Monster

Review Corner-

gagoze: It's pretty much that in-game, though, right? xD

Kiki's-stories-of-awesomeness: Yay for adorableness! And I will continue quickly, I just had to go away for a day (again) so I'll get writing quickly. As I post this I'm already halfway through the next chapter! And thanks for the low calorie popsicles xD

There are minor spoilers in this about Bill. Just skip this chapter if you don't want it spoiled, it's not overly important, I guess. And I changed the ending of the Sacrifice.

Twelve

I almost let go of Ellis for a second. He watched me, then looked at the floor as if embarrassed. I released him gently, and stepped away. He kneeled on the floor, head bowed. I looked back at the others. Nick was scowling, and I could tell he was itching to get trigger-happy. Francis' hands were resting tensely on his shotgun, but he kept sending me weird looks. I avoided his gaze and chose to look more closely at Zoey and Louis. She looked a similar age to Ellis, although she looked a little younger. Louis was maybe between the age of me and Nick. Early thirties? I realized they didn't know our names, and if we were to survive maybe we had to team up.

"Hey," I began awkwardly. The three strangers swiveled their heads to look at me, Francis a little too eager to be normal. I tried to ignore him.

"Yes?" Zoey answered. I met Louis' level gaze.

"We should team up," I continued.

"Excuse me?" Nick rounded on me. "I don't think I had a say in this!"

"I know, but-" I tried desperately.

"No buts, Ro. I don't trust these people," Nick spat. Francis glared at him.

"Who said we trusted you?" he snapped. He stepped forward to continue the argument, but Zoey held out an arm to stop him. He shook his head contemptuously at Nick, who spat in scorn at the other man. I dismissed this not as hostility, but as alpha-male dispute. At least Ellis didn't have the full ability of coherent speech, because he would have to hold his tongue - which he never managed to do. Francis stepped back, and I took over with the speaking.

"What are your names?" I asked. I already knew, but Coach and Nick didn't.

"I'm Louis," Louis was the first to answer, shaking hands with me and nodding warmly to Coach. The older man walked forwards to us.

"Nice to meet y'all. Welcome to Savannah. If y'all we here at a better time, I could've shown you young'uns the sights. But here we are, in an apocalypse. Uh," he added as an afterthought. "Do y'all happen to have any food on you? I'm starvin'."

"No, sorry," Zoey apologized. Coach shrugged dismissively.

"Just a thought."

"I'm Zoey," Zoey spoke, breaking the awkward silence. Francis was the last to step forwards.

"I'm Francis. And before you ask, I hate a lot of things; for example I hate this barn. I hate Infected..." He sent a pointed look at Ellis, who was still sitting on the floor a distance away. "And I hate strangers. I hate all - most of you." He corrected himself with a self-conscious glance at me. "I don't hate you...?" He trailed off.

"I'm Rochelle," I blurted awkwardly. "That's Nick-" I pointed at the conman, who was muttering darkly in the corner. "And that's Ellis." I tilted my head to the mechanic, and I left Coach's introduction to the man himself.

"I'm Coach." Coach looked round the other three. "Is there any more of y'all?" I frowned when the trio sent uncomfortable glances at each other. Even Francis stopped glowering, and Zoey wiped her eyes. Coach looked abashed, and began to apologize.

"It's - it's okay," Zoey interrupted, composure regained. "It's just..." She trailed off, wiping her eyes.

"We had another member," Francis continued for her.

"His name was Bill. He sacrificed himself to get us here, but even after he died the generators broke and we had to return here."

-Monster-Monster-Monster-Monster-

Louis filled in the rest.

"I feel so bad," Zoey sobbed, and I wasn't surprised to see that she was just a girl, insignificant in this hell of a city. "He died..." I couldn't make out much of the next sentence, but Coach did.

"Three Tanks?" His expression was incredulous. Zoey nodded tearfully. I covered my mouth with my hand.

"What would that feel like?" I wondered aloud. "Getting torn apart by three Tanks..." Zoey nodded, and choked out another sob. Francis' features were still hard and unyielding, but his eyes were full of concern.

"You okay?" he muttered quietly to her. She nodded, and rested her head on his shoulder. He looked up at me, and I looked down, embarrassed.

"So, where now?" Nick broke the silence. I winced at his condescending tone, and tried to intercept him.

"Nick, don't-"

"Be quiet, Ro," Nick snapped. I saw Francis frown. "I'm trying to work out a plan." I shook my head.

"Nick, it's getting dark. We have to stay here for the night, okay?" He glared at me, and pointedly turned his back. I sighed.

"Do you want to do shifts?" Louis asked me, brisk and businesslike.

"Okay," I answered, glad somebody was talking sense. "I'll-"

"No, baby girl," Coach interrupted. "You're asleep on your feet. I'll take first watch, then Louis, then... I don't think Nick'll do a watch, will he?" Nick turned towards us, scowling.

"Do you already trust them?" He curled his lip. "I'm not going to shut my eyes for longer than a blink until I know these people aren't cutthroats."

"Nicolas," Coach sighed, knowing it was useless. "Suit yourself. There's eleven hours until dawn - I'll take watch for two hours, then Louis, then Francis..." Francis grunted his approval. "... then Zoey, then Rochelle, then Ellis - I mean, I'll take the last hour." Coach corrected himself with a sheepish look, and a worried glance at me.

"It's okay," I reassured him. "Shall we start?"


I woke when I felt a light prod on my arm. Opening my eyes blearily, I saw Zoey staring down at me, smiling nervously.

"Sorry," she apologized.

"No apology necessary." I yawned widely, and stretched before standing. "Thanks, Zoey. I'll take over now." Zoey nodded at me, before settling into her sleeping bag. Her breathing slowed in seconds, and soon only I wasn't sleeping. Then I heard a small scuffle from the corner, and I was reminded that I wasn't the only one awake - Nick was still awake; head bowed and stiff. I crept over to him, and his head swung round, eyes blazing, when I touched his shoulder. Then his shoulders slouched, when he noticed it was me.

"I thought you were one of them," he whispered. "I nearly shot you." Looking down, I saw his finger on the trigger of his pistol; the barrel of the small gun aiming at my stomach. I stiffened, and Nick lowered the gun when he saw my expression. He apologized quietly.

"It's okay," I replied in a hushed tone. "But they're not bad-" I stopped when I saw Nick's expression changed from relief to shock, melting to horror and finally anger. He pointed a finger above my head, and when he spoke his voice was trembling with fury.

"Get that gun away from me," he snarled, and I turned to see Francis aiming his shotgun at Nick's head.

"Only when you get away first," Francis retorted, his voice level compared to Nick's, but his eyes were cold. "I saw you aiming the gun at her. Now get away." Nick paused, before stepping away, hands raised in mock surrender.

"Okay Mr. Bossy," Nick spat petulantly. "Who died and made you king of the world?" Francis ignored him, but with a closer look I could see his hands shaking ever so slightly with anger. I stepped between the two men, spreading my arms to place a hand on each of their chests. I could feel Nick's heart racing, and Francis' chest was heaving with the effort of not killing his opponent.

"Just calm down," I whispered, but it was too late for quiet voices.

"Calm down?" Nick's voice shook with rage. Francis nodded in agreement, but he seemed more reluctant to keep arguing. When Zoey looked groggily up from her sleeping bag, her eyes widening when she saw the conflict, he lowered his gun and stopped it to the floor. I looked expectantly at Nick, but instead of dropping the gun like Francis, he did the opposite. He lifted the pistol and opened fire.