Disclaimer: I do not own Left 4 Dead, Valve does.
Author's Note: I will be shifting the Primary/Secondary Characters to whichever two survivors the current chapter is focused on.
Ties that Bind
By: Confused Confusion
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Sibling Rivalry
Character Focus: Louis and Zoey
Zo, you need to get your act together! If you don't, then you'll never make it in the real world…
Her father had said that…
Zoey's brow furrowed as that particular memory played in her mind. Her father had been discussing – more like yelling – with her about her dropping grades and poor attendance record for the semester. He had voiced his disdain, constantly asking himself about where he had gone wrong in raising her. Zoey had felt that her father had gone a little overboard with the statement, but knew full well how expensive the tuition at the university was. The brunette hadn't cared though…about classes anyway. Zoey had always been drawn to horror - the source of her failing academics - ever since she had first seen Romero's original Night of the Living Dead as a little girl.
Besides, her little brother was a smart kid. He would go far, he'd be the successful child that dad had always wanted. Her father had originally put all the pressure on her, not paying enough attention to his son. Zoey had hoped, prayed, that with the turn of events, he would start putting forth more consideration toward his youngest child. Austin was a sweet kid…he needed a real father figure in his life.
Those were his last words to her, and her response was none too kind either. It was the final time she exchanged words with her father before the outbreak hit. Since then, every phone, every radio, and any other form of long distance communication were either out of service or controlled by the military. She had holed up in her bathroom for days as her fellow students were massacred just on the other side of the wall…at least she was spared the horror of watching Fairfield destroy itself.
When Bill and Francis came across her and pulled her from her delusion of "safety," she was faced with the forlorn, half-razed city that they had left behind. Being in their company had bolstered her confidence and optimism to some extent, and she had even tried to make light of the situation. That's right; this was just like another one of her zombie movies, no big deal. They'd fight their way through the city, find an escape, barely make it and then ride off into the sunset where she'd be reunited with her family and everyone would have a happy ending.
This wasn't a movie however, and she had come to accept that reality. Zoey had tried to tell herself that her family was fine…that they had gotten out of her hometown before shit hit the fan. However, the more she gazed at the various maps and graffiti they came across, she knew…deep down, she knew. The first night it had sunken in, she had cried for hours while they were holed up in one of CEDA's safe houses. Louis – bless the poor guy – had tried to console her, but was only met with more persistent sobs.
Her father had been right all along. Although she doubted that he had meant it in this particular context, she did need to get her act together. Zoey knew full well that it was going to require every bit of will power – and then some – to survive this whole ordeal. What did it take to survive a zombie apocalypse? Was it brains? Was it courage? Perseverance?
Louis was their brain, so they were well covered in that department. The businessman had proven to be a walking knowledge bank, and frankly, Zoey didn't want to know where Louis had picked up some of the things he knew. Regardless, it was his knowledge that led them through life-saving shortcuts in Fairfield and into Riverside through the drainage systems. If there was anyone that she could trust with a plan, it was Louis.
The line dividing courage and stupidity was a murky one, but either way, Francis was fearless in everything he did. It wasn't that he was always the first to throw himself in harm's way; they had all done that at one point or another. It was more that no matter what he did, Francis wouldn't so much as bat an eyelash at it. Despite what she had told him in Riverside, a part of her hoped that the biker somehow was as indestructible as he claimed. Zoey knew, without a doubt, that they all would've been dead long ago had it not been for Francis.
Where Francis was crazy and Louis smart, Bill was relentless. In spite of seemingly insurmountable odds, the old-timer would never quit. If a wall stood in his way, he'd simply blow it up. If that didn't work, then he would punch and kick the holy hell out of it till the wall crumbled. Bill was the undisputed patriarch of the group, all decisions were made through him, and all ideas were suggested to him first and foremost. The veteran's leadership had gotten them this far, and Zoey knew - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that it would get them through this.
It felt like a family almost, a sensation long forgotten in the screams and bloody violence that had plagued Zoey's mind for the past two weeks. Bill was like a second father to her, reminding her of her own father to such an extent that it frightened her. They were both stern, serious, and always wore a sober mask, but at the same time, still cared deeply for the wellbeing of those around them. Louis was the older brother she never had, always looking out for her without getting too overprotective. He was the peacemaker, constantly making sure everything was okay in the "family." Francis felt like the family friend who was always welcomed, as if he were already apart of the family. Constantly hanging around the house, coming and going as he pleased, but was still there, even during the bad times.
