"Plague"

Subject: "Plague" Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:02 am

Philadelphia - 1793

Mid-Summer

It was the year that Yellow Fever had found it’s way to Northern America. Refugees from the Caribbean had made there way over, bringing with them a small plague. But, that’s not all that they brought with them.

Cargo on the ships that docked in Philadelphia, contained another source of a “plague“. As for the fever that broke out, it all started with the cargo. What made it worse, was that there was already a water shortage in the wells and streams. That’s what made it easy for the mosquitoes to breed. They held the Yellow Fever, carrying it to people through their bites, and those people carried it to others. While this was going on, a new being had presented itself in the form of death. People were dying off left and right, doctors had no idea what it was that was taking their lives, so they blamed it on the fever. But, not all of them were dying from the Yellow Fever… As residents decided to flee for safety from the spreading plague, the new creatures took initiative and attacked those who were not infected with Yellow Fever.

The body count grew, and these creatures became bored with their feeding frenzy as the number of victims to feed from dropped. They practically wiped out the whole city. Vampires.. But little did they know, some of those vampires became careless in their hunt, leaving survivors and stragglers behind once they fled the city. Due to the ignorance of those who dwelled in the city, vampires were not what came to mind in the end result.

Those who were left behind, those who survived the attacks…
Now have become the monsters..

Subject: Re: "Plague" Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:02 am

Everything fell silent. No more yelling, no more screams. William laid in the sand underneath the docks, the warm water splashing against the side of his face as it moved up onto the shore. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times to get rid of the blur before he rolled onto his stomach, more so into the water. He brought one hand up to the side of his head, having a splitting headache, along with chills that ran up his spine every time he moved. Everything felt sore and stiff, almost like someone body slammed him into a concrete wall. He tried to shake the feeling, and finally sat up to take a look around.

With a soft grunt he managed to get to his feet, nearly falling over from a new found pain in his stomach. Both arms wrapped around his waist as he leaned forward. This couldn't be good...He stumbled a moment before looking for a way to get back up. With a sigh, he began to walk along the water until the docks had ended. Then he crawled up a small hill, taking a better look of his surroundings. He knew where he was, and knew where he needed to go."It's way too quiet..."he mumbled as he moved towards the civilization. There was no one out, not a single soul.

First, it started with a fever that spread though out the town.. then something greater. The last thing that he could remember was running. Trying to make it for a boat. He brought his hand back up to his head again, the pain seemed to get worse. Once he reached the road, he dropped to his hands and knees, coughing harshly. He could taste the blood that came with it, then immediately passed back out.

Subject: Re: "Plague" Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:51 am

Elizabeth was crawling along the ground rapidly, choked screams emitting from her throat, pants, then another failed attempt to scream. Her creamy cotten dress was stained in deep red patches, torn in many places. More of the crimson liquid was flowing rapidly from her jugular. "Help!" She tried to call out, but just like her screams, it was only a strangled, undicipherable noise. Her dark brown eyes were scared, and wet, tears mixing with the blood from her throat. A foot pressed into the middle of her shoulder blades. Something struck her on the head, and just as her lids shuddered and slipped, she saw the figure, his sharp teeth visable as he lowered his mouth to her bleeding neck.

Elizabeth awoke with a start, her nightmare had been so vivid, as if she were reliving it again. Her right hand came to clutch her chest, sobs ripping through her body. She tried to move her feet but it felt as if her legs had been removed, at the thought, she wrentched her head up ferociously, her sight spinning in protest. Only once she saw that legs were splayed beside her, attached to her waist, did she calm down and place her head against the ground once more. Her vision was hazed by a salty liquid, too weak to force herself to see properly, she just closed her eyes. "What happened?" She croaked to herself.

Subject: Re: "Plague" Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:03 pm

Raymond bolted out the door of his house. He couldn't take it anymore. That cramped, overfilled house was filled with the thick, stuffy air of death. Everywhere he turned his parents, 4 siblings, an uncle and 2 cousins, carried an infection. All of them had contracted the Fever. All but him. It seemed as if he was all but immune to it, but he wasn't going to risk it. Two reasons as to why he had volunteered to get food. One, he knew he needed to take care of his family. Two, he stood a lesser risk of being contaminated out here than being slammed between his ill relatives. His lithe, 15-year-old form dashed throughout the streets of Philadelphia, sprinting towards the center of town, the marketplace. He expected the main plaza to be packed with people, sick and healthy, gathering supplies to care for loved ones. But, it wasn't. It was the exact opposite. It was deserted. Nothing, nobody. Not even the shopkeepers were present. In fact, it looked like it hadn't been walked through in 100 years. But that was a silly thought. Raymond had been here numerous times. And yet, it seemed so very new to him, dusty, lifeless. The sun was going down, the dark falling over Philadelphia like a blanket. Suddenly, his ears caught something, a faint scraping noise, like someone was dragging a rusty nail across a chalk bored. As the sound traveled to his ears, a vigorous shiver shot up his spine. And then he saw it. Eyes. Red as blood, glittering rubies in the unnaturally dark night. Whatever owned those eyes growled, then lunged right at him!

