annihilvtion

[annihilvtion]

Jo made it her mission to protect what she could, and who she could. Her occupation as a bounty hunter served her well thus far, she wasn't anticipating on going down without a fight. It had never been in her nature. With her gun drawn, she makes her way slowly down the hall, lights flickering above her as she listened to the noises around her. It didn't take all that long, for someone unfortunate to stumble their way toward her path.

With her back against the wall, footsteps making their way around the corner, she prepares to leap out suddenly. Catching them off guard. "Don't come any further," she tells them with her finger hovering over the trigger. Her eyes scanned the person before her, brows furrowing as she does. "What the fuck?" She throws her hands down with an irritation that could bite. Although, she draws her gun back up in a split second, realizing what his intentions must be. "You have thirty seconds to convince me not to shoot you in the face."

@annihilvtion Javi & Jo

Javier hadn't expected to end up back in Jackson. At least, not like this. It was one thing to work with these guys to save his own ass, to steal and loot from strangers who would never see his face again. But Jackson? This place was his home. He had family and people here. People he hadn't been so sure he'd ever see again, but people, none the less.

He'd been piecing together a plan to return to the zone sooner or later, but all his attempts thus far as gone off unsuccessfully. This? Raiding the place while trying to think on his feet on how to flip sides without getting himself or others killed? This...was not going well. This was not a plan.

"Fuck," he hissed as he ran down one of the corridors, head swinging from side to side in search of...well, he didn't even know what. A hiding place until things calmed down, maybe?

[annihilvtion]

Her lips form a tight line as she contemplates saying anything next. Ultimately, choosing not to. There was no reason to bring up the past so constantly, only pushing them father away from each other in the end. She had only attempted to move on once, after possibly the worst fight they'd ever had, and at the encouragement of a good friend. Obviously, it didn't go well and she was grateful for that. There wasn't anyone else for her, but Josh. She decided a long time ago that no matter what happened, she'd be there for him. She smiles at his reply as she sets the now steaming mugs onto the countertop, arms moving to wrap around his shoulders, she nods. Quickly, however, she's startled by the sound of gunfire nearby. Coupled by screams, and more gunshots. Her eyes fall on Josh, then, panicked and confused. "What was that?"

"Right" he muttered quietly as he picked up one of the empty bottles to look at it, "yeah that did happen" he spoke rather awkwardly before setting the bottle back down and looking over at her. Their latest fight being that he fought she was flirting with others, one of the many times he unintentionally ruined something good between them. Joshua had a tendency to self-destruct whenever things seemed to be going too well for him, the fear of losing people permanently like his parents scared him and he'd rather not grow attached if he could help it. Maya was somebody he felt addicted to though, he ruined things but always came running back. "I hope so" he smiled slightly, "can we be okay? I don't want to fight anymore."

[annihilvtion]

"You won't be happy to see me if you try to die on me," she tells him firmly as she guides him along. "So don't die on me. There are few people I like in this town, understand?" Although, many may think it's a light-hearted statement, she's entirely serious in her words.

She grips his chin between her fingers tightly, fingertips pressing into his cheeks as she pulls his head up to look at her. "Fuck that," she taps his face. "Do not pass out on me, Sebastian. I'll kill you myself," she urges forward with more haste as they approach the building. Filled with injured now, but she didn't care. She yells for someone, literally anyone, to give medical attention to Seb. Even going as far as to grab one of the nurses by the arm, dragging her away from another patient. "He's going to faint," she readjusts her stance in holding the man up in her arms.

"Miss Jo." The two simple words were all Sebastian said initially, forced out between lightly smiling lips. The help was welcomed, and thought Sebastian's arm was wrapped around the woman's shoulder, he did his best to hold his own weight. He knew he was big--and he didn't need to crush Jo with his weight if he stumbled too much. "Never--been so happy ta see ya," he confessed, a breathy, barely there laugh leaving him after his words. His head hung forward slightly, eyes heavy and legs feeling uncomfortably weak from the blood loss he had been experiencing, but he was a l i v e, and that was all that mattered. Still, even in his own waning health, Sebastian had to warn someone about the food. "Meat's all gone," he added, brow furrowing as his own feeling of failure hit. "Got there too late..."

