A/N: Hello, hello. Yes, yes, yes, I know it's been a while.

This request came from guest-reader and reviewer Zeus!

Here's PART THREE of Dead or Alive! Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters. If I did, Gray and Lucy would've def been together...


• Red String of Fate •

Dead or Alive (pt. 3)


IX. The Traitor

Gray woke up coughing, disoriented, with ash flying about like snow in the eerie quiet. He winced as he tried getting up, realizing shards of glass were embedded in his back. With more effort than it should have taken, Gray was finally standing, eyes scanning and noting small flames, and that it was early morning. His brows furrowed, trying to remember what the hell had happened.

"What is that?" Lucy asked, confused.

A flame heading closer and closer... Windows shattered, flames erupted, and an explosion shook the building.

"Lucy?" Gray called. He was with her. They were chatting. He was right next to her. "Lucy?"

Silence.

A queasy feeling settled in his stomach, the back of his neck burning with slight fear and alarm as he searched the area. She should be here.

"Lucy?" He tried one more time, desperate.

Gray searched the makeshift clinic, eyes squinting in the smokey air. Around him were smoke, flame, and ruin.

A sudden groan in the quiet had him reaching for his weapon. His guard faltered when he realized it was none other than Chelia. He was at her side within the second.

"Chelia, you good?" he asked, helping her stand.

"Yeah..." She coughed. "What...happened?"

"I think we got hit with a rocket launcher..."

Chelia paled. "What about the others? Where's Lucy?"

"I'm not sure - I just woke up." Gray swallowed. "I can't find her."

"What do you mean?" Chelia's voice was breathless, a tone higher. Fear. "What do you mean you can't find her?"

"She's not here, Chelia."

The pinkette gripped him hard. "We need to find the others. Make sure they're okay. Maybe she's with them."

Doubt crept into the back of Gray's mind, a voice in his head knowing Lucy wasn't over there. Her leg was injured - it didn't seem probable she would have hobbled over there and left them behind. He didn't voice these thoughts though because he didn't want to crush Chelia's hope.

The two of them made their way over to the main house, which really wasn't in much better shape. Chelia almost threw up from the carnage. Not everyone made it, and it wouldn't be long before they came back as the undead. The guard tower was blown to smithereens, including the two guards that were on duty. Most of their vehicles were destroyed, as well as their supplies.

Gray's face was grim as he and Chelia entered the main house. To his relief, Sting was up with Minerva hastily bandaging his arm. Chelia made a cry of protest at the terrible bandaging job and shooed her away. Minerva raised her arms in surrender and just plopped herself on the ash-covered couch next to a pissed-off Laxus rubbing his terribly bandaged head. Rogue was busy trying to set up comms, although it seemed quite futile. Orga came to while Rufus and Gajeel were still passed out cold. Erza walked around passing out food and snacks she scavenged, and Jellal was posting a fresh map of the United States and one of Louisiana on the intact wall of what used to be the living room.

Everyone was quiet as Chelia made her way around and rebandaged wounds. Gray didn't even notice when she began gently picking out the shards of glass in his back because the only thing he could think about was how Lucy wasn't here. He only winced when she started cleaning out his wounds with whatever supplies she had salvaged from the wreckage. Gajeel and Rufus grumbled awake when Chelia reached them.

Laxus stood up. "If Chelia is done treating you, we need to start moving and regroup. Won't be long until a horde comes along."

"Right, makes sense," Gajeel said, nodding slowly. "But what the fuck just happened?"

Everyone muttered in agreement.

"I'd wager it must be Tartaros," Minerva guessed. "They might know we're onto them."

"Maybe, but how the fuck did they find out where this place was?" Gajeel asked angrily.

His tone wasn't accusatory, but everyone could read between the lines. Only Laxus and Sting's survivor group knew where this base was... It settled on Gray, tugging the back of his brain, reminding him.

"I brought it up to Wendy when she first showed me her bite mark," Lucy explained. "But do you think it could have been someone in your survivor group? I hate to sound accusatory, but I told Wendy that South Carolina may not be safe anymore."

