HELLLOOOO
Hey guys, we are here with the next Chapter of Outbreak Chronicles! What a fun ride this entire story is actually turning out. I am adding some weird things to the story, such as the gun that Techlin found a few chapters back, that is my own personal touch to the story. While this is indeed more real, I will occasionally alter it for just the fun of it. Of making something up. I won't be using things from other sources as I did in the last story. That's why I made the zombies named "Soulless" and not zombies or walkers as I frequently did in WOTD. I won't pull things from other video games either, I am keeping this as original as I possibly can. I will borrow some concepts or ideas, but more than likely I will alter them almost entirely.
As for New World, if you guys are wondering where those updates are, I am not going to be working on it until my next extended break from school(it can be three or more days off to be considered extended) because those chapters are meant to be long and full of content unlike this story where I intentionally leave these short chapters because it allows me actually do something fast and easy and to quickly upload it. It allows me to do chapters in one sitting if I am able and have time, so these chapters need to be short, that doesn't mean I will forever type short chapters on here, there will be the occasional ten thousand word+ if I have the drive and flow to actually do that much in about one sitting.
As for the story, last chapter was disturbing in the sense that it was the most real I have ever became when writing anything. All of this stuff of fictional and things are just that fictional. While writing that piece(and future chapters like that) I had to keep the mentality of this being the apocalypse. This goes well with the fact that people, in real life, will do those things, but there are twisted people out there who will only want the apocalypse to happen to just hurt people. People are bad, this will be an ever present theme. Will it be like this? Like rape? Like fighting to death? No, but people will hurt people, sometimes just for the hell of it too, which is sickening.
Onto the story now, I babbled enough as it is.
Chapter 5: The Hunting Trail
"Come on," Eddward told them. "we must be close by." The forest was dead silent save for the rustling of the leaves from their bodies and from the wind. The three survivors held steady they circumspect through the trees. It was rather easy for Eddward Silver and Nazz Vesta, having lived off and gone through the forest many times over the years, Techlin lagged behind though with moderate pacing was able to keep up. Their clothing was changed to suit the cold air. Edd wore a black sweater with his vest over it; it was part of his signature style, he had joked when Nazz asked why he had it on. A light brown coat and dark green pants with boots Nazz wore black pants and white shirt. She had a hunter's coat zipped all the way. Tech had a gray t-shirt and cargo pants and a black trench coat, the only other coat they had that would fit him. As for weapons, Edd remained with his bow and arrow. Nazz had her knife harness that Edd made her with them all filled and concealed, the hilt of her sword was poking out her coat at the neck. Techlin had made a holster for his spear that was on his back. He carried his revolver with him.
The three have left the Sanctuary in search of their first, and hopefully, only clue as to the whereabouts of the One-armed man known as Dan Lee Benson. They were deep in the forest, not worrying for the Soulless too much. They came with backpacks that each had their share of food. Nazz carried the medical supplies and a pot, Tech had their ammunition, and Edd had their basic survival tools; each held a sleeping mat rolled on the side. The Soulless rarely wandered into the green, even if they did, they would be in groups of three or four, nothing that they could not handle if it were to occur.
Much of the journey was spent in silence. Each individual in their own thoughts. Edd took point, aware of any dangers ahead, Nazz took mid section, guarding their flanks, and Techlin took rear, turning around every so often to see if anyone were tailing them. So far, the only sounds that greeted them were the leaves. Green, and lively, unlike them, determined and barely striving.
Edd thought of not only his friend, but of everyone. It was his own personal way of dealing with things. To lessen his stress and ease his mind, he wondered of the government, the military, the other parts of the world. The Outbreak happened so fast, Eddward would think, what were the responses, why have the military been so inefficient to stop this from happening? How many humans were alive? How long will they live like this? When will the day come where the dead were dead and the living were the apex predators of the world? Edd felt irony in the entirety of the Outbreak. How the nations would go to countless wars and sacrifice for their "greater good" only for all those they sacrificed to rise and squash those gains. At times, Edd really thought that hell had existed and that Hell was full and the dead will rise. But Edd shook those thoughts, he knew that it was a virus, not some folly of a being that could control all things in the universe. To him, no such being existed, it was only them from the start.
Nazz glanced to the right and saw nothing but trees and the left offered no discrimination of the prior sight. They were safe for a while until they ran into trouble. Her thoughts slightly wandered to the Hunter. The boy that she grew to love more than anything. The one for her beyond all measure. At first, she felt her feelings to be only of complacent that they were closest of friends and he was the only guy left. The Chef was not oblivious to all of the boy's, save for Jimmy and Rolf, who had crushes on her. Honestly, she knew that she could get with Eddward, but he was too smart and had the duty of a leader, he seemed to lose any interest in her over the years, especially after the first few weeks. Eddy was a smartass who loved guns more than he loved girls. Ed, though he made the turn in his smarts, which she figured he was hiding, and was the sweetest and kindest, he was just not her type. Johnny was simply a friend to her from the start. That left Kevin, who out of all of them, was her friend. He was there when they were not. He gave up his bike for her when it started. He comforted her after those long nights, especially when they found her own parents, tangled in their own bed room, coming weeks after the start, for her, only to end up with the Soulless. She needed Kevin. He is her friend, her lover.
