Three and a half weeks since infection. The streets were filled with rotten, dead corpses. Blood stained the once chalky streets of the southern United States, along with a few more slimy, unidentified substances. The four survivors trudged silently over the bodies, tensed and ready to bounce into action at the slightest groan or screech.

"Pheeeewaaaay." Ellis hollard, rubbing his nose at the fowl stench of rotten flesh and long spilled blood. "This smells almost as bad as tha' time Keith an'I left some eggs in the chicken coop an' they went bad so we decided to throw them at old miss Rowan's house. She was sew pissed she-"

"Ellis sweetie, I don't think this is the time for that."

"A'right. Don't getch'yo panties in a knot, Ro." The mechanic said, raising his hands infront of him defensively, gun grasped loosely in his right fist.

The team continued on, walking cautiously over the empty, ruined streets, taking out the few infected along the way. They were becoming scarcer and scarcer as the days went by, which made the four of them hope that they were starting to reach an end to their bloody killing spree on creatures that were once innocent humans just like them. Although, thats all it remained. A small flicker of hope inside each of their hearts.

"It'll be dark soon." Nick pointed out, noting how the sun had begun to lower in the sky, casting an orangey glow on the abandoned streets. "We should start looking for the next safe house."

"Nick's right. Check the buildings, one's gotta be around here somewhere." Rochelle added, scoping their surroundings before cautiously going towards a row of townhouses.

They continued down the street of buildings, searching for a house with a heavy door or at least one that had all its walls intact to spend the night.

"There," Coach pointed to the familiar barred door, leading into one of the larger townhouses. "That looks like a good enough place. Might be a few beds in there too." He added as an afterthought, imagining the warmth and comfort of an actual bed for the first time in a long while.

"A'right, let's get in there 'fore summin' else cides' to get us first." Ellis said, switching his gun for a crowbar as he padded after Rochelle, Coach then Nick.

As they were within a few steps of the safe house, a familiar sound resonated through the area, making the 4 survivor's muscles tense up.

"Smoker!" Rochelle warned, as if the other three hadn't already guessed the infected's presence by its constant hacking.

They continued inching towards the door, surveilling the tops of high up buildings for the sniper. It seemed that they were going to make it in before the smoker's grotesque tongue got to any of them so Rochelle went through the door first, followed by Coach closely behind her.

Ellis continued to watch the highest point of the rooftops, still wary about the smoker's presence. He was about to follow Nick into the safe house when out of nowhere, a long tongue wrapped itself around his upper torso dragging him further and further away from safety.

"Help! Smoker's got me!" Ellis shouted, struggling against the Smoker's pull and clawing at the surprisingly tough tissue that formed its tongue.

He could feel himself being lifted up slightly, the infected's arms reaching out as it slashed at his chest. The zombie's attacks began to leave deep gashes in his skin, ripping him to shreds in a matter of seconds.

Nick shut his eyes tightly, figuring this might be the end when a firm hand grasped his shoulder. At first he thought it was another infected, coming to join in on the Smoker's fun but he soon realized it was too gentle a touch to be another infected.

He opened his eyes to see Nick fighting against the Smoker's grip, pulling Ellis closer towards himself as he took out his magnum, placed it at the Smoker's head and pulled the trigger. With a strangled choking sound, the Smoker vanished into a poof of horrid gas, causing the two to break out into a fit of coughs as Nick grabbed Ellis' arm and quickly ushered him back towards the safe room, closing the door behind him once the hick had safely scurried in beside him.

"Uugh..." Ellis groaned, cradling his wounds. "thank's Nick. I woulda been a goner if y'all hadn't come'n save my ass." He laughed, forcing a smile through the stinging pain of the long cuts all along his abdomen.

"Ellis, are you ok?" Rochelle asked beside him, concern apparent in her voice as she readied her health pack to treat his wounds.

"Nah, I'm alright. No need to use your kit on me." He said, pushing away the offered health kit. "I jus' need to sleep on it and I'll be right as rain."

Rochelle wasn't sure she believed him at first but disregarded it none the less.

"So," Ellis stood up straight, hiding a wince of pain behind gritted teeth. "Let's check to see what this here house has to offer?"

In the house they managed to find some food, canned goods amongst the rotting meat and vegetables that weren't yet expired. They dined on canned peaches, boxes of stale crackers and a case of soda they had found stowed away in the pantry. It didn't sound like much, but to a group of people who hadn't eaten in days this was a feast.

Enjoying the warmth of food in his stomach for the first time, pain in his chest almost forgotten, Ellis was the first to break the silence. "So where we gunna sleep t'night?"

"Check for rooms upstairs. There must be at least two in a house this big." Rochelle pointed out, motioning towards the staircase.

The four made their ways up the wooden stairs, still keeping an eye out for any infected that had stayed in the house. They noticed the first room on the right had a double bed, covers messed around but the bed still looked intact. As they turned more to the left a room with a smaller bed was available.

"Dibs." Rochelle called with a small smile. Being a girl, and the others being the gentlemen that they are, let her have the room to herself.

Moving past the bathroom, they made their way to the last room. The door was open just a crack so Rochelle cautiously opened it, incase there were unwanted things waiting in there for them.

Inside this room, the walls were covered in soft colors of blood stained wallpaper. Stuffed animals littered the floor in a messy heap. The survivors could see a small crib beyond the mess of stuffed bears. Each of them became silent.

