A/N: hello readers! All I can say is thank you so much for your continued dedication to this story no matter how long I take to upload! I really do appreciate each and every one of you whether you have been here since day one or just started reading (btw, already this month alone this story has hit almost 900 views). I would love to do something for you all but haven't thought of anything just yet but hopefully I will think of something. Anyways, lets get on with the show! Or i guess the apocalypse...
I couldn't believe it, we actually seemed to be outrunning the nuke, or I guess out driving it. The farther away we got the more emotional I became, thinking about everything that had happened the last few hours. Murphy was gone, Doc was shot and now I didn't even know what to think about Cassandra, I didn't know if she was dead, Z or alive. Taking a deep breath and wiping my face, I turned to watch as the nuke closed in on its target, the lab we just escaped from, 10k turning and looking over the back of the seat as well. As we sat there watching, waiting for the nuke to hit, Doc had managed to pull himself up in time to see the fireworks. I couldn't help the small gasp and jump as I watched the mushroom cloud in the distance. However, sudden realization hit me when I saw the shock wave, heading through the forest towards us.
"We need to book it," I said a little more worried than I meant to sound. Luckily Warren had seen the same thing I did in the rear-view mirror, pressing the gas a little harder.
"Hey, look," 10k yelled as he pointed to a small tunnel just ahead of us. Warren nodded her head as she tried to go a little faster, almost losing control when she turned onto the main road and off the gravel and dirt. Unfortunately, once we turned we lost the small amount of ground we had ahead of the shock wave, it hitting the back end of the truck as we drove into the tunnel, sending us into the air.
Once it hit and we were in the air it was like time was moving in slow motion, having to grab the handle above the window and the center console, just trying to stay in my seat. With all the running through the lab and the wind from the truck as we booked it, my hair had fallen out of the ponytail it had been in, covering my face as the truck started to flip in the air. I could feel myself lifting out of the seat as we came down hard, crashing onto the ground with such force that my whole world went dark.
…
"Ray." I could barely heard my name in the distance, like someone far away was yelling for me. "Ray." They sounded closer now, the closer they got the more I hurt, my whole body just hurt. "RAVEN." I jerked awake, not remembering what had happened for a moment, not knowing why I was upside down in the truck. I looked around for a moment, unbuckling the seat belt, crashing down onto the roof of the truck.
"Shit," I groaned, trying to crawl my way out of the busted passenger window, glass scratching up my forearms as my jacket sleeves pushed themselves up my arms. However, once my top half was out of the window, a hand shot down in front of me, 10k reaching out to help me up. I quickly took advantage of his offer, grabbing his hand as he pulled me up. Warren was already out of the truck as well, standing in front it, looking out of the tunnel. Doc had managed to get out as well, leaning against the side of the back tire, his bag at his feet. As I looked around at us all, I was surprised we had managed to get through what we did. Doc was struggling with his shoulder, 10k's nose was bleeding as well as his head. Warren didn't look too banged up thankfully. As I turned back to 10k he had pulled out an extra bandana from his back pocket, pressing it to my forehead, causing me to wince and jump back slightly.
"You're bleeding," he said softly, however, looking at me sternly. I huffed taking a step closer, eyeing him as he placed one hand behind my head, the other applying pressure to my forehead. I closed my eyes, trying to think of anything but the pounding headache that continued to worsen. After my head stopped bleeding he removed the bandana, luckily not much of it covered in blood. As I turned to look at Warren, I looked out the tunnel, realizing what it actually looked like outside.
"Wow," I said as I touched the sore spot on my head, "Is that snow?" As I walked over to stand with Warren Doc and 10k followed behind me, looking outside as well.
"Nope," Doc said as he maneuvered closer, "That's what I thought, it's radioactive fallout."
"That's all ash?" I asked turning to look at them all.
"Yea, so we need to get some protection on before we leave this tunnel," Warren said as she turned and looked to us all, "Do any of us have any extra clothes?"
