"Let's check out the school, I heard people moved there and Rais's has some of his men going after them." Crane didn't like the combination of Rais's men and Kyle together at all but he'd seen how much the kid liked to help others even though he had pretended not to at first brushing off any thanks coldly. The man also didn't like the thought of them going in on their second and last try tonight with Kyle down in the dumps, the two just a few roofs away from Crane having had the run with Rocket.
"We should sleep enough for tonight." Kyle glanced away with a grumble. "But fine, they could be in danger." Without another word and trying to cut off Crane from striking up a conversation that a school topic could bring out the blonde took off heading to the school with Crane quickly following the kid.
"I'm Erol."
"Kyle Crane and this here is Kyle."
"This is my niece, Saliha, and her son Eron. Do forgive Edward, but he's completely right to be worried. We're being pursued by some very ruthless men."
"There's something oddly familiar about you."
"There should be. The campaign spent a lot of money putting my face all over town."
"Of course. You're Erol Asani, Governor of the Province."
"Governor of nothing… but Rais has decided that any political figure is a threat to him, so he's ordered my execution. They nearly killed me once already. That's how I lost my leg… and it seems they haven't given up. A squad of his thugs has tracked me to my last safe house in the Slabs. Edward was just there. He says they're searching the area. It's only a matter of time before they show up here."
"Sounds like you've got quite a problem."
"I would pay you very well to resolve it."
"You know, people say that a lot to me."
"Trust me. What I can offer you can't be found anywhere else, at any price."
"I'll think about it." The two exited the school, Crane glancing to Kyle. "You up for it?"
"Sure." Crane took the lead as they headed to the slabs, Kyle having adjusted quickly to being a target now handling it easily without resorting to using the blood shot eyes much, their investigation getting a little more interesting as the radio came on.
"Ozan! Where the hell are you?"
"That's Karim on the radio." Crane remarked and Karim's voice came from the radio again, the two listening closely with Kyle tracking the man's voice.
"Hamdi, answer me! What's going on out there?!" A short pause set in before Karim's voice was heard again. "What's wrong with you? Report your position! Firat, report! What is your status?! Have you found him or not? Firat, report! What is your status?! Ozan! Where the hell are you? You'd better not be screwing around!" With the immediate mob of infected dealt with, Kyle picked up the walkie-talkie handing it to Crane. "You get lost? Get your asses back here, then. Gabriel's Estate 5. Come in through the basement. Is that you, Ozan?" The estate wasn't far and with the basement door unlocked it was easy to slip in.
"It should only be Karim here but we're sticking together."
"However you want it." Like many abandoned Harran basements it was murky with faulty electricity and leaking water, the hallways narrow as they searched for the man running into two thugs first, Kyle killing one with throwing knife to the throat while Crane used his own rifle, the call of an infected echoing in the air. Kyle picked up his knife again keeping it in his hand along with the handgun as they continued on running into more thugs along the way, the damp basement left for a room with windows though a hole in the wall leading through an apartment and into more hallways as abandoned as the basement hallways but drier. The two kept their eyes for any thug they encountered reaching for a radio swiftly taken down as they called out before charging the lethal duo around the corner or coming out of a room ironically kind of leading the way.
"We cut power to the lift, Karim! Just in case!"
'They didn't mention Kyle…' Crane pried the elevator opened, giving Kyle a hand through the hatch, the boy using the newfound spikes on his arm with climbing a little letting the man see them in action as they made their way up the shaft to the next level finding Karim behind a closed door. "Karim, it's Crane. Drop your weapon or you're dead."
"What the hells' your problem? This doesn't concern you!" Karim's eyes glanced to Kyle, the presence of the boy unnerving with the whole having 'turned' ordeal but the man didn't let it control him.
"Sorry, Karim, but Erol Asani is my concern."
"You're working for him? You're a fool! And you have no idea what you're dragging your kid into! I was his body guard. Okay? After everything got fucked up and they built the wall, we got overrun. He got bitten on the leg… I took him to Randall, the only doctor I knew in the Slums… and we cut it off. Clean. It was the only way… he would've turned if we hadn't done it. But the stubborn never forgave us. So, we parted ways."
"So why are you trying to track him down now?"
"Early on, the authorities evac'ed all the political bigwigs out of the zone. Erol told us there was a chopper on the way to take us out with him. Then he got bitten, and with all the shit that happened after that, we missed the flight. But after you turned on the transmitter, we heard Erol asking for evac. And a couple of days ago somebody responded… from outside. The old bastard's got a flight out, and I want a seat on it."
