The Pelanoi Accounts

Chapter Seven: A Night on the Town

The Survivors

Cassidy took a quick glug from a water bottle and made a satisfied gasp. With the events of the day it seemed like there hadn't really been all that much time to eat or drink. All around her, the others were satiating themselves with a light snack to keep them going. They were headed south to New Rynn city, and the decision to head there had been almost unanimous save for a remark by Ellen and a complaint from Ethan, but then Ethan probably would have complained regardless of what was decided even if it saved his life and Ellen was proving to be almost as cynical as she was cold.

The data stick in her pocket still felt like a miniature sun burning a hole in her clothes, and such was its import that Cassidy had taken to sticking her hand in said pocket and fiddling with it to make sure it was still there. The mood was downtrodden, with the airport having been a pit of nightmares, and Cassidy's mind replayed the horror of the monster that had pursued them through the terminals.

Currently the exhausted survivors were treading down a side road that led – at least according to Ethan and Rolf, though Tiffany had checked her map of the island first – to a nearby town where they could hopefully grab some extra supplies and bunker down for the night before continuing on. Time was of the essence, but seeing how Ethan had the only flashlight, travelling in the dark was a risk no one wanted to take.

The road took them through open countryside, and all around them, the lush green equator botany could be observed. Trees tall as buildings dotted the scenery. Lush, thick bushes and wild grass ran as far as the eye could see and the setting sun cast a warm, comforting glow.

'How peaceful…' Cassidy murmured.

'Hm? What was that?' Sydney asked. Shortly following their meeting, Cassidy had tried to make sure she was never too far from the bespectacled young blonde.

'I was thinking…' the journalist started before shaking her head, 'it's nothing. Don't worry about it.'

Were it not for the occasional abandoned car, sometimes painted a new shade of red, it would be very difficult to believe that the dead were walking, and that monsters prowled the island looking for something to kill. Cassidy wondered if there was such a thing as Limbo, the plane of existence sitting in between heaven and hell. Did it look like this? Moments of scattered beauty against a backdrop of horror?

'Hey! Is that it?'

Ellen's voice brought Cassidy out of her thoughts. Casting her attention outwards, she could see that they were approaching a small town. In spite of her relief at seeing a potential refuge, part of her was apprehensive. The entire island was a bloodbath, and while there was a chance that smaller settlements across Pelanoi were still safe, a place this close to the airfield – especially considering the state it had been in – could play hive to a mess of the walking dead.

Cautiously, warily, the group crept through the streets. Signs of violence decorated the town much akin to Elspeth City.

'Different place, same story,' Ethan muttered bitterly.

'Wonder if these poor bastards even knew what was going on,' Rolf agreed.

'Who knows,' Sema chimed in absently.

'Quiet. If there is anything here you'll bring it down on us,' Ellen hissed, her lip curling in a distasteful snarl.

'She's right,' Kit spoke softly, 'it'd be best if we kept quiet unless it's absolutely necessary.'

Ethan grumbled under his breath but acquiesced, as did Rolf. Ellen simply huffed and continued on in front where her senses, seemingly preternaturally sharp, were most useful.

Cassidy stopped in front of a pile-up in the middle of a crossroads; one of the vehicle doors was open. Blood stained the interior, and Cassidy felt her heart rend as she caught sight of a blood-encrusted baby seat in the back of the car. She turned away, unable to continue looking.

'Is it like this everywhere?' Sydney whispered, 'Is this happening all over the world right now? Are people getting up and eating one another?' her breathing was quickening, if she didn't calm down she'd start hyperventilating.

'What if we're the last ones left on the island? What if we're the last ones on the planet? Are we the last of us? The last of humanity? What if–'

The slap pierced the oppressive silence of the town. Sydney brought a hand up to her stinging cheek, and then felt arms wrap around her.

'Sweetie, calm down. Relax. It's bad yeah, but things will be better once we're out of this place.' Cassidy soothed as she stroked the back of the young girl's head.

'How can you know that?' she asked quietly.

'I don't,' Cassidy replied simply, softly.

'Then how–'

'It's called faith Sydney. It's made people do some pretty crazy stuff, but it's also made them do some pretty amazing things as well. We'll get through this. Everyone will get through this.'

Nobody said anything. Nobody could confirm or deny what Cassidy had said with any great certainty. Sure, they'd survived everything the island had thrown at them so far, but it was only the third day since everything had gone to hell in a hand basket. Who knew what fresh horrors the next day would bring, or the day after that.

They waited for Sydney to finally slow her breathing before continuing through the streets of death. Blood, blood could be seen everywhere you looked. Yet, just as it had been in Elspeth City, there were no bodies, or even any evidence that there had been any killing at all save for the odd scattered, half-eaten body part on one street or another.

They passed a grocery store with all its store windows smashed open. More than half of the supplies had been pilfered already but somehow the electricity still worked, keeping perishables fresh. Everyone took more food and water before sitting behind the aisles – away from the entrance where they might be seen – and having a quick meal before setting off. Rolf and Leah suggested holing up in the store, which was quickly put down by Tiffany and Ellen, stressing the need to keep moving even as the twilight approached, in addition to the many broken windows they'd need to board up with materials they did not have.

So they left, and continued searching for a haven large and secure enough to hold them for a night. Night was beginning to fall and they were well on their way to simply choosing the closest building available until suddenly:

'What about there?' Kit pointed out.

The building had quite obviously had extension work completed fairly recently. Large, heavy metal gates hung open a fraction, allowing passage into the expansive drive. It looked impressive from the outside, likely belonging to someone with far too much money on his hands.

'I think this is the State Secretary's home,' Rolf thought aloud, eyeing the architecture appreciatively.

