Aaaaaand here is part 7. At looong long last! XD I'm so sorry that it took so long to write. It has been ready a long time but I had to translate it to English. Not an easy task. All thanks goes to Donke! Lots of love! This chapter is a long one because I didn't how to cut it properly.
Please, tell me what you think! And of course I don't own the characters, they belong to Valve. And and I don't know what Savannah looks like so I'm improvising, and I don't know how to treat wounds... This is all from my head!
It was a mid day. Ellis, with his new friends, was walking slowly forward on the messy street. There weren't so many cars anymore and only few zombies. Francis and Bill took care of them with a hammer and a crowbar. The shop display windows were smashed up right at the beginning of the epidemic. All the producers were lying along the road dusty, bloody and broken. Broken class was cracking under their shoes.
- Zoey, be careful. Bill said to the girl remembering that she had converse shoes which had very thin base.
Zoey nodded and looked down to her feet. She was paying more attention to the pavement than her surroundings. She trusted her friends and their abilities to spot the moving corpses without her eyes. She had to be careful because bad wound on her leg was fatal. To be able to run and walk was crucial in this world.
Ellis was walking last and was watching the stores with auctions eyes. The stores were dark from inside and those few light gleams that had found their way inside looked spooky because of all that dust. He remembered the incident in the mall, his mistake; that fucking alarm he had triggered with his stupidity. That's why he didn't go near the stores. It was very unlikely that there were any functional alarms in them but he had to be sure, play it safe. He didn't want to lose his new friends. He had been lucky before and Lady Luck wasn't throwing his kindness away that eagerly.
Ellis felt a sting in his stomach. The mechanic whimpered and rubbed gently his bandages. His painkillers were starting to wear off and the pain was starting to get worse. Oh shit... He could ask more medicine but... he didn't want to use their kindness and much needed stock anymore. He didn't want to be a burden... So Ellis stayed quiet and walked slowly forward his hand on his stomach.
- Damn. This city has had its share. Louis mumbled looking around. He stopped in front of an old café and eyed the display window, which was still intackt, and was decorated with brown blood stains and handprints. The stink of death made him to cover his nose.
- Ev'rybody went crazy. It was a chaos; varmints were runnin', robbin' an' killin' etchother. Its no surprise thet them zombies spred so quickly. Ellis told Louis.
- No shit... Louis said stunned. Ellis smiled at him with sorrow in his eyes and walked forward.
- I don't get this! How this fucking virus even started? Louis continued.
- It must have been some kind of military experiment. Francis grunted and kicked a red high heel out of his way.
- How so? Ellis asked.
- They always are! Who else?! I mean nobody in this world has same kind of resources as our military, right? Francis rambled angrily. Ellis didn't say anything. He just looked his black safety shoes, concentrated into walking, not to the growing pain. Louis eyed the yellow shirted man with a concern. He had been oddly quiet a long time now. He looked the mechanic's face: he was a little pale, dark circles around his eyes and he was sweating, badly. Louis was going to ask about the man's condition but Francis' rampage interrupted him. The technic looked at that big biker with a growing anger.
- Besides our government has always been...! Francis yelled even louder than before. Bill interrupted him.
- Do you hear that? The old man said quietly and listened the air. Everybody did the same. They heard some kind of growling or perhaps mumbling or maybe clicking – everything at the same time.
- What is that? Zoey breathed. Her voice was trembling with fear but her expression was firm.
- It comes over there. Bill pointed forward on the street which turned to the right.
They loaded their guns and started to walk towards the street. It was decorated with pretty lamps and colorful advertisements – the city's main street. Bill halt the crew beside a grey wall and peeked around the corner. Zoey was standing right behind him ready for everything, Ellis was the last one. The thing that the veteran saw made him speechless. He turned his gaze back to his friends and he looked pale.
- What now? Zoey whispered.
- The whole fucking street is full of them. Bill whispered back squeezing his rifle.
- Say what? Louis whispered with an alarmed voice.
- What did he say? Francis asked from Louis.
- The whole street is full of them. Louis told him.
