POV: Dani

Vera was dead. Gone. Shot and left. I thought knowing that would bring me some comfort… but it didn't. The only thing that brought me comfort was knowing Vera wouldn't have to suffer the life as an infected bloodthirsty figure that resembled a person. She would live the rest of her life with a unfathomable hunger for flesh. When they would have found her, she would have been half turned by then. Loss of hair, sagging skin of different, sickening colors, bloodshot eyes. A scary sight, but nothing compared to a fully turned infected up close. The stench of their breath from the rotting meat stuck in their teeth, and stale blood covering what was left of clothes and nothing more than rags hanging from their bodies of bones. I was glad Vera would not have to suffer through that. But it was obvious Alex had other thoughts… still thought he could save her. Adam cleared that dream up real fast. I thought up a few nasty names for my old enemy, getting worked up for no good… just because I could. Because he had hurt Vera and Alex.

I liked them, I realized. I liked Alex and Vera… a strong family with the will to survive that inspired me. They were among the few that still had a grasp of humanity left in them. Alex believed what he believed strongly, without hesitation or second thought. A young man who knew how to handle situations. A family trait, I suspected. Alex was a strong leader who had every intention in protecting his family or dying with them… and now with Vera gone, he seemed to accepted his fate. I could only imagine how he felt. The last of his family his bloodline gone. Vera was special to him… and oddly enough special to me. It had been to long since I had seen someone like Vera, who still seemed sane enough to have a decent conversation. In fact, the more I thought about her, the more I regretting trying to kill her. But it was for everyone's own good, including hers, one side of me argued. I sighed, torn between the two. It's over, I concluded, it doesn't matter anymore. She's dead.

We heard the door open, and every looked up. Down the stairs came three of the guards, a wooden box in hand. The open door brought the smell of rain and damp, refreshing air, with the sound of the first drops of a storm. The guards set the box down and began a game of cards. They had moved in to keep dry. Again Tags made the comment of the temperature, and now that the guards had to be down here with us, asked for a fire. Adam gave them two torches.

The eleven hours passed, and nothing had happened. We had wanted to ask Alex what he had meant, and that the seventeen hours he had mentioned earlier, were up. But the gaurds in the room kept us quiet. The room had warmed up to a comfortable temperature and we were brought something to eat, which left Flint in a rant about being treated like animals, and cursing Adam right and left. The rest of us ate quietly. I saw Alex separate his food, eating only half of it, and saving most of his water.

Suddenly Alex stood up and walked over to the gate of his cell. We watched him closely, waiting to see what he would do. But he did nothing. He just leaned back against the gate, as if waiting for it to open itself.

The door to the dungeon opened again, now bringing the sound of a heavy rain, and a drenched guard dressed in heavy clothing and dripping hat in an attempt to keep dry. For a moment the figure stood their dripping, and then came down the stairs.

"you cheated!" one boy said, throwing his cards down.

"Did not…" the other one defended himself, "I don't know how to play this game. You just taught me."

"One more game guys, then I'm off to sleep." The third said as the new guard approached.

"Where are the keys?" All three looked up confused, and suddenly two of the guards fell off their chair to the stone floor, unconscious, and the third was thrown against the wall, a knife to his neck.

"I would hate to see what happens if you make me ask twice." The guard was shaking, visibility horrified. We all just starred. The guard's shaking hands lifted the key.

"Open them." The figure demanded. The guard shakily started on Alex's cell who had been patiently waiting by the gate. Alex stepped out and knocked the guard out with one swing. The boy crumpled, and Alex caught the keys.

"Idiot…" Alex muttered and unlocked my cell. I looked at the figure who had come to our rescue… and my jaw almost dropped. It was Vera.