Charlie Brown...

[nouveauchevall]

The sun was bad today.

Lyra

I kicked a rock and watched it roll sadly away. I looked at it and is stared indignantly back at me. "Sorry." I said plainly.

There was no one here. I was in no mans land between two camps. Or, I guess this was technically the Dorothy camp. I shrugged in my shirt. It was hot and sticky, and the thin fabric clung to me. I rolled my shoulders as I sat down on a large boulder along the path way between camps. I looked behind me, where the path stretched out to where I'd come from. Large undiscovered carcasses of the aliens lay pitifully in fields of tall yellow grass. Buzzards danced around on top of them, entranced by the strange new meat. Of course, the ones that had eaten lay dead a few yards away. The didn't realize that the meat was bad for them. I sighed at the stupid birds, and hauled my backpack up onto my shoulder.

I panted in the hot sun as I dragged my feet one step further... another step. It was all I could do not to dig myself a hole to sleep in. I looked ahead. More dirt. More fields. I screamed and kick up dirt.

After a few calming breaths, I continued walking.

Tents. Tents everywhere. Though this was the smallest of the camps, it still looked huge. I walked up to the edge of it and looked down. Charlie Brown. I picked up the small stuffed doll and looked at it. Seemed like from another world. I pinched my eyebrows and studied it. He was my favorite. Well, Snoopy and Woodstock were my favorite, but he was there. All of that before the war. Well, extermination really. A war would mean that both sides have a fighting chance. We were exterminated. Until that virus...

I sat there, staring at Charlie Brown. It was now understood that this square that I'd drawn with my finger was my space. I'd placed my backpack at one corner and drawn my tent out and pitched it. It was kind of small, but I didn't spend much time in it. I sat on my jacket with Charlie. There was a rudimentary fence built around the outside of the camp, topped with barbed wire. Guards of some sort sat on buckets at even intervals around the perimeter. "Don't know what use they're going to be; the aliens are all dead," I said to myself. Or Charlie. Not really sure which.

The moon was worse.

[rathe]

"I survived because I'm a coward."
~Felix Larson's Journal

Wetness.
That was the first thing Felix felt as he drifting back into consciousness. There was water all around him as he lay on the smooth stream bed. "Thank God," he thought. Somehow he ended up in the small stream right when he collapsed from dehydration. He laid there for a few moments in the cold water before sitting up. Cupping his hands, he took a drink. "Water!" he exclaimed. His voice crackled as he laughed. "WATER!" he shouted even louder. He was as giddy as a kid with candy.

Felix couldn't remember much about the past few days. He remembered stumbling across vast plains. His mouth was drier than the desert and every bone in his body ached, but he pressed on. His long rifle pressed against his side and his pack pressed against his back. "I am a survivor," he told himself. It kept him focused, but it didn't alleviate any of the pain. He was right when the brink of death when he collapsed and blacked out.


Felix stood and took in his surroundings. The stream was bordered by two small hills. The western hill was scarred with a long streak that ran right to where he was standing. Various items of his were scattered around that area. "I must have rolled down this when I collapsed," he mused. He stretched his back, making several popping noises. Then he made his way to the hillside to pick up his belongings. His pack was further up the hill while his vest and pistol were at the bottom. As he made his way to pick them up, he noticed a flapping around his ankles. "My pant legs are pretty ripped up," he observed as he moved with a slight limp up the hill. Luckily, his knife was still strapped to his leg. He grabbed his pack and opened it. "Sniper clips and spare ammo? Check," He said as he went through a mental checklist. "Pistol clips and spare ammo? Check. Binoculars? Check. Canteen? Check. Everything is here." He picked up his pistol off the ground and left his vest. "That will only hinder me in this heat."

Stopping at the stream again, Felix filled his canteen and drank the entire bottle. Then he splashed some water on his face and filled it up again, returning the canteen to its place in his pack. Then, he took a deep breath and set off at a somewhat steady pace up the hill on the eastern side of the stream. At the top, he pulled at the binoculars and surveyed the landscape in every direction. "Nothing but these forsaken plains," he muttered disappointingly. He was moving to put them away when something caught his eye not too far to the northeast. Some kind of fabric was flapping in the wind. "That's good enough for me," Felix said before limping off in their general direction.