They were her family….because despite hoping against all hope, she knew…
Her real family…was long since dead…
"You know what we could use right about now?" Francis thought aloud as they moved through an abandoned construction site.
"I swear to God, if you start singing again, I'm putting a bullet in your head," Bill growled, his wrinkled hand inching toward the holster at his hip.
Francis waved the threat off. "Nah, we need a game or something. You know, a challenge to kill time while we trudge through this burning dump."
"That has to be the stupidest idea you've ever had…"
"I don't know, Bill, I kind of like it." Louis defended with a casual shrug of his shoulders.
Bill's eyes rolled in their sockets before focusing on Zoey, who smiled apologetically and shrugged. With a sigh, the veteran bowed his head in defeat.
"Do whatever you want, but if we all die…I'm still killing Francis."
"Hey!"
"Now let's see, it needs to be a simple game, one that we can play while moving around…" Louis wondered, wracking his brain for ideas.
"How about 'I Spy?'" Zoey suggested after a moment of silence.
"Hell. No."
Louis shot the biker a confused look. "Why not?"
Francis glanced at the businessman, "Because one of my buddies died while playing that stupid game."
Zoey and Louis gaped at the back of the large survivor's head. The brunette was the first to recover.
"How?"
"We were playing it on the road for a good laugh. We couldn't hear Chuck over the roar of our choppers, so he had leaned over so we could hear him better. Took his eyes of the road and then pow! Hit a turtle and spun out of control."
"…Are you kidding me?" Louis muttered in disbelief.
"Swear to God."
"Sounds to me like he died because he was an idiot," The businessman uttered before he could help himself.
Louis' hand promptly found its way to his mouth, eyes wide with horror as they stared a hole through Francis' skull. Zoey wore a similar expression, only hers was aimed at the dark-skinned survivor. Bill stood off to the side, gazing warily between Francis and Louis.
To their surprise, Francis merely shrugged. "Yeah, pretty much…still think it's a stupid game though."
Louis released the breath he had been holding while wiping his forehead in relief. After recomposing himself, the businessman frowned.
"There's really nothing else to play then…"
Zoey snapped her fingers in triumph. "I got it!"
The others glanced at the youngest survivor, two with anticipation and one with uncaring.
"We can have a contest."
"A contest?" Francis echoed, his brow knitting together.
The brunette nodded, "Yeah, each Infected's worth a set amount of points and whoever has the most points by the time we get out of here wins."
A sadistic grin spread across Francis' face. "Hell yes!"
Bill scratched his beard in thought, a smile slowly making its way to his lips. "That's something I could get into."
Receiving a nod from Louis, the survivors reduced their conversation to a hushed whisper as they mapped out the rules for their new "game." Minutes flitted by and before any of them knew it, they were passing through an alleyway.
"Alright, so Tanks are worth a hundred, Witches are one-fifty, regular zombies are a point, and everything else in between is twenty-five; agreed?"
The men nodded, causing Zoey to grin. "Alright, let the game begin!"
"This is bullshit," Francis muttered in disdain, his hardened features somehow twisting their way into a pout.
"What now, Francis?" Bill asked in obvious exasperation.
"Zoey rigged this game."
The brunette in question blinked. "How?"
"You have a friggin' sniper rifle! You can pick shit off before we even see it!" The biker protested indignantly.
Louis chuckled from beside the larger man. "Aw, are you getting mad because a girl is beating you?"
"She's whipping your ass too."
The businessman straightened defensively. "Only by eighty-five points."
"A difference you'll never make up~" Zoey sang with a cheeky grin.
Louis met her with a challenging smirk. "Oh, we'll see about that!"
"Quiet down!" Bill snapped quickly, silencing the group in a heartbeat.
Francis leaned forward, all business now, and addressed the veteran in a low voice. "What is it?"
Bill frowned, his senses trying to distinguish the source of his sudden anxiety. "I'm not sure."
The ground beneath them suddenly shook with a small tremor, causing the blood in their veins to run cold. Sure enough, a slab of cement hurtled by, smashing into a nearby transformer. Sparks flew from the box, and the entire substation whirred from the impact. A roar cut through the air as the rhythmic stomping drew closer. The sound bounced off the walls of the buildings, distorting the location of their origin. The survivors glanced around in all directions, grips tightening on their firearms while they tensed their muscles in preparation.
