Todd Wants Key's Face

Todd: *also lifts his head - when he sees Key, something in his head seems to click in place, and his entire posture changed, sitting upright, hands neatly placed on his lap*

Guard: you have one hour. *leaves*

Key: ... *cracks a smile. it had been months since she had last seen him* Hey, Todd.

Todd: *he only silently stares at her, not answering her greeting, the shadows from the single hanging lamp darkening his features*

Guard 1: *to the other guard* Hah, see? He didn't talk - you owe me a lunch.

Guard 2: Yeah, yeah...

Key: *turns and looks at the two guards over her shoulder, shooting them a nasty glare* ...

Guards: *look away from her, feeling her glare quite uncomfortable*

Todd: ...

Key: ... *turns back to look at Todd. she lightly drums her fingers on the table, trying to come up with something to talk about* ...Harry told me he came to visit you a few times.

Todd: *his hands grip his knees tightly, and he looks up at the hanging lamp, the light shining down on his face, revealing much dried blood around his eyes. His beard has all gotten a little bit messier*

Guards: *watch him carefully*

Key: *draws a sharp breath, a bit surprised by how unkempt he was--though considering where he was, it wasn't too hard to believe* ...He told me you wouldn't talk to him, Todd. To anyone. Why?

Todd: *he drops his head again, the shadows eating at his face. He looks off to the side, thoroughly ignoring her*

Guards: *watch*

Key: ... *quietly* We used to talk all the time... what happened? what happened to you?

Todd: *his posture returns to a familiar hunched over position, the shadows completely taking his face, and hands tightly holding each other on the table*

Guards: *watch*

Key: *stays silent for a bit to see if it prompts SOME kind of response* ...

Todd: ... *he croaks out a tiny answer to Key's silence, his throat dry and scratchy from the lack of use* ... please keep talking. It's so nice to hear your voice again...

Guard 2: Ah - *to Guard 1* Hah.

Guard 1: *grumbles*

Key: ! *smiles a bit at his broken silence* Only of you promise to talk to me. I miss hearing your voice too.

Todd: ... I... *he stops, contemplating if he should ask the question* ... I need to know... is Sarah okay?

Guards: *watch*

Key: ... *nods* She's fine, great, actually. She recovered pretty quickly, she's practically as good as new now...

Todd: ... I thought she was dead, before... I thought she was gone forever...

Guard 1: *snorts, finding his sentence ridiculous. Why should HE care about that kid's safety - he murdered a whole bunch of them at the elementary school - the sick bastard*

Guard 2: ...

Key: *resists looking back at the guard again* I didn't think she'd make it either... she misses you, you know. She wants to see you.

Todd: She can't. Crowe and his minions won't let her.

Guard: It's a safety issue - she's to be kept away from YOU. Not because of CROWE.

Guard 2: ...

Key: *turns around and glares at the guard again* You're not a part of this conversation. >:(

up

Harry: *his eyes drop to his feet in shame* Yeah... I thought I'd be okay, since the special X-WDs didn't seem to be getting infected... but... I dunno. One minute I was fine, and then just... haze. I must've scared Sam really bad - the look on his face when he saw me - cured - just... he was just so scared. That's it.

Key: *gives him a sympathetic look* Well... at least you didn't hurt him, right? *looks away* ...I don't know what I did while I was infected. *looks at her partially-clawed hands* ...I thought I'd never get infected...

Harry: *quietly* You were going to turn into a witch, Key... just like Sam in college...

Key: huh... *lightly drags her claws across the palm of her hand, and breathes a sigh of relief when she doesn't slice her hand open* well.. at least they're not sharp...

Harry: You need to hide those. If you want to continue to keep Sarah, hiding them is just as important as hiding Todd.

Key: !! *hadn't realized that until he pointed it out--X-WD's couldn't adopt. her fear of losing Sarah only grew* ... *mumbled* gonna have to get some gloves or something...

Harry: *nods* Anything to protect yourself, and Sarah. Now then... your room's upstairs. Follow me - I know which one Claire's talking about. *he leaves*

Me: timeskip?

Me: Yesh. :3

Key: *is walking up to Sarah's hospital room to check on her, carrying Sam along with her. when she reaches it, she lightly knocks on the door and cracks the door open to look inside* Hello...?

Nurse: *looks up* Oh, hello Ms. Dawson. ^^

Sarah: Hi mom! Hi Sam! :D

Sam: Hi! :D *waves*

Key: *comes inside* Hey, Sarah. :) How're you feeling?

Sarah: Looots better. :D

Nurse: Her recovery's going well, Ms. Dawson, she should be going back home within the next few days.

meanwhile

Claire: *is walking to work with Harry* Well. Glad this is somewhat over with.

Harry: Yup - hopefully this won't ever happen again.

meanwhile

Todd: *bitter - bitter and insane, and unable to claw his way out of the downward spiral to madness, he totes the gun-bag filled with C-4s to the school early that morning, setting the bombs up all over. No one will escape. All because of Crowe. Yes, this was all Crowe's fault. 9:00am, and he was finished. The students were in their classes. Todd was walking down the hall, out the door. Everything was set. He had the switch. He had to just get out and pull it. In every classroom, a clock ticked. Tick. Tick. Ticking away. And then he was out, and the switch was thrown. Tick. Click. And the explosion was massive - it really was. Windows shattered from the force. Fire burst out, walls crumbled, and many, many children burned. Todd casually walked away*

A Lone Soldier: *startled by the explosion, he stares at the fire, the smoke, jaw dropped, then notices Todd walking - almost STROLLING away. He broke into a run towards the offending X-WD* HEY!!

