Well… do you guys trust George and them? Do you not? Let us find out what happens over the dinner table. Telltale owns TWDG. Review. Comment. Enjoy!
BTW my New Frontier thoughts will be posted in next chapter.
Chapter 28
3709. That was my room number. It was a corner room, small, with plain white and tan walls. The bedsheets were stainless, but the puffy chair had a bloodstain on the top pillow. It had a relatively clean bathroom, but no hot water.
Javier took 3710, across from me. Krishan took the room to my right, 3711. Gabe took the room across Krishan, and Clementine took the farthest room, the most inward room. Next to Krishan. I sat down my bag, and checked the time. I had six minutes. More than enough time to clean my Walther.
I cleared the supplies from the duffel and set my gun down, and started. I had done this so many times before. Mom was the one to first show me how to clean my gun. Releasing the slide, oiling the rails, it brought back some painful memories.
I put the receiver in, and clicked the slide back into place just as it was time for the meeting. I reset the hammer and walked into Javier's room, nostalgia gone.
You need a clear head for this anyways.
I was the second to last one in the room. Gabe showed up last, closing the door behind him.
"Alright," Javier said. "We have forty five minutes until dinner. We don't know what they are planning, but we can be sure that it is some sort of test to see if we value entry into this place. That is what we know. So we should be prepared to do anything."
"But here's the thing," I spoke up. "Do we want to be here? I mean, these people seem like they may be trouble, and DC is a wreck. I think, if these people give us reason not to trust them, we book it first chance."
"I agree with Noah," Krishan said. "We can take our chances with the dead, but people are unpredictable, and more dangerous." Javier nodded.
"But we are giving them a chance, tonight. That is what we'll do. We can meet up afterwards, and if they check out, we stay. If not, we out." Everyone nodded in agreement. "That's the plan. We are going to be a bit early to dinner."
We took our seats at the large table. Two five seaters were smushed together in a half-ass attempt to make everyone consolidate. The five of them showed up after us, five minutes early.
"Well! What a surprise, they're here before us! The hosts should always be early, I am sorry about that," George took his seat.
"No problem," Javier said with a hint of skepticism.
"So, tonight, we are serving roasted duck with a side of green beans and your choice of water or wine as a beverage!" George announced with a smile.
Ralph and Lindsey brought the dishes out. Dinner was served.
It was the best dinner I had in a long time. The duck melted in your mouth, and the green beans had the perfect mix of juice and flavor. Obviously, I chose water as my drink. It tasted pure and fresh and clean. Everything about the food screamed delicious, but it just made me more skeptical about the people.
"So, down to-" George started, but he was interrupted by me.
"What the hell happened here? I thought there would be camp's, survivors, a safe place." He looked at me with a sad smile.
"Oh, child, there were. Hundreds of people were here in search of safety. Normally, there are 1400 people at the white house, but they transported an extra 500 servicemen and military. It all failed. There was only one ship sent away with maybe six-hundred people on it. It never came back. The rest of us were stranded, left to fend for ourselves. Then, an outbreak occurred within the walls. Then some military got bit. Most of them were put down, but, there were the dead on the inside of the white house walls. Mr. President got bit, and, now there are around 2,000 dead inside the walls. They haven't got a way out, but if they find one, it would mean big trouble for all us here."
"And you were here for all that?" Clementine asked. George nodded.
"We lost some good people. There were more of us. Twenty-eight at one time. But, we're all that's left." Sharline spoke up. I saw Ralph and his sister nod. All of them looked sad.
"We are all truly sorry for that," Javier managed to say.
"Ahh, well, enough of this sappy shit. We have some business we need to get to regarding, you folks," George said.
"One more question," I spoke. "Who runs you five? Is it a democracy, are you the leader George, how are you guys run?"
"Ah, good question, child." Why the fuck does he keep calling me child. Weird. "We consider ourselves a democracy, because everyone has a say in big decisions, but I am the one who does most of the talking." I nodded. I guess that's a satisfying answer.
"Now, if y'all pardon me, we really need to get this show on the road. So, can I see you, Noah. Umm… Sharline, you take the young fellow in the beanie. Lindsey, if you could get Clementine, that would be great. Ralph, take Javier, and Damien, get Krishan. Do what we planned, aight?" I saw them nod, and motion for their assigned character to follow them.
