"It all depends how you look at things. Sometimes you might see an endless task filled with challenges that are impossible to overcome. Others just see it as an opportunity…"

The moon shined a silver pathway back up to the bar. I didn't waste any time getting up into the upstairs motel and grabbing a room. Clicking the door shut I removed my hat and flattened out on the bed. I was asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.

I awoke again around eleven the next morning, and the sun was flooding into the room. I was surprised how ornate everything was. It was all wooden, with a nice rug and candles lighting the wall. I looked out the window, and noticed a growing crowd. Squinting to get a better view, I saw a small stage set up and a man walking back and forth in front of two others. Further observation led me to realize it was Ashley and the man from last night. This was no talent show, it was an execution.

I bolted from my room, but immediately stopped halfway down the stairs. You really think you make a difference? Whether you save them or not, they'll become nothing but a memory. A passing wind that makes you shiver.

No, this was different.

I run out of the bar, which was empty, and was immediately met by two guards.

"Easy, boy, they've still got about five minutes before the hanging," one of them said.

I tipped my hat and continued to walk into the crowd. I kept my head down and bumped shoulders until I was in the middle of the mass. Once I was in the clear, I looked up. Ashley was staring at me, tears flowing, and mouthing "please". The last thing I needed was for her to blow my cover, so I just gave her a light nod. Then I began scanning the area for a plan. There was only one guard at the top beside the executioner and the town herald. I guess they decided to go light on security because this was just a slave and a low-life.

The nooses around the prisoners necks were tied above them on a cross bar. Another rope attached to the bottom of the drop plates was going to be cut to let them drop.

"On account of murder, Jason Cununk, and Ashley Santel are herby sentenced to death by hanging. There is no room for violence in this town, but murder is intolerable. Any act of disrespect towards the town or people shall be punished severely!" the herald cried.

He then backed away and the executioner raised his sword.

I had no choice; I had to take out the executioner. There was no need for speed, just the surprise. I raised my pistol, took aim, and eliminated the guard with a squeeze of the trigger. The gun flashed, the smoke poured out, and the people jumped. As quickly as I had shot, mass chaos followed.

"Guards, seize him!" the herald cried.

I pushed my way up to the front of the stage and fired two more shots into the executioner. A bullet rocketed past my head and exploded shards of wood off of the stage. Ducking instinctively, I turned around and fired my remaining 3 shots into the other two guards by the bar. Easy, I thought, until I turned to see the herald charge me with the executioner's sword.

I didn't react in time, and he slashed my shoulder open. With a grunt, I took the pistol and whipped him across the face. He swung a punch, and I caught it, pulling him hard in my direction and smacking his head off the stage floor. As he backed up holding a hand on his nose, I kicked the sword from his hand. Before he could recover, I landed two more rib shots and one to the jaw. He finally took another swing, which I brushed away with my left hand and countered with my right. Enraged, he went for a full tackle, and I ducked low, picked up his legs, and flipped him over my shoulder. He landed on his back and began gasping for air.

I unsheathed my knife and quickly jammed it into his chest, "Here, this should help!"

After taking my knife back, I ran up the stairs and began untying Ashley. She was no longer crying, but in shock.

"Hurry, untie him and follow me!" I ordered while reloading my .357. Ashley remained frozen, so I had to cut Jason's rope. Then they followed without question, like birds following the flock leader.

We made our way towards the city gates by dipping and ducking in between houses and buildings.

"Jason, hurry!" Ashley called. I turned to tell her something, when suddenly, a feral ran around the corner. It stopped between Ashley and Jason, looking for us.

Before Ashley could scream, I covered her mouth and pulled her tight to the wall.

"Shh…they're blind without movement…" I whispered through her hair.

Feral ghouls are nasty creatures. They are like skeletons with minimal, brownish colored skin covering their insides. Their eyes also tend to have green tint. When they attack, they growl and use their corroded fingernails to slash at you. Yeah, they sure are mean bastards, but a well placed bullet will kill anything.

We began backing away slowly, but its head snapped onto us and it let out a breathless shout. I quickly placed Ashley behind me, and the ghoul was on top of me in the same second growling and hissing. I placed my arms between us and began pushing it away as its face neared mine. The glowing eyes were burning into mine as its claws dug deep into my skin. I stared into its gapping mouth full of broken and bloody teeth.

"Jason! Do something!" Ashley called.

Hell no, nobody needs to save me, I'm the best. Time to just bite the bullet, Josh.

I twisted my hands up onto the ghoul's shoulders and gripped them tight. Then, I jerked the ghoul towards me hard and swung my head into its face. The ghoul reeled upright and hissed to the sky. I unsheathed my knife, grab its left arm, pulled it to the right, stabbed it, and slammed it into its body. The end result was a ghoul arm and body shish-kabob. The ghoul was crying in pain, and I decided that we were making enough noise already to end its suffering with a bullet.

Once the feral was lying dead on the ground, I removed the knife and wiped the blood on my shirt. Shouting from the streets arose, and I quickly took Ashley's arm and pulled her after to me. Once we saw the out of the alley, we stopped dead in our tracks.

Feral ghouls were running rampant across town attacking people. The local guards were trying to hold them off with automatics, but it just wasn't enough. As more ghouls jumped the fences and gate walls, it seemed that the city was taken for sure. I'd seen this happen before...

I looked into the city square, and noticed a tall ghoul. He was dressed in thick black and red armor, unlike any of the others. He wasn't feral, that was for sure, and when he turned to me his eyes burned red. He stared right at me-right through me. He raised his hand and clutched it tight, letting dust float in the wind.

I turned back to Jason, "Does this happen often?"

"Never," he replied looking from the street to my hand holding Ashley's. I released her.

"Come on, stick to the wall and we can get out alive."

We managed to get passed the ghouls quietly, and by the time we reached the gate the screams and shouts had stopped. Everybody had been killed or was in hiding.

We quickly sprinted into the woods nearby, running past the greenish-yellow plants and trees and made it across the stream that ran from town. Ashley tripped on the riverbank and landed on her hands and knees. I turned back to look, but proceeded to scan the area.

"Aren't we far enough?" Jason asked.

I glanced at him, and then continued looking around the area. I've seen this once before, and I was lucky to survive then.

"I don't know, you tell me." I answered walking back towards them.

Jason helped Ashley to her feet, "I would think so, it's about a mile back by now. Let's just slow it to a walk?"

I put my hand up and laughed, "I wasn't asking you guys," I turned to the forest again. "I was actually asking you raiders…"

"Raiders?" Jason asked with fear in his voice.

I nodded as the raiders slowly crept forth from the shadows. "Yeah, they let the ghouls do their dirty work…"

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- Legkicker