Todd: ... *bolts away*

*a chase is soon set, building with more and more soldiers running after Todd - SHOOTING at him, but missing. Soon, the news crew arrived at the destroyed school, while a helicopter recorded the chase. It was broad-casted everywhere. Terrible. Horrifying*

Nurse: *had left*

Key: *had set Sam down on the bed* ^^

Sam: *is poking Sarah*

Sarah: Stop iiiit. *lightly pushes his hand away*

TV: *suddenly changes from a kid's tv show to a live news broadcast, showing footage of the school burning, injured people running out of the flaming structure, soldiers and medics running in to assist the wounded* Breaking News: A massive explosion at Roosevelt Elementary tears the school apart-- the number of casualties is currently unknown but is estimated to be around--

Key: *gapes at the screen, completely horrified at what she sees*

Sam: *stares, not exactly understanding what was going on, but he knew it was bad*

Sarah: *also stares* ...Mom... i-isn't that the school daddy works at...?

meanwhile

Claire: I really-- *stops when she hears a loud, muffled noise in the distance* ... I really hope that's just thunder... *starts seeing smoke* ...

Another Reporter: It looks like the culprit behind this tragedy has been apprehended - we're coming in with the broadcast now -

Todd: *is smashed against a wall in an ally by a soldier*

Soldier: *is doing the smashing, quickly handcuffing him* You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in the court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?

Todd: *snarling at him* I don't even fracking care, alright - you're all blind! BLIND!! *eyes the camera* You fracking watching this, Crowe? This is all YOUR FAULT!!

meanwhile

Harry: ... oh shoot. *to Claire* C-Come on! *runs to the site of the explosion*

Claire: *runs with him-- and stops when she comes close enough to the building to see the full extent of the damage* Oh my god...

meanwhile

Key: *had grabbed the remote and flipped the television off, still wide-eyed in disbelief* He'd never... Todd would never...

Sarah: *turns to Key, a very scared look on her face* M-Mom... daddy didn't do that, right? It's a mistake, right? Right?? D:>

Key: ...It... It HAS to be, Sarah... *is trying to convince herself that they were wrong, that he couldn't possibly be responsible for... for THAT... but the news broadcast made it very clear, and so did his reaction* Todd ...why would you...?

Sam: D: ....

Harry: ... an entire school... an entire school - GONE... *he puts a hand on his head, unable to fathom how many children were dead from this - how HORRIFIC all of it was... but who was to blame?* ...Claire... wha... we need... to... *he shakes his head* No... I don't know... *it was too much for him - all those INNOCENT LIVES... they all survived an outbreak - and for WHAT? Tears soon formed and rolled down Harry's face. All those children. All of them*

Claire: *puts a hand on his shoulder and leans against him, a hand over her mouth, tears forming in her own eyes. So many lives, gone in an instant, So mant families torn apart in a less than a moment. What kind of monster would do something like this?* H-Harry... We need to find out who did this...

meanwhile

Sarah: *is getting very nervous* M-Mom? D:>

Key: *looks at her, truly terrified. Todd had been caught. If he really did this... he could be sentenced to death* ...it's going to be okay, Sarah, I'm going to go look for Dad, and make sure he's okay, that sound like a plan?

Sarah: o-okay... D:>

Sam: *looks nervous as well--he knew something was very wrong*

Harry: *looks straight ahead at the burning elementary school* ... and make sure that person is punished.

meanwhile

Todd: *is taken into custody in the military outpost. His mind was a blank nothingness. He sits on the bench in his cell, hands folded, arms resting on his knees, head down with his hood up*

Man: *he arrives at the cell* Mr. Huntings?

Todd: *doesn't look up*

Man: My name is Dick Gracy - I'm going to be your lawyer.

Me: ahaha... i see what you did there.

Claire: *nods in agreement. whatever heartless being--human or X-WD-- that did this deserved every punishment they were allowed to give them.*

meanwhile

Key: *had left the hospital with Sam after the visiting hours passed, and headed home. she was still in shock from what she had seen, the horror presented on the screen. she couldn't believe it. she couldn't believe Todd would do such a monstrous thing* ...

me: Why yes. XP

*it was three days later that the trial was held. Mr. Gracy did all that he could to steer Todd away from the death sentence. The trial lasts hours until a conclusion is finally made*

Judge: Todd Huntings, you are hereby sentenced to stay at the Institute for the Criminally Insane, here in the city - we can all agree that, in relaying the recent events compared to your life beforehand, that you are, indeed, insane.

Audience: *are extremely angry with the Jury's decision, booing, letting out cries of "NO!" and "WHAT??". One rather violent man stood up, shouting "LYNCH THE frackER!" only to be forced out of the courtroom by the bailiff*

Harry: *is very unhappy with learning that Todd was the one responsible. He had been completely silent throughout the entire trial*

Todd: ...

Claire: *sat quietly with Harry throughout the trial, holding an uneasy Sam in her lap. She wouldn't have thought that Todd would be able to do something like this, but after hearing the arguments... it was very clear* ...

Key: *had been called up as a witness at one point; they asked him about his past, about his father, about anything that may have caused him to snap and murder so many. she had tried her best to make him seem innocent, but it had been difficult--and her attempt was obviously unsuccessful. She looks on in fear as Todd's sentence is read out--not nearly as bad as it could have been, but... it could be just as bad if they never let him out*

Sarah: *hugs Key tightly, almost in tears. did this mean she would never see her father again?*

*it was two months later that Todd was finally allowed to have visitors. So far, despite many attempts from many different psychiatrists, Todd didn't say a word, keeping his hood up. The dim lighting made Todd seem more eerie at night, like a ghost. Even when Harry started coming to visit Todd, Todd wouldn't even lift his head*

Todd: *sits alone in his padded cell, on his bed, staring out the barred window* ...

