Bill held his weapon in front of himself as he and the others cautiously walked inside. He went ahead and stepped inside a chapel. The veteran looked around, then stopped and slowly lowered his gun as he scanned their surroundings farther. Benches and seats were pushed aside, as tents were their replacement. However most were torn apart, windows were smashed in and red stains smeared the majority of the floor. An old piano was left in the middle of the area close to the entrance they came through. It was probably used as a barrier in an attempt to keep the sick out. They had seen the doors broken down with splinters and pieces of wood trailing towards the instrument.

Zoey walked by him. "...I'm going to check out front."

She ventured over to the main double doors, noting they were barred with some nailed thick pieces of wood and tools holding the handles together. She yanked them out, tossed them away and started to pull at the wood. It creaked with her struggling quickly. Soon she saw Francis before she heard him. He ushered her away to take them down on his own as she watched. He pulled them away easily with an unfriendly look settled on his face. The wood split noisily and broke loose with nails popping out and clinked on the ground.

He chucked down the last of it and both pulled the doors open. The two stared outside at a deserted town. No soul was in sight.

'There's no one here.'

The thought sliced through Francis' mind like a knife as he stared in disbelief. Zoey was rubbing her face and held her hand against it from beside him; whilst Ian and Louis quietly walked over to see what was left as well. "I guess Riverside couldn't hold out after all." Came Ian's hushed voice. Louis sighed through his nose, looking over the mess.

"God…" Zoey moaned. Bill pushed through them all, and Francis' eyes followed him. The veteran could feel them boring a hole in his back as he marched down a small incline.

"We missed them. We fucking missed them. Again." Francis glowered after him before staring at the floor. He turned away and stormed back inside before Zoey could speak, moving by Keirstan who slid both hands down her face in disappointment. She held them against her chin, eyes down with Beth and Amber looking at one another uneasily. Beth traced her gaze away, settling her eyes on a door in front of them that was cracked open. From what she could tell. She nudged Amber's shoulder and pointed to the room; and the pair went over to investigate.

"Where have they gone? Whoever escaped that is." Kayla asked. Jordan shrugged lightly, "dunno. We can check the maps again, but who knows. They could of changed routes." He replied with uncertainty in his tone. He looked over at Francis who had sat down with his head bowed and Keirstan shook hers thinning her lips. "I uh, I wouldn't know. Hopefully they didn't go far and we can find them quicker."

"I hope so too." Jordan agreed while watching the girls slip behind the door. "Where are they going?" He gestured their way, making both turn in the direction. "Amber and Beth, they just went through that door."

Kayla tilted her head and the three also walked off. Francis looked to see them go, then he rose and walked back outside. The others were down by the street. They heard his footsteps as he approached, brooding and glaring at the remains of what was once their hope of escape. Bill had knelt down on one knee to examine tire tracks and gazed ahead. They looked almost fresh. It couldn't have been long ago whatever was left of the military to abandon this place.

"They probably tried barricading themselves in. And it took just one infected."

While Bill said this, a Smoker clawed its way over a roof of a market behind Francis. He heard it long before it could position itself to launch an attack on them. He turned around, pulling his gun in front of himself and blew it apart, the shot ringing off an echo over the vacant streets.

"We should of kept going like I said." Francis snarled after everyone had jumped. They turned to him, his attention was focused on Bill. "We wouldn't of been late if we just moved."

"Francis for God's sake don't start." Louis moaned tiredly, holding a hand out pleadingly.

He huffed, "wasn't I right? Now they're gone. A-fucking-gain."

Keirstan and Jordan poked their heads inside a room and watched as Kayla climbed a small wooden ladder leading to a second floor. "Where the hell are you going?" Keirstan questioned as she stepped inside.

"We're up here." Amber announced.

"What for?" Jordan inquired, the pair climbed the ladder. As they ascended, a foul wet stench filled their nostrils. Growing stronger the further both climbed. "I was thinking we could find information or supplies in here, but it doesn't look like there's much...only found him."

They reached the floor as Beth pointed at something, holding her shirt over her nose and mouth. They shifted their eyes to what their friends were looking at. A man's body slouched against a wall, a body having been here for a while. One pistol laid in his lap, with the back of his head splattering and dried all over the structure behind him. A bite mark on his hand and next to him, on a sloped section of ceiling, was scribbled and scratched lettering. Repeating themselves over and over. "Better safe than sorry."

Larger text of the same message was written in red. From what the youngins could make out, he looked like he may have been turning into a Spitter. Due to the way his jaw was breaking; how his swollen decomposed skin was stretching. The burns marking his flesh.

