My body feels incredibly cold. I wake up and notice that all my clothes are laying on the ground. Along with a black tank top, some cargo shorts, and a red bra. I can hardly move because it feels like something is sapping the energy out of me, but not in a bad way. Kate is still sound asleep. The blanket on the bed is completely wrapped around her body. I touch my sensitive lips and try to determine if I actually held up to the commitment I made about holding off.

I don't remember taking my clothes off before falling asleep. Nor did Kate take any of her clothing off. Although it feels like Kate and I woke up around the middle of the night. It was supposed to be a dream, but was it really? The tingling in my legs, and that feeling Kate is pressing her warm body to my lips say otherwise. I rub my eyes and try to think of a reason to be upset for going back on my word. Although it's hard. Eric had the survival guide last so I guess I better go get it back and start studying that chapter over childbirth and delivery. Kate rolls over and opens her eyes.

"I see that you hogged the blanket the entire night." I tease.

Kate unravels the blanket wrapped around her and holds it open. I squeeze in to the point her warm body takes the chill out of mine. "God, you're so cold." Kate shivers as we huddle together. She puts her arms around me as I caress her head.

"How was last night?" She smiles.

"Was it a dream or was it real?"

"Oh, it was real. I didn't think I was going to keep you off me."

"Shut up. You were the one holding me down. Besides you are the one that started it."

"Yeah…I'm sorry about that. I know you said that you weren't ready, but I couldn't help myself."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm glad you did."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I didn't know who I was turning down, and I'm sorry."

"I'm glad out of everyone it could have been, it was you." Kate says as I wipe a tear that drips out of her right eye.

Although a promise was broken, it doesn't feel all that bad. I was mainly worried about what Samantha would think, but even she told me that I shouldn't deny myself the right to be happy, or Kate the feeling of joy. What worried me was what Samantha would feel when we were reunited. It's a concept that boggles the mind.

It's supposed to be one man, one woman. A "I will love you and you alone" rather than "till death do us part." That's what my parents believed. It seems like one ideal would be more moral than the other, and in most cases, it probably is. However, since I met Kate and judging by how Samantha wanted me to be happy, it seems like it's based off circumstance.

Who knows? Maybe when Samantha and I are reunited, we'll be best friends rather than lovers since Kate and I are a part of each other's lives now. It's a confusing topic to think about, but all I know is nobody could be a better man to Kate than I could. Regardless of the past. Kate sits up and stretches her arms. Her body twists and a small pop erupts out of her back.

"Thanks to you, I have a sore back now." Kate teases.

"And you wore my legs out so we're even." I reply.

Kate giggles as she reaches over me and grabs her clothes. She puts her red bra on and turns her back to me, "Would you be a dear?"

I take the flaps and hook the wires together. She takes my hands and runs them over her body as she cinches the bra to her breasts. Kate leans her head back onto my shoulder and stares up at the ceiling. The both of us hold onto one another and take in the moment.

"I'm going to go tell Rebecca and Jamie good morning." Kate says.

"I guess I'll go get Eric's ass up. That's if he's not laid up with Jamie." I kiss Kate on the neck and let her go. She puts the rest of her clothes on and grabs her rifle, "Put some clothes on your ass you degenerate." Kate winks.

"Sure thing beautiful." I reply.

Kate leaves the house and heads towards the main resort. I put my clothes on and grab my battle rifle. The weather today is somewhat clear. An overhead cloud passes out of the gaze of the sun, and the world lights up. I walk over to the guest house across the road and knock on the door. The sound of someone's shoes scratch across the floor. Eric stumbles into the window's view and looks out. He puts his gun down and opens the door.

Eric rubs his eyes and yawns, "Good morning Matt."

"Morning."

"Where's Kate?"

"She went to the main resort."

"I'm guessing she's going to go get Rebecca and Jamie?"

"Sounds like it." I reply.

"Yeah. Jamie offered me a bed, but I told her I was just going to sleep out here. What about you?"

"Kate spent the night with me." I reply.

"Did you sleep well?"

"We did. It was really nice." I smile.

"Well I'm glad. Last night, I was really tempted to stay with Jamie, but…" Eric presses his hands into his face and tries to alleviate the stress that's growing within his conscious mind.

"Emily's waiting for you. Isn't she?"

"Yeah, and I feel like a scumbag for thinking such a thing."

I lean back in my chair and look up at the ceiling. This situation is nothing like mine. Yes, he didn't do anything, but the thought is enough to cripple the mind to the point that it's impossible to think clearly. Just because Samantha is gone doesn't give me a free pass to do what I want. Rather, it was based on what she saw fit, and what she would approve of.

