Ellis ducked as his mother came at him again.
"Ma, wha's gotten into ya?" Ellis shouted, ducking another blow. He could see no recognition in her eyes; in fact he couldn't even see her once beautiful irises. The milky, blank eyes stared back at him in an unseeing manner. Emptying himself of emotion, he grabbed the nearest object to him and swung at the creature that had once been his mother. It connected and Ellis tried not to think as whatever had been attacking him fell to the ground, no longer moving.
Ellis let the guilt leave him. That thing may look like his mother, apart from the too pale skin and the soulless eyes, but it was definitely not his mother. He had two theories as he ran out the door to his truck -keeping his weapon (a frying pan) just in case- Either a.) Aliens had finally invaded and were taking over the human populace or b.) The bad news called the Green Flu had finally reached Savannah.
Speeding his truck back to his house he ran into his room, grabbing his hunting rifle and all the ammo he could carry as well as his medical kit. Sprinting back out, Ellis floored it as he rushed to town hoping to get a real hold on what the hell was going on.
"Shit!" Ellis hit the brakes, being too little too late and slamming into whatever poor soul that had decided to meander out onto the road and in front of his truck. Ellis jumped out of the truck.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit…" Ellis mumbled as he went to get a good look at the person. He was reaching down to turn the person over, hoping they were still alive, when said person moved. They let out a low groan before getting back to their feet slowly.
"Hey, you all-" Ellis was about to say 'alright' when the creature turned to him. He felt his jaw drop as he automatically attacked the thing that had eyes milky like his mother's had been, and pale rotting skin falling off in places to reveal the white of a skull.
"That ain't healthy." Ellis murmured, turning his back and heading towards his truck. He got back in, continuing his hectic trek towards town; keeping a better eye out for any strange creatures that might decide to head out onto the road again.
Ellis ran into a few more wanderers, putting each of them out of their misery partially out of pity and partially because it was what seemed to be the right thing to do. The farther he drove the more of those things he would run into until he actually became a little worried.
"Man, I hope Keith made it outta this ok." Ellis blinked as he noticed a commotion a little farther into town. He noticed the creatures were surrounding something and decided to clear them out and find out what it was. Mowing down the critters he saw a very beaten and battered woman on the ground.
"Hold on now, let me heal ya." Ellis said, pulling out his med kit.
"Watch out!" The lady shouted, pulling a pistol out and shooting at something behind Ellis. He could feel the wind from the bullets and heard the three thumps of bodies hitting the ground.
"Thank you kindly, ma'am." Ellis said as he finished fixing the girl up, and then helped her up. "My name's Ellis."
"Rochelle, my name is Rochelle." She said, giving a soft smile to Ellis. "Thanks for saving me. I was pretty sure that it was over for me."
"Aw shucks, it ain't nothin'." Ellis said, rubbing the back of his neck. "So uh, any idea wha's goin' on around here?"
"I'd love to chat Ellis, but at the moment we need to get to the evacuation center. It's at the top of that motel over there so let's get a move on." Rochelle said, taking a deep breath and heading in the direction she had pointed out.
"Alright then." Ellis jogged after her, taking great pleasure in shooting down anything that had a mind to run at them.
They reached the motel without too much difficulty. Ellis was actually starting to enjoy himself and was a little put out upon reaching the motel. There was a sickening feeling in his gut though, as they had come upon no other survivors at this point.
"This ain't normal, but it sure is fun." Ellis commented as he ran up the stairs, taking down any creature to get in his way.
"You and I have a very different definition of 'fun'." Rochelle muttered as she tried to keep up with Ellis. "Where does this boy get all his energy?"
Ellis ran out of stairs finally, reaching the door to the roof and ran out.
"Hey! Where is everybody?" Ellis called. "Helloooooo? Anyone here?"
"This cannot be happening." Rochelle murmured, feeling defeated. There was a slam of a door and Rochelle and Ellis both turned their guns on the intruders.
"Whoa, easy now." A man in an expensive white suit said, his hands in the air as a gesture of surrender.
"Where're the helicopters?" Another man asked. He was slightly out of breath as he came over to stand by Rochelle and Ellis. "Aren't they supposed to be saving our asses?" He asked again, gesturing at the helicopters that were flying away from the motel.