Guard: *comes in* Mr. Huntings. You have a visitor.

*the guard leads Todd to the visitor's room. It is a room with a table and two chairs. There are two other guards in there*

Key: *is sitting across the table in one of the chairs, head down, waiting. When the door opens, she looks up, and quietly observes Todd and the guard as they enter the room* ...

up

Harry: *he kneels down to Sam's level (even then still being taller than the boy) and pulls him into a tight hug* ... I'm sorry... whatever I did to you, I'm so sorry...

meanwhile

Soldiers: *There are three. They get into Key's house, guns ready. They explore the area, and end up entering Sarah's room first*

Sam: ... *hugs him back* o-okay. I forgive you...

Claire: *smiles, relieved*

meanwhile

Sarah: *lay in the bed, almost dead, the sheets and floor stained with blood and other substances. she barely has enough energy to turn her head towards the soldiers* hhh... hhhh....

Harry: *silently continues hugging Sam* ...

meanwhile

Soldier 1: OH G - hang on! Hang on! *he gets out one of the darts, and instead of shooting Sarah, just pricks her with the dart, not wanting to shoot the child* You'll be okay... you'll be just fine, alright? *to Soldier 3* Take her to the medical center at the military outpost. Explain everything to them.

Soldier 3: *nods* Yessir. *he carefully picks Sarah up and carries her out*

Soldier 1: *to soldier 2* He might get attacked. Go with him.

Soldier 2: *nods and leaves*

Soldier 1: *ventures out of Sarah's room, and wanders some more until entering Key's room*

Key: *is sitting in the farthest corner from the door. she cries quietly, face buried in her hands, which were already partly mutated into sharp claws. when the soldier enters the room, she looks up, reddened eyes watching from behind her messy hair. she stares at the man* ...

Soldier: Oh frack - *he immediately shoots at Key, the dart hitting her shoulder*

Key: !! *is startled for a moment, and stands up as if to attack the soldier, but stops moving as soon as the cure starts taking effect* ...

Soldier: All has returned to normal, Ma'am. Have a nice day. *he leaves*

Key: *blinks in confusion, then sees the dart in her shoulder. she notices her almost-claws when she reaches up to pluck the dart out, and gasps. she runs to the bathroom and looks in the mirror, and puts a hand over her mouth, shocked at her appearance* oh my god... oh my--Sarah. SARAH!! *panicked, she runs out of the room and into Sarah's. her panic increases when she doesn't find her--did whoever cure her take her? was she even alive? Key had to know. she suddenly realized that Todd was mssing as well-- so she ran down the stairs and out of her house, headed for the one place she knew she could get some answers. she ran for the Gazsky's house, praying that they were still there as she knocked on the door* Come on, come on! D8>

Harry: ? *was about to head up to shower when he heard the knocking, and opens the door, still caked in blood* Key??

Key: *is thrown off by his appearance, but figures he's just as bad as she is* Harry!! Oh my god, they just came through our house with the cure but I can't find Sarah or Todd and and... oh my god, what if something happened to them, what if they were...!! *trails off as her panic takes hold and she breaks down, terrified at the prospect of losing her family*

Harry: Key... *takes her by the shoulders* Key, look, alright? Don't assume the worst just yet. Maybe Todd took Sarah somewhere safe, and they'll come back once everything gets better. I bet they're both fine.

Key: Y-You didn't see Sarah's bed, Harry... it was... it... *is unable to describe it, and continues to sob*

Claire: *hears the commotion from upstairs, and heads down* Harry, who's-- Key??

Harry: Todd and Sarah weren't there when she was cured, and now she's panicking. *to Key* Calm down. Just take a deep breath and calm down.

Key: *tries to do so, taking one shaky breath after another*

Claire: Well... I'm not sure about Sarah, but Todd was here just last night...

Key: !!

Harry: Wha - he WAS? So then HE'S okay... did he say anything about Sarah?

Claire: No... just that he assumed you were both gone. Key, if they cured you, then they must've gotten to Sarah too. They probably just took her to one of the medical facilities...

Key: ...Okay...

Harry: Right! She'll be fine, Key, and when we find Todd, you'll see that's he's fine, too.

Claire: He'll come back as soon as this whole thing settles down, don't you worry.

Key: *nods* Alright, I believe you...

Claire: Good... Hey, why don't you stay here for now? At least until they say it's safe to go back again.

Key: *smiles gratefully* Thank you...

Harry: I'm sure Sam will be happy about that. *he steps away from the door to let Key in* ^^

Key: *comes inside*

Claire: I'll go fix up the other room, okay? *goes to do so*

Key: ... *looks at Harry* So did you get re-infected?

up

Todd: ... *he returns to his place in a corner of a room, already devising a plan*

LATER THAT NIGHT

Claire: *has fallen asleep against the wall with Sam in her arms* ....

Todd: ... *still wide awake, thanks to a lack of tranquilizers, he very quietly sneaks out of the room*

Harry: *spots him, and is about to snarl and scream at him when --*

Todd: *suddenly takes Harry by the head and slams it into the banister*

Harry: !!! *he is knocked unconscious, and falls*

Todd: *whispering to his infected friend* sorry, Harry... *he then leaves the house, avoiding infected as he did before, managing to head all the way to the military outpost. Everyone was out at that point still, either in bed, or on the night shift, and it was easy to sneak through the darkened corridors of the outpost - to the armory, deep, deeper, deeper into the halls, until he found what he needed. Explosives. Yes. This will teach Crowe. Not an assassination, no, but a lesson must be taught... no matter what the cost. Todd took several C-4s, stuffing them all in an empty gun-bag. Then, without a sound, without a trace, he left*

*early in the morning*

Claire: *wakes up to Sam poking her* mmh... what is it, Sam? You hungry already?