"I have a little bit of extras in my bag, but it's not much, and it's all my size. Hayley used to have a bag that we used more for clothes but…" I said as I threw my hands in the air, knowing that by now the bag that Hayley had would have been gone, "I might have some stuff we can rip up and use for face masks."
"Good, that's good," Warren said as she pointed at me. I quickly went back to the overturned truck, trying to find my bag, only not see it.
"Umm, I can't find my bag," I said as I stood and turned to Doc and 10k. 10k quickly jumped to my aid, helping me search around for my bag, which in all the commotion had managed to get flung from the truck. As I ran over to him, he handed it to me as I quickly opened it, dumping out all the belongings I owned. It wasn't much, but it was enough for us to rip up. I had one scarf that I took for myself to drape around my head, leaving my hair down to help protect my skin anyway I could. Warren picking up a shirt, tearing it down the front, draping it around her neck as well, Doc and 10k grabbing what they could to wrap around their arms or to rip up to use as they needed. Once we managed to use everything that we could, we all parted ways to get dressed how we needed as I shoved the rest of my stuff back in my bag that now had a lot more room. I threw my bag on my back, doing an inventory as well, checking and making sure I still had everything. I made sure my thigh holster was tight and ready for the amount of walking we were going to have to endure, as well as zip up my old army jacket. My gun and knives were harder to get to now but something told me after an explosion like the one that just happened, nothing would be anywhere near here for a while. I was about to drape my last article of clothing over my head as 10k came up to me, laying his hand on my shoulder.
"Are you ready?" he asked as I turned and looked up at him.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I said with a small smile, "We have to find my brother, and when we do I'm going to kill him." 10k chuckled as he pulled out his extra bandana from earlier.
"You need to wear this," 10k said as he held up the bandana folded in half for me to wear as a mask, "The air isn't safe to breathe, this will help filter it some." I nodded my head as I lifted up my mess of hair, turning around for him to tie the bandana for me. Once I got it positioned on my face I held it still for him to tie it into place, his fingers tickling the back of my neck. I had to stop for a minute, taking a deep breath, now was not the time. However, I couldn't help the chill bumps that raised the hair on the back of my neck and down my arms. 10k picked up on it as well as he ran his fingers down the side of my neck, taking a step even closer to me, nearly pressing himself against me. As he grabbed my shoulder tight with his other hand, I let my hair down, draping it over my shoulder. 10k leaned down, his breath hot on the side of my face, sending chills through my body once again. I was about to turn to him, animalistic instinct taking over my body now, I had no control. Although, that was short lived when all of a sudden Warren cleared her throat, and loud. The both of us jumped, turning around to see Doc and Warren standing with their arms crossed, staring at the two of us.
"Well, don't let us stop the two of you," Doc said joking, laughing to himself as Warren only looked at us with her eyebrow raised. 10k and I quickly took a step back from each other as I tried to look as nonchalant as I could, fixing my hair and draping my scarf over my head.
"Right," I said as I sprung into action, glad that I had on this bandana, hiding how red my face was, "Ready, let's go." I threw my bag on again as I turned and started walking out of the tunnel before I realized no one was following me.
"It's the other way…" Doc said with a smile as he pointed behind him. I stood there momentarily, adjusting my bag, embarrassed.
….
As we walked out into the world, it was weird. It was silent, the ash still falling, not as heavy but still there. As we walked Warren was leading the group to the closest town to us, 10k helping Doc as he tried to stop his bleeding. I had Doc's bag, carrying it for him, not wanting him to strain his arm too much. As we walked, the further away from civilization we got, the more I was beginning to think we wouldn't make it to the town. I was having trouble keeping up with everyone, my body just not wanting to push on anything more. We hadn't eaten in what felt like days and the last of our water was running out. Doc wasn't getting any better, even though the bleeding had managed to stop, he still was weak, leaning on 10k more and more as we continued. Finally, as we made it to what looked like used to be a trash dump, we had to stop, Doc needing a break. He was groaning in pain as 10k and Warren helped him down onto and over turned washing machine, leaning against the whole pile.
