"Luffy, wake up!"

"Luffy!"

Luffy's eyes shot open and he bolted upward, his head nearly colliding with the older child's. There was a terrible screeching in the corner. He covered his ears with his hands, tearing at his hair, "What?!"

"Something's wrong with [scratch]!" the older child screamed, dragging Luffy to his feet.

Luffy followed the older child's gaze. It was difficult to discern, he could hardly make out the teen's shadowy form in the darkness. There were never any faces or names in his dreams, beyond his own. But he could see the strange, dead eyes of the teen. He could still make out the macabre smile stretched unnaturally across his face.

"Guards!" the other boy shouted, pounding his fists against the reinforced glass. "Guards! It's [scratch]! He's turned! Someone help!"

The metal door slid open and three orderlies stepped inside. Each boy was hit with 50,000 volts of electricity. The teen screeched, spitting up a copious amount of blood. The two younger boys passed out immediately, collapsing to the floor.

"I'm awake." Luffy mumbled, sitting up abruptly.

"You okay?" Usopp asked, his eyes narrowed with concern.

Luffy nodded, looking out the window, "Yeah. I'm fine."

"I hate to be that person," Nami complained, pushing her elbows outward, "but this truck isn't big enough for the four of us and I want to die."

"You should've stayed at the zoo," Zoro claimed. "Lots of space there."

"Yeah, sure," Nami said, rolling her eyes, "I'm staying with the fucking sniper and his ragtag zombie killing duo…" She raised her hands in gesture, "No offense to the professional shit sweepers back at the zoo."

"I am driving!" Usopp yelled over the noise. "Settle down! Uh, please, ma'am."

"Where are we even going?" Nami asked, looking around.

"The botanical gardens," Zoro replied, "there's a whole edible section or something..."

"The botanical gardens are that way," Nami said simply, pointing out the back window.

"That's not what Google says." Zoro argued.

"Ah, well," Nami grumbled, "Clearly the Google people are at work right this minute…"

They drove in silence for another fifteen minutes before Usopp asked, "So, Nami, uh, where did you say the botanical gardens were?"

"I shouldn't tell you," Nami taunted. "I'm a lowly woman who couldn't possibly know my way around the big city…"

"I never said that!" Zoro growled.

"Oh, but you-"

"I never fucking s-"

"Guyssssss," Luffy whined, "pull over real quick."

"What?" Usopp asked, looking around the abandoned street. "What for?"

"Just pull over!" Luffy insisted.

Usopp parked the car and Luffy immediately popped open the door. He jumped down from the cab and vomited, spewing all over the worn-down cement.

"Great! You made Luffy sick!"

"I made Luffy sick?! Wow…"

"Can ya'll just stop for a minute?" Usopp asked, shaking his head. He jumped from the cab of the truck and walked around the front. He stepped around the vomit, close enough to rub Luffy's back. "Eat something bad?"

"I'm okay." Luffy answered, wiping his face. "Let's keep moving."

"Are you sure?" Usopp pressed gently. "Cause if you need a minute, I've got you…"

"People are watching us," Luffy replied, stepping up on the runner of the truck. "Let's go."

"Who? Who's watching us?" Usopp gasped, looking around, "Luffy? Luffy, who's watching us?"

"Get in the truck, Usopp," Luffy instructed, shutting his door.

Usopp ran around the front of the truck. He caught a glimpse of movement in the window above them and he groaned, climbing in the cab. He slammed the door and looked at Luffy, "We met some real bad people. That doesn't make all people bad."

"Yeah," Luffy agreed with a nod, "but I meet so few good people."

"Nah," Zoro refused, shaking his head, "gunshots and attempted murders are just more memorable."

Luffy laughed, "Ya'll are good people. I like ya'll."

Nami smiled sweetly, "Yeah, we like you too, Luffy."

"But I have thoughts, you know," Luffy continued, his shoulder knocking against Zoro's as the truck bounced, "about the people who started this…"

"What about them?" Zoro asked.

Luffy inhaled deeply before saying, "I wonder what made them think the earth needed hundreds of millions less humans."

"Jesus," Usopp groaned, "probably Walmart on a Saturday afternoon. That's enough to do it."

"Someone did this. On purpose," Luffy stated simply. "Franky's story just confirms it. And I guess, well, it just makes me really curious. What sort of human hates humans so damn much? Humans they haven't met. Humans that haven't done anything but exist…."

