Author's Note:
Chapter 4 is finally here. You have been waiting very patiently, so here it is.
Lolli-X, Jackie Pierce, Anonymous and wolfofsheep: As always thank you for your amazing reviews! They keep me motivated.
Blackspots: I'm actually already writing my own story/book, but it's more for fun than anything. If by some miraculous (and I mean miraculous) chance it gets published some day, I'll send you a copy. ;)
whimseyrhodes: you caught me. I got lazy and didn't do my research for the quiver and bow. Parker will be using the bow and arrow (or is it bolt? see, I'm already failing!) in later chapters, but I'm going to make sure I get it right next time. Thanks for the tip!
Meagan: The questions isn't just why would they work with Chaos, but also, is he a good guy in this story or a bad guy? ;)
Mony19: Sometimes there are reviews that really help me build on the relationships in the story. You review gave me some inspiration for later chapters. :D
Also, as a side note, my favorite computer game (and the only one that I can play remotely well) is Left 4 Dead. It's the best zombie killing game ever. If you've noticed I've added a few non-gun weapons into this story that come directly from the game (golf club and baseball bat). Look out for them in future chapters.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4:
"Give it back! It's not yours!" Caroline screeched at Parker.
"Try and take it from me." She said sarcastically rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. Was this girl for real? She watched Hardison hold the girl back. Parker stiffened a little.
With Chaos in control of the elevators and Parker and Eliot incapacitating the remaining infected with ease, leaving the building was like a walk through the park. Afterwards was the hard part.
The sun had set and they had all reluctantly agreed to camp together that night. If it weren't for the fact that they were still too close to the city, Sophie was sure that 'Team Evil' as Caroline liked to call them, would have been gone without a thought. Hardison brought his electric zombie perimeter that he had designed. It created a solar charged electric barrier. When a zombie tried to pass through the barrier, it would immediately fry and fall to the ground. Sophie equated it with an invisible electric dog fence, except instead of shocking a dog, it electrocuted a zombie.
The fire pit that Eliot had made between the two sides of the camp, one with Big Lucy, the other with Chaos's RV and their hummer, acted like a barrier. Small flames whipped into the air, casting a nice glow over Parker, Eliot and Chaos on one side, and Nate, Sophie, Hardison and Caroline on the other.
"We need to work together." Nate said, trying to sound as confident as he could.
"Is he serious?" Parker asked Eliot in disbelief. "Are you serious?" She scowled at Nate.
Nate said nothing.
Eliot stared angrily at him. "How dare you. How dare you even stand there and talk to us. What kind of a bastard do you have to be to do what you did, and then ask for our help?"
Nate looked down, then back up at Eliot.
"This isn't about the past." He said angrily. "This is about a better future."
Sophie was tense. This was really bad. But she was struck speechless. Sophie, with all of her grifting ability, could not handle dealing with this. She stayed quiet and watched.
"My brother died to get that vial to me. You give it back!" Caroline interjected.
There was a pause, momentarily distracting Eliot from wanting to punch Nate.
"No." Parker said simply. "You go back to wherever you came from and cry about your family." She paused trying to drive the stake through this girl's heart. Parker's eyes were ice cold.
"Parker." Hardison inserted with a disappointed tone. This was not the woman he knew. "What's wrong with you?"
Parker finally managed to make eye contact with him for the first time that night. His eyes were more worn but still the way she remembered. Calm and caring. Don't do this to yourself. Parker chastised inwardly. He is just as bad as Nate. They just want to use you, just like last time.
"There's nothing wrong with her. She's perfect." A voice responded before she had the chance to. Chaos stepped up a little further, addressing Hardison with a snide glare.
"You stay out of this. It doesn't concern you." Hardison growled.
"Seeing as we have the vial, I think it does." Chaos smirked.
"Parker?" Hardison almost pleaded. He hated Chaos with a passion and it stung him rather deeply that she would so willingly stand by his side.
That was all Parker could take. Over the past few years, the anger had driven her, but being here, was like reliving the time they had together five years ago. I can't go back. Stay focused. Parker shook her head trying inwardly to shake the memories away. She left the bickering and retreated into Chaos's RV.
Nate emitted a frustrated huff. He knew that if Parker didn't want to give the vial up, they would never get it. He immediately regretted the loud sigh that he made, as Eliot swiveled his head over.
"Is this inconvenient for you Nate?" Eliot paused, waiting for an answer. "It's difficult to realize someone you trust" he spit out the last word, "doesn't give a shit about you, isn't it?"
Nate calmed a bit, trying not to blurt out the first frustrated and angry thing that came to his mind.
Nate spoke with purpose. "I know that there have been parts of my past, which I sincerely regret." He watched Eliot's reaction. Eliot was always very good at hiding his feelings, or at least holding them in until he was ready to knock someone out. Chaos sneered. Nate continued. "This has nothing to do with me. It has to do with saving lives; saving innocent lives."
Eliot stood there, brow furrowed. Every inch of him was screaming to attack Nate. The last five years were difficult, especially for Parker. In his heart, he knew there was a small piece of him left from the old days, the days were they helped people, the days where they ate dinner together, conned together. He pined for those days, more than he would like to admit, but the pain and suffering he'd watched, the suffering he'd been through overshadowed that wonderful feeling.
"I don't help the helpless anymore." Eliot concluded, reiterating to Nate, and more importantly, reminding himself. He then disappeared into the shadows of the RV.
Sophie knew they didn't stand a chance. Parker and Eliot were the last hope. There was no way that Chaos would side with them. Not that she would even want to work alongside a man who tried to blow her to pieces. It had been eight or nine years, but she still remembered the adrenaline pumping, horrible feeling that her time there would be her last.
