She sat, her back up against the huge stone in front of the brook. It was probably a bad idea to come here... Out in the woods it wasn't as safe as it used to be. It wasn't the solace that it used to be. But she couldn't help but feel the familiarity in the area. It wasn't destroyed or run down. It was quiet here. Her gaze drifted to the little carvings in the stone, just above her head ‘J loves V’. And she’d almost chuckled as her mind wandered to the time when those carvings were made. The J being her boyfriend, Jayson. The V being herself. She was happy back then... “I love you, forever.” She could hear his voice so clearly, hear the scrapings against the stone...

They were in love. Vashti and Jayson had been well at it for 4 years and she knew he was planning on proposing soon, she just wasn't sure when. They were also successful. It was very rare that someone could take what they loved to do, and make a decent living off of it. But at 25 years old, Vashti was one of the top trainers in the fitness center Jayson owned and had trained more than a few of Hollywood's top clientele.

Life was great.
Unfortunately, that wouldn't last…

It was blurry, but she remembered walking back into their condo after being sent home from work. The fitness center, along with quite a few other businesses were closing because of some emergency that she hadn't quite followed along with. Some ‘Outbreak’ or something like that. Propaganda. It always was. It was just something to get the people going, at least to Vashti it was. As she opened the door her jaw dropped at how disheveled the house was... Had they been robbed? “Jay!?” she’d call out, not even thinking as she ran into their home. He’d opted to stay home from work today because he wasn't feeling well. She wasn't even thinking straight. Oh God she hoped he wasn't hurt. Pushing open the bedroom door she’d call out “Ba…by?” the figure standing in the middle of their bedroom wasn't Jay. “Jayson?” the figure turned its head slowly, menacingly as it groaned, body turning... Inching closer to the door.

There was a struggle. Vashti running and throwing things as whatever it was came after her. Crashes and screams could be heard. Not soon after... Shots rang out. Three to be exact.

POW. POW. POW.

And then, there was silence. Vashti was slumped up against the locked bathroom door. Literally crying her eyes out. It... Wasn't propaganda. It wasn't a lie. This was real and Jayson… Was dead.

Her eyes opened slowly as she felt hot tears snake down her cheeks. Her hand would come up to brush them away. Why’d she want to survive? What did she have left to live for? She couldn't answer those questions because she didn't know just yet. With a shaky sigh, she’d push herself off the ground moving towards the brook as she’d grasp her water bottle, opening it, filling it, taking a couple of sips before filling it again and closing it.
She was tired, and as she trudged on, all she was certain of right now is that she needed somewhere safe to lay her head… If even for an hour.