The Sickness

Arianna Cortez

I held Jojo tightly as she cried.

"Hey hun, let's get out of here." I said softly, brushing her hair out of her face.

Aerrow appeared behind me, "Yea. I think we've had enough for one day."

Jojo hiccuped as I stood up, looking around for Greer. She was standing, talking to the mysterious dark-haired boy and looking quite tense. I walked over, grabbing her arm tightly and smiled at the boy.

"Nice meeting you, I'd offer you lunch but I'm in a bit of a hurry." I spat sarcastically.

"Ouch, I might of felt that one a little." he chuckled. "Can I come with you?"

"No. I don't want to be murdered in my sleep thanks." I said, pulling GT away. "Come on, this guy is sketchy."

"I head that." he said, strolling away.

I turned back to Jojo, boosting her up to the rooftops, then gave Greer a step up. I turned to Aerrow, who was looking back to where the cloaked figure had disappeared.

"Don't worry about it." I smiled, flicking him in the nose.

"Ouch." he grimaced.

I grabbed onto the piping and swung myself up onto the rooftop.

"So, who feels like playing some spiderman?" I grinned.

"We are not jumping roofs again Ari." Greer snorted and I giggled and positioned myself to sprint. "Says who?"

Jojo

"I want to roof jump!" I say. They all yell no at once.

"Knowing you, you would make it halfway, fall, and then smile the whole way down." Ari says.

"You are probably right." I say with a half-smile.

I pick up a gun off the roof. "Anyone want to teach me how to use this?" For once in my life I wanted to feel useful to them, not just the girl who weighed everyone down. The girl who could smile at a pack of starving hyenas running at full speed. I wanted to be something else, someone else. That girl I could never be...

Erm. Since my attempt at putting myself into the story didn't work too well, could someone try to put me in?

SAMUEL

I sat ontop of the skyscaper, watching the little blobs below me run around screaming at eachother. And this is why you won't start a tribe. I told myself. I clung to the knife in my hand. It wasn't going to suit me quite well enough. I needed a better weapon. I wasn't good with guns, but anything with a blade- Maybe I could go raid one of those collector shops. The ones with the daggars and samuri-swords. I grinned to myself.

I was a loner. I never did do well in the company of others and it was easier to think on my own. Nobody to tell me what to do and nobody to tell me what not to do. Perfect lifestyle.

No, starting a tribe was something I would definately not do. Joining a tribe was a worse choice as far as I was concerned. Tribes meant violence, initiations and more blood-shed than if I was just on my own. No, I would remain a loner.

Time to go find a sword-shop... I walked across the roof to the elevator.

Hex:

"Now, you just keep off that foot and you should be okay." I smiled up at the nice lady that had helped me repair my foot. I was just walking back home, well, as home as home could be, when these group of people just ran me over. I fell and twisted my ankle. It was a shame really.
"Thank you," I mumbled while grimacing. She nodded and gave me a crutch.
"Safe traveling," she said while giving me help to the door. I walked out and started back towards my tribe, it was my day to look after the younger ones. I was walking down the street when something fell from the sky and knocked me over.
"Ow," I cried out in pain. Grimacing I tried to stand up again, tears forming from the pain and the effort. A high pitched ping rang through my ears and then the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air.
"Are you okay," someone called. I looked up and squinted before nodding. "Here, let me help you." I help out my hand and the other person pulled me up.
"Thanks," I mumbled, attempting I smile.
"No problem," he replied, "I'm, uh, Sam." I gained my balance on my crutch and smiled.
"Hex. Thanks for the help."

Caleb Reynolds-Aerrow

I stared at Jojo as she began to move the gun up and down her palms. I felt a smile grow across my tired face, "I'll teach you, Jojo." I said with a grin. In the corner of my eye, I saw Greer look back down to where the mysterious guy use to be standing. Jojo's face lit up with a wide smile, "Really! You will." Ari scoffed, "Aerrow couldn't shoot a sloth if he was standing two steps beside it."

Greer and Jojo began to laugh, their voices echoing into the setting sun. "I could to!" I said outraged. "Yeah, yeah say that to the still intact bullseye target back at the library." Ari poked out her tongue, a mischievous smile across her face. "Aw, don't be mean to poor Aerrow." GT began, "It isn't his fault he is as blind as a bat."

