The highway to Bowson is clear. All the abandoned cars have been pushed to the side of the road and into the ditches. Piles of glass, spent casings and chunks of rubber tire have been swept to the shoulders, and a series of police barricades and military fencing have been torn down. Charred remains of shamblers, patches of yellow cake from croakers and decaying bodies of people who have chunks of flesh stripped down to the bone are scattered all throughout little makeshift graves that have recently been dug.

It looks like whoever is at the evac center actually won against the overwhelming odds. However, that means the residents have to be formed primarily out of military personal. If that's the case, then I'll drop the kids off at the front gate, give them the ring and get the hell back to the house before they drag my ass onto a chopper and ship me to Fort Sill or Tinker.

"You going to be okay?" The brother asks.

"I think so, but it hurts so much." The sister replies.

"Hey mister, what's your name?" The brother asks.

"Matt."

"Thank you Matt."

"Don't mention it."

The boy sits down behind the passenger's seat and props his sister's head up on his lap. "I'm Ian, and this is my sister Chole."

"What were you doing at our house?" Chole asks.

"Trying to find food and water for my family." I reply.

"Your family is still alive?" Ian asks.

"Yeah. I got to go back to them once I get you and your sister to Bowson."

"What about your friends?"

"That is my family." I answer Chole.

"Oh…I'm sorry." Chole answers.

"Do you have someone in Bowson that can take care of you?"

"Yeah. Our aunt and uncle are there. They sent some guys to bring us to them, but that's when…" Chole clears the sadness in her throat.

"It's okay, sweetheart. It'll all be over soon." I reply as the distant brick buildings of downtown Bowson poke out of the rural area.

The fortifications surrounding the entrance to Bowson become much more crude. Cattletrops take the place of the military grade razor wire, and the police barricades are used sparingly as totaled cars, semi-trucks and even destroyed military vehicles form the main line of defense. The number of human corpses dwindle, and a majority of the bodies are replaced with shamblers or croakers.

There is a crashed chinook off to the left of the road. Judging by the way the helicopter landed, it was an emergency landing. The rotors are still intact, and the doors are still attached. The only visible damage was from the landing itself because the landing gears are broken off and scattered around the chopper. Either it ran out of fuel or suffered some kind of mechanical problem.

The highway turns from asphalt to brick as the entrance into downtown is blocked off by a makeshift checkpoint. An actual soldier and some guy dressed in regular clothing guard the main way in. The soldier, and the man motion for me to stop. Air flows into my left ear and rattles my brain as the both of them approach me. I squeeze the steering wheel and grind my teeth from the crushing anxiety that's racking the inside of my head.

The soldier puts his rifle away and slows his pace as the civilian stays ready just in case something happens. The soldier approaches the busted-out window, but keeps his distance.

"Sir, are you here for the evacuation?"

"N…No…but the people in the back are. They're the judge's kids."

"The judge that lived on Brewster? Where is everyone else?"

"I don't know, but I found these kids, and they told me to bring them here. They'll be able to tell you more than I could."

"It's true! This guy saved me and my sister!" Ian yells. The soldier looks through the back and sees Chole bleeding and in pain.

"What happened to her?"

"Someone stabbed her. I don't know how serious it is, but she needs a doctor." I answer.

The soldier, and the civilian walk back to the entrance and converse with the man on the catwalk. More air rushes over my brain. I grab my revolver and keep it out of sight just in case. Both men come back around the corner and urge me to come forward. The gate opens up and several people push it out of the way.

"Go on and take the kids in. The surgeon's tent is just up ahead. They'll be able to help you." The soldier says.

"Thank you." I reply as I shift up and pull into Bowson.

I was supposed to give that ring to those men up front to prove that I was sent here by an actual member of this town, but it felt like if I did, they might get the impression that I killed him, and that would cause even more problems than the ones we're facing now.

Unlike Coaltown and West Side, this place hasn't been razed and destroyed. Most of the glass in the buildings are still intact. People of all ages sit inside the buildings and eat along side with off duty soldiers and police officers. It's not one branch of the military either. The National Guard, Army, Marines, and even the Navy are here.

The guys patrolling the roof make me uneasy, but it doesn't seem like they're too worried about me. A small group of people are following behind the jeep, but their weapons are holstered. It's putting me on edge, but they would have done something already if they wanted us dead.

Up ahead is an urgent care center. Right beside it is a series of olive drab tents that circle the brick building. That's definitely the M.A.S.H center. There are some civilian sentries posted at the front of the camp. One of them turns around and says something to the guy behind him. He shakes his head and runs off into the camp. That's probably the messenger. I park right where the concrete trail leads through the middle of camp.

Several men and women, both military and civilian make their way towards us. The sound of a tea pot hissing in my ears grows in volume. They're not going to hurt us. They would have already killed me if they wanted me dead. I squeeze the steering wheel and get myself together. They have stretchers, trauma kits and are prepared for paramedic work.

"Are you okay Matt?" Ian asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a really bad headache right now." I reply as the wind stops blowing and everything returns to normal.