'Was I think you mean,' Ethan said, 'pretty sure I saw someone who looked like him shuffling along when we ran from the mall… no, not him Marcus the short, thin guy in the grey suit.'

'That right? Huh. Sucks to be him.'

'Hush,' Tiffany shushed, taking point as she opened the gate, her handgun drawn.

The drive of estate seemed untouched. No blood, no signs of anything being out of the ordinary whatsoever.

'Anyone else thinking what I am?' Rolf asked.

'That this looks way too good to be true and the chances are that inside lie a hundred monsters waiting to eat us?' Ellen responded.

'No. Well… yes, but I was thinking more… never mind.'

Kit noticed that at that point Rolf's eyes had darted more than once to Tiffany's rather attractive derriere. Kit shot him a distasteful glare and made a disgusted noise, drawing a few strange looks from some of the others who hadn't been paying attention to the Australian.

Tiffany trod cautiously towards the front door and reached for the door knob. A quiet twist, a gentle push and the door opened.

'That's never a good sign,' said Ellen.

'Oh can you stop it with the negativity? Please, it's getting on my nerves,' Sema spat, uncharacteristically venomous.

'Bite me,' Ellen responded, though she said nothing else. Sema simply rolled her eyes in exasperation. Tiffany chalked the exchange up to fatigue; they were all tired and on edge.

The interior of the manse was dark and gloomy, and Tiffany could barely see her hand in front of her face until her eyes finally adjusted. She was standing in a long hallway. To her immediate left was a staircase leading upstairs. Beyond that sat two closed doors, one of which looked like someone had set upon it with an axe. To her right was a set of double doors that likely led either to the living or the dining room, and a rather pricey looking vase sat on top of an equally pricey looking stand.

Tiffany ushered everyone into the hallway before shutting the front door.

'Alright, this place seems quiet but I'd rather not call it a night until we've checked this whole building. Split up in groups of two, conduct a room-by-room sweep. No heroics.'

'Don't need to worry about that,' Ethan murmured under his breath.

They divided up into four groups, three pairs and one group of three, made up of Sydney, Kit and Cassidy, who insisted on joining them despite Kit's assurances that he could watch the teen just fine. Tiffany felt that she was smothering the poor girl, but otherwise said nothing, and with that, they split up.

-X-

'Man why'd I have to get buddied up with you?' Rolf groused as he nudged a loose box of paper.

'I should be the one asking that,' Ethan growled back at the Australian man, who'd left his boat paddle downstairs in favour of a poking iron, seeing how it his preferred weapon was far too long to wield effectively indoors.

The two men stood in what seemed to be a study of some sort. It was a good deal larger than the largest rooms in either of their former homes. Papers and boxes littered the ground. A briefcase full of cash had sat half-open on the messy desk, though both knew that it wasn't worth taking.

'I mean, come on. There's a two-to-one ratio of Sheilas to blokes, surely you'd think we'd be partnered up with one of them instead.'

'Speak for yourself. I'd be fine going alone… and why do you act like that?'

'Hm?' Rolf turned to face Ethan, 'What do you mean?'

'Thinking with your dick instead of your head. You've pretty much repulsed every girl in this bunch of whackos.'

'It's who I am. Can't help that,' a devilish grin split his face, 'besides, sometimes it works like a charm I tell you.'

Ethan's face twisted in disgust and he turned to leave.

'Why do you act like that?' Rolf asked him.

'What?' Ethan asked.

'You spit acid at anyone who so much as glances at you and you're always talking to this 'Marcus' person in your head. What's the deal?'

Ethan's face darkened.

'Marcus is my best friend, and if you don't cut this out I'll gut you,' he threatened. Rolf held up his hands in a mockingly placating gesture.

'Alright, alright mate. Keep your thong on I'm just asking is all,' Rolf gave the study a quick glance before turning towards the door to the hallway.

'Think this room is clean. Let's go.'

-X-

The bedroom clearly hadn't seen use recently; a thin layer of dust covered the satin sheets. In spite of everything, Kit felt himself run a hand over the material. It was soft, entirely pleasant to the touch, and for a brief moment he wondered if Tiffany would like it as well. His thoughts as of late had been filled with the female Captain and while he was guarded, he enjoyed the feeling of coming to love someone again. Perhaps when this was over…

He released a dry chuckle. Cassidy and Sydney gave him a curious look, which he deflected with a wave of his hand.

It was only when Cassidy screamed that Kit was jolted out of his thoughts.

Instinct told him to see exactly what had startled the reporter. Prior knowledge of the creatures that populated the island told him that when someone shouted a warning; you moved. You moved, or you died.

So Kit moved.

He hauled himself to the side just as a knife came flashing out of the murk. It would probably not have been fatal, such was the blade's size, but Kit was glad he'd been spared the pain. He snatched one of his own knives and brought it up just as the weapon came again. The smaller knife danced off Kit's own weapon with a brief zing of clashing metal. The weapon retreated and Kit saw the man behind the weapon.

He was fairly tall. Burly, though not muscled or toned as far as Kit could tell. His dark hair had clearly been cut recently, though it was growing out, particularly at the sides. There wasn't much of his face he could pick out in the gloom, but Kit could just make out a rather prominent jawline, which clenched with the effort of swinging the knife.

Stepping back, Kit brought out his other knife and held it in a reverse grip, ready to defend himself once more.

He stopped once he realised there was a gun aimed at his head.

'Don't move or I'll shoot,' the man snarled.

'You stop, or I'll shoot.'

Turning their heads, both Kit and his attacker found that Cassidy had her handgun aimed at the stranger. Sydney clutched her baseball bat awkwardly, though it was clear that it was a purely symbolic gesture, and at the distance she was from the engagement, she'd be of no help to anyone. Not before shots were fired anyway.