"Seems like there has been a change of plans." Fancy suit growled, glowering at the retreating black figures. Ellis had since given up on finding anyone up there.
"So what all is goin' on?" Ellis asked as he looked over the new arrivals.
"We're in the middle of the end of the world." The white suited man exclaimed. He had a smirk on his face, but it lacked any humor.
"Now I wouldn't go and say something like that." The other man said, crossing his arms. "I'm Coach, by the way. And you two are?"
"Rochelle."
"My name is Ellis. Some people call me El. I prefer ya not call me El because that's a girl's name but if ya prefer to call me El I guess ya can."
"Do you ever get tired of talking, Overalls?"
Ellis looked at the man and his fancy, expensive suit. A grin split his face.
"Nope. Do you?" Ellis continued since he didn't expect an answer. "So what's your name, Mr. Gamblin' Man?"
"The name is Nick, but don't bother remembering it. I won't be sticking around long enough for it to matter."
"Ya know guys, seems to me the whirlybird was headed to the mall. I reckon we should head there too." Ellis said, turning back towards the door. There was some slight grumbling from the others but they followed.
"I guess I agree with the hick. We should probably get off this burning building, either way." Nick said, pulling his gun out and preparing for the bloodshed ahead. Rochelle and Coach weren't far behind, wondering what kind of hell they'd have to go through before they could reach rescue.
The group didn't have too much trouble fighting their way back down, although Nick kept complaining about the blood that was getting on his expensive suit. To that Ellis had to say "It's you or them man."
Everyone started to take on a kind of role in the group as they continued to the mall. Ellis was the one who constantly put himself in danger, running ahead of the group and having a little too much fun killing the zombies. The first time he really realized what they were though, he made sure to get across to everyone that he knew this was coming. Even Rochelle gave him a hard time over that comment.
Things had been going pretty smoothly until they ran into their first horde. Coach had been standing a little too close to a rather bloated zombie when Nick had shot it, covering Coach in a gross green slime. That's when the screams were heard, and the thundering as hundreds of feet came racing in their direction.
"Ohhh, this is bad." Rochelle said as she hurried to reload her gun before firing into the creatures coming from every direction. Ellis whooped and began mowing them down with a machine gun he had picked up recently. Coach was a little slow getting to the party because of the slime that had gotten into his eyes, preventing him from seeing anything clearly. Fortunately for him, Ellis kept an eye out and took down any zombies that had been headed in his direction. Nick took zombie exterminating very seriously, and let nothing distract him as he cut down the zombies running to them. By the time the horde made it to them, they could no longer be called a horde.
When only stragglers were left, everyone kind of watched as Ellis went at them with an Axe.
"What's the matter kid? Can't hit an actual target?" Nick jabbed at Ellis, who just grinned and finished off the nearest zombies.
"Hey you three, I think I see a safe room in the distance!" Rochelle called, a few feet away from the three men. The three of them took off in the direction she pointed, the promise of some rest and a chance to take care of any wounds giving them new energy. To be able to spend a few moments without worrying about getting attacked… that sounded really good at a time like this.
Ellis watched everyone's back as they headed to the safe room. He was about to head in himself when something thick and slimy wound its way around his neck and torso and pulled him back. He was only able to let out a shout of surprise before he was being drug backwards.
"Ellis!" Rochelle shouted, causing the other two men to turn. They took off after Ellis, only stopping to deal with a few monsters. Ellis struggled against his binds but couldn't seem to free himself.
Shooting in the direction that Ellis was being pulled, Nick attracted more attention instead of helping.
"See if you can see it before you shoot!" Coach called, fending off a new wave of the sickly creatures plaguing Savannah. Nick ignored Coach at first, chasing and shooting without regard for what he actually hit as long as he didn't hit one of the survivors. Finally, Nick saw the creature that had its grip on Ellis. There was a puff of smoke in the near distance and the appendage gripping Ellis went slack. He tore it off and tossed it aside, trying to catch his breath. By the time he could breathe normally again Rochelle and Coach had caught up to where he was.
"Come on, Young'un." Rochelle said, helping Ellis up and helping him back in the direction of the safe house. Coach and Nick covered their backs.
Collapsing in a relieved heap on a couch, the four survivors allowed themselves to relax if only a little bit.
