So here we are. Grand finale huh. I'm really worried this will be a big let down. If it is please be honest, I don't like ass kissers. Right well, crossing my fingers here. Read... Review... Please Enjoy...
"So tell me, why do you need Cole?"
Jenny was in a room with the commanding officer from before, her daughter sleeping soundly in her arms.
"Because, despite his aggressive behavior he has shown, he still maintains a strong will with enough intellect to fight the instinct to kill you."
The room was well lit, two soldiers standing at the door for protection.
"That didn't answer my question, how does that help you?"
A small tug is felt from Alice grabbing at her mother in her sleep.
"Around you he is docile and controllable."
"Listen Colonel-"
"You aren't part of the army nor my superior, you don't need to and shouldn't call me that."
"Fine, Richard, if you are planning on using me to control him you have the wrong idea. I didn't make him bring me here, he made me come here."
"For your protection. I'm sure we can find a way to use him if you help us."
"Not like you can find him. Besides, even if I agree to help, you would just kill him in the end anyway."
Richard reached into his uniform and pulled out a small handkerchief to hand to Jenny.
"You have blood on your hands..."
"...Thanks..."
Jenny wiped her hands of the blood and returned it and the officer who promptly gave it to one of the soldiers guarding the door.
"Take this sample to the lab."
"Sir!"
Without hesitation the man obeyed his order and left the room in a hurry.
"That blood was from Cole. Am I correct Jenny?"
"... Yeah, he got hurt and I had to help him. What do you need the blood for now?"
"To try and make a vaccine or even a cure."
"And here I thought you handed me that handkerchief to be polite..."
A glare was shot between the two people. Ever since they first met when Jenny came to visit Cole on base, she has hated him with every ounce of her being. In her mind, she saw him as a brute and fool with ambitions too high for his own good. He saw everything as his personal weapon and didn't care to stamp out those who didn't agree.
In Richard's mind, Jenny was the typical peace lover. It was true Jenny didn't like conflict but she knew what was necessary and what wasn't. Still, that didn't change the colonel's image of her as a bleeding heart.
"What will you do if I refuse?"
"We will kill him."
"Didn't you say your men already tried to take him down but failed?"
"We will start a man hunt for him if we have to, if he is not going to be an asset he will be a danger!"
"So if he isn't going to be your tool, you'll kill him?..."
"Correct."
"..."
Cole is quite strong and resilient, but can he handle the colonel's men? Even if Cole was backed up by Cass and Stephanie, he may not stand a chance. Cole had no idea what the colonel wanted but he didn't care, he was back at the boxcar staring at Cass sitting atop his dead brother, stabbing him over and over.
"Cass! The hell are you doing?!"
"Get up you fucker! I wanna fight some more! Get up!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Cole?!"
"Yeah, now what the hell is wrong with you?!"
Without giving her answer Cass turned back to the body, continuing her work.
"Cole!"
"Stephanie? The hell happened here?! The boxcar is flipped, Cass even more so, and theres a dead infected getting ripped apart so Cass can get off!"
Wounded and in pain, Stephanie limped to Cole and leaned on him as a crutch.
"That guy attacked us a while after you left and Cass... I don't know what happened to her..."
"Dammit!"
After lowering Stephanie into a sitting position, Cole stomped over to Cass who was still stabbing the lifeless body below her. With one strong punch from Cole, she was knocked off the infected and landed in the dirt.
"Get a grip Cass, or I'll beat you straight!"
"Do you want to fight me now?! Good!"
Like a hunter, Cass lunge at Cole and pinned him to the ground.
"Stupid bitch!"
In retaliation, Cole grabbed Cass' vest and pulled her down, her head crashing into his and breaking her nose. It did little to deter her, all it accomplished was put blood on Cole's forehead. It was enough though to give Cole the leverage to knock her off of him. Cole rolled over on top of Cass and pinned her hands above her head before she could retaliate.
"Cass! Chill the fuck out!"
"Well finally you take some initiative with me!"
"The hell are you taking about?!"
"What are you waiting for?!"
"Shut the fuck up!"
