The sun crept high in the sky making the air hot and stale, Nick Clark stumbled through a cookie-cutter neighbourhood of stucco houses with clay tile roofs and rocky landscaping. Majority of the vicinity was surrounded by large military grade fences; it was obvious the military had once been there attempting to control the outbreak just as they had in L.A. The quietness of the area proved it was void of any life.

Nick moved over to one of the fences and squeezed his body through a break in the fence. He peered around before withdrawing a crumbled piece of paper from his pocket. He reread the scribbled address several times before stuffing it back into his pocket.

As he stepped further into the neighbourhood, he caught sight of a woman from afar, staggering in the street as if she was drunk. As she got closer, her features became clearer: she had long brown hair and the bottom half of her lip had been bitten off. Her eyes were sunken in and were halfway closed looking like two crescent moons. Nick started to mimic her movements while he listened to her raspy groan as they passed each other.


In the bridge, Travis Manawa shined a flashlight up a panel underneath the dashboard on the wheel of the ship. He frowned, analysing it closely, starting to doubt he was capable of the task. He took in a slow inhale, closing his eyes, telling himself he could— he had—to do this.

Reed huffed, "Look, crap face, if you're full of shit, why don't you save us both some time?" He stooped down to Travis's level, holding the gun out.

Travis exhaled, leaning his head up to peer out at Reed, "I got this. I just, uh…" He went back to looking at the array of wires. He popped a wire out of place and brought it down to another metal box of wires. It was too easy, this would similar to hotwiring a car, but Travis felt the need to stall. He contemplated that he might be able to find something down in the engine room to use against Reed. Perhaps something he could use to get Reed's gun. Travis cleared his throat, "Look, uh, this whole this is—look, its all computerised, okay? So I'm gonna have to override it from down in the engine room."


Once out of view, below deck, Alicia started to walk ahead of Jack in order to lead him to the room she shared with her brother, stepbrother, and Nina. She halted when she felt Jack tug back on her arms, drawing her to him. Her body tensed, she paced a few steps forward, "What are you doing? Don't touch me."

Jack tailed behind her, his hands began to fondle the wires around her wrist. He whispered lowly in her ear, "Relax. I can loosen these."

Alicia twirled around, shaking her head, "What part of 'don't touch me' do you not understand?"

Jack reached out for her, feeling her flinch when his hand made contact with her arm, "Alicia, please…"

She continued to shake her head, taking another step back, "You baited me. You lied to me. How do I know you're not any better than Reed?"

"I didn't come here to hurt anyone."

"Then what did you come here for?" Alicia narrowed her light jade eyes, despite knowing Jack and his crew came for the Abigail, deep down she felt there was an alternative motive.

Jack closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh; he made a pained expression. He slowly blinked his dark eyes open, "You have to understand… I had no choice."

"Why, someone put a gun to your head?" Alicia scowled; it still disturbed her to see what Reed had done to Nina. She bit the inside of her lip as she contemplated why she had told her mother she had trusted him; the fact was she did not trust Jack in the slightest.

"I had no choice," he repeated, "Reed, that's his function."

"To what? Sexually harass someone? To threaten people's lives?" Alicia watched him attentively, "Or is it all for show to scare people into getting what he wants?"

Jack peered down to the floor, shaking his head, knowing there was nothing he could say to defend Reed for his actions. He respired, avoiding the topic all together, "We all have a function, Alicia."

"And what's my function?" She glared brutishly.

He brought his eyes up to meet hers; he could feel his cheeks growing warm. He cleared his throat, avoiding the question again; "Connor will civilize things when he gets here. He keeps us together…but he's not a violent man."

"But he allows violence." Alicia countered, tightening her lips.

Jack looked away again, his gaze wafted to the ceiling, "I have to talk to Connor. You'll have to show me where the portable is."

"Why should I?" Alicia took another step back, "What happens after you make the call?"

"Connor gages—" He started to say but was cut off.

"What happens after you make the call?" She iterated, articulating each word.

