Home Plot 6 - 1, 2, 3 - 2012: Zombies

[tooprettytodie]

"Arlight, so, zombies are coming. That's a thing that's happening."

She should have known that after a week of relative peace "at home" that something bad would happen. Or maybe since this was her dream, thinking something bad would typically happen might have made it happen. Dreams were confusing like that. What she was clear on though was that this was going to be bad. Also, there was a good chance that any of her friends hurt in this world would be hurt on the island.

It had started slowly enough that they'd had time to prepare. They'd gotten some weapons and fortified the mansion as well they could. It had been obvious pretty early on that the zombies were focusing on all of them. Valkyrie thought maybe it was her they wanted, but when she separated from the group, it hadn't drawn all of the zombies away. So they were making a stand.

Skulduggery was off looking for the source and mustering as many sorcerers as possible to help, but Valkyrie didn't know many of them, so consequently there weren't a lot of them in the dream to help out. But they totally had this, right?

"Bella, Jessica, no offense but you two are sort of... non-combatants. So unless you have an objection, I think having you take support roles would be best. Steph, Cass... you two do your freaky superhero thing. Perseus, since the house is near the beach, maybe you can draw water to cut a moat or something around to slow them down. We can win this, because it's my dream and I believe we can. Also, if you get bitten, please restrain yourself before you get turned to save us the trouble of having to do it. We'll find a cure after this is all over. Or you'll be dead back on the island in which case there's not much we can do. Questions, anyone?"

Comments

[percy_jackson]

I nodded, and stepped onto the front porch, looking out at the water. I concentrated. For a moment, I had to beat back the feeling of exhilaration. I'd forgotten how much I'd missed this. But I had more important things to do. I focused on the water, and saw it rising up and rolling towards us, like an upside-down river, slipping over the land in a six-foot-tall, six-foot-wide wall.

Then, as it approached the grounds, it divided in two, curving around the house. I could picture it in my minds eye, turning past the wings of the place, before meeting around back. We were now surrounded by a wall of water. Hopefully, it would do some good against mindless zombies.

I hoisted my borrowed sword. "I'm ready," I said, keeping an eye on the approaching horde.

[tooprettytodie]

"Wow, that was... way more impressive than I was anticipating," Valkyrie said. She had been expecting a regular moat, not a literal wall of water. That was actually pretty impressive and really helpful. Percy had definitely done something like this before.

"Also, if I catch you glancing over more than necessary to make sure I'm alright, I'll kick your ass."

[percy_jackson]

"Thanks," I said. Maybe I was showing off a little, but the fact was, I could move water; I had far less experience working with land and Valkyrie's mansion didn't have a ditch deep enough. Still, I appreciated the compliment, and I chuckled at the admonition. "Okay, then," I added. "I'll only glance over because I'll be totally checking you out, okay?" I flashed her a grin, then focused on the zombies. They were getting closer.

[swan_diver]

Bella wasn't about to complain about being left to the back in the support role zone. As much as she'd trained, the idea of actually fighting - and fighting things that could kill her - was utterly anathema to her. Everything in her was screaming run away, but she didn't do it. Even scared to death, she stood her ground, stupid kitchen knife still clutched in her hand.

"Ready as I'll ever be....I think."

[tooprettytodie]

"You can be a spotter for us," Valkyrie said.

She and Bella had talked about how Bella didn't like being seen as just a victim, but thankfully her friend had a good enough head on her shoulders to know when she was in over her head. That didn't mean she couldn't be useful though.

"Try and let us know if they're breaking through the defenses in any one position."

[swan_diver]

"Don't worry. If there's one thing I'm not afraid to do, its give a good yell if something's coming. Maybe I can try to sing? The screeching alone would send most anything running for cover."

The bravado was mostly staying put, for now, because terrified as she was? She didn't want anyone else to know that.