- What? Ellis asked from Francis.
- There are vampires over there so much that – fuck! Francis told, and Ellis stared him with confusion.
- Say what now?
- You heard me. Francis said and listened conversation that was going on front of him.
Ellis grunted with annoyance. That Francis guy knew how to be prick. He wasn't as bad as Nick but... close enough. The mechanic wanted to see what Bill had seen. He bit his lower lip. If he just peeked a little... Just a little. It wouldn't cause any trouble, would it?
Ellis walked past his new friends. He went onto his hands and knees and crawled towards the street corner. He reached his neck and his blue-white cap pointed out of the corner. Then came forward his tanned and bruised forehead and then his bright blue eyes and finally his chin that was covered with dark brown stubble. Young man's eyes were gazing around the area and they largened with surprise and fear when he saw what Bill had seen. Directly in front of him was dozens of zombies, those ordinary ones and also those damn special ones which were deadly both close and far. Front of the herd was a steel fence which was partly fallen down from the weight of the dead. Only few were on their side of the fence. There were warning signs attached on to the steel warning for danger and bio-hazard. The fence sure was military's doing and it was confirmed with a big tank abandoned in the middle of the street. Those dead things were guarding it like their most precious treasure. Ellis noticed a monster in a blue hoodie that crawled little too close of him – a Hunter. It was smelling the air and growled by itself. That thing landed his white dead gaze towards mechanic's blue ones. Ellis chocked and pulled his head quickly back. He stared with terror the veteran who was standing beside him and watched back at him with a question on his face.
- Ummmm... Uh... We hafta go... Like now. Ellis mumbled and pointed his pointer finger towards the corner. The Hunter's growl echoed in the alley. Ellis stood up quickly and started to run back to where they came from.
Bill looked behind the corner to see what had gotten the mechanic so upset and he saw the hooded monster. The veteran shouted, gripped Zoey's and ran after Ellis. Francis and Louis followed them right after. The hunter started to scream, the sound echoing on the building's walls. The scream got the herd moving and shouting. Francis looked behind him and saw the enormous herd running behind the corner towards them with growing speed. The iron fence had broke down.
- Oh my mother fucking god! The biker yelled and started to run faster. He passed Louis and catched up with the mechanic, who Zoey and Bill had already passed. - Oh fuck! What the hell did you do?! I'm so gonna kill you! Francis shouted to Ellis and shoved his shoulder with force that made the mechanic nearly tobbled over.
- Heard thet befo'e ... Ellis mumbled and rubbed his shoulder. He remembered the words that Nick had said to him back at the Mall. It felt like a long time ago.
Francis run past the mechanic with a rage. Louis had never seen him go that fast. The technic also caught the mechanic . He noticed that the young man was sweating a lot and his face was pinned with pained expression. Ellis was pressing his stomach with his right hand and the left one was hanging loosely at his side holding the pistol.
- Hey! Don't you pass out on me now! Louis ordered the man and grabbed into his arm and started to pull him onward.
They were faster than any of those walking dead and they got some advantage. They were evading those lonely ugly things that the sound had lured out to the sunshine, although Francis was the only one that pushed right through hitting every dead into their face with a shotgun. Then they stopped. They were back at the street which was full of cars and were Zoey nearly had died.
- Where now?! Francis asked with distress and looked around.
- Back to the truck? Louis asked out of breath and loosened his grip of the mechanic's arm. They were both choking, Ellis even badly. Every breath felt like a knife in his stomach when he tried to breathe.
- Shit no! Zoey panicked. - Back to where we started? She protested with more desperation than anger.
- Well we can't go to the downtown now, can we?! Louis shouted and pointed the street where the horde was shouting and catching up on them.
- Fuck! We go through them! Bill yelled and loaded his gun. - We are gonna smash those bastards apart!
- Are you fucking crazy?! We don't have that much ammo left! Louis protested.
- Well do you have a better idea?! Francis shouted.
They didn't say anything. They were breathing and trying to think, only the shouts of the horde didn't make it any easier.