[annihilvtion]

She listens to his words carefully, soaking them in as if to give herself a little bit of hope for the future. As much as she knew she shouldn't feed into the idea too much, it was still nice to allow herself a moment every now and again. "I would love to see it someday," she smiles over at him softly, but it doesn't reach her eyes.

She laughs at his words as she goes through her units. It'd taken her years to accumulate this much, and she was grateful for her hard work every day. So it was nice when a friend showed interest and asked questions. She knew she could often get carried away but it didn't seem to bore the teacher at all. "I wouldn't call you old," she comments back with another gentle smile. "That," she begins. "Is dandelion tonic. It's an anti-oxidant, basically universal power machine. It'll cleanse everything. I like to put dandelion on toast, or in tea. It can be something of an acquired taste."

Lying was never fun. Especially when Ms. Campbell was involved. But Rafael gave a nod, forcing a soft smile with it. "I do. It'll take time--maybe a lot of time--but one day, things will be all right again." His voice was gentle and hopeful, despite there being very little hope left inside the teacher. But he didn't need that to spread to Maya, or any of the younger generation for that matter. They were the future--and the future needed h o p e . Rafael was quick to shift his mind to something a little more positive--learning. Pushing his glasses up a little higher on the bridge of his nose, the elder listened closely as Maya described each of the items she picked up. Some, he was familiar with. Others? He hadn't a clue. But he was always an eager learner and he was mentally taking note of all the little details the herbalist was sharing. "No, no--not at all. I know I'm old but, I do still have some power to learn up here," he added, grinning as he tapped at his temple. He reached out slowly, picking up a container of a material he wasn't familiar with. "And this, oh wise medicine woman? What's this?"

[annihilvtion]

She doesn't hesitate, not that she ever did, to move quickly and quietly. Her experience out on the field truly was an asset in times like these, although, she couldn't recall the last time something this drastic happened in Jackson. "Perfect," she mutters with a nod.

She's quick to return fire behind them, nodding her head for Atlas to carry forward as she does. At least, taking care of those that had gained significant footing to them. She was fortunate to be with Atlas, above almost all else, for she knew they could manage to hold their ground with her. She'd hate nothing more than to be responsible for someone else at a time like this. "They're determined, I'll give them that," she finally catches her breath as they edge around the corner before beginning their climb.

As Jo returns fire, Atlas does the same. It just as quickly pulls attention towards where they're hidden, and it becomes obvious just the two of them could be taken out within seconds if they stayed where they were.

They flinch when someone appears nearly on top of them, gun raised to point directly at Jo. Atlas is too slow to react, but fortunately Jo does and the body falls. "Yeah," they agree, swallowing thickly and following as she pulls at their elbow. "Yeah, c'mon - I know a way up. Like a block up and around to the left, there are some bricks that overhang that we can use as footholds."

Gesturing in the direction they spoke of Atlas urged her forward, pointing their weapon forward and down the alleyways as they passed. They could hear footsteps following along their path and pushes Jo to go faster, firing as the first of their pursuers appears around a corner.

[annihilvtion]

"You don't have to thank me," he tells Maverick with a humorless laugh. "Just try to avoid getting shot again, will ya? You're a magnet for trouble," he leaves a hand on his brothers shoulder, at least until he steadies himself. "Right, man. Take your time," Ajax chuckles, regaining his own composure as he looks around them. "I'll have to fill you in later," he gestures to the gauze around his own thigh. Evidence of the evident break in at his own home, where he'd been separated from Beck. And not for the first time.

"Where were you when it all happened?" He asks curiously, motioning for them to get out of the streets as he walked. "I wasn't on duty. Heard the gunshots, people screaming. It's familiar, you know. It's what happened at the last place," he shakes his head slowly. It was hard to wrap his head around it all now. It had been like he was reliving the last five months of his life in the span of an hour.

Truthfully, Maverick heard the gunfire and truly thought that was it. He did not expect to see his brother's face come into his view, as blurry as it now was. "Ajax, fuck, thank you, man." Maverick spoke, reaching up to wipe the blood that was now dripping from his face off. "Better this than dead, right?" He laughed dryly, righting his balance. "I can see, I'll be good in a minute." He reassured him. "You are a sight for sore eyes, dude, I'll tell you what. Are you good?"