Reeling his head back, Cole released another headbutt onto his friend, knocking her out cold this time. With Cass finally silent, Cole rolled off of her and lied on the ground trying to catch his breath.
"Stephanie... Stephanie, come here."
"What is it?"
"Something is wrong with Cass, obviously, and we have to do something to stop her from doing that shit again."
"Agreed, but what?"
To let herself rest as well, Stephanie lied next to Cole. Cass' state was quite troubling with her odd blood lust and attitude towards Cole. This wasn't the first time this happened to her either. Earlier that day when she attacked the infected trying to kill Cole, days ago when they were in the police station, both times she acted with such viciousness but around Cole she seemed even more... off.
"Well Cole?"
"Well what?"
"Cass! What do we do about her?"
"Oh right, sorry. I'm kinda in and out right now, lost alot of blood already today."
"Cass is right, you are a dumbass psycho."
"I take that as a compliment."
Forcing himself up, Cole looked over his body, removing all bandages he could find left and tied them tightly around Cass's hands behind her back and tying her feet together.
"Ill put Cass in the boxcar then come help you."
"Take your time Cole. I'm in no rush to move."
Rather then take Cass into his arms, Cole dragged her through the dirt before tossing her up into the over turned boxcar. Each motion he made was sluggish and forced through pain.
"OK Stephanie, you want to stay there or do you want in too?"
"With that crazy witch? No thanks."
"Suit yourself."
Returning to his friend lying in the dirt, Cole dropped to his knees and started to look over Stephanie.
"Like what you see? Too late for that sort of behavior, sweetie."
"Where are you hurt?"
"Oh y'know, feels like everywhere."
"Your legs just look bruised, no fractures... take your coat off."
Complying, Stephanie pulled her coat off, leaving nothing but a sports bra and for the first time Cole saw her without her coat. He was in shock from what was just revealed to him, her body was covered in scars just as his was. It was enough to make him forget why he had her remove her coat in the first place and he began to examine the scars and marks.
"Is this going to get invasive?"
Her words prompted Cole from his thoughts and he started to put pressure on her ribs.
"Ah, shit! I like it rough as the next girl but be a little gentler."
"Would you quit talking like that? Getting on my nerves!"
"My bad, old habit and all..."
"Forget it, what's with these scars?"
"You think you're the only one who's been fighting to survive?"
"You have almost an many as me. You don't get that many from just surviving, you get that many from looking for fights."
Stephanie let a chuckle slip as she looked down at each mark on her grey skin.
"My sister did it to me when we became infected."
"... I can kind of relate."
"Huh?"
"That corpse starting to rot over there is my brother, he made me an infected."
"No shit... I made my sister into an infected. She got her payback for days until I killed her."
"Payback, that's a funny way of putting it. Anyway, your ribs are pretty messed up. All we can do is take it easy and let them heal best they can on their own."
After helping Stephanie slip her coat back on, Cole couldn't help but wonder what it was like for Jenny and his daughter Alice after he became infected and never returned to them. If he had returned any sooner what would he have done to them, would they be like him? His mind was starting to scare him and he tried to reject and suppress the thought.
"Well we don't know what to do with Cass, so why don't we first figure out what's wrong with her?"
Stephanie was trying to reassure Cole that something could be done. It did nothing to his disposition but he did agree it might be better to start like that.
"OK, so got any theories to start with?"
"Maybe she is just nuts? Was she like this when you first met her?"
"No, we met at a zoo and from then til the police station she was normally calm and careful."
"So it's recently new."
"She's acting like a damn common that smells bile."
"Has she had contact with a boomer?"
"Just once but he didn't puke on her. He sold her some dog meat."
"...I'm at a loss then..."
Cole sat there looking and playing with the dirt and grass under him, trying to think what caused this shift in personality.
While all this was happening at the boxcar, Jenny was busy as well. She was allowed into the encampment after some negotiations, still she refused to help the colonel. Everywhere she looked were citizens just trying to survive and keep from turning. Some of these people were depressed while others were actually cheerful. Whether their cheer was genuine or they were just trying to raise spirits wasn't apparent. Regardless it was enough to give some people the drive to live on. Even Jenny found herself smiling.