"He comes to the ship and assesses…" Jack trailed off; he turned his eyes to peer down the hallway with a guilty expression. He knew exactly what followed after Connor judged but he would never be able to bring himself to tell her the truth.

Alicia contemplated his words before she spoke again, "And then I'm safe?"

"I promise," he gulped, and reached out to touch her upper arm; he rubbed it up and down in a comforting motion, "I promise."

Alicia stood in a stupor, "And what about my family?" she uttered softly, her eyes fixated on the stairs.

Jack released his grip, forcing himself to swallow as he looked down at her, "Connor… listens to me."

Alicia kept her head facing the stairs while her eyes shifted over to look at Jack cynically. "Was any of it true? Anything you told me?"

Jack closed his eyes longer than he intended to, he began to nod his head, "Versions of."

"I wonder what part was a lie…" Alicia turned her head to face him again; she was unsure she really wanted to know the answer.

"Alicia," Jack started, pressing his lips together and stuck his tongue in between them as he moistened them, "You need to understand, when my brother died… Connor saved me. He, um, he put me to use—when someone saves your life, you owe them. You just do."

She stepped back, glaring up at him, "How many people came before me?"

"I-I'd say a dozen or so, maybe more…" Jack faltered, finding the truth was pouring off his lips easier than he anticipated. He was unable to meet Alicia's gaze, feeling his cheeks flush out of guilt and embarrassment.

"How many are still alive?" Alicia asked with disgust.

Jack crossed his arms over his chest; he leant back against the railing on the wall, "I don't enjoy any of this, Alicia. You have to believe me." His dark eyes tilted up until their eyes met, "I'm sorry about the one that Reed shot…I'm sorry with how he treated your friend…and I'm sorry—"

"If you were that sorry, you'd stop this and let us go." Alicia snapped.

Something about what Alicia said churned something inside Jack. He crossed his arms tighter across his chest as he stared down at her with a concerning look.


Back in the dining area, the ambiance in the room was overwrought and filled with a faint sense of macabre. Daniel struggled against his binds; his dark eyes watched Vida closely to make sure she did not notice his movements.

Madison shifted her weight; she felt the wires digging into her wrist as she wiggled them, "Did you see Nick when you were on watch?" She asked Chris, keeping her voice low.

"No." Chris answered, tearing his eyes off Vida and landed them on Madison.

Ofelia glanced over at the two, "He might have come up when we were on the stern…"

"And the only one who would know is in the sea." Daniel added as he watched Vida grab a tumbler glass and a decanter of whisky.

"There's only three of them," Madison said, looking down at her wrist and then back up at Salazar, "You think you could get loose?"

"Keep her distracted," He answered in a harsh whisper, his thumbs continued to prod the wire around his wrist. He carefully watched Vida pour herself a glass.

Nina sat on her knees with her legs partially swung out to one side; her upper body leaned against the bench. She stared out at the centre of the room with a sour pout. It was becoming difficult to breathe; she could still feel Reed's hands groping her. She needed air, she needed her pills, and she needed to get out of the room before she had an anxiety attack. She closed her eyes, exhaled slowly, and got to her feet.

Vida noticed the movement out of the corner of her eye, she slammed the tumbler down, "Sit down."

Nina did not respond her mind was elsewhere; she continued to cross the room in the direction of the door that led below deck to the sleeping quarters.

Vida came around the bar and stepped quickly over to Nina and blocked her path. Vida held her gun up, glaring, "Hey! You deaf? I said, sit down."

With a blank expression, Nina stated meekly, "I have to pee."

Before Vida could object Reed appeared, leading Travis down the stairs from the bridge of the ship. He walked into the room, one hand gripping the back of Travis's jacket while the other hand held a gun to the back of his neck, "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

Nina lowered her eyes to the floor, unable to meet Reed's glare, feeling her voice become caught in the back of her throat.

"Girl says she has to take a piss." Vida looked over at her confidant.

"Aw, you gotta tinkle? You could always, you know, just piss your pants." Reed said to Nina with a goaded tone. He shoved Travis forward while he peered back at his pregnant associate, "Why the hell isn't she zip-tied?"

