Deadlocked

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[(text-colour:white)+(text-style:"blur","expand","buoy")[(align:"=><=")[ //''deadlocked''// ]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:white))(align:"=><=")[[BEGIN]] ^^<center>By: Savannah Mosley Concept Art: Peter Anderson on ArtStation Story Inspiration: Cue: Change by Chesya Burke</center>^^ ] (set: $gun to false)

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))["Are you sure about this, Kid?" You take a moment to glance towards some members of the group, most of them far too old for an apocalypse, especially ones with shambling, talking corpses. Their gazes are hopeful, hopeful enough for you to realize that you don't have much of a choice. They need these supplies. ["Yes, I'm sure."]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ "Alright. You want to go with Kudio or by yourself?" [[travel alone]] [[travel with a partner.]]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))["It's alright. I'll go alone." The hospital is just a few blocks down from the office suite you and the rest of the group took shelter in. [You make your way to the hospital.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ The door is left slightly ajar, and appears empty, save for the soft murmuring you hear behind one of the closed doors. You take notice of the suitcase propping the door open. You specifically need the oxygen tanks, but it couldn't hurt to look, right? [[take the extra loot]] [[keep moving]]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))["Sure. No harm in an extra set of eyes, and hands." The hospital is just a few blocks down from the office suite you and the rest of the group took shelter in. The walk there is uneventful, Kudio doesn't really talk much. He's constantly taking a moment to glance over his shoulder, briefly make eye contact, sheepishly nod to feign confidence, before returning to his constant fidgeting. Right. You should've went alone. [Regardless, you both make your way to the hospital.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ The door is left slightly ajar, and appears empty, save for the soft murmuring you hear behind one of the closed doors. Kudio opens his mouth to say something, but your glare silences him. His breathing trembles. You take notice of the suitcase propping the door open. You specifically need the oxygen tanks, but it couldn't hurt to look, right? You've got an extra set of hands, after all. Do you [[grab the extra loot]] or [[continue moving]]?]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[There's no shame in grabbing a few extra things. [You carefully open the suitcase.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ A lot of clothes, like someone had been packed to to travel. Through a bit more sorting, you find. . . A 9mm pistol! You rack it, and realize it's loaded. After quickly ejecting the magazine to realize you've got quite a few rounds, [ you tuck away the pistol in your waistband. ]<dgss| (click: ?dgss)[ You carefully move down the hallway, crouch walking through its abandoned, once-sterile environment. You duck into one of the nearest clinics, mindful of the murmuring you still hear- based on bits and pieces of their conversation, it's just the zombies. No big deal. However, something that does causes pause is when [[you hear footsteps]].]]] (set: $gun to true)