"Miss? Excuse me Miss?"
"Huh?"
From behind her, a gentle hand was placed on Jenny's shoulder. Her heart jumped as she felt the touch and turned around to meet the one talking to her.
"Now now young lady, no need to be afraid of me. I'm too old to hurt anyone without breaking my own wrists. Hm Hm"
It was indeed an old man, possibly even late 80's or early 90's. He also seemed to have a poor sense of humor considering that wrist breaking joke. He was dressed in a short brown leather coat with a fedora on his head and round glasses resting on his nose.
"I'm afraid I don't know you, sorry."
"Calm down dear girl, I'm a doctor. One of the soldiers told me a woman came today with an infant and I simply had to meet you and the little tyke."
"A doctor? Really?"
"Yes, I used to own a very busy clinic down the road from here. It's actually within the camp grounds so I still use it."
"So how can I help you doctor...?"
"Doctor Vasten, pleased to meet you."
"Well, what is it then?"
"I would like to examine your child, give it a checkup."
Jenny took a moment to look over the man and think about what he said. Then one of the things he said came to mind.
"You said a soldier told you about me, did the colonel want you to be nice to me?"
"Hmm. Quite the sharp girl, you are right. Still that is no reason to refuse my help. I help everyone here, even if I wasn't told you I would've found my way to you and the little cutie there."
"...Fine, you can check her out but I'll watch."
"That is fine with me."
Jenny now had a doctor who would help her. It was hard for her to let anyone touch Alice, that child was all she had left of her life before and Cole. Still she needed to make sure her daughter wouldn't get sick or hurt and this was the best option.
While her medical needs were being met, Cole's weren't, his back still hurting from the bites and burns. Blood was still slowly trickling down his spine and pattering on the grass. It didn't bother him though, by now he was desensitized to pain. Even then, the blood loss was slowly taking it's toll despite being mostly closed by Jenny.
"Cole?"
"Yeah?"
"What happened to your back?"
"I met with a friend I didn't agree with."
"I'll take that as you don't care to go into details..."
"You'd be right."
"Well you left a damn trail of blood leading here."
"What?! Shit! Those soldiers are gonna be on my ass now!"
"Chill, it'll take some time for them to get here, first we should try to recuperate then move fast. We go now and the blood trail will only get longing and they will still follow."
Stephanie took her coat off once again and put it on his back to try and cover the wound. Cole pushed it off again and again until Stephanie gave him a glare.
"The hell are you doing?"
"Put my coat on, it's a guy's coat anyway."
"I don't care about what gender its for, I don't want it."
Stephanie lost her patience and struck Cole's back, targeting the open wounds and causing him to lurch over and give Stephanie the chance to force the coat on him. His left arm slid in the sleeve easily but his right with his claw ripped its sleeve clean off.
"Well that worked out nicely..."
"Why the hell did you hit me?!"
"Quit your whining. It's covering your back up, it's gross to look at by the way, and you need it more then me so be happy."
"Pft... Well listen we still need to deal with Cass anyway. Can you stand?"
"Yeah, think so."
Stephanie struggled to get up but she stood on her own. Cole left her to her limping as he made his way back to the boxcar and hopped up then down in. He felt his entire body freeze at what he saw, or rather didn't see, Cass. She was gone.
"Stephanie! We got a problem!"
"What?!"
"Cass is gone!"
"How did she- Where to?!"
"Shit!... Fuck!... DAMMIT!... CAAASSSSS!"
"OK Cole, that's enough. Let's try to find a trail or something."
With a silent nod, Cole agreed and started searching the boxcar, nothing was there but twisted metal and... a small bit of blood. Finding this, Cole searched all around it and found the bandages he used to tie Cass up. They were cut roughly with small blood droplets covering them and hanging from a piece of scrap metal, bent inward.
While Cole inside was checking that, Stephanie was outside the boxcar searching for anything. All she found was Cole's blood trail. Something was off about it though, it was smeared on the pavement going in the opposite direction.
