indentationYou know… he should’ve been more aware. As someone who’s sort of intrigued by these sort of scenarios, he at least should’ve seen it coming.
indentationA zombie apocalypse? Yeah. Definitely should’ve seen it coming.
indentation Tucked away in a beaten-down minivan that he just so happened to find at the best timing, there laid the blond, who had probably been hiding in the back for approximately nine hours, twenty-two minutes and eleven seconds. You know, just probably. Judging by what just happened within that time span, he could be beat, and actually, that’s exactly what he was currently. Beat, like a dog in the heat. Although, who wouldn’t be at least a bit worn out after fighting for your life against deranged, ghastly individuals who are trying to hold you down, tear into your skin and dine on your precious, precious brain matter? Of course, no one.
indentation Those individuals… those “zombies” could’ve shredded him to complete smithereens. Wiley should’ve known better than to call out to one, under the impression that it was just some random person that lost their sense of balance – or maybe just a drunk. He’s read up on people like that, he’s obsessed over people like that and had been his entire life. It entertained him, delving deeper into what was supposed to be the fairytales and the myths, but it appeared that dreams decided to, you know, become reality. Dreams? More like nightmares. Wiley had always believed that zombies weren’t as awful as they were made out to be; he didn’t believe that they were as grotesque and monstrous as people said they were; hell, he didn’t even know they were this capable of succeeding in their hunting, watching someone get mauled to death isn’t exactly pleasing to the human eye, or to his at least. But that’s what he saw… the image causing acidic bile to ascend in his throat, a not so great feeling.
For some reason, he couldn’t help but chuckle, a sound free of any humor. He had been that one kid that held belief in eindentationverything that rested within the supernatural realm of existence. Ever since he was maybe… six or seven? He started to believe in those monsters and ghouls and beasts, started to gain an obsession with them – a very, very unhealthy obsession. His mama thought it was cute at first, that he had a fascination, but then it slowly grew and began to cause her to worry, bit by bit. The more he began writing in his journals, about these creatures and these conspiracies, which he eventually went on to “investigate”, the more he kept telling his peers about it and either getting told off or laughed at (coming home with tears in his eyes because they didn’t “believe”), the more heavy the worry grew until it felt like a weight on top of her head – slowly but surely crushing her skull. And then, he supposed it reached its peak when he started to think that the supernatural caused his pa’s death – that the supernatural is what caused for his pa to vanish one wintry November night. He was only 11 years old, still innocent.
indentation Wiley would’ve loved to see the faces of his peers, those who have mocked him for believing that such a tragedy like this could ever happen… but here they were, the world in a disastrous state, fighting for their lives… Wiley lifted his head up just an inch to peek out the backseat window, noticing a trickle of water rolling down the clouded glass and then another. It was starting to rain now. An intense fog was steadily casting over the ground, causing for the blonde’s heart to skip a beat. He’d been in here for way too long, it was not safe here for him. Wiley was just too petrified to move one step out of the minivan, afraid that a zombie was waiting for him around the corner. Although, he didn’t want to starve neither… his stomach already beginning to growl when the acidic feeling began to fade away. Could there really be that many zombies around? After all, Riverford was a ghost town, the residents couldn’t be infected already. Wiley sucked his teeth and shifted into a sitting position, watching the rainwater fall down, bit by bit. He couldn’t stay here… there was still hope.
indentation With that in his mindset, he began to zip up his old and shabby, yellow raincoat all while reaching out to the van’s handle. It clicked and opened with a screech, making his hair rise from anxiety. The rain crashed down on his head as he shuffled out and onto the concrete road, his body already shivering from the bitter cold. He could admit he was expecting the rainfall, but not for it to be nippy out, good thing he had this raincoat to keep him warm… he would’ve died from frostbite before a zombie could get their monstrous hands on him. What laid in front of him was vast woods, only a forest running for miles and miles. He didn’t realize how far he drove until now, the fear doing wonders to his brain. Wiley wasn’t sure where he currently stood, but he did know he was still, in fact, in Riverford. He wasn’t willing to return back to that hotel, or any of them to be honest, so he would need to find somewhere else to settle down for the night, which was coming faster than he expected…
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indentation This apocalypse hadn’t even been here for long, and he was already feeling so defeated. He had reached for his phone in his pocket only to realize that it was dead, the battery completely drained. His mother… he wondered how she was doing… wondered if she was still alive… No, no, maybe he should just look on the bright side? There was pretty much nothing to look for when it’s now dark and somber. But his momma, his… momma… Wiley wasn’t sure if it was tears or the rain dripping down his face, but his face was definitely damp. His eyes felt sore… his body ached as he walked down the long road, his body trembling and not only from anxiousness.
