The Star Hunter

Chapter 21: Dangerous Steps

As odd as it seemed, Spectre barely likes to sleep. Maybe it was his constant military training, past nightmares, or the fact he doesn't tire easily. However a short couple hours of sleep was all he needed after the hot night he had. Closing his eyes a bit and breathing silently, he could barely remember the last time he felt so relaxed. Looking over at me, snuggling beside his inked body, he smiled lovingly and gently kissed my temple. Knowing I was still sleeping, he didn't make any moves to get up. Instead, he shifted his body a little so he could gently cuddle with my sleeping form until I woke up.

~ I yawned as I walked into the intersection of Rayford. It was just turning dusk, the ground suddenly thick with fog. "Seriously. Of all places to summon up to."

Bill emerged out of the fog and lit up. "Well, sorry taking my ashes was too much of a hassle."

"Bill, I had other things to do." Stretching my back, it popped under the pressure. I relaxed with a loud groan and then blushed, remembering what I did before I entered this dream. "Oh, my. I can already feel the pain in my thighs."

"Too much information, Chris," Bill shivered. "I don't need to know how powerful my son is in bed."

I blushed harder, "Yeah…"

Suddenly, I was tackled by a smaller annuity, making me yelp and crashed onto the asphalt road. "CHRIS!"

I groaned and looked over my shoulder. My eyes lit up when they caught my best witch friend: Chloe. "Oh, my God! Chloe!"

She beamed, "The one and only!"

"Are you an angel?"

"Yes, I am, Anakin~" she quipped.

Bill chuckled at the joke and watched as I struggled to stand up. Chloe got off my back and smiled, "I'm glad to see you're in one piece!"

"I wish I could say the same to you, Chlo…" I frowned. "I shouldn't have told you to go into the woods. I'm so sorry."

Chloe gripped my shoulder and smiled assuring, "Chris, it wasn't your fault. We were preparing for a battle. We are Infected after all."

I looked at Chloe up and down and noticed how much she looked like a Witch, but human. She was still wiry, but full of energy. Instead of pale blonde hair and red eyes, she had strawberry-blonde hair and deep brown eyes. She gained a lot more color into her skin as well, no longer being as pale as a sheet, and she had regular fingers, not long bloody claws. However, she was in the same outfit she was killed in: blue shorts and a black tank top.

I smiled, "Damn, you look pretty damn good before you were infected."

Chloe smirked, "Bi much, honey?"

I blushed, "No, no. I'm pretty straight."

"Oh, indeed~" she smiled ear to ear.

"Oh my. Did you see…" my face flushed.

"Oh, yeah. I did.~" She giggled like a Jockey, which startled her into giggling more.

I laughed, "I think you've been hanging with Detour too much."

"Detour…" her normal smile disappeared into a frown. "I already miss him."

I blinked and asked, "Did you have something with him?"

"No, but sometimes, it felt like we did," she hugged her torso.

I frowned, "I'm sorry."

"I ran into Rambo."

My blood froze. "You did…?"

"Indeed," he growled behind me. I stiffened as I turned around and saw the big man. "I knew you were against us from the beginning."

"Quite right," another male voice emerged from the fog behind Bill. He emerged and I gasped to see Brawn. "Well, Chris, thanks to your little run, that's three of us in one night. I hope you're happy."

"HEY!" I snarled, "One, I didn't want to kill you two. Rambo, you were going to pound me into a pancake if Spectre…Vincent…didn't stop you. Plus, you talking shit only pissed me off more and ended your life. And, you Brawn! Yes, I will admit I was out of the group at this point, but you call me a traitor for killing you out of defense! And I didn't kill Chloe! I didn't want her to die!"

The former Specials looked down. Rambo sighed, "I will admit this; my kill was a mercy killing. I was in agony. That chimera literally left me for dead."

Brawn did agree, "You were mangled, my friend."

"And, besides, I'm back to my former human self again. No cure. I just had to die."

"Yes, I do love not being a rejected humanoid Godzilla," Brawn nodded. "But, I'd love to play hockey again."

I blinked, "You a hockey player?"