"Man that was some crazy Shit!" Ellis said. He didn't sound all that bothered that he was almost choked to death by a tongue.
"What the hell is going on around here?" Nick said. "I heard Savannah was supposed to be a nice place, not neighbor eat neighbor."
"Well, this is not what Savannah used to be like." Coach replied, tying gauze around a shallow wound on his arm to stem the blood flow.
"It's the Green Flu; that epidemic that has been spreading for a little while." Rochelle explained. "I was here to cover a story on it so I know a little bit about what to expect, although I didn't expect to be caught in the middle of everything."
"To start, what was that thing that tried to drag Ellis across town?"
"Those are smokers; they capture you with long tongues and choke their victims while dragging them to where ever they are hiding. Aside from Smokers there are a few other 'special' zombies. Jockeys will jump on your back and try to drag you into trouble. Spitters have highly toxic stomach acid that they enjoy spitting at people. Boomers, I believe, are like that bloated zombie that Nick blew up earlier and caused the horde to become aware to our location. Hunters are just bad news, as are witches. Don't mess with a witch, she'll tear you up good in a couple of seconds and that will be the end of your story." As Rochelle spoke the battered group cleaned and cared for their wounds and reloaded their supplies of ammo.
"Did I ever tell you about the time Keith-" Ellis started but Nick cut him off short.
"You know, I'm really trying hard to like you but you just keep pissing me off."
"I don't mean ta bother ya." Ellis didn't sound all that apologetic.
"For someone not meaning to, you are awfully good at it."
"Boys, we should probably plan a strategy to get to the mall. We need to get moving soon or by the time we get there all the helicopters will have left without us again." Rochelle cut in.
"The sooner we get there the sooner I can get away from you three." Nick grumbled.
"Anyway," Coach said, "the mall isn't too far from here. If we keep heading in the direction we have been we'll reach it shortly."
"Did I ever tell you about the time Keith tried to rob a whole mall? He was doing it on the count of a dare and cuz someone said he couldn't."
"Sweetie is this really a good time?" Rochelle broke in before Ellis could continue.
"Okay," Ellis said, "but Keith lost that dare."
"Fascinating…" Nick mumbled. "Are we ready to head out?"
"Yeah, let's go." Everyone grabbed up their preferred weapons and a med kit and headed out. There were a few infected waiting for them but nothing serious. Ellis took great pleasure in blowing them to pieces, leading the way.
Back out in the fray the survivors didn't say much. The main noise came from the nearby Infected and Ellis' stories.
"And tha' is why ya shouldn't go a scuba divin' with crocodiles as Keith found out." Ellis finished.
"That's great sweetie." Rochelle said, a little perplexed by the sudden lack of noise and infected.
"Did you feel that?" Coach was looking around, trying to pinpoint the cause of the rumbling in the ground.
"Holy Shit!" Ellis yelled, pointing at a form coming in their direction. "It is the amazin' Hulk!"
Everyone else stood silently, jaws dropping to the ground as the giant beast lumbered toward them.
"Well? What are ya waitin' for? An invitation? Shoot it!" Ellis said, letting loose a barrage of bullets on the monster. It roared with fury and stampeded toward Ellis. This seemed to snap everyone else out of their stupor.
"Molotov!" Nick yelled, throwing the bottle and catching the beast on fire.
"Great! It's giant, it's pissed, and now it's on fire and still coming at us! Great Job Nick!" Rochelle fired a full clip into it and it didn't even phase the monster. It slammed into Ellis, knocking him aside before swinging at Nick, missing by a few inches.
"Man, that thing packs a wallop!" Ellis said, flinching as he stood up.
"You alright boy?" Coach looked over at Ellis while reloading his gun.
"I can keep fightin'." Ellis said, continuing his bullet assault on the ugly creature.
The thing finally collapsed with a roar, falling a few feet in front of Nick.
"What the hell was that thing?" Nick did not look pleased. The survivors regrouped, Ellis slowly limping over to where the others stood. Nick pointedly looked away, asking Coach if the cut on his arm was ok. He didn't wait for an answer before he began bandaging it up.
"Come here Sweetie. I'll take care of you." Rochelle called Ellis over who smiled gratefully at her.