indentation Every tree he walked by looked the same, every bush he walked by look the same. He was well aware that this was a forest, but the hope he had dug up was already starting to die. Wiley was hoping to find at least the slightest bit of civilization, somewhere he could relax and charge his phone’s battery so he could be able to check on his momma. It felt like he was walking forever, his feet already beginning to throb, yet the rain continued to fall – everything except his shirt already soaking wet. It was already almost dusk, but he didn’t hear the distant hum of a train passing on by like he usually did when he crossed those tracks, the same ones he skidded over in the minivan when he was in hurry to get away. And then, at that very moment, his mind lit up like a light bulb in those cartoons he used to be so fond of. Wiley remembered a place where he could be able to stay, if not already inhabited by others.
indentationThere was a trailer park a couple of miles away, where he passed a couple of times when he was moving from hotel to hotel. He considered it a snug place, even though he never talked to its residents he could tell that they were closely knitted, and it brought warmth to his heart when he would see them, nothing but smiles and grins. Maybe there could be survivors? He knew there was only a small chance, but it was still, well, a chance. Wiley could already feel their tight hugs and soft prayers as they’d take him in with open arms, making him feel as if everything was going to be alright and that everything that was happening was nothing more than an absurd nightmare. A shaky sigh escaped him as he thought about the possibility, his eyes closing momentarily as he held on to the hope that he was so desperately trying to keep. “Everything’s gone be okay…” he murmured to no one but himself, his voice coming out as a dying whisper. “Everything’s gone be okay. Everything’s gone be okay. Everything’s gone be okay...” He continued before his voice was fully masked by the loud pattering of the rain, continuing to march on.
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indentation It wasn’t something he was expecting, but it was still something. Wiley had finally made it to the trailer park, or what he thought was the trailer park, in one piece. The cold water that had been dripping down his leg the entire way here finally reaching to his skin, making him gasp from its touch. His glazed eyes stared onward at the place, or what was left of it. Instead of cheerful smiles and open arms, through the fog he saw vacancy and destruction. Trash cans were tipped over and its contents were spread all around the area, he could also see the grasses and weeds that grew through the stony pathway that carried him here making the place seem as if it were abandoned for a long time. The blond stood on the pathway; his eyes widened as he stared at everything in awe. And then came the ache… the ache that carried through his entire body as he studied every bit of the park. He’d soon realize that no one had remained at all…
indentation Wiley stumbled through the thickets and bushes as he walked through the park, his mouth remaining ajar for a few seconds. He had recalled passing through here only a couple of weeks ago and everything had been fine by then, and now… now there was no one. He wondered if they were safe, if they had gotten away… but the by the looks of it, when he observed the slightest speck of blood in his path, his heart had dived down into his stomach. It pained him his own self when he saw it, the blood of someone, even if he was not the person to have experience the physical pain. Water began to trail down his face once more but this time, this time, he knew it was from him. His face scrunched up as if he was being ripped apart right there, right then, turning to stare up at the crying skies and cry with them. But no, no, now was not the time to break down… now was not the time to be soft and weak, all this time he had been known as a brave and confident person to others, even to those strangers, – but now that he was in a situation like this, now that he was in the place he was in, it was easy to tell that he was neither of those words. He was nothing, nothing but a helpless individual in this small world. Hell, you could even say he ran away from his mother out of fear on that very day, not having the guts to deal with her for any longer, he could’ve been safe in her arms like the crybaby he was – but no, he’s stuck in Riverford as a nobody no one knows, traveling from place to place with no home, and now there was no real place he could live – only temporarily, only for the night…
indentation After calming down for now, Wiley had dared himself to go over to one of the trailers to investigate the premises, but he was disturbed from doing so when he heard a sound calling out from deeper into the park. He couldn’t make out exactly what it was within the heavy rainstorm, but the tone sounded low and gruff… like the sound of a dog. “Ark!” And then he heard it again as he slowly walked over, crushing the weeds and grasses in his way. When he heard it for a third time and fourth, his heart began to increase in intensity, his own skin feeling weird on his body as a light brief cool pushed through his bloodstream as he began to sweat immensely in the rain. He had no weapon on him, nothing that he could use to defend himself, so he instead picked up the branch that he found lying beneath the sycamore tree that was rooted directly in the center of the park. He didn’t dare call out, his brain working slightly within his anxiety haze. When he was almost there, he pulled out the tree branch in front of him so he could be ready to jab, but as he was just expecting for it to be the wails of a zombie or injured person, it turns out to be totally something else.