Sam: Yeah, but... *points behind him, to the empty corner* That man... he's gone.

Claire: *looks up, and frowns* ...that's odd...

Todd: *has hidden away to an abandoned house*

meanwhile

*there is a knock on the door of Claire and Harry's home*

Harry: *was still unconscious - Todd got him pretty hard*

Claire: ?? *thinking it was Todd, she puts Sam down and goes out of his room. She's surprised to find Harry knocked out on the stairs (infected don't sleep...!), but doesn't have much time to really think about it before there's another knock. she hurries down and opens the door*

*two soldiers immediately step in. They were both holding guns*

Soldier 1: General Gatzsky, or Orello-Gatzky, or just Orello, don't be alarmed by out appearance.

Soldier 2: Right. Are you housing any infected?

Harry: *is waking up from the noises downstairs*

Claire: *glances over her shoulder at the stairs* ...just one... please tell me you're here because you have a cure. *is hopeful--but if they don't have the cure... there would be trouble*

Soldier 1: We do, ma'am. Our ammo is made up of darts containing the modified cure. Where is the infected?

Soldier 2: ...

Harry: *starts screaming, thrashing and carrying on*

Soldier 2: Ah.

Claire: *sighs in relief* Right... Well, carry on. *steps out of their way, so they have a clear shot at Harry*

Soldier 1: Right. *with Soldier 2, he approaches Harry*

Harry: *still fighting against the handcuffs*

Soldier 2: *raises his gun at Harry, aiming for his neck* We're sorry this happened to you, sir. *shoots*

Harry: *is shot in the jugular, and stands still, staring blankly* ...

Claire: *waits* ....Harry? You there? D:

Harry: ... *he blinks a few times, his eyes returning to normal, and takes the dart out of his neck* whah...?

Soldier 1: We'll be going, now.

Soldier 2: Right!

*they leave*

Claire: *watches them leave* good luck... *looks back at Harry, and smiles* Well, I'm glad that's over... *walks towards him, and stops on the stairs for a moment before suddenly hugging him tightly*

Harry: Claire...? *he hugs her back with his one free arm* I-I was bitten... did I - *it suddenly dawns on him that he may have gone after his son* SAM! IS SAM ALRIGHT??

Claire: *lets go of him* Sam's fine, we both are... Oh. I need to get those handcuffs off, don't I? Be right back. *runs up the stirs, but stops at Sam's room and calls inside, shoving the door a bit farther open* Sam, daddy's back! *continues on to her own room to find the key*

Sam: *it takes him a bit, but her eventually gets out of the room. he stops at the top of the stairs, and stares at Harry* ...daddy? D:

Harry: *greets Sam with a relieved smile* I'm back, Sam... I'm back.

Sam: ...you sure? you were scary... D:

Claire: *comes back with the key and proceeds to free Harry from the handcuffs*

Harry: *can't possibly begin to imagine how much he must have frightened Sam* I know... but I'm okay now, Sam - I'm not sick anymore, see? <:(

Claire: *takes the handcuffs off* There... *looks at Sam* You don't have to be scared anymore, daddy's fine.

Sam: ...but...

Claire: ... come on, Sam. *picks him up, and brings him over to Harry*

Sam: *stares at him, wide-eyed* ...

Harry: *stares back at Sam, somewhat saddened by his expression - what had happened before that made Sam so scared NOW?* ... Sam?

Sam: ... *reaches out and touches Harry's arm, then looks up at his face, as if waiting for a reaction*

Claire: ...

up

Todd: You know... I wasn't all too mad at him anymore... and I was actually planning on talking to him at some point... *he glances at the closed door* ... I guess I can't now...

Claire: *finishes bandaging him, firmly tying it so it won't come loose* As soon as we get a cure, you can. And before you say there won't be one, there will. They made one once, they can do it again.

Sam: ...

Todd: ... Crowe can't go unpunished for it, though...

Claire: We can't prove that Crowe had anything to do with this, not yet. *picks Sam up* There's no proof...

Todd: *through his teeth* I don't NEED proof...

Claire: Yes you do! This is a huge thing to accuse someone of, you can't just go around pointing fingers!

Todd: Crowe has a the motive...

Claire: That's still not proof. :/

Todd: *snapping at her again* You're only defending him because you're a fracking GENERAL - not to mention his personal BODYGUARD! D8<

Claire: *narrows her eyes-- she's not amused by his tone at all* Do you think I live my job? Because I really don't.

Todd: *growls at her* Then why don't you QUIT?

Claire: Because if i quit, Harry'll lose his job too, and he'll be forced to leave and live in the ghettos. I don't want to lose him, Todd, and I don't want Sam to grow up without a father.

Todd: ... Then that's just Crowe tearing apart another family...

Claire: It's not all Crowe's fault, Todd. :/ Granted, he hasn't made the best decisions, but he wouldn't put hundreds of people at risk just to prove a point. >:/

Todd: How do YOU know that? Some men can be complete monsters - it's all just hidden underneath.

Claire: But some people aren't as bad as you'd think they are.

Todd: *growling* Even when they've done horrible things?

Claire: ...I'm not saying Crowe is perfect, he's far from it... but I've worked for him for ten years now, and I know he isn't the kind of man who'd commit homicide just to get his opinions out there.

Todd: ... ... *he looks away from her* ... whatever...

Claire: ... *turns away from him, and sits down in front of Sam* are you going to eat anymore?

Sam: ... *pushes his plate away* 'm not hungry...

up

*like. sorry.