Eric on the other hand has someone that's still alive, and the struggle of keeping yourself restrained in a lawless world where nobody would find out is a pretty stressful thought. However, that sense of wanting to have values is what keeps Eric and everyone else in his group from turning into psychos like Blair.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone has those kinds of thoughts."

"Does that mean Emily does to?"

"Without question, but I know she's waiting back home for you. She's just that kind of girl."

"You're right. I figure she would have run off and left me if she didn't." Eric laughs while I give a little chuckle to acknowledge his comment.

"Speaking of troublesome women, I'm going to go see if Kate hasn't ran off."

"You didn't do anything that'd make her pissy. Did you?" Eric teases.

"Hey, I thanked her this morning."

I get up and leave the building. Eric follows me out and we make our way to the main resort. They should have been back by now. Then again, Kate's probably feeling bold and talking to Jamie about last night. As tempting as it was to tell Eric all the details, it would be better if I kept my mouth shut. It's mine and Kate's business and our business only.

The faint sound of a muffled whistle is coming from behind the house. Eric and I stop and listen. The sound amplifies and what could have been birds singing in the warm spring sunlight hits me. Those aren't birds chirping. I hunker down and post up by the front door. Eric drops down and watches the back.

I peek around the corner of the house, but I don't see anything. The jeep is still here and nothing looks like it's been tampered with. Several more whispers ring out, and it sounds like it's coming from the inside of the house. The window curtains are still shut, and I can't tell what's going on.

"What do you think it is?" Eric whispers.

"Kate's shooting at something."

"Shooting at what though?"

I carefully ease the front door open and peek in, "Jamie? Kate? It's me. I'm coming in. Don't blow my ass back out the door please."

I slide into the room and check around. Nobody is in the living room, but the door to the master bedroom is open. Eric snakes his way into the resort and slithers right behind me. Overturned chairs, broken end tables and shattered vases lay all over the ground. A struggle took place here. One that was particularly physical because there are no shell casings, plastic shell cartridges, or wadding anywhere.

Kate is braced up against the window of the bed room. The cylinder of her suppressor is braced up against the wall as she cooks off a couple more shots.

"Matt! Matt! Blue! Blue!" I jeer as I make my way over to the opposite side of the window.

Eric eases in and watches the entrance as I carefully lean out and try to make out what she's shooting at. There is a group of people running around amongst the trees. Some are retreating while others are trying to circle around and surround us. All of them are spread out. Some have guns, but they aren't using them. Instead, they're easing towards us with machetes and crowbars.

"Where's Jamie and Rebecca?"

"I don't know, but I have a feeling those assholes took them back to the compound."

"Liam?"

"Not so much him, but I got a feeling that asshole named Kevin has something to do with it." Kate replies.

"Shit…"

I lean back and try to think of a plan. Despite how careful I was, it still wasn't enough to keep everyone safe. If Liam's group really did take Jamie and Rebecca, then there is no way we can take them on up front. They have walls, a house with balconies, and a huge overlook. Not to mention how Liam has got a small army.

It's not looking good for Rebecca and Jamie, but we can't just leave them behind. Eric shouldn't have to deal with any of this, and I'm not about to drag Adam, and the others here. A part of me feels like this was my fault. Yet, if Kate and I would have stayed where Jamie was, then there's a chance we would have been killed or captured as well.

"We better get going."

"What are you doing?" Eric asks.

"Making sure we still have a way out." I reply as I flip the safety off my rifle.

"What about Jamie and Rebecca?" Eric questions. "Matt? MATT!"

I make my way over to the window that overlooks the jeep and peek out the curtain. The vehicle is perfectly okay for now. I retreat back into the room across from where Kate and Eric are posted up and check the front yard. Nobody has made it to the porch, or the guest houses. There is a cutout for an attic hatch in this room, but the draw sting looks like it's stuck above the hatch. No easy way up. There is a faint gust of wind blowing into my ear that causes the energy in my body to spike. I hop out of the window and climb up onto the roof of the resort.

The awning that wraps around the building provides enough cover for me to get into the attic. I look away and drive the dishwasher leg through the glass pane. Shards of glass spray all over the place and pepper the exposed parts of my skin. I rake the broken glass off the window's frame and hop in. On the other side is another window that overlooks the woods Kate is shooting into.