"Colin." Nate tried. The use of his real name tasted like acid on his tongue.
Chaos smirked, internally laughing. "This is great." He jeered. Chaos then opened up the plastic fold-out chair he had behind him, sat by the fire and relaxed as he warmed his hands.
Nate, Sophie and Hardison all knew that was the end of the conversation, but Caroline had a dangerous glint in her eye. They all moved back into Hardison's RV for the night to get some rest leaving Chaos to enjoy the fire in peace.
In Chaos's RV:
Parker sat on the plaid couch, stained with cherry soda and rolled the vial between her fingers. She inspected the blue goo that glittered inside.
"Parker?"
She looked up. Eliot walked over and sat next to her on the sofa. She knew he was concerned for her. He always was. The big brother that she never had.
"I'm fine." She coughed.
He watched her intently. "You know what we have to do." He said after a moment.
She jumped up out of her seat and turned on him. "No we don't! We don't owe them anything."
Eliot watched her fume and pace back and forth.
"No, we don't owe them anything." He confirmed, backing her up. "But-"
"Don't say it." She scolded. She couldn't stand the thought of working with them again.
Eliot knew she needed to hear it. "-But we have to do it anyway."
Parker immediately started to tear up. Eliot stood up to comfort her.
"I'm not crying!" She exclaimed harshly. "I'm just…leaking."
"I know." Eliot said calmly as he walked over and pulled his arms around her.
The hug was all it took and Parker began to 'leak' uncontrollably. The betrayal that she had felt five years ago came on like a tidal wave drowning her. She knew Eliot felt the same, he just didn't 'leak' as often. The hardest part about the night was seeing Hardison again. In her heart, she knew he hadn't been infected. He's always managed to weasel his way out of a tight spot one way or another. Five years ago, it had been perfect, and she began to feel what most people called romance. After…what happened…everything imploded on itself and the icy feeling took over. She was alone.
Eliot looked down at the fragile figure that stood before him. He knew Parker and Chaos and himself had all made agreements right from the beginning of their team, that they would never trust one another, just work together temporarily for the monetary benefits. Temporary turned into permanent, and although they would never admit to it, trust slowly seeped its way through.
"We can leave tonight?" Both Eliot and Parker turned to see the screen door open, Chaos climbing up the two steep steps.
"We need sleep." Eliot interjected.
Parker perked. "We could leave though, you know, and never see them again?"
"I like that." Chaos added.
Eliot sighed. He hated always having to be the reasonable and morally responsible member of their team. While working for Moreau all those years ago, he was the opposite. He mused at how his life had taken such a big turn.
Eliot held up his hand. "We'll make a decision in the morning. It'll be the first night that we don't have to have one person awake guarding the perimeter. Let's take advantage of it."
He knew it was a lame reason, but they didn't seem to fight him on it.
"Who's turn is it tonight?" Eliot asked.
"Mine!" Parker answered, far too quickly.
"Ugh. It was just your turn…" Chaos whined.
"Three days ago." Parker answered. "And now it's my turn again."
Chaos gave her arm a shove and relented. Since they started their trek across the United States, they had taken turns having the night alone in the RV. Having privacy was like the holy grail and being able to sleep a full night without fear of a zombie gnawing at your flesh was one of the best prizes you could receive.
"You good?" Eliot asked, giving Parker a hard look.
"Fine." She sighed, feeling a little better, but still not in any mood to do the right thing.
"Okay." He said. Both himself and Chaos grabbed their pillows and made their way out to the hummer where they would share an uncomfortable night tossing and turning in the oversized seats.
Around 3am:
The coals glowed in the fire pit and everything was silent. Every once in a while Caroline would hear a zap as a zombie was electrocuted and fell with a thump to the ground. While everyone was sound asleep she couldn't help but lay there, wide awake. Her blood continued to boil, furious with the horrible blonde that insulted her family. Her brother and father had given her a task, to see the cure to the naval base in Washington State, for reproduction, and save the world. Caroline knew that this evil woman would make it difficult. With a determined look, she sat up.
Making her way past a sprawled out Hardison, who make-shifted a bed with the kitchenette chairs while Nate and Sophie slept in the back, she tiptoed outside. She walked past the imaginary barrier dividing their side of the camp, from 'Team Evil's' side.
She tiptoed up to the RV and grasped the door handle. With a quiet click, it opened. She was relieved that it was unlocked as she slowly pulled it open. Caroline hesitated a moment as the door creaked, but ignoring the fear, she lifted herself into the dark mobile unit.
The moonlight from the window shone down providing her just enough light to make out the body silently snoring on the couch. She noticed in the back, where in Big Lucy, a bed lay, was a room full of food, computer equipment, and necessary living items. She figured they probably lived on the road. This was not a trip for them; it was a traveler's way of life.
Remembering her purpose, she began to look around the room for the vial. She froze, heart pumping, as Parker shifted to her side, eyes still closed. She let the breath she was holding out and kept searching.
Hardison, Nate and Sophie, remained still. Hardison slept uncomfortably. This was the first time in a long time that he had to sleep anywhere other than a comfy bed.
"CRRRAASSSH!"
Everyone jumped as a loud noise from Chaos's RV sliced through the night. They heard a scream and Sophie and Nate flew out of the back and exited the home, Hardison right behind them.
They watched Eliot and Chaos emerge from the hummer equally as shocked.
Then, without warning, the door from the RV slammed open, Parker guiding Caroline out, knife at her neck.