Hello, my Revolutionaries.
So howdy to all of yous watching. I'm hoping everyone had a good holiday and that everything is well. It's been a while since I posted something for this fiction, but I hope you all like the present of the recent chapter in The Five That Changed that is actually really good as my writing has drastically improved. I reread my story( Well most it anyway) to get the direction of the plot once again and I admit that my writing was horrible. Very bad writing format with a good story. The plot saved me, not the grammar skills! But if you read both stories and you read the new chapter, you can notice a lot more attention of detail, neater in a sense, more organized. Using less repetition and all that good stuff so, yeah.
READ THE STUFF BELOW!
And now I want some people to get a sense of what this story is about. This fanfic is in a zombie apocalypse, there are zombies, and I know that I haven't been really showing zombies because I'm doing what the Walking Dead Seasons 3 and 4 is doing. Now think of seasons 1 and 2, where there was the ever looming threat of zombies while also showing group conflict and who to follow and whose ideas to go on. Okay now know that the serious threat of the first two season was mainly zombies. But notice how in next seasons that it was not about the zombies in a real sense but the threat of other human survivors to the group, a more serious and deadly threat. And that is what I'm doing with this story, presenting the zombies threat and the effect it has on the world and the survivors such as the kids at first. Then presenting this sanctuary, this place of civilization and the new bringings of this disaster, but also introducing the threat of the old civilization.
There is no agreement between everyone saying that makes them say "Hey, its the end of the world lets all be friends and stop everything that's bad" no there is still greed, there's still money to be wanted, theirs lust, there's affairs, there is still murder, and so on. This story shows the zombie threat while showing a greater threat and that is other humans.
I just want to say that if you're here for zombies like the last story then you probably won't get what you want. I'll definitely show and continue to show zombies, but I plan on focusing on the human threat more, and for the third story and onward will be a mix of both.
Just wanted to explain that to those who are confused or questioning the direction of this story since its mostly different from it's predecessor.
And this story is just getting started with this chapter is probably where most things are going to pick up.
Now without further ado I introduce to you, my fellow Revolutionaries, the next chapter of Winter Crisis.
Chapter Five: Betrayal Arc: Eddy's Finale Part 1
Sun Shadows' Base 9:03 PM Tuesday December 15th, 2013
The first thing Edd and Eddy noticed once they came entered the Sun Shadow's base was that everyone was in a hurry, running past one another with looks of urgency and with some carrying papers, weapons, computers, and gadgets. Double D reached out to one person to stop and ask questions.
"Hey, what's going on?" The one Double D asked was wearing a lab coat and had glasses, dark brown hair, and stood at a higher height than him and Eddy.
"Oh, Lieutenant Edd," Then his demeanor changed once he saw Eddy. "Lieutenant Eddy." He spat Eddy shrugged it off, used to such greetings.
"Well, everyone's working fast because a forecast was posted a while ago saying a huge winter storm is on it's way and Jon ordered all of us to pack up everything to not get damaged and board up the windows." Suddenly he turned to Eddy. "I also want to say thank you Eddy, getting us in trouble with the Lion Legion like you did. I understand your defense, but you need to hold back on killing!"
With that he left, taking the small amount of paper in his hands with him.
"Seems like Jon informed them of everything." Eddy said and face palmed himself knowing that everyone was going to be at odds with him.
"Dammit Jon!" Eddy said aloud.
"Look Eddy, since this storm is coming, I'm going to go check on Marie and help prepare for the storm. You go to Jon for debriefing." Edd left through the same entrance they arrived in leaving Eddy and not awaiting a response.
Eddy decided to not worry about it for now and was going to do the same thing as his friend, only for Jon's voice to come over the speaker phone calling Eddy's name to his office. Eddy sighed and made his way to the man's office, receiving similar words and looks that told the teen that they were mad.
He made it to the office and allowed himself in. Jon was already waiting on the other side of the door, leaning on the desk. Jon was calm, stoic, not showing a single sign of emotion despite the storm looming over everyone's head.
"Hello Eddy." Then the monotone of his voice.
"Hi, what do you want?" Eddy asked bluntly and disrespectful. Jon was used to such actions done by Eddy, Cori, pretty much everyone who was an Elite and two others that were in the lieutenant branch.
"I assume you're being scorned and disliked by the other Shadows." Jon stated, not ask.
"Yeah, I wonder who the hell told them. I thought you wouldn't!" Eddy exclaimed in anger.
"Eddy, this is not a faction where silly rumors and gossip spread freely. This is a clan. A clan is family and I believe in no secrets between family. So I told them as part of your punishment, you will be scorned and be hurt by everyone, whether its physical or emotional. The Elites have no problem with it. All of them wanted a reason to increase the intensity of training, especially Brunzo." Jon explained and Eddy still didn't like it.
