"We're dead because of this asshole." A blond hair woman shouted, aiming a gun at Morgan.
Barry sighed in exasperation they had just narrowingly escaped the herd of undead with the help Glenn and the rest of the people in his group who names he did not know yet. He didn't have time for this.
"Andrea, chill out." A hispanic man said in a pacifying manner attempting to diffuse the situation. Morales he believed his name was.
He took a step forward and everyone's eyes landed on him including Andrea's who now had the gun pointed at him.
"Stop." She demanded. "Take another step and I'll shoot."
Barry snorted as if you could shoot me.
The gun was suddenly swiped out of Andrea's hand before she could even blink. He popped the clip out of the gun and gave the woman an unimpressed stare. The group let out a collective gulp at seeing their only firearm taken in the hands of a complete stranger.
"Word of advice." Barry spoke for the first time, voice deathly calm. "If you're going to shoot someone make sure the safety's off."
He clicked a small button on the side, the light turning red and popped the clip back in. He held out the gun to Andrea handle first who hesitantly took the weapon back.
"Now then are we going to talk like civilzed people that doesn't involve waving a gun around threatening people." Barry said in an effort to ease the tension and break the awkward silence in the air.
"I-" Andrea began swallowing a lump in her throat. "Sorry it's just…."
"It's just you're trapped inside a building surrounded by walkers and the only way you can think to cope is by placing the blame on someone." Barry bluntly finished. Andrea just turned away shame filling her.
Morales cleared his throat. "Why were you shooting up the streets? You brought every single geek in the city onto you." He asked in a calm manner. He didn't sound upset unlike Andrea, just genuinely curious.
"Morgan did it to save my life." Barry cooly responded standing up for his friend. "While the plan isn't what I call sound, it's thanks to him I'm still breathing in the first place."
"Yeah." Morgan agreed even though he was a bit weary in Barry's sudden uncharacteristic change in behavior. "Walkers were already piling up in the street. I don't see things could have gotten worse."
"Well you did make things worse." Andrea muttered bitterly.
"Quiet." Barry sharply said. "What's done is done you need to get over it."
Andrea glared angrily at Barry. "Get over it?!"
Morales stepped between the two. "Hey Andrea relax like he's said what's done is done now we need to-"
Before he could finish a gunshot was heard coming from the roof.
"Oh no is that dixon." Andrea scowled, looking up.
Barry was on the move and sped past everyone taking extra caution not to use his superspeed.
When the second gunshot went off he was already at the top.
He charged at the door slamming it wide open and located his target.
A man in a sleeveless black jacket and jeans was aiming his rifle on the streets of the undead bringing more of them to us.
The man's back was turned.
Barry would use this opportunity to his advantage.
The perception of time slowed down as he made the distance to lung Merle Dixon when his finger was on the trigger getting ready for a third shot.
He grabbed him by the throat stopping him from firing off the third round.
XXX
Merle Dixon was the type who did not like being in control of the situation.
It stemmed from growing up with an abusive father but when he got bigger and meaner he started to fight back.
He would never admit outloud but it was an issue that got him in trouble more often than not like that one time he enlisted in the military and kicked the living crap out of his superior. It earned him a dishonorably discharged in less than a month.
Merle didn't care. The guy was an asshole and he didn't take orders from no one except himself. That made him question why he even bothered enlisting in the first place.
Unfortunately he found himself in one of those situations again like this guy well he supposed guy would be putting mildly since he looked to be half his age dangingly him off the roof. He didn't even know what happened one moment he was fine getting himself a little target practice next he was holding on for dear life hoping whoever this was wouldn't drop him.
"Who the hell are you?!" Merle demanded with a growl. He just barely managed to grit out whoever this kid was he sure is shit as strong.
Now that he got a better look at him he realized the kid no man might be a bit on the younger side but he was taller than Merle six feet if he would have to guess. He was also very well built, not one of those professional wrestlers who looked like they pumped themselves full of steroids. No this was someone who must exercise everyday to keep himself fit in his prime unlike the rest of the world's population who were either too stupid or too lazy to exercise.