Subject: Re: "Plague" Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:47 am

The screams returned, he was running again. Something about a monster, cries for help, blood, and a lot of pain. His body nearly convulsed as he laid there in the middle of the road. Finally, he had opened his eyes again to see nothing but the pavement that he laid on. Blood trickled out of his mouth and onto the pavement as he slowly sat up. It was so bright earlier when he had woken out near the docks, but now the sun was going down. His body trembled as he managed to get to his feet once more, looking down the road in both directions as if someone was out there. But once again, nothing.

He let out a sigh as he lowered his head, taking note of his attire. His gray slacks were torn, dirty, wet and covered with what looked like dried up blood. Then he noticed his hands as well, lifting them slowly to get a better look, those too, were stained with blood and dirt. His jaw gaped open slightly as he looked himself over once more. Terrified as to what happened to him, he tried to remember. But nothing was coming to mind. On that note, he took off running towards home. No longer feeling sore, no longer feeling the pain he felt earlier. Something wasn't right, and it scared him to death.

Subject: Re: "Plague" Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:13 am

She rolled onto her front, her hands in fists, and resting her weight on her elbows, too weak to stand, she dragged herself to the curve by her elbows. Pained, femanine, grunts emitted from her throat as the pain of scrapping the flesh of her arms flared into her mind. It was like her legs were detatched, though she was certain they were still quite attatched to her hips.

Her head poked out from the gap between the two buildings creating the ally she was slowly dragging herself out of, by the light, she could tell it was night time, and dark, very dark. She saw the dirt path that made up the main street, it was deserted, just as the rest of the small Philadelphian town seemed to be now.

Blood that had been dripping down her forehead, was now dried and sticky, is hazed her vision, she sobbed loudly, and let her head rest against her forearm. "What's happened?" She wondered, full with fear and anxiety. She was trembling with the fear, radiating it. "Help.." She croaked once more, knowing no one would hear her, no one exsisted anymore.

Subject: Re: "Plague" Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:42 pm

The creature was disgusting. It reeked of death, some poor victims blood was smeared all over its face, sanguine liquid dripping from its teeth and chin, staining Raymond's face. At first glance, it looked human, but at this range it was quite apparent of its demonic nature. The stalker of the night was donned in torn rags, the only thing covering its lower half being a large torn piece of cloth. The creature's skin was ghostly white with sunken in eyes, and what would normally be the whites of a humans eyes were an ebony, red eyes glittering with an insatiable hunger. Raymond had been knocked down by it, and was now pinned down, the hell-born beast's tongue sliding over his neck, as if tasting him, snapping at him with its large ivory fangs.

"What the hell is this thing!?" He shouted in frustration and fear. The monster of darkness had a strength and speed that couldn't be matched by any human. He scrabbled with his single free hand, trying to find an object to use as a weapon. It was very difficult to see in the darkness, but after blindly searching, he chanced upon a steel bar, the tip broken and jagged. He could tell by the way it scraped against the stone ground. He rose it up to beat off his assailant with the bar, but not before it bit hard and fiercely into the side of his neck, a squelching sound arising from it feasting on his blood. He cried out in pain, feeling the hot, viscous fluid of his blood against his neck. He beat the creature over the head with his improvised weapon. It snarled angrily and leapt back off Raymond, giving him the chance to get back up.

His vision was blurry as he got back to his feet and he clutched the bitten area of his neck with one hand and held onto the bar with his other. The inhuman "thing" threw itself at him once more. More by luck rather than skill, Raymond thrusting the jagged end of the steel rod blindly, managed to impale it. The creature howled in agony, spasmed, then went limp. He threw the rod and now dead creature away anxiously. He began to make his way back home, panting heavily, still holding his neck, pressuring it to stem the flow of blood. "What was that?" He muttered to himself. It looked like his family would be hungry tonight. He was vaguely aware of a tingling feeling stirring inside of him....

Subject: Re: "Plague" Sat Nov 21, 2009 12:45 am

Amaranda stumbled slowly forward, her feet seeming to constantly become entangled with each other. Strangled whimpers escaped her in a quiet stream, pale lips parted slightly as she gasped for breath past the agony in her mind. Her dark blue eyes, normally apathetic and chilled, were wide and stared forward blankly as she entered the city, not even really seeing where she was going. She fell hard again onto her already bloodied knees, her shaking hands gripping at the white roots of her hair. She leaned forward over her knees till her face nearly touched the ground, her slim form rocking where she knelt.

