Part 2

Sneak, sneak...sneak sneak...sneak sneak CRUNCH!

''Fuck.'' I mutter to my team mates. We were supposed to evade a much more idle pack of zombies but one of the new recruits stepped on something.

'''SCREEAAAH!'' a female zombie yells to the others, as if they were like dogs or monkeys. About twelve of the fuckers start rushing at us, they all get a decent bullet or a machete in their heads while the rest scurry off into the alleyways.

''That children,'' I lectured, putting on a high British accent. ''Is why we mind our shit while zombie hunting.'' the two younger cadets started giggling like schoolgirls, not expecting humor in such a situation.

''Miller! We're supposed to be a hardened military force, not a sitcom.'' one of the more serious cadets hissed at me, practically dripping venom with each word.

''Aw come on Oldie, we need a jester among the great court of idiots and warmongers.''

''Well the Jester needs to battle a great foe. Black Knight of Crying Women is between the garbage cans over there.''

As much of an downer Oldie is, his ability to spot witches without much sound is remarkable. Apparently the old coot was a sniper for a good portion of his military carrier and resigned just a week before the zombie outbreak. He's got a badly cut head of red hair, his mustache looks as if it could come to life and start killing zombies it self, he's got a grimy old flannel shirt that looks more fitting in a 50's musical than as soldier attire.

Despite being the funny guy, I know even to keep down around a witch, them things can take down a guy with just a few hits, even just one if she hits the right spot. I think they're all girls because they were either on the rag or their hormones went out the window during the infection.

''Hey why is she crying? Is she a survivor?'' the Girl of our squad asked me. She was kinda plain looking and ditsy but she lightened up the missions.

Luckily Glasses took descriptive duties. He's the smart guy, kinda cocky but really religious and pretty damn clever after a few hours wandering around the research lab back at the base.

''Rabidly changing hormonal state during infection caused her to become highly depressive and easily provoked. Her kind are called Witches, they are sound sensitive and-''

''Quite Glasses! Your rambling could set her off- oh shit.'' Oldie managed to whisper, as the white-haired lady got up from her resting place and turned her red eyes to Glasses.

''RAPID FIRE!'' I yell out, setting my rifle in the witch's direction. Before any of us could reload she knocked Glasses onto the ground and started scratching at his arm. I drove my machete straight into her head while the others shot her a few times. Once she was dead, I pushed her off Glasses and bent down.

''You okay man?'' Of course he wasn't okay, his hand was missing a finger.

''Oh sweet lord this hurts!'' he seethed, trying to put pressure on his hand, the finger stump was giving a small gush of blood and the poor guy's skin had become porridge-grey with fear.

''It's okay man, your gonna be okay, you just need a med kit and get back to base early okay?'' I tried to calm him down. I started breathing heavily as Oldie started bandaging up Glasses's hand, the air was getting musty and damp.

''Oh fuck no. Not now...''

Needless to say it started raining on us.

''FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY!'' Oldie swore to the sky.

Rain was a pretty big nuisance while hunting, it impaired your sight and the zombies were a lot more inclined to be in buildings.

''Come on, there's a safe room up ahead. We'll send out an SOS to base and continue tomorrow.'' Glasses stated, trying to lift his mummified hand.

The safe room was the playroom of an old daycare center. Multi-colored playing mats and toys scattered everywhere was getting to most of us.

''So um...'' The Girl tried starting up a conversation, she looked like she was going to cry any second. ''Did any of you had family before all this?''

''I have my mother and father, but we crashed our car trying to evacuate and they got hurt really bad. CEDA told me that if I work for them that they would get free health care.'' Glasses started to mumble while staring at his bandaged up hand.

''Huh. My folks were dead long before this whole thing. Dad smoked so many cigarettes that his lungs gave up on him. My Ma had a heart attack about two years ago. I was stationed in Afghanistan at the time so i didn't hear of it until I resigned. My sister has family up in Montreal so I haven't a clue what happened to her.'' Oldie took a puff of his cigar like a drunk takes a swig of whiskey.

''What about you sweetheart?'' I ended up asking The Girl.

''I'm the youngest of my family. I have...two sisters now, my dad and my mom are having my little brother in a few days. My twin was caught up during one of the riots and the helicopter left her there.'' She wiped her face with her sleeve, her eyes had become puffy and sore-looking.