Fuck, Gray thought, his stomach dropping.

Rogue gave Jellal and Erza a side-eye. "Or maybe you too were followed and didn't notice it."

Jellal made a sound of disagreement mixed with annoyance. "Not possible. Erza and I doglegged to make sure. Hence why it took us longer to get back."

"Let's not point fingers," Gray sighed. "That's the last thing we need right now. Too many of us are dead or missing."

"We couldn't find Lucy," Chelia piped up, her voice laced with worry. "Gray and I were with her before...before the blast! We can't find her anywhere!"

Sting grunted. "First thing's first: accountability. Who's dead, who's missing, who's been bit, status on supplies, vehicle, weapons..."

"On it," Orga said.

Rufus got up with a slight groan. "I'll help you."

"Rogue is already working on comms..." Sting observed, eyes then slicing to Minerva. "Need you to check the armory - what was damaged, what can we use if anything... Check for any extra commo equipment - 1523 SINCGARS, radio mounts, motorolas...whatever the fuck you can find."

"Roger that." Minerva followed Orga out the door.

"Erza, Jellal," Laxus said. "The dead will reanimate soon. We're lucky it hasn't been twenty-four hours. Make sure they don't walk and make it quick."

The duo mutely nodded their heads, Erza reaching for her dual katanas and Jellal for his crossbow bolt.

"Gray, Gajeel," Laxus continued. "I need you two to consolidate weapons and ammo in the wreckage. We can't afford to waste anything. Careful with unexploded ordnance."

Gajeel stood up. "Gotcha."

"I'll meet you outside," Gray said to him. "Need to talk to Laxus for a second."

Gajeel grunted with a nod then disappeared outside.

Before Laxus and Sting could delve into their planning, Gray caught his group leader's eye and tilted his head.

"Give me one sec," Gray heard Laxus tell Sting.

Sting gave a nod and turned back to mapping out the convoy route.

"What's going on?" Laxus asked with a raised brow.

"I remembered something," Gray started quietly. "Before this happened, Lucy asked me how Tartaros found out about Wendy. Only our survivor group knows about her bite mark - that she's a walking cure. And Gajeel just brought up a good point, although we're not positive on who attacked us, but how the fuck did they find us? Because both you and I know Erza and Jellal are cautious about that kind of shit."

Laxus was silent, but Gray could see the gears turning in his head.

Gray heaved a sigh after a moment. "I hate to say it... I've only heard about your dad-"

"No, I have the same thought," Laxus finally said. "He really hated - hates - Gramps for that, and in turn, hates all of us. He's got motive, sure, but the thing is-"

"He left before Wendy joined, even before I joined..." Gray finished. "But, if it is him, how did he find out? A contact?"

Laxus stared, fixated on the ash-covered couch, brows scrunched. "I'm not sure." His eyes pierced through Gray's. "Regardless, we need to keep our eyes peeled. We might have a traitor in our midst."

"What are you going to tell Sting?"

"No sense to keep him in the dark. More sets of eyes, and the more Sting knows, the better he can take care of his people like I can take care of mine."

Gray nodded and was about to leave to meet up with Gajeel.

"Nothing else?" Laxus asked, brows rising.

Gray clenched his jaw before finally admitting, "It's bothering me."

"What?"

"Laxus, she was right in front of me."

The giant hulk of a man was silent. "You don't think she's dead." It was a statement more than a question.

"Chelia, Lucy, and I were the only ones in the clinic. Chelia and I are alive, and she should be too," Gray stated, his fists clenching. "Even if she did die, her body would still be there."

"Taken?"

Gray's suddenly felt nauseous. "There's no way she could move on her own with that broken leg."

"If Tartaros did take her, why did they leave us alive?" Laxus asked.

"Maybe they thought the fire would do the trick."

"Maybe, and maybe she wasn't the only one taken."

Gray rubbed the bridge of his nose and heaved a sigh to calm his erratically beating heart. It didn't help his thoughts were running a mile per minute. The one thought that bugged him the most was that Tartaros was ruthless. And Lucy was a person of interest to them, considering she ran off with Wendy by killing off some of their members in a firefight in a town called Hell. That, and she survived Kyouka and Jackal in a later run-in. She was tough, he knew, but fuck, he was worried.