The group of people that are trying to circle around have nothing but melee weapons. That must mean there are shamblers and croakers in the area. I unlock the window and slide it up wide enough where the barrel of the battle rifle can fit through. Kate pops off a couple more rounds and brings all the attention to her. One guy approaches the house from Kate's blindside. I take aim and pull the trigger.

The plates in his armor crumple and cave as the round pierces all the way through his chest. He hits the ground and flops around like a fish on ground. I snap onto another target on the other side and fire two shots in a controlled burst. One bullet hits way too low and kicks up a massive clod of grass and dirt. The second round hits a woman in the leg. She trips to the ground and takes off crawling back towards a tree.

I put two bullets into the tree to keep her suppressed and fire at another person charging forward. He quickly turns back and sprints into the woods. He waves his hands in the motion of Liam's compound. The ringing in my ears temporarily subsides, and the sounds of croakers screaming off in the distance can faintly be heard. If the bullets didn't scare them off, the contaminates will. Which means we have to get out of here.

I look around on the ground for the attic hatch, "Don't shoot up! MATT! MATT!" I yell as I rush around.

"Matt! Get down here now!" Eric yells as he strikes the ceiling with some kind of object. The noise is coming from behind me. Laying on the ground is a piece of steel cable, and a brass ring. That's why I couldn't find the draw string earlier. I open up the attic hatchway, and the collapsible ladder folds out. Eric leaps back and avoids a blow from the rapidly expanding aluminum rungs.

I climb down and analyze what's going on. Eric is watching the hallway, but Kate is nowhere to be found. "Where's Kate!?"

"She took off towards the woods!" Eric says.

We rush into the room Kate was in and look out the window. Kate is rushing towards a guy that's trying to crawl away. It looks like the men that were trying to ambush us have completely retreated. I jump out the window and make my way towards Kate while Eric watches our backs.

Kate grabs a hold of the guy by the back of his hair and presses the suppressor of her handgun into the side of the man's face. What Kate is saying is incompressible, but she presses the gun into the side of his face with so much force that it looks like she's about to rip out a handful of hair. The guy grimaces and helplessly holds his bloody hands up in surrender. Kate slams his head into the ground and puts as much of her weight as possible on his neck.

"Where are they!?"

Before the man can open his mouth, Kate strikes him twice in the back of the head and continues to viciously yell at him.

"Kate! Stop!" I yell.

"He can't talk if you keep hitting him!" Eric adds.

Kate ignores our statements and continues to abuse the man to the point he's slipping in and out of consciousness. I drop my rifle and wrap my arms around Kate's waist. Orange lines ripple through the black veil of my eye as her elbow hits my right eyebrow. I strip the gun out of Kate's hand and restrain her. She kicks around and screams emotional obscenities at me as she kicks and desperately tries to break free.

Eric carefully approaches the man and rolls him over onto his back. He hops back and aims his rifle at him. A puddle of red forms around the man's body as he struggles to draw breath.

"What happened to the girls?" Eric questions.

"That man…"

"What man? Liam? Did he send you?" Eric asks.

"That man. The one we had dealings with. He wanted Kate and Matt…"

"What are you talking about!?" Eric carefully presses his rifle up against one of the man's bullet wounds. The guy slams his head back into the ground and yelps.

"I'll make it much worse unless you start talking." Eric says.

"We had dealings with another group in the area. The leader said they would join Liam if we brought him this guy named Matt, and the girl Kate. Matt had killed a couple members of that man's group here recently, and he's looking to settle the score."

"Where are the girls?"

"Back at Liam's. We were going to use them as bait to draw Matt and Kate back. That way we had you when the other group showed up."

"When are they coming?" I ask.

"Tomorrow morning. That guy gave us some time to get him his arrival present."

"Does Liam know about this?"

"I brought it up to him, but as of now, we've just been trading supplies with that group. Tomorrow will be the day Liam will meet the other group, and they'll broker some kind of deal. Provided Matt and Kate are there."

Kate thrashes around to the point I nearly lose my grip on her. She leans forward and throws her head back. The back of Kate's head busts me right in the lip. Liquid that tastes like rusty iron floods my mouth and I stagger back. The sudden rush of pain overrides the ability to think and leaves me stunned.

"Kate! Stop!" Eric yells. "Goddamnit…"

I force myself to overcome the blurry feeling, and I take off in the direction Kate is running. I knew it. I knew this was going to happen. That's the only reason Liam let me and Kate live this long. He needs a bargaining chip in order to assert himself as the dominate warlord of Black Breech. Blair's wickedness combined with Liam's ruthlessness means nobody would be safe in the rural areas. Every resident from Black Breech to Bowson would be under the boot of this unholy unification.

