Solomon Island Wake The Dead

[Collapsible Myth]

The sun was making itself known. Slender rays of its light leaked through the drawn blinds covering the window. She wasn't ready for the world just yet, perhaps only a few more minutes would make all the difference. The light padding of the purring cat grew loud as Emily pushed her head under the covers to find her new owners face. "I'm up I'm up..." she scratched Emily under the chin as the cat jumped from the bed to the floor, its job completed. "Just one morning when I can sleep in....is it too much to ask Emily." She slowly lifted herself up into a sitting position. The dull throb of pain waking within her lower back. The effects of her furthering deteriorating state of health. Dressed in one of her many ThinkGeek.com t-shirts and comfy pajama pants. Pushing her legs over the side of the bed Zoe looked like she had woken from a several month long sleep. Staring to the window with groggy eyes "hmm...another good day." she whispered softly to herself. Listening to the rustling of Emily out in the living room, most likely playing with one of her many toys. The soft jingle of her collar that Maya had gotten for her waking Zoe up more.

The effort of simply standing was painful. Her daily task of getting out of bed consisted of moving onto her stomach. Pushing herself off the bed with assistance of the corner post of her bed. Grimacing as muscles yelled in pain as she fully put her weights on her legs. Zoe slowly shuffled to her bathroom, leaning on every piece of furniture as she slowly made her way there. The light was dim as she had replaced the bulb with one that wasn't equivalent to staring into the sun. Half of the vanity was covered in a plethora of pill bottles. Every known medication to lessen the effects of the pain in her back, her heart medication and anticoagulant. Three bottles with a simple label on each. Numbering in one through three. Maya's special blend of medication that she told her would help in the control of the virus ravaging her body. She spent the next several minutes downing her pills. The dry, pastiness of each erased away with a sip of water.

She changed into a sports bra and simple jogging sweats. Reaching under her bed she pulled out her treadmill. Setting it up next to the bed, Emily instantly jumped onto it "Thinking we can go over a mile this morning?" looking to Emily's face. Her answer to the question was a soft meow. The act of running was hard for her let alone in her much weakened state. After running close to three quarters of a mile Zoe pounded the stop button. Covered in sweat and breathing quite heavily she collapsed to the ground. Wiping the sweat from her eyes "this really sucks Emily." The cat only stared to Zoe. "I guess your right...time to get to work." Jumping into the shower she started to get dressed. Grey button down blouse, concealed holster which was covered by her soft blue jacket. Sliding the gun that Mischa gave her as a gift into its home. Securing her thigh holster, the soft material hugging her leg in a comforting embrace. She smooth her dress down making sure she looked presentable as she looked in the long mirror on the back of her bedroom door "What do you think Emily.." The cat rubbed against Zoe's leg affectionately "My thoughts exactly."

 

[Collapsible Myth]

Outside, the cool London air was heavy with a recent rain. The streets soaked as people went about their way. Ealdwic fit the general stereotype of the strange and unusual. Several people milled about in front of the record store across the street, their clothes a mix of club wear and punk. The two women wearing only a tattered jacket and a very revealing bikini top. Zoe stared to them, her eyes going over their bodies, taking in their outfits and general appearance. She shook her head as the three men that were crowding around them weren't much more dressed. Tight jeans that accented their bulge, shirtless and wearing an assortment of hats that were completely absurd. "People here have absolutely no class." she whispered mostly to herself. She continues her walk down the street, passing by the Horned God, the previous night’s drunks stumbling out of the door. Young couples were deeply involved with each other on the stairs to someone's flat. Quickening her pace she finally reached her destination one of the magic shops that offered their services within Ealdwic.

