[A/N] Fudgebrowniez: Thank you very much, i'm glad you like it very much. :D Thanks for the critique. I know I haven't talked much about Cal, but the reason that she isn't very open, so her telling her entire life story isn't something she does right off the bat. Don't worry, once we get going into The Parish, she'll spill a lot. Sorry about that. As for the fast pacing, it's because I wanted to get through the other chapters a bit quick. Sorry about the last chapter, I was going to focus on it more but I had school work to do and it came out all rushed. I'll be trying to take my time now, especially now since i'm getting closer to the last campaign. Thanks so much for the critique!

windharmony: Take your time. You can always contact me on my deviant art, which has the same username as my account. But thanks!

J: Oh my gosh, thank you so so much for this. I am very flattered by this. I teared up a bit at this. I'm glad you found inspiration through my story, I am very happy for it. What I try to get along with Calypso's character is not much of a random romance and someone who is so invincible, but someone who is flawed and cautious. I love the build up of the moment, where the tinniest things will just make me squeal to myself saying 'omigosh' but honestly thank you so much for this review, i know it's been awhile since i updated, but because of your review i want to try to update again. thank you VERY much.

I kept on stepping into puddles. They weren't tiny puddles, they were the kind of puddles that were almost knee deep. And the pouring rain didn't not help at all. I stood next to Ellis, occasionally bumping into him from not seeing where I was walking at.

"'tis alright Cal. I gotcha just stay real close to me and i'll take care of ya." He gave me a quick wink before turning his back on me. I slightly smiled at his gesture.

Maybe before we all split up, go on our own different ways.. I'll tell him. I'll tell him that maybe I like him. And hopefully he'll return those feelings, and we'll be happy like most fairytales end up. But.. Those were kid-ish things... This is reality. I don't expect things to be like fairytales.

"Cal look out!"

I turned my head to face whoever called out to me before slipping into a puddle. The weather wasn't letting up and at this rate i'm afraid we'll all drown here.

"C'mon girl, we ain't got time to swim in these puddles! Lets get going before it starts gettin' reallll bad here!" Coach grabbed my arm and helped me up, holding me before I manage to somehow slip again.

There was a large flash of white, along with the rumble of thunder. The wind picked up and it started to pour.

"Stay together now! We can't afford to lose anyone now!" Nick shouted, holding his rifle up, even though he had no idea where he was pointing it at. Roars echoed, and the patter of feet on damp ground made us aware that a horde was coming at us. As if the storm was bad enough.

One by one, infected dropped.

"GET HIM OFF OF ME!" I heard Nick scream as he held the Hunter back with his gun. I didn't even hear the usual high pitched shriek or anything. We had to get out of here quickly before one of us ends up dead. I don't even want to think of the possibility that one of us will end up dead on this journey to New Orleans. Ellis ran over to Nick and helped get the hooded creature off before killing it.

"C'mon now Nick, can't have ya dyin' on us now." He gave the usual wink, helping Suits up.

The rain died down a bit and it was back to the gray sky, raining. I let out a sigh, wiping whatever blood was on my hands onto my jeans; how much longer are we going to have to endure this?

We made our way back to the elevator and then back to the decaying building. The wind picked up once again and it started to pour.

"Great..." I heard Coach mumble as he loaded his rifle, screeches and roars echoing through the hallways. The patter of rain mixed in with the sound of bullets. At this point I was so used to this.

Hearing gunshots.

Hearing the dying roar of infected.

The sizzling of acid.

The smell of puke.

The sound of a hacking cough.

The impact of hard cement.

The slashing of flesh. It took me awhile to realize that I was underneath a Hunter fighting off with my now broken axe.

I need to stop doozing off, otherwise i'll probably end up dead. I smacked the Hunter off, hearing a sharp crack as he fell off.

I stared at the now broken axe, split in two in my hands, letting the water fall off from my hair. How much longer do we have to endure this...

I want to go home

I want to play games with my stupid older brother

I want the comfort of my home

I want...

