four rhythms

Micah torres. 26. police officer. the thieves. guard. I want to be bruised by God. I want to be s t r u n g up in a strong light and singled out. I want to be s t r e t c h e d , like music wrung from dropped seed. I want to be entered and p i c k e d clean.

[micahtorres-blog1]

jcmima:

☆ @micahtorres

Lost. That’s what she was. After leaving the house with Amelia in tow, she thought she would be safe with her. Why wouldn’t she be? Her best friend would never let anything happen but now. Now it was just her. How did they get separated? One minute, they were hand and hand and the next… They got lost in the crowd - mob - whatever it was. And she became all alone. The only thing she had was a bag of a few personal items and a kitchen knife. But having that against…the dead. She can’t seem to find a way that it would be very effective.

It wasn’t just Amelia she was worried about. She still had no clue where the kids were and there was absolute silence from her parents. It didn’t matter if it was true or not - Jemima couldn’t feel more alone in the universe right now. As those thoughts invaded her mind, she caught sight of the back of a small blonde in front of her. The blonde girl was too familiar – the kid. It had to be. She hesitatingly made a few steps towards them as the name slipped through her voice, “Brielle?” 

When things were bad, they were terrible. He’d lost Riley, he had no idea where Melissa went, not since the cell towers went down, and he was the only cop around. Everywhere he looked, there was no one in uniform, and those that were looked like they’d rotted from the inside out. Micah was lucky that he was still in full riot gear, bulletproof vest, a baton and a gun strapped to his side. As he made his way through the crowd, desperately searching for his loved ones, he realized something: he was alone. Really and truly. There was no Barbie, quipping replies at him, saving his life. No Melissa, grounding and optimistic. No Riley, tried and true. He had lost them, and whatever their fates, they would be on his head.

Once the cold, hard truth dawned on him, his movements became less frantic. He stopped to help guide those that were panicking or injured. His eyes scanned the crowd, looking for children that needed an adult, and that’s when he saw one: tiny, blonde, and standing before a dark haired woman. Micah ran towards them, dodging citizens as he did so. When he reached them, he saw Jemima (that was her name, wasn’t it? She’d told him about conspiracies and ghosts) there, uttering a name.

And that’s when he saw that the blonde’s flesh was rotting and there was blood on her dress.

“Jemima!” He yelled out, grabbing his gun from its holster. “Be careful! Don’t get any closer to her!”

[micahtorres-blog1]

melissamoreau:

Melissa had been walking in a store when she heard footsteps. Thinking that it was a walking she pulled out her gun. “Jesus, next time I might shoot you.” She said narrowing her eyes at them. 

“Best to be on your guard,” he said, eyeing the gun. He didn’t pull his own out, she wasn’t infected, as far as he could tell. “You okay?”

[micahtorres-blog1]

infestcs:

there was a reason the hospital didn’t let you operate on those who you shared a relationship with , whether it be past or present. you weren’t biased - your feelings got in the way of you seeing clearly. you were too emotionally involved. that could cause one to be reckless , to make the wrong call. && despite her amazing track record in the OR , barbara was HUMAN. she felt things , she wasn’t perfect. she wasn’t a machine that could remain biased when someone she used to care deeply for was bleeding on her porch.

but somehow , then she managed to keep herself from panicking. from being erratic. she slipped on her persona she had created at the hospital , making sure it wouldn’t slip off. YET. a stable hand reached for his arm , raising it so she could fit under , trying to get him to put his weight on her. she was stronger than she looked , she THANKED her hell sent personal trainer for that. “ put pressure on your wound. i need to move you to the kitchen table && i don’t want you to bleed out on the way over there. ” she’d have to grab her suture kit from her purse , which was dangling at the front’s door’s coat hanger , her gloves from her first aid kit in the washroom. && she’d have to warn selina && mikaela to stay upstairs. “ i need you to tell me exactly what happened. EXACTLY , do you hear me ?? anything && everything will help. ”

Micah was grateful that she let him inside. More than that, he was grateful that she HELPED him get inside. His coworker had done the best that she could, his tourniquet was wrapped tightly around him, but she was no professional. She only had a basic first aid course underneath her belt. Obeying, he pressed his hand tightly against the wound. “Take your time,” he grunted, even now, after this, attempting to make her smile. Some habits died hard, he supposed. While Barbie was gathering her things, he made his way to the kitchen table. She’d hate him for it, but it was what she asked of him. It was the least that he could go.

