POV: Dani
I met the boys in the courtyard. Dub had fully recovered and by the look on his face, and the gun in his hand, he had already been updated.
"So?" Flint asked as I approached them.
"He's not going to do it. He advised we leave." I said.
"We know he won't do it. It's her freaking sister for heaven's sake." Tags said. I liked my lips.
"She's at the second stage already." I said, "The weakest stage of turning."
"And what do you want to do?" Tags asked. I sighed, thinking. I had no idea what I wanted to do.
"I like Alex." Dub said. The others agreed. I did as well.
"He's the first person who actually seemed HUMAN to us." Dub said, "He gave us food and shelter. The friendship alone was more then anyone's given us in a long time."
"We should return the favor." Flint said. We all looked at Tags, who blew his hair out of his way again. Again his eyes flashed. For a brief moment, I could see he didn't want to do it. But then he straightened, suddenly deciding, and pulled out his gun, checking the rounds.
"How long?" I asked. Tags shrugged.
"Ten minutes." He said, and put the gun in the back of his jeans. I nodded.
"Make it fast." I said.
"To the head. Painless." Flint added. Tags nodded, and turned and left, each stride determined to go through with it. It had to be done. Alex wouldn't. We had to save his life. He didn't deserve to go out like that.
"What now?" Flint asked.
"Alex said we can load up with food before we leave. I suggest we take him up on that. But only what we need. Nothing extra." I said. The others nodded.
"I'll pull the car around." Flint said.
Dub and I found the cellar to which Alex had shown us earlier. A door that lead down into the earth just behind the kitchen. There were boxes and cans and containers of everything.
"They sure were well stocked." Dub said. I huffed. We heard Flint pull up outside and began to load. The whole time I couldn't stop thinking of what I had sent Tags to go do.
I was going down for the last box of supplies, entering the damp cold cellar one last time. We had barely even dented the amount of food they had, and I was glad. I didn't want to take advantage of four fortunate find, but on the other hand I wasn't stupid to leave without any kind of food. I picked up one of the smaller boxes, as our jeep could only hold so much. I fit the box into the jeep as Dub was closing the cellar and Flint was strapping all the boxes down tight, covering them with a canvas we had brought with us. Just as we finished up we heard a shout.
I turned and found Alex, looking very pissed off, coming our way. In one hand he held a gun I recognized as Tags personal gun, and in the other, he held the scruff of the back of Tags shirt, with Tags stumbling to catch up: we were caught. Alex threw Tags down in front of us and pointed the gun at him.
"Did you know?" he demanded in a loud tone. I looked down at Tags. He seemed to be alright, other then the blood trickling from a split lip. He wiped it off and stood up, dusting himself off.
"Alex we were only trying to…" I started.
"I don't care! I don't need or want your help. Any of it!" Alex said.
"Alex she'll kill you!" I said, "Don't be stupid! She'll turn and then she'll go for YOU. Letting her live is…"
"Is what I must do!" Alex yelled back, 'Don't you DARE try and tell me otherwise! You don't know anything! You don't get it! You don't understand or know about any of it. And nor do I want you to. You have to leave. Now."
"Alex…" I started. But Alex raised his gun. Instantly Flint and Dub raised theirs. I raised my hand, and pushed their guns down.
"We're not your enemy. You've done to much for us to be thankful for. We tried to help." I said, "But we'll leave."
"And you'll leave now." Alex added, "whatever you have packed is all you will get to pack. The gate is open. I will be shutting it behind you. And don't you EVER think about coming back." Alex green eyes were bright with a fire I recognized. It had been the same fire in his sister's eyes when she took out the infected. I licked my lips and sighed.
It was the way of the world now. Difficulties like these were not odd. The world had changed and the people had to change with it. As much as I didn't want to leave, as we had found safety, something rare in this world, and even rarer… a friend. But I knew a lost cause when I saw one. I stepped back, and got into the jeep, my friends slowly following behind me.
"To bad…" Dub muttered sadly from the back, "I really like them."
I said nothing. I kept thinking of Vera. Of Alex. I looked over my shoulder, and saw Alex standing there, gun in hand, glaring. I sighed. A sigh that was cut short by a gun-shot.
"Well, well, well, look who we meet up with out here?"
My breath caught in my throat and I almost chocked. Instantly everyone had jumped out of the jeep and aimed their guns. Alex spun around at the new voice, surprised, and found a row of guns all aimed in his direction.
I swore.
"Nice to see you again Dani." Adam said, with a cruel smile. Alex flashed a look at me.
"He with you?" Alex asked.
"No…" I spat, "He's not."
"Aw now don't be like that." Adam said, "We're all human… we have a responsibility to look out for each other."
"What do you want Adam?" I asked.
"Friends don't talk with guns pointed at each other."
"Then this should be saying a lot then huh?" I said.
"Who are you?" Alex asked.
"I am Adam. I used to know Alex and his… buddies… until they went all chivalry on us."
"Alex… Adam was part of the camp we got thrown out for wanting to help others survive." Flint said. Alex hesitated.
"Look, we're busy here…" Alex said to Adam.
"Oh no I got that. Looks like they were just leaving." Adam said, "But oohh… how shall I say this? They can't. In fact, let's make this simple. I do love simple things. And the simple of it is… we're taking over the castle!"
Alex shifted, eyeing the number of threats behind Adam. They were clearly outnumbered.
"You can't just waltz in here and take over…" Tags said.
"Really? Why not?" Adam laughed, "Cause in all honesty… I just did."
"Adam. People LIVE here…"
"Oh go call the cops." Adam hissed, "Meanwhile, I see a lot of food that's been waiting for me!"
"Adam! Look-y here!" came a call from the other side of the courtyard, "You should see this!" Adam smiled.
"After you." He said. Adam's goons come up behind us and prodded us forward with their guns. They took our weapons, and Alex joined us. We were pushed into the castle, past the kitchen, down corridors, and down a set of stairs to a big wooden door.
"Where are we going?" I asked Alex, knowing he knew the castle better then anyone. But Alex was silent. I suddenly remembered Vera… what would they do if they found her? But even as I asked the question I knew the answer.
The door was opened, and we were all pushed in. It was… well in short a dungeon. But the cells of old rusted bars were full of guns, all types, all sorts, of all sizes. More like an Armory, everything well organized, labeled and thought out. Adam smiled.
"Well… we just got lucky." He said.
Hours later, Adam and his gang had cleaned out the entire armory. Every clip and grenade was taken out and put who knows where. After one of is boys found keys to the cells, Adam thought it humors to keep my 'buddies' and I locked up there with Alex.
"Idiots…" Alex muttered after they left.
"Aw don't be to sad. We'll make sure we take good care of your food supply." Adam said with a sinister smile. He ordered some boys to stay by the door if we needed anything, claiming he wasn't as heartless as we thought.
"You knew they were here?" Alex asked me when they left. I shook my head. We had all been put in different cells, and Alex was across from me, facing the door, hanign his arms through the bars.
"He's got a streak in him that makes people want to follow him… but he's stupid. He probably ate their own food supply like a pig. He probably starved his own people out to feed himself. This is what he does. He takes what he wants, and then takes it from others. Once he finishes here… he'll go find some other camp to raid."
"Leech…" Alex muttered.
"Well said." Tags muttered.
"What will he do with us?" Alex asked.
"Who knows. We weren't exactly on… bargaining terms when we left. I almost fed him to the infected… but my conscious got the better of me." I said, "He could still hold that grudge, and knowing Adam he is."
"He could just leave us here to rot." Dub said, "He's done that before."
"Are you serious?" Alex asked, "What a lune…"
"Alex… if they find Vera… and they will. They'll search the entire castle for supplies." I said. Alex game me a sideward's glance.
"I know…" he said quietly. I said nothing, and sighed.
"Any chance of us getting out of here?" Tags asked. Alex scoffed.
"Not unless the keys decide to walk in here." Alex said, pulling his hands back through the bars, "We put the guns in here for a reason."
"Why did you put the guns in here anyway? I mean, it's not like the infected would steal them." Tags said. Alex licked his lips and sat against the wall.
"Maybe where you come from. But the infected around here have been known to fire their own weapons."
"Come again?" Flint asked.
"The Infected around here, aren't like your normal infected. They jump, they plan, and they learn. Not at a fast pace… but still. And they hold grudges." Alex said. I stepped back… remembering the behavior back when Vera got attacked.
"Alex… they can climb walls now…" I said. Alex looked up.
"What?"
"They climbed the wall to the encampment me and Vera took cover in…" I told him. Alex's eyes got wide.
"Then they can climb the walls to the castle…" Alex swore, "if Adam is as bad as he says, and with the population of infected around here, they'll be holding some serious grudges… we could have an entire freaking army of infected attack the castle and Adam wouldn't know… he'd be stuffing his face of food."
Flint swore, and Tags cursed.
"And we'll be sitting ducks." I muttered, my future looking grimmer then usual.
"No…" Alex said. We looked at him, "If we can survive the next 17 hours… we're home free."
"How so?" Dub asked. Alex looked at us, wondering if he should say it.
"Trust me." He said, "17 hours, and those keys will come walking through that door."
Six hours later, Adam came back in. By the look on his face and clenched fists… something was wrong. I marched straight up to Alex.
"GET HIM OUT! He yelled. Alex's cell was unlocked and two boys grabbed him and dragged him out. Adam grabbed Alex by the shirt and got in his face.
"How many live here?" Adam demanded. My heart skipped a beat, but Alex said nothing, and just glared. Adam swore, "Bring him!" Adam stomped off, his boys dragging Alex with them.
"They find her?" Tags asked. I put my head back against the wall and closed my eyes.
"Ya… they found her." I said darkly.
The dudgeon went quiet again, with the few sounds of the guards out by the door. It had gotten cold in the stone room, and we had all zipped up our jackets and huddled in a corner to keep warm. Tags had complained to the guards about the temperature down here, and they only laughed and said 'we'll get around to it'.
Just as my mind wondered back to Alex, the door opened and they threw Alex back in his cell. He stood still back turned to us, as they locked him back up and left.
"Alex?" Tags asked "You alright? Did they find her?" For a long moment, Alex didn't say anything.
"Ya… they found her." Alex said quietly, his voice shaking, "Made me… made me do it." I could feel the hate from where I was standing. A hate for Adam. Just standing there, that stance, he looked dangerous. If Adam had walked in right then, I don't think those metal bars would keep Alex from killing him.
"Ten hours left…" Alex said, "Eleven hours till he dies." I glanced at Tags and Flint, who exchanged looks. There was no comforting him now. Anyone who went through what he did… Adam just pissed of the wrong guy. Even I was angry… more then usual at Adam.