Danger Days ≫The Creatures [on hold]

03; bulletproof heart

"Looks like we've got company."

Aleks looks over he shoulder again just to be sure his eyes weren't playing tricks; they obviously weren't as the Draculoid comes barreling out from behind the rocks, tripping through the bramble in a pathetic attempt to catch up. Stef cowers lower in her seat, the top of her helmet and eyes just barely peeking over the top of the leather upholstery as she looks back. James is frantically grabbing her shoulder, yanking it downward trying to get her to hide while his other hand frantically reaches for his gun. Joe sits in the middle seemingly unaffected by James reaching across him as his nimble fingers load the bigger gun with relative ease. In seconds Joes setting the gun on the back of the car, pointing it back at the target that was now barely visible, disappearing before a clear shot can be taken.

"Keep an eye out boys, hopefully there are no more but you never know.", Jordan states. His eyes are focused on the road at the others look around hoping that the coast would be clear; it's empty hope though.

"We're near a checkpoint, there's bound to be more.", James sighs.

Aleks nods flipping the visor on his helmet down, the words good luck displayed in white letters as he looks back over his shoulder. Joe's bandana is pulled up around his face concealing his features as the sound of other motors become clear. A smirk rests on Jordan's face as he revs the engine, the car lurching forward as he does so.

"Fun Ghoul.", Stefs voice is small as she tugs on the black of Joe's sleeve. The use of his alter ego name is a cry of urgency as fear replaces the joy in her eyes. He quickly glances over at her, following her arm to where she's pint seeing the white suited menace on a motorcycle taking an odd path through the desert around them. Joe preps the gun, resting it steady as the others become aware of their perusers who'd finally made it onto the stretch of road behind them.

James is two steps in front of him, already turned around in his seat firing shots at the Draculoid's who swerve wildly. Joe sits the gun down allowing Stef to help aim and fire a gleeful smile on her lips as she pulls the trigger. Lazers fly through the air as Draculoid's are shot off the road, a combination of them and their motorcycles rolling across the surrounding desert. It's a quick process to rid the road behind them of the pests; they were most generally mindless setting eyes on the girl and then getting shot down from not paying attention to their surroundings.

Easy kills, that were most generally an annoyance to the Killljoys as they weren't a challenge. The only challenge they faced was Aron who'd yet to show his face today making it a relatively boring battle. They were used to it by nkw though.

"I think we should set up a camp.", Aleks states looking around at the expanse of desert. It was flat here only brambles and dead trees breaking it up.

"Good thinking, Kid."

. . .

Hours of wandering through the desert is what comes next. The harsh sun beats down on their backs as they walk, panting somewhat heavily. The car was parked a short distance away as they wandered trying to find somewhere that'd have some coverage, but wouldn't be too hard to find their way out of.

"I think we should split up.", Jordan's voice is muffled from beneath his large cat like mask.

"Sure, she comes with me though.", James says nodding toward Stef. Jordan nods in agreement.

"Okay, phone in when you find some where for the night.", Jordan states.

With a nod him and Joe take off in opposite directions, their shadows projected onto the hard earth as they slowly work their way along. Aleks and James longer behind, James hand resting on Stef shoulder. He motions for her to start walking and turns to leave. Before he can take a step Aleks catches his wrist between gloved fingers. James looks at him a tad bit surprised at the sudden gesture.

"Stay safe okay?", Aleks voice is soft, daring to be caring. Aleks looks at James steadily, his heart on his sleeve as he does so. James smiles hollowly at his gesture nodding, "you too, Kid."

"Will do.", with that he turns, leaving to follow through with his mission. James sighs softly before turning toward Stef who's visor is pull down hiding her expression; she's smiling underneath it though.

. . .

It's dark now, flames from their campfire licking up toward the stars. They're all laughing, listening to a radio broadcast while eating from cans. It's not luxurious in anyway, but they still love every aspect of it. They're fighting for the right to be free, and for their happiness, that's what makes their way of life enjoyable.

No one notices how close James and Aleks sits, or how Stef is seated off to the side of everyone; maybe they do notice but are too afraid of disrupting things to point it out. Stef is seated on a log, the paper slowly sliding between her fingers as she reads the note from her mom for what felt like the millionth time. She'd been carrying it in her jacket unsure what to do with the chicken scratch ridden paper. Now as she stares at one particular line that reads "Stefani please come home" she feels anger in her veins.

She feels nothing as she allows the note to fall into the flames, her mocha eyes watching as the flames eat away the paper. The white clean surface becomes nothing but soot as it sits in the flame. It was almost like a weight had been lifted off her chest; she knew it was better this way anyhow. This was the life for her not one like her mother lived, an emotionless drone going through life much like a well programmed machine.

Looking over at James who offers her a smile she feels better about her choices. After all he truly cared, he was capable of caring.

Getting up Stef relocates herself so she's sitting in between Jordan and James, happily taking a can of food from Jordan. As she eats she watches the boys carefully noticing the small details she has seen but never really paid attention to. Like the way Joe talks with such excitement and emotion with lots of hand gestures; he's very animated, or the way Jordan seemed to fit the role of a leader purely because of his father like qualities. Stef notices the way Aleks grin is a rare commodity but shines brighter than anyone's when it does appear, and that James is the number one source of that grin. She also notices the way James acts, tough like leather but also caring and sweet, he was a mixed bag with crinkles next to his eyes when he smiles; he's the perfect combination.

She also notices how quickly they all go on alert, smiles fading as they pull guns from holsters and push her to the back when a white suited figure becomes prominent in the distance.