Desolate

Charlie's arm was pained, but she didn't ignore it as she followed everyone to a room; lounging in the chairs that were set up. She didn't exactly think that this college of sorts would hold up for that long, because nothing ever does; you may think 'Oh this place may just be a permanent place!' But if you think about it, life used to be just like that; did you ever think that maybe, this whole thing could have happened. The world was worried about North Korea, and the economy; not mindless, flesh eating, carcass living, monsters; the world has ways of surprising you, so you don't expect much. Jordan was seated beside Zakk, who was stealing glances her way; even though they thought they were being secretive, oh how naive.

"Oh my head," Charlie collapsed in a chair beside Oliver. The fever was setting in, so it was a good thought for Charlie; it means that the body is raising the temperature to try and kill off the bacteria. It was important for them not to be able to reproduce; but the head could also cause complications for Charlie, depending. It could also make it so it's too warm for her internal organs to do what they're supposed to; stopping the chemical reactions needed to keep her body running. She shook off any insecurities, and remained leaning against the back of the wall; letting her eyes close to keep the light out of her eyes.

"You can have some water," he offered, holding out the water bottle for her to grab. Her fingers wrapped around the plastic as she tore a piece of the curtain by the window; dousing it with water, before slapping it onto her forehead. Oliver watched as water trickled down her face as she sighed; her eyes closed in content. "I thought it was for drinking," he spoke out loud, hearing her grunt in response; he shook his head in return.

"Thanks Oli," she mumbled as he nodded; despite the fact that she could not see him doing it. Rising from his seat, he moved to the open one in between Jason and Alex; they weren't fans of each other, and the tension was pretty high. The open seat that had been preoccupied by Oliver, was thereby taken by Jordan; who kicked her feet up onto an open one across from her. Charlie opened one of her eyes, looking at Jordan as to await what she had to say; although, Jordan merely stared back, making her feel uncomfortable.

"Do you have this feeling, that something's going to go wrong?" Jordan started, Charlie's head nodding in response. "Like, far worse than the things that we've had happen already?" she continued, watching as Charlie closed her eyes once again; nodding her head still, her hair trickling water, along with the rag on her face.

"It's bound to happen, like I said, this is a dead man's world," she retorted, moving to try and get comfortable in her seat; but to no avail. "No matter what happens, though, we'll have to just flow with it. The only way to keep going," she finished, sighing in the end. Jordan nodded despite herself, looking towards Zakk; who was glancing in her direction in the first place. "Go back to loverboy, everyone knows anyways," Charlie teased, a smirk on her lips as Jordan marchecd off to meet Zakk.

"At least he's got a little piece of normality," Oliver commented, his hand brushing on the damp hair of Charlie's head; surprising her none the less. He watched as she peeked her eye to look at him, he sat beside her; his fingers still brushing through her strands of dark, nearly black hair. He brushed thoughts out of his mind, he couldn't help but feel as though he was cheating out his best friend; stealing his girl when he's not there. Although, Andrew wouldn't be there to reclaim her; shaking his head once again, he placed a small kiss on her cheek. Sitting down in the chair, he glanced as she pursed her lips in defiance; soft murmurs escaping her lips as she tried to fall asleep. A noise caught his attention, his eye casting to beyond the window; to the darkness beyond what he could see. He honestly didn't trust this place, neither did Charlie; it was a comfort zone for the others, and they didn't want to deprive them.

"Did you hear that?" Charlie questioned as well, although it came out in a whisper; her eyes peeked open to look at Oliver. He was perched on his chair, his dark eyes cast towards the outside; his equally as dark hair, flowing into his face as he scowled. "See anything?" she continued, pulling the wet rag off of her face. She moved beside the window; moving one of the blinds with her finger to meet darkness; scanning it, she didn't see anything out there.

"We should probably check it out," he remarked, quietly; they didn't want to alarm anyone. They had just recently been alarmed, and they didn't want to bring the possibility of something else. Nodding, Charlie stood up and put her jacket on, she had taken it off after her shower; pulling her arms through it. She mentally cursed the pain in her arm as she threw her gun back over her shoulder; tying up her shoes for assurance.

"Where are you going?" Alex questioned, everyone's eyes cast towards them as they stood; they didn't blame them, here they were standing all geared up with shells over her shoulder, and guns in hand.

"We're just going to go make a double check on the area, before we go to sleep," Oliver and Charlie spoke, looking between each other as she brushed dirt off his shoulder. Everyone nodded as they opened the doors of the front, making sure to make someone lock it behind them; they're not sure if one of them could sneak in while they're outside.

"I don't see anything," Charlie started, staring in the direction that they had originally heard the noise; towards the trees off in the corner. They slowly stalked around, the sound of their leather boots connecting with the asphalt beneath them; their breaths mixed with the air, making warm clouds form from their mouth. Another noise reached their ears, it was nearly the same as the first one; crunching on leaves, or twigs, but it came with a heavy breath. "From over there," she replied, motioning towards the area that had been; it was more towards the entrance of the college. Oliver nodded, moving in front of here as they stalked off towards that direction; the noise making itself more prominent. With a more sudden launch, something jumped out of the bushes, and connected with Charlie's back; throwing her to the floor as she hit the ground with much force. Oliver jumped around, aiming his gun at the large zombie on her back; it was different, much different. It wasn't as decomposed, to be honest it looked more like a human than any of the rest; it's eyes were white, and completely normal; still like a human. But it was ravage, it was smarter, and it was better than the rest of them; it's arms pumped with muscle and it's jaw open and agape, filled with teeth to slice. Bullets rained down on the beast as it jumped off of Charlie, she stood up with rage evident on her face; shooting bullets through it's head. It didn't falter as it ran towards Oliver, full speed and without fail; her bullets still splitting through it's skull. His eyes widened as he aimed for it's chest as well, making sure to double tap it to his head as well; hearing it growl in response. Charlie sprinted towards the boy, slamming the gun against the back of it's head; it's body collapsing hard to the ground; her boot connecting with it as she cursed in anger.

"I think it's dead," he commented, watching as she angrilly shot bullets into it's body; her boot still slamming against it's body. He caught her as she collapsed in exhaustion, petting her head as he helped her to the front; Jason unlocking the door for them. Everyone stared at them, and they didn't blame them; blood was splashed all across Charlie, and it was literally dripping from her gun, and splashing from her fingertips.

"What the hell happened out there?" Jordan questioned as Oliver and Charlie sat down; gathering their things while they were at it. Charlie was trying to comprehend it as well, but it was coming as a blur; she had a general idea, and it was enough to act on. It's been months after the initial wave, although it didn't seem like it; the virus, as it can be called, is starting to die off. People are becoming immune to it, take their group for example; the virus was airborne, and yet none of them were effected. The Virus was coming to an end, because there weren't anyone to infect anymore; it's becoming more advanced. In order to reproduce and continue it's existence, it's changing itself to fit the needs of it's environment. It's not a drastic change, and yet, it's enough to infect just enough immune people to survive; it's evolving fast, and it's better than before. Charlie didn't have anything to say...