"Cal c'mon now... We ain't got time standin' around... Here, stay beside me and i'll keep an eye on ya." Ellis smiled at me, and it made me smile back. It sometimes surprised me how optimistic he can be through all of this.

"Alright now ya'll better load up, 'cos once we turn on that sign... Oh boy... There ain't no turning back..." Coach chuckled to himself.

The patter of hard rain echoed throughout the safe house, along with the clink of empty gun shells dropping on the floor. Rochelle and Nick grabbed as many supplies as they can find in the rooms, cleaning out their weapons from any flesh or mud from nearly swimming through the now flooded streets.

I sat by the door leading to our only exit. I began slowly dozing off, how long has it been since we actually gotten a good decent sleep? Days? Weeks? Has it been a month yet?

"Hey Cal! Lookey what I found, some chocolate. Coach n' Rochelle say they don't want any an' Nick just looked at me funny. You want some? I know ya probably hungry or somethin'." I just stared at him for a bit, holding the bar of chocolate at me.

Now I don't know how long it's been in this house, nor do I know if any of the infected got into it... But seriously, how could I let down that face?

"Uhm... I'll just take a tiny nibble." I took a tiny chunk off and popped it into my mouth, hearing the delightful crunch of a good and delicious chocolate bar.

"mmmHHHHMMM, wow I forgot how good chocolate can be..." I muttered as I took another piece. Ellis laughed a bit at my silliness and I just laughed back. He hid the rest in his pocket pants before I end up eating the entire thing.

"You all ready? We better start heading out before this storm gets even worse." Nick walked towards the door and waiting for our signal.

"Let's go!" Rochelle yelled, pumped. I held my pistol in my hands, ready to shoot.

The metal clank of the bar dropping the floor made the adrenaline rush to my head and before I knew it we were all running, shooting and hacking at whatever was near us.

"GO GO GO! Turn the light on!" I slammed on the button and there, shone the most brightest sign i've seen in such a long time. Roars echoed through and the heavy splash of water made me turn my attention to the running infected pretty much swimming through the water. Gunfire and the quick flashes of light from everyone shooting scattered everywhere.

I looked around and grabbed a bile jar lounging around the roof, and threw it in the water, hoping that those things would tear each other apart. Taking a look around seeing where everyone was at, my view was blinded by the harsh rain and wind. I nearly toppled over, and reached for my pistol.

I didn't know where anyone was now, all I heard was Rochelle screaming something and the groans of infected.

A high pitch shriek frightened me, and before I knew it my pistol was smacked out of my hand.

Sharp claws pinned me down to the ground, digging into my shoulders and arms as I make an attempt to push this damn Hunter off.

"Someone! Help! Hunter!" My screams couldn't be heard over the horde and roars of the rain.

Was I going to die like this? Alone and a place where no one can help me?

I didn't want this, don't let it be. I want to stay strong, don't let me die.

"I got you kiddo!" Nick whacked the Hunter multiple times with his crowbar, and then kicked the thing off before helping me up.

"Whew, sorry about that. A Boomer got us all, you alright?" Shaken, I just nodded.

Well at least I'm not dead.

The rain started to slowly die down and any moment now we knew Virgil would come get us.

A loud booming snarl reached to us as the ground began to shake. We dreaded this moment.

"TANNNKKKKK!" Ellis shouted right before we opened fire on the thing. It was still raining a bit heavily so getting a really good view was a bit difficult.

"Hey ya'll, we'll just need ta beat this Tank an' in no tim-" A Charger out of nowhere came out and knocked Ellis off his feet.

"ELLIS!" I screamed before the Tank smashed it's fist into my rib cage and sending me flying 30 feet away from my feet. I slammed my head against the front of a truck and fell into the knee deep water. Everything became all muddled and blurry and water began to seep into my lungs.

Everyone's screams were hallowed out and it felt like everything was being heard through a paper cone. My head was spinning and I couldn't concentrate on pushing off these things kicking and clawing at me; I didn't even have the strength to nudge them.

