A/N: what is this? two updates relatively close to each other? I just love and appreciate you guys so much that after the last chapter I just kept writing, hope you enjoy this! this one is a little more Ray and Murph oriented, anyways, on with the show!


As we drove away from Zimmerman and his now zombie crew, Cassandra continued to worsen. I was worried for her, she wasn't going to last much longer at this rate. When Hayley and I first joined this group, I didn't like her very much, but she quickly grew on me, proving to all of us that she really had what it took to survive. And yet, here we were, sitting on the side of the road, 10k helping Cassandra limp her way to the grass, throwing up once she made it there.

"I'm worried about her," I said to Murphy as I leaned against the driver seat watching her and 10k. He tried helping her up, only to put her right back down again.

"Yea," was all he said, Looking like he was distracted deep in thought.

"What's wrong with you lately," I asked as I turned to look at him. However he only ignored me, picking at something on his head, "Hey," I said getting his attention, smacking his arm.

"What?" he asked with an attitude that I had never seen from him before.

"I asked you a question," I said as I sat back down where I was at before, "But don't worry about it. You have changed Murphy, and I don't like it." While I was talking to him, he continued to ignore me, looking the front of the van over like he was searching for something.

"Well that's what the apocalypse will do to you, sister dearest," he finally said as he moved over to the driver seat. I turned and looked at him wondering what he was doing when all of a sudden Warren was at the window, knocking on it, Murphy rolling it down.

"We found a taker," she said as the window got far enough down she could lean in a little.

"For what?" Murphy and I asked at the same time, "What about California?"

"New orders, there is a lab in Fort Collins," she tried explaining, only for my brother to cut her off.

"Fort Collins? What the hell is in Fort Collins?" he asked. I could tell the more that it was talked about he wasn't happy. He wasn't happy to be dragged all over God's green earth in search of the woman that injected him in the first place.

"Dr. Merch," was all Warren had to say, Murphy's total attitude changing once again, this time though to silent rage.

"Dr. Merch, I've got a bone to pick with that bitch," Murphy said, playing back the memory of the day he got injected over and over in his mind.

"Well, that bitch is the reason you're still alive," I said to Murphy, leaning over the seat again, placing my hand on his arm. I wanted him to know I was glad he was still alive, even if he was an asshole, he was still my brother, and I still loved him.

"Define alive," he said over his shoulder to me, not even bothering to turn his head. Looking over to Warren for a moment, she glanced back to me before I slumped back into the back again, leaning on the back of the driver seat. It wasn't but a moment before the back doors to the van opened, 10k gently sitting Cassandra inside. Once she was safely inside Warren and 10k followed close behind, Doc jumping into the driver seat. As I helped pull Cassandra in a little more, Warren worked her way up, sitting on the other side of me.

"Well Murphy, I think I'm going to miss your sorry ass," Doc said as he drove us to our new destination.

"I appreciate the sentiment," Murphy said surprisingly changing his attitude, even just for a moment.

"We have really logged some miles together brother," Doc said laughing slightly to himself.

"We are almost like a damn family I'd say," I laughed, slapping a hand on Doc's shoulder. He was almost like the crazy uncle Murphy pretended to be that one time.

"Uh, I don't know if I have ever actually said this to anybody before," Murphy said as he started getting almost nervous, something I had never seen him be before, "I, uh, almost consider you a friend." I turned and looked over at Warren, not believing my ears, hearing him being so nice.

"I don't envy you though," Doc started and I knew this was about to get bad, "Once we drop you off you're going to have more needles in you like the tomato in grandma's sewing basket."

"Umm, Doc," I said trying to make him shut up, knowing that not only did he not like doctors, he especially didn't like needles.

"What...no...they are only…," Murphy started, only to be interrupted once again.

"Oh trust me, they are going to have some kind of probe or tube up and in every orifice you have," Doc said, barrelling through it.

"Oh my Lord, Doc," I said a little louder trying to get his attention, however, only getting ignored...like usual.

"Dude, this one time I had a catheter," Doc started as I looked over to Murphy, his eyes wide in horror.

"Doc!" Warren and I yelled at the same time, Doc finally getting the hint to shut up and to do it now.

"Right, anyways, I'm gonna miss you dude," Doc said, looking over to Murphy apologetically, "But, what about you kid, what do you have planned after?" Doc turned in his seat, looking back to 10k for a moment.

"Uh, well, I have 6,998 to go," he started as he crossed his legs, looking down at his hands, "But I might take a break and go somewhere up north, the Zs don't fair well in the cold."

"What about you Warren?" I asked looking over to her.

"Umm, well, I don't know. Maybe follow the sun West, I've never been to California before," Warren said as she sat there for a moment thinking her life over, all the things she didn't get to do before the world went to shit.

"And Raven, what about you," Doc asked as he turned to look at me.

"Well, now that I've been reunited with this loof," I said as I reached over and patted Murphy on the arm, "I'll probably stay with him for a while, or at least until I get tired of him. What about you Doc?"

"Oh, I'll probably buy a boat and sail to an island that doesn't even have a Z in their alphabet," he joked. Warren and I both laughed at him as I glanced over to 10k for a moment, who looked almost a little upset. If I was telling the truth, he would be the only other person I would spend the rest of the apocalypse with, other than my brother.

The rest of the ride for the most part was relatively quiet, everyone mainly concerned about our most immediate problem, Cassandra. I knew she wasn't going to make it much longer, her only moving when Warren forced her to drink some water.

