Just wanted to say thank you for all the support! Keep those reviews coming and happy holidays!
* * * * *
CHAPTER 2
(911 conversation, 10:26 AM)
"911, what is your emergency?"
*sob* "Mycharmanderkilledmymom!Idon'tknowwhattodoOH PLEASE GOD HELP!"
*sound of glass shattering*
"Miss, I need you to stay calm. Where are you right now?"
*thumping noises*
"I'm in the closet!oh god...he's right downstairs---"
"Stay right there. I will send out a dispatch immediately. What's your address?"
"362 Woodland--"
*more thumping noises*
"Miss--"
*wood splintering*
"OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!"
*line disconnected*
* * * * * * * *
(Celadon City News, 10:33 AM)
"…has yet to be confirmed. Acting out in defense is typical of Poke'mon behavior. However these attacks ARE unprovoked and according to authorities, allegedly due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, a symptom not too uncommon between Poke'mon and humans..."
(Viridian Live Action News, 10:41 AM)
Reporter: "…and you said you witnessed this attack?"
Officer: "That's right, miss, a Pidgeotto made a dive-bomb right at this poor old woman, and struck her right upside the head."
Reporter: "And you reacted without question?"
Officer: "We had been receiving calls all morning, my partner was already on the radio calling in an ambulance before I could draw my firearm. The bird got away, but we are working to apprehend the Poke'mon..."
* * * * * * * * *
(WQCK Radio Broadcast, 12:01 PM)
"..and with it, our God is vengeful and merciless. He WILL bring the judgement upon those whom have not been righteous! the sinners of man; the murderers and the rapists, the homosexuals and the prostitutes! Rejoice, my brethren, for the day of JUDGEMENT is upon us! His hands come in the form of Poke'mon, the tools of the GOD himself, brothers and sisters, HALLELUJAH! Don our spiritual armor; may we stand against…."
(Viridian Live Action News, 12:24 PM)
Reporter: "...downtown Viridian, where the metro police, in a joint effort with the Viridian National Guard are arresting looters on the scene…"
*camera pans over armed riot control officers breaking up a fight. The street is littered with broken glass and debris*
"…today downtown Viridian was a war zone, where--"
*camera moves past reporter to movement down the street. A building on the corner crumbles to the ground. A truck swerves and crashes into a fire hydrant. An Onix rolls into the street, drunkenly slamming into buildings along the way*
Reporter: "OH MY GOD--Keith, are you getting this?"
*Screams heard off camera*
*The Onix roars as it approaches the scene. The camera drops to the ground and scrambling feet move past.
Officer: "TAKE 'EM DOWN!"
*Gunfire*
* * * * * * * * *
(Celadon City Radio KCQ, 12:30 PM)
"…for those just tuning in, our National Guardsmen stationed outside has just informed us that the street outside our studio is being overrun by…what they describe as..'rabid' Poke'mon--?"
*door slams*
"Ma'am, we have to leave here--now--"
"What's going on?"
*distant gunfire*
"Ma'am, leave the equipment, we have to evacuate--"
"Sorry everyone, there's something--"
"oh god, they're here!" *loud crash*
"STAY BACK, FREEZE!"
*gunfire*
"GET Ba--"
*gunfire*
*screams*
* * * * * * *
(POKE'MON ISLAND SPECIAL REPORT)
PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION
(Saffron City Capital, President's Newsroom)
*Ian Surge stands behind a podium, adjusting his jacket. Cameras flash*
Ian: "I'll take your questions."
Reporter 1: "Is this a terrorist attack?"
Ian: "It's too early to speculate, but as of now we have not received any indication that it is."
Reporter 2: "The first attacks occurred last night in Fuchsia City. Is there any significance?"
Ian: "Fuchsia City is currently under Martial Law. Travel anywhere within 20 miles of the city has been restricted by the local authorities."
Reporter 3: "Is there any indication to the cause of these attacks?"
Ian: "At this time? no."
Reporter 4: "Is there a plan to retaliate?"
Ian: "All cities are on high alert, and every citizen having served in the military within the past 10 years is being called back into active duty. Convoys will be making rounds through designated areas to pick up recruits over the next 24 hours. As far as a plan of action is concerned, that is classified."
Reporter 3: "What do the authorities recommend for civilians?"
