I deleted the author's note that I posted a long time ago, mainly because it was bugging me. Sorry about any confusion that there may be about that.

So, as I was writing this chapter, I decided that I'm going to be writing an epilogue. It should hopefully be up soon, and then this story will officially be complete!

Disclaimer: I do not own Left 4 dead. Valve does. I only own Misty and J.J.

03: The Run

~3rd person POV~

Misty rolled around in her sleep, feeling restless. She sat up, opening her eyes to see that Ellis was awake. "Oh, hey there Misty." He said with a smile.

Misty smiled back, and looked at J.J, who was sleeping snug between Ellis and her. Misty let out a sigh and tucked a lock of J.J's hair behind her ear. "Ellis, can I ask you to do something?" Misty asked quietly. "Y-Yeah sure. What is it?" Ellis asked.

Misty looked at him. "I want you to promise me. If anything happens to me, like if I get killed, I want you to promise to take care of her."

"W-What?" Ellis asked, slightly surprised. Misty smiled.

"She's a stubborn girl. If I do die, she'll try to say that she'll be better off on her own. Please, stay with her. Besides, I saw the looks you guys gave each other yesterday, and I can tell that you've developed feelings for her." Misty said, her smile turning into a smirk. She saw a faint blush play across Ellis' cheeks and she chuckled. He smiled and nodded. "Alright then. It's a promise." He said.

"Thank you, Ellis."

-J.J-

As I stretched after waking up, I felt a shiver run down my spine when I remembered where we were. Still in a carnival, with zombies. I stood to see Misty talking to Rochelle and Coach, and Ellis and Nick getting more ammo for their guns. I decided to do the same, since it might be our last chance to do so. I grabbed pistol ammo and ammo for my automatic rifle, putting them in my backpack. I stood and walked over to the group, just to hear the plan that Coach was saying.

"Alright, here's the plan. Y'all know the Midnight Riders? They're gonna save us." He said. "I hate to break it to ya Coach, but I don't think they're actually here." Ellis said. "We'll set off their finale and the chopper gotta know something's up. And nobody and I mean NOBODY has the bigger light show than the Midnight Riders." Coach said. "Coach that is the stupidest idea I've ever agreed with." Nick said. Coach smiled.

"Alright then, everybody grab a weapon and let's move!"

We exited the safe room and moved through the dark corridor, killing zombies as we did so. We took a quick look in the bathrooms. After finding nothing, we continued walking. There was a low gurgling noise as we approached a lit area and a big, fat zombie, a boomer, waddled towards us.

"Boomer! Boomer!" Ellis said, getting ready to shoot at it. We backed away as he did so and the Boomer exploded, just as a horde attacked us. "We got a Hunter!" Nick yelled.

I spun around and saw the Hunter hiding in the horde of zombies and I started shooting at it. It jumped in the air and Coach killed it with a shotgun blast to the head just before it landed on me.

"Thanks." I said, smiling. "No problem. Now lets get this area set up." Coach said with a smile.

We moved the boxes of fireworks around, as well as a couple of gas tanks. Nick and Misty scouted the area for any pipe bombs and molotovs, bringing them to the stage if they found them. Coach and Rochelle were taking care of bringing extra ammo, health kits, pills and adrennaline shots to the stage.

As they did so, I was able to sit down for a breather. I sat beside a guitar and smiled at it. I felt someone sit down next to me. I smiled. "So we're almost out of here, huh?"

Ellis smiled. "Yeah."

I leaned my head against the large chest behind me. "What are you going to do when we do get out of here?" I asked. "I dunno. Probably work on mechanical stuff. I'm actually pretty good with computers." Ellis said, the smile on his face turning into a goofy one. "Really?" I asked. "Yup! Keith would end up callin' me to his house 'cause he'd go an' get a virus on it an' I'd get rid of the virus." Ellis said happily.

I found myself laughing. "So what about you? What are you going to do?" Ellis asked. I smiled. "I don't know. Maybe I'll work on writing or something, you know?"

Ellis chuckled. "Yeah, sounds fair."

Misty smiled in the direction of Ellis and J.J. She was happy that the two were able to talk and make the best of the situation that they're in. "You alright?" Nick asked. Misty nodded, setting the pipe bombs that she was carrying down. "I'm fine."