The baby's room made them fall quiet, imagining the family struggling against the infected. Its been so long since they've seen any other survivors, they almost forgot how to feel empathy towards others. Even Nick seemed a little downcasted as his eyes fell sullen on the baby's crib.

"Maybe they managed to escape?" He suggested, noting that aside from the tattered mess and fading stains of crimson this house looked almost untouched.

"Maybe..." Coach let out lowly, doubting his own words.

"I guess we can't use this room." Rochelle added last, closing the door.

The silence continuing for only a moment more, now it was time to decide the sleeping arrangments.

Rochelle had already claimed the single bed, and now to up to debate was which two men would share the double bed and who would sleep on the sofa downstairs.

"Not to sound like a chicken, but I'd really apreciate it if y'all would le'me sleep up here." Ellis asked carefully, trying not to sound like a coward. Truth is, that smoker had kinda spooked him and his wounds were starting to burn again.

"I'm not too fond of sleeping on couches." Nick sneered, looking at Coach.

"Guess I'll take the couch." Coach said, not sounding thrilled to have the springy sofa but at least happy that he wouldn't have to share a bed with any of the guys.

"Then its settled. Now we should all get some rest. Still got a long way to go until we make it to the evac station." Rochelle told them, going to her own sleeping quarters. Coach nodded his head to them as Nick and Ellis went towards the master bedroom.

"Night Ro, Night Coach." Ellis said, following Nick to the room with the double bed.

"Guess sharing a bed with a hillbilly is better then having to squeeze between Ton's of Fun and the wall." Nick muttered.

"Hey man, that was uncalled for." Ellis scolded, holding back a slight chuckle. "An jus' cause I'm from Georgia ain't mean I'mma 'hillbilly'" He added.

Nick grinned and flicked the baseball cap off of Ellis' head. "I'm just messin' with ya kid."

Ellis' hands went to his hatless head, petting the curls of chestnut hair as if he was surprised that hat actually flew off. "Not cool man," He said, bending over to pick it up.

Feeling the cuts fold over on themselves, Ellis failed to hold in the low groan, his arm cradling his abdomen as he grabbed the hat and stood upright.

"You ok?" Nick asked.

"Yeah yeah," The southerner grunted out, lifting his shirt slightly to see smeered blood around the wound and fresh blood seeping out of it. "That there Smoker got me good didn' he?" Ellis chuckled.

"Come here." Nick said, the words sounding more like a comand.

Ellis looked at the man confused for a second as he pulled out his health pack and began taking out its contents, ready to treat the mechanics wounds.

"Nah, man." Ellis groaned, making his way to the bed. "You don't have to waste your kit on me, I'm fine."

"Shut up." Nick said, taking out the gauze, slightly startling Ellis with how harsh the words sounded. "Besides, if I leave you like that your only bound to slow us down tomorrow." He added, and this time the words didn't sound nearly as harsh as the last. "Now come here and let doctor Nick fix ya up."

Still hesitant but knowing that objecting wouldn't help him much and only make Nick angry, Ellis took of his T-shirt, letting the gashes be exposed. The cool air of the house made them sting and he sat on the edge of the bed, letting the conman pour rubbing alcohol on them-which burned like the fiery pits of hell!- and wrap up his lower and mid torsi with the white bandages. Nick knew why Ellis kept refusing to take his teamates health packs, he hadn't been the only one to notice the lack of little red packages in this safe room. Another group of survivors must have come here and grabbed them before they came and Ellis, having given his own healthpack to Coach earlier today after a Charger got him, didn't want to use one up, just incase someone else might need it.

"There we go, now you won't have to bleed all over my three thousand dollar suit." Nick covered up his kind gesture with cold words, trying not to lose his bad guy rep. Then again, when two thirds of the population were now angry, savage monsters, what real good was a reputation?

"Thanks Nick, I apreciate it." Ellis said, putting his shirt back on and finding a spot next to the conman on the bed while Nick took off the white jacket of his suit, letting it hang neatly over the back of a desk chair.

"No problem kid, now let's get some sleep while we can."

Ellis crawled uner the covers next to Nick, face the man whose back was turned to him, burning holes in his blue clad back with his constant stare. Nick seemed to feel the gaze from some sort of sixth sense and turned slightly, looking at the younger man with a moderately confused expression.

"Can I help you?" He asked sarcastically, just wishing that the kid would stop staring at him so he could go to sleep.

"Well heck Nick, ain't'cha gunna say g'night?" Ellis asked, almost cutely. Like a little kid with bad grammar, pestering his parents as they tucked him in, Nick thought.

With a loud and heaved sigh Nick let out a firm, "Good night, Ellis." As he turned back to lay on his side, closing his eyes.

A small grin managed to make its way unto the southerner's lips, turning into a full out smile as the man next to him pretended to be asleep, hoping that he would get the hint and do the same.

"'Night Nick." Ellis said, turning his own back, finally feeling secure enough to let himself shut down for the first time in a long while.

A/N : Yeah, sorry if this sucks, don't first chapters always? Anyway, reviews would be aprectiated and feed my motivation. Be nice guys, this is the first fanfiction I've written in over a year...I think. I hope y'all enjoy my first addition to my new fandom and knowing my past fanfiction experience, it certainly won't be my last. Hopefully I'll be able to finish this or at least get a good chunk out of it, eh? Don't be afraid to leave suggestions and critisize the heck outta me, I know I tend to make my characters act OOC but just bare with me, kay? Until the next installement!