A Tank rounded the corner swiftly, crimson-eyed and tongue dangling. The leviathan swung at a nearby telephone pole that was in the way, splintering the wood with ease. The beam collapsed, bringing another spectacle of sparks onto the grassy area. Flames burst forth from the ground like magic, basking the oncoming Tank in their light. The glow caused the Infected's beady eyes to give off the illusion of flashing, making the giant seem even more formidable.
Simultaneously, the four survivors began filling the monstrosity with lead while scattering in different directions. Like a bull, the Tank's gaze focused on Zoey's bright jacket, much to the brunette's dismay. With a snort, the massive Infected bounded after her, forcing the youthful survivor to break into a full sprint to stay ahead. Moving back into the alleyway, Zoey began blindly shooting behind her, redirecting most of her energy on outrunning the monster behind her.
It's going to catch me, it's going to catch me, it's going to catch me!
A meaty fist slammed into a dumpster, sending the metal box flying through the air. Zoey glanced behind just in time to duck as the container tore across the wall less than a foot above her. The impromptu missile ricocheted off of the building and crashed into the center of the alley before coming to a stop. The young woman jumped back to her feet and vaulted over the fallen dumpster. A roar from behind her signaled that the Tank had once again resumed its chase. Shots opened fire from the alley's entrance as the other survivors put bullet after bullet into the Infected's colossal back.
Zoey frantically rounded the corner barely even a second before the dumpster was once again sent soaring, plowing through the brick wall behind her. Terrified heartbeats thundered in her ears, drowning out all noise but the maddening roars of her pursuer. The survivor risked a glance over her shoulder, witnessing the Tank as it turned the corner sharply, its shoulder tearing off a sizable piece of the building. Adrenaline and panic flooded her system, pushing her legs to move faster.
Can't outrun it…need to lose it…
Blue eyes hastily swept over the construction site, searching for something – anything – that would slow the giant down. A multi-tiered piece of scaffolding caught Zoey's attention, and the survivor immediately veered toward it. The Tank's growls rose in volume, the heavy vibrations coursing through the thin earth below its feet. The Infected was close enough that Zoey could practically feel the warm air whenever a snort would escape its nostrils. The unsettling possibility only pushed the brunette on faster, the scaffolding rapidly closing in.
The heavy pounding ceased for an instant, and Zoey felt a large rush of wind wash over her back. She swore she felt her heart stop beating as a chubby finger just barely brushed against her backpack. The Tank had actually swiped at her…and had just barely missed. Time resumed, and once again her heart was thundering in her chest. From behind, the leviathan roared in agitation as its prey narrowly escaped, and promptly resumed the chase, bearing down on the small survivor with even more aggression than before.
There!
Zoey all but threw herself into the network of metal beams that supported the structure. Auburn hair whipped around madly as the survivor spun on her heel while leaning backwards, looping through a couple of diagonal poles as the Tank came crashing in. The scaffold jerked at the vacancy of most of its support, the top crumbling from within. The behemoth swung wildly at Zoey as it drew near, tearing through the maze of beams with ease. Zoey, meanwhile, was having a difficult time in working though the web of metal while avoiding the Tank's meaty fists. The massive Infected swiped again, all but ripping away the scaffold's centre. Zoey flinched as a small piece of shrapnel whipped past her face, leaving a shallow cut above her eyebrow in its wake.
The youthful survivor would have shouted in joy when the scaffolding collapsed completely…had she still not been inside. Throwing her body backwards, Zoey plowed through the outside of the structure and into a familiar back alley just as the debris began raining down. Landing harshly on her back, the brunette pushed herself backward until she was up against a wall. Dust and smoke kicked up, but Zoey raised her scoped rifle nevertheless, emptying her entire magazine into the cloud. Panted gasps left her lungs as her heart attempted to slow itself down and recover from the physical endeavor. She felt her muscles begin to relax, her senses failing to notice any movement from within the cloud of dust.
The obscure screen slowly dissipated, and Zoey's blue eyes dilated in horror at the sight. The massive form of the Tank was visible, several metal beams protruding from its back and shoulders. Blood ran in numerous rivulets down its chest and arms, a small pool of blood already soaking into the loose dirt. Various bloody holes dotted its sternum and neck, courtesy of the blind shooting she had just unleashed. Despite all the damage, the Tank was still standing, glowering at the sitting survivor with ungodly rage.