[notaparker]

Non-combatant. Ouch. I mean, she's not to know, and I try not to be down on fictional characters, but I just got put in a category with Bella Swan. No offence to the actual flesh-and-blood person, who actually seems kind of nice. I feel bad for any Twilight jokes I may have made. And also bad for feeling put out about being in the same category.

But Valkyrie's not to know. Meaning I have to wrestle with the idea of just coming out and saying, 'actually, I'm a superhero, too.' But it's not just Valkyrie I'd be letting in on it. So... they need a support person, I'll be the support person. I can stick close to Bella, make sure she's okay, plug any gaps in the defences I can when no one's looking, and if someone gets into strife when I am looking...

I'll reconsider. Great responsibility, after all. That always comes first.

"What I wouldn't give for a fully-stocked lab to get my gadget on in," I say. "Not that I know what I'd make for actual zombies."

[swan_diver]

"If anything I've read about zombies is actually true, I don't think it'd have to be too complex. Most movies I've seen people just go after them with baseball bats and tire irons."

Okay. It was almost too weird, standing here talking to a girl that looked like this about zombies. It was like she was back in Port Angeles right after she woke up from being one herself.

It didn't help that this girl looked almost identical to Jessica Stanley, and even had the same first name.

[notaparker]

"Most zombie movies I've seen all end the same way," I say, taking a nervous look around in case they're about to start breaking in. I may be less non-combatant than advertised, but that doesn't mean I'm looking forward to running up against zombies. Especially sans superpowers. "Kind of hoping to avoid that. Maybe there's a way to poison- no, hang on, they're magic zombies, scratch that. I don't know a thing about magic."

[swan_diver]

"I don't either," Bella said, giving her head a shake. "My kinda limited expertise is vampires and werewolves. All I know about magic is older guys dressed in really bad suits and telling bad jokes while pulling rabbits from hats. So not useful."

[tooprettytodie]

There weren't a lot of zombies at first. The few that originally came were slowed down enough by Percy's wall of water that they were fairly easy pickings. A click of Valkyrie's fingers and a fireball to the head made quick work of them. Or the shadows controlled by her ring did an excellent job of severing the heads.

Percy was amazing with his sword and Valkyrie realized that she had been seriously underestimating his abilities. Speaking of which, Stephanie and Cass (especially Cass) were seriously scary in a bad ass kind of way for regular humans.

But the zombies kept coming in greater and greater numbers. They weren't much of a challenge, but the fact that there were so many of them was staggering. They were newly turned, obviously, so while they weren't quite as fast as normal people they weren't completely shambling with bits dropping off of them either.

The things were getting closer now before they were taken down too, and bodies littered the lawn, making fighting that much more difficult. Before too long they would have to retreat back into the house but for now they could still handle things out here.

[percy_jackson]

The zombie's biggest advantage was volume, and make no mistake, that's a big advantage. I tried not to think of the people that these zombies had come from. Those thoughts could eat away at my concentration if I wasn't careful, and I had to be careful. I didn't know what would happen if we died in the dream. Maybe we'd wake up, but maybe we wouldn't. At all. And even if we woke up, I didn't want to end my nightmare with a very realistic rendition of having my face eaten off. Fortunately, I had three fantastic fighters around me, but the others needed protection. One slip and--

A zombie lumbered out of the water wall and got too close for my liking. I stepped back, slipped on the slick ground, but regained my balance, and swung my sword. Zombie head parted company from zombie body, and fell to the grass. "Good sword," I muttered. But there was no time for a victory cheer. The next one was hot on its heels.

[tooprettytodie]

One fearsome aspect of zombies was that they had no fear. It didn't matter to the man who had earlier that day been Joseph Riemann, solicitor, that a young man with a sword had lopped off the head of the zombie in front of him. All that mattered was the young man probably tasted delicious.

Behind him, two more zombies came, both of them more or less in control of their motor controls as Joseph was. There was probably enough of the young man to go around, though Joseph called out his dibs.

"Braaaaaaaiiiins."