indentation That something turned out to be… a dog. He could see it bright and clear, even among the junk it was entangled in, he knew what it was instantly. The dog, from what he could see afar, didn’t appear to be infected or bitten by anything. Its mustard-yellow locks of hair were caked with mud and dirt, its face completely blinded by its own fur. Wiley heard it bark again, now able to hear the troubled tone that it carried. The dog had a silver chain looped around its neck that was locked around a pole somewhere within the heap of junk, but it was hooked onto everything and caused the dog to be stuck in that same position. The dog didn’t notice him at first, barking out a couple of more times before it noticed him slowly meandering over through its stringy hair. At the same time, they both cried out, Wiley taking a step back as the dog suddenly rolled back onto its stomach and tried to crawl away but failing since it was stuck in the mess. However, Wiley didn’t dare move away one bit, his heart continuously pounding against his ribcage, but not making him run away from the scene.
indentation “Hey, boy…!” was all he could manage to sputter out as he attempted the approach the dog, which was in a complete struggle now as it tried and tried to break the chain that bound it. He was only a couple of inches away was when it started whining anxiously and growling at him, eyes full dilated from fear – it was so noticeable, but he wasn’t going to back down. Wiley crouched down on his haunches when he was finally in close proximity, standing completely still so he wouldn’t startle the dog any further. Minutes would past on when the mongrel finally calmed down, but only a tiny bit, he could still see its frail form shivering – its ribs almost visible through its skin and fur. “… Hey, boy…” he tried one more time, tried to beacon the dog towards him. It seemed like it was trying to avoid eye contact, but after hearing him shift more closer, it turned abruptly to stare him in the eyes. “Please… let me help you, boy.” The dog stared at him blankly, ears relaxing as he slowly pushed his hand out in front of him for it to sniff. It responded by giving his palm a quick sniff, breathing in his scent before turning away once again.
indentation Wiley couldn’t bring it in himself to leave the dog here, especially when he was going to be spending the night here… he didn’t want to her its wails and cries for any longer. He remained crouched in front of it, even if the ache in his muscles had became even worst. His eyes softened as he stared, waiting for a sign of acceptance, a sign of anything that meant that it was beginning to relax. After ten more minutes past, he could tell that it had calmed significantly, so he steadily reached out to remove the chain from off its neck which had ended up scaring it again. The dog jerked and shook in an attempt to get out of his grasp, but Wiley held on as he yanked on it with all the strength he could muster.
indentation The chain fell to the ground with a light clink. The dog raced past him in a blur, knocking him down to the muddy ground.
indentation Wiley groaned out when he landed on his side, half of his face getting smeared with mud from the fall. He huffed as he looked up at the legs that were running in front of him, desperate to get away. A part of him was a bit upset when he watched the dog run away, but he didn’t have it in him to chase after it, so he laid there in his haze. The blond struggled to his feet, almost stumbling back on the ground from both exhaustion and the slippery surface beneath him. His head turned back over to the trailer he was supposed to look through, exhaling as he wiped his face weakly. It was getting too dark now, the sun was now completely gone – what remained was dark, clouded skies. Wiley turned to give one last glance to the dog, noticing it standing like a deer in the headlights, watching him quietly as he began to limp to the trailer – not running completely away, yet.
