Nicóle patrolled around the area looking for any trespassers. So far, no luck. She was looking forward to taking her anger out on someone tonight. She breathed heavily in the stench of executed rotting corpses. She thought about there was another execution that was going to held tomorrow morning.

That'll show Carla not to talk to outsiders.

She saw two figures walking towards her from the fog with one of them carrying something. Nicóle gripped her riffle tightly squinting at the figures. She loosened it when turned out to be Pablo and Sabrina. She noticed Sabrina was rushing towards Nicóle while Pablo just kept a normal pace. Pablo was a scrawny but well-built person face being bony and faded jawline, his dark hair had been tied into a long ponytail, he had a lighter skin tone than Nicole and wasn't even all that tall. Sabrina was a short, older woman, her figure was slim but was nothing but perfect in Nicole's eyes with her large breasts, a thin waist, but smooth curves. She had cheekbones that struck out more than anything on her face beside her striking blue cat-shaped eyes that were plagued with fear.

She ran up to her with a frantic look while Nicóle just stared at her boredly waiting for what she was about to overreact this time.

"What now?" Nicóle said tiredly.

"We found Will," Sabrina burst but was about to go frantic, "but not in the best shape."

"What the hell do you mean?"

Pablo came out of the darkness with a cleanly severed head that looked like it's turned but had a stab wound in its forehead. Nicóle almost gasped at the sight, who in their right mind would do something like this?

"We found his way off the territory," Pablo explained, "his head was already cut off when we found him and had turned."

Nicóle sighed putting her hand over his head worryingly, "Oh dios mío, he was one of best assassins. How are we gonna go tell this to Miguel."

Pablo snorted, "'We'? You're gonna tell Miguel, you're the messenger remember?"

"You guys found him! Why should I be the one?"

"You know, mijo, maybe we should tell him together," Sabrina butted in then smiled at Nicóle, "ya know give Nicóle a break."

Pablo rolled eyes and groaned, "I guess, mamá."

Nicóle turned away glaring as unlocked the gates leading them to Miguel's mansion.

The mansion was pretty huge, almost like an apartment complex. About more than two hundred people lived there now. These people were mostly family and friends with the rest being rogues that Miguel captured and enslaved. Over time, the group started to grow bigger and bigger to the point it became a small community that became allies with Wellington.

They called themselves the Broken Backbone.

The three walked through the entrance and made it into the meeting room on the first floor. Nicóle stepped in first being met with a savage-looking man from across the table alongside another man standing beside him. His hair were long, messy and thick dreads, his face was covered in scars, he wore a chain choker that matched his long-chained nose ring that went from his nose to his ear, and he had wild dark green eyes.

He just glared furiously at Nicóle as she just stood there intimidated and scared.

"Nicóle! I told you not to fucking leave your post this time!" he snarled.

"I came with news, sir."

"It better be good enough for me to not gut you out."

She stepped aside as Pablo entered the room with the severed head as Miguel's expression changed completely rushing to the head.

"Will!!" he cried loudly making everyone jump, "I wanna name!!"

"We don't know, sir," Pablo said sadly, "I and mamá found him like this."

Miguel roared out in fury knocking over chairs and throwing anything on the table across the room.

"He was one of my best hitmen," he yelled, "how could he be dead?"

Then Sabrina stepped into the room with a smug look on her face looking back at Nicóle as she glared back. Sabrina then took the head placing it on its side showing the cut.

"Miguel, hon', you might wanna take a look at this."

He walked over as Sabrina pointed at the bottom of the head, "you see this clean-cut, not even our best hitmen could even make such a clean slice like this."

Miguel stepped closer and squinted, "Yes, I see. But what are you getting at?"

"Here's the thing, we know just about everyone in Charlottesville."

"Don't even get me started, you're saying since I killed their past leader, they're getting back at us?"

What the hell was she getting at? Nicóle thought.

"Not exactly, there's only one person who's one hell of a guy with a machete," she turned to Nicóle with narrowed eyes, "I even saw them.

Nicóle widened her eyes as it hit her. She knew exactly who she was talking about, and by the look on Miguel's face, he does too.

"You're right, but how could he do this to us? To me?! I offer him everything he could ever want and just throws it away, refuse to join me, and murder my men in cold blood!!"

Before Nicóle could put in a rebuttal, Miguel went into one of the drawers of the table pulling out a map that a big red circle around the middle.

"What are we going to do?" Sabrina asked.

"I think it's about time we pay Charlottesville another visit."

Later that evening, Moo and Violet stopped at a big house that clearly remembered being Moo's old house. It brought back so many good memories, sleepovers, watching movies, playing pirates in the backyard. She always wished she live here instead of her grandma's.

He got out then opened the door for Violet, she followed behind him as they went up the porch. Moo only had to knock two times before somebody called out. When the door opened they were greeted by a long jet black-haired man with matching facial hair with chocolate brown eyes wearing three long nose rings connected from his ear and nose, he wore an old gray hoodie and ripped jeans. He was only slightly taller than Moo, but they were giants anyways compared to Violet's height. And also noticed he was missing his right leg.

He had a soft but confused expression as he looked at Moo then at Violet.