"You ok, Doc?" I asked as I ran up to sit on one side of him, 10k on the other.
"His bleeding has stopped but…" 10k started but was interrupted by Doc, not wanting to be what held this team up any longer.
"Just go," he said as he pulled down the clothing he had wrapped around his face, "I'll find me a hole to crawl in. Just leave me a weapon and some ammo."
"Absolutely not," I said as I looked from Doc to Warren, hoping that she would back me up on this.
"No one is going to leave you here to die," she said as she pulled out the last water bottle that we had, "Here, take the last of the water." We all sat there for a moment, wondering what to do next. We were all pretty weak and tired, none of us wanting to go much farther.
"If we stay here much longer we will be too weak to go for help," Warren said as she started coming up with a plan. She was tired but her brain was still working overtime to keep us all safe, "I've got about another day in me without water, if that."
"Well, I don't think I'm going anywhere, Chief," Doc said as he sat down the now empty water bottle on the ground before looking up to Warren.
"10k, Raven, you two stay here with Doc," Warren said with a huff as she knew what she needed to do, "I'm going to go see if I can find water or help while I still have the strength. If I'm not back in 48 hours, you guys are on your own." She nodded her head to us all as she stood there, not wanting to move.
"Good luck," 10k said as he nodded his head in response as she glanced over us one last time, like she was trying to silently say her goodbyes. Once she was ready to go, Warren nodded her head one last time before making her way on down the path in front of her. We all watched her walk away, hoping that she was actually going to come back to us. We all sat there for a moment, resting up while we had the chance before we had to keep going.
"Does anyone have any water hidden somewhere?" Doc asked as he looked at the two of us, desperate for anything to drink. I sat there for a moment, thinking about if I had any left over in my bag, and luckily, I think I did. Quickly grabbing my bag off the ground I began digging through it, hoping that my suspicions were correct.
"Well Doc, looks like someone out there is watching out for you," I said with a laugh as I pulled out a half full bottle of water, handing it over to him. He smiled and laughed to himself as he took it, downing a swig of it. He handed it over to 10k as he quickly downed it as well before handing it back to me. One last big gulp left. Once I finished it I decided I should keep the bottle just in case we ran into more water by some miracle.
"I'm going to go scout ahead, see if I can see anything worthwhile," 10k said as he stood, getting his gun and other weapons ready. Doc and I both turned to look at him, not sure if he should really leave or not.
"Are...are you sure?" Doc said, looking from me back to 10k. 10k simply nodded his head saying what if there was something ahead that could help us, we should get it while we still could. I had to admit that was true, but I still wasn't convinced that he should go off by himself.
"Ok, fine," I said as I stood from my place next to Doc to stand in front of 10k, "But you better come back to me all in one piece."
"That kid is like a cockroach," Doc said looking up at us smiling, "Knowing him he will come back in one piece and then some." 10k and I both laughed and I knew that was true, I didn't have anything to worry about, it was 10k we were talking about.
"Alright," I said with a smile, pulling his jacket tighter together on his chest, "Go get 'em tiger." He smiled down at me as he placed his hand on my cheek for a moment before taking off in the same direction Warren had.
I watched him walk away until I couldn't see him anymore, taking my seat back next to Doc again. I took a deep breath as I rubbed my palms on my jeans, nervous that now two of our already small group were gone. I turned to Doc who was still leaning over the trash heap next to him.
"Let me look at your shoulder," I said, wanting to check and see how it was looking, which hopefully wasn't infected. He maneuvered over facing me, removing the rag that he had pressed up against his shoulder. As I sat there looking at it, I decided it didn't look too bad, it had stopped bleeding and luckily didn't look infected.
"So, when are you going to tell him?" Doc asked as he winced in pain.