A stand-off occurred. No one moved for a full minute. Kit felt a drop of sweat roll down his forehead. His eyes flickered from the gun, to Cassidy and Sydney, who both looked like a coiled spring, tense and about to snap.

The man broke the tension by swearing.

'Goddamnit… can't you just leave us alone?'

Kit snapped his gaze back to the man.

'What are you talking about?' he asked.

'Looters, scumbags and all the rest like you. I killed your buddies and I'm glad I did because if I hadn't that poor child would have… would have…'

'I'd like for you to calm down. We're not looters, we don't know anyone here besides each other, and we just rolled into town this evening looking for a place to stay for the evening,' Kit said slowly and pleadingly. He saw the gun waver for a moment.

'How do I know you're telling me the truth?' he asked; his voice quiet.

Kit paused for a moment in thought before sighing.

'You don't…'

-X-

The stranger's name was Nicholas Neil, though he informed them that he preferred 'Nick'. In his care was a young English girl of fourteen, whose name was Mary Jane. She didn't speak much, though she was distinctively upper-class with her expensive white dress (which had been torn at some point during the outbreak) and accent. Curiously enough, she also carried a teddy bear with her, something Ethan had been quick to point out. The girl had merely glowered at him in response.

Naturally some suspicion had been present, owing to the scrap between him and Nick, but for the moment, hostilities had ceased while everyone made the manse secure, shutting the large, iron gate and boarding up the windows as best they could.

'So what's your story then?' Sema asked the two as they all sat in the sitting room. A rather expansive, cosy room lit by a few candles Ellen had found in a cupboard.

Nick scratched his head awkwardly and glanced at his young companion, who simply stared ahead, unspeaking.

'Well, I uh… I came here with my fiancé to look for inspiration,' he paused, 'I'm a writer you see, and–'

'Don't care,' Ethan interrupted. Nick shot him a dark look before shaking his head and muttering under his breath shortly before resuming.

'As I was saying; my muse as of late had been… well, lacking to say the least. We got here a few days ago. Then…' he trailed off.

'What happened to your fiancé?' Tiffany asked. A look of irredeemable guilt found its way onto Nick's face and he hung his head low, shoulders slumping at the same time.

'I'm sorry,' Tiffany started.

Nick nodded solemnly, seeming as though he was about to add something for a moment before thinking better of it, or disregarding it as unimportant.

'What about her? Mary Jane was it?' Sema asked.

At the sound of her name, the young girl turned her head and scrutinised the Turkish nurse.

'I can speak for myself you know, I'm not deaf or dumb,' her accent was distinctly upper class English and Ethan and Rolf both stifled a guffaw. The girl gave them both a poisonous glare and released an indignant harrumph.

Silence followed, made heavier by the weight of expectation. Mary felt the gaze of everyone on her and she fidgeted awkwardly.

'What is it?' she asked irritably.

'Were you going to tell us how you ended up here?' asked Cassidy.

She lowered her head a fraction, her eyes suddenly found the tan carpet very interesting.

'You wouldn't believe me…' she mumbled.

'Speak up princess, no one at the back can hear you,' Ethan called out.

'I said you wouldn't believe me! And you're being very rude!'

'Take a peek at all the fucks I don't give. Oh wait…'

'Enough Ethan,' Tiffany groaned, her hand pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. After a moment she released herself and looked back to Mary.

'Honey, we're currently battling for survival on an island where the dead have started eating people and where monsters we thought could only exist in movies prowl the streets. I'm pretty sure nothing you can tell us would surprise us at this point.'

Emboldened, but still a little uncomfortable, Mary nodded.

'I… fell out of a plane…'

A stunned silence followed.

'Nothing can surprise us eh?' Rolf said, casting a sidelong glance at Tiffany, 'I'd say that's pretty out there. Wouldn't you?'

'How did that happen exactly?' Tiffany asked curiously.

'I don't know, I got out of my seat for a moment and then the plane started rocking and began to fall. Someone opened the door and I fell out.'

'Can't have been too high then if she survived; hell, she doesn't look like she's got so much as a scratch on her,' Ellen observed casually.

'She was wandering around on her own when I found her,' Nick said, drawing attention towards him once more, 'there was another group of people… one of them attacked her, probably would have done more if I hadn't intervened.'

'That was brave of you,' Sydney offered, Nick smiled at her, though there was a hollow feel to it.

'I'd made a mistake with Andrea… I didn't want to make another by standing idly by while… well, you know.'

Fresh silence descended again. Kit scratched the back of his head awkwardly, about to speak, however Tiffany beat him to it.

'Well, it's getting late. I guess we should call it a night. Got to get moving early if we're going to make it to New Rynn City… now who wants to take watch?'

When no one put themselves forward, Kit sighed and raised his hand, enjoying the warmth that spread through his body at the grateful smile Tiffany gave him.

With that said and done, everyone picked themselves up and departed for the rooms they'd claimed.

-X-

Tiffany wandered the corridor. It had been almost half an hour (or so she thought) since she'd told everyone to hit the hay, and while she felt she should at least have made an attempt at following her own advice she found that she was restless. The fantastical, horrific things that she had witnessed and been subject to played upon her waking thoughts. Every time she shut her eyes she saw a man ripped apart by his undead wife, a young girl; her arm hanging onto its socket by a strip of flesh…

She shook her head to clear her head, though she felt that even long after this was over the images would persist, haunting her dreams and fuelling her nightmares. She paced the corridor and decided that she'd check on the others.

She came across Cassidy and Sydney first. Unsurprisingly, the former had opted to share a room with the latter, despite the younger girl's protests that she would be fine if security held out. Cassidy had insisted that, while not openly hostile, the other two survivors were still a relatively unknown factor. She stood just outside their door and listened as they spoke. She felt a little uncomfortable eavesdropping, but she needed something to occupy her thoughts.