Maverick hadn't seen much of anyone after everything got started, but seeing his brother made him feel that much better. He didn't understand how this happened, he was on lookout every single day, communicating with the radio techs to sense incoming danger. Was he at fault? Could it had even be prevented? He knew these thoughts were healthy but he just couldn't help himself.

[annihilvtion]

She follows his instruction, trying to keep from wincing as she moved. There wasn't much more she hated than feeling weak, and useless. She'd wanted to help, not hide. "Ice sounds good," she agrees with a forced laugh as she looks up at him, trying to see how worried he was about all of this. It's how she would determine how royally fucked Jackson would be now. "You're brave, Mav. Thank you for helping me," she smiles.

Maverick embraced Maya back immediately, his hands caressing her head gently. He was so happy to see her alive, he wouldn't have known what to do if she wasn't. He wiped her tears gently as she began to speak to him. He decided to let the thought of Josh go for the moment, not wanting to upset Maya any more than she was already was. "Here, sit, let me see." Maverick gave her a hand to lower her to the stairs, examining her ankle once she was settled. "Okay, okay, you gotta get off this ankle. And we need to get you some ice." He concluded with a nod. "I don't know if it's over yet, but it seems to be over for right now. I'm okay, you know me, nothing I can't handle."

[annihilvtion]

His lips pull into a thin line before he nods slowly, "help me get this place back up and running, is all. We'll need protection first and foremost," he nods once more, reassuring himself it was possible. He thinks for a moment on her question, leaning his body up against the door frame as he gazes into their empty storage rooms. "We've gotta get guns," he turns to face her, offering a half-smile. "Or else we'll die next time around. Maybe some of your connections on the outside can help."

"Anything I can do to help?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, I've been trying to track some down, you can tell they're on their way back soon." She agreed, still taking the time to look around the armory, in the off chance that she missed something. "If we can't find more guns, what are we doing, D? We gotta have some back up plan."

[annihilvtion]

Her words were like knives in his ears, his vision going blurry as he laid his head back onto the pillow beneath him. As much as he didn't want to believe it, or rather, as much as he'd wanted his dream to be real again, he did know better. Deep down. It had been a memory, just like when a dream feels all to real. Even when it's improbable. That's what their daughter was now. Just a dream. He had to live with that every day since she died. Tears began to stream down his face, one hand moving to wipe them quickly, lingering there over his face for a moment.

"No, I know," he says quietly as he slowly turns to face Nadia. "I'm sorry." He couldn't imagine what it must be like for her, to go through it all over again. In a place that had been so safe and secure before. It was their new beginning, as most in the town believed. It was easy to forget the corruption beyond these walls.

So much happened last night, that she was still processing it all. She was able to live with some cuts and bruises but Diego had been out after getting hit. When Nadia witnessed that, she feared for his life. The same fear that filled her as the night she had with their daughter. She worried she was going to lose him like she did Nova.

Nadia stayed by his side, waiting for him to wake. Her hand never letting go of his, eyes red from crying all night. when he woke up and their eyes locked, a sense of relief came to be until he heard his question. There was only one person he was talking about and she knew exactly who. Tears began to fill her own eyes again, "Diego....Nova..." she paused, gently squeezing his hand. "Nova passed away years ago."

[annihilvtion]

closed starter: @nadiahernandez

Diego couldn't honestly remember feeling as terrified as he did when they lost Nova, the panic and the worry. The fear of the unknown. It had all happened so quickly, just the same as it did when the raiders came that night. He couldn't honestly even say that he suspected it, although he deeply wished he had. In the attack, he'd been hit with a weapon, right in the back of the head. And it was all darkness from there, some sounds that faded in and out. Until he only felt cold, and sad.

But she came to him in his sleep, they both did. His eyes fluttered open, gazing into Nadia's and he began in a whisper. He said her name with such conviction that she could have been right beside her mother. "Where did she go?" His voice is slightly hoarse, eyes beginning to flicker as he takes in the new sights around him. The white walls, the best he laid in, his knuckles - bloodied. It was as though he'd fallen asleep and into a nightmare, coming from a daydream. "She was right here," he mutters, tears forming in his eyes.

