Ramona

Name: Ramona
Race: African-American
Gender: Female
Occupation: Amateur Boxer
Age: 21
Height: 5'5''
Weight: 127 Ibs

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Inventory

• Crowbar
  
• M1911A1 Pistol [Ammo: 7/7]
  
• Whistle necklace
  
• Notebook & pencil
  
• Photograph of herself and Tamara at the base of the Gateway Arch
  

Background:
In the urban sprawl that was East St. Louis, Ramona and her older sister, Tamara, were one of many disenfranchised citizens who simply wanted to survive a hostile atmosphere of gang violence; which had claimed the lives of their parents at a young age. However, falling prey to criminal inclinations was Tamara's greatest fear; thus, she worked several brutal but honest jobs; all the while doggedly ensuring Ramona stayed in school. Trouble had a habit of finding Ramona, whose quick temper frequently caused bare-knuckle brawls with other high-schoolers. Calls from an irate principal reached Tamara, and instead of a scolding, she encouraged Ramona to cultivate her natural talent at a local gym with the help of a close friend: a boxing trainer named Irene.

While initially eager to punch things without getting in trouble, Ramona became enamored with every aspect of boxing; from practicing proper techniques, honing her body with exercise and proper dieting, to studying famous bouts throughout the sport's long history. Rather than treat it as a hobby, boxing absorbed Ramona's life; a frequent participant in amateur boxing tournaments after graduating high school, Ramona rose to prominence locally for her raw talent, strategic mind, and adherence to proper sportsmanship in a circuit infamous for its corruption. Fame with the people did little to endear Ramona with her fellow boxers, who felt threatened by her skill.

Dirty money changed hands on the eve of what would be a highly anticipated rematch between Ramona and a title holder -- a woman that had narrowly eked out a victory through votes from the judges. From the instant the bell was rung, it became readily apparent that the match had was thoroughly rigged. Referees and judges turned a blind eye to a thorough beating that left Ramona on the brink of death; when she awoke in the hospital, words seemed to elude her. Aphasia, a condition that impairs one's ability to understand language, was the diagnosis -- words had become almost impossible to say understandably. It would take a year of therapy with Tamara for Ramona to regain some semblance of skill with reading and writing. Speech proved to be far more elusive, prompting her to drop all efforts entirely.

Although she had been advised to retire from boxing, Ramona would have rather died than hang up her gloves. She returned to the circuit keen to take her revenge on an old foe, but fate had other plans. A viral outbreak had erupted in the blink of an eye, turning their urban home into a deathtrap. Miraculously, the sisters managed to escape with the clothes on their back and not much else. Survival came naturally, and they always relied on each other alone. Ever since their escape, they've traveled east on foot in the hope of getting off the mainland.

Appearance:
One look at Ramona will tell you that she has gone to great pains to keep a healthy physique. Her body is lithe and toned, almost as if a master sculptor carved each muscle. Her face is conversely soft, rounded, which highlights her sharp, light brown eyes and full lips that are perpetually in a frown. Short, curly black hair, often natty, is tied into a tight ponytail. Her right earlobe has a chunk missing near the bottom lope, and a single jagged scar runs vertically down her left eyebrow and has long healed over.

Her attire is simple: dark silver Nikes, faded blue denim shorts worn over short black tights, and a light pink zip-up hoodie worn over a stained white wife-beater. On the back of the hoodie is the words 'STING LIKE A BEE'. Around her neck is a floral patterned red bandanna, and pinned to her hoodie is a blue name tag: https://imgur.com/pFfLIH9

Personality:
Ramona's demeanor and outlook ended up being largely shaped by the sole support of her older sister, Tamara, and an environment that demanded one be tough to survive. She is hotblooded scrapper who is always eager to prove her worth, and there's nothing she can't resist more than a physical challenge; she isn't the type of person who cares about trivial things like 'bad odds.' With survival being a strong concept in the new world, Ramona is in a constant struggle to stay true to the values instilled in her by Tamara when faced with situations that threaten their lives, or her short temper. Around anyone that isn't her sister, Ramona is something of a showoff -- a remnant of a once burgeoning career in the boxing ring that she misses dearly. As a boxer, Ramona was famous for her trickery and the mind-games she played on her opponents, traits that she takes advantage of in and out of a fight.

 After losing her language comprehension skills, Ramona drifted to artistic pursuits such as poetry writing and drawing as a means to cope with the loss of her voice. As a mute, she feels the need to compensate for her handicap by being more expressive. The damage to Ramona's brain made reading and writing nearly impossible, and even after a year of therapy, she is just now regaining some proficiency. All in all, her condition is still a sore subject for her.


The Key of Bloodlust
Her lips parted in a wide grin, and she raised her fists. This asshole needed to get some teeth knocked out -- her specialty.

The Key of Talent
The words were jotted down with the terseness of a surgeon in theater, without the precision. They were messy, misspelled, put in the wrong places -- hardly a Dickinson masterpiece.