"Tell who what?" I asked as I tried to clean up a bit around his wound, oblivious to what he was talking about.
"10k," he said as he grabbed my hand, stopping me from what I was doing to to look him in the face. I knew what he was talking about now, the very strong feelings I had for that sniper. I looked at him dumbfounded, unable to process what was going through my mind at the moment. However, it was cut short when all of a sudden 10k came running back down the same path he had just gone.
"Guys!" he yelled as we turned to see him, "Guys, you need to come check this out." Doc and I both turned to each other before grabbing the couple things we had sitting on the ground before jumping up to join 10k, our previous conversation completely forgotten.
Once we finally caught up to 10k he told us about an old tower he saw blinking not too far away from us.
"What do you think it could be?" I asked as I adjusted the weight between Doc's bag on one shoulder and 10k's gun on the other.
"Maybe Citizen Z," 10k said as he adjusted Doc's arm around his shoulders. I nodded my head, I hadn't thought about that. However, my thoughts were cut short when we heard what sounded like someone yelling. We all stopped, turning to look at each other before we made our way to the top of an old abandoned camper, looking out over all of the junk yard. As we scanned the area, 10k had taken back his gun, laying down between Doc and me as we all looked for the source of the yelling.
"Is that Mack and Addy?" I asked getting excited as we finally saw two people wrestling with a persistent Z.
"There's no way," Doc said as he looked as hard as he could at the two people below us, still fighting.
"Get him!"
"Mack!"
We heard them yelling even from how far away we were, and I knew it was them, it was really them! Someone out there really was watching out for us all.
"Well I'll be damned," Doc said with a smile and a chuckle to himself as 10k took the shot, dropping the Z instantly. The two of them were dumbfounded for a moment, not knowing what had just happened, or who had shot that Z when they looked our way, letting the Z's body slump to the ground. Once the two of them turned to us, Doc and I both waved, our hands high in the air.
"Three thousand ninety nine!" 10k yelled to them.
"We saw the signal!" I yelled as well before 10k packed up all his stuff, helping Doc up who insisted that he could walk on his own now. I continued to carry his bag for him, not wanting him to over do it already as we made our way down to meet Mack and Addy. Once we made it down the small hill to meet them I dropped Doc's bag, 10k quickly picking it up for me as I ran to give a hug to Addy, excited that I was finally seeing her and Mack once again.
"I'm so glad to see you guys again," I said as I laughed, throwing my arms around Addy's neck, pulling down the bandana that was still around my face. She laughed as well as hugged me before turning to the others with a smile on her face.
"How have you guys been?" Addy asked as she finally turned to look at us all, standing next to Mack, "Where is everyone else? They aren't….are they?" She looked at us all with a concerned look, hoping that her fears weren't about to be confirmed.
"No, Warren went on ahead to look for any water or help," Doc started explaining what had happened in the last few hours.
"What about Murphy?" Mack asked with a blank expression. Something was different about him, he didn't seem like the normal Mack.
"We lost him," I said with more anger in my voice then I meant towards him, actually that wasn't true, I was angry, "And Cassandra, she was at the lab when it blew." Mack and Addy both looked at me, Addy looking sad that she was gone now, Mack just looking bland.
"We should probably get a move on before anyone else sees the signal," Mack finally said ending the silence that had settled. We all agreed, getting our things together and heading to the fourwheeler that Mack and Addy had been using. They had a small trailer hooked up to the back of it, most of us piling in there.
"Have you guys heard anything from Citizen Z?" I asked as Addy helped me throw one of the bags in the bag.
"No, I can't get ahold of him. He has a message on loop about Murphy saying that if anyone finds him there is a reward," she said as she turned and walked over to the fourwheeler before jumping on the back, holding onto Mack. I nodded my head before helping Doc up into the trailer, 10k and I both leaning back, pulling down the makeshift masks we had, resting them around our necks.
