A/N: Hello lovely people! im so sorry for how long it has taken for me to upload and I hope this chapter makes up for it! I can't wait until next chapter! I have big plans! and i love it when you guys review and tell me what you think and give me ideas and you guys motivate me to keep writing!


We had been driving for a lot longer than I was willing to sit through. I was still in the passenger seat, my head leaned up against the window. We were still on our way to Minneapolis, trying to find my brother. Warren, Addy and myself were all sitting up front while Doc, Vasquez and 10k where in the back. I still wasn't willing to accept what had happened between 10k and me, and luckily no one pressed. I knew from the looks I was getting from Addy she was concerned but still didn't say anything.

"I think there is a town nearby," Warren said as we began to pass more abandoned cars, "We should stop and get supplies."

"Agreed, I'm getting thirsty," Addy added as she held up her empty water bottle.

"I'm getting low on things too," I said as I opened my bag, luckily finding a water bottle that was half full, "But look what I just found!" I pulled out the bottle and gave it to Addy. She had a big smile on her face as she quickly grabbed it, downing as much as she could all at once. She sighed, screwing the lid back onto the bottle. I laughed as she handed me the bottle back, slipping it down into my bag once again.

Before long we had made it into a small town that, just like all the others, was abandoned. I looked out the window, wondering what all I would be able to get. I didn't think it would be much but I also needed to clean out my bag. It was starting to get full of empty bottles and ripped up clothes.

Once Warren brought the truck to a full stop I quickly threw open the passenger door and was on my way down the sidewalk. I had thrown my bag on and made sure I had all my weapons, missing the Beretta that I had lost on the rig.

"Raven!" I heard Warren yell from the truck.

"I know, I know," I said as I threw my hand in the air, "Don't go too far, meet back in an hour, etc." I didn't stop, only yelling over my shoulder. I didn't want to give 10k or anyone else time to ask any questions. I just wanted to get my supplies and be on our way.

As I continued searching around I had dumped out most of what had been taking up space in my bag. Switching out empty water bottles for any full ones and tossing out the ripped and bloody clothes I still had. As I searched through the store I had wondered in I found a few things I could wear. I placed my knife back in my boot and threw my bag on the ground and picked up the pair of pants that caught my eye. I held them up, looking at them in front of me before I held them against myself, making sure they would even fit. When I was satisfied with how I thought they would fit I looked around, hoping that no one else had managed to make their way into the same store I had. After I check I quickly stripped off the jeans I had been wearing for so long, quickly tossing them to the side. Putting on the new ones, they fit nice, just the way I liked. They weren't skin tight and suffocating but they weren't so baggy they had potential to get snagged on anything or by a Z. They had small tears here and there with one large one on my knee. I looked around, trying to find anything else that I could wear when I came across a spaghetti strapped, black crop top. I held it up as well, tilting my head to the side as I decided on whether or not to put it on.

After eyeballing it for a moment or two I finally looked around one last time again before stripping off my shirt as well. I was quick to throw the top on, hoping for the split second I was exposed no one walked in. However, my hopes where shattered when I heard something drop off a shelf behind me. I was quick to pull out the revolver I had left, turning and aiming it in the direction that I heard the sound. But instead of a zombie I was greeted by the image of Addy picking up a box off a the floor that she had knocked over.

"Jesus," I said as I let out a breath and put my revolver back on my thigh.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," she said with the same sweet smile she always had.

I ran my hand through my hair as I looked back down at my bag, throwing the last water bottle I could find into it.

"What's wrong?" Addy asked out of nowhere, pulling me from my own thoughts.

"Nothing," I said as I threw my bag on my back again, shrugging my shoulders. I turned and looked at her, standing there with her hands on her hips and her head tilted to the side. I knew she could tell I was lying.

"I know it has to be something, you aren't acting like you," she said as she took a couple steps close to me.

"Oh, look at this shirt," I said as I grabbed a plaid button up off a shelf, trying to get the focus off me and off this subject. I quickly put it on and rolled up the sleeves to my elbows.

"You can't change the subject that easy," she said as she put her hand on my upper arm, "Was it 10k?"

However, before either of us could say anymore Warren and the others pulled up in front of the shop, honking the horn.