"Did I tell you about the time Keith tried taking on a gang all by him-self? They didn't take lightly to that and-"
"Ellis?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Not a good time."
"Yes ma'am."
After finishing up the survivors were only a little worse for wear.
"So how much farther until we reach the mall?" Rochelle asked, adjusting the guns on her back.
"God I hate malls." Nick grumbled to himself. Ellis clapped him on the back.
"After fightin' a slew of zombies, I'm purdy sure y'all survive the mall, Nick."
"Do Not touch me, Overalls." Nick brushed Ellis' hand off his shoulder. Ellis shrugged and took up the lead again, trying to remember how many zombies he had killed so he could tell Keith later.
Ellis was on a zombie killing spree and loving every minute of it. Nick, deciding the hick was having too much fun, stole Ellis' hat and began killing zombies with renewed vigor.
Ellis froze, shoulders tensing and nothing moving except his eyes that followed Nick's every movement.
"Gimme back my hat, Nick!" Ellis warned, slowly starting in Nick's direction; knocking zombies away with his bat.
"I dunno y'all, I was a thinkin I'da keep this 'ere hat." Nick mocked in a thick southern drawl.
"This ain't funny no more Nick…" Ellis said, trying again to get his hat back. He made a grab for it but Nick dodged, deftly keeping out of Ellis' grasp.
"Tis funny fer me." Nick chortled. He was completely caught off guard when a fist connected with his jaw. He was knocked backwards and hit the ground with a heavy thud. Ellis' hat flew a few feet away.
"Man, ya all went an' got zombie brains on it." Ellis said, picking up his hat and brushing it off before settling it back on his head. "This hat is importan' to me Nick an' I don' mind y'all makin fun a me but don' mess with the hat."
Nick shoved Ellis' offered hand away, brushing himself off. Ellis fired a few times and finished off a couple straggler zombies that had been about to go after Nick. Throughout the episode Rochelle and Coach stayed silent; only making sure that Ellis and Nick didn't get killed by the zombies during their lapse of logical thinking.
"Don't mess with the boy's hat." Coach said, chuckling at Nick who had been rubbing the sore spot on his jaw.
"Mall Ho!" Ellis called, pointing ahead. The survivors were about to charge ahead when they heard sobbing.
"Hullo? Is someone in need a help?" Ellis yelled, looking around for a figure in distress.
"Shush Ellis, don't startle the witch!" Rochelle warned.
"Now Rochelle, that ain't very nice. Somebody jus' needs a lil help." Ellis scolded, continuing his search for the person crying. He watched, a little confused as his comrades took up hiding places.
"No, Ellis. Remember? Witches are bad news. Their warning is sobs. If you startle them, you're as good as dead."
Ellis froze as it sank in and began trying to be quieter like the other three were when there was a scream. The witch had spotted Ellis!
"Ellis, watch out!" Coach tried shooting at the furiously swiping claws. This pissed the witch off more and she was going to go after Coach when Nick shot her in the head. She fell, claws outstretched. The screaming had alerted a horde which swarmed the survivors. Nick covered Ellis who was still lying on the ground, bleeding profusely.
"Hang in there, kid."
The horde seemed endless (but don't all hordes?)… as one infected fell, there would be more to take its place. It was pretty cramped between the zombies.
"I don't think I can hold out much longer." Coach had taken several wounds and was having trouble staying on his feet.
"Almost out of Ammo!" Rochelle called. Nick had long since run out of ammo and had taken to using a bat he had borrowed from Ellis. Not like Ellis needed it at the moment, considering he was still lying on the ground motionless. Nick had to keep checking for the rise and fall of his chest to make sure that he was still of this world.
Rochelle used a Katana as the horde kept coming, cutting the infected down slowly but surely. Although Coach had believed he couldn't last much longer, when your life depends on it you do what you believe you couldn't. Even in the dire situation the small group did not give up and eventually the horde thinned until there was nothing left.
"Hey, we need a med kit over here." Nick called. Coach ran over, moving to hand the kit to Nick. The gambler shook his head, motioning for him to go ahead. Rochelle and Nick stayed on guard while Coach worked to bandage Ellis up.
"He's lost a lot of blood."