"How much further Doc?" I asked as I leaned over, in between the front two seats trying to get a view of the road.

"Just around this sign here," he said as he turned the van to the right, a white building coming into view, Zs surrounding the front entrance that Citizen Z told us about.

"This must be it," I said getting excited, smiling to both my brother and Doc. However, seeing all the Zs that were here I knew it would be a fight getting in there so I decided to throw up my hair in a ponytail, and making sure my bag was tightly closed before throwing it on my back.

"Alright, Citizen Z said to look for a metal shed with a roll up door," Warren said as she also saw the Zs, making sure she was ready for a fight, getting her weapons ready for anything.

"What are they all looking at?" 10k asked as he caught a glimpse of it as well.

"Our entrance," I said glancing back at him for a moment, raising my eyebrows as he nodded his head, making sure he was ready as well. We all had to be on our best game, we all had the responsibility of not only Murphy, but now Cassandra.

"Are you sure this is the right place, it looks small," Murphy said as he eyed the building, probably trying to think of a way out of all of this.

"Hey, sometimes the best things in life come in small packages, like me," I joked, getting a small laugh out of everyone except my brother, "That's when you're supposed to agree with me and say I'm the best sister in the world." He only continued to stare at me without even a smile as he threw open his door, Warren following behind him.

As the two of them stood outside, talking and trying to get things figured out, 10k maneuvered his way to sitting next to me, getting a better look at all the Zs.

"You and I both are going to cover Cassandra," I said as I glanced back to her. She was looking worse, her eyes forced closed, covered in a light sweat. However, before 10k could react to what I said, Murphy took off, practically running through the horde of zombies in front of us.

"Hey, Murphy," Doc yelled as he jumped out of the van, accidently drawing attention to himself and Warren. 10k and I both stared in shock for a minute, hoping that maybe the Zs would leave us alone since Murphy was here. However, we were quickly proven wrong when the Zs turned, running towards Doc and Warren, straight for the van. Doc and Warren quickly hightailed it back to the van, jumping in and shutting the doors just in time. Looking around at all the Zs around the van I jumped slightly as one hit the outside of the van, right next to my head. 10k was quick to grab my arm, trying to comfort me as much as he could in this situation.

"How much ammo do we have?" Warren asked as she quickly turned around to look at us all.

"Two bullets," 10k answered immediately.

"I got...one," Doc replied as well.

"Only one?" Warren asked, looking like the more we told her the more her plan was falling apart.

"Well, they both have more than me, I don't have any," I said as I pulled my ax off my belt loop, trying to mentally prepare for what was about to happen. Warren looked around the van for a moment, trying to come up with something else.

"Murphy!" she yelled as she rolled down her window, just barely enough that she could yell for Murphy.

"What?" he yelled back to us, unwilling to help, typical Murphy, "Oh, you want my help?"

"Just get your ass over here," I yelled through the window, trying to get this show on the road. He got this far, I wasn't about to let this hold us back either. Even from this far I saw him roll his eyes, walking over to us with an attitude.

Once he reached the van, Murphy threw open the door, standing right next to me, surrounding by Zs. I stared at him and the Zs waiting for one to attack me.

"Follow me," Murphy said as he glanced at us all, Doc and I getting our weapons ready, "Don't, don't kill them."

"But how do you know," Warren asked as she turned in her seat, looking to us all before turning back to Murphy.

"I don't," he said turning his attention from Warren straight at me, holding out his hand for me to take, "You have to trust me." I looked down at his hand for a moment, deciding if I could really trust him in a horde of Zs. After a split second of deciding I took his hand, shaking my head and stepping out of the van. As I stepped out I huddled closed to Murphy, hanging onto this arm with all that I had in me. The Zs next to me were snarling and biting at me, wanting to eat me alive but didn't, thanks to Murphy. As the rest of the group piled out of the van, they all followed suit, getting as close to Murphy as they could. Getting into a small group, or at least as small as we could smoosh together, we slowly shuffled our way to the building. Murphy had his arm around me, holding me as close to him as he could. Once we finally made it to the door Warren pushed a code into the keypad, the door slowly opening. As the others quickly backed into the freight elevator, I stood there with Murphy, just watching the Zs. It was fascinating being this close to them without worry, and at the same time disgusting, being this close to the rotting flesh and gore that stood in front of us. After a moment of just watching Murphy stepped back into the elevator, pulling me in behind him.

"You know, before the apocalypse I had the same effect on the ladies," Murphy joked as the door shut and the elevator started lowering us all down.

"And a man or two," I said, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall, smiling up at my brother. The others did the same, turning to face Murphy, Doc looking like he was about to crack a joke.

"No, I told those two guys I didn't swing that way. It's not my fault they couldn't take a hint," Murphy said, immediately getting defensive, pushing himself from his spot on the wall next to me.

"So you hit them?" I asked, raising my eyebrows and my voice.

"Well," he said looking around, nervously to each of us, almost whispering now, "He touched my butt."

"Anyways," Warren said with an authoritative tone as she opened the gate into what looked like used to be a lab, "Doesn't look operational." As we all fell in line behind her the first thing I noticed were the Zs, a few scattered here and there but thankfully dead.

"The Zs up top wanted," Cassandra said, trying to gasp for air in between words, "Something down here."

