A/N:
ScarJade: Thank you so much! I try to have everyone interact well. There's plenty of adventure for the team waiting for them ;).
SharkyDarky: I enjoy writing him this way. It's different for me too because like you I haven't seen any stories of him with a life like this either. (Best way I can put it I guess). Also Francis is adorable.
Mystery Guest: That's exactly how he was haha.
The Wyatt story from the previous chapter is true. I've never laughed so hard at my best friend's fury like I did. I thought it fit Amber and Kayla best because the more I write about them the more I feel their close friendship matches ours. Okie, I'll shut up now. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Francis slanted his brows staring down the corridor.
"Kayla pick your ass up and let's go!" Beth hollered, Francis setting her down to retrace their steps.
He almost reached the turn at the same time Kayla scrambled around it. "What did you piss off?" He questioned. "I dunno!"
"What are you running from," Beth exclaimed, watching her sister jogging pass, "what did you see?"
Receiving no answer, Beth looked behind the approaching Francis at the empty space. He shrugged just as clueless as she was.
Hearing panicked footsteps made them pause and look where it was coming from. Kayla waved a hand indicating to keep going as she moved with extreme nervousness washed over her face.
"What happened?" Ian inquired, looking back. Everyone was asking, sparing quick glimpses and waited impatiently for an answer.
"I don't know what it was ok?!" She snapped, silencing the room.
"I…" she held out her hands to the sides quizzically while entering the lobby. "I heard something. I saw this thing back there and it killed a Witch and when you called for me," she gestured to Francis in increasing overwrought. "It…"
"Did it see you." The biker spoke. She was shivering. "Hun," Francis grasped her shoulders and locked eyes. "Did it see you?" He repeated as Jordan and Ian held open an exit's double doors. They watched the two in concern. Never have they once seen their friend this unsettled.
"I'm not sure." Came her hushed reply.
"Let's keep up," Keirstan said to them. "Maybe it'll leave us alone."
As she said this, Kayla and Francis looked down the hall together to see the infected peeking out from one of the arenas. Gripping the door edge tightly, its visible wide eyes never blinked as it stared though messy dark bangs. Francis pushed her towards the doors as he stared back. Clutching his shotgun to swing it out in front of him. Bill also watched it carefully and aimed his rifle.
Zoey tried peering through them to get a look, "what's-"
"Go." Bill ordered.
She hesitated at first, staring at the old man uncertainly. Although obeyed as Amber waited for her, worryingly glancing between her and the two men. Bill looked to be sure the youngins were out of the theatre with Francis keeping his hard stare locked on the infected. It did what he wouldn't expect. A thin smile crept across its face.
The sight was unnerving. It left a pang of deep unease in his chest, but he refused to show it. He raised and leveled the gun between its eyes as it opened its mouth; determined to keep it away from themselves. Bill looked back at him right as a sound was about to erupt from this thing. It was interrupted when Francis shot at the infected, and was surprised when it ducked. The bullet broke splinters off the door as it scurried off into the arena.
Francis snarled and went to chase after it. But a solid hand shoved him by the shoulder in the opposite way. "Kid stay the fuck away from it." Bill advised. He shot the veteran a harsh look and shrugged his hand off, following where it ran off to. "Are you deaf? Stay away from it!" Bill rushed after to grab his arm, and he pulled out of his grasp. "This fucker's got to be dealt with."
"For the love of God quit going against what I say! Francis!" Bill shouted angrily. He ignored the veteran and disappeared through the doors. Bill set his jaw and clenched his eyes, "where's he going?" Came Beth's voice.
A series of questions spilled from the exit. He saw the siblings, Jordan, and Ian watching them with troubled faces. Beth and Kayla went to step back inside until he threw a hand out. "Stay out there." With that, he too stormed towards the arena. Francis was yelling a taunt from inside; and Ian had pulled Kayla back, saying they would be right with them. Jordan was able to have Beth comply.
Francis shone his light around the murky surroundings, carefully scanning the place. He finally caught a dark shape racing through the seating area and fired a few times. The thing released a strangled shriek and ran out of view when his gun clicked.
"Son of a bitch…" Francis quickly pulled ammo out his pockets to reload.
"Didn't we just have an argument about this?" He heard Bill. The biker saw him come inside scornfully.
"I don't care," he growled. Ka-click, ka-click. "I'm not having another one of these freaks adding any more danger than those two are already in."
"There could be more than one. There's always more than one. You know that."
He didn't answer and walked away. Bill had illuminated him with his flashlight as he pursued. "Will you be reasonable with me! It's probably gone or bleeding out somewhere!"
"I'd like to confirm that."
