Author's Note: This is an Author's Note. I write stuff here. Thank you. This chapter is most from the Sacrifice comic. So if you don't want to read this cuz you read the comic already, I don't blame you. But if you do choose to read, it's gonna be very, very long (well it looked long in my word document: 8 pages. Wow. I don't even write essays that long before).

''William Overbeck?"

Zoey shook her head. "You can call him Bill. That's what he said his name was when the three of us first met back in Fairfield."

She received a stare from Rochelle. "So… how do you know his real name?"

"Well…" she started as her eyes drifted to the side. "He was a military veteran and he was wearing his army uniform when we all met. His last name was visible on his military jacket."

Rochelle nodded but was a bit surprised to hear that this "Bill" was a veteran that was caught up in the apocalypse.

"And…" Zoey closed her eyes tightly to fight the tears that wanted to come out. "We were really close to each other. We shared everything about ourselves to each other." She slowly opened her eyes, hoping the tears won't come out. "And I have to admit, I'm probably the only one who knows his real name. Not even Francis or Louis knows his real name."

"So why did you tell me his real name?" she asked as she attempted to make eye contact while asking.

In response, Zoey looked up for a few seconds before looking at her with a small smile. "Because I believe the two last women in the world shouldn't keep secrets from each other and I trust you."

Rochelle blush a bit at how much trust the young woman had to share something that important.

"So, how did… Bill… become so important to you?"

"Oh, right…" Zoey breathe in and out a couple times. Her breathing soon became shaky as she started to recall memories she wish were just nightmares.

Noticing the change in her breathing, Rochelle started to feel guilt build up in her chest. She reached out and gently touched Zoey's shoulders. "If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay. I don't want you hurting yourself."

She shook her head and softly said behind her shaky breathing, "No. It's okay. If talking to someone about this and it helps me even a little bit, it's worth it."

After taking a second to stabilize her breathing and wiping any tears that manage to come out, she looked at Rochelle and started her story.

"Okay, before this apocalypse started, I was a college student in Aldrich University studying to become a filmmaker." Zoey grabbed her leg and rested her head on her knee with a small smile forming remembering her life before the infection appeared.

"Really?" Rochelle was surprised to hear that the two had something in common. They both long to work in the media world before the apocalypse.

"Mhm. But, instead of attending classes, I usually stayed in my room "researching" for my major by watching horror films all day. I just love watching those kinds of movies since my father introduced me to them when I was young. I had to say my favorite kind of horror films were ones featuring the zombies, slash murderers and extra terrestrials."

"O-oh. That's c-cool" Rochelle stuttered. Though fighting and killing zombies for the past few days feels like being in a horror film, she still gets a bit scared at the mention of horror films.

"Yeah-. But, ugh" Zoey groaned. "My mother wasn't a fan of these movies or my "research" just because I was under a scholarship. She would usually complain to my father that he didn't raise me right when I stayed with him."

"Wait, was your parents..." Rochelle asked but wished to take it back.

"Divorced? It's okay. They got divorced for a long time. I'm used to it, I guess."

"I'm sorry." Zoey shook her head showing it was okay. "But, there's nothing wrong with letting your daughter watch horror films right? I don't really understand why your mother is mad at your father."

"Well…" Zoey said hesitantly while rubbing the back of her neck. "My father was a police officer and he wished that I would follow in his footsteps." She laughed a bit, "He would take me to the shooting range to practice. Though my mother didn't like our bonding sessions, who knew that what he taught me would help me survive in this Infection."

"I'm sure she would be apologizing to your father right now" Rochelle laughed.

Zoey laughed too, but sadly. "Yeah, I'm sure she would. If they were both still alive to do that."

Rochelle stopped laughing and stared. "What do you-. Wait, you don't mean?"

"When the first infection appeared, it was near my hometown." Her hands slowly clenched harder. "We all thought this infection would blow over; that there was no need for panic. But as we all have seen, that was not the case."

Zoey grabbed her other leg and pulled it towards her and buried her head between her legs and her chest before continuing.

"What happened to your parents if you don't mind me asking this. I don't want to force you to share something that is traumatic to you."

Zoey lifted her head and rested her head back on her knees. "It's okay. If it helps me, then it's okay."

After a small moment passed, she nodded and continued. "One night, about two days after the first infection appeared, my parents started to argue at my father's apartment, mainly about my future. It was just like any other arguments they did in the past."

Zoey paused to look at Rochelle if she getting everything. She saw that Rochelle was giving her full attention.

"The argument was going the same way every other argument went but suddenly… one of those infected broke through our door and bit my mother's face. My father shot it dead with pistol and told me to call for an ambulance. He kept saying everything will be all right. But then, my mother turned into one of them. She scratched my father before coming after me. But before she could attack me, my father… shot her head off."

Rochelle looked a bit surprised but understood her father's action; that sacrifice is needed, even if it is your own humanity and loved one. She wondered if she would have done the same thing to protect another of her loved one.

"After my mother got shot, my father asked me if I remember all the zombie movies we watched when I was younger. Before… we would make fun of that part where the person is about to turn into a zombie, their loved one is the one to shot them dead before they can attack infecting the other."

Rochelle looked down at the ground with her eyes closed. She had a good guess of what happened next.

"I had to shoot my own father!" Zoey screamed and hid her face full tears streaming. Remembering the warm blood spilling from both of her dead parents' bodies and holding the weapon that caused it in her hands threw her in a state of hysteria and despair. Her emotions and sanity were thrown into complete chaos.

After she said it, Rochelle looked up to see the young woman. She got up and started to walk over to her. I'm surprised that she had to go through such horrible things like that, she thought. Especially it all happened just a few weeks ago. Guilt started to surge in her. She was suffering so much within the past few weeks while I just stayed at my desk complaining about my job during that same amount of time. I'm surprised she hasn't gone through PTSD.

When she was next to her, she pulled her in close and started to comfort her the best way she could. She could faintly hear Zoey whisper, "Mom. Dad. I miss you so much."

After wiping her tears, Zoey spoke up again. "I was lost. I had no home, no family to go to. I didn't want to stay at the apartment nor did I want to go my father's house that my mom took during the divorce. With nowhere else I could go to, I took my father's pistol and left to wander the streets of Fairfield. I didn't care where I would end up but as long as I was away from there."

Zoey got up and wiped any other tears on her face and walked to the nearby railings and looked out into the water. She lost herself watching the water dance from the breeze.

"I must have been walking the streets for a couple of hours or even a day or two. I really didn't pay much attention to my surroundings because there wasn't much infected yet." She lean forward, resting her arms on the top railing. "There was a moment where I heard a voice say, 'Hey, why do you want to keep suffering. Why not just end your life and join your parents in Heaven.' I thought of the option. Maybe in Heaven, my parents are together and getting along with each other. Maybe we can finally be that happy family we once where so long ago. I went to the nearest bus stop and waited for death to come."

Rochelle slightly nodded and replied "Yeah, I guess that's an option…" But she knew that suicide wasn't the answer but she was proud that she did not commit to it because she was still here.

Zoey chuckled to herself "It must have been a couple of hours till I heard another voice. I first thought it was Death because it was kind of gruff. It was saying things I couldn't make out. When I looked up I saw this dark silhouette approach me. I was thinking as it approached, 'You took your time coming. Please make it fast; they're waiting for me.' But then there was a strong odor, the smell of cigarettes. Next thing I heard was 'Well kid. You look like shit.'"

A smile started to form on her face. "At first I was appalled at it statement but then I just shook it off because it was Death, it didn't matter how I looked. But then it asked, 'Kid, do you know how to shoot a gun?' I thought it was a weird question so I just nodded. It was then the figure stepped into the light revealing it was an elderly man wearing a military outfit with a cigarette in his mouth and an assault rifle in his hand. 'All right then. Let's go.' He turned around and looked behind and said 'Are you coming or what kid? I don't have all day.'"

"I just sat there at the bus stop, not sure what to do. But I unconsciously started to run to catch up to him. When I caught up to him, he nodded and said to me, 'Name's Bill. Now don't give me any of that pity because I'm old. I've been through more shit than these zombies and I lived. So what's your name?' I didn't answer him out of intimidation. He just grunted and said he will know my name soon."

"So that's how you met this Bill person. Though I'm glad he found you and everything but how did you guys get along? I mean…" Rochelle walked over to where Zoey stood.

"I'm getting to that part." Zoey laughed while Rochelle blushed after showing some of her impatience. She breathed in and out. "Okay."

"So we walked around the city looking for anything we can use. We never talked to each other, or rather I wanted to talk to him but I thought he doesn't want to listen to what a teenager has to say, nonetheless be partnered up with one. So I kept saying to myself, 'he just needed another set of eyes and another gun and once I go down, he's going to ditch me and leave me to die while he looks for some other sap to use."

"Eventually, we got ambushed by the infected and I went down in the chaos. Because this was the first horde I have ever faced, I ran out of bullets quickly. I looked around and didn't see Bill. I was devastated but it didn't hit me too hard because I knew it was going to happen. As I laid there with the infected taking me, I almost lost consciousness but I heard gunfire, the decrease of punches and kicks hitting me and the same gruff voice yelling at me. 'Come on!' he said. 'This fight ain't over!' as he helped me up back on my feet. "

Rochelle couldn't help but break a smile and relief. She could see the same in Zoey's face when she said it.

"I guess what happened next was what defrosted both of us." This received a look from Rochelle, asking her to explain what she meant.

"Bill walked up to me after getting me off the floor. 'What's wrong? Ran out of ammo kid?' I just nodded and he handed me a few magazines and another pistol. I looked at him, wondering why he gave another pistol. All he said was that I could put it to better use than him. I was astonished at all his generosity: first saving me from the infected, and now giving me some of his ammo and another pistol. I just suddenly blurted out at him as he kept walking 'I thought you would have left me there to die.' My response to his generosity caught me completely off guard because it was the first thing I ever said to him since we met."

"He just stopped and breathed out some of his smoke. He turned around and said to me, 'Listen kid. I didn't have to save you but rather I wanted to. You are probably all I have left in this world that will keep me sane. Besides… I see you as one of my own. Like the family I never had.' It was there I saw the most sincere smile I have ever seen from him. I returned with a smile. As we continued to find some shelter, I told him my name and that's when our friendship grew stronger."

Zoey rested her head on her arms, remembering the moment she told her name to Bill with a smile.

"Come on, we need to find shelter."

"Zoey."

"What?"

"That's my name… My name… is Zoey."

"Heh. Well, Zoey. It nice to finally meet you."

Rochelle looked out at the ocean and wonder if something like what Zoey and Bill had could happen in their group.

"We met Louis and Francis along the way. Meeting Louis was cool but Francis… There was always a battle between him and Bill over who is the leader of our group. Always arguments on who is the so called 'Alpha'" Zoey groaned.

"Yeah, haha, I could see that Francis to make him the big guy by the way he was talking to Nick when we met." Both women laughed at the two men's bickering back on the other side of the bridge.

After their laughter disappeared into the night, a dark atmosphere blanketed the area.

"I'm going to tell you a secret. Though Francis would never openly say it, but I can tell he had high respect for him."

Hearing Francis's name caught her attention. "But didn't you say that they argue with each other?"

Zoey giggled and nodded. "Yeah, they argued but I think it's just how those two bonded. But just how he talked about Bill after we got rescued by the military, you could tell he respected him."

Surprised, Rochelle looked at Zoey in disbelief. "You guys got rescued?" Zoey nodded in response. "So what are you guys doing in Rayford?"

A grim face appeared. "Let's just say that rescue we longed for… wasn't exactly what we had hoped for. Actually it was the complete opposite."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ah." She knew that she said too much and tried to avoid answering it. "It's nothing for you to be concerned about." She laughed nervously.

She could tell that Rochelle wasn't buying it as she crossed her arms across her chest.

Zoey glared at her, "Look, all I can say is because of that rescue, we lost some good people and it changed my outlook on Bill and possibly the reason for his death."

Rochelle groaned as she rubbed her head. "Since you won't tell me what exactly happened there-"

"Okay, look" Zoey interrupted. "During our rescue, we taken somewhere where we found unfitting and we wanted to escape and get away from the military. That could enough?"

"All right, all right," holding her hands up in defeat, "could you at least tell me what you meant about it changing your view of the one who you were most close with?"

"During our escape, we left behind two people who left us to defend others from the infected. Another one was a doctor who was hired to look for a cure for the infection."

