Little over a month had passed since the survivors first set up camp in the abandoned pool hall, Ellis practically dead to the world. The first few weeks were the hardest, Ellis' condition only getting worse. His wounds weren't healing which meant his blood had nowhere to go but out, seeping into his clothing and what little bandages the others had found; Nick's bandages, but that's unspoken of. As far as Ellis was concerned they found them in a med-kit behind the bar downstairs since the last thing Nick wanted was the redneck knowing that he actually cares even a little about him. He'd never hear the end of it and be expected to get one of those 'bro' tattoos Ellis is always going on about.

"El and I will take front, you and Rochelle take back."

"Got it."

The group grabbed what little they had collected and made their way to the exit, Nick prying off the boards they had nailed across the back door in hopes to keep out the infected. It worked, for the most part. There were several holes in the door and a few of the boards had been broken by either the undead or bullets, but for the most part still able ot do it's job.

With the last board off and dropped onto the ground, Nick opened the door and stepped out, gun at the ready. The street was clear with the exception of a few stranglers. "Clear."

The other three shuffled out, guns pointed out and ready to protect themselves if need be. Ellis, the last one out, poked his head out first, his fear of being attacked again evident by his actions.

"Don't worry Princess, we'll protect you." Nick teased, causing Ellis to strut out of the safety of the barred room with a look of determination. He could handle himself. Screw Nick and the rest of them. Though the small doubt bounced around in the back of his head as they made their way further into the city, his gun raised and shoulders more tense than the other three.

Nick had noticed this, his eye's studying the redneck's forced defensive stance. The kid was terrified which likely painted him as a target; he swears the zombies could smell fear. He shook his head, his gaze leaving Ellis' back and returning to his surroundings. They were in a parking-lot now, the mall just a few feet ahead.

"Oh look, CEDA is here!" Coach spoke, false excitement clear in his voice as he motioned to the sign sprawled out on the ground. Rochelle let out a small laugh before shaking her head and returning to scoping the open area. Ellis stayed silent and Nick, well, he was busy trying not to look at the mechanic two bodies ahead of him.

A few minutes later the four found themselves in front of the mall entrance, shattered glass crunching under their feet as they moved forward into the deserted mall. They didn't know what to expect to find, but they hoped to locate some source of food.

"Split up?" Rochelle suggested, looking to Coach, Ellis and Nick for their input. The two older gave a nod, Coach moving to Ro's side before leading off, leaving Nick with Ellis. He fought off a groan as he looked to the quiet male in question. What was his problem anyway?

"Overalls."

Ellis hadn't exactly been focusing, which was obvious enough by the lack of stories and chatting and the fact that he nearly jumped out of his skin when Nick called him. "Y-yeah?!" He spoke, finally, his heart thrumming heavily in his ears.

"Let's go." Nick wasn't sure what was going on with the kid nor was he interested. Okay, maybe he was a little interested.. "What's with you today?"

"..Huh?" Ellis replied, a little caught off guard. Why the hell did Nick care? "Nothing.. 'm fine."

"Uh-huh.. and I'm happily married with kids.." He was lying obviously; all sarcasm. Hell would freeze over before he got married again or had kids. Nick wasn't a family man, well, unless said family involved guns, drugs and women; Mafias.

An comfortable silence fell between them after that, Nick leading the way as they wandered the lower level of the mall.

On the upper level, Coach and Rochelle were rummaging through what was left of a sports store. They weren't looking for anything in particular since they didn't know what to expect. They could find something useful or just more garbage, which was exactly what they were finding. Most of the items in the store had been trashed, thrown to the ground or taken.

"Looks like there ain't anything of use here.."

There was a pause, Rochelle looking through shoe boxes that had been tossed to the ground. "There's a few things.. we could use some of this to make melee weapons and, if we can, find a pair of back up shoes." She looked up to Coach.

"Back up shoes? What do we need back up shoes for?"

"Well, that green goo ain't all that forgiving on shoes.."

"True enough. We'll keep an eye out then."

Ro nodded, picking up a pair of shoes in her size with a smile. While they weren't exactly the best looking kind they'd do in a pinch.

Once they were done with the sports store, having grabbed a few things and tucked them into a hockey bag, moved onto the next store and so on.

Nick and Ellis, still on the bottom level, made their way through the mall in silence. There hadn't been much to say or do since most of the stores had been picked through already.

The conman let out a huff of frustration before coming to a stop, Ellis almost colliding straight into his back. "What?"

"..Nothing." Nick offered, turning his head slightly to look at the mechanic before continuing forward. Wondering if that response would piss Ellis off as much as it had him earlier. Here's hoping.

"Seriously?"

Bingo. Nick smirked, staying silent as he made his way into a small shop that had caught his gaze; a Tailor. The place was a dump with torn up fabric, suits and trims thrown everywhere, but there were suits and by god Nick wasn't going to pass up this opportunity to get a new suit simply because his current one was disgusting beyond belief. It was covered with substances he knew and more that he didn't; it was better off not thought about.

He knew he wasn't going to find another flashy white one, but hey atleast he'd still look good. Leaving Ellis to his complaining, Nick scanned over the multiple suits varying in color and sizes, though lacking in the size and style he preferred. So, finding something close to his preference grabbed it and tossed the items into one of the bags from behind the counter before returning to Ellis.