An hour later, Felix was close enough to make out a mass of tents. "More survivors?" he wondered. He stumbled onward, but something didn't feel right to him. He looked off to his right and saw the alien's body. He crashed on his rear end. His breath came shakily and his body shuddered as the flashback began: He was sitting up against a large tree with a hole at ground level. Fear coursed through every fiber of his body. He was being hunted. The sound of footsteps came closer as he scrambled back into the hole. His breath came in short bursts. He reached for his pistol and clumsily shoved a clip in. Alien legs appeared in front of his hole. They stopped right in front of the hole and twisted around. Felix thought he was safe. Suddenly a long-fingered hand reached down to grab his legs. Felix shrieked and pushed himself farther into the tree. He tried to steady his pistol but both of hands were shaking badly. He let off two shots. BANG! BANG! One missed but the other struck it in what should be its leg. It howled in pain and Felix took the opportunity to escape. He ran faster than he ever had before. And he didn't stop.

Felix came back to reality. His pistol was in his hand, and he was sitting on the ground. He was shaking badly and his ears were ringing. "I actually shot?" he asked doubtfully. He tried to stand up again, but he couldn't find the energy. So he stayed where he was and prayed for someone to come find him. Or for him to recover his energy. Whichever came first.

[nouveauchevall]

Icey blue froze the fairly tale cold,

I tossed Charlie to the side, and pushed my self up from the ground. I had to do something. After walking for days at a time, it felt weird to not be moving. I patted my hip to make sure my knife was still there. I didn't really think about it anymore; I do it out of habit. My stomach growled as I stood up, and I looked around for something to eat. I didn't know where the kept the food at this camp. I didn't know where they kept the food at any camps. I scanned the tents, but all I saw were families clumped together and holding each other. Mother shushing children, fathers sitting with their heads in their hands, thinking about what to do next.

BANG BANG. People's heads turned in the direction of the shots. I took off running at the first one. Not exactly sure where it had come from, I ran in the direction of the sound. Being from the army, I knew gun shots. I knew how to track them. When I got close, I started looking around in the grass, and I saw a kid about my age laying in the grass. Anger swelled in my chest. I walked up to him and slapped him across the head. "What's the matter with you, idiot!?" I yelled. "What are you thinking, firing a gun off like that? You don't do that directly after a disaster! You scared the snot out of everyone at the camp." I took a deep breath through my nose. "Why are you on the ground? You hurt or somethin'? Come on, give me your hand." I rolled my eyes and then extended my hand to him to pull him off the ground.

Though I treasured you...

[/size]

OOC// Not very long, but yeah. It'll be longer next time.[/font][/size]

[rathe]

"There is nowhere to hide. They will always find you."
~Felix Larson's Journal

The girl extended a hand to him. His face still stung from where she had slapped him. He sat there brooding, staring right into her eyes. Then he put one hand on the ground and pushed himself to a standing position. He wobbled a bit, but stayed standing. He holstered his pistol, and picked his sniper rifle up off the ground, but his eyes never left her. They were both silent. Then Felix spoke, fighting himself to maintain a calm tone. "I fought in your disaster, girl. I lost every single one of my comrades in your disaster. I was still fighting for my life at the end of your disaster. I might have prefered to die at various points, but by God's grace I am still here."

He pushed the strap of his rifle over his shoulder. He finally broke his eyes off from her as he turned towards the camp. "My name is Felix by the way. Not idiot." He assumed a solemn tone. "My comrades used to call me Overwatch. My closer comrades called me Hex. That name has a long story behind it." He sighed. "And who are you?" He asked as he started towards the camp with a slight limp.

[nouveauchevall]

Tonight I'm gonna bury
that horse in the ground

My hand twitched towards my knife as he spoke. This guy was seriously pissing me off. I fought in your disaster... What was that about? "My disaster?" I snarled as he started to walk away. "Sorry, kid, but it wasn't my disaster. It was the whole world's disaster." I tried my best death stare on the back of his head but it didn't seem to have quite the same effect. "And don't call me girl. My name is Lyra. Do you even know where you're going, Felix?" I said, putting a bit of venom in his name. My anger wasn't what it was, but it still boiled around me, feeling like ants under my skin.

I tilted my head slightly to get a good look at him as we walked. As much as I hated him right now, I couldn't deny the fact that he was kind of attractive. As soon as the thought entered my head, it was pushed out. No! Don't go there! I furrowed my eyebrows and listened to myself. I didn't want to say anything else to him, but as we approached the camp, I took a breath. "You're going to have to sign in to get your tent space at the front tent if you haven't been here before. Also, they're going to take your guns. No weapons allowed. Don't try and resist; it'll only end badly," I said in an offhand voice.

