EoTC: Mariam and Adrian
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:48 am
Have you ever ran so hard, fast and so long that you couldn't see beyond the blackness at the edge of your vision? THat same blackness that closes in towards the center? Have you ever felt like your lungs just weren't big enough as your gag reflex just won't give up? Have you ever felt completely helpless as you ran, that sudden weightless feeling while at the same time feeling like you weigh a with each sprinting stride? Would you keep running? What if the supermodel girlfriend next to you was the reason you did it? The girl of your dreams.
Adrian gives a desperate look to Mariam as she keeps slightly ahead of him. The three guys nipping at his heels, each carrying some sort of blunt weapon or blade have only one idea in their head. The idea to make Mariam their plaything!
"You're a dead son of a b****, kid!" One of them yells as Adrian remembers the pain in his fist after full out punching one of them in the face to get away. "Get back here and take it like a man!"
Mariam sees the end of the alley approaching, oO(No way out!)Oo She stops and squats down, almost blacking out from the sudden change in momentum. oO(So tired...)Oo as she feels two sets of legs go over top of her, she leaps and spins with her palm outstretched, like her father had taught her. She feels her hand get knocked to the side as she gets knocked back over Adrian and the other guy, who she had just tripped! The pain is like a distant feeling as she slides across the concrete on her back. Her tanktop and bra strap tearing.
Adrian's vision returns as he finds himself trying to hit the guy that fell on him over and over. Only one hit connects as the man nimbly blocks the first and last one, but the second hit, there is a horrible splatter and crunching from the guy's nose. He suddenly feels stars and tastes the metalic shock of a traumatic blunt head strike from behind.
Mariam catches Adrian half killing one of the bigger guys with one solid punch, but the other two strike him in the back of the head with what looks like a small aluminum bat. Adrian falls forward as the one stands up, nose gushing blood. The other two slowly walk towards Mariam as she musters enough strength to crawl backwards on her butt and hands. "Time for some fun, pretty lady. We won't hurt you too bad. You know you want this."
Suddenly, there is blur. The man who is nursing his nose falls to the ground after a horrible dull, wet smacking sound is heard. Everything looks so dark. She sees a lady. Long, raven hair and almost a glow to the eyes as the lady has caught the attention of the other two. The man, still trying to nurse his nose hasnt realized that the side of his head just caved in. oO(Did she just do that with her hands?)Oo
"Maybe you want to have fun with me, boys? After all, I'm prettier." The lady has her back turned to Mariam. Adrian starts coming to. "Maybe you don't know this, but you just became my newest test!"
The men look to their friend, who is now dead and twitching on the ground, back to the lady. Her athletic body moves smoothly as both try and run. A fancy looking kick connects with the slower guy as his mo-hawk flattens against the wall next to Mariam. He begins mumbling for help as he tries to feel the top of his head, which flattened in. Blood begins to pour from his ears and nose, like an ornamental fountain. "Maumer gaha errrrhhheh. Sorrae..." His face pales as Mariam can only stare at him take his last breath. She looks up and the other man and lady are gone. She begins to sob uncontrollably.
Adrian's vision slowly returns, along with a headache and the bit of blood dripping from his chin from the back of his head. There are two dead men and Mariam, with her back against the wall, looking directly at him. She couldn't have possibly done this, could she? Looking back up the alleyway, the brick buildings look different suddenly when not being chased. Where is the last guy? What exactly happened?.
As Adrian's vision returns, he sees the two dead men, who were chasing Mariam and himself. He sees Mariam sitting with her back against the brick wall of the building. He slowly stands up still feeling the onset of the headache and the flow of blood running down the sides of his face. Adrian touches the back of his head and feels the source of the blood flow. He feels a split in his scalp and it's tender to the touch. He looks at Mariam, "Mariam you ok? Not hurt real bad are ya?" He walks over to her, noticing her torn tank top and bra strap. "Here let me fix your shirt here," he says to her as he kneels down next to her and ties up the the bra strap first then the tank top second. Afterward, Adrian stands up and offers his hand to her, to help her up, "Come on we need to get outta here. I know I don't want to be caught here if anyone sees these two bodies laying here."
As Mariam struggles with what just happened and the closeness of being violated. Her thoughts are out of anger and just not understanding what happened. Who were the ones that helped and where did they go? She gladly lets Adrian help her, as she feels shocked and weak. "Thank you Adrian. You're always here when I need you and keep me outta trouble." As she straightens up a little more, they start to leave the scene. Mariam still looking back at the dead bodies and wondering what happened. She leans over and asks Adrian "Do you remember anything that happened Adrian? Are you ok?"