"Matt, what's up?" he asked as his expression turned into a smile, "how are you?"

"Hey, Cobra, where's mom?"

"In the living room reading, but uh... who's your friend?"

Cobra, she remembered exactly who Cobra was. The sweetest, athletic, respectful person she's ever met besides Victoria. She remembered he used to watch over the two, play with them sometimes, and take them to different kinds of places around town.

Since Moo never had a father figure in his life, Cobra always played the role to keep Moo happy.

"You remember Violet don't you?"

He squinted then moments later he gasped and smiled as she smiled back.

"Yeah! In my head, you were always eleven, but I can't believe you grew up."

"We met up a couple of days ago, and... that's kinda why I'm here."

Cobra stepped aside to let them in then closed the door for them. As Violet looked around, it was the same house she remembered it to be. She sniffed the air remembering that nice smell of lavender instead walker infested air.

She looked over and saw a short, plump woman sitting in a leather recliner chair and of the room reading with reading glasses on not paying attention to the three.

"Mamá, we have visitors," Cobra called making the woman jump out of her chair rushing to the two.

She smiled widely wrapping her arms around Moo showering him with kisses

"Matéo, mijo, it's been too long," she cried giving him another hug.

"I know, mamá, but there's someone I want you to meet."

He stepped aside revealing Violet from behind him. Unlike the others, she recognized immediately who Violet was and so did she. Short dark hair with a dyed blue streak, a little scar across her nose with a birthstone nose ring.

The woman that welcomed her with open arms, showed her kindness, and save her from her father's drunken rages by keeping her for days until grandmother came. Maybe even the closest thing to a mother figure she's ever had.

"Hi, Miss Tori," Violet waved before she ran over and gave her a big hug.

"I can't believe you're here, mija," she squeezed tighter with Violet getting a comforting smell of lavender, "my prayers have been answered."

Victoria pulled away cupping the blonde's cheeks can't help but smile.

"Look at you, you're a woman now."

Violet chuckled, "Yeah, and it sucks."

Victoria gasped, "Oh dios mío, what happened here, mija?"

She touched the burnt scars around her eyes, "I got into an accident, I'm fine now."

"Hmm... I think I have something for the scars, wait right here. Oh! Cobra, go get your brother and Violet some snacks."

As she left, Cobra almost went in before Moo stopped him.

"It's fine," he said, "I want you to sit down so I can tell you why I'm here."

He shrugged then sat down across from the two tapping his prosthetic leg.

"Shoot."

Moo took a deep breath, "I'm takin' a little trip."

Cobra cocked his head, "What are you talking about?"

"Well Violet's leaving tomorrow and we haven't had that much time together, so I'm staying with her group so we can really spend some time together."

Cobra shrugged, "Hmm... alright, how long do think you'll be gone?"

"Dunno, couple weeks maybe."

"I see, I see, came to say goodbye then?"

"Um, yeah," he said looking surprised, "thought I needed your permission or some shit."

Cobra burst out laughing, "You're grown, Matt, why would you need my permission?"

He shrugged then looked at his brother's prosthetic leg with a guilty expression.

"After everything's, that's happened... I just thought..."

"Matt, that's all in the past," he sighed, "you're older now and I trust you to make your own decision."

He smiled, "Thanks, that really means a lot."

Moments later, Victoria walked out of a room with a small blue bottle with a damp white cloth. She pulled out a footrest putting it in front of her recliner.

"Sit right there for me if you don't mind."

Violet went over and sat on the footrest as Victoria sat down in her recliner. She poured some of the liquid on the cloth making sure she just put only a little.

"Can you take your patch off for me?"

As she did, Victoria shook her head and sighed at Violet's blinded eye. She touched it before Violet flinched making her more upset.

"This'll only sting for one second."

As soon as she put the cloth on her burnt scars, Violet yelped in pain making Victoria wince.

Damn, this shit burns like hell!

She started to dab the cloth all over the scars as the pain slowly started to fade. Once she was done, she touched the scars then smiled at Violet.

"Now all you have to do is wait overnight and look in the mirror in the morning."

"What was that?"

"Just a little something to release that pretty face from those ugly scars," she winked.

Violet just shrugged.

"Um... mamá, came to tell you I'm going away for a little while," Moo spoke up.

"Oh that's fine, mijo," she said nonchalantly, "as long as you're safe and be back soon."

Moo widened his eyes gaping his mouth open, "You too?! I didn't even tell you where I was going!"

She giggled, "It's fine, trust you, mi hijo."

"Pfft, I guess," he sighed sadly.

Victoria giggled, "Awww, you still wanna be my baby."

"No!!" he lisped offendedly.

All three of them laughed as Moo crossed his arms and pouted.

"Well, at least I can keep you two for dinner," she went over kissing Moo on the forehead.

Back at the apartment, Moo had invited Sophie, Izzy, Storm, Marisol, and Sapphire for a small going away get-together. He sat on the couch with Marisol while Violet talked with the other girls.

"Are you sure about doing this?" Marisol asked, "I know you still feel... unwanted here, but you don't have to go."

"It's not permanent, Mary," he rolled his eyes, "we're just catching up, that's all."