"Why get a new suit? ...I mean it's just going to get ruined anyway.." Ellis asked, causing Nick shrug. The mechanic had a valid point. The suit he had just grabbed would probably end up in the same state as the one he was currently wearing, but still it was a nice thought to be in new clothes, even if for only a little while.

"We should probably meet back up with Nick and El soon."

"Yeah, I don't know how much more of this creepy atmosphere I can take.." Rochelle replied, moving a tad closer to Coach's side, the sound of something falling having only spooked her more.

The pair forged on, sticking close by each other with their guns ready. "Feels like we're being watched.." Coach spoke again, re-adjusting the hockey bag on his shoulder. Rochelle could only frown at his comment. She had definitely felt the same way. "Think there's a special stalking us?"

Coach shook his head, no. "If one were we'd hear it.." Which was partially true since the specials usually had a distinctive sound they made before attacking. Coach had done well to learn all of them to avoid future injuries and to keep his team safe.

Having finished looking over all the stores on the first level, Nick lead them upstairs. It was about time to meet back up with their other half; Rochelle and Coach.

"Shouldn' we just wait down here for em?"

"It's better if we go find them.. they're probably in some closet making out anyway."

The words made Ellis cringe, the thought of Coach and Rochelle getting it on almost enough to make him puke. He liked the two of them, don't get him wrong, but he really just didn't need to know about their relationship, if there was one. Nick wasn't really trust worthy when it came to gossip. Everything he said were based on assumptions. "Thanks for the picture.."

Nick only chuckled as he began to jog up the steps, hoping that his assumption was incorrect. He really didn't wan't to stumble upon the two having a quickie.

At the top of the stairs, the shared a look then turned to glance over their surroundings. It seemed quiet enough at the moment, which would give anybody else the feeling of safety. Quiet did not mean it was safe. The undead were lurking in the dark corners, likely still unaware of the survivor's presence but still there.

"I don' like this quiet.." Ellis spoke, his voice almost a whisper.

"Yeah.. me either.." He raised his gun slightly, finger placed above the trigger before walking forward. "Just stay alert."

Ellis gave him a nod and followed Nick, raising his own gun and watching the darker areas of the mall for movement. He wasn't going to be taken off guard ever again.

Coach had just taken his first step down when he heard the oh-so familiar belching noise of a boomer. It caused him to turn back to Rochelle, but before he could pull her back and out of the bile's path it was too late. The green liquid hit her, drenching her instantly before he could even get a shot off. She stumbled backwards, Coach catching her before firing a round into the special infected's bloated stomach which, in turn, threw them backwards and tumbling down the stairs.

At the bottom, the two helped each other up without hesitation and began to run in hopes to run into Nick and Ellis on their way out. "Nick! Ellis!" Rochelle called out, their position already blown by the bile's stench clinging to her skin and clothes.

The two hadn't even began their search when they heard a gun shot, both their heads turning to look in the direction the sound echoed from. "Ah shit.." Nick mumbled, taking off in a jog with Ellis following behind him.

"Nick! They're below... There!" He shouted, pointing at the two on the first floor running in the opposite direction. "Smells like a boomer got her." he added, the stale stench of bile burning his nose. The other zombies would be on them within seconds. "Come on, we gotta catch up!"

"Tell me something I don't know, Overalls.." Nick snapped, taking off in a sprint back towards the stairs, firing a few rounds into oncoming zombies. "The stairs are gonna be over run soon.. we need another way."

Ellis looked around quickly, his eyes snapping onto a elevator only a few feet away. "There!" He spoke, tugging on Nick's jacket and pointing in the elevator's direction with his gun.

"I highly doubt that death trap works properly.."

"Come on, dammit!" he groaned as he gave Nick's jacket another tug in the direction he began to run. Nick fired off a few more shots before looking to the elevator again and with a heavy sigh, took off after Ellis. "This better work, Overalls!"

Rochelle had managed to keep a steady pace with Coach, her gun raised and doing damage to any zombies that stood in her way. Her counter part was doing the same, slaughter zombies with a machete in one hand and a pistol in the other. She had to admit, in times like these, she enjoyed having Coach around. "I don't see them anywhere!"

Coach let out a grunt as he brought down the sharp edge of his blade onto an undead's head. "They've probably gone upstairs.." Heaving the blade back out of the dead man's head, he looked up as he heard the sound of machinery.

"The elevator! ... Are they crazy?! What if that thin-" She was cut off by the sudden snap of a cable. The whip-like noise echoing in the mall's silence, the zombies groans and hisses muted by the realization that Nick and Ellis had been inside. "No.." Her voice was almost a whisper. "No!" She let out a cry, firing upon the horde of zombies, trying to push her way towards the destroyed machine. She couldn't leave them behind.

It was Coach that stopped her, his hand wrapping firmly around her arm and tugging her back. If they wanted to survive they needed to get out of the mall. He had told her that much, but that didn't stop her from fighting. "Ellis! ... Nick!" Tears fell down both sides of her cheeks, streaking her dirty face.