Techlin Lincoln's thoughts were varied from the two. He didn't want to think of humankind and the whys of the apocalypse. He didn't have any love interest. Though he did look up to Callie a little and would yearn for something more, but he didn't want it. Techlin, after since he lost his family, didn't care for love, didn't care for whys, hows, and who to blame. All he cared for was fighting the good fight, surviving. That is how he made it so far. He was a loner, and he was a loner especially in with the groups. He didn't get attached. He just did as he could. If things went bad, he left the group without hesitation. What they didn't know, he had been traveling two years on his own, with nothing but his spear, sometimes a gun, to keep him safe. He bandaged, killed, scavenged, hunted, and survived. He brushed with deaths too many times, but he was here still. Alive. Surviving. Alone. Though with Dante and Callie's group, once he came, he expected the same outcome and it did occur. But the difference being that he was there when the shit went down, he didn't leave when he should have, maybe it was dumb luck, he thought. But after the massacre of their group, he found Dante, he just took him, told him to run. Then he found Callie, he just took her, told her to run. He saw others that he took and told to run. What the others didn't know, besides them three…
"We were ten after the end of the group." Techlin suddenly said. The two in front stopped and looked towards the teen. "Dante, me, and Callie, we lied about it only being fourteen of us at the beginning of leaving San Fran."
Eddward gave a slide glance. "You lied to us? " Edd got suspicious. Suddenly Techlin coming clean when they were closing in on the one-arm man. He couldn't take any chances and aimed his bow and arrow at him. Nazz looked surprised. Techlin, by instinct held his newly acquired revolver, Eddy had ID the gun type for him once he brought. Custom made revolver with special chamber for quick reload. Nazz looked between the two boys. "What else are you hiding from us?
Techlin started. Dragging the words out slow, the cool air keeping the sweat from coming out. "I know what you are thinking-"
"Do you work for him? Was it really you that sabotage the traps? You seemed awfully eager to tag along with us to the Sanctuary. As if you knew something was going to happen." Double D saw it now. Saw the façade that he had built. Was it stress? Was it tiredness? Was it his need to kill that made him question, Edd did not know.
"It is nothing like that!" Techlin sharply stated. "Nothing like that at all. Trust me, I want that fucker dead as a door knob."
"Then why the hell are you telling us all of this now?" Edd hummed. "Guilty?"
"No, not guilty. You guys are the group I have been with the longest. I can trust you to at least not stab me in the back while I am sleeping. Let me explain further." Techlin saw no point in hostility. He lowered his weapons. Edd didn't.
"Go ahead, explain. "He inched closer. "If I even detect a lie, then an arrow coming between your eyes will be the last thing you see."
"I was a loner. I lost my family the first weeks of this thing. I survived on my own for two years, each group I left once shit hit the fan, that's the way it has to be for a loner. But I found Callie and Dante's camp. Don't know, maybe some divine luck or whatever, but I stayed long enough for me to be caught in that shit hitting the fan." Techlin sighed. The memories coming back. "Everyone was dying, left and right, Soulless just tore them apart. A group of forty people just fucking gone so fast. I was in the shit man, the actual shit!"
Techlin's face contorted as he recalled. His mouth moving in disgust and his eyes flickered with memories of the screams and deaths. "I just ran, I saw Dante, I saw Callie, I just told them to run and they followed. I told other people to run, I told a man, a woman, a three year old kid, anyone to just run. Some ran the other way, drawing them to them allowing for others and I to escape. We all ran, not just me, we all ran as they screamed."
"The first night, I counted ten of us. Ten out of forty people alive. Just me, Callie, Dante, a pregnant lady, a three year old, an old man, a sick man, a woman, a man, another guy. It was just us. Only us. We didn't where to go, so we just headed North. The three year old was the first to go, they tore her in half, the pregnant lady gave birth and miscarriage. She jumped from a building and killed herself. The old man just gave up. He just went another way, but we knew that he was a goner as soon as he left us. The sick man got bit. I had to put him down. The woman went mad, crazy as a bat from hell and left us, screaming and laughing as if everything was fine and dandy. The other guy died as a sacrifice. Finally, it was just me, Dante, Callie and a guy. Three days before we met you, he tried to kill us. He tried to rape Callie and guess who had to kill him."
Techlin pointed to himself, smiling a sort of mad smile, he gave a small laugh. "Yeah, that's right, me. I had to kill him." The smile went away slowly. Edd lowered his bow.
The Fighter sighed. "I knew I had to protect those two. I couldn't protect everyone else, but I sure as hell wanted to protect them as much as possible. In the time it took us to travel, they became my first friends in this damned world. I always thought I had to survive alone, but I know that I am wrong. I need those two. I need your group as well. I felt that I should let us come clean. "
Techlin moved forward, staring at Eddward. Nazz only looked on. Wondering just what was going to happen.