I stuff the revolver in the back of my pants, sling my rifle over my shoulder and get out of the vehicle. Ian eases out the back door and tries to help Chole out. She's doing everything she can to keep weight off her stomach.

Ian backs away and lets the group of medics evaluate the situation. Ian comes around the vehicle and hides behind me as they ask Chole a series of questions. They fold out the stretcher and sterilize it with a disinfectant spray bottle. The more experienced medics help Chole onto the stretcher and roll her down the concrete trail.

"Are you alright sir?" A woman dressed in a navy uniform asks me. She's got a medic patch on her shoulder.

"Yeah…I'm fine."

"Are you sure, because you don't look fine."

"I'm just trying to process everything that's happened and what's going on right now. The boy here might need some attention though." I reply.

The nurse realizes all the dried blood on Ian's hands and his shirt and slowly approaches him, "Come with me, and we'll get you looked at."

"Only if Matt comes."

"Sure. I can stay a couple more minutes before heading out."

"You're not staying?" The woman asks.

"I have a family to get back too." I reply as we follow the medic into the surgeon's camp. She opens a hermetically sealed tent and holds it open. "what's your name?"

"Ian."

"I'm Officer Sasha, and I'll be your corpsman. Are you in any pain?" She asks Ian as she washes her hands and puts on a pair of sterile gloves. Ian locks up and stares directly across the room at a reflection in the mirror.

"Ian? Can you talk?"

"Yeah…I'm okay."

I don't know what's going on in his mind, but it's easy to tell he's disturbed. The realization of the atrocities committed against his parents and sister are probably setting in. Not to mention what he did back at the house. Yes, that guy tried to attack him, and it was warranted, but it doesn't make it any easier. Even if it can be suppressed for the time being, it comes back. Every person killed feels like another notch that should be in a belt, and any semblance of joy is quelled to the point that it feels nonexistent.

Ian tenses up and tries to hold his breath. Sasha gently puts her hands on Ian's face and looks him in the eyes, "Listen to me Ian, I need you to calm down and breathe. Deep breaths."

He closes his eyes and slows his breathing. Emotional pain chops Ian's attempts to properly take deep breaths. A couple of tears squeeze in between his eyelids as a male nurse examines Ian's body for any injuries. Unlike Sasha, this man is dressed like a civilian nurse rather than one from the military.

"What did you do to your hand?" He asks.

"Wha…"

"Do you have any cuts on your hand?"

"No…The blood…that's not mine." Ian stutters.

"Listen Ian, you're safe now. There's nothing to worry about." Sasha replies with a reassuring voice.

"Is my sister okay?" Ian whimpers.

"Your sister's injuries are being evaluated and treated as we speak, and you'll be able to see her once we clear you for release."

"Where is she?"

"She's in tent 35."

Sasha, and the male nurse clean Ian up and ask a series of medical questions regarding pain throughout the body. All of which Ian replies no. The male nurse gives the boy a new set of clothes and urges everyone to leave while he changes. At this point, there's no need for a reward. The job is done, and all I want to do is see Kate, and the others.

"Matt! You're not leaving yet, are you?" Ian asks as he bursts out of the tent with nothing but his shorts on.

"I plan on it."

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Chole though?" He folds his shirt up and pokes his head out of the neck hole.

As bad as I really want to leave, maybe I should at least say goodbye. "Sure. Let's go see your sister."

I follow Ian down the aisle and look for 35. Ian was in tent 23, so Chole must be at the end. Most of the tents are empty, but some house injured people. Inside tent 29 sits a man staring directly out the entrance towards us. The left side of his face looks like it's missing a layer of flesh. All around the outline of the wound is a black mark that looks like damage from some kind of fire.

"I was the only one…I was the only one… It's my fault… it's my fault…" The man repeats to himself as a doctor and nurse dress and treat the wound. Ian looks into the tent, but I put my hand on his back and urge him to keep moving.

"Let's keep going."

"But that man, why was he saying those things?"

"It's not important. We're here to see Chole."

The entrance to tent 35 is still open. Chole is laying on an operating table while a doctor cuts through the bandages wrapped around her stomach. Chole grimaces in pain as the doctor sprays alcohol where Blair cut her. A look of shock comes over his face, but he hides his reaction to Chole's new tattoo and checks to see if she might need sutures.

What Blair cut into her forces me to sigh. The son of a bitch carved a crooked symbol of impurity into her stomach. He was serious about what he wanted done to this girl. Even though Grey refused, Blair would have found someone to finish the job. The tattoo Blair gave me aches and tingles. Almost like he is writing the word TraIToR all over again.

"Well Chole, I don't think you'll need stitches because the lacerations stopped bleeding after pressure was applied. I will clean the wound out and seal it up with some super glue. You'll have to stay here for the night so we can watch if it bleeds through, but I doubt it will."

"What…did he do to me?" Chole asks as she tries to lean up and look at the impurity symbol.

"I need you to stay still. You don't want stitches, do you?" The doctor asks.

"Not really." Chole replies as she lays back down.