His train of thought was cut off when Laxus clasped his shoulder. "We'll find them," he said.

Gray swallowed thickly. "Yeah..."

Laxus walked off and headed toward Sting. Gray breathed and walked over to Gajeel. Said man was muttering profanities under his breath while scrounging through debris. He noted a decent amount of M4s and ammo aligned dress-right-dress to the side.

"Not bad," Gray commented, arms crossed. "Didn't think you were the organized type. Levy rubbing off on you, huh?"

A tinge of red appeared on Gajeel's cheek. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." He cleared his throat. "So what the hell was that about?"

Gray moved a large piece of debris. "Nothing, just a hunch."

"Hunch my ass. I know you, Fullbuster."

"Lucy was the one who brought it up actually."

"Blondie?" Gajeel scanned his eyes around. "I know you and Chelia couldn't find her, but do you think-"

Gray was about to respond when his eyes spotted a dust cloud coming their way - fast.

"Gajeel-"

"Yeah, I see it. We can't just get a fucking break, can we?"

"It's the fucking apocalypse, of course not."

They scrambled for leftover weapons and ammunition to make sure they were armed for whoever was heading their way. Gajeel whistled and gave a few hand signals to Erza and Jellal which they acknowledged and then shouted a warning for the whole encampment. Three vehicles suddenly rolled up into the distance in a reverse "V" formation and started shooting.

"What the fuck?!" Minerva cried, diving behind one of their blown-up/rolled-over vehicles.

"Fucking shit," Orga cursed, ducking behind the same vehicle as Minerva.

"Orga, the armory!"

"I'm behind you!"

"I got y'all covered!" Rufus shouted from behind a pile of rubble, using his glock to shoot.

Bullets ricocheted off the cars and whistled by. Gray and Gajeel hastily picked up the M4s and started shooting back full auto in five to seven-second bursts.

"Who the fuck are these guys?!" Sting yelled while shooting his glock and ducking from the remnants of the safehouse.

Laxus alternated with him. "Shoot now, ask questions later!"

"Gajeel," Gray said.

"Yup, yup." Gajeel increased his bursts.

Gray stopped shooting and slung as many loaded M4s as he could over his shoulder.

"Cover me while I move."

"Hurry the fuck up," was all Gajeel said.

Gray gave him the middle finger before proceeding to low crawl to Erza and Jellal as quickly as possible. A few bullets whizzed by, but he kept his focus on reaching the duo. When he was within reach, Jellal grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him behind cover. Bullets pinged against the Jeep they were behind. Gray caught his breath for a few seconds before wordlessly passing Erza and Jellal two M4s he carried. The duo started firing, doing alternating bursts. Gray took that as his cue to dart into behind the remnants of the safe house.

Barging through the door, Laxus and Sting reflexively pointed their guns at him.

"Easy, just brought some gifts." Gray pointed to the last two M4s over his shoulder.

"Thank fuck," Laxus growled.

"Have I told you how much I love you," Sting comically groveled at his feet.

Gray tossed his weapon to Rogue.

"But what about you?" he asked.

Gray patted the glock around his leg. "Besides, going to show the enemy some love with Molotov cocktails."

Laxus smirked. "You might want to hurry up. Minerva might steal the limelight from you. Saw her and Orga beeline for the armory."

As if on cue, Minerva and Orga appeared out of the armory cellar with two fully loaded bazookas. Gray, Sting, Laxus, and Rogue could only watch as they aimed with lethal precision and fired. Explosions ceased the firefight - two of the enemies' cars rocking into the air in flames before crashing back down to the earth. A few seconds of stillness passed. Trained as they were, all closed in and automatically separated into three different groups surrounding the vehicles. Two vehicles that were on fire were cleared first rather quickly and everyone converged on the last vehicle.

Unable to see through the black-tinted windows, the doors were opened but no one was inside.