"Thank Gt, thanks a heap." I said sarcastically over their loud roars of laughter. Jojo came to a dead halt, sending Ari and GT stumbling over her. Now it was my turn to laugh. "Can you guys hear voices?" Jojo asked cutting my hysterical laughter short. Perking my ears I frowned, trying to pinpoint the whereabouts of voices. Nothing. GT's face suddenly clouded with suspicion, creeping towards the edge she looked down into the alley way.

"Two girls; one young, the other looks like a teenager." Ari clutched at her shot gun and walked over towards GT. I followed after Jojo as she scampered towards the other two. Two girls stood plain staking underneath a colourful tarpan roof, holes spread through the thick material allowing rays of sun through. "What happened Kammie?" The younger one asked, her eyes wide with doubt. 'Kammie' shook her head, her eyes lowered in defeat.

"I want to go home already!" The younger one demanded loudly. Kammie looked up scuffing her shoe, "We need help Mikayla or else we'll end up like Mu-" Ari stood up breaking my concentration. "Leave 'em." She said, something glimmered in her blue-grey eyes. Greer gasped, "We can't do that." Ari turned to look at the two sisters contemplating what to do. I looked back down, "Maybe we should follow 'em." Ari shook her head, "They could be spies, and are leading us into a trap even as we speak." Jojo nodded lifting herself up.

"Maybe they know something." Greer quickly threw in. "And if they don’t what makes you think they'll tell us." Ari added quizzically. "Well we won't know till we try." Cupping her hands around her mouth, Jojo let out a bird call making the two sisters instantly turn to look. A smile spread across my face as Jojo's face lit up in a mischievous grin. 'Mikayla' pointed up towards us, hope in her wide eyes. I frowned, she reminded me of Annabelle. She looked young enough to become a mutation...

Arianna Cortez - Ari

I sighed in frustration. "We're going to regret this Aerrow. We can't afford any dead weight these days."

"Aw come on Ari. What's the harm?"

"Yea. There's a lot of harm. Anyone out here these days can be out to kill. Yea, let's be a charity! 'Hey you, don't shoot we want to help!'" I muttered bitterly.

"You're so suspicious Ari." he said, rolling his eyes.

"Yea right. I'm careful." I said, resting my shotgun on my shoulder before throwing myself down to the ledge, and hopping off to the ground. The two girls looked at me and Aerrow who followed. I could hear GT cursing at the pipes that creaked under our weight.

"So, apparently you guys need a hand." I grimaced, readjusting my shotgun.

Aerrow stepped forward, flipping his hair back. "I'm Aerrow. First things first, these alleyways aren't safe, let's get out of here."

**Having this person named Kammie is going to confuse the crap out of me xD Also, I'll change her nickname to Ari, as everyone is calling her that.

Greer Tolsen - GT

Greer wasn't sure how keen she was on adding these two to their whatever-group. They already had Jojo. It wasn't about protecting people--she didn't care about that--it was more about how much additional danger having people who can't handle themselves put them in.

And this little girl. She was tiny--she was the youngest by far, and Greer wasn't even really sure how old she was. The looked about six, but something told her she was older.

Really, Greer didn't want to watch kids die anymore. She was over that.

She was careful not to let these two in too quickly. Hung back a little, and just took them in without many words. She didn't like the ease in which Caleb accepted them. But, she was also being very attentive to the alleyway. She wasn't sure about this "Dougie" character and hadn't seen exactly where he went, and at the same time there was something intriguing about him. Annoying, but intriguing.

Greer worked silently and quietly looking around the different corners...checking for potential threats. She was stealthy--it was one of her main selling points.

SAMUEL

Hex stared at me for a moment. I didn't know what to say to him. What could I say? She didn't seem like a blood-thirsty savage like some I had seen, but still...

"You have a tribe?" She asked.

"Huh?" I paused, what had she just asked? "Oh-no, I'm a loner." I laughed. She just blinked at me and shook her head. I grinned. "What? You seem surprised at the idea." She didn't answer. My patients was already growing thin. Easy Sam. She's injured. "Look, I've gotta get going. It's not the safest for a loner like me to be out on the streets with no weapon and nobody to watch my back."