Why do I have to go with George?
I followed George into a small wooden room that looked like a cabin living space. He pulled out two chairs and sat on one. "Go on, take a seat, child." He said soothingly. I sat, and he looked at me with a curiosity in his eyes. It was freaking me out.
The room was wooden all around, with bare shelves on each side. A small table sat in the middle with nothing on it. The room seemed empty.
"I bet, you were wondering 'oh man, why do I have to go with 'ol Georgie' huh? Well…" He trailed off. "Noah, Imma be straight with you. You remind me of my son. Back a long time ago, about five years before this started, I was made the happiest man alive in Baton Rouge. My boy was born. Man, I loved that little sport. I grew up again with him." His eyes turned dark. "Then, budget got tight. I had to cut some corners, and ended up thrown in a cell for two months. I missed him so goddamn much. I got out, and the next day, it was the outbreak of this shitstorm. I never got to see him. My wife and kid, they up and left. No note, nothing. I haven't seen him since. I haven't seen either of em since. It hurts to think about, ya know?" Yo… what the fuck. If this guy is about to go all 'you can be my new son' I am outta here faster than you can say chimichanga. But I nodded and let him continue.
"Ohh man, it feels good to let that off your chest. I was holding that back. But, the moment I saw you, I knew. You had the same look in your eyes." He smiled at me. "Anyways… just thought I'd mention that. But really, now we have to get to the real questions."
Finally.
He whipped out a revolver and pointed it straight at my face. The barrel mere inches from my head. My hand darted to my Walther, which was secured in my pants.
"Nuh uh, don't touch it. I still have to ask you these questions,"
"Why do you need the gun then," I tried to say with my calmest voice, but it still sounded shaky, even to me.
"Just to make sure you don't pull any stupid shit. Or make sure you don't lie," he grinned a bit. After a few breaths, I nodded.
"Where are you from," he asked rapidly. Oh good, it is going to be those types of questions.
"Dallas, Texas."
"You have any family?"
"Yeah. Had." I felt a nudge of pain as I remembered mom, but kept my cool.
"How long ya been outside of Dallas?"
"My family left a month after the outbreak. We were on the road across Texas for a while, where I lost my brother and my sister, then my mother and I headed to Denver to meet up with family. There was no family. We survived up there for about half a year, then my mom pushed for us to head east. We drove from Denver to Richmond. There is where I met Javier, Gabe and Clementine. We escaped, were on the run for some time, then we found another camp, right after my mom died. That is where I met Krishan, who is actually a long time buddy of mine pre-apocalypse. Then the five of us and another set out, because the place they were at was bad news. So we left, one of us is missing, and we kept pushing towards DC. This is actually the second time we tried to get here, but the first time didn't go over so well. And now… here we are."
"Were you the ones that cleared that huge pack of walkers from in front?" I nodded. "Well, that was helpful, so thanks." I began to get a little more relaxed, despite the handgun in my face. He thought everything I had said over. Then nodded.
"Alright. We are done here. I'm sure the others are done by now. My people and your people will have half an hour to meet, then, I am calling a meeting for all of us. We are going to decide what is going to be best for everyone. Ya got it bud?" I nodded. Thank god this is over.
We stood up and emerged from the doors. Everyone else was waiting outside. My group in one spot, and George's in another. I walked over to them.
"Let's go. We need to discuss." I saw Krishan nod with wide eyes. What is up with him?
The five of us gathered again in Javier's room. "Ok, so how does-" Javer was cut off by Krishan nearly screaming.
"Listen! They are up to no good. Damien, he isn't bad. He told me, that at this next meeting, Everyone was planning to open fire against you guys."
"What the fuck?" A ripple passed through us.
"You aren't lying, are you Krishan?" Gabe asked. I looked at his face. Krishan was dead serious.
"Damien said that he would talk with Lindsey, since she was sensible, and try to get her to help us. But, now we all know."
"Those backstabbing shitbirds. Ugh," I said angrily. I could see everyone else shared my rage.
"The important thing," Krishan continued, "Is now we know. Everyone go down there with guns ready."
"Wait!" Javier exclaimed. "How do you know we can trust Damien. This may be an elaborate plan of his to get us kicked out." Another ripple passed through us.
"Javi, you have got to trust me on this one. I know." That seemed good enough for us all. "Well, then we should go down there ready to kick some ass." We readied our guns and headed towards the lobby.