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indentation On the contrary, the trailer was entirely different from what it appeared on the outside. Instead, it was more… neater? Besides the knocked over vase that had been shattered into pieces an inch from his feet, everything else was in fine condition, if not just a little bit worn down. Wiley squeezed his way through the tight space, if he were claustrophobic then his opinion about this would be entirely negative. Surprisingly, it was not too dark within the trailer, he was able to make out the slightest of details. As he crept more and more into the place, he began to realize where he was standing – the supposed living room. On the table nearby, he could see the outline of a picture frame, and out of curiosity, he moved to be able to see exactly what it was…
indentation It was a little boy with his parents, his momma and pa. The boy appeared to be only around… what, seven or eight? Either way, he was pretty young. They all had charming smiles plastered onto their face, eyes filled with glee as they stared into the camera to get their photo snapped in what seemed to be a camp… Wiley had also noticed the hunting rifle that the pa was holding, they had been hunting but probably caught nothing… yet their spirits still weren’t downed, they remained bright and happy. Wiley chuckled, amused but at the same time, becoming a bit disturbed when he realized that neither of them were here, in their home at this moment. His fingers smoothed over the photograph, his eyes beginning to well as he dwelled over the thought. Once again, he felt sad over someone else…
indentation The pain in his heart became more prominent, more tears traveling down his cheeks as he placed the picture frame back on the table. A whimper escaped him as he took one large step back, tripping on something and shrieking as he fell for the second time. He landed on the sofa, saved by the soft cushions. A hand clasped his face as he rolled onto his side, shaking as thoughts of fear and melancholy were beginning to return…. Those familiar thoughts that would fill his head up every night, even before this apocalypse had happened, those thoughts that would haunt him even after he moved away from California. He murmured incoherently as he let himself tip over again, all his anxiety spilling out before him. It was the same thoughts from earlier… about his momma, about… everything that was just happening now… what his life had gone to. He was so pathetic, as if crying would do anything to make his situation better, but at the moment it was all he could do.
indentation Wiley wasn’t even sure how much longer he would survive like this. Everything was in shambles; he was no longer safe… but it wasn’t like he has ever been. He wanted to go back to his momma, wanted to be in her safe and loving arms again, away from the monsters and zombies. He’d decided he had enough of ghost chasing and mystery unraveling, all he wanted to do was go home… but did he even have a home to go to anymore? Was his momma waiting back for him there? Or was she dead, like everyone he had come to know?
indentation A sniffle escaped him, his fit of crying finally stopping after what was probably forever. He knew the pain would return, but he could keep it at bay, for now… Wiley was left in a high, his eyes fogged by the tears that were yet to spill. He stared out the trailer window from the couch, its softness beginning to lull him in just like the night sky itself. The rain had begun to stop, water dripping down from the sky briefly like it does down a faucet. Now everything… was calm. He knew it was just for the moment, just for now, but he wanted for it to stay forever – wanted to feel like everything was okay and everything was going to be alright in this night. Wiley didn’t bother to take off his jacket, didn’t bother to take off his soaked clothes, now lounging on the couch even with his dirty shoes on… he could sleep now, right here, if he wanted, and he just might do that….
indentation But then… he heard a scratch at the door, and that was when all his senses came back to him all too suddenly – adrenaline in his body making him feel like he’s in the sky.
indentation Wiley slowly moved from off the couch and onto his feet, his breath already growing shaky again as he moved towards the door to peep out of the peephole. He tried that, but alas, he didn’t see the distinct figure of a human… there was nothing. “…Huh?” he mumbled to himself, hands growing jittery. He knew it would be stupid to open the door, especially during a time like this, but he heard it again and again – like the barking of the dog he freed earlier…. He felt like he should’ve, and so he did.
indentation Wiley didn’t expect a wired-haired heap of hair to be gazing back up in his eyes, its eyes shining through its messy locks that were caked with mud. He had not been expecting it at all, but here it was, right in front of him. The dog from earlier had returned, same condition – same looks, but with an entirely different expression on its face. The blond wasn’t an expert on animal behavior, but due to the instinctive connection people had with their furry companions, he could tell that the dog wasn’t in fear… just in bliss? “… B-Boy?” Wiley stammered as he continued to stare down at the mongrel at his feet. The dog responded by cocking its head to the side, not breaking its gaze from him at all. And then… his heart… warmed.
indentation Tears trailed down his face, but no, no, this time it wasn’t from sadness, nor was it from pain, it was from… joy? Wiley stumbled down to his knees to let the dog hurry in his embrace, hugging on the hound like a child does to a stuffed animal. The dog licked at his salty tears, not bothered by the fact that he was squeezing really tightly. Wiley released after a few more moments, the dog looking at him with playful eyes, licking at his fingers as he tried to pat its head, which was surprisingly soft for a dog that’s been literally rolling around in the mud for a quite a long time.
indentation Wiley wondered if this meant something, the dog returning… but it didn’t have to mean anything. He was glad for once to have someone, someone that came back. He wasn’t sure if the dog was going to stay with him for long, but he decided to name him Harry, getting a kick out of his kind of amusing appearance.
indentation “Harry…” he cooed, the dog looking up at him softly – his heart feeling the heat.