[annihilvtion]

Ajax, separated from Beck out of his home and forced into the streets, with none other than a bullet wound to his leg, managed to clear some of the raiders infiltrating the streets. It had been out of pure adrenaline at first, and now he was banking on only anger - as exhaustion had begun to creep up behind him.

While wishing to be home, tucked away with Beck, he finds himself thankful to have been forced out onto the street, when the image of Maverick and another raider came into his field of vision. He didn't hesitate to lift his gun, pulling the trigger not once, but twice, and rushing to his brother's side. "Hey, hey," he reaches for his brother's face. "You okay? Can you see, man?" He snaps his fingers in front of Maverick's face, worry filling his own.

closed starter - @annihilvtion - maverick x ajax location: town square

in the few moments maverick had been out of hiding, he'd found himself in a predicament with more raiders. maverick was panicked, more than he'd usually be, since he knew what was waiting for him back at the house. he had to get back to him. there was no other choice.

they'd fought for a few moments, both getting in good hits, but it all came to a head when a gun came out. maverick didn't have one, he cursed himself for doing what he was supposed to do and putting it away in the armory after each shift. in an attempt to get the gun from the raider, the raider wiped him in the face with the pistol. the blow caused maverick to stumble back, holding his face, his knife dropping out of his hand. he couldn't think straight, his mind was clouded with worry to the point where he just couldn't focus.

this couldn't be the end. this couldn't be how he went out. he imagined it so differently, imagined it to be way more...anything other than this.

[annihilvtion]

Upon seeing Maverick with her own two eyes, she couldn't help the tears that began to stream down her face as she wraps her own arms around him. She pulls him into a hug, whether he'd wanted one or not, and grips onto him tightly with relief. "It's, um," she chokes back her tears, only pulling away slightly to gaze at her ankle. "I think it's my ankle. I don't know where Josh is," she tells him, her eyes reaching his face now. "Are you okay? Is this all over now?"

Maverick had done his best to stay off the streets, holding up with Elijah in his house as he tended to his wounds. He knew he needed to leave to get them some help, supplies, food, literally anything that was going to help. Elijah was in no state to travel, not that Maverick would have let him do it anyways, so off he went outside.

His eyes were peeled as he left the house, his weapon firmly grasped in his hand as he moved through the broken town. It wasn't long before his eyes spotted Maya, it was something he couldn't mistake. He wanted to yell out for her, but he was worried it'd be too dangerous, so he quickly made his way over to her, immediately helping her prop up. "Hey, hey, it's me." He greeted, softly, an arm wrapped around her. "What happened to you? Are you okay? What hurts?"

[annihilvtion]

He continues to make his way in, looking around at everything left behind. All of their hard work in organizing and maintaining the armory, diminished overnight. "It's a long story," he tells her with another weak cough. "More importantly," he begins, taking the gun she's tossed him and inspecting it. "We'll need to get more guns. Soon. I doubt they will be staying away, now that they know what we're capable of here."

Thalia lowered and holstered her weapon in one swift motion once she realized who entered the room. Diego had been on her list of people to check in with, she was happy to see him in one piece. She exhaled a sigh of relief. "You look like shit, what happened to you?" She asked, crossing the room to meet him. "Everything but the stuff in the safe." She responded, shaking her head. "Which wasn't much, but it's better than nothing." She slid him the extra gun she retrieved.

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She can only shake her head at them as she fires more shots, noticing how quickly they're becoming overrun. Jo nods in response before someone runs out from one of the alleys beside them, their gun aimed directly at her. She shoots without hesitation, turning to Atlas with quite the concern reaching her eyes. Probably for the first time in her life. "We can't stay here," she glances around them once more before taking their arm in hers. "Can we shortcut to our secret spot? We might be able to get up onto the roof. I left a gun there."

"Uh huh," Atlas breathed, the corner of their lips twitching in a hint of a smile. "Whatever you say, sweetheart." If they were to be honest, Atlas was freaking out - this wasn't normal for Jackson. This didn't mean anything good. If these raiders could find their way to their little town, then who knew who else was out there searching for what the had? And what would they have after all this - if they even made it out?

Atlas shook away the thoughts, biting the inside of their cheek and glancing back towards the chaos unfolding before them. "Must've overtaken them, I guess. Only so many out there. I don't remember the last time I saw...so many."

[annihilvtion]

Maya can only nod slowly against the pain and she grips onto Chase, relieved to at least have someone friendly at her side. "Okay," she mutters as she grips onto the railings, prying herself up the stairs. "What the fuck was that?" She asks with both concern and irritation.

She struggles as they make their way back into the house, now noticing all of her things strewed across the floor. Bottles smashed, herbs and ointments stolen, cabinets left wide open and empty. Her face falls as she covers her lips with her fingertips, holding back tears in her eyes. "Please tell me this is over," she shakes her head, turning to look at Chase for reassurance.

chase was working late in her classroom when everything had happened. she eventually had fallen asleep on accident but was abruptly woken when the savages were smashing in windows. all she had to her was a knife, but even then she knew it wasn't safe to just sit and hide. she needed to flee. she made her way quietly through the hallways and was able to stealthily kill one of them that was blocking her exit. she ran so far, so fast, and avoided any stray bullets along the way.

chase had managed to make it to her house but was stopped along the way hearing her neighbor. she stopped and rushed over to her. "oh my god, a-are you okay?" she asked in a panic. "we can't stay here, you need to move, we gotta go!" she whispered yelled throwing the girl's arm around her neck. "come on let me get you inside, we need to get off the streets."

[annihilvtion]

Even as his heart raced in fear, he couldn't help but smirk down at her. Her raw energy and ferocity was what attracted him to her in the first place and he couldn't have been more in love with her then. "Agreed," he murmurs just moments before the anticipated infiltration.

It happened so rapidly that neither of them had enough time to blink, let alone protect themselves. Or each other. Ajax had attempted to grab Beck, her slipping out of his grasp just as quickly. And it wasn't the loss of vision that sent panic down his spine, it was the sound of the attack. His own fists flying through the air, knocking into whatever they could reach first. His body shaking in the adrenaline as fear and anger takes over. At one point, he had a man by the throat, gun digging into his abdomen, until he caught sight of Beck on the floor. One shot into the man before him and he was at her side, tearing someone else off of her, with his arms around his neck. He throws himself back into the nearest wall, pressing his forearm into his throat tightly. "Run," he yells at her, as forceful as he could muster before he hears another gunshot right next to him. He didn't even feel anything, until he tried to step forward again. Pressing his hand into his thigh where the pain shot up and down his leg.

beck and ajax were simply just talking while in bed when everything broke out. it was pretty late in the night, they honestly didn't expect this. but it didn't take long for the both of them to jump into action. "i got it." beck grabbed one of the guns they had tucked away, taking care of the back side of the house. her eyes met his one last time as she kissed him back, just as rough, just as much passion. "i won't let anything happen to you." she vowed before facing back to where she needed to be. "what'd you say? post-apocalyptic wedding? we both gotta make it there." she muttered.

and with that it was like a heard of people rushing in. but ajax and beck were back to back, no one was coming close enough to get them. that was until the opposing threw a smoke bomb causing the both of them to duck cover in case it was a real one. the smoke was murky and thick and seemed to last a little while. beck was coughing and lost sight of ajax and out of nowhere she was hit in the head by a gun which had made her bump into the wall. one of the opposing guys had then tackled her, sitting on top of her and started to choke her. she was trying to fight him off all while reaching for her knife.

[annihilvtion]

As they approach the kitchen island, littered with herbs set to dry and some empty bottles that needed filling, Maya begins to get to work on the hot chocolate. "Right. No, you did tell me. But then we had that fight and I just tried to forget about it," as she often did, by keeping herself busy at the shop. She quickly reaches to grab two mugs, placing them gently on the countertop. "Are you," she begins, teeth grazing her bottom lip. "Are we okay?"

Maya was one of the first in this place that he opened up to and let in. He hated the thought of being vulnerable with someone, he wasn't the kind to talk about his feelings or fears. He never really talked about his past, what he went through, it's just not the kind of person he is yet Maya got that out of him. He trusted her. She knows him, she understands him. "I had to leave for a few days to clear out some infected" he answered, his hand tangled with hers as they moved towards the kitchen. "I thought I told you but maybe I didn't, we weren't on good terms so yeah.. maybe I didn't?"