"Yea, but what?" I asked as I turned to looked around, checking on her making sure she was ok. 10k was holding her, making sure she made it with us. Turning to look at her she had her eyes closed, leaning heavily on 10k's chest. I looked up to 10k, concern splashed across both our faces. We were both worried for her, not knowing if she would even make it much longer.

"Same thing they always want...brains," Doc said as he walked by me, standing closer to Warren as they surveyed the area, making sure it was safe enough for us all.

"No, something different. There is something down here that is drawing them in like a magnet," Murphy said as he finally took a step up to the group, staring off into the distance.

"How do you know?" I asked as I turned to look at him, walking over to him, grabbing his arm.

"I can feel it," he whispered, barely audible enough for me to hear him. He looked almost scared, like he didn't know what he was feeling or how to process what was happening. I grabbed his arm, trying to calm him down, letting him know that he wasn't alone in this. I gave him a small smile as Warren bent down, getting one of the keycards that was pinned to one of the Zs laying on the ground. As Warren opened the door, it slid open with a swoosh, a cold blast of air hitting us all. I put my arm around Murphy's waist, placing my hand my hand on his back, walking with him into the next room. We finally made it back to each other, I was going to make sure he knew I was here for him.

"Happy damn birthday," Warren said as we walked into what I assumed used to be a break room. Looking at the only table in the middle of the room there were three people surrounding a birthday cake. It seemed strange that this would be the first thing we would see when we stepped into the lap that this famous doctor was supposed to be working in. Something about all this just didn't seem right.

"Aww, reminds me of my 50th," Doc said laughing as he stood in front of the table, lowering his gun.

"Dibs on the last rose," Murphy said as he let go of me and pushing his way to the table to steal the last icing rose.

"Did you really just eat that?" I asked Murphy as I walked up, standing with 10k and Cassandra.

"What? The damn vaccine makes me crave sugar," he said shrugging his shoulders like it was nothing that he just ate something that had been sitting there for who knows how long.

"Well, if you start craving brains let me know," Doc joked, Murphy giving him the same sarcastic laugh he always did. However, joking was quickly set aside when all of a sudden there a bang and a crash not far from us. Quickly we all fell in line, 10k and Doc aiming their weapons, waiting for any Z that was coming our way. As quickly as I could I took Cassandra from 10k, throwing her arm around my neck and ducking behind a couple filing cabinets. As we sat there trying to take cover I had out my ax, Cassandra clutching her knife as close to herself as she could. Watching Doc and 10k I waited for one of them to take first move. I poked my head out from behind the filing cabinet just as 10k shot the first Z.

"Two thousand two?" I yelled to him, smiling.

"Yup," he said turning to me with a smile also as Doc took out the next Z. As he turned back around the last Z got stuck in piping, making enough noise that it could still be easily found. 10k aimed his gun, using his last bullet to give the Z mercy. However, once he shot he Z he missed, the bullet ricocheting off the metal work across the room.

"Damn," 10k said as he lowered his gun, turning to Doc for help.

"That's ok, kid. Remember that time in Missouri, at the Piggly Wiggly," Doc said as he placed his gun back, turning to 10k.

"Frozen food section," 10k said, a smile breaking out across his face remembering what Doc was talking about. As the two of them nodded to each other, I watched as they ran around the room, Doc grabbing the cake that had been sitting on the table. As he hid behind a pillar 10k ran over to me, grabbing my ax from me without saying a word as he ran back, hiding behind something across from Doc. As the Z made its way over to the group, Doc smashed the cake in his face, the Z taking a step back, 10k smashing it in the head with my ax. I had to admit, I was pretty impressed with what I had just witnessed. However, that was short lived when all of a sudden we all heard what sounded like a phone ringing.

"What is that?" Murphy asked as him and Warren walked over to join the rest of us as 10k and I helped Cassandra up. Once she was standing 10k gave me my ax back as she leaned heavily on him again.

"Sounds like a phone," she said weakly as she took a deep breath. Once she got situated we all filed in behind Doc as we searched for where the ringing was coming from, searching through the small hallway. As we rounded a corner he realized it was coming from a small computer, two dead bodies sitting in the sit in the chair. As we got closer to the ringing we all filed in, a green phone in the man's hand. I was surprised to see the small phone was still charging, plugged into the computer on the desk.

"There must be twenty text messages here," Doc said as he unplugged the phone, taking it in his hand, "This guy must have been texting his wife or somebody when it all went down." As he searched through the phone he read out the messages, 'Something happened in the lab today, can't talk now, I'll call you later.' 'Won't be home until late, not telling us why.' 'Putting us under quarantine, will update when I know anything.' 'Starting to get scared, something very wrong.' 'Something infecting us, we may not get out of here...tell the kids I love them.' Once he read out the last message I felt my heart drop. It was sad hearing a man last goodbyes to his wife and his children over nothing more than just a text message.

"What?" Doc asked as the phone chimed once again, "There is a new message from Citizen Z. 'Operation Bite Mark, if you get this message, please respond, hacked and searching lab mainframe, discovered files you should be aware of, really weird stuff. Find working computer, search HZN1 test results, backslash backslash code name level nine, password: red death.'" Almost immediately, Murphy lurched forward, throwing the two bodies in the chair to the ground, sitting in their place and typing away on the computer. As we all piled in behind my brother he pulled up what Citizen Z had been talking about. Watching the videos that it pulled up I was surprised to see all the monkeys and other animals that seemed to be infected with the zombie virus. They all jumped around wildly, screaming and scratching at their cages and chains.