He nodded, "Professional too. I was a goalie."

"That's pretty cool, Brawn."

"My real name is Fil Chapin. F-I-L."

"Fil? I didn't know it could be spelt that way," Chloe tilted her head to the side.

He laughed, "Neither did I!"

I turned to Rambo and asked, "What's your name? Your real one?"

He sighed, "It's Seth Sawyer. I was a history professor at the same school Salt Lick taught at."

"Salt Lick's a teacher?!" both Chloe and I jaw-dropped.

"Yeah. Not a good one, but a teacher regardless."

Bill decided to butt in. "That's a nice reunion and all, but Chris and I have some business. Come on, young lady."

"Young lady? Come on, Bill."

"Careful. You may be talking to your late father-in-law," he grinned with the fag in his teeth.

Chloe giggled madly, while I blushed heavily and walked forward, "Yes, sir."

The veteran chuckled as we walked away from the group. "I recall something you were going to do something if you lost the bet."

I was more lost than a Southern tourist in Boston. "Huh? What bet?"

"The bet regarding my son being alive."

"Oh yeah! When we were attacked by the first Haggard in Savannah. I remember now. That was a while ago." Funny how things progress in my mind; it was only three weeks ago when I even met Spectre on the way to Rayford. "What was I supposed to do again?"

Bill facepalmed, "You were supposed to admit that you care for my son."

"Oh, right. Ok, yes. I do care for Vincent. I care deeply for him."

Bill smiled, "I knew it. It's just so sweet when you say it yourself."

"Shut up…" I blushed as the fog swirled around us. ~

I softly moaned as my body began to softly ache. Despite not being a virgin, I felt sore and weak. I stirred a bit, making Spectre look down at me, seeing that I'm about to wake up. "Morning, my love," he softly purred as he kissed my forehead, seeing I wasn't awake fully yet.

"Morning," I yawned softly as I opened my pale green eyes. Letting my eyes adjust to the pink and purple lights, I looked up at him and smiled.

He smiled back and asked, "Did you have a nice sleep?"

"Yep," I purred as I snuggled into his strong body again. I felt like I belonged in his arms. Snuggling into his fit body, I muttered, "What about you?"

"Pretty well, actually," he smiled as he kissed my head.

I blushed and smiled softly, "Do you like kissing me?"

"Of course I do."

I gently sat up out of his arms and he followed. Stretching my arms and back, the fleece blanket fell off my body, flashing my breasts. Spectre smiled and pulled me into his covered lap, "I wish I could wake up to you every day for the rest of my life."

I frowned on the inside. Last night was amazing for both of us, but it makes me feel guilty for a few things. First on is obviously Spectre. It wasn't fair to him that we had intercourse. He loves me, but I'm still debating on if I love him or not. Second was Nick. He loves me and I love him, but that feeling has gotten softer and softer as the days went by. I don't know what to do.

"Vincent…"

He frowned, "I know you're conflicted, Chris. And, I'm sorry, but I will act lovingly to you." Spectre gently nuzzled my neck, "I love you and nothing will change that, Chris."

I nodded softly; at least I had him. But, even that fact made my stomach twist uncomfortably. Why should he suffer with empty love? He deserves much better than that.

"I need to shower," I stated softly.

He hummed, "Mmm, me too."

I chuckled, "Nothing sexy, ok?"

He pouted, "Awww, why not?"

"Because I can barely feel my thighs as it is."

He chuckled and kissed me gently, but sweetly on the lips. I couldn't help my claws going through his lush hair. He moaned gently as he pulled away, "I promise I'll be gentle~"

I giggled and rested my forehead against his. "No~ I'll shower alone."

"Aww, you tease. Ok. I'll check out the kitchen and see what we can have to eat."

"Yeah, check if there are brains in the fridge," I quipped as I got up.

He chuckled softly as he got up and climbed down the ladder and back into the girl's room, stark naked.

I rolled my eyes and sighed as I climbed down to find a bathroom. "The least he can do is put his pants back on." Walking out into the hall, I found the bathroom and then I heard a yelp, "Damn! That's cold!"

