The Survivors (started)

Raisa forced herself to remain still as she tried her best to stare him down. It wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do, since she basically had to bend her neck to look up at him from her place crouched on the ground. Tadge shook his head quickly, and then suddenly turned and darted off with a black backpack. Her black backpack.
Anger flared inside of her and she followed after him, her fingers going white on the blade she held. She was about to confront him when he suddenly sat down behind a corner, shuffling through all her stuff. Raisa's jaw clenched, but then his breath hissed out. She watched as he pulled out his hand, fresh with newly shed blood. He quickly snatched her favorite scarf and wrapped it around his injured hand, but the blood quickly seeped through.
Her mean streak was glad that he had cut himself on her stash of knives, and even wanted to laugh at his reduced state. But somehow he had gone even paler, and Raisa's eyes were glued to the blood that trickled down his arm like a swollen river. She couldn't just leave him like that, she thought. Plus even if she left him, he would still have her backpack. And her journal.
Raisa left her hiding spot behind the corner and marched towards him with her head held high. She crouched down and shuffled through her backpack, ignoring the dark drops that began to sprinkle her arms. She yanked her scarf off of his hand and held his arm in front of her, gently pouring her water bottle over the wounds. More blood leaked out, but much less compared to before.
She re-wrapped his hand with the scarf, jerking it as tight as she could. She nodded once she was satisfied that he couldn't feel the tips of his fingers, and looked up and gave him her death look. She said, "Next time you want to steal from someone, make sure to look before you grab the first thing that's in there."
She stood swiftly and shouldered her backpack, giving him one last look to make sure that he didn't take this as an act of kindness. She stormed off and decided that it would be better if she never got her scarf back.

Spoiler

I wasn't sure if you were talking about her backpack or not, so I'm sorry of you weren't talking about hers, winterbites

Tabitha skated through the aisles. She just needed to get away from everybody. When the girl had left the group, she had noticed how Liam's shoulders sagged slightly and how his eyes flicked in annoyance. He had apologized afterward of how he was controlling everybody, but she realized if this alliance or "Safe Haven" or whatever was going to work they would need to corporate. She was glad that somebody had stepped up to lead because at the moment everybody was lost and fighting off thoughts of home.

At least she was.

She hopped off her board to collect some water bottles and some chips. Doritos? Lays? Or Fritos?She might as well take all of them. She skated through a couple more aisles, looking for batteries for her camera. Finally she found some and tossed them in her backpack.

She turned a corner to skate back to the group and without warning ran over somebody.

"Are you okay? Jeez, so sorry about that, I didn't see you there!" Tabitha's face flushed with embarrassment and she quickly helped him up off the ground. Her mind raced to remember what his name was.

Spoiler

Guys, please put your character's name in bold on the top of your post, so it would be easier to see who's character it is. Thanks!

Mark Handley

The boy had started daydreaming about something on the ceiling. I looked up and saw a sprinler with some water damage sprouting out from it.

His eyes grew large as his mind's imagination registered something. He made a finger gun and shot the sprinkler. He ducked out of the way when an uptight girl acted like his mother and shushed him.

Mothers. Fathers. Children. All of that had changed now. There was no family left. No friends. Just strangers.

Enough of all that, I thought to myself. Don't wanna get all sappy in front of a whole bunch of strangers.

I watched as the boy shaded his eyes and looked at a group of girls. His eyes started to water up. Oh no, not good.

He met gazes with me and I winked goodnaturedly, hoping to come him down. He smiled a bit. So, it worked. I formed the shape of a gun with my finger and pretended to shoot him. He giggled a bit and jumped out of the way, almost losing his balance for a second there.

A girl walked up to me in all of the chaos. "Is this...?"

"Yes, welcome to 'Safe Heaven.'" I stood up and offered her my chair.

"Thanks," She muttered.

"You okay?" I asked, suddenly concerned for her.

"Yeah, just a little out of breath from running in here. By that..."

"Note? Yeah, I got that, also."