"Where-" Orga began but did not finish.

Minerva screamed, blood splattering onto her as she watched Orga fall, a hole in his head.

They all whirled around to see a figure try shooting again but the gun in his hand ran out of ammo. The figure cursed and threw the gun before trying to bolt.

"You fucker!" Sting growled angrily, aiming with his M4.

"Sting, don't kill him," Laxus warned. "We need answers."

"Are you fucking kidding me?! He just killed Orga!"

While the two survivor group leaders were arguing, Gray took it upon himself to action what Laxus wanted and instead shot the running man in the leg. The single shot resounded and all was quiet except for the cry of pain that followed.

"Gajeel, Erza, accountability. Everyone else take their lead," Laxus ordered. "You know the drill. Gray, on me."

"Rogue," Sting called.

The four silently walked up to the figure, who was now pitifully limping away.

Sting shot his other leg, and the man cried as he fell helplessly.

As they came upon their attacker, Gray wasn't sure who the hell this man was, but the look Laxus gave him told him everything he needed to know. It was his father, Ivan.

Seeing the shared look, Sting rose a brow. "Y'all know this fucker?"

"Laxus, my boy," Ivan greeted. "You wouldn't kill your father now, would you?"

Sting and Rogue's eyes widened.

Despite the situation, Gray had to hand it to Laxus for keeping his shit together. He was stone cold, with not an inch of emotion on his face.

"No," was Laxus's reply. "But he might."

Eyes wandered to Sting.

"However, before that happens..." Laxus stepped on Ivan's shot knee. A scream of pain followed. "Tell me - were you the one that told them about Wendy."

"Y-Yes," Ivan gurgled out. "It was me."

"How did you find out about Wendy? You weren't even here when she joined the survivor group."

Ivan smiled through the pain, blood dripping down his lips. "With the right amount of persuasion...anyone can be convinced to betray those close to them."

"What did you do?!" Laxus growled.

His father cackled. "It's always easy to convince parents when it comes to their child."

Gray felt his stomach drop. There was only one parent-child combo in their survivor group. Macao and Romeo.

"How long have you had Romeo?" Laxus asked, eyes narrowed and voice barely containing the rage within.

Ivan only smirked.

Laxus grabbed him by the collar. "How long, you sick fucking bastard?!"

"Months." Ivan spat blood from his mouth. "Such a crybaby that one, but he finally ran off and got himself killed or turned, rather. It was easy enough for Macao to think he was still alive."

A deafening silence filled the air, and Gray really thought Laxus was about to kill his father. He wouldn't put it past him either. Surprisingly, Laxus unceremoniously let go of his father's collar and let the man fall to the ground.

"Sting," Laxus called, his voice slightly strangled. "Killing him...would be a mercy."

"Just leave him here to rot," Sting advised, eyes cold as steel. "Not like he can move anywhere. Based on the shit amount of noise we just made, we'll have walkers all over this place within the next hour."

"Let's go," Gray said, walking away. "As Sting said, we don't have much time."

Rogue linked up with him, but Gray could see his murderous gaze and saw the silent man shoot one last look at Ivan.

"I know," was all he said and left it at that.

As they walked away, Ivan screamed out, quite pitifully, to not leave him. They continued walking and didn't look back.

In the next hour, both survivor groups (a total of only nine living people left) quickly collected all they could. From the garage, which was thankfully untouched, Rogue and Rufus drove the last two remaining vehicles out, all good on fuel. The last vehicle was the one untouched in the firefight the enemy came rolling up in, so Gray rolled it up alongside the other two. All vehicles were stuffed with necessities, and Minerva could only scrounge up five Motorolas but was able to find the netted Ooba and her survivor group were using. Jellal and Erza consolidated weapons and remaining ammo. Gajeel siphoned extra fuel, and Chelia packed extra first aid kits and placed one in each car, along with food and drinks.

Gray walked up to Laxus and Sting, who were both looking over a map on the hood of one of the cars.

"Route?" he asked

"Quickest way will be through the interstate," Sting stated.