"A sociopath or psychopath, whichever one it is," Nami answered. "It's normal to daydream about strangling people, but not to actually do it…"

"Sounds like communist warfare to me," Usopp chimed in, "Probably Russia or Cuba or North Korea…"

"I can promise it wasn't any of those places," Zoro groaned, shaking his head.

"Alright then, if you're an expert," Usopp drawled. "Who's behind it?"

"Our own government."

"No…."

"NOOOOOO!"

And the arguments continued.

"Pull over here," Luffy instructed, ignoring the others as much as possible.

"Are you sick?" Usopp asked, parking in the middle of the street.

"Nah," Luffy replied, pointing to a brown building to the right. "I wanna go bowling."

"Bowling?"

"Uh huh," Luffy confirmed with a nod, "park closer, please."

Usopp switched the car back into drive, pulling up outside the bowling alley. He parked and opened his door, reaching below his seat. He grabbed his gear, his rifle, and his slingshot and rock collection. "Alright, ma'am," Usopp sighed, "You wait here, we'll check it out and come back for you when it's sa-safe…" Usopp stammered as Nami pulled a cattle prod from beneath the seat.

"Maybe you should wait in the car," Nami teased, "and I'll clear it out."

"Is that an option?" Usopp asked, looking to Zoro hopefully.

"No." Zoro barked.

"I'll get the door," Luffy announced strolling up to the front door. He pulled it and it simply opened. He looked at the open door in surprise, "Well, fuck."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Nami asked, walking between Zoro and Usopp.

"Nah, it means anyone can just come in and out," Luffy cast each of them a serious look, "Weapons ready. Be careful. Don't get bit."

"We won't." Zoro mumbled, "Don't go crazy."

Luffy winked, smiling from ear to ear, "No promises."

It took over two and a half hours to rid the bowling alley of zombies, corpses, and blood. The rotting food and sticky floors took another half hour. Each person took their turn rage-quitting the task. Each person had something they personally couldn't handle and almost everyone had to stop for a barf break.

"I don't even wanna bowl anymore," Luffy realized, moving the cool, wet rag from his face.

"We're bowling if it's the last thing we do," Zoro muttered, sinking into the chair beside Luffy.

"If bowling is the last thing I do," Nami groaned, rubbing her sore back. "I'm gonna be pissed." She clicked buttons on the cash register until it opened. She smiled, slipping the cash into her pocket.

"That's worthless, Nami," Usopp sighed, lying directly down on the spotless floor.

"It won't be forever." Nami retorted, patting her pocket lovingly. "And then I'll be loaded."

"The door's locked, right?" Zoro suddenly wondered, looking toward the glass doors suspiciously.

Luffy nodded, letting the wet rag drop back over his face, "Uh huh. I locked them."

"After you took out that last body?" Usopp questioned.

Luffy nodded, "Uh huh."

"Alright then," Zoro breathed out heavily, "I'm taking a damn nap."

"Good idea," Luffy murmured, sinking further into his chair. "Me too."

"I guess Nami and I will just keep watch, then…" Usopp complained. But when he looked at Nami she was already making herself as comfortable as possible on one of the benches. She smiled apologetically. "Nah, it's no problem."

"Usopp," Luffy said, opening one eye, "We'd hear the glass break. Go ahead and sleep."

"What if a zombie is hiding in the ceiling and busts through the tiles and eats us?" Usopp rationalized.

Zoro groaned, pulling his jacket up as high as possible over his face. Nami furrowed her brows. And Luffy laughed. He shook his head, "If they couldn't climb up that telephone pole after you two, they can't cling to the rafters like spiders."

"Solid point," Usopp accepted with a nod. "Good night."

"Good night, Usopp," Luffy sighed, closing his eyes.

And when he slept, he dreamt.

He was tethered to the bed by his wrists and ankles. He snarled in agitation, fighting against the restraints. He wriggled forcefully, nearly toppling the gurney over sideways. He felt a sudden jab in the muscle of his hip and a burning sensation spread through him. He blinked slowly, the snarl dying in his throat. "I don't wanna sleep…"

"You're not gonna sleep," the man taunted, leaning over Luffy, a smile stretched across his featureless face. "You're gonna be awake. You're gonna be awake through everything…"

"Luffy," Zoro called out, meeting Luffy's gaze the moment his eyes opened. "Want some wings? They have medium, hot, and extra hot."

"I'll take extra hot," Usopp requested, setting the oven to temperature.

"I'm not making you extra hot, you're gonna whine about it," Zoro argued.

"No I won't." Usopp defended, "I can handle spicy food."

"I'm only making the one kind," Nami announced, throwing a baking sheet onto the counter, "whichever kind Luffy wants."

"Medium," Luffy replied, "I don't feel like barfing fire up later."

"Bad dreams?" Zoro asked, his brow furrowed.

Luffy nodded, "Yep."

"Do we need to leave?" Zoro questioned, licking his lips.

Luffy shook his head, "Not yet. I don't think."

"How, uh, how do you always know?" Zoro probed.

"It's complicated," Luffy muttered under his breath, scratching at his head anxiously.

"I want you to tell me after dinner," Zoro said. "Tell me everything."

Luffy opened his mouth to protest but changed his mind. He nodded quickly. "Okay. Tonight." And then he added quickly, "After we bowl!"

"Want me to take care of the others?" Zoro teased, gesturing his finger sliding over his throat.

Luffy laughed, "Nah. They cool."

"Sure? It's no problem…" Zoro assured him.

"Don't be ridiculous, Zoro," Luffy joked, "Use your big head for something. They're our friends. We keep them. Besides, golden rule of the apocalypse: never be the slowest runner in the group…"

Zoro laughed aloud, brash and unexpected. He covered his mouth, shaking his head, "You're terrible."

"Yep," Luffy murmured in agreement. "I know."

"Anyone want some garlic bread?" Nami asked, digging through the freezer. The guys grumbled unenthusiastically, "What? Am I the only person who likes bread?"

"Ain't nobody like freezer burned garlic bread, Nami," Usopp explained, checking the expiration dates of the food in the refrigerator. "But I do have good news, the ranch is still good."

"I told you you didn't want extra hot wings," Zoro shouted across the room. "If you use ranch, you can't handle spice…"

"I'm black," Usopp snapped, placing his hand on his chest. "I can do spice."

Zoro stood, curling his fingers in a beckoning motion, "I am Japanese. My ancestors, or as I call them Mom and Dad, came from Japan. Home of wasabi. You don't know spice."

"Oh, well, someone I'm related to, at some point, came from Africa and it is extra hot there," Usopp said dramatically, raising his hands in combat. "So bring it, Zoro-san!"

"And I'm a redhead, so I'm fucking crazy," Nami barked, smacking Usopp on the arm, "Stand down."

"We were just playing," Usopp muttered, rubbing his arm where she hit him.

"Is it too late to play?" Luffy asked, scratching his head absently.

"Yes." Zoro and Usopp said in unison.

"Redhead wins!" Nami chimed, shaking her hands in the air victoriously.

"It's not really red," Luffy reasoned, staring at her intently. "It's kinda copper or ginger or something…"

"Yeah, well," Nami said with a shrug, "They call it red."

"Who?" Luffy pressed, intrigued.

"The hair police, I don't know! Everyone…" Nami blurted impatiently.

"Are we just going to keep ignoring Zoro's hair situation?" Usopp asked, scratching his chin.

"Yeah," Zoro breathed out. "Agree to keep it a mystery."

"Probably for the best," Usopp granted.

A few minutes later the oven beeped; their wings were done. Usopp pulled the baking sheet from the oven and automatically split the food into four. Nami grabbed drinks, beers for everyone except Luffy.

"I don't know, man," Zoro groaned, "this might look too much like the food we spent all day cleaning up."

"Don't think about it," Nami breathed, closing her eyes.

"I've got the ranch," Usopp announced, squirting a pile onto his plate. "Anyone want any?"

"Sure," Nami replied, pushing her plate closer to Usopp.

"I can take the heat," Zoro replied, smiling despite himself.

"It ain't about covering the heat, it's about enhancing the flavor," Usopp insisted.

"I have something to tell you guys," Luffy said suddenly, "After we bowl a little bit."

"Okay," Nami replied, straightening up in her chair. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Luffy nodded, "just wanted everyone to know."

"Well now it's all I can think about!" Usopp groaned. "I have anxiety. Tell me now."

"Come on," Luffy groaned, "Bowling first."