- Thar is... Huoh... T'other route... Ellis breathed and straightened himself with pained groan.
- WHAT?! Everybody yelled and they were staring at the mechanic with anger and frustration.
- Ah... This... This way hyar. Ellis pointed the alley on their left.
They didn't argue and started to run towards the alley where Zoey had nearly lost her life. The bodies that Ellis had killed were still lying on the ground smelly and still. They stopped beside the red brick wall. The alley was a dead end.
- Where to now you genius?! Francis ranted.
- Thet dore... Ellis pointed the green, eroded door at the bottom of a small staircase.
Francis ran towards the door and tested the handle. Locked! Francis shoved his massive shoulder towards it couple times and it burst open. Just in time, because the alley was starting to fill up by zombies. The group run inside and Louis slammed the door closed . He and Zoey pulled a big storage shelf front the door to block it.
- That should hold it for awhile. Louis said and clapped his hands together, dust glowding the air.
- Where now? Bill asked and fixed his green hat. He was chewing a thoothpick nerviously and sweat was falling down to his cheek glimmering in the dim light.
- Through thet dore, Ellis mumbled and pointed the silhouette of a door in front of them.
- Where are you taking us? Francis yelled but got three SHUSH sounds onto his face immediately. The big man trembled the sound, covered his ears and closed his eyes to exaggerate his point.
- This hyar is a bar. Me an' mah buddy Keith came hyar offen, Ellis told, small smile lingering on his lips. No-one saw it in the darkness.
- Keith? Zoey thought aloud. She watched the mechanic, whose eyes started to shine in the darkness. How could anyone's eyes shine in the dark? Apparently his...
- Keith is mah bess buddy evah! Fry mah hide! We used t'come hyar t'play pool, ah reckon. Heh, ah remember th' time, when me an' Keith were...
- Hey! Not now. Bill interrupted him. Ellis coughed and rubbed back of his head.
- Umm... We kin hoof it through hyar t'th' next street. Less hope thet thar ain't enny zombies thar an' then we jump into a sewer. Wif thet we will git near th' harbo' wif no effo't at all, ah reckon. Ellis told.
- What? The sewer?! Francis hissed.
- Of course! There shouldn't be that much of those things ether. Louis laughed and hit his hands together.
- In the sewer? Francis asked confused.
- But isn't it a very rambling place? Zoey asked.
- Ah have been thar menny times, Ellis told her proudly.
- In the sewers?! Francis asked again confused as hell.
- Why didn't you tell us before of this option? Bill asked.
- Eh? Nobody asked... Ellis defented himself with his hands up.
- Hey guys! THE SEWERS! Who is so disturbed that hangs out in the sewers! Francis shouted and shaked Louis from his shoulders.
- Shut up Francis! Bill snarled and walked towards the door where Ellis had pointed them.
- To the sewers then! Louis smiled and loaded his pistol. They all did the same and prepared to continue their journey.
- I don't wanna go there... It's smelly place... Francis whined. Zoey tapped his back brotherly and started to walk towards the door Francis following her.
Ellis started to move and grunted from the growing pain. It was nearly as bad as when he had been in the white car. Ellis stumbled towards a storage shelf. He couldn't pass out here. He had to stay awake, he had to continue! His vision blurred and turned to black for a moment. Louis grabbed the mechanic's arm and kept him up. The noise from the shelf's direction got the others to turn around. They saw Ellis' figure stumble onto the shelf and Louis beside him.
- Is something wrong? Zoey asked with concern and started to walk towards the men.
- It's okay. Louis stopped her. - He only needs some more painkillers. Louis said his voice worried, which he desperately tried to hide. Louis lifted the mechanics tanned hand up onto his shoulders to give him support. Ellis was mumbling something by himself.
- I will help you, okay? Louis said quietly to the mechanic. He just nodded. They walked slowly towards the others. Zoey looked that yellow shirted man with concern. She saw now how pained expression he had on his face.
- Are you gonna be alright? Zoey asked, trying to encourage more herself than the wounded. Always so talkative Ellis only nodded to her.
