A True Sob Story
A Left 4 Dead Fan Fiction
Chapter 1: Group Dynamics
"Sean! Wake up!" I know I heard that…From somewhere… "Sean! Get your lazy ass up!"
"Huh?" Suddenly, I was pulled out of the black void that I was stuck in and opened my eyes to a world of color. "Damn it David!" I slurred in my half-sleep. "What is with you and bright tie dye shirts?"
"Okay, first off, they make me look sexy. Second, my sense of fashion isn't the point here. The point is the fact that the infection has really gotten out of hand. We can't stay here any longer. Go grab a weapon and a first aid kit and meet us at the back door." After he finished talking, David left the room. David always was kind of weird. He liked video games a little too much, and he always wore clothes that were just too damn colorful. But I had to admit that in a situation like the one that we're stuck in, its always nice to see something colorful. All in all, David was nice, but he could be way too casual about things. Plus, he wasn't exactly the most physically fit person around, but he managed.
I let out a sigh. "I can tell already that today is gonna be just awesome." I said sarcastically. So, I went downstairs and grabbed a shotgun and a first aid kit before regrouping with David. "Hey, where is everyone else?" I asked.
"Oh, they're coming. I had to wake them up too."
"Didn't you sleep?" I asked.
"Nah. I was keeping an eye on the news stations all night."
"And you aren't tired at all?"
"Well, I'll admit that I'm a little groggy, but it isn't anything major." He said through a huge yawn.
"Hey guys!" Called an abnormally cheery voice from the stairwell. "Whatcha talkin bout, huh?"
"Oh, nothing really. I'm just a little tired is all." David said. "How are you this morning Kate?"
"I'm doing great! You know, except for the whole zombies killing everything I once knew and loved thing, but otherwise I'm awesome!" Kate said, giving a thumbs up. The scary thing is… I don't think she was being sarcastic. Kate was one of those perpetually happy, never stop smiling kind of people that you usually find working drive thru windows or selling cookies at charity events. She couldn't be more than 18 years old, and she was constantly cheery. Still, she could be serious in a smile warmly while emptying a clip into you sort of way.
"Well, someone is awfully cheery today." Said a voice from upstairs. "It's good to see that you're in a better mood than Pete. He still has to get his gloomy ass outta bed!"
"Hey there Laura." I said casually. Laura was probably the most normal person that I was traveling with. She never really went overboard about anything unless she was particularly pissed off. Overall, she kept a cool head when the rest of us were in disarray. I think I had feelings for her, but I could never really articulate them. "Nice day today huh…You know, besides the whole zombie thing anyways."
"Oh, quit trying to impress her. We already know you two are crazy about each other." said the melancholy voice of Pete, who had just gotten to the stairs. Pete was a bit of a snappy dresser compared to the rest of us. He always wore a plain shirt with a collar, and khaki jeans. Plus, I have no idea how he managed to keep up with us in those dress shoes when we needed to run. He had a pretty abrasive personality, but he wasn't all bad…He was a royal pain in the ass most of the time though.
"Pete." Laura began. "Shut your mouth before I staple it shut. Grab a gun and move your ass. You're going outside first." She said with a small smirk.
"Hah!" Pete laughed. "I don't think so."
"Alright." Laura said. "All opposed?"
"Nay!" Pete said loudly.
"All in favor?"
"Aye." I said half heartedly.
"Aye!" Laura said confidently.
"Yep." David said through another yawn.
"Uh huh!" Kate called out above everyone else.
"Well, it looks like you get to take point Pete." Laura said very matter-of-factly.
"Damn it! You all suck!" Pete said as he grabbed a first aid kit and a hunting rifle Pete moved over to the barred window on the door and looked through the rifle's scope. "Okay, there's a few of em out there. I'll take them out and then we can get going." Pete took a few shots and then gave the all clear signal. Then, he opened the door and we followed him outside.
Its kind of strange for a place so familiar to look so different. I grew up here in Halot, Massachusetts, but I barely recognized it anymore. The trees were bare already, and the sun was in just the right place to cast an eerie shadow through the clouds that somehow made everything seem just a little more dead. The street was cracked in places where it wasn't before, and the grass seemed to have died with the rest of humanity. There were a few common infected on the ground, and they were all missing one limb or another.
"Wow Pete." I said. "You do good work man."
"Of course I do. At least one of us has to be good at something." Of course Laura had to reply to this.
"You know, as arrogant and idiotic as that sounded, I'll just pretend I didn't hear it." Laura said. "After all, you don't need me to tell you how much of an asshole you are."
"Aww. Couldn't you have just left it at the I don't need you part?"
"What? You think you're gonna survive ten minutes without us watching your back? You've gotta be crazy!"
"You know what? I do! I don't need any of you holding me back!" Pete points at Laura. "You nagging me whatever I do." Next came David. "You just being, well, YOU!" And then Kate. "You…I don't think you even understand what the fuck is going on!" And finally me. "And you! You're a spineless piece of shit! I'm honestly surprised that you're even still alive! I swear, none of you are even worth the air you breathe! I'm out of h-!" Pete was cut off by the long awaited meeting of his face and Laura's fist.
"Listen you miserable little puke! I would be more than happy to let you go off on your own and die! BUT, it just so happens that our best chance for survival is to stay together, even IF we have to put up with you the whole time! Now I suggest that you put your eyes forward, and march before I get angry!" Laura was practically on fire, but suddenly, we all heard a sound that froze us solid.
"Everybody," I said, "shut the hell up, and turn out your lights." We all knew what the sound of loud sobbing meant. There was a witch nearby, and we had to find it. We all began looking in different directions, trying to find the terrifying yet pitiful creature.
"Hey everyone!" Pete half yelled, half whispered. "I think I found h-MMPH!" Pete was interrupted by the long tongue of a Smoker grabbing him by the head. We all looked over and heard a series of loud snaps as Pete was dragged, struggling, into some nearby foliage."
"Pete!" Laura yelled as she ran after him. In her haste, she almost ran right into the witch, who had stopped crying, and was now looking around like a confused child while trying to apparently stay out of the way. This was very odd, and almost gave Laura a heart attack, but she wisely decided to ignore it and keep going. When she found Pete, she immediately killed the Smoker clawing him from behind.
"Holy shit! Pete, are you all right?" Laura asked, genuinely worried.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Thanks Laura. Man, I barely missed that witch."
We had been surviving together for a while, but this was the first time I ever saw Laura actually give two shits about Pete's life. "Looks like you got lucky Pete." I said. "It seems that the snapping sound was just a few dry sticks. I was pretty worried at first there."
"Well, thanks again for the save Laura." Pete said, getting a little flustered. I'd be dead if it wasn't for you."
"Well then, I sure as hell hope this taught you a lesson Pete." Laura said "Do you still think you can make it on your own?"
"Hi uh, guys?" Kate said cheerfully, yet awkwardly. "I think that this discussion would be more appropriate if taken further away from the crying death machine don't you?" After Kate said this, the crying seemed to get more intense, as if the witch felt insulted. I was sure it was just my imagination though.
At this point, we didn't even know where we were going. All we knew was that we wanted to put as much space between ourselves and the witch as possible. So, we headed in the direction of some distant lights, but strangely enough, the sobbing would stop occasionally, but it would always start back up again.
We were being followed.