[percy_jackson]

"Seriously?" I said, eyebrows raised. "They actually say that? Seriously?" No matter. I wasn't about to let these zombies get my brains or any other part of my anatomy, and I had a sharp sword to back up my intentions. I swiped hard, twice, and the two zombies tumbled down. "Right," I breathed. "Who's next?"

I didn't have to ask. They practically introduced themselves.

[kinesicist]

Her lips tugged, the smile pulling at the corner of her lip upwards as she watched the creatures move. She moved, across the grass and over bodies of fallen creatures. She moved, sliding sliding beneath the legs of the moving zombies and striking out in one fluid, fast motion.

She was not gentle. Her blows were hard, intentional and damaging. Her fist struck, grabbing the clothes of one creature as her leg struck out behind her. She turned, throwing it down as its bones broke on impact. They were still alive, barely but immobile.

Her lips tugged into a smile before she turned her attention to another grouping of them.

[tooprettytodie]

Just earlier in the day, Robert Moyle had been down at the pub rooting for the local football team when the crazy man had come in. He was moaning and stumbling about, in other words he was exactly like every other person in the pub. Even when he had started biting people no one had considered it terribly odd behavior. They were watching football, after all.

Somehow, he couldn't remember how, not long after that he found himself wandering the streets, moaning and shambling about, trying to bite people. In other words, fairly normal behavior when returning from the pub after cheering for his team. This time he was a bit more into the biting than usual.

Before long, he and his mates found their way to this house, dying of hunger. His mates were a rough and tumble bunch, enjoying a good game of rugby on the weekend, and once they had spotted the slim shape flitting about the lawn, they watered at the mouth. Rushing as a group, nearly a dozen in all, they swarmed their potential evening meal.

[swan_diver]

It took a second for Bella's mouth to unfreeze when she first caught sight of movement behind her. When it did, it wasn't very effective. Hard to raise the alarm when your voice was practically a whisper. "Uh. Guys? Be-Behind us. They're coming...

She still held the knife out, but as the disgusting creatures lumbered towards her she realized just how ineffective it would be. She might as well have brought a hair dryer. The resulting adrenaline rush got her voice back and she yelled for all she was worth. "Back here..!"

[tooprettytodie]

Bob Morris had been a family man that morning. Technically, he still was, since parts of his family were stuck between his teeth. To his utter shame though, his wife had managed to rip his arm off and use it as a club to chase him from his house.

It was just as well, he hadn't been happy there in some time. It had started years ago when his wife had gotten into a certain series of books that was all the rage. He wouldn't even give them the satisfaction of thinking the name of the books. His wife had become as smitten as the teenage girls they were written for, sighing wistfully and muttering things like, "When will my Edward come?" and "Bob why do you never watch me sleep at night" or "Would you try this face cream with glitter, Bob?" The last straw had been when she had forced him to watch all the movies one evening with her. Bob had considered smothering himself in his sleep that night.

So when he was shambling along with the other zombies and spotted her, the girl from the movies, something in his decaying brain snapped. No, wait, that was his leg that had snapped at the knee. Blast his luck! Limping and crawling across the floor with his one arm, Bob made his way closer and closer to the girl, intent on devouring her.

[teambatgirl]

She'd rather have her bo, but the crowbar has a heavy, satisfying weight in Steph's hand. Besides, you can do some heavy damage with a bo, make no mistake about that, but when you need to pretty much decapitate to incapacitate, you're not going to get very far with it. But you got the nice sharp end with the crowbar, and it's heavy enough that swinging it will really mess a person up.

A plus when dealing with the undead: there's no need to hold back. You can't if you want to make them stay down, unless you have mega ninja powers, and she's so not the Batgirl to turn to for that. The gore is nasty but the bone-breaking violence is a little thrilling.

"We had undead space zombies once," she says as she strikes hard at a zombie's knee to get it on its knees and then a swing of the crowbar caves his skull in. Steph's flushed but has her breath still. "They vomited acidic rage blood. Pretty much blew."