"We need to go!" Doc yelled from the bed of the truck. Addy and I both knew what that meant and it could only mean Zs, and lots of them. Her and I both dropped the subject and grabbed all our belongings and made a run for it. As we made it out of the door I looked down the street and saw the small horde that was following and quickly catching up. I was quickly pulled back into reality when I heard Addy yell for me. She had the door open as I threw my newly full bag onto the floor board as I jumped in, ready to make it to Minneapolis.

We hadn't been driving too long when we finally made it. The whole ride was relatively quiet, mainly looking out the window and watching the world go by. I had a lot to think about. My brother was getting crazier and crazier and drifting farther away from me. 10k had dropped a bombshell in the middle of the apocalypse. This just wasn't what I needed right now.

As we finally pulled up we were greeted by a large, plain looking building with a few green houses scattered around it and a tall wire fence. Warren finally came to a stop and we threw open the doors at the same time. I jumped out, leaving my bag on the floor board, not wanting to weigh myself down. I didn't know what we were about to walk into and wanted to be as light on my feet as I could.

As we all lined up at the gate I was standing in between Doc and Vasquez.

"Are you guys harvesters here for the cure?" the man standing on the other side of the gate asked.

"Uh, yea, that's right," Warren said as she tucked away her machete into her belt loop.

"You're armed?" he asked us as he stared us all down. We all looked around to each other.

"Um, yea," Addy chuckled as she rested her bat on her shoulder. The man on the other side of the gate looked us over for a moment before deciding it was alright to let us in.

"Alright, good," he said as he opened the gate, "Harvesters wait in the garage until you are called. The others inside wit give you the rundown."

We all filed in single line as we walked by the man at the gate. Doc was in front of me and Vasquez was behind me. I was looking around as the group came to a stop.

"You really think Murphy is here?" Addy asked as she turned towards Warren.

"Oh yea, I can smell him," Warren said as she surveyed the grounds in front of us. However, once she said that I saw something I didn't expect. Men loading Z weed into the back of a truck.

"I think you're smelling the Z weed," Doc said as he left his spot next to me and leaned over Warren shoulder. However, when he moved that left me standing next to 10k. I crossed my arms and tried my best not to look at him but I could feel him staring at me. I glanced at him for a moment, seeing an almost pained look on his face.

But the moment was cut short when all of a sudden we heard someone scream. Everyone's head shot to the right. The first thing I saw was a woman who seemed to be trying to crawl her way away from a Z. Without even thinking I bolted over to help her, the rest of the group not far behind me. I grabbed her arm as Vasquez ran by me, pulling out his gun. But it was useless. His bullet didn't even seem to phase it as it continued to attack the lady. I tried pulling her with everything that I had, Doc and 10k joining me but the Z had his grips on her.

The woman was screaming and begging us to try harder to help her. Vasquez picking up the makeshift axe that was beside her, bashing in the Z skull. Warren was quick to pull out her knife, cutting the vines that were tangled around the woman on the ground.

"Hey," we heard someone yell, "I told you to stay in the garage where it's safe."

"Safety first huh?" I asked as I walked up to the men who ran over to us, Warren and Addy helping the woman to stand.

"You have a problem?" one of them said as he squared up to me. He was trying to intimidate me, looking down at me as he took a few steps closer. But I wasn't going to let him have this moment, I crossed my arms as I stood up a little straighter. Doc was standing next to me, eyeing this guy down just the same that I was.

"No, brother," Doc said, "Just here for the cure."

Doc pushed his way passed the man in front of the both of us, myself following right behind him. I eyed the man, making sure that he knew I meant business and wasn't afraid of him.

As we walked through the compound the lady that was injured was telling us where she wanted us to take her. I was in the front of the group, Warren and Doc on either side of me. When we finally made it to where she wanted to go the first thing I noticed was a little girl sleeping in the middle of the floor. She looked sick and not like she was going to last much longer in this world. It broke my heart to walk in and see her. But she seemed comfortable enough and was fast asleep as 10k walked the lady to the same bed and helped her down.

"Are you ok?" Warren asked as she looked down at her, concern was splashed over her face.

"Yea, I think so," the woman said as she got comfortable, taking her jacket off.

Once I knew she was safe, comfortable and in good hands I decided to walk off. The building that we had walked into was almost like a barn, storing a lot of the equipment with several people walking around. I nodded my head at the few them in here as I sat down on a small bench. I took the revolver I had on my thigh, deciding I should probably do some small maintenance while I had a chance.

I had taken most of the gun apart, fanning it out in front of me when I remembered I didn't have my bag with me.