Todd: *he snorts and sits down in a corner of the room. He was immune. He was goddamned immune. It wasn't fair. Todd looked over at Sam* ... I've never come over here before... and I've never seen you before... are you Harry and Claire's kid? *he wanted to smack himself for asking such a stupid question - of COURSE that was Harry's son - which meant that Harry wasn't effected by the Green Flu in... that particular area. He hadn't been infected long enough. Well, NOW he was infected long enough. So if Harry and Claire lost the toddler, that was it*

meanwhile

Harry: *stares at Claire when she exits the room*

Sam: *stares back at Todd, intrigued by the stranger* ...who're you?

Todd: ... my name's Todd... I was your daddy's friend a long time ago.

Sam: Oh. *gestures to himself* I'm Sam.

Todd: It's nice to meet you, Sam... *he gives Sam the best smile he could muster at the moment - it ended up being small and pathetic. Talking to the boy at least helped him feel better*

Sam: ...Why's mommy angry? did you make her angry?

Todd: *his smile disappears* I dunno. Maybe I did. I think she's stressed, and I wasn't helping.

Sam: ...Daddy's sick. He's... scary... *looks at Todd a bit more closely* Are you sick too? D:

Todd: I know... I saw him... *when Sam asks his question* oh... not anymore. I was sick once, but I got much, much better. I only LOOK sick, now...

Sam: ooohhh... so... is daddy gonna be like you? will he not be sick anymore?

Todd: ... *he just looks at the boy for the longest time - he didn't want to lie to Sam. Withholding the truth from him seemed wrong... but also oh-so right. Not knowing how to answer, Todd gave the boy a neutral response* I don't know...

Sam: *looks disappointed* oh... okay...

Claire: *comes back into the room, shutting the door behind her. she has bandages and other such medical items* Okay, Todd. Time to clean that bite up.

Todd: ... okay... *he gets up, walking over to her. He holds his bitten arm towards her* ... Sarah's probably gone by now...

Claire: *gives him a sympathetic look, then goes on to clean out his wound* ...

Sam: Sarah? D:>

Todd: *watches Claire clean the bite* ...My daughter... she's not even really mine - Key and I adopted her... but she FEELS like she's really my daughter...

Sam: I know Sarah... I like Sarah. D:>

Claire: *starts bandaging the wound*

Todd: ... how do you know Sarah?

Claire: *still working on Todd's wound* Key would watch Sam for us while Harry and I went to work... We usually picked him up before you got home, so you never saw him...

Sam: ...

Todd: Oh... Key never told me... maybe she thought I'd get mad, or something...

Claire: I guess she didn't want to risk it... with how your relations with Harry were going, I'm not surprised...

Sam: ...?

up

Todd: *he couldn't help it. Once more, he felt his throat tighten* I-I didn't know... what to do... they both just slipped away... Sam was coughing up all this blood and... and this morning, Key... she was GROWLING at me...! *he was crying again. He was doing that a lot lately*

Sam: D:

Claire: !! *puts a hand on his shoulder* Hey, Todd, come on... I'm sure they'll have the cure done soon... D:>

Me: I totally meant Sarah. DX

Todd: Those doctors are all owned by Crowe... and Crowe is the one who did all of this...

Me: ...i'm so tired, i didn't even notice. XD

Claire: *blinks in surprise* H-How can you say that? I mean... it... *stops and thinks about it for a moment. was Crowe the kind of man to do something like that? ...yes, he was.* ...it makes sense... but they can't possibly leave everyone like this forever!

Todd: No... they'll wait for enough people to die... *there was an anger in his voice - a deep, dark anger*

Sam: *immediately notices this* ...

Claire: *also notices, but doesn't think too much of it* You were outside, you tell me if enough people have died yet.

Todd: In my opinion, as soon as ONE person died from this, it was too much.

Harry: *outside the room, he hisses at the door, wanting to kill Todd*

Sam: *remains silent* ...

Claire: *glances at the door* That's something I can agree with...

Todd: *he holds his head in his hands in grief* They're gone... they're GONE...! But maybe... I can join them...

meanwhile

Harry: *continues hissing*

Claire: *looks back at Todd, and frowns* Todd, what are you talking about? If you're thinking what I think you are, don't. D:<

Todd: *through his teeth* Don't try to stop me. *he runs out of the room, and approaches Harry. Harry could infect him. Then he wouldn't be alone anymore*

Harry: *pulls at the handcuffs, screaming again, thrashing about*

Claire: H-HEY! *runs out of the door but doesn't go too far, worried for Sam's safety* Todd, don't!!

Todd: I SAID DON'T TRY TO STOP ME! *turns to Harry* Alright, c'mon... bite me, big guy. DO IT. *he thrusts his arm forward at Harry*

Harry: *is perfectly happy to comply to Todd's request, biting onto Todd's arm - HARD*

Todd: AAHH!!

Claire: *swears under her breath, then rushes back into the room, closing the door and putting Sam down so she can shove the furniture back against the door. if Todd turned, they were as good as dead--she hoped he was immune, but she wasn't taking any chances*

Todd: *backs away from Harry, laughing insanely* Hahahaha! Yes! Yes! Thank you, Harry! Thank you, now I can be with them! Haha! Yes!!

Harry: *claws at him, trying to get more than just a bite*

Todd: *backs away further* No, no, no, Harry... if you kill me, I can't be with them...

Claire: *listens to Todd outside, and begins to come to the conclusion that he's losing his mind. she sits against the barricade of furniture and buries her face in her hands. this is worse than the first time, so much worse... what is the world coming to?*

Sam: D: ...

Todd: *he sits on the ground, away from Harry - waiting to feel SOMETHING. But after an hour, Todd knew something was wrong. He didn't feel sick at all. He wasn't changing - he had to be IMMUNE* No... NO - GODDAMNIT!! WHY?? WHY AM I IMMUNE??