"In other words, I am saying I will follow you. You…I can tell, are going to be the one to survive this. I want to be there with you. I want to live. I'll follow you, but I will follow you as an honest man." Techlin said. Edd gave hardened eyes to Techlin's own. He sighed and turned.
"Come on. We'll settle this later. I appreciate your honesty, however. Though, just know that once we get everyone back, you'll tell them. Hopefully, they agree with your actions. " Eddward felt the time of the essence. He trusted the Fighter already, but he didn't know of the others.
Nazz felt content with the resolution and followed, patting a smiling Techlin on the back and followed behind the Leader. The Fighter could only follow in his footsteps. He felt the burden off his shoulders. He felt clean despite the accrue of dirt on his being as they continued forward through the trees with their leaves rustling with the wind and their movement.
It took some time for them. Edd stopped them for a second time. A Soulless was heard and they saw it, not too far, about ten feet to the northwest of them, the Leader thought. The guess was confirmed as it stumbled, the half of the face missing, showing bone and dried blood. It moaned and roamed until an arrow put it down and it lurched to side as it fell, dead. Edd took the arrow out and cleaned the tip with the rag of the Soulless. Edd, with the other two behind him, saw a building in the distance.
"A building?" Nazz asked quizzically. Her eyebrows quirked.
"Are there buildings this far out?" Techlin could not figure why someone would have a building so far out.
"I did not know there were some out of this far, but lets go check it out. Be on guard." They had their weapons ready and silently went to the building. As the got closer, they saw stumps on the grounds that increased in age and in numbers as they closed in. The day was getting shorter and the light of the day was disappearing.
Once they ran out of cover of the trees, replaced with stumps and some tall grass. They saw no one around, no Soulless as well. They did see the humongous building that lay in front of them.
"Telling from the stumps, and from its location, this must be the Old Manner Sawmill." Edd stated. He lowered his weapon, danger not in sight at the moment.
"How you know?" Nazz asked. Looking around, seeing the rusting building and old equipment strewn all over. A large sign was gray and the message indecipherable as it hanged on the side of the building, moving with the wind with creaking that echoed through the forest. Below it was the entrance, open and the inside dark. Graffiti was everywhere on the building.
Edd answered as they walked slowly to the entrance to investigate the inside. It would be dark soon and they needed to rest. It would be too dangerous to go through the forest at night in unknown territory.
"School. This was where the wood production scandal happened that cost First City millions of dollars. It's been abandoned for over forty years now." Edd looked around some more. He spotted something interesting, leaning against the wall with dried splatter of brown over it and trailing down to the head. A dead body.
"Well it must have had some residents here recently." Techlin said, spotting the same thing. The three moved and saw it was indeed a dead body, headshot. He was unharmed by the dead, though magots came crawling out of his eyeballs that had leaked the white stuff from the eye, frozen on his face. They examined it some more before they saw that there was a piece of paper in his pocket. Edd read its content that were hastily scribbled and fading.
"They got to me man. They got to me. I'm about to make a run for it, they can't get what they can't find, right? I'm sorry for all the trouble, but it's everyman for himself out here. I promise, if they catch me, I won't rat you out man. You my brother. See ya, hopefully when all this shit is blown over in a few years.
-Fred"
"Well, I guess he got ratted out either way. Must have caught him." Nazz said and stared at the body. Wondering what they did that got them killed.
"What did he mean by 'they'? Who are 'they'?" Techlin asked.
"No idea, but it seems 'they' have long since left this place. Meaning that people used to be here. By his body, which is nearly frozen, it must have been a week or two." Edd looked and saw it. There were remnants of human life. Old fire pits, trash, cans, some broken tools and weapons here and there.
"Is this the camp?" Nazz wondered out loud.
"I think it may be. We have been traveling for a while and I am sure it was ten miles." Edd looked to the setting sun. The time was flying and Techlin spoke his thoughts.
"We need to find some place to hunker down, give this place a full search in the morning when we have light."
"Agreed," Edd got his weapon ready as they walked away from the murder scene and to the entrance. "let's look for place in here." They stood at the entrance.
The inside was still visible even with the decaying light. There were fire pits dotted across the large warehouse spacing, wood was placed on the side, rotting and the old equipment were torn down or build around to suit the earlier settlers' needs. Though, they spotted an observation deck that connected to a suspended office. They found their shelter. The three survivors made their way to the office, being careful as they made it to the stairs to the deck on the left of the building and in the back, close to the second entrance. The stairs creaked under their weight. They made it to the top and saw the warehouse in all its forsaken glory. The railing was still there so their minds were partially put at ease at not falling off. They made it to the office with little to no trouble. They moved into the room with weapons drawn, searching every nook and cranny for either Soulless or living. They saw the room nearly emptied out, save a desk where they saw another dead body drooped over. They went and saw the blood had spill all over the desk and frozen over, some of it dripped onto the floor and remained in small puddles.
"What's this guy's story?" Techlin asked as he got the body out with some difficulty as the blood stuck him to the metal desk. He was able to pry him off with snapping noise. Some came up with him and was flat while it lay against his face He took the liberty of dragging the body out. Nazz saw a piece of paper where a the body once lay. It had blood on it, but the jacket that the guy was wearing protected the contents, though barely. Nazz read the neat handwriting as best as she could.