"Shit," I huffed, realizing I didn't have a rag to clean anything off. I put my head in my hand, leaning on the table I was sitting at when I heard a light plop in front of me. When I looked up I saw a black bandana sitting on the table in front of me and 10k sitting across the table from me.

I felt my face start to burn and I knew it was probably turning red. I wasn't ready for this, I wasn't ready to have this talk with him.

I silently smiled at him for a second before picking up the bandana and handing it back to him. I went back to putting my gun back together, not wanting to use his bandana.

"Ok," he said as he snatched the bandana off the table, "What is your problem with me?"

"I don't know what you're-" I started but he was quick to interrupt me.

"Oh, don't pull that bull with me, Raven," 10k nearly yelled. I looked up at him shocked at his sudden outburst.

"Excuse me?" I asked, a little hurt by it.

"You won't even look at me," he started, leaning over the table slightly, "You won't talk to me. I tried helping you clean your gun but that's not good enough." I just stared at him for a moment, trying to rack my brain with something to say. I could feel people starting to look at us.

"I never said it wasn't good enough," I said quietly, trying to make him calm down a little.

"You ran away from me," he said, hurt was started to spread across his face, "I told you how I felt and you just bolted."

"I'm sorry, I just-" but he interrupted me again.

"What have I done? What have I done that wasn't good enough?" he asked.

"I never said you or anything you did wasn't good enough," I said starting to get angry now. Why would he decide to bring this up now?

"Then what?" he asked as he angrily shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not good enough!" I shouted. Everyone around us stopped. It was so quiet in the barn you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone around us stopped what they were doing and turned and looked at us.

I turned and looked at everyone, my face burning and I knew it was bright red. I didn't mean to have an outburst like that but I was so overwhelmed with everything that I was feeling. I finally turned back to 10k, confusion and hurt and concern all across his face at once. I quickly put the rest of my gun together as fast as I could. I could feel my emotions starting to surface as tears threatened to spill over.

I shuffled with my stuff and I stood quickly, almost knocking over the small bench that I had been sitting on. I put my gun back in my thigh holster as I walked over to the other side of the barn. I ran my hand through my hair pushing back the emotions. I took a deep breath as I crossed my arms and looked out the window. It wasn't but a few seconds when I felt someone come up behind me and lay a hand gently on my shoulder. Unfortunately, it was 10k.

"10k please," I pleaded with him, "Just leave me alone."

"I'm sorry but that is something I can't do," he said as he looked down at me. I rolled my eyes and huffed, crossing my arm and looking out the window of the barn. It wasn't until then when I realized who was here.

"Oh my God, look who it is," I said as I pointed out the window. He side stepped, looking over my shoulder. I turned and looked at him as he turned and whistled for Warren.

She came over, followed by Vasquez.

"What is it?" she asked as she looked out the window, Vasquez standing behind me and looking over my head.

"I think I know where Murphy is," 10k said. Warren raised her eyebrows and nodded her head.

"Cassandra," she said very matter of fact.

"Kid's right," Vasquez added, "Murphy can't be far."

"I would be willing to bet right there in that green house," I said.

"Me too, but why?" Warren asked, saying out loud what we were all thinking.

….

10k and I continued to stand in silence as we kept a watch on Cassandra. She was still wearing the red jacket and gold outfit from the bar. It seemed so long ago now. However, while I was going down memory lane Cassandra all of a sudden stood.

"I think she saw us," I said as I watched her walk into the lab.

"Shit," 10k said as he turned and made his way over to the rest of the group. I followed behind him, standing next to Vasquez.

"Cassandra went into the lab," he said as we stood.

"I think she saw us," I added. I looked around at the group, waiting for someone to come up with some kind of plan.

"What do you want to do then?" Vasquez asked as he looked from me to Warren, "Wait for Murphy to come out and jump him?"

"No, I don't like waiting. Bad things happen when you wait," Warren said. I had to agree with her, with my brother, waiting wasn't a good thing. That gave him time to come up with a plan, and him with a plan was a scary thing.

"What about holding the guards hostage?" I asked, trying my best to think of at least something.

"That could work," Vasquez said, seemingly impressed with my idea, "Do that then search the compound for him."

"I like that," Warren said as she glanced from me to Vasquez before turning to Doc and 10k, "Doc, 10k, you two create a diversion." I was listening closely to what she was saying, making sure I knew what the plan was when all of a sudden I felt a hand land on my shoulder. I screamed and turned around, seeing none other than my own brother standing there.