"Let's see if we can find a safe room so we can heal up and get some rest." Nick lead them into the mall. Rochelle and Coach supported Ellis as they all limped behind Nick.
They were able to find a room without too much more trouble. After locking the door Nick allowed a little bit of relief.
"We made that by the skin of our teeth."
"Thank you, Nick, for stating the obvious." Rochelle muttered while setting Ellis down on one of two beds.
"Do you guys see any food in this joint? I'm starving!" Coach asked while rummaging around in the cabinets.
"There'll probably be sustenance in the fridge." Rochelle called to him as she re-bandaged Ellis' wounds with one of the extra med kits in the room. She bandaged up herself and Coach next, while Coach munched on a ham sandwich. Nick refused help, bandaging himself up.
"I'm still alive?" the voice was worn and cracked but still strong.
"That's debatable." Nick said, coming in and flicking Ellis' hat.
"Watch the hat, man." Ellis readjusted his hat; slowly because he was still sore but he couldn't have his hat being even a little crooked.
"You're awake! Here, eat this." Rochelle shoved a heavily stuffed ham sandwich into Ellis' mouth. "How are you feeling sweetie?"
Ellis mumbled something unintelligible. He decided to chew and swallow before attempting to communicate again.
"Much better, thank ya ma'am." Ellis said, grinning. He flinched as he tried to sit up.
"You need to rest, kid." Nick said to which Ellis responded by stopping his attempt to sit up and relaxed, finishing his sandwich.
"I think we all do." Rochelle added.
"CEDA will still be there in the morning."
"It's sleep or die." Nick said, "Although we'll probably die anyways… we'll have a better chance of survival with some rest."
"Did I tell you guys about the time that Keith made me believe we had died? It was really weird thinkin' I was a ghost and shit and he got me to believe I could walk through walls and when-"
"Ellis, get some sleep boy." Coach said.
"Ok, but turns out Keith can't walk through walls but he can bust'm down."
"So I'm off to bed." Rochelle attempted to hide a yawn and failed.
"Seems like we're gonna have to share beds or two will have to sleep on the floor." Coach said.
"Did you want to sleep near Nick?" Rochelle whispered to Coach.
"I'm going to stay up and watch the door and Ellis." Nick volunteered, grabbing a chair and getting comfortable.
"Alright Nick, Coach and I are going to get some sleep. Scream if there's trouble." Rochelle yawned again, heading into the other room. Coach followed her, another couple of sandwiches in his hand.
"Sleep well…" Nick was a little snide, but no more than normal.
"How's yer jaw feelin'?" Ellis stared at the ceiling, trying not to breathe too deeply.
"Fine. You should get some sleep."
"But whadda bout you?" Ellis shifted so that he was facing Nick.
"Out of everyone I'm feeling the best. I'll sleep later."
"Alright, I'll take up guard in a coupla hours then." Ellis was asleep within a few minutes, leaving Nick to his thoughts.
How had he gotten himself into this mess? He had been on his way to a gambling vacation, having plans already to screw a few suckers out of their money. He had thought the Green Flu had just been a rumor spread by the government, an attempt to cover up something more sinister. Then he encountered a zombie and had realized just how real the Green Flu was. It hadn't taken long for the disease to attack the little town he had been staying in. Before he knew it he had met up with Coach and in search for an evacuation center. Man, life sure enjoyed its pranks on human kind. If there was a God, which Nick highly doubted, he was laughing at them right now.
"Nick, your turn to get a lil shut-eye." Nick was broken out of his thoughts as Ellis waited for him to move.
"You need to keep resting Ellis. We need you in tip top fighting condition if we want to get out of this in one piece."
"I slept plenty Nick. Now it's your turn." Ellis stubbornly stared Nick down, refusing to go back to sleep.
"Well I'm not going to sleep so it would be a waste for you to use energy to stay awake as well."
"I'm fine. You needa lil sleep too." Ellis grabbed the only other chair, setting it next to Nick's and plopping down into it. He twitched uncomfortably as the bandages pulled at his wounds and tugged on his stitches.
"Well fine then, I don't know why I care."
There was silence for a couple minutes and Ellis stared obstinately ahead. As it showed Nick wasn't going to give, Ellis came up with another plan… when you can't outright win, Compromise.
"Hey Nick, I'll get sommore sleep only if ya join me."