Harry: *growls at him*

Claire: ! *looks up when she hears this, and sighs in relief. she didn't have to worry about having a second infected running around in her house... she gets up and opens the door, sticking her head out* ...Todd, come back in here... I need to look at that bite.

Todd: ... *silently he gets up and goes back into the room* ... I just want them to come back...

Harry: *hisses*

Claire: *pulls him over and inspects the bite wound* They will come back, we just have to sit tight and wait for the cure...

Todd: *snapping at her* DON'T YOU GET IT?? THERE WON'T BE A CURE!!

Harry: *outside the room, he snarls angrily from the noise*

Sam: *is startled by the sound* D:> ...

Claire: *looks up and glares at Todd over the top of her glasses* I think you should try to control yourself, Todd. *lets go of his arm, and heads toward the door* I'll be right back. don't do anything stupid.

up

Todd: *waking up* mmnn... Key...? How're y'feeling...?

meanwhile

Harry: *struggles a bit, trying to break free from the handcuffs. The movement made a slight jingling noise*

Key: !! *whirls around and stares at Todd, slowly backing up against the wall* ....

meanwhile

Claire: ? *looks towards the door* ... *looks back down at Sam* do you need breakfast?

Sam: :C

Claire: *sighs* okay... *puts him down and stands up, stretching. hopefully she won't have too many problems getting past Harry today*

Todd: *he gets very concerned from her reaction* ... Key?

meanwhile

Harry: *when Claire walks out of the room, he does not growl at her, or try to pull at the handcuffs. Instead, he just stared, with those eerily blank eyes*

Key: *stares at him, looking apprehensive, maybe even afraid, but doesn't move* ....

meanwhile

Claire: ... *continues past him, and down towards the kitchen to get something for herself and Sam to eat*

Todd: *he takes a step forward, having a good idea of what she thought of him at the moment* Key... i-it's okay... I would NEVER hurt you...

meanwhile

Harry: *continues to watch Claire*

Key: *scoots farther down the wall, lowering her head so her hair fell in front of bloodshot eyes. her nails scraped against the wall as she moved, her gaze never leaving him* ...

meanwhile

Claire: *takes a few moments to prepare a quick breakfast, then carefully scoots past Harry again*

Todd: *steps closer still* ... Key... I swear to god, I'm not your enemy...

meanwhile

Harry: *moans at her as she walks past*

Key: *starts growling quietly as she reaches the end of that wall, warning him not to get any closer* rrrr....

meanwhile

Claire: *glances at him* <:( ... *continues upstairs, and into Sam's room*

Todd: *he stops there. He's upset now. It shows* ... Key... please don't...

meanwhile

Harry: *watches her keep walking up, slightly slack jawed, half brain-dead, eyes white as paper*

Key: *growls a bit louder now, lifting one of her hands off the wall to reveal what looked like a set of growing claws* rrrrrRRRRRR....

meanwhile

Claire: *closes the door behind her, and sits back down on the ground, setting a plate down in front of Sam* don't make a mess, okay?

Sam: *carefully eats the food, as if he was trying his hardest not to spill anything*

Todd: *he's tearing up again, backing away from Key* ... I'm so sorry... I'm SO SORRY, Key... I couldn't... they... thy weren't fast enough... oh god... GOD...! *and then he ran out. Like a coward, he ran, jumping out of the open window, into the rotting world outside. He couldn't stay out there, though - he had to stay SOMEWHERE. But wait. Harry and Claire. They had to be safe, right? They were trained soldiers. Yes, they worked for the military, but that didn't matter at the moment - not NOW. He ran over, avoiding any infected he came across*

meanwhile, about thirty minutes later

Harry: *sits quietly, until there is a rapid knock on the door - this upsets him, and Harry was soon standing up, screaming and snarling at the offending noise*

Claire: !! *fearing a repeat of the first incident, she quickly gets up and out of the room, trying to yell over Harry's snarling* WHO'S THERE?!

Todd: TODD HUNTINGS! PLEASE LET ME IN!

Harry: GRAAAAUUUHHH!!

Claire: !! THE DOOR'S OPEN, COME IN--BUT BE CAREFUL!

Todd: *he quickly opens the door and closes it behind him - the first thing he sees is Harry on the staircase* Oh GOD!! D8>

Harry: *pulls at the handcuff angrily, trying to get at Todd now, still screaming* NNNRAAAAHHHHHH!!

Claire: Careful...! He can't get at you if you stay out of his reach. Can you jump up here? D:>

Todd: Y... yeah... *he approaches the stairs, crouches, and quickly jumps up before Harry can get him*

Harry: *screams at him*

Claire: *steps aside to give him room to land, then opens the door into Sam's room* Come on. *goes inside*

Sam: *is not amused by all the noise outside. he ignores his food and stares at the door* D: ....

Todd: *enters after Claire, shutting the door behind him* ... so the new strain got Harry, too... *he lets out a depressed sigh* ... they're all gone...

Claire: *picks Sam up* What do you mean? ...Don't tell me Key and Sarah...

up

Todd: *he's silent, but he was shaking. That panic was coming back. Todd already knew this would happen, but it didn't make it any less horrifying*

meanwhile

Harry: *his head twitches to follow the hot-dog when it's thrown, but he doesn't even bother touching it. Harry looks back up at Claire again, growling once more*

Key: *swallows, trying to contain her own panic* S-Sarah, we need to clean you up... c-come on... *helps Sarah out of bed, and walks her to the bathroom*

Sarah: *is led out, staring wide-eyed at her bloodied hands*

meanwhile

Claire: ...dammit, Harry, just eat it...!