"He died alone too, I'm assuming." Keirstan muffled sadly. Jordan let his shirt go. Holding his breath, he reached for a blanket not far from the man on the floorboards to lay over him. Kayla looked away as he did, and spotted a sniper rifle lying on a desk. She walked over and snatched the weapon, examined it and found a bag of leftover ammo on the floor. She grabbed that too, and shoved another entry open leading to a balcony. Immediately reliving the room with a cool air.

"Don't just be taking his stuff like that." Keirstan scowled. "Kayla seriously." Jordan overlapped her words.

"Not like he's gonna use it or anything." Was the careless answer. The door was opened, and they were met with a chorus of arguing from below while the older survivor hopped out. She paused for a short moment, yet continued her task by leveling the firearm on a railing and peered through the scope.

"Now what are they fighting about?" Amber strolled beside her friend, who dropped the bag and was soon shooting long behind the others, causing Ian to look up at them with a pitiful expression. He shook his head and glanced back at the two men, as Louis and Zoey tried to break them apart.

"You were hurt Francis! You wouldn't of made it far at all with how your leg was!" Bill exclaimed angrily.

"I would of been just fine." Francis sneered, his lip curling. "I've pulled through much worst. Don't you fuckin' tell me what I can and can't handle you hear me? Two days. What a waste of time."

"Guys enough!" Zoey cried over them and tried to push Francis back, who was getting too close to Bill for her liking.

Louis held his arm in front of the old man. "Now's not the time or place for this!"

They were ignored, as both continued yelling at the other over the pair's struggle of keeping them separated. Neither spared a look at anything or anyone else.

"Excuse me for being sure you'd be ok. You know, Francis, the day I met you I had a hunch you'd be as stubborn as you are stupid. I was right. I could've left you in that blizzard. I didn't have to bail you out. But I did. Because I'm not a selfish brute like you are half the time. It amazes me you haven't gotten yourself killed with how reckless you are out here. Hell, how you haven't gotten any of us killed."

Ian and Louis cast surprised, even slight frightened faces his way, as Zoey stared at how the large man would react. She saw his frown deepen and eyes darken. So did Bill's.

"What?"

Amber handed Kayla another magazine when she reached for it. She reloaded the gun and peered through the scope again. Picking off infected running their way which they couldn't see. "Junkie-I mean Jockey."

"Tell me again how anything that's happened is because of me. I'm a reckless selfish brute? I haven't done anything to put us in danger!" He pushed by Zoey aggressively, who immediately threw herself in front of him and tried shoving him away.

"Knock the shit off right now!" Louis yelled, pulling Bill back.

"Does it make any sense to taunt what can tear you to pieces in seconds? Yelling at infected." He growled, and yanked himself from Louis' arms. "The most absurd thing I've seen anyone do. That is reckless, which is putting all of us in danger. Even y-"

"Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Who are you, putting yourself in charge of everyone. Because you fought in Vietnam, it makes you the all knowing soldier? Fuck that! And fuck the army! They even left you, twice now!"

"Hey!" Zoey shouted, glaring up at him. He returned it. "Show some respect. The army does what it can to keep us safe. But they can't keep everything under control. You think they had any idea it would get this bad?"

"Zoey, let me handle this." Bill placed a hand on her shoulder, staring Francis in the eyes.

Ian heard a familiar cackling and turned where it was coming from. The Jockey was scrambling over a pile of sand bags. He marched over with the infected looking up now, wide bulging eyes that never blinked; heaving painful laughs and flailing to jump on him until Ian swung his hatchet across its throat. Its form hitched from choking, the air leaving its windpipe through the blood flowing down its neck in a red cascade. He stood before it blankly watching it struggle.

"I don't care what you think of me. I really don't. But damn it someone has to keep the other as ill-mannered as you can be in place."

"Well ya know what, tough shit. You ain't keeping me in place, and you ain't in any position to order me around like you think you can."

"Is that so. From I've witnessed you've taken those orders well. Since you're still here." Bill retorted coolly.

At this, Francis growled with his face scrunching a little. "Because of your orders," he nudged his head and threw a hand out. "Oh, let's sit around in a shelter for a couple of days. This happened. What a fuckin' dumb decision. Did you make mistakes like this back in the day too? I wouldn't blame them if they left you. I'd gladly leave you behind my damn self." He finished venomously.

All slowed hearing this, and everyone excluding Bill looked at him shocked.

"Yes. I have." Bill softly answered. "And by miracle, I was one who didn't go home in a box."