The ride behind the four wheeler was quiet, none of us saying much. I was planning on what I was going to do when we finally found my brother and if I was honest, none of it was anything less that killing him. However, my thoughts were cut short when 10k tapped my arm, getting my attention. Once I looked to where he was looking I saw what looked like Warren standing on the side of the road. A smile broke out across my face, glad to see that she was alive and well. And that she had water!
Once we pulled up beside her I jumped out of the trailer and picked up one of the jugs that she had, downing as much water as I could possibly drink before I threw up. I passed the water over to 10k, him downing as much as I did if not more.
"I have never been happier to see water in my life," I said with a laugh as Warren jumped into the trailer next to Doc. She laughed as she told us about what had happened, finding the little girl in the clearing before she had passed out and how the family took her in. I was thankful there were still decent people in the world left and that Warren was able to make it back to us in one piece.
….
As we pulled into the nearest town that Addy said she had heard about in a broadcast it was eerily quiet. Sitting in between Warren and 10k, I looked out over the roads and down the alley ways to see if anything seemed out of the ordinary. However, everything seemed out of the ordinary when I didn't see a single soul, dead or alive, until we passed a truck full of people looking like they were about to attack us.
"My spanish is terrible but I'm sure this was what they were talking about," Addy added as I stared down the man who was driving the truck we passed.
"I wonder who else heard that broadcast?" 10k asked as he also stared down the same man I did.
"Hey, 10 o'clock," Mack yelled back to us as we passed yet another truck full of scary people. No wonder we didn't see anyone when we first came into town, they were all hiding, ready to attack. At the same time we passed a minivan, a woman driving as she stared us down.
"Folks seem friendly here in Cheyenne," Doc said loudly as she finally drove on. I was expecting her to turn around and come attack us, but thankfully she kept driving.
"Friendly ain't the vibe I'm getting, Doc," I said as I pulled out my revolver, feeling a little safer now.
"Let's just find Murphy and get the hell out of Dodge," Warren said as she turned away from the road and looked at us all, "If we want to find him we need to think like Murphy, put ourselves in his zombified head."
"That's a scary place I don't want to be," I said getting a laugh out of Doc and 10k as we continued down the road a bit longer before 10k yelled for us to stop.
"You said think like Murphy," he said as he nodded his head towards a building we had stopped in front of. As I turned around I couldn't believe it, even in the apocalypse Murphy was still the same Murphy.
"Hell, they might as well have his picture on the sign," Doc said as I read the sign: 'Live Nude Girlz.' I only rolled my eyes, sighing, knowing he was just on the other side of that door doing God knows what. I had to admit, I wasn't ready to face Murphy. How he treated us all back at the lab wasn't ok and I was going to let him know that. He has changed since the last time I had seen him and it wasn't for the better.
As we all got out of the trailer, 10k helped me jump out, as I put away my gun once again, worried that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from shooting Murphy in the heat of the moment. I took a deep breath before joining the other at the door, trying to calm myself down.
Standing at the back of the group with 10k I piled in as Warren opened the door, seeing Murphy sitting at the bar, drink in his hand. He was wearing a ridiculous golden jacket with an even more ridiculous hat on his head. I could only roll my eyes at him, sitting there like nothing was wrong, like he didn't leave us for dead back at the lab.
"Hey, guys," he said as he took a sip of his drink as I looked around, seeing all the Zs standing around the room, "What the hell took you so long?"
"Murphy, you son of a bitch," Warren said, taking the words right out of my mouth. I took a step forward, 10k resting his hand on my shoulder trying to calm me and hold me back from attacking my brother.
"Now, now, Roberta. Is that any way to talk to an old friend?" Murphy said as he got up from his seat, strolling over to us all and I just snapped. I blew my way passed Doc and Warren, heading straight for my brother. I couldn't help myself when I grabbed him by the collar of his jacket, slamming him into the bar, taking him off guard. Just because I'm small in comparison to him didn't mean I couldn't put him in his place when need be. However, when I did take out my frustrations on him, the Zs around the room seemed to get a little more lively. As I looked around to them all I still had ahold of Murphy, refusing to let him off easy this time.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey," he said as he raised his hand, the Zs responding instantly, returning back to where they had been before. He stared down at me as I kept my grip on him.