"I thought—"

"Well, you thought wrong." Reed interrupted.

"Do I have to do everything around here?" He grumbled, pushing Travis once more, "Vi, watch him. I'll take the little hussy to the toilet."

Vida rolled her eyes as she respired with annoyance; she traded places with Reed and poked her gun into Travis's back.

Reed cleared the space between he and Nina; he grabbed her upper arm and pulled up to jostle her forward. He slid one hand down to rest on her backside, the other hand resting on her upper back. He roughly guided her in the direction of the door that led below deck, "Let's go, smutbag."

"Geroff me," Nina jerked forward, throwing his grip off her; feeling his touch boosted her confidence to retaliate. She twirled around, her face scrunched in a hard stare, "I told you to never touch me again." She started to wonder why Reed seemed to have this personal vendetta against her.

Reed groaned under his breath, clearly aggravated, "Listen, you stupid bitch, I have the gun which means I'm in control. Don't tell me what to do."

"Why do you talk to the young lady like that?" Daniel asked, continuing to struggle with the wire around his wrist. He told himself once he was free he would give the boy a beating he would never forget.

"I'll talk to her however I want to, old man. Do us all a favour, and shut your god damn mouth before I shoot your daughter's other shoulder."

Daniel's blood began to boil; he tightened his fist, and ticked his tongue at the threat against his daughter. He would die before anyone laid a hand on his daughter.

Ofelia blinked wide eyes as she looked away; it surprised her how much a young man could instil such a sense of fear. He came off as being erratic and irate—a dangerous combination.

Reed then grabbed Nina and spun her around, "Now, let's hurry it up, we don't got all day." He purposefully smacked her rump, "Move!"

Nina's eyes enlarged as his hand made contact with her body; she jolted in place for a second. She started to rethink if she should go below deck with Reed, but at this point she felt she had no other choice. He hauled her over to the door, threw it open, and dragged her down the stairs.

Chris's gaze narrowed, keenly watching the events folding before him. As soon as Nina and Reed were out of view he shifted his eyes over to Vida. He felt useless and powerless in this situation; it piqued him to see his father being held at gunpoint.

Madison kept her eyes lowered to the floor; Reed's misogynistic behaviour made her feel uncomfortable. She had encountered boys like him before—boys who preyed on women because they viewed them as weak and treated them as objects for their own pleasures. However, what made Reed dangerous was that he also exhibited sociopathic predispositions.


Back on land, Nick dribbled a basketball as he went up an inclined street, finally reaching the house he had been searching for. He tossed the basketball against the garage and went up a window to peer inside the house. He squinted his eyes but the sun made it impossible to peer into the condo. He stepped over to the door and rapped three times.

He waited for a moment before reaching out again to knock when he heard a hammer of a gun click. He turned around, and quickly held his hands up in defence," Whoa, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Don't shoot. Don't shoot."

The Latino man—his name was Luis—narrowed his dark eyes, bringing the gun up hirer.

"Strand sent me. Strand. Look, look, look." Nick reached into his pocket and retrieved the piece of paper with the address written out, "See? Abigail. Okay?"

Luis pocked his gun, starting to trust the kid, "About time."

"Well, we had some boat trouble—" Nick started.

"Tss, tss, tss. Off my porch." Luis instructed, waving one of his hands backwards.

After opening the garage, he began to pack the trunk of his car, working diligently; Luis knew they were pressed for time.

"Hey, man, what the hell is this place?" Nick walked over to him with a bag in hand.

Luis answered, taking the bag from him, "An Abigail home experience. Phase one was at 90% capacity. We were just about to break ground on phase two."

"So why not just stay here? You could secure the gate."

"Seems like a lonely place to start the new world. Besides, I prefer Mexico. Any other questions?" Luis said rather offhandedly.

"You are the person getting all of us across the border, right?"

Luis shrugged, "Eh, if you tidy up. You're definitely not rubbing that stench on my leather interiors." He began to chuckle.