"No…"
The word clung to her voiceless whisper, fear gripping every cell of her being. Zoey felt the shadow of death stretch over her; no time to reload, no time to jump up and run…she was dead. She was really going to die in some alley in the middle of a zombie-infested city. This was starting to sound way too much like a horror movie. Zoey would have laughed at the irony of it all, but no sound would reach her throat. The Tank let loose an unearthly roar and smashed its fists into the ground, albeit somewhat sluggishly. Charging, the behemoth bounded toward her, blood spurting from its various wounds. Zoey's eyes slammed shut as her fate drew closer, her thoughts resting on the family that she would soon be joining.
I'm sorry, dad…looks like I couldn't get my act together after all…
A deafening repetition of machine gun fire shook Zoey from the recesses of her mind, causing the brunette to glance out the corner of her eye. The Tank stood only a few feet from her, its stature uncharacteristically stiff. It remained that way for a moment before gravity set in, and the giant slumped over, dead. At this point, Zoey was sure she looked like a fish out of water, her mouth opening and closing, but no sound escaping.
A click was heard from somewhere beyond the Tank's corpse, and Louis emerged shortly after, replacing the magazine in his Uzi. The businessman hurried over to his companion, worry evident in his eyes.
"You okay, Zo?" Louis queried gently while kneeling before her, his gaze focusing on the cut above her eye.
Zoey shook herself from her stupor, nodding her head quickly at the bald man as he helped her to her feet.
"You sure?"
Zoey nodded again, finally finding her voice. "Yeah, I'm fine; this cut's nothing."
Louis exhaled in relief, despite the girl's shaken expression, before smirking in satisfaction. "So that's my kill, right?"
The brunette smiled in bewilderment. "Take it; you saved my ass after all."
The dark-skinned man pumped his fist in the air. "Hell yeah, Louis in the lead, now!"
Zoey merely shook her head in amusement while trading out magazines for her rifle as Louis started some light trash talking.
"That's right! What can I say though? I mean, I am a bad man after all…probably the baddest man left on the planet!"
A screech tore through the air as a hooded blur sped toward the unsuspecting Louis like a bullet. Zoey lifted her rifle on instinct and pulled the trigger. The Hunter whipped back in midair, its head exploding in a shower of gore. Louis brought his hands up over his head when the gunshot sounded, self-preservation momentarily driving his actions. Peaking between his fingers, the businessman discovered he was no longer in danger and let his hands drop sheepishly to his sides.
"My kill," Zoey informed with mock cheeriness.
Louis pouted. "…Right."
"Ten points behind…tough luck."
"Yeah, yeah, shut it."
Zoey grinned, it was amazing…it truly was. Not even a minute ago she had been near-death, and almost instantly, it was as if nothing had happened. That was Louis' most valued trait in their group. It wasn't his brains or his ability to keep the peace…it was his talent for keeping them in the positive light, no matter what the situation. She had to admit, she had originally thought his optimism was a little too forced, but she could safely say that she took back all of those thoughts.
The brunette was suddenly driven from those very thoughts. "Hey…where are Bill and Francis?"
"Over here!" Francis called while waving from the other end of the construction site. "Sorry 'bout that! Had to save Bill from a Smoker!"
"Other way around, Francis."
"What? I had to save a Smoker from you?"
"No, you jackass, I had to save you from the Smoker!"
"…You must be getting senile, Bill. I clearly saved you when I took that tongue for ya."
"Uh huh, sure you did."
Louis smirked and shook his head as the pair continued their banter. Glancing at Zoey, the businessman grinned. "Shall we continue?"
The younger survivor smirked and strolled past him. "So I can kick your ass even more?"
Louis chuckled and followed after her. "You know that the Hunter was just pure luck."
"Uh huh, and luck sure saved your ass, didn't it?"
"You just beat me to the punch, that's all."
"Really now?"
"Oh yeah, had you just left him alone, I would have taken him out with my bear hands. My bear hands!"
"Louis…"
"What?"
"Just…just stop while you're ahead."
To Be Continued…
Stay tuned for a preview of my next project, Red Tide…
Red Tide
Day 1: The progenitor of the Green Flu checks into Mercy Hospital…
"What are we going to do now?" Louis murmured, more too himself than anything, as he stared at the battered corpse of Bill Overbeck.
