are soft and bluntly honest. She's terrified and miserable, but seeing him here gives her something she had thought she lost.

Hope is a dangerous thing to have in times like these, though. For now, she'll allow herself to have it. A sob is choked back as she moves forward, practically launching herself at him so she can wrap her arms around him.]

Oh my gosh, Eddie. I can't believe you're really here.

[The relief of not being alone, at least in the immediate moment, is so overwhelming that the tears fall. Typically, she'd try to suck it up and let him think that she's just fine. But neither of them are, not with what's going on in the world. So just this once, she lets herself openly cry. She's so, so happy to see him again.]

aaaaa i missed the notif

[gygaxed]

[ Eddie can't help himself, he lurches towards her with his arms spread wide. For a self proclaimed loner, he isn't all too happy to be alone, and he's just so overwhelmed by relief and some other feeling. His arms wind around her, pulling her close, both their bodies too thin. He can feel her tears soak into his shirt, his hands moving to stroke fingers down her hair, her back, wanting to offer some form of comfort. ]

I'm having a hard time believing it myself.

[ A sound bubbles up from him. It's meant to be a laugh, but it catches in his throat and comes out in an awkward, choked sound. In normal circumstances, it might embarrass him, but not now. Eddie sighs, a content huff of breath, before he pulls back. It's just enough for them to talk, his arms still wrapped loosely around her. ]

I'm so glad you're okay. [ It comes as a massive relief, one that he's still processing. ] Seriously, Chrissy, this is all so fucked.

[cheerleader]

I'm alive. [She softly corrects him, frowning as she shakes her head. There's not a chance she's going to step out of his arms, not when she's so grateful to have him here with her. For the first time in weeks, she feels safe.]

But I don't think I can say I'm okay. Not really. Because...yeah, this is all really messed up. I had to kill Jason, and my family and -

[Deep breaths, Chrissy. Don't give in to that panic.

Tears keep falling, and she lets them. There's no shame in crying now that the world has gone to hell.]

I'm just really glad I'm not all alone. I thought I was the only one left.

[gygaxed]

[ Eddie clenches down on his jaw, stopping himself from making some sort of remark about Jason. It's for the best, seeing as how it's immediately followed up with her family and he feels his chest go empty, reminded of just how dire everything is. They're alive, which is... good? It should be good. In any other circumstance, it's good. He's just not so sure these days, in this circumstance.

For a moment Eddie does nothing more than hold her tight against his chest, wishing he could offer anything, anything, to help. ]

I'm sorry. [ He says softly. He doesn't know what's happened to Wayne, but he fears the worst. It's still nothing compared to what Chrissy's experienced. ] I just... [ He lets out a frustrated sigh, words escaping him. ] Whatever's happening... we're in it together, now.

[cheerleader]

Really?

[The world they've found themselves in is cutthroat and deadly. She knows that she's not strong, not much of a fighter. She's trying to be, but knows she's a liability. Any neighbor that remains would just as soon kill her to steal whatever food and supplies she has left.

No one in their right mind would agree to team up with her and face this new world together. Maybe Eddie isn't in his right mind anymore. He's probably just as traumatized as she is. So that could mean the pieces that remain of them fit well together. Well enough to work together to survive, anyway.]

Well, I can't let you go back out there alone. I don't know how long we can stay here though. There have been a lot of those things moving around out there.

[She gives him a tight squeeze before pulling back, so she can go sit on the edge of her bed. Her hand presses against the spot beside her, signaling for him to come sit if he wants.]

[gygaxed]

Yeah, I mean...

[ Eddie trails off, with no idea what to tell her. This is all so-- so fucked, something straight out of a nightmare. The fact that they've found each other is slightly comforting. At least he has someone now, some hope to cling to. When she pulls back, Eddie finds himself momentarily breathless. But she's only going to the edge of her bed, and she's beckoning for him to follow. ]

This is-- everything's fucked, I think. [ He lets himself settle heavily beside her, pushing a hand through his hair. ] And not in a fun way.

[ It would be one thing if this were just the next event in his campaign, if this were bound by the rules of dungeons and dragons. But somehow, impossibly, this is real life, and Eddie has no idea what to make of it. ]

I think we've got to get out of here, Chrissy. Head for somewhere less populated.

[cheerleader]

Now?

[The terror is instant and obvious, her eyes going wide as her heart starts to hammer in her chest. A cold sweat breaks out as she visibly pales, and although she doesn't say no outright her head shakes just a little. Outside is absolutely dangerous, and she has no idea how someone like her is supposed to stay safe.]

Do you still have your van?

[A tiny shred of hope squeaks through there. If he has his van, then maybe they can find a sliver of safety in this otherwise fucked situation. It has to be better in his van than out on foot. At least until they need to find gas.

All that she knows for sure is that she isn't letting him leave without her. She may be afraid, but she trusts him. And knows that together they might stand a fighting chance.]