'What are you doing?' she heard Cassidy ask.

'Reading,' Sydney replied.

'What are you reading?'

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.'

'I see… is it good?'

'You've never read it?' Sydney asked, clearly astounded.

'I'm a journalist sweetie. If I'm not writing an article then I'm travelling around looking for material in order to write one… doesn't really leave me a lot of free time.'

'Wow… I don't think I've ever met someone who's never read Harry Potter… you've missed out.'

'Really now? Well then, oh enlightened one, please tell me in explicit detail exactly what I've lost by not reading Harry Potter,' there was an amused tone to Cassidy's voice, and Tiffany felt the ghost of a grin grace her features.

'Alright. To start with; it's aimed at children but the way everything pans out, the way Rowling develops these characters means adults can enjoy it too – obviously, seeing how it's a global literature sensation and all. There's also the amazing world she's crafted; how she walks us through the 'Wizarding World' by showing it through Harry's eyes instead of boring us by bogging it down with so much text…' Sydney fired off reason after reason, and it was easy to hear that she was a fanatic, or at least passionate about the series.

Deciding that it was time to move on, Tiffany strolled slowly away from the room, smiling softly as Sydney's excited voice faded as she came onto the next room.

Almost immediately her mood soured as she realised that she was outside Randolf's room. Sighing heavily, she decided that – even if she had little love for the horn dog – it was as much for her own benefit that she was doing this routine as it was for everyone else. Bracing herself for a pervy remark, she stepped inside.

To her surprise, Randolf actually appeared to be reading something. Her surprise quickly dried away when she remembered exactly what kind of person he was. No doubt about it, it had to be something dirty.

'Good evening?' she asked cautiously.

Randolf lurched in surprise and turned sharply, his eyes widened in mild panic when he saw it was Tiffany standing in his doorway, and Tiffany noticed that he made no effort to move so as to reveal what it was he was so engrossed with.

'Um… hello?' it was the most awkward she'd ever heard him since their meeting. In a strange way it was a peculiar kind of funny to the young marine.

'What are you reading?' she asked, trying to keep the amusement out of her voice.

Randolf glanced back over his shoulder to what Tiffany was all but certain was a dirty magazine, then he looked back at Tiffany.

'I'm not?' he offered vainly.

Tiffany chuckled and shook her head.

'You don't need to show me – pretty sure I don't want to see it anyway – I'm just doing a checkup on everyone.'

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Randolf's smart-ass horn dog persona reasserted itself.

'Kinky,' he said, 'any chance I could tag along?'

'Not a chance,' Tiffany deadpanned, her amusement gone.

'Right… well anyway, if you see that kid–'

Tiffany wore a look of complete and utter disgust.

'Hey, hey, it's not like that! I have standards alright? I'm no pedo, Jesus Christ… and let people finish before you fix someone with that look. Could kill someone with that, jeez…

'You were saying?' Tiffany asked, though her tone was laced with disbelief. Randolf frowned but didn't make a topic of it.

'If you see that kid, send her to me and I'll entertain her for you – up bup! Listen okay?' he started when Tiffany shook her head in exasperation and was about to turn and leave, 'I used to work as a mascot for my uncle's restaurant in Elspeth. Hell, I like making kids smile in general… it's why I did it you know?'

Still not entirely convinced, but put a little at ease, Tiffany managed a curt nod before leaving.

'Thanks for that!' he called. Tiffany poked her head back inside, confused.

'But I didn't–'

'It'll come to you, don't worry,' Randolf shook his head and waved her away, turning back to his previous source of interest.

Still unsure of what he was talking about, Tiffany exited and checked the other rooms downstairs, which turned out to be empty save for the study, where Mary and Nick resided. She didn't stay for long, still not quite comfortable around the two yet. The thought was somewhat ironic considering that she had known everyone else barely longer than a day. It felt much longer.

-X-

The last room on the ground floor of the manse was what looked like a conference room. A large, long mahogany table sat in the centre. Ethan sat on the end of the table at the other end of the room. Tiffany was about to call out to him when she noticed that he had earphones in. Despite this, he appeared to be locked in a conversation with himself (or this Marcus person).

'No. I think I pretty much blanked that out,' he said softly. It was strange to hear, considering most of what came out of his mouth was a snide remark.

'Well riddle me this Marcus; why exactly would I want to remember it? You died there. We can all agree on that, and if it weren't for all the memories I've got before it happened, and the big blank space of that night I'd wonder if some of those guys are right and I really am just a whack job psycho… unless I constructed those… no, no you're right. That's retard thinking…

'I dunno… maybe? Hell, you know that Leah girl? Yeah? Yeah that's what I thought too… how far did you ever get with Denise by the way? Seriously? No way… goddamn dude that's even more pathetic than my track record and that's saying something…'

Tiffany observed him for a moment. From what he'd said she could gather that Marcus was likely a friend who had died in the outbreak, a friend so close to Ethan that his death had quite literally broken him. Still, seeing him talk to himself like this now, he seemed almost… happy. Like the situation outside was nothing more than a bad dream.

In that one moment, Tiffany envied Ethan's instability. At the same moment she pitied him. To lose a friend was tragic enough, but how in the world would he cope if they managed to get off the island and back to the outside world? Would he be placed in an asylum? Would he be made to take medication? Would he be allowed to live alone? Did he even have any family left or were they all dead along with Marcus?

These thoughts kept her thinking as she left the conference room and ascended the expansive staircase to check on everyone residing upstairs.

The first she came across was Sema, who had taken up residence in the private library and was even now reading through a book on herbs. Tiffany cleared her throat loudly and Sema started at the noise.