Ian: "We advise you to remove any poke'balls that may be in your home. Do not try to reason with or apprehend any Poke'mon you encounter. Lock your doors. At this time many cities are still a hot zone for this unprovoked violence and it can't be determined when the situation will be resolved. Stay in your homes at all times and remain calm.."
* * * * *
"C'MON!" Brock roared, pounding the steering wheel. He buried his fist into the horn and let it blare. "FUCK!"
"Honey, stop! just stop!" Duplica shrieked. Brock gritted his teeth and put his hand behind Duplica's head rest. He looked out the back and threw the car into reverse. There was no room, they were admist halted traffic. Car horns blared all around them and people were abandoning their vehicles.
"FUCK!" Brock cried out, watching a man leave the car beside him. "We're not gonna get anywhere if people don't fucking--FUCK!"
A helicopter roared overhead, people on the highway around them began waving their arms for help.
"Maybe we should just get out." Duplica suggested, throwing her long green hair back. "We haven't moved in twenty minutes."
"And then what?" Brock fumed. "The minute we leave, traffic's gonna start moving again, and there's going to be nothing to keep what's out there from getting us."
"I knew we should've taken exit 32," Duplica spat. "But you just cannot put up with my mother." She folded her arms in disgust and looked out the window.
Brock threw up his hands in defeat and stared out the driver's side window. Half a mile down military convoys were blocking the road, making their way into Pallet. Traffic had reduced to a pitiful crawl ever since.
More helicopters overhead and the blaring of horns began to cease.
"At least that's stopping," Brock sighed. He rested his head against the side window. Vibrations made his head thump against it uncomfortably, and he readjusted his head.
Thumpity-thump.
Thumpity-thump.
Brock unhooked his seatbelt and was about the inspect the glass when he saw the rearview mirror.
Half a mile down a Snorlax was making its way along the highway, crashing through parked vehicles.
"Duplica, we gotta go!" Brock bellowed, patting her quickly on the arm.
"Hm..what?" Duplica asked, pulled out of a daydream.
"Right now, right now, right now!" Brock fumbled out of the car, grabbing a duffel bag from the backseat. Duplica watched him, looked in the rearview mirror, and cried out.
"C'mon honey, let's move!" Brock beamed, running around to the front of the car. Duplica was scrambling with clothes in the backseat. Brock shoved her out the way, grabbed her purse and handed it to her. "LET'S GO!" he hissed.
People around them were screaming. They fled over their cars and onto the mid section of the highway.
The convoys halted up ahead.
"GET TO THE SOLDIERS!" Brock huffed, pulling Duplica along.
"OPEN FIRE!" They yelled.
Sporadic gunfire ripped across the congested highway. Behind Brock and Duplica, the beast howled in rage and threw a truck out of its path. People screamed, climbing over each other as they fled.
The Snorlax grew closer and the soldiers on foot began to retreat. Those in the convoy began scooping people into the beds of trucks.
"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!" They ordered, pulling screaming children into the vehicle.
"We're not gonna make it!" Duplica yelped. "Brock, honey--into the woods!" She tugged at Brock's hold, beckoning for refuge on the edge of the highway.
"There's all sorts of Poke'mon in there!" Brock bellowed. "Baby, we gotta--"
Their car ricocheted off another vehicle and landed upside down yards away. Glass sprayed across the pavement. The soldiers stopped firing and began to drive off. People shrieked as the Snorlax loomed over them, scooping people into its mouth and swallowing them whole.
"INTO THE WOODS!"
People trampled each other in the shadow of the Snorlax.
Duplica lost her purse in the confusion. Brock slung his duffel bag over his shoulder. More people yelped as the Snorlax scooped them up. Brock and Duplica hopped over the ditch and scrambled into the brush lining the edge of the woods. The Snorlax followed close behind, but quickly became entangled in the foliage.
It roared in dismay and turned its attention to the remaining people on the highway. Brock and Duplica continued running through the woods, hopping over brush and fallen tree trunks until the sun was nearly blotted out by the canopy of trees.
After what felt like miles, Brock collapsed against the trunk of an oak. Duplica fell to her knees, sobbing.
When his heart stopped racing, he crawled over to Duplica and put his arm around her. Her head nuzzled into his chest and her tears finally began to dry.
"What's going on?" she sniffled. Brock shook his head.
"I don't know, baby, I really don't."
He looked around himself and realized how deep they were in the woods. Sunlight filtered in through the leaves, but he wasn't sure what time it was, it could be getting dark at any time.