"High visibility but low usage," Laxus agreed. "Back roads are where weird shit happens. Jellal and Erza already reconned the area, and they said the rendezvous point with Ooba's group will be here." He pointed to a spot on the map. "It's relatively close to Bijou Bayou but not within their scouting perimeter."

Gray crossed his arms and leaned against the car. "How long?"

Sting hummed. "I'd say about nine to ten hours."

"Ooba and Gramps already coordinated," Laxus said. "They're expecting us."

Sting rolled up the map. "Well, no time to waste. We got to move."

"Horshoe around me and Sting," Laxus barked out to the group.

Gray watched as everyone converged, noting how everyone was worn down. Not surprising, considering what they've been through the past twenty-four hours. There wasn't even much time to think about anything else other than finding Lucy, Wendy, and Tartaros.

"We got five Motorolas, internally we're channel fifteen," Sting explained. "Externally with Ooba's survivor group, it's nine. One for me, Rogue, Laxus, Erza, and Gray."

"Lead vehicle will be Erza and Jellal since they've reconned the area and know where the rendezvous point is with Ooba's survivor group," Laxus continued. "Last vehicle is me, Gray, Gajeel, and Chelia."

"Which leaves the middle to us," Sting added, eyes Rogue, Rufus, and Minerva. "Route will be on the interstate - high visibility but low density due to low usage, hence our quickest route."

"Who specifically will be there?" Chelia asked, her voice hopeful.

"Jura, Lyon, Yuka, Toba, and Sherry," Sting informed.

Gray couldn't help but smile when he saw Chelia's face light up. Ooba's survivor group was her original survivor group, and Sherry was her sister after all. Just by seeing this little girl's smile, the rest of the group's spirits seemed to uplift. It was small, but it was a noticeable difference. Like Mira said one time when he first joined Gramps' survivor group: they were all a family and one's happiness was everyone's happiness and one's sadness was everyone's sadness.

"Once we meet up with them," Laxus began, eyes hardening into determination, "Operation Daybreak begins."

Gray loaded his gun, the others doing the same.

Operation Daybreak - find their missing family and storm Bijou Bayou to eliminate Tartaros.

Lucy... Wendy... Hang on, we're coming.


X. This is Goodbye

Lucy was back in her glass cell, the windows opaque, allowing her some sense of privacy. For now.

Her usually bright brown eyes were vacant as she stared at the ceiling. The sight of Wendy so weak, so frail, a human blood bag, kept replaying over and over and over in her head. Especially her eyes. They were so dull, almost lifeless. Lucy wasn't sure if the next time she saw Wendy she'd be alive or not, and it absolutely terrified her.

Then there was Natsu, her best friend. Last she saw, a needle plunged straight into his neck. She wasn't sure if she'd see him again either.

Frustrated tears burned the back of her eyes. Lucy blinked them away stubbornly. Crying would get her nowhere.

To her surprise, the glass of her cell suddenly became transparent. The door beeped and slid open, and Natsu was pushed into her cell unceremoniously.

"You have five minutes," a voice said to him.

The door to her cell closed.

"Fucking prick," Natsu muttered.

"Natsu!" Lucy cried happily.

He smiled softly, almost heartbreakingly so. "Hey Lucy, didn't think I'd see you again, to be honest."

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes once again. "Me either."

Natsu pulled up a stool and sat right next to her. He pulled her blanket down and frowned when he saw the leather bonds. Lucy wriggled her fingers, and Natsu wordlessly held her hand and squeezed. She sniffled and squeezed right back.

"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly.

"I'm...I'm the next trial."

She wasn't entirely sure what that entailed, but her stomach dropped nonetheless. "What do you mean?"

"Luce..." He rubbed his face, a deep, defeated sigh escaping his lips. "Failures are one hundred percent. All the walkers you've seen here...were just like you and me. They were kind enough to grant me my last wish."

Her breathing became shallow. It felt like the very world sat on her chest. "Natsu..." Her voice was so weak, shaky - like she was about to break.

"I came to say goodbye..."

Her eyes were wide, frantic. "No, no, no, no, no!"

