Left 4 Dead: Gemini Strain.

Chapter XV: Adam the Saint – Adam

It seemed that everyone happened to be on edge more than I had presumed when we were holed up in the den. Russ would mutter some things to himself that seemed almost as violent as his actions toward the Infected. Even with those kind words I managed to grace him with he still seemed to be on edge. I stopped caring about what I said to him soon enough. Seems me playing nice guy only worked with the others and not him. I made a mental note of that.
Robert seemed to be thinking of something serious from what I could tell from my position at the back of the group. His face was one who had seen way too much. I noticed that he had a slight limp from his attack. I considered pointing it out to him later.
Latvia was always glancing around even when the coast was clear when we would receive that signal from Russ. Her eyes never showed fear when she looked but her body did. Her hands were shaking as she held her shotgun close to her chest as if it was a shield against all evil. How quaint. My thoughts wandered to whether or not I should talk to her and calm her down; she gave me no time to reach a decision however.
"Adam," she asked me tentatively as her steps slowed to match mine. "I'm scared."
"No kidding." I replied coldly to her, not even bothering to look in her direction.
"That's to be expected from you..." she muttered sadly enough for me to frown but honestly enough to make me wince.
"I'm sorry, Lat" I said to her soothingly, wrapping an arm around her as we waited for yet another signal from Russ.
She sighed thankfully at my touch, her hands becoming much calmer. Her words seemed much sterner than I have ever heard from her. "Do you remember Cynthia and Kyle?" she asked me with no hint of emotion present on her lips. I glanced at her confused. Even her eyes told me nothing.
I took in a deep breath and let it out. I had a feeling where this conversation would lead. "Yes, it was unfortunate what happened to them.
"You mean when Cynthia was dismembered and Kyle bled to death?" she asked me coolly. I winced again. She sure knew how to get under your skin.
"Yeah that..." I agreed at last to her. Now I was not sure where this was going at all anymore.
We walked with the group in silence. Russ turned to us and told us what street sign he saw. I pulled out the map and looked at closely in the dim light. We only had two flashlights. One was a large one I gave to Russ so he could lead. The other was the one that was attached to my SIG 226. We needed to find more light at some point.
Knowing where we needed to go, we all followed Russ in a fashion all too familiar at this point. Like zombies. I had a feeling that everyone seemed to grow more agitated and listless as our trek continued. If only this stress was not present amongst us.
"Adam." Latvia said to me again in a manner that made me jump. She always seemed to catch me off guard. "Don't ever let that happen to me."
I was taken aback by her words. I would never leave her to die like Kyle did to Cynthia. "I won't let that happen, Latvia."
"Promise me." she said to me, her voice becoming more choked as I looked into her watery eyes. She was beginning to cry.
"I promise, Lat. Please don't cry." I told her nicely, digging in my pocket for something to wipe her eyes on. She insisted on using my sleeves for that and to wipe her nose. Great.
I took the opportunity to head over to Robert. I might as well try to absolve all problems in our group. I'm just a little paragon am I not?
"Robert, how are you holding up?" I asked him with a playful tone. Don't ask me why I chose to speak in that manner.
"I'm alright, what about everyone else? You have no need to worry about me." Robert said absently. It almost seemed as if he was not there.
"That's bullshit and you know it, Robert." I told him politely and with a grin I made all too sure that he understood. "You were attacked by a creature, bandaged already poorly, and bleeding profusely. Gee, I have nothing to concern myself over than do I?"
"There is no need to be sarcastic, Adam." Robert told me sternly.
"Yes there is, Robert." I told him, my grin shifting to a look of sympathy and my voice becoming gentle. "If you do not want to tell me why or how or when, suit yourself. You need to understand though that as long as you are with me I will not devalue you in the least. You are as much of a concern to me as the others here."
"Is that a good thing coming from you, Adam?" he said with a smirk. He knew me all too well at this point.
"You would be surprised, Robert. Things are not the same. I seem to have compassion at this point in my life." I answered him with a shrug. "I in the least will do my best to make sure that you are taken care of at least physically if you won't let me emotionally."
Robert opened his mouth as if ready to say something but what we heard in the air took precedence over his words.
"SURVIVORS AT THE POLICE STATION. SAFE AREA WITH FOOD AND SUPPLIES." we heard garbled in the air. A loudspeaker? Russ came to us all with excitement on his face.
"And on top of that we are getting close to it!" Russ said with glee that now was its own form of contagion.