Hello guys! Sorry for the long wait, I've recently moved and it's taken a bit longer than anticipated to settle in. Hopefully I can get out 2 more chapter or so this week, so fingers crossed! Anyway I just wanted to let you guys know that little situation.

Enjoy!

PREVIOUSLY

"I'm nothing but loyal to you commander." Our hands fall apart, she quickly turns away and proceeds to the garage opening along with Travis and Daniel.

Mom is next. She tells me to stay in the car with Chris and Biscuit and she doesn't release me from her own hug until I agree. I relish in the hug from my mother, I can't be mad at her any longer not with the world going to complete shit around us.

She runs to join the group and just like that they're gone, I'm left standing her in the middle of the garage by myself until their backs are completely gone from my view.

Tears fall from my eyes and land on the dirt covered concrete below but I do nothing to stop them, instead I walk backwards to the awaiting car where Biscuit and Chris already wait.

Please God, bring her back to me.

CHAPTER 11: Get The Bat, I'm Going In

8:43

My fingers drum impatiently across the dashboard of the car, my feet tap along with the beat. Elyza and the others have been gone for only 15 minutes but it feels like it's been hours since I had last seen my blonde friend.

8:44

Like me, Chris stares at the clock on the radio. Biscuit is asleep in the backseat while Chris and I worry in our spots in the front. I try not to let my imagination get a hold of me and remind myself that this time we were prepared. Travis obviously had a plan and all members of the rescue group left with some type of weapon in their hands. Now it's just the waiting game.

8:46

The sounds from outside still echo off the walls of this underground parking garage, from explosions to a faint buzz of a helicopter. It's war out there. On instinct my hand reaches out for the side of my door and I push down on the cars lock, the faint click seems to startle Chris.

"This is fucking crazy!" Chris shakes his head and reaches for the side of his own door, unlocking and exiting the car.

"Chris, they'll come bac-" I say trying to berate him but he slams the door, cutting me off. I'm getting real tired of people cutting me off lately.

I roll my eyes as he completely disregards our orders to stay in the car. Following his lead and exiting the vehicle I join up front where he leans back onto the car hood, his hands shoved deeply into his khakis.

"If they can't get in, they will come back." I reason.

"And what? They'll just leave the others behind? Leave Daniel's wife, your brother, my mom?" He's got a point, I keep silent even though I want to reply back.

A loud gunshot fills our silence and without a single glance at each other we make our way back to our respective sides of the car and hop into the seats and just like before I push the lock switch, separating us from whatever is out there.

"I don't want anyone to die." I look to the boy next to me and I'm in awe at the sight. I never really stopped and looked at Chris this closely before, mostly because he always irritated the shit out of me. Seeing him this close though, I can really see how young he is. Arguably he is only one year younger than me but there is something almost too youthful about him in his eyes.

Chris has always been closed off and reluctant around my family but I always thought it was because he hated Travis and in extension my family. Seeing him with this genuine fear in his eyes is uncanny, maybe he doesn't hate Travis afterall. Maybe he was just a scared little boy who felt like he was being replace, and pulled back before his father could push him away

"We can't save everyone, Chris that isn't how life works," he's shocked by my response but I continue, " All we can do is hope and pray that we can protect the ones we have now-"

"Shut up."

"Chris-" His hand clasps around my mouth cutting me off and I'm about to bite down on said hand when Chris gestures to the rearview mirror. Curiously i glance into the mirror and am frozen in my seat.

Men are approaching. Very big military men with rifles held firmly in their large hands. Chris and I immediately hunch down into our seats, keeping as still as possible. Movement in the backseat sends me into a panic. Biscuit was waking up.

I throw my hand forward and lay my hand on the german sheperds furry back, petting him till his stirring stops and he is back asleep. Neither Chris and I can see the mirror from our spot, we're absolutely blind.

The footsteps are approaching and I lay my hands across my lips, praying for not a single sound to leave me. Biscuit is fully awake now, the oncoming footsteps must have woken him. Thankfully Biscuit remains lying down but he is as on edge as Chris and I, his fur on his back prickling up and soft growl resonates from him.