The man who literally just started giving us orders decided to give us yet another one. I think he was enjoying this boss position a little too much. "Okay gather supplies and search through the store." He looked around at the group, who didn't seem that enthusiastic about searching aimlessly to get supplies while the world outside was basically ending. "I'm sorry that I have become so controlling." Then he went off to explain how it was in his lineage, or something of that sort. I'm sure he had the blood of George Washington in him, I don't know, I wasn't listening anymore.

I had seen a door that interested me a bit among entering here. Just kidding. It was the janitor's closet. I walked over there before that Martin Luther King Jr. of a man stopped giving his "I have a dream" speech and opened it, entering the surprisingly large worker's closet. Well this is a CVS, it needs some heavy duty janitors. And it certainly seemed that way. There was stocks of utilities, mops, buckets, shovels, rakes, even some washing and drying machines in the back, from what I could see. It's sure to have more goodies in the back part.

I flicked on the lightswitch to the back of the hall when I heard the door behind click close. Intruder! I raised my finger gun, which I didn't even realize I was still doing, then put it down almost immediately after.

It was a girl, probably a little younger than me, and I heard some stifled sobs.

"Uh..." I really didn't know what to say. Well, I had already made two people feel a little better today, so I should make it a third. "Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here." Boy she was tripping over her words like crazy. She needed some help.

"It's fine. You're...Alice, right?" I flashed her a small smile. If that wasn't her name, I'd be screwed.

She nodded, and I started breathing again.

"You're..." She sighed a little.

"I'm Mark." I held out my hand. She didn't seem to notice, but stifled another sob.

"I'm sorry if I bothered you?" You looked past my hand, not really noticing it. I took the offer down.

"No, no. Are you okay?" She nodded and explained how she had no idea what was going on. Her eyes started welling up again. "Trust me, I have no clue either. We'll figure this out, though." I flashed a bigger, longer smile at her and she finally returned it. This was working. Time to find somethine else to make her feel better.

I've got it! "I've got something that will cheer you up if you like?" I aked, sweating bullets. She nodded wearily. I started breathing again. Why do I always do this when I'm nervous? I shook my mental head and turned on my camera, switching through the photos until I found one that cracked me up everytime I saw it.

It was two of my friends who swore up and down that the picture would look right, even when I started taking it. They were trying to do the whole 'Leaning Tower of Pisa' thing on the Washington monument, but they were doing it the wrong way.

I showed her and explained basically how my friends were stupid and how I was always right. She laughed a small, hollow laugh, but it was a laugh. "People are weird." And dumb, I thought, but I nodded in agreement. She looked at it a little bit longer before laughing again and she said, "Thanks, I needed that."

"No problem at all. I'm glad I could help." I patted her back and steered her to the back of the office. "Let's see what else is in here."

There was three doors with an office desk in front of them. The desk had about twenty monitors each with a camera, or likely that. most of them were static except a few, about two or three. One was of the main area, where we were at. The other two looked like they were of the gymnasium and of the medical part. There was one that flickered on and off, and it looked like it was of the outside. I didn't look at this one for too long, because it hurt to see what the sky looked like.

"So, which door do you want to go in first?" I asked.

Spoiler

Sorry this was so late and so long. Someone else is offered to join us in the janitor's closet Better late than never, eh?

Spoiler

crazycraz says..

I wasn't sure if you were talking about her backpack or not, so I'm sorry of you weren't talking about hers, winterbites.

It's perfectly fine, it wasn't intended to be your bag, but it is nowc:

Tadge looked at the young girl bandaging him up. She walked away. He said nothing to her. His hard stare bore into the back of her head as she walked away. She turned back and threw him a filthy look.

You're not here to make friends Tadge, but try not to make enemy's! His mind whispered. He stood up but staggered a little, he clutched his arms with his good hand and walked like a ghost over to her, "What is your name?" He whispered, fear covered her face but was gone just as Tadge noticed it, his smirk grew wider. "Cat got your tongue now?" His voice was husky and scratchy from the lack of water, "Now, my dear," He was toying with her, "May I have that bag back, or am I just wasting my time?" His ice blue eyes were hard as crystal.