"What about Rais? Does he care about this guy?"
"Not a rat's ass. This was my business. I just want to get out of Harran."
"Well, it looks like you won't be making that flight, huh?"
"That had already dawned on me. But I'd like to walk out of here. Won't mention you or the boy."
"Look, if I see you again, I'm going to assume the worst. You got it?"
"Fair enough. Good luck, Crane. You're going to need it." Kyle glanced back at the man over his shoulder before they took off heading back to Erol using the zip line on the roof to get down the tall building.
"Did you find them?"
"Yeah, I did. Karim's take on losing your leg was a bit different than yours."
"So you talked to him. Edward was right, you do talk too much. You should leave the talking to people like me, and I'll leave the killing to people like you. However… Karim was my bodyguard. He allowed me to get bitten, but I don't really blame him for that."
"Hey! He saved your life!"
"By hacking off my leg?! The morning I was bitten was same day they began dropping suppressants. You understand? I told him, the Antizin drops would begin within hours. All they had to do was wait. Instead, he listened to that idiot doctor of his, and Karim held me down as the butcher chopped off my leg. Now he thinks I should fly him out of here."
"I told him that's not going to happen."
"You should have killed him."
"How about you leave the killing to people like me."
"Quite right. I can get you out of here, Crane. Your boy of course as well."
"Maybe we like it here."
"More likely you've made your own arrangements. Well, they won't work. You've been bitten. I can see it in your eyes. You'll never get past the NCOR quarantine."
"Past what?"
"You see? You have no idea what's going on in the real world. Whoever you think you know, they're not political, and that's the only thing that's going to work now. You don't believe me? Then think of it as an ace up your sleeve. A backup plan. In case you haven't noticed, things don't always work out the way they're supposed to in this town."
"If I'm interested, what happens next?"
"Two things. The first, is we need to paint some markers on the rooftop. There's no paint around here, so you'll have to go out and find some. And the second thing is… Well, let's just say you'll be leaving here in a better way than when you arrived. Now, go find some paint." A construction site for paint wasn't far away but Crane had a bad gut feeling on how quiet Kyle had been and it showed there just as they found the paint.
"And you're not trying without me." The voice was low the anger and danger draped in the calm delivery citing Crane.
"Kyle-"
"So the tower you cared so much about gets to just deal with their own problems now with an easy way out does it? And my dad is off the table now too right?" His eyes sparkled with disappointment and distrust.
"Listen I said if I'm interested, it's not decided yet."
"Yeah it is." His eyes narrowed more glanced away landing on his stitched up arm and Crane to his relief saw something change in his eyes just the slightest bit.
"No it's not! Kyle you're hunted by Rais and this is a way I can get you away from that man! There's things you don't know and you'll just have to trust me on it."
"Trust after you made me a promise?!"
"Kyle, I don't know how far Rais would go with that threat but I can't just ignore a possibility like this! Listen, I know you're hurt but I saw the way you glanced at your arm just for the tiniest moment." The older Kyle sighed stepping closer and the blonde took step away but it was weak.
"Oh yeah, you'll get me away from Rais and what about any other psycho out there? What happens when somebody sees my eyes at night huh?" His voice had started losing bite turning more to tired frustration.
"I'm not going to let anyone see that… If you're angry and want to stay, I understand. And then I will stay right here with you." Crane smiled, Kyle's gaze turning to him no longer carrying resentment and anger but affection coming back and grief. "But please consider the option; And no way in hell is anyone getting near you without me there. If we're going I'm right there with you but only if you want to leave Harran. I'll leave it but up to you but think about it alright?"
"Okay"
"Thank you." The pair headed back, Kyle quietly following the man back and onto the roof as Erol directed them to the roof and the two painted the markers.
"Alright, the roof's been painted."
"Good. Now, there is one last thing. There is a duffle bag in a locker on the second floor. I'd like you to bring it to me. Since you'll probably open it, there's no point trying to hide it the fact that there's $24.7 million dollars inside it. One third is yours if you can bring it back."
"Why doesn't Edward get it?"
"There are too many biters there. I can't risk losing him. We'd be completely defenseless."
"And this money is yours?"