"Not surprising they were doing animal testing," Warren said as she leaned in the wall, still watching the screen.

"Yea, but what were they testing," Murphy asked as he rubbed his hand across his mouth, leaning on his elbows, watching the screen in anger.

"Look at the date on the videos," I said leaning over his shoulder pointing down at the screen, "This was at least a year before anyone was infected."

"How would they know to work on a vaccine before anyone was infected?" Murphy asked as he started clicking around on the screen again, pulling up something new. It was a file on Dr. Merch, Murphy getting upset and yelling once he realized it was her. I placed my hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down as the next video played. It was a video showing Merch talking to a man who was in what I assumed to be a quarantine chamber, asking him all kind of questions about what he had done that day. He told her several times over and over that he had done everything that he was supposed to and in the order that he was supposed to. However, she didn't seem to believe him and continued that he go over it once again until he was feed up and angry.

"Well, show of hands of who is for getting out of here," Doc asked as he turned to us all and raised his own hand. 10k and I were quick to follow, throwing our hands up high, "Alright, back out to the apocalypse it is."

"No one is going anywhere," Murphy said as he shrugged off my hand as he abruptly stood, throwing his chair to the side, "This is not a goddamn democracy. We came here to find Dr. Merch and that's exactly what we will do.

"Murphy," I said staring at him in disbelief that he would say such a thing.

"No," Warren said looking down at me for a moment before looking back at Murphy, "He's right. If she is down here we can't just leave her, she is still our only chance at a vaccine."

"I just thought we might want to, I dunno...live," Doc said as he shrugged his shoulders,

"Well, quit your dreaming and let's go," Murphy said as he eyed Doc before turning to me, a fire in his eyes that I have never seen before.

….

As we followed Murphy and Warren I stood back from my brother, walking with 10k and Cassandra. I kept an eye out for them, knowing that that if anything else was to pop out of nowhere again they may not have enough time to react themselves.

As we went further into the lab we came to a room that had another large sliding glass door, however before we could make it into that room the phone started ringing again, Doc rushing to answer it.

"Zombie apocalypse, how may I direct your call?" Doc asked as he held up the phone to his ear. We all stopped, waiting for more instruction from Citizen Z before we continued. 10k and I leaned Cassandra on one of the machines that we stood next to, letting her catch her breath. She was getting worse by the minute and I didn't see her even getting out of this lab with us today. As she leaned back I pulled back her hair, pushing it behind her ear as she tried to catch her breath.

"Operation Bite Mark?" Citizen asked as Doc put him on speaker phone.

"What's left of us," Doc replied, "This is Doc speaking."

"Are you all together?"

"Correctomundo, it's nice to hear your voice. So, what fresh hell awaits us."

"According to the operations manual I've hacked into, you're going to need to go through decontamination."

"Well that doesn't sound too bad, I haven't had a decent shower in a long while," I said joking and walking over to stand with Doc, listening to what Citizen Z had to say.

"Well, Raven, it's not really a shower, but here's the most important thing," he started, Doc and I both taking a mental note, "It is imperative that you decontaminate before you go back to the surface. This lab is equipped with Defcon one level quarantine assurance."

"Defcon one?" Doc asked as the two of us looked at each other, worried glances before we turned back to the phone.

"Isn't that some kind of nuclear term Simon," I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to comprehend what kind of danger we were about to be in.

"In the event of a breach of the quarantine system, the lab is targeted to be incinerated by a tactical nuclear weapon."

"Why am I not surprised," Doc said as he stared at the phone, almost waiting for more bad news.

"Umm, and there is one more thing about decontamination," Citizen Z said, Doc and I waiting for the bad news.

"And that is?" I asked as I looked down at the phone in Doc's hand.

"You will have to be….naked."

….

As we got everyone into the decontamination room, Doc and I told everyone what Citizen Z had told us.

"Naked, really?" Warren said as she turned and looked at the two of us.

"That's what he said, then we have to throw all our clothes and stuff into the shoot here to get decontaminated with some liquid nitrogen," Doc said explaining the rest to everyone. I stood next to Doc as Murphy walked around getting increasingly impatient.

"So, what are we waiting for," Murphy asked as he started unbuttoning his belt and shirt. I turned and looked at him as I crossed my arms looking up at him.

"For you all to turn around," Warren said as she turned her back to the rest of us. I turned and looked at her as she started shredding her weapons and jacket. I took a deep breath as I turned and looked at Doc as he shrugged his shoulder and started shredding his layers as well. Shaking my head I stood where I was, my back turned to everyone. I took off all my weapons first, tossing them down to join my bag on the ground. Tossing down my ax first I took off my guns next, followed by the knives I had on my belt loop and in my boots. We had managed to form a circle, not even meaning to as we all got undressed. I stood in between Cassandra and 10k, helping her to get undressed once I had made it down to only my underwear. I helped her, figuring it would make her feel more comfortable than one of the men helping her. Once I got her undressed I threw all of her stuff and mine into the middle of the circle, Doc throwing it all into the decontamination chamber. I had to admit, when I first met these people so long ago on the side of the road in New York, if you had told me I would be standing naked in an underground lab with them all I would have laughed. But now look at where we were, halfway across the country and seeing things that I thought in years I never would have. Looking around the circle of people standing here with me I was proud of all of them. Proud that I got to see my brother once again and even travel with him, trying to make up for lost time and lost memories. Warren being the motherly figure that I never had growing up, I wanted to make her proud. Even Doc, he was like the crazy uncle that the family warned you about but everyone loved him anyways. Cassandra was hard to read sometimes, but I was still proud that I had gotten to know her, she was a fierce spirit and someone you wouldn't want to make angry.