- Boy gets more medicine when we get somewhere safe. Bill said. - Hang in there.
Ellis smiled himself. They were so nice to him, so understanding. He had a very big debt to pay.
Bill touched the door handler and for his luck it wasn't locked. He opened the door slowly and quietly, just a small amount, so he could put his head in. He looked the room that appeared to be a kitchen. The white surface of a tile floor was covered in blood, same with the grey walls. The big puddle of blood in the middle was disturbing and those long draw markings, that lead into the main hall's door, weren't helping at all. Bill opened the door and stepped into the kitchen. His black combat boots were clapping against the floor's surface and the sound echoed on the walls and on those metallic frying pans. Zoey flinched the sent of dead that appeared to come from everywhere into her nostrils; rotting flesh, metallic sent of blood and vegetables gone bad... Wonderful! They were standing in the kitchen silently and listening heir surroundings. Small grunting of the dead was echoing from the hall. Bill brought his forefinger to his lips and started to sneak quietly towards the hall, Francis and Zoey with him.
Louis stayed in the kitchen with Ellis. He walked towards one of the metallic kitchen tables and helped the young man to sit on one of them. Louis lifted Ellis' yellow shirt and looked at the bandage. It had colored into bright red at the spot where the wound was. His stitches had opened. Louis winced.
- Your stitches are open. Louis whispered.
- Damn...Ellis mumbled and rubbed his forehead. He took of his cap and wiped his forehead with his arm. Louis touched the man's forehead with his palm.
- You have a fewer. Louis said quietly. - That's not good...
- I'll be fine. Ellis mumbled and tried to smile.
- Uhuh... Louis grunted in disbelief. He stood up to his entire length and listened how Zoey with their friends took care of the monsters quickly and quietly.
Louis started to look around. He opened the cabinets and looked if there was anything useful inside. Terrible rotting stink crawled into his nose and when he reached a fridge he almost gagged. He found only a couple cans of food and he put them into his little worn out, blue satchel.
- The path is clear! Zoey pointed the men from the hall's door. The men smiled at her and Ellis jumped down from the table wincing in pain.
- Damn you look terrible. Zoey said with a concern. - Are you sure you're okay?
- Yup. Ellis said smiling and straightened his back trying to cover the pained expression that he had on his face.
- He has fever. Louis told to the woman. Ellis scowled at the technician.
- And his wound has opened. Louis continued ignoring Ellis' stare. The mechanic just shook his head.
- Shit... Zoey cursed and rubbed her head. - Lets have a look of it when we get safe. The woman continued and nodded to the men, trying to courage them. Louis nodded back and lifted Ellis' hand onto his shoulders again. They walked slowly over the big pond of blood to the hall. It felt like that blood was sinking into their shoes, making them sticky, even though it had dried a long time ago...
You could smell the death and rotting flesh, also the alcohol, in the hall. Ellis watched that dark room, where he had spent his best days with his friends: Keith, Peter, Nathan, Sally... Oh, he missed them so much! Ellis looked at the dark brown, shiny bar counter and the body lying on top of it. It had decayed so badly that Ellis couldn't recognize that person but those clothes... He had been the bartender.
- Rourke... Damn. Ellis mumbled and looked his former friend sadly. That old fellow had served them drinks with happy expression and lively chatting. Ellis had liked him. The mechanic looked around and recogniced some of the bodies. They had been the regulars and Ellis had had many interesting, drunken conversations and many pool games with them. The young man felt his eyes starting to water.
- Did you knew him? Louis asked sadly pointing the body on the counter.
- Kinda. Ellis answered and dried his tears. Louis didn't ask more and walked to the door after the others.
Francis opened the door slightly and the rays of the evening sun lightened the dusty room. Fresh air was pouring in and they could smell the bodies now even better. The street was empty. Every zombie was probably on the other side of the building trying to find them. Francis stepped on the street and squinted his eyes to the sun. He looked up into the sky: all the clouds have gone and the sun shined beautifully. Ellis pointed his new friends across the street to another alley and showed them a big iron lid.
- We kin git into th' sewers fum hyar.