Todd: *his shaking gets worse. He ends up not moving from his spot in Sarah's room, slightly hyperventilating*

meanwhile

Harry: *he continues staring at Claire, now moaning at her. He tries to reach for her with his free hand*

Key: *comes back with Sarah after a little bit, putting her back in her bed*

Sarah: *is shaking, both out of fear, and from the illness* ...

Key: ... *looks over at Todd* ...

meanwhile

Claire: *groans in frustration, not knowing what else she could do. if he didn't eat, he would starve, and she had nothing he'd eat... unless... no nonono. she shakes her head, dismissing the idea. he wouldn't be happy with her if he found out...*

Todd: *quietly to himself* ohh god... ohh god...

meanwhile

Harry: *groans at her again, weakly dropping his hand*

Key: ... *kisses her daughter on the forehead, then walks out of the room, gently pushing Todd out with her*

meanwhile

Claire: *bites her lip nervously. there really WAS only one thing she could to to keep him alive... and she'd have to do it, for Harry's sake. she wasn't about to let him starve to death. she tries to get around him, down the stairs*

Todd:" *is pushed out* No, no, ohh GOD - Sarah...!!

meanwhile

Harry: *he doesn't even bother trying to get at her*

Key: *closes the door to her room, so Sarah wouldn't hear* Todd, there's nothing we can do for her...

meanwhile

Claire: *is incredibly concerned by this, and hurries over to the front door. she tries to stop thinking about what she's about to do, and just does it. she cracks the door open to make sure there were no infected around, and upon seeing the coast was clear, opens the door all the way and pulls one of the bodies from earlier in the week in. she gags at the smell, but otherwise ignores it. it was necessary.*

Todd: DON'T SAY THAT!

meanwhile

Harry: *glances over down the stairs, curious. The smell made him hungrier*

Key: *puts both hands on either side of his face, speaking quietly but urgently* Without a cure, we can't. The best we can do right now is wait, and I don't even know how much time ANY of us have...!

meanwhile

Claire: *closes the door once she had gotten the body inside, and drags it over toward the stairs with one hand, using her other sleeve to cover her nose. the stench was almost too much to bear. once she was close enough, she shoves the body up towards Harry, hoping he could reach it from where he was sitting*

Todd: *he's crying again* this can't be happening...

meanwhile

Harry: *is able to get to the body just fine. Like a panther, he pounces on it, tearing at it - devouring it with a disturbing quickness*

Key: *lets her hands fall away from Todd's face, and wraps them around his middle instead. she knew it wasn't going to do much to comfort him at the moment, but... it was better than nothing*

meanwhile

Claire: *averts her eyes, unable to watch the appalling scene before her. she edges around Harry whule he's still distracted, and ducks back into the room, somewhat distirbed. yes, it needed to be done to save him, but...*

Todd: *wraps his own arms around her, sobbing on her shoulder. He didn't want to lose them - he didn't want to be alone - he was AFRAID of being alone*

meanwhile

Harry: *pays no attention to Claire as she sneaked by him, busy with the slightly decomposed corpse. True, it was a little rotten, but he didn't mind - he was too hungry to care*

Key: *lets him cry, rubbing his back to try to calm him down. after so many years of thinking she was immune, the thought of turning NOW terrified her, and the fact that she was taking longer made it worse--it only meant that she was turning into a Special. she buries her face in Todd's shoulder, trying to hold back tears of her own.* ...

meanwhile

Claire: *closes the door into her son's room and sits back against the wall, pulling Sam onto her lap*

Sam: *was dozing off until Harry started eating* nnhhhh...

Todd: *he didn't like crying in front of Key. It made him feel weak - HE wasn't the one turning into a monster - it was HIS job to be reassuring - HIS job to be there for them... and yet, HE was the one who seemed to need the most comfort, who was ending up as the big baby in the family. He cried anyway, unable to stop*

meanwhile

Harry: *he continues eating until he has devoured almost the entire front of the corpse*

Key: *continues to rub his back, whispering comforting nothings in his ear. she lets him cry for a while, shedding a few tears of her own. no matter what happened next, they would never be the same again*

meanwhile

Claire: *tries not to listen to the noise*

Sam: *is rather curious (but afraid) of the sound, but is apparently too tired to care. he dozes off again*

Todd: *he finally stops crying - his face was covered in blood* ... I-I'll go wash my face... then go to bed...

meanwhile

Harry: *he is finished eating now, and finally sits quietly, now no longer hungry*

Key: *nods, ignoring the blood that had seeped into her shirt* Okay.

meanwhile

Claire: *rests her head back against the wall and tries to get some sleep* ...

Todd: *he does so, washing his face as best as he could, then crawling into bed like a defeated creature of the wild. He would make Crowe pay. He didn't know how, but he would*

meanwhile

Harry: *silently stares at the ground, no thoughts ever running through his ravaged mind. He was an empty sack of sad flesh*

Key: *changes out of the bloodied shirt, then gets into bed with him. she immediately snuggles up to him and puts an arm over him; he was scared of losing them, that much was obvious--she just prayed they would come up with a cure soon* ...

meanwhile

Claire: *drifts off into an uneasy sleep*

Sam: *was already asleep*

THE NEXT DAY

Todd: *is asleep*

meanwhile

Harry: *so very much is not*

Key: *is awake and across the room, nervously looking out the window* ...

meanwhile

Sam: *wakes up before Claire. he nudges her to try to wake her up--he was hungry* ...

