The group of survivors were now cruising down an open highway road, no worries of infected or tanks since they got in. They were headed for New Orlanes, and fast on their way. They mused on everything that had just happened to them, taking it jokingly and all staying what they thought was the coolest or the the most exciting, or what they thought they wouldn't make it out of. Ellis of course was blowing off about how that massive charger thing nearly knocked him clear into next week.

"That hunter thing jus' sprung up out of no where and boom! Nicky got him in a single shot, mid-air right infront of me. I told him we'd just call it a hunter as I ran by him, and the second I look up I feel like a wall's jus been thrown inta me!"

"Kinda looked like it too." Nick admitted with a small smirk. At this the other's of the group laughed.

"I bet it did!" Ellis' blue eyes shined brightly as he continued. "Anywho, that thing must've knocked me clear over fifty yards. Then if that wasn't enough he started slamming me into the ground! Ya'll were already up ahead, so I thank my lucky stars Nick was still there." He patted the said gambler on his shoulder as a thank you and he nodded in response.

"By the way, how are you holding up?" Coach motioned to Nick. "It looked like you got slammed by that two ton infected pretty hard."

"Tank." Ellis emphasized.

"Yeah." Ro added.

Nick shrugged it off. "I'm fine." This was marginally true. He torso was probably nothing but a dark shade of purple and he was sure at least one of his ribs were cracked, or at least it felt like it. But would that stop him? Hell no. "You guys need to try a lot harder if you want to get rid of me."

At this Coach and Ro chucked, Nick sitting back fairly pleased with himself but something caught his eye. Ellis wasn't laughing, in fact for a moment he looked completely devastated. Nick followed his gaze out the wind shield and saw his disappointment. The highway up ahead was filled with nothing but stopped and over turned cars. Soon the other two of the group noticed and the car went silent. Ellis stopped only when they met the edge and could go no further. They got out and looked around, there was no way avoiding it.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news guys," Nick started. "But unless Ellis knows how to build a monster truck, we aren't driving through this."

Ellis pouted in a very child like manner and shamefully kicked a tire, a feat he never thought he would condone on the great Jimmie Gibbs Jr. stock car. "Sorry, guys. Guess it wasn't such a hot idea after all." He hung his head slightly, feeling as if they were back to square one and all the blame laid on him.

Nick didn't like this. The sad look on this kid didn't suit him at all. He literally started feeling depressed. "Hey," He said placing a hand on the country boy's shoulder in an attempt to cheer him up, which in all actually he was terrible at. "Don't sweat it Ellis. At least you got us out of that mall." The kid nodded to himself, a small smile starting to appear on his face. The gambler gave him a pat on the back and looked to the useless vehicle, glad he had even accomplished that. "Goddamn you, Jimmie Gibbs Jr.!"

At this Ellis turned, his usual smile back as he popped out the trunk. "That's not cool Nick." He joked at the conman, forcing a tug at his mouth as well.

"Hey," Coach grinned as he looked up to a darkly lit billboard. "Whispering Oaks! Shit I used to go there as a kid!"

Nick noticed this sign as well and any traces of a what could've been a would be smile disappeared. A carnival. Freaking perfect. "Oh good." He said sarcastically. "Now we can die there as adults." He clicked his gun a grabbed one of the spare health kits they had grabbed from the mall.

Ellis chuckled and pumped his shotgun. "Aw, come on Nick." He started, catching up to the angered man. "Ya ain't got nothin' against carnivals, do ya?"

"Just clowns." He answered bitterly. He hated clowns more than he hated alcohol limits in Vegas. All they ever did was get in your face, with their own screwed up face!

"These abandoned cars go on for miles..." Ro stated, hopping up on the hood of an old Volkswagen.

"Yeah," Coach ran a hand over the dirt hood and rubbed it between his fingers before bushing it off on his pants. "Maybe they left 'em when they got rescued."

Nick took one look to the bloody, corpse fallen streets. "That's... one theory." He cocked his gun and started firing. They were making a good pace, running forward as they faced off against the new round of infected.

The first fall back came from a spitter, landing a nice big glob of her mess right in between them all. Nick got the worst of it, a majority of the splatter landing on his jacket and slightly burning his neck. He groaned and ripped the thing off, speeding out of the goo as it sunk into the concrete while viciously swiping at his neck.

"This used to be a nice," Coach grunted as he bashed in her vile head, avoiding the goo where it landed. "neighborhood!" As it cleared, they began running once more, taking off full speed and being careful for any other unwelcomed infected guests.

Ellis heard a noise behind him and turned to see a little pink jockey laughing wildly and hopping right for him. Not bothering to shoot he ran, the thing on his heels until it bounced off one of the cars and landed right on his back, forcing his head into the hood of a Chevy.

Nick looked back at the thunk just in time to see the little humped peel the hick off the car and allow him to scream a panicked, muffled "THIS THING IS RIDIN' ME!"

"Aw, shit!" Nick turned back and firing all he had at the little beast until he was able to shove it off the farm boy and scatter it's brains all over the cars. He offered his hand to Ellis as he stood, taking it gladly.

"Thanks," He said as he dusted himself off. "I owe ya one."

Nick nodded as they headed back for the others. A hunter had pounced Rochelle, making a few fairly deep gashes in her sides. Everyone paused for a moment, protecting her as she healed, then they headed down the off ramp. Following them came a charger with Coach next in line for the assault. But being as their were now three shooters instead of one, the infected beast could only carry him some far before he even got the chance to crush the heavy man.

They headed across the middle section of a billboard and continued to the ledge of the motel.

"Hey everybody, let's check these rooms for supplies!" Ellis called, making his way into an unmarked motel room, not even stopping to notice it's lack of a door. On the bed he discovered some type of emergency syringe, capped and completely unharmed. He picked it up and read over the label "add-reen-line?" He asked the on coming others.

They are stared at him momentarily, then Coach grabbed the needle from him. "Adrenaline." He said easily, passing back to him.

"What is this stuff anyways?" Ellis asked as he followed the others out of the first room.