"Honey, we need to--"
The click of a hammer sent chills up Brock's spine. The two looked over to see a frazzled looking young man step out from behind the bushes, a pistol at ready.
"You folks lost or what?" he asked coldly. Sweat brimmed his forehead and what looked like military fatigues were torn and smeared with blood.
Duplica looked at Brock, who gave her a helpless look.
"Yes." Duplica said finally. The young man waved at the bushes behind himself.
"It's okay, just a couple people." he said. A man and a woman emerged from the bushes, both looking very disheveled. The man gripped a bat nervously in his hand.
"They're not the enemy," the young man said, eyeing the bat. The man lowered it and the young man relaxed. He strode up to Brock and held out his hand.
"Staff Sergeant Clyde Wilson." he said, shaking Brock's hand.
"Brock and Duplica," Brock dumbly jabbed a thumb at the man. "Where are you guys headed?"
"We're going to the Indigo Plateau," the man behind Clyde said. Then, cradling the bat uncomfortably added, "Right?"
"I wouldn't go that way." Brock replied. "We just came from there, there was a Snorlax, and...well…" Duplica touched his arm and shook her head.
"Well we're not going back that way," Clyde muttered, motioning behind himself. "Pallet is a war zone."
"Just what is going on?" Duplica asked. "Why are Poke'mon attacking people?"
"You got me," Clyde said as he holstered his pistol. "I was working at the recruitment office when it happened. I know probably about as much as you do."
"So, where do we go then?" the woman behind Clyde asked. Clyde paused, placed his hands on his hips, and looked up at the canopy of trees.
"Last I checked we were heading north," he said. "If the highway's compromised, we'll have to go north east, through the woods."
"There's a village somewhere around here," the woman pointed out. "Back when I was a trainer, I crossed through this area. We could get supplies."
"Great." Clyde muttered sarcastically. The group began walking.
After a quarter mile, the deafening silence of the woods was broken.
"I'm Cindy, by the way." The woman said, awkwardly leaning in to shake Brock's hand.
"Brock."
The man leaned in.
"I'm Jason. Do you--"
"Cut the chatter!" Clyde snapped, drawing his pistol.
"What is it?" Duplica whispered. Brock shrugged and they took cover behind Clyde, who was creeping toward a clearing.
"This forest used to be full of Poke'mon," Clyde said softly. "Why it's empty, I don't know, but that doesn't mean there aren't stragglers."
The clearing was choked with tall weeds that swayed in the light breeze.
Jason gripped his bat nervously and got behind Clyde.
"All of you, stay behind me." Clyde hissed. He stepped into the sea of weeds, holding his pistol out in front of him. The weeds were waist high and Duplica held onto Brock's shoulders nervously as they waded through.
There was a faint rustling to their right. Clyde froze, holding his pistol at the ready. Brock's heart pounded, he could hear Duplica's ragged breath behind him.
No one moved.
Clyde kept his eyes on the spot for a second more, then continued moving slowly.
Brock tried to match Clyde's pace, but it was difficult. The young man was well balanced with each cautious step.
Another rustling. This time everyone heard it, and Clyde swung his pistol in the direction of the noise.
Silence.
A stronger breeze revealed something green beneath the foliage.
Cindy cried out and a large Scyther emerged from the weeds, it's fly-like wings buzzing loudly as it soared into the air.
"SPREAD OUT!" Clyde demanded. Brock and Duplica ran for cover as Cindy and Jason ran opposite of them. The Scyther zipped around the border of the clearing, diving at Cindy and Jason. Clyde fired two shots, one striking the beast in the ankle. It buzzed in anger and redirected its attention to Clyde.
Jason ran toward Clyde, swinging his bat wildly.
"STAY DOWN, DAMNIT!" Clyde ordered. The Scyther was on him almost instantly, swinging its large talons. Clyde ducked, but not before his chest was grazed by the blade.
"FUCK!" he grunted, taking aim with his pistol again. He fired two more shots and struck the bug's abdomen. It buzzed back toward him and this time Jason stepped in, swinging his bat wildly.
It zoomed out of range, but not before slicing open Jason's arm. Clyde fired another shot and the beast plummeted from the sky, a bullet hole in its chest.
"Jesus!" Cindy wailed, running to Jason's aid. Clyde fell to his haunches in the weeds, ripping his shirt into pieces.
"Are you guys okay?" Brock asked, making his way to the group.