Nick mocked his laughter before his face dropped, "Why not? You gonna bring your car on the boat?"

"Um, not the point—" Luis froze as he watched Nick purposefully run his fingers across a section of the car with a loud squeak, "Do not touch the car. Go ahead, just—just use the last of the water pressure." He gestured behind him back at the house and began to rub the red streak with the arm of his coat. He turned his head, watching Nick go into the house, "What did you mean by 'all of us'?"


Alicia would never consider the bedroom she shared with the other teenagers very spacious. There were two sets of bunk beds situated perpendicular to one another. There was only one tiny window on the far wall; on the left wall was a set of double tier lockers. Jack's eyes flew around the sleeping space before he landed them on Alicia, "This where you sleep?"

Alicia took a moment to answer, "Yeah… or on deck when it's warm."

"Which bed is yours?" Jack inquired, as he wanted to keep a conversation going between them.

"Um, that one…" Alicia nodded to the right wall, "I sleep on the top bunk."

Jack stepped over to the bunk and sat on the bottom bed. He shifted his head to a camping backpack sitting on the end of the bed. He examined it, thinking it looked ready to go at a moments notice; he made a double take to the crowbar attached to it. He turned to reface Alicia, a small smile playing at his lips, "So, this is where you talked to me?"

Alicia caught on to his attempt of carrying on a conversation; she could have answered his question but decided to counter it with another question of her own, "Don't you have a call to make?"

Jack pursed his lips, he leaned his elbows into his knees, giving a quick shrug. He did not move or show any indications he wanted her to find the portable just yet. An obstinate silence quickly settled over them.

Alicia swallowed dryly, her eyes bounced from the floor to Jack. Slowly, she inched forward, and spoke up softly, "The, uh, the portable is underneath the bed."

Jack opened his knees wider and bent his upper body down to reach for the portable radio. He waved his hand around under the bed until it came into contact with a cool metal punnet. He stuck his tongue between his lips and yanked on the radio until it was in his lap. He moved his dark eyes up and smiled faintly at Alicia. He parted his lips to say something when he noticed a dark blur pass in the gangway.

"What the hell?" He uttered softly, he put the radio aside and went out into the hallway. His brow frowned at the sight, "Reed?"

Alicia trailed behind Jack; she watched from the doorframe.

Reed halted in his tracks, spinning around enough to look back; his grip was tight on the hood of Nina's jacket, "Yo, Kip, you make the call to Connor yet?"

Jack shook his head, "Uh, no, we—I was just about to—"

"Then what the hell are you just standing here for? Go make the goddamn call. I gotta take smutbag here to the toilet,' Reed said with irritation, "When I get back, have a status update."

Jack nodded slowly, turning to go back into the bedroom with Alicia.


After Reed and Nina left, Vida let out a heavy sigh as she poked Travis in the back with her gun, "Sit down. You try anything, I'll start shooting."

Travis reluctantly sat on the bench Vida nudged him to. He looked down at Daniel and then up at his son for a moment before he met eyes with Madison.

Vida went back over to the bar and placed the gun on the counter. She picked up the tumbler once more and stared intently at the glass in her hand. She brought it up to her lips, taking a strong whiff of the tepid liquid.

Madison watched Vida for a moment before she spoke, "Go ahead, one drink won't hurt."

"I just like the smell." Vida retorted, her eyes searching the room once more.

"Good for you. Wish I could say the same…" Madison trailed off before asking another question, "When are you due?"

Vida landed her eyes on Madison, she shrugged, "Don't know, lost track."

Madison smirked softly, "If you were counting before all this, you're still counting."

Vida rolled her eyes, staring down at the dark liquid in the glass, "Four weeks."

"Oh, any day now." Madison tried to sound surprised, "What are you having?"

Vida brought her eyes up once more, "A girl."

"Oh, it's a girl? Picked any names?"

Vida narrowed her eyes, wondering why this woman was asking so many questions like she actually cared about the pregnancy, "What is this, my shower?"

"She your first?" Madison continued to pry.

Vida put down the glass and respired, "What's it to you, lady?"

Madison looked around the room, hoping Daniel was getting closer to getting out of his binds, "They say the first is the hardest. Second pregnancy's worse in ways."

"Yeah?" Vida responded offhandedly.

"You know the pain at any moment is less than what's coming. You know any potential complications—might have been through some. And you know the moment that tiny thing comes into the world, you're weaker because you would die for him." Madison spoke with a distant tone to her voice. She bit her lip at the memory, unable to fully envision it for her own sake.


Reed slammed his fist on the bathroom door, "What the hell is taking so long?"

Nina peered up at the door with a soft exhale as she rethought how she would execute her plan.

"Just a minute," She said, fumbling with the lighter. Her eyes landed on the smoke bomb before her. It was the only one she had on hand and she knew she could not waste it. She lit the three embedded matches, knowing she had exactly five seconds before it detonated with dense smoke. She stood, cracked the door open, and tossed it out at Reed.

Reed took a step back and blinked, "What the—" He began to cough as smoke quickly filled the passageway.

Using all her might, Nina threw open the door and tackled him into the wall with a loud grunt.

Reed groaned, dropping the gun. He coughed again, straining his eyes to see through the heavy dissipating smoke. He pushed back with a growl; it did not take much effort to throw Nina to the ground.

Nina marshalled her breath with a few coughs. She started to crawl, feeling for the gun. Her arm moved around until she felt her fingers come in contact with the handle of the pistol.

The smoke was beginning to clear enough for Reed to see what Nina was doing. He snarled as he spotted his gun. He stomped his foot on her hand and kicked the gun back toward the bathroom door. He let out a breathy laugh at her attempt to gain control of the upper hand.

He was stronger and larger, and was able to quickly overpower Nina. He pinned her to the ground and straddled her, attempting to restrain her.

Nina cried out, struggling against him; she lifted one hand up to his face and dug her nails into flesh; she scratched him across the bridge of his nose to the top of his left cheek.

Reed grabbed the neck of her shirt and smacked her with his other fist. He blow was enough to stun her and make her body go still.


Meanwhile, as this was going on, Jack pressed the microphone close to his lips as he spoke to Connor, "There's a guy on board, knows how to rig the engine. Over."

Connor responded, "We're inbound. Should be there in a little over half an hour. Did you find the girl? Over."

"Alicia? Yes. Over." Jack looked at her as he spoke her name.

"I look forward to meeting her. Over and out." Connor said as the radio made a click.

"Copy that." Jack nodded, putting the microphone down next to the portable. He started to say something when a loud commotion coming from the hallway cut him off.

He and Alicia exchanged worried glances as they both dashed into the smoky corridor.

Alicia coughed, straining her eyes against the smoky air. She wondered where all the smoke had come from but decided it was not the time after seeing two figures brawling. She started to sprint forward to help Nina when she felt arms wrap around her waist and pull her back.

"Get off me!" She thrashed against Jack, managing to knock his stomach with an elbow in the struggle.

Jack pulled her back into the bedroom, tightening his grip on her, "Alicia! Stop—just stop"

"No, he's hurting my friend!" She fought against him the best she could with her hands bound behind her back. "Why won't you do something?"

"I can't." It was all Jack was able to muster as he held onto Alicia until she stopped moving.


Reed flipped Nina over and yanked her arms behind her back, "Almost had me, didn't you, you little bitch." Straddling her legs, he pressed his knees into her thighs to keep a hold on her. He put her wrist together and swiftly wrapped the zip tie around them and tied it extra tight. He then reached into his left pocket and withdrew a piece of cloth that he was going to use to gag her with.

Nina had long stopped struggling, knowing it was useless. She winced in pain; Reed was being extra rough on purpose. She cursed to herself for she had been so close in getting the gun away from him.

"You know, I heard you were resourceful but god damn… I must say that was impressive. Kinda gave me a buzz," Reed smirked, pulling back on the strip of cloth in her mouth. He strained Nina's neck backwards as he tied it tightly behind her head, "I'm going to have so much fun tearing you apart later."