Fireflies Don't Exist [open]

Supplies were running short for the survivors. It was surprising how they exhausted everything so quickly. More importantly, there were more people coming in as well. So many people that need assistance, so many more still unfound by the living. There were so many different people too. Ranging from plain air-headed to absolutely cunning, or innocent to malicious evil. Scratch that last one - everyone is still a good person inside, no matter how terrible they seem to be. At least, that's what Vivi thought. It was that exact reason that she was willing to take care of all of them, regardless of whether she knew the others or not.

She hated leaving the mart, realizing that she was one of the few daring to do so. But, unless someone else was going to - it didn't seem like anyone wanted to -, there wasn't much choice except for her to go find the medical stocks left in-tact. As she neared the entrance of the abandoned hospital, the ground was littered with dead bodies that still haven't been disposed. How depressing this once hopeful place used to be... Shrouded by darkness, people that they had no chance to live anymore. Yet, there was still a chance, right? This was going to end one day. At least the mart was a nice sanctuary for people to rest up and stay alive with other survivors.

Vivi carefully held the lantern in her hands with a firm grip, taking deep breaths. She could turn back right now. But she didn't. Did she want to know what happened to her former workplace? To her friends? No. She was terrified actually, her hands were shaking and the color was draining from her skin as white as a sheet. The air around that blew was salty, bitter, and harsh. There was nothing refreshing about it.

Closing her bright blue eyes, the sound of footsteps could be heard as they darted through the hallways of the abandoned building. Each step meant another echo. Vivi refused to open them and see what was around her. It wasn't something she wanted to see at all. Soon, the noise halted. Her vision was blurry and faded out, but without her light, she couldn't see anything anyway. Around was the supply storage, which she was surprised she still knew the way without looking. Quickly placing the necessary drugs or whatever was needed in her bag, Vivi listed them off in her head to make sure she got them all. At least, from the list that she was told to gather by someone... Harvey? Allen? It was someone. Pain-killers, aspirin, syringes, tubes, gloves, alcohol...

Her thoughts were stopped when the door was opened and she saw out the window. The monsters were outside... A palm lifted up as she stayed a good distance away, imagining that she was touching the glass pane. The scenery outside was always so nice, no matter the season. She could see the snow fall, the leaves change colors, the sun shine, and the flowers bloom in their happiness from there. Whenever rain fell, the drops stuck to the window delicately. At night, fireflies would dart around, illuminating the area. None of that exists anymore, ripped away by the darkness.

She scoffed at herself, disgusted that she let her own worries and thoughts get the better of her. She had to help the other survivors. No time for remorse or the past. Of course, Vivi was knocked back to her senses when she remembered: she didn't leave the door open.

"Hello?"

Standing close to the doorway was Allen, looking around the storage room with curious eyes even though he had no clue what he was looking at. He knew what most of this stuff did, but he didn't want to mess with any of it. Holding his flashlight tight in his left hand, he walked towards Violet, still looking around at all of the hospital equipment. "Hey there. Whatcha doing here all by yourself?" he asked, giving her a small wave matched with a smile.

A sigh of relief was let out from a breath she didn't realize she was holding when her eyes undoubtedly showed that it was just her uncle. Waving back happily, Vivi replied, "Just getting a few things to refresh our medical supplies~" After a girl was knocked out, one nearly getting cut up, another paralyzed, and some more havoc, it was only right that they had nothing much left. One wrong move tonight could lead these two to be the next ones to be in the injured list. Which wouldn't be great. She had a hard time thinking she would escape nightcrawlers with her clumsiness... Really, she'd trip and they'd kill her in a heartbeat. Too bad those creatures truly are of pure darkness; Vivi still thought they weren't all that bad, which was a suicide move.

"Oh, okay," it was a short answer, but there really wasn't anything else to say. The only thing he could do was just look around awkwardly at all of the things he didn't know about. "So what is it you're looking for exactly? Because I have no idea what any of this stuff is." Although he wasn't exactly focused on the supplies. He was mainly wondering why in the world she came out here all by herself in the first place. She knew how dangerous it was, right? "And what's got you here alone?" He really was curious about it.

She disregarded any negative thoughts she just had as just a fly of her wild imagination. There wasn't much that she could say besides answer his questions in a way that wouldn't make him worry. It wasn't right to get others to care for her when she was pretty insignificant compared to some other lives. "Just some painkillers and basic medicine that Harvey might need." As she thought about how to word the next part, her eyes looked around as she heard a rap on the walls, something slamming at the building from outside. Vivi just hoped they had no troubles heading back to the mart... "I didn't want to bother anyone when they were all busy. Besides, having a little alone time outside is kind of nice." If this whole trip cost them something that could be fatal, she was ready to put all the blame on herself entirely.

At her last words, Allen chuckled slightly, although it was more of an unamused laugh. It was kind of like an understanding laugh, if that was a thing. He wanted to get out of the mart too. All of the crazy people were just making his head hurt. He'd already gone through way more cigarettes than he cared to admit in the time at the store just from trying to keep his stress level down. It didn't exactly work, either. Holding his machete up in his right hand to study it, he looked back up at Vivi, trying to find something to do instead of just stand there awkwardly. "Well, you do know it's quite dangerous out here. I don't exactly want to be out here any longer than we need to be."

Nodding in understanding of what Allen was saying, Vivi hesitantly looked towards the exit and back to the supplies. A fumble of words could scarcely be heard as she cursed herself for realizing that she did endanger someone else. After all, it was suicide to go outside and she was assuming she'd be able to slip in and out without a survivor noticing. And she was stupid for that. "O-of course! I'll just pack everything up, first. Shouldn't take me too long." was the false-happy reply she gave as she added on quietly. "Hopefully..."

Looking at the door to the room, he stared out at the darkness, just kind of hoping that nothing would show up. He didn't really like being outside of the mart since it seemed to be so safe, but he felt confident in his skills to keep himself alive. He was worried about Violet more. With all of those supplies, it'd take a bit longer to get back. "No, take your time," he said. "Better to get everything you need and do it quietly than try to rush and call attention to this little room." Squeezing the flash light a little harder, he flashed it through the doorway, already seeing one nightcrawler hiss and flee from the light. Thankfully there weren't more than that.