"Most of the bank's depositors are no longer human. Stealing from them isn't a crime, or have you never once taken the wallet off a biter that you've beaten to death?"
"I'll recover the bag. But there is no calling in the evac until I say so. When I bring back the money, I'm taking the radio."
"THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!"
"But you'll accept it anyway, because you have no choice."
"You're worse than Karim… Very well I accept your terms."
"Listen Kyle, I want you to stay here." Kyle's mouth moved to protest but Crane countered immediately, the blonde glancing away with a pout. "I'll be back really quick, please just listen for once. I'll be alright; I fought zombies before I had you watching my back."
"Fine…" Crane left, hurrying around the school to get to the second floor. Asani glanced to the kid watching Crane leave. There was something about the blonde probably that he followed a guy like Crane fighting zombies and wore that claw gauntlet that made the man want to tread very carefully.
"We'll wait on the roof." Asani announced.
"Why?" Kyle's eyes narrowed, claws moving a little more as Asani's glanced to Edward noticing the boy's demeanor and with regret as he slammed the butt of the gun on Kyle's head stumbling forward with a snarl. His niece looked on horrified with her son but obeyed her family ushering them to the roof, Edward pointing the gun at Kyle for a moment to have a head start, Kyle tearing after them immediately. The group had already filed into the chopper, drops settled on the roof and Erol's eyes met with the green narrowed ones of Kyle.
"Boy, I had no choice. I wanted to take you both but your father, Crane, they say he is a no go. Kyle, you can still come but you must leave him behind. I'm sure he would want you out of the danger, out of Harran. Forgive me."
"Crane is not my dad but I don't go anywhere without him you backstabbing asshole!" Kyle yelled, sitting down cross legged on the concrete rooftop.
"But boy, Harran is a terribly dangerous place!"
"Not for me!" The boy smirked and didn't budge, Asani turning away with a sigh contacting Crane.
"Empty. Of course." Crane mumbled.
"Sorry Crane, but I had no choice."
"Where is Kyle?! Karim said I was a fool to trust you."
"It's not what you think. Your boy is on the rooftop, he won't go anywhere without you. I would've taken you both with me. I contacted the evac when you were off getting the paint. I had to tell who would be on board, so I gave your names. Now, I don't know who you are, but they knew, and they said you were a no go. So I had to send you on that phony money run. There is no money- at least none worth mentioning. I'm sorry, Crane. But I've got to get my family out of here. Go to the rooftop, and you'll find some things you can use. It's not what I promised, but it's the best I can do. Thank you for what you did for us, Crane. Good luck." The choppers lifted and veered off just as Kyle leapt forward and a second later Karim busted through the door just to see the chopper take off, Kyle whipping around and pointing the hand gun at the man in the blink of an eye having heard him come up before the door had opened. Karim immediately placed his gun down, raising his hands sitting down on a part of the vent gazing after the chopper turning in the air and flying away.
"Slide over the gun." Karim obeyed, pushing it over to Kyle with his foot pushing it further behind him.
"I won't call Rais or fight you."
"Crane told you not to come." His green eyes narrowed.
"Well, I had thought about snatching those goodies but I can see I wouldn't get past you."
"Why aren't you ratting on me? Could possibility get in a call before I'd kill you if you take cover fast enough."
"To be honest, I don't want to find out what would happen if Rais got you. You should know he's not bluffing about it, he's serious about coming after you and making you his dog even with what..."
"Monster, freak, say whatever you want, don't try to spare my feelings. What?"
"I'm wondering if you'll put the gun down. Like I said not interested in a fight and I've actually come to want to leave those goodies to Crane even if you weren't guarding them."
"Then you won't have to worry about me pulling the trigger." Kyle replied keeping the gun on him, a silent tense stand-off commencing although Kyle dropped the tense stance but the gun stayed in his hand refusing to stand close to Karim watching him sitting down on a box as he waited for Crane.
"Hello, Crane. How's your day been? Relax, didn't do anything to your boy as you can see, he looks quick with a gun. Don't want to challenge that."
"I thought we had an understanding." Crane replied, a quick glance to Kyle coming up beside him and the man shortly ruffling his hair with a smile glad to see Kyle give a little smile back.
"I think we have a better understanding now. But… if you want to shoot me."
"Another time, maybe."
"He did leave you a few goodies. I was going to nick 'em, but I thought, no, Crane's earned 'em. Let him have them."