Nick put his hand on Misty's head. "H-Hey!" she snapped. She hit his arm and a smile spread on Nick's face as he started messing up Misty's hair. He laughed and ran. Misty growled and ran after him, chasing him back toward the stage.

"You ready?" Coach asked. I nodded and pushed the button on the stage to start the music.

The roar of the hoarde sent shivers down my spine. The only things to comfort me was the comforting smile Ellis was sending my way, and the music starting to play. I started shooting at the zombies that came pouring into the arena. Misty picked up a pipe bomb and threw it, just as Nick shot one of the boxes of fireworks.

"Flamin' zombies!" Misty said with a grin. I was about to reply, when I felt something wrap around my waist. "Shit!" I heard Rochelle curse as I started to be dragged back. I felt claws rip into my arm and I let out a growl. "Not this time..." I started, I grabbed a dagger that I had in my back pocket. "You fucker!" I shouted, cutting off the smoker's tongue. It stumbled back in suprise and I kicked it before shooting it in the head a couple of times with a pistol I had in my other pocket.

I panted and Rochelle ran over to me. "Damn girl." she said, tossing my gun to me. I smiled. "Thanks."

We returned to the stage with the others, just as the fireworks started going off. "Alright. Midnight Riders, don't let me down..." I mumbled.

There was a loud roar and a bang. We turned to see a tank running toward us. It picked up a large slad of concrete and threw it towards all of us. We shot at it as it came closer. Misty started running toward it. She swung at it with her machete. "Come at me, you fucker!" she yelled. As she hit the tank a couple of times, it turned to face her and it hit her, sending her flying back towards the stage.

"Misty!" I yelled. I ran over toward her and helped her stand up. "What is wrong with you?!" I hissed, turning to shoot at the tank. Misty shot me a look. "We need to kill that thing." she snapped, before throwing a bile bomb and it and running off. I let out a groan and started shooting at the tank, while killing other common infected and dodging them. The tank threw various pieces of concrete in the air and one flew right past me. As I turned back to face it, I was slammed into a nearby concrete wall by some of the infected and I felt stars enter my vision. I cursed underneath my breath and turned, kicking at the infected and shooting at them.

After a few minutes, we had managed to kill the tank and the lingering common infected. We made out way to the stage and I sat down, leaning against the technical equipment. Ellis walked over to me, worry on his face. "Are you feeling alright J.J?" he asked. I slowly nodded, my head spinning from the action, and I put my hand against my head to stop it. When I did however, I felt something wet and I let out a shaky breath. "Ellis...what is this on my head?" I asked.

Ellis moved my hand and looked, moving some of my hair out of the way, and he cursed underneath his breath. "Guys, we need a medkit here, fast!" he shouted, looking towards the others. Rochelle tossed a medkit over, and Ellis caught it, turning towards me. "J.J, don't freak out, but you've got a pretty bad head injury. I need to bandage you up now." Ellis said, taking the gear he needed out of the medkit. "O-Okay..." I whispered, closing my eyes. "I'm gonna need you to stay awake now. We can't risk you falling asleep right now." Ellis said. I opened my eyes and smiled softly. "Alright."

Misty rushed over and let out a colorful string of curse words. "Son of a...how did you even get this injury?" she asked. "Infected...cornered me. I...my head, it hit the concrete wall." I replied, wincing as Ellis bandaged up my head. "Sorry guys...sorry..." I whispered. "Idiot. It's not your fault." Misty said with a sigh as she looked away. She stood up and Ellis finished with bandaging my head wound. "There we go, that should work for now. How do you feel?" he asked. I smiled. "Better. Still tired though." I said, clearing my throat. "You're going to have to be careful J.J. Try not to move around too fast on your own." Rochelle said, kneeling beside me. I let out a long sigh. "That's going to make escaping here harder." I said. Ellis and Rochelle exchanged worried glances and Ellis grinned. "I can carry you!"

"What?" I asked. "Yeah! I can carry you on my back, like a piggy back ride, and you can shoot at the zombies!" Ellis said. "That does seem like the best way to make sure that you get out of here." Misty said, smiling. "Yeah, we've all got to work together to get out of here. We've done okay so far." Rochelle said. I smiled. "Alright then Ellis. Let's do it."

