-:- CHAPTER 4 -:-

I opened my eyes. I could see Jorge packing a bag in the corner of he room. Behind him I see Julian savaging through boxes for any sort of food in storage. I tried to sit up but my head started to throb badly. I laid back down and watched them try to find the equipment needed for...something. Jorge strapped a couple of guns to his pants and so did Julian. I just laid there. Jorge strapped the book bag to his shoulder and walked over to me. "Fox, you awake?"

I opened my eyes fully, "Yeah I'm awake."

"Come on, we're leaving this place and trying to get out of here."

I just looked at him. I couldn't really move. My head was killing me. I just laid there. Julian hovered over me and Jorge, "Come on, while its still quiet." he said.

Jorge looked at me concerned, "Can you even stand?"

I shook my head. He gave a slight smile and picked me up, "I cant carry you, you know that. I have to keep watch."

I smiled as he gently put me down. As soon as he did, Julian's hands went around my waist, "Now now, don't let the little sugar fall."

I looked at him and smiled. I didn't understand what was going on. We were leaving. Both guys were being nice to me. Is it because I'm a girl? Or is it because I'm young? I looked over at Jorge, who was eyeing Julian with a strange look. I didn't think any of it and stood behind Julian once he let me go. Jorge hissed and slowly opened the door. "Wait," Julian said and turned to me, "Here, take this, its a regular handgun, all you need to do is fire."

I took the hand gun within my grasp and stared at it. Did I really need a gun? Was this going to be exactly like Raccoon City? What about my family? What's going to happen to me? oh my god... I don't think I can handle this - " Foxy, come on."

Jorge grabbed my arm. I looked at him, before i fell to my knees. A tear fell from my eye. "Foxy, look at me." ( I did ), "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Don't you worry. Okay?" I nodded. He helped me stand and I followed him toward Julian. Julian looked at us, sighed, then slowly opened the basement door.

It was eerie within the department. Most lights were shot out and the only ones working were blinking and moving unsteadily. Julian walked ahead, me walking behind him and jorge behind me. There were no sounds what so ever. Except falling water from the broken bathroom. Walking up the stairs, I stepped on puddles of dried and fresh blood. I swallowed hard, trying not to throw up the food I didn't even eat yet. I looked ahead at Julian, who was walking with caution, staring at everything that moved and didn't move. I looked back at Jorge, who was on constant with from anything that may have emerged from behind. I gave a small sigh and continued to follow. Once out of the stair case, we were in the middle of the lobby. The front entrance was straight down the hall. Julian and Jorge made a quick stop and looked around. There was still nothing. "This is weird," Jorge whispered, turning around, "Just yesterday this place was full of zombies... but today... they're not here. I don't understand."

I agreed. Where were all the zombies. (God, I hate that word). "Maybe we should just leave, who knows, they might be sleeping." I said.

"Nice thought, Sugar Fox, but zombies don't sleep... I think." Julian said.

I looked at him. 'sugar Fox?' I let it go, following him towards the front door. a groan came from beside me. "Jorge?" I said, "Did you hear that?"

He looked at me, "I did... but i don't know where it came from." I nodded. Julian looked at us and laughed, "Then ignore it. Its probably in one of the rooms beside us. You never know." I nodded to that too. Jorge gave a loud grunt and a hard stern look at Julian. Julian gave the look back, "Something wrong with what I said?" he asked. Jorge looked away, as if continuing to keep look-out. I sighed. They're fighting. Great.

Julian reach for the entrance doors when a zombie jumped from the right of and tackled him to the floor. I screamed. There was a zombie! Jorge ran toward Julian, kicking the zombie off of him. As the zombie flew off, another zombie tackled Jorge to the ground. I backed into a wall, not knowing what to do. Sliding onto the floor, a grabbed my knees, staring at the handgun. Should I shoot?

Jorge pushed the zombie off of him, he grabbed his magnum, shooting the zombie in the head. Julian hissed and screamed, struggling as the one zombie grabbed and pulled at his leg. I watched as Jorge grunted and stood, and shot the zombie in the neck. The zombie laid motionless on the ground. Julian stood, gave a small limp, then gained balance. "What was that!" Jorge yelled at him.

I stood, leaning against the wall for support. Julian swiped a loose hair strand back and sighed, "It was attacking me." Jorge pushed him against the wall, "Are you really that stupid! If it bit you! I would kill you right now without thinking!" Julian laughed.

I walked forward and put a hand on Jorge's shoulder, "Its ok, Jorge. Let him go."