"Nope," Usopp refused, pushing his plate away, "I can't handle the pressure. I need to know now. Am I in trouble? Do you hate me? Is there a zombie bite on my ass? What? I don't know… I won't know until you tell me… So just go ahead and tell me…"

"Here's an idea," Nami suggested, standing up. "Let's bowl and talk."

"Okay," Luffy agreed, finishing his wings quickly.

"Anyone know how to work these things?" Usopp asked, walking around the counter. He pressed several buttons on the computer until it woke up. He squinted at the screen, scrolling through his options.

One of the lanes lit up, the lights flashing garishly. There was music, and an obnoxious pinging and whirring sound effect. "And now," Usopp announced, clicking another button, "let there be pins!"

The bowling pins were lowered to the ground, the mechanical arm dropping. The pins shot in every direction as a zombie collapsed onto the lane. It moaned, scrambling to its feet. Usopp shouted, looking from the zombie to his gun on the other side of the alley, "I fucking told you! I fucking told you! They're hanging from the goddamn ceiling."

"No way," Luffy argued, grabbing his baton, "It was just stuck up there. He probably tried to hide back there and got bit."

"Think there's more of them?" Nami asked, looking at Usopp with wide eyes.

"God damn it," Luffy cursed angrily. "I just wanted to fucking play." He kicked the zombie roughly in the stomach before knocking its legs out from under it. He grabbed hold of the zombie's leg, dragging him a few lanes over before bludgeoning him to death. "Release the other pins," Luffy instructed, nodding toward Usopp. He turned to Zoro, pointing at him for good measure, "Keep two of the lanes clean. We're gonna play."

"Sure thing, boss," Zoro grumbled, grabbing his sword.

"Wait a minute," Usopp whispered, "I need my gun before I unload any of these other pins…"

"No guns," Luffy refused. "Too loud."

"For the love of God!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Don't worry," Nami replied, swinging her cattle prod around, "I'll protect you."

"You'd better!" Usopp snapped, shaking his head, "You had better, Nami!"

..

"Okay," Luffy panted, wiping his bloodied hands on the wall, "That was the last one."

"You think." Usopp spat, rolling his eyes.

"My bad." Luffy half-apologized.

"I slept in here," Usopp mouthed, "with zombies…"

"Yep. That was my bad." Luffy apologized.

"But did you die?" Zoro asked, eyes narrowed.

"I blame you too," Usopp accused, "but that was a funny movie you just quoted, so I'll let it go."

"Why were they so quiet?" Nami wondered, hands on her hips.

"They seem to respond to agitation and loud noises," Zoro replied, eyeing Usopp, "so clearly this guy is endangering us."

"Okay," Luffy called out, throwing a bowling bowl down the lane. "I'm bowling!"

The ball went directly in the gutter. The arm reached down mechanically and a severed hand flopped onto the lane, knocking down several pins. Luffy shook his head, chewing on his bottom lip. He turned away from the lane, his hands on his hips.

"Sorry, man," Zoro sighed.

Luffy shook his head, "Forget it." Luffy sat down next to the others. And then they all started laughing. The situation was too ridiculous. They could only laugh about it. Luffy groaned, kicking the floor repeatedly, "Man…"

"I think there's another alley on the Westside," Nami pointed out, "we could always try again."

"No," Luffy refused shaking his head, "bowling is dead to me."

"You win this time, zombie horde," Zoro teased, finishing his beer.

"They won in the Dawn Island Tower too," Luffy said sadly.

"I've been meaning to ask, but it never seemed the time," Zoro began unsurely, "You know that wasn't really a woman, right?"

Luffy shrugged, "she had nice, round tiddies," he gestured to his flat chest, "she was a she."

"But she used to be a he…" Zoro clarified.

"And you used to shit your pants and spit up milk," Luffy said, smiling mischievously, "things change."

"I was never a baby," Zoro snapped. "And I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that Iva Emporio was a super famous drag queen… so that's why I mentioned it."

"I'm sorry I was rude," Luffy said, turning away with a pout, "my heart's broken."

"And why's that?" Nami asked, shaking her head.

"I wanted to bowl."

Zoro laughed, "What did I tell you about those lofty dreams of yours?"

Luffy snickered too, "Damn it, Zor-o, let me be happy."

"It smells in here again," Nami complained, throwing her abandoned food in the garbage.

"Yeah. It sucks here." Luffy complained, "We'll leave soon."

"How soon?" Zoro questioned.