I opened the door, and sure enough, there was Spectre toying with the shower. "Vincent! I thought you were going to check out the kitchen?"

"I was, until I found the shower," he grinned. "I won't do anything, I promise."

I sighed with defeat, "Ok. Is there hot water?"

He splashed his claw a bit in the water and smiled, "It's warming up now."

"Ok, good. Hmm. I thought the water, electricity and the heating would be turned off by now."

Spectre shrugged, "Maybe not. This could be a solar-powered house; therefore, things don't just shut down. Plus, the major wouldn't be tied up with those heinous bills every month."

"That explains a lot." Slipping into the shower, I was hit by a stream of warm water, making me moan. "Oh, God, that feels good."

Spectre slipped in behind me and embraced me from behind. "Mmm, that's true."

"Vincent…please, don't try anything."

He frowned, but nodded, "But I can still hold you in my arms, Chris."

"Ok, but it's hard to wash up with you right behind me."

He chuckled, "That's true." He loosened his arms and took a small step back. Grabbing the shampoo bottle, he poured some into his claw and began to scrub his shaggy hair. I took the bar of soap and began to wash off the dirt, blood and cum off my body. He purred as he rinsed his hair, "Ah, I already feel better."

"Mmm, me too. It's been a long ass time since I've had a shower." Trading my soap for his shampoo, I scrubbed my hair and smiled, "Oh thank God…no more greasy hair."

Giving our bodies a good rinse, we got out and he grabbed a bunch of towels. One was for his waist and his hair, while one he handed me so I can dry off. "Thanks."

"No problem. We need some clothes."

"You don't say~"

He chuckled, "Ok. We can salvage clothes from here. You can wear the girl's clothes~"

"Ah, fuck no." I walked out and went into the mayor's room to see if there was anything I could wear. However, the only thing this man had to wear was suits. "Aw, mother fucker, really? Nothing causal."

"Umm…Chris? Did you know this man had a son?" Spectre asked when he came up behind me.

I blinked and turned around, "No." He was wearing his cargo pants, but still no shirt. "How did you figure that?"

"One of the pictures on the mantle. There was an Army soldier with the girl in one of them."

"Oh. Well, where's his room?"

"Down the hall. Come on."

I followed the chimera down the hall and into the soldier's room. It was very dusty, as if it wasn't used in years. I looked around, "Looks like a regular room. Bed, bureau, closet, window, and a night table. Damn, looks like my old room after I moved out."

He chuckled, "Wanna know something about military rooming?"

"Sure."

"The cabins are tiny. So this room is a living room with a grand chandelier in comparison."

I whistled and blinked, "Damn."

He walked over to the closet and saw a spare Army jacket. It was army green (duh!) with four pockets, one on each breast and one on each side of the hips. On the tag that was above the left pocket spelt 'RK-0713'. "Hmm. The Recon Killers."

"The what?" Chris asked.

"A forgotten group of the Army. These guys scoped out spies and killed them. Only a very few men were out doing this kind of thing, thanks to their uncanny ability to sniff out suspicious activity among the ranks."

I blinked, "Wow. Or…it could be his initials."

"That too," Spectre gave the jacket a quick salute and took ahold of it. He placed the jacket on his shoulders and gently tugged on the jacket flaps and hummed, "It fits pretty well."

"Maybe a shirt for it?"

He smirked, "Why? Don't like my body?"

"Oh, I like it…but I'm sure Nick won't appreciate it."

He scoffed, "Like I care about his opinion." However, he did walk to the dresser and opened a drawer to find a dark grey shirt to wear. Tossing the jacket off for a moment, he grabbed it and threw it over his head. "Not bad. Not too tight, not too loose." Putting the jacket back on, he turned to me, still naked, and smirked, "How do I look?"

I blushed, "Pretty damn good, Vince."

"Wish you can stay like that…but these pants are starting to get a little tight."

I giggled and walked past him, "Sorry, but I'm not helping you there~"

He pouted and stared at my towel-covered ass, and whimpered, "Damn."

I giggled and looked into the bureau, looking for clothes. I did see a huge roll of duct tape, but instead of the traditional silver, it was black with blue flames around the tape as a design. "That's badass." I took a hold of the roll and tossed it on the bed.

