Zero: Whoot! Chapter 4!
Bear: Excited?
Sarah: Isn't that the understatement of the century...
Me: No the understatement of the century is that school is annoying.
Bear: Point made.
Brutal: So how about one of the leading ladies for this tale does the disclaimer?
Sarah: Very well. Azard doesn't own Left 4 Dead or the types of infected. They belong to valve. All he owns are the characters and the plot.
Me: Thank you Sarah. Read, Review and Enjoy.
Chapter 4: Reunion
"Wake up," came a new voice. I opened my eyes and saw the black haired boy from before. His whole group was in my room brandishing shotguns with small machine guns strapped to their backs. All except the girl, who was currently not in their company. Where did she go? "Don't be alarmed, don't attack and we won't attack you." That sounded familiar. Bear said the same damn thing. "It's good to see you again, big brother." Big brother? So this kid's my little brother? Just great. I looked to see his allies turning to each other with confused expressions on their faces. "Don't worry about it. He's my big brother. Stand guard outside while I talk to him."
"So what do you want bro?" I asked. He tilted his head in confusion.
"I have no idea what you just said," was the response I received. I shrugged and sighed. "You may want to keep quiet. If the guys hear you, they may figure out you're a Hunter." I jumped back slightly. "That's right, I know. I watched you die almost three months ago." I hung my head.
"I couldn't help what happened..." I said solemnly. This time he jumped back slightly. Why?
"Don't worry about what happened," he said. I looked at him slightly confused. "I'm your brother, Zero. I know about your tells and what you do when you feel a certain way. I need your help." I shrugged again to ask with what. "You remember that girl we were traveling with before?" I nodded. For some reason I couldn't get her out of my mind. Goddammit, why was this female having this kind of effect on me? Never mind, I've got more important matters to worry about. Apparently I had no way of communicating with my own brother. Shit. "Well, a few other survivors ambushed us and knocked us out. When we came to, she was gone. We assume they took her and I'd like your help in getting her back." Some reunion. I brought my right hand to my face thoughtfully.
"To help I'd have to get the clique's aid as well." I said thinking out load.
"I don't see why that'd be a problem, oh fuck."
"You can understand me?" I almost shouted.
"Will, whats going on in there? What's that noise?" Came the voice of one of the boys on the opposite side of the door.
"Nothing!" He called back. "I guess I can because I'm your brother." That was a stupid explanation.
"That explanation sucked," I whispered.
"I know, but what other explanation could there possibly be? My friends still can't understand you, so what else is there?" My brother asked. His questions made sense.
"I guess your the only normal I can talk to then." I said. He nodded.
"Wait here," he said before walking out. Now what is he going to do? I turned and looked out the window. After a few minutes he came back in with his group. "Well big bro, they know. They won't kill you or your allies, in fact this could work to our advantage."
"You want us to run distraction?" I asked. It seemed that he had that in mind. I was surprised when he shook his head.
"No, we'll do that," Will said. "After all, you've got a princess to rescue." That earned him confused looks across the board.
"What are you talking about Will?" One of the others asked. I agree, what the hell is he talking about?
"Have you been hitting the catnip again bro?" I asked. Wait, why did I just ask that?
"I swear to god... I did that one time! One time!" He almost shouted. How did I remember something like that?
"Forget it," I said. "Tell your group to stay here, I'll get my team." I rushed downstairs and stirred the others from their sleep.
"What is it Zero?" Bear asked.
"We've got visitors, but they need our help."
"More infected?" Sarah asked.
"Not exactly, it's my little brother."
"Can we trust him?" Ash asked as he walked into the room.
"He had the perfect opportunity to kill all of us while we slept, yet he didn't."
"Point made," Ash said. Damn right that was a point.
"Also, for some reason he can understand me... though I don't think he can understand anyone else. So I'll be the bridge between you and him. Just so you can tell him what you need to." They nodded their approval and we headed upstairs. The looks on his allies' faces were priceless.
"Holy shit!" One of them exclaimed. "They've basically got the elites among the special infected. All they're missing is a damned Charger." I laughed. We had that too, he just wasn't here.
"Your brother knows these things Will?" Another asked. Will looked thoughtful and nodded.
"Yes, he does and they're not things. They're his clique."
"Wait, you mean that group he was always hanging out with?" The fourth ally asked. Will nodded. "Wow."
"So why exactly do we have to rescue her?" I questioned. Truth be told I didn't see what the urgency was.
"She's our friend," Will replied. I nodded. That was all I needed to hear. "So what's the plan?"
"You wanted to rescue her, I assumed you had the plan." I said.
"C'mon bro, you know me, I'm no strategist." I shook my head. That seemed to tell him all he needed. "You can't remember much, can you?" I shook my head again. "No wonder you seemed so confused."
"Do you know where they took her?" I asked. Basic stuff. If he didn't know it'd be like going on a wild goose chase.