He smiled, and she desperately wished she could hug him. "I'm just happy I was able to see you one more time."

She sobbed, barely finding the strength in her voice. "M-Me too..."

Natsu's thumb softly stroked the back of her hand. "I know you and me never would've worked out, but I had a bastard friend of mine that I think you would have liked."

Lucy gave a short broken laugh. "Yeah?"

"Yeah..."

"What makes you say that?"

He chuckled. "I don't know. Call it a hunch."

The door to her cell beeped and slid open.

"Shit, already?" Natsu tched. He immediately stood up, and to Lucy's surprise, he leaned over, completely blocking the scientists' view, and kissed her on the forehead. The warmth of his hand was replaced by something cold. "Scalpel," Natsu whispered in her ear and covered her with the blanket once more.

He was forcibly yanked off of her and dragged out of her cell.

"Natsu!" she cried.

He gave her a toothy grin and winked at her.

The door to her cell beeped once again and slid closed, the glass walls of her cells turning opaque once again. The quiet was disrupted by her breathing. Her fingers clenched around the cold scalpel in her hand as she determined her odds. She was a survivor, and she'd rather go down fighting than accept her fate as a lab rat.

Lucy started cutting the leather.


XI. Operation Daybreak

Gray rammed his gun into the unsuspecting head of the last Tartaros perimeter guard.

"Fairy Seven, this is Fairy Six, status on the last target," Laxus' voice crackled over the Motorola.

"Target neutralized," Gray replied.

"Roger, good copy."

Jura's voice came up on the net. "Fairy Six, Fairy Seven, Saber Seven, this is Lamia Six, are your teams ready?"

"Saber Seven, first-floor team, ready," Rogue responded.

"Fairy Six, basement team one, ready," Laxus followed.

"Fairy Seven, basement team two, ready," Gray said.

"Roger," Jura grunted. "Lamia Six, second-floor team, ready. On my signal."

Gray eyed the mansion from afar. If it weren't for the roving guards, he would have never guessed this place was occupied - it looked completely abandoned. Thanks to Ooba's survivor group, specifically their intel and recon team, they were able to collect data, as well as interrogate a few Tartaros members who wouldn't be missed. It still boggled his mind how that old lady was able to...persuade them to give up floorplans of the place, but he decided it would be best if no one knew the specifics.

Gajeel grumbled beside him. "This place is going to be a fucking bitch to clear. Just had to be a mansion, didn't it? Doesn't help we sat in a car for about ten hours. I'm stiff as hell."

"Well, get un-stiff or I'll crack your joints for you," Erza stated, eyes narrowed. "Let's not forget it has two underground levels"

Gajeel frowned, casting her a wide-eyed glance. "I got it, thanks. Don't need you breaking my body." He cracked his neck twice. "Not ready to see what fuckery these Tartaros shits have been up to."

"Me either," Gray sighed. "As Ooba said, whoever they've been bringing has never been seen again. Not sure what that exactly means, but all I know is we need to save as many people as we can, not just Lucy and Wendy."

They quieted as they watched Jura's second-floor team bust open the door.

"Entrance clear," he said over the Motorola. "Lamia Six heading to second-floor. Go ahead, Saber Seven."

Rogue's first-floor team methodically entered. "Fairy Six, Fairy Seven, clearing areas around the entrance to underground levels."

Gray led Gajeel and Erza - he saw Laxus do the same with his team - to the front porch and tactically knelt on one knee, waiting for the go-ahead. It was silent save for the evening cicadas; however, despite their incessant sound, the only thing Gray could hear was his thundering heartbeat in his ears. His foot was lightly tapping the floor, jaw clenched, and his finger just above the trigger well of his rifle... He noticed Gajeel put his fingerless gloves on and began cracking his joints restlessly while Erza's knuckles were white from clenching the hilt of her sword.

It was an agonizing five minutes before they heard it.

"Fairy Six, Fairy Seven, all clear. Free to move underground. We'll be right behind you."