Then there was 10k, words couldn't describe what he meant to me. If there was any man that was as important to me as my big brother it was the man who was standing to my left. I turned to look at him over my shoulder as he took several pairs of goggles from Warren. As he turned to me, handing them over he noticed me looking at me, a smirk gracing his face as he gave me a wink. I couldn't help the blush that warmed its way to my cheeks. As I took two goggles from 10k, one for me and one for Cassandra, I handed them off to Murphy. Cassandra leaned heavily on me as I got the goggles on her, putting mine on as well before 10k hit the decontamination button.

"Murphy," I said as I turned around, looking at him to make sure he was ok, "Your scars, they look like they are spreading."

"Yea," he said as he turned and looked at the scar on his shoulder, "That's what I wanted to talk to Dr. Merch about," he stood there for a moment looking at his shoulder before he looked to the rest of us realizing that we were all looking at him, "Well, stop staring, I'm not the goddamn elephant man."

"Murphy," I yelled as I turned around, shaking my head at him, his attitude was unbelievable.

"Everybody ready?" 10k asked as we all had our goggles situated.

"Just get on with it," Murphy yelled once again.

…..

Once decontamination was over, Doc got everyone's clothes out of the side chamber, handing them out for us all to get dressed once again. After Doc gave me Cassandra's and my clothes I got the two of us dressed, her putting on her jacket herself. As she was finishing up I threw on my bag and replaced all my weapons back into their homes once again, turning away from her only for a moment. However, in that moment that I turned away she had fallen against one of the machines, sliding down to the ground. 10k grabbed my arm, pulling me to help him with Cassandra.

"Hey, you're ok," 10k said as the two of us bented down to get on the same level that she was. She looked bad, her face was pale and her eyes dark, a light sweat on her skin again.

"I don't think I can make it much further," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We can't loose another person," I said as I turned and looked up to Warren, not knowing what we should do next.

"She is right, I'll carry her if I have to," 10k said as he looked up to the group as well. Warren huffed and nodded her head, Cassandra sighing as well. I stood, helping Cassandra up as 10k gave me his big gun to carry on my back for him to carry Cassandra.

Once we were all situated we decided to carry on, walking down the only hallway that we could find. I walked at the end of the line, behind 10k and my brother, watching their backs the best I could. For the most part the only Z we saw were ones that were already dead. As we reached the end of the hallway there was a door with a sign that said 'AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.' As Warren opened the door there wasn't much to see, only red flashing emergency lights and an empty room.

"Can you see anything?" I asked as I got on my tippy toes trying to look over everyone's shoulders.

"Not really, just the flashing lights," Warren said as she got out her flashlight, looking into the room the best she could. Murphy, however, wasn't happy with that as he went to walk around us all and barrel head first into the mystery room.

"Hey wait a minute, it says quarantine," Doc said as he grabbed Murphy's shoulder, stopping him were he was.

"Who cares, we are infected already remember," he said as he pushed passed them anyways, Warren and Doc looking at each other, not knowing what to do other than follow Murphy.

As we followed the other they all went off to the left, looking through the rooms that lined the walls. 10k and I went to the other side of the room decided to try to cover ground that the others weren't. He sat Cassandra down on the ground, close to the door and out of harm's way, she still had her knife on her thankfully and she held it close to her. As the two of us walked around looking through the small portholes we were astonished to see the nasty bodies in them, some still alive, some dead.

"This is horrible," I said as we looked through one window, a body on the floor that was rotten away slowly, a hole in their head, "I think we should have left when we could have."

"I agree," 10k said as we walked to another door, looking through this one as well. However, this time when we looked through the glass the Z in the room jumped at the door, hitting it with a loud thud, scaring the holy hell out of me. I couldn't help the scream that I let out as I jumped back, 10k jumping back as well, him just as scared as I was. He was quick to put his arm around me, letting me know that it was ok, the Z wasn't going to get out.

"Sorry," I breathed as I pushed back small baby hairs that were falling around my face, out of the ponytail my hair was in, tightening it slightly.

"Don't worry about it," he said as he gently kissed the side of my hair, trying to comfort me as we walked to the other side of the room, looking for anything else we could find.

"Hey, check this out," 10k said as we walked through the piping to an open door, meaning that one of them had escaped.

"Open door means escaped Z," I said as I grabbed my ax off my belt loop, getting into high alert.

"I wonder what it was," 10k said as he walked over to the room, looking in seeing if he could find any clues about it.

"Better question is where did it go," Warren said as she started scanning the room over, looking for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. Almost as if on cue, we heard a strange growling sound, coming not too far away from us.

"Well, whatever it is it's still here," Doc said as he crouched down trying to get a better look at what we were about to be dealing with.

"Shit, there's another one," I said as I saw another Z sneak out from behind the other.

"Murphy, go talk to them, do that thing you do," Doc said as he pushed Murphy closer to them.

"But be careful," I said as I reached out and grabbed his arm, him nodding his head at me as he walked over, bending down to get on the same level as the Zs. I stood there next to 10k watching as my brother tried to reason with the Zs. However, when I noticed Murphy take a step back I knew something was wrong. I reached out for 10k's hand, getting ready for whatever was about to happen.