Spectre smirked as he looked at the duct tape on the bed, "Oh my."

"Vincent…no."

He pouted again, "Aww."

I found a regular roll of silver duct tape and tossed that on the bed as well. Finding a black hoodie, I grinned as I took ahold of it, "Awesome. I need my pants and panties and I should be good to go."

"Are you going to duct tape your boobs?!"

I smirked, "Yeah. It's easily better than a sports bra."

"Yeah, but harder to take off."

"So? Not a problem for me~"

"You tease," he whimpered.

I took the roll of silver tape and began to roll it over my boobs. It was hard, but when Spectre helped me get it around my back, it was much easier to do. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Just remember I can tear that apart to get to them."

I rolled my eyes, "Horn dog."

He chuckled and smiled. "You're going to need a new pair of pants."

"Wait, why?"

He blushed, "Umm…remember last night?"

"Yeah," I blushed as well.

"Well…my…umm…"

I quickly rose my claw up to stop him, "You ruined my pants?"

"Yep."

"Ok then. Thanks for telling me." I saw a pair of green cargo pants and smiled, "Bingo. Going commando~"

The chimera whimpered, "Oh, don't do that…"

I giggled and slipped the pants on. Grabbing a brown belt nearby, I tightened it and smiled, "I love these pants already." Taking the roll of silver tape, I wrapped up my legs and then my arms and claws when I put the hoodie on. Aside from my shoes, I was dressed. I grinned and told Spectre, "How do I look?"

"Sexy, as always."

I blushed and took the two rolls of tape and placed them into one of the pockets of my new pants. "Alright, I'm good. Come on, let's go."

As soon as we went downstairs, I heard a hammer cock back. I froze.

BANG!

I screeched as the bullet hit the small of my back. "Fuck!"

Suddenly, I heard, "Wait…friendly?"

Spectre vanished and reappeared directly in front of my attacker. With vicious snarl, he grabbed the pistol out of his hand and slashed him across the face. However, he was quick enough to move his head, so the slash wasn't as deep as Spectre expected. He grunted, ignoring the painful tears of his bleeding flesh and unsheathed a machete to face off against Spectre.

"Wait! Spectre! Stop!" I barked at him as I painfully stood up. With a yelp, I hissed, "Just get this bullet out of my back!"

The chimera growled and took a few steps away from the human and went to my side. "Are you ok?"

"Ouch. I'll live."

He frowned and pulled my hoodie up and saw the entry wound. "He hissed with sympathy and stated as he plucked it out, "You must be lucky to inherited Scar's healing ability…"

"It's kept me alive so far, so yeah I am."

The human spoke again. "Friendlies?"

"Two seconds, please," I growled as my wound slowly healed up.

"I ought rip his head off for shooting you," the chimera snarled lowly.

"Vincent, at least he stopped. He can understand us, remember?" I stood up right and turned to the man. He was the Army soldier who used to live here. He had spiky black hair that looked almost dark blue, with oddly colored eyes: purple/red. For a soldier just out of the army, he seemed to dress like a biker: black leather jacket, biker gloves, white tank top, and black pants with a chain on his left hip.

"Must I ask again?" he spoke.

"No."

He blinked, "How can you even move? That shot was…"

"I know. Right to the spine. Hoping to paralyze. But you've never faced an Alpha Hunter before."

"But how are you a zombie? I can understand you, clear as day."

"You can thank the serum flowing in our bloodstreams. We can already understand you, thanks to the virus not affecting that part of our brains. Come to think of it, we still act and think like we were humans, expect zombie instinct will kick in from time to time. We're not called 'Special Infected' for nothing."

He nodded, "I get it. Got names?"

"Chris Starly."

"Wait, the Miami conartist?!"

I blinked, "Yes. You've heard of me?"

"Oh yeah. That sick stunt against the best of the best. Damn, I feared to even step foot in that city."

I blushed and scratched the back of my neck, "Ah. I guess my reputation is more wide spread than I thought."

"I'm Roth Kaspian, but I was called 'Tripp' as a callsign."