The bell attached to the door announcing her arrival. The shop was filled with various items that lined the shelves, beaconing visitors to take them home. "Ms. Yamada, pleasure as always to see you again." The shopkeeper was a gentle old man. His white hair slicked back in a vain attempt to hold onto the dwindling light of youth. "Always busy for work my dear. You should spend some time in relaxing." His smile offering a pleasant aura as he directed towards the back of the shop "Don't get me wrong Ms. Yamada. I enjoy your beauty as it brings a light into this dark shop of mine." Zoe blushed slightly "Thank you...Mr. Ronous...I appreciate you allowing me to use the lodestone." He opened a door, the room within was empty save for a small table set into the center of the room. Sitting on the table was an object, the warm green glow inviting people to come closer "The usual location?" He asked as he waved his hands over the object. Soft clicking sounds came from the object as several symbols moved about its surface "Yes...and I thank you again." The shopkeeper focused for a moment "We're set. Remember as always, you must keep your rune with you if you wish to return. If you don't, you'll be taking the next flight or you'll be stuck out there, poor thing about your anima handicap." Zoe stared into the glow of the lodestone; she reached her hand towards it as the world around her swirled into a blinding flash of green. Her sense of being ripped from space and time as she was pulled from London and dropped into the upper offices of city hall of Kingsmouth.

Waiting for brief moment as the effects of the transport drifted off. The sounds of distant gunfire joined the low moans of the dead shambling outside. Her eyes adjusted to the dark room. Letting her senses reach out for any signs of the walking dead in the room. The air was silent save for her breathing. Knowing the room was clear and she was alone, Zoe moved towards the far closet where she had stored her supplies. Feeling her way to the far side, her hand rested on the cold brass door handle. Opening it she quickly removed the large bag containing her weapons and armor. She swiftly stripped her clothes off hoping that no one would come into the room as she was changing. Sliding her legs into the leather pants, the feeling of the heavy material felt good. As she zipped the front of her top together, the armor constricting over her like a warm glove. As she finished placing the last bit of armor Zoe lifted the tactical vest over her head. Tightening the straps securely Zoe checked the extra magazines in the bag knowing she would only be out here for a short time, it still was comforting to know she would be stocked for a long outing. With throwing an extra box of ammo into one of the large pockets of her leg harness, she keeps her senses finely tuned to the outside world as she lifted her sword from the bag. Feeling the weight of her equipment bag on her back muscles strained in resistance, Zoe removed a small pill from one of her chest pockets. The muscle relaxant would help stave off the pain while still leaving her senses untouched. Hefting her MA14 Carbine to her chest, securing it to the weapons strap of her vest Zoe lastly picked up her glasses, the slight amber tint of the lenses offering her a sharpened view while the miniature computer within the arms showed vital information to her on the lens. She softly closed the door to the closet as she silently made her way out.

 

[Collapsible Myth]

Zoe exited the building out the back, sticking to the shadows the building provided in the perpetual twilight of Solomon Island. The sound of flesh being torn apart brought her to a halt. Some poor soul had made a mistake in the past day or so and was offering them as a small meal to one of the many wondering zombies that had over run the island. She lifted the handgun with its perfectly weighted suppressor. She pulled the trigger. A soft pop the only sound as the zombies head burst open in a bloom of gore. Zoe quickly made her way to the amateur that had got them turned into a walker meal. Most of the upper torso had been ripped or chewed away she reached with a gloved hand to the rear pockets of the person's pants. Not finding a wallet or anything else "Already been picked over" she thought. Nearby gunfire brought her attention back to City Hall building, screaming followed with another long string of gunfire "amateur...short bursts..." She moved to the far side of the wide ally, stepping into an open shed as she waited. The doors at the rear of city hall burst open, two people came running out into the ally. Their faces locked in terror as they were followed by a large mob of zombies. The two managed to cut down the first dozen or so. Zoe watched them empty their magazines, firing wildly into the mob. She watched them as the closest person became over run, his screams filling the air as unrestrained jaws tore into the man’s flesh. Zoe shook her head as the remaining man emptied another magazine just as the last zombie bite into his side. The man shoved the assault rifle into the zombies head, crushing it as he fell to the ground.