Francis stared, his gaze still hard and frown still deep. But he listened.

"A number of my soldiers did. Because of those mistakes." He revealed, his eyes glazed over now. "It haunts me. Every day. I learned from them to better myself to keep those I care for safe. I ain't repeating myself. But like it or not Francis, I view you as one of my own."

The eldest survivor turned on his heel and stalked towards a parking lot without a backward glance. Ian ran a hand over his hat, watching him go.

"He doesn't mean that right?" Keirstan eventually asked lowly, gazing at the sisters in nervousness as Zoey's angry voice sounded.

Beth sighed through her nose with a shake of her head. "H-he uh...I don't..." her eyes lowered as she trailed off.

"Guys let's just get down there." Jordan looked at their comrades solemnly on the street. "I'm sure we'll be leaving soon."

Francis had sat in the back of a delivery truck glancing to the side sourly. He cast this look on Zoey who was still going off on him. "You just go and crap on him despite everything he's done for you. How do you take any pride in that, everyone's upset and stressed but you don't have to be a dick to him about it. This isn't his fault!"

"We would've been outta here by now."

"You! Because of you!" She spread her hands open in front of herself, and her face contorted in deeper anger. "What part of you were hurt do you not understand? We don't know what or when this happened or who's even alive anymore. You need to back off!"

He rose to his feet as the rest of the team arrived and began to leave. He stopped when she spoke again. "Sorry nothing's gone your way Francis, ju-"

"Zoey shut up! Stay out of it!"

"Hey, everyone stop already." Louis begged before the college student could retaliate. "Look if we find the river and a boat, we'll probably be alright."

"Sure about that Mr. Fuckin' positive?" Francis hissed, glaring his way.

Louis groaned softly, shooting a quick look where Bill had gone before returning his eyes on the biker. "What else can we do. I don't hear any ideas coming from your mouth but pissing and moaning over this!"

"Wow. Gue-"

"Stop!" Beth hollered infuriated. "Just stop Francis!"

Everybody else looked another way or at the ground as she stared over at him. "We all feel the same way. But no one else is pointing fingers at him over something that wasn't under his control. We have to accept what happened, there's nothing any of us can do about it. Bitching and fighting ain't gonna make things better and you know that." She said in a strained, distressed voice. The emotions etched deep in her features. "You honestly need to quit that. What I heard was uncalled for."

Francis kept his eyes on her for another few seconds. Next he turned away and stormed off. "We going or what?" He then rudely barked.

Without another word the others reluctantly started after him. Soon finding themselves entering a small store where Bill was found on the other side leaning against a large window smoking his cigarette. He glanced at them from the corners of his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets while looking away when the biker came into view.

Both Zoey and Louis saw this, and the analyst looked at her next when she spoke. "I hate it when they fight like that. I feel like one of them's eventually gonna pull a gun out."

"They scare me too Zoey. It seems like they would but I don't think it'll get that far."

"Let's hope it doesn't."

He nudged her shoulder and glanced at Bill. "I'll be back." She nodded.

Footsteps met his ears and Bill looked to see Louis coming towards him. Trying to offer a small smile yet pity was set in his face. He didn't budge. "Don't even ask. I've had worst said to me."

His boots scuffed pavement until he stopped. "I want to be sure if you're alright."

"He's got anger to keep better under control. But they're just words, whether he meant it or not. I don't care."

"Sure. Although sometimes words hurt more than physical conflict."

Bill dismissed it with a grunt and cast his gaze ahead as the younger survivor continued. "I was telling them maybe we can find a boat by the water, you know, we might run into someone that way." He flashed a hopeful expression.

"I don't see why not." Bill pushed off the window and flicked the cigarette away, crushing it under his boot afterwards.

Louis nodded once, "ok. Sounds like a plan." He ventured inside.

Kayla sighed quietly in annoyance as she tossed an empty cookie box away. There had to be something somewhere, she kept looking as the others were until Francis came up to and poked her shoulder. She gazed at what he was trying to give, a small packet of pretzels. But she waved it away. "Keep 'em."

"I don't like pretzels. Here."

"I'll find my own. Keirstan or Amber can have them."

He shook the packet in his hand to get her to take it, and she rolled her eyes while doing so harshly.

"What the hell was that?" She spat and glared at him coldly. "You ain't like that with my uncle, so why are you with Bill."

She paused as they stared at one another.

"I know I'm no better when arguing with people, but that was fucked up to say to a veteran. A veteran. In a way you grabbed everything he tries to keep in the back of his mind and shoved them in his face because you're pissed off 'n shit. What a crappy thing to do."