Pieces of my shirt ripped and fell into the water as I weakly limped my way through the horde. I held a machete and tried to decapitate a zombie, only to get it stuck halfway into' it's neck. I let go of the machete and watched as it twitched, weakly grasping on the hem of my shirt.

My teammates were nowhere to be found. I found the Charger that was still pummeling Ellis to the ground.

Then it clicked

"Oh shit ELLIS!" I trudged my way through, pushing any random infected hanging nearby the Charger. The closest weapon I could find was a wooden stick, since I lost my pistol and machete. I tried stabbing the big armed thing, trying to direct it's attention to me.

"You piece of shit, LET HIM FUCKING GO" I screamed, ignoring the fact that now my stick was broken in half. It was like fighting the school bully with a pillow while he has boxing gloves.

Call me stupid, but I got it to do what I wanted. Sure i'll regret it later, but fuck it.

It swung it's arm at me, nearly dislocating my jaw. Once again drowning in the muddy water, I scrambled to my feet and pretty much just limped my way before it got to me again. But being in the state I was, it was impossible.

I felt it grip on my waist, nearly crushing my ribs to dust and it was ready to break me. I clawed at it's arm and fist, the fear of dying slowly creeping up on me.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.

A loud bang rang and once again I was in the water.

Hands were all over me and I was gasping for air, even though it hurt just to breathe.

"CAL! Honey are you okay?"

"Hey kiddo speak to me!" Faces were blurred, the world was spinning, I couldn't make sense of anything.

Is the sky blue? Or gray? Is the grass usually green? Or muddy brown?

"Oh man, lets go find Coach and Ellis and get outta here." I heard Nick mumble.

Ellis... El...lis...

ELLIS.

I got up too quickly and ran to where I vaguely remembered where his body was,

and there it was.. Limp and cold.

"Oh no no no no... Ellis come on, come on. You can't leave us." I barely breathed as I held my side, old wounds reopened once again. I smacked his face a couple of times, hoping to see those bright blue eyes again. He couldn't leave us, not yet. I promised to stick around and he should too, for my sake...

A heavy hand patted me on my shoulder, which made me jump and almost fall over.

"He's alive young'un, just knocked out. Poor boy, c'mon Virgil'll be here any second." Coach was just as nearly beaten as I was. I guess he tried to take down the Tank on his own while all of us were scattered around. I couldn't tell if I was crying or what but I let out a wail as Coach picked up Ellis's limp body and made his way to the dock.

Nick came and carried me on his back, since I gave out from all the dizziness and blood loss.

Bodies floated in the waters, reminding me of this grim reminder that we can never go back to the comfort of the lives we were so accustomed to.

No more playing games.

No more sitting around home and being with family.

No more home.

Virgil came and we climbed aboard, finally getting away from this hell. Even as we drove away, I still sat outside on the deck feeling the soft tiny patter of raindrops on my head. Nick and Rochelle argued with me about coming inside, but I just grunted at them, having no words to say to them.

I remembered the times me and Spencer would play outside as kids as it rained, and our mother would scold us for going out in the rain and saying stuff like 'you kids will catch colds!' which we ended up having.

I could no longer feel my fingers.

Nor my legs.

My breaths came out raspy and harsh, every breath I took crushed my insides, making me cringe.

I slowly walked inside the tiny cot to see Ellis lying flat on a bed, Rochelle placing a wet rag against his forehead, wrapping up his wounds.

I can't remember when, but the view before me disappeared and I felt a crushing impact on my chest and the taste of stale wood and copper before slamming head first onto the floor.

[A/N] gosh how long has it been since i updated? anyways, hi guys long time no see. just recently decided to update this story. it was barely a quarter written last time i left this and i thought to myself 'hell let me just update' and i forgot how much i missed writing.

anways i've been extremely busy with school, work, and also dealing with some family issues recently. but nonetheless, i still am planning to work on this story.

i miss working on this story and plan on updating a bit more? not exactly sure. but i'll try.

you guys can always contact me on my tumblr since i'm there 24/7

reviews and critiques are always welcomed.