"No, Its not okay. He's going to get us killed because he's careless!"

"Now now, listen to the little sugar, I'm not careless, it was attacking me, there was nothing I could do."

"IT WAS ATTACKING YOUR FOOT YOU LITTLE-"

"Jorge!" I pulled him away from his and grabbed him in a hug. I really didn't know if that was necessary, but I needed to do something. Before I knew it, Jorge was panting on my shoulder, calming down. I looked at Julian, who gave Jorge a stern look and sighed walking out the main door. I tried to let Jorge go, but he wouldn't release me. "Jorge," I whispered, "come on." He looked at me and quickly let go, "I'm sorry." he said.

He moved aside as I walked to follow Julian. Outside was light out. Yet, I wish it wasn't. Over turned cars. Bloody, mangled bodies. Old fires still burning. I didn't know how to handle it. I fought back tears and continued to follow Julian. distant groans were carried upon the air. I clutched my handgun. I lowered my head and thought as i continued to follow. (why didn't I shoot? Why am I still carrying this thing? I don't even use it. If they die...its my fault. I'm useless to them. So much for being a bad kid, so much for fighting and robbing, I've never used a gun, and I never will I guess. I'll die before I can even lift up the gun to aim. I'm horrible... Just Horrible... I don't think-) Jorge bumped into me. I didn't realize that I stopped walking in my chain of thoughts. Jorge put a hand on my shoulder, "Are you okay?"

I looked at him, "I'm fine. I think."

Julian turned around and looked at us, "Alright, I'm getting tired of this. Look Sugar Fox, you're cute and all, but don't slow us down, you understand?"

I was confused. Was he trying to be nice to me? Or tell me off in a nice way? Jorge gave him a hard look, "What the hell is the matter with you? She's never seen a zombie, let alone any real fight."

"She's always been in jail. I should take it that she's been through a lot of shit."

"Hey! Just for you to know, the 'shit' she did was small things."

"Jorge...its ok." I stepped between them, "Lets just go." I didn't want them fighting over something i didn't or did do. I didn't shoot the gun, Maybe that's why Julian was acting this way. But he was also being an asshole. I didn't know how to react to that. So I guessed if I just let it go, nothing bad would happen. I followed Julian again. Just then, the air got cold. The groans that were being carried around the air were getting louder. "Jorge," I said, "What are we going to do?"

"We're going to the train station and get a train to get out of here."

I nodded. Sounded like a good plan.

The groans were getting to louder. I gulped but let it go. If Julian and Jorge showed no reaction to it, neither should I, right? Just then, a pack of zombies turned the street corner toward us. I stopped dead, grasping the handgun harder than ever. "Alright! Here's are chance!" Julian yelled, "we're going to fight our way through them and grab us a car."

I stared at him for a bit. A car? I can hotwire a car! "Jorge!" I said, "I can hotwire! You guys fight off the zombies while I get us a car!"

Jorge nodded. Julian and Jorge ran off toward the zombies. I stood and watched them for a bit. From the looks of it, Jorge looked more experienced. That group he said he had joined with his cousin, must have been true. The fighting techniques he used, the way he handled the gun, it was amazing. Like watching a horror game being played by an expert player. (wow). But Julian... for an Umbrella X officer, he wasn't all that great. He had lack of... well... he had a lack of Jorge... And-

A zombie hit me in the back of the head, knocking me to the ground knocking me out of thought. I stared at it as it hovered over me, groaning, struggling, as if it didn't see me. It cant see me... it didn't know I fell. It doesn't know I'm below it. Taking it to my advantage, I slowly crawled away from it, my heart pounding in my chest. Eyeing it carefully, I then jumped up and ran for an abandoned Red Cavalier. The window was halfway open (yes! Luck!) i slipped my arm halfway inside, unlocking the door. Quickly jumping inside, I gave a quick look around to see if any "unwanted passengers" were inside with me. With that I closed the window and reached below, breaking open the cover under the steering wheel. A zombie crashed at the window. I jumped, hitting the back of my neck on the steering wheel. Ignoring the throbbing pain i was feeling, I continued to fiddle with the wires. A few more zombies surrounded the car. I gulped, breathing rapidly. (please, start, please baby. come on, just start for me). The car gave a hum, sputtered, then died. I began to panic. The noise of the car attracted more zombies to me. One of them plowed through the back window. Screaming out of my mind, I fiddled more rapidly with the wires, (come on! start for me, please start for me!) The car gave another sputtered, died, yet another sputter and started! "Woo!" I cheered ad put my foot on the peddle, slamming through all the zombies in my path. I drove up to where Jorge and Julian were shooting and stopped the car. "get in!" I yelled.