The girl shook her head, no. Tadge was taken back, no one had refused him before. Ever! He didn't know what to do. Shock was clearly written on his face and she smirked up at him. He opened and closed his mouth trying to find something to say. He hate the satisfied look spreading across her beautiful face. Tadge took a few steps forward and whispered in her ear, "Don't bother sleeping without one eye open wide," Her hazel eyes darted over his face to find any sign of a joking manner, she didn't find one just his ice blue eyes staring down at her, "There's creatures in the dark," With that he walked off slowly.

". . Tadge. ." He stopped but didn't turn around, having his name said by a girl was weird to him. He felt uncomfortable but strangely liked it.

"What. . .?" His voice was a little softer from before but he still didn't face her.

Raisa
"What?" He whispered. Raisa wasn't sure why she had called his name, but she felt that something, anything needed to be said. Tadge had seemed wary of her out first, and it had startled her when he had suddenly grew a backbone and waved it in her face like a cat toy. She could usually predict people pretty easily, and she wasn't used to her instinct being wrong. She wouldn't make that mistake again.
She marched up and faced him, her golden eyes daring him to act out against her again. She reached into her bag and pulled out two of her knives and a granola bar. She shoved them in his hand, all the while watching his face for a reaction. She would have to keep an eye on him, she decided.
"Raisa," she said. "My name is Raisa Melbourne, and the same can go for you too." She turned on her heal and sprinted off, disappearing before he had a chance to reply. It would be better to have an ally, no matter how much he set her off, than to have none at all.

Spoiler

I'm sorry about that >.<

There was something strange about that girl, Tadge thought as he put the knife into his pocket. He wondered around CVS looking for something else. Tadge opened a white heavy door with all the strength he had. All the chandlers were smashed, he wondered what this building was used for. His heart was pounding as his footsteps echoed across the tiles. This room was big and almost empty, apart from the few boxes and the tall cupboard that had been knocked over. That stain glass from it was shattered onto the floor and reached to the other side of the room.

Tadge avoided the glass as he knelt down and stretched his hand into the cupboard. His fingers brushed something that felt like a velvet box. He dragged it out and carefully tried to open he lid. It wouldn't budge, he pulled it again, but it was no use.

Tadge huffed, it was so beautiful. He wanted to know what was inside. He grabbed a piece of glass and wedged in in the lock. He was thankful for his years in juvenile detention, where a boy a bit old than him had taught him how it pick locks in secret.

Tadge fumbled with the lock until it finally clicked. He opened it slowly. Music flooded out of it, only softly but it broke the silence. The tune was familiar, his mother used to sing it to him when he was younger.

Tadge felt his eyes stinging, he missed them so much. He watched at the man and woman moved into a circle to the music. He hummed to the tune. Something in the box caught his eye… He put his fingers in and pulled out a small stone with a sliver chain. It was beautiful, he decided to but it back in and shut the box. He stood up with the box under his arm and walked out.

Raisa
Raisa walked through the isles, her mind strangely blank. She raised an eyebrow when she saw that someone had taken all of the Oreo's, a smile reaching her lips. It must have been that kid that she saw earlier, the one that pretended to have a gun. Mary would have fun with that kid.
Raisa grabbed a bag of Cheetos and a liter of Coke and maneuvered her way around until she found the cash register, propping herself on top of the counter to begin her miniature feast. She eyed the other people that milled around, and couldn't help but snicker when she saw that most of the girls were already chatting about nothing special like a bunch of busy- birds. She had always hated those types, the ones that talked about shoes and purses like it was the most important thing in the world. And it didn't help their case when the world was ending.
Raisa took a swig of Coke as an idea hatched in her head. It was kind of inappropriate for the situation they were all in, but she needed to relieve the tension and grief that was beginning to cloud her mind, and from the looks of it everyone else's. Raisa couldn't stay too serious for very long without doing something completely uncalled for.
Still, she needed an accomplice. A devious smile stretched her lips as she half-heartedly hid her meal under the counter, and she grabbed the small box of Mentos before heading for the liters of soda.
Once her arms were filled awkwardly with the bottles, she quickly walked through the isles, looking for the kid. She spotted him out of pure luck, sulking around near the back of the store. He looked up and watched her curiously as she stumbled up to him.
She half- dropped, half- put down the bottles before grinning at the kid. The edge of his mouth began to quirk, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"You wanna have some fun?" she said. His eyes brightened when he saw the Mentos in her hands, and she quickly explained what they were going to do. He nodded feverishly, and Raisa grinned like a fool that just got his fix.