Zoe waited several minutes for any stragglers, she watched as the bitten man drag himself over to the far side of a building. She slowly stood up as she walked over to him "Hello sir..." she said softly for him to hear. Her pistol at the ready "it wasn't very smart to fire wildly like that." He stared at her for a moment as he pressed his hand to the large bite on his side "I reckon you're going to put me out of misery now huh." Zoe dropped to a knee "Yes, eventually." A low groan stirred from the pile of bodies where the man's friend was last seen. Zoe went over to the pile using her boot to kick various limbs away to reveal the waking dead man. Putting a bullet between the zombie’s eyes with a soft pop from her handgun Zoe looked back to the dying man "You two didn't think things through, sir." His laughter disturbed her slightly "no shi…" Zoe had fired the gun, ending the man’s words as his brains decorated the wall of the building behind where he sat. She went over to his body, searching through the satchel he carried. Various folders filled the bag. The Templar logo embossed on several pages of what looked like request forms. "What were you doing here?" she asked the dead man. Digging deeper she discovered a tablet. As she powered it on she looked around, keeping an ever watchful eye to any possible attacks. The tablet was one of the newer models, the icon grid revealing several folders. Experiments and results labeled a few of the files unfortunately the battery indicator flashed just before the tablet shut itself off "Shoot..." Removing the bag from the man’s body Zoe stood, deciding the best path to get to the church "Always a something sinister out here."

Slinking through back alleys while remaining in the shadows, Zoe stopped as she reached the main road through downtown Kingsmouth. The number of dead roaming the streets had increased since she had last been here. Pulling her phone out she flipped through several maps the dim screen barely visible as to not give out her position. Craning her neck, she peered around the corner of the store "two streets down then left down Main St" softly whispering to herself. Gripping the assault rifle strapped to her chest she checked the bolt, Zoe crouched into a low stoop. Her back letting her know about the pain. Ignoring it she moved down the sidewalk moving in-between porches and outside patio furniture. Jumping over a low fence she landed onto the stomach of a waiting zombie. Her boots sinking into the rotting flesh as she rolled across the hard concrete. Bringing the rifle up, squeezing a three round burst into the zombie’s chest and head. Pivoting on her knee she scanned the immediate area, watching for others that would have been attracted to the gunfire. A group of five that had been milling about across the street was beginning to shamble over to Zoe's position. Steadying her breathing she place several more short bursts into the group, dropping them with precision. Knowing she could be overrun at any moment she got back to her feet, continuing her brisk walk.

Leaning against a stoop, Zoe rested for a moment. Having already worked through one magazine and half way through another she had cleared a path of dead. She looked down the road. In view she could see the tall steeple of the church over the tops of the surrounding buildings. Counting the numbers of shambling dead in her way "Where did they all come from?" she wondered. "pst...pst...lady?" Zoe turned quickly to the soft voice that came from the now opened door of the small store "lady...you'll never make it...there's too many of them." staring to the dirty face of the teenage girl that was peeking from behind the door "I need to get to the church." Zoe whispered, not wanting to draw attention. The girl motioned for her to come in "Not that way...I know a shortcut."

 

[Collapsible Myth]

Stepping into the dark storefront Zoe kept her weapon at the ready. Looking at every possible hiding spot for an attack "Just me and my brother...we were down at the inn with our parents when several of those large sea guys burst in.." Zoe listened to the girl as she continued on with her story. Glancing every once in a while to her. The girl looked to be only fifteen or sixteen. Her Slipknot t-shirt was covered in a plethora of dirt, blood and any number of stains. The girls face was soft; her eyes heavy with the effects of many long nights of no sleep "Just you two? Where are your parents now?" Zoe asked knowing what the answered would be even before she finished the question. "They were killed." Zoe looked to the girl, her tone flat of any sadness. Perhaps she had used up her grief already or that the shock hadn't set in yet. "Your alive and so is your brother...where is he?" She watched as the girl moved towards the rear of the store her footsteps barely audible, taking note of the girl’s slight frame. "You haven't had anything to eat." Zoe followed the girl as she descended down into the basement her senses now in high alert. "We've been scavenging from houses and stores." They turned a corner as the figure of what Zoe assumed to be the girl’s brother came into view. The boys shirt was shredded, several long tracks of what appeared to be claw marks. His skin was a sickly pale grey; everything about him threw up red flags "How long has he been like this?" The girl knelt beside her brother as he tried to lift his head to look at Zoe "Just yesterday. We were coming from the diner when these two guys jumped us. They took our food and left us to deal with some of the zombies that they attracted with their yelling." the girls tone was angry. She held her brothers hand, comforting him "I should have done a better job as a big sister...I'm sorry.." Coming closer Zoe could see the large bit mark on the boys arm "You know what has to be done." Zoe asked the girl, hoping that she did. "He's going to die and then his body will become a husk that will be a savage beast." Zoe continued. "No no no...you can get him to the church we all can go there...god can save him...he has too." Sighing loudly, it always amazed Zoe in how much normal people placed blind faith into a story, pretending that a deity could cure all of their troubles by simply praying and wishing it to happen. "There's no time and he's too sick to move. It's better for him to be put down, now." The girls rage flashed in her eyes towards Zoe "No...god will protect us and he'll heal my brother." Leaning down Zoe gripped the girls arm, pulling her up. She removed the handgun from its holster "Your god isn't here and your brother is in pain and is dead." The realization of the events unfolding shocked the girl as she screamed for Zoe to stop. The pop of the gun quickly quieted the girl. The boy slumped to the side. The small bullet wound on his forehead as he left a smear of gore on the wall. "no no no no" the girl smothered her face into Zoe's shoulder, her sobs rocking her frail body. "It was for the best." Zoe said softly.