"Was your last name spelt with a 'K'?"

He nodded, "Yeah, why?"

"That'll explain the 'RK' on the patch."

"I see. And him? What's his story?"

Spectre growled, "Lt. Vincent 'Spectre' Overbeck."

"I see. Is she your lover, wife, girlfriend?" Roth asked with a glare.

"No."

"Yes."

We both blushed at the instantaneous reaction.

Roth smirked, "Ok then. Should I be afraid of you two?"

Spectre growled, "If you shoot her again, than yes, you should be afraid."

"Well, I won't. She seems to be the calm one in this relationship."

Spectre growled again, but I quickly gripped his shoulder, "Vince, calm down."

Roth looked around and stated, "I don't see anything terrible. Where are my father and sister?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. We were alone when we came in here to escape the storm yesterday."

"Ok then." Roth walked to the study and noticed the basement door spray-painted in big red letters 'DO NOT OPEN! ZOMBIES!' The soldier gulped, "Oh shit."

I walked in and asked, "Roth? Are you ok?"

He pointed to the door, "Did you see that?"

"No. We only made it upstairs, but that's it."

"Ah. Too busy getting busy, eh?"

Spectre growled again, "None of your fuckin' business."

"Can I have my Five-seveN back," Roth asked.

The chimera muttered, "You seem fine with that machete."

"Vincent, don't be a prick. Give it back. Besides, with those open scratches, he'll be at a greater risk of being infected in close combat."

He sighed, "It's a sad day when you make more military sense than me." Tossing the powerful pistol back to Roth, he looked at the door and hummed, "How many do you think?"

Roth answered, "Two at least. My father and sister loved this place. They refused to move away or flee when the infection spread." Reloading his pistol, he took a deep breath as he crept closer to the door and quickly twisted the knob and opened it. A Spitter instantly shot acid into his face, making him shriek with agony.

We gasped from the sudden attack on Roth. I grabbed my Magnum and frowned at him, "Forgive me." BANG! I crowned the poor soldier in the head; his death was instant.

Spectre rushed in and shoved the Spitter down the stairs and into the Boomer at the bottom. "He was right about the two zombies down there." Taking his Assault rifle into his claws, he took aim and quickly shot both of them. The Spitter's acid sizzled on the wooden stairs, making them corrode and eat away, while the Boomer flat-out exploded. Closing the door, he turned to me, "Are you ok?"

I nodded as I sheathed my weapon, "I'm fine, but I can't say the same for Roth."

I placed Roth in the middle of the room and crossed his arms over his chest. Grabbing a blanket, I placed it over his body and saluted him. "Rest in peace."

Suddenly, we heard a cry, "Help!"

Snapping our attention to the door, Spectre rushed over to it and opened it. "Hello!?"

He heard a very faint cry, "Help me please…"

I ran behind him, but he hopped down and landed on the acid residue. "Yeow! Ow!" he yelped as he quickly hopped off.

"Are you ok?" I called to him.

"Yeah, I'm ok." He looked around the dark basement and muttered, "Damn, I wish I had a flashlight, at least." One step in and his foot was submerged in water. Suddenly, his body absorbed thousands of watts of electricity into his body. His body jerked and spazzed, his hearts already in cardiac arrest as he fell backwards onto the cement platform.

I gasped and quickly hopped down next to him. "Vincent!" Taking his pulse, I frowned deeply to not feel one. "You stupid asshole…you better come back."

I remember how upset and furious I was when the Haggard killed him in Savannah. Now, I just feel upset and hopeless. Gently nuzzling his neck, I whispered, "You better."

"Help…"

My ears perked from the soft whimper. I looked around the very dark basement and muttered, "No wonder he didn't see the water…it's pitch black in here. Whoever's there, stay put. I'll be back when I knock the power out. Don't move, and dear God, don't go near the water."

The whimpering voice answered, "O-ok."

I nodded as I leaped up back into the study, running out of it and out the door. I ran around the house and found the power box. "Oh, bingo." I twisted the lever to cut the power and waited a few minutes. Running back to the basement, I hopped back down and checked on Spectre. Still lifeless and cold. I frowned and gently kissed his forehead, "Please come back to me."