"Jeez Ellis, didn't know you were that type." Nick's smirk got across all intentions with its lack of innocence.
"Ya know wha' I mean." Ellis grumbled, his face a little red.
"Alright, so what makes you think I want you to get more sleep so badly that I'd do what you want?"
"I figure in the fact yer fightin' me so hard."
"Because I really care if you get more sleep or not…"
"Ya seem ta be tryin awful hard not to really care." Ellis wasn't going to give in until Nick was sleeping.
"Well… I mean there haven't been any zombies around and I am pretty tired. Don't know why I'm trying to be the hero anyways… oh what the hell? Why not…" Nick got up from the chair, feeling weariness hit him like freight train. If he wanted to survive tomorrow sleep was probably a really good idea. He didn't even care at this point if Ellis went back to sleep or not; he just knew he needed some sleep.
Before Nick knew it he had crashed on the bed and was out like a light.
Nick awoke in comfort. He didn't remember the last time he had slept that well or the last time he had been so warm. Nick snuggled further into the warmth, perfectly content to go back to sleep. Then the warmth shifted, cuddling closer to Nick. He was so startled awake that he fell out of bed.
"Ouch! What the Hell?" Nick heard snickering and got up to see Rochelle and Coach trying to withhold their mirth.
"Aw Nick, I didn't know you could be so cute! I wish I had a camera." Rochelle teased, purposely giving Nick a hard time.
"Man, I didn't even know your gate swung like that." Coach chuckled, pulling out items to make some sandwiches before they had to leave.
"Gate? What?" Nick struggled to comprehend with his sleep fogged brain. The telltale signs of a headache had begun to set in. He turned back to the bed and it all became clear.
"If that's how you watch over someone remind me not to ever get into a situation where I need to be watched."
"Like he'd even want to cuddle with you, Coach."
Nick watched the hick who was still peacefully fast asleep; his hand reaching out to where Nick had been. Nick felt a burning in his stomach and did the only thing he could think of.
"Wake up, Overalls. We need to get a move on!" Nick called as he grabbed one of Coach's sandwiches and threw it at the hick's head.
"Time ta get up?" Ellis' voice was thick with sleep. He sat up, minding his wounds, and yawned. He looked groggily at the remains of the sandwich projectile before grabbing the ham and munching on it.
"Hey Nick, you just wasted a perfectly good sandwich. You owe me now." Coach grumbled, making himself another sandwich.
"We're in the middle of a Fucking Apocalypse and you're worried about food!" Nick snapped. He didn't like being made the fool.
"Boy, I do not like your attitude." Coach growled.
"Whatever." Nick really didn't care at the moment. "Just tell me when we're leaving."
"What's gotten into Nick?" Ellis asked as Nick stormed into another room.
"A certain little country boy." Rochelle hinted.
"Oh." Ellis could feel his face heat up.
"You guys were snuggled closer than two lovebirds." Coach joked, feeling a little better since Nick had left.
"Aw man, now Nick is gonna hate me. I didn' mean ta get up close ta him. I was jus' sleepin'." Ellis tried to explain. He decided the best thing to do was apologize to Nick. Heading into the room Nick had just escaped to, be found the gambler checking to make sure his guns were loaded with ammo.
"Look Nick, I'm sorry. I didn' mean ta make ya uncomfortable."
Nick ignored him, focusing on the gun. Ellis left than; deciding that hanging around would only make it worse. Nick brushed it off after a little while, putting on his poker-face when he rejoined the group.
"So Nick, are you read to go?" Rochelle asked, guns packed and med kit on her back.
"Baby, I was born ready."
They stormed out of the room, taking infected down left and right.
"Wha' is tha- AH! Get It OFF!" Ellis yelled as something clung to his back.
"Jocky!" Rochelle called.
"Thanks for the info, Sweetheart." Nick said, shooting the Jockey clean in the head. Ellis rubbed his face where the Jockey had gripped.
"Good for Nuthin' Back Humper." Ellis laughed, taking down more zombies. "God damn does tha' thing leave a nasty aftertaste."
The group made their way through the mall, looking for any sign of un-diseased life.
"I dunno bout y'all but I hava feelin' there ain't no rescue here." Ellis said out of the blue, after searching for what felt like a couple of hours.