After a long, depressing, half hour of painful memories and sickening regret, Steave finely woke up. Well, that's not quit true. He had never fallen asleep, it was more of a daze that he had been trapped in and he felt great to be free again. The thought of falling back into the trap was unbearable and way to possible. So Steave got up. His back decided to give him trouble, with a sharp pain that rose to his temples, but he percevered. An idea presented its self and he reached in his back pocket. "Aw, ya." He said pulling out his MP3 player. He set it down on a small card board box. The plan was to lighten up the mood, a bit and maybe regroup. He looked around. The girl "Raisa" seemed to have the same idea, she held a bottle of Coke and hooked under her arm was a tube of Mentos. The sweet recipe for disaster. Steave let a smirk fix on his face as she walked down the isle. Then he hit the power button and pluged in the miny speaker. Green Day flooded the room as Steave began lip singing "Wake me up, when September ends!" and patting the floor to keep the beat.

Raisa
Once Raisa and the kid (he told her that his name was Alex) both had an equal share of Mentos and Coke, music suddenly blasted across the isle. Raisa turned around and spotted the source, a small speaker hooked up to an MP3 player. Billie Armstrong's voice boomed through the speaker, hitting the first notes of 'Wake me up when September Ends'. She looked up and grinned at the guy that was perched behind it; it was now a perfect mix of chaos.
Alex and Raisa both ran down separate isles, slipping the Mentos into the bottle and raising it above their heads. Laughs rolled off of both of them as the foam began to ooze down their clothes, soaking them until their skin stuck uncomfortably. Raisa ran up to the girls that were sitting in a group, purposefully spraying them. They squealed like a bunch of chew toys, and Raisa darted down another isle before they could retaliate. She grabbed another bottle and restocked it with Mentos, and when the jock that was bossing them around before emerged from behind one of the back doors, Raisa sprayed it directly in his face. His expression was so priceless that Raisa's laugh was like a hyena's.
She bolted away and ran into Alex, who looked like a soaked chiwawa. He giggled and sprayed Raisa until her tank top stuck to her, and Raisa squinted through the foam to spray him back. From the noise that erupted throughout the store, Raisa could tell that others had joined in, and soon the floor became slippery from the amounts of soda that had exploded out of the bottles.

Tabitha

Tabitha used her board as a shield with one hand and sprayed others with the erupting soda bottle in the other. She laughed and sprayed the girl, Raisa, who had began the chaos. The other girls who had been chatting while Tabitha had left for supplies were now squealing with surprise and delight at the excitement.

It was just what they needed.

While the world is ending, we might as well have some fun while it lasts! She laughed at the thought and skated about spraying the remnants of her soda.

As the excitement died down everybody began to group together again, laughing and talking. Liam, who was soaked completely through with soda, grinned the largest. Maybe he will loosen up a little now, Tabitha thought eyeing him thoughtfully.

Alex, the youngest, ran about with the soda bottles squirting what was left at unsuspecting victims. Steave, was taking on the role of full-on D.J. and began shuffling songs with his MP3. Tabitha raised her camera to capture the moment. Maybe when times became difficult again, they could look back and remember the good times. For now, she wanted to focus on the moment and forget the world outside.

