Bentley
Atlanta was our last hope. We sweated blood and tears to get this far; days of no sleep and endless walking. When the broadcast aired that said Atlanta was the safest city, naturally, my sister and I packed what little supplies we had and made the trek to the city. Upon reaching the border of Atlanta, I knew the minute we stepped on to the streets, something was off. For a safe zone, it was pretty deserted. Going deeper into the city, that's when I knew our luck had run out.
Bodies were in lifeless lumps everywhere, it was a horrible sight. With this many dead bodies around us, being on the ground wasn't safe. The two of us walked along the side of a building until we came to an opening of an alley. I peered around the corner and quickly spun back around. I knew it was to easy getting here not to run into anything. I reached behind me and pulled out the bat I've carried since ninth grade out of my backpack.
My sister knew immediately what was going on. I motioned her to cover my back. In the alley was a Feeder devouring some poor guy's inside. Thankfully, its back was turned toward us which allowed for an easy take down. I stood like I was up to bat and swung at the Feeder's head. Its head burst open and the thing fell against the wall. Just to make sure it was dead, I let loose a few more swings until all that was left was a pile a mush. I slung the Feeder's brain matter off my bat to keep it clean.
A shot in the distance made the two of us drop to our knees. Making noise wasn't a good idea, it only drew in more Feeders. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a fire escape. It was a perfect way to get off the ground. I swore under my breath when I couldn't reach the ladder to pull it down.
"Hey, help me move this dumpster before more Feeders come." When I got no answer, I turned around, scared. My sister was not behind me. I looked further up and saw her at the edge of the alley looking out. Multiple shots filled the air, "Get back here, now! Feeders will be all over this place!"
She looked back to me, "Bentley, we have to help them!"
I didn't like where this was heading. More gunshots went off. I stood behind her and looked over. There were about twenty Feeders closing in on two guys. Their ammo must be running low by now with all the shots we've heard. I pulled out my bat again while my sister pulled out her two knives.
"Okay Avery, here's the plan," I explained, "I'll swing at the head. If you see that the Feeder is still moving, stab it in the head. Tag team these fuckers. Then we'll get those guys, get back here and get that fire escape ladder down. Ready?"
She nodded, "I got your back. Go!"
We ran out into the open and charged the first Feeder in sight. I gave a hard swing upwards, breaking its jaw into a thousand pieces. I ran to the next one as Avery drove her knife into the Feeder's eye. This time, I swung down hard, cracking its skull open. Avery came up from behind me and kicked the thing's head, causing its brains to ooze out. We killed Feeder after Feeder until we reached the first of the two guys. He gave us his thanks, but that quickly ended when his friends called out for help. Pinned against a wall, was a boy about seventeen. His gun clicked every time he pulled the trigger, sign that he was on empty.
Avery and I ran over to him, but once we killed a Feeder, a scream came from behind us. The other guy was on the ground, crawling for his gun. A bottomless Feeder held on to his ankle while more were getting closer. Avery had killed all the Feeders surrounding the boy and the two of us quickly ran over to help the guy. I bashed the Feeder's face in and quickly helped the guy up. What we saw next, I wish I could forget. Feeders were all over the boy, biting into his arms, neck, and sides.
He fell to the ground and there was nothing left we could do. It was a feeding frenzy."Avery, we need to go, now!" I pulled the guy with us,
"Hurry to the alley!"
The guy must have finally snapped out of his trance, "That was my son you assholes! Why didn't you save my boy?!" He sprinted off down the alley.
I looked back at all the Feeders. The ones not having lunch spotted us right away. We ran down the alley, but stopped when we saw the guy get knocked off his feet by a Feeder. We had to move fast.
"Avery, c'mon! Hop on my shoulders and pull that ladder down!"
She jumped on to my shoulders and gave a quick jerk to the ladder. No good, it was stuck.
"Keep trying! The Feeders will be here any minute!"
A few more jerks and the ladder slid down with a crash. I pushed Avery up the ladder and handed her my bat so I could climb. While I was climbing, the ladder creaked when a screw came out of place. My weight on the ladder started to tip me backwards. I used all my strength to propel myself in the air. I reached out for Avery's hand and grabbed it. She pulled me up just in time before all the Feeders flooded the alley.
We stood there staring at them trying to reach us.
I looked to Avery as she handed me my bat, "We're screwed."
Avery
I didn't want to kill my brother, due to the fact that he was the only person I had left on this piece of shit planet, but he was seriously starting to piss me off. I know I screwed up when I said we needed to help those two guys, it wound up getting us spotted by all the geeks in the damn area. Not my best idea, but certainly not my worst.