"It helps you move faster." Nick explained. "It's like drinking twenty one cups of coffee in ten seconds."

Ellis grinned as he looked from the needle to Nick. "How'd I know ya were gonna say twenty one?" With that he pulled off the cap quickly and jammed the pin into his leg, emptying it. He shook his head and made a noise almost like a horse when it hit it. Suddenly he was shaking and moving incredibly fast, it seemed like even his vision had enhanced. He then pushed past the others, not hardly being able to interpret the physical contact, and began shooting with almost unrealistic accuracy. "Ha ho! Who's your daddy?" He laughed as one after the other the infected were literally blasted back by the shotgun. "Come on let's go!" He called as he took off, the others not being so quick. This came back to bite him.

Just as he was about to descend the final stair case on the motel a long, rancid looking tongue wrapped itself around his middle section. "Gah!" he yelled out, dropping his gun and turning to try to grab hold of one of the stairs. "I'm gettin' dragged away!"

"I got you, Overalls." Nick said reassuringly as he rounded the corner and blasted the ugly thing from the top of the flight. It instantly turned into a heavy cloud of green smog and his tongue fell limply. The farmboy then continued to tumble down the rest of the stairs, the others followed. "Shit," The gambler pulled the chocking hick to his feet. "Come on, come on!" He pulled the smokee into some of the fresher air and they continued down an open path to a little camp site. There was some ammo, most not matching their guns, a bottle of pills, and another shot, but Coach insisted on taking that one.

It was then that one wrong step caused them all to go sliding down the gully and into the mud, all shouting various curses along the way.

Ellis rolled over at the bottom and stood, looking back up the slope. "Who-ee! Anybody wanna go back up and do that again?" He asked with excitement.

"You, are a crazy man Ellis." Coach answered and they all stood, brushing off their clothes.

"Alright." The country boy shrugged. "But ya gotta admit, that was some fun times right there."

"Falling and breaking my neck is not a fun time, Ellis." Neck recoiled, rubbing over the back of his neck, he felt the viable burns that ugly spitter chick had left.

"Ah, here." Ellis acknowledged, holding out his pills. "Take sum' a these."

Nick took the bottle greatly and opened it's cap. "Thanks, killer." He grinned shortly as he down the remainder of the medicine's content.

"Whoa," Coach caught their attention. He was looking out over the swampy water, bodies lining and floating on top of the dark sludge. "We ain't the only ones who thought to take this short cut." They began trudging through the water, adding much resistance.

"Man, all this mud reminds me of my friend Keith." Ellis started, paying no mind to the on coming infected as he blew them away. "Yeah, he was goin' to build a shack once, to live in and all, and I know most people here, they build houses and they become shacks, but Keith, he was about jumpin' right to the shack stage. But he had no wood. So he got some mud and was makin' what we were all thinkin' was gonna be these adobe bricks, you know, like when them people out West made bricks and shit? Well, he had mud and-"

"Ellis," Nick interrupted him as he pulled the molotov from his belt. "if you don't shut up, I am going to find this Keith, zombie or not, and wring his neck." It wasn't a serious threat, but he was too busy trying to focus on avoiding any of these mud-running suckers biting him then to worry about the kid's story.

Ellis simply chuckled as he fought on unfazed. "Too bad for you, Nick. He was one of the first to get on the whirlybirds."

Nick simply rolled his eyes and chucked the burning bottle to the massive swarm coming towards him. He then made a mental note - Humans: Feel pain. Zombies: Don't feel pain. So now he had to avoid getting burned by the staggering infected heading for him.

The group simply ran as they fired. A hidden boomer splashed Rochelle and Ellis, attracting more of the undead crowd, and hunter pounced Coach. Nick swore to himself all the while battling off the ugly creatures while rescuing his allies. After Ellis and Ro had knocked all the vomit off them they could, they ran through the red of the water, approaching the edge of a hill.

"Great. Another one." Nick sighed.

Ellis pat him on the shoulder. "Come on Nick, I'm sure we gotta be close to another safe house by now."

"Or just another hell hole." The gambler muttered as he followed.

The group shot whatever walkers that came running for them, and hauled it up the hill. They were met by a hunter that had attempted to pounce Ellis, but Nick shot it down before it had the chance to try again.

"Nice shootin'!" Ellis thanked him as they ran. Sure as the world there was the entry way for Whispering Oaks, and a shed that could easily be called safe, at least for right then. Ellis was the last inside and he closed the door with a victorious slam. "Wo ho! That's how it's done!"

"I'm starting to like you guys." Nick admitted as he rested on the floor. It had undoubtedly been a long day. The group caught their breath in the small room, all agreeing they'd take a break for the night as start not necessarily fresh in the morning. Coach was able to find a few snack items scattered around and dispersed them to everyone. "Thanks." Nick responded to the bag of slightly crushed trail mix that had been handed to him. "Didn't happen to find any cigarettes, did you?" Coach shook his head.

"Ya don't wanna smoke too much Nick." Ellis commented, munching away on his bag of funyuns. "You're tongue'll get all long and start to rot." He snickered.

"That's funny." Nick replied. "I'm sure you'll look pretty nice too when your shirt gets torn up and you're jumping on people's backs from behind."

"What d'yall think I'd be?" Coach asked.

"Boomer." The other three responded in unison.

Coach shot them all an annoyed glance. "Is that supposed to be a fat joke?"

"Well out of all of us, you're the one who chose the candy bar." Nick said as he popped a peanut into his mouth.

Coach then grumbled something to himself and continued eating his Milky Way.

"Well," Ellis sighed, crumbling his now empty bag in his hand and throwing it unconcernedly. "At least we all know what'll happen to anyone who comes along just like us."

"Who said we're not the people who came along just like us?" Nick asked, still questioning the source of the country boy's enthusiasm.

"Ya gotta be positive Nick." Ellis beamed. "We're gonna make it out here. All we gotta do is find someway to signal the choppers that keep flyin' over head."

"Well I'll tell you all something." Rochelle said with a yawn. "Ain't nothing getting done tonight so let's just all get some rest."

