Marie Vandenburg

20 || Female || Bi-Sexual || Mentions: Open

It was quite loud once she got off the plane, the chitter chatter of other passengers had entered her ears like a loud ringing. It was an annoyance, but couldn’t be helped, much to her disappointment the moment their voices reached her ears. The ravenette grumbled under her breath, a constant reminder that she was in fact not the only one in this plane of existence. It posed a threat to her mental health. At least that’s what she would constantly conclude as she gazed upon the creatures called humans with great displeasure at their rudeness. Marie exited the boarding bridge, handbag around her shoulder. She gazed to her left, acknowledging the flight attendant and thanking her before departing as she began her search for a baggage carousel or even someone to point her in the right direction. She hadn’t been home in some time. Maybe about five years since she last returned to California, it came as a constant reminder to her relatives back home. But it wasn’t much of a big deal, it’s not like she wanted to return anytime soon. Not at all.

She liked it in Croatia, the beautiful winters were all but magical. The people were always so friendly and rarely did she ever think about returning, her parents had moved there when she was quite small in hopes of being closer to family. They never really went back to California on a holiday much, if anything she never really enjoyed those holidays to begin with. But as the years went by they became homesick, much to Marie’s disappointment. For she liked it in Croatia, she loved her relatives and most importantly she loved the freedom she felt. Her parents had insisted on her coming along when the pair had finally decided to return some days after Marie’s sixteenth birthday. Though after much convincing she somehow managed to get them to repent. From that moment on she stayed at her aunts until one fateful day her parents had asked her to come visit.

But why couldn’t they? What was wrong with her life in Croatia? Marie was happy, and enjoyed most of her life with her aunt and the rest of their large family. She was convinced after some begging and prodding. She missed her family greatly. She missed her mother and father. She stood in the hallway after much thought, finally finding her luggage after many questions she had asked some poor man she had found seated nearby. After being given a warm smile she would watch the man depart to God knows where. He was kind enough to accept her apologies and went on his way. Marie leaned against the wall behind her before sighing in annoyance, she was tired and the thought of going ‘home’ didn’t seem all that bad anymore. Looking down at her handbag, the black haired woman noticed the small book she had been reading on the plane. The title would make her face scrunch up in sadness for a moment before she would reach a dainty hand into the bag and grasp the small object.

‘Into The Wil -’ A familiar chime interrupted her almost immediately as an annoyed sigh escaped her mouth. Why now? Shaking her head Marie would gently place the book back into her bag before fishing for her phone inside the back pocket of her jeans. Upon pulling the phone out of her pocket the dark haired woman would gaze towards the words on the screen, smiling ever so softly. It was her father. Marie lifted her finger to select the ‘Answer’ button, her smile slowly disappearing once a woman gazed upon her. Marie gives a ‘What the Hell do you want?’ glare before answering the video call, a quiet voice calling out to the faces she saw on their end. “Hello, mother and father. What is it?” Marie asked the gentle souls, curious as to why they called her and wondering why they were not at the airport yet.

As she wondered this, Marie would begin her walk towards the bathroom. She would end the call before she decided to do whatever it is she was going to do and in fact the walk to her destination felt kind of odd. Though she wouldn’t let that distract her as she turned down a couple hallways and zipped through a small crowd of people, that was until she turned a corner. ‘Marie - I think you should -’ A look of confusion graced her features as she gazed back at her phone, not even paying any attention to her surroundings as a body slammed into her. As she felt someone's arm pull her to the side she began to lose grip of her phone, Marie’s luggage getting knocked out of her hands as she fell to the ground below her. ‘Marie - Marie!’ The voice of her mother could be heard as Marie was knocked to the ground in one motion, not even reacting as her head slammed onto the marbled ground -
—The sounds of screaming awakened her from what felt like a year of slumber, a groan emitting from her throat, a throbbing sensation leaving Marie’s head if only for a moment before returning.

