It was about 9:30pm by the time Jim and Danny managed to collect themselves enough to consider what they were going to do. The two were on the porch of their shared home, looking out at the still partially blue illuminated sky. It appeared that whatever the impacts were caused by were still causing some kind of glow, and were lighting up the sky a bit from where they had landed. The two had counted four spots in total that they could see from their house.

"It's dark already Dan, do you really think it's a good idea to try to venture out there into that? I mean I know you're worried about Ash and everything, but we really gotta think about what we're gonna do here. I just don't think we have enough of an idea to be wandering around in the dark... Literally.", Jim said quickly. Dan just answered with a gruff puff and shake of his head, sitting down, his hands on his knees. The argument had been going on for about 5 or 10 minutes.

After the two had come together and dragged the zombies' bodies out of the cellar entrance and around to the back of the house, Dan had immediately wanted to go out into the night to find Ash. Jim had always expected that Dan had feelings for her, and Ash didn't help the situation by leading poor Dan on like she always did. Long nights watching movies together on the couch in the living room together eating popcorn and drinking more than just soda, it was bad for him. Dan wasn't much of a rational guy to begin with, let alone with Ash on the line.

"Look man. Wherever she is I don't think her situation is gonna change anytime soon. I mean it's been a almost three hours since this shit show started. She's probably settled down somewhere to wait it out, same of us, or...", Jim trailed off.

"Or she's dead. Yeah Jim I know. You know what man, fuck you. I just. I just want... I don't know man. I never even really told her how I feel and... Who knows, she might not even be out there anymore. Or maybe we're not even here anymore, and this is just the first ring of hell. Shit...", Danny started blubbering and wiping at his eyes.

"Look. Dan. Danny. Go inside the house man. Go get some rest, hell lay in your own bed. This could be the last time you ever get to do it. We'll go on shifts, four hours each, and I'll take the first.", Jim waved his hand toward the door to the house, "We'll get some rest. And as soon as we can tomorrow morning we'll head out, and see what we can find out. Alright man?", Jim quietly finished.

Danny finally consented with a solemn nod of his head, stood, and began walking toward the door.

"Oh and maybe look into your status, we got those Life Points or whatever from the fight, and...", Jim continued, but Dan just sped up his walking and slammed the screen door into the small house behind him.

Looks like he doesn't really wanna think about it right now... Jim thought to himself. Well may aswell head inside and grab a chair... And maybe grab some food from the fridge, probably gonna rot soon with no power anyways.

Jim opened the fridge with some gusto, just to realize the light inside it wasn't going to be coming on. Looking around for a moment for a solution he realized he still had his phone in his pocket. Taking it out he activated the flash light on it and used it to peer into the fridge.

Hmmm, there's some milk, eggs, and a bit of old pizza. I think the pizza was Ash's actually, I don't think she'll mind it.

He took the two pieces of pizza out on the plate it rested on, and placed one in his mouth as he closed the fridge door. He grabbed one of the chairs from the dining room and walked back out onto the porch.

Probably time I look into my status too I guess, he thought to himself as he plopped into his seat and dug into his the Combination slices on his plate.

"Mmmf-Status", he said over his mouthful of dough and vegis.

Jim Reznik Level: 1 Life Points: 25 Level Up: 10 Life Points Class: N/A Perks Skills Stats: (0) Point to allocate Strength: 8 Intelligence: 10 Dexterity: 10 Wisdom: 11 Vitality: 11 Perception: 9 Attributes: Health: 55 Stamina: 27.5 Mana: 27.5

Hm. Got enough for a level up. May as well check out perks and skills anyways. Perks.

Perks Attained:

Touched by Mentality

Perks Available: (50) Power Word Skill Tree: Opens the Power Word skill tree for purchase. (20) The First Word: Doubles the effect of the first Power Word used in combat. (10) Enemy of the Undead: Increases damage against undead creatures marginally.

Hm. Skills.

Skills:

Power Word: Pain

Wow. Very informative Skills panel there. So I guess the real question is whether I should level up or take this perk 'The First Word'. I feel like a Level Up would be better for drawn out battles, but the perk is probably great for single opponents. Wow... Look at me thinking in terms of combat. I should probably just take the Level Up, see what it does anyways.

Decided, Jim set the now empty plate onto the ground and muttered into the status screen for a level up.

Level Up! Congratulations! (First Time Tip: Level Ups are the most obvious and direct way to increase your strength. With each level up you'll gain 2 health, 1 stamina, and 1 mana base. You'll also gain 5 distributable points for your stats, as well as all other level up bonuses you've gained thus far.)

Guess I gotta distribute them now. Status.

Jim Reznik Level: 2 Life Points: 15 Level Up: 30 Life Points Class: N/A Perks Skills Stats: (5) Point to allocate Strength: 8 Intelligence: 12 Dexterity: 10 Wisdom: 13 Vitality: 11 Perception: 9 Attributes: Health: 57 Stamina: 21.5 Mana: 34.5

After distributing his points his status was looking a little bit better. Jim felt ready incase of another fight.

Jim Reznik Level: 2 Life Points: 15 Level Up: 30 Life Points Class: N/A Perks Skills Stats: (0) Point to allocate Strength: 8 Intelligence: 14 Dexterity: 10 Wisdom: 14 Vitality: 13 Perception: 9 Attributes: Health: 67 Stamina: 33.5 Mana: 37

The points in Vitality should help me sustain in fights a bit longer. Maybe tomorrow we can find some other people. I haven't seen anyone for the last 2 hours out here. Hopefully someones coming to help us, but I guess everyone on Earth is probably thinking that too, judging from the radio announcement. I guess I better get ready for us to be on our own.

Jim waited out the rest of his "shift" without any issues, only a couple of birds chirping or bugs making noise to interrupt the quiet. At about 1 in the morning Danny came out of the house onto the porch.

"Sorry about all that earlier man... I wasn't myself. I've got it under control now though, we're gonna take it one step at a time like you said. We'll be okay, and I think, no, I know Ash is okay too.", Danny said as he took the seat Jim had been in.

"Look man. It's understandable, I'm honestly just so calm because of shock. I have no idea what the hell is going on, with me it just comes out as sinking into myself and thinking it through. You're the kind of guy who wants to go out and fight the weird and ugly. It's admirable really, but I think we need each other.", Jim said. With all the quiet he had thought about it a lot. "Anyways. Thanks for letting me get some rest man. I feel really strange, like I'm not even tired.", he finished as he gripped the screen door.

"Man I felt exactly the same. I don't even think I slept. Just sat there and thought with my eyes closed. Oh and I took care of my Status or whatever like you mentioned. Got a perk called 'Relentless Assault'. Anyways have a good rest man. I'll get you if anything happens.", Danny said as he motioned to the door.