"She could be anywhere," Columbus said as they reached the edge of the city.
"How do we find her?" Wichita asked.
"I have an idea," Tallahassee replied. He rolled down his window and fired into the air three times. "Marco," he murmured. Everyone listened and at last they heard a shot in reply. "Polo," he smiled heading in the direction of the gunshot.
It was depressingly slow work to get through the cluttered streets of Chicago and Tallahassee started to get turned around so he fired out the window again. It took much longer for a shot to reply but luckily it was much closer this time.
"There," Little Rock said as they rounded a corner and saw a mob of zombies trying to squeeze into an alleyway.
"Hey little one, I think it's time to try out the boom boom," Tallahassee said as he loaded his gun.
"Yeah," she agreed pulling out the pipe bombs they had made together back in Utah. Wichita seemed disapproving but knew it wasn't the time or place for a lecture. Little Rock lit one and tossed it into the crowd. Zombies were sent flying and the homemade explosive proved highly effective.
Tallahassee jumped out of the car and the bloodbath ensued. When all of the zombies in the immediate area were taken care of he looked for Chicago, but couldn't find her. "I'm glad to see you," she said as she appeared half climbing half falling down the ladder. She got to her feet and limped over to him.
"Did you find him?" Tallahassee asked. Chicago's eyes went wide as she looked over Tallahassee's shoulder.
"I just did," she stammered. Tallahassee turned around to see a zombie walking towards them. "Michael?" she asked. The zombie moaned in response. "Michael it's me," she said limping a step forward before Tallahassee caught her shoulder. The zombie didn't move, but it didn't look friendly.
Things happened way too fast for Chicago to comprehend. Wichita moved like lightning tossing a rope over Michael's head and dashing out of reach again. The rope was attached to the bumper of a nearby car creating a leash for the zombie.
The kids joined Tallahassee and Chicago in the alleyway. "Oh god," Chicago muttered looking at her fiancé. Columbus put a hand on her shoulder and offered his double barrel. She took it and limped forward until she was just out of reach of Michael. "Baby?" she asked. The zombie snapped at her reaching out and clawing at her. "Please Mike. It's me. It's Tara, don't you know your Tara?" she whispered. The zombie growled at her and she started to cry. "Please… please Michael… don't…" she wept. The zombie lunged being held back by the rope.
Chicago took a deep shuddering breath and held up the gun pointing it right at Michael. She cried a little harder and she saw their entire lives flash before her eyes. She thought about when he asked her out for the first time and when he came to her house for dinner. She lowered the gun as she thought about the first time they made love. "I can't," she said shaking her head and crying.
Wichita started to move forward but Tallahassee made her stay put knowing this was something Chicago had to do on her own. He watched silently.
Chicago looked into Michael's eyes, the last truly recognizable part of him. "Michael?" she tried one last time. He growled at her again and bit her lip. "I'm so sorry," she whispered raising the gun again. "I love you, goodbye," she said. He lunged again and the rope snapped. She squeezed the trigger and Michael landed in a heap.
Chicago took a deep shaky breath looking at what she had just done. She lowered the gun and put a hand over her mouth as she lost control and started to cry uncontrollably. She dropped the gun and looked away from him and the others. She leaned against a wall trying to compose herself again before she returned to Michael's body.
She opened his button down shirt and took a necklace from him. Gently she touched what was left of his bloody face and stood back up. She continued to cry as she limped towards the other.
Tallahassee saw her start to wobble and when she fell he grabbed her cradling her in his arms. "Chicago?" he asked alarmed. Columbus leaned down to examine her leg.
She continued to cry and gasp for breath as the others crowded around her. "I did my job," she rasped as her world spun. Slowly her vision went black as Tallahassee frantically called her name.