"How's your leg?" Infinity looked at Ellis, that was the fifth time he asked that.

"It's fine Ellis. Thank you."

"Okay."

They turned around the corner she prayed over and over again that there wouldn't be another horde of zombies. And certainly not another Spitter or Charger. After the last 4 hordes she was not in the mood for ANYTHING anymore. She hadn't been touched by the specials, but Nick and Ellis had. Nick had received a face full of Spitter Acid, and poor Ellis had been near beaten to a pulp. She was soooo done with zombies.

Not a zombie in sight. Yes! They walked down the street, every other building was on fire. Places in the road had oil spill fires going as well. Basically there was fire everywhere.

"Hey did Ah ever tell you the time where ma buddy Keith and Ah made fireworks? I didn't know shit about chemistry but Keith figured that gasoline burns right? Heh, third degree burns over 95% of his body…"

"Ellis now is not the best time."

"Aw Coach c'mon. Let 'em tell the story I wanna hear it. It'll ease the tension… you know? Besides I could use a good laugh right about now."

"Infinity. Laughing is not the best thing to do in a zombie infested area. It draws attention."

"Yah well… Your… FACE draws attention."

"That's the best comeback you've got?"

"Look, I'm tired. And I'm sweaty, and my leg hurts like hell. Get over it. Just be glad I don't… um… That I don't…."

"Just give it up."

"Fine. But just you wait. I'll do something…. You'll regret messing with me. You know those zombies we just slaughtered? Yah… that's right. Keep that in mind." She touched the side of her head to imply mind. He just rolled his eyes.

"You roll your eyes now… but I know that deep down… deep DEEP down. YOU, sir cranky pants, are afraid."

"Whatever you say, Gimp."

"Ouch."

Left4Dead

Ellis watched as Infinity looked at him for the 10 time in 5 minutes. They had come across 10 hordes, complete with 3 Chargers, 2 Jockeys, 2 Hunters, 3 boomers, and a Witch. He was finished. He could stand it anymore. They hadn't even found a safe room yet.

Infinity looked at him again. "What? Do Ah have something on ma face or something?" He asked.

"Yah, but that's not why I'm looking at ya."

"Why then?"

"I'm worried about you. You look like shit."

"Thanks Infinity. You look beautiful."

"I'm not kidding Ellis. Let me have a look at you."

He winced as she touched his forehead, he guess there was something there. As she went and took care of the major wounds and put some anesthetics on the smaller ones the others took the opportunity to take care of their wounds too. With one person always on watch.

Once everyone was healed they heard something none of them wanted to hear. Wailing.

"Shit." Nick mumbled

"You can say that again."

"Shit."

"Uh huh. Okay, we keep moving. Lights off. If we see her we find away around. None of us can physically afford getting mauled by a Witch right now." Rochelle reasoned.

"Sounds fine to me." Coach sighed.

Ellis reached and turned off his flashlight. Everyone else followed and kept walking forward. The crying and wailing got louder.

He stumbled and started to fall but two hands caught hold of him, both belonging to the beauty standing beside him, Infinity.

"You're really looking bad Ellis."

"Thanks."

"Here." Infinity lifted his right arm over her shoulders and wrapped her left arm around his waist for support.

"Infinity… your leg."

"It's fine. You're the one who can barely stand."

"Great Ah'm being shown up by a girl. Nick will never let me live this down."

"Ellis, forget Nick. For all we know your leg could be in worse shape. I was hit with a Smoker, you were pummeled by a Charger. I believe there is a large difference when it comes to the pummeling power."

"Yah but…"

"No buts. My leg isn't that bad anymore. The meds kicked in… I'm fine." He voice held a firmness that told him there was no arguing.

"Fine."

As the two of them hobbled to keep up with the rest of the group they both kept a pistol in their free hands just to be safe. They were in the middle now and Rochelle brought up the back.

"Infinity tha…"

"Sshh, Witch is right ahead of us…. Oh that's bull…" Nick started.

"Shit." Coach

"Exactly." Nick finished.

There was more than one Witch and what was worse; they were sitting in front of the safe room.

"Holy shit Nick. Have you ever seen so many Witches? Damn there's like 4!" Ellis exclaimed.