"Or you could just come and say hello like normal people," he said as she smiled at Warren before looking down at me, "Didn't mean to scare you little sister."

"Hello my ass," Warren said as she looked him up and down like she was about to tear him apart.

"You know these folks?" some random guy asked who was standing next to Murphy.

"Oh, we've covered a bit of ground together," Murphy said as he looked at us all.

"Yea, we have," Doc said as he pushed his way passed Warren, "And dude seriously, I'm getting tired of chasing your bony ass all over the apocalypse."

"What are we waiting for? This man is our prisoner," Vasquez said as he started to advance on Murphy, "We are taking him to California." Luckily Warren and I where quick enough to grab him. Warren putting her arm into his chest as I grabbed one of his arms and pulled him back.

"Chill out Rambo," Murphy said with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Murphy, stop," I said as I pointed at him.

"California ain't gonna happen," he said. We all turned and looked at him, shocked at what he said.

"And why is that?" Vasquez asked as he tried to get in Murphy's face again. Luckily I still had ahold of his arm, Warren pushing him back as well.

"There is a cure for the zombie virus right here," Murphy said as he turned slightly, pointing back towards the greenhouse we had seen Cassandra in front of earlier, "It's right in that greenhouse and all we have to do is go and get it." We all turned and looked at Murphy. I knew I was at least shocked by what he said.

"Batch 47," the same man next to him said, "It's real. We just tested it. A bonafide zombie miracle." I turned and looked at Murphy and could tell he was more than excited for this. Or at least more than excited that the human race wasn't his responsibility anymore.

"Well think about it," he said excitedly, "No more relying on me to save the human race. It's a win-win, right?"

"No," Warren and I both yelled, Warren trying to talk sense into my brother, "That's not our fight."

"Please!" someone yelled behind us. We all turned around to see the woman that we saved earlier that they had been talking to since we came into the barn, "If there's any hope."

I turned away from her and looked at my brother. He had a big smile on his face knowing that she was going to help his cause.

….

It wasn't long until they had managed to talk us into trying to help. Saying that if anyone could do it, it would be us.

We all followed the lab guy and Murphy back outside to the greenhouse, standing in front of a table that had several different weapons displayed out on it.

"So your job is return to batch 47 and harvest the rest of the seedpods," the lab man told us.

"And not get killed right?" Doc added, "That's part of the plan."

"Well," the guy started, "That's a secondary consideration, but sure." I looked from him to Doc, a worried look on Doc's face. I smiled and patted his arm as I turned back to look at the greenhouse.

"Here, I have protection," the lab man said as he grabbed what looked like a makeshift helmet.

"That's ok," Warren said as she turned to look at him, "Imma go in like this."

"Same," I said as he turned and offered the helmet to me.

"Yea, I like to be able to run from danger," Doc joked. I laughed to myself as we all turned to walk in.

"Wait, wait," the lab guy said, "I wouldn't take your guns. Guns can't kill plants, I would take these." He motioned out to the table in front of himself, several gardening tools displayed out. I looked at everything as they all walked forward, giving them their guns and picking up the gardening tools. I put my revolver back on my thigh, not willing to just hand it to someone as I took out the Muela Bowie knife that was in my boot. As the others grabbed their weapons of choice I turned and walked my way to the greenhouse. I stood there with my hand on my hip as I waited.

"...meal ticket here," I heard as Warren and Vasquez walked up to join me. I didn't hear what they had been talking about but I could only imagine that it was about my brother.

"If we don't come out you shoot someone or something," Warren warned as they stopped next to me.

"Gladly, besides, I have allergies," he said as he looked down at me before sniffling. I couldn't help the giggle that escaped me as Warren rolled her eyes.

"Alright," she said as she turned to my brother, "It's your show. Lead on."

As we all piled in I waited until most had already made it in when I decided to jump in line. I was bringing up the back of the line with Doc behind me and 10k in front of me.

We hadn't been walking long when I saw the first Z. It was tangled in the weeds and vines and looked at us as we walked by. He looked angry but wasn't trying to get to us, which I'm sure had to do with my brother. All the vines and weeds and plants in the greenhouse where growing out of control. I had to push passed most of them as they hung down in my face. However, Doc behind me was having trouble with it and was freaking out at every small thing that touched him.

"This is like some kind of giant shop of horrors," he said as he panicked and brushed vines off himself. I just turned and laughed as I helped him get the plants off him.

