-Gilbert-

They'd been driving for at least a solid two days, without stopping.

Tensions were running high as they all began to get sick of the cramped confines of the van. Lovino had cursed out the world, and Antonio at least twice that day. The further they drove south the closer they got to where ever they were going. For the past two days he'd been distracted by what Matthew had told them when everyone was awake, and the fence had been looming closer than ever.

"I bet you're all wondering why I ended up where I did when you found me, and how I know where we're going." The van was hushed to silence by these words, Matthew turned to face Gilberts profile.

Matthew looked straight at Gilbert when he finally answered his question, violet eyes calculating his profiles reaction to each word that passed through his lips.

"I was in Ottawa, when it happened. I had been walking home to my apartment, groceries in hand. Of course I am forever paranoid, and had my hockey stick with me. When I heard it. A strangled groan, like someone getting hit over the head. I looked and saw one of them. I bashed his head in, without any I just looked down the street and there were thousands of them. All of them surging forward in this mass of darkness.

"The noise was the worst really, it was so loud and yet so quiet I wanted to just stop and cover my ears. People started to panic, and run. I tried to help this kid that had been abandoned by his Dad in the chaos. I watched as one of 'them' sunk their teeth into his arm, and tore off a good chunk of his flesh. All the while no one stops to help anyone. Kids abandoned where they stood, old folks just hobbling into the horde. I saw this one old guy grab a gun from his coat and mutter that he wasn't gonna dye like them. Then he just shot himself in the mouth.

"So I ran, I ran to this place where a friend of mine and I had decided we'd meet there when this exact thing happened. I waited for at least two hours before he showed up in a car. He looked terrible covered in blood that wasn't his own. His little sister was in the backseat, she was completely quit, seemed to be shaking a bit. Probably having flashbacks to what had happened in Belgium.

"We drove for at least six hours before coming upon the place you'd picked me up at. Squatted there with some people that knew a thing or two.

"Until one day shit hit the fan, and my friend became infected. He willingly gave himself over too. It had turned out that two weeks prior his sister was infected, she turned of course. He was the one that had to kill her for good. I'll never forget how he looked that day. Sure they fought a lot, mostly nothing more than petty arguments blown way out proportion, but they were still siblings dammit. And that day he looked like he was disgusted with himself, with the world, and also like his world and ended.

"The people I'd squatted with 'til then decided the place was no longer safe, and booked it. I like to think they got away, but it wasn't likely since I'd been fending off one of the two when you found me." Matthew had paused here, allowing everyone a moment to react. Contemplate what he'd just told them.

The van jolted as Gilbert ran over of 'Them'. It seemed that the further south they drove the more of 'Them' they saw.

The air was tense in the van. No one knew how to respond to Matthew's story. Gilbert had cleared his throat, something to fill the heavy silence in the confined space.

"How do you know where we're headed then huh?" Lovino was the only one to ask the question. Everyone did nothing but secretly admire him for asking it in that moment.

"My half-brother, Alfred, was a scientist before 'this'," when he said 'this' Matthew waved his hand gesturing to the window, "happened. He'd been researching a way to change genetics so that people would live even longer than they do now. He was so convinced he'd found just what he needed.

"So he did trial runs on people. Convicted criminals really. Unfortunately people didn't live longer. They simply exhibited the symptoms that tip off the infected, and then they drop dead. No sooner than two minutes or so later they'd rise again.

"Except this time they were a little hungry. He explained to me that a guard had gotten infected, and it just spread from there. Basically he's responsible for everything."

Gilbert thought about Matthew's words for a moment, "No, he can't be responsible for everything-"

"Yes, he is," Matthew interrupted Gilbert anger lacing his voice as he spoke, "He was the one in charge of the project. He never gave the order to kill the test subjects when things went wrong.

"He was the one who let his pride get in the way of better judgment. He indirectly killed thousands of people, and he's the one who let 'Them' into Canada."

The fence was now in clear sight, and the gap comprised of gnarled metal seemed much larger up close. Lovino leaned out an open window, picking off them as they approached from a distance. Gilbert pressed down on the gas.

They had only one shot at getting through that gap with relative to no resistance.

"That still doesn't answer Lovino's question." Francis had spoken up with a hoarse voice. Everyone had jumped they'd gotten too used to his silence.

Matthew drew his lips into a fine line. He pulled his eyebrows together, and let out a puff of air that seemed to have been building his chest for some time. The van fell silent again.

"I know where we're headed because of my brother. He was living with me for a while before it all happened here. He'd put me through intense an training regimen; made me learn parkour, and other forms of self-defense. At first I thought it was just Al being Al. I thought he was teaching me these things so I could protect myself.

"I was completely wrong.

Blood splattered across the side windows as they ran over more of them. Gilbert was flooring it by now. Pushing the van to go faster, adrenaline pumping through his veins. His eyes intent on the gap ahead, his thoughts warning him about that foreboding feeling in his stomach.

The sun reaching it's all time high as they crushed bones, ran over skulls, and died the van a perpetual shade of red. Which would fade into a color of rust, and not give them much of an advantage over hoards.

Images flashed at the back of Gilberts mind as they were only two miles away. Pictures of smiles, and of people he'd never see again. Images of all those he hoped were still alive somewhere, and would be alive when this was all over.

Ludwig, Feliciana, Elizabeta, Roderich, Francis, Antonio, and Matthew… Matthew? Wait, why would he wish that? He'd only known Matthew a few short days. Sure he thought the man attractive, but there was something else there as well. Something in the way he looked so sad, and so lonely when he'd look into his crimson eyes in that motel room. Matthew had look scared, he seemed to be pleading.

He looked unbearably lonely.

"He was teaching me all that shit because he's a complete asshole. He never gave a shit about me. Only about himself, and his precious 'creations' fucking insane is what he is."

"Where are we headed may I ask?" Gilbert had spoken up with a courage he didn't he had. Especially when it came to Matthew. It wasn't that he feared Matthew, it was the fact Matthew seemed not to be afraid of anything. His gaze was cold emotionless, and appeared void of a conscious. So when he showed Gilbert emotions like loneliness in his eyes, he was scared shitless. He didn't like it, he preferred the Matthew that they'd picked up.

That Matthew was cold, strong, and constant. He was in charge of all his faculties, he would never slip up. He would keep them all healthy and uninfected. So when he was shown someone that contradicted this impression, he was terrified.

"Texas."

"Texas?" was the resounding reply from the rest of the van.

"Yes. Texas." Matthews gaze was directed forward, but that didn't stop him from stealing glances. Through the reflection of the windshield, he had a perfect vantage view of Gilberts scarlet eyes.

-Matthew-

Lovino was shooting out of the window and continued to pick them off. Matthew stared straight ahead. His face as blank as he could make it, if they made it through where They had burst through. Then they could get to Texas, he could kill his brother. Only then would he be able to rest, when his brother was dead and gone.

Matthew glanced occasionally over at Gilbert, he was certainly handsome. He seemed kind and able. He looked like someone who'd be able to handle himself. Someone who'd hold Matthew and tell him everything was fine. Someone Matthew would be more willing to protect.

As Gilbert gunned the engine and they crashed through the fence, everyone cheered, everyone except for Matthew. There wasn't much to cheer about in his opinion. He was focusing closely on the ultimate goal of getting them to the safe haven. Killing his brother came after, came later.