Confusion was what drove her to sit up from where she lay on the ground as Marie gazed around her in hopes of seeing what on earth could have been the problem and see who she needed to fight. But her mind would blank as her eyes landed upon two men basically tearing a woman apart. A look of fright is presented upon her features as her skin paled, a gasp emitting from Marie’s throat while she scrambles to get up.

Her hands grasped her phone, Marie almost crying out as a figure slammed her into the wall and knocked the wind out of her. The tall woman gasps out, grasping the person before her with a clenched fist, taking hold of their shirt and attempting to pull them away as she struggles to breathe in. It felt as if someone had gripped her throat, intending to strangle the woman as Marie gasped out in fright and attempted to kick at her attacker’s legs in an attempt to knock them off balance. Her left hand grips at the maniacs shirt as Marie’s right still holds onto her phone while she attempts to push the person off her. ‘What on earth is happening??’ Marie cried out, begging to whatever higher being to spare her life. What was wrong with this person?? Why were they attacking her? Too many questions had gone unanswered as she struggled to process what was currently happening.

Finally able to gasp out, the relieved female’s gaze shifts towards her attacker, groaning out as she is pushed back into the wall. Marie’s eyes widened, watching as a blood soaked woman cries out and opens her mouth, shuts it again in an attempt to bite at Marie while she pulls herself closer to her fearful victim. “Get off me!!” Marie shouted, blue eyes glossing over while she pushed the deranged woman as hard as she could and kicked her in the knee. Lifting her arm to hit the woman across the throat with the iPhone before she would take this chance at the attacker's moment of weakness to get the Hell out of there.

There was no way in Hell that she was going to die today, not at all. She wouldn’t allow it, not at all. Why was this happening?? Why was this happening to her? Was the world finally getting back at her for wishing to remain far from her parents? ‘Surely it wasn’t.. Please.. No..’ Her thoughts remained while she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, opened them again. Zooming down the hallway Marie turned right, hoping they would just leave her alone. Looking back for only a second Marie’s eyes would remain wide as she could see the woman and several others hot on her tail.

It felt as if she were running for hours, it felt like there were no breaks at all, the constant reminder that she was in fact being chased gave her an indication that she was at her end. Surely she was. There was no possible way she could escape now.. Right? The fear of her impending death was nothing she could stop. She ran towards an open door, attempting to shut it behind her, but before she could an arm had reached out form the other side in an attempt to grab her. In her fear and screams, Marie would constantly slam the door onto the arm until it pulled away just for a second and in that moment she would slam the door shut.

Marie sat there out of breathe for God knows how long, frightened and tired. She leaned against the door as she sat there, only now realising how dizzy she felt. Hearing the manics bang on the closed door while she silently waited for the sounds to stop. Reaching out to her forehead she felt blood, a gasp of shock emerged before she would have attempted to use her blouse in an attempt to stop whatever bleeding might have continued. She had taken the damn thing off her torso, moving to place it into her forehead to apply some pressure. Hoping that it was only a minor injury as she sat there in almost complete silence, only some quiet sobbing every now and again.

She felt she had been in that tiny space for far too long, no longer hearing the sounds of banging on the other side of the door. Placing her ear against the wooden door she could only assume that the crazy people were no longer there, had given up on her. Marie slowly stood up, removing her blouse from her head and back on her person once she knew that she was no longer bleeding. The dizziness was gone, along with the sounds of banging on the door. Surely she would be safe. Right? 'Oh, please be gone...' She thought, slowly opening the door to the outside world. Marie hesitantly peaks her head out, looking down the halls for any signs of the crazies. "Hmmm.." Where had they gone? Well.. at these they were no longer there..

