Chapter Ten

The Passing: Bar Hopping

Cas' POV

When Dakota had jumped me, I had felt fear. I would lie about it. For the split moment that I knew she wasn't in control, I was scared. Not just because of the threat, but because I was losing a friend- a sister even.

She fought it though and was able to take control back before doing any real damage. That's what mattered, right?

Apparently not for everyone.

"She just saved your life, Peter."

Without a word, he looked over at me and shook his head slowly.

"Cas, we don't like this anymore than you do, but-" I cut Jon off, my temper flaring again.

"No, you just refuse to see that it's still her in there!"

I felt a hand on my shoulder, urging me to walk away, so I did.

"Ah think they're jus' mad about what happened," Ellis told me, "let 'em cool off fer a bit."

I gave him a nod, despite my anger, and took a breath. "She left this for me." I paused and held up the sword for him to see. His eyes lit up instantly. "It's still her and I know if it were me, I'd feel like absolute crap after being chased off by my best friends."

Ellis stayed quiet as we cleared the pool hall and dropped down into a flooded street.

"And even after all that, she's still following behind us, watching our backs." I finished with a sigh and ran my thumb over the engraved letters on the sword. I had thought it was just the quote at first, but it was more than just that. It was a declaration. I just hoped we could make it up to her.

Wading through the knee-deep water wasn't exactly what I'd call fun (or even tolerable for that matter). Usually, the group would talk to pass the time, but I was still giving Peter and Jon a cold shoulder and the others seemed to realize I wasn't in the talking mood. Excluding Ellis, that is. No matter what, he always seemed to have something to say.

"This one time, mah buddy Keith 'cided ta go on a road trip to Naw'lins. 'Bout halfway there he ran in'ta some people hitch hikin'. Now, Keith's a nice guy, so he let'em in. Few minutes later, 'ey took 'is truck an' he had'ta walk the rest o' the way. He couldn't walk fer a-"

Ellis' story was abruptly cut off as a bus sped by at the end of the street.

"Oh man... Ah must be seein' things," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Was that the Midnight Riders?"

I looked between him and where the bus was for a moment before shrugging. "Could have been."

Truth be told, I had never heard of the 'Midnight Riders' so I wouldn't have recognized the art on the bus anyways. It did look like a tour bus though.

"If anyone's gonna make it outta this it's the Midnight Riders!" Coach added. "They could burn all the zombies to the ground!"

Rochelle laughed at his enthusiasm and entered the small pub. Honestly, I had no idea where the hell we were going. I was just glad someone else thought they did.

"Think they've got any cold beer?" Nick asked.

I couldn't tell if he was joking or not, but knowing him, he was serious.

"Room temperature, maybe," I teased as I passed by.

At the end of the room, there was another pool table, sans all the balls (who the hell would take them?), then there was a door that led outside and a set of stairs. Peter and Jon were quick to head outside, so I opted for the stairs.

"I'm just going to take a look up here, might be something of use."

I saw Peter start to walk back into the building, but he stopped when Ellis followed after me.

Truth be told, I was finding it very difficult to stay mad at the two...

And then I remembered why Dakota wasn't here. Jerks.

"You ever gonna fergive 'em?"

I looked over my shoulder, unsure of how to answer. I knew it was only a matter of time before the anger would fade and I would forgive them for what they did, but at the moment that didn't seem likely any time soon.

"If she forgives them, then I will," I offered, stepping into the last room of the hall. "Dayum... That's one big ass gun."

Curiously, Ellis stepped up behind me, his chest touching my back to get a better look. I quickly walked forward, hoping he didn't feel how my body shivered at the contact.

"What kind of gun is it?" I asked to distract myself.

He stepped up to my side this time and crouched down. "Looks like a M-60. You ever seen one this big?"

My cheeks instantly flushed and I mumbled out a no. Head out of the gutter, Cas, head out of the gutter.

"Think you can handle it, Cas?"

Oh lord, he must be doing this on purpose.

"Uh... No, it's all yours."

Oh, yes it is.

"You sure? You might like it."

I opened my mouth to answer, but closed it right away. Nothing I could say would make this conversation any better. I didn't even think he knew how his words could be interpreted.

"Alright then, ah'll keep it, but if you wanna use it, jus' holler."

I nodded silently. Yeah, that's exactly what I'd be doing.

"What's taking so long up there?"

Nick's voice caused me to jump slightly, though Ellis seemed totally unaffected.

"We found a M-60, Nick!" Ellis exclaimed happily. "Look'it the size o' this thing!"

Nick raised a brow as he watched Ellis practically dance down the stairs in excitement.

"Ah offered it ta Cas, but she said it's too big fer her."

I felt my cheeks heat up at his statement and an amused smirk tugged on Nick's lips. Oh good, so it wasn't just me.

"Ain't how big it is, boy," Coach added. "It's how you use it."

My face went from red to white in an instant. What the hell had we gotten ourselves into?

"What's the matter, Cas?" Ellis asked with concern. "You not feelin' well?"

Nick immediately burst into laughter and I'm pretty sure I heard Rochelle giggling as well.

"I'm fine, Ellis. Let's just get moving..."

"Yes Ma'am!"

With a sigh, I ran my hand through my hair, hoping I'd be able to forget that conversation ever happened. It wouldn't have been so bad if Dakota was around. Hell, it would have been a lot of fun if she was.

"Looks like we can go through there," Jon pointed out as we crossed the street.

"Another bar, geez..." I mumbled.

We all walked in and killed the few commons that were in there before continuing to the next room. I was a foot away from the door when I heard the sound of a smoker dying from outside. It was the first time I've heard it without us shooting anything, so to say I was a bit curious was an understatement.

With my sniper drawn, I backtracked and poked my head out of the door. From the building we had just come from, there was a puff of green smoke on the second floor and a mangled body hung over the side of the window.

I had to keep myself from gagging as I took a look through my scope, but what really caught my attention was the hooded figures crouched nearby. There were three in total, one with a red hoodie and another with a grey one, but it was the third one that caught my eye.

If it wasn't the beaked hood that gave it away, it was the red and black checkered tape that did. Looks like she was forming a pack and keeping her mind in tact. I was impressed to say the least.

A small smile formed on my lips and I gave her a small salute as a thanks. The others might not appreciate it as much as I did, but we had a pack of assassins watching our backs.

Amen to that.

Footnote from cas.92:

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