"Dammit, why do I have to be the backlash? I only acted in self-defense!" Eddy said.
"I know, everyone knows. All the Shadows accept that answer and knew of such outcomes when it comes with you."
"Then why is everyone pissed at me?" Eddy asked. Suddenly, Jon pushed off the counter and walked in his office. Eddy followed in pursuit of his answer. Jon talked as they walked in.
"Simple, you did it in anger and wasn't thinking. I was informed of the incident at the Coffee Bar and told them of the events that I was told. We all know the rules of the Badlands and knew the consequences once one enters. The problem was that you were ambushed by a highly known faction and I know you knew who they were, and the fact of knowing consequences of attacking other factions. You killed them in anger, not for once thinking of the one's you were affecting if you did. I told you to start caring for others and I hope this will be a big push for you start helping out." Jon explained everyone's feelings.
Eddy wanted to say something, but could only stand in the middle of the office with Jon starting at him behind his neat desk. Eddy stared at his feet, hands in a tight fist and shaking with anger.
"You're angry, I understand. You're angry for what you did and paying for it, you probably believe that you deserve better and that due to you being a higher rank that everyone equal and below should respect you and treat you just as they did before everything. But even if you are an Elite, this is a clan and we openly show those of higher rank of our opinion on their decisions. That's why the Sun Shadow's kinship and teamwork was. and still is, so strong, we share our opinions and those high ranking accepted them. I promise you Eddy, you'll get past this and everyone will forgive you in time. All of this pent up anger and frustration will push everyone to grow in strength." Eddy wanted to punch Jon in the face. He only wanted them to be angry so that they will get stronger! Some leader, he thought.
"Don't think I only did it to make everyone stronger either," Jon read Eddy's very thoughts. " I'm trying to clarify that this will makes us all stronger, but together. Everyone will want to use their strong emotions to do something constructive, most of everyone anyway. You need to do so as well. Work that anger to fuel them to become a better friend, leader, and family member. Help out more with training and stop focusing on yourself, help others when they are going through something, be less selfish." Jon said and Eddy still refused to look at him and was shaking with anger.
Jon stood up and walked up to the angry Eddy and put his right hand on his shoulders;subsequently, making the boy flinch.
"Eddy look at me, now!" Jon said in his authority voice that demanded obedience. Eddy looked up slowly, it took a minute but he was staring at Jon, his eyes still holding contained anger.
"Don't do everything on instinct. Go help everyone board up the base and surrounding areas for them to be safe. Think on my words, go punch an object that isn't alive, and release the anger in some way. Go, I have work to do." Those final words was all Eddy needed to bolt out of the door, running past everyone to the outside.
"He doesn't know a damn thing!" Eddy thought once he was outside. The wind was stronger and everyone were still running, now carrying wood, nails and hammer.
"Damn him! Thinking he could get to me like that! I'll show him how to use my anger!" Eddy made way to the gate and ordered the person to let him out. The gate guard was about to argue, but was stopped by the intense glare Eddy gave and opened the doorway out of the base's perimeter.
He continued his sprint in anger not stopping for anything, not heading for the city's walls, only heading deeper into the city's infested areas, not caring for the snow that was starting to fall and the stronger winds.
Ed. Brunzo's Shadowers Clan Home. 9:34 P.M.
"Get those windows boarded asap! We can't be taking our time." Ed ordered as the men under his command grabbed wood planks, nails, and hammers. They hammered the windows closed from both the outside and inside for maximum protection.
"Yes sir!" They all responded.
"You," Ed pointed to a woman in the middle of hammering the wood."go and take inventory of our food supply and make sure we have enough for everyone. We skipped dinner due to the announcement."
"Yes sir!" She responded while running past him to storage at second floor.
"Shadower Lin," Ed was gretted by a confirmation by a man, out of the usual B's uniform. Asain and reaching Ed's height with brushed back black hair. He was wearing a white sweate, blue pants, and white socks.
"Yes, Lieutenant Ed!" He responded with perfect english.
" I want a headcount of everyone in our clan and tell me of everyone who isn't here. Don't worry of B either, he'll be gone for the night on buisness."
"Sir yes sir!" Lin said going to the first floor to work his way up.
"You there, the one sitting, since you need something to do I want you to check the heating and make sure the heaters work in every room they're in!" Ed shouted to one of the man sitting down for a break. Ed was taught by Brunzo that being lazy was being weak and they were not weak.
"Yes sir." He replied tiredly and moving at slow speeds.