They all lunged into action - precise, efficient, no movement went to waste. They couldn't afford mistakes. All Gray heard was the thundering in his heart as they reached the stairs. His eyes caught Laxus' before breaking into separate teams to their designated floors. Gray led the way down, Erza and Gajeel close behind, followed by Rogue's team. It felt forever before they reached the bottom and opened the double doors.

All Gray saw was white. He squinted, as it was painfully stark and bright.

"Jesus fuck, my eyes," Gajeel groaned.

Erza only hissed in complaint.

It wasn't long before they collected themselves and began moving toward the center. They came to an intersection in the hallway, and Gray motioned to Rogue they were heading straight to the center. Rogue nodded and veered his team off to the hallway on the right.

All was quiet until they passed the first cell - a woman in a plain gown was screaming - it was muted - but her banging on the glass wasn't. He noticed the bite mark on the woman's arm, but it was the eyes that got him. She was crying tears of blood. Infected. It wouldn't be long before the woman completely turned.

"Keep moving," Gray ordered.

They passed more and more cells, and Gray felt a cold chill travel down his spine, realizing just what exactly Tartaros has been up to. Fear sat in his gut, and his breathing became shallow.

"They... They're all experiments," Erza voiced his thoughts in a harsh whisper. "Lab rats..." The disgust was clear in her voice, but he could also hear the tone of barely contained rage. "Wendy..."

"They're probably using her blood and draining her," Gajeel growled. "These fuckers..."

"Any cells with those not infected, we get them out," Gray said.

"I don't see Wendy or Lucy anywhere," Erza stated worriedly.

Gray withheld his slight panic. "We need to keep heading to the center. According to Ooba's intel, the new..." He didn't want to say experiments. It felt wrong on his tongue and the need to throw up climbed in his throat. "The newer personnel are towards the center," he managed.

"Shit," Gajeel cursed. "Incoming!"

Three men with guns appeared before them, but before they could even fire, Erza threw three knives, which were now buried in their necks. One was stubborn and kept crawling, trying desperately to reach for the emergency button on the wall. Gajeel shot him, as well as the other two in the head, so they wouldn't reanimate. More shouts were heard further down the hall.

Gray aimed high and ready. "Looks like the party's about to start."

"Gi-hi, about time," Gajeel commented. "I knew it was too damn quiet."

Erza's eyes were dark. "I really want to use the grenade."

Gray sighed. "Erza, we've been over this..."

She rolled her eyes, locking and loading her AR. "Yes, yes, I know. We're underground and only for last resort on the way out."

Gray was about to respond, but the firefight began.

.

.

.

The telltale beep of Lucy's cell door had her halt her frantic cutting movements. Her hands were free now, and she finished cutting through the one over her waist, but her legs... She cursed under her breath and re-situated herself before her cell door opened and in walked some nameless assistants.

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded, fists clenched.

They ignored her, but Lucy remembered the way they took to the center. They pushed through the double doors, and she spotted Mard Geer. He flashed her a sickly smile and an involuntary shiver ran down her spine.

"Good of you to join us," he greeted.

She frowned. "Not like I had a choice."

The nameless assistants forced her bed into a sitting position and lowered her bad leg back onto the bed...so she could see. Her eyes immediately wandered to where Wendy was lying on the metallic table, getting closer and closer to the brink of death. Her breathing was so very shallow that upon first glance Lucy really thought she had lost her, but the bluenette twitched and relief filled her.

"Why am I here?" she whispered, eyes closed in anguish.

"It's been twenty-three hours," Mard Geer explained. "I thought you'd like to see him in his last."

"Lucky girl," Kyouka cooed.

Jackal sneered. "She should have been in there with him."

Lucy's head jolted up. "...Natsu?"

They turn her around. Her eyes widen in shock. Her best friend was huddled in the corner of a viewing cell. He was covered in dried blood, and three walkers surrounded him, dead on the floor, their heads smashed in. However, one thing stood out - the festering bite wound on his arm. He looked up and tears of blood dripped down his face.

"Sayla," Mard Geer called.