[tooprettytodie]

That afternoon, Michael O'Brien had been late to the airport. His garage door had been hit by someone coming home after too many drinks and had been jammed shut. Frantically, he had searched for his crowbar to unjam the door so that he could get his car out and head to the airport. For the life of him, he couldn't find it.

Because he couldn't find his crowbar, he had to call for a taxi. Because he had to call for a taxi, he missed his flight. Because he missed his flight, he was bitten by a man in the airport. Because he was bitten, he turned into a zombie. Because he was a zombie, he was drawn to the big house. Because he was at the big house, the last thing to go through his mind was... a crowbar.

"Acidic rage blood?" Valkyrie said once the blokes head was well and truly smashed (because opening your mouth when someone is bashing in the brains of zombies is a seriously bad idea). "That is really gross. Oh, watch out, three coming on you at 4 o'clock."

[tooprettytodie]

The outer yard was lost. There were just too many zombies to hold it any longer. They had made a brilliant stand and taken down far, far more zombies than anyone probably would have expected from a group of teenagers. The problem was, they hadn't even made a dent in the overall number of zombies. They might as well haven't even bothered.

Now they were locked into the mansion with zombies pounding down the doors. They would hold for a while, but not indefinitely. Once that happened, the mansion would be overrun. They could fortify one of the more inner rooms but it would be just a matter of putting off the inevitable. If it came to that, that's what they would do in the hopes that Skulduggery would come save them but Valkyrie couldn't take that chance, not with the lives of her friends.

She knew from the start of it all there was something she could do. The idea of it terrified her though, because she didn't know if there was any coming back from it. Not only that, her closest friends would all know her secret.

But this was her fault, they were in this because of her and she needed to fix this.

"I'm sorry," she said, turning to look at all her friends. "I'm sorry I might have brought you all here. I'm sorry you couldn't go to your own worlds and I'm especially sorry that my idea of home is so messed up it includes this huge zombie attack. I'm going to fix this, but you all just have to trust me."

Without waiting to hear what they were going to say, especially any arguments, a web of shadows flew up between her and her friends. They would be able to see her, but there was no way they could get through.

Facing the doors, she raised her hands and summoned a powerful blast of air. The two large doors exploded outward, throwing a handful of the closest zombies into the air. She sent out another blast to clear away another layer of zombies as she ran out toward them. Valkyrie couldn't risk any of the zombies hurting her friends before she had time to act.

Once she was out the door, Valkyrie stopped in the middle of the little pocket of calm she had created. She turned around to face her friends, dropping the web of shadows now that it was too late for them to do anything. Looking straight ahead, she refused to cringe or shrink away as the zombies swarmed her.

Her alter ego had the ability to shut of her pain receptors so that she didn't feel anything. Right now, Valkyrie wished she had the same ability. She could feel them tearing and biting at her, but she didn't dare move, didn't dare fight back lest she speed the dying process too fast for it to happen.

Just when she couldn't take it anymore, when the pain was too much and she wanted to scream or pass out, it happened. She ripped the zombies away from her, invisible strings pulling them off of her and up into the air. All around her, they lifted off the ground and dangled in the air, suspended. The reaction spread, like ripples in a pond the zombies were thrust into the air, waiting judgment from her.

Darquesse's first order of business was to regrow her missing flesh. Muscle and sinew grew and knit itself together, pale skin spreading on top of it. Once she was satisfied, Darquesse rose herself up off the ground, arms spread out in a dramatic gesture as she rotated around to survey what had happened. She could put them all back if she wanted to, restore them to their living status. But they weren't really alive, were they? No, they were all just manifestations of her dream.

She clicked her fingers and each of the zombies burst into flames. Over a million bodies lighting up the night sky like candles and for one moment it was as bright as day before they were all reduced to nothing more than ash. The wall of water that the brave Perseus had set up was no longer needed and she undid the magic with a thought, the water crashing down to the ground.