Bentley and I had manouverd our way around a few buildings, taking countless fire escapes to get to different levels. Currently we were now on the side of a Shopping Mall, and there happened to be a fire escape that went all the way to the roof. I glanced at my brother for confirmation and he nodded once, telling me with a hard glare to not fuck it up and fall, my clumsiness would be the death of me...
With precaution I stealthily made my way up the fire escape, Bentley not far behind me his constant increase in pace was starting to stress me out. I know that we need to find a place to take cover but him rushing me doesn't help the situation much at all.
Once my boots hit the gravel on the top of the roof I helped him over the edge and I secured my bag before taking a step towards the exit door into the Mall, when a caught sight of a man popping some sort of pill into his mouth.
I panicked and latched my hand around Bentley's wrist, tugging him towards the ground. I crouched down behind one of the utility pipes and watched the man cautiously. He had a shaven head, and was wearing jeans and a black vest. He looked like trouble, I could tell that much from his body language.
Bentley's entire stature changed, his muscles with rigid as he prepared himself for what could happen. I could tell from watching this guy that he was a mess, I had seen his type before, in the countless fights I had managed to get myself involved in... he was trouble and we needed to avoid him like the plague.
The man then picked up a rifle off the roof and walked to the edge, adjusting his sight in the scope he then popped off a shot at a Walker down in the street. My adrenaline was pumping now, he was going to fuck this all up and get every damn geek in the city over here!
A battle of whether I should go over there and end that son-of-a-bitch or ignore him began in my head, we have to do something. I looked to my brother and he was nodding his head back towards the fire escape, he wanted to get out of here.
I sighed as I shook my head in agreement, we both began to make our way to the fire escape, but at the sound of a door slamming against concrete we both froze. There were more people here? Shit.
My eyes then drifted to the group that came barreling out of the door and over to the reckless man who had just been popping off shots at Walker's. There were six of them, a woman with Blonde hair stood beside a dark-skinned woman with short hair. A younger Chinese guy with a red and white baseball cap was standing beside a brown-haired man in a Sheriff's uniform, and then two other men; another dark-skinned man and a man with Latin descent stood behind them.
"Aye Dixon! You crazy?" The Spanish man yelled as he ran towards the guy with the rifle. I was more than tempted to get the hell out of a dodge at this point, but when I tried to get to the ladder Bentley jerked my wrist back, preventing me from moving.
I shot him a look, but he just glared at me and then faced the group of people once again. What the hell is he thinking? We need to get out of here, and if we don't get moving now we're as good as dead. Not only are the Walker's a threat to us, but we don't know these people, meaning they are a threat as well.
"Huh? Aye, you outta be more polite to a man with a gun. Uh, it's only common sense." The man called 'Dixon' chuckled, his raspy voice sending chills down my spine, as he hopped off the ledge and began to walk towards the small group.
The dark-skinned man then jumped at him, a fearful look in his eyes, "Hey! You wastin' bullet we ain't even got man, you drawin' them things to us man! Just chill!"
Dixon then took a step towards the dark-skinned man shaking his head from side to side, "Aye it's bad enough I got this taco vendor on my ass all day, now I gotta take orders from you? I don' think so bro. That'll be the day." He narrowed his eyes as he gripped the gun tighter.
This situation was giving me a bad feeling, I had been in enough bar fights to know that when testosterone gets thrown around like this a fight is bound to erupt eventually. I tried to pry my wrist out of Bentley's hold, but he wasn't letting up. If anything, his grip was tightening, preventing me from making a hasty escape.
"That'll be the day? You got something you wanna tell me?" The dark-skinned man reiterated what Dixon had said in confusion, I really didn't like where this situation was going. We needed to leave, now. Shit was about to hit the fan, I didn't want to be in the splash zone.
"Aye, T-dog man, just leave it. It ain't worth it, now Merle just relax." The Spanish man said, trying to keep the peace. I didn't know these people and yet I seemed to know more about this Merle Dixon character than he did. He clearly was a racist and trash. Anyone can see that, so why are they allowing him in their group? He isn't the kind of guy you want to be around when the world's in the toilet like it is now.
Merle smirked and ran his tongue over his bottom lip as he eyed T-dog, "Ya wanna know the day? I'll tell ya the day mister 'yo', it's the day I take orders from a Nigger."
And then all hell brook loose, much like I had anticipated it to do. T-dog yelled something and then swung on Merle, his fist connecting with his jaw. Everyone then sprung at the two men, preventing them from doing any other damage, it was a failed attempt. Merle then punched T-dog in the face, not long after he sent a kick to his stomach.