Jorge jumped into the car. "Come on Julian!" I yelled.

Julian turned to face the car, dripping in sweat. He ran for it and jumped in, "go! Go!" he yelled.

A pressed my foot on the gas pedal, flooring it. Wham! BAM! I hit one, two, three zombies in a line. Using a gun may have been hard for me. but ramming things with a car is easy. "Wow, Fox. You're doing great." Jorge said.

"Why Yes, Sugar Fox, You're doing fine, "Julian said between pants. There was something about him that I wasn't happy with. At first site, he seemed like a great guy. The looks, the talk. But now, he's talking different, he isn't living up to the way I portrayed him. I gave a small sigh and continued driving. (We're out of the department and into the city. Wow... I've lived this far. will I get to go farther?)

:.:.:.:.:..:.:.:.:..:..:.: 2 HOURS LATER:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:..:.:.:.:..

"Guys, The car is low on gas." I said.

I looked in the back seat. Julian was sleeping and dripping in sweat. I looked over at Jorge who was sleeping as well. (were they sleeping when I was?) I thought. I figured they need their rest. I looked around as I drove, then back at the gas gauge. It was near empty. (Gas Station). I looked up and saw a station near ahead. Yet, surrounded by dogs... weird looking dogs. I drove slower, trying not to catch their attention. I looked at the gas gauge again. It was closer to empty than I had thought. The little green "E" was blinking. (Oh My God) I thought. I looked up at the gas station again, "what the hell am I going to do?". I stopped the car for a bit, (Should I hotwire another car or keep going with this one?) Then it hit me... I cant fill this one up. I hotwired it... I cant fill it up. i looked around once more, eyeing out for another good car. As I did, the dogs were walking toward the sound of the engine buzzing. I didn't know what to do. "Jorge," I whispered, "Jorge, wake up, please." His eyes gave a slight flutter, "Jorge, wake up. Please. Tell me what to do."

He gave a little stretch and looked at me, "What?" he said.

I pointed out the window at the group of dogs coming toward the car. "Drive off." He said. I then pointed at the gas gauge and the blinking green "E". His eyes widened a bit, "Oh. Drive off as much as you can."

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"No. Let me think."

He sat steadily in the back seat, his head in his hands. I looked at Julian, who still, was sleeping. "Get out of the car. hot wire another one. I'll drive off with this one. and you come get us with the next car."

"Are you serious about that too?"

"No," he said. I sighed. then I looked ahead, "Look. Threes a supermarket ahead of here. If we can make it, we can take shelter in there, cant we?"

"A supermarket? Maybe. Is there any where else smaller than a supermarket?"

"I think." I said. This was frustrating. The dogs were directly in front of the car, listening to it hum, buzz and give slight sputters. Jorge looked out the window then at me, " There's a corner candy shop nearby. I think straight ahead, maybe about a block. I drove by their a couple of months ago. Maybe its still there." he said.

I smiled," Maybe." I said.

I put the car back into drive and ran over about 4 dogs. I gave another cheer. Despite the fact that in the corner of my mind i felt as if i was going to die, killing things made me feel better. Like... I was doing something. smiling to myself, I continued to drive. "There it is!" Jorge said.

I looked ahead and saw a small shop that said, "CHARELETTEE'S CANDIEES". I felt relieved that it was there. I parked the car in front of it, pulling at the wires till it turned off. I looked back at Jorge, who was getting the book bags and his gun. I fully turned around in my seat and gave Julian a slight smack, "Wake up, sleep head." I said.

He hissed, groaned, gave a slight grimace and opened his eyes. When he saw me, he smiled. I smiled back. "Hey Sugar Fox, Nice seeing you."

Jorge got out o the car slightly annoyed, "Yeah, nice to see you woke up." he said.

I sighed. (They're going to eat at each other soon) I thought. I grabbed my handgun, pulled up my falling pants and got out of the car. I didn't nearby groaning. That made me relieved. I followed Jorge inside the candy store, with Julian following me. Inside, it was quiet, not much destruction. As if, no one was here when it happened. I gave a slight sigh and sat down in one of the stools. Jorge went to the back room and came back, giving me a nod of approval. It was a perfect place to stay. Nothing was around except for wrapped candies. I laid my head on the counter. All I wanted was to sleep. Just sleep...