Everyone agreed and settled down. Rochelle laid on her stomach with her head on her arms, she was out almost instantly. Coach sat propped up in a corner, gun in hand as his chin fell to his chest and he started to snore. Ellis sat against a wall, his cap pulled down over his eyes, his arms and legs crossed easily. But Nick couldn't sleep.

Every time he tried to lean his head back, he felt the stinging pain that came from where the spitter had got him. There was no way for him to reach it on his own, so he had just tossed it from his mind. He was never one to ask for help, no matter how much he needed it. He tried to imitate Coach and drop his chin, but stretching the burned area caused him to take a quick breath and sigh quietly in pain.

"Hey Nick," The gambler turned regrettably quick, noticing that Ellis was fully awake, and looking at him. "Let me get a look at yer neck."

Nick sighed and rolled his head away from the hick. "It's nothing." He attempted to put it to rest, but feeling a hand on his shoulder and a quick tug, his back and neck were instantly turned to the other man. "Hey what th-"

"Now stop fussin' and let me heal ya." Ellis cut him off calmly as he took of his health pouch. Inside he found some gaze and aloe vera, so if nothing else it would help. "Hang on a sec." He said, he instantly put some of the aloe vera on the cloth bandage and wrapped it perfectly over the burned area, tearing off the extra as he secured it with medical tape.

Nick sat surprised as the kid worked. A few hours ago he couldn't wrap a bandage if his life depended on it, and now suddenly he's an expert. "We're you hustling me earlier?" He questioned, expecting to be completely dumbfounded if this overall wearing hick had conned him.

"Naw, I'm only good with treating burns." Ellis explained. "I ever tell you about the time Keith and I made fireworks?" He asked, Nick let him continue. "Now, I didn't know shit about chemistry, but Keith figured "Gasoline burns, doesn't it?" Heh, third-degree burns on ninety-five percent of his body. Man, people in the next city over were calling to complain about the smell of burning skin." At this the gambler smirked and surprisingly chuckled softly. "Whoa, hey no way!" Ellis said excitedly and he finished putting the tape back in the med kit.

"What is it?" Nick asked turning to him and feeling the impressive bandaging the kid had done with one hand.

"Ya actually let me finish my story 'bout Keith. Shoot ya even enjoyed it!" Ellis beamed with joy.

Nick caught himself slightly grinning at the country boy's lopsided smile and nodded. "Yeah, I did." It had been awhile since he had heard a good story from someone, let alone one that amused him. You didn't find much amusement in the kinds of work he did. "You know, I remember one time I was in Atlantic City with a couple other guys, Ryan and Drag." He started, pulling up a long lost memory. "Drag always had a light one him, no matter where he was. And once, we were in a casino in an eastern side called 'Snake Eye'. It was a crooked joint where all the back ally people went. I went in there and won twenty thousand bucks off a poker game that was rigged for the house. When the owner wouldn't pay up, Ryan and Drag came in and were just supposed to rough the cash out of him. Long story short, while they were gathering the money, Drag dropped a Zippo and place went up in flames. We made it out alright but they both owed me big for ruining my suit."

Ellis laughed lightly. "So yall just burned down a buildin' with no charge?" He pondered, he'd have to remember his story for Keith.

"Well they tried to charge me," Nick explained. "But Drag was held responsible so he got a couple years."

"Why's he called 'Drag'?" The farmboy asked.

"He always had a pack of cigarettes handy." The gambler answered, his tongue craving at the word. "I wish he was here now."

Ellis shrugged and sit himself back against the wall as he had done before. "Maybe we can find ya some while we're out here."

Nick leaned back beside him, not caring too much to move now that he could relax without killing himself. "It's a long shot." He responded, putting his head back as he closed his eyes.

"Yeah, but I think we've already proven we can beat the odds." Ellis grinned finally. "I'm startin' to think we can take on anything." At that the kid went into light snores, and Nick not far behind.

Nick had barely begun to dream when he heard Ellis' low draw again. "Nick," He said. The gambler opened his eyes to see sparkling blue ones before him.

"I reckoned ya'd like me to kiss you and make it better." He smiled in a cunning way.

Before Nick could even think respond he felt the younger man's lips on his own. He thought he was going to shoot his head back, banging the wall behind him and waking up the others in his state of shock, but he almost instantly starting kissing the country boy back. He reached a hand up and wrapped it into chocolate colored hair, knocking away the mechanic's treasured hat in the process. It was so amazing, it felt so unreal until-

"Rise and shine boys!" Rochelle's voice caused him to jump and snap his eyes opened. He looked around to see Coach loading his gun and Ro with her hands on her hips. "We got work to do."

Nick noticed his heart was pounding violently and he was breathing heavily. He went to rub his face with his hands, but he felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned to see Ellis' head laying there and still sleeping. He stood up so fast, the kid hit the floor without a moment's warning.

The second Ellis' face smacked the ground he was wake. He grabbed the nearest weapon and looked it around the room frantically. "What?! Where is the bastard?" He asked quickly from his armed crouched position. At the sight of no danger he sighed and lowed the gun.

Rochelle shoved Nick moderately, getting him to face her. "What's wrong with you?" She asked questionably.

He looked from her to Ellis and back. "Nothing." He answered quickly, clearing his throat he grabbed his gun from the embarrassed hick and started to resupply.

"Uh, sorry, if I scared yall." Ellis rubbed the back of his neck.

"We cool." Coach responded easily. "Let's just get through this park quick, alright?"

"You got it." Ellis smiled and adjusted his hat as he stood. The door opened with a metallic click and before them were a few walkers, quickly and easily disposed of. They had barely made it past the entrance booths when the country boy spotted something on a picnic table that made the start his day even better. "Lookie lookie here!" He smiled brightly as he picked up a red electric guitar. A walker came running at him and with a single jagged chord, Ellis swung and knocked the infected's head off in several crimson pieces.

"Are you seriously gonna kill these things with that?" Rochelle asked as she fired at others on coming.

