Authors note: This story will be continued! Heads up: Adults themes, smut, yaoi, violence, gore and bad language.

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Chapter 1: Acquainted With Criminals

After the infection occurred the government emptied its prisons into the outside. The walls protected those within, it would be wrong to waste lives of the innocent. The country's heathens became its protectors. No person in their right mind would choose the outside against being safe and guaranteed to live peacefully. But someone had to take care of the darkness. The virus had wiped out thousands. No one had a choice in going beyond and they were expected to kill. Once they were hunting treasure and now they were hunting the infected. Once they were villains and now they were expected to fight for the country, or to stay alive anyway. They had no choice in the matter. The walls weren't going to take them in, so fighting off the infected was for their own survival and benefited those within. A double standard.

Zoran Lazarevic , Harry Flynn, Ramses, Marlowe, Talbot, Eddy Raja, Novarro, Roman, Chloe Frazer, Nadine Ross and Rafe Adler were sent out to scout. Lazarevic was made their leader and though none of them fully knew each other they were wary and on high alert. It was only a matter of time before they put guns to each other's heads. At cold dark nights a warm body to hold temporarily fed the need for safety and emotional comfort. As for the mornings it was time to be cautious and to hold on to their guns which was the determining factor to between life and death.

"Keep moving" Zoran ordered and although he said it, it sounded like a yell, the only difference between when he spoke and yelled was his speaking voice was shouting and his actual yelling was an even louder form of shouting. There was no lower volume alternate.

Harry poked the inside of his ear that had been caused discomfort from the loud sound, and smiled when he noticed Chloe's annoyed expression. She narrowed her eyes and smiled back knowing she had to accept that this is what she was going to be dealing with from now on. She got herself into this but it was too late for self blame.

The group continued to hike through the woods; it had been three days since they were granted their freedom. The cold breeze brought life back into all, and though they were armed and carried food supplies along with them, the fear of not knowing lurked in their minds. They didn't come across no infected nor has anyone seen what one looks like.

"If something comes out of these woods, I expect you to protect me. Don't forget how I picked you up from the slums and sheltered you" Roman went on, and Atoq rolled his eyes as every word that came out the old man's mouth got on his nerves. In a world of survival of the fittest, it was every man for himself and a snake still bites the hand that feeds it.

Rafe had been quietly studying his opponents. Analysing the strongest from the weakest and giving them a rank order of who will die before it comes to his turn. Those who knew each other before were luckier of course, he had the disadvantage of only knowing Nadine, and though he could guarantee she'd have his back he wasn't entirely keen on having hers if it gave him a higher position on his opponents kill list. Chloe Frazer and Nadine had established a bond since the first day, and had mutual feelings that they were the only two who had a brain in this crowd; of flex muscle and pretend to know it all squad.

As for Katharine Marlowe she had hung onto Talbot tightly, walking arm in arm with him to ensure her hunters knew she was well protected. The old Marlowe had begun to hum in response to the silence, and though it hadn't been loud at first, a few minutes later her humming became ear splitting.

"Shut it lady" Ramses scolded irritated.

"Do you want your tongue cut out and fed to you for dinner tonight? Or do you rather zip it" Talbot threatened, turning to Marlowe to nod as a sign of reassurance that she could do what she pleased.

Marlowe beamed satisfied and continued to hum and Eddy sounded an aggravated huff in response.

After hours of walking Zoran finally commanded them to set camp, and the group sat around the fire to warm themselves. They had all observed as Marlowe stirred something in a large cauldron on top of the fire. Talbot watched closely aiding her when she needed it.

"Smells good, what are you cooking?" Nadine smiled, standing over her to watch the warm goodness.

"I'm making soup dearest" Katharine continued to stir and by the amount she made it seemed like she had planned to feed all.

"What's going on here" Chloe paced over to them, pulled by the delicious smell.

"Marlowe's making some soup" Nadine revealed cheerfully. "Can I call you Marlowe?" Nadine added.

"Marlowe's fine, child" The old woman confirmed, and Talbot seemed pleased to see her in a good mood.

Rafe had been trying to decide if it was her who'd die first or Gabriel Roman, not purely for their old age, but as they seemed to be dragging the group behind. Though he guessed it would probably be Roman who had managed to piss everyone off with his constant reminders to Atoq about his favours on him. Marlowe was playing it smart pretending to be an angelic caring old woman.

"Here you go" Marlowe handed Eddy a bowl of soup and he stared at her suspiciously before taking it.

"Do you think she's put poison" Eddy whispered to Atoq next to him waiting before he tasted it, and Navarro responded with a chortle.

She had handed a bowl of soup to Atoq, Roman, and Ramses too but they all waited for each other to try it first. A good deed goes to waste among people like that. Nadine and Chloe were perhaps the only ones who thanked her. Nadine took a spoonful and was content with the flavour, and it's only then the others begun to eat.

"Thank you Marlowe" Talbot smiled and drank the soup without using a spoon. He'd obviously been familiar with the taste and it seemed like he really enjoyed it. As Katherine came to sit down she realised she missed Rafe out, and quickly got up filling another bowl.

"Enjoy little one" Marlowe smiled, and Rafe knocked the bowl out her hand.

"Don't talk to me you… old hag" He snapped, and Talbot shot up immediately clenching his fist. Rafe was beyond paranoid and presumed everyone was out to get him. She'd probably sneaked some poison that takes a while to take effect, or induced some sleeping powder that would cause them to get knocked out so she could kill them in their sleep. Perhaps she and Talbot had taken an antidote.

"Oh dear" Marlowe placed her hand on her chest insulted. "It's fine, he's not hungry" She brushed it off to calm Talbot, and proceeded to refill his plate to let it pass. Talbot complied but continued to glare daggers at Adler whilst he drank his soup probably imagining it'd be his blood.

Nadine had stared at him outraged, and he was sure she would talk to him about it later as though she was scolding her child.

"What is this smell?" Lazarevic appeared from his tent, both intrigued and hungry.

"Oh have seat" Marlowe invited, and poured him a bowl too. It was the first time Lazarevic had looked as innocent as he waited for food. Hunger had a strange spell on men.

So far Marlowe had made a good name for herself among them; perhaps she was the first to view her intentions of allegiance. But Rafe found her presence unsettling and was sure this was all a part of show she was acting out to get to what she wanted.

…

Flowergirly~

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