"Well thats what friends are for!" Adrian smiles for a second then the pain from the back of his head starts to override the feeling of being safe. His left hand goes back on the back of his head where he is bleeding from, "Well that last thump I took split me open pretty good, but I will survive. As for who took out those three guys, I really don't know. I didn't see who helped us out. All I heard was I think a female voice. What she said, I couldn't make out. You see what happened there or remember what was said?"
Mariam smiles at Adrian "Of course!" As Adrian is answering what he remembers from the female and whoever else was there to help, she notices his pain, "Oh my God!! We need to get some kind of bandages to your head and get the bleeding to stop. I know your so stubborn and just want to keep going but come on Adrian and let me see what I can do. Sit down here for a sec." She helps him to sit down slowly, she takes off part of her tank top that was torn pretty bad and made a bandage to stop the bleeding tying it loosely around his head but tight enough it wont fall off. This reveals an extreme amount of her curves and lithe figure and the bottom and side of her bra, which could lead to more trouble. As Mariam checks Adrian's wound, she notices that it is wide and deep, but clotting, so the wound isn't too serious, but he obviously has a slight concussion as she notices that he stumbled a bit.
Mariam looks back at the two dead bodies, still scared, "Why don't we go back and see what's on the bodies. I have a feeling there just might be something there that we can pick up and use." Mariam starts to walk back to the sight nervously but knowing there at least a few weapons they can use.
Adrian looks at Mariam in something of shock, "go back and search the bodies? What if we happen to be next on that lady's test list?" Adrian turns and follows Mariam back to the bodies nervously and searches the bodies with her, using the make shift bandage to wipe the blood off his jaw and hopes the bleeding will stop soon.
The two find a knife, two small aluminum bats, mainly used in tee ball but sturdy enough to do damage. They also find some candy bars. It feels completely unnerving searching through a dead person's pockets, especially when the mohawked individual still has the occasional death twitch. The sounds of the town police sirens begin to wail and they also sound like they are getting nearer.
Adrian looks at the bodies, then back at Mariam, then back at the bodies again. He strips off a shirt off one of the dead guys that looks like it could fit Mariam, "Here Mariam, this looks like it fits ya. Looks like you need something of a new shirt," He looks at her with a slight smile on his face as the pain starts to pulse again. "It looks like we got a knife here, couple bats, and some candy bars," he says to her as the sirens start to get closer. "I think we better get goin now! I don't wanna get pinned for this."
Mariam shrugs off the fears she had and the shocking sight of dead bodies and the questions of what happened still bother her. But in good time it'll be answered. "Thank you Adrian. Yes it'll fit, but yes they are getting quite close, so time to scatter." Mariam tries to help with what Adrian is trying to carry and they head off into the opposite direction and hurrying as fast as they can.
Adrian watches her change, completely forgetting to be a decent person. Hearing the sirens getting closer, he bolts out of there with Mariam in tow.
The two round the corner back out into the mainstream street. They get plenty of odd looks as the Adrian's blood-soaked head and shoulders seem to stand out. Mariam's shirt has a bit of blood on it from Adrian and the person that they scavenged it from. The sirens sound as though they are coming around the next corner. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and exhibits around to duck into. It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that they are obviously guilty. It seems that the last marauder and the woman disappeared. There is no sight of them.
Adrian feels a bit dizzy again as he finally catches his breath from the running. Mariam feels much better in comparison, but she sees that even in Lake Crenshaw, most people know each other. Since Nova moved, it's been rough for them. Almost like Nova was the good luck charm that they never knew that they had, until she moved to Camp Wilson with her family years ago.
Adrian and Mariam have had to scavenge the streets and squat old buildings to make a living. Seems they crossed the wrong group. Seems like newcomers are emerging from beyond the lines more often, but how? Many of them are rough and tumble types who cause trouble. However, the town military and police force are more than capable of stopping them.
The sounds of the sirens are dangerously close.
Adrian hears the sirens getting closer, "Mariam, we gotta find somewhere to hide and get cleaned up," he looks around and sees all the shops and restaurants. Adrian thinks to himself, 'where can we go and hide?' He spots one close by, "Mariam come on let’s go!" He grabs her arm and ducks into a close by shop and hides there for a bit.
Mariam worn out and tired of being looked at by the townspeople because of all the blood stained clothes they're both wearing. She looks over to Adrian and asks "Adrain, your still not doin good. Maybe some food will help you a little but I don’t have any money, do you?" As she’s awaiting for his answer, she looks around to see if there’s any garbage where they could find something else to wear since people just throw things away even food! Sirens are close and nervous about that but we have to do something. She starts to suggest this to Adrian before he can answer, shaky and concerned about Adrian's wound that continuously bleeds no matter what. His pale face shows that he's lost too much blood and something also needs to be done about it fast!