"I don't see why not." The kid beamed exactly as he stood on top of the table and fought off the infected.

"Good." Nick replied as he ran over to him as he shoved his pistol into the front of his pants. "Then I'm going to take this ninja sword."

The group continued fighting forward, the sounds of deformed carnival music hung loosely in the air, followed by grunts, smashes, and the sound of gun fire. As they ran, Coach spotted a boomer behind them and again shoved his team back. Ellis stumbled slightly into one of the booths, his left elbow landing on something hard. Suddenly, cartoon peanuts, both good and bad, and a mustached pistachio were moving back and forth across the panel.

"Aw, yes! A game!" Ellis smiled as he pulled out his shot gun. He had fired about five times when Nick grabbed him and pulled him away.

"We don't have time for this, Overalls." He muttered as they ran.

Out of no where, an infected with a bulging red nose came sprinting at them, leading a small parade. "Hey, look out!" Ellis yelled as a warning to Nick. He whacked the clown with his guitar, crushing in it's head with the distinctive honk of it's nose.

Nick watched this event with a twitch of what he felt to be anger, astonishment, and irritation. "Is this some kind of sick joke?" He spat bitterly as they continued, killing off the rest of the pack that was led by the freak.

They ran endlessly, encountering two lugs of spitter goo, a rooftop smoker that had the strength to pull Coach halfway up a wall, a few jockeys, a couple hunters, and what Nick could only describe as a three year old's nightmare worth of clowns.

"Holy shit, guys!"Ellis yelled as he began to run extacticly towards a colorful sign. "KIDDIE LAND!" They headed down a steep slope, the walkers seeming momentarily rest.

"Sometimes it feels like we're babysitting, doesn't it?" Coach started, being careful not to fall

"He's like a five year old with guns." Nick commented, partially amused by Ellis' excitement, not that he would show it. "And a comprehensive grasp of every swear word in the English language."

The group continued down to the landing to find a massive plot of games and tents surrounded by infected. Coach, more curious than determined, threw out one of the make shift bombs. A red light pulsed as it beeped, drawing in a large circle of infected before it went off.

Counting this a partial win for themselves, they paused for a moment to heal, mostly cuts and scrapes, but Coach had an injured ankle from his earlier drop, causing him to limp, and Ellis had received a nasty gash near his knee where he clumsily hit running from a jockey.

The rest of their trek included avoiding a charger and sliding down a jumbo slide, which Ellis managed as joyously as if he wasn't the slightest bit injured, and Nick getting his hands on some very explosive ammunition. He debated not using it, but upon the sight of another oncoming charger, they splurged to bring it down. At last the signs led them to a closed off carousel.

"You gotta be this tall to get in here," Nick said, looking at the scary animated peanut holding a measuring stick. "Ellis. Sorry, buddy. You'll be missed." He said, shooting the kid a smirk as he laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Ha Ha." Ellis said somewhat flatly. "Aren't you a real comedian." He smiled at the end, being as it was a good pun, and they started the ride.

The safety gate opened and the loud music was matched by the disrupted sound of an angry horde. Rochelle took off first, Coach to guard her, and Nick and Ellis following behind to block any unexpected threats from the rear. The one thing they weren't prepared for was a hot ball of goo to come flying at them through the fence, leaving no way around it as it splashed over the gambler and the hick.

"Goddamnit!" Nick cursed as he struggled to pull off his burning jacket but not daring to leave it behind.

"Gah!" Ellis exclaimed as he tried to shake the bubbling mess from his arms. "This stuff burns man!" He grabbed the hat from his head and pulled the corroding shirt from his shoulders. He was still struggling when Nick had put a hand on the base of his neck, forcing the kid to look at him.

"Come on, let's get out of this shit!" He demanded, the two instantly running after Coach and Ro, who had successfully turned off the ride.

"Come on, in here!" She waved, motioning to the safe room located in the tunnel of love.

The group wasted no time in rushing in as the steel door swung permanently shut. Everyone sighed heavily and sat, Ellis laying down his shirt as he grit his teeth due to pain. The goo had burned his right fore arm and a majority of the left one.

"Aw shit." Nick said, for the first time being able to take a good look it.

"I thought you were supposed'ta feel good when you're in the tunnel of love." Ellis smiled through the pain as he grabbed is health pack. He made quick work of his left arm, wrapping it quickly and denying Rochelle's offered help. It was impressive when he finished, he had even managed to pull a tight knot with his teeth. But the work he began on his other arm proved he was clearly right handed. He was fumbling with it as he muttered "I got it.".

Nick stood by watching for a moment, beginning to feel surprisingly sorry for the kid. When he remembered what had happened that morning he only became more frustrated. "Dammit, give it here." He demanded as he crouched beside Ellis, attempting to take the gauze.

But this time the country boy was prepared and pulled the bandages away. "Don't worry, I got it." He assured.

"No, you don't." Nick grabbed the gaze from him and began to tighten it around the kid's fore arm. "No you gotta let me know if I'm doing this right." He spread what was left of the available aloe vera over the open wound, causing Ellis to cringe in pain. Before Nick could even think about what he was saying, he did something he had never done. "Sorry," Flew genuinely from his mouth, catching the attention of everyone including himself, but the most surprised Ellis.

"Uh, it's alright." He assured smiling. "Thanks for patchin' me up."

"No problem." Nick responded, finishing up the bandages that luckily ended just at the very bottom of the kid's tribal tattoo.

"If I can make a suggestion," Rochelle spoke up. "It's a pretty nice break we got with this place. With you boys' injuries we should probably rest here today and start up back tomorrow.

"No way!" Ellis sat up. "We just got here! We haven't even seen the Screamin' Oak yet!"

Nick rolled his eyes and looked down on the kid's inflamed arms. He knew it was painful. This hick surely was a tough fighter, even if it did get him in trouble. "Come on kid, look at yourself." He lifted the man's right arm to see the damage done. "The Screaming Oak will still be out there tomorrow. You should take it easy." Ellis almost objected. "If you do, I promise I'll find some way to get you on a ride tomorrow."