I looked back at the flooded floor and frowned, "I wonder." Remembering what Spectre said about possible solar panels, I decided to ran back outside and see if that's true. A quick hop onto the roof revealed the flat panels. "Ok." I didn't want to destroy them, thinking I could use this house again. Looking around, I tried to remember how solar panels worked. I did remember that I had an idea to install them on my family's roof at one point, but was too stubborn to allow help…and it fucked everything up. I hopped down and remembered about the inverter which turns off the whole grid, but not the panels themselves.

My mission: find the inverter and take it from there.

The inverter should look like a small grey box on the side of the house with long thick cables coming out of it. It wasn't that hard to find; it was on the far side of the house. Turning the kill switches to 'OFF' killed the grid's power, regarding the panels off and no longer sending energy into the house.

I smiled, "Mission complete! Need to check if the water's safe now or not."

Hopping down into the basement again, I called out to the voice, "Hey, you still with me?"

After about five seconds of silence, it answered, "Y-yes."

"Ok, good. Where are you exactly?"

"On the cage."

"There's a cage?" It must not be metal then. If it was, then the figure would be zapped as well.

"Y-yes."

"Ok. Umm…keep talking. We need to kill a little time."

"Why?"

I looked at the water and stated, "I killed the power, but it's not safe to hop in yet. So, stay there."

"Ok…who are you?"

"I'm Christina Starly, the Star Hunter."

"You're the Star Hunter?!" the voice sounded excited, as well as shocked.

"Yes. What are you?" I asked.

It whimpered, "I'm…Andrea. I'm a monster…"

"Hey, Andrea, don't say that about yourself," I urged. "If you want to see a real monster, you run into my ex. He's a Haggard."

"What's a Haggard?"

"It's a cross between a Tank and a porcupine," I commented, trying to have an accurate visual in my head to describe the creature.

"Oh…"

"But very gruesome and dangerous," I added.

"I hope I don't see it…"

"Trust me…so do I." Deciding to get off the Haggard subject, I asked, "What species are you?"

"I'm…a leaper."

I blinked; a leaper? "Umm…can you be more specific? Are you scrawny and giggly all the time or more snarly and well-built?" I, once again, did my best to think of what would be easy to visualize a Hunter and Jockey. I decided not to describe attire, because not all of the specific Infected wear the same type of clothes. Like Spectre; he may be a chimera, but his body built buff like a Tank, but flexible like a Hunter, so he's a Hunter's body. He doesn't wear a hoodie with duct tape. He wears his worn out cargo pants and a military jacket from Roth.

Roth crossed my mind, making me ask the darkness, "Hey, did you live here?" I didn't bother waiting for the 'specific' answer. I'll see her when it's safe to cross the water.

A small whimper. "Y-yes."

I frowned, "I'm sorry. Who…who are your parents?"

"My daddy was military."

I gulped; shit, I just killed her father. "Was his name Roth?"

"No."

Huh?! Now I'm confused. If she lived here, and her father was military, then how could it NOT be Roth?

"I was told his name was 'Tripp.'"

I gave the darkness a deadpanned look. "That's his callsign, sweetie."

"Well, I know next to nothing about the military!"

"Wow, ok, calm down."

Another cock of machinery was caught by my sensitive ears. "Oh, fuck."

"What? What's that?" the voice whimpered. Apparently, she heard it too.

"Like shooting rotting fish in a barrel," a deep voice purred from up above. "Any last words, zombie?"

I smirked, "Yeah," I turned invisible and made my voice softer and most distant, "You can't shoot what you can't see."

He growled, "Fuck. I know you're still there, demon!"

Taking a piece of the corroded wood from the stairs, I tossed it into the water. His attention snapped to the sound and opened fire. Not moving from my original spot, I leaped up and tackled him to the ground. He screamed as he landed hard on his back. But one look at him made me blink. "Wait…Roth?!"

He grunted, "Damn…how do you know me?!"

"But…I shot you in the head!"

"I wouldn't remembered that…and how the hell are you talking?!"

