So, most people have figured out half of what's going on. Anyways, I said I'd do replies, so I'm doing them.

Miss Storyholic: I'm not even going to bother being cryptic: yes, you're right.

Satsui no Hadu Ryu: Thanks. You deserve this.

The 379th Hero: Neither.

Korrasami 88: You find out both in this chapter.

Antha1: No, no, and no.

Drunken Hamster: It was inspired by that film, so there you go.

Js: See the above reply.

ErinMilne: Okay, secrets are revealed in this chapter.

I am a burglar: What would you have to steal from her? Besides, you don't have a gun.

PotterPhantomKitten: Yeah, you're right.

The Batista: Eh, did the categories say this was supposed to be humorous? I plan to insert some humor, though.

Warning, though: this chapter will give you an insight on the violence that will ensue.


Yellowjacket let out a shrill, ear-piercing scream that carried off throughout the city. As she did so, she released her hands from her face to better project her calls, giving the Freaks a good look at her in the process.

"She's a screamer!" One of the Freaks shouted. Before they could react, Sawbones dove out of the bushes towards one of them. It appeared that these particular Freaks weren't accustomed to things like 'how to fight a swarm', because the Freak was instantly taken down by Sawbones in seconds. He scratched his face and body repeatedly. Ghoul and Noose took the opportunity to run out of their hiding spot.

The Freaks, who Yellowjacket realized were young and inexperienced, started panicking and running, despite the fact that they had guns. Yellowjacket wasn't quite sure how to use a gun, but she was sure if she was in their situation, she would have used it instantly.

The Freaks were running back to the building, with Sawbones, Ghoul and Noose chasing them, but Yellowjacket's scream had drawn in more attention. Hundreds of people began to charge across the city towards where the screaming had been located.

Finally, the Freaks started to use their guns. Yellowjacket saw a few people go down under the bullets, and for a second, she was worried that they all might die. However, realism kicked in and the hundreds upon hundreds of mobs forming in the city was way too much for the Freaks to handle, even with their firearms. They were swarmed and taken down in seconds, their screams carrying out into the night.

Yellowjacket watched from afar. She rarely partook in the violence; she was a kid, and the kids were supposed to call out for the adults in case Freaks appeared. However, she noticed one Freak manage to squeeze out of the crowd, his arm mangled, and start to run towards a wheeled vehicle. Curious, she followed him closely behind.

The young man dove into the car. He cried out in agony, dowsing his arm with whiskey to dull the pain. In spite of the pain, he managed to start the car. A few people charged at the car, beating on it, but the man rammed into them, knocking them to the side.

The man began to pull up down the streets, feeling a bit of relief at his lucky getaway. However, his relief was broken by the sounds of low growling in the backseat of the car. He looked up at the rear-view mirror, and saw a young girl in the backseat, next to an open window of the door.

Yellowjacket.

"Fu-"

Yellowjacket pounced before he could say anything.


Nerve squeaked and hid behind Star as they watched Brick take the controls of what remained of the control panel.

"This is wrong, so very, very wrong!" Nerve muttered as he lay in a fetal position behind Star, who herself was shuddering in discomfort.

Pixie groaned. "Ew, that's blood!" She shouted out. "That's blood! I think I'm... gonna..." She suddenly hurled on the ground, and ran off to find a private area to be alone.

"Brick, could you stop!" Nerve asked, daring to peak out from behind Star for a second, but recoiled when Brick stopped to glare at him.

"Let me work!" He shouted, aggravated, and turned back to the controls. Nerve's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fainted. Teardrop inched close to him, and shushed him, cradling him in her arms.

"Star, how long is this going to keep up?" Teardrop asked, looking up to the glowing emotion. Star shrugged, and turned back to Brick.

"Only time will tell," Was all she said. She was snapped out of her thoughts when Brick shouted, "Yes! I dislocated his arm!"


An hour later, Yellowjacket awoke, still in the back of the car. Her face was messy from what she had done an hour ago, and she wiped some plasma off her mouth with her yellow sleeve.

She looked at the front-seat, and saw the Freak lying, head hung, in the seat of the car. He was breathing, but Yellowjacket noticed it was starting to sound ragged and wheezy. She saw that his skin had paled, bordering on gray, and blue linings were beginning to appear on his neck.

"Freak... is no longer a freak," Yellowjacket proclaimed, then slumped back down in the backseat, worn out. Slowly, she grabbed the handle of the door and pushed it open, and weakly shuffled out of the car.

She was met with several other people, walking absentmindedly on the streets and sidewalks. They passed her by, barely acknowledging her presence.

Yellowjacket shrunk down a bit, then began to walk across the streets herself. She was about to go home, but then realized she had temporarily forgotten where her house was. It often happened, though, and she always remembered eventually.

With a sigh, Yellowjacket began to follow suit with the others; wandering the streets while awaiting her memory to be jogged.


In another section of the city, about a dozen Freaks sat in a room in an abandoned apartment building. Outside of the room, dozens of corpses lay lined out on the hallways.

A rather old man stood at the windows, watching as dozens of people wandered aimlessly through the streets. He sighed, then turned back to the rest of the Freaks. Several of them were tired and injured, most of the injured ones being children.

One woman walked up to him, saying, "Sir, my daughter's coming down with some illness," She said. "I don't know what to do."

"And those last few guys haven't been back yet," The man muttered, wondering if those young people they'd encountered earlier that month had bailed on them after being sent out to gather supplies. His eyes wandered on the others, wondering who could possibly go out at a time like this and fill out the job that the previous guys had failed at.

His eyes landed on a couple. They were sitting in the corner, looking at a photo of their daughter.

With a relieved smile, he walked up to them. "Hey, Bill," He said to the man. "Some people kind of expect that you and your wife may have a job to fill out."

Bill sighed. "Sir, it's been less than a week since we hid out here," He pointed out. "Me and my wife are tired, and..."

"You see that girl over there?" Sir cut him off, and gestured to the unconscious girl lying next to her parents. "I don't think she'll make it unless you can do this for her. Don't you remember your daughter?"

Bill groaned, knowing that Sir was guilt-tripping him. To save any further manipulations, he complied, saying, "Okay, okay, I'll do it. I'll go out and be back in three hours at the most."

"I'm going with you," His wife said.

"Honey, please..."

"I'm going with you," She said stubbornly, getting up and zipping up to go out. "For our daughter."

Bill smiled gratefully, and kissed his wife. the two prepared to leave, when Sir stopped them for a moment.

"I just want you to know: your daughter Riley would have been proud of you."


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