The country boy's eyes lit up. "Really?" He asked, the grin on his face it's widest yet. "Wait a sec, you ain't tryin' to con me, are ya?" His look went from elated to suspicious in less time than it took for Nick to even make the hard to keep promise.

"Ellis," Nick looked him directly in the eyes, surprised the kid's stare didn't break when he locked on eye contact. It was surprising... and kind of unexpected on his part. "you have my word."

Ellis' eyes caught light once more and he showed his brilliant grin. "Whoo man! Imma get to ride the Screamin' Oak!" He pumped a fist in the air. At this Coach chuckled and Rochelle rolled her eyes playfully. Nick even allowed one corner of his mouth to curl into an upwards amused grin and gave the hick a pat on his bare shoulder.

"Well now that that's settled," Coach leaned up against the wall behind him, stretching slightly. "I'm gonna take a nap. I know we ain't been up long, but those zombies ware you out."

"Yeah, they do." Rochelle yawned in agreement. "I think I'm going to join you there." She laid down on the carpeted floor as she did before, crossing her arms under her face as she drifted to sleep.

Nick stood, playfully shoving Ellis' hat over his eyes. "You should get some rest too." He walked over to the opposite side of the room, completely across from him in not wanting to have a retake of yesterday. Ellis readjusted his hat to look at the conman and stick out his tongue, but then he complied and gently folded his left arm over his right and close his eyes.

Nick just stared at him for a moment, not really thinking about it, his mind was still wrapped up on yesterday. How the hell did that even happen? Dreaming of Ellis? He rarely dreamed at all, and never about anyone. Trust no one but yourself, look out for yourself. Those were the words he lived by. But now this? And at a time like this?

Why Ellis of all people? He could be dreaming about the girl he hooked up with in Vegas about three months before hell broke loose. He could dream about his ex wife. Hell, Rochelle was a decent enough girl. But did he dream of her? No. He had to dream about Ellis. A young mechanical hick from Georgia. Hell, his body wasn't even the type he was attracted to.

At that Nick's eyes began to unconsciously wonder. Ellis had a tight body to say the least, he had to be at least sixty percent muscle. He had broad shoulders and wide biceps, now of course covered by bandages, and that curious tribal tattoo baring from the top. The kid had a good viable six pack, though it had probably gone forever unnoticed by that yellow baggy shirt that now hung out of his back pocket. He must've gone some time without it during his work before this shit started, as his torso was just as bronze tanned as the rest of him. And Nick could just assume his legs and backside were probably just as appealing as the rest of him.

Appealing? What? No, that's not what he thought. Ellis was a moderately good looking guy, he admitted that much. He had a bright smile and an incredible set of eyes. That was all. He was still incredibly childish. Happy go lucky all the time, no matter what was happening. It was inspiring in a way, he was hardly ever down. Even when he was he had an innocent look about him in the way he pouted, lower lip stuck out sadly as if he were a hurt puppy. He was a good guy, the kind that wore his southern heart on his sleeve. Kind and caring to people, the complete opposite of himself. But then again, opposites attract, right?

Wait, what? NO. NO, THAT IS NOT WHAT HE WAS THINKING. This had nothing to do with why he was dreaming of Ellis. NOT. AT. ALL. Besides it had only happened once. Just once. And Nick was damn sure he wasn't going to let it happen again.

He shook his head and crushed his eyes shut, leaning his head back on the wall with an audible sigh. All he needed was sleep.

"Nick,"

He heard the country boy's sweet draw, but tried to ignore it, and the fact he had thought it to be sweet.

"Nick, man get up." There was a groan. "I ain't feelin' right."

At this Nick's eyes opened. He looked across the room to where the kid was, and they went wide.

Ellis was shaking violently, his breathing was raspy and irregular, almost sounding like a growl. His arms where dark shades of brown and green, bumps covering different areas. His blue eyes were dimmed and blood shot, and the same color crimson was running down his mouth.

"Oh my god..." Nick shot up and slid instantly to his side. "Ellis," He held onto the kid tightly as his breathes turned into gasps. "Shit, Ellis, what happened?"

The country boy's breathing stopped entirely for a moment, his mouth closed, and the veins in his face suddenly seemed to fill with black blood. His clouded eyes looked to the other man in a frightening stare as he raised a rotten hand and pointed to the safe room door, cracked open.

Nick looked to it then back to Ellis, laying him down carefully as he stood then grabbed his gun. "Stay here," He said to the broken Ellis. "I'll be right back."

He then swung open the creaking door and readied his aim, but not a single infected in sight. He began to walk cautiously through the dark tunnel, his ears pounding from deafening silence, until he heard the gurgling of a boomer. Coming out heavily from one of the broken walls it was seen. Nick raised his gun, but his finger paused on the trigger as he noticed the purple and tan shirt it was wearing.

"Coach...?" He asked questionably. The once big hearted man responded by emptying his stomach all over Nick's suit.

Nick cussed and wiped the bile from his face, turning quickly from side to side with his gun raised for the horde. Nothing. He breathed heavily and continued walking, the boomer Coach having seemed to vanish into a light, misty fog that seemed endless through the tunnel. It wasn't long after he saw a pink shirt standing in the middle of two swans.

"Ro!" Nick shouted with relief as he picked up the speed towards her. She turned at his call, and to his misfortune, she showed a long, broken jaw that hung open in a grotesque manner. Nick made a disgusted face and started to run away from her when he heard the familiar sound of her tossing the biggest spit ball she could right for his back. He acted on instinct and pulled the burning shirt from his torso, leaving nothing else to shield him if she decided to spit again.

He ran as fast as he could back to the safe room, slamming the door behind him. That's when he heard the laughter of a jockey. He turned slowly to see where he had left Ellis on the floor, now only remained wet pieces of rotten flesh, bandages, and a pair of ruined blue jeans.