"Mutiny-these assholes have the guts to actually try to take over. I'll make sure to have them executed. Letting that Dan-found the assholes and-will have no idea that we know-Dan helped us a lot-wonder what the hell he is doing lately-guy is a creep when he wants to-that one arm of his-well time for—"
"Cuts off there?" A loud boom was heard that nearly gave the two heart attacks as they got their weapons drawn and ready. Techlin came in, dusting his hands.
"What was that?!" Nazz nearly yelled.
"Tossed him over the railing." Techlin simply answered. That was enough to ease them as they calmed their hearts. "Sorry for scaring yeah, the guy was just too heavy."
They settled to glare at the young boy, focusing on the letter.
"Well, at least now we know that this is where they were. We need to give a thorough search tomorrow, anything that can indicate their current location or their direction of interest." The two followers nodded. They got their sleeping bags out and set them on the ground. Techlin and Edd quickly went and got some rocks and dry wood, they even found a decent size metal sheet that they could set the fire on. Before long, they had the fire pit set up on the metal sheet and Nazz got the fire going strong. It crackled and gave the warmth and light as the temperature got colder and darkness took hold of the world. There was enough light to illuminate the entire wood and the smoke flowed out the cracks of the windows that gave them sight over the warehouse floor and the forest on their side. Nazz was cooking some canned ham for them all.
Edd kept watched at the door while Techlin stood to the side on his mat, reading the book that he got from the dead man from the store. His weapons were on the ground but close by his mat. He turned the page to see words.
"My journal, I have no idea why I am using this. Where have all the things gone in the world, where people came to the store with money and looking for clothes, where the cars were running down the street and honking at crazy drivers or dumbass walkers, where I wasn't starving or better yet not laying in a bar drunk to all hell. Fuckin punks and ass holes, the lot of them. I got this here trusted pistol, the Raging Bull. Weird as lookin thing here, but it may be the best gun ever. The force behind each shot is BAM, BAM, BAM, nothing like the likes I seen in these parts. God, fuck the world, especially that fucker Lon, that nigger has always been a thorn in my side. Might as well use this gun here, fuckin police, fuckin law, fuckin society is all dead and gone. Who will care if one less nigger was around? Not me, might as well celebrate tonight with the good ole booze. Fuck this life, fuck the world, and hell, fuck Lon too."
"What you reading? Edd said. The coast was clear for now and the darkness was getting hard to see in. The fatigue was taking over as the smell of food overcame them.
"Found it on the scavenge run a day ago. And this revolver here," he passed the weird weapon and Edd examined it with curiosity. "on the person was the book as well. So I took it. Guy's a racist, using "nigger" a lot."
"Interesting," He handed the weapon back. "well, I guess it's an interesting story as any."
Edd sighed, "I miss my books. Once we get everyone back, we have to go and see if we can salvage anything from the wreckage."
Techlin nodded. Nazz called to them and said it was ready. They all got their share and they ate their meal in silence around the crackling fire. Once done, Edd told them their plan once more.
"Okay, so we take turns in shifts, I take the first, then Techlin, then Nazz. Three hour shifts. Once morning comes, we get searching for any clues, then once we find something we give one last sweep then we head on to where they may possibly be. Sounds good?" The two nodded. "Alright, you guys get your sleep."
"Night." Nazz said as she went to her mat. Techlin did so as well. He opted out of reading more of the journal, too tired to really do so. He was fast sleep.
Double D watched his family rest, wondering how the others are fairing. But something in his gut told him something has happened, something bad.
The morning brought an unpleasant chill that awoke Nazz. She bundled up. The fire was gone, the wood gone black. Techlin was awake and looking out the window, he seemed to be in thought. His ears were red from the cold, but he seemed unbothered by it.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Tech was caught by surprised. He thought the young lady to be sleep.
"Weren't you sleeping?" He asked.
Nazz chuckled. "The cold has a nasty way of waking me up, where's Double D?"
"He went to the bathroom." The Fighter answered. Nazz joined him in watching the forest. The sky was cloudy yet again. The wind blew gently and the entire forest shifted to the direction, their sounds displaying the music that nature provided for her for years.
"Seeing nature like this is amazing." Nazz stated as she stared. Listening and absorbing, forgetting her stress from the days, even for a few minutes.
"Yeah, it is." Techlin simply said.
Nazz glanced at the young man. "What you thinking of?"
"*sigh* nothing really. Just wondering about the others. I hope they are okay." Nazz didn't say anything. What else could be said? They stayed in silence They heard footsteps and their weapons came ready. Only to see Edd come in their sight.
"Nazz, you are awake!" Edd said happily. The girl smiled and nodded. The light of the day was refreshing to them both, they all seem to rest well despite being in shifts. The three talked a little before they decided to split up and search for anything that could help them. They went to the ground floor and started. It was obvious about one thing: they knew how to clean up. As they combed the warehouse, they found only scraps, rusting cans, and bones. They saw some articles of clothing that held almost nothing to their liking. A few notes here and there. Affairs, planning, secret stashes where they found were empty. It wasn't long before they were done
"Anything?" Techlin asked as they regrouped in the center. Both shook their heads. They then made way to the outside, checking the perimeter and seeing anything. They saw nothing but the same thing they saw inside. Edd did notice some holes around that seemed to be to some gate that they transported all together. Besides that, they had absolutely nothing. They regrouped in the office.