I rolled my eyes, "I have to explain this again?!"

"Wait, again?! For fuck's sake I don't even know you!"

Growling with frustration, I took the gun away, which happened to be Combat Rifle, and strapped it to my back. I got off the man and walked over to the body I covered up with the blanket in the center of the room. Removing it, I pointed to the poor soldier. "Him!"

The man sat up and rubbed his now-bruised back. "My stupid older brother. He wanted to have my identity. His name is Russ, not Roth. Roth is me."

I muttered, "I'm having a Tundra-Sub-Zero moment here."

He laughed, "I know what you mean! What did he tell you?"

"His name is Roth Kaspian, callsign is 'Tripp', was in the Army, respected me as a conartist."

"What?"

"I'm Chris Starly, the Miami conartist," I answered his vague question.

"Ah, yes. I have heard of you. You're clearly not human right now," Roth noted.

"Glad you finally came to your senses. Now, what's his deal?"

Roth looked down at the dead man and sighed, "Russ is my twin brother. The older brother. He mimicked me with everything…to the point when he went insane and thought he was me. That's why he tried to pass off as me when you encountered him. He lost what he was and claimed to be me."

"I see. So you're the true military man of the family."

"Oh no, I'm not. Russ is military as well. Except…the difference being…" he sighed sadly, "He's a deserter."

I gasped; I don't need to be military to know how serious that is. "A…deserter?!"

Roth frowned deeply, almost ashamed at his late brother, "Yes."

I was about to say something, but I heard a faint splash. My eyes widened, "Oh shit."

I hopped down to the basement again and yelled, "Andrea!"

"I'm ok! The water's fine," her voice answered, followed by a swishing noise. She waddled her way to the cement platform. She climbed up and now in the light, I could tell what she was: a Hunter.

She was small, with short brown hair. Her eyes were crystal blue, a step up above Spectre's own eye color. She was wearing ripped up jeans and a black blouse. That outfit was most likely the outfit she was turned in. She was young; possibly early teens.

She looked at me and blinked, "You're older than I thought."

I frowned and muttered, "Thanks; that boosts my confidence."

She looked at Spectre's body and shrieked. That shrieked alarmed Roth and aimed down through the doorway. "Whoa! Don't shoot! It's ok!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! She used to live here!"

Roth sighed, "Besides, how would I shoot? You took my rifle."

I looked on my back at his confiscated firearm and chuckled sheepishly, "Oh yeah, I did."

"Who's down there?" he asked.

"Andrea and my lover's corpse."

Roth gave me a dumbfounded look, before he answered, "Damn, what did you do last night?"

"Nothing you can't find on YouPorn!" I retorted back.

Roth burst out laughing, "Damn, Chris, I like you."

"Sorry, but I've already got two men dying for my attention, so adding one more isn't safe."

"Oh, no worries. You're not my type."

"That's good…I think." I turned to Andrea and pointed to the doorway literally lit up with sunlight. "That's your way out. Roth is up there." Turning up to Roth, I barked, "Don't be alarmed when someone hops up that's not me!"

As if on cue, Andrea leaps up and tackles Roth to the floor.

With a huff, he grunted, "Thanks for the fucking warning!"

I looked down at Spectre's corpse again and frowned. He hasn't moved an inch from when he got electrocuted. I'm worried that he won't even come back. After all, how many times has he died already? Seven times? Six times before this hell, and once in front of me? I gulped and muttered, "I hope you're a cat and can spare one more!"

I grabbed one arm and hoisted his body onto my back, which was much easier said than done. For one, he's about half-more my size, most of it is muscle. Add his muscles being lax completely, that's more dead weight I'm not used to carrying. With a straining back, I positioned myself so I can keep him on my back and clear the doorway altogether. Or at least make it half way. And then I can claw the rest of it.

Then something hit me: my old sleeves that we used the night before. That can bind his claws together (and not make him pull them apart…the bastard) and wrap them around my neck, hence I could use both of my claws. Gently placing him back on the platform, I ruffled his black hair and smiled, "I'll be back."