"Hey Nick,"

His eyes slowly shot over to his standing friend, panic and fear easily read off his usually uncaring face. Ellis was still shaking, now interrupted by almost fits of trembles, his legs and arms were misshapen and a bright shade of pink, and plastered on his face was a horrifyingly hideous grin. A set of dark, almost abyss eyes appeared from under the brim of his all too familiar hat.

"Ready to ride?" The capped infected asked with a sickening laughter to follow. It then crouched lowly and pounced.

"Hey Nick!"

The man's eyes shot open wildly as he threw his head back, slamming on the wall behind him.

"Hey man, are ya okay?" It took Nick's brain a moment to registrar that he was in the safe room, surrounded by concerned faces and Ellis couched next to him with a hand on his shoulder, dingy yellow shirt back in place. "Ya look like you've just seen a ghost er somethin'."

Nick panted heavily for a moment then took a deep breath. "I'm fine." He exhaled, mostly to himself. "I'm fine."

Rochelle and Coach nodded in relief and continued their packing, but it wasn't enough for Ellis. "Did ya have a bad dream?"

Nick pondered for a moment telling the kid what he saw, but he pushed it aside, not wanting to ever think of it again. "Yeah," he replied plainly. "do me a favor and don't ask."

The country boy nodded and stood, offering his hand to help up the visibly shaken Nick. "We're 'bout ready to start headin' out. And remember, I took a nap and took it easy so you owe me a ride on the Screamin' Oak." He smiled, trying to pull the other man from whatever darkness he was in.

It worked. Nick nodded and smirked slightly as he stood, grabbing his gun and placing back on his jacket. "Yeah, I do. I'll get you one."

"Lock and load people." Coach flipped over the metal bar and and looked back to make sure everyone was ready. He kicked the door open and instantly he was pounced.

"Jockey!" Nick shouted, taking the the pink beast out in one, completely on instinct shot.

"Nice move, Nick!" Ellis called as they headed out the door.

They started through the tunnel with ease, but it started to look all to familiar to Nick. Suddenly from one of the open panels a boomer stepped out, right in front of him and Ellis.

"Watch out!" Nick shouted to him as he pushed the kid, not away like Coach had, but behind himself as if he were a shield. The boomer exploded its smelly guts all over Nick and the sound of an approaching horde rumbled.

"Get back!" Ellis yelled, his turn to defend as he took a step back, forcing Nick against the wall behind them as he tried to clean himself of the vomit. He leaned back slightly into the gambler's chest, trying to get a better angle with his gun and causing Nick's back to meet with the wall. The conman grabbed the pistol from his belt and fired it single handedly as he used his other to wipe his face. "Come on this way!"

The pair started running again, making it up to Rochelle and Coach and they fired at a sizzling spitter, standing perfectly between two of the swans. The group made it through the winding tunnel and up through the maintenance room, all the time calling out comments like 'Swan maintenance room of love'. There wasn't any task too daunting yet, but they knew something would come.

"Oh man, there it is!" Ellis beamed when he stepped outside. "The Screamin' Oak!" He beamed as he practically skipped out, shooting the pathetic walkers that failed miserably to destroy his joy.

"That's it?" Nick asked, looking to the small wooden coaster. "I've never been to an amusement park before, but shouldn't a roller coaster named 'The Screaming Oak' be bigger?"

"Ya jus' say that since you haven't had the chance to ride it." Ellis beamed as he hopped over the broken fence.

The other's followed through the mess of wooden beams that were nearly impossible to get out of, Rochelle hitting her head.

"Okay, there's got to be a better way than this." She sighed in annoyance and she rubbed the right side of her temple.

"I got one!" Ellis grinned, looking like he could burst.

"What are you thinking El?" Coach asked.

Ellis moved to the control panel of the ride. "Alright, if we start up the ride, we can follow along the tracks to the other side where the control booth and exit gates are. But were gonna have'ta move fast 'cause this thing is gonna attract all kinds of zombies with the noise alone." The others looked to each other, then nodded. "Yes!" Ellis grinned and hopped over the tall yellow gate, disappearing into a tunnel for a moment.

"Uh, Overalls?" Nick called for him.

"Alright start it up!" The country boy called back. "I'll switch it off on the other side."

With that Nick shrugged and pulled the switch. A moment later, Ellis went whizzing by in the coaster carts, gun in hand, as he yelled with excitement. Nick smirked with amusement as the ride opened and the others poured onto the tracks.

Ellis was loving every second of the ride. It felt like a movie, a video game, his birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. He fired at the infected he saw and for the fun of it even threw out a pipe bomb. But even over the roaring of the tracks, one sound in particular caught his attention.

"Aw shit!" He shouted as he entered the tunneled portion of the ride. There, walking dead center of the tracks, was a witch. "Cryin' bitch!" He braced himself, ready to fight all he could to stop this thing when he heard her growl, then scream, and suddenly stop. He looked with surprised nervousness to see the cart plowed had her clear into next week. "Hell yeah! That's how it's done!" He cheered with victory. As he saw the control booth in the clearing he stood, ready with his gun. He jumped from the speeding ride and did a painfully flat roll into the booth. He groaned, but picked himself up and slammed his hand down on the emergency stop button. That's when he noticed Nick.

As Ellis was getting his wish for a ride, the others followed behind, dealing with what only seemed like special infected as the country boy had cleared out all the others. A massive charger came tumbling in from the hill of the track, scooping Nick up with ease, and ran him up to the peak of the ride, away from the others.

"Nick!" Ellis called to him, firing from a long shot. He pulled the trigger seven times before the ugly sucker fell, leaving Nick to fall dangle off the edge of the tracks.

"Aw shit!" Nick said as he attempted to pull his slipping hands up. "I can't do this on my own, someone give me some help!"

"Don't worry Nick I'm commin' for ya!" Ellis yelled to him, taking off full speed back down the track.

Nick continued holding on by a fingertip grip, groaning all the while as the pain built up in his arms until they finally let go. Just as he started to fall in a panic he felt a secure grip on his left wrist and looked up.