Francis nodded, took his crowbar from his back and started to crack the lid open. He and Bill pulled the lid to a side and stared down into the darkness. Smell of shit and dirty water made them pin their noses.
- Boys, better this smell than the smell at the bar. Zoey encouraged them and pet their backs.
Both men grunted with anger and Bill started to climb down the iron ladders. His boots slammed into the concrete. The veteran opened his flashlight which was attached with duck tape into his gun, and started to light his way. The sewer was a big concrete tube that continued far back into the darkness with ether side. It seemed like the tube was continuing into a black hole...
- The route is clear! Bill shouted up to his friends. His voice was echoing at the tube and it got his hair to rose up.
They all climbed down one of the time. Francis was last. He pulled the sewer lid back as good as he could and climbed down quickly when the other lightened his way. Everybody had a flash lights except Ellis and Louis. They started to move forward, Bill first and Francis last. They were quiet and listened their steps that splashed at the small mount of water. Zoey felt how her socks sop. Her damn Converse shoes! She should have chose her end-of-the-world-shoes better. Same thought Louis, whose ankle leather shoes were suffering from the water.
Then the sever started to expand and to their right side appeared a landing and a red metallic door. They rose up to the stand. Zoey started to shake her legs and water splashed everywhere. Bill tried the door: its was open! They really had luck! Bill pointed his flash light into the room. It was small, gloomy, damp and made of concrete. There was only a one table, lamb, couple of chairs and a shelf. No zombies and no blood. The place looked very peaceful. Only there was no electricity. They hopped inside and Francis shut the door with an iron bar.
- Somebody! Take this canister out of my back, now! Zoey asked and put her gun on the table. It had felt a long time like the rope was starting to seize into her skin. She felt herself so light when she got the canister out of her back.
They all took of their guns and bags. Louis helped Ellis to sit one of the chairs and lifted up his shirt.
- Lets get you fixed up. The man said smiling and started to open his bandages.
- Here is a first aid kit. Bill told them and walked towards the opposite wall, where the red, metallic box with a white cross was attached. Bill tried to open the box but it was locked. It was a good sign. Maybe there was something in there. Francis walked to the veterans side and opened the box with his crowbar. In there was a bottle of painkillers, cleanser and bandages. Bill put his findings on the table beside Ellis.
- I need more light. Louis asked and stared the mechanics repulsive red wound. Zoey gave Louis a lantern, which she had found from the shelf. He lighted it up, luckily it's battery still worked.
- Thanks. Louis smiled and put the lantern on the table to light Ellis up.
Those stitches were open but not as badly as Louis had feared. He only had to attach it a little bit more. Louis took the cleanser from the table and looked the young man into his eyes.
- Ummm... I have to clean it... Louis said apologizing.
Ellis nodded and clenched the chair handles with his fists so hard that they were creaking. Louis poured the stuff into the wound and Ellis winced for the pain. He bit his lips and shut his eyes trying to shut down the pain. Louis took a clean shirt from his satchel and cleaned the wound from the blood. Zoey looked beside the men and covered her mouth when she saw the needle and thread. Ellis' eyes opened wide and he just stared that pointy and thin needle.
- Oh shit... Ellis mumbled.
- I'm sorry, but I have to patch it. Louis said.
- Do yo' haf medical license o' sumpin? The mechanic asked trying to sound funny.
- I've self learned. When the world ends you start to learn different kinds of things. Louis mumbled.
- An' ah can only dream of th' anestesia...? Ellis laughed nervously.
- Yeah...
- I can always hit your brains out. Francis offered and tapped his crowbar.
Zoey walked behind Ellis glaring at Francis with anger. Then she put her hands onto the mechanic's shoulders and started to massage them. She smiled at him when he looked at her with a question. Ellis felt his cheeks reddening and he looked quickly back at the dark skinned man.
- Git on wif it then. Ellis mumbled and sighed loudly trying to relax his body.
