<br/><div class="floatleft"> (http://katidamo.wikispaces.com/file/view/MadelynHeadshot.JPG/378449894/MadelynHeadshot.JPG)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Madelyn Kovac<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Jack's Apartment<br/><strong>Wearing:</strong>Gray Hoodie, Phantom Tee, Blue jeans, and Gray sneakers.<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Anyone<br/><br/><strong>"...kill?"</strong>Maddy said weakly.<strong>"Who said anything about killing? I was hoping we'd just scare him off. I don't want..."</strong>Her voice caught in her throat as she realized how easily they could have killed him. She was sick to her stomach. Would she have used the hatchet on her belt? No... Something to frighten, not to actually use as a weapon. It was dull. Just a tool - Just a prop, right? This wasn't some game. There weren't any zombies to kill. Just human beings making human mistakes.<br/><br/>Michael was in pain again. Trying to see what was going to happen. Her pulse still raced. Had they already chased him off? She went to the window to see what she could learn. There was no sign of an agressor. Tristyn was returning to the apartment.  Jack and Michael briefly discussed the situation, before Jack asked about beverages, but the question didn't even register for Madelyn.<br/><br/>She'd learned something about her fight or flight reflex just now. Hers was obviously set to fight if it meant protecting Michael. Yet he had just made it clear he didn't want them to hurt anyone. How could they defend themselves without hurting anyone? They'd have to fight eventually, wouldn't they? Her mind flashed to that vision she'd had in the auditorium. Would there be a time they'd have to kill to defend themselves? Michael had spoken of darkness and it filled her with dread when he did. Could they really defend themselves without falling into that darkness?<br/><br/>Madelyn wanted to cry. It wouldn't be easy. The right way was never easy, but the bimbo cheerleader had floored her and she was ashamed of herself. Elizabeth was the first to know how wrong that could have been just now.<br/><br/>Maddy scolded herself for her unreasonable judgmental label of Elizabeth and felt even more ashamed. The girl wasn't a bimbo. She came off as selfish but it was because she was naive and childish. It was that very childlike naivety that might just save them from the darkness. She sat down next to the doorway to the balcony knowing there were even harder times ahead. She drew her knees up to her chest as she spoke. Her already lanky frame compacted into this shape made her look small and vulnerable.<strong>"Elizabeth is right. We have to behave. We might be the only ones left that behave like human beings, but someone has to. The more difficult the path, the greater the rewards. Jack and Billy are right too though. We have to defend ourselves, but we have to try to find a way to do it without needless bloodshed, and let cool heads prevail. Nothing is how it used to be, and this will be the hardest thing any of us has ever done."</strong><br/><br/>She was starting to cry, but she pursed her lips and wiped her eyes, knowing it would do no good to break down now. Madelyn stood and walked over to where Michael was and would attempt to lift his sunglasses to peer into his beautiful, haunting, shattered eyes. She spoke softly and only to him, but anyone who listened would hear her words.<br/><br/><strong>"I'm sorry Michael. I was afraid. We all are. I can tell you've been struggling to put things into words, but I'm pretty good with words, I think. If there's anything else you can show me... I want you to use me to help you articulate what you need to tell them. I don't care if it hurts if it keeps us in the light. I'll do ANYTHING I can to make this easier on you."</strong>