"Y'know I'd never leave ya down here." Ellis beamed down to him. "Let me help ya up." Nick looked to him in astonishment as he was helped up. The kid must've sprinted halfway back around the tracks to get to him. "Here," Ellis passed him a syringe. "I grabbed it from one of the safe rooms when Coach wasn't watchin'."

Nick took the needle from the mischievous country boy and grinned as he pulled off the cap. "Thanks, killer." He drove the point into his leg without hesitation and instantly felt a rush. "Whoa," He said as all his senses seemed to heighten. "That's better."

"Ya'll alright?" Coach asked as she and Rochelle came up the tracks. "You looked like your were hanging from a thread."

"I'm fine." Nick breathed as they stared to continue back down the tracks.

"Hey yall look!" Ellis pointed to a bright red door. "Safe house ahead!"

The group ran with no further issues into the room and started gathering their need supplies. It was becoming more like a habit then a pattern now. Supply. Kill. Resupply. Kill. Rest. The last one was optional.

"Did yall see me on that ride?" Ellis asked brightly. "All I need now is some cotton candy, and this'll be the best day of my life."

Nick looked to him quizzically. "What's cotton candy?" He asked.

Coach and Rochelle turned to him in surprise, But Ellis looked to him in absolute shock. "Shoot it's only best damn carnival food around! You're tellin' me you've never had cotton candy?"

"Never heard of it." The city gambler responded.

"Hey, ya know what, it's alright." Ellis smiled. "You let me get a ride on the Screamin' Oak, Imma get you some cotton candy."

He passed him and snapped open the next door, the group charging out. Nick's shot lasted a long while, he even began to feel better. They ran through a weaving maze of dead barns, rotten infected, and smokers. Ellis began wonder why they hadn't seen a zombie cow yet, but they were all grateful, being as it would just be another thing to worry about a massive bull come barreling at you. They had chargers for that.

As they continued, the dark carnival music seemed to only become more eerie, and Nick was becoming increasingly pissed off by the occasional "Moustachio!" followed by laughter. His prime goal was to find the source and kill it.

"Hey yall, come over here!" Ellis called to them, following as the Moustachio seemed to be getting louder. He picked the guitar out from over his shoulder and smiled proudly at the confused trio. "Get a load of this." He pulled the six string back straight over his head and brought it smashing back down onto a little red disk which caused a heavy brick to shoot vertically up a staff and ring a bright red bell. "How 'bout that?" He grinned full of himself.

Coach and Rochelle rolled their eyes as Nick looked at him strangely. "Howdja... do that?" He asked, looking to the bell placed a few good yards above their heads.

"Three words." Ellis responded. "Natural. Born. Talent." He smirked in a jokingly arrogant fashion.

To this Nick looked unamused. "Oh, good." He aimed his gun for the cartoon pistachio and pulled the trigger just as it went into another fit of 'Moustachio! Hahahahahaha!'.

Ellis looked to him in disbelief. "You just shot Moustacio!" He exclaimed.

"Yep." Nick agreed as they all started picking up the pace again.

Ellis caught up to him. "Well, why'd ya do that?"

"Three words." Nick grinned. "He. Was. Annoying."

When they reached the bumper cars, a spitter had attempted to nail them, but she was cancelled out by Coach's quick call to hop up in the carts. They made it through the next round of barns, hopping on rooftops to where Ellis made a comment of feeling like he was in a spy movie, and fighting a seemingly endless horde of infected of all types to get to the next safe room.

They spilled in the usually way, trying to catch their breath as they sat in various places around the room. This one happened to be shaped like an 'L'.

"Hey," Coach said looking up at the posters plastered around the room, all with the title of 'Midnight Riders'. "Ya'll know the Midnight Riders? They gonna save us."

"Uh, Coach," Ellis stopped him disappointingly. "I hate to break it ya but I don't think they're actually here."

"No!" The heavy man waved him off. "We start their finale, that chopper is gonna know something's up. Because nobody, and I mean NOBODY, has a bigger light show than the Midnight Riders."

At that the country boy jumped up with joy. "Woo hoo! This is gonna be like the..." He started to count mentally on his fingers. "fourth time the Midnight Riders have saved my life."

Nick smiled slightly and approved. "Unless someone has a better idea, let's rock." He reached for the door only to be intercepted by Coach's hand.

"No hold on," He said. "We'll have a better chance of that pilot seein us if it's dark out side. The sun hasn't even gone down yet, so let's just wait it out here for a while."

No one complained, so everyone just relaxed on the floor.

"Oh hey, hold on a sec." Ellis said as he picked up his gun, looking out the previous door. Seeing nothing in sight he opened it once more.

Nick was instantly up to follow. "Ellis what are you-"

"Jus' hold on a sec, I'll be right back." He called as he held his hands up for the others to stay. "I'll fire if I need a hand."

Rochelle and Coach sunk back down a little uneasily, but Nick stood by the open door in waiting. Where the hell was the kid going? A few minutes went by and the conman could feel himself begin to sweat, mentally kicking himself for it as his face portrayed that he was simply annoyed. Then speeding around the outside of a tent appeared Ellis with four unfamiliar blobs in his hands and an elated goofy grin on his face. Nick stepped aside to let him come in, analyzing the fluff as it went by.

"He-y! Ellis my man!" Coach smiled as he stood.

Ellis grinned and passed the one thing of fluff to Coach and one to Rochelle. "I thought we all would need a little bit of sugar if we wanna put on a show tonight." He turned to the puzzled gambler and held out one of the two remaining balls of fluff. "Here ya go." He smiled as he handed it off. "Cotton candy jus' like I promised."

Nick looked down to the multicolored ball of fluff he had received. It had been passed on to him by a swirling red and white cone that held it in place. It still felt warm.

"Well go on, take a bite!" Ellis encouraged, having already made a nice dent in his own.

Nick shrugged, knowing trying it wouldn't kill him, and took a bite of the fluff. It was incredibly sweet, much more than he usually cared for, but it was so light and, well, fluffy. It was like a sugary cloud that just melted in his mouth.

"Like it?" Ellis asked anxiously, more than half of his now gone.