Once he was leaning against it, not daring to push himself atop it, he began reciting the tale for her. “I was on crowd control duty with a couple other cops,” his voice was quiet, pain evident on his tone and on his face. A pale sheen had made its way across it. “People were getting rowdier by the minute, demanding explanations that we didn’t have. They didn’t believe us and violence broke out. I got stuck in the middle of it since I was the one answering it and some guy stabbed me. Hathaway rushed over, put this makeshift bandage around it, and I told her to bring me here. Does that help?” He cringed as he finished and took a deep, steadying breath.

[micahtorres-blog1]

twmelissa:

          lips pulled together as she awaited his reaction, green orbs not pulling from his. she didn’t expect this to be forever, she just figured this would take a lot off their shoulders with everything going on. if he didn’t have to worry about her the two could go on — doing their jobs and get things rolling after everyone stopped EATING each other. the blonde takes a stand, pushing herself out of the chair before letting a hand graze at the back of her neck and down so that she could let her arms cross against her chest. “ okay. ” she repeated as she took his hand into hers. a peek of a smile showing on her pink lips. “ i want you to take care of yourself, we’ll be okay. ” she reassured before leaning up on her toes and pressing a kiss to his right cheek. the action was the last show of affection she gave him before pulling away and showing herself to the door.

         “I’ll take care of myself, you don’t have to worry about me.” Which was the truth. Micah had three priorities: taking care of his loved ones, the city, and himself, in exactly that order. When he’d taken his oath to protect and serve, he’d meant it. However, it wouldn’t get in the way of the survival of those he loved. Nothing would, and nothing ever could. “You just focus on yourself and your family, okay?” He said it quietly, a simple goodbye. He smiled faintly when he felt her lips graze his cheek and he watched her walk away. Idly, he wondered if it’d be for the last time, if he’d find her body laying in the rest of the ruins. He’d do anything to shake that gruesome thought.

[micahtorres-blog1]

riley-survived:

Riley was meant to get on another plane. She had only just arrived back from New York and was only stopping at Micah’s to grab a few more things, do laundry, and head on the next plane to California. With the earthquake, she was permanently landed and, now, attacks were happening everywhere and so damn close to home. It was terrifying; there wasn’t even a logical reason or explanation on how it was happening. Two major horrors happening in only a few days of each other? –How was anyone to explain that? They couldn’t possibly be connected, could they? There were no flights and getting to California was downright impossible. It hadn’t even mattered anyway; with the knowledge of her father dead, the only place she’d actually think of going to was back to Texas to be with her brothers. She sat in the room that Micah had allowed her to live in, body resting on the bed. All she could do was lay; her body and mind and soul felt so fucking heavy. It all felt like a bad nightmare and she was just waiting to wake up. At the sound of keys jiggling and a body rushing in, she sat upright quickly. She suddenly heard Micah’s voice and the sense of urgency in his voice made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Micah was usually calm or at least he was never this shaken. “Do we have a choice?” She questioned, stepping out of her room to face him as he came into view. “I..Do you really think just leaving would be the best idea? I mean, we don’t even know what’s happening yet. And what about ..Melissa?”

“We have a choice,” he replied, sighing. Everyone else was so intent on staying here. Whether or not they died, they just wanted to be idle, to give up. He couldn’t fathom why. If they laid down to take this, to just... be eaten alive, there would never be any hope for the future. He didn’t want to unsettle Riley any further, however. If she still had hope, then there was a chance. They could stay here, bunker down, he could keep an eye on the door...