"Oh, and don't forget to smile."

So I like to keep my issues drawn.
It's always darkest before the dawn.

[rathe]

"Eyes open or eyes closed, they were everywhere."
~Felix Larson's Journal

"...Oh and don't forget to smile," Lyra said as she trailed behind him. Felix stopped and turn towards her. "You never separate the gun from the soldier," he said and then continued on his way. "For the record," he added solemly without turning around, "I have not willfully smiled in months." His rifle hung from his shoulder, swaying and hitting his side with every heavy, lumbering step towards the camp.

About 15 minutes later, the pair arrived at Camp Dorothy and went straight to the front tent. Felix took one look at Lyra and then stepped inside, leaving her outside. He checked the rank of the man in front of him: Corporal Potter. Felix saluted him. "Sergeant Larson, sniper for the 3rd Massachusetts reporting for duty!"
The man looked him up and down. "Sign in over there," he said. As Felix signed in, someone came up behind him and reached towards his rifle. Felix whipped around, catching the man's arm. "Don't touch the rifle." He looked down at his uniform. "Private."
"Stand down, Larson," Potter said.
"Don't make me pull rank on you. These weapons don't leave my side. Ever."

[/blockquote]

[nouveauchevall]

I smirked as the Corporal tried to seize the weapons. I didn't care how badly he wanted to keep his guns, the weapons were NOT allowed in the camp. The Army didn't exist anymore. All soldiers were registered and appointed by the Government camp. Technically, this guy wasn't a soldier anymore. I wasn't going to tell HIM that, because he'd probably shoot me, but I'm sure the soldier would bring it up. "Have you been registered at the Government camp, Larson?" Oh look. He just did. I shifted my weight to my left leg and smirked. This was so worth while. "You know, Corporal, I don't think he has," I said, helpfully. Or.. not helpfully.

I walked closer to Felix, and leaned in to talk to him. I used my gentle voice. "Look, why don't you just make this easy on everyone, and give him the guns. You're not going to need them in here unless you're planning on killing someone, which if you do, they'll hang you on the spot. I've seen it happened. Someone suffered from dementia, and they killed someone with a plastic butter knife. Well, that bit is unimportant but still. At least you can understand why the want these. More so, because you were in the Army. You probably have post-traumatic stress disorder. Probably suffer from flashbacks. It's incredibly normal. Just hand him the guns." I looked at Corporal Potter to let him know not to push the poor guy. As much as I hated him, I kind of know what he is going through. Probably didn't trust anyone. Probably used his guns like a safety blanket. Yeah, been there.

[rathe]

"Hex. I finally have an actually nickname. Overwatch was more of a working title. But now I know that they respect me. I am finally wanted. I have never been happier."

~Felix Larson's Journal

Felix glared backwards at Lyra. "Quiet," he growled. He let go of the private's arm. He quickly stepped backwards. "Who is your commanding officer?" Felix asked Corporal Potter.
"The Secretary of Defense, David Bailey. Are you familiar with the concept of Base Commanders, Sergeant?"
"Yes, but what does that have to do with this?"
"I was appointed to the position of Base officer of this camp by Mr. Bailey. Now, hand over your firearms or leave."
Felix was tempted to take the second option, but he needed contact with fellow people. Even with the ultimatum issued my Potter, the soldiers all took a step back when he put his hand on his pistol. He slapped it on the table and unstrapped his rifle, placing it beside the pistol. The same private reached out towards them. This time, Felix grabbed the private's arm and twisted it behind his back. The man howled. "Are you really that thick? I told you not to touch them.
"Sorry!" the man cried. Felix let go of him.
"Let's be clear here," Felix said as he picked them up. "I don't want to find anybody using either one of these. Now where do you want me to put them?

After he was satisfied with the way they were stored, he returned to the tent. "Where do I register?" He asked in a frustrated manner.
"Write your full name, sex, abilities, and any identifiable marks on your body. Then sign it. We'll send it off to the government camp the next time somebody comes by."

He left the tent with Lyra by his side. His fists clenched as he restrained his frustration. "I didn't fight a losing war for this," he between clenched teeth. He looked down at the tent assignment given to him. Felix sighed. "Can you lead me to my spot," he asked, handing her the paper.