We all kept walking and I was starting to wonder how far back this greenhouse went. I had slightly pushed my way to the front with my brother, watching as every Z we passed looked at him. It was creepy how they all looked at him then would back up, almost like they looked up to him.

Before I could react all of a sudden a Z came walking around a large plant. Warren quickly grabbed my shoulder as 10k came up beside me shooting his slingshot.

"3,216," he said expecting it to drop dead. However one the Z was hit Murphy yelled in pain. I quickly turned to him as he held his head. I grabbed his arm and looked at him, making sure he was ok when I realized the Z was still coming for us.

"Shouldn't that thing be dead?" I said as I turned to Warren. 10k raised his slingshot to shoot it again when Murphy's hand shot out and grabbed him.

"That won't work here," he said still clutching his head, "They are all interconnected with the vines, you can't kill one without killing them all."

Murphy stood tall and walked up to the Z like he was trying to intimidate it. Right before our eyes the Z then walked back from where it came. He motioned for us all to move it and get out of the way while we could. I felt someone grab my arm and when I realized it was 10k I quickly jerked my arm out of his hand. He looked at me for a moment before I straightened the flannel I was wearing and walked by him. I heard him huff behind me. I wasn't going to let him win this. I wasn't good enough for someone like him, so amazing, so caring, the all around perfect person. I didn't deserve that and he didn't need to settle for me.

….

Luckily it wasn't much longer until we finally made it to the back of the greenhouse and batch 47 was in front of us.

"There it is," Murphy said as we all gazed at the Z that was in front of us. He was huge and luckily tangled in several different vines.

"Ok, let's do this," Warren said, "10k, Doc and Raven, you three harvest the leaves. Murphy and I will harvest the seed pods. We all quickly jumped into action, doing exactly what Warren told us to do. I ran over to a vine and started to gently pick the leaves off. With each leaf that was pulled off by any of us the Z was starting to stir.

"Be careful," Murphy said as he was staring at the Z, "You're going to wake him." I turned and looked at the Z. He was starting to move and I was getting a bad feeling.

Those bad feelings where proven right when Warren pulled off the seed pod. The Z jerked awake, causing me to jump. All the Zs around became even more lively, coming out of their hiding places. Quickly Murphy ran passed Warren and stood face to face to the Z. He was trying to do the same that he had done not too long ago but it didn't seem to be working. The Z was getting angrier and angrier and wasn't going to listen to my brother. The other Zs where starting to come for us. I held out my knife, getting ready for a fight when it came down to it. My heart was pounding as I watched the Zs around us start to get closer and closer. Suddenly Murphy grabbed the vines that surrounded the Z in front of him.

"Hurry," he yelled, "I can't hold him much longer." I quickly turned and started grabbing as many leaves as I could possibly hold. With every leaf we pulled off and every seed pod Warren yanked off the Z got worse. Murphy was yelling, struggling to keep his fight up any longer. Luckily Warren was quick on the draw and pulled out her machete and cut my brother from the vines that he was stuck in. I quickly ran over to him and helped him up, more Z coming in after us. However once I helped him up he ran away, running through and archway off to the side of the Z that tried to snatch him.

"Murphy," Warren and I both yelled as we ran after him, but where stopped when a green Z that was foaming at the mouth. Her and I both stopped in our tracks and turned the other way.

"Okay, let's go," she yelled as she grabbed me before we joined the other two, "Let's go!"

…..

Once we finally made it out of the greenhouse, and made it out alive, I put my knife back in my boot when I heard Addy join us. It wasn't until then that I looked up and saw that neither Vasquez or Murphy was there. I saw her whispering with Warren and nodded to a group of people walking up to us. There where two big black vans parked in front of another greenhouse with men in skeleton masks and gun guarding them. Another man in a red and black suit came walking out with the lab man being held behind him and I remembered who this was. They had shot at us once before and I knew if provoked they would do it again.

We all stood there in our group, as tight as possible, not going to let ourselves be intimidated by these men. The man in the red and black suit walked straight up to us, standing in front of Warren and staring down at her.

"Who are you?" she finally said after we all had stood in a moment of silence.

"My name is Hector Alvarez, my friends call me Escorpion. I'm vice president of sales for the Zero Cartel. How can I help you today?" he stated. I had to admit, I was impressed with his customer service.

"Well, you can start by telling us what the hell is going on," Warren suggested.