“We always have a choice, Riley. Right now it’s either run and fight another day or remain and stay optimistic,” he shrugged as he spoke. Micah had always been a fighter, but he only fought with odds that were in his favour. A bunch of cannibals? Those didn’t look too favourable to him. But for her, and for Melissa, even though things between them had stood still, he’d stay and do his damn best. Besides, the public needed cops, too. They were terrified, and rightfully so. 

He leaned against the counter in front of her, mulling over what she’d just said. Was it the best thing or was he just being impossible -- more than that, did it matter? “I don’t know what’s happening, and that’s what concerns me. The station’s just told us to remain alert, keep our wits about us, but... Fuck, Riley. I’ve never heard so little about a situation. Everyone’s been stationed around the city to try and keep peace. Something’s very, very wrong. I don’t want us to be caught in the middle of it.” Now for his next question. Micah tried to keep his expression neutral when he replied, “We’re on a break. She didn’t like my opinion on this.”

[micahtorres-blog1]

infestcs:

@micahtorres

all day , she’d been trying to shield the twins from what was happening outside. they’d already seen her , hands covered in blood as she tried to help a gsw victim until they’d been taken by paramedics. she covered them with blankets , made sure they couldn’t hear the tv or see it. she had them in her bedroom , windows locked && covered with whatever fabric she could find.

she was downstairs , pouring juice for them when she heard a knock at her door. not a banging , but a knock. quickly , she set the glass down as she skipped over to the peep hole. she wasn’t expecting who was standing behind the door. && so she opened the door to her home for him. “ micah , what - ” she started , cut off by her own GASP at the sight of blood. a lot of blood. “ holy shit - ”

Once the cell phone reception and electricity began getting more finicky, the crowds had gotten ANGRIER. They went from rioting, demanding answers and the occasional violent outburst to screams, yells and banging on government offices for answers. Attacks were more frequent, and he was in the middle of it. Crowd control became impossibly quickly and his bright blue vest marked ‘POLICE’ only seemed to make him a target. People circled him, demanding answers. His partners were also surrounded, but he was the one who spoke first, and honestly, informing them that he didn’t know.

And then they’d attacked.

It happened quickly, first pushing, then the crowd turned on the violent ones. They pushed back. In the centre of tall the chaos, Micah tried to get out of it, and that’s when he felt the blade slide into his gut. It wasn’t fatal, he knew that. But it was painful, and the hospitals were so backed up, he knew that he wouldn’t be able to see someone anytime soon. His partner found him in the crowd, picked him up, made a tourniquet, and asked where to go.

He gave the only address he knew: Barbie.

And now here he was, broken and bloody before her. “I need your help,” he said quietly, leaning against her wall. “I was just trying to help...”

[micahtorres-blog1]

twmelissa:

          melissa wasn’t ready to throw everything away because of the virus, she still wanted to believe that things would go back to the way they were originally but maybe it was the OPTIMIST in her that ignored the signs that things were [ bad ]. part of her wanted to jump out of town and hide off with micah and their families but where would they go?? was scottsdale the only place with these attacks?? the safest place would be right under their nose, somewhere they knew - somewhere they could protect themselves if the time came. the petite female released her hold on him, she didn’t huff out a breath of air instead she let her fingers latch onto her bangs pushing the loose strands of hair behind her ear. “ yeah - i know, i know i watched it!! i’m just — i’m not thinking straight about this, neither of us are. ” her voice was firm but suggestive. “ maybe we need some space. just a few days to think all this over, let it take it’s toll and when things are back to NORMAL we’ll start thinking about us again…yeah?? ”

          Speechless, Micah just stared at her for a moment. A BREAK? Out all things that came into her mind, from life or death, their relationship was the one on the line? He wouldn’t argue it -- humanity’s survival had to come first. His happiness would be a second, possibly a third, thought on his mind. PROTECTION, food, water, shelter, in that exact order. He’d go out there, protect the crowds from the rioters, and then he’d stock up. He’d leave money on the counters of abandoned shops and then disappear. “Okay,” he agreed quietly, giving one stiff nod. He showed NO emotions, there were too many flooding his system. FEAR, confusion, desperation, and now... loneliness. “Call me if you need ANYTHING, even just someone to watch your door while you sleep. I’ll go, if you want me to.”