Just ten minutes ago Alex had been devistated by the death of his Oreos. He had salvaged their pulvarized remains from the depths of the crushing chair, glaring at Liam with accusation and resent. He had run away, opening a packet only to find crumbs glued into clumps from the creamy mess. He had returned downstairs to sulk in a corner only to be found by a cheeky girl. At first he thought she was stupid and was merely trying to act cool to coax him out into the open. Who knew what she was planning. Something evil like all teenagers did. But then Alex saw the soda. Then he saw the mentos. And now both he and the girl were soaked in it after going on a soda spraying rampage. He was soaked, sticky and covered in froth, but he didn't mind, this girl wasn't as bad as she had seemed. 
And then the floor moved. 
It didn't tilt nor vibrate, it thumped, like a lurching animal it rose and fell, falling still. People screamed then couched in silence, waiting to see if it was over. Suddenly the biggest window smashed open and wind whipped inside like a vortex, making a hollow low hissing noise. Peoples voices rose in panic, and Alex his behind some breakfast boxes. A single piece of paper tumbled through the jagged glass, settling on the floor like a broken butterfly. Everyone stared at the note for a second and then the girl whom initiated the soda attack walked up to it and picked it off the floor, smoothing it infront of her then read aloud. 
"There are one too many survivors. One of you does not belong. One will die within twentyfour hours or else one will be chosen for you."
The silence across the room was so loud it was deafening. Alex felt sick in his gut. One did not belong? Who was the odd one out? It was pretty obvious. It must be him. 

When the note flew through the window everybody stared in shock at the words printed on the paper. There are one too many survivors. One of you does not belong. One will die within twenty-four hours or else one will be chosen for you Liam took a sharp intake of breath as he let his half empty soda bottle drop and spill on the floor around his feet. He looked around the room as the others looked up too. He looked over at the beautiful girl he saw earlier he had later remembered that her name was Tabitha. Her black bangs clung to her sticky forehead and she stared at her shoes. Liam wanted to reach out and pull her into a tight embrace and comfort her.

He sat down not wanting to do anything and thought about how much of a jerk he was acting like. Liam held back the tears now forming in his eyes and buried his head in his arms. He shook his head and went though all that had happened that day. 12 hours ago, he was a normal high school student. Now he was a person he didn't even knew he had inside of him. Someone had gotten up and turned of the music. Liam sat on the floor and brought his knee's up to his chest and rested his head on top of his hands. When had looked up again, the rest of the group had sat down to where they where standing doing the same thing he was. He let him self drift away in thought. When he opened his eyes again he checked his watch to see that it was the morning.

great, 12 more hours to see who goes next. Liam thought to hi self getting up to change out of his uncomfortably sticky clothing. He slipped on sweatpants and a loose tee shirt and got to work on breakfast. by the time everyone else had woken up he had found bananas and a bag of doughnuts. they ate and looked sadly at each other wondering.

Tabitha Marxs

Twelve hours. Twelve hours. It couldn't be her...could it? She didn't belong, but did any of them? Tabitha looked around at the others. Their skin and features were flawless, but hers... She touched her cheek and ran her fingers along her scar. It couldn't be because of her scar could it?

Tabitha didn't eat. She wasn't hungry and doughnuts for once weren't appealing. Liam had been watching her carefully ever since the note appeared. Not in a strange sort of way, but observing her expressions and actions, as if he was watching out for her. She looked away from his stare. She didn't need anybody watching out for her, she had taken care of herself just fine.

"Hey, you should eat." She looked up suddenly at Liam who had sat down next t her.

"Not hungry. Not now, at least." She refused and scooted away from him and stared at her shoes.

"I know, I'm not either." He studied the unopened banana in his hand.

Tabitha twisted the fraying laces of her converses around her fingers.

"Do you think a lot about home?" He asked her.

"Doesn't everybody? Now if you'll excuse me..." Tabitha stood and walked away from the conversation. Home was the last subject she wanted to to think about.

There was only 11 1/2 Hours to go until somebody would be dead.