"Fuck off, I told you guys to scatter." Clyde spat, winding torn fabric around himself. "I knew I'd be better off alone."
Brock was about to say something when Duplica put a hand on his shoulder.
"We don't have any weapons," she whispered. "He's a soldier, We NEED him."
Jason, holding his bleeding arm, walked over to the dead Scyther. He looked at the blood seeping through his fingers and kicked the fallen beast savagely.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID WE EVER DO TO YOU?!" he cried.
"Shut up, you fucking idiot!" Clyde hissed. "You want every Poke'mon in the goddamn forest to hear us?"
Jason looked back at him, his face twisted in rage. He kicked the beast one last time and ran a hand through his greasy blonde hair.
"At the rate we're going, we won't make it there alive." Clyde pointed out. "We need to get you guys some weapons."
"Maybe the village will have some?" Duplica suggested. Clyde finished dressing his wounds and slowly stood up.
"Maybe." He replied. "Let's go."
The group recollected themselves and continued walking. As the day passed, it began to get cooler. Brock dug into his duffel bag and gave a sweater to Duplica. He ditched the bag along with the rest of his luggage. He had a feeling he wouldn't have time to change clothes in the near future anyway.
After what felt like hours they came across a stretch of dirt road with a rusted sign looming over it.
"Cedar Creek, 1 mile." Clyde read dully. "Never heard of it. Is this place you were talking about?"
"I think so," Cindy replied. "It's been a long time."
"Keep your eyes peeled." Clyde ordered. "Just about every town on the fucking island is going up in flames."
The air had gone deathly still and clouds loomed in overhead. Brock held Duplica's hand as they marched toward the village.
Along the way were a few abandoned vehicles and overturned bikes. Otherwise there was no sign of activity. The dirt road gradually gave way to gravel, which turned into pavement. There were a collective of buildings that Cindy pointed out was the downtown area.
"Stay close." Clyde said softly, unholstering his pistol. They stepped out into main street, and were greeted by a maze of deserted vehicles. A police car with its siren still flickering was crashed into the side of a drugstore. Clyde searched it and returned with a shotgun.
"Trade you." he said, giving Brock the pistol. Brock smirked and mimicked Clyde's tone when the boy turned around.
"Why's it so empty?" Cindy asked.
"Military could've picked everyone up." Clyde suggested. "Afterwards the Poke'mon must've just moved on."
They moved past the drug store and remained on the sidewalk. They tried to ignore the silent chaos on the main road. A few dozen yards past the police car, two abandoned military vehicles were parked, blocking the road. There was blood caked on the front of their hoods.
"This place is really creeping me out." Jason said uncomfortably. "There's not even corpses…what happened here?"
Mainstreet stretched on for a mile. Along the road were shops, all of which were deserted. Shattered glass littered the sidewalk.
Duplica spotted the first body. It was a young man, lying face down at the entrance to a shop. His blood had spilled out onto the sidewalk. Clyde knelt down beside him and inspected the body.
"These are bullet holes." he observed.
"Who the fuck shot him?" Brock asked, looking around nervously.
"Could've been anyone," Clyde replied. "Some crazy stuff went down here not too long ago. Doesn't explain why there's no other bodies, though."
"This is making me sick…can we go?" Duplica asked. Brock nodded and stepped back from the diner. Jason, Cindy and Clyde followed. They were only a few feet away from the building when a figure strolled into the street several blocks ahead.
"Who is it?" Cindy asked cautiously. Clyde slung the shotgun over his shoulder and waved at the figure.
"They're human, whoever they are." he said, waving his arms furiously. "Maybe they can help us out here."
The figure strolled into the middle of the street and paused. It watched Clyde with an intense fascination, then began running full speed at them. His footsteps echoed along the walls of the empty buildings.
"Jesus, he must be really glad to see other people." Brock muttered. The figure grew closer and Clyde saw he was wearing combat gear.
"Good, he's a soldier."
The figure came within earshot and they could hear him snarling. He was drooling blood that spat and gurgled from his mouth as he charged at them.
"Um, Brock--?"
"What the fuck?" Clyde readied his shotgun at the soldier. "STAY BACK, DON'T MOVE!"
The soldier continued charging, now only a few yards away. His skin was pale and there were several wounds along his body that looked self-inflicted.
"FREEZE!" Clyde ordered. The man was almost upon them when Clyde fired.
