Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, it keeps us writing!
Disclaimer
Left 4 Dead is property of Valve.
Unfortunately Ellis and Nick are too.
It's Easier to Lure Lure Zombies with Blood than Axes -9- Screaming Rooftops
The six looked at the ride ahead of them with mixed reactions. Both Cas and Ellis were excited out of their minds, Coach and Rochelle were weary, and Sophie and Nick were on the verge of fear (tears, in Sophie's case).
In the tunnel of love, Sophie had trusted Nick to catch her coming out of the long drop from the hole. Now, she was going to have to trust him to run a roller coaster with a swarm of zombies chasing them.
The group sat down at the entrance of the ride, checking their supplies and talking strategy. Cas was practically jittering with excitement until she spotted the bandages on Sophie's feet.
"Oh, shit," she muttered.
"You're telling me," her friend grumbled in response.
"So," Rochelle asked, "what's the plan?"
"I'll tell you what the plan is," Coach stood to gain everyone's attention. "You 'n me, Ro, we're gonna run this coaster as fast as we can and turn that alarm off. Nick will carry Sophie, and Ellis and Cas will defend them. We'll all meet up at the end."
Agreed murmurs floated through the group until Sophie cleared her throat. All attention was on her. A face of superiority was firmly planted on Sophies face, and Cas knew that whatever she was planning, she wanted in on it.
"I'm in," Cas said before Sophie even got the chance to open her mouth.
Chuckling, she nodded, "I'll need someone with me anyway." She looked at the gate. "It's a roller coaster, right?" Everyone nodded, not quite understanding her point yet. "Well, in the words of my buddy Ellis, 'I wanna ride one!'"
The hicks jaw hit the floor and Cas let out a booming laugh. Nick joined in the laughter, though mostly because of the southern accent Sophie added onto her quote.
"And how do you s'pose you're gonna do that, little lady?" questioned Coach.
"Well, if Nick gives me a boost, I can get over the gate and hop onto the coaster. Cas can climb over it, and we'll get to the end pretty fast. Cas can turn off the ride and we'll hold out until the rest of you arrive." She looked at Nick. "Gonna boost me up, muscle man?"
Nick grumbled at the nickname and Ellis laughed. With no effort he picked her up and sat her at the edge of the gate. Cas climbed over just as Sophie delicately slipped off and limped to the ride. The two fastened the seat belts, grinning as though it were the happiest day of their lives.
Hey, it may have been the happiest day for a while.
"Ready?" asked Rochelle, her hand on the button.
Ellis leaned over to check on Cas. "Good luck," he wished her.
She nodded, her smile now directed at him.
"Here we go!" Shouted Coach as Rochelle hit the switch. The ride began up the hill and the gates opened as soon as all the cars passed. The four ran out onto the tracks and began to follow as best as they could. From behind them they could hear a faint, "Run, man! Run!"
The two screamed as they hit the first hill down, whooping and cheering the rest of the way. A few zombies were cleared out as they hit them. When the ride stopped their excited laughter didn't. Cas sprang from her seat and turned the ride off. Sophie used her arms to haul herself out of her place and onto the back of the seat. Killing off the zombies that came at them with ease, they waited for their friends to join them at the end.
After a minute, their cheer dissolved with the sound of Rochelles distressed scream. They looked at each other for a second and Sophie nodded. She pulled herself out of the coaster and hopped into the operating booth as Cas fled her position to help her team out. With only her front to worry about, the task of defending herself was an easy one. With all the adrenaline pumping through Cas' veins, she reached her friends fast enough only to find Rochelle on the floor and the other three fully occupied with the offending dead.
When they caught sight of Cas, Coach helped Rochelle up and the three made a barrier around her as they shuffled to the end of the ride. Cas led the group with her axe in hand, removing any barriers from their destination. When Sophie caught sight of them, she shot at any approaching zombie and soon enough the six were together. Finishing off the swarm fast enough in their number, they were left drained and breathing heavily.
"I never want to go on another roller coaster ever again," complained Rochelle from her spot on the floor.
"Come on girl, get up!" coaxed Coach, throwing her arm over his shoulder.
"Uh, I am too young to feel this old."
With a limping Coach and Rochelle leading the way, Ellis held out his hand to coax Cas into following him; she took it without question. Sophie looked at Nick, shaking her head.
"Are you gonna let me walk to the safe house myself this time?"
"Nope."
"Can I not become a sack of potatoes this time?"
Nick pretended to think for a moment. And just in case he had any doubt in his mind, Sophie added, "I like the view of your ass and all, but it kinda hurts my ribs after a while."
Coach let out a barking laugh and while he was distracted Sophie stood and carefully walked behind him. Growling again, he came up behind her and knocked her off her feet, into his arms.
Blowing a stray hair out of her face, the blonde shut the door behind them.
"Happy new year!" cheered Nick.
The group had survived another night and were now standing in front of a series of barn houses. The two girls were still occasionally giggling at the strength testing game. Keeping a straight face from Nicks shoulder, Sophie did her best impression.
"Mustachio! Ha ha ha!"
Cas and Ellis doubled over in a fit of laughter, with Rochelle trying to stifle hers. The other two men didn't find her joke as amusing.
"Yeah, real nice Sophie. I suppose you're going to ask to walk through the barns next, aren't you?" Said Nick.
She shifted slightly, "actually…"
"No."
"But Nick—"
"Don't you 'but Nick' me." He cut her off. "This is for your own good."
"Well Nick," began Ellis, "I think wut the little lady here means is that yer kinda smutherin' her."
"Yeah," piped in Cas, fully aware of the opportunity. "We all know you've got a thing for her, but this is a little over the top."
Nick sputtered, releasing his hold on the girl attached to him. She slid off his back and onto her feet. Unlike her friend, she did have worse at one point or another.
"Come on," Sophie reasoned, placing a hand on Nicks shoulder, "if my feet really start hurting, then I'll let you carry me like a sack of potatoes, okay?"
Nick looked her straight in the eye. "What, so you can look at my ass again?"
"Wh-what?"
Cas and Ellis laughed again. They seemed to find the same things amusing, and it only furthered the little thing each had for the other.
Slower than normal, though not painfully so, the six moved through the barns. Her feet, Sophie found, weren't as bad as she thought they would be. She just hoped that they wouldn't have to run from anything else.
Climbing onto the roof had posed some difficulty, though once they were on, Sophie found the most amusing thought run through her mind.
"Up on the roof top, click, click, click," she sang.
Nick glared back at her. "Don't you dare."
"Down through the chimney comes old saint Nick!"
Giggles filled the silence until they reached the end of the roof tops. Sophie let out a protesting groan, recognizing the task ahead of them. Nick just smirked.
Inside the safe room, after running through a stampede of zombies, the six collapsed into heaps, un-wanting of anything else but sleep. Wounds were patched, checked, and healed. Supplies were evenly distributed and set out. Now, with need of a plan, the group found themselves lucky they had Coach.
"Alright, here's the plan," he said, standing in-front of everyone. "Y'all know the Midnight Riders. They're gonna save us."
Ellis shifted, "I hate to break it to yew Coach, but I don't think they're actually here."
Coach gave him a reproaching look. "We'll set of their finale, and the copper gotta know something's up. And nobody, I mean NOBODY has a bigger light show than the Midnight Riders."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Nick grumbled, "This had to be the stupidest idea I've ever agreed with."
All in pairs once more, the six bunkered down for a rest.
They would need it.
Foot Note: Alrighty! Almost at double digits. Wooo. Any comments, questions, ect ect are welcomed and appreciated. Let us know what you guys think so far ^^