Straining against the grief stricken girl, pushing her away "Get ahold of yourself. Tell me about the two men you mentioned." she asked in the hope of distracting the girls attention from her dead brother's body. The girl tried to explain in-between her sobs. Wiping her face with the back of her hand "They....they...were looking for…something about a computer...or hard drive...?" Zoe looked to the girl remembering the two men that had been overrun earlier. "Alright, change of plans. I want you to take me back to the Inn. Can you do that or I’m to leave you here."

 

[Collapsible Myth]

The girl had surprised Zoe in guiding a path between buildings and houses. Her demeanor was cold and withdrawn. They had stopped near the elementary school "Thank you, you should find some place or head over to the sheriff's office to be safe." Zoe whispered to the girl without looking over her shoulder to her. "Why...I have nothing left. You need my help in getting around here." Zoe never needed help before. Her times spent in the field were spent alone. Since being assigned to The Toolbox she had become accustomed to running missions as a team. Building a friendship with the others knowing that she can count on them to watch her back or she in turn watches theirs. "Fine, The moment things go south you run and hide." Zoe turned to look at the girl; her nodding of agreement filled Zoe with a vacuum of doubt of the girl’s survival.

The air was still. The soft splashes of the waves against the beach adding a background to the groans and grunts of the many Draugs that had lined themselves randomly across the beach. Crouching against the row of bushes, Zoe kept the Draugs in her sights. The girl rested behind her, mimicking Zoe in keeping her cover staring to the door that hung open in the slight breeze. Zoe silently made her way up the wrap around porch. The wood near the door was stained a deep crimson. Deep gouges in the frame gave Zoe pause knowing that the girl’s story was beginning to have some truth. She looked back to the girl, motioning her to come up and fall in line behind her. Turning to face the girl she leaned close. Her face barely touches the girl’s ear as she whispered to her "Stay close behind me. Things go wrong you jet out of here and hide."

Zoe stepped lightly into the small converted lobby, scanning to every direction, every corner, for any signs of draug or the dead, holding the handgun tight against her body. The suppressor straight and true as Zoe moved further into the room. Signs of the fight the girl mentioned were evident. Chairs crushed under weight. Their splintered remains spread out in all directions. Zoe moved towards the right side of the lobby. The door frame had been forcibly split on the sides. Draugs, let alone the larger ones with huge growths on one hand that turned it into a sledgehammer type of weapon weren't known for their grace or their ability to fit through normal sized doorframes. The smell hit her first. She was use to the air having a twinge of rot. Looking into the dining area Zoe spotted what remained of two bodies. Determining who they were going to be an impossible task, their head crushed so badly, nothing remained to give any frame of reference. The limbs torn savagely from the torso as the floor were covered in the slick sheen of blood and gore. Zoe's guide had looked into the room. The gasp followed by the soft cry brought Zoe's hand to cover the girl’s mouth, her eyes telling the girl to not make a sound. The soft footfall of someone briefly broke the thick silence that had enveloped them. Zoe released her hand from the girl’s mouth, the tears clearing tracks in the dirt upon her face. Motioning for her to follow, Zoe made a soft exit through the dining area, heading to the stairs. Zoe directed the girl to step softly on the edges of each stair. They slowly crept up to the second floor.