"That hurt," he said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, big brother, I'm just getting started," I said as I grabbed him a little tighter as he grabbed my hand as well. 10k came up to me, watching to make sure nothing got out of hand as Doc came up as well.
"Come on now, Ray, don't forget the mission," Doc said as he tried to calm me down, and he was right. I needed to think about the long term, I can kill him later. I gave him one last push against the bar as I took a step away from him, running my hand through my ragged hair, pushing the scarf I had wrapped around my head down around my neck.
"You damn near got us killed," I said as I turned back to him, tears threatening to push their way to my eyes. I couldn't help the emotions that were pushing their way through. I was angry, so angry with him but at the same time he was the only family I had left and I couldn't help but love him.
"And you did kill millions of other people," Warren said as she came to stand in between Murphy and myself.
"Didn't you get the memo," Murphy started as he pushed himself off the bar, adjusting his jacket where I had grabbed him, "It's the apocalypse, which means never having to say you're sorry." After that I couldn't help the anger that spilled over, pushing my way passed Warren once again, my fist colliding with Murphy's jaw.
"You left me there to die!" I yelled, the throbbing in my hand the last thing on my mind.
"I told you to come with me!" Murphy yelled back, neither of us caring that the whole group was listening, "But you didn't want to leave your precious 10 cent, you can't blame anyone but yourself. Or better yet, blame that crazy doctor, Doctor Kurian."
"There is no one to blame but you," I said as I pushed him once again, "I thought maybe you had changed but I was wrong." He looked at me shocked for a moment at my outburst, pushing him into the table behind him. 10k had come up to stand next to me now, grabbing my upper arm and pulling me away from Murphy. However, we were stopped when all of a sudden Cassandra appeared in front of us, hissing at me, almost seeming angry with me about how I reacted to Murphy.
"Cassandra?" I asked as I reached out to touch her, only for her to snap at my hand like a rabid dog.
"What did you do to her?" 10k asked angrily turning around to stare down my brother.
"Saved her life. What did you do?" Murphy asked on edge and with attitude. I could only stare at him. He would save her but not his own sister, or the few people willing to help him through the apocalypse? I couldn't believe him, looking her up and down I wasn't at all surprised in what he made her wear.
"I'm sorry, but what is she wearing? Is that even mildly appropriate for the apocalypse?" Addy asked thinking the same thing I was. And not surprisingly Murphy had an answer.
"You try dressing a classy lady in Cheyenne, Wyoming," he said like it was nothing.
"Classy? That's classy?" I asked as I pointed at her golden booty shorts and fishnets. Murphy only looked at me, giving me the silent treatment as we both just stood there.
"Alright," Warren said with tough authority as she stood in between Murphy and myself again, "Murphy, we need to get you to California."
"Yea, about California, after everything that happened, the nukes and all, I'm not so sure I'm down with the whole saving humanity thing," Murphy said as he leaned on the bar again, Cassandra standing in front of him almost protectively, "I'm not so sure humanity is worth saving." I stopped where I was, turning to look at Murphy.
"Excuse me?" I said as I raised my eyebrows, crossing my arms over my chest.
"You don't even know if California is still there," Murphy countered, yelling once again.
"Look, if you won't do it for humanity, do it for yourself, do it for Raven," Doc said trying to be the voice of reason that he usually was. Murphy only turned and looked at me before he turned away, still refusing to go.
"Have you even looked in a mirror lately? You need that vaccine more than any of us Murphy," I said fed up with his attitude and lack of cooperation, "I don't want you to do this for me, I want you to do it for yourself."