"Kyle what do you think, is he just saying that because he knows he can't get past you?"
"He means it. But he also doesn't want to try challenging me."
"Well I trust your judgment." His gaze shifted back to the other man. "You're almost okay, Karim."
"Almost… Until next time. You protect that boy, Crane. Rais is serious about going after him and I don't even want to imagine the nasty shit he's got planned for him."
"Good luck, Karim."
"Exactly." Kyle picked up Karim's gun and handed it back to the man.
"Well, let's get this back to the tower and catch some sleep before we try catching that volatile tonight again." Crane smiled.
"Yeah and let's grab crayons for the kids real quick." Kyle smiled, Karim left to wonder why in the world the two wanted to catch a volatile the man moving to leave watching them grab the goodies with Kyle tapping into his strength.
"Do you hear him yet?"
"Maybe if you wouldn't ask so much." Kyle replied with sarcastic smile, glancing over his shoulder with the right eye giving a little twitch of annoyance.
"I'm sorry, alright? I don't want to see you hurt anymore…" 'And I really want this to be over fast and stop being in the streets at night.' The man tried to be patient staying sharp while his thoughts strayed here and there a little to what Asani had said about his eyes able to tell from them. It had prompted the man to pay attention to Kyle's more noticing that his didn't have the visual give away of the infection that others had after being bitten, looking just fine during the day. It wasn't surprising though, considering he had glowing eyes at night and they didn't even resemble those of the infected in the way they glowed. There were so many things about Kyle that didn't make sense or fit with what would be considered 'normal', missing symptoms didn't seem out of place. And every day that the kid didn't turn solidifying his instinct on the matter, it seemed that none of them would ever show up. And for the boy's sake, Crane wanted him to be right.
"There! Got him!" Crane could tell Kyle restrained himself from rushing off for the man and he struggled with it. The two weaved over the rooftops, Kyle switching from the street to rooftops leaping up and down with nimble limbs while dropping back two times to keep Crane save fighting back the pull his father's presence had on him while Crane switched between flares and firecrackers, the bag slung over his shoulder while the other hand wielded a blade for those infected that got too close. Kyle's lips pulled into a smile, a quick whistle given to his dad whipping around to him climbing onto the roof followed by the other volatiles rushing at the kid immediately while the father barely still wearing the tie stood there for a moment. It was in its own way enchanting, the thirteen year old kid with zombie abilities keeping the other volatiles away launching the first one far away with a merciless kick as his father almost danced around him, hesitating here and there as their eyes met again and again to stare at each other. Kyle gave it his all, whipping out every move he had, using every trick up his sleeve bringing down the taller opponent down for an easier kill while dancing around his father talking to him, putting in every ounce of experience and it showed while Crane kept the other infected away as only volatiles plus his father remained.
"The Prince of the Night still rules Harran. You are the only one that can draw the prince; it's up to you Crane." 'No way, did she mean him? Well, he sure looks like he's ruling over this fight…' The last volatile of the group fell limply, Kyle's father missing the pounce dodged by the boy rushing off down the street with Crane staying on the roof relieved as much as he hated it that Kyle's father focused his efforts on his son despite Crane's proximity, Kyle pulling a circle on the volatile here and there so Crane could keep up with them as they took the easiest and straightest route to the chosen tunnel with the prepared spot. 'He's so much stronger at night…' Trouble arrived a few minutes later as another group of volatiles joined in the chase, Crane barely throwing a UV flare into the face of one of them latching onto the roof causing the man to stumble back yanked down by Kyle running up to the house with a jump grabbing the volatile by the leg with a snarl, metal claws cutting into the flesh. The claw like fingers paused as the volatile stumbled back with a snarl, blood shot eyes burning into it. The concrete slab with rebar slammed down from the goon, Kyle rolling out of the immediate blow but still caught in the blast. Crane quickly diverted the attention with a firecracker worriedly watching the boy get up breathing slightly heavier turning to run again, eyes searching for his dad to make sure he was right on his heels, the hearts pounding as the screeches and rattles of the infected echoed though the air tearing after them in the a dark.
