Author's Note

Hi again! Okay, this is chapter 2 of Hoods. And I don't own Left 4 Dead, but I do own all my OCs (Joeth, Madle, Ethan, Violet, and any others I might put in later...). Oh, and Joeth and Madle are originally from another book I'm writing, which I may publish soon, or maybe not. Either way, please R&R! And enjoy!

"Crap." the hooded zombie grunts as we land hard on the ground, but despite the harsh landing, he starts running faster than a tiger as soon as we reach the ground. I'm surprised that the pack hasn't come chasing us yet, but sure enough, about a minute later, they're on our tail. He notices this, and takes to the rooftops. After about half an hour, we enter a different territory, which I've learned from past experience, that the pack and any other of the hooded zombies won't go into. I don't know how far he's taking me, or where we're going, but after about 3 more rooftops, and he stops. He goes over and sets me down leaning against a generator-looking thing, then backs up and sits across from me, and for a moment just stares at me, face blank. Then collapses, panting, and a long tongue coming out from his animated-like mouth, making him look silly. Any other time, I would have probably laughed, but I still stare at him with fear. And without warning, then tears off his hood. Still panting, he shakes out his shaggy, dirty blond hair, and then looks up at me with chocolate brown eyes.

"You okay?" he asks me, staring deep into my bright green eyes, as if seeing through my soul. He's very handsome, and I don't know what to say. He then grins, and the gap in his teeth makes me smile nervously.

He grins wider, "See? You're safe with me, oh, and my my name's Joeth. I'm a half blood, I'm half human and half zombie, which means I can take off my hood and be human, or put it back on and be zombie," he explains.

A slight cry, and the one from earlier stalks in, sits next to Joeth, and takes her hood off, revealing forest green eyes, reddish hair, and pale skin with light freckles.

Grinning, she asks Joeth, "How's she doin?"

"I think she's still scared of us..." Joeth replies, looking at her.

"Well, she kinda has a right to, after what those Hunter bas-" Joeth shoots her a look, "almost did to her." she finishes.

"What?" I finally ask.

"She speaks!" the girl says.

"Madle!" Joeth hisses, "Let her speak..."

The girl-Madle-mumbles something, but lets me continue.

"What'd you call them?" I ask quietly.

"Hunters. That's what they are, that's what we are." he replies simply.

I sit up, about to speak, but something in Madle's pocket starts ringing, she pulls it out, opens it up, and putting it to her ear, holds up a one minute sign with her finger.

"Yeah?" she says into it, and I now recognize it as a cell phone. Somebody yells on the other line, but I can't understand them, but they sound frantic.

"Stay calm, I'll over there soon," Madle closes the phone, claps her hands, and stands up. "Okay kiddies, I gotta run, Mel's in trouble!"

"Bring back some food!" Joeth points out.

"Why? You got dinner right there!" Madle gestures to me.

He glares at her, and she chuckles, putting a hand to her mouth, "Kidding! But yeah, I'll try." With that, she puts her hood back on, flashes us a grin that could give the Chesire cat a run for his money, then jumps off the side of the building.

Joeth and I turn back to each other.

"Well, that's Madle, she's always on the run, saving people, killing others. She does all the dirty work, I really don't like that kind of stuff, besides, she's all about it." he says with shrug.

I nod, still frowning slightly.

"Something gotcha down?" he asks, brow furrowing. I shake my head. "Okay, well you should get some sleep. You've had a tough day, kid." I didn't like being called "kid", but something about him calms me, so I nod my head, lay down, and fall into a restless sleep.