Hopping back up into the study, I ran past Andrea and Roth, yelling, "Two seconds!" Bolting up the stairs and into the girl's room, I rushed up the ladder into the sex pad and found the remains of our clothes in the darkness. Grabbing my two sleeves (along with anything that were in my old hoodie pockets, which included my mom's diary and Bill's name patch and beret); I ran back downstairs and back down into the basement.

Binding his claws together tightly, I looped his arms over my neck and pulled his bulk back over my back. With a mighty leap, I soared in the air…and onto the bottom of the door frame. I yelped with pain and began to claw my way back up into the study. Thanks to Spectre's arms nearly strangling me, it was tough to pull us both up.

Miraculously, I was able to do so.

Clearing up introductions and plans, I have learned that Andrea was related to Roth; she is his niece. Apparently, I was on the right track on this family tree; Russ, Roth's twin is Andrea's father. That helped clear up the confusion I originally had.

The four of us (more like three of us, since Spectre was still out) trekked through the swamp with ease. Andrea was surprisingly strong and liked to fight. Roth was a deadeye shot with his weapon as well. For once I was the one on the sidelines; the escort.

Finally getting to the manor, I was amazed I made it this far without getting jumped. Although I'm very worried about Spectre; he didn't wake up or show any sign of life. Maybe he's dead for good.

"HEY!" I heard a call from far away.

I gasped my mind quickly connected the name to the voice, "Sheila!"

"Who?" Roth asked.

"Spectre's daughter and my best friend," I stated.

"Wait…does she know that you banged her dad?" Roth asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"No one knows, and if you value your life, Roth, I suggest we keep it this way," I growled lowly.

Roth raised his hands, "Easy, Chris. I promise."

Andrea nodded, "Me too. Not even if I'm tortured."

"A grizzly promise, but it works," I noted.

As we dragged our battle-scarred bodies into the backyard, Sheila rushed in and gasped to see Spectre on my back. She helped untie his wrists and his heavy bulk slipped down onto the ground. "What happened?"

"He forgot to look before he leapt," I muttered as I slipped onto the ground on my stomach, "I'm getting too old for piggyback rides…"

"Huh?"

"He stepped into a pool of electrified water."

She gasped, "So…he's dead?! My real father is dead!?"

I sat up and cracked my back. "Sheila, ever heard of a special medical condition that allows a restarting the heart even after death? It's a very rare condition. And Vincent's one of those people to have it. In fact, I've seen him die before."

She frowned, "Oh, really? Like the Lazarus Syndrome?"

"Yes….wait, what?"

"It's the name of that condition. I've read about it in college. I just can't believe my own father has it." She looked down at him, who was still pale as a sheet and still as a rock. Roth shifted his firearm, making a clicking sound, making Sheila look up. "Who's that?"

"An ally."

Roth nodded and saluted, "Private Roth 'Tripp' Kaspian. Any friend of Chris' is a friend of mine."

"Cool. I see you're a soldier, like my father."

"Your father is a mercenary, MIA soldier. I've learned a lot of him when I was in my A school." Roth reloaded his weapon and sighed, "His life sucked."

I frowned, "That's sadly true."

Sheila frowned as well and sighed, "You need to get me up to speed about my own father. It's kinda sad that you know more of him than I do."

I nodded, "Of course. But first, where's everyone?"

"Inside, trying to find a way down the river."

Andrea finally appeared and smiled at Sheila. With a friendly wave, she grinned, "Hi!"

"Umm…what did the Hunter say?"

I sighed, "She said, 'Hi.'"

"Oh. Who is she?"

"An infected human, like me. Her name is Andrea. And she is related to the mayor. Roth's niece."

Sheila nodded, "I see. So, she won't pounce me or the others?"

"Hopefully not," I stated.

"Oh, I really like the change of clothes." Suddenly, she got dark, "You did…"

I blushed, "I'll tell you everything when we're alone."

Lazerlemon: So, everyone's back together again.

Ro: Yeah, but how will things go? After what Spectre and Chris did?

Lazerlemon: No idea. But it will get interesting; I will guess that much.

Ro: Nick won't be happy…if he finds out.