The dark tunnel came into their sight, the two rushing in with Crane throwing fire crackers out on the street as fast as he could along with a few flares, Kyle turning on the mob with them avoiding his father as they fought being scratched and grabbed for with the blonde doing the most carnage while trying to stay almost next to Crane to keep him safe in the close quarters before baiting his dad into the entrance with Crane going ahead and darting to the side, Kyle's father shortly paying attention to the man tackled forward halfway turned around, Kyle grabbing his attention again. The two rushed forward as fast as they could through the place, Kyle almost stumbling in the dark skidding as he slowed down and sidestepped the pouncing volatile, claws still grazing his cheeks as the boy forced him in further with a careful but quick kick, Crane quickly closing the gap pushing himself. The heavy door slammed shut, the volatile scream echoing inside the room as the Kyle duo quickly shoved the heavy object in front of the door to further secure it, the tiny makeshift hatch at the bottom tightly secure allowing to shove something small sized like a loaf into the concrete room in the tunnel. "We're going to save you dad. Please just hold on, I'll visit every day. I couldn't save mom… but we'll have each other, we'll be almost a family again… I'll find a way…" Crane immediately felt guilty upon feeling a tiny jab in his heart hearing Kyle say that, looking at the door with a yearning and loving smile for his father growling inside. Crane chided himself on the inside for the envy for a moment, knowing how important it was for Kyle to have family and get his dad back if he could. But that didn't make it easy on the man having grown fond of the kid constantly tagging along with him and by now willingly unlike when he first met him. "We did it!" The blonde's arms flew around the man with a smile, the claws as always moved perfectly to avoid scratching.
"Yeah, we did. I'm beat; let's get to a safe zone before becoming zombie dinner and rest."
"Thanks Crane. For giving me a chance. And my dad." They made it to the nearest safe zone without getting hurt, Kyle finally smiling again as they laid down for sleep with the tower the first stop in the morning to spread the news and pick up the bomb to blow up the nest however a little interruption came up near the tower.
"Hey! Look who it is! Let's do another run, eh?"
"You're gonna back me up here?" Crane glanced to a much happier Kyle. "And just to make it interesting… if you win? I'll leave Rais's gang and join the Tower. So, break a leg!"
"Don't have a grappling hook." Kyle replied leaning against the shanty house. "I would beat you both though." The smile turned into a smirk.
"I have to see to it that we get you one." Crane turned back to Rocket. "Come on, let's get this over with."
Kyle's hand moved to his backpack pulling out the picture gazing at it. 'Sorry mom I couldn't save you but I'm keeping dad safe now. So when there is a cure, he'll be okay.' His thoughts wandered to Rais, the safe zones so far not having been targeted again but Kyle worried with him not exactly having stayed 'dead.' It brought him to the man before and the guy knew it. He really should find out a bit more about the guy going after him though that shouldn't be hard to do considering Rais likes having a reputation.
"Welcome to the team, Rocket! Guess I'll be seeing you around the Tower, huh?"
"Oh, bite me, Crane. You and your Tower can kiss my ass." The two left to enter the tower but a radio call took their attention, the voice belonging to Rahim.
"Hey. Crane. You there? Omar and I went to blow up that nest since those two nights are up."
"Wait, you what?! Fucking hell, Rahim, that was MY job!"
"Oh, right, 'cause you're more qualified to handle explosives than I am! You're just some goddamn tourist! But listen- we messed up. Messed up bad."
"What happened? Where are you?"
"On the overpass and it's all going to shit."
"Listen, head to the train yard! Find a place to hide! I'm on my way with Kyle!"
"Omar! Behind you! BEHIND YOU!"
"Rahim? Rahim! Goddamn it! Brecken! Brecken, do you copy?"
"Yeah, I copy. What is it?"
"I'm on my way to get Rahim."
"Rahim? He's here in the Tower."
"No, he's not. He and Omar went to blow up that nest, and now they're in trouble."
"THEY WHAT?! Fuck! Where did the explosives for that bomb even come from?" No one had told the man in the yellow shirt and he'd forgotten to ask.
"Well… I… look… I stole them from Rais."
"We did." Kyle spoke up, glancing to Crane. "If you're getting burned, I will too…"
"Oh, Jesus H. CHRIST."
"We're close. We'll get him to safety, Brecken."
"You damn well better. You save him, you hear me? You save him, so I can kick his fucking ass… Does Jade know about this?"
"No, she doesn't."
"Well, for God's sake, don't tell her. She'll go out looking for him and I don't need her getting herself killed too. GODDAMN IT!"
"Oh shit…This not good…" Their eyes wandered over the overpass, Crane turning over the dead bodies while Kyle kept zombies away. "Rahim… where the hell are you? Brecken! It's me. I found Omar's body on the overpass. No trace of Rahim."