Luffy smiled tightly, "As soon as we're done having our little chat."

"Oh, God! I completely forgot!" Usopp exclaimed, rubbing his head.

"How the time flies when you're killing zombies," Nami chimed.

"I guess." Usopp replied with a shrug.

"I've been meaning to tell you guys," Luffy began uncertainly, "it's just never really a good time." He paused a moment, his large eyes staring blankly ahead. "I have no idea who I am or where I came from."

"Huh?" Zoro nearly gasped, looking at Luffy in surprise.

"Really?" Usopp murmured, sharing a look with Zoro.

"I know my name is Luffy," Luffy explained, "and I remember waking up alone in a motel room. I had a passport and ID on me. Money in my wallet. But I don't remember how I got there. And I don't remember anything else."

"Wait a minute… uh, do you still have your passport?" Usopp asked, his brows knit tightly together.

Luffy pulled his passport from his pack. He handed it to Zoro, who reached for it first.

"República Federativa do Brasil Passaporte," Usopp read. "Mercosul."

"Can you read it?" Luffy asked, in awe.

"Absolutely not." Usopp admitted, shaking his head. "It's in Brazilian."

Nami smacked Usopp on the head, "Brazilian isn't a language. They speak Portuguese…"

"Clearly it's a Brazilian passport," Usopp said, opening the book up to his identification.

"Monkey, Luffy," Zoro murmured, rubbing his thumb over the photo of Luffy. "It seems like a legit passport."

"Nationality: Brasileiro," Usopp continued reading. "Birthplace: Angra dos Reis," Usopp looked to Luffy, "Any of that ring a bell?"

"Nope." Luffy shook his head in plain refusal. "I don't remember anything. It's just… blank…"

"You woke up," Nami began, grabbing a pad of paper and a pen from the counter. "Where?"

"The motel."

"The motel where?"

"On Airline Drive." Luffy answered, watching Nami write it down. "Room 14."

"And you were alone?"

"Yes."

Nami looked up at Luffy, "What did you have on you? List everything."

"I had my passport and an ID, and twenty bucks." Luffy recounted, thinking carefully. "And there… uh… there was a bus ticket in my wallet, for some place called Shreveport."

"But you didn't go?" Zoro asked, listening intently.

Luffy shook his head, "No."

"Why not?" Zoro pressed.

Luffy shrugged, "I don't like being told what to do."

"What if you bought that ticket yourself?!" Usopp demanded, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Then I should've left me a note. I should know myself better. I don't want me bossing me around either…" Luffy argued, mostly to himself.

"Louisiana wasn't hit." Usopp pointed out. "You were supposed to be escaping."

"It could be coincidence," Nami offered.

"No. No way," Usopp refused.

"But then that would mean Luffy is connected to this somehow," Nami rationalized. She looked from Zoro to Usopp before blurting out, "You jerks! You knew already, didn't you?!"

"Not officially," Usopp replied.

Zoro shrugged, "He saved my life. That's one of the only things I know for a fact. I work with facts and my personal gut instincts."

"I don't even know who I am," Luffy admitted. "I can't rule out my involvement."

"Involvement doesn't necessarily mean you're a bad guy," Zoro pointed out.

"I don't think anything's that black and white," Usopp murmured.

"I keep having these dreams. And they suck," Luffy said. "I don't think they're made up. I think they're real."

"Memories," Nami offered.

Luffy nodded, "Yeah. I think they're memories. But even those aren't enough to know, I mean, really know, who I am."

"But that's good though," Nami replied, "it means things are starting to come back to you."

Luffy nodded but he looked unsure. Zoro leaned in closely, "What're you thinking?"

Luffy shrugged, replying, "If my dreams are actually memories… well… then I think it's best if we…" Luffy shook his head, "Never mind."

"What do you wanna say?" Zoro encouraged.

"If I'm bad," Luffy blurted out nervously, "then you guys should just go on without me."

"I don't know who you were before," Usopp said, "but you're not a bad guy."

"I think we're missing something important here," Nami decided, circling the word 'Shreveport' in her notes.

"And what's that?" Luffy asked curiously.

"What if Shreveport wasn't just a random city for you to escape to?" Nami proposed. "What if someone or something is there waiting for you?"

Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp took turns looking at one another. Zoro nodded, thinking, "It makes sense."

"There's only one way to find out," Luffy reasoned, "let's head to Shreveport."