"Dude, I'm going to be crying soon. And I'll cry louder than all of them at once." Infinity sighed.

Ellis looked at Infinity and smiled.

"So pretty much, the plan to go around the Witch…" Rochelle started.

"Witches." Coach corrected.

"Right. Witches. Is out the window… because they decided to have their little pity party in front of where we need to be."

"Right." Nick affirmed.

"Damn." She concluded.

"Right." Nick agreed and folded his arms and started pacing.

Coach sat down on a crate and sighed, resting his head in his hands.

Infinity guided himself and her to some debris where he could sit. She lowered him down slowly and he sat down gratefully.

Ellis sighed and took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. Infinity sat down next to him and started rubbing small circles on his back.

"This just keeps getting harder and harder." He complained.

Left4Dead

Infinity took in Ellis' face. He was giving up. She could see it in his eyes. He was defeated. His frown saddened her greatly. To see such a happy man be brought down so low that he can't even crack a single joke was depressing. She looked around at the others. They all held the same expression as Ellis; defeated and done.

"Ellis, honey, don't give up. All of you. We can't give up! We've come way too far, survived too much to just stop here."

"There's nothing else to do. We're done. There are four Witches there Infinity, taking on just one almost kills us on its own. Four would be suicide." Ellis sighed.

"Oh and quitting isn't?"

"Infinity…"

"Ellis please don't quit. I know it's hard. But we can't quit. Ellis if you quit then we all do. If someone as strong as you says he's done then what do any of us have?" She cupped his face in her hands and turned his head so that he was looking at her.

"Ellis, I can't do this without you. Please don't say that it's over."

Infinity searched his face and looked into his eyes. For a smirk… or some sort of life to spring into his eyes.

Ellis looked down.

"Ellis please." If Ellis said it could be done, if he kept fighting, kept going, so would everyone else. This young man was keeping these people sane, but continuing to talk and making them talk. So they didn't forget who they were. If the same person who was keeping them going mentally gave up, so would they.

She kept searching his face for anything.

"Ah just don't know what ta do anymore." His voice was gruff with emotion.

She stroked his cheek with her thumb. "Then we wing it. We can't just stop. Even if it seems nothing will work we try anything. It's better to have tried then to just quit and wait for death."

He looked at her, she held his gaze, both of her hands cupping his face. "Please don't give up."

"Okay." He whispered. "I won't give up. Let's kill some Witches." He said louder.

Infinity smiled brightly, and looked at the others. Coach was still sitting on the crate, Nick had settle on sitting on the floor and leaning his back up against the wall his head leaned back, and Rochelle had settled down next to Nick and was resting her head on his shoulder.

"Infinity?"

"Yah?"

"Thanks."

She smiled and stood up, he watched her stand and she bent down and kissing him on the forehead. "Like I said Ellis, I need you."

She smirked when he blushed slightly and gave a lopsided grin. He put his hat back on and she offered him a hand up, he took it gratefully as she pulled him up to a standing position.

Left4Dead

"Guys. We can't give up."

"Ellis sweety, there is nothing left to do. We can't just take on FOUR Witches."

"Why not?"

"You are mentally ill Overalls."

"Hey Ah'm not the one who has more ex wives than there are zombies in this city."

"Just shut up."

"Okay look. What if we just blow them away? Throw some gas cans down there; shoot them and let those Witches burn to death…. burn to second death."

"They'd startle before we even get a shot. They'll come up here and rip us to shreds before we could even say "Aw shit."!" Coach exclaimed.

Ellis looked at Infinity. "That's all I got Darlin'."

"It's the only plan we got guys. Unless you all just want to sit here and wait to be found and THEN die. We have to at least try, maybe we succeed. Then we are one step closer to rescue, we die? Well we are dead anyways if we stay up here and wait for death to find us, instead of vice versa." Infinity tried.

Rochelle lifted her head from Nick's shoulder. "They're right Nick… we didn't come this far just to die quitters."

"Alright fine, let's find some gas cans and blow these bitches away."

"I think I saw a gas station down the road." Coach stood and pointed out.