She sighed, "I just wish she could stay permanently."

"I know, I know, but that's her home and that's who she wants to be with."

The words had such a sour taste in his mouth. He knew he wanted her to stay just as badly as Marisol did. That's why he wanted to go with her in the first place, he couldn't bear to see her leave again.

"Moo, you aren't doing this because of you... you... I mean I know you two are friends, but you... you know."

"What did I tell you back at the city hall? We're friends, Mary. We just met back up," he looked down, "she's not interested in me anyway."

She narrowed her eyes, "So you're saying if she was, you would get together with my daughter?"

He blushed, "Uhh... what do you want me to say?"

"Look," she started to look serious, "don't even try anything, I know you're a... great guy, but I don't want you to hurt her."

That's rich coming from you.

"You don't have to worry, we're only friends."

That tasted even sourer.

"And let's keep it that way."

She got and called Sapphire over, "I think it's time for us to leave, it's almost Sapphire's bedtime."

Sapphire groaned and rolled her eyes, "Mom, can't I stay longer?"

"Don't worry, gem, you'll plenty of time to see Violet and Moo go tomorrow."

"Alright."

She went and hugged Violet then Moo and the two made their way out of the apartment. Moo got and went in the kitchen to go put up some plates left out when he saw Storm leaning against the wall crossing her arms.

"Hey Storm, the girls annoying you again?"

She shook her head, "No, no, but could I ask you something, I want you to be honest."

"Sure."

"Do you like my sister?"

"Umm... where's this coming—"

"Do you like my sister," she asked again impatiently.

"As a friend, that's it."

Storm chuckled, "You're lying, I know because of what you said back in the bathroom before you told any of us."

That's why she was acting weird today.

"Come on, Storm, we just wanna catch up, it's been so long, I thought she was dead for fuck sake!"

"I know, but just a little reminder, Violet isn't gonna be one of your one-night staying sluts you get together with."

"She isn't that kind of girl!" he snarled, "I know, she's sensitive, sweet, and smarter than you think. So what if I like her?"

"So what?!" Storm caught himself almost yelling, "Me and you both know how you are when you don't get what you want, and you want her."

Everything Storm was saying was true, he did want to be with her after all these years, but chose not to admit it. He even imagined him asking her out to prom when they became teenagers before the apocalypse started, he wanted her to be his one and only girl he's ever dated.

He did want her.

"She just met you, and all of a sudden you want to play big sister?"

"Because I know how you are, Matias! I seen you kill your ex back when we were captured, they molded you into a vengeful war machine. My captor made me his sex doll for more than a decade, I don't want Violet to be in that kind of relationship."

Moo stepped in front of Storm glaring down at her as she glared back.

"Violet's not her, that bitch deserved what she's gotten," he hissed, "I will never hurt Violet."

"I hope you keep your word," Storm pushed Moo away from him making him stumble back, "oh, just to remind you, I and the girls are coming with you."

"What?! Why?!!" he cried angrily

"You know Sophia used to live at that school before she and her sister was taken and Izzy has a brother back there."

That's true.

"I'm also keeping an eye on you."

"I'm not a baby, Storm."

"No, to make sure you don't try anything with Violet."

Before Moo could argue back, Storm had already gone back to the living room with the girls. He slid his hand over his face sighing heavily. He knew all those things that Storm said were true, but he had to keep it in. He never wanted to hurt Violet, ever.

It was going to harder being with Violet for a while than he thought.

That night, Violet started to dream about Moo. She saw herself holding hands with him walking through the forest on a stary night. They looked up to the stars as Moo started to pull her closely wrapping his arm around her waist. He then looked down at her with the warmest, gentlest eyes she's ever seen that made her feel... safe. He put his hand over her cheek as their lips begin to touch...

"Vi?"

She jumped out of her sleep as she saw Moo standing at the foot of the bed. She sat up squinted making out something was clearly wrong.

"Matt, you alright," she yawned wiping some of the sleep out of her eyes.

He started to fidget his hands looking down, "Um, I know it's late, but can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, I guess."

He sat on the bed putting his hand over his face shaking his leg. He sighed then turned to face her with a tired look.

"I know that this is out of the blue, but how do you feel about me?"

"Wait, what?" the question caught Violet off guard as she tried to keep her focus on him, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you... ya know, like do you like, like me?"

Well, that dream was convenient, she thought embarrassingly, wait did he know?!

"If you mean more than friends, no!" she tried to act mad and offended, "I don't know how you would think that Moo, we just met up three fucking days ago and you ask me do I like you?!"

"Hey, hey, it was just on my mind, it was so stupid of me to ask anyway."

She sighed hating to have to do this, "I'm sure you're a good guy, Moo, but I'm just not into you."

I hate lying.

"You understand, right?"

He almost looked upset at the answer turning away from her, "Right, goodnight, Vi."

"Moo, wait..."

Before she could say more he had already left. She sunk her head into the pillow feeling so guilty, she knew she had developed a small crush on him, that's it! Why couldn't she just say that! God, she felt so pathetic. She just ignored it for the night and went back to sleep. She couldn't keep lying to him forever, she knew that.

It had to be the right time.