"Aside from this being the weirdest thing I've ever eaten," Nick said, examining the melting part of the fluff that his mouth had encountered. "It's probably one of the best things I've eaten too."

They all continued eating their cotton candy while idly chit chatting, Coach ready to go for another nap, being he was older and heavier, and Rochelle claimed the phrase 'beauty rest'. The went to the opposite side of the safe room, light snoring heard a few moments after.

"Ya sure you don't wanna rest up to Nick?" The country boy asked. "You've looked kinda tired ever since your shot wore off."

The suited man was tired, immensely so. But he didn't want to dream again. At first it was Ellis being all lovey dovey, then it was Ellis dying and becoming one of those psychopathic monsters. He didn't want to take a chance on a third. "No," He replied easily as he rolled his head back. "I'd rather stay awake."

"It's that nightmare ya had, ain't it?" Nick looked to him. "Ya know I had those a lot when I was lil'. There was always some crazy shit that happened, nothin' explainable, but it made me call for my ma every time. She told me talkin' about them helped them to go away." Ellis tilted his head slightly, looking directly at the conman. "Ya sure you don't wanna talk 'bout it?"

Nick looked to him and thought about it. Would it help at all? This kid was the root of it anyways, so what more damage could be done? He sighed deeply and closed his eyes. "You died."

"Uh," Ellis' eyes widened at the statement and he chuckled slightly out of nervousness. "I beg your pardon?"

"I had a dream that you were a rotting, shaking mess of blood and zombie meat and you were dying." Nick replied keeping his head back and eyes closed.

Ellis was listening attentively now, immediately interested, and he scooted himself forward a bit. "Well what happened?" He asked.

"You told me to go outside the safe room, well you motioned me to, so I did." Nick continued. "There wasn't a single walker until I saw a him."

"Him?"

"Coach as a boomer." Nick explained. "The bastard puked on me and vanished. Still no walkers though. Then I found Ro as a spitter and she splashed me pretty good." He put a hand on his back remembering how realistic it felt. "Then I went back to the safe room..." He trailed off.

"And?" Ellis encouraged.

Nick twitched as he remembered the ugly sight. "You were laughing." He explained. "Your flesh had fallen off, you were all pink and shaking." He remembered the twisted smiled that had been plastered on his face. "And you sounded like hell. You asked me if I was ready to ride and pounced. That's when I woke up."

Ellis let the man rest for a moment, taking in his story. "Well shoot Nick my nightmares were never this bad."

Beneath their lids, Nick's eyes rolled. "Thanks." He said a bit too harshly.

"But ya know," Ellis started, trying to comfort him. "we're all okay. We're gonna make it through this, withoutta doubt. You don't need to worry 'bout me or anyone else, okay?"

Nick groaned. "That doesn't help. Even the first night, I spazzed out after I woke up." He remembered seeing Ellis on his shoulder and jolting away.

"Well what was that one 'bout?" The country boy asked.

"I'm not saying anything about it." The gambler replied.

"Come on Nick, I'm jus' tryin'ta help ya out."

"No." He answered solemnly again. "It's not important."

"Well if it's givin' ya trouble-"

Nick shot up, opening his eyes to stare seriously at Ellis. "Listen, kid, I'm not going to tell you about it, you already caused me enough trouble by being a part of it."

"I was in it again?" Ellis asked. "Okay, now you gotta tell me."

"It's none of your business." Nick waved him off and rolled his head back, once again closing his eyes.

"It is too my business." Ellis kept up determinedly. "If ya are gonna keep going off havin' dreams about me I at least deserve to know what they're of."

"You kissed me, okay!?" Nick finally admitted, shooting forward to be face to face with the kid as he raised his voice slightly. "After you patched up my neck you said you'd kiss it and make it better so you kissed me, alright?" After his tangent he sat back against the wall once more, assuming his regular position with a little more force when his head met the wall.

Ellis was too far into shock to registrar what he had heard for a few moments. "Well..." He said finally, sitting himself up on the floor, unsure of when he had leaned back. "That means...somethin'..." He took off his cap to scratch his head for a moment.

"Yeah it means something." Nick agreed angrily. "It means I'll never get to sleep ever again."

"Well I wish I knew what to say," Ellis placed the hat back on his head. "but I dunno whether to be pissed or apologize."

Nick sighed, caving slightly. "Don't apologize." He said easily. "But don't be pissed at me either. It wasn't exactly my choice."

Ellis chuckled slightly. "Yeah, I guess your right. I guess we can all think up some pretty weird stuff."

Nick sighed heavily in response. "Why don't you get some rest." He offered. "That concert is going to attract one hell of a horde."

Ellis nodded slightly and leaned back on the wall. "Yeah, I guess your right."

"Hey Ellis?" Nick's voice caught his attention a final time.

"Yeah?"

The gambler put his head down, becoming eye level with the country boy. "Thank you."

Ellis smiled broadly. "You're welcome."

It wasn't long after Nick could tell that he had fallen asleep too, and with no company he wasn't far behind.

This time there was no dreams. No Ellis. Nick's mind seemed to continue into blackness until he heard Coach's voice.

"Get your ass up, rock star." He said, kicking him lightly. "It's time for the show."

They all prepared cautiously then headed for the stage. Coach activated the sound board while the other's were all working on Ellis' plan of spreading around boxed fireworks were left. When ready the country boy jumped up on stage and stood before the center mic.

"Man, I have always wanted to do this." He grinned and he pulled out his guitar.

"Fight for your life on a stage crawling with zombies?" Nick asked as he started the sound board.

"Naw, just stand on the Midnight Rider's stage." Ellis smiled as he set off the fireworks, but as recorded music began to blast through the speakers, he was crushed at the thought of his favorite band lip syncing.

The howl of the horde signaled them to get ready, and the true show began. From literally everywhere they could, infected came roaring in. By this point they had the strategy to stay together, no matter what. They stood in what could almost be called a square formation and banged out both the regular and special infected with no major problems. But when the ground started shaking, and a forgotten roar was heard, it seemed like all but Nick's nightmare had come to life.

A tank came barