Dirge of the Broken

[Mikajo]

The once magnificent landscape of New York City, with its high-risers and skyscrapers, now reduced to a city of survivors where the weakest are infected and killed, and life is never what it once was....

Shocking blue eyes open in a haze, glancing around in confusion. The owner, a girl in her early twenties, sits up slowly, rubbing her aching head. She glances around at her surroundings, one word coming to her mind. Alley. The girl pushes herself to her feet, leaning against the wall for support as her legs try to steady themselves under her weight.

She moves down the alley toward the street, lips puckered in grim uncertainty. Her face betrayed a look of confusion. She had no idea where she was in the giant labyrinth of empty city buildings and decrypt maze of streets devoid of most life. Curling her fist against the cold stone of the alley's wall, she steeled her gaze. Her mind may be clouded with fog, but she was going to find out what was going on.  

[Nightwatcher Raphael H]

The Small Ones, groups of children turned zombie hunted in packs like dogs. What they lacked in strength, they gained in number and had brought down even the strongest of men. The leader of this particular band, a small one eyed child, could smell fresh prey and started to move in it's direction.  

[Mikajo]

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The Small Ones, groups of children turned zombie hunted in packs like dogs. What they lacked in strength, they gained in number and had brought down even the strongest of men. The leader of this particular band, a small one eyed child, could smell fresh prey and started to move in it's direction.

The girl left her position in the alley after a quick surveillance of the area around her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something made the hairs stand on the back of her neck, and it wasn't the scenery. She kept her ears open to the slightest noise of life and started to trek toward what she believed to be the downtown area. If people were going to be anywhere, they'd be downtown, she was sure of it. Why she was walking in a hellish nightmare of New York City, she wasn't sure. However, the sooner she could find somebody, the sooner she could get answers - answers she needed.  

[Nightwatcher Raphael H]

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The Small Ones, groups of children turned zombie hunted in packs like dogs. What they lacked in strength, they gained in number and had brought down even the strongest of men. The leader of this particular band, a small one eyed child, could smell fresh prey and started to move in it's direction.

The girl left her position in the alley after a quick surveillance of the area around her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something made the hairs stand on the back of her neck, and it wasn't the scenery. She kept her ears open to the slightest noise of life and started to trek toward what she believed to be the downtown area. If people were going to be anywhere, they'd be downtown, she was sure of it. Why she was walking in a hellish nightmare of New York City, she wasn't sure. However, the sooner she could find somebody, the sooner she could get answers - answers she needed.

She would hear the faint sound of giggling. It would seem to come from her left, then a little later from her right. After that behind her and then in front of her.  

[Mikajo]

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The Small Ones, groups of children turned zombie hunted in packs like dogs. What they lacked in strength, they gained in number and had brought down even the strongest of men. The leader of this particular band, a small one eyed child, could smell fresh prey and started to move in it's direction.

The girl left her position in the alley after a quick surveillance of the area around her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something made the hairs stand on the back of her neck, and it wasn't the scenery. She kept her ears open to the slightest noise of life and started to trek toward what she believed to be the downtown area. If people were going to be anywhere, they'd be downtown, she was sure of it. Why she was walking in a hellish nightmare of New York City, she wasn't sure. However, the sooner she could find somebody, the sooner she could get answers - answers she needed.

She would hear the faint sound of giggling. It would seem to come from her left, then a little later from her right. After that behind her and then in front of her.

The girl glanced to her left, eyes scanning the empty span of street. Confused, she continued to trudge along before hearing the same sound coming from her right. She whipped around, met with nothing but the same emptiness that haunted the landscape. Suspicion rising and fear beginning to clutch her heart, she unsteadily began to move forward. As soon as giggling sounded behind her, her back arched. Obviously someone - or something - was messing with her, and she was certainly sure it was not friendly. She took a sharp inhalation of breath and began to sprint.  

[Nightwatcher Raphael H]

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The Small Ones, groups of children turned zombie hunted in packs like dogs. What they lacked in strength, they gained in number and had brought down even the strongest of men. The leader of this particular band, a small one eyed child, could smell fresh prey and started to move in it's direction.

The girl left her position in the alley after a quick surveillance of the area around her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something made the hairs stand on the back of her neck, and it wasn't the scenery. She kept her ears open to the slightest noise of life and started to trek toward what she believed to be the downtown area. If people were going to be anywhere, they'd be downtown, she was sure of it. Why she was walking in a hellish nightmare of New York City, she wasn't sure. However, the sooner she could find somebody, the sooner she could get answers - answers she needed.

She would hear the faint sound of giggling. It would seem to come from her left, then a little later from her right. After that behind her and then in front of her.

The girl glanced to her left, eyes scanning the empty span of street. Confused, she continued to trudge along before hearing the same sound coming from her right. She whipped around, met with nothing but the same emptiness that haunted the landscape. Suspicion rising and fear beginning to clutch her heart, she unsteadily began to move forward. As soon as giggling sounded behind her, her back arched. Obviously someone - or something - was messing with her, and she was certainly sure it was not friendly. She took a sharp inhalation of breath and began to sprint.

The pitter patter of little feet could be heard following her.  

[Mikajo]

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The Small Ones, groups of children turned zombie hunted in packs like dogs. What they lacked in strength, they gained in number and had brought down even the strongest of men. The leader of this particular band, a small one eyed child, could smell fresh prey and started to move in it's direction.

The girl left her position in the alley after a quick surveillance of the area around her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something made the hairs stand on the back of her neck, and it wasn't the scenery. She kept her ears open to the slightest noise of life and started to trek toward what she believed to be the downtown area. If people were going to be anywhere, they'd be downtown, she was sure of it. Why she was walking in a hellish nightmare of New York City, she wasn't sure. However, the sooner she could find somebody, the sooner she could get answers - answers she needed.

She would hear the faint sound of giggling. It would seem to come from her left, then a little later from her right. After that behind her and then in front of her.

The girl glanced to her left, eyes scanning the empty span of street. Confused, she continued to trudge along before hearing the same sound coming from her right. She whipped around, met with nothing but the same emptiness that haunted the landscape. Suspicion rising and fear beginning to clutch her heart, she unsteadily began to move forward. As soon as giggling sounded behind her, her back arched. Obviously someone - or something - was messing with her, and she was certainly sure it was not friendly. She took a sharp inhalation of breath and began to sprint.

The pitter patter of little feet could be heard following her.

Huffing, she continued to run down the street, arms pumping, legs moving as fast as they would go. Whoever was following her, she had to shake off. She turned down one alley before moving up a separate street, still heading in the general direction of downtown. One hand moved to her side, the pain moving down her side as she gasped for breath. A momentary lapse in looking up caused her to run down an alley with a dead end; a giant wall rose to meet her advancing steps. Panting, she slowly turned to face the way she had come, the only exit. She was trapped.  

[Nightwatcher Raphael H]

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The Small Ones, groups of children turned zombie hunted in packs like dogs. What they lacked in strength, they gained in number and had brought down even the strongest of men. The leader of this particular band, a small one eyed child, could smell fresh prey and started to move in it's direction.

The girl left her position in the alley after a quick surveillance of the area around her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something made the hairs stand on the back of her neck, and it wasn't the scenery. She kept her ears open to the slightest noise of life and started to trek toward what she believed to be the downtown area. If people were going to be anywhere, they'd be downtown, she was sure of it. Why she was walking in a hellish nightmare of New York City, she wasn't sure. However, the sooner she could find somebody, the sooner she could get answers - answers she needed.

She would hear the faint sound of giggling. It would seem to come from her left, then a little later from her right. After that behind her and then in front of her.

The girl glanced to her left, eyes scanning the empty span of street. Confused, she continued to trudge along before hearing the same sound coming from her right. She whipped around, met with nothing but the same emptiness that haunted the landscape. Suspicion rising and fear beginning to clutch her heart, she unsteadily began to move forward. As soon as giggling sounded behind her, her back arched. Obviously someone - or something - was messing with her, and she was certainly sure it was not friendly. She took a sharp inhalation of breath and began to sprint.

The pitter patter of little feet could be heard following her.

Huffing, she continued to run down the street, arms pumping, legs moving as fast as they would go. Whoever was following her, she had to shake off. She turned down one alley before moving up a separate street, still heading in the general direction of downtown. One hand moved to her side, the pain moving down her side as she gasped for breath. A momentary lapse in looking up caused her to run down an alley with a dead end; a giant wall rose to meet her advancing steps. Panting, she slowly turned to face the way she had come, the only exit. She was trapped.

Soon her only exit started to fill with small children. At first glance someone would almost say, "Awww." but looking closer would show the various signs of rot and decay on the small bodies and faces. Even missing appendages.  

[Mikajo]

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

She would hear the faint sound of giggling. It would seem to come from her left, then a little later from her right. After that behind her and then in front of her.

The girl glanced to her left, eyes scanning the empty span of street. Confused, she continued to trudge along before hearing the same sound coming from her right. She whipped around, met with nothing but the same emptiness that haunted the landscape. Suspicion rising and fear beginning to clutch her heart, she unsteadily began to move forward. As soon as giggling sounded behind her, her back arched. Obviously someone - or something - was messing with her, and she was certainly sure it was not friendly. She took a sharp inhalation of breath and began to sprint.

The pitter patter of little feet could be heard following her.

Huffing, she continued to run down the street, arms pumping, legs moving as fast as they would go. Whoever was following her, she had to shake off. She turned down one alley before moving up a separate street, still heading in the general direction of downtown. One hand moved to her side, the pain moving down her side as she gasped for breath. A momentary lapse in looking up caused her to run down an alley with a dead end; a giant wall rose to meet her advancing steps. Panting, she slowly turned to face the way she had come, the only exit. She was trapped.

Soon her only exit started to fill with small children. At first glance someone would almost say, "Awww." but looking closer would show the various signs of rot and decay on the small bodies and faces. Even missing appendages.

The girl's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the children. Those kids... they were dead.... but they were still walking? She shook her head, her hands coming to hold it. Terror echoed into the depths of her blue irises, trying to make sense of the scene. She shut her eyes tightly for a brief second before reopening them, eyes narrowing, hands falling limply to her sides. "What are you?" she hissed.  

[Nightwatcher Raphael H]

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

She would hear the faint sound of giggling. It would seem to come from her left, then a little later from her right. After that behind her and then in front of her.

The girl glanced to her left, eyes scanning the empty span of street. Confused, she continued to trudge along before hearing the same sound coming from her right. She whipped around, met with nothing but the same emptiness that haunted the landscape. Suspicion rising and fear beginning to clutch her heart, she unsteadily began to move forward. As soon as giggling sounded behind her, her back arched. Obviously someone - or something - was messing with her, and she was certainly sure it was not friendly. She took a sharp inhalation of breath and began to sprint.

The pitter patter of little feet could be heard following her.

Huffing, she continued to run down the street, arms pumping, legs moving as fast as they would go. Whoever was following her, she had to shake off. She turned down one alley before moving up a separate street, still heading in the general direction of downtown. One hand moved to her side, the pain moving down her side as she gasped for breath. A momentary lapse in looking up caused her to run down an alley with a dead end; a giant wall rose to meet her advancing steps. Panting, she slowly turned to face the way she had come, the only exit. She was trapped.

Soon her only exit started to fill with small children. At first glance someone would almost say, "Awww." but looking closer would show the various signs of rot and decay on the small bodies and faces. Even missing appendages.

The girl's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the children. Those kids... they were dead.... but they were still walking? She shook her head, her hands coming to hold it. Terror echoed into the depths of her blue irises, trying to make sense of the scene. She shut her eyes tightly for a brief second before reopening them, eyes narrowing, hands falling limply to her sides. "What are you?" she hissed.

"What are you....?" the children repeated back again and again, mockingly and evilly.  

[Mikajo]

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The pitter patter of little feet could be heard following her.

Huffing, she continued to run down the street, arms pumping, legs moving as fast as they would go. Whoever was following her, she had to shake off. She turned down one alley before moving up a separate street, still heading in the general direction of downtown. One hand moved to her side, the pain moving down her side as she gasped for breath. A momentary lapse in looking up caused her to run down an alley with a dead end; a giant wall rose to meet her advancing steps. Panting, she slowly turned to face the way she had come, the only exit. She was trapped.

Soon her only exit started to fill with small children. At first glance someone would almost say, "Awww." but looking closer would show the various signs of rot and decay on the small bodies and faces. Even missing appendages.

The girl's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the children. Those kids... they were dead.... but they were still walking? She shook her head, her hands coming to hold it. Terror echoed into the depths of her blue irises, trying to make sense of the scene. She shut her eyes tightly for a brief second before reopening them, eyes narrowing, hands falling limply to her sides. "What are you?" she hissed.

"What are you....?" the children repeated back again and again, mockingly and evilly.

The girl maintained her glare, hands curling into fists at her side. There seemed to be no hint of intelligence in the children, although the fact they were supposed to be dead but still walking and talking was a miracle in of itself. She took a steadying breath, glad that her lungs were getting their much-needed oxygen again. It looked like she was going to have to fight her way through if she was ever going to know who she was, and, more importantly, why she was here.  

[Nightwatcher Raphael H]

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

The pitter patter of little feet could be heard following her.

Huffing, she continued to run down the street, arms pumping, legs moving as fast as they would go. Whoever was following her, she had to shake off. She turned down one alley before moving up a separate street, still heading in the general direction of downtown. One hand moved to her side, the pain moving down her side as she gasped for breath. A momentary lapse in looking up caused her to run down an alley with a dead end; a giant wall rose to meet her advancing steps. Panting, she slowly turned to face the way she had come, the only exit. She was trapped.

