Ellis watched as Nick and Alex crept back down the alley. "What are they doin?!"
"Well whatever it is, when he gets back Im'a knock some sense into them." Coach said tensely.
"Rochelle, I'm scared." Haileys' small voice came from behind them.
"It'll be ok sweetie." Ellis heard Rochelle tell the little girl.
Ellis kept his eyes locked on the two men as they cautiously advanced. He was very confused, Nick was never this reckless!
Hurry up Nick, the mechanic thought anxiously. He saw Alex point at the ground near the door. He continued forward while Nick crouched where he was.
"Shit," Coach hissed, "Ellis look."
Ellis followed Coachs' pointed finger. A dark figure was perched on the edge of the building that made up one wall of the alley. "Is that?"
"Hunter." Coach confirmed.
Ellis reached for the pistol strapped to his thigh, confident he could hit the infected. Coach smacked his hand away, "No, the Tank will hear!"
The Hunter looked back and forth between the two groups of survivors, as if deciding which would be the easiest catch. Ellis flicked his eyes back to Nick and Alex to see where they were. He saw Alex holding something in his hand and Nick motioning him to get moving.
Then the Hunter screamed.
The safe room exploded apart as the Tank roared and smashed his way outside. The flying pieces knocked Alex off his feet.
"Rochelle! Stay with Hailey!" Coach yelled, "Come on Ellis!" The two of them took off down the alley.
Ellis watched in horror as the Tank picked up Alex and tossed him aside like a rag doll.
"ALEX!" Hailey screamed as he hit the brick.
Ellis raised his gun, "Nick, duck!"
As soon as Nick hit the ground Ellis and Coach opened fire. The Tank turned as the bullets hit. It started running forward, heading straight for their friend on the ground.
"Shit." Coach muttered as Nick tripped and went down again. He frantically tried to reload, "Dammit Nick, move!"
No, no, no! Ellis reloaded quicker than ever before and made sure very bullet found its' way into the flesh of the Tank. "NICK!"
The Tank loomed above Nick. Thin streams of blood trickled from the bullet holes that peppered its' body.
Ellis threw away his AK and and grabbed the pistol.
The Tank raised its' massive arms above its' body.
With a cry Ellis fired the last few shots and dropped to his knees certain he was about to see his friend crushed.
The Tanks' arms fell, but not on Nick. The enormous infected wobbled and, with a final roar, fell to the side.
A stunned silence filled the alley. Ellis stared at the Tank, his mind spinning.
"Nick!" Coach ran by, snapping Ellis back. He scrambled to his feet and caught up to Coach as he reached the conman.
Coach crouched next to the prone survivor and lightly touched his shoulder. Nick flinched violently, his entire body tensing.
"Nicolas, it's Coach. The Tank's dead."
Slowly, Nick turned his head and looked at Coach. Ellis nearly took a step back. Nicks' eyes were wide and there was something in them that Ellis had never seen before nor had ever thought he would.
Terror.
Ellis had seen the man face down hordes. He had navigated the flaming Vannah without blinking an eye. Ellis didn't think Nick knew how to be scared.
He watched Coach help Nick to his feet. The conman shook his head a few times before saying something to Coach and glancing at the dead Tank. Ellis sighed in relief as Nick swore colorfully and kicked the infected.
A/N I'm very happy with the way this came out! I hope you are too! Apologies on the length, I couldn't find a decent place to cut between this one and the next. I promise the next will be longer! Enjoy~