"Great. Fantastic. Let's get to it then." Infinity was practically jumping with joy, Ellis couldn't help but smile. Infinity had gotten he team to keep moving, that was cause for celebration…. After they killed the Witches and got into the safe room.

Infinity and Coach went down to get the gas cans while Nick and Rochelle went to look for some grenades, Ellis stayed to keep watch. The Witches would get up and move now and again, but to his dismay none of them ever just up and left; they stayed in the same area. Much to his happiness none of them were aware of his presence. When Infinity and Coach came back with more than enough gas cans the three of them got them ready for their plan. Not five minutes later Nick and Rochelle returned.

Ellis was about to comment on their… messed up appearance but Infinity elbowed him. It was still funny to see Nick's perfect suit messed up with two extra buttons undone, and Rochelle's hair was all about instead of in the perfect ponytail. What was funny was that there was a lipstick smudge on Nicks jaw line. Ellis had to turn around and bite down on his hand to keep himself from laughing out loud.

After 15 minutes of preparation the plan was a go. Infinity and Coach were going to throw the cans of gasoline and at the same time Rochelle was to throw a couple grenades. While the cans were near the ground Nick and Ellis were to shoot them with incendiary rounds causing the cans to combust before they even hit the ground; raining fire on top of the Witches.

Not all plans go as a planned though. It all SEEMED to go as planned, the Witches weren't aware of any danger until after the grenades started to go off around them. Ellis whooped in victory, Nick and Rochelle game a quick victory kiss, and Coach sighed in relief. Infinity was jumping and dancing. Ellis smiled. They had fought and hadn't given up and they had won. They made their way down into the area where the Witches had been and now all lie dead.

Infinity left his side to go get some supplies ready ahead of time so she could get right to work on his leg. Nick and Rochelle were already in the safe room and Coach was helping him the rest of the way.

"Coach! I need some help moving this table!" Ellis heard Nick yell out the door.

Coach looked between the safe door and Ellis.

"Go. It's like 10 more steps for me. I'll be there in a second go ahead."

Coach nodded, and as soon as he disappeared into the safety of the room a loud shriek came from beside him.

"Damn it." He turned and as soon as he did he was tackeled to the ground.

Left4Dead

Infinity heard a loud sheirk from outside and instantly recognized it as a Witch, before she could even react a loud scream resounded in her ears. She ran to the door and stood in the doorway, what she saw scared her. Ellis was pinned by the Witch and was being stabbed continuously with its claws.

"No!" She screamed.

Coach and Nick came running out. She was completely unarmed but she ran up to the Witch and rammed her off of Ellis. Gun fire sounded behind her as she covered Ellis' body with her own. The Witch screamed but the scream ended suddenly, telling Infinity that the Witch was dead.

She sat up so she was kneeling next to Ellis. Ellis was moaning and screaming in pain.

"Ellis, honey, can you hear me?" She cried out desperately over his screams of pain. She stroked his hair away from his forehead and lowered her hands to his chest. The shirt was completely torn and was practically hanging off of him. She grabbed two handfulls of the shirt and ripped the rest of him to get a better look at his wounds. The blood was pulsing out of his many lacerations.

"Oh shit." Nick said from behind her.

"Oh god Ellis don't die." Infinity winced at her own lack of strength in her voice. Ellis couldn't die. Not Ellis. Her hands were shaking as she worked desperatly to stop or at lest slow the bleeding.

Rochelle came running out of the safe house, "We're set up. I found some surgical stuff in there… maybe we could…. Oh my god." Rochelle covered her mouth.

Left4Dead

The sight was gruesome. Nick watched as Rochelle came running to the rest of them, Infinity was working desperately to slow Ellis' bleeding. Ellis was covered in blood, an even pulse coming from his chest had produced too much he was bleeding out. The blood was everywhere, it covered his shirt, his neck and face, the ground around him, Infinity and her clothes, it was everywhere.

Nick heard moaning and a cough. They were attracting attention.

"Infinity we have to get him inside, for his sake and ours." Nick suggested.

Coach nodded his aggreement and the two of them walked towards Infinity and the young man. Infinity didn't respond but kept pressure, she didn't really say or do anything even after they had moved to carry him to the safe room. She just stayed in front of them and kept as much pressure as she could on his wounds.

Left4Dead