The doctor deep cleans the wounds, glues it shut and cleans again. She shouldn't have to worry about getting an infection because the doctor used almost half a bottle of alcohol to clean her up. The doctor washes his hands and exits the tent, "I'm done if you want to see her."

Ian wastes no time and rushes in to be by his sister's side. I enter the tent and sit in a visitor's chair that's across from the operating table. Ian takes a hold of his sister's hand and comforts her.

"Ian? Chloe?" A soft feminine voice eases through the front entrance. Her hair is almost the same color as Chole's, and they even have the same eye color. The woman barges into the tent and hovers over Chole as this man follows her in.

"Aunt Maggie? Is that you?" Chole asks.

"Yeah, it's me. Where's your parents? Where's the escort?"

Ian and Chole both sniffle, but they point at me, "He was the escort, and the one that saved our lives."

"What happened to my sister? Do you have any idea what happened to her?" Maggie pleas.

I put my hand on my forehead, and lean forward to give the impression that I know the answer but don't want to answer. Maggie puts her hand over her mouth and collapses to the ground. The man moves over and tries to console her. He's not wearing a uniform, but he does have a military badge with a Lieutenant rank.

"I tried Aunt Maggie, but there were just too many of them. If I wouldn't have met Matt, then Chole and I would probably be dead too." Ian says.

I could give them the ring, but that might give them the impression that I'm some kind of bandit rather than some random stranger that saved their niece and nephew. Maggie's husband whispers in her ear. I can't hear the whole statement, but he says something about my eyes and makes a statement about shells and shock.

"Doctor?"

"Yes Lieutenant?"

"I need you to get me a bottle of paroxetine."

"Yes sir."

The doctor opens a medicine cabinet and pulls out a white bottle. The rattling of the pills shakes my brain and takes me back to all the arguments I had with my parents in the past. The memory hops to that day everything happened at the school. All the bodies and bloodstained hallways. All the people I couldn't save. I fight off the emotions before the past can take a hold. However, it's getting more and more difficult to control what's swelling within. The more I see, the easier it gets to lose control.

"Something for the anxiety. It won't make the problem go away, but it will help if things feel like they're getting out of control." The doctor says as he hands the pills out.

The instructions on the bottle say that one ten milligram tablet a day is recommended, but not to take more than three pills a day. This paroxetine must be some kind of antidepressant. I stick it in my backpack regardless of how it makes me feel. It doesn't seem like a pill is just going to solve all my problems. I of all people know that by heart.

"I know things haven't been easy, but if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask." The Lieutenant states.

"I'll keep that in mind." I reply.

"What was your name again?"

"Matt Slater."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, thank you Matt." Chole says.

"As much as Chole and I want you to stay, I know you want to get back to your family." Ian adds.

"We're going to miss you Matt." Chole states.

"I'll miss you too. Ian?"

"Yes?"

"Take care of your sister."

"I will Matt."

I exit the tent and make my way back towards the jeep. As nice as this town is, it doesn't really seem like a place to hang around. Air keeps leaking into my ear, and it's messing with the ability to focus and stay calm. Hopefully by tomorrow, my equilibrium will finally clear up and this wind that keeps whistling will finally go away.

"Matt! Wait!" Ian shouts from behind.

"What is it?"

"You remember that gun I had earlier?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's in the back seat. I want you to have it."

"What for?"

"Because you saved us. That's why."

I open the back door and look around. The single action revolver Ian is talking about is laying in the floorboard. I open the loading gate and check the cylinder. Just as suspected, it wasn't even loaded but getting ammo for it now shouldn't be a problem since it takes 45 ACP. I let the trigger guard spin around my index finger as the barrel points towards me.

"Keep it."

"Why though?"

"You got to have something to protect your family with."

"But I don't even know how to use it."

"Have your uncle show you because if something happens, you need to be capable of protecting yourself and your sister. Now I hope that's not a burden you'll ever have to carry again anytime soon, but there will come a day you will go from being dependent to defender and when that happens, you need to be ready."

Ian grabs the revolver by the barrel and shakes his head, "I understand. Thank you."

I get into the jeep and start it up. Ian approaches the driver's side window and reaches through with an outstretched hand. I take his hand and firmly shake it as we come to the mutual understanding that this is goodbye. Ian and Chole are safe now, but it somewhat makes me sad. Not knowing what's going to happen to them now, or where they are going truly is the worst part. Yet, I know in my heart that Ian and Chole will live on and knowing that there is still a little bit of humanity inside me helps ease these feelings of guilt that's been holding me down.

"I'll never forget you Matt." Ian says.

"And for that, I am eternally grateful. Tell Chole goodbye for me."

"I will. Goodbye Matt."

"Goodbye Ian."

Ian lets go of my hand and I back out of the parking lot. Ian waves goodbye as I pull onto the highway and head for the exit. The solider and civilian from earlier open the gate and allow me to exit. The city of Bowson shrinks in the rear-view mirror until it's the size of a small coin. Distance swallows the town up and that feeling of the creeping world comes back. However, knowing that Blair can't hurt those kids anymore makes me happy…