Ashes to Ashes

Cassie

They eyed each other warily for a minute. A thin line of blood was trickling down Amp's throat, but he didn't wipe it away. Cassie felt a little guilty. She hadn't meant to hurt him. Okay, maybe she had, but it had just been self defense.

"Shut it, Shadow," she finally said. The dog fell silent but didn't relax. Cassie reached down and looped her fingers through her collar. "So who are you with? It sounds like you're dragging a whole parade through here."

AMBROSE

I'm with...well, I saw a little girl. I thought she was someone else. Apparently her sister fell in a hole and I tried to help," Amp frowned. "Now it seems to everyone that it's some party now. They're all smiling and happy, like this is some miracle. Maybe it is. But just because there are other survivors doesn't guarantee that we'll live, ourselves. What about you. Where did you come from?"

He looked at the girl and folded his arms over his chest.

"You can tell me as we walk back down to the group. Because, as much as I hate to admit it, staying on my own this time isn't the best idea. It would be best if you'd join us too though I won't make you."

Cassie

She hesitated for a moment, and then sighed. "Fine. It's not like I have a better plan."

"Good." He flashed her a smile, but it didn't erase the tired look in his eyes.

She followed him deeper into the woods, matching his long stride. Shadow trotted at her side, tail wagging a little. Apparently the dog had decided that Amp could be trusted.

"I'm guessing your family's dead?" Cassie asked. Amp nodded, and she sighed again. "Mine too. I was driving home from college when it happened. I was supposed to be home the day before, but I decided to help my friend pack for her spring break trip and leave later. And then... well, you remember what happened. If I had left the day before, I would have been home when it happened. Maybe they wouldn't have... have died, if I'd been there." She trailed off awkwardly.

AMBROSE

He felt really bad for the girl. He knew just how painful it was to have that burden on his shoulders. Maddie should be alive now. He promised to keep her safe. He shook his head.

"There wouldn't have been anything you could do," he said, quietly. "We both know that. No sense in looking at a past no one can change. Don't let it bog you down. It'll only make it harder to live your life. Which, as you can see, will be hard enough."

Cassie glanced at him and narrowed her eyes. "What about your family?"

Amp looked at the ash, so much ash. "You want me to tell you my sad little story?" He asked, sarcastically. The girl didn't reply. Amp sighed. He didn't know why he should tell her but he assumed it was hard for her to say her own story.

"Well, I'm a theif. I lived on the streets with my little sister," he paused, not able to say her name. "I found shelter for us, I kept us alive, like I promised her and my mother. It was chaotic, but I knew the city. I knew things those snobby rich kids didn't. And I survived. I'm not sure what happened to my sister. She just...went missing. I never found a body and I have reason to believe she may still be alive."

Cassie looked at him. "Take your own advice. Don't look back at the past. It's very rare that she'll be alive," she told him.

Amp glared. "Yeah, I know. But I can't give up yet. She's my sister."

Cara

Cara, who had only been listening to the discussion faintly. Her mind had drifted to other things; before the Apocalypse, her years as a budding photojournalist. Now she perked up.

"Listen," she cut in, "Your sister is dead. Stop pretending, because no matter how much you search and tell yourself that's alive, she'll really be dead." Cara didn't really know what she was saying, and understood that it was rude. Tears began to swell up in her eyes and she stormed off to be by herself.

Kyle

"Hey, um... I have my tech shelter that we could fit in. You know, instead of living in a hole," Kyle turned to Anton. "No offense."

"None taken."

"I have some power and food, it could last us awhile," Kyle put his hands into his pockets, glad that he hadn't had to leave everything behind like they did. He knew there was enough space for them all, he would have to rearrange some stuff, but they would all fit. "It's back over the hill and a little bit to walk, if anyone wants to come."

Ambrose

"Your sister is dead. Stop pretending, because no matter how much you search and tell yourself that's alive, she'll really be dead," said the girl, Cara.

She started to walk away but Amp ran in front of her.

"Yeah? She may well be, but I don't know that. Just because you're rich, snooty family was too weak to find a way to live doesn't mean my sister didn't! She's strong. Strong in ways that you'll never understand! She probably found a way," Amp growled, threatening.

He didn't even know the girl but he knew her type. She was rich. Snooty. Probably had a good home and family and a nice, warm bed while he and his sister froze on the streets. She didn't know anything about Maddie.

Cara glared up at him and Amp clenched his fists. He was losing his temper again. The girl hadn't really done anything to him, but he couldn't help it.

"I don't need to prove anything to you," he sighed, mostly to himself.

It was hard, but Amp walked away. There was no need to do it. He didn't need to explain the reasons why he believed his sister was still alive. She was just another rich girl. Just another face. A lucky survivor. Just like everyone here. Like him.

Natalie

Natalie was startled. Power... and food? She was reluctant to trust this guy, but she looked back at Kelsey, who was still asleep on her back. They were both getting thinner, weaker, and Natalie had noticed that she'd begun to talk to herself.

The smart thing to do...

She looked at Kyle. "I don't know about them, but we'll come."

Kyle

Kyle nodded at Natalie, "Okay, if anyone else wants to come we're headed over there." Kyle waited until Natalie was next to him and he started toward his lab. He picked up his taser gun and strapped it over his back. "Watch your step on the hill, it's really bumpy."

Natalie

Natalie nodded. "I'll keep that in mind." She shifted Kelsey into a more comfortable position on her back; she was beginning to feel heavy, and her back ached a little. But she wasn't going to put her down until she woke up.

Alec

Thud. Alec watched his knife sink into the ground softly. He wrenched it out as he looked around and threw it again.

"Your sister is dead. Stop pretending, because no matter how much you search and tell yourself that's alive, she'll really be dead,"

Bitch, Alec thought. If that was me she was lecturing, she'd have had something else coming for her. He sheathed his knife and, seemingly without knowing what he was doing, fingered the crescent moon tied to his wrist. It was small, tiny really, and meant for a much smaller person. Amp's heated reply was drowned out as Kyle spoke up.

"Hey, um... I have my tech shelter that we could fit in. You know, instead of living in a hole."

As he and Natalie stood up, Alec did too, and he joined her as they walked away. "Hi. I'm Alec. Mind if I join?"

Kyle

"Yeah, you can come, too; everybody can fit. There's plenty of room," Kyle said turning back. He had heard them arguing, but had figured that didn't want to get in the middle of it. He was glad that it was over.

*Sorry it's so short guys, but we need to get this going with action. Either everybody needs cto go with Kyle and Natalie and Alec or they stay in the hole. Gasper and I are about to put a spin on this. No telling when it'll happen...*

**Mwahaha. **

Natalie

Natalie looked up at Alec, slightly startled. Then she shrugged. "I can hardly stop you, can I?" Then Kyle said that there was plenty of room. She smiled. "There you go."

Kelsey shifted slightly on Natalie's back and mumbled something, but she didn't wake up.

*Can't wait for the twist! *

Alec

Alec watched Kelsey stir on Natalie's back and smiled sadly. "She's cute," he said. "How old is she?"


*shortness*

Natalie

Natalie glanced at Alec and hoisted Kelsey a little higher up on her back. "She turned nine in August, just before all this happened." She sighed. "She's really not meant for all this. This traveling for days on end with little to no food and water... it's killing her. Slowly, but it is."