"Someone with more common sense than you apparently." He coldly responded.
Merle would have tried to free himself if it wasn't for him being held 50 feet above the ground with a hundred or so walkers eagerly awaiting their next meal. His sniper was gone, knocked over the edge onto the street when this man grabbed him. He momentarily considered drawing his sidearm threatening to shoot him into forcing him to pull him back up but decided against it.
Doing that might cause the man to panic and drop him even if he somehow managed to survive the fall the walkers would tear him apart.
That was not the way he wanted to go; he had seen too many people get eaten alive by the dead; he sooner shot himself in the head than become one of them.
On cue the rest of his group and a new addition another black person yeah he was racist but unlike the rest of the politicians lying behind their teeth he at least chose to wear it with pride.
Merle wondered if any of them would step in to help him; he found it unlikely all they saw him and his brother as were a bunch of redneck assholes and they called him the racist one.
But then again maybe not they're morals usually tend to get in the way of things ironically that is the greatest downfall none of them gets it. The world they lived is gone, it was a dog eat dog world now. Survival of the fittest where the strong will thrive and the weak will perish.
Except for maybe baby face here if he did decide to drop him he would begrudgingly respect the fact he would have the balls to do what needs to be done.
Merle isn't a religious person he wasn't praying to no god for help and he ain't gonna start praying now
"If you're going to drop me then drop me." Merle sneered. "I ain't never begged before and I ain't gonna start begging now."
It wouldn't help the situation he was caught in but if he was going to die he was going to do it with his dignity intact.
"If I decide to pick you back up how do I know you won't try anything stupid." Baby face challenged.
Merle schooled a neutral expression. The man was smart he would give him that but he wasn't heartless if he was he would have dropped him by now and be done with him.
"You don't." Merle admitted if the man was surprised he didn't show. "But do you really want my death on your conscience." He tried attempting to appeal to whatever morality this man had.
For what felt like a lifetime the man slowly settled his feet back on the rooftop. Merle let out a sigh of relief he had no idea he was holding.
Baby face walked past him and the remainder of the group heading down the stairs.
Merle only had one question on his mind.
"Who the hell was that?"
XXX
Barry was doing the best he could to keep calm and to think as logically as he possibly could.
In reality he was seething with frustration.
'This is why I'm not a team player somebody does something stupid and all of it goes hailmarry.'
Barry used any type of clothing long enough to cover the doors from the walkers line of sight. It wouldn't do much but maybe they would lose interest.
'Everyone inside the group isn't bad, just scared, Glenn seems like a good man he did get me and Morgan out alive.'
'Andrea is too pessimistic always assuming the worst in a situation and highly impulsive.'
'Morales is a man of logic and reason rather than letting his emotions rule him unlike some of the members of the group.'
Dixon is stupid its because of him escaping is going to be that much more difficult but he seems to have experience handling weapons meaning he could be useful.
Morgan, he already knows he can be trusted and counted on to help.
Duane, wait a minute Duane was never with Morgan he must have left him in the police cruiser.
Think, Barry what are your options.
Guns: using those are a bad idea. We have enough walkers already, we don't need more of them.
Sewer System: Worth a try he didn't see any accessible manhole covers and some of the pathways might be blocked.
Alleyways: Possible escape routes
His thoughts were interrupted as the group arrived downstairs.
Merle scoffed at Barry's attempt at a blockade. "You actually think the dead will just get bored and walk away quietly.
Barry shrugged in response. "Maybe, maybe not. I don't see you coming up with any good ideas."
Instead of the scowl Barry expected he got a smug smirk. "As a matter of fact I do, it's called the sewer system."
Barry raised an eyebrow. "Show it to me."
Merle glowered at being ordered around but nonetheless obeyed, leading them to a room with a giant hole.
"Saw this the other times I was here." Glenn commented. "It's the only thing that goes down but I've never gone down it. Who'd want right?"