"This?" he asked as he turned to the lab guy who was still being nearly held hostage behind him, "This is business among friends. I see you have been harvesting," he motioned to the bags we had, "Let me guess, batch 47?"

Warren stared him down, not giving him the answer he wanted but he wasn't stupid, he knew what we were doing.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to give it to me," he said. Warren stood there for a moment before turning to Doc and nodding her head. He quietly took off his bag, as well as Warren, and she tossed the bags over.

Escorpion started going on and on about who they were and what the Zeros Cartel was all about. At this point I had started tuning him out and was looking around when I thought I saw my brother sneak into the greenhouse again. I turned back around and was looking at all the guys who were holding guns and wearing the masks. They all looked pretty scary and intimidating and I wasn't willing to let them shoot at me again.

"But I digress," Escorpion said, pulling me from my thoughts, "Where were we? Oh yes, batch 47." He turned and walked over to the lab guy and I knew he was planning something. They weren't nice people and so far they had been too nice.

"So this is the cure that everyone has been talking about?" he asked as he held up a vile with some purple powder in it, "This reminds me of the Crocodillo we used to sell back in the day. Step one, we need a fresh zombie." One of his men took that as their cue and turned to shoot the closest person to them. I jumped at the sudden outburst, not expecting them to just shoot someone on the spot like that. Escorpion and his man both started speaking in Spanish. Sadly I had never paid attention in high school and had no idea what was being said, but they were yelling at each other.

"I'm sorry for that, it's hard to find good help these days," Escorpion said to everyone. I felt someone put a hand on my lower back trying to calm me down, I turned to see it was 10k again. I turned back, looking out ahead of me and stook a step to the side, out of his reach. I wasn't going to let him get to me.

We all stood there in silence as we watched Escorpion and the lab guy talking. He was going to test out the so called cure on the lab guy. I knew this wasn't going to be good and was going to end up in more people dying. We continued to watch as Escorpion shoved his vape up the lab guys nose, forcing him to inhale it. I had to look away, not wanting to watch as this happened to a fellow human. However, when I looked back I wasn't shocked to see that he turned Z. I knew that would happen. But I was shocked when Escorpion pulled out his gun and shot both Zs in the head without a second thought or word.

"So much for batch 47," he said as he looked down at the dead body in front of him, "Grab the Z weed, let's get out of here." However, when I thought they were finally going to be leaving someone very violently pushed their way passed me. He was one of the men in the skeleton mask with guns and was holding someone else. He was speaking in Spanish as well, I had no idea what was being said. That was when I realized who it was.

"Doctor Kurian," Escorpion said as he took his hood off. We all turned and looked at each other thinking that this man was dead all along, or at least wishing.

"What happened to your face?" he asked the doctor. He was quick to cover it with his hand but Escorpion wouldn't let him get off that easy, "Looks like my mothers chicharrones."

"That's a long story," Kurian said through gritted teeth.

"You can explain it to La Reina," Escorpion said as he nodded his head. Immediately one of his men hit Doctor Kurian on the head, knocking him out, "Put him in the trunk. You two are in charge now." Two of his men nodded their heads in understanding. Luckily after only a few more orders Escorpion was in a van and pulling away. The two men that he ordered to stay behind disappeared to fulfill their bosses orders.

"Guys, we need to find Murphy," I said finally breaking the silence between us all.

"I agree, we need to get out of here, it's too dangerous," Addy said, everyone else nodding their heads in agreement.

"He could be anywhere," Doc said.

"I saw him sneak into the greenhouse earlier, my guess he will try to save his 'friends'," I said thinking back to how he acted to the zombies earlier. Warren nodded her head and motioned towards the greenhouse.

We all piled in again, smoke starting to over take us. I covered my nose and mouth with the collar of my flannel, using it as a makeshift filter. Warren was head of the line, her machete out and ready for anything that came at us when we heard footsteps fast approaching.

"In coming," she yelled as we saw the silhouette of someone and not a zombie.

"Murphy!" I yelled as he ran by us, not even seeming to realize it was us.

"After him!" Warren yelled as she turned and we all ran after him.

We all ran, coming back outside again, Murphy covered in vines and getting pulled back in.

"Warren!" he screamed. I could tell he was terrified. I had never heard panic in his voice like that before. Quickly I pulled out my knife again and tried cutting him out of the vines, but it was no use. There were too many of them and they were too thick. Suddenly I felt someone grab the back of my shirt and pull me out of the way just as the giant plant Z got too close for comfort. I looked up and saw Vasquez nod at me. I was surprised that he was willing to jump in like that and help me. Maybe his tough guy act was just an act after all.