Adrian looks at Mariam, "Look, I'm fine, now we gotta get goin!" Adrian grabs her arm and pulls her into the nearest shop and tries to hide till it's clear to get moving.
"Now what?" Mariam asks.
Adrian looks around and finds the clerk, "Do you guys have out back a hose or something so my friend and I can get cleaned up? We were attacked in the alleyway and barely escaped."
As Mariam waits for the clerks response, which seems to take forever with sirens still close by. She randomly brushes herself off and stands a little off to the side behind Adrian so as to not show too much of the blood stains playing with her hair nervously. Mariam chimes in, "We won't take long at all. Can you please help us?"
The saddler shop seems rustic and nice. A phone rests on the wall behind the guy and his boyish grin and dark hair and eyes seem to flash appreciation over Mariam as he notices her. He then notices the blood and wounds, upon his recognition of the approaching sirens. It seems for an instant that he is trying to assess the situation and nods, "Yeah, out back, we have a well of water. Are you both okay? That's quite a lot of blood."
He points towards a small door towards the back of the shop. Outside there is a small well. Classically the well with a rope leading down to a bucket.
Mariam notices the phone and doesnt queit trust the clerk as she suggests to Adrian, "Adrian won't you go ahead and get cleaned up, especially your head and I will wait and talk to our friend here." She sees an odd look on Adrian's face but goes on to talk with the clerk. "Ya, we're okay, just a little bloody from being jumped but we will be ok. So what's your name? Mine's Mariam and as you heard my friend's name is Adrian." Mariam tries to keep him occupied in a long conversation to give Adrian enough time to get cleaned up and get her chance to clean up as well.
Adrian looks at the clerk, "Thank you, we wont take long to get cleaned up. Yes, we are okay, just little beat up but we will survive."
He hurries up and heads out back. He worries bout what might be going on inside the shop. He puts the bucket down the well and pulls it up full of water. He uses his hands and starts to wash his face and the drying blood off. After his face gets somewhat clean, Adrian drenches his blonde with the blood red streaked hair with the remaining water left in the bucket. After the bucket is emptied, he refills it at the well and finishes cleaning up.
'Oh how it will feel to get this mess off and be clean again,' Mariam thinks to herself also listening to the clerk watching him watch her. Mariam thinks to herself, 'Well guess it's time to work my charm once again,' as she leans forwards to the clerk, listening.
"It's been getting worse in town, all of the violence with the random newcomers. If the police come here, I'll keep them off your back until you can get safely out of here. I can tell that you guys didn't start any trouble." The clerk smiles. "That and maybe someday you'd want to buy some gear for horses." He winks, "Or even buy a horse. We sell those too!"
As Mariam awaits Adrians return from cleaning himself up, she wishes he would hurry up as she feels more uncomfortable inside by herself. Mariam can fend for herself but something just doesn't seem right here and the uncomfortable feeling she has is increasingly getting worse, but she covers it up so the clerk doesn't get suspicious about anything and she continues her conversation with him. A little distraction and listening to what he has to say isn't going to hurt. Maybe he will help them, who knows as she bends down to fix her shoes but keeping an eye on the clerk at the same time just in case he reaches for that phone.
"So, what happened? I mean, you said that you got jumped but what did they want? Who was it?" He seems more curious.
Adrian pours the remaining water that was in the bucket over his head and makes sure the water doesn't drop back into the bucket. He rings out his hair and makes sure the blood flow is slowed to a minimal flow. He thinks to himself, "Hope this is cleaned up enough." A small amount of seepage is coming out of his wound, but nothing is gushing out anymore. Seems the blood has started clotting. It will still be hard to disguise his wound with blonde hair. He walks back inside to see Mariam bent over being distracting to the clerk. "Okay, I've gotten a bit more cleaned up, your turn girl." He looks at the clerk, "Thank you for lettin us get cleaned up best we can." He smiles gratefully at the clerk.
The clerk nods, "Hey, no problem."
"Ok, good. I'm a mess and it'll be great to get cleaned up," Mariam replies back to Adrian. "Be back in a few minutes. And yes, thank you again for letting us get cleaned up," she replies to the clerk who's still staring at her. Mariam hurries to the back and fills the water bucket. "Oh this is going to be great to get cleaned up and then figure out what we're going to do after this."