"Hey, it is my job to be pessimistic. The Dark doesn't suit you, Overalls."
"I think he has a point though." Coach mentioned in defeat.
"Point or not, Cynicism is my thing." Nick finished that statement point blank. "What the hell is that?" Nick pointed at a bright yellow hazmat suit.
"CEDA?" Rochelle offered.
"We're Saved!"
"I wouldn't be so sure, Coach." Nick said as the hazmat suit turned to them. The too pale face snarled before running at Coach. There was a bang and the zombie CEDA dropped to the ground.
"Aw Shit man…" Ellis said, wiping his brow. "We are so screwed."
"Wait, look! There's a map!" Rochelle ran over behind a desk to study a map pinned on the wall. "Seems that our only hope lies in making it to New Orleans."
"Aw Shit! Looks like we're gonna go cross country joy ridin'!" Ellis' excitement was almost palpable. "Betcha there's a car here in the mall somewhere."
"Alright! Let's find a car. Better than having no plan."
The 4 survivors wandered further into the mall, dealing with a couple zombies here and there. There wasn't much trouble at all until somebody set an alarm off.
"ELLIS!" Rochelle cried out as zombies came from every direction.
"What? It wasn't me!"
"Instead of playing the 'Who Did it' game, we should focus on shutting the alarm off." Nick said, mowing down zombies as he headed up the escalators, looking for an 'OFF' switch.
"Good Plan." Coach agreed, covering Nick's back.
"Smoker!" Rochelle yelled right before a tongue hooked around Nick and tore him off his feet.
"Nick!" Ellis shouted, shooting the smoker. The 4 choked on smoke as they further fought the onslaught of zombies.
"Found it." Coach shut off the alarm, then headed back to the group who were finishing off yet another wave of the horde. Silence set over the mall as the zombies were cleared out.
"Damn! Where do they all come from?"
"No Way!" Ellis shouted randomly, running over to a poster. "Jimmy Gibbs jr. was takin photos today! Damned Apocalypse…. I coulda got my picture takin' with Jimmy Gibbs jr. and his car!"
"Uh….Jimmy Gibbs jr.?"
"Only the greatest man alive! He's my hero! Hey, his car should be in the mall… we could fill it up and use that!"
"Alright… so the plan is: find this Jimmy Gibbs car or die… I like the first option."
"Ok, but I'm driving." Nick said, studying the poster Ellis had gone ga-ga over.
"I think the man who came up with the plan should drive." Ellis said seriously. His voice left no room for argument.
"I see two men here, and neither had that plan… Either way, if you get killed I'm driving." Nick was a little surprised that Ellis just smiled.
"I hope you're jokin' Nick." Coach said, taking down a couple more CEDA suits.
"OH MY GOD! THERE IT IS! THE JIMMY GIBBS CAR!" Ellis practically squealed… except that it was manly.
"Wow…" Nick muttered, unenthused. He had been hoping for something a little more sporty but… if it got them out of the mall… "Now where's the fuel?"
"Upstairs!" Rochelle ran up the stairs, coming back down with fuel.
"That was a little too easy…"
Ellis wasn't really listening. "Isn't this just the purdiest car ya ever seen? It is just so goddamned beautiful!"
"Hey Ellis, I think I found your hero." Nick gestured with his gun as a zombie wearing Jimmy Gibbs jr. getup ran toward them.
"NOOOOOOO…." Ellis wailed. Nick had to use a full clip of ammo before the Jimmy Gibbs zombie went down.
"You'll be ok Ellis, just do him proud when you drive his car." Nick said, patting Ellis on the back.
Rochelle and Coach looked at Nick in shock.
"Who the hell are you and what have you done with Nick?" Nick brushed them off and covered Ellis' back as he went to get a couple more cans of fuel.
The car was full and the gang was ready to load up when a charger came stumbling in.
"Protect the Jimmy Gibbs Car!" Ellis yelled as he fired bullet after bullet into the charger.
"Man, that thing didn't stand a chance." Coach said, slapping Ellis on the back. They watched the charger collapse.
"Let's get outta here!" Rochelle said, hopping into the car. It was a little squished but as Ellis hit the gas and they broke out of the mall, running over a few zombies on the way, it was well worth it.