"Who do you think shit for brains?" Merle rhetorically asks. "Someone who wants to avoid getting eaten alive."
Glenn turned away either from fear or embarrassment no one knew for certain.
"This plan might not work. Thankfully I have come up with a plan B let us hope we do not have to use it." Barry informed them.
Merle snorted indigenously . "Why? Does it involve us making a last stand taking down as many walkers as we possibly can?"
Barry shook his head. "No let me just say it is going to be a messy one and you'll have to get your hands dirty."
Merle again snorted he was no stranger to getting his hands dirty; he would rise above the occasion no matter how difficult the task.
Oh how soon he would come to regret those words in that moment.
XXX
"This is disgusting ain't no way in hell am I doing this?!" Merle yelled as Barry slammed an axe into one of the corpses Morales killed in the alleyway
The group for once silently agreed with Merle they had reached the dead end in the sewer network. They were willing to hear whatever plan Barry had in mind since they were slowly running out of time and options.
"Yes you are." Barry firmly said. "The walkers broke through the first set of doors. Walkers don't seem to attack each other, this is the best and only option we have left."
"He's right." Morgan said in agreement. He picked up some walker guts and smeared it on his white coat. "I don't like it but it's our only way out."
"Then why do I have to be the one to cover myself in walker gusts why can't Chinaman over there do it." Merle jerked his thumb at Glenn.
"Gee I don't know, maybe it has to do with the fact you thought it was a brilliant idea to snipe walkers in a city filled with them." T-Dog sarcastically drawled.
Merle glared at him.
"Less whining more covering yourself in walkers guts." Barry scolded. "And besides you at least have a chance to escape with this plan unless you rather stay here."
Merle growled at him. He reluctantly picked up the walker guts. "If this doesn't work you are going to be the first person I will eat when I become a walker."
XXX
Barry sucked in a deep breath this is it if the plan doesn't work then he is going to feel pretty stupid for doing this.
"Barry, wait." Morgan clasped a hand on his shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure." He turned to Merle. "You can go on ahead, me and Morgan need to talk in private."
"Fine." Merle begrudgingly said. "But if you take too long I'm leaving without you."
As soon as Merle was out of earshot Barry asked the question. "What did you want to talk about?"
"You remember how we narrowly escaped the herd of walkers." Morgan reminded him to which Barry nodded. "I've been playing that scene over and over again there's something that's been bothering me about it all."
Barry kept a straight face but internally he was panicking. "What about it?"
"How did I get on that rooftop so quickly?" Morgan wondered. "One moment I'm surrounded by walkers about to be torn apart the next I end up on the roof with you and Glenn."
Barry sighed. "Is this really the best time?"
Morgan shrugged. "Maybe not but you can't tell me you aren't wondering the same thing."
"Believe I am but we need to get out of here." Barry argued.
Morgan gave him a suspicious look. "You know something don't you?"
"Yes I do." Barry admitted feeling a huge amount of weight lifted off his shoulders. It would be good to have someone else in on his secret. "But we need to concentrate on getting out of here first."
"Alright." Morgan relented. "But when this is over I expect an explanation."
"And you'll get one." Barry promised.
They stopped at the edge of the alley where Merle was standing near a bus.
"About time." Merle impatiently replied. "None of them have decided to attack me yet. It looks like your idea is working so far."
"Okay try your best to act walkerish." Barry worded.
This time Merle snorted in amusement.
The plan worked; none of the walkers had attacked them; they were already half through the streets to the trucks.
Unfortunately mother nature took the perfect time to wet her tears.
"The smell's wearing off!" Merle whispered anxiously in a shout.
"Just calm down as long as nobody panics will be fine." Barry spoke in a whisper to reassure them.
It did very little to assure them considering some of the walkers near them were growling and sniffing the air looking for their next meal.
Morgan didn't want to give the walkers the chance.
He slashed the two walkers head clean off with his fire off alerting the rest.