"Newbie." Ed whispered. Over the last two weeks they had a large surge of new recruits and they were lazy. It was always heard training them and Ed hoped that by next week, with B's extreme training, they won't be sitting down for breaks. The woman that Ed sent to check on the food supply came running towards him and slid to a stop.
"Lieutenant Ed, I checked the stock of our food, we're good for the night and for tomorrow on food for everyone here." The woman said. Ed nodded and told her to make sure every window was boarded and to go outside to see those on ladders doing the outside. She left to follow the orders.
The radio that was hooked to Ed's pants buzzed on and he reached for it.
"Can you repeat that?" Ed asked.
"Ed, it's here! Get everyone inside!" Edd's voice said and in the background he could here the strong winds.
"Okay, everyone its time to get inside! The storm is here!" Ed shouted and everyone quickly finished up any windows. Shadower Lin passed him with a clipboard and shouting names and getting responses of "here" or "present" and marked down anyone who responded. Ed looked around the room, seeing the many door rooms that were open in the wide, short hallway. There was ten doors all around with one leading downstairs and the others being rooms. The door that lead downstairs was in front of him, four doors to his right, four to his left, and behind was his personal quarters and the largest room in the building. The walls were painted white and the floor was wood.
The entire home was big and had about the same amount of rooms on each floor, a kitchen on the second floor and said floor was also used primarily for storage. The first floor was for sleeping and one entertainment room with a medium sized flat screen. Any other room had bunk beds in them. Ed's room had a single twin bed, two windows boarded up, his gear and weapons, some training devices and tools, and clothes in a small closet.
"Sir, there is a few missing from the base and I checked with the job boards and saw that they were on missions around or out of New Chicago." Shadower Lin said, arriving back in the hallway and handing the clipboard to Ed so he can read it over.
"Thank you. Go get some rest now or do something to keep you busy. The storm is going to be all night, morning, and afternoon. Won't stop until next night." Ed said at a more relaxed tone.
"You too Sir. Oh, mostly everyone is in the entertainment room, anyone else is doing whatever else they can think of to do." Lin said going to the stairs. At the door the person Ed sent to check the heaters came through sweating and looking more tired than he was before he was sent.
"Everything is...working...sir." He responded.
"Thank you. Get some rest." Ed didn't need to say so as he went in the nearest room and the thud against a mattress and the sound of light snoring was all he needed.
Ed moved from the spot he stood for a good thirty minutes to do a check over on everyone and the windows. The wind can be heard banging against the windows and Ed could here a rapid beat as a sign of hail.
"I hope everyone is alright." Ed murmured as he walked around the third floor and saw a few sleeping, some reading books, talking or trying to on their phones, looking on the web for whatever on their phones, and one small group was playing cards and another chess.
Ed moved down to the second floor and checked the rooms that were used for bedding and saw no one in them. The kitchen had a three others preparing the meals and drinks for everyone. When he left the kitchen was when his walkie talkie came on.
"Ed?" Ed reached for the device and clicked the button on the side.
"Yes, Jon?" Ed asked the List agent.
"Just checking in and making sure everyone is accounted and safe." Jon said, sounding more like a robot over the communicator.
"Everyone is here on my side except a few out on missions." Ed reported and can hear a slight shuffle of paper in the background.
"Good, stay safe and I'll contact you soon." Jon told in a more half-minded tone, focusing on something else.
"Wait, have everyone else been checked in yet?" Ed asked with worry of his group of friends.
"Yes, Eddward's, Kevin's, Rolf's, everyone including Dante in my group, everyone but Eddy in Cori's, Kasumi's, Corvo's, Oron's, La's and Techlin is somewhere in this base." Jon said and Ed grew alarmed.
"Eddy isn't in there? Where is he?" Ed asked knowing that he knew stuff like that.
"I had a talk with him and he stormed out of the building. He's probably still out there." Jon noted without any hint of concern.
"What? Then I'll go-"
"No, you won't go and do anything. Eddy is thinking over some things that I told him about. I'm sure he's fine and just releasing anger." Jon interrupted the strong boy.
"But," Ed started and a click and static was all that he received. He disconnected. That meant it was final and didn't want an argument.
Ed heard a harder knocking against the wood and the sound of wind was stronger than it was minutes ago. It wasn't safe out there at all, no one should be out there at all.
"Especially Eddy." Ed couldn't do anything, it was an order given by Jon and Jon wanted orders to be done to the letter. He wanted to do it and he wanted to go out, but Ed knew Eddy. If he was out there then he was far into the city ruins outside of the walls. It would take too long for him to search and he could die, even with his warm armor and helmet to protect him.
"Please Jon be right. Please Eddy come back soon." Ed didn't doubt his friend's ability to survive. It would take more than a storm like this to put him down. Ed decided to go back in the kitchen and help the others make the food, that should keep his mind off of things. For now.
Eddy. A few minutes before the storm.9:32 P.M.
Two zombies fell instantly by the bullets piercing their brains. Their brethren around their bodies met the same fate as them and most didn't know of it due to the weapons the bullet came from a weapon being suppressed. The thuds of the bodies made them move, groan and slowly turn and make way to the source of the sound. They looked and saw nothing but bodies and they too fell soon.
After another minute the street was clear with a silently seething Eddy holding hisM12-Locust and reloading the clip. Eddy learned from a near death experience that his old, loud anger nearly got him dead on a solo supply run back in his hometown. He didn't calm down in the least, but he kept it inside, holding it for the zombies that'll come. It was a great way of releasing stress.
But Eddy wasn't satisfied, he wanted more blood. He had a lot of anger use and enough ammo to last him a day on his own. Another lesson taught him was to carry more while also looking lighter. A lot of spots to hide the clips without no one else the better on knowing it. Eddy scanned the neighborhood he was in, surrounding him were various two story suburban homes with rusted fences, dead yards, and broken down porches and broken windows. Most of the doors were loosly nailed down by wood and some were ripped off the hinges or hanging from old rusted ones. Bloody hand prints were on the edges and some had dry and brown blood trails. There was a few old cars and trucks with cases of overgrowth, flat tires, rusted part, chipped paint, and dead bodies inside the seats.
Eddy felt the strong winds around him and saw the snow falling. Eddy felt a storm coming. He didn't care for it though as it was insignificant in his rage.
Eddy saw his next set of targets with their glowing red eyes. A simple, small horder that a newbie survivor would have no trouble dealing with. They were just down the street and passing an ambulance flipped on it's side. Eddy, using his quick and half silent speed, he was able to get to them and one turned to him and groaned to the others of it's discovery of a meal.
"First target." Eddy thought and was about to shoot only for the sound of gunshots to kill his targets. Eddy was left confused as he wondered who else was out here with him. Then Eddy heard the roar of an engine, it caught him by complete surprise as he didn't hear anyone out here the minutes before he came nor did he hear anyone. He next heard the vehicle coming down the street in front of him. The Blaze went for a car and hid behind it just as the vehicle came into view of the street. Everything but the wind was silent and it roared very loudly in Eddy's ear and the boy could barely make-out of the words of those who possessed the vehicle. Eddy saw a search light come on and scan the darkness of the night.
"Where the...someone else...I'm doing it!" Was the bits of conversation that Eddy could catch due to his distance and the weather.
They knew of the medium sized horde of this street and were probably wondering who killed them all. They were searching for him now. He wouldn't let them find him. The search light passed the car he was hiding behind, and he saw it pass over again and going the opposite way. Eddy took this time to look over his cover to see the vehicle. It was a Ford truck, heavily armored, had a 50. Cal on the roof and a large search light on the side. The Sun Shadow lieutenant knew that from the look of their clothes that he can see barely by the light of seach light on the vehicle. They didn't belong to any clan, wore clothes that looked ragged, they looked like they had a lot of stuff in the back of the truck, and there was three of them. Eddy's first guess was a team of bounty hunters, but the clutter of the stuff made Eddy believe they were Scavengers.
One thing he learned of the Scavengers was that the spent most of their time out of the city walls. Only coming in to sell what they have and going back out once they ran low on stuff to sell. They took request to find things others left behind, for a hefty price. He also knew that they could be very untrustworthy. Willing to help you through something, then willing to kill you for a better price. Eddy's opinion on them was that they were free lance mercenaries who did it for money and cared for themselves. A group, at this time of night, he would not care to meet. He rather avoid human contact, being too annoyed at the fact of Jon's words. So he waited for them to go so that he can continue on his killing.
Eddy ducked back down as the search light came to his position. When he ducked under Eddy noticed the amount of snow following from the ground. The snowflakes were large and stuck to the ground, the wind was also picking up making it look like a blizzard and Eddy unable to see much. Eddy then heard the voice of the gunner, though the words were gone and replaced by the sound of the blizzard around him. The engine came on and the scavenger's truck came down the street he was on and rode pass him. Not knowing of his presence. Eddy stood, some of the snow that accumulated on him falling and the rest being shaken off.
Eddy saw the vehicle disappear with the blizzard with the headlights being barely seen as they continued on. Eddy went the opposite way to try and find another target in this weather. A few minutes later and the next block being quickly passed. Eddy made way to a home, feeling the hail that hit him against the head. Screw the rage killing, he needed to get inside something or he'll catch something. Eddy felt the cold weather as well. Hugging his body close to him, wishing he had his yellow jacket but dropped it somehow.
