Nervous eyes flicked back and forth as Gary Barkovitch surveyed the road stretching length wise as far as the horizon line. The road was completely deserted from what he could see and he couldn't decide if he was grateful or disturbed. The land on either side of the road was barren, yellow grass with only a few tress scattered in seemingly random fashion. He breathed deeply and shifted awkwardly, uncomfortably aware of how exposed he was. He felt frozen, afraid to move and disturb the unnatural stillness of the area. No wind blew, he heard no sound. The silence was palpable, creating a horrid pressure on his ears as he strained to hear something, anything. The scrape of gravel from behind had him spinning frantically to find the source of the noise. He was confronted with a most unappealing sight.

"Well, I'll be damned! Check it, guys! It's Barkobitch." Gary stared in disbelief at the smirk on Hank Olson's lips. Red lips. From the blood that spurted from his mouth and dribbled slowly down his chin. Barkovitch glanced down and took a horrified step backwards. Olson's innards hung gray and grotesque from a wound that glistened wetly. Gary felt his gorge begin to rise. Olson looked down at the mess, snorted and, apparently annoyed by Barkovitch's disgust, turned around. Barkovitch realized that while he had been busy ogling at Olson, the… others had approached.

Oh God, he thought, as he examined the boys. It was a horror show, seeing the damage the soldiers bullets had caused. Some were lucky, having a relatively small, smooth entry and exit wound. Some were less fortunate, the bullets having smashed through their skulls or chests or extremities, leaving behind someone unrecognizable. He wanted to cry and laugh and scream but all he could do was stare glassily in a mixture of horror and disgust.

"You look like a dead fish," wheezed Scramm with a goofy grin. One eye socket was exposed, a gaping bloody hole.

"So much for your Plan, huh?" someone else snickered.

"What the fuck happened to your throat? You get attacked by something?"

"Maybe McVries finally went through with his threats!"

"You dumb ass, you really think the soldiers would let him do that? He'd be here too!"

"Hey! Don't call me a dumb ass!"

"Jesus, would you two shut the fuck up?!"

Gary was starting to get annoyed, Even in death they wouldn't leave him alone. He opened his mouth to tell them to 'fuck off,' but all that came out was a wet, wracking cough and a mouthful of blood mixed with some tissue. He heaved and coughed up more blood, dimly aware of the gale of laughter surrounding him. As the assholes around him laughed themselves blue, he took a look at himself for the first time since his temporary paralysis had ended. His hands were stained red, darkening to brown as his blood dried. He grimaced as he noticed some of the congealed liquid trapped under his fingernails. His sweatshirt was soaked through halfway down his front, and sticky. Barkovitch brought his hands up to his throat and quickly pulled back after accidentally shoving three fingers into the ghastly wound. He tried to speak but only managed another cough.

Fuck…

He looked up and saw Olson watching him intently, a smirk on his stupid, fat lips. God, he hated him. Obviously enjoying his anger, Olson stepped slightly away from the group towards Gary.

"You can't talk, can you?" he asked loudly, beaming, malice bright in his eyes. Excited murmuring buzzed through the group.

Fuck…

His eyes widened and he felt cold sweat break out on his forehead. The group was moving slowly closer, a hostile muttering, like a swarm of bees.

Fuck.

He could feel himself hyperventilating-

calmdown

Was his vision going spotty?

calmdown

Frantically searching for an exit.

calmthefuckdown

He locked eyes with Rank. He felt himself stop breathing completely, breath caught, stuck in his throat like a chicken bone. Rank surged forward and Barkovitch ran, darting around the larger boy, not even taking pleasure from Rank's furious curses as he attempted to change direction, only succeeding in face planting the ground. For once, Barkovitch was thankful for his small, lean build. It allowed him to maneuver easily through the throng of deceased Walkers. He wasn't a fighter, not really, and now with the loss of his voice he didn't even have his words as a defense. Seconds later and he was free of the group, his feet pounding, bits of gravel flicking up and behind him. His breath came out ragged and he wanted to scream again as he felt the loose pieces of skin on his throat flap obscenely. His chest was on fire, and he heard the raucous laughter of the group. Hot, red rage filled him.

They don't even fucking care. It's like a goddamn game to them!

Even in the afterlife-

purgatory?hell?

he was hated, exiled even. Well, fuck them. Fuck them, fuck them, fuck them. Fuck Rank and Collie Parker and Hank Olson and McVries. Especially McVries. He didn't need them. He'd always relied on himself to get through life's challenges. Why should now be any different? Despite his situation and his developing side stitch-

How the fuck could he still feel pain?

he smiled. Barkovitch slowed to a walk and glanced over his shoulder, breathing hard. No one. The others had either left or disappeared. He was alone. As he stopped to catch his breath and observe his new surroundings he noticed a large road sign.

Chamberlain, Maine Welcomes You!

That made no sense. How had he run all the way to Chamberlain? When he had… died, the Walkers had long since blown by that ghost town. He had only been running a few minutes at most.

Weird…

He stared at the sign, contemplating his next move. He chewed his lower lip nervously and glanced backwards again. He really didn't want to turn back and risk catching up with the others. He was feeling beat after his panicked sprint and reasoned that this little town might have a motel he could crash in. Or something. At least it was some sort of plan, some way to move forward.

And besides, he thought as he proceeded past the sign with its warm, cheery words, their might be people I can get some fucking answers from.

A/N: Wow, has it been a while since I've updated. I hope your interest hasn't dwindle into indifference. My apologies on the late update, school and life in general have been so busy I haven't had much time to just sit down and right. Thank you for the lovely reviews of the last chapter and keep them coming! Thanks again, and I'll try to make the next update speedier.