"Damn it, this place is no good!" Nazz said as she laid on the ground in defeat, almost about to burst in tears. They were so close, yet they had nothing. Who knew how long they had until the worst happened.
"Double D, what should we do?" Techlin asked with hope retreating from him as well. Edd thought. He kept his pace and he looked around trying to figure something out. They needed to get their friends If they didn't then, they would surely be dead. He thought until his brain had started to gain a headache. He looked around, he went through the office for anything, anything that could give some clue, something. Suddenly, there was a gunshot. All three went on high alert. Edd stayed under cover and looked over the window and to the ground level. Nothing.
"Move down, we are leaving, we can't afford trouble with just three of us, especially here." Edd whispered. The two nodded. They gathered all their things and headed to the entrance. Once there, they stopped and looked around to see the coast clear. They made a mad dash to the forest and they heard another gunshot. They stopped. They paid attention to the sound, it decayed to South, so the North. They headed that way silently. With the forest as their cover, they could see what was going on. It could be a hint, a clue, something that could lead them to their friends. It was a chance they had to take. They soon made it the origin of the sound. Two Soulless were on the ground dead with five men standing over them. Scavengers, they assumed. The three waited. Silently. Hidden.
"Where are we going to go?" A female asked. She seemed the only one. Dressed in warm clothing and a gun in hand. A male, possibly the one in charge, spoke up.
"Not much here. May need to head to the city, that crazy bastard wouldn't follow us all the way." He said.
"Hopefully, that asshole needs to get his shit together. Sure, I signed up for survival, but taking kids, slaves, death matches? No way." That picked up the hidden three's interest.
Another one spoke up, it was a female, but she had thick jacket and mask that kept her gender concealed. "Dan was a monster, glad we left when we did. But we shouldn't be standing. Lets get out of here."
"Yeah, being so close is bad news bears for me man." Another man said. The supposed leader nodded.
"Sure, lets go. But first, we may want our guests to come out of hiding." The three went wide-eyed. Not knowing if they were referring to them.
"We know you're there, come out, or we just going to shoot until we hit something." Edd cursed. Three to five were not good odds. Even with the forest, one of them would get injured or killed. Edd hoped that it wouldn't be his last decision, but he stood up and saw all their guns pointing at him. Nazz revealed herself as well then so did Techlin with a scowl on his face.
The man in charge saw them. He had to take a guess at their ages. They were teens. Barely adults, it seemed.
"What are you kids doing out here?" Edd saw the man to be black. He seemed young and wore a wool coat and jeans with a rifle in hand. Boots caked in some mud were on him.
"None of your business." Nazz stated simply and rudely.
The female with blonde hair spoke next. "Watch it little girl, you aren't the one about to get shot."
"We aren't looking for trouble, we heard gunshots, we investigated." Edd stated calmly. He was held at gun point years ago when things started. It was one of the reasons they went to the cabin.
"Why investigate? Usually, the general idea is to go the opposite direction." A white man with no hair stated.
"Call us young and stupid for a reason." Techlin put the joke in. There was no laughter. Their bags were on their backs, Techlin noted. A scavenger group, maybe.
"With good reason," The woman with the mask stated. She was the first to lower her gun. "lets just get out of here, those gunshots should attract Dan's guys here or those damn things."
"You know someone named Dan?" Nazz spoke up. This could be the guy. They needed this. She hoped that they knew what they were looking for.
"What's it to you? Lost someone?" The black man asked. He and the other three still had their weapons up.
"We are looking for a guy, Dan Lee Benson." Nazz kept going. Edd was telling her to not say anything. These people could be with them for all they knew. Nazz didn't care. They were desperate and Edd nor Techlin didn't need to show it.
Their was a recognizable surprise on their faces. "Why the hell are you looking for him? Want to die or something?" Another white man with curly hair spoke up. He was bug-eyed and had an accent to his voice that they couldn't place and a goatee
"He has our friends." Nazz stated. "We are looking for him, we want to get them back."
They all quickly shook their heads.
"No way, little girl, you're crazy. We just got out of that shithole, you don't want to go there, your friends mostly dead or dying by now." The blonde woman said regretfully. She knew the horrors that man has inflicted and his 'games'.
"Yeah, you guys have no idea who you trying to find. There are the patrols, watchman, firepower, yall die before even getting to the damn fence!" The bald one exclaimed. He never liked anything Dan did, but protection was there and he didn't want to lose it.
"Wait, one damn second. " The girl with the mask took it off. Showing pale skin and autumn eyes. A sense of recognition came to her. "You….you…" She pointed to Edd. "you that kid, from the cabin, right?"
Edd was confused. Not once have he met her, but then he realized that on that day a while ago, when they first encountered Dan, they were surrounded. So the woman. She was there. She was part of it.