'Oh… oh Tiffany it's just you. Sorry I was so absorbed in this I blanked out.'

'Can't sleep?' Tiffany asked the nurse.

'No… not really,' Sema said, her voice lined with fatigue, 'everything that's happened here… I see things every time I shut my eyes… do you?'

Tiffany nodded solemnly, saying nothing. Sema's shoulders slumped a little.

'It seems so unreal. The dead come to wreak havoc on the living, and then there's these creatures too–'

'BOWs.'

'Hm?' Sema looked up at Tiffany, her smooth face scrunched up in confusion.

'Bio-organic weapons… it's what those monsters are. It's what the zombies are too. People with an interest in medicine or genetics like yourself and turning them towards something… something that should never have been explored.'

'You're kidding…' Sema whispered, Tiffany shook her head sadly.

'I did a bit of work for the BSAA as an agent. Never really saw any of the things some of those people did, but I know enough…'

'My God… and this island, is this some sort of sick, perverted testing ground for these monstrosities, these… these abominations?'

'I don't think so, I'm fairly certain there'd be observers if it was. So far the only people I've seen are… well, everyone here.'

'What if someone here is an observer?'

Tiffany didn't have an answer to that. It was a very good question, and one that demanded some investigation, just in the possibility that this had been planned. Tiffany thought back to her reason for landing on Pelanoi in the first place; the pursuit of the Bio-Terrorist who caused her father's death. Could he have had contacts in Pelanoi with the T-Virus after all? The thought chilled her, but at the moment her priority was getting herself and these people off the island, along with anyone else they came across who needed her help.

She turned her attention away from the frankly depressing thoughts and took a closer look at the book Sema was reading.

'Herbs and their Uses… I'm guessing for medicine?'

Sema glanced at the open book and nodded.

'Yes, I'm a nurse so I'm pretty familiar with most of them, but there are a few local substances on Pelanoi I'd like to grab if possible… never know when we might need them.'

'Hmm,' Tiffany nodded in understanding.

'Any chance you could give me a few pointers so I know what to look for?' she asked.

'Absolutely,' Sema said; her gratitude all too apparent, 'the more pairs of eyes searching for these wonderful plants the better.'

The next five minutes consisted of Sema teaching the younger woman exactly what to look for and how to extract the herbs without damaging them. By the end of it, Tiffany was still unsure, but told Sema that she'd attempt her utmost when handling the plants. With that said and done, Tiffany decided to move on, bidding the Turkish nurse good night.

-X-

She found Ellen practising in a guest bedroom, lashing out against a spare mattress propped up against the wall with kick after kick. The woman spun on her heel and delivered a roundhouse kick capable of cracking ribs, almost immediately she lowered the attacking limb and snapped her other leg up in a startling display of flexibility. Anyone on the receiving end of the assault would find themselves winded before taking a vicious kick to the jaw.

Ellen took a step away from the brutalised mattress and took a series of measured breaths before turning her head slightly in Tiffany's direction.

'What is it?' she asked bluntly.

'Nothing. Just checking on everyone.'

'Why? You think we'll fall to pieces if you don't dote on us like a mother hen?' Ellen asked, her tone faintly mocking.

Tiffany merely chuckled in response. It was an honest noise, one that surprised Ellen.

'Mother Tiff' she said, still chuckling.

'What?'

'That was my nickname in my unit. I made sure everyone had exactly what they needed when they needed, checked in on them to make sure they were okay… eventually one day, one of my Sergeants – Yani I think it was – just said 'yes mom' when I told him to clean his gear and before I knew it everyone was calling me Mother Tiff.'

Ellen paused before tilting her head a fraction, unsure of what exactly was compelling the marine to tell her the little story.

'I worry because it's who I am. I boss because it's what I do. I mean no offense but you've reacted pretty badly to me or anyone giving orders. You're borderline uncooperative in the worst of circumstances and pretty bitchy in the best. If you were one of mine I'd have slapped you with a court martial and moved on…' Tiffany took a breath and glanced through a window. The night had truly descended, and even in the low candlelight Tiffany couldn't make anything out through the contrast.

She glanced at Ellen, searching, for what she wasn't entirely sure. She half expected a retort by this point, clenched fists, signs of impending aggression. There was nothing. The woman was a blank slate. Entirely unreadable. She'd narrowed her eyes at her, but that was the extent of her reaction. Tiffany deduced that Ellen was remarkably good at concealing her body language.

Eventually Ellen sighed heavily and sat on the bed she'd claimed as hers. The sheets looked untouched, and were a comforting tan colour that reminded Tiffany of the camouflage she'd worn in desert exercises.

'What exactly do you want me to say?' she asked, finally, 'do you want me to apologise? To say 'sorry sir, won't happen again.' I'll level with you; I don't like people all that much, I don't know why, I just don't and some burn my ass more than others.'

'So why exactly are you travelling with us then?' Tiffany asked.

'I said I didn't like people, not that I'm stupid. The stuff we've come up against so far? I'd have stood a snowball's chance in hell on my own, I know that much,' she opened her mouth to continue before stopping, she seemed to be thinking. Finally she started again:

'Look… I can tell you that I can try not to get up in yours or anyone else's grill, but it's not going to be a promise.'

Tiffany considered her words for a moment before nodding slowly.

'That's… acceptable… thank you Ellen.'

'Don't mention it GI Jane.'

Tiffany frowned.

'I have a name you know.'

Ellen rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation.

'Okay; sorry mom.'

The pair remained still for a moment, silence taking centre stage, before Tiffany released a snicker. Ellen didn't, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.

'See you tomorrow Ellen, have a good night,' Tiffany said as she left the bedroom.