[micahtorres-blog1]

twmelissa:

          melissa watched her boyfriend process back and forth through the dining room, one hand reaching out to grab at his wrist stopping him from pacing which had only been setting her off more. “ yes, FINE. ” she had seen it, twice now - once being the video of the mayor and the other only a few cars ahead of her on the highway. both times being absolutely sickening - SCARY even. the woman was just trying to keep it positive, make things lighthearted so that no-one else was worrying which meant she didn’t have to worry. “ because, micah. it’s not just my dad - it’s my mom, my sister - MY BROTHER. my entire family is here, my life is here. this can’t be any worse than ebola, there’s no reason to move away from our lives just because everyone is being frantic. c’mon, ” her voice was soft as her emerald orbs moved to lookup into the chocolate hues of the male as she pulled him in. “ does it look like i’m trying to gnaw on your arm?? ” 

          The moment he felt her hand around his wrist, he stilled. Micah took one deep breath in, letting it out in a long sigh. He didn’t know what else to suggest. What could they do, realistically? Travel around, throwing all of her family into a truck? And all of his in the back? It was IMPOSSIBLE. There was no answer to a life or death situation. There was only fight, flight or freeze. While he wanted to fight in the safest way possible (fleeing), Melissa wanted to freeze. She was willing to lay her life on the line for HOPE, and he just couldn’t accept that. “Ebola didn’t result in CANNIBALISM, Melissa. Our mayor just got BUTCHERED and EATEN on national television. This isn’t some scare, amped up by the public. These are the only facts we have.” He let her pull him forward, laying his head atop hers for a moment. “No,” he resigned. “But I don’t want anyone gnawing on YOUR arm.”

[micahtorres-blog1]

@riley-survived

       The situation was supposed to be impossible. People were not supposed to rise from the dead, they were no supposed to cannibalize on another. Everything was backwards. They were living in a sci-fi horror movie that only one person made it out alive. He was supposed to be at twelve places across the city at this present second, although he wasn’t on shift. People were TERRIFIED, understandably. So was he. And Melissa? He couldn’t get through to her. They weren’t even together anymore because of his pessimistic realism and her idealistic fantasy.

       Now he just had to focus on Riley. If he could get her out, they’d be okay. He’d be okay. They could hide in the Rocky’s, drive out there and never look back. Forget their lives. Forget that they ever got a whiff of the future. 

       He let himself into his place, praying that she would still be there with a bag over his shoulder. Inside it was full of bullets, had three guns, and a whole vending machine’s worth of food. Nothing great, but it’d keep them alive for now. He found her shoes by the door, a sign that HOPEFULLY, she was still there. “Riley!” He called out. He didn’t wait for a reply, just continued on, “I think we should hide out by the mountains. We gotta just take off, we don’t have a choice. What do you think?”

[platypuspress-deactivated202401]

I don’t want to set things on fire anymore. That’s all. That’s all.

Darshana Suresh, “Birds on a Power Line”

(taken from @afterthelonely‘s debut poetry collection Howling at the Moon – now available at 20% off in our one week end of summer sale)

[micahtorres-blog1]

twmelissa:

          melissa took a seat, her own sigh following straight after his. the pair didn’t fight often, in fact she believe that they tried to AVOID it at all costs. everyone around melissa had been losing it over the attacks, she didn’t blame them - she too was quivering in fear though she was quite good at keeping it under wraps. believing that if she kept up a positive exterior it would shake off onto her family and friends. “ I KNOW - i know, but it’s fine - there hasn’t been that many cases yet, we just need to calm down and everything will be okay. i promise. ”