The Sheriff tried to stop the fight, but all that did was earning himself a punch in the face. The blonde haired woman screamed as she watched the men fight. Bentley then sprung away from me, running to the altercation. I cursed under my breath as I followed after him, I knew he was going to do something like this, he can't help himself..
Merle had now gotten T-dog on the ground and he was straddling him, with a gun pointed at his face. The blonde haired woman was screaming still, and if she didn't shut her mouth I would shit it for her. Bentley then tackled Merle to the ground, knocking the gun out of his hand. The Sheriff scrambled over to my brother and the crazed man and handcuffed him to one of the utility pipes.
My hand was resting on my knife that was attached to my belt as I watched the Sheriff interacting with Merle, my brother stood beside him, watching closely. The rest of the group was silent, the only sound's on the roof was the booming of thunder and the heavy breathing. This was not a situation that I thought Bentley and I would find ourselves in...
The Sheriff then stood up and stuck his hand out to my brother, asking for a handshake? The hell? My brother watched in amusement as he shook his hand and then sent him a friendly smile. My brother was good with people, a skill that I had once envied, but that was when people populated the planet, not flesh-eating creatures...
"Thank you, for that." The Sheriff directed his statement to my brother, but his eyes were on Merle as he groaned and looked around trying to figure out what had just happened. I could feel the rest of the group's eyes on me and it was making me uneasy. My jaw clenched when I realized that my brother and I were severely outnumbered... I needed to think of a strategy and fast. Who to kill first? How to kill them first?
The blonde haired woman, I could shove her off the roof, take out the dark-skinned woman with my knife... the Sheriff had skills... Bentley could take him though..
"Is today just gather at the damn mall day or what? Who the hell are you?!" The woman with the blonde hair shouted at my brother and I, but her eyes were glued on me. She was smart, knowing full well that she couldn't take on my brother, but then again she didn't no shit about what I could do to her.
I turned my head and watched as she walked over to me, studying me intently. "People in the wrong place, at the wrong time." I said with a bite to my tone, I wasn't in the mood to deal with pissy people today. Bentley just had to fuck all this up by running over here, if he just would have let me lead we could have already been out of this mess.
"What my sister means is, we were running and happened to turn up on this roof. When we got here, wise guy over here was the only one on the roof. Then you all came out here like bats outta hell and we didn't know what to do." Bentley added, trying to diffuse the tension. He walked over and stood beside me, his presence telling me to calm down before I caused an issue.
The Spanish man walked over and smiled warmly at my brother and I, "My name is Morales, the spitfire blonde here is Andrea. Thank you, for helping with Merle." Morales directed his statement to my brother, considering I had done nothing at all to help with Merle...
The dark-skinned woman approached us as well, "My name is Jacqui."
I rose an eyebrow at how soft her tone of voice was, she certainly wasn't cut out for the apocalypse, that's for sure. Actually, looking at everyone here they all look like they are completely out of their element. My money would be on Merle to be the sole survivor.
The Chinese guy then walked over and anxiously looked my brother and I over before introducing himself, "My name's Glenn."
A sigh escaped me when my brother began to introduce himself to the group, if he is trying to get us to join forces with these people he has lost his damn mind. These people wouldn't know how to survive if their lives depended on it, which they do so you can see my point. They don't know my brother and I, and they're just opening up to us. Not a good idea, at all.
"My name's Bentley, and this is my sister Avery. We've been on our own for a while now, and if you'd be willing to... let us into your group we could both benefit from it. We'd earn our keep and everything." My brother was using his impeccable social skills to try and win these people over, something he was great at.
I, however, chose to remain silent and just watch how they acted around my brother. If they gave me any bad vibes then we were out of here, I don't know what's going through my brother's head at the moment, but I don't like it.
My eyes kept wondering to the Sheriff, who wasn't saying a word. He didn't seem very comfortable with these people and that stuck an interest. Why would he feel that way... unless he was new himself? Is that what Andrea meant when she said earlier, about the gathering at the mall thing? This group needs a serious reality check.
Morales nodded and then glanced at his fellow group members, "I'm sure we have enough room..."
They were silent, well all of them except Merle who was going on about something. The Sheriff walked over and crouched down so he was eye level and then began to search his pockets when he pulled something out of his pocket that I couldn't quite name. He then tilted Merle's head back and looked at his nose in disgust, "You've got some on your nose." He muttered as he stood up.
Merle chuckled, "What're you gonna do, arrest me?"
