''I mean, he's saved my life I can't ju-'' ''Sir, you know we at The Firm take good care of clients, do you not?'' ''Well, yeah, but-'' ''So, why are you trying to justify his crimes against humanity?'' ''I-I don't know...Ok. I'll do it." ''I can see you understand now. Now fuck off, and don't let him die.''
Paige got both James and Alex up and over the wall. I gave her a boost and then Sam. I jumped and grabbed at the edge of the wall, hurling myself over. ''Here.'' I pulled out a map I had taken from John's home. ''We go around here, and see what we can find.'' With that, we sprinted full speed to the direction I pointed to on the map. ''What're we gonna do when we get there?'' Sam asked. ''Like I said, we'll look around, see what's there...Look, I wasn't really expecting this.'' To be honest, These guys were the last thing I needed. ''We almost got killed! Isn't there somewhere we can go, someone you know that could help us?'' Sam obviously forgot something. ''Sam, if it wasn't for you, I might not even be alive. I probably would've offered up my neck to the walkers, or tried to take down Randall's town on my own. Do you not understand, that we both have done each other a lot?'' I was in front of her now. ''Who stuck by you when you got shot? Got you out of the town, dug the bullet out, avenged your father and brother...Saved your brothers and their lives?...'' I could see a twinge of guilt flash across her face. She opened her mouth to say something, but was cut short by a rustle in the bushes.
I looked behind Sam and saw shadows in the distance. ''Get to the lake I showed you on the map, and take this.'' I handed Sam my revolver. I kept it ever since I killed the guard from my meeting with lap dog. Paige gathered up the two kids and started making her way to the river. ''What the fuck are you waiting for? I gave you your invitation, GO!'' Sam didn't say anything but ducked down and walked into the bushes, crouching down. Fuck it. We'll be fine. I hid in the bush, turning my rifle upside down to make a club. I looked up. I could see about 6, but then again, it was almost pitch black so I couldn't really tell. One of them was around my bush, I could hear a twig snapping. I reached out towards the sound and grabbed a hold of the man's collar, tugging him into the bush. I had the element of surprise, and was able to knock the gun out of his grip. Taking my rifle, I wrapped it around his throat, choking him. He was almost completely limp, when I heard another one behind me. I reached out with one hand, grabbing this guy's fallen gun, but still keeping my other hand on the rifle, and aimed it in that direction.
I took a shot, and knew I hit when I heard the man's body collapse on the ground. The guy I was choking was definitely dead, but the rest of them most likely heard me. Noises were all around me, and I assumed they knew I was in the bush. I could see flashlights center on the bush I was in. I aimed the gun where the flashlights seemed to be coming from, and sprayed in that direction. I dropped two flashlights, when the bush was fired upon. That was fine, fire and maneuver. There were two left, no problem. I could see them now, so I sneaked up behind the first one and shot point blank in his back. I was gonna waste the second one, when Sam fired from her position, lodging a bullet in his chest, and dropping him. I grabbed a flashlight and aimed it at Sam. She stepped out and came up to me. ''Why didn't you leave? I promised your father I'd keep you out of harm's way.'' To be fair, it's not like he'd be mad. ''I-I just...wanted to fight?'' What?''You wanted to fight? When I was boxing, I also wanted to fight, but not risk my fucking life, you could've died!'' Well, everything we've done so far could've killed us, so it's not like it's changing anything.
''Fuck you, Vinz! When my father died, I swore to myself I'd get the bastard who did it. I did the same with my brother, and that hasn't come true yet, has it?'' Well, I can't just go back to the house and have her wail on Randall's corpse. ''...Fine. You wanna fight? Sure. But don't blame me when you catch another bullet.'' Who cares anymore. She can shoot. Probably. ''Thank you. Was that so hard?'' Yeah, but whatever. ''Here. You wanna know what I wanna do?'' I took out the map again and aimed my flashlight at it. ''I knew a guy. Floridian like myself. If I had to bet, he'd be going there next. If we can find a car...Maybe a boat, we could go down there and meet up with him.'' I met him once in Georgia. We were good friends, but got split up in an attack. Wherever he went, I'm sure he'd help us. Sam looked at me. ''Before we go, I want you to be honest with me. Why did you stay?'' Should I tell her? ''I mean, I promised your fath-'' ''No. Before that. Help me to my house, stuff like that...'' ''Sam. I like you. A lot. I ran away from a lot of things in life, but I don't want to make you one of them. I don't know where you and I could be headed, but I want to be there with you. You get it now?'' It felt good to let that out. After all this time holding it in. Sam came close, leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. ''Okay. Let's go to Florida.
Talk about development hell, Jesus Christ. Writing this chapter, it would've played out 5 different ways, 3 involving a major character death. In fact, if my computer didn't fuck up this chapter, one of those would've happened, and the story would be going in a COMPLETE different direction. But anyway, let's go to Florida!