The clerk shrugs at Mariam’s sudden departure to the back and looks to Adrian, "So... what happened? I don't want to pry, but it seems a lot of bad stuff has been happening more often. What did the people who jumped you want?
Mariam just pours the water over her head getting the blood out of her hair as well as the dirt and sweat. The water rushes down thru her hair and down her back. Now for a second rinsing just to make sure, Mariam scrubs down what she can. She takes a look back at the clerk. He's not bad looking, but just not trusting at the moment. You just can't trust strangers these days but who knows maybe he's a good guy after all. Mariam, soaked and wet, returns to the inside to join in whatever the guys are talking about. "Well I'm done and ready to go when you are Adrian."
Hearing the clerk asking what the guys who jumped them want, Adrian notices Mariam walk back into the shop soaked and wet. Adrian tells the clerk, "There were three
guys, I was trying to protect Mariam and they took a bat to the back of my head." Adrian's hand moves to his headwound as he tells his part of the event. "I think they
were aiming to do bad things to her. I managed to punch one in the face and shattered his nose. Some woman jumped in and saved the day. If it wasnt for her, we both
would probably be dead and Mariam would have been raped on the spot in the alleyway." Adrian feels the fresh blood still dripping out of his wound, but kinda shakes
off the somewhat weak feeling that has set in.
Adrian gives Mariam the look of, "I don't help," then turns to the clerk, "If you happen to have anything that might help. We would see what would work for us."
Adrian then realizes Mariam is dripping wet and thoughts start to run through his mind. A slight smile starts to creep onto his lips as he turns to Mariam, knowing
full well they have to get moving before the police stop up askin questions on what happened in the alley.
Mariam just looks at Adrian and giggles, since he thinks he doesn't hel, .modest or stubborn; who knows which one is worse in his case. As Mariam looks back at the
clerk, waiting for him to reply, she notices him looking at her wet, dripping body. She looks over at Adrian and he's got that lil' boy look he always gives her and...
As Adrian more less stairs at Mariams appearence, bloodflow leaves brain and most thought process stops for a second or two. He feels himself start to drool at the site of her. He tries to say something to the effect of, "We got to get going," but all that comes out is a mumbled mess.
Mariam has been so busy trying to keep the clerk busy and try to find out information that she hears mumbling coming from Adrian. "Adrian whats going on? I
cant understand you?" Mariam begins to panic and wonders if something's wrong with her even though she sees the blood still coming out of Adrian's head. Is there something wrong with Adrain?
Fiddling with herself to make sure it's not her, she listens and hears the clerk okay, so what is it? "Maybe we should get to a place where its quiet and away from all the sirens and garbage going on. Do you happen to know where we can be put up for the night so we can get some rest and then on our way?" she asks the clerk. While waiting for his answer, she notices Adrian's still mumbling and drooling? As she starts to go over to take care of him, thinking he's got something really wrong
with him, she pauses.
The clerk nods and says, "I suppose you two could room with me for a night if you can do some chores for me around the place here. Deal?" He seems to give an acknowledging nod.
oO(WAIT A GODDAMN MINUTE!)Oo
Mariam tries to keep herself calm but realizes what he is actually doing. She grabs his arm and takes him to the back. "What are you doing Adrian? I didn't catch it
before but I was so worried about you thinking something's wrong with you and that's why you couldn't talk and it was just mumbling. NOW I see what it is and you
better knock this crap off! You had me worried over nothing! How could you do this with your head injury and everything thats happened?" She then slaps him as hard as she can upside the head, maybe knocking some kinda sense into him but just feeling better about the whole thing.
The slap is hard. Sudden, familiar stars appear for a split second as the lightning fast cracking slap hits Adrian across his cheek. Uncontrollably, he stumbles to his to his right and has to catch himself on the wall. His vision returns, but darker, with a distinct, simultaneous high and low pitched ringing in his ears. He can think clearly, but balance is another issue. Sliding down the wall, his legs lose all strength.
Mariam realizing that Adrian, already in a weakened state, just took one of the hardest hits that she's ever delivered. As he slides down the brick wall, his shirt pulls up as the cloth catches on the rough brick. His lip starts bleeding and there is a large, red hand print across his left cheek. He seems to stare into nothingness until he's almost slumped on his butt against the wall.
The clerk peers out of the back door. He looks shocked. "Ma'am, he has a concussion. Hitting him won't help. You may have made him worse!" He rushes over to check Adrian.
Adrian sees the blurry image of some guy trying to look into his eyes. Adrian can't quite remember where he's seen the guy. Someone was chasing him and Mariam. He got hit. Who is this guy?