"Kate! Slow down!" I yell.

She slows her pace and looks back at in my direction. I catch up and urge that the both of us duck down in a nearby drainage ditch. Kate hops down into the little eroded crater and hesitantly waits for me. I make sure it's clear and jump down.

"What's wrong with you Kate? Running off like that."

Kate rolls her eye and sighs. She refuses to give me an answer and continues to patiently walk in the direction of Liam's compound.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

Kate remains quiet and keeps walking away. I take a deep breath and collect myself. As angry as she is making me right, the moment Kate and I spent last night is preventing me from lashing out in a spiteful manner. This situation has to be handled with great care and sensitivity. We're all in a terrible circumstance but focusing on how stubborn Kate and I are being rather than trying to find a solution is only going to make it worse.

How would my dad have talked to me about this? I think back to those days when he told me everything was going to be alright. Even though the world around us was falling apart. Those days when our relationship somewhat resembled a father and son. Even though his advice went in one ear and out the other, it still resonates with me, and it seems to have more meaning now than it ever has in my life. Chances of changing Kate's mind are slim, but if I can at least get her to listen, then maybe we can come up with a better plan.

"Listen to me Kate, I want to save Rebecca and Jamie too, but we can't just rush in like this."

Kate spins around and glares at me, "Then what are we going to do?"

"I have an idea, but I need you to come with me."

Kate shakes her head and turns her back on me, "I'm not running away Matt."

"We're not running away Kate."

"Then what are you doing? Do you expect me to just sit by while those assholes do God knows what to Jamie and my sister?"

"Blair isn't coming until tomorrow. Which means Liam isn't going to let anything happen to Jamie or Rebecca. We still have a day to come up with something."

"And you're seriously going to believe him?" Kate references the guy we interrogated.

"Even if Blair is there right now, there's a good chance he isn't going to know who your sister is, and I know he isn't going to know Jamie."

I can tell by the look on Kate's face that I'm not getting through. She's already made her mind up. Anything I'm about to say is going to be futile, but if I can get her to at least go about this much more carefully, we'll have a better chance of pulling through this. I put my battle rifle away, hold out my hands and slowly approach her. Kate doesn't seem very moved, but the feelings within me are trembling.

The both of us are going to go separate ways for today, and that thought is tearing me apart. I don't know what the future holds. So much can go wrong, and the thought that this might be the last time I'll see Kate alive puts me on the verge of a mental breakdown.

"I'm not going with you Matt." Kate says with a stern voice.

"I know. Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"That you'll keep Rebecca, Jamie and yourself alive until tomorrow." I reply.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go get some supplies, and I'll be back."

Kate lowers her guard and takes a deep breath. I put my arms around her and bring her in. We keep our feelings restrained, but the both of us are well aware of what lies ahead. The stakes are high, and we're completely divided. We try to find something, anything to say to one another, but nothing comes to our minds. I have faith in Kate. Just as she does in me. Passion within fuels not only my love for her, but it spikes my most evil and primal desire. I feel like I could take on Liam and Blair's group and save Rebecca and Jamie all alone, but my conscious reminds me of the reality I'm living in.

"Matt?"

"Yes Kate?"

"You're going to come back. Right?"

"There's no way I'd let you handle this by yourself."

Kate and I back off. She shakes her head, and I give her a reassuring nod, "I'll see what I can find out." Kate points towards the gravel road that leads up onto the main highway, "we'll meet out in that pasture at dawn."

"Okay."

Once I get us some better equipment and come up with a plan, then we'll save Jamie and Rebecca. Kate takes off running in the direction of Liam's compound. She sticks low to the ground and uses the trees and shrubbery as cover until she disappears from my sight.

I take a deep breath and head back. If what that guy said was true, then we'll have until tomorrow to come up with a plan. There is something going on in my head, but it hasn't been finalized. Nor is it guaranteed for success. A strange bellowing sound and several wet croaks break the silence. I drop down and brace up against a tree. It sounded like it came from up ahead, but the volume is being muffled by the trees and foliage. Croakers. Definitely croakers.

I look over my shoulder, but Kate is nowhere in sight. A terrible feeling comes over me, and the ability to admit that she'll be okay clashes with the reluctancy of believing she is. It's stresses me out that we're not together on this one, but I can't go back on having faith. A future where Kate and I can live together in peace is the only reason to have any faith.

I take a deep breath and carefully push back to the resort. The sounds of croakers clicking and bellowing to one another grows intensely, and the sounds of their teeth shredding flesh breaks through the atmosphere.