Once she stepped out, into the hallway a shaky sigh would escape her mouth. Even the sounds of her own breathing would have been a concern if not for her lonely surroundings. Closing the door quietly Marie slowly walks through the hallway, a possibly broken phone in hand as she tip-toes through the dark halls. Maybe she should head back, it was a bit scary walking through the halls alone with such strange and dangerous individuals about. But she would speak to soon when from her right she would spot a man and woman standing in the opposite hall not too far from where she currently stood. For fu - Not now! It was far too late to be complaining now as she come to a sprint in the opposite direction from where she had seen the weirdos.

It was far too frightening for her to comprehend. Once again she was running away from a group of people, once again she had to find safety before her life would be over. A shriek emits from her throat as the pair chased her through the hall, slamming into an open door she had just run passed. Using this as an opportunity Marie would sprint further way and to her left where she would come across another long and dark hall.

In her moment of fear, Marie would scrabble to get up once more, backing up as an attacker ran towards her in an attempt to grasp onto the frightened woman. "Please just leave me alone!!" Marie gasps, attempting to throw a couple punches and kicks. 'Why won't they just get away from me??? Why must I be forced to endure this chaos?? Surely the security should have apprehended these individuals by now?' No... Marie grips her phone once more in her hand to attempt at hitting her attackers with it again, turning away from them and almost tripping as one had nearly grasped her loosely tied leather jacket around her waist before turning on her heal and sprinting.

“Please, no!!” Marie shouts out, turning her gaze back to her phone for a moment as she runs down the hall, panic eating away at her when she thinks of her parents. God.. how worried they must have been as they listened to their daughter struggle. Are they alright??
Her eyes landed on the now cracked screen. The call had ended, it seemed, bringing much panic to the young woman as she sprinted down the hallway and turned left this time. “No - No, no… Please… Please be alright..” Tears slid down the woman's cheeks as messages from her parents graced her eyes.

“Marie, where are you??”, “Please, answer the phone! We are so worried.” Voice-mail, upon voice-mail with messages of panic, fright and sadness. Sobs and shouting could be heard while she listened to each and every one, bringing more panic to the already frightened woman.

Where were all the other people? Why were there so many of these crazy lunatics?? Why couldn't she find normal people who wouldn't try to attack her at every moment? The thought was horrible, the amount of times she had screamed out for help with no answer. She had lost count. She looks down at her phone again, more sobs leaving her mouth, those people still chasing her and her thoughts still remaining with her parents.

The last message consisted of ‘I love you’ s and ‘please be safe’. But her mind would soon drift elsewhere as the crazy drug addicts continued to chase after her, but no matter where she ran they always seemed to catch up to her. Why won’t they let up?? When will these drug addicts piss off??? Gazing back at her phone she wouldn’t even have the time to see the EAS or wouldn’t have even been able to receive one at all as her eyes focused on the path ahead. Dropping her phone onto the ground in a panic as she nears some shops.

But the thoughts would soon come to an end as she spotted the clothing store not too far from where the hallway had finally ended. Surely she would be safe in there.. Right??

There was no time for second thoughts, with that she would sprint into the store's direction. Without even a second thought Marie would run towards the door, fumbling with the handle until she finally pulled it open and closed the door behind her.

Aurora Grace Solus | 16 | Female | M: Khufu, Reyes, Cassian

Aurora tries to stop her harsh, ragged breathing from getting any louder as the sickeningly familiar feeling of panic washes over her. She’s grateful that her hair is long enough to cover the expression of utter fear on her face, her sky blue eyes colorized with anxiety. They flitter from place to place, the sixteen-year old sure to take in any movement she could in case it happened to be another infected person.

She can’t tell what the boy beside her was thinking, still oblivious as to what his name is. But did something that trivial matter right now, when the two of them were going to die?

No, thought Aurora. I’ve got to think of a way to get us out of this.

But how could she possibly think rationally right now? A shiver goes down the girl’s spine as the infected in front of her continues to pace, and she gazes at its bloodied figure. Even in the dark are the crimson bloodstains and horrific wounds across the infected’s body visible.