I waved and began to turn, trying to plan out where I was going to go. I needed a weapon. Sure I had my daggar, but it was a measly little thing and it was already dulling.

"Where to?" I paused at Hex's voice.

"I need something better than a daggar," I muttered. It was none of her business.

"I thought you said you were weaponless?" Was she challenging me? It would be vital for her safety that he wasn't.

"This daggar against a tribe. Not gonna happen." I presumed walking.

Caleb Reynolds-Aerrow

The night engulfed us in its cold clutches as we slinked our way across the empty streets. The smell of smoke coming from near by wafted in our direction, hard booze and cigarette fumes following in tow. The streets were a dangerous place at night.

I held tightly onto my katana, rolling my wrists as I stepped through the shadows. I didn't trust the darkness, and it wasn't forgiving to me either. I stumbled over a rock, cursing loudly as I stubbed my toe. A chorus of "SHHH'S" sounded hastily behind me. Giving the thumbs up over my shoulder, I ran out into the middle of the street. What was left of light post towered over my head, revealing a full yellow moon. A shaft of thick light sprayed down on to us, lighting up our sweat sodden faces.

"Nearly there," Jojo cooed to Mikayla, whose face was streaked with tears of fatigue. I frowned away from the two girls, I could tell the others didn't like pulling them two along but they were young and they looked practically helpless so they couldn’t say no to them. I smiled at Kammie who ran reverently across the street pulling her little sister with her, there hands clamped protectively together.

"Where is GT?" Ari asked hurriedly running into the street. She looked around the road holding her bo tightly in her grip. "Here," came GT's voice as she jumped from the foundations of destroyed building. "A few people are in front of the library, and I think there is even more inside.” I gasped suddenly. “But that is our home?” Jojo said in a monotone, her eyes wide with anger and confusion. Greer nodded “We'll have to fight them out if we want to ever have a chance of getting any of our stuff, or we’ll just have to find a new place and steal new clothes and equipment."

I felt my jaw tighten at the thought of an enemy tribe going through my stuff. My hand tightened on my katana, anger clouding my jumbled thoughts. Jojo let out a cry, "But my mother's necklace in their." GT played with her bottom lip nervously, "I know, my stuff is in their also." Ari lifted her bo onto her shoulder, staring angrily down the road leading towards our hideaway.

"We have to fight to get it back, Ari!" Jojo pulled on Ari's shirt hurriedly, her eyes wide. Both Mikayla and Kammie gasped in horror. I could tell they had no intention of taking on a horde of blood thirsty tribesman. "Be rational Jojo, we can't." Ari said, though her features told differently. She wanted to fight, I wanted to fight, and we all wanted our home and stuff back!

"But GT!" Jojo turned GT when Ari wouldn't give her any leeway. GT shook her head, "There is like fifty or more in there and only like what, Eight of us?" Ari scoffed, "Not even that. It’s six including them." She motioned with her towards the two sisters. I bit into my lip, "What about that guy in the alley way who helped us!" Jojo's eyes were full of pleading. I blinked thoughtfully trying to clear out the sounds of others.

"What if we sneaked in?" I suggested looking up into the giant moon. "And then what?" GT and Ari said in unison, "We would be in total trouble; they would kill us in a matter of seconds!" GT said sarcastically, her eyes narrowed. "There has to be a way though!" I snapped, "There just has to be." I let my voice soften and my eyes fall. There has to be. "There has to be more people that will help us!" Jojo said suddenly, determination streaking her face.

Kammie coughed into the palm of her hand, "I know where there are a few orphans-" Ari interrupted her abruptly, "But they are orphans." GT looked up, "Aren't we orphans?"

Kate Angell|Zaria:

I rummaged through the weapons in the shop. It was useless. There was nothing here I could use. My dagger was strapped to my thigh but it was just a dagger, no use against a tribe of fifty.

Sighing, I stod up and kicked the broken cabnet. It was pointless. I put my hands on my hips and glared at the ruined shop.

There was a sudden noise behind me and I gasped, spinning to face whoever was sneaking up on me. I was quite surprised to find a tall, blonde haired boy with blue eyes standing there.

I drew my dagger and backed away from him. I noticed a girl behind him. She had a crutch so she was probably hurt. The boy was stunned.

Everyone posted over night. Blooming time zones....