The air on the second floor was heavier. The lack of any circulation compounding to the fact the smell of the deceased within the rooms blended together in a bouquet of death. Controlling her breathing, the urge to gag grew only to be pushed down by her training. She stopped, listening to the low groan of the shambling dead trapped within one of the rooms. The girl following Zoe pointed to the far room. Nodding, Zoe stepped lightly on the wood floors. Wrapping her gloved hand around the door handle she opened the door a crack. She looks into the room through the thin sliver. The floor was littered with paper, various dried fluids streaking in all directions from what little she could see. Pushing the ever so slightly, the opening widening to reveal more of the room. The bed was bare, the sheets and covers had long been thrown about the room, a dark brown stain of dried blood the only evidence of life in the room. Standing at the window, it’s back towards Zoe. The zombie pawed at the window unaware of the raising barrel of her gun leveling to its head. The window splashed a dark crimson as the body dropped lifeless to the floor. Pulling the girl in behind her as Zoe closed the door to the room. "We heard this one up here but we couldn't take care of it." the girl whispered "When the two men came in, they mentioned something about a contact they had upstairs." Zoe scanned the room. The papers everywhere appeared to be normal, everyday printouts. As she continued her scan her gaze fell to the zombie’s hand. The flesh had become a dark grey but she could still make the outline of a tattoo. Kneeling down her mouth twisted into a tight frown "Templars." Motioning for the girl to come closer to her "I need you to look everywhere in here. I believe our friends might have come here to collect something." The girl nodded, thankful for something to do too keep her mind of the dismembered bodies of her parents downstairs. Zoe focused her attention to the body. She searched the dead man’s pockets, suppressing the urge to vomit. Coming up empty as the man had absolutely nothing in his pockets. Her puzzlement had shown on her face "What are you hiding blood." She looked over to where the girl was searching in the closet Zoe continued to pat the body down. Her hand brushed past a raised bump under the skin of the man's side. Tracing the shape, Zoe removed the small knife she always carried with her. Slicing into the rotting flesh as another wave of fetid smells erupted from the cut she had made. Pressing the object out, it dropped to the ground. Using the dead man’s shirt, Zoe wiped as much gore she could from the object, looking at it. The realization of what it was brought a smile to her face. Even covered and stained the small thumb drive was distinguishable. The brief moment of joy was quickly washed away as the slam of a car door, loud in the still air announced the arrival of visitors. Moving quickly to the window Zoe peered to the ground below. Sitting proudly on the small parking lot sat a black van. Four of its occupants were standing around in the front of it surrounding a tall woman. The woman wore the neatly pressed black uniform of the Orochi. "Shoot..."

 

[Collapsible Myth]

Dropping to her knees Zoe quickly scanned the room, snapping her fingers twice to get the attention of the girl "We need to go...now." She grabbed her by the arm. Zoe shoved the thumb drive into her front pocket as they moved out into the hall. Keeping her senses broadened to any sounds from the other rooms she glanced up. The access to the attic framed out on the ceiling. Pulling the expanding ladder down she quickly directed the girl to move up the ladder. Rushing behind, Zoe lifted the hatch back into position. Drawing the string handle into the door.

As Zoe controlled her breathing, allowing herself to take in long deep breaths. straining to hear the heavy footsteps of the Orochi soldiers entering the Inn. Looking back to the girl, the fear shone brightly in her eyes. Zoe raised her finger close to her lips in a gesture of silence. Crouching down, straddling the beams as she leveled her rifle to the door. The soldiers rushed loudly up the stairs. Not being ones for subtly or the ability to move quietly. "Check the rooms, bastard has to be here." Listening to them kick in the doors of each room. Their movements savage. The loudness as they turned every bed over, ripping the closet doors from the frames. "Ma'am. Found him in here." Knowing they found the body Zoe had discovered the thumb drive in, she braced herself hoping for a quick firefight if it came down to it. "What do you mean it’s gone? Those two idiots...alright. The rest of you find anything of worth." The soldiers all reported in with negative findings. "Let's get out of here and begin a sweep of the town. They must of made their way there." Waiting for them to head out, gesturing to the girl to continue to wait. Her patience was rewarded as the sounds of the remaining soldier made his way down the stairs. Knowing that it was standard procedure for them to keep rear guards in the off chance of stragglers coming out of hiding or making themselves known, waiting several more minutes. Zoe inched closer to the hatch pressing the release, letting the ladder slowly expand. She motioned for the girl to follow her.

