The next morning the group of monsters were getting ready to move out. Kelly and Manny would stay behind with the zombies, and the other monsters specifically chosen to stay.

"Heath, you have to stay with Frankie, Jackson and Manny. You guys need to protect that camp," Deuce said to Heath. Abby touched Heath's shoulder in comfort.

"We can't have a large group. This is just a scouting mission to see what we're up against," Monica added.

"This sucks! I want to fight those jerks, too!" Jackson said pouting, "I'm a monster, too!"

"Yeah Jackson, but we're just checking it out. There's no fighting," Billy said.

"Well how come Toralei gets to go?" Heath asked.

"She's stealthy, Heath," Clawdeen replied, packing some food into a backpack.

"Listen, we're just checking it out and we're going to come back and form a plan then! We have to see what we're up against. We can't just charge in there like a bull at a gate," Deuce said.

"Hey!" Manny protested.

"Sorry, Manny, but we can't just go in throwing punches. We don't know all the weapons they have," Deuce sighed, "That's why the less people we drag over there, the better."

"Why the normie, then?" Manny asked folding his arms over his chest and trying to hide the wince he made.

"Monica is going to help us find the camp, and she knows some of the people there," Clawdeen replied, "And you are too hurt to even make it that far. You need to rest up and heal, Manny."

Kelly looked at Manny who frowned, but didn't argue. He was practically on his deathbed the day before. Those antibiotics she gave him were amazing. He had the second shot earlier but it almost seemed like he didn't need it. The wound had looked better this morning as well, with nothing oozing out.

Deuce, Monica, Toralei, Clawdeen and Billy waved to everyone as they left the camp. Tall grass slapped their legs as they trudged through the trees. Monica trying to remember the way they had come.

"Does any of this look familiar?" Clawdeen asked after a few hours of walking.

"To be honest, I don't remember," Monica said frowning, "I really don't think I can lead you right to the camp. We travelled at night and it looks so different now."

"That was smart though, to run at night when it's harder to see," Billy said from somewhere to her right, making her jump. Billy chuckled.

"Well, let's just keep heading in this direction, it is an island. It's not like they can just disappear like you, Billy," Toralei said with a giggle.

"And we wouldn't be lost for too long, we'll eventually be able to find our way back," Deuce added, "If anything we'd just make a big circle."

It was a long day of walking through grass and sand, Monica's legs were on fire and she was tired, but she tried her best to keep up with Clawdeen and Toralei. She didn't want to look like the poor out of shape nerd that she was. Deuce stopped at a clearing as the sun was starting to get low behind the trees.

"Let's camp here for the night and we'll start again tomorrow," Deuce said.

"We should take turns with look outs," Monica suggested, "Just in case. That's what we did with Kelly."

"Ugh, horrible idea, but she's right," Toralei replied, "We don't know how far their camp is from here."

"I'll take the first watch," Billy volunteered.

"I'll gather wood for a fire," Clawdeen said, dropping her backpack.

"No!" Deuce and Monica said together. Monica blushed and apologized.

"That's okay, Clawdeen we can't have a fire in case we're near their camp. They'll see the smoke," Deuce replied setting his bag down and pulling a strange looking fruit out of it.

"Looks like it's raw food tonight," Toralei said with a frown. She put her bag down and pulled out food, crunching away on it. They made it through the night and woke early the next morning. As they got closer, Monica noticed the monsters she was with grew quieter. She strained her ears to see if she could hear anyone talking. As they walked, she noticed the sounds of birds grew quieter. Clawdeen's hand shot out in front of Monica, stopping her in her place.

She noticed everyone's stance change to that of a fight or flight move. Clawdeen grabbed Monica, pulling her into the brush to hide behind a bush. Deuce joined them. Monica could hear her breathing and tried to slow it and quiet it. She didn't want to be the reason they got caught. From the corner of her eye, she could see Toralei crouched high in a tree. She had no idea where Billy was. For all she knew he could be right next to her.

Footsteps passed as she hid there. Two males were laughing and joking about a girl that they had sex with. Monica's brow furrowed. How could they think it was funny? She wondered if they even thought of the guy who was sitting in stone in a cage at their camp. Suddenly one of the guys fell face first into the sand. Monica covered her mouth to stop the snicker that tried to escape. She looked at the snake haired guy in front of her and noticed the smirk he had on his face. He mouthed Billy to her and she nodded.

Once the other guy finished laughing at the jerk that got tripped, the two guys went on their way.

"We have to move silently, we're close to the camp," Deuce whispered, "Billy can you scout ahead?"

"You bet," Billy whispered next to Monica's ear, making her jump. When did he even get there? She heard him chuckle and the sound got further away.