"Yep, I've even got a map of the building," he replied pulling out a blue piece of paper. I took it from him and opened it on the floor. Blueprints... more memories... My vision began to fade again. When I came to I was sitting on the floor looking at a different blueprint. What was going on this time? I could see myself tracing the paper with one of my fingers. So I was watching this memory, instead of reliving it. I was studying the paper carefully along with the others. Ash, Bear, Gimpy, Sarah and Razor were all there.
"So do you think we can pull this off?" Gimpy asked. I nodded.
"We just need to be precise with our timing and we should be able to pull this off," Ash said. "So fearless leader, where do we start?"
"Take a look here," I said pointing to a spot on the blueprint. "Over here is vent that should take us inside."
"What about over here?" Bear inquired pointing to another spot.
"That's part two, but good eyes bro," I replied. "The ones that head in the vent will go inside first and create a distraction. Then the ones at entrance B will go inside and do the deed. If this goes according to plan the school team will have a new motto!"
"Sweet!" Razor exclaimed . Razor... dammit guy if anyone could've survived as an infected it was you. He was one of my best friends. The one thing I, or any of us, never understood is why he dyed his spiky hair green to match his eyes. Oh well. I started to feel like crap again. Razor was turned because of me, and he was slaughtered by the normals... It wasn't my fault. None of it was. I couldn't control myself and it's because of me that Bear and Sarah are alive today.
"Sweet indeed," I said. "Ok, let's put this plan into action!" The next thing I knew, I was watching everyone stand in front of the high school. Here again... Is this going to be a reoccurring thing? I shimmied to the roof with Razor close behind and made my way to the vent. Razor went over to the opening and stood watch while I dove inside and ended up in one of the wider hallways. I looked up and saw the red banner that had our school's mascot and motto.
GO KNIGHTS! Reign in Victory! It said. While, yes, it wasn't that bad of a motto, our mascot's nickname the football team earned it definitely called for a new motto. Our football team was known for doing the craziest plays that most people would dub insane at best, most involving me. Wait, that's right, I was on the football team too. I played running back and sometimes wide receiver, that's how I earned my nickname, Zero. If I passed the defenders, I was scoring a touchdown. They could never catch me. Our habit to use crazy plays earned us the full title, 'Psycho Knights' so the students felt we needed a new motto. It was just up to us to put a plan into motion and get the team a new motto.
I started to slam my fists into lockers and other objects that would create the most noise. Within moments I was surrounded by the security guards on duty. I sped past them and darted down the halls, leading the guards on a chase they'd never forget. I pulled out a walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button a number of times to signal the others to move. I made a mad dash into a separate hallway and collided with something... actually, someone. That girl again! What the hell was she doing here at this hour? Her books were scattered across the floor as she stared directly at me. That pink tinge was on her cheeks again. Wait, there was also a similar tinge on mine too?
"Sorry, gotta run!" I called back as I jumped up and darted off. Good thing I ran again too, because the security guards were right on my tail. I led them on the chase for another good two hours before I rushed out through some metal doors and met the clique. We laughed and rushed off the grounds until school the next day. When we walked back inside the first thing we saw was a new banner hanging in the main hall.
GO PSYCHO KNIGHTS! LET INSANITY REIGN! We liked the new motto. Apparently the rest of the school did too as the students were cheering like mad. I was called into the principal's office and reprimanded before I was congratulated. The principal herself told me to thank the clique before she sent me on my way. Broke into the school and I didn't even get in trouble. SWEET! As I walked out my vision became hazy.
"Zero! ZERO! Snap out of it!" Will yelled as he hit me on the back. I shook my head in response and looked at everyone. They were all staring at me like I'd grown a second head or something.
"What the hell happened to him?" One of Will's comrades asked.
"I don't know," Will replied. "Bro, you ok? You were staring into space for, like, a half hour." After remembering where I was, I nodded.
"Yea, I just... had another flashback," I told him. "I was called into the principal's office after the clique changed the team's motto." I chuckled. "I didn't even get in trouble for that stunt."
"You were always the type to get away with murder," Will recalled chuckling. "The school thought you were too badass to get in trouble after you pulled that stunt." The whole group laughed, infected included. Sadly, the laughter ended just as we remembered what we had to do. I glanced back down and traced my fingers over the map.
"Gather around," I said. Will translated for the normals and everyone gathered around me. "Listen carefully, because time's of the essence and I've already wasted a good portion of it, I'm only going to explain this once." Will continued translating as a small chuckle came from the group. "This is what we're going to do."
Zero: Kinda short...
Me: Well, that's what happens when you leave a little cliffhanger.
Zero: What cliffhanger? The plan?
Me: Yep. I think you'll like the next chapter though. This is just a little exposition.
Zero: What's in the next chapter?
Me: Just a little something... and another look at your past.
Zero: Ok, ok. I'll leave this be... for now.
Me: Good. So, until next time.