"Are you done? I know what I said." He moved away while snapping at her. She didn't respond. She only looked sourly at him before dropping the pretzels in her backpack.

After a time the group was traversing down blocks, killing off infected and veering through several large trucks and vans. Bill hacked one who was throwing itself towards him open, then searched the ground. There were military officers lying among the bodies, he kept silent reading names off the badges he could see.

"I think the river's south from here." Ian spoke up from across the street and keeping an eye on the roofs. "Sooner we get there the better."

"I don't know about you, but I'm about to rob a house first. These clothes are done for, they're so gross they're starting to itch." Zoey announced and headed for one of the homes. She trotted up a set of porch steps and vanished inside. "Me too!" Keirstan jogged after her, soon they were all agreeing with the idea, venturing inside houses and scoping them out for any dangers in them.

...

Francis examined a rack of clothes before pushing them to either side and found some jackets hanging in the back of a closet. There was another vest. It looked a pinch smaller but wearing it would stretch it out. He snatched it then grabbed a grey hoodie with camouflage sleeves and a new undershirt. Once changed into those, he rummaged through a wardrobe, dug out an unopened package of boxers, winter socks and a new change of pants. With his old clothes thrown on the floor he observed the bedroom he was standing in; and saw a picture frame fallen over on a night stand. The biker strolled over to pick it up. In the photo was a man grinning brightly with two little girls. One on his back, the other nestling in his chest. Both laughing at the camera. It was a photo he could hear.

He blinked then set it down and left.

"This is better." Louis was also exiting a second room in his new outfit, just as Francis shoved by him. Not uttering a single word; Louis batted his eyes in slight surprise to suddenly have his large friend so close before he descended down some stairs. The biker's stomach then growled. So did the analyst's.

"Shit." Francis quietly mumbled at the pains as Louis followed pursuit. "Let's check around real quick." The younger survivor suggested when they reached the bottom. "There has to be something."

…

"This is so soft." Amber whispered the last two words creepily and pulled her new jacket over herself. "I'm glad you like it," Ian rubbed her shoulder and she gave him a smile equivalent to Jeff the killer's. He pulled his hand away a little startled as Zoey strolled by them and a living room. She crossed her arms and entered the space, examining it carefully.

Keirstan, Beth and Jordan came through from the other side shortly afterwards. Walking around to see what was left as well. No one said anything to each other, until Francis' voice erupted outside, snapping something they couldn't hear clearly at either Louis or Bill.

"We should hurry before your brother has another shit fit." Zoey said to the three grimly, dropping her arms.

They remained silent. Beth did nothing but raise her brows with her gaze on something else.

From another part of the house, Amber spotted her companions heading for the entrance. Keirstan eyed and waved an arm at them to follow; so then Amber bent down to pick up a discarded shoe. She turned away and threw it at Kayla, who was currently rummaging through a hall closet. It bounced off her thigh causing her to jump and cry out in protest.

"We're heading out." Ian stated, when the older survivor cast the couple an unfriendly look.

"Oh, ok." Kayla replied, swinging the door out of her way to move over to them.

...

Windchimes clinked in a soft breeze as they snuck through the quiet neighborhood. The biker checked to see the siblings were close by as he led with Bill. They weren't saying very much to each other. But when they did it sounded like they were discussing options with small talk. Although the energy between the two remained bitter.

"This river plan better be the end to this chase for the military." Keirstan breathed, readying her weapons ahead of any problems that were lying in wait. "It will be, it's another chance for us." Louis replied confidently, looking at her with determination. She cast her eyes away from looking at him.

"Seems like we're running low on chances." Zoey piped up from hearing the pair by his other side. "Tried flying. Tried walking and driving, and it all turns to shit."

"Not a boat yet." Louis perked. The college student made a noise with Keirstan catching up to Amber.

"How'll that go I wonder." Louis frowned at her cold response. "Honestly...I'm starting to think if we'll make it out of here at all."

"Hey," the analyst rubbed her back as they kept going, and they met eyes. "Sometimes..." he exhaled quietly, gazing down for a moment before locking with her orbs once more. "Sometimes when everything seems to be fading away into the dark, don't let it become you. Somehow there's always a way to find a new hope. And besides, I have a good feeling about this." He grinned.

Zoey chuckled. "Your feelings are shit. Whenever you say that chaos comes for us."

"I know." Louis replied, his hand slipped from her back while looking what was in front of them. "But as I said Zoe, no one here can give up. Not on this and not on ourselves. That's how I get by."