''Your Mama's having a baby?'' I lit up, this was quite a surprise seeing how half of the populace were half-dead.

''Ye- yeah. Mom and Dad decided because of the infection, that they'd do their part and have another baby. Help regrow the populace you know? She's supposed to go into labor in about a week.'' she was staring at all of the cuddly toys on the floor, picking up one or two to hold for comfort.

''Wanna take some of these toys back to them for your brother?'' Oldie asked, taking the cigar out of his mouth.

''I shouldn't really. I think I might be disrespecting all of the kids who lost their toys.'' the toy in her hand seemed very familiar...

''Does that rabbit have a blue ribbon on it's neck that says 'Rabba'?'' I got a bit closer, my eyes were starting to water at the sight of pink fluff.

''Yes... how did you know that?'' The Girl looked at me like if I was a physic or something.

''Cus' my little sister's toy rabbit had that.''

She passes me the pink rabbit without hesitation. It seemed much smaller now than before. I wonder what happened to my sister, why did she let go of her Rabba?

I held Rabba's plastic nose to mine muttering ''Wake up or Rabba's gonna kiss you...''

The others were close to crying as I started to descended into a blubbering wreck.

''So what is ya'll's names?'' I splutter, hugging my new best friend tightly.

''Oh! Um, mine is David O'Brien. I'm supposed to be in college,I really miss having roast dinners and I have a cat back at base who's getting vaccinations.'' Glasses straightened himself up, trying to ignore my slight bout of insanity.

Oldie looked at us like we were completely mad.

''On the battlefield your not supposed to get close with your team mates in case they get killed.'' he

droned a bit before deciding ''My name is Harold Lencher.''

''My name is Daisy Zuckerman. I really want what's best for my folks and I want my baby brother to grow up in a world without having to carry a rifle in his hands.'' The Girl sniffled.

''What about you Miller? Don't you have a first name?'' Oldie joked, giving a scowl when he realised that his cigar had gone out.

''I'm...I am...I haven't a clue.'' I replied. The other had pure disbelief on their faces.

''What do you mean 'you don't know'? Surely your parents called you something!'' Glasses, now known as Dave, retorted in a confused manner.

''For one, I lived with my mama. She always called me Sweetheart and called my sister Sunshine. My teachers only knew me by my last name. I haven't I fucking clue what I'm supposed to be called other than just Miller.'' I started to get pretty angry at them.

''I saw CEDA shoot my Mama's face because she got infected and I wanna find my Little Sister. All I've got now is her damn pink rabbit!'' I started crying my eyes out while hugging Rabba to my chest.

The others realised that they hit a bad subject and started patting me on the back.

It took the helicopter about six hours to arrive, Oldie had to yell at the walkie-talkie in order to get somebody to fly us out.

We were all silent on the way back. The pilot tried asking why I looked like I had seen death but shutted up when he noticed the pink rabbit.

The commanding officer didn't even say anything as I walked into the break room and placed Rabba on a couch pillow, making sure that his ears didn't get in front of his eyes.

After about a minute I asked Daisy,

''Where are your parents?''

''They're in the third room on the right.''

To my surprise I found two young women outside the door, looking very worried.

''What's wrong?'' I asked, still clad in my hunting gear.

''Our Mama's gone into labor and we can't find our little sister.'' The older of the two panicked.

''Daisy is down in the break room. We got held up during today's mission.'' I replied, taking the girls by their hands.

Daisy was absolutely ecstatic that her brother was being born, but I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes.

I stayed in the break room for a few hours, I ate some food, checked on Glasses and cleaned Rabba.

Looking at the pink bastard I started thinking.

''Little Sister's best friend has no one to play with. Rabba needs his best friend.'' I say to the toy, walking towards the hospital bay.

I knocked on the door and saw a very ruffled man, a nurse, a very tired woman and the baby she was holding in her hands. There I saw the three sister's look in disbelief as held up a toy for their new brother.

''I heard that your baby was being born and I wanted to give this to him.'' I showed the pink rabbit to the mother, her face was beaming with happiness.

''Why do you want to give him it Miller? It's all you have left of your life.'' Daisy asked, tears almost pouring out.

''Guns don't make good children's toys Daisy. Rabba is gladly not a firearm.''

The family shook my hand a few times while the baby stared at his first ever toy, cooing in excitement as if he would never let the pink rabbit go.

I hope he never does.