'You too… Tiffany…' Ellen murmured softly, before picking herself up, stretching her neck, and laying another smackdown on the defenceless mattress.

-X-

Leah had, unsurprisingly, taken the master bedroom for herself. Tiffany was, understandably, surprised when Leah was not splayed out on the king-sized bed as she'd imagined she would be, and was instead performing what looked like yoga stretches. Tiffany observed the young woman for a moment, feeling a twinge of jealousy that she could manoeuvre herself so well. Her military training had instilled much control of herself, but compared with Leah's supple, easy movements, in that moment Tiffany felt about as graceful as an elephant.

Shaking herself of the unflattering thought, she knocked several times on the door and leaned back against it, watching as Leah nimbly flipped herself back onto her feet. She turned her head towards the door, her eyes lighting up in excitement, and immediately deflating as she saw it was Tiffany. The marine had her suspicions as to who she was hoping it might be, but didn't comment.

'What is it?' Leah asked. Her tone of voice always seemed to have a sharp edge to it, as though she expected something from you every time you met.

'Nothing, just checking in on people,' Tiffany said casually.

'Oh… well… ' Leah scratched the back of her head awkwardly.

'Well?'

'You know…'

'Do I?'

'Guess not.'

'Thought so.'

'You're being pretty rude you know,' Leah said, narrowing her eyes at Tiffany, who was trying her best to conceal a cheeky grin. She'd enjoyed that a little more than she'd ever admit.

'So, why were you stretching earlier? Was that yoga?' Tiffany asked, forcibly removing all traces of humour from her face. It was a difficult task.

'Oh, yeah it was. Been doing it ever since I was a kid; helps me relax you know? Calms me down.'

'Mhm,' Tiffany nodded.

'What do you do… you know… when you want to calm down?' Leah asked tentatively.

'I dunno,' Tiffany scratched her chin, thinking, 'usually I'd be running or doing drill. Sometimes I'd field strip my weapon and reassemble it.'

'So, have you done that?' Leah asked. Tiffany shook her head.

'Don't need to calm down. Besides if I did it and we got attacked… well it'd be awfully inconvenient wouldn't you think?'

That was a lie. Tiffany had seen briefings and reports on the horrors that biological weapons like the T-Virus could inflict, but nothing had prepared her for anything like this. Still, she was a marine captain at heart, and the root of any good leader was to show no weakness, no fatigue, no doubt, no fear. She'd effectively slid into the role of 'leader' (though she doubted that some would ever acknowledge it out loud) by making decisions she knew the others were unlikely to make for themselves, giving them the best direction she was able to give.

She enjoyed it, partly. 'To serve and protect' might not be the motto of the marines, but it stuck in her head even now. She liked the phrase, and she liked helping others, defending others, and wondered to herself that, had she not enlisted for the marines, if she might have joined the police instead.

'Right… well I think I've stayed enough. I just need to check on one more person then I'll hit the hay,' she turned to Leah as she was about to leave, 'I suggest you do the same; we got a long way to go.'

'I know, I know,' Leah huffed irritably, waving her away. Tiffany blinked before leaving.

'Hey, wait!' Leah called, opening the door and shouting after her. Tiffany turned towards her.

'If you… if you see–' she seemed to be in the middle of some internal struggle. After a moment, her more cautious side won out and she shook her head furiously.

'Actually, never mind. Good night,' with that, she shut the door, leaving a confused Tiffany standing in the middle of the hallway.

-X-

The balcony was warm, even in the dead of night. No candle burned next to Kit, who kept his keen, adjusted eyes searching for anything so much as hinting at an attack. Tiffany carefully, quietly opened the French doors leading out onto the balcony before creeping over to where Kit sat.

'Do you ever get tired?' she asked quietly, taking a place next to him.

Kit turned his head to see who his visitor was; turning it back to the outside world once he caught side of Tiffany's face. The marine sat next to him in silence for a moment before speaking.

'Feel like talking?'

Kit kept his gaze locked on the world around them, then finally turned to face Tiffany.

'What's on your mind?' he asked her, his voice a whisper.

She'd known him for less than a day, but Tiffany felt something where Kit was concerned. She was sure it was more than a crush, but other than that, she wasn't sure. Whatever it was, she wanted this moment to last, so she thought, until a question presented itself.

'Well… this,' she pointed to the town around them, 'what's your take on it all?'

Kit studied her curiously for a second.

'I don't think I can say much for certain, except that people died… I don't think I need to say that this was… unexpected.'

Tiffany nodded, humming in agreement.

'You said you were an engineering student, right?'

'I don't remember telling anyone that, but yeah. What about it?'

'Aside from the fact that you really don't look it; you've been trying to save pretty much everyone since we met each other. Most of the people here aren't exactly… selfless.'

Kit released a low chuckle.

'Little sister. She got in trouble a lot. I made it my job to watch out for her and as time grew by… well it sort of grew on me. Became a part of me.'

'You have a sister? Whereabouts?'

'Living with my mother in the States.' Kit said with a nod.

'Miss them?'

Kit took a calm breath and rested his chin atop a fist, propping his arm against his knee.

'More than you know.'

Tiffany shifted in the spot before placing a reassuring hand on Kit's shoulder, who turned to look at her curiously.

'You'll see them again,' Tiffany said softly. Kit observed her for a few moments.

'You remind me a little of my mother.'

Tiffany released a quiet giggle and shook her head.

'That wasn't quite the reaction I was hoping for.'

'Sorry, what I mean is–' he stopped and shook his head before starting again, 'you care… you barely know anyone in this house but you care, and you're willing to put your life on the line to save everyone in here. My mom was much the same; she never stood by and watched while there was something she could do to help someone, whether it was the guy next door or someone who just strolled into town… frankly, I think that's incredible.'