The clerk grunts, "His eyes are dilated. We need to keep him awake." He turns and gives Mariam and disapproving look, "What did you do? I heard the hit."
OOC: (rolled an 18 with max damage... OUCH!)
Adrian gives a desperate look to Mariam as she keeps slightly ahead of him. The three guys nipping at his heels, each carrying some sort of blunt weapon or blade have only one idea in their head. The idea to make Mariam their plaything!
"You're a dead son of a b****, kid!" One of them yells as Adrian remembers the pain in his fist after full out punching one of them in the face to get away. "Get back here and take it like a man!"
Mariam sees the end of the alley approaching, oO(No way out!)Oo She stops and squats down, almost blacking out from the sudden change in momentum. oO(So tired...)Oo as she feels two sets of legs go over top of her, she leaps and spins with her palm outstretched, like her father had taught her. She feels her hand get knocked to the side as she gets knocked back over Adrian and the other guy, who she had just tripped! The pain is like a distant feeling as she slides across the concrete on her back. Her tanktop and bra strap tearing.
Adrian's vision returns as he finds himself trying to hit the guy that fell on him over and over. Only one hit connects as the man nimbly blocks the first and last one, but the second hit, there is a horrible splatter and crunching from the guy's nose. He suddenly feels stars and tastes the metalic shock of a traumatic blunt head strike from behind.
Mariam catches Adrian half killing one of the bigger guys with one solid punch, but the other two strike him in the back of the head with what looks like a small aluminum bat. Adrian falls forward as the one stands up, nose gushing blood. The other two slowly walk towards Mariam as she musters enough strength to crawl backwards on her butt and hands. "Time for some fun, pretty lady. We won't hurt you too bad. You know you want this."
Suddenly, there is blur. The man who is nursing his nose falls to the ground after a horrible dull, wet smacking sound is heard. Everything looks so dark. She sees a lady. Long, raven hair and almost a glow to the eyes as the lady has caught the attention of the other two. The man, still trying to nurse his nose hasnt realized that the side of his head just caved in. oO(Did she just do that with her hands?)Oo
"Maybe you want to have fun with me, boys? After all, I'm prettier." The lady has her back turned to Mariam. Adrian starts coming to. "Maybe you don't know this, but you just became my newest test!"
The men look to their friend, who is now dead and twitching on the ground, back to the lady. Her athletic body moves smoothly as both try and run. A fancy looking kick connects with the slower guy as his mo-hawk flattens against the wall next to Mariam. He begins mumbling for help as he tries to feel the top of his head, which flattened in. Blood begins to pour from his ears and nose, like an ornamental fountain. "Maumer gaha errrrhhheh. Sorrae..." His face pales as Mariam can only stare at him take his last breath. She looks up and the other man and lady are gone. She begins to sob uncontrollably.
Adrian's vision slowly returns, along with a headache and the bit of blood dripping from his chin from the back of his head. There are two dead men and Mariam, with her back against the wall, looking directly at him. She couldn't have possibly done this, could she? Looking back up the alleyway, the brick buildings look different suddenly when not being chased. Where is the last guy? What exactly happened?.
As Adrian's vision returns, he sees the two dead men, who were chasing Mariam and himself. He sees Mariam sitting with her back against the brick wall of the building. He slowly stands up still feeling the onset of the headache and the flow of blood running down the sides of his face. Adrian touches the back of his head and feels the source of the blood flow. He feels a split in his scalp and it's tender to the touch. He looks at Mariam, "Mariam you ok? Not hurt real bad are ya?" He walks over to her, noticing her torn tank top and bra strap. "Here let me fix your shirt here," he says to her as he kneels down next to her and ties up the the bra strap first then the tank top second. Afterward, Adrian stands up and offers his hand to her, to help her up, "Come on we need to get outta here. I know I don't want to be caught here if anyone sees these two bodies laying here."
As Mariam struggles with what just happened and the closeness of being violated. Her thoughts are out of anger and just not understanding what happened. Who were the ones that helped and where did they go? She gladly lets Adrian help her, as she feels shocked and weak. "Thank you Adrian. You're always here when I need you and keep me outta trouble." As she straightens up a little more, they start to leave the scene. Mariam still looking back at the dead bodies and wondering what happened. She leans over and asks Adrian "Do you remember anything that happened Adrian? Are you ok?"
"Well thats what friends are for!" Adrian smiles for a second then the pain from the back of his head starts to override the feeling of being safe. His left hand goes back on the back of his head where he is bleeding from, "Well that last thump I took split me open pretty good, but I will survive. As for who took out those three guys, I really don't know. I didn't see who helped us out. All I heard was I think a female voice. What she said, I couldn't make out. You see what happened there or remember what was said?"