"They're waiting-" a slimy tongue coiled around his arm. He released cry as his assault rifle dropped from his hold. Before he could unsheathe his knife, the tongue quickly constricted his body. Dragging him across the floor towards the awaiting, gagging Smoker. Francis had whirled around in time to see the attack. He raced forward as Bill kicked and struggled against the special, who had begun scratching him with Francis raising his barrel. His shots where knocked off course, however, blowing through the walls behind them when he felt something slam against and making him stagger.
He uttered a stunned noise as he stumbled, but quickly tried to regain his balance and focus to aim. As he tried, another force slammed into him again; causing him to almost fall on his knees. "Mother fuck!" He bellowed, pushing himself off from a row of seats. Turning around, he found a shape emerging from the shadows.
The little light casting from the hall illuminated its features. It was feminine. Tall, thin, ghostly translucent and its head dangled to the side. The fingers were mutilated into claws like a Witches. Not as long, but black. It wore a tattered, stained white gown underneath the remains of a straight jacket it must of torn out of with those claws. Grey patchy pants with old, worn brown shoes. The thing's messy dark hair was neck length, and its inky rimmed eyes were grey. No iris. No pupil. Just haunting grey.
As it stalked towards him uttering a crackly noise, it showed a gaped smile.
"Fra-aaAUGH!-Ahh!"
He reversed away from it in a frantic pace, turning to help Bill. Shooting off another bullet, which was knocked off target a third time when the infected threw itself in a wild frenzy. They twisted as they fell, slamming hard on the floor.
Francis cried out on impact and it pinned him by the shoulders. It traced a set of claws mesmerizingly across his chest. He quickly grabbed its wrists before it could do anything and it tilted its head again. Meeting his disconcerted gaze. The thing flashed a demented black toothed grin, and inhaled deeply.
An unnaturally loud scream different in pitches tore from its lungs. Streams of saliva flew on his cheeks as he squeezed his eyes shut uncomfortably. He tried to wrestle it as the thing raised a hand when he grunted and managed to throw it off. He rolled on his side covering his ears, moaning at a pained buzzing that flood his canals.
He soon was scrambling to pick himself up. "I'm-m, I'm com!-" Francis babbled, struggling to push himself up on his boots. It hooked him by his jacket in an attempt to keep him away for the Smoker to constrict every breath out of the elder survivor. It began raking at him, tearing clothes until Francis shoulder barged the infected followed with a solid punch in the jaw to keep it at bay.
Black dots began to cloud Bill's vision. He gasped as he could feel his strength slipping away. He could faintly see Francis trying to fend off the new enemy and get to him at the same time, then snatched the discarded shotgun to point it his way. The Smoker, startled at the noise, tightened its hold. His joints cracked; when bullets rang out. Suddenly he felt everything grow limp. He collapsed with the Smoker, lying there trying to gasp for air. Just to inhale a lungful of smoke fuming from the corpse. Bill started to cough heavily, so was whoever had grabbed his attire to pull him out of the cloud.
"Get up Bill!" Louis shouted through coughs. He held an arm over his mouth and nose while slapping his back until Bill was able to breath and see correctly. He pushed Louis aside and staggered up, the analyst gripping his arm for support.
Amber and Beth were staring in disbelief at the freakish infected once they were able to beat it off Francis. He regained his footing as it twitched, snarling madly at the survivors. They heard Zoey shriek in fright from seeing it, and it charged towards the group releasing another scream. The thing shoved through them aggressively, receiving cuts and hits as they tried to take it down. Beth was slammed against a wall as Amber fell on the floor at the same time Francis tripped over her; she yelped when his heels dug into her ribs. He fell over a seat while it ran out of the arena, Zoey and Louis scrambled away from it in bewildered shock into hazy smoke causing them to gag; Kayla had cowered into a corner. Shrinking in horror at the grotesque creature retreating away from them.
"Seize that infected! It's gonna attract a swarm!" Bill roared and threw an arm out with his hat over his eyes.
Another scream ripped from the infected's vocal chords as it charged Keirstan, Jordan and Ian. All shouted at the sight startled and dove out of its way.
"Don't let it go kill it!"
"I'LL KICK YOUR ASS SO FUCKIN' HARD!" Francis boomed in chase. Beth feebly tagged behind him in bewilderment. "YOU HEAR ME! I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A BEATING YOU WON'T SOON FORGET!"
Just when the infected reached the exit, Francis swiftly blew a large hole in its back. As it toppled forward with a shrill he shot the back of its head, raining gore all over the glass. The body fell face first in the door and left Francis heaving where he stood. The others slowed to a stop when they saw it was now dead.
"That's mine." Francis declared.