The five of us reached the lobby early again. But this time, the hosts were already set up. No one would talk for a few minutes. Then, George spoke up.
"After a long time of consideration, we are sorry to inform you folks that y'all are going to have to go." I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Damien and or Krishan were just overreacting.
"Ok, can do. We'll just head out." Javier stated.
"No, I'm sorry, but we mean, y'all have to go." He said this, and all of them pulled out machine guns. We pretended to act surprised. Damien wasn't joking. They really were going to kill us. At this moment I am so grateful for Damien's help.
"Wait, what the fuck. What are you doing?" Javier exclaimed.
"It is just the balance of the world. Even Noah said it: Everything has gone to shit, so the only people you trust are the ones that died for you. Even those you love can turn on you," George pronounced. Of course, this claim was complete bullshit, but we all acted well. Clementine did the most.
"Noah, how could you say that?" She even had a tear in her eye. Silently, I applauded her acting efforts.
"I know! Little Clementine, he betrayed your values. For his words, you all have to pay," George said with finality. He raised his machine gun. Damien gave us the signal. He bashed the butt of his rifle into Ralph's head. George noticed this and turned.
"What the fuck Damien?" By now, everyone in my group had raised guns and pointed them at George, Sharline and Ralph. Damien and Lindsey slowly backed out, also raising their guns against George.
"Lindsey, what the fuck are you doing. Get back here." Ralph stated.
"No, Ralph. Get over here. Join me. Killing these innocent people isn't right." Lindsey tried to soothe her brother.
"You're right. It isn't." His look turned stone cold. He pulled the trigger five times before I registered what he was shooting at. Then, with fear, I opened my eyes. I saw Lindsey, holding her abdomen, which was flooding with blood. He just pumped his sister's guts full of bullets. YO HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK! My mind was screaming.
"Go!" George screamed. His group started firing. We all dove behind cover, and somehow, Damien also managed to leap behind a desk. It was a shootout. Six versus three. I raised my Walther and fired four rounds, missing all of them. George lit up the desks, wood chips flying everywhere. Bullets embedded themselves inches from my body. I fired two more rounds. Then, two desks to my left, Gabe turned and ran.
"No!" I heard Javier yell. He was going after Gabe.
I could tell what was going to happen as soon as I saw it. Gabe was going for more secure cover, but Javier mistook it for running into the fire. Two well placed rounds, and Javier crumpled to the floor in agony. His right leg was bleeding profusely as bullets embedded themselves in his thigh. Clementine, being the smart girl that she is, took advantage of this opportunity. She stood up and placed two bullets into Ralph's skull. George fired rounds at her. Then Damien stood up and blasted Sharline in the gut. She collapsed. I could hear Gabe and Javier screaming, but the rest of us wanted to finish this. Now. Krishan, Clementine, Damien and I emerged from our holes and all aimed our weapons at George.
He was stunned. He was flailing his gun around, but he wouldn't fire. "Why, Damien. Why."
"Because what you do is wrong." That simple of a sentence.
"Well, ya know what? Imma kill all of you motherfuckers. You will all die. Just wait. I will- OoOF," George collapsed. I put a round in his gut.
"Who knows, maybe you'll see your son soon enough after all," I smirked. "And, never point a gun at my face. Cause look where we are now." I saw Clementine give a slightly confused look.
"Fuck you," he spat. I shook my head.
"Bye George," I said with the least amount of sentimentalism or emotion possible. Then, without hesitation, another round was fired. But not by me. Damien collapsed. Sharline was still alive, barely, and she put a round into Damien's leg. He was griping in pain, but the wound was hardly severe. The bullet just grazed his shin. Clementine turned and ended her quickly. For real this time. Right after, I turned back towards George.
"You should consider yourself lucky that we aren't cruel enough to let you turn. SO have fun!" I raised the gun yet again and put a single round in his skull.
"Guys, we have other problems to worry about," Krishan nodded towards Gabe and Javier, who were struggling.
"Yeah, let's get them. But, I should probably tell you this. We have a bigger problem." Damien huffed with exhaustion as he turned his head. Out the window, I saw the two thousand walkers they were talking about roaming the streets. Oh fuck.
"Yeah. We should like get the fuck out of here now." Krishan stating the obvious.