The Sheriff then threw whatever it was over the side of the building as he began to unload the silver handgun that Merle had just threatened T-dog with moments before. "HEY! That's my stuff! You better pray that when I get out of these that it ain't ever jus' you and me buddy!" Merle yelled.
The Sheriff then crouched down and pressed the gun to Merle's temple, "You outta be more polite to a man with a gun, it's only common sense." He muttered as he stood once more walking away from the group, over to the edge of the building.
Morales followed, leaving Bentley and I to stand with the rest of the people who had formed a small group around us. I was silently cursing my brother for putting us in this situation, this was a terrible idea on his part. We were better on our own.
"Are you guys camped here, in the city?" Bentley asked Andrea as he followed her over to the other ledge. I was torn on whether I should follow, but I opted to stay put, my hand never leaving my knife handle. I was extremely uncomfortable..
Andrea shook her head from side to side, "No, we have a place outside the city. We came here looking for supplies, and then that plan went to shit... I don't know what we're gonna do."
I watched as T-dog pulled a walkie-talkie out of a black bag that was laying beside him, a walkie-talkie? Wow, maybe this group was put together better than I had thought. That makes me all the more nervous, if Bentley thinks we can just stroll up in there without causing an issue he is sadly mistaken.
"How's our signal?" Morales asked T-dog.
He let out a laugh as the walkie talkie made some odd buzzing sound, "Like Dixon's brain, weak."
Merle gave T-dog the finger while Andrea and Morales bickered about how their group wouldn't be able to save them, that they were on their own. Well, join the club Andrea, we've been on our own since this whole thing started and we've managed to make it.
The Sheriff noticed I was standing by myself and he casually walked over to me, taking the spot that my brother had just been standing moments before. "You don't seem to say much." He noted as he gave me a sideways glance, he clearly was skeptical of me... good to know.
I nodded in conformation, "I'm a woman of few words."
He chuckled at that statement and crossed his arms over his chest, "My name's Rick, by the way. I haven't really introduced myself yet... I'm new as well, Glenn just saved my ass from Walker's."
Glenn? The skinny, nerdy, weak Chinese guy? He saved Rick, the Sheriff, from Walker's? That's certainly a shock, maybe I underestimated the ability of this group. With that idea floating in my mind it made me even more on edge. Especially since Bentley is so far away from me...
"The streets aren't safe, there's no way we can get out of here using them." Rick said as he walked over to Morales and my brother.
Bentley nodded, "What about under the streets? Like the sewers?"
My jaw clenched at the fact that he was actually talking to these people, and not only that but he was conspiring with them. What is wrong with him? We aren't going anywhere with these people, there's no point in him getting attached.
"Oh man! Hey Glenn, check the alley, you see any manhole covers?" Morales instructed Glenn as he began to head in the direction of the alley. This was a just a terrible day, at the rate it's going I wouldn't be surprised if I wind up getting eaten later..
"No, they must be all out on the street where the geeks are." Glenn confirmed as he ran back over to the group.
Jacqui then spoke up, her soft voice sounding quite odd to me at this moment, "Maybe not. Old buildings like this built-in the '20's often had drainage tunnels built-in the sewers in case of flooding, down in the sub-basements."
"And how do you know that?" I asked in slight annoyance, if she was suggesting we go into the basements and travel through the sewers I needed to make sure she knew what she was talking about.
"It's my job, well it was, I worked in the cities zoning office." She answered me, her voice full of confidence and assurance. Well as long as she knew what she was talking about, because clearly no one else did...
Bentley
Ever since the world had gone to shit, I finally feel as if something is going in the right direction for Avery and I. From the various facial expressions I was receiving from my sister, it was obvious she was not happy with my decision to interact with these people. On the way down to the sub-basement of the department store, the two of us had a...family bicker.
"Let up Avery," My eyes were watching her, "There is nothing wrong with them. When we get out of here, and they do decide to take us in, we'd be in a good place."
Her face was blank and motionless. What was with her? Does she seriously think that if it's just the two of us, we'll survive a lot longer? Only God knows I don't. What if something was to happen to me when I went out scouting and I never returned? She wouldn't know what to do without me. Of course I know she can handle herself, but for how long on her own? "Listen, let's just go for the night. Then you can decide on what to do. Okay?"
I could tell she was processing that since he right eyebrow twitched. Avery gave slow, but surely nodded. That's my sister for you, all it takes is a little bribing or reasoning, and she's off for it-well, most of the time. We stopped behind everyone when they stood around the railing of an opening in the floor. Morales, I think that was his name, asked if that was it and Glenn, said that he had checked and it was the only way to go down. Glenn added, "'Sept I never went down it. Who'd want to, right?"