Zoey's eyes remained hollow as they took in every detail of their fallen comrade. He looked so…fragile, nothing like the unstoppable Green Beret they had known.
"What can we do?"
Francis was silent as he moved to the hunched over body, whispering something that the cadaver could not hear before removing Bill's dog tags. Stepping up to them, he placed a tag in their hands, his eyes hardened by grief.
"We'll do what we do best: Survive."
Day 15: Fairfield is completely eradicated by Green…
A scream ripped from Zoey's throat as she collapsed to her knees. Louis was vaguely aware that his Uzi had slipped from his hand, clattering uselessly onto the soft ground. The businessman felt his own throat tighten as he took in the sight that lay before them.
The sailboat, their means of a permanent escape…was utterly trashed.
Francis let out a primal snarl as he kicked at the dirt, curses flying from his mouth in a fury. Louis swallowed dryly, slowly shaking his head in disbelief.
"This…this can't be happening…"
"Well," Francis growled out while glaring at the half-sunken vessel. "Guess what, it is."
"What did he die for? What the hell DID HE DIE FOR?"
Silence was all that answered Zoey's anguished cry.
Day 23: CEDA's 'Gulf of Mexico Evacuation' and 'Atlantic Evacuation' plans end in disaster, spreading the Green Flu to the Caribbean and Bahamas.
Francis' body flew through the doorway like a rag doll, his back colliding roughly against the wooden floor. The biker groggily rose to his feet, sputtering as his hand clenched at his battered midsection. Through the now open doorway, the massive silhouette of the Tank charged through the flood waters and torrential rain. With a sneer, Francis left the empty shotgun on the floor, half-limping, half-running back into the front room. His legs felt like jelly, and he could see the edges of his vision darken.
'Hold it together, damn it. Hold it together!'
Francis threw himself in front of his companions, sluggishly drawing the magnum at his hip. His arms felt like lead weights, the task of simply lifting the large pistol proving to be taxing. Every breath brought fire to his chest, the pain flaring bright enough to cause the large survivor to fall to a knee. His vision flickered briefly before regaining a blurred focus on his surroundings. The wall around the doorway ruptured as the Tank plowed through it, sending debris flying in every direction. Francis turned his head, shying his eyes away from the oncoming glass and splinters. Brown eyes lingered for a moment on the two bodies behind him.
Zoey was sprawled across the couch, drenched to the bone and shivering violently. Her face was flushed with oncoming fever, the redness accentuating the blue that tinged her lips. Louis was in a similar state: slumped on the chair, shivering, and breaths coming out in ragged gasps.
He had failed them…he had failed Bill…
Francis turned back to blearily gaze into the eyes of their destroyer, which stood unmoving in the hole that it had created, its milky red eyes almost glowing against the flashes of lightning that streaked the sky. The biker raised his magnum, aiming at the colossus before him despite his rapidly fading vision. The Tank merely roared in response, smashing both of its fists into the floor, cracking the boards underneath.
"Come on, finish it."
The Tank glowered at him for a moment longer, as if sizing up its prey.
"Finish it!"
Francis squeezed his finger, his arm whipping back from the recoil of the deadly firearm.
"FINISH IT!"
The shell lodged itself in the Tank's shoulder, much to the Infected's ire. Francis felt the pistol slip from his hand as unconsciousness claimed him. The last thing the survivor saw was the massive frame of the Tank charging toward him, its arm pulled back.
Day 28: The countries of the United Nations unanimously vote to blockade North America and the Caribbean Sea to stop Green's spread. The US is left alone to be decimated by the virus infestation.
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A/N: Good...(checks time) morning, readers! I must admit, this chapter came out better than I expected...it must be because Halloween's getting closer. Anywho, I always saw Louis and Zoey as having a sibling relationship, given how they seem to act toward one another in-game. I know I may get some heat from hardcore Zoey/Louis fanatics...but I frankly don't care. I'm pleased with how the chase scene turned out, as normally my ability to write action-oriented scenes is relative to that of a coin: it's either going to suck major or come out decent to good. Two chapters remain for this project, afterwards I may take a small break before tackling the monster that you see above. For those who may have been disappointed that I ended up striking the second part to The River Styx, relax; much of the content from that piece will be introduced at the beginning of the story. Moving on though, it's late/early and I'm going to go crash.
Up Next: Francis and Bill (Oh yes, there will be sarcasm.)
As always, reviews and feedback are greatly appreciated.
- C.C.