With my attention on Biscuit I didn't realise that the footsteps had stopped and almost jumped out of my seat when the handle outside my door beings to let out a noise of someone frantically trying to get in. Soon after the glass of Chris' door shatters, resulting in thousands of shards to rain down on Chris.

I scream as I watch as one of the mystery men sticks an arm inside and unlocks all the doors with a switch of the button. This is enough for Biscuit to attack.

With the doors now unlocked the man that was on my side throws open the door but he had no idea what was in store for him. In a blur of fur, Biscuit jumps over the center counsel and lands in my lap. As soon as the door was opened the man had just enough time to block his face with his arm when Biscuit propelled forward, his jaw locked around the shielding arm and a painful yell is ripped out from the man.

The man falls back dragging my guard dog with him, the bite never loosening. Biscuit shakes his head and I can hear tearing and more yells coming from the man. With the man distracted I jump up and out of the car, retrieving the fallen rifle and just in time too. Rushed footsteps alert me to the man's partner and I raise the weapon in the direction of the sounds.

The second man stops in his tracks I can see him reaching for his own rifle that is hanging by his side, I aim the gun a bit away from his head and apply pressure gently onto the trigger. A small blast of bullets fly right by the man's head and his arms quickly rises to cradle his head. I thought I may have hit him but when he retracts his arms I see no signs of injury. The barrel is back on him.

"Put your hands up in the air and leave it there!" He refuses and I tighten my hold on the gun, " I said put your hands in the air!"

Suddenly i feel something hard press against the back of my head and I stop breathing for a second.

"Ma'am put down the weapon or else I'm going to release my own rounds right into the back of your head."

Well Shit.

I take a moment to assess my predicament. There's three men, three trained killers. One in front of me, one next to me on the floor and one right behind me. How many can I take down?

None. Drop the gun, Alicia.

Oh great and now the voice is back. Hello voice! Any chance you can help me take out these men?

The pressure on the back of my head is more forceful and I watch as the man, Jones signified by the badge on his, moves back to the hood of the car before leaning down, cutting off my view of him. He returns to my sight but not alone. A bloody-nosed Chris is held tightly in his arm and I watch as Jones retrieves a small pistol from behind his back and plants the barrel firmly into the side of Chris' head.

A small whimper leaves Chris and from the looking in his eyes, he is also pleading for me to put down the gun.

Alicia, put down the gun. Beja. Live now and fight another day.

"Ma'am call off your dog and put down your gun. I'm not going to ask again."

The voice is right, there is no damn way I'll make it out alive if I fight back now. Slowly I drop the gun and the other two men follow. Then with a sharp whistle and a certain german phrase, Biscuit release the soldier's arm and settles beside me with blood dripping from his mouth and his snout pulled back into a snarl. Biscuit was a trained guard dog and thankfully Mr. Dawson had taught me some tricks including how to call off Biscuit when he attacks.

Quickly the one named Jones steps forward, releasing Chris from his hold and kneeling down beside his bloodied comrade. I have to look away from the sight of the shredded arm or else I'll lose what little food I had scarfed down on the drive here.

Chris falls in a lump against the car and I am stripped of my rifle. Jones and Jacobs, the man from behind me, walk us off to the side. The barrels of their rifles digging into the skin of our back as the they face us in front of the garage wall, a good distance away from the car. I tighten my grip on Biscuits collars and pull him along with Chris and I.

"We're very sorry about this but we're going to need the keys to your car."

"You can't have them." Chris jerks back facing the men and I can feel my arm almost being pulled out of its socket when Biscuit follows. I need to grip the collar with two hands now to effectively hold back the now barking dog.

Guns train onto Biscuit and I rush to throw my arms around my furry companion both to hold hold him back and guard him from harm's way. Jones steps forward and my skin crawls when I feel his eyes travel across my bare thighs.

"Jacobs, maybe we should take the girl with us.."

Chris launches himself forward at the comment but only to be knocked back with the butt of Jones' gun, blood spurts from Chris' already bloody nose but Chris fights on. Jones is three times the size of Chris and it comes to no surprise that within the 30 seconds of their fight, Chris' entire face is bloody and he's wobbling from side to side.