"There's the helicopter!" Coach shouted. Ellis and Misty helped me up and Ellis kneeled. "Alrighty, climb onto my back then." he said. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. He stood up, holding onto my legs and Misty handed me a pistol, smiling. "Let's get out of here."

Ellis started running in the direction of the helicopter as we heard a roar of another horde. I looked back at the others and they motioned for us to keep going. "We'll be there in a moment! We're giving you guys a head start!" Misty shouted. "But...!" I started. Ellis continued running and tears filled my eyes before I looked forward again. Ellis ran up the stairs and toward the helicopter and I shot at the zombies that blocked our way. When we made it to the helicopter, I saw the others weren't too far behind us and I let out a sigh of relief as Ellis climbed into the helicopter. He set me down on one of the seats and smiled at me. "We made it." he said, panting. I looked out the side of the helicopter and bit back a scream. "Ellis!"

I pointed to where the others were, as they were running from a tank. "We have to help them!" I said, starting to get up. Ellis pushed me back down and held me there. "J.J, you're hurt sweetheart." he said sternly. I felt tears sliding down my face and I shook my head. "I...we have to do something..." I whispered. Ellis pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me as Rochelle and Coach climbed into the helicopter. "Where's...where's Misty?" I asked. "She and Nick are almost here."

I looked and the two were standing a few feet away from the helicopter. I managed to hear them arguing. "Guys, come on!" Rochelle said, holding her hand out. Misty looked at me and smiled. She grabbed onto Nick's shirt and planted a kiss onto his lips, before shoving him in the direction of the helicopter, Nick tripping backwards and falling beside Rochelle. "Get out of here!" she shouted, turning and throwing a molotov at the tank, which was running at us, faster and faster. She looked at Coach and nodded, smiling. "Get out of here. Ellis, you better keep your promise." Misty said. Ellis nodded. "Misty, get onto the helicopter!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face. Misty smiled at me and threw something at Nick. "Look at that when you guys get out of here, alright?"

Misty then ran off, shooting at the zombies and the helicopter lifted off of the ground. "No! We can't leave you!" I screamed. I sobbed as Misty fought the zombies and the flaming tank got closer to her. Ellis pulled me away from he edge of the helicopter and I sobbed into his chest.

When the stadium was just a blur in the distance, Coach looked towards the pilot. "How much longer until we're to saftey?" he asked. "About thiry minutes." the pilot replied. "Hear that guys? We're safe." Rochelle said, relief in her voice. I stayed silent, my head against Ellis' chest. I had finished crying about a minute ago, and I just sayed silent. "What was it that Misty threw at ya Nick?" Ellis asked. I heard some shuffling and a paper crinkling. "It's...a letter." Nick stated. "She must have written it when we were in the safe room just before the stadium, since it's on the back of a Midnight Riders flyer." Rochelle said. "What does it say?" I asked, not moving and hugging Ellis tighter.

"Guys. First of all, thank you so much for letting J.J and I travel with you guys. I cannot thank you all enough for this. Next, Coach and Rochelle. I wanted to thank you for helping J.J with her injuries when we met. If it wasn't for you two, she might not have made it. It might sound a bit dramatic, but it's true. Ellis, thanks for helping watch over her. I can tell that she likes you, and that you like her. Despite knowing you for a short amount of time, she genuinely likes you. Take advantage of that and never let her go. Do me a favor and always be there for her, will you? I'd appreciate it." Nick stopped for a second and swallowed a lump in his throat.

"Nick. I won't forget you. And what I said to you the other day, I really meant it. I think that you're a special guy, and some day, you're really going to find someone special for you. Lastly, J.J. I've known you since, basically since you were born. You are a young woman, and you have lost so much since this outbreak started. Do me a favor and just be happy okay? You and Ellis can be happy, don't let your regrets hold you back. I'll miss you all, and I trust you guys to be happy. Goodbye guys, Misty."

It was silent in the helicopter. I hugged Ellis tighter and he responded by just holding me and all of us, silently mourned Misty's death.