I use the trees as cover and hop behind each one when the croakers aren't looking in my general direction. The croakers are all huddled over the man Eric was interrogating earlier, but there is no sign of Eric himself. It doesn't look like any of the croakers are looking for him, and his body isn't being torn to shreds, so he must be hiding back at the resort.

I swing wide and make my way back towards the main building. The front door opens part way but catches on something on the other side. I walk over to a nearby window and carefully peek inside. There is a book shelf that's been pushed up against the glass, but the arm of a couch barely pokes out. Eric must have barricaded himself in. I ease around the house and notice that the small bathroom window hasn't been blocked off. Hopefully he doesn't blast me back out the window. I make sure the coast is clear and press the tip of my hunting knife into the glass.

The blade busts through the pane, and the sound of a shattering panel erupts. My head snaps back to make sure it's clear as I reach up and unlatch the lock. Some of the croakers continue to mind their own business, but one looks straight in my direction.

It twitches in a completely unnatural way as its distorted walk causes the croaker to shrivel up and come towards me. The croaker lets out a bloody sounding belch and several more follow behind it. I carefully climb into the bathroom, lower the window, and exit into the bedroom. The sounds of the croakers get closer as they hone in on my last location. I lock the bathroom door from the inside, pick up a nearby chair and wedge it underneath the door handle. It won't hold them off if they really want in, but maybe slapping up against a locked, wedged door will deter them long enough until they lose interest.

"Don't shoot! It's Matt!" I loudly whisper. "Eric! Where are you?"

There is no answer. The only noise comes from my voice and footsteps. The croakers that were following me tap on the bathroom window. Please lose interest and go away. There's no need to bring the whole fucking horde after me.

What looks like a door to the janitor's closet is wide open. "Eric? You in here?" I keep my rifle at the ready just in case the worst happens. A pair of shoes come into sight, but the legs aren't stretched out. They're curled up. Eric is leaning up against the wall with his left palm pressed into his forehead. Every breath he takes causes his body to jiggle from some kind of emotional trauma. He's extremely upset over something. Please don't let it be that. Anything but that.

"Eric? You haven't been bitten, have you? Please say no." I state.

He shakes his head no, but refuses to answer my question. I ease up to him and examine for any blood that prove otherwise. The only thing that stains his clothing is mud, dust and dried bloodstains from over the last couple days.

"I couldn't do it…" He mutters.

"Do what?"

"The man asked for a bullet, and I left him there to those things."

"You can talk about it later. Right now, we have to get out of here." I say as I urge him to stand up. The window in the bathroom breaks, and the violent sound of a body slamming onto the ground echoes through the walls. Several loud thumps pound against the barred door, and the chair that was wedged underneath the knob creaks under the pressure of several bodies.

"We need to go. Now!" I yell as I drag Eric to his feet. He clenches his rifle and follows me through to the side window.

Eric probably isn't going to be much help. He's in a different state of mind right now. Probably similar to what causes me to lock up here and there. I make sure there is a clear shot to the jeep. Most of the contaminates are still wondering off in the distance. Yet some look like they are attracted to the noise the croakers are making by pounding on the door. I slide the window up, poke my head out and check one last time to see if it's safe.

"Alright."

The bathroom door splinters, and the sound of the wedged chair explodes from the sheer weight of the croakers on the other side. I hop out the window and keep an eye out as Eric slips his left leg through the window seal. Eric's head snaps back at the unique bellowing of the croakers as they wonder into the hallway. I grab a hold of his shirt and pull him on through.

The soulless eyes of the croaker focus directly upon me and Eric. It lets out a shriek and charges directly towards the window. I push Eric forward and turn around. The thing bails through the window and lunges at me. I pull the trigger and put two rounds into its chest. Blood and yellowcake pour out the open wounds. Crimson dots spatter the tip of the battle rifle, and the yellowcake wraps around my body. The croaker hits the ground and attempt to get back up, but it staggers around and falls again. Eric slams the passenger door shut and locks it as I get into the driver's seat and start the jeep up. The croakers dive through the windows and bust down the resort's doors as we take off. Eric aims out the back glass, but there is no need. They can't catch us now that we're in third gear. Although that isn't stopping them from giving chase. I turn onto the gravel road and head for the main highway. Eric leans back in his seat and tries to fight off the affliction he is feeling. I take a deep breath and focus on what lies ahead. The plan so far is to take Eric back home, grab whatever Adam, and the others aren't using and come back. Preferably without them knowing…