The soldier fell back, a large gaping hole in his chest. His body twitched violently, blood seeping from his mouth.
A subtle, collective screech echoed through mainstreet.
"What's going on?!" Jason shrieked, gripping his bat. Clyde was already on the body, taking the soldier's firearm.
"Let's get out of here. NOW." he said, handing the pistol to Cindy. They began running down the road when they were met by dozens of figures a few blocks ahead of them.
"Jesus." Clyde breathed.
"Into the store!" Brock commanded, running into the nearest building. A volley of echoing footsteps followed them down the street.
"What's wrong with those people?!" Duplica shrieked.
"Same thing wrong with the Poke'mon." Jason huffed, closing the door behind himself. Brock and Clyde pushed some shelves against the back of it. The people outside began pressing against the store front window.
"That glass isn't gonna hold." Cindy pointed out.
"All the better reason to get the fuck out of here." Brock said, grabbing Duplica's hand. One of the figures outside began vomiting blood.
"C'mon, lets go, let's go!" Jason cried, running to the back of the store. In the back was an emergency exit. He paused and took a deep breath before opening the door. Outside was a parking lot, occupied by three men. They looked up as the door opened and screeched, one of them bleeding profusely from his gut.
"C'MON!" Jason shrieked, swinging a bat at the first man's head. It made a sickening crack as the wood connected with the man's skull. Clyde hit the second man upside the head with the butt of his shotgun, and Brock, all 230 pounds of him, punched the third man right in the face. He fell to the ground, his body twitching violently.
"FUCK!" Brock grunted, holding his hand.
"You got him good, honey," Duplica praised, putting an anxious hand on his back.
"Thanks, babe."
"Let's go, people!"
More people were starting to run around from the front of the store. The group ran through an alley and into the back exit of another hobby shop. Jason slammed the door behind himself and felt the people on the other side struggling to get in.
"What is this, Dawn of the Dead?" he breathed. Clyde slung the shotgun over his shoulder and observed the shop around them. Like the antique shop, it was small, with a few tall shelves and a large glass window up front advertising, "General Store".
"Let's take a quick breather, and then make our way out of here." Clyde said, pulling some bottled water off a shelf. He tossed a couple to Brock and Cindy.
"What happened to this town?" Cindy asked, gulping down the water.
"Do you think whatever virus the poke'mon have can be transmitted to humans?"
"I hope not." Brock replied. "Otherwise we're in a whole heap of trouble." his eyes narrowed and Clyde and Jason, whose wounds were seeping through the bandages.
"Relax, what's wrong with these people..poke'mon don't even have the same DNA strand." Clyde said half heartedly, redressing his bandage. "Besides," he added. "Once we get to the Indigo Plateau, they'll know what to do. It'll all get sorted out."
"What the fuck is so important about the Indigo Plateau?" Duplica asked. "Isn't that for the Poke'mon League?"
"Not anymore," Jason replied. "That was damn near ten years ago. I heard now it's a military installation."
"I think that's where Ash went." Brock whispered to Duplica. "At least…I HOPE that's where he went. I hate the thought of him and Misty getting caught up in all this mess."
"Alright, I'm ready," Clyde hopped off the clerk's counter. He handed a crowbar to Brock. "It's no baseball bat, but it's better than fists."
Brock nodded and tossed the crowbar up in his hand, testing its weight.
"So what's the plan? We can't outrun them." Cindy said, looking out the window. The people outside had begun milling about again, not making the connection that the backdoor to the shop and front entrance were the same building.
"There were two military transport trucks when we came into town," Clyde noted. "Odds are they were being used to evacuate civilians before whatever happened…happened. It's best practice to keep keys in the ignition. I learned how to drive those big trucks in basic."
"Great plan," Jason scoffed. "So we just sprint back three blocks, among an army of..crazy people? and HOPE that there's keys in the ignition?"
"If not, I can hot-wire it." Clyde shot back. "And if you want to try and outrun them, you can go right ahead."
"So we're really doing this then?" Brock asked nervously. "Do we remember exactly where the trucks are parked?"
"Don't worry about it, it's not like they're easy to miss." Clyde replied gently. "We just have to get in, and get out. Simple as that."
"Simple as that. With one shotgun, two pistols, a bat and a crowbar." Duplica said flatly. "Against an entire town. Right."
"You're just pissed off because Brock can't huff his way over to trucks." Clyde retorted, loading his shotgun.