"….yes…I am." Edd said slowly. He hid his rage. He saw five people. He saw five problems.
"Woah, woah, guys, put your weapons down." The autumn eyed girl said. She moved to Edd who tensed up. What was she doing?
"What are…" He was suddenly hugged by a crying woman. Edd was terribly confused. So were both sides who just looked on at the sight. No idea how to process it through their mind. The scene was very weird for Edd who didn't know if he should get the woman off of him or to just stand rigid. It was a minute before she let go, tears still steaming.
"We…are so so sorry…we didn't think it…would go like that." She said between sobs. Edd was confused. "We just wanted to trade and that was all. When we went out that night, we didn't, we didn't-" Edd suddenly reacted and punched the woman across the face. The act stunned everyone before everyone got their weapons drawn. Edd was about to lunge until Techlin and Nazz held him back.
"Let me go! She was there! She was fucking there!" Edd yelled as he tried to finish the stunned woman who held her cheek.
"What the hell was that for?" The other woman hollered. They were aiming to kill. Soon the small clearing was fill with yelling from both sides.
"Edd, cool it!" Nazz exclaimed. She had her pistol out and aimed; she too was yelling at them to pull their weapons down. Eddward did not care. She was there, she participated in destroying everything they worked for, he needed to take his rage out on something and she was there, she was with him, she saw his family, she saw Eddy get beaten to near death. She had to pay.
"No, she need to die!" Techlin nor Nazz never heard him speak that. Techlin got on him, the surprise wait putting the Leader on the ground. He was pinned down. The yelling didn't stop. The blonde woman helped the pale skin up as they rubbed her cheek. She was checking to see if she was okay.
"Chill man! Can't have you getting crazy!" Techlin looked up to tell them all to be quiet and saw a barrel directly in his face. He didn't have time to curse before the trigger was pulled, he closed his eyes as he heard the shot rang out. His ears ranged and he felt disoriented. But he didn't feel anything. He assumed a headshot was insta-death. Not these feeling
"Heaven is cold." Techlin thought as he opened his eyes, his vision was clear but his ears were still shot to all hell. The ringing didn't stop and he looked to see the autumn eyed woman and the black man arguing. He looked to his left to see Nazz with her pistol still up, she seemed to be a little shaken as her pistol stopped and her yells died down. Eddward Silver was still pinned by him, no longer struggling. He was still in the world of the living. To his right side, he saw a bullet hole in the ground. He looked up. The woman who got punched saved him. She redirected the weapon just in time. His hearing returned.
"-watch what the hell you are doing! You killing him is no better than that ass that we left behind! Besides, I deserved that." She rubbed her jaw and her friends backed up, wondering what she was thinking as she kneeled at the surprised boy, who saw what she did. "I'm sorry, I know, you must be more pissed than Satan on a bad day. I'm sorry, for what happened. Yes… I was there. But I didn't have no part in it. I promise."
Edd stared in disbelief. He refused to believe it. There was no way. The enemy apologizing? It had to be a trick.
"But her sincerity, it's the same as Techlin's." The Leader thought. He still refused. His friends were gone and she was there. She had to be guilty, right? Edd saw newly formed tears on her face.
"They did horrible things to you and your friends.*sob* I didn't know, I swear*sob* he-Dan, he is a fucking monster. I didn't think he would *sob* get so low. At first, I thought all that was going on could be *sob*ignored, but it couldn't. Not after*sob* what we saw." She broke down crying. Edd just stared. Those were real tears. The world froze. The tears, the tone, the crying. It was all real. Edd had looked to the ground in shame. He acted out. The stress was getting to him. He could tell, especially since he hit the woman. He just acted on impulse. All the pent up rage, all the anger, it was taking its toll on his thoughts.
"What the hell is going on Natz?" The black man said, wanting an answer to everyone's question. She had recovered from her sobbing, though the tears took a bit to slow down.
"The raid from a while ago, where got the food and…those kids…well, these three are a part of them. "The others looked aghast, not knowing what to think. They heard about the raid. "On the first day, when we ambushed them, I saw these three with their friends. They had a good set-up, I thought we were just going for trade, but we left with them to consider." Her tears were replaced with a sorrowful look.
"Dan had set up some meeting in another place that I don't know where is, only his trusted guards could go. Then the other night a few days ago, when they went to go to meeting, they came back…with them. With their friends." Len gained a surprised look. Understanding came upon him and the others. They lowered their weapons completely.
She pressed on. "But I didn't see all of them. There were more. These three were missing from the bunch and so was another guy. So…I thought…I thought…" Natz said as she barely could look up.
"I thought they were killed. I asked Dan…he said they fired on them first, but the fear in their eyes, the way they all looked, I knew he was lying." The autumn eyed woman said with regret. "But I only see three, so…so that means the other one must have died, right?"
The question was open to the three. They didn't know what to think. They had someone in front of them. Crying, guilt racking her very being, it seemed, and she was apologizing and explaining herself. None of them knew what to think or do. Nazz was about to answer but Eddward beat her to it.