"Nice kill." Jordan praised. "I thought you said you'd beat its ass."
He clenched his teeth in a frown turning to him. "Would you like yours beaten?"
Jordan backed away holding his hands up. "I'm good." Was the answer with Beth now shaking a little in laughter at her brother's outburst.
"Uh, I don't think we're done yet." Keirstan said, and pointed outside.
Frostbitten infected were emerging from where they hid searching in agitation for the source of the scream. Francis watched as they staggered around until one turned towards the theatre and saw its expression grow bitter. "Girls, over by me." He instructed.
The siblings complied and they kept low behind stands. Eyes trained on the creeping sick who continued to stumble and try to find where the disruption came from. Two began fighting each other while another bumped into the door, the survivors paused in their steps. Watching it warily. It tilted its head at the mess that streamed down the glass, raised a limp finger to trace along stains. Seconds later, it shifted its eyes while shuffling away. So Francis resumed leading to the back of the building and spotted a fire exit. The door had been knocked down; he motioned for them to wait as he went ahead to see if it was alright to move on. He could hear the commons out front beyond the mound, however the next area was clear as far as he could tell. "I think we're set." Francis announced quietly.
He looked back as they snuck out of the theatre, being sure Kayla and Beth were right by him. The two looked around at the roofs while Amber pointed her rifle back inside until Louis pulled on her sleeve to have her follow.
"I don't remember seeing that infected in the packet you guys found." Zoey said in a disturbed tone, looking at Ian who shrugged in equal surprise. "It's missing some pages. But we haven't seen anything like it either."
She turned away. The horrifying discovery burning in her thoughts.
"Now we know what's been following us."
Her bones chilled at those words. Not saying anymore.
Francis felt the same. The infected looked it had came from the blackest pits of hell. Its movements, how it looked at him and smiled; added onto the ever growing list of what haunted him.
"What should we call it?" Keirstan suddenly voiced as they approached an alley. "Thing screams a lot...actually you know what a Hunter's scream doesn't attract infected like that one does. I kinda wonder why."
"It was louder. More agitating with those pitches." Jordan analyzed from memory.
She rubbed her chin in thought. "True. We need a name, in case we see another."
A clump of mixed snow and ice broke off a gutter and exploded all over Louis. The ice bounced of his neck and he jumped when the snow started melting down his back. He clutched the spot and his face contorted while trying to hold in a yell that was building up. But the pain bloomed like a flower of ice over his skin. He unleashed a booming scream that made everyone also jump and look at him in bewilderment for what the hell his problem was.
"Pain! All I know is pain!" He shrieked, prancing around and rubbing his neck; sobbing wildly with water flecking through the air. "Will you calm your face?" Amber hissed rushing towards him to try to brush the rest of the snow off.
"It's so cold and it hurts!"
"Who cares shut it." Francis sneered over harsh shushing. He was glaring at the analyst who ran at them and stomped a foot down. He stood in a hunched position, held his hands out in front then bellowed monstrously. Kayla and Beth stepped away to watch from the side until they were shoved ahead. "Down the alley, now." Francis ordered as Louis kept throwing his fit. Zoey chased him to hold him still to help dry off. "Why you gotta be screaming about it like that?" She scowled with Bill facepalming not far from them.
Shrilling erupted from the other side of the mound. "Thanks Louis!" Amber yelled.
Commons were soon clambering over it. Either sliding or falling down the other side to be met with a shower of ammo.
"Remember when chunks of ice would fall from your roof and break through your porch?" Beth smiled.
Francis half-lidded his eyes, "then we'd get to your house and found the same thing happened to yours?"
Aggressive snorting made them stop and look ahead. A Charger stormed into view. It leered at them, it started to rampage towards the three. "Get back! Get back!" Francis hollered, running in the previous direction with the grey giant bellowing as it picked up speed.
"Move!" The survivors heard him shout. All scrambled with surprised cries once they saw it and separated racing away. Beth slipped into Jordan, both fell on a snow pile as the Charger ran through and ended up chasing Ian. He shrieked constantly and veered out of its path while it slammed so hard through a wall the bricks collapsed on its head; and the special fell inside with a loud boom.
"Ok the path looks clear!" Bill yelled as he picked off infected who were jumping out windows. Keirstan swung her bat and broke an infected's neck, stopping from racing towards the veteran. Amber, Zoey and Louis shot away at those climbing up the gravel.
"You good?" Jordan asked in the middle of themselves getting up. Beth nodded as another roar ripped through the air. The Charger barreled pass them as both jumped from the noise while it crashed into a bus.