          Micah watched her take her seat. He needed to move, to get out the access energy that was consuming him more and more by second. He started to pace, back and forth, back and forth. This was new territory for them, both the fighting and the attacks. “FINE?” He repeated, dumbfounded. Maybe it was because she hadn’t seen it, maybe it was because she needed to believe that there was BETTER out there. “Why can’t we just LEAVE? Get your dad, I’ll keep us safe, find some place to hide until this really is FINE.” He spoke desperately, on the cusp of pleading with her. “They’re BUTCHERING people, Melissa, and they look... like they’re rotting or something. Do you want to be BECOME that?”

[micahtorres-blog1]

twmelissa:

               ✧⋆ ✧⋆  !* — @micahtorres asked for a starter !!

         “ can you just —— STOP!! micah, seriously - i don’t need you freaking out about this too!! it’s probably nothing, people go crazy all the time. like - this is just some weird thing going around, give it a few more days and everything will be normal again. ”

        “I can’t just STOP, Melissa,” Micah sighed in frustration. It felt like they’d been talking circles around each for days, even though it’d been mere minutes. The shifts were wearing on him. The doll toll was too high. There was too much on the line. “This isn’t just some bath salt scare. This is real life. People are fucking EATING each other! Nothing is NORMAL.”

[micahtorres-blog1]

wanted plot beneath the cut friends!!!!!

Long story short: Micah had a girlfriend for a couple of years, she really helped balance him and they had a very loving relationship. Since this connection’s opened up, I wanted to see if any members wanted to take it!

The way I saw it happening was they were together until the first few days of the outbreak and ended up breaking up because the stress was getting to Micah (and your character if applicable to their personality!) Since they broke up during the outbreak, they have no idea of each other’s well beings until later on in the game.

[micahtorres-blog1]

alinacroft:

Alina looked up at Micah, having only realized who she had talked to after she had heard the boy’s voice. A sigh escaped her, pressing her lips together as she tapped the notebook in front of her with the tip of her pen. “Some of them are pretty imaginative.” The girl simply commented. “Have you guys been busy down at the station?”

Micah rose an eyebrow, a silent prompt to continue, although he didn’t want to press her. If she wanted to, she would talk. If not, he could Google them later. He didn’t want to distress her anymore about the situation -- or anyone for that matter. “Yeah, a lot of people are worried about their friends and families over there,” he sighed. “But all we can do is put in a request for their location. I wish I could drive down there and help the efforts, but I was told to stay here. How’re you holding up?”

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lucycrawford:

“I’ve never really been the joiner type so I don’t think care packages are my thing, but maybe something will come to me” she returns his smile, “Why is being a mechanic so great?” she wonders aloud, “I’ll do my best to stay on the right side of the law, officer.”

“You can always just donate,” he said, shrugging. “I know they’ll take any spare clothes, canned food, beauty products. Whatever you have, they need. These people... I suspect they won’t have anything.” God, he couldn’t imagine losing everything. “Means you’re handy, doesn’t it? That’s a great skill. I can’t fix anything to save my life.” Micah jokingly saluted her, “I thank you.”

[micahtorres-blog1]

rosaliedeluna:

“My sister, and different contacts on my phone but those are confidential.”

“Poor souls. Give them all my condolences, will you?”

[micahtorres-blog1]

alinacroft:

Chewing the end of her pen as she tried to concentrate on her notes, it was becoming harder and harder to try and keep up with what she was trying to study. Then, without a moments notice, she spoke to whoever was near her. “I read a theory that the Maian calendar was actually wrong by four years. One has to wonder if it’s true now that this happened…”

“Everyone’s coming up with all these apocalypse theories,” Micah said with a sigh. They were even getting calls asking about all of this end of the world mumbo jumbo. “It just seems like an excuse not to do anything to help to me. They sit theorizing rather than putting together care packages. It’s sad, really.”