A/N: Hi guys guess I've been gone on extended hiatus, luckily I'm back and I've got my mojo back so I should be continuing the story regularly. I know it's been a long wait but hopefully it'll be worth it. Anyways as always enjoy, read and review.

Chapter 20: Religious Punishment

Roland knew what he had to do as he and Eve exited the department store and headed back towards the casino where the others had first entered the mall to be captured by a mad man. He knew he couldn't fight the Reverend and his congregation alone so Roland was going to enlist help. Along the way Roland encountered one of the Reverends guards, and as he brought the now dry P90 up to bare he recognized the man as Carl from earlier now toting a camouflage hunting rifle. Roland clicked on the laser sight. "Turn around, very slowly and put the rifle on the ground."

"Oh, shit." Came the quivering reply as the skinny man turned around, his eyes quickly filling with fear.

"You've got two choices here, Carl. Do you mind if I call you Carl? I don't really care anyways." Roland centered the red dot of the sight on Carl's forehead as the man dropped his rifle. "I can either shoot you know, or you can run as fast as you can away from me and hope the ghouls get to you first."

Roland didn't have to ask a second time as the man took off running a trail of fluid dripping from one of his pant legs. Clicking of the laser sight Roland smiled and continued on towards the casino. Roland didn't encounter any other guards along the way but as he got closer he could hear the muffled sounds of the Reverend's amplified voice. Roland couldn't make out the words but he suspected it was more bullshit.

As Roland approached the casino entrance he felt his blood run cold and his hackles raise, there were at least a hundred of the monsters on the other side of the glass doors. They pressed against it leaving smears of blood and other disgusting fluids; they became livelier as he approached biting at the glass in an effort to get at the treats inside. "Don't worry assholes, you'll get your fill soon enough." Roland muttered pulling the grenade from his backpack.

It was cold outside and the doors were thick, double paned, shatterproof glass but the stench of death still assaulted Roland's nostrils as he taped the grenades to the outer doors and inner doors. The moans of the undead froze Roland's soul as he tied the fishing line to the grenade pins and moved as far from the doors as the fishing line would allow. Making a prayer to the gods of bad planning Roland pulled hard on the fishing line watching with relief as all four pins came free. His relief was cut short by the realization that a large explosion was about to happen very close to him and Roland took the opportunity to dive behind a concrete bench; holding Eve to his chest as he counted silently. "Five… Four… Three… Two…"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The quadruple explosion cut him off as the grenades blew in succession. Glass and debris fell all around his hiding spot and he could feel Eve quivering in his arms. Once he was certain there was no more shrapnel Roland popped his head up over the bench and his eyes grew wide. The doors had literally disintegrated from the explosion along with the faces of the ghouls closest to the doors and as the monsters poured in like football fans at the Superbowl Roland found his body moving of its own accord releasing Eve and standing up before Roland's horrified brain knew what happened.

Roland relaxed as he watched the creatures come through the windowless frames with almost comical slowness. The creatures tripped over the edges of the doorframes and each other but what they lacked in speed and intelligence they made up for in numbers. Roland found his earlier estimate of one hundred monsters overly conservative as he watched at least twice that many begin their slow march towards him, their yellow eyes glued to their target like flesh seeking missiles.

Roland knew the explosions had alerted the Reverend's people and he could hear the sounds of an approaching mob over the moan of the undead. Putting phase two of his plan in to action Roland ran towards the direction of the furniture store turning occasionally to insure his undead fan club didn't fall too far behind. The sounds of an angry mob from around the corner spurred Roland's feet as he neared the furniture store, the horde hot on his heels. Diving through the double doors he spun and kicked both doors shut just as the Reverend's congregation rounded the corner and came face to face with the sea of undead.

"Holy shit!" Came the startled cry from the head of the mob.

"Stand firm, brothers and sisters the lord will help us defeat these hellions." The Reverend's deep voice boomed over the hungry moans.

The sound of rippling gunfire reached Roland's ears as the living faced off against the dead. Taking that as his cue he took off towards the back of the store unleashing a short burst from the P90 and shattering one of the floor to ceiling windows as he went. Bursting through the hail of glass shards with Eve close behind him Roland got his bearings and headed for the music store where the others were being held.

Coming around the corner Roland spotted his friends and one other person kneeling down with one person guarding them. The sound of his boots on the tile floor caught the attention of the guard and his prisoners causing them all to turn and look at Roland and the dog. Surprise crossed Roland's face as he realized he recognized the fourth prisoner. "Roland!" she yelled a smile crossing her face.

Before Roland could respond the guard grabbed the girl's collar and aimed his pistol at her. "Stay where you are, don't come any closer." The guard's voice trembled and his hand shook.

Never pausing Roland raised the P90 and fired one bullet into the guard's chest. "I'm through playing around." Roland growled as a shocked look came over the guard and he stumbled backwards his hand touching the wound in his chest.

Caleb and Valerie wore horrified expressions as the guard collapsed, his last breathe used to utter, "Why?"

Ignoring Caleb, Valerie, and Cory, Roland walked up to the short blond girl and knelt in front of her. Tears streamed down her face from her green eyes and past the smile that would not come off, letting go of the SMG Roland pulled out his boot knife and cuts the ropes of her wrists.

"Hi Destiny, it's been a long time." Was all he was he managed to say before her small arms wrapped themselves tightly around his neck.