Suddenly she jerked up onto her feet again unsteadily, her expression twisted in a mix of sorrow and agony as her eyes darted around as if looking at a large group of things too quickly. Twin crimson lines streaked from her nose down her chin now, a stark contrast to her pale complexion. "Stop... Stop! I know... Stop, I can't... You're hurting me! Be quiet! Stop screaming at me... I can't understand..." she whispered frantically, not knowing why it seemed like the entire populace was dead and their spirits converging on her, screaming pain and warnings into her mind.

Just then it all got quiet, all the flashing images before her grew still and parted like a great ghostly sea. RUN... She heard the whisper of each voice say the word simutaneously, their dread transferring to her. Something they didn't know, something deadly, was plaguing this town. She mindlessly started to run. They screamed at her to go faster, to escape like they hadn't. But her legs gave out again and she landed sprawled outside a backalley, nearly unconcious from the pain in her head of so many voices.

Subject: Re: "Plague" Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:18 am

He had stopped running shortly after he reached the small town. He didn't even feel tired from the run, much less out of breath from it. He shook his head, not bothering to think anymore on it. Just as it was down by the docks, it seemed like such a ghost town here as well. He searched for someone, anyone, but no one was in sight. He couldn't hear a thing except for the slight breeze. There were no dogs barking, cats fighting, or children out playing around the buildings. It made him worry more. His family had been long gone for a few years now. He stayed behind to help his uncle at the docks when the cargo ships would pull in. But then his uncle had become ill with the yellow fever...

It was getting darker each second as the sun went down. He kept moving on to find a place to hide. Hide. Yeah, he was slightly scared, thinking he was the only one left in town. What would he do? Where would he go? Was it possible, that what happened here, has happened in the neighboring areas? He brought his hand to his stomach, feeling a slight burning sensation within. He wouldn't let himself pass out again. He made his way to the nearest building, the small town library, and entered into the darkness.

Subject: Re: "Plague" Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:08 pm

Raymond staggered through the impossibly dark and deserted town. As he trudged along, he looked up. He was greeted by the sight of the stars, thousands of bright dots that lit up and decorated an ebony sky. Then all of the stars grew into long streaks as his vision blurred, accompanied by a slightly painful tingling in his gut and around his neck wound, which still bled profusely. He rubbed his eyes and the stars began to resume their usual orb like shape. A thought entered his mind and he quickened his pace.
What if whatever it was that attacked him went after his family? He couldn't allow that to happen. He sped up to a pained jog. After a few more minutes, he reached his abode. He threw the door open, panting as his head swiveled from side to side, searching for his family. There were no sounds of coughing or quiet talking. No sounds of movement. No spine-tingling or disgusting noise of wretching in the narrow bathroom. He lit a candle in the center of the room. The dim light revealed the shambled remains of the inside of his house. The three chairs that they had were in broken fragments of wood, strewn about the area. Cabinets were torn from their hinges and food from their meager supply was bitten into and tossed carelessly about. Raymond searched fruitlessly, finding nothing of his family. After rifling through a few drawers, he discovered a slightly torn piece of paper. Words had been hastily scrawled across it. It read, "Raymond, if you find this, we are gone already. We could hear them, watching us. They've been watching since you left. It's dangerous out there, if you haven't already found that out. We've left Philadelphia, heading towards Boston, Massachusetts. With luck, you'll be able to make it out and find us, without incident. Oh, and please, bury your uncle." Raymond swallowed and blinked hard. Uncle Stephen....dead? It couldn't be. He continued reading. "He chose to stay behind and buy us time, and hopefully be here when you came back. Please, stay alive. Mom."

Raymond clenched the piece of paper and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. He looked for Stephen's body. He soon found it, slumped in a corner, a large streak of blood stained down the wall and around his body on the floor. Two knives lay next to him, half covered in dark, murky blood. His chest had been stabbed into and his heart crushed. He found two bite marks on his uncle's neck, similar to his own. He moved to pick up the corpse, but stopped abruptly when he heard a low. malicious growl. He saw an eerily familiar pair of ruby eyes. It obviously wasn't the same that had attacked him previously, but another one of its "kind". He quickly picked up one of the knives his newly deceased relative had used and bolted out of the door before the creature could lunge at him. He felt bad about not being able to bury his uncle properly, but wasn't going to risk another lethal encounter with the demons of the night. He ran, not knowing where he was going, only knowing he had to escape. He felt his energy leave him as blood ran out of the wound in his neck. His grip was slipping on the kitchen knife, but he managed to keep hold of it. He found himself slowing and breathing raggedly as he reached the library. It too, was abandoned, as far as he knew. He finally collapsed right in the door way, his eyes tearing up, his stomach burning with a peculiar sensation. He looked into the pitch black entryway, and slowly faded into darkness...