Food. Hungry. Meat-things. Where meat-things? It had only been two weeks since the infection had spread, and already it was beginning to evolve on them. Those who scrambled across the world were becoming more intelligent, and even Zetetic knew this. He had been an Australian Shepherd and German Shepherd mix, a lovable, happy puppy when he was alive, and now he was slowly returning to that old personality. His brain was turning back to a mode where his tail would wag when he was happy, and he stuck with his girl like nobody's business.

His left paw, up to the ankle, was nothing but bone, now. The ear on the same side was missing skin and fur, leaving naught but cartilage to droop off his head. But he was still a good boy, and his girl loved him. He nosed her hand as they drug themselves up the subway, making their ways to try and find more food.

Walking up stairs with a snapped ankle was difficult. The subway wasn't her favorite mode of transportation, but it was the safest and quickest way to get from one side of the city to another. Plus, sometimes you could snag a decent meal when some poor, confused Uninfected would wander down into the system to try and be brave, or something like that.

The city was thriving with the virus, throbbing in throngs of people once human, and now human again with a new twist.

Cassie sighed some as she made her way up the stairs with her dog, her torn skirt clinging to her rear and catching the eyes of some of the males behind her, who whistled. She rolled her eyes and adjusted her top, walking along like they were nothing to her. Even as a zombie, she couldn't escape stupid men.

There was a congregation of other Infected people over at a beauty shop nearby, so Cassie and her dog made their ways towards it, trying to figure out what would happen if they got in. Who would get first dibs?

He absolutely hated this. It was horrid, scary, and almost disgusting. Okay, it was totally, unadulteratedly disgusting to the point that he kept throwing up whenever he watched someone eat another person alive. He absolutely hated being trapped with his manicurist in the only place they could find that was secure. They were just glad that they had been able to lock all the doors and that the glass was reinforced.

Especially since the zombies had begun to show sentience. That was a little weird, sure, but they didn't question it, they simply went along with it.

Shayne was really hating it, though. This was cutting into his love life like woah, and it was really bugging him.

Dressed in a gray baby tee with Coca-Cola written on it in swirly script and a red wrap-skirt that clung tight to his hips and helped show off his butt, complete with red strappy heels in order to make himself look gorgeous. But was it really something important to look gorgeous during a zombie infection? It was important to him, sure, because if he was going to be eaten, he was going to look damn fine when it happened. But... He was kind of useless.

At least Adalberto Calixto Elpidio Hernandes, otherwise called Tonio (by Shayne), was a good fighter. The Spaniard was one of the best manicurist in the city, and he was quite possibly the strongest beauty technician, as well. He also happened to be Shayne's friend in this new city, and it was a good thing, too, otherwise the pretty boy with long, curly caramel hair would be zombie food. No, Tonio wouldn't let anything happen to him, not while he was around.

They managed to be able to get out at night, but most days they had to spend inside the shop. His hair was curly and a mess, and his eyes were a dark brown. Honestly, he really was kind of cute, but he didn't let that go to his head when Shayne was involved. He didn't have much money, and Shayne liked them rich.

“God damn! That was the fourth place this week.” A heavy groan escaped the man who spoke, and he plopped down on the damp cement stairs. His messy brown hair fell in his face as he hung his head, his clothes a bit worn and jeans dirty. “Daddy… you said a bad word.” The owner of that voice was a young girl with bright orange pigtails and huge green eyes. She jumped up each stair, then plopped down much in the same fashion of her father, even hanging her head. She tried to hold back her giggles though, and the man smiled and put his arms around her, pulling the girl up into his lap and holding her close.

“Daddy, I can’t breathe!” She cried through a fit of laughter, and as soon as he let her go, she hopped down and stood in front of him, rocking on her heels impatiently. “Daddy, Mr. Tibbles is hungry, you said we were getting food!” She bent over, picking up the shoebox that was set beside two backpacks, prying the lid open slowly, and peeking in. The man sighed and nodded, “We will, Anna-bee, we will. I just need to find some.” He stood up and grabbed his backpack, and helped the girl into the small pick one. “Come on, let’s keep going.”

Of course he knew it was dangerous to be out at this time, it was daylight, and he was with such a small girl, but their previous residence has been overrun, so he didn’t have much of a choice. They worked in the alleys mostly, and he always checked ahead, making sure nothing was near. At this point, the little girl was on his back, clinging to his neck, and he held the shoebox and his backpack in his hands. “We’re going to be okay, I know you’re tired, just hang on a little longer for me, okay honey?”

By now he was checking the back doors to businesses, trying carefully to open the door and peer inside. This was risky, but he was determined.

(( Dissociative_Dreamer: -prod prod- XD ))

(( Sorry, a little busy ))

((No worries, I just wanted to remind you, since I tend to forget. XD))

Hearing the back door handle attempt to giggle made Adalberto tense, and he turned to look back towards it. He'd seen the zombies trying at the door knobs, and refused to let them in. They still couldn't get in if the doors were locked. Thankfully, they weren't so savage as to try to break it down, yet.

Both he and Shayne kept quiet, trying to make sure the zombies at the door didn't hear them. They hid in the small apartment above the shop, where there were no windows; the bathroom.

Cassie yawned and stretched as she walked her way easily through the streets, or, really, as easily as possible. She blinked a little when she heard the sounds of her own kind trying to bust into an apartment building. Must have been something delicious in there. She shrugged it off, preferring to eat where there weren't a whole throng of infected to compete with. After all, the virus prevented them from fully consuming someone.

She heard what sounded like the jiggling of a handle on a door. She knew her kind could do it, too, but she still wondered sometimes if it was human or zombie. So, taking those steps with her dog a little quicker, she headed to check out the noise, the first of many to start coming.

(( Sorry, didn't forget, just had a stuck spot. ))

“Damnit.” The man grumbled as he looked at the door, it was locked. Either it was left locked, or people were hiding in it. He wanted so hard to bang on the doors, beg for someone else to be there and let him in… but what if there were zombies in there? What if someone heard him? An unhappy groan escaped him and he stopped and leaned against the door for a moment, trying to take a deep breath, and do all it took not to scream.

“Daddy! My feet hurt, can’t we go back home?” The girl whined, pouting and stomping her feet. Her dad hushed her, getting down on his knees in front of her, hugging her close to him. It was a subtle way of telling her to shut up, and that they needed to be quiet. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he they were caught, if something awful happened to Annabelle. She was his baby, and it was his job to protect her.

He groaned one last time, let the girl go, and turned to leave. “Come on, let’s go find some food.”