[/size][/font]

[nouveauchevall]

Quiet... I grinned innocently. I watched them talk a bit, and then out of nowhere, Felix attacked the private. "Felix!" Are you really that thick? "Oh, please. What are you, British?" I half shouted. I stormed after him as he went to register. "What the HECK was that? You could have been killed for that! I'm surprised they didn't shoot you with your own gun. You're not a soldier anymore! You are a civilian! What's it going to take to get that through your thick head?" I took a deep breath and blew through my nose. "Sorry."

He handed me a piece of paper. Can you lead me to my spot? I snatched the paper out of his hand and looked down at it. "Howdy, neighbor," I said under my breath. "This way." I led him past my tent, and to the spot next to it, marked with a little post and a number, kind of like a mailbox, but without the box. "Home sweet grass," I said, sarcastically. I pointed to the tent in the spot next to it. "That's mine." I snatched Charlie Brown off the ground and tossed him into my tent. "Have you got a tent?" I asked, slightly offhand. I looked around. People looked at Felix. It wasn't often that they got new people. I'd been here about a week. I was the most recent person, which is probably why we were right next to each other. Felix's spot was right on the edge. The farthest from the main tents. The Registration Tent, the Food Tent, and the Supplies Tent.

[rathe]

They say it's always darkest just before the dawn...

"Does it like like I'm carrying a tent to you?" Felix said curtly. "Up until now, I've either slept on the ground or in the few trees I could find. I'll be fine without one for now. I just hope it doesn't rain." She shrugged at him indifferently.

He laid down his stuff in his assigned space and pulled a blanket out of his bag and spread it out on the ground. He sighed. "I guess they gave me this spot because they didn't want to be anywhere near me." He shook his head. It was only early afternoon. "I've had a long day so far. I'm going to take a nap, Lyra. I guess I'll see you later. He laid down on the blanket and rolled himself up in it. He lay there for a few minutes before he closed his eyes. He was asleep in an instant.


His dreams were as fitful as always.

Felix walked through the desert with his team toward an old town made out of stone. They joked and laughed like the best of buddies. Suddenly, a shot rang out from on of the rooftops ahead of them. "Joshie's down!" their medic yelled as he scrambled to the fallen soldier. More gunfire rained down on them. Felix swung his rifle off of his back as he took cover behind one of the few rocks large enough to hide him. Jersey had chosen the same place as him "Lay down some covering fire," Felix said to him as he rested the rifle on the rock and took aim. Jersey fired on his left. In the window, Felix noticed as he pulled the trigger and loaded another round. "One down!" He announced. "Two more down from over here," came an announcement from his right. Felix lined up another shot. "Sniper on the left!" Jersey yelled. As Felix turned to look, the bullet fired by the sniper grazed his left cheek, and the concussion from the round sent him sprawling. His world spun around him as he struggled to stay conscious. Jersey shook him. "Get up! He's moving again. Jersey thrust Felix's rifle into his hand. He lined up the shot, his head pounding, and fired...

The sun was still in the sky when Felix jerked awake. His body was covered in a cold sweat and his heart pounded. His muscles were tensed and his body shook. "Why?" he asked himself. "Why must I keep these memories?"

...So stay awake with me;
Let's prove them wrong.

[/size][/font]

[nouveauchevall]

I stared at him. He made me so mad I could spit. I nearly did. In his face. "I guess not," I said in a clipped voice. He tossed his stuff on the ground and mumbled to himself. "No, they gave you this spot because they wanted to make my life a living hell," I mumbled under my breath. "See you," I said shortly and sat at the mouth of my tent, which face the flat, tree lined land to west. I studied the view, not really seeing it.

Rathe mumbled in his sleep. His body twitched in a subconscious fit. I wondered absently what he was dreaming of. His face twisted into a grimace, and then a stony facade, and then a mask of pain. If his eyes were open, I'm sure they scream the pain that he tried so hard to cover up with his sarcasm and snappy comments. Mine did. Now. When no one was looking at me. I looked away from him, frowning deeply at the grass that I twirled in my hand. I lifted it to my face and blew on it. The grass lifted in to the air just as the wind caught, and carried it away. My hair swirled around me, and I closed my eyes.

Rathe gasped, and woke. He laid for a moment on the ground, still. Then he mumbled something unintelligible. "You drool in your sleep," I informed him. I wrapped my arms around my legs, which were tucked against my chest, and put my head on my knees, watching the sun start to sink towards the tree lines. I glared unseeingly at it, trying to come to grips with my thoughts, which swirled meaninglessly in my mind. I could only grab at a few words, or a picture of each thought before the next one bumped it out of the way.