"Fuck you, I'm just saying we need a better plan is all."
"Alright, everyone STOP IT!" Cindy demanded. "Look outside."
They all stepped up to the window. A block away a crowd was forming. The population of the town, once shambling around like drunks, had suddenly regained their stature. Out from the crowd stepped an Alakazam.
"Oh my god…" Duplica covered a hand over her mouth.
"An Alakazam did this to those people?"
"Couldn't have been anything else." Clyde answered. "If we're gonna do this, we oughta' do it. Right now."
"We'll need a distraction…long enough to make it to the cars."
"I was thinking something like that," Brock said, scooping a couple bottles of liquor off the shelves. He plucked a tshirt off a rack and ripped it into pieces. Dipping it in the liquor, he stuck half of it out and handed one bottle to Jason.
"Anyone got a match?"
Clyde smirked.
"You guys ready?" he asked. Jason produced a lighter from his pocket and nodded. They opened the front door and began walking out when the townspeople turned.
"NOW!" Brock shouted. Jason lit the molotov cocktails and they hurled them into the air. They landed just a few feet short of the crowd and splashed liquid fire over the pavement. The townspeople shrieked in dismay and began leaping through the flames, their clothes catching as they sprinted.
"Let's go!" Clyde yelled. The group sprinted toward the parked vehicles. Along the way were a few people making their way to the Alakazam. Brock swung his crowbar and struck a man in the face. Clyde paused briefly to shoot another in the stomach. The crowd behind them was growing, the Alakazam had parted the flames and cleared a path.
"We're not gonna make it!" Jason wailed, turning briefly to look at the oncoming horde.
"SHUT UP!" Brock grunted, trying to ignore his wheezing breath. They darted through the maze of vehicles, fighting few townspeople along the way. Clyde was the first to reach the truck. He opened the door and jumped inside.
"FUCK!" he yelled. "I'm gonna have to hot-wire it!"
"How long's that gonna take?" Duplica called.
"Like, two minutes." Clyde grunted. "Mechanics tried to make these things--shit--well, they just didn't make it easy."
He tossed Brock the shotgun. Brock stood with the rest of the group alongside the truck. Cindy fired her pistol and struck down a young man. Jason hit a woman upside the head with his bat.
"How much longer?" Brock pressed. Clyde didn't respond. Through the crowd the Alakazam appeared, its eyes glowing white.
"Aww..FUCK!" Jason screeched. The Alakazam parted cars with its psychic abilities. It moved a vehicle that struck Jason in the waist, pinning him between the military truck and the car.
"Jason!" Cindy wailed. More townspeople ran at them, Brock began firing.
The truck's engine roared to life.
"GET IN!" Clyde yelled.
"C'mon, let's get Jason!" Duplica shouted to Cindy. Brock stood in front of the women while they tried to pry the man from under the vehicle.
"FUCK IT, JUST LEAVE ME!" Jason yelped. A pool of blood was gathering on the pavement underneath, it was obvious his legs were crushed.
"NO!" Cindy cried.
"DUPLICA--" Brock sputtered, fumbling with shells.
The Alakazam grew closer, the townspeople surrounding them. Clyde slowly began to pull out. Jason's body flopped to the ground, his legs twisted into horrendous angles.
The poke'mon's were glowing. He raised his hands, and shattered glass rose from the ground.
Brock slung the shotgun over his shoulder and pulled Duplica and Cindy away from Jason. The glass shot forward, and two shards struck Brock in the leg and arm. He turned his back into Duplica and Cindy and received the majority of blows directed at them.
With a grunt of pain he climbed into the bed of the truck with Cindy and Duplica, both of them crying out for Jason. The truck pulled away from the crowd, now gathering around their fallen comrade.
Brock howled as he fell to his side, panting like he had run a marathon.
"Oh my god, Brock, you're….!" Duplica ran fingers through her green hair. She had several cuts and bruises herself, but Brock looked beyond repair.
"I'll be fine," he huffed. "Just leave the shards in until we find a doctor…"
Cindy said nothing despite having wounds herself. She was watching the crowd wash over Jason, until they drove out of sight and into the woods.
"The Indigo Plateau is a straight shot from here," Clyde reported from the front. "We should get there by nightfall."
Duplica nodded and held Brock's hand, watching Cindy as she stared blankly back in the direction of Cedar Creek.
* * * * * *