The woman who was taking notes stopped. "The next forty-five to fifty minutes are crucial. If test subject seventy-seven dies and then reanimates like the rest, we fail. If he lives and beats the infection, it's a success."

"No matter the result..." Mard Geer leaned down and whispered in Lucy's ear, causing her to shudder: "You're next."

Before Lucy could even register the vile man's words, an alarm blared and the emergency red light began flashing.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Mard Geer demanded.

Sayla pulled up the security video images. "We've been infiltrated. They're already in the underground levels."

"What the fuck?" Jackal growled. "And we're just finding out now?!"

"How close are they?" Kyouka asked.

Bursts of gunfire could be heard closing in.

"Shit!" Sayla cursed.

Lucy tensed as she felt Jackal's hand clamp around her neck. He leaned over threateningly. From the corner of her eye, Lucy saw Kyouka pull a knife to Wendy's throat. Seconds later, to Lucy's utter surprise, Gray, Gajeel, and Erza burst in, and she couldn't help but think maybe she was dreaming because it was too good to be true.

"Move one muscle and they're dead," Kyouka snarled.

Erza had her gun aimed at Kyouka, Gajeel had his two glocks aimed at Kyouka and Jackal respectively, and Gray had his aimed at Mard Geer. They didn't move, but when Kyouka pressed the knife harder into Wendy's neck, a broken whimper escaped her while Lucy started choking because of Jackal's vice grip. Lucy tried to say something - anything - and she even tried shaking her head because she could see their hesitation.

Laxus, Jellal, and Sting burst onto the scene.

"Wendy!" Jellal cried desperately.

"I said don't move," Kyouka hissed.

"Fuck," Laxus cursed, seeming to realize just how bad of a position they were in.

Lucy could see it in his eyes. He would tell them to lower their guns. She had to do something. Now. She gripped the metallic scalpel in her hand. With the last of her strength, Lucy quickly ripped the blanket off her body and thrust the scalpel into Jackal's eye.

He screamed in pain, immediately releasing her. His hands covered his eye, blood spurting through and dripping everywhere. Some got on her hand and hair, but she didn't care. That distraction was enough, and gunshots rang out. Lucy coughed, rubbing her sore neck, as she saw them all fall to the ground. Dead.

Jellal sped by her to Wendy while Gray immediately went to her. Erza and Gajeel opened Natsu's cell.

"Shit, Lucy, are you okay?!"

She couldn't find her voice yet, but...he was already undoing the rest of her bonds and then began looking her over for injuries. This feeling... She wasn't sure as to what it was, but it was overwhelming. Tears freely flowed down her cheeks. He was saying something, inspecting her face, tilting it from one side to the other, wiping away her tears. This had to be a dream.

"You came," she whispered, voice hoarse.

Gray wiped away another tear. "Yeah, I'm here."

"Is Wendy?"

"She'll be okay. Don't worry."

"And... And Natsu?"

"...We'll see."

Lucy threw her arms around him, her head buried in the crook of his neck. Gray seemed to have stiffened for a moment but relaxed. He lifted her off the bed she was imprisoned on for who-knows-how-long and into his arms. He slid to the ground, and she fully collapsed against him.

"You're not a dream, are you?" she asked quietly.

"I'm not a dream," Gray reassured.

In all the chaos and loudness surrounding them, Lucy heard nothing but the strong beat of his heart.

"Thank you," Lucy murmured softly.

"I kept my promise," he eventually said. "Told you I would."

She gave a tearful smile. "Yeah, you did..."

Lucy's eyes felt heavy. Deep in her bones, she was exhausted, but she tried to fight it.

Gray chuckled. "Close your eyes, Lucy. You're safe. I got you."

And so she fell asleep easily, her last thought that he was of healing and home.


A/N: AAANDDDDDD, it is done. So...what're y'all's thoughts? Any requests? If you want to request me to write something for Red String of Fate, please go ahead and PM me. If you left it in the comments, I'll try and look for it, but PMing would be easier. This request came from guest reader and reviewer Zeus! Don't be shy! I don't bite! Anyway, hope everyone is being safe and staying healthy :)

Hope you liked it!