"Damn it!" Eddy shouted and the sound carried somewhere in the wind. Eddy looked around for shelter and barely saw the home that he ran by and quickly made a turn for said home. He busted down the door and closed it behind him. Eddy sighed in relief and shook the snow off of him. He still felt cold and the broken windows bringing the snow and chill was not helping. Eddy moved away from the door and looked around the home. It may be cold, but it was a lot less colder than the outside.
Eddy remembered his new phone and fished it out of his pant's pocket. He clicked it on and saw that the battery was at forty-three percent. He swiped to the flashlight app and the next minute the light came on and illuminated the area in front of him. Eddy scanned the abandoned home and saw it was in an airtight condition. Everything was covered in dust and some of the furniture was knocked aside as if leaving in a rush. The windows were broken, but still had wood covering them pretty well. Eddy looked to his side to see a coatrack and saw an old leather jacket, instantly Eddy reached for the brown jacket and put it on. Somehow being a perfect size for him.
"Thank you God." Eddy whispered as he felt the warmth come back to him. The sweater under him was too wet to bring its warmth as it did before the storm.
Eddy got out the phone and held it up. He glanced out the broken glass of the window and saw and heard the storm going strong.
"I'll stay until morning." Eddy thought and decided to explore his temporary home. He left the entrance to enter the living room. On his left was a fireplace with no wood and a rusted gate. Over it was the outline of a painting that once hanged on the rusted nail. Eddy saw a picture frame and moved closer to examine it. He grabbed it from the ledge and wiped the dust off to see the smiling face of a little African-American boy who looked no younger than seven years of age. It was a school picture if the background of stars had to say anything. He saw another frame and put the other back and grabbed and wiped the other of dust.
It was a family photo and had a crack that ran through the center. A woman of the same ethnicity was on the boys left and wore a pink dress and hat. A white man stood on the right of the young boy that was dressed in a suit. The kid was the same age as the last picture and was dressed in a blue and yellow shirt, brown pants, and the shoes were unseen. They were all smiling and the background of a green yard, a table with presents, and Eddy guessed a cake. It was a birthday. In the corner was the date it read February 6th, 2010.
"A few months before the Outbreak." Eddy put it back and saw no more picture frames. He scanned the area with the light and his eyes laid upon the table to see a leather covered book that was left open. Eddy moved towards the table and crouched to the level of the table. He grabbed the book, flipping to the cover and seeing the title Survival of Lowes stitched on the cover. Under the title was black corners fit for a picture. Eddy saw that it looked no more than thirty or so pages.
He put it down and continued to explore. He wasn't that bored yet. He looked around and the light shown to ways he could go. On the right was a door that probably led to the kitchen and few feet on its left was the stairs to the second floor. Eddy felt that it would be pointless to search for food in the kitchen, but he was feeling the hunger in him at skipping both lunch and dinner. He went for the kitchen in hope of finding any type of food.
"Maybe they left some canned goods." Eddy whispered as he pushed the door open with a loud creaking. It was a small kitchen, nothing impressive about it. A rusted stove, a fridge, cabinets all around and a broken table that was cracked in the middle as if something, or someone was thrown on it. There was three chairs knocked over and he saw another that laid shattered. Eddy noticed that the door that lead to the outside to the left of the door he entered was closed off by six planks of woods.
"Guess one got in and they closed off the entrance. Good thinking." Eddy noticed in a hushed tone and his started his search for a meal. It ended with nothing but two cans of fruit, one can of beef broth, one can of beans, a small case of beef jerky and luckily he found half a bottle of half frozen water in the fridge. The Blaze did find a few pots that were somehow well preserved. He laid out the food and one of the smaller pots he found on the table
"Well that's food, I should get a fire going with that fireplace so I can boil the water so I won't get sick. Maybe warm up the broth for soup and mix in the beans and a little bit of the jerky." Eddy got to that immediately. The young boy went back into the kitchen to retrieve the pieces of wood from the chair that was broken. He also grabbed the other chairs to be used as firewood. Once that was done he prepped the fireplace and took pushed the ash and snow that was left and pushed it to the side of inside of the fireplace. He put the pieces of the chair inside and was about to lite it with his lighter. Eddy found that he didn't had his lighter on him and cursed to himself for not having one. It probably was in his jacket that he lost.
Eddy made way to the kitchen and did a double take to find something that would make fire, he found nothing for that use. Eddy looked around and saw another door that he overlooked and it was unblocked. He guessed it was to the garage and he was right when he entered through it. It had nothing in it but empty shelves, workbench and wide open space. But he saw a jerry can on its side next to the door and he lift it to see that it still had about a fourth of the gasoline inside.