"STOP! Please just stop! I have the keys to the car, you can just take it and leave," I reach into my shorts pocket and thrust said keys towards Jacobs, "Please just stop hurting him."

Jacob's doesn't hesitate and as soon as the keys are in arm length he snatches them from my hand. At the same time, Jones has also stopped his assault and I stand just in time to catch Chris before he falls flat on his face.

"You sure you don't want to go with us, baby girl? I can definitely keep you warm tonight." He grabs at his crotch and I sink my teeth down onto my tongue to keep myself from replying and making the situation worse than it already is.

Jones scoff and follows Jacob as they head back to the car, I watch on as the two men lean down to pick up their fallen friend and place him into the backseat. After they situate him they hop on into the front, the roar of the engine filling the stale air.

Instead of leaving right away they pull up beside us and the passenger side window rolls down.

"Last chance. You coming, girl?"

"Go. To. Hell."

"We're already in it. Jacob's, let's get the hell out of here." The engine revs once more before speeding off towards the exit, leaving Chris and I alone on the cold concrete floor.

They'll get what is coming to them, Alicia. You did good.

I know Lexa. I know.

I remind myself to pat Ofelia on the back because if she hadn't placed the first aid kit in Travis' truck, I'd probably have to ruin my already blood stained shirt even more in order to clean Chris up. Cleaning his face is a rather difficult task already, Chris flinches and tries to pull away every time I pour water from our rations over his face to clear my view.

Nothing is broken but there are several cuts and bruises along his face, after 6 or so bandages the job is finally done. I place the remainder of the medical equipment back into its box and push up from the ground in order to place the box into the bed of the truck. Biscuit is by my side as I take the short walk, he has never left my side since the men had had taken their leave.

"Thanks, i guess." I just barely hear the soft mumble from Chris.

"I should be thanking you, Chris."

"Thanking me?" He is standing now and moves swiftly to my side, "Alicia, I did shit. Literal shit. Those guys came and I froze! They yanked me out of the driver seat with hardly any effort and I didn't even fight back! I was scared….and when he hit me I just decided to lay myself down on the floor and cry, what man does that? I left you to deal with them and you're a girl."

"Am I going to have to give you another sexist rant, Chris?" I raise my eyebrow at the now flustered boy.

"Not what I meant. Licia, I already know you're stronger than me, you stood up to those three men on your own," a bark from Biscuit pauses Chris, "Ok you and Biscuit stood up to them. The point is you shouldn't have done that, I should have been there alongside you guys. I should have helped."

I'm stunned into silence when Chris reaches forward and envelopes me in a hug, I stand there not knowing exactly what to do. This is the first time I've ever seen Chris show affection and to be honest I never expected myself to be the first person he shares it with. Slowly my arms mimic his and I wrap him tightly in my arms, he needs this I guess.

My head thunks down onto his shoulder and he does the same, the events from earlier crashing down on us and the feeling of exhaustion sinking deep within our bones.

"I'm alive Chris. They didn't get me or Biscuit, we're fine."

"But the car.."

"We have two more, enough to carry all of us. It's ok." I whisper and in response he just holds tighter.

After a few more moment I feel his grip loosen and I do the same. When Chris steps away there is a very noticeable flush upon his cheeks, and I try to hold back a grin at the sight. Chris clears his throat an excessive amount of time and turns away from me.

"Can we not mention..you know.. That? Like ever." A small chuckle leaves my throat.

"Yes Chris, I won't mention 'that' ever."

We exchange small grins and my heart warms at the thought that Chris and I have actually grown closer. Maybe this apocalypse was good for something.

Chris and I have moved back to the bed of Travis' truck, we sit side by side with our backs leaning casually against the cab. Biscuit has disappeared from my view but I don't need to see him to know that he is somewhere close by, awaiting any unwanted visitors. I turn around and glance through the rear window at the dashboard clock.

9:34

Something is wrong. Alicia go into Maddison's car, the bat is there. Grab it and get read-

The loud slam of the stairwell doors to the garage are thrown back from the opposite side of where our cars are parked and out comes a flow of people lead by Nick and my mom. A broken Ofelia and a disheveled Daniel follow behind along with Travis and Liza. Bringing up the back is a tall African American man in a dark grey suit, a new face to the rescue group.