"Umm, guys, these aren't regular zombies," Murphy started as he continued to step back, "These are mutant things," without warning the two Zs in front of us bolted, one going for Murphy, the other coming straight for 10k and me, "I don't think they like me!" Immediately, 10k grabbed me as we ducked out of the way of the Z, it running past us, turning and coming back. I raised my ax, ready to give the Z Mercy but was surprised when I saw my brother come out of nowhere, grabbing the Z around the arm and throwing it into the other. As we all ran around trying to avoid the reaches of the Z, I tripped landing on the ground with a hard thud just as the Z rounded the corner seeing me on the ground. I panicked, not reacting in enough time, the Z making his way for me. Thankfully, though, 10k saw what was about to happen.

"Raven," he yelled as he ran up behind me, grabbing my hands and dragging me just barely out of the reaches of the Z, it smacking the ground right where I had just been. He helped me as I jumped up as quick as I could, watching as Murphy now had ahold of both the Zs. We all stood in shock as we heard bones cracking and the splash of blood hitting the floor. Shining her light on Murphy, Warren turned and looked at us all, the same shock on her face as ours as Murphy held up his hands, blood covering them both, the two Z's now headless as their bodies hit the ground.

"Let's go find Dr. Merch," he said as he turned and walked away from us. As 10k went over and got Cassandra I stood with Warren and Doc.

"What's he gonna do when he catches up to Merch?" I asked as I glanced over to the two of them next to me.

"I don't know but I'm glad I'm not her," Doc said as 10k finally joined us.

"Let's be ready for anything," Warren said as she made her way to the front of the group, "Let's go."

As we made it down another hallway, Murphy seemed to be leading the way, walking as fast as his long legs would let him. I walked towards the back with 10k and Cassandra, watching their backs. As we rounded another corner I went slightly ahead of them, trying to catch up with the others. But once I turned around I saw 10k placing Cassandra in the ground, leaning her on the wall.

"Warren," I yelled as I back tracked, running up to 10k and Cassandra.

"I'm going to get us all killed," she said as she looked up at me, barely able to open her eyes or even talk.

"That's not true, don't say that," I said as I pushed back her hair out of her face again, her passing out in my hand.

"Is she…?" Warren asked as she made it back to us.

"No, she is still alive, just passed out," 10k said as he picked her up again. I opened the door next to where she was on the floor, luckily finding an old hospital bed in it. I opened the door wide enough for 10k to to carry her in here and lay her down.

"You stay here and get some rest," Warren said as Cassandra woke up again, "Look, I've been saving this special since New York," Warren took out her revolver, placing a single bullet in it and placing it in Cassandra's hand, "I want you to have it."

"Thank you, Warren," Cassandra breathed. Warren smiled down at her, rubbing the top of her head as she gave her a small smile before walking out the door.

"You hang in there darlin'," Doc said as he made his way up to the table, his turn to say his goodbye, "We are going to find you some antibiotics and get you straightened out in no time." Doc smiled down at her, as he tried to be strong for her. She smiled back up at him, knowing that he was trying to keep her spirits up. After Doc left, it was only 10k and me in there with her, 10k saying his goodbyes first. He stooped over the table, giving her a hug as she whispered something to him. I couldn't hear what she said but after she said it he looked up at me before looking back down to her, nodding his head as he also rubbed the top of her hair. I walked over to her now, tears in my eyes, threatening to spill over as I looked down at her. Her eyes were closed as she breathed deep and hard, almost struggling just to stay alive. I placed my hand on her cheek as her eyes fluttered open, just barely.

"You'll be fine, you just need to rest here for a bit," I said as I smiled down at her. She weakly smiled back at me.

"You know as well as I do that I'm not making it out of here," she said breathy, struggling to just get out the words. I couldn't say anything else, not wanting the last words I say to her to be a lie, her and I both knew she wasn't going to make it, "I want you to do something for me."

"Of course," I said to her, not going to deny her her last wish.

"Don't break his heart, he is a good kid and cares for you," she said as she took a deep breath, "We can all see it." She smiled slightly, causing a smile to spread across my face as well.

"Don't worry, breaking his heart is the last thing I would ever want to do," I said laughing, getting a smile out of her. Pushing her hair behind her ear again, I kissed her cheek before I walked out the door. Everyone standing there, Murphy pushing his way in passed me to say his goodbyes. We all stood outside in silence as Murphy said what he needed and wanted to to Cassandra, before we moved on any further.

He wasn't in there very long when Murphy busted through the door, immediately telling us what to do.

"Let's go," he said as he walked a few steps in front of us, "This trail of gore here lead us straight to…" He continued to point at the floor, following the blood that was smeared on the ground, "Biocontainment." As I followed my brother and Warren the first thing I noticed was how ominously the door was lit. It was an alarming shade of red, my immediate reaction was that I did not want to walk through that door.

Once we did make it through the door I noticed what looked like metal coffins sitting in the room. I was afraid to look inside them, not knowing what would jump out at me...again. However, once we followed Murphy's trail of gore we saw what looked like used to be a human, lying on a medical table, typing something on a keyboard. There was nothing left to him, his rib cage exposed, nothing connected to his spine. He was rotting away on this table, his skin now liquid, oozing onto the ground, him lying in his own dead flesh, yet still alive...somehow.

"Is that Dr. Merch?" Doc asked as he stood next to me, looking over my shoulder to what was in front of us.