We all looked at Glenn. By his facial expression, he knew that he was the one to go down it.
Then Andrea spoke up, "I'll go right behind you."
"No, you won't. Not you." Glenn snapped.
"Why not me? You think I can't?"
This wasn't the time for an other argument. I was about to see something when Rick asked Glenn to speak his mind. "Until now, I came here by myself; in and out, grab a few things. No problem."
Did he have an issue?
"First time I bring a group, it all goes to hell. No offense." This was getting nerve-racking. How hard is it to pick two people to go down? It was just that Glenn kept running his mouth, "If you want me to go down this smelly hole, fine. But only if we do it my way."
They all looked at each other. I was getting a little annoyed by how long they were taking. All most out of no where, Glenn just started barking orders, "If I run into something down there, I'm gonna have to get out quick. I don't want you all getting me killed." I get the feeling he isn't talking to us. Avery stood there, not saying a word. "I'll take one person," Rick started to move, "Not you. You've got Merle's gun and I've seen you shoot. I'd feel better if you're out in the store, covering our ass." Glenn pointed to Andrea, "You've got the only other gun, you should go with him."
He made Morales his wing man and told Jaqui to stay behind so if anything happened, Glenn and Morales could get back up here. I wasn't expecting what happened next. Glenn turned and pointed at us, "You two!" Both of us jumped, I didn't think he wanted us to get involved since they were basically ignoring us, guess not, "Go with Rick and Andrea. You guys some to be good with fighting up close. If them geeks somehow get it, let's hope they don't, you guys can at least hold them off."
Avery was about to protest, but I quickly put my hand over her mouth so that I could answer, "Yeah, we'll be right on it."
Rick spoke up and patted Glenn on the shoulder, "Okay. Everyone knows their jobs."
We went up to the railing and watch Glenn climb down the ladder with Morales right behind. Once the two of them disappeared into the sewer, the four of us walked back upstairs. Walking through the racks of clothes, I could hear the moans of the dead coming from the front entrance. I pulled out my bat when I saw how many of the Feeders or Walkers according to Rick and them. That had a nice ring to it- were trying to get in. "Look at them all." Avery drew a knife when she saw them finally. Andrea gave a worried look to the door.
"Sorry about the gun to the face." She told Rick.
"People do things when they're afraid."
"Not that it wasn't entirely unjustified. You did get us into this."
I butted in, "Now don't pull that." That ticked me off., "Ever since the world got fucked, no one is at blame for anything anymore."
Andrea and Rick both nodded, but Rick still defended himself, "If I get us out, would that make up for it?"
"Well...that would be a start." They smiled at each other. Did anything I just said stick into their minds? I looked at Avery. She was watching the entrance with sharp eyes. I wish she would just let up a little, that door looked totally safe. The Walkers were all over the door, that's when I started to doubt it. All that force against the glass, what if it just shatter? Then we're fucked. Rick and Andrea shared a casually conversation about their guns. I tried to mess around with Avery, she must hate me on the inside. Nothing I did seemed to work, so I watched Rick show Andrea how to remove the safety from her gun.
Instead of just sitting around, I walked over to Rick and Andrea, who were staring at a mermaid necklace. "Do you like mermaids or something?"
Andrea continued to stare at it, "Not me, but I know someone who would." She looked at the two of us, "My sister. She's still such a kid in someway." I motioned for Avery to come over, of course she slowly made her way over, "Unicorns, dragons, she's into all that stuff. But mermaids, they rule, she loves mermaids."
I smiled at the thought of Andrea thinking of her sister at a time like this. Avery placed her hand on my shoulder, "Why not take it?" I about doubled over, where did my stern, speechless sister go?
"There's a cop staring at me." She eyed Rick, "Would it be considered looting?"
"Don't think those rules apply anymore. Do you?" She smiled and tucked the necklace into her pocket.
Avery stood next to Andrea, "Family is important, especially sib-" The sound of glass breaking made us all turn towards the entrance. Two of the Walkers smashed the glass with blocks, could they do that? What was worse now was that glass doors stood between us and the Walkers. More and more were piling in. Rick held up his gun and then they others came back. "What did you find down there?"
Morales shook his head, "Not a way out." Great, just great. Avery and I exchanged looks.
"Then we need to find a way." I said from the back, "Soon."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
And there is chapter one! Let us know what you guys think! Brandon writes in Bentley's POV, while I, Sasha, writes in Avery's POV, hence the difference in writing styles! :D