Turning back to the house, she floated back down to the ground. Now there was the matter of Valkyrie's friends to deal with. She couldn't very well allow them to go back home knowing what had happened. Jessica was far too smart not to figure out that something strange had happened and Stephanie was something of a detective. Then there was Casandra who knew things because, well, it was obvious to anyone with half a brain how she read people. No, they'd all have to be made to forget.

"She could have saved a lot of trouble and just done that earlier," she said. It was Valkyrie's voice, but without any of the warmth and inflection that made it human. Darquesse was above all that. Emotion, sympathy, morality, she didn't have any need for any of it.

[notaparker]

My first thought is she?

No, wait, that's not entirely accurate. My first thought is more along the lines of, oh god, we're all going to get eaten by zombies. It's been repeating for a while now; when we got driven into the house I wondered briefly if I should have thrown myself into the fight more, but then took one look and concluded that trying to shore up all the entrances was about as useful.

Which is to say, not much. We were done for. And then suddenly Valkyrie opens the doors and makes herself zombie bait. I almost run after her -- heck, not almost, I'm halfway to the doors when they get to her -- and think, okay, I get this, it's a weird coma dream, and it's her weird coma dream. Maybe if they kill her we all wake up.

It's risky, but if it was my coma dream and I'd thought of that, I'd try it. I don't like it when other people are trying it, though.

Except then it turns out to be something else entirely. She goes the full power-up. It's impressive. Kind of stunning. Only, when she floats on back down, then, as mentioned, she. Talking about herself in the third person, like she's someone else.

That's not great. That tone of voice is especially not promising. I remember that season of Buffy.

"Done that meaning... burn all the zombies?" I say, tinged with what I recognize is vain hope. Please be Valkyrie. Please don't be the second option. Please don't let this be a whole Dr Connors situation. "Also that was randomly in the third person, don't know if you noticed. Is it like a basketball thing? Slamdunk wizard attack, use the... third... person...?"

It's totally not that. Hence the trailing off.

[tooprettytodie]

"Because you'd all get confused if I said 'I'," Darquesse explained. Valkyrie (or herself) thought so highly of these people but now she wasn't sure. Being Darquesse brought a sense of clarity to things that she hadn't before. These people were amusing. Powerful in their own way, but in the end they were amusing.

"When I'm obviously different," she continued. "But I'm not some other part of her. I'm her, just more of her. Stephanie Edgley is the strictly human side of her. The part she shows her family and most of the world. Valkyrie Cain is all that plus her magical essence, the part of her that's more than mortal. I'm Darquesse. Stephanie and Valkyrie embracing their full potential."

[swan_diver]

Bella probably would have been more surprised if she hadn't spent a good amount of time watching her best friend, and his friends, rip through their skin and turn into massive wolves whenever they got pissed off. That didn't mean she wasn't fascinated with what happened, the way this new Val tossed off the zombies and ripped through them with fire. In fact, it was everything she could do to keep her jaw from flapping open.

But when the new Valkyrie came over, the distant, cold voice coming from her sent chills over Bella's skin. It got worse when she realized she was talking about herself like...like someone with multiple personalities would. So she acted the way people did in books, addressing the other personality like she would a different person and prayed it was the right thing to do.

"That was pretty, ah, effective all right. Is she okay, too? I mean, I saw the healing before all the zombies got thrown off. Is that just you, or her, too?"

[tooprettytodie]

Ah Bella. The surprise friend. She thought she was so pathetic, so infuriating when she read the books and saw the movie and then when she met her in real life? Surprisingly they got along so well. Bella was working hard to better herself, to no longer be the sort of person that so many people in those books hated. Darquesse could respect that.

"It doesn't work like that," she explained. "There's no Valkyrie in my head screaming for me to let her out. I am her. The complete her. Her without a conscience and really, it wasn't much of a moral compass to begin with. I'm Darquesse, not that you'll be remembering that. Although maybe you'd like to? I can help you. That clumsiness you find so annoying? I can fix that. That sense of terror you feel when you think about how scary things are out there and you're helpless? I can make you one of the things all those horrors lay in bed hoping doesn't find them. I can make you strong."