Louis did as he was told. He poured the cleanser onto the needle and started to patch the wound. The first sting made Ellis to stir and yell from pain. Zoey gripped into his shoulders with her hands and tried to keep him still. Ellis pressed his hands onto the chair handles even harder and his knuckles started to turn white. It felt like the needle was ripping its way through the flesh. The wound felt hot and it stinged – the pain was almost unbearable! Still the wound closed, very slowly though, leaving behind nice, even black stitches. The last stings weren't so bad and Ellis didn't know was he just numbed or had he lost his consciousness. Louis' smiling face in front of him brought him back to reality.
- Everything is okay now. Louis told and tapped him onto his shoulder.
- Eh... ah didn't feel a thin'. Ellis smiled.
Zoey and Bill started to laugh behind him.
- My God, boy! You are hard to kill. Bill noted and hit him onto his back. Ellis grunted to the pain but smiled to the veteran anyway.
Louis wrapped new bandages tightly around the mechanic's torso and handed him three pills.
- Take these and you will feel better. He said and handed him water too.
Ellis took the pills and swallowed them with one swing. He drank large amount of water and then he leaned towards the chair and sighed with relief. He watched the ceiling that was damaged by moisture. He could feel how his vision went black.
Hand on his forehead waked him. Zoey's face was right in front of him – she was so close. He stared her green eyes which were glimmering in the dim light.
- Ellis? Hey Ellis! Zoey's voice sounded so distant.
- Ellis?! Don't pass out! Zoey said a little louder.
- Is everything okay? Ellis heard Louis saying.
- He has fever. Zoey told. It felt like the sounds were louder and then quieter.
- Ellis? Zoey said to the man again and shook his shoulder. Now he could hear her right.
- Mmmmghh – Wha? Ellis asked and lifted his head to look around.
- You passed out for a second. Zoey told him with concern. The woman watched the man's face: he was pale and sweaty. There was dark circles under his eyes and the white part of his eyes were red.
- Ah... Sorry. I... Ellis mumbled. - I'm lil tired.
- Go lie down for moment. Zoey told him.
- Now? Isn't we supposed t'continue our journey?
- You can sleep a little. Woman smiled.
He helped the man up, lifted his arm onto her shoulders and took him to the other side of the room. Ellis didn't protest and dragged himself forward pressing his stomach. Louis had settled some clothes onto the concrete floor to resemble a bed and was fluffing Zoey's bag for pillow.
- Lay down. Woman said and helped the man to rest with Louis' help.
- Good night. Try to recover. Louis said. Ellis saw Bill behind the technic smiling at him. The veteran nodded at him. Ellis shifted his gaze towards the woman in a red jacket.
- Please... Don't leave... me hyar. Ellis begged sleepily. He was so scared. He didn't want to wake up into this dark room to discover that he was all alone. He didn't want to face this mad world by himself.
- We won't leave you. Zoey answered and smiled at him, trying to encourage him.
- It's fine then, as enny fool kin plainly see... Thank yo'. Yo' guys... are... too nice. Ellis mumbled and fell asleep onto the hard floor.
Zoey took the cap from his head and looked at it for a moment. Then he looked towards the dark skinned man who was rubbing his head.
- I hope he will recover.
- Yeah... If he doesn't, we have to leave him. Francis said and waved his crowbar.
- We are NOT leaving him! Louis snarled quietly.
- We have to if he isn't getting any better. Bill whispered.
They said nothing. Lois shifted his sorrowful gaze towards Zoey and then to the mechanic. The world knew how to be a bitch. Louis stood up and paced towards the table. He packed rest of the emergency equipment to his back and sat down to the chair. He watched his hands: they were covered with Ellis' blood. He sighed. Zoey walked to him and tapped his shoulder.
- He is going to be better. You'll see. The woman assured the man.
Zoey wished quietly in his mind that her words were true. She wanted the mechanic to be himself again. That man somehow knew how to make them all feel better. Nothing felt too heavy when Ellis told his opinion. She had known him only a few days and she was already attached to him. Ellis was trustworthy. Zoey believed that she could put her life into his hands.
- Hey Francis! Show me your back that the hunter was slashing! Zoey laughed with joy.