"At least it'll be easier to lite." Eddy thought bringing the jerry can to his stash in the living room. Eddy checked his phone and saw that it was now forty percent. He liked the phone not only for its useful apps and information on everything in the city, and outside city factions, but its strong battery life.
Eddy still needed something to bring the fire alive and he guessed the only place to check would be the upstairs. It was at this point that Eddy heard noise from the upstairs and his hands were armed with his yo-yos. Eddy stared at the ceiling to see if the noise would come and it did a minute later. Eddy went to the stairs slowly eying the ceiling then the stairs. He took his time going up and was soon at the top floor. All the doors were closed.
Eddy waited for the sound to come again and he didn't hear nothing as a few minutes passed. He figured that he needed to risk it and search all the rooms to find the noise. He started for the door closest to him and on his right. He stepped up slowly and put his ear against the chipped paint and hard surface to hear what was inside and was greeted with nothing. He then took hold of the knob and turned and pushed open the door, flashed the light inside with his right hand and holding his M12-Locusts.
He was greeted with an abandoned bedroom with the lone window boarded up and lots of dust flying in the air due to his quick action. There was a bed against the wall and a closet to the right of that. There was a few scattered toys laying around, covered in a fine layer of dust like everything else in the home. There was a few posters of superheroes on the wall. One last thing to note was a dresser and next to it was a desk with a lamp. The shadower took a guess at it being the son's room
"Nothing." Eddy whispered and left with the door open and checked the one acrossed from the boy's room. Doing what he did before to the previous room he opened and dust flew across the room. A bed and dresser was all he saw and no window. Cori's 1st lieutenant assumed this to be the guest room.
Eddy then stepped back out in the hallway and he saw the final door at the end. The parent's room had to be his wildest guess. Eddy didn't bother putting his ear against and it kicked the door down and moved in. He quickly searched around and saw the source of the noise, it was alone. In the corner and was frozen over something. Eddy saw it moved and he saw that it was there for awhile if it was covered in dust too. He heard it's growl slowly rattle out of its throat and it turned to him, eyes glowing the familiar Nightmare red that his friends saw each night from them back in Peach Creek.
Eddy took note of it's frail body and when it stood to walk towards him. Instantly it toppled over with the sound of bones breaking. He felt that this was nothing more than a shame and actually felt guilt over it struggle to him. Eddy decided to end it's misery and shot it in the head. It was dead.
"Why was he in the corner?" He thought and looked to said corner and saw a piece of paper nailed to the wall and he saw pieces of flesh hanging off of it.
"Nailed himself to a wall." Eddy concluded had to admit that his plan worked in the end. He stepped over the body and ripped the note from the nail. He folded it in the pocket and searched the body of the man to find anything that can help him lite the fire and he found an old lighter that was see through. It was halfway full. Successful with his hunt and he went down the stairs to start the fire.
Ten Minutes Later
The fire was roaring alive and gave warmth and light for Eddy. He put the pot with the beef broth, beans, and half of the jerky over the fire with an improvised grill made of the metal fencing of the fire. Eddy flipped the couch on its side legs and sat watching it. The jerry can was next the table and his food was laid across the table. Eddy had took off the jacket and the bulletproof vest and left them on right arm of the couch. His weapons were now on the floor on top of a sheet save for one of his yo-yos that he was using as a can opener.
Cori made sure that he informed everyone that the yo-yos were good for attacking at medium range due to the elongated blades being able to slice through bone, but it was also a knife if you wanted to attachment of one blade popping out. The Elite informed them that it was good for survival means.
"And this is survival." Eddy muttered as he got the last can of fruit open. Eddy slowly ate the food with a fork he found in the kitchen. A spoon was next to him on the couch.
Eddy ate carefully and didn't rush it. He almost seemed gentlemen like as if he was eating a meal of the finest.
"I may be alone but I'm not an animal. Why Lee wanted me to be more proper in my eating is beyond me." Eddy remembered the one time Lee and him went to a fancy restaurant and his table manners were lacking, extremely. Lee was embarrassed by him and forced him to start learning table manners and it was good for a month until Lee died. Eddy leaned back as he ate more of the half rotten fruit in a can. His thoughts going to recent events. Having learned to rethink about what happened after his rage fits. Something he learned before Lee was gone and decided to use it for this moment.
But then he laid his eyes on the book he found on the table. Survival of the Lowes was the title. He wondered who wrote it as it was no claim on it. He put the can of fruit on the table and grabbed the book. He opened it to the first page where it was titled authors note.