Mariam smiles at Adrian "Of course!" As Adrian is answering what he remembers from the female and whoever else was there to help, she notices his pain, "Oh my God!! We need to get some kind of bandages to your head and get the bleeding to stop. I know your so stubborn and just want to keep going but come on Adrian and let me see what I can do. Sit down here for a sec." She helps him to sit down slowly, she takes off part of her tank top that was torn pretty bad and made a bandage to stop the bleeding tying it loosely around his head but tight enough it wont fall off. This reveals an extreme amount of her curves and lithe figure and the bottom and side of her bra, which could lead to more trouble. As Mariam checks Adrian's wound, she notices that it is wide and deep, but clotting, so the wound isn't too serious, but he obviously has a slight concussion as she notices that he stumbled a bit.
Mariam looks back at the two dead bodies, still scared, "Why don't we go back and see what's on the bodies. I have a feeling there just might be something there that we can pick up and use." Mariam starts to walk back to the sight nervously but knowing there at least a few weapons they can use.
Adrian looks at Mariam in something of shock, "go back and search the bodies? What if we happen to be next on that lady's test list?" Adrian turns and follows Mariam back to the bodies nervously and searches the bodies with her, using the make shift bandage to wipe the blood off his jaw and hopes the bleeding will stop soon.
The two find a knife, two small aluminum bats, mainly used in tee ball but sturdy enough to do damage. They also find some candy bars. It feels completely unnerving searching through a dead person's pockets, especially when the mohawked individual still has the occasional death twitch. The sounds of the town police sirens begin to wail and they also sound like they are getting nearer.
Adrian looks at the bodies, then back at Mariam, then back at the bodies again. He strips off a shirt off one of the dead guys that looks like it could fit Mariam, "Here Mariam, this looks like it fits ya. Looks like you need something of a new shirt," He looks at her with a slight smile on his face as the pain starts to pulse again. "It looks like we got a knife here, couple bats, and some candy bars," he says to her as the sirens start to get closer. "I think we better get goin now! I don't wanna get pinned for this."
Mariam shrugs off the fears she had and the shocking sight of dead bodies and the questions of what happened still bother her. But in good time it'll be answered. "Thank you Adrian. Yes it'll fit, but yes they are getting quite close, so time to scatter." Mariam tries to help with what Adrian is trying to carry and they head off into the opposite direction and hurrying as fast as they can.
Adrian watches her change, completely forgetting to be a decent person. Hearing the sirens getting closer, he bolts out of there with Mariam in tow.
The two round the corner back out into the mainstream street. They get plenty of odd looks as the Adrian's blood-soaked head and shoulders seem to stand out. Mariam's shirt has a bit of blood on it from Adrian and the person that they scavenged it from. The sirens sound as though they are coming around the next corner. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and exhibits around to duck into. It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that they are obviously guilty. It seems that the last marauder and the woman disappeared. There is no sight of them.
Adrian feels a bit dizzy again as he finally catches his breath from the running. Mariam feels much better in comparison, but she sees that even in Lake Crenshaw, most people know each other. Since Nova moved, it's been rough for them. Almost like Nova was the good luck charm that they never knew that they had, until she moved to Camp Wilson with her family years ago.
Adrian and Mariam have had to scavenge the streets and squat old buildings to make a living. Seems they crossed the wrong group. Seems like newcomers are emerging from beyond the lines more often, but how? Many of them are rough and tumble types who cause trouble. However, the town military and police force are more than capable of stopping them.
The sounds of the sirens are dangerously close.
Adrian hears the sirens getting closer, "Mariam, we gotta find somewhere to hide and get cleaned up," he looks around and sees all the shops and restaurants. Adrian thinks to himself, 'where can we go and hide?' He spots one close by, "Mariam come on let’s go!" He grabs her arm and ducks into a close by shop and hides there for a bit.
Mariam worn out and tired of being looked at by the townspeople because of all the blood stained clothes they're both wearing. She looks over to Adrian and asks "Adrain, your still not doin good. Maybe some food will help you a little but I don’t have any money, do you?" As she’s awaiting for his answer, she looks around to see if there’s any garbage where they could find something else to wear since people just throw things away even food! Sirens are close and nervous about that but we have to do something. She starts to suggest this to Adrian before he can answer, shaky and concerned about Adrian's wound that continuously bleeds no matter what. His pale face shows that he's lost too much blood and something also needs to be done about it fast!