"All of the noise they made might have attracted some attention. Stay on me and we'll make it out of here." Zoe whispered. Knowing now that the Orochi were looking for what is on the thumb drive; she was really looking forward to finding out what was on it. Stepping from the last step Zoe continued to scan the area. Whether on the lookout for the dead, creatures from the ocean and even the most feared the living. With the girl following in step right behind her Zoe was starting to enjoy not having to tell her to do things. The girl seemed to understand what needed to be done. Whether it was from a sense of survival or simply not wanting to be left alone Zoe didn't mind. Keeping her guard up as it wasn't the time or place to relax. They were still far from any safe locations and worse near the beach. "Now, best way to get out of here." she asked watching the front door move back and forth in the breeze. The various scattered items littered the floor from where the Orochi soldiers had stormed through recklessly turning her head to look back to the girl. The ever so slight movement near the check-in counter caught her trained eye. As she aimed her gun towards the location of the movement a blur of motion surprised Zoe. Catching her off guard a single punch to her hands dropped the gun to the floor as a gloved fist connected to her cheek. The pain flashing white through her vision the glasses she wore clattered to the floor. Her muscles tightening as her training kicked in. Sweeping her foot out in a wide arc of the direction the punches had originated from, connecting to the legs of her hidden assailant, knocking the woman to the ground with a heavy thud. Her heart rate quickened. Quickly getting back to her feet was the tall Orochi woman. "I knew Ethan might have had other buyers. You should have covered your tracks better. I noticed the small footprint left in the carpet, knowing eventually that the person would come out of hiding and hand over the device they removed from the body." The woman talked in hushed tones with a strong air of authority. "I don't know what you’re talking about and the dead guy...well he was already taken care of before I got here." Zoe maneuvered slightly to the right, along the wall facing the dining area. The warmth from the woman's punch was dulling very little of the pain in her jaw "Don't toy with me child, I know you have the drive and things will go much easier on you once you hand it over." Zoe ran through several scenarios in her head. Would the woman just let them go, she had a high chance in that would not happen if she simply handed over the drive, risking the use of the assault rifle, too risky as it would draw to much attention.

 

[Collapsible Myth]

"You'll let us walk out of here?" she asked. A thin smile appeared on the tall woman's face, her stance relaxing "Of course. I don't want any more bloodshed for something as trivial as that drive." Zoe received her answer. The woman was going to have them killed. The subtle tone she used while choosing the correct words to convey disinterest in the contents of the drive. Walking closer to the woman she removed the drive. She hesitated for only a moment, focusing to the woman's eyes. There, the shimmer of the woman’s motives. In one quick motion Zoe slide her hand under the woman's outstretched arm. Gripping her tightly she twisted, throwing her off balance into a controlled fall to the floor. Zoe felt the muscles under the Orochi uniform tighten, the woman's shoulder stayed firm as Zoe pulled the arm, dislocating it as the woman hit the floor. Pressing her knee into the back of the Orochi's neck "Wrong, we're going to leave and I'm going to leave you here to deal with the dead." Zoe whispered to the woman. Looking over to the girl who was still standing by the check in counter "Run to those parked cars near the road and find a spot to hide." She watched as the girl left rather quickly through the open door. Placing the drive back into the pocket she had removed it from "Now. What's on the drive. I can easily hack into it but it would be nice to know beforehand." The woman strained against the hold Zoe had on her "Nothing that you want to risk your life over with." Knowing her time was quickly dwindling as the groans of the dead that had been attracted to the noise of the van slowly began to draw close "Tell me before they get here." The Orochi remained silent "Alright..." Zoe rolled off the woman, picking up the gun that she dropped from the floor. She leapt through the door out onto the porch. A large herd of dead were beginning to surround the Inn. The screeching tires of the black van alerted the dead to the presence of fresh meat. A Orochi soldier was leaning out of the passenger side window, firing wildly into the approaching mass of rotting flesh. Using the distraction of the van Zoe ran off to the cars she had told the girl to hide out in. Her heart beating faster she looked between two cars "girl...come on where are you?" Hurrying now Zoe continued to the last two cars, glancing occasionally to the gunfire behind her back at the Inn. A flash of movement from within one of the abandoned cars "Come on we need to go now." she grabbed the girl by the arm, pulling her form the car. They both ran along the path back into town, back into momentary safety "You owe me a pair of new glasses, you know that right." Zoe said half-jokingly as she looked back to the Inn. The van sped off in the direction of the airport. Drawing the herd to follow them

Zoe was breathing heavily as they stopped in the shadow of fire station. She felt her heart strain with every beat, knowing she had pushed herself too hard in their run. Taking every breath of the cool damp air of the island into her "Orochi...always them behind every...mess up." Trying to calm herself down to listen to every sound that was being drowned out by her beating heart. "Are you alright?" the girl asked. The nervousness presents in her voice "Yes...give me a moment." Zoe rested her hand on the pocket containing the thumb drive. The Orochi were going to quite a length in order to get the information that could be on the drive, digging her gloved fingers into the soft earth, the coolness seeping into her fingers through the gloves. Her chest ached, everything slowed. The world shifted into a greyish hue "not now." she thought knowing her body was strained too far and was trying in vain to protect itself by sending her into a sleep. Zoe with her last ounce of strength slammed her head into the wooden siding, jarring herself back into the here and now. "Alright...we need to get going. Can't stand around out in the open for too long."

The cemetery was just in view as they hide under the tree. The Orochi helicopter slowly flew above the tree line before speeding off in the direction of the airport. Zoe peeked around the trunk of the tree. Spotting the church just past the cemetery "Path is clear, let’s go." They walked swiftly Zoe leading the way, rifle in hand pointed at the ready, weaving through the gravestones. Several rotting zombies shuffled in their direction. Knowing they would never each them, Zoe lead the girl to crouch next the rear of the church "stay close." Moving slowly they made their way to the front, the open doors beckoning to all the safety within. Keeping her eyes peeled for any surprises Zoe directed for the girl to make her way up the stairs into the church.

Feeling the soft push of the charged wards as they both entered into the church was comforting. Reverend Hawthrone stood near the alter bible in hand as he slowly turned around to the two women that had entered "Welcome. Your both safe here as you are well aware Ms. Yamada." Bowing to the Reverend "Thank you sir...actually she would need to safe transport" motioning to the girl "She's lost her family and is in need of help." The girl sat heavily into one of the pews, laying down "Perhaps a good meal and much needed rest." Zoe mentioned as she looked over to the now sleeping girl "Take care of her. I have to return as there is a something the Orochi is looking for and I need to know what it is." Zoe started to walk towards the door "Ms. Yamada, I hope you will find this helpful to your fellow team mates in the future." he said holding a small well-worn book out to her "I think the stories within will be quite enlightening in modern science." She thanked him for the help, taking a deep breath before stepping back out into the street.

Stepping into city hall Zoe looked around a moment. A pool of fresh blood stained the floor near the front door, the bright crimson trail leading off towards the basement door. Zoe stepped lightly across the room. Her legs protesting from all of the running she had done today. The trip from the church back to city hall was filled with only a few zombies. Dispatching them with ease, a stark contrast from earlier as she guessed the herd had continued onwards to a new location or someone had drawn their direction elsewhere. Pressing her head against the door, listening to any sounds coming up from the basement. Suddenly Zoe stopped in her tracks as a soft voice was heard coming closer to the door, moving quickly to desk that sat against the wall. She crouched behind it with her hand gun at the ready. The basement door swung open. Stepping out into room, the Orochi woman Zoe had left back at the Inn somehow had survived and was now standing within city hall. "It is too bad he couldn't provide any more information. Keep your eyes out for the Illuminati agent, she has the drive and we can't have her finding out what is on it." She watched the woman leave, an Orochi armored soldier in tow. She waited a few more moments before she climbed up the stairs, checking the rooms before entering the file storage office. She stowed her weapons and armor into the small closet. As she changed into her street clothes she looked to the small drive and the book "Looks like I have some work to do." Taking the rune in hand she closed her eyes as she was once again ripped from space and time.