He started to the read:
Hello to whoever is reading this. I shall remain anonymous as my current name is not one that many will like. You can call me Writer though as it is a proper title of my trade. Before any assumptions, this is not my story rather it is the story of a family and their times after the Rise of Those Fallen, my own personal title for the beginning of this zombie outbreak. Their story is not the only one and it is only one of many and should be considered true. Not fiction. If you find this book then you are either a scavenger from the stronghold of Chicago who got curious; a person who bought this from a scavenge; an intelligent bandit; a lone traveler not accepting the comforts of our old civilization; maybe a man on a journey. I don't care who you are but this story is one that must be read and not for my benefit, but to honor a fallen friend and a fellow human being. This is the story of a small family called the Lowes; Jade Lowe, Cristy Lowe, and Nile Lowe. Enjoy!
The shadower couldn't help the boredom inside of him to build over. Sounding more like a book Double D would read, he thought, as he decided that with no internet, radio, or TV, that he might as well just read it to pass time. He picked up the fork and ate more of the fruit before continuing to the next page.
There was no chapter title. There was only a date and it was April 29, 2010. A week after the outbreak.
It was a journal entry in a sense and explained how the Jade Lowes, the father who was an owner of a small clothing chain, was attacked by a zombie co-worker. The worker was claiming to have been sick and was going to ask to go home early. When she came inside her eyes were bloodshot, her nose was slightly bleeding, and bloody tissues in her hand. She started slowly of her not feeling well and was going home until he hunched over and starting throwing up blood, Jade said it was like the Devil's Niagara Falls by the amount she spewed out. By the time she was done he was kneeled over with her, his suit covered in blood as much as the floor. She was dead on his floor. He called the paramedics, the line was busy. Then the once dead woman rose and attacked him. He struggled, but eventually got out and trapped her inside the office and ran outside. He was greeted with chaos as everyone ran around, screaming as if Hell has come to the very neighborhood.
The next few pages said of how he got to his car and ran home. Seeing that more people, had bloodshot eyes, bloody mouths, and he saw a man tearing the a man's insides out. It was horrific, he described and arrived home to stop his old neighbor who was banging against his door of his home, sick like all the others. It ended with him putting a wooden stick from a tree through his eyes and into the brain. His wife was hiding inside with their child and was relieved to see her husband alive. Then another date came to the next page.
Three weeks after the outbreak and the Lowes had sealed the doors and windows shut and left to themselves. A week ago they lost power and used their fireplace for heat and light. There were candles in the room. A short one before the next date came.
Two months after the outbreak. The Lowes allowed strangers inside the home and they feigned their kindness and held the family up. Cristy Lowe was raped by the men and he and I were forced to watch. I have arrived only days ago. They left, leaving a family scared of not only the dead but of their own kind. I was frighten too and I offered the best comfort I can. Another day passed and I did the scavenging for food as they took nearly everything the Lowes had stored and all of the weapons and ammunition. They left us with nothing and Cristy was recovering, I knew that the damage was decades worth of repairing but I believed she was strong. Another reason I took the scavenging was due to their fear of others attacking them and it was at dinner with the little food that I could find that now, in this world, it was every group, man, woman, or child for themselves.
Eddy stopped to get the broth which was now boiling and after giving a quick taste he poured the beef broth jerky into a bowl and ate. The wind stilled howled and the hail continued the assault on anything solid. The boy was glad for the weather as the zombies, special and normal, would be dulled down to the point that they were considered less of a threat. He ate half of the soup, finished the first can of fruit, and nibbled on the jerky before he went back to reading.
The "chapter" ended saying that their life was going to get better. Jade was the optimistic one and was the string that held on to the thread that was Cristy who was the only one she has left, he and her son. I could only imagine the Lowe's youngest member developing in a horrible way due to the experiences of the day prior and the months before. I can only think of the man he might be, or if he'll even make that.
The next date came and now it was ten months after the outbreak. We were not dumb, we were not blind, and not deaf. We heard the walls rise from the ground as if it was next door, it was shocking to see such tall, black walls to arise. We were left clueless as to where it came from, but was there rising to the sky was gray and bleak as the hope of the Lowes. Cristy was recovering from the event still and was now able to go scavenging again. And that was when she and her husband, leaving me with Nile, saw the wall and their hope was renewed as they came. The married couple told me of what they saw and what we all heard. Skeptical was the word for the days that passed. We, and I guess any other survivor out there, waited to see what the wall would do. We all had been out here long enough to know that it could be a trap, the bandits grip on the Chicago suburbs being strong.
Then the loud speaker came, the U.S. Government called to any and all survivors to come to the wall, where it was safe, civilization. The Lowes were happy, I was happy. We made preparation to the wall, but we didn't leave immediately. It was night and no one wanted to go out at night. Too dangerous. So we waited until morning. We should have left that night.
