This War of Mine: Apocalypse:

Season 2

Next chapter of my crossover story, enjoy.

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Boris Yeltsin: Yes, well, that's something that needs to be discussed, as seen below :)
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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own This War of Mine, Walking Dead or their characters.


Episode 7 Part 3

The group was all seated in the living room, Anton was in his armchair by the fireplace, everyone else was seated on the sofas or chairs from the kitchen in a rough circle, Mara and Cveta were tending to Misha, examining the bruise on his cheek where Eli had hit him, Lydia sat on the floor at Arica's feet. Niko was the only one not sitting, instead standing in the middle of the circle. Shaking her head and looking up, Mara spoke.

"I can't keep doing this...Misha and I will never be safe with him around."

Niko nodded. "This isn't the first time this has happened then?"

Roman then revealed. "He threatened her before, when we were searching for Misha."

Mara shot Roman a surprised look but then nodded. She knew he had been there, when he threatened her under the tree, but didn't know how much he had seen. She guessed he didn't say anything in case Eli just made things worse for her.

"There's been other times too..." She admitted.

Anton sighed. "I always had a bad feeling about him in particular."

"Mara I...I don't wanna ask but...has Eli ever..." Arica began hesitantly.

Tears begin to well in Mara's eyes but she blinked them away.

"Yes..." She said at last. "Yes...a few times before...he tried to again, before he hit Misha..."

There were dark mutterings from the others at this.

Mara then admitted. "That's how he got hit...Misha tried to stop him."

As she said that Mara ruffled Misha's hair, looking at him proudly, while Misha bowed his head, blushing.

Silence follows as the others consider things, Sergei looks at Misha with renewed respect]

Mara sighed. "We'll never be safe with him here. He'll never stop. I wouldn't be surprised if he was planning something already..."

"So wait, he attacked you...right under our noses?" Zlata gasped in horror.

Mara nodded. "Yes...it was in the room. He told me we were leaving and tried to grab me, I guess Misha was watching...that's when he tried to help and got hit. There's been other times too, in the tents..."

"And we never realized..."

Katia looked horrified. "God, Mara, I...we..."

"It's ok, you guys had no way of knowing. I never told anyone because I was scared...but not anymore. I'm done with him." Mara explained.

Niko then spoke up. "We need to decide what we're going to do, I need to know..."

Katia spoke up at once. "We can't let him stay around, he's dangerous, I don't want him hurting the kids."

She pulled Kalina close to her, comfortingly as she said that, Grozdan bit his lip, but said nothing, especially as he agreed with her concerns.

"Whatever you decide, I'm good with." Mara said as she looked up at Niko.

As she said this she held Misha protectively.

Niko shook his head. "It's not up to me...we have to do things right, this is on all of us...We have to put the matter to a vote, we know Eli is dangerous, we also know that sending him out on his own, isn't going to work...he'll hunt us down..."

"Which really only leaves us one choice." Arica reasoned uneasily.

The implication now sinks in that they are voting to decide if they should kill Eli or not.

They instantly felt uneasy, this wasn't like anything they had to consider before.

Finally Mara broke the silence. "Arica is right, we have to do what's best for us. He's dangerous and he'll never stop. And Misha and I are first on his list."

Then shocking everyone, Misha spoke up.

"Do we get a vote?" He asked, gesturing to himself, Kalina, Sergei, Lydia, the children basically]

Biting her lip, Mara looked to Niko to see his answer.

Niko sighed. "You need to really understand...what we're trying to decide here."

But the looks on the kids' faces say it all, they do understand. Mara held Misha close, kissing the top of his head. He'd been through so much. She knew they would both feel safer without Eli around.

"Alright then, show of hands, all those in favour of...doing what needs to be done." Niko said at last.

He looked around, counting each hand raised, until he just needed a decision from himself and Mara, he turned to her. She took a long pause, considering. Eli was her lover. They had once shared plenty of happy nights together. There had been times where he had made her smile and feel safe. But now all of it had turned to ash, and she knew having him around endangered Misha. She raised her hand finally.

"Alright then." Niko said, his voice slightly shaking. He raised his own hand, the decision not only made, but set in stone, due to the result. "Unanimous, we all agree. Okay, I'll...I'll do it, everyone else, go to your rooms and get some rest, I'll wait for him down here. Mara, when you and Misha go to bed...lock the door."

Mara nodded solemnly in agreement.

With their plans made the group all headed up to their rooms, Niko getting everything ready for what he needed to do while Mara ushered Misha into their room, closing and locking the door, as Kalina was ushered into her room, Katia turned to Grozdan.

"Grozdan, can I talk to you in private for a minute." She asked seriously.

Grozdan hesitated. "Uh, s-sure."

They went over to the other end of the hall and stood.

Katia sighed. "Listen, I want to just, clear the air between us. I understand why you're so worked up."

Grozdan reacted at once. "It's just…Kalina…our mom…"

"I know, I know…and I want you to understand, I will do everything I can to help raise your sister right, and to protect the both of you." Katia explained. "But I would never dream of trying to replace your mother. Nobody can do that."

Grozdan went quiet, unsure.

Katia continued. "I just wanted you to know that, I'm not trying to cause problems, I just want to help."

"I…I know…I…I'm sorry Katia, really, I just." Grozdan admitted at last.

It was clear as day now, he had just been scared, lost and was lashing out in desperation.

"It's alright, like I said, I understand. Listen, what I said about Kalina, goes for you too. I want you to be safe, and if you have anything, I mean anything, that you need help with. Don't hesitate to ask me, okay." Katia told him.

Grozdan felt relief flooding him. "I will, thank you."

Both smiling they hugged briefly, both relieved that things are clearer between them and headed for their rooms.


End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.