Nightshift 42: Bill's Hardware

[ruthless_hunter]

[from here]Lockdown kicked the door to the hardware store down and barged in. There was already a zombie in here, a big one, who the bounty hunter guessed was the owner of the store. There were also two other zombies with him, so Lockdown was already outnumbered. But that had never stopped the bounty hunter

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[razing_phoenix]

Just as Guy had been taking a step to move out of the store, he felt the floor creak and sag under him in a way it shouldn't have -- his eyes skated across the now stained ground to the walls, which were similarly changed. For a moment he had to wonder if he was imagining all of it after last nightshift. It was still light out -- how could this be happening?

Guy heard the noises of things that weren't human anymore before he actually saw anything, but he felt himself tense up as he realized that they were now stranded in this town and surrounded by what had to be tons of nurses and-- the townspeople too?! Part of him didn't want to peek up the aisle to the front counter; he already knew what he would likely see if he did.

The sounds of other patients fighting, the door breaking down, and Claude's voice were what snapped Guy out of it. They might not have their familiar weapons (which shouldn't have become familiar in the first place), but they still had a lot to work with, as the crowbar Claude had snatched made clear.

"Got it," he agreed, more than willing to take orders in this instance. When he thought about it, the hardware store was probably one of the best places they could have been when something like this happened. He quickly scanned the shelves and grabbed the first weapon-like thing he could find: a shovel. It was hefty, the weight far different from a sword, but Guy was used to improvising by now.

He honestly wasn't sure that the outside would be any better than in the store, but they would at least have less of a chance of getting cornered out there. Guy started for the exit.

[full_score]

Claude saw Guy grab a shovel, but he couldn't help but wonder if they shouldn't try to grab a few more things. Utility belts, flashlights, saws, those sorts of things -- they'd definitely be useful, especially if they were going to spend all night in this hell hole. But it wasn't like they had all the time in the world. Getting ambushed while their backs were turned would be way too easy.

Meanwhile, his friend was already headed toward the exit. Claude didn't want to get separated, but he took one last moment to at least grab a hardhat with a light configured on the front, as well as a utility belt. The belt he slung over his shoulder until he could probably fasten it around his waist. Eyebrows furrowed, he glanced down at the light on the hat, moving his thumb over the switch to turn it on.

Just as the beam came to life, and Claude was about to move on his way, something hard and heavy collided with the back of his shoulder. Claude yelped both in pain and surprise, and he was stunned to find a hammer dropping to the floor. Something had thrown that at him! Or someone. Eyes narrowing, Claude quickly glanced around, but he knew he didn't have time to figure out what had happened. If that hammer had been aimed a little higher, it could have hit his head, knocking him out in the process.

They needed to get out of here.

Gritting his teeth, Claude quickened his pace and followed after Guy. He just had to ignore the throbbing pain where the hammer had struck him.

[razing_phoenix]

Guy sensed that Claude wasn't following right after him, and so he forced himself to pause and wait, looking over his shoulder while still keeping on guard for anything (anyone, really) that came too close. He couldn't blame Claude for wanting to grab as much as he could carry, seeing how they were probably in for a long fight. Guy personally liked to keep his hands as free as possible, so he was fine with Claude taking care of their light source.

A shovel really wasn't the best weapon, but he got the feeling that blunt force would work well against the monsters. There were some gardening shears, but those couldn't be used effectively as a weapon. Besides, people were rushing in and grabbing things off the shelves like mad; he was lucky enough to have the shovel.

Guy nodded when Claude clicked the light on - the hat looked kind of silly, but that hardly mattered when it would both protect Claude's head and make sure they could see more than a few feet in front of them. Just as Guy was going to start moving again, he heard Claude yell out and turned right back around to face him again. He was more than ready to jump in and jab the shovel at anything that was attacking Claude, but it looked like something had just been tossed at him.

"These things are smart enough to throw things?" he exclaimed, in a state of disbelief. That meant they shouldn't be underestimated.

Almost right after that he heard a horribly loud noise that he didn't recognize, though it sounded like some kind of machinery or motor. More importantly, it didn't sound safe, and without thinking Guy snatched Claude by the wrist. "We need to get out of here!" He started for the door, not willing to pause for anything else.

[full_score]

"I-I don't know!" Claude could only respond. If it hadn't been one of the creatures, it'd been one of the captives. Maybe he'd just been caught in some friendly fire? He couldn't imagine why anyone would target him, though!

That sudden roar of a motor caught his attention, and Claude wildly looked around, trying to identify the source. It sounded like a chainsaw or something -- not exactly the most comforting realization in the world. Man, he sure hoped whoever had it was on their side!

Claude was yanked out of his thoughts once Guy grabbed his wrist, though, and he was forced to follow him out of the store. As they ran through the exit, he cast one last glance backward, and for a split second he thought he caught a glimpse of a familiar shock of green hair. The moment passed, however, and soon they were outside.

((To here.))