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[It's probably best not to worry about that. You'll look through it on the way out, not like it's going anywhere. You carefully move down the hallway, crouch walking through its abandoned, once-sterile environment. You duck into one of the nearest clinics, mindful of the murmuring you still hear- based on bits and pieces of their conversation, it's just the zombies. No big deal. However, something that does causes pause is when [[hear footsteps.]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[(if:$gun is true)[Judging based on how they aren't shambling around and murmuring about corrupt societal structures, you realize very quickly that these are bandits. They are moving quickly, and are clearly sweeping the bottom floor- you have just a split second to utilize that new loot you found, as two of them swing open your door! You hastily take aim, and [[shoot at bandits]]!]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[(text-style:"expand","rumble")[BAM! BAM! ]Bodies drop, and there's yelling. Lots, and lots of pissed off yelling. The doorway is open; the rest of the bandits are scattering for cover. You have just a moment to make your grand escape! You jerk out from the room. There's growling from down the hallway, but it's the way you came! You don't have much time. Do you [[escape down the hallway]] or [[escape out the window]]?]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[You clearly did not think this through. The growling you heard from before was not the bandits trying to intimidate you, but were in fact the newfound horde of zombies, drawn in by the gunfire. They smile at you, gently, and swarm you with a warm embrace. A few nips and nibbles here and there, and your mind starts to melt, (text-style:"blur")[eyesight blurring. . .] (text-style:"blurrier")[Thoughts dwindling. . .] (text-style:"fidget")[You always thought being infected by the zombies would be far more painful.]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[You realize that maybe, just maybe, this isn't the right call. You turn on your heel to dash back into the clinic room, towards the already half-broken window. With a few good hits with the butt of your now-empty pistol, the glass shatters! You climb through, and land awkward on your side, but a broken rib or two is a far more attractive fate than the others. Struggling to your feet, you begin your weary trek back home, without the tanks, but at least alive.]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[Judging based on how they aren't shambling around and murmuring about corrupt societal structures, you realize very quickly that these are bandits and not reanimated corpses. They are moving quickly, and are clearly sweeping the bottom floor. You don't have much time. You have to decide if you want to try and [[sneak away]] or attempt to distract by [[lure zombies in.]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[Clearly your skills lie in stealth, not strategy. You move carefully into the main hallway, adamant on checking your corners and whatnot, stuff you vaguely remember from video games. You squint in the darkness, trying to make out figures down the hallway. A light flickers, revealing the bandits all staring at you. (text-style:"fidget")[A muzzle flash and a loud (text-style:"smear")[BANG] accompanies you in your final moments.]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[You decide your best course of action is to slam the door shut. Yelling replaces silence, as the footsteps hurry down the hallway towards your room. You brace, as gunfire rains through the thick, heavy set door, one bullet just grazingy our thigh. It won't be long until the murmuring comes, judging off the new things the bandits are yelling about. You turn, now facing your means of escape: [[the window.]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[You (text-style:"rumble")[PUNCH] the window! It doesn't work. Your hand hurts. Right. [You need to search the room.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ With a quick sweep, you find an oxygen tank. Wait, you need those! You quickly swing the heavy damn thing like a bat, shattering the window. You climb out, with the tank in tow. There's shamblers on either side of you, smiling, slowly approaching, but you can outrun them, even with the tank in tow. (text-style:"fidget")[You live to die another day.] ]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[[There's no shame in grabbing a few extra things, and Kudio's eager nodding leads you to believe he agrees. [You carefully open the suitcase.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ A lot of clothes, like someone had been packed to to travel. Through a bit more sorting, you find. . . A 9mm pistol! You rack it, and realize it's loaded. After quickly ejecting the magazine to realize you've got quite a few rounds, [ you tuck away the pistol in your waistband.]<dgss| (click: ?dgss)[ You and Kudio carefully move down the hallway, crouch walking through its abandoned, once-sterile environment. You, followed by your partner, duck into one of the nearest clinics, mindful of the murmuring you still hear- based on bits and pieces of their conversation, it's just the zombies. No big deal. Kudio looks like he's about to snap, and his expression only worsens when the both of you [[hear growling.]]]]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[You realize it probably isn't worth slowing down the pack. Kudio doesn't seem to agree, but he doesn't argue with your final call. You'll look through it on the way out, not like it's going anywhere. You and Kudio carefully move down the hallway, crouch walking through its abandoned, once-sterile environment. You, followed by your partner, duck into one of the nearest clinics, mindful of the murmuring you still hear- based on bits and pieces of their conversation, it's just the zombies. No big deal. Kudio looks like he's about to snap, and his expression only worsens when the both of you [[hear low growling.]