Tiffany felt her cheeks heat up and turned her head away from him, silently grateful for the darkness that concealed her reddened face. When she felt that she'd finally calmed herself down she faced Kit again, and when she did she made a decision. She didn't know whether this burgeoning feeling was love or not… but she wanted to find out with him. Despite her reaffirmed feelings, she had something she wanted to ask him.

'So… what about the others in there?' she asked.

'What about them?' he asked curious as to where she might be going with the question.

'You know, what do you think about them?'

Kit rubbed his chin thoughtfully, thinking a full minute before answering.

'Randolf is… strange… and I'd be lying if I said he didn't grate on my nerves at times, but… I don't know; he's genuinely funny at times. I don't think I can remember the last time I ever felt so conflicted about a guy,' what Kit did not mention was that he disliked it immensely whenever Randolf eyed up the women in the group, though never more so than when he laid his lecherous eyes on Tiffany.

'What about Cassidy? And Sydney?'

'Sydney's a good girl, and I think it's pretty terrible that someone like her got caught up in this mess. I'd say that I'd watch over her, but Cassidy seems to have that down to a science.

'Speaking of; she seems a little distracted at times, but I think she's a good person. I'd like to see them both get through this,' Tiffany murmured her assent.

'And Sema? Ellen?'

'Sema actually reminds me of Lisa – that's my sister – only without the trouble-magnet shtick… or with it, seeing how she's here in the middle of all this with us… as for Ellen? Well she acts like that, but she cares, really.'

'Seriously?' Tiffany asked, incredulous, 'what makes you say that?'

'Let's just say I've known people like her and leave it at that. She's one of those types that won't ever admit to anything if you ask them.'

Tiffany shook her head in disbelief.

'Well, if you say so… anyway, what about the rest? Ethan? Leah? The other two inside?' Me?

'I don't think the other two will bother us. They just seem afraid.

'Leah's… infuriating at times, but I think she means well, even if she doesn't act like it sometimes.' He didn't bother mentioning the fact that he'd caught her staring at him a number of times. He had his suspicions but kept them to himself, unless she did something really obvious there was no real way of knowing.

'Okay and what about our resident loony?'

'Ethan seems loopy, but I'm sure there's a reason for that, if nothing else besides the fact that the dead are coming back to life and eating people like in a Romero flick. I think he needs company.'

'Kinda hard to give him that when he keeps pushing everyone away,' Tiffany muttered, half to herself, before glancing to the town surrounding them, then back to Kit.

'So, any words for little old me?' she asked innocently. Kit chuckled lightly.

'I've told you what I think of you already,' which was a lie, but Kit didn't think she had to know that. Not now anyway. He turned his head back to the task of watching for danger.

Tiffany was about to probe further, when suddenly the manse was bathed in light, which momentarily blinded the two sitting on the balcony. Seconds later an alarm went off, ringing like a dinner bell.

As the two rushed inside to find the cause of the problem, the town around them began to stir. The residents; not disappeared as they had first assumed, awoke from their slumber and stepped out of shattered doorsteps, dark, open garages and through smashed store windows. They converged on the manse, their lifeless eyes fixated on the source of the light and noise that heralded their next meal. Their mouths opened and a collective moan echoed throughout the dark, signalling yet more of their deathly fellows.

It was to be a long night for those residing in Ryder House.

-X-

The Mercenaries

Elias thundered his boot into a zombie's midsection. Ribs cracked under the merciless assault and the moaning abomination was forced off its feet, crumpling to the ground. Giving the creature no time to even attempt to rise, Elias stepped over it and stomped on its face until the head was little but a hideous pulp of flesh, cartilage and bone.

The rest of his team fared well against the restless dead that swarmed around them. The airport had clearly played haven to many survivors hoping for an easy escape. Elias almost pitied them, even as he gunned them down. None of them could have known that the airport was shut as soon as the quarantine was declared, with a few privateers hoping to make either a quick buck helping their fellow man escape or use their own private aircraft to flee the dying island.

'Grey Lead, something's coming, something big,' Natalia's voice chirped through comms.

'Identify it,' Elias barked as he ejected the magazine for his weapon, slamming a fresh one home, 'then find us a way out. The BOWs assailing us are already slowing our progress as it is. Another hindrance might see us lose our quarry.'

'Sir.'

Elias shot two undead through the forehead, and turned to execute another pair in a similar manner, however both dropped before he could squeeze the trigger, put down by large calibre rounds.

He nodded in appreciation to Felix, who had perched himself up on top of a kiosk in the airport terminal out of reach of the grasping, groaning undead. The German sniper however, had already sighted his next target, and the echo of his rifle was distinct even with the howling din around him.

'Security footage grabbed Grey Lead,' it was Tech this time, 'they came through here, no question about it. Chased through by a big BOW.'

'The same one coming for us?' Elias asked as he put down a couple more of the ravenous dead.

'Unknown Lead. Possible, but unknown.'

Elias frowned, grabbing his last fragmentation grenade before thinking better of it and stuffing it back in the pouch he'd taken it from. He racked the under-barrel grenade launcher of his assault rifle instead and lobbed an explosive in the middle of a particularly threatening mob closing on Alaina, who was reaping a fearsome tally with her shotgun.

'Grey Lead, I have an ID on the BOW closing on us. It's an Akula.'

Elias swore.

'You'd better have an exit,' he growled. He was fairly certain his team could take the beast down, but his objective wasn't to put down the specimens, and every delay meant that the civilian with the data had the chance to slip further and further away.

'I do, but it cuts through the largest concentration of undead.'

'Jäger won't be happy,' Elias murmured to himself as he took another of the dead off its feet with a burst of fire, 'acknowledged Natalia. Help whittle the herd down; we're leaving this place stat.'