"We should keep going, stay low," Clawdeen said crouching as she walked off the path. Monica tried to follow her but noticed she moved slower. She jumped when she felt something touch her hand. It was warm and suddenly, Billy's face appeared before her. He gave her a nod and guided her to a different spot. She crouched behind a bush with large leaves, getting on her hands and knees she slowly moved so it would make less noise. She could see Brian and Darren sitting, tied up back-to-back. They had been beaten pretty badly. She could barely tell who they were. There were a couple of guys guarding them.

Monica backed up slowly and wrote in the sand, 'Brian and Darren'. The sand moved as Billy wrote 'good?'. Monica nodded.

'Let's take them. I'll distract the guards; you get them out.' Billy wrote and Monica nodded, taking a deep breath. She pulled out her gun and set it the way Kelly had shown her to. She really hoped she didn't have to use it. Clawdeen touched her shoulder and pointed to herself. Monica nodded, pretty sure it meant that Clawdeen was going to help her get the guys out. Monica held her breath as she waited. She didn't know what the sign was going to be, but she had Deuce and Clawdeen here to help. She wasn't sure where Toralei went.

After a few minutes Monica saw a guard tilt his head and look into the forest. He took a couple of steps into the bushes and then disappeared.

"Tony?" the other guard asked, suddenly looking scared. The guy went and stood by Brian and Darren. He pulled out a knife.

"Who's here? Are you going to help?" the guard whispered, "If you are, I'll help you. But please, take me with you."

Monica got up and walked through the bushes.

"Monica! You're okay!" he said running up to her and giving her a hug.

"Leo, you're not with Vince?" Monica asked. Clawdeen and Deuce came out behind Monica and started untying Brian and Darren's feet.

"What the fuck is that?" Leo blurted out pushing Monica behind him. Clawdeen and Deuce glanced at each other, hesitantly and then went back to work on the knots.

"Those are my friends. They're here to help. You said you wanted out. We can help you. Our camp is different, but at least they respect each other there," Monica said, stepping around Leo.

"You sure?" Leo asked, putting a hand on Monica's shoulder.

"Yeah, Kelly and Simon are there," Monica replied, "They're monsters, but they're nice."

"Okay then," Leo said using the knife to cut the ropes around them, "I don't know if I can get the others."

"We won't have time for that," Deuce said pulling Brian up over his shoulder.

"We have to get Erika, please, at least her," Leo pleaded as he lifted Darren onto his shoulder.

"Rawr, which one is she?" Toralei asked as she stepped out of the brush that the other guard had fallen in.

"She's the blonde, in the hut on the left. She's hurt pretty bad," Leo said, "Please, help her at least."

"I got it," Billy said materializing next to Monica, making her jump, "Why are you so jumpy?"

He chuckled as he went invisible again.

"Okay, let's get these guys out of here. We can help anyone else later. This was just supposed to be a scouting mission," Deuce said, "But I'm not sure these guys would make it till we make a plan."

Leo nodded following Deuce into the forest. Clawdeen and Monica followed them, Toralei went after Billy. They walked as fast as they could for hours. With Darren and Brian, their pace was much slower than it normally would have been. They came to a stop by a small spring. Deuce set Brian down and sat down, panting. Leo followed suit, and wiping the sweat from his forehead. Monica handed Leo a mango, and then pulled one out for herself. Leo happily ate it as they sat in the shade. Clawdeen stood back up and held her claws up, but then she put them back down. A minute later Billy came walking toward them, carrying a blonde girl wearing his shirt. Toralei followed behind them.

"We got her out without them noticing," Toralei said with a wink.

"I'm sure they'll notice later," Billy said. Erika had bruises and cuts on her arms and legs. She looked thin and weak.

"Erika's been trying to fight them off, but you can see how well that has worked for her," Leo said with a frown.

"Did any other girls survive?" Monica asked.

"Two others. Valerie and Karen," Leo replied, "But, I think they actually like it there… I mean I wouldn't think anyone would like that, but they're kind of into it, and they even make deals to get stuff from some of the guys."

"So, you were helping them as well, were you also…?" Monica asked.

"No! No, there are a few of us guys who are too respectable for that crap. We'd never do that to a woman. My mom raised me better, and Brian and Darren tried to help Erika. A lot of good that did them, they got beat the fuck up," Leo said, "A few people were shot and killed. Mark and Aaron tried to help her, too."

"Ugh, he tried to help us. He snuck us food and water when he could, so did Mark and Aaron," Brian muttered, as he leaned back against a tree trunk.

"Do you need some water?" Monica asked. Brian took the bottle offered to him and drank the water, before wincing and falling back asleep.

"I thought they weren't going to make it for a while there," Leo said sadly.

"Just so you know, our camp is made up of the monster community," Deuce said, "I just want to warn you in case anyone gets any crazy ideas. We do have some abilities."

"Deuce can turn you to stone, and Clawdeen is a werewolf," Monica stated, "There's zombies, and a minotaur, but they're pretty nice. They helped us out."

"I just want you to know, so If you can't handle being around us, you can go back," Deuce said, the snakes of his hair hissing as though they were wanting to make good on the threat.