"He's alive." Edd whispered while looking at the ground, Techlin still had him pinned down. Nazz lowered her weapon after they did. It seemed they were done fighting.
"What?" She said as the tears dried up with cold weather.
"I said, he's alive, the boy that isn't here. He was close to death. Dan, his people, they almost killed him." Edd said at normal volume, looking her in the eyes. "Tech, get off me. I'm cool now."
"You sure?"
"Yes." The Fighter complied and got off. They all went on the offensive, but Edd didn't moved. He looked guilty, actually as he sat up, looking at the ground.
"I'm sorry for hitting you, the past few days been…tough." Edd said weakly. Embarrassed and disappointment building. The woman only smiled in understanding.
"I know, It's always tough." The woman known as Natz said. She got up and offered Eddward Silver a hand. He looked up slowly, seeing her smiling face beaming down on him. He took her hand and was helped up.
"Sorry about that guys, I just…lost it." Edd turned to the two. Techlin shrugged, knowing the feeling himself while Nazz looked at Edd strangely. Not once has she ever seen Edd act so violent, especially to a woman. From all she knew, Edd never did hit any girl before.
"You guys looking for him alright. Come on, lets get away from here before those things or Dan's guys come here." All agreed with Len's idea.
"We know a place not far from here." Techlin said. "We could be safe there for a while."
"Lead the way." The blonde woman said. Edd took point, though his posture was slacken and he seemed unfocused, obviously in thought.
They all made it to the warehouse. They went inside and into the office building. It was there that they introduced themselves. Natz was the autumn eyed and pale girl. The blonde woman was Tanny. Len was the black man. The bald one was Gren and the one with curls was Stephan.
The two groups sat separate from each other, staying away from the windows and everyone stared. The fire pit was there, nothing but a cool mass of black that gave off that smell as the chilly wind delivered it to their nostrils.
"So," Gren began awkwardly. "where you guys holding up, since your home was destroyed?"
The three were silent. Only staring. Not trusting. Edd decided to take control.
"Before we answer anything, how do we know you guys aren't with Dan, obviously, you know him. But why are you guys out here?"
The five members looked at one another and Len spoke up. "We escaped." He stated simnply.
"Escaped?" Techlin said confusingly.
"Yes, escape. "Tanny said. "We were tired of Dan's bullshit, the guy, he is crazy. Doesn't know anything but his stupid ass "games". Didn't give a rat's ass for us."
Stephan expanded on that. "We just…didn't want to be a part of that. Dan kept saying stuff about us making through the world, making it all new and pretty and how it really should be, but like Tanny said, the guy's nuts."
"What do you mean by games?" Nazz asked. They all cringed a little and looked shameful.
"*sigh* He has some gladiator shit going on, he just recently started capturing people, people we didn't even know, people just trying to survive. He kept the men in cages that we found at the place we are at, the Brooky Zoo, then he throws them in the lion's den. Makes them fight to the death." Len personally didn't witness anything after the first fight. He left the cheering masses as humans tore each other apart for entertainment.
The shock was evident. The three didn't know what to think. The actual idea terrified them once they realized that Ed, Kevin, Rolf, and Johnny would be the ones to fight. The horror they must be going through.
"What…what about the girls?" Techlin had an idea, but he didn't want it confirmed.
"Sex slaves." Gren answered simply.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, Sarah." Nazz said with tears. Realizing that Sarah could be one of them. She didn't know what she could be going through, they needed to get her back at all cost. Get them all.
"Some of his personal guards have slaves too, just fucking insane what he has set up there. Insane probably doesn't even fit the idea anymore." Len said. "We needed to get out, we all met up one day, knowing each other a little. We been planning to escape for a while. We just did a few days ago. Been hiding for a while in a small bunker I found. So we took some food, water, and ammo and we just hid there. Just came out today and were about to head out somewhere. Though we aren't locals."
Edd just absorbed it. Slaves, gladiator-style fights, sex slaves, he was trying to build an empire of some sorts. These people were good people. He could tell by the way they held themselves, the shame they showed at being a part of anything of that, the guilt, the fear, it was all there. These were good people. And he thought that they could help them out tremendously. But they had to see for themselves.
"We are at a place called the Sanctuary, " Edd began and gained their interest. "if you go Northwest of here for ten miles, you'll get there in half or day or so, depending on how fast you go."
"The Sanctuary? Sounds pretty fake if you ask me." Tanny said.
"How we know you aren't lying to us, eh?" Gren asked.
"Because we just want to get our friends back, we don't care about anything else, we don't have time to lie." Techlin said with urgency. The five people were still debating, not knowing what to do, but they decided to give them a chance. Even if it was fake, they would be further from him.
"Alright, don't trust but we'll head that way. Do they shoot on site?" Natz said as they stood and were getting ready to leave.
"No, but you guys should be prepared for anything. Dan has some bad blood with the group there, so just be careful, they may not let you in. But if you like, tell them Eddward Silver sent them to you. Eddward with two d's." Mr. Silver said.
"Eddward Silver with two d's got it." Len said. They were about to leave until Techlin stopped them.
"Where is the camp?" Techlin said. They still needed their info.
"You guys are serious?" Stephan said, shocked. They were greeted with silence. Their faces said it all.
"Go North from here, three miles out, you should be there." Natz said.
"Thank you." Eddward said gratefully. Natz smiled and her group left out, their boots hitting the catwalk and they grew more distant. The three sat in there. Waiting. After five minutes, they got their things, and headed out. Following the direction they needed to go.
Their journey remained in silence. Edd kept track of the miles in his head. They were very close. Very close. Edd saw something and held his fist up, the two stopped behind him. He crouched low and they did the same. They moved slowly. Edd saw the tripwire, almost blending in with scenery. He looked around and saw the trap to be darts, he went and disabled the machine by cutting the cord that would trigger the trap. He found another one, and he did the same. As they went, Edd would disable any other tripwire traps. There were a ram trap, and there were chomper traps similar to Ed's design. It was to their surprised they were nearly identical. And the thought crossed their mind that they had been watched far longer than they thought. To avoid detection, they went around any traps that would need to be reset. Their goal to be hidden and ghost, as if they were never there.
They were spread out evenly between each other. Nazz took the rear, not as skilled in a firefight or dealing with people if they were to come up the front. Edd detected voices and stopped. He quickly motioned for them to get low and in cover. Techlin hid behind a tree, Nazz crouched low next to a bush, and Edd went prone under some foliage. Two guard walk in front of them, chatting away, and armed.
"Man, Dan being a bitch lately with these patrols." One of them stated, obviously male.
"I know, but the guy has the suspicion shit is about to go down. Though twelve hour guard duty with double rotations is bull. Paranoid asshole."
"Yeah, that bitch." Their conversation continued until they wandered well pass the three. Edd looked and saw their retreating forms. He "psst" for them to come out. The three continued on, more cautious, more apprehensive, as they knew they were in enemy territory. A few minutes happened upon them until they stopped before a field. Edd gestured for them to move up on his position, blending with the tall, withering grass. Techlin and Edd were side by side. They saw what they expected. A camp. There was fenced walls all around, makeshift guard towers of rusting steel and parts, and they saw the other patrols, barely peeking through the forest foliage as they patrolled. Unaware of the three infiltrators. The Brooky Zoo was another abandoned place. The side they were facing had the fence and beyond that fence were the bars of walkways or cages, to prevent any animal from escaping.
Edd pulled out the binoculars he borrowed from the Sanctuary. He used it to get a better view, his journal out and he scribbled a detailed map of this side of the fortifications for tactical planning. Edd knew they would need the entire perimeter.
"What do we do?" Techlin whispered lowly. He remained vigilant, keeping the lookout for anyone that may come up on them.
" I need to scan the perimeter. Get as much info as possible." Eddward stated lowly. They needed all they could.
"Nazz, go search for all watchtowers and patrols. Give me a headcount of each patrol and watchtower with their locations." Edd ordered, she did so, starting to go left, using the forest as cover. "Techlin, look for any weaknesses and places that we could possibly exploit and keep an out for our primary target or a possible location that he could be.
"Got it." Techlin went right, leaving the leader alone to use his binoculars. A few minutes passed of him scribbling down notes and sketches until he saw something. Specifically, someone.
He still had that smile. That face. That one arm. It was Dan. He was laughing at something and Edd peered closer and saw another familiar face, Dante. He was shirtless and looked beaten up. He saw Dan punch him in the face with his one arm and that boiled his blood.
"My prey." Edd whispered with venom dripping as he hardened his gaze at that laughing man.
AND WE ARE DONE!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOHAOHAOH.
A long chapter indeed. A long one indeed. Wow, there must be so many mistakes here, but no care in the world. It has been a long time since I last wrote something this large. I hope that it wasn't too much.
But tell me guys, what do you think? Was the pace too slow or too fast, I felt I was rushing in some parts. The only reason this was so much was because I was planning to skip the entire warehouse section and going to them finding the camp right away, but I felt that there should be at least some type of tie in, you know, learn some things here and there and see what may be done. Just something, you know?
But I do want to give a shoutout to someone that is on Tumblr. Her/his name is bloochikineene, who has a tumblr by the title Ed Edd n Eddy Fanart by Bloochikin. She/he has an interesting art style that I enjoy immensely. The way she/he draws them is just so amazing, I love the way she/he looks, I love it. Please guys, look her/him up and give her/him chance, I don't know if she/he. You won't regret it. The art style fit me so well in the fact that I always had this image of the Eds as they get older and when I saw this, I felt an instant click as all the pieces came together when I saw this art and I just felt immensely pleased. Definitely, if you ever are curious of how I picture the Eds, this is where you should go. You can have your own image, not forcing you guys, just giving a shout out to where it is due.
Also does anyone know anyone that is doing fan animation series of Ed, Edd n' Eddy that is going on now or places where there are a lot of animation? That would be really appreciated.
But as always, give me your opinion, thoughts, advice, noticings, ideas, questions, all of it! Just gimme gimme gimme, I LOVE READING THEM, I hope you all have an awesome day, night, afternoon, or whatever!
See you guys, stay safe!
JohnTheMoon, out!