He switched his comm channel to global, his voice a harsh bark.

'We're cutting through the dead gathering to the north-east of this terminal. Jäger; get off your perch and follow on. Viper; hold his hand and make sure he doesn't get killed. The rest of you are with me. Move out!'

With that, he pounded onwards, slinging his assault rifle over his back and drawing instead the MP7, switching the little gun to burst-fire and pausing in his steps every couple of seconds to unleash a quick spray of gunfire, downing a lurching zombie every time. The rest of Grey Team proceeded in a similar fashion, and began to carve a path through the press of rotting, writhing bodies.

A stomping grew closer, and a terrible, ear-splitting bellow reverberated through the terminal. The sheer ferocity behind the cry made the hissing screech of the Lickers seem like a kitten mewling by comparison, and despite himself, Elias felt his blood run cold.

Behind him stood more than three metres of slavering, genetically engineered fury. Elias thought such things were abominable, wasteful and entirely unnecessary when a crack squad with nerves of steel and good coordination could achieve far more in much less time. Still, it wasn't his place to judge, and he certainly wasn't going to do so if it wasn't getting him paid.

The ugly beast snatched up a zombie and ground it to bloody paste in its circular maw, and Elias felt a twinge of disgust as he forced himself to turn around and continue the massacre of the dead before him.

'Grey Team, bug out! Ignore the BOWs unless they're blocking your path. We're leaving, now!' He ordered and stowed his submachine gun, drawing a cruelly serrated combat knife and bounding towards the exit Natalia had pointed out.

The din of gunfire died out as his team began to focus on fleeing the airport instead of cutting down undead. Elias saw Alaina ram the butt of her shotgun into the chin of a zombie blocking her path, sending the creature stumbling into a collection of its fellows, pitching all of them off balance. He turned to see one of the creatures lunge for his throat. Elias sidestepped the attack and planted his knife into the base of the dead man's neck, severing his spine in a heartbeat. He withdrew the knife, slick with blood, and continued charging towards the exit.

Despite his fears, Grey Team managed to escape the airport without trouble, though Felix bemoaned having to get so close to the walking corpses. Elias ignored him and had them all perform an inventory check. All in all they'd used up around a little more than a quarter of their ammunition in total since landing. Elias gave standing orders not to open fire on any BOWs unless it was necessary.

Tech in the meantime had gleamed from more security cam footage that the group of survivors they were pursuing seemed to have travelled south after finding that the airport was a bust. It was likely that they were perhaps heading for New Rynn City, which Elias had heard was still making evacuations, with a defensive perimeter set up by BSAA troops along with what remained of the Pelanoi Defence Force and the NRPD.

They took a side road, blissfully devoid of the groaning undead or the hissing Lickers, and the Akula BOW that had inhabited the airport didn't seem to have engaged in pursuit, content to massacre the walking corpses around it. The report on the monstrosities hadn't led Elias to believe that they possessed any great intelligence, meaning Elias wouldn't need to be checking over his shoulder for any sign of the beast unless they passed through the airport again, and while they were pursuing these survivors, that didn't seem likely.

It was night when they came across the small town; Elias had Grey Team switch to night-vision, casting the world in a strange green hue. He had them maintain an even stricter noise discipline as they entered. Weapons swept left and right, as Grey Team watched for even the slightest hint of movement in the numerous abandoned buildings.

A blaring alarm suddenly flared to life. Close by, and a part of the town was suddenly illuminated.

'What the hell?' Felix muttered aloud.

'Noise!' Elias growled; his displeasure easy to make out.

'Think it could be them?' Alaina asked softly.

'Maybe a trap?' Tech murmured, 'that alarm will draw every zombie nearby towards this place.'

Sure enough, the tell-tale groan of the undead soon filtered its way through the dark, unlit streets. They seemed to be converging on the source of the noise.

Elias, seeing that his efforts to maintain noise discipline were wasted, felt his lips press into a thin line.

'Or maybe someone's just made a very fatal mistake,' he made a decision, turning towards his squad.

'We'll make our way through town, set up positions around wherever that alarm is coming from and we wait. If contact is made, I want them dead,' he played his eyes upon Jake as he finished, watching him shift uncomfortably.

'Move out.'

-X-

Twenty-two pages, an excess of 9,000 words (with more than 7,000 making up the survivors' segment alone) in this chapter. This is easily my largest update ever.

Thanks to Wandering Letters for the assist regarding the dialogue between Kit and Tiffany, I hope it didn't feel too forced or unnatural. If it did, let me know and what I could do to make it seem less so.

On a more unrelated topic; my net's still little more than a paperweight and according to my more technically-inclined brother the only way to get it to work faster (or just work) would be to dig up a whole bunch of cables on my street and replace them all with fibre-optic cabling, which – on our extremely limited budget – ain't happening. Ever.

I also go back to Uni next week, where the promise of a more stable connection beckons. On the other hand, well I've taken a look at my timetable and my module specifics and fuuuuck. To give you an idea of how swamped I'll be; one of my modules (my Creative Writing Module for the first semester anyway) has us planning and writing up a project of no less than 60,000 words, plus a 10,000 word commentary. Fortunately I've got an idea in mind for that, and I'll be putting it up on my Fiction Press account as I go along if you guys want to check that out but that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you guys thought I was bad at updating before; you ain't seen nothing yet.

As always however – and I'm sick to death of repeating it – this does not mean that this story or any of my other works on this site (including the collab Scavengers, and Letters my friend, you have been amazingly patient with me and I don't think I could have asked for much more in a partner for this kind of project) are forgotten or abandoned. This is all I'll say on the matter. It's all I'll ever say on the matter.

Cheers