Eddy went back to finishing the soup and ate more jerky. Leaving the other fruit can undisturbed. The story was almost over, he noticed. Only a few more pages.
Something happened today. I lost a friend. It was a normal morning, dark and quiet, but with more energy. Clothes and scavenged weapons were all in backpacks for everyone to carry. I informed them that my stay will end once we enter and I noticed the sadness to see me go, yet they understood my reasoning. I was putting them in danger due to my actions two months ago. I didn't want that. Jade was filling the car with the food and was almost done. Suddenly, a hunter appeared, it's face unshadowed to show a skinless beast's face. It was surprising to us all and Jade was caught off guard. We all rushed from our places to see the problem as we all heard a crash and wood breaking. The dinner table was split in half, a chair was in pieces as the hunger clawed at Lowe who held it from reach with his longer arms. Then Lowe screamed in pain and I feared for the reason as blood came running down his arm and I knew as I impaled his head with a piece of the table and it fell lifelessly to the ground and Jade cradling his hand, and the cries of his wife and child that I had lost Jade Lowe. He was bit in his hand. He was a goner.
The family cried and I simply waited. After ten minutes, Jade felt the symptoms saying it was time for them to leave. He gave a final hug and kiss to his wife, who didn't make lip contact as she would have been affected as well. He hugged his son and told him to take care of his mother and be strong. The kid already knew and he was knowledgeable of what would happen if anyone got bit. Sad that he grew up this way. Hopefully the walls will offer something different.
Once the family left I offered as a friend to put him down. He disagreed saying that he would take care of it himself. He started having nosebleeds and coughed blood. He quickly wrote a note and went upstairs and I followed. I entered just in time to see him nail himself to the wall, screaming from the pain and I wondered if he had gone mad.
He guessed that with him being nailed that he was no threat to anyone. A note was left for anyone who found him and cared enough to kill him and bury him proper. He didn't tell the contents of the note. Saying it was for the one who found him. He told to guide his family to the wall and to keep them safe through the tears that he let flow freely. I didn't cry as I wasted my tears months ago. I gave him a nod and I promised him that I will and told him that I hope he finds peace on the other side. He thanked me and he threw up the blood and I watched as he died. I left before he turned but when I reached the garage I can hear the growling. I took the car with the wife and child inside and we drove to the walls, we registered under the system, and we were safe.
Eddy saw it was the last page as it cut short and he flipped to the other side to see the author note.
I thank you for reading this story. Over a year has passed and Nile and Cristy are fine and well. I left for the outside world, to explore it, to become a survivor. I wanted to hear others' stories and record them in my writing. I hope you are resting well, Jade. See you reader and so long my dear friend.
"The End." Eddy thought. So the zombie upstairs was Jade Lowe; a survivor close to safety, but didn't make it in time. Eddy had to admit that it was a good read and passed the time as Eddy looked to his phone and saw it was now 10:56 P.M. Eddy finished eating the food, leaving the jerky left by the Lowes due to the unexpected encounter, unfinished as a snack. Eddy added more to the fire as it was dying. He drunk some of the filtered water.
The leader of the Eds sighed as he thought it over. The story of a family struggles and how in the end they came out fine but with loses. Eddy thought back to what he said in the sewer. Then he felt her, somehow Eddy felt Lee next to him. He looked around and saw only himself, but yet he felt Lee. He felt like she was trying to talk to him from the other side. Eddy shook that thought and decided to rest. It was all he needed. Lee next to him was just a feeling. Nothing else. His eyes stayed on the fire and his eyes slid to a close. He was sound asleep and through the darkness of his dream he saw Lee not a feet away from his face.
So here it is. Finished with part one of Eddy's Finale. I'm pretty sure what you all are thinking about the title and saying no way. Not like this. Don't worry, I'll make it painless. Maybe.
But I say this chapter and next will mostly be Eddy centric with the arguement between them being a little slow in sense but I think I left a good impression on Eddy. The story I thought of was my own thinking and it has no resemblence to anything else and if it does then tell me because I didn't know about this. But I say let's keep this going strong and let this story survive.
The next chapter to be updated will be on the Book One: The Five That Changed, which is nearing the end and I am happy as that chapter will be like the end of Super Eds, then more as I won't stop there and continue to write on and explain the story and the epilouge. So now its pressuring but everything is planned and I will finish and I will go further.
So without further talking here is the next chapter
Chapter Six: Betrayal Arc: Eddy's Finale Part 2.
Now I will see you my fellow Revolutionaries in the next chapter.
Review and stay safe out there.