"Shit… any idea where he'd go?"
"I told him to hide in the train yard."
"You find him! You hear me? That little bastard better be alive…" The two rushed to the train yard running over the large roofs of the warehouses, jumping down with few leaps to head into the third one coming up entering through a yellowish metal door. Rahim's shouts easily pointed out in which cart he was.
"THAT'S RIGHT! KEEP COMING, YOU MOTHERFUCKERS! I'LL SEND YOU ALL TO HELL!" The two glanced at each other, Kyle rushing forward with bloodshot eyes and skidding to a stop right by the cart in front of an infected as they clawed at the greenish cart. The blonde send the first flying with a swift kick mowing down the three behind it as well with the first two not getting up anymore, Crane shooting an infected coming closer to the cart and Kyle finished off the other scrambling to their feet with his machete. Only a few were in the warehouse, the other remaining shot with each a bullet to the head from each Kyle and Crane grabbed the handles to pull open the cart door. Their eyes moved upwards as a spitter landed on the cart, Kyle quickly dispatching it with the machete pulling himself up on the cart allowing Crane to keep opening the door.
"Rahim!"
"Crane! Kyle! I didn't think I'd make it, so I armed the bombs! They'll blow less than five minutes!"
"Shit- kid, you're bleeding!"
"Huh? Oh- I cut myself. It's nothing. Fuck, just plant the bombs!"
"Don't move! Got it? I'll be right back! Kyle-"
"I'll stay with him." Kyle nodded, hopping into the cart surprisingly eager not to tag along, Crane quickly shutting the door and rushing off.
"Rahim, can you hear me? Where the fuck am I going with these things?"
"There is a sewer entrance here in the terminal, near the west wall. Use that tunnel- it'll take you straight to the hive."
Kyle watched Rahim, time ticking as he racked his brain to come up with something. Because he'd caught something Crane didn't. Rahim had lied. He'd been bitten. His thoughts jumped from place to place slowing just for second recalling the odd heavy smoking habit his uncle suddenly had after a blood transfusion being staunchly against smoking before. His thoughts moved on reaching at everything he knew including the whole turning thing for other people but the general idea was there as the boy tried to come up with something grasping at any outlandish long shot there was. His gut was more than uneasy and his heart was starting to pound despite not running around. And Rahim was nervous around him probably because of the whole zombie thing but it seemed to be something else as well or Kyle was imagining it.
"Okay, I'm back on the surface."
"See that big ass culvert over to the right? Head through it! Once you get into the building, head up the ramp and get up to the floor above! You need to put the bomb on one of the big support columns!"
"Okay, first one's set!"
"Okay, pay attention! Find some stairs and get to the next floor up! What the-"
"Keep directing him!" Kyle growled, the index finger on the claw gauntlet steering the blade into the other hand for a deep gash.
"Rahim, what's going on?!"
"You're looking for another column like the first one!" Kyle's voice cut in after Rahim's. "Crane, keep going, just listen to him!"
'What the fuck is going on over there?!' "All right, got it!"
"It's done? Great… Now get your ass out of there…"
"Sorry, this is my only idea. I know you're about to turn." Kyle apologized, Rahim looking at him in confusion wanting to have begged him to get out but he never got a word in as Kyle pounced, the purpose of stabbing his hand becoming clear in the ensuing struggle. The blonde pinned Rahim, not having any strength left to fight back as Kyle's punctured hand hovered over his mouth, the two rolling around with the blonde quickly on top again smearing his hand on Rahim's face over his mouth trying to open it with his finger slowly succeeding as they bloodied the cart. "Take it! I don't know what else to do! Please Rahim!" Rahim struggled but didn't stand a chance, the blood getting in and flowing down his throat trying to spit it out, eyes on the crying boy on top of him begging him to take it refusing to stop forcing the blood in, Rahim scared shitless feeling himself take it as his body pulsed with a battle within.
The blow rattled the ground, Crane rushing out in time glancing back at the destruction as the structure groaned collapsing and throwing up dust. "Rahim, it worked, man! Your plan worked, kid!... Rahim? Hey, do you copy?... Shit."