I almost trip over my own feet when I rush from the truck bed and go into a sprint towards the group. My mother and brother do the same and soon enough I'm collapsing into their outstretched arms. My arms wrap around both their necks bringing the three of us into a tight group hug.

The tightness in my stomach lessens as I inhale the familiar scent of my family and I can feel the familiar build up of tears behind my eyes.

Elyza.

With a quick clench I pull away and I find myself searching for the blonde woman that seems to be stuck in my mind. Finally a figure appears from behind Travis. There is a figure leaning up against the new member of our group and even from this distance I can see the person trying to limp their way along in order to keep up with the others.

Excitement runs through me at the sight of the blondes signature blue leather jacket and I take off in her direction.

My mind doesn't stop to question why the jacket is thrown over her head, blocking the view I had gotten so used to in these past couple of days, and neither does it stop to observe the fact that Elyza is a bit shorter than I remember. My heart is what is moving me to the girl while my mind remains blank.

When I'm within arm's reach I'm pulling at the jacket in order to bring the girl closer to me, in the process revealing the face underneath.

The person underneath is definitely not my blonde.

"Raven?"

"Alicia?"

Raven limps forward, pulling me into a quick hug before releasing and pulling back. On reflex I catch her as she almost tumbles over after taking a few steps back from me, I can't help but look down at her left leg. Raven noticed and easily shifted in my arms to pull at the leg of her jeans revealing the plastic piece underneath.

"Im still not used to the damn prosthetic," Rave wavers as she takes a few more steps and my arm finds its place on her arm in order to help her balance, "thankfully I was stuck in the same human cage as your brother! Your rescue team totally saved our asses when we got stuck in this hallway full of infected."

"There's infected? Wait how the hell did you get away from the hospital?"

"Fuck yeah! There's a shit ton of them in there and honestly if it wasn't for Strand here," she points over her shoulder at the African-American man, "I'd be dead. Though I think he saved me for my for my beautiful mind instead of my amazing personality. As for how I got here, I was saved. The hospital was the first to be hit, nurses were abandoning the place as soon as all hell broke loose leaving people like me to be sitting ducks but luckily a few doctors stayed-"

We make it to Travis' truck, where the bed door remains open. I easily lift the thin latina onto the bed so that she can rest for a moment and join her as well. When the group noticed the missing car Chris explained to everyone what had happened with the cowardly military men, immediately the crew bounced back and started running around moving supplies to accommodate the extra people.

"- Abby came back for me, basically carried me on her back and lead a whole group of us sickly people into the cafeteria. The hospital was the first to be hit but also the first place the military went to, they found us all huddled up in the barricaded kitchen and brought us here."

"Wait Abby?" I look around and realize why my anxiety has not gone down one bit from before everyone returned.

"Where's Elyza?" I shoot up and off the bed of the truck, frantically looking around. The leather jacket is lying loosely across Raven's shoulder and I can hardly stop myself from ripping it away from the brunette. I clasp the cool material tightly in my hands before advancing back on Raven.

"Where's the girl that was in this jacket?"

This is when my mom decided to step in, reaching out her hand to place on my arm but I jerk back away from the touch.

"'Licia, I'm sorry. There were too much of the infected there….Elyza separated from us in order to lead them away-"

"And you just left her?!" I don't wait for her response, instead I practically sprint to mom's car and tear open the passenger side door and retrieving the bat, I take a second to put on Elyza's jacket and almost lose myself in the comfort I find in the piece of clothing. I'm rushing to the door the group had come from, there must be a way of getting into the building from there.

"Alicia, what the hell are you doing?!" Mom tries to block my path but I continue to trek forward and I try to fight the urge to raise the bat at my own mother.

"I'm going in there and I'm bringing Elyza back, something you failed to do."

"Alicia, don't be crazy-"

"YOU LEFT HER! I'm going in there and there isn't nothing you can do to stop me!"

A gunshot sounds out from somewhere inside the garage, the echoing sending a ring through my ears. Mom turns back in search of the source and I take this moment of distraction to run through the stairwell doors, taking two steps at a time.

Elyza, you better be okay!

TBC