GTA: Liberty Through Agita
Mission Seven: Dust and Shadows II

A long trail of fresh blood dotted the southbound freeway, tracing a path all the way up to where it passes over Commerce. The trail ends in two dark uniformed people, one supporting the other, and the supported being the source of all the blood.

Off to the east of them sat the off-ramp for Little Mexico. The one bleeding cursed, his face pale and his voice weak. "C'mon man... Can... Can't we stop and rest for a bit?" Officer Pulaski asked.

"What are you bitching for? I'm the one carrying you!" The black officer replied.

"Fuck you Tenpenny... You... You ain't the one... Bleeding every damn where..." Pulaski shot back.

Tenpenny made a face, then sighed. "Alright. We'll hit one of the houses in Little Mexico. C'mon." The two take the off-ramp, walking to the nearest house. Setting Pulaski down, Tenpenny draws his sidearm, and kicks the door open. He rushes in, his weapon moving as he scanned for any threats. There was none. He moved inward, quickly searching and securing each room.

Now satisfied that the house was zombie-free. Tenpenny moves outside, helping Pulaski to his feet, and guiding him inside. He sets him down on a Lazy-Boy recliner in the living room, the other police officer seeming to sink into the seat, exhaling. He suddenly doubles-over, vomiting up blood. Coughing and letting his head hang, he puts both hands to his leg, trying to stem the bleeding, to no avail. "Fuck man... Why won't it stop bleeding?"

Tenpenny shrugged. "No clue. I'm going to secure the front door, than I'll try and bind your leg. Don't move too much."

Pulaski nodded weakly, Tenpenny moving back to the front door. He glanced around quickly outside, then closed the door, moving the TV set in the living room and putting it against the door. When he had kicked in the door, the door jam had busted open, the piece that holds the door in place breaking. With the TV set in the way, the door wouldn't open at the slighted breeze.

Next he moved to the living room, gripping the couch by one end, and pushing it into the entryway, pushing it against the TV. Standing, he presses his back against the door, sidling along the wall to the other end of couch, lifting it and pulling it so it was on top of the TV, bracing it against the door. Sighing heavily, he moves back out from the little spot.

Tearing a stretch of fabric from the couch, he moves into the living room, kneeling in front of Officer Pulaski. "Hey man, I'm going to bind this now."

Pulaski was still doubled-over, his head hanging between his knees. Blood dripped from his mouth in random intervals. Tenpenny pushes him into an upright sitting position.

Pulaski's eyes are open but blank, unfocused. His lips are a blue-ish tint, and he doesn't seem to acknowledge Tenpenny.

"Pulaski!" Tenpenny said firmly, shaking him by his shoulders. The other police officer didn't react. Frowning, Officer Tenpenny puts his hand to the other man's neck, checking for a pulse.

With a heavy sigh, he removes his hand, shaking his head sadly. "Guess you couldn't hold out..." He said, using one hand to brush the other man's eyes shut. He hesitated for a moment, then moved, removing Pulaski's sidearm from its holster and sticking it in his own belt. "I need it more then you now." He said, justifying his reasons.

With the same hand, he removes all three of Pulaski's clips for the Beretta, stuffing them into his pockets. "Damn man... Damn. You were a good officer. Gonna miss you. Hey, keep a spot in Heaven warm for me." He said to the corpse. Standing, he folds his hands behind his head, sighing. "Damnit."

He paces around the living room for a long time, deciding on what action to take. "Still got that Dodo in Blueberry... Hell, it's going to be a long trip."

It was almost inaudible at first. The noise was so low that he didn't notice it. A constant scraping sound, like something metal and heavy being dragged across asphalt. As the source of the noise drew closer, the noise became louder, until finally Officer Tenpenny recognized it.

"Shit..." He cursed, remembering hearing that exact same sound just before he and Officer Pulaski encountered the Butcher. "It's that monster again!"

Quickly, he ran to each window in the house, looking through them to try and get eyes on the Butcher. He couldn't see Him through any of the windows, but he did see many Things and zombies, all following the trail of blood. "Damnit Pulaski! Thanks for leaving me a farewell gift." He cursed, drawing his Beretta.

He moved to one of the windows facing the street, raising his gun. He waited. The scrapping noise grew louder and louder, nearer and nearer. All of Tenpenny's attention was drawn towards the front. He never saw Pulaski's stir. He never saw Pulaski's eyes open, the white of his eyes now brown and bloodshot, a yellow tint to his pupil.

Stirring, the body rises from the recliner, turning in place. It saw a warm body, Tenpenny's back to it. It shambles towards him, arms out-stretched.

With a resounding crash, a massive blade breaks through the door, reducing the doors to mere splinters. Tenpenny raises his Beretta and fires twice through the couch.

Suddenly, a pair of cold, undead hands grab him by the shoulders from behind, "What the hell!"