Aurora can’t help but think of if she’d end up one of those… things. The more that she tried to take her mind off of it, the more that the thought came rushing back to bite her. She decides to look away from the creature in front of her and that’s when she catches it— movement over by the area outside of the clothing shop that she was currently in.

Two figures slid through the dark towards the clothing area, and Aurora squinted her eyes in an attempt to get a better look. Were they infected, or human? From the slightly crouched yet precise way that they appeared to be moving, the teen guessed that they were like her— survivors.

Had the two strangers seen her and the other boy over here? Aurora couldn’t yell out to them or make any actions that’d draw any attention— since that’d get her mauled by the infected in front of her. All she could do was hope that the two were sharp enough to notice.

A rough, terrifying growling sound snapped Aurora from her thoughts, followed by a second much deeper snarl.

Suddenly the person in the lead of the two quickly tugged on the arm of the woman in back of him before pulling away and shooting nervous looks at the surrounding area. What was he going to do?

Aurora’s eyes carefully followed the man as he streaked towards them— was his companion going to follow? Were any of them going to notice her and the boy who stood next to her? Or, had they already seen the two?

Both of the adults had made it through the door before long, the first sliding to a stop just barely in front of Aurora before the second did the same and gently, very quietly shut the door behind her.

From the dumbstruck expression on his face, Aurora could tell that the man in front of her had, in fact, not noticed her and the other boy, both still pressed up against the wall. He squinted his eyes, was he trying to get a better look at the two? He had to be smart enough to figure out that if any of them were infected, they would’ve mauled him on sight. How else would he have made it this far?

The girl, who’s still by the door, grips onto the silver handle slowly and begins to twist.

Aurora snaps her head ahead to look at the infected who was still pacing in front of her, and she jumps as it lets out a gravelly snarl. She grabs onto her left hand in an attempt to hide how much it’s shaking.

The man backs against the wall and inches along it in the two’s direction, and Aurora can tell that he’s trying to not alert the infected in front of them. The woman who he was with reaches out an arm to try and hold him back, but quickly retracted it. After a moment or two, she also let go of the doorknob, too. Aurora could only guess that she’d figured out what was going on.

The woman began to follow the guy who continued to shuffle closer to the two teens, but her eyes weren't on any of them. They’re focused on the infected person, who’s still twitching and biting on its nails in an anxious manner.

Why was it acting so nervous, though? It wasn’t as if anything was much of a danger to it considering that there wasn’t really much information on the infected. But, of course, it didn’t know that. Ah, whatever. Aurora would focus on that later.

An ear-piercing scream arose, causing the infected to abruptly whip its body around to face the direction in which the noise was coming from. It’s back was now facing them— it seemed that they’d gotten lucky. But that luck wouldn’t last for long. Aurora wanted to get out of here; and she couldn’t bear to hear the grinding of teeth and nails anymore.

The woman, who’s now as close as she can possibly get to the teens, extends a hand towards the two and makes a gesture, probably telling the two to come over. Aurora isn’t sure whether she should listen to the woman or not— or, rather, she’d feel strange to do so. The obvious answer was yes, but the teenager didn’t even know these people, and they seemed to be older than her, too, though they didn’t look to be drastically older.

That’s when the boy who'd been with her glances over at her and gives a brisk nod as he moves toward the other two.

Well, I guess if he's deciding to go with them, it’d be in my best interest to follow. Besides, what’s the worst that could possibly happen? It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. Thoughts which she tries to suppress cross Aurora’s mind, and she follows the boy’s slow and cautious movements in making his way towards the adults.

Eventually they reach them— and Aurora notices yet another figure entering the clothing shop that the survivors occupied. His strange gait, odd snarling, and the smell of blood emanating from him gives the girl enough evidence to rule out the possibility that the thing is human.

Should they sprint out of the clothing shop and hope that there were no infected outside of the doorway? It was risky, but also one of the only options that they had.

Aurora would let the others decide what to do next.

Elloise Iries | Female | 19 | Mentions; None