"Well, maybe there are worse things than being a zombie," he said as he looked back at us again, his own anger starting to bubble up, "Maybe being a starving, fearful, violent, vindictive human is worse." He was angry now, and a lot angrier than I had seen him before, even before he went to prison. "But hey, it's the apocalypse, let's have some fun!"
…
After Murphy's outburst earlier he managed to get us all to sit in front of the stage, saying he had a surprise for us, that it was something he had been working on. As we all lined up and sat at the bar Murphy jumped on stage, welcoming us to his dance club and introducing one of the dancers he named, Chantrelle. I was completely disgusted when a zombie dressed in a blue hookers outfit walked out onto the stage. It was like a trainwreck, I couldn't look away as she started spinning around the pole on stage.
"Oh...my...God," Addy and I said, neither of us believing what was right in front of us. As we sat there watching the music sped up, Chantrelle starting to spin a little faster as well. I had never even seen a stripper before the apocalypse and the one I was seeing now wasn't what I had expected.
"Whoa, I'm having a deja vu," Doc said as he threw his hand up in the air before downing whatever was in his glass. I couldn't help the giggle that escaped as I turned from him to look back up at the stage. As I sat there getting more and more worried for Murphy's mental state I looked around the room for an escape.
"Hang on Raven, it gets better," Murphy said as he saw me looking around. I crossed my arms and looked at him with my eyebrows raised, waiting for this grand moment that he was talking about. As we continued to wait Chantrelle continued to spin faster and faster around the pole, until finally the zombie was spinning so fast that all of a sudden she went flying off the stage, her arm still attached to the pole, sliding down to the floor slowly. I could only stare in awe at the scene that had just unfolded in front of me. I had my hand over my mouth as I stood and looked on the ground where the Z was lying, trying to get itself up.
"Ta-da!" Murphy yelled as he jumped up to the edge of the stage in front of us, "I know, I know, the finale needs a little work, but let's hear it for Chantrelle!" When Murphy didn't get the response he wanted he leaned on his cane, crossing his legs and looking at us, hurt. That was, until we heard someone walk into the room, clapping for Murphy's show.
"Is this a private showing or can anyone watch?" he asked as all of ours attention across the room. We all jumped up, 10k stepping in front of me, protectively. Looking around 10k's shoulder I saw a man standing there looking at Murphy like he was a prize. He was an attractive man, very military looking and quite intimidating. But once 10k and I made way for our guns he was quick on the draw, pulling out his gun before any of us could, "Ah...Ah...Ah, leave your weapons right where they are. I don't want to have to shoot anyone, there's enough zombies in this world already."
"What do you want?" I asked as I took a step out from behind 10k.
"Your name wouldn't happen to be Murphy would it?" he asked as he turned from me to look at my brother who was still standing on the stage. Murphy turned and looked at us before he slowly turned back to this mystery man, shaking his head as he looked anywhere but to the man who was questioning him.
"Nope."
…..
I couldn't believe what was happening once again. That seemed to become a recurring theme here lately. As we all stood here in between Murphy and this new man, we didn't really know how to react. I stood next to 10k, both of us with our hands off our weapons and held up.
"You know, there are a lot of people out there looking for you Mr. Murphy," he said as he kept his gun trained on the rest of us. However, Murphy didn't seem all that impressed.
"Umm, this man here is our prison," Warren started as she walked around 10k to confront this man. He wasn't going to have it however, saying that he was his now.
"Sorry brother, but she's right, we called dibs on him," Doc said as he took a step forward, joining in as well.
"And we are going to take him to California," Addy said, adding in her in put.
"No, he's going with me," he said as he had a creepy smile on his face. I crossed my arms now, looking at this man confused how he thought we were going to let that happen.
"Were?" I asked as he focused his attention on me now before flicking his attention to Murphy for only a second.
"To the highest bidder. The CDC in California aren't the only ones willing to pay for his blood," he said and I knew what his plan was now, to make whatever he could off my brother.