Ian tripped a common with his boot and drove his hatchet in the back of the head. Not far off, Zoey, Louis and Amber were running by either still firing or swinging their melee weapons around.
"I'm so sorry!" Louis exclaimed as corpses dropped in a trail. "You will be once I whoop your sorry ass for this!" Zoey retorted.
"Come on people this way!" Bill gestured to the alley, and fired some rounds ahead to keep the path clear. He cupped a hand by his mouth and shouted, "quit stalling! Hussle!..." Bill's voice trailed away. Confusion slowly replacing his serious demeanor when all heard a strange guttural yipping.
They looked ahead seeing a row of common infected with their arms over each other dancing can-can style. At times they separated and spun around clapping their hands; then would lock arms and pranced in circles, perform other dance moves before lining up and kicking their legs out.
"What the hell?" Francis murmured as his girls and friends stared quizzically.
"That's...just..." Amber trailed off.
Beth then applaud from next to Kayla and Jordan, who watched in quiet puzzlement while the sick got closer. "Not bad for an infected dance group, am I right?" As she amusedly said this, one common picked another up by the waist and hoisted it in the air. The other dancers were now jumping and twirling over or around each other.
"Um..."
Suddenly the Charger appeared and raced at them again. It sucked Francis' attention from the show and he barked to get to the alley. Everyone scrambled out of its path and it tripped over a downed telephone pole, slamming face first in a truck's bed rail. While it laid there in a daze the survivors had reached the alley and caught up with the rest. Zoey turned and stopped as she stared pass them at the other half at the dancing, flailing infected. Her forehead wrinkled and pointed judgmentally.
"I don't know they showed up dancing." Francis answered her silent question.
"It's quite entertaining though." Beth chirped as the Charger stepped in the entrance. It gave them a determined, hateful look and released a deep bellow. It gave chase a fourth time. Hell bent on grabbing one of them to break every bone in their body.
"This way!" Zoey yelled as she fired at the rampaging crowd. Her friends did the same. They passed a small shack right as the Charger smashed through several trash cans, into another wall, and sending those cans with everything inside flying.
Everyone threw themselves inside the opened garage door. Francis looked around as soon as he was in, eventually finding a couple of propane tanks lying next to a tool stand. He picked them up and chucked both back outside, then quickly started to pull the heavy steel barrier down by ropes with Beth and Zoey firing at the tanks. Both exploded almost in unison, creating sparks and black smoke that engulfed the incoming swarm.
The explosion made Francis stumble a little as he threw an arm up to cover his face. He immediately resumed pulling down the door before the smoke faded away and whatever survived could get to them. Ian ran to and pushed it down faster, latching it to keep from sliding up right as they heard the Charger again. Roaring and crashing into something loudly.
Francis backed from the door staring at the barrier as thumping shortly sounded. "You two alright?" He asked quietly, turning to face the sisters with anxiousness. "I'm fine." Beth held a thumb up with her answer. Kayla nodded.
"Ok…" he breathed. He shuffled behind them to find a spot on the floor for rest. Beth moved where she was to settle next to him; he wrapped an arm around her securely. Kayla found another box and slid it towards the pair. Francis glanced at her as she climbed in. Scuffing it with his boot while she shuffled for a comfortable position. While doing so, Jordan hurried over to kick it even harder like he did from an earlier time. A fist flew up in reaction and connected under Jordan's jaw. Both Francis' and Beth's eyes widened a little and amused shock spread over their faces while he yelped and took a few steps away rubbing the spot. He stormed back to and heaved the box over, making Kayla spill out on Francis' legs. He stopped her from getting up by pulling a leg out from underneath, and laid it on top of her. Pinning her between his shin and calf.
"What now little one."
She started to untie his bootlaces.
He watched unsurprised and opened his mouth whilst she pulled them through the eyelets. "Is this the right way to the river, we kinda took off in a random direction for cover." Francis pointed out.
"Hang on, let me check."
"No need for that," Ian spoke up. He had strolled out of an extra room. "We're here."
"How do you know?" Louis asked with all eyes on him now. Ian pointed a thumb behind himself. "I just checked up front. Down the road there's a sign saying 'Riverside park, next half mile.' We made it guys, we're here."
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A/N: Not entirely satisfied with this chapter. My mind was all over the place instead of letting go when I write. This one's just...meh.
I don't think I've seen a Screamer in a fanfic before. I know that is not how they act and they're boys, but since most of the specials are male how about making it as a girl for now. I have ideas to play around with too, so that'll be fun. Also clumsy Charger is clumsy. Inspired by how much I suck playing as a Charger unless the survivors are standing still most of the time.
Me: *Grabs Francis' vest and runs for the hills.*
Francis: Hey!