[rathe]

I don't need your sympathy...

Felix wiped his mouth and struggled to find his inner peace. His body shook and his hands trembled. He glared over at Lyra. "Is there no sympathy in this brat's heart," he thought. He retreated far back into is mind; into one of his few happy memories that remained. He was sitting around the tent with his buddies. Packages of sweet tea had come in the mail from home. They had just finished brewing and the passed the jug around, telling stories about home. It was a welcomed getaway from their deadly routines.

"I remember why I'm still alive. I'm here to make all of them proud," Felix thought happily as he snapped back to the reality around him. Lyra sat in her square facing the sunset, her knees tucked up against her chest. He saw the pain behind her stoney glare. "That's how I must look half the time," he realized. "We both have masks to hide our pain, but what is hers?" he wondered silently.

Felix kicked himself. He had been so focused on him own worries that he had neglected everyone whom he had met. Even thought Lyra was hostile to him, in some ways she treated him as a friend. She was the only friend he had in this world now. It was time he started treating her like one. He opened his arms to her, as a friendly gesture for her to come sit with him. "Come over here, Lyra."

I just want for this silence
to stop killing me.

[nouveauchevall]

Maybe this is wishful thinking...

A million expressions probably flashed across my face. At first, I didn't understand what he was doing. I furrowed my eyebrows, thinking he'd gone completely crazy. Come over here, Lyra. I raised my eyebrows, shocked, now, thinking he'd wanted a hug. Then I realized he'd meant for me to sit by him. I grimaced.

After all of today, the hurtful words thrown at me, the snappy comments, and cruel tones of voice--now he wanted to be comforting? I huffed indignantly. "Really, now, soldier?" I said, somewhat exasperated. This guy was wearing me down.

I fought with myself internally for what seemed like hours, but only seconds passed as I stared at him, still waiting for me. I decided that if I was going to be a neighbor to him, I might as well make nice. A nice neighbor was more easily put-up-with than one you hated. I sucked in a deep breath, and walked over to him, letting it out as I sat down. I studied his face with a weary expression. "So," I said, lamely. I wasn't sure what to say to this guy. I figured if I asked him about his dreams, why he twitched and muttered, and scowled, he'd bite my head off. I mentally shrugged it off, concluding that he would tell me if he wanted to, and in his own time.

I assumed the same position I had over at my tent, pulling my legs to my chest, and resting my chin on my knees. The wind grabbed at my hair, lazily dragging strands through the air. "Any reason in particular you called me over here?"

Probably mindless dreaming...

[rathe]

If I could hold back the rain,
would you numb the pain...

"I just wanted to say sorry for everything. I was a tad snappy back there but all this stress has just been getting to me lately. My memories have tortured me during most of my waking hours. But that was no reason for me to be hostile to you. Honestly, you're just about the only friend I have in this world now, and that's saying a lot."

His thoughts trailed off. "What use is there for soldiers in this world now?" he thought. "If I'm too be of any use, I'll have to learn a trade. I've never been too good with the sciences so maybe construction? I need to make my comrades proud. They're watching from heaven, I just know it."

Because I remember everything.

[nouveauchevall]

Two points for honesty.

A tad snappy? I thought, incredulous. That's an understatement... But I took a deep breath.
"I understand..." I said. Albeit, a bit grudgingly. Then I put a little more feeling into it."I really do understand. Everyone's been through a tragedy. It's bound to have an effect on everyone. Just, some people are affected differently than others." I mumbled that last part.

Memories... is that what haunted him in his dreams? Is that the reason that the pain screamed through his eyes when they fluttered open from his restless sleep? I looked at him, searching his face. My eyes scrutinized every inch of it. Absorbed every twitch of his mouth, every glance his eyes made, every movement of his eyebrows, trying to understand him. Trying to determine what these memories were. What had happened to him in this past life, before the attack? I had memories of my own. Dreams that followed me, unyielding. Nothing that made me cry out in unconsciousness, but they were there. Just under the surface.

Oh, how I tried to subdue them! How I forced them into a small box, under lock and key. A key that I tossed into the ocean, never to be seen again.

Honestly, you're just about the only friend I have in this world now, and that's saying a lot. I nodded, solemn. It was true. Sad, yes, definitely. But also, definitely true. I sighed, and tightened my hold on my knees.

It must make you sad to know that,
Nobody cares at all.