"I told you this was a bad idea." Merle smugly retorts running from the herd behind them and clinging walkers on the head with his crowbar that tries to get in his way.
"Not now, Merle." Barry said in slight exasperation. He drew his beretta popping the walkers near the gate to clear a path.
"Oh yeah that's real smart." He sarcastically said. "Bring even more of them on us."
Barry ignored him. They had reached the fence but walkers were coming from all sides pretty soon they would be surrounded. "Start climbing."
"What about you?" Morgan asked.
"I'll be right behind you. Go!" Barry ordered.
Morgan hesitated.
"You heard the man we need to go." Merle insisted already over the fence.
Morgan followed after him.
Barry drew his gun taking careful aim to only kill walkers that got too close. He never thought he would be grateful for the CCPD required gun training until now.
He was forced to rapid fire some of the bullets went through the skulls hitting a second one, third, and even a fourth one. The gun clicked, placed it back in his holster and drew out the combat knife he took off the dead soldier entering a fighting stance.
He stabbed at a quickened pace he was taking them down so fast he didn't have the time to count.
It didn't matter how quickly he killed them, more would just fill the gap of their dead buddies.
He used his feet to kick them back giving him some breathing room to fight.
"You, done in there yet!" Barry shouted. He wasn't sure how long he could keep this up even with the added benefit of slowing down time the endless onslaught of walkers was getting difficult to manage.
"We need more time to find the keys!" Morgan shouted back frantically looking for the keys.
"Keys? You don't need keys. Move over let me hotwire it." Morgan scooted to the passeragerside. Merle propped open a box of wires underneath the steering wheel.
Merle just stared at the wires in bewilderment.
"Well what are you waiting for? I thought you knew how to hotwire a car!" Morgan snapped.
"I do except most wires are green, blue, and red not grey, white and pink." Merle unkindly retorted.
Merle gave connecting the white and grey wires together a try.
He figured since they are so close to each other on the color spectrum it would work.
That would prove to be a grave mistake.
HONK!
"Shit." Merle cursed.
"Turn it off!" Morgan shouted.
"I'm trying!" He yelled.
He disconnected the grey and white wire but the car alarm kept going off.
The noise began to draw some of the walkers away from Barry to the car alarm going off.
Several dozen of them or so began to climb over the fence.
Morgan groaned. "Seriously they know how to climb a fence but not a ladder."
"That mystery will have to remain unsolved right now. I need to find a way to get this piece of crap started." Merle said frustrated.
He connected the pink and white wire together causing the engine to ignite.
"Yes baby we are going to make it out of here." Merle turned the pedal to reverse backing it up out of the garage.
Morgan turned behind him. "Barry get in!"
Barry went up the fence however a walker grabbed his ankle getting ready to take a bite out of him.
But before it could Barry vibrated his leg kicking the walker in the face sending it flying into a group of them knocking several over in the process.
He superspeeding his way into the back of the truck to the bewilderment of the two men at Barry's sudden appearance.
"Whoa maybe you should think about wearing a bell or something I didn't even know you were back there." Morgan advised.
"Would a bell even work over this loud noise!" Barry shouted loud enough.
"Point." Morgan conceded with a smile.
Barry looked at Merle. "Well what are you waiting for? Drive."
Merle snapped out of his awe turning the ignition into drive.
"I'm surprised you waited for me Merle. I thought for sure you would have left me." Barry teasingly asked.
"Oh what that I just wanted to rub it in your and get to say I'm better than you are." Merle downplayed it causing Barry to roll his eyes.
If Merle didn't care about the group he wouldn't have even gone back to the clothing store to pick them up.
Author Notes: Another chapter of the God of Speed I hope you all enjoyed. I added some pretty good changes so far Morgan and Merle are now with the group. We can only see how this plays out whether the changes Barry are making is good or bad.
On another note chapters are probably going to become less frequent in my stories since I have schoolwork that needs to get done just yesterday I had an Anatomy and Physiology Test and it was rough.
