(Thanks to AlexTheMortal and Kara Medyx for your reviews! Right, a talk-y chapter. Read on!
The room was quiet. Zach now sported a bandage over one eye, while Brian was still picking small shards of glass out of his skin. Both Gryphon and Elena were surveying the half-tank with interest.
"So..." Zach said, trying to make conversation. "Nice place you got here." He motioned with his hands around the general building.
"Was my dad's." Gryphon said. "The old man fought for his life. Too bad he didn't have much left in him."
"Your dad died then?" Brian asked quietly.
"Yes. I wasn't around to help, because I got infected the day before. Started transforming, dad wanted to shoot me. Understandable, really. I came back two days later, found him dead along with a Tank and two Hunters."
"One guy taking down two Hunters AND a Tank?" Zach raised his eyebrows. "Woah, your dad must've been quite a guy."
"I assume it was you two who cleaned up then?" Brian asked.
"Yeah. Took us a whole day. We got rid of the bodies, then buried my dad. We even positioned tables and chairs the way they were. I'm just glad the windows didn't smash, because they just add to the beauty of this place."
"So, how long have you been here then?" Zach questioned.
"Around two months, give or take a few days. This place is very good if you know where you're going. I think Elena proved that to you, Brian." Gryphon smiled slightly, causing Brian to roll his eyes.
"I'm sorry if someone spat acid on my friend." Brian said jokingly. "But it's fine, well, according to him, anyway. I got a question though, you two aren't related, are you?"
"Nope." Gryphon replied.
"Then, how'd you two meet?" Brian asked, leaning back slightly on his chair.
"Well..." Gryphon cast a glance at Elena, whose face had turned blank. "I was eating a dog."
"A dog?" Zach replied, disgusted.
"Yeah. Hey, I was hungry, and it was either a dog or a human. And trust me, I'm not going to do what those zombies do."
"They aren't zombies, they are infected humans. Plus, they don't eat flesh." Brian pointed out. "Apart from the bites. Anyhow, go on."
"Yeah, so I was eating a dog. I spot something out of the corner of my eye, and I spot Elena, bloody and covered in bites. To be honest, I'd thought she was about to die, and was ready to calm her on her way." Gryphon smiled warmly at Elena. "At least, that's what I thought. I watched as Elena transformed, and I realised that she was like me, a half-infected. But I also realised that I wouldn't be able to let her go. She'd get attacked by Infected, or worse, humans."
"Humans?" Brian repeated slowly.
"Unfortunately , yes. Not all of them are as nice as you, Brian. They just think we're advanced infected, capable of speech and trying to trick them. They just shoot at us. That's why Elena is a bit suspicious about you Brian." Gryphon continued.
"Don't worry, I understand." Brian said, smiling. "To be honest, I'd be happy to work with someone who can melt guns with their spit. Although I did like that shotgun."
"W-Work... with?" Elena repeated timidly, Gryphon also looked up.
"What are you saying?" The half-Hunter asked.
Zach grinned. "Well, we got a plan to escape, you know."
"Escape?"
"America. The Infection. Find a new place to live."
Gryphon raised an eyebrow, before bursting out laughing.
"Hey... what... why are you laughing?" Zach asked, furrowing his eyebrows, confused.
"Ooh... sorry... sorry..." Gryphon wiped his shadowed eyes. "Brian could get away with it sure, but us three? Not a fucking chance. While Elena and I look humanoid, we still have rashes and pale skin. They'd assume we were infected and shoot us on site. And you, a tank? They'll shoot you before you even make it to talk to them. We aren't gonna get away from America."
"What, and wait the infection out?" Zach snapped angrily. He didn't like his plans being logical undermined. "Well then, according to your theory, we'd still be killed. We'd have no hope to live and just might as well shoot ourselves right now, save us the trouble!"
"Hey, don't say it like that." Gryphon replied, crossing his arms.
"Well, I'm sorry if you want to be a pessimistic bastard!" Zach exclaimed.
Gryphon's mouth turned into a frown. "I'm not pessimistic, and realistic. I watched my dad die, y'know. I have had way too much tragedy to just look ahead and go: Oh look, it'll all be fine if we just get away from America. Well, here's a bit of news for you Zach, what says there isn't infection in England? Europe? The Caribbean? For all we know, survivors escaped on boats like you are planning, but they contracted the infection on board. They transferred it the country. Bang! That countries just like America! You need to think realistically, and you need to think ahead, not current."
Zach glared at Gryphon, who equally glared back.
"Zach, stop being an asshole." Brian said, kicking Zach in the ankle.
"Ellis... please..." Elena said quietly, tugging on Gryphon's arm.
Zach huffed and leant back, crossing his arms, while Gryphon blinked and smiled warmly back at Elena. "Sorry about that..."
Brian stood up, and double checked his pistol's safety. Three sets of eyes followed him. "So, question is, will you two come with us? We're still going to go ahead to check it out. If we are not wanted, we'll figure it out."
Gryphon and Elena exchanged glances.
"Come on." Brian said, smiling. "You two would be good with us. After all, Elena, after a few acid spits to the face, you'll be able to take down a tank, just one was enough to nearly take out Zach's eyesight. And Gryphon, you proved you can fight hand to hand with someone with a gun, and working together, you made a complete fool outta me. That would contrast well with Zach and me. Zach's a brute, doesn't think about it, just acts. I'll have to tell you time he had a wrestling match with another Tank sometime. And I'm a shooter, I'll be able to handle machine guns and the like if I get hold of one."
"The Brute, the Fighter, the Gunner and the Tank Take-Downer! Sounds good to me." Zach said enthusiastically, his argument with Gryphon apparently forgotten.
"Tank... Take-Downer?" Elena repeated.
"Well... I could not think of a title for the life of me. I didn't want to say Spitter because I doubt you'd want to embrace your infection."
Elena smiled properly for the first time at Zach. "I like Tank Take-Downer." Elena turned back to Gryphon. "In fact, I like Zach. He seems like a fun guy to be around. I say Gryphon we actually do something, other than stay in this Casino."
Gryphon sighed, and smiled. "I'll do whatever you want, Elena."
"So? Is that an alliance?" Brian asked, putting out his hand.
"For sure." Gryphon said, putting his hand on top of Brian's.
Elena nodded, and put her hand atop of Gryphon's.
"Hell yeah!" Zach exclaimed, throwing his hand down. The other three had the sense to move their arms before they were broken from Zach's arm. "We are like a ninja ass kickin' team!"
"Sure..." Brian shook his head. "But, I say we should spend a night here, get to know each other, all our strengths, all our weaknesses. Figure out who would be best to take down say a smoker, and who would fail miserably against a tank, okay?"
"That's fine with me." Gryphon said, cracking his neck.