Rahim wheezed for breath, his throat pungent with the taste and smell of blood, Kyle crawling away wheezing himself, his bloody hand causing a drag mark. The Harran local's eyes narrowed on the other kid, voice dry and broke. "W-what the f-fuck?!" He didn't understand anything, his body aching with pain and shaking but something had changed and the feeling of dread seemed to leave only leaving confusion and misery, Rahim's thoughts racing as he thought he would turn any second with the boy in the cart and attack him but didn't instead wheezing alongside him with the taste of the blonde's blood all over his mouth on his blood smeared face. That feeling, which Rahim guessed had been him turning had washed away or he was far too scared and shaken to notice it anymore. Kyle didn't reply, his own shaky hand unzipping his backpack to grab bandages. Grabbing some, the kid moved closer to Rahim again scooting away and Kyle glanced away but not surprised at the reaction throwing them into the other's lap before using one for himself wrapping his hand quickly soaking it crimson. "Aren't you gonna answer?!"
"Rahim! Kyle!" The door pulled open to reveal a panting Crane with his eyes widening in horror as he looked at the bloody scene with Rahim's blood smeared face venomously glaring at Kyle having scooted into a corner pressing himself into it. "What the fuck happened here?!"
"Kyle just fucking went crazy and attacked me! He stabbed his hand and forced blood down my throat!" Rahim exclaimed, Crane's eyes shifting to Kyle avoiding both of their gazes.
"What the hell Kyle?! Why did you do that?"
"He lied to you Crane! He was about to turn! I had to do something, anything! It was the only idea I had!" Kyle burst out, unfolding from the corner biting down a sob. "I just… I just…"
"Just what?!" Rahim spat.
"It doesn't matter what; we have to get you both back to the Tower NOW!" Crane firmly butted in with a sigh. "Did you do it to stop him from turning?" His voice softened, eyes begging Kyle to just answer.
"It was my only idea; I figured it could work since I'm such a freak… I couldn't let Rahim die without trying…"
"Well, Rahim do you think you'll turn?" Crane asked.
"I… I don't know, I feel awful and all I taste is his blood in my mouth!"
"We need to get moving. Kyle come… come on…"
"Go ahead without me…"
"Can't leave without you."Crane smiled, Kyle knowing the man wasn't up to argue and he didn't have it in him right either. "Brecken, do you copy?"
"Crane, did you find Rahim?"
"Yeah, he's here with me at the train yard. He's wounded but I should be able to get him back."
"I'm sending a runner to help you." Brecken didn't leave it up for debate, eyes noticing Jade who had overheard it.
"I'm going." Without another word, the young woman had run off.
"Jade just overheard me, she's coming."
"Come on let's get moving we can at least get closer through the next two warehouse. Kyle, can you walk on your own?"
"I stabbed my hand, not my leg Crane. And you know I can get rid of the wound." The blonde sighed quickly doing a short swap, backpack closed again and on his back helping Crane get Rahim out of the cart as the adult quickly put an arm around him. "I'll hold off any zombies." The warehouse worked, the trio hobbling along with the carts offering protection and enough maneuvering time for Kyle dispatch any infected luckily not running into any virals and by the end of the second warehouse Jade already arrived coming to a skidding stop. If Jade had looked angry before running up to them then she boiled now, eyes going over Rahim over and over again darting to both Kyle's.
"What the fuck…"
"We have to hurry and get him to the tower. Rahim lied to me, he got bitten but Kyle caught his lie. He forced some of his blood into Rahim-" Crane didn't get to finish explaining or urge them to get going as Jade's eyes narrowed on the blonde kid with a snarl.
"What the fuck?!" Her hand moved out as fast as her yell slapping the boy silently taking it. But Jade wasn't done, her emotions a tornado right now. "What the fuck is wrong with you?! What did you try to do to my brother, you monster?!" Jade's eyes widened as Kyle's did realizing just what she had said. Kyle didn't give time for an apology turning away and running away as fast as he could, Rahim's need for safety preventing either from going after the disappearing blonde. "Wait Kyle!"
"Come on Jade, we need to get Rahim to the tower now."
"Oh no… I didn't mean to…" Jade gasped, mad at herself to have snapped like that calling the boy a monster.
"He did it to try to stop me from turning a-and I think it worked." Rahim said.
"Kyle will be alright, he just needs some time to cool off. It's been a hard couple of days for him, he'll be back." Crane assured, Jade quickly supporting her brother with the man as they moved to the tower as fast as they could, Jade having come prepared with firecrackers quickly snatched on the way.