"Cole, I think I know where she went!"
Cole jumped from the boxcar an landed next to her to see what she'd found.
"Where?"
"look at your blood. She must've stepped in it."
Cole followed a bit, finding half footprints made in his blood. Stephanie's theory seemed dead on.
"She wants a fight so she goes to the soldiers. Stupid bitch!"
"What about Jenny and her baby?"
"Fuck! I'll hurry ahead, you follow at your own pace!"
Leaving Stephanie is his dust, Cole sprinted off again for the camp. Cass was already more dangerous then the normal witch and he knew that, the soldiers were going to get ripped apart if they try to face her. Eventually their numbers would be the end of her but Cole wanted to stop her before it came to that point.
"Cass you stupid bitch!"
With Cole going full steam after Cass and Cass charging to the soldiers' base encampment, it'd only be a matter of time before Jenny and her daughter Alice were put in danger. It was an idea Cole refused to allow. While the chase ensued, Jenny was still with the doctor making sure her dear Alice was in good health.
As Vasten put his tools away, Jenny took Alice into her arms and cradled her gently, earning a giggle and smile from the small girl. The doctor gave her a smile as well as he faced her with his report on Alice's health.
"Your little girl is doing quite well, even with the way this world is now."
"... Thank you doctor, what do I owe you?"
"No no no no my dear, you owe me nothing. I just like to help others, besides money is no good and there is nothing you can do for me since my granddaughter takes care of me."
"You're granddaughter?"
"Great granddaughter actually, I am quite old. Would you like to meet her?"
"No that's perfectly-"
"Enid! Enid, come meet our guest, dear!"
From around the corner of a hallway, a young woman dressed in a military uniform entered the room scratching her head and yawning. He black hair was cut just above her neck and her eyes were dark green along with very pale skin. Almost pale as the infected.
"Gramps, I was trying to take a nap. Now what do you... Oh hi there Jenny..."
"Pardon? Do I know you?"
"No, well yes, sorta. I was in Cole's squad, we met a couple times when you visited him."
"Oh I'm sorry, I'm having trouble remembering you."
"No worries, I didn't remember you either til the colonel told me you were here."
"I take it you are the one who told your grandfather about me then."
"Bingo! Hey Gramps, mind leaving us to talk? Got a few things to discuss."
With little more then a nod and a gentle look on his face, the old man left the women to their chatter. After the door was shut, the room was a bit quiet to start with. Though it felt awkward for Jenny, Enid gave her a warm smile and gave her a seat to sit in.
"So you finally had your baby huh? She is such a cutie!"
"Th-thank you..."
"Something wrong?"
"Today hasn't been very relaxing..."
"Right, escorted through the city by Cole just to meet with ole stick up the ass Richard. Reminds me of my first day as a soldier when I met Cole on the way to camp... I'm sorry about what happened to him. None of us wanted him to get hurt. He was like a brother to everyone in the squad, especially his own brother. Heh heh... heh hmm..."
"..."
Such a poor joke just made the atmosphere more tense as Jenny held her daughter tighter. What was meant to lighten the mood just caused discomfort for them both.
"Sorry Jen-Baby, I'm not too good at making others laugh. I get my sense of humor from Gramps."
"It's fine."
"Listen, housing is sparse so you'd be stuck living on the street, but you can stay with me."
"Why would you do that?"
"You need the help, so does she."
Enid pointed into Jenny's arms at the infant face of Alice who was beginning to stir about.
"That and I want to help to repay my debts to Cole. I owe him for saving my ass who knows how many times and helping you two out seems like the best way to do so."
Another warm smile came across Enid's face and Jenny's eyes started to water. This caught Enid off guard who thought she said the wrong thing.
"Thank you."
"Huh?"
"Thank you so much."
"Oh sure, no problem, please don't cry."
Their moment was interrupted by the noise of an intercom kicking to life.
"Attention all off duty personnel. Prepare for combat and report to the front gate. This is an emergency. I repeat, prepare for combat and report to the front gate. This is not a drill."
Enid let out an exhausted sigh and pulled a sniper rifle from her back.
"Got work, take care."