Claire: mmrrhh... *reluctantly wakes up* Morning, Sam...

up

Todd: *he's losing all calm, and in a panic attack, he sinks to his knees, on the ground, burying his face in his hands, shaking*

meanwhile

Harry: *suddenly gets up, trying to get at Sam, barely being stopped before he tore his son to pieces, screaming angrily at him like a wild animal, those dead eyes staring angrily - HUNGRILY at Sam*

Key: D:>!! *wants to go comfort him, but is now afraid to be anywhere near him--if SHE could get infected, then that meant Todd could be just as vulnerable as her*

meanwhile

Sam: *screams and cries loudly in terror*

Claire: !!! *snaps awake, and immediately realizes what's wrong--she's on her feet and out the door in an instant, snatching Sam off the ground and away from Harry, holding him tightly*

Todd: *not moving from his position* ... I'm going to lose you both...!!

meanwhile

Harry: *still fighting against the cuffs, using his free hand to desperately claw at the air, trying to get at Sam and Claire, still screaming*

Key: no, no, Todd! th-they'll make the cure in time, you have to believe that! *violently coughs into her sleeve* i-it'll be done...!

meanwhile

Sam: *keeps bawling, completely terrified*

Claire: *is trying to calm Sam down as well as herself--a split secod later, one step farther, and she would habe been watching her husband brutally murder her son. just the thought of it made her horrified, and she tries to push the terrible image out of her mind as she rocks Sam back and forth*

Todd: *he tries not to cry* ... empty words... it'll be like last time... the world will end again...

meanwhile

Harry: *after failing, failing, and failing to get Claire and Sam, Harry gave up, huffing angrily at them*

Key: *moves a bit closer to him, crouching down so she's at eye level* Th-they already have the cure, they just have to fix it... *is losing confidence in her own words*

meanwhile

Claire: *manages to calm Sam down after a while, and takes a deep breath, still unable to believe what a close call that had been*

Sam: *sqietly, still shaking in fear* m-mommyyy... daddy's scary....

Todd: ... they won't be able to do it before I lose you two... I don't... WANT to lose you two...

meanwhile

Harry: *Still stares at them, drool dripping through his bared teeth, off his chin*

Key: *quietly* d-do you think I want this?

meanwhile

Claire: shhh... it's okay, you're okay... b-but now you know why you need to stay in your room with mommy, right?

Sam: *nods* Uh huh...

Claire: ... *casts a final glance at Harry before going back into Sam's room*

Todd: ... no...

meanwhile

Harry: *watches them leave, fighting against the handcuff once more*

Key: ... *looks down* ...I don't know what I'm going to do... I don't even know how long it'd going to take for me to turn...

meanwhile

Claire: *makes sure to close the door when she goes back into the room, then sits back down against the wall, hugging Sm tightly to her*

Sam: *clings to her, still rather shaken* ...

Todd: ... *quietly* ... it depends... it takes longer for people to turn into specials...

meanwhile

Harry: *still fights against the handcuffs* GRAAAHUUUUHHHHH!!

Key: *goes silent* ....

meanwhile

Sam: *holds on to Claire more tightly, trying to block out the noise* mamaaa...!

Claire: shhh... it's okay, he can't get you in here...

Todd: ... the Flu should have died out from those ten years... it shouldn't have come back on it's own... maybe it got help...

meanwhile

Harry: *he keeps fighting - he needs to get to Sam and Claire, he NEEDS to get to them*

Key: w-what do you mean? *stops to cough, then continues* you don't think someone would be crazy enough to...?

meanwhile

Claire: *squeezes her eyes shut, wishing she had some way to block out Harry's yelling. she hugs a still-trembling Sam as closely as she can... she has a feeling neither of them are going to get much sleep tonight*

Todd: Crowe would. To get the humans to fear the X-WDs more. To show them how dangerous it is to keep us here. Why separating us is so important. He'll blame US for the outbreak - make people think we're still DISEASED. The Flu was DYING - maybe he had his scientists and doctors, or whatever mutate it, or something...

meanwhile

Harry: *he eventually calms down, and goes back to sitting, head down, feeling very sick and agitated*

Key: .... *quietly* ...you really think he'd do that on purpose... infect and/or KILL hundreds of people just to prove his stupid point??

meanwhile

Claire: *breathes a sigh of relief when the noise dies down, but she doesn't get up*

Sam: ...

Todd: *flatly* Yes. Crowe's that kind of guy.

meanwhile

Harry: *he is literally starving, having not eaten in a few days. Though he was sick, and reduced to the mind of an animal, he was still a living creature, and he was growing more and more furious within each passing hour*

Key: ... *looks back down* ...

meanwhile

Claire: *looks back in the direction of the door, wondering what has Harry so upset this time* ...

Sam: *had dozed off, but is now reawakened by Harry's renewed cries* ...

Claire: *looks down at Sam and rocks him a bit, then looks around the room. she spots a half-eaten hot dog from earlier that day. it hits her that Harry might be hungry--of course he was, he's been handcuffed to the stairs the whole time. she resists the urge to facepalm*

Todd: ... I swear to god, if I can find some way to do it, I'll make him pay for what he's done to you and Sarah...

meanwhile

Harry: *he doesn't fight against the handcuffs anymore, but he stares at the ground, hissing*

Key: ...

Sarah: *calls loudly from her room* MOOOOOOOM...!!!

Key: !! *immediately gets up and runs to her daughter's room*

meanwhile

Claire: ... *puts Sam down next to her and grabs the hot dog, going towards the door*

Sam: mama? D:>

Claire: shh... i'll be right back, okay? *slips out of the room* ...

Todd: !! *runs with Key to Sarah's room*

meanwhile

Harry: *lifts his head when Claire comes out of the room, growling*

Key: Sarah! Sarah, what's wro--!!?? *goes quiet*

Sarah: *looks down at her blood-covered hands, then back up at her parents, horrified, blood dripping from her mouth* I-I don't think I'm getting better...

meanwhile

Claire: shhh... just trying to give you something to eat that isn't us... *tosses the hot dog at him, not wanting to risk getting closer*

up