Running Rooftops and Starlit Streets

Chapter 1: I'm Going Insane

Yorick landed heavily on a lower rooftop, listening to a cassette player he managed to find in a local electronics center. The sun was setting, and his little course would work just fine for him to get in his practice. He ran to another ledge that led to higher roof and he pushed on the wall, giving him the extra distance to grab the high ledge. 

He pulled himself up and landed both his feet on the ground. From up here Yorick could see what was left of his city, Madison. He slowly came to halt and then walked to an edge of the large building, dangling his legs as he sat. The song nearly over. He pulled off his head phones and put them around his neck. The city's overgrown trees and grass that infested the streets he grew up on.

Yorick pulled out his radio and cycled through multiple frequencies hoping someone would hear it. "Is anyone out there? I am getting sick of hearing my own voice." Yorick repeated this ten more times before finally giving up. He put the radio down, and pulled off his canvas messenger's bag. He opened it finding a little college notebook, and a pen. He made another dash in the long book of dash marks. "Failure numberino three hundred and eight." Yorick spoke to himself. "If you get to five hundred, you remember the deal." Yorick read outload the last page in his book, which below it was a stick figure hanging. "Yeah I remember." Yorick spoke to the book.

Twilight was in full swing and the breeze started to pick up. He slammed the book shut and put it back in his bag. He looked below and saw a few walkers wandering around. He grabbed his radio and put in his bag as well, and stood up on the ledge, pausing for a moment. The feeling to jump crossed his mind for a split second before he hopped down on the roof. "Remember you have to keep collecting food for the winter." Yorick told himself walking towards the lower building he original came from. A ways off was his little base of operations that he called home. A condo that some rich tourist were supposed to buy, but now they belonged to him. 

He saw a walker on one of the rooftops leading to his large home. A cat anthro walker, most of his face has sunken and some has started to fall off. He took out his crowbar and hit a nearby pipe a few times. The walker snarled and started to reach out and approach him. He walked towards the edge the roof and made a beckoning motion with both of his hands. "That's it come to papa." Yorick spoke to it as one who would talk to an infant. The anthro walker finally made it towards him and tried to bite him, but he grabbed it. He then tossed it off the edge, making it fall a far distance. "Geronimo!" Yorick watched as the walker was now paste on the street below him. "That's a nine point five for sure!" Yorick remarked as he put his crowbar away.

Yorick climbed into the condo through a window that he had smashed prior. Hoping down he heard a meow to his left. He squatted down to his cat. "Good evening old girl. Did I wake you up?" He petted the old, orange, tabby cat as she purred from being pet. "Sorry for waking you up." Yorick stood up and walked around his cat to his room. He grabbed one of the many matchboxes he had on hand, lighting one of the matches.

Soon his room was a glow with golden, candle light. A few were nearly out of available wax. He turned to the small cat sleeping on his bed. "Grundel." The cat yipped once her name was called. "Don't forget to remind me to grab more candles next time I go on a run okay?" Yorick put down his pack on a hook and went to the bed. "Move over girl." Yorick then flopped on the bed. Slowly he closed his eyes.

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"Is anyone out there?" Yorick spoke into his radio. He was fully dressed in his attire. It was a run day, and old Grundel needed some medicine. He shook his head and pulled out his book, adding another dash to the long list. He turned to Grundel whom was munching on some cat food Yorick had found a while back. "Now Grundel, don't you be going out now. I'll be back by this evening." Yorick patted the tabby's side.