Adrian looks at Mariam, "Look, I'm fine, now we gotta get goin!" Adrian grabs her arm and pulls her into the nearest shop and tries to hide till it's clear to get moving.
"Now what?" Mariam asks.
Adrian looks around and finds the clerk, "Do you guys have out back a hose or something so my friend and I can get cleaned up? We were attacked in the alleyway and barely escaped."
As Mariam waits for the clerks response, which seems to take forever with sirens still close by. She randomly brushes herself off and stands a little off to the side behind Adrian so as to not show too much of the blood stains playing with her hair nervously. Mariam chimes in, "We won't take long at all. Can you please help us?"
The saddler shop seems rustic and nice. A phone rests on the wall behind the guy and his boyish grin and dark hair and eyes seem to flash appreciation over Mariam as he notices her. He then notices the blood and wounds, upon his recognition of the approaching sirens. It seems for an instant that he is trying to assess the situation and nods, "Yeah, out back, we have a well of water. Are you both okay? That's quite a lot of blood."
He points towards a small door towards the back of the shop. Outside there is a small well. Classically the well with a rope leading down to a bucket.
Mariam notices the phone and doesnt queit trust the clerk as she suggests to Adrian, "Adrian won't you go ahead and get cleaned up, especially your head and I will wait and talk to our friend here." She sees an odd look on Adrian's face but goes on to talk with the clerk. "Ya, we're okay, just a little bloody from being jumped but we will be ok. So what's your name? Mine's Mariam and as you heard my friend's name is Adrian." Mariam tries to keep him occupied in a long conversation to give Adrian enough time to get cleaned up and get her chance to clean up as well.
Adrian looks at the clerk, "Thank you, we wont take long to get cleaned up. Yes, we are okay, just little beat up but we will survive."
He hurries up and heads out back. He worries bout what might be going on inside the shop. He puts the bucket down the well and pulls it up full of water. He uses his hands and starts to wash his face and the drying blood off. After his face gets somewhat clean, Adrian drenches his blonde with the blood red streaked hair with the remaining water left in the bucket. After the bucket is emptied, he refills it at the well and finishes cleaning up.
'Oh how it will feel to get this mess off and be clean again,' Mariam thinks to herself also listening to the clerk watching him watch her. Mariam thinks to herself, 'Well guess it's time to work my charm once again,' as she leans forwards to the clerk, listening.
"It's been getting worse in town, all of the violence with the random newcomers. If the police come here, I'll keep them off your back until you can get safely out of here. I can tell that you guys didn't start any trouble." The clerk smiles. "That and maybe someday you'd want to buy some gear for horses." He winks, "Or even buy a horse. We sell those too!"
As Mariam awaits Adrians return from cleaning himself up, she wishes he would hurry up as she feels more uncomfortable inside by herself. Mariam can fend for herself but something just doesn't seem right here and the uncomfortable feeling she has is increasingly getting worse, but she covers it up so the clerk doesn't get suspicious about anything and she continues her conversation with him. A little distraction and listening to what he has to say isn't going to hurt. Maybe he will help them, who knows as she bends down to fix her shoes but keeping an eye on the clerk at the same time just in case he reaches for that phone.
"So, what happened? I mean, you said that you got jumped but what did they want? Who was it?" He seems more curious.
Adrian pours the remaining water that was in the bucket over his head and makes sure the water doesn't drop back into the bucket. He rings out his hair and makes sure the blood flow is slowed to a minimal flow. He thinks to himself, "Hope this is cleaned up enough." A small amount of seepage is coming out of his wound, but nothing is gushing out anymore. Seems the blood has started clotting. It will still be hard to disguise his wound with blonde hair. He walks back inside to see Mariam bent over being distracting to the clerk. "Okay, I've gotten a bit more cleaned up, your turn girl." He looks at the clerk, "Thank you for lettin us get cleaned up best we can." He smiles gratefully at the clerk.
The clerk nods, "Hey, no problem."
"Ok, good. I'm a mess and it'll be great to get cleaned up," Mariam replies back to Adrian. "Be back in a few minutes. And yes, thank you again for letting us get cleaned up," she replies to the clerk who's still staring at her. Mariam hurries to the back and fills the water bucket. "Oh this is going to be great to get cleaned up and then figure out what we're going to do after this."
The clerk shrugs at Mariam’s sudden departure to the back and looks to Adrian, "So... what happened? I don't want to pry, but it seems a lot of bad stuff has been happening more often. What did the people who jumped you want?