I stood as I watched the Z getting closer and closer. Vasquez tried shooting it but it did nothing. 10k and Addy tried next, going up behind it and trying to attack it. They too however where cut short when it turned around and swiped at them, throwing them both into a bale of hay. I had to try something, I couldn't just stand there and watch as my brother was about to get attacked. I rushed the Z, jumping on its back and driving my knife into its head multiple times. But it was no use. The Z grabbed me and threw me far, nearly colliding with Vasquez. He helped me up and we watched, not knowing what to do when I saw Addy and 10k hatch an idea. Vasquez and I stood there with our knives drawn just in case something happened. Luckily it seemed like their idea worked, the Z now being pulled away from Murphy still on the ground. I watched in amazement, not expecting anything to go wrong when I heard someone coming. I tried my best to motion for him to turn the other way when all of a sudden the shit hit the fan, or I guess the Z did. It nearly exploded when it did, hitting the man that was walking towards us. He went flying, hitting the ground hard and I knew the worst had happened. Everyone was quick to get up and get to where they needed to be. Warren was telling them where she needed them and Doc ran off with Addy. Vasquez and I stood, turning around to the man that was now a Z on the ground behind us. I pulled my revolver off my thigh as he held up his gun, the both of us aiming at the Z. It looked around for a moment before it opened its mouth, blood pouring from it when the both of us shot it. He held out a fist and looked down at me for a moment. I was shocked by this sudden mood change by him but I was going to embrace it. I smiled up at him and fist bumped him as we turned and ran to join the others at the van that the Zeros had left behind.

We were all piled in now and finally driving away from this stupid place. Warren and Addy where up front, Vasquez, Murphy and Doc in the middle with 10k, Cassandra and myself in the very back. Murphy didn't look good and was slumped down in his seat.

"Well that was fun," Doc joked.

"You shouldn't have killed him," Murphy said as he crossed his arms.

"Seriously?" I asked as I poked my head over the back of the seat between my brother and Vasquez.

"Yea, you're alive aren't you?" Vasquez countered. Murphy just turned and looked at the two of us before turned back and not saying another word.

….

For most of the ride we were all silent. All of us too exhausted or actually asleep to say anything. I was leaning back with my back to the window and my legs crossed beneath me. It was nice and quiet when all of a sudden Murphy jerked awake.

"Why are we heading south? Shouldn't we be going west?" he asked.

"Still too much fall out to the west," Vasquez answered.

"We can turn west south of Missouri," Warren said. I leaned forward, trying to get into a different position so my legs wouldn't fall asleep when I saw what looked like a woman walking down the road in front of us.

"Is that a woman?" I asked as everyone leaned up to look now.

"What the hell is a woman doing walking down the road by herself?" Warren asked as she started to slow down.

"It can't be," Addy said as she leaned closer, "That's Serena."

"No way Murphy," Doc said laughing, "Is that your pie girl?"

"Pie girl?" Vasquez asked. I forgot that he didn't travel with us as much and hadn't met the same people we had.

"It's a long story," I said as he nodded his head slowly.

"And boy is she pregnant," Warren said shocked. I was just asked shocked as she was.

"Pregnant?" Murphy and I both said in unison.

"Yea, like ten months pregnant," Doc joked as we came to a stop in front of her.

"Wait, you're not stopping for her are you?" Murphy panicked. Warren and Addy both nodded their heads as Murphy tried to convince them to keep going. However his pleads fell on deaf ears when Addy and Warren both got out to go and great Serena.

"Are you ready for this, dad?" I asked Murphy. He just turned and glared at me. If looks could kill I would have been dead on the spot, but I couldn't help the laugh that escaped. But it was quickly pushed away when Serena came running around the car, Vasquez rolling down his window.

"Is that really you?" she asked, only looking at Murphy. He smiled weakly and waved as she took a step back, "He's here Baba." She had a big, crazy smile on her face when she lifted up her shirt, showing her very pregnant belly. I leaned forward, trying to get a good look at what was happening. It was already kind of creepy that she managed to find us but it was even creepier watching the baby move around in her belly. I hadn't seen many pregnant women before the apocalypse but this just didn't seem normal.

Then suddenly the baby jumped forward, all of us jumping back, terrified at what we all just saw.