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[There's a woman standing in the middle of the hallway, occassionally illuminated by the overhead yellow light. She's missing an arm, but doesn't seem to mind it. She smiles at you both and turns slightly, beckoning something in the darkness to come to her. There's more murmuring, accompanied by some of the growling. You don't have much time. They're surrounding you two. Do you [[distract to help Kudio]] or [[try to escape on your own]]?]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[There's a woman standing in the middle of the hallway, occassionally illuminated by the overhead yellow light. She's missing an arm, but doesn't seem to mind it. She smiles at you both and turns slightly, beckoning something in the darkness to come to her. There's more murmuring, accompanied by some of the growling. You don't have much time. They're surrounding you two. You don't have much time. Do you [[try to distract to help Kudio]] or [[escape on your own]]?]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[Kudio can figure this out himself. As he stands there, frozen with fear, you hastily kick open a door to your right, and duck inside, leaving the door open. There's a window to escape from! You (text-style:"rumble")[FIRE] at the window! It shatters, glass spilling everywhere. [You have time to search the room.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ With a quick sweep, you find an oxygen tank. You quickly heave the mighty thing up onto the window's ledge. For a brief moment, you pause. Kudio is whimpering, just loud enough to be heard above the soft, gentle murmuring of the zombies. He's asking for his mom. You have one last chance to grab him. Do you [[grab Kudio]] or [[leave]]?]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[Kudio can figure this out himself. As he stands there, frozen with fear, you hastily kick open a door to your right, and duck inside, slamming the door shut behind you. You bolt it shut. There's a window to escape from! You (text-style:"rumble")[PUNCH] the window! It doesn't work. Your hand hurts. Right. [You need to search the room.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[ With a quick sweep, you find an oxygen tank. Wait, you need those! You quickly swing the heavy damn thing like a bat, shattering the window. For a brief moment, you pause. Kudio is whimpering, just loud enough to be heard above the soft, gentle murmuring of the zombies. He's asking for his mom. You climb out, with the tank in tow. There's shamblers on either side of you, smiling, slowly approaching, but you can outrun them, even with the tank in tow. (text-style:"fidget")[You live to die another day, with or without Kudio.]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[You decide that if, and only if, there's an afterlife, maybe you'll get brownie points for this. You start waving your arms, yelling and knocking things over as you move down the hallway, towards the woman. Many of them tilt their heads, puzzled expressions briefly showing through, before the woman reaches out with her one arm. Kudio dashes down the hallway, towards the lobby, as the zombies all crowd around you. The woman smiles at you, gently, and swarms you with a warm, one-armed embrace. A few nips and nibbles here and there, and your(text-style:"fidget")[ mind starts to melt], (text-style:"blur")[eyesight blurring. . .] (text-style:"blurrier")[Thoughts dwindling. . .] (text-style:"buoy")[You always thought being infected by the zombies would be far more painful.]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[You decide that if, and only if, there's an afterlife, maybe you'll get brownie points for this. You start waving your arms, yelling and knocking things over as you move down the hallway, towards the woman. Many of them tilt their heads, puzzled expressions briefly showing through, before the woman reaches out with her one arm. [You pause.]<dgs| (click: ?dgs)[You just got a gun. [Use it!]<dgss| (click: ?dgss)[ You lift the 9mm and aim it at the woman's head. You had always heard that these things cannot die. Might as well try it out now. (text-style:"smear")[BANG!] She goes down with a thud. Yup. They can die. The rest seem hurt, a few of them pausing before they look back towards you. They start moving towards you. Kudio's yelling to your right! You look over to see that he has smashed open a window with an oxygen tank. He's yelling, but you can't make out anything he's saying. It doesn't matter. Your feet carry you to the window, and the two of you climb out, tank in tow. The run back leaves your mind frantic. (text-style:"fidget")[You and Kudio live to die another day.]]]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))["Godamnit, Kudio!" You let go of the tank; the massive thing slams on the ground, now hissing as air spills from one of its compromised hoses. You don't have time to care as you rip Kudio from an one-armed embrace with the woman, and lug him towards the window. You shove him out first, following hastily afterwards. Your feet carry you away from the clinic, Kudio close behind. The run back leaves your mind frantic. (text-style:"fidget")[You and Kudio live to die another day, with or without the damn tank.]]

(bg:(hsl:210,0.1081,0.1451,0.65))[This is not your fight. Kudio is whimpering, just loud enough to be heard above the soft, gentle murmuring of the zombies. He's asking for his mom. You climb out, with the tank in tow. There's shamblers on either side of you, smiling, slowly approaching, but you can outrun them, even with the tank in tow. (text-style:"fidget")[You live to die another day, with or without Kudio.]]

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deadlocked

BEGIN

^{By: Savannah Mosley

Concept Art: Peter Anderson on ArtStation
Story Inspiration: Cue: Change by Chesya Burke}