"I'm coming with you!"
"Uh no."
"I think it's Cole at the front gate! Would this be such a big problem if it was any regular infected? Cole is the only one dangerous enough that could cause a panic!"
"That is some loose logic... You won't let me go without you, will you? Damn... Fine but stay close to me."
The only thought going through Enid's mind as she lead Jenny to the front gate was how much punishment the colonel will dish out for bringing Jenny along. Even if she had left her and she was right, the colonel would chew her out for not bringing her. Either way she felt like she was going to be in hot water. Thinking about all that was pointless now though as they reached the front gate and she climbed to the wall and put the butt of her gun to her shoulder and started to scan the area along with several other soldiers.
It took only moments to spot two infected fighting as they came closer to the gate. One mainly chasing the other that was in a dead sprint towards the gate.
"Cass! The hell do you think you're doing?!"
"I'm having fun Cole! Something you obviously don't know anything about anymore!"
The gate opened letting out a five man squad, ready to fight the incoming monsters. The colonel followed them out and raised his hand to signal them.
"Hold your fire until I give the signal."
The infected drew closer and closer at a startling pace, the men started to step back as if to flee but a quick glare and shout from their commanding officer was enough to get them back in line. The colonel was calm and collected, desperate but determined to capture Cole and kill the other coming at them.
After spotting the face of Cole, Enid jumped down from the side of the wall and landed next to Jenny.
"Well uh... you were right, it is Cole, and another infected, but yeah Cole is out there."
"Was he alright?"
"Seems to be doing great for now but the colonel's got a squad out there waiting to shoot!"
Cass was in a frenzy and eager to draw the blood of the troops in her way. As the colonel dropped his hand, telling them all to fire on the witch, Cass dived under the first barrage of bullets and dived into the shocked troops. In seconds shes cleaved through each without effort. With them dead and Cass being too close to the colonel for the soldiers on the walls to fire, she had the freedom to take his life as well. Before she could sink her claw into him though, Cole grabbed her arm and threw her backwards behind himself.
"I'm done playing you stupid bitch! Either give up now or I will split you in two!"
"I know you mean that in the way that you would kill me. Ooh if only you meant that it in the fun way. Too bad!"
"You idiot! You're nothing more then a damn common with claws now! You are losing your sanity and any intelligence you have left!"
"Fuck you!"
With teeth and claws bared and blood lust in her eyes, the witch Cass dashed at Cole dying from anticipation to skewer him. Their claws clashed and they snapped their teeth at eachother trying to get in any hits they could. Just as Cass would dive with her claws, Cole would sidestep and knee her stomach. Just as Cole would swipe with his hooks, Cass would duck and put a new gash on his chest. With all his wounds holding him back, Cole was worried he may lose this fight.
As they fought it out, the colonel was keeping his men from firing on them, hoping to keep Cole alive, though he too could see Cole's condition and it was clearly making this fight harder. Each motion straining his body further and draining the life from him and making him daze in and out after each attack he made or dodged. It was time to do something to put the fight Cole's advantage. Richard shouted loudly to Enid his new orders.
"Corporal Vasten! Get your rifle ready and attack that witch!"
"Sir?!"
"You are our sniper now shoot her!"
"Yes sir!"
Enid now flustered and in a panic, climbed back up the wall and pointed her rifle down the road at the fighting infecteds, doing her best to put her crosshair over Cass. With them both moving so fast, it was difficult just to avoid aiming at Cole and instead aim at Cass. Every time she thought she had a shot they jumped around forcing her to twitch and fidget, making her avoid shooting either.
"Dammit Vasten! Take the fucking shot!"
At the sound of her commanding officer's voice she pulled the trigger without thinking. The bullets whizzed through the air nipping Cole in his left ear lobe and hitting Cass in her shoulder. Cole froze up and held his ear, not knowing what just happened. Cass was sent back and onto the pavement as the bullet struck her.
"Fire again Corporal!"
"Yes sir!"
This time with both of them holding still, Enid had the perfect shot to take out Cass and took it. This shot passed Cole right in front of his chest and struck Cass in her torso as she was struggling to get up. Cole dropped to one knee and looked at the motionless form of his friend.
"I'm sorry Cass..."
Cole, weary from the fight, staggered to his feet and fell to his knee again. He tried again and this time stood up straight. He faced the gate ready for whatever punishment the soldiers were waiting to deal him. Whether it was a barrage of bullets or a blunt weapon to his head, he was ready to face it. He knew it was time to face judgement because he was too tired. He knew it was time because he couldn't run from them anymore. He knew it was time because he already was the undead and that meant damnation.
One by one the remaining troops filed outside and faced him with their guns ready to fire. The colonel, being a military man who respected his troops came out as well to say his piece before having Cole killed.
"Lieutenant Cole, you were a hell of a soldier even after you were turned. You put the lives of others above your own and defended us. For that I commend you but you are too dangerous for us to capture. I was hoping we would have a chance to but you won't make it easy on us, will you?"
Cole let out a small grumble to confirm the colonel's assumption.
"Very well..."
While the pompous commander spoke to Cole who could not speak back, Enid was behind the wall with Jenny.
"What?! They can't kill him! Not after what he just did for us! Stop them Enid!"
"I can't, I don't know how. I'm sorry."
"... Hold onto Alice for me!"
Without warning, Jenny passed her daughter to the hands of Enid who, though surprised and confused, grabbed firmly to her. Jenny was reckless as she ran out the gate and stood infront of Cole to protect him from the soldiers facing him now.
"Stop this now! Colonel, let Cole go!"
"Jenny, get out of our way! He is a monster that must be put down!"
"He saved your life and you want to end his?!"
"He is a flesh-eating zombie! He has no life anymore!"
Jenny held her ground and stared down the armed men ahead of her. The soldiers started to lose their nerve, Jenny wasn't a danger, she was an innocent civilian. As they slowly lowered their weapons everyone was put into shock when they saw blades come from out of her stomach. As the blades retracted, Jenny turned slowly and faced Cole who had a similar wound, fresh in his stomach.
"J-Jenny..."
Cole reached out and caught her before she could fall. She coughed blood and tried to speak but she only coughed more. Cole's own mouth filled with blood as he turned his head to see Cass hunched over with her claws covered in his blood. She had stabbed through him and whether she meant to or not, she had killed Jenny in the process.
"Cass... Why... why... why you BIIIIIIITCH!"
Cole laid Jenny on the ground and tackled Cass, driving his hooks deep into her good shoulder.
"FUCKING BITCH! WHY?! TELL ME NOW, WHY?!"
"... I didn't want the fun to stop... I didn't my fun to stop with you..."
Cole's eyes lit with anger at her answer. Tearing his claw from her, he raised it above his head, and brought it down on her. Cole remained silent as he just sat there looking at his handy work. He made so sounds even as he rose up from his position and walked over to the line of soldiers. With a long release of breath and dead look in both his eyes, Cole dropped to the pavement and didn't move after.
While the soldiers were unsure of what happened, Enid held Alice close who cried loud enough for everyone to hear. Her cries were like a sign she knew her parents were gone. The only one with a clear head was the colonel who was thinking of what to do at this point.
"Tsk... Well men, grab the civilian. We should give her a burial at the very least. Drag Devil in as well. Burn the witch though."
Without complaint the soldiers did as they were told and retrieved their bodies before taking them inside. As he walked back into the gate he looked to his side and saw Enid with her eyes full of tears and the baby Alice in her arms.
"Vasten..."
"...Sir?"
"Looks like you have someone new to look after."
"What?"
"It is the least you can do for redemption since her mother just died."
The words of Colonel Richard shook Enid's entire body and mind, not because he was going to entrust her with the care of a baby but because his words were like he was calling her out and blaming her for the death of Alice's mother. She was the one who shot the witch so she felt responsible for not killing it before it killed Jenny. With that thought and guilt placed on her, she held Alice tightly and pressed her to her bosom in an attempt for comfort as she stopped holding back her tears and let them fall with Alice's.
Be honest with me now. As I said, I don't like ass kissers...