"A… cure?" Those were words Rochelle never heard. "Does one… truly exist?"

Zoey slowly shook her head. "No. There is no cure known yet. The doctor we met also knew it was hopeless to find one and wanted to leave the place with us."

She knew how Rochelle felt when the news struck. There is really no end to all of this madness.

"During our escape, we came across a train that we planned to use for our escape. All us made it on the train, but the doctor was still outside. He tried to get own and I begged to Bill to slow it down, but we kept going, leaving him behind. I was so confused and fearful of Bill; seeing a different side of Bill. Because of that, I lost all of my trust and faith in him."

"Louis tried to make me forgive me but strangely, Francis was the one who made me want to forgive Bill."

Rochelle was completely caught off guard and was flabbergasted that Francis was the one. Looking at her expression, Zoey laughed, "I had that same reason as well. It was nice to see that he does have a soft side."

"He explained to me that though he also doesn't agree with what he did…" It took a few seconds to recite exact words he said. "'Bill might not always do the right thing. But he always does it for the right reasons.'"

"I wish I had the time to forgive him. By time I had my talk with Francis, we found the sailboat we would use to get around. The problem we faced was that the bridge we were on was blocking the exit. We found that there were generators we had to turn on."

Rochelle nodded, listening to every word Zoey said.

"We managed to turn all of them on to get the bridge raised after fighting horde after horde. We all climbed the ladder but then one of the generators stopped. Looking down, we saw the horde rapidly increasing because of the noise and then the situation got worst. Three Tanks showed up."

Zoey walked away from the railings and sat back on the ground; bring her legs near her chest once again. "Everything happened so fast. When we thought the situation was hopeless, Bill got up and ran to the ladder. He looked at us and said 'You guys are the only family I got! Take care of each other!' before climbing down the ladder."

"We all tried to defend him but we were all limited because we had little ammo. So we were stuck, all we could do was hope that Bill will come back to us. Everything was fine, he got to the ground and ran to the generator and successful turned it back on, but then the Tanks found him."

Zoey rested her head on her knees. "We watched in horror as he was punched around and we soon lost sight of him under the chaos of the incoming horde and the Tanks. We have no idea where he was taken… But we all knew… we had lost him. I really, truthfully wish I had just one minute to talk to him and tell him that I forgive him and mostly I want to tell him that I am so sorry and that I really miss him. He was seriously family to me." Tears once again swelled and flowed down and Rochelle went to her side to comfort her once again.

Just as Rochelle touched her shoulder, she said as she was trying to fight her crying, "And here we are. Just when the horde disappeared and we were going to climb down to find him, you guys showed up."

Rochelle was shocked that all of this just occurred a few hours ago. That tears started to run down her face as well.

"You… can't be serious… right? That everything just happened?"

Zoey just nodded in response.

"Zoey. I'm so sorry."

All she could do is shake her head. "It's not your fault. It's probably mine's. Maybe I was the reason why he sacrificed himself for us."

"Sweetie, don't be silly! He did this for all you guys. He wanted to protect you guys even if it meant sacrificing himself."

Zoey turned her head away from Rochelle. She guessed that she doesn't want her to see her face full of tears or she knows that it's the truth but doesn't want to admit it. In between her cries, Rochelle heard something that was followed by Zoey whispering"I'm so sorry Bill. I hope to see you again soon." Though she wanted to know what she was talking about, but instead just let the young survivor have a moment to grieve over her lost over the course of the past few weeks. All Rochelle could do was just be there for her and comfort her in her greatest time of need.

A/N: MAN! I KNOW I probably made Zoey really OC with her crying most of the time and super emotional but this is what I would think she would do. I mean, she has been going through a lot; the lost of her parents, her hometown, and Bill. I would cry too if I lost everything like that.

Anyway, thanks to anyone who took the time to read this whole thing. Next chapter, I will hopefully make it brighter. Too much sadness makes me sad too. Maybe two or three chapters left before this story is complete. Hope to get the next chapter up by Friday or Saturday.

And if there is stuff I should fix, please tell me, but not harshly please. I'm stressed cuz of school starting up and this was all typed early in the morning. I wanted to put something up so I only looked it over once.