Soon her only exit started to fill with small children. At first glance someone would almost say, "Awww." but looking closer would show the various signs of rot and decay on the small bodies and faces. Even missing appendages.

The girl's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the children. Those kids... they were dead.... but they were still walking? She shook her head, her hands coming to hold it. Terror echoed into the depths of her blue irises, trying to make sense of the scene. She shut her eyes tightly for a brief second before reopening them, eyes narrowing, hands falling limply to her sides. "What are you?" she hissed.

"What are you....?" the children repeated back again and again, mockingly and evilly.

The girl maintained her glare, hands curling into fists at her side. There seemed to be no hint of intelligence in the children, although the fact they were supposed to be dead but still walking and talking was a miracle in of itself. She took a steadying breath, glad that her lungs were getting their much-needed oxygen again. It looked like she was going to have to fight her way through if she was ever going to know who she was, and, more importantly, why she was here.

"I know what you are...." the one eyed little girl said with an evil grin.  

[Mikajo]

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Soon her only exit started to fill with small children. At first glance someone would almost say, "Awww." but looking closer would show the various signs of rot and decay on the small bodies and faces. Even missing appendages.

The girl's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the children. Those kids... they were dead.... but they were still walking? She shook her head, her hands coming to hold it. Terror echoed into the depths of her blue irises, trying to make sense of the scene. She shut her eyes tightly for a brief second before reopening them, eyes narrowing, hands falling limply to her sides. "What are you?" she hissed.

"What are you....?" the children repeated back again and again, mockingly and evilly.

The girl maintained her glare, hands curling into fists at her side. There seemed to be no hint of intelligence in the children, although the fact they were supposed to be dead but still walking and talking was a miracle in of itself. She took a steadying breath, glad that her lungs were getting their much-needed oxygen again. It looked like she was going to have to fight her way through if she was ever going to know who she was, and, more importantly, why she was here.

"I know what you are...." the one eyed little girl said with an evil grin.

The question threw her off, disbelief etching itself across her face. "Know... what I am...?" she questioned back before shaking her head. "I'm human! Something you aren't."  

[Nightwatcher Raphael H]

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Soon her only exit started to fill with small children. At first glance someone would almost say, "Awww." but looking closer would show the various signs of rot and decay on the small bodies and faces. Even missing appendages.

The girl's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the children. Those kids... they were dead.... but they were still walking? She shook her head, her hands coming to hold it. Terror echoed into the depths of her blue irises, trying to make sense of the scene. She shut her eyes tightly for a brief second before reopening them, eyes narrowing, hands falling limply to her sides. "What are you?" she hissed.

"What are you....?" the children repeated back again and again, mockingly and evilly.

The girl maintained her glare, hands curling into fists at her side. There seemed to be no hint of intelligence in the children, although the fact they were supposed to be dead but still walking and talking was a miracle in of itself. She took a steadying breath, glad that her lungs were getting their much-needed oxygen again. It looked like she was going to have to fight her way through if she was ever going to know who she was, and, more importantly, why she was here.

"I know what you are...." the one eyed little girl said with an evil grin.

The question threw her off, disbelief etching itself across her face. "Know... what I am...?" she questioned back before shaking her head. "I'm human! Something you aren't."

"You're right. You are human... but you are also....dinner." the little girl said with an evil hiss before she and the rest of the children began to stalk towards her.  

[Mikajo]

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

Mikajo

Nightwatcher Raphael H

"What are you....?" the children repeated back again and again, mockingly and evilly.

The girl maintained her glare, hands curling into fists at her side. There seemed to be no hint of intelligence in the children, although the fact they were supposed to be dead but still walking and talking was a miracle in of itself. She took a steadying breath, glad that her lungs were getting their much-needed oxygen again. It looked like she was going to have to fight her way through if she was ever going to know who she was, and, more importantly, why she was here.

"I know what you are...." the one eyed little girl said with an evil grin.

The question threw her off, disbelief etching itself across her face. "Know... what I am...?" she questioned back before shaking her head. "I'm human! Something you aren't."

"You're right. You are human... but you are also....dinner." the little girl said with an evil hiss before she and the rest of the children began to stalk towards her.

The young adult readied herself for a fight, feeling her back pressed against the cool brick wall behind her. She had nowhere else to go, and although she was outnumbered at least ten to one, she had to make a break for the exit; it was her only hope of surviving.