"No," Murphy said as he walked around us all to looked at the man close up, "Someone else. It's the lab tech from the video." We all looked down at the man on the table, wondering how that same man would have ended up here right now, "He wants us to watch something." After he hit a button on the keyboard another video popped up on the screen, it was of Dr. Merch and the same man from the quarantine chamber in the last video we watched. However, this time it was Merch injected that man with what she said was the first human trials of the vaccine. Looking down to the man on the table I was terrified that was going to happen to my brother, the only family I had left.

"Well, it seemed to work, he didn't turn zombie," Doc said, trying to look at the bright side of the situation.

"But it won't let him die," I said as I took a step forward, looking from the table to Murphy.

"Did Merch do this to you?" Murphy asked as he stared at the body in front of him, the man barely able to nod his head, but responding nonetheless, "He's trying to say something." Murphy leaned in as close as he could as the man started to mumble something. I took a step closer, also trying to figure out what he kept repeating.

"Kill me," he said quietly, "Kill me. Kill me." He repeated himself, getting louder with every word, my heart sinking again. I placed my hand over my mouth, holding back the emotions that were threatening to spill over watching this innocent man being tortured with life.

"We are getting the hell out of here," Murphy said as he abruptly stood, turning to make his way out of the lab. However, before we could follow behind him, Citizen Z appeared on the computer screen.

"You've got company headed your way, looks like Dr. Merch and a couple soldiers, they should be there momentarily," he said with a smile. Something wasn't right though, why would Dr. Merch need soldiers with her, let alone multiples.

"Something isn't right," I said as I backed up, standing in between 10k and Warren now.

"Heads up," Warren said as the doors opened, someone in a hazmat suit and two men flanking them walked into the room like they owned the place. Murphy was quick to push his way through the group, Warren having to hold him back.

"Dr. Merch," Murphy said, a fire in his eyes as he looked at the doctor that caused his life to spiral out of control. Once Murphy addressed the doctor they set down the cooler they were holding, removing their gasmask, shocking us all. It wasn't Dr. Merch, we had no idea who this man was.

"Dr. Merch couldn't make it, I'm her boss Dr. Kurtz, I'm here to help you save mankind," he said as he smiled at Murphy, every word he said, a dripping lie.

"We've gone to a great deal to find you Mr. Murphy," Dr. Kurtz said as he tossed his mask down with his bag.

"Well, I've been on a bit of a road trip, traveling with my sister," Murphy said as he smirked to the new doctor.

"Well your journey ends now, you're safe. And your friends are to be commended for their bravery and commitment. Your country, all mankind, owes you a great deal," the doctor said as he looked around to us all. I didn't like this guy, something about him gave me the creeps and I was not about to hand over my brother to him.

"What's going to happen to him?" I asked taking a step forward, 10k grabbing my arm, holding me back.

"We will take him the rest of the way to the lab in California, where we will sequence his genes and clone the antibodies in his blood. Then, with any luck, we will be able to recreate the vaccine that's keeping him alive," the doctor explained. I didn't believe a single word he said. I held onto 10k's hand, worried about what was about to not only happen to Murphy, but to the rest of us. I had a feeling that once this guy got what he wanted we would become replaceable.

"And what if I don't want to be your guinea pig?" Murphy asked as he crossed his arms over his chest, challenging the doctor.

"Well then you'll just end up like Brandon Doyle, Patient Zero over there," the doctor said as he nodded his head over to the man that was rotting away on the table, "Speaking of which, someone should really give that poor creature Mercy." The two soldiers in the room went to go over to the man, but Murphy interrupted.

"I'll do it," he said as he held out his hand to Warren, her giving him her machete. He walked over to the table, whispering to the man. I stood in between Doc and 10k, watching over the doctor, making sure he didn't do anything stupid. He watched as Murphy went over to what used to be Brandon Doyle before turning back to our group. Everyone was watching Murphy but he saw me staring his down. He smiled at me like he was trying to act like Murphy was top priority but I just wasn't buying it.

"I'm not going," Murphy said as he abruptly turned to look at the rest of us. Everyone's heads turning to him in record speed, "Explain to me again why I should believe anything you say."

"Murphy, this is why we came this far," Warren said, trying to reason with him, a smile spreading across my face knowing that was the same fighting spirit he always had.

"Let's start with you have no choice," the doctor said as he stepped around the coffins, closer to Murphy and the rest of us.

"Excuse me?" I asked as I took out my ax, Warren getting her machete again, us standing guard in front of Murphy.

"Now, there is no reason to jump straight to that, he is just nervous," Doc said as he turned and looked back to Murphy, "He is actually very civic minded."

"I mean really this is so unnecessary, no one is going to harm you Mr Murphy, quite the opposite," the doctor said as he tried to reason with us all.

"I don't believe you," I said as I stepped closer to my brother, my ax at the ready for anything that they could hit us with. I heard something on the computer, not able to make out what Citizen Z was saying, it being drowned out by the doctor talking, trying to convince Murphy and the pounding on the door.

"It's only a zombie, kill it before it attracts others," the doctor said as he turned to the two soldiers he had brought with him.

"They can't open doors can they?" one of the soldiers asked, then on cue, the door clicked open, the last thing I would have ever expected walking through the door, Cassandra. She walked through, a bite mark evident on her cheek.

"She's a zombie, Mercy her," the doctor said as he looked her over.

"I'm not dead," she said in breathy voice, breathing heavy, looking around to everyone like she could kill us all. I turned and looked at Murphy as he eyed her, taking a step back, out of the line of fire.

"Kill him," he said, her head wiping to look at him before she turned back to the soldiers. She turned quick, grabbing the man's gun, using it against the other soldier, shooting him down where he stood. 10k was quick to grab me, pulling me down to the ground, hiding behind one of the metal coffins, out of the line of fire. As we peeked our heads just over the top as she sliced the throat of the other soldier. Turning to the doctor she was about to attack when he pulled out one of his own guns, gunning her down as well.

"Murphy wait!" Warren yelled as she saw him going for the door.

"Murphy," I yelled as well, 10k reaching out for me as the doctor shot at my brother, "No, let me go!" I yanked myself out of 10k's grip, refusing to loose my brother this way, I was going to go after him, no matter what was happening.

Once I made it out the door without getting shot at I ran after Murphy, hot on his trail.

"Murphy, please, wait," I yelled as I jumped over the two dead mutant Zs, "Murphy!"

"No, Raven, I will not go with him," he yelled back to me, not even slowing down, trying to shut the door between us in my face.

"I'm not telling you to, I don't trust him either but I think we should still look for Merch," I said as I finally was able to get into the same room as him, the decontamination room.

"No," he yelled turning to me, towering over me, "I'm not going with her either, she is the one who did this to me in the first place."

"Murphy!" we heard on the computer screen above us. The both of us turned and looked up at the corner of the room, Citizen Z on the screen.

"You, you set me up you bastard, you set us all up," Murphy yelled getting angry at him now.

"No, I didn't know," Citizen Z said trying to convince my brother.

"You have to believe him, he is trying to help us," I yelled to Murphy, standing between him and the door, knowing that if he opened it, it wouldn't be good.

"No, I don't have to believe anything anyone ever says, especially you!" he yelled, pointing up to the computer screen.

"If you don't believe him then believe me Murphy, I'm your sister, I would never lie to you," I said trying to plead with him.

"Then let me leave," he yelled, trying to get to the door. I moved back in front of it again, holding out my hand to him.

"Murphy, you are infected with the virus, if you try to leave now you will activate the fail safe," Citizen Z explained.

"Why should I care?" Murphy asked.

"Damn it, Murphy," Citizen Z and I yelled at the same time, Murphy finally fed up with it all.

"I've lost everything!" he screamed, throwing his hands in the air, causing me to jump, scared about what he might try to do next.

"You haven't lost me, Murphy!" I yelled back at him, hurt that he would just forget about me like that, but managing to grab his attention, "If you go up there it will set off a nuke, aimed straight for us, incinerating everyone, Warren, Doc, 10k, even me." He stared at me for a moment before the doctor made it to the decontamination room, trying to break in.

"Come with me," he said looking down at me, "Leave with me now and we can get out in time."

"We can't just leave the others," I said still standing in front of the door, refusing to let him set off the fail safe.

"Yes we can, we can make up for lost time," he said in a panic, turning to the doctor again.

"No, Murphy, we can't do that to them," I said still trying to reason with him.

"No, you just don't want to do that to your boyfriend, you would choose 10 cent over your own brother," he yelled as he pushed me to the side, slamming me into one of the incinerators as he threw open the door anyways.

"Murphy!" I cried as I ran behind him, heading for the freight elevator. However, before I could get there in time he shut the gate, not even waiting for me. As I finally reached the gate, I slammed my hands into it, angry that he would do this to me.

"Murphy, do you realize what you have done?" I asked as he stood as close to the gate as he could, trying to intimidate me.

"I'm finally doing what I want to, what I need to, I'm not listening to anyone anymore," he said in an even tone, before slamming the button to raise the elevator.

"Murphy!" I cried as I banged on the gate again, "Murphy!" Once he was out of view I couldn't help the tears that spilled over, I lost him once again, I managed to get my brother back, turning around again and losing him all over again. Quickly sucking up my emotions, I looked around trying to come up with a plan, I only had five minutes until the nuke would hit, I had to speed it up. Wiping my face I took a deep breath and started hitting the button that would send the elevator back down. Once it reached me again I climbed in, hitting the button to send me up to the surface. If I could do anything to help I could at least get the van ready for Warren and the others, hoping that they were even still alive. As I stood in the elevator I noticed something in the corner that almost looked like snake skin. Bending down and picking up a piece I realized it was Murphy's, he had shed his skin. I was in such shock, I didn't even realize that the elevator had stopped, opening to the surface once again. Dropping what I was looking at I ran over to the only van that was left out here, Murphy having taken our original one that we had stolen from Mesa Pharmaceutical. Running up to it it was thankfully it was unlocked but didn't have any keys in it. Leaning down in the driver floorboard I managed to hotwire the car, jumping into the seat, pulled up the van to the door, waiting for the others. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long, the door opening almost as soon as I pulled up closer.

"Guys!" I yelled as I jumped out of the car, opening the back door for them to throw Doc in, realizing he had been shot. Once they made sure he was in there, Warren jumped into the driver seat, leaving 10k and I standing there for a moment, "I'm so glad you're ok, you guys had me worried."

"Come on guys, we need to go," Warren said as she rolled down her window, 10k and I running to the other side of the van, 10k sitting in the back with Doc, me sitting in the passenger seat. Looking through the windshield of the van I could see the missile that we were trying to outrun, heading straight for us, the others looking at the same thing I was.

"I hate the apocalypse."