Dougie Lee

Yeah. Those guys were going to suffer without me. I didn't even know why I asked to go with them, it was a spur of the moment thing, I guess. I should have learnt by now; no one wants me and no one will ever want me. That's just how it is. I can't blame them though, I am the most pathetic idiot ever.

I strolled along the pavement, the rain still dropping like crystals onto the earth. I didn't know why, but I couldn't keep my mind off my last encounter. They were the first group of people who seemed to be half decent. Especially that girl, GT. She seemed cool. Maybe I could go and find them again...?

"Don't be stupid," I muttered to myself. "you don't want to risk anyone else's life."

Maybe I could just find them? I didn't have to actually say anything to them, just see what they were doing. That way, it would only be my life that I was risking. It didn't matter if I got myself killed, after all.

I paused. What about Charlie? He was alive, I knew he was. No, I couldn't let myself get killed, not with my little brother still alive. He needed me. I may have been a weak, careless idiot but I was all that Charlie had.

As I passed a building, I noticed a group of people. A curved grin grew on my face. It was them. Hmm... What to do? I thought to myself, sitting down on a wall. I could go and say hi, maybe freak 'em out a bit? Or I could just leave 'em? I waited for a while as I watched them. They seemed to be trying - and failing - to get into the building. I noticed a group of other teenagers in there, probably an enemy tribe.

I laughed as I realised what their problem was. They really weren't fearless, were they? That's why tribes are for idiots, half of the people who join them are wimps. I continued watching, as the girl I recognised as GT, and a boy with dark hair discussed something. Don't talk about it, idiots. Just bang those frickin' doors down and scare the crap out of 'em inside. I continued to chuckle to myself. They all looked terrified. I sighed heavily; it was so tempting...

Greer Tolsen - GT

She shook her head, unsure of exactly why this is being considered. They had lost their places and things before, it honestly wasn't that big of a deal.

"Guys, this is stupid. The bigger our group gets, the more noticed we become. And we can't fight all of them, especially with th---" Greer stopped, she was going to say something to the affect of having new people who didn't exactly appear to have the best combat skills, but decided to go a different direction "--younger people with us now. It's just stupid. Let's just find somewhere else."

Jojo's eyes welled up, "But, my mother's necklace!"

Greer sighed heavily and turned to Jojo. Why the hell she left something that important to her in the library, she'd never know. "Look, Jojo, you have to let it go. I'm sorry, but it's just not worth it."

But, as tough as Greer appeared on the outside, she was internally working on a plan to sneak into the library alone, unnoticed, and grab the necklace (and the necklace only). Even if Jojo drove her nuts, she knew what it was like to lose her mother.

SAMUEL

I stared at the girl in front of me, musing at her hair. I didn't think I'd ever seen hair as red. I shook my head and tried to get something to come out of my mouth. "Easy," was all I could manage.

"Don't touch me," she hissed.

I almost laughed. Yeah, like I would actually hurt somebody unless they asked for it. "I don't plan on it. I just need a weapon and I'll be on my way." I heard Hex shift on her cruth behind me. I still didn't know why she had followed me. I strode towards a sword on the wall and took it down. It wasn't the greatest, but it would do for now.

"A sword?" the girl asked. She sounded ammused.

I shrugged. "Me and guns don't mix," I muttered, examining my new weapon. The blade was sharp and that's all I care about.

"You're not with a tribe," she commented.

"Nope." I didn't look at her, but Hex was still shifting uneasily on her crutches. I turneed to her. "Why don't you go back to your tribe now, Hex?" I asked.

Kate Angell|Zaria:

I watched him inspect the sword. He seemed so calm, standing there like nothing had changed. I sighed and kicked a broken chair out of my way.

"So," I said, drawing out the word until he looked at me. "You're a loner."

"Yep," he said and turned back to examining his new sword.

"Me too," I muttered and climbed over the rubble and into the street.

I looked around, frowning. With us making this much noise we would have been noticed, would have drawn attention to ourselves....but nothing. There was nothing. There was no attention on us. Where was everyone?

"Um," I said and turned back to the boy as the girl, Hex, limped off. "Wouldn't we have a crowd of onlookers by now? Judging by all the noise I was making, that is."

He turned back to me, frowning. "Probably."

"So..." I said and looked around again. "Where are they?"