Mariam just pours the water over her head getting the blood out of her hair as well as the dirt and sweat. The water rushes down thru her hair and down her back. Now for a second rinsing just to make sure, Mariam scrubs down what she can. She takes a look back at the clerk. He's not bad looking, but just not trusting at the moment. You just can't trust strangers these days but who knows maybe he's a good guy after all. Mariam, soaked and wet, returns to the inside to join in whatever the guys are talking about. "Well I'm done and ready to go when you are Adrian."
Hearing the clerk asking what the guys who jumped them want, Adrian notices Mariam walk back into the shop soaked and wet. Adrian tells the clerk, "There were three
guys, I was trying to protect Mariam and they took a bat to the back of my head." Adrian's hand moves to his headwound as he tells his part of the event. "I think they
were aiming to do bad things to her. I managed to punch one in the face and shattered his nose. Some woman jumped in and saved the day. If it wasnt for her, we both
would probably be dead and Mariam would have been raped on the spot in the alleyway." Adrian feels the fresh blood still dripping out of his wound, but kinda shakes
off the somewhat weak feeling that has set in.
Adrian gives Mariam the look of, "I don't help," then turns to the clerk, "If you happen to have anything that might help. We would see what would work for us."
Adrian then realizes Mariam is dripping wet and thoughts start to run through his mind. A slight smile starts to creep onto his lips as he turns to Mariam, knowing
full well they have to get moving before the police stop up askin questions on what happened in the alley.
Mariam just looks at Adrian and giggles, since he thinks he doesn't hel, .modest or stubborn; who knows which one is worse in his case. As Mariam looks back at the
clerk, waiting for him to reply, she notices him looking at her wet, dripping body. She looks over at Adrian and he's got that lil' boy look he always gives her and...
As Adrian more less stairs at Mariams appearence, bloodflow leaves brain and most thought process stops for a second or two. He feels himself start to drool at the site of her. He tries to say something to the effect of, "We got to get going," but all that comes out is a mumbled mess.
Mariam has been so busy trying to keep the clerk busy and try to find out information that she hears mumbling coming from Adrian. "Adrian whats going on? I
cant understand you?" Mariam begins to panic and wonders if something's wrong with her even though she sees the blood still coming out of Adrian's head. Is there something wrong with Adrain?
Fiddling with herself to make sure it's not her, she listens and hears the clerk okay, so what is it? "Maybe we should get to a place where its quiet and away from all the sirens and garbage going on. Do you happen to know where we can be put up for the night so we can get some rest and then on our way?" she asks the clerk. While waiting for his answer, she notices Adrian's still mumbling and drooling? As she starts to go over to take care of him, thinking he's got something really wrong
with him, she pauses.
The clerk nods and says, "I suppose you two could room with me for a night if you can do some chores for me around the place here. Deal?" He seems to give an acknowledging nod.
oO(WAIT A GODDAMN MINUTE!)Oo
Mariam tries to keep herself calm but realizes what he is actually doing. She grabs his arm and takes him to the back. "What are you doing Adrian? I didn't catch it
before but I was so worried about you thinking something's wrong with you and that's why you couldn't talk and it was just mumbling. NOW I see what it is and you
better knock this crap off! You had me worried over nothing! How could you do this with your head injury and everything thats happened?" She then slaps him as hard as she can upside the head, maybe knocking some kinda sense into him but just feeling better about the whole thing.
The slap is hard. Sudden, familiar stars appear for a split second as the lightning fast cracking slap hits Adrian across his cheek. Uncontrollably, he stumbles to his to his right and has to catch himself on the wall. His vision returns, but darker, with a distinct, simultaneous high and low pitched ringing in his ears. He can think clearly, but balance is another issue. Sliding down the wall, his legs lose all strength.
Mariam realizing that Adrian, already in a weakened state, just took one of the hardest hits that she's ever delivered. As he slides down the brick wall, his shirt pulls up as the cloth catches on the rough brick. His lip starts bleeding and there is a large, red hand print across his left cheek. He seems to stare into nothingness until he's almost slumped on his butt against the wall.
The clerk peers out of the back door. He looks shocked. "Ma'am, he has a concussion. Hitting him won't help. You may have made him worse!" He rushes over to check Adrian.
Adrian sees the blurry image of some guy trying to look into his eyes. Adrian can't quite remember where he's seen the guy. Someone was chasing him and Mariam. He got hit. Who is this guy?
The clerk grunts, "His eyes are dilated. We need to keep him awake." He turns and gives Mariam and disapproving look, "What did you do? I heard the hit."
OOC: (rolled an 18 with max damage... OUCH!)