"Why does everyone talk about me like I am not in the room," Murphy said as his anger was starting to bubble over once again, angry that the whole world was telling him what to do, "There is only one problem with all your plans for 'The Murphy,' I'm not going anywhere with any of you." He turned and looked at everyone before his eyes rested on me for a moment longer than the others, pointing his cane at Cassandra, "Hit it!" On que Cassandra hit a button and all the lights went out, loud music coming on once again as multicolored lights and disco balls started glowing, adding to the effect of the Zs coming to life, heading right to us. 10k and I instantly went into survival mode, back to back watching out for the other. I pulled out y Muela Bowie knife, needing to conserve as much ammo as I could until we went outside, knowing it was going to be like a war zone.
As we continued to hold them off the best we could, I turned to see 10k having trouble with a Z that was in his face. Quickly I turned, stabbing the Z through the skull, dropping it to the ground. 10k winked at me, giving me his thanks. I smiled at him as I saw another Z headed straight for us. I turned 10k around telling him to grab the balls from the pool table in front of us. He picked up the first couple, throwing them as hard as he could, taking out the first few Z as I took out the closer ones around us.
"Let's go," I heard Warren yell as she ran by us. 10k grabbed my arm as we ran behind them, stopping as Doc got attacked by another Z. As he tried fighting it off I ran up to help, the Z smelling its newest victim as Doc pushed it off him, it turning to me now. As it grabbed me I dropped my knife, the Z grabbing my arm and the collar of my shirt.
"10k!" I yelled as I dodged another snap of the Zs teeth that had come within inches of my face. Quickly picking up my knife, 10k dropped the Z before grabbing my face and inspecting it meticulously.
"We don't have time for this," I said quickly, pecking his nose with a light kiss before I darted down the hall behind Doc.
Making it into the hall now I ran into Mack who was standing in shock, watching as Warren got hoisted into the air. There wasn't much we could do for her, all of us out of ammo, until 10k came running in. He paused for a moment before pushing past us all, grabbing a fire extinguisher off the wall and running over to help Warren. Once the Z dropped Warren she ran over to us, getting out of the way of 10k as he plunged the nozzle of the fire extinguisher in the Zs belly, pulling the pin out. We all stood there in amazement as we watched the Z grow, more than doubling its size. I looked at the Z confused, I didn't even know this was at all possible. However, my curiosity got the best of me when I took a couple steps closer as the Z blew. I yelped and jumped back as guts, goop and fire extinguisher contents splattered over the wall and all over me. I huffed as I shook my hands, trying to clean them as best as I could before wiping my face as I stared down 10k. I should have known something would happen with his plan. He looked at me with one eye closed, goop covering it as he had a small smile on his face. I couldn't help but giggle to myself as I walked over to him, wiping off his face the rest of the group went running by us and out the door.
Once we were back outside it was louder now, people on the hunt for Murphy, knowing how valuable he really was. Mack had grabbed his weapons and ammo bag, throwing it on the ground for the taking, letting us all restock the best we could. I pulled out my revolver, grabbing the few bullets that were there that I could take, taking some for the Beretta as well.
"So what do we do now, chief?" Doc asked as he wiping his face off, going through the bag as well.
"I made a promise to a little girl and I intend on keeping it," she said as he took out her gun, wiping it down and she inspected it, making sure it was still as perfect as before, "We are going to find Murphy, get him to California and they are going to make a vaccine and save the world. And I'm going to kill any bounty hunter that gets in my way."
"Sounds like a plan," Addy said as he restocked her ammo in her pockets and stuffing her guns back where they had been before.
"Any idea were Murphy went?" 10k asked as he kneeled down beside me, grabbing anything and everything he could to restock when all of sudden the same minivan from earlier went speeding by, almost wrecking.
"I'm assuming that way," I said as I turned to see the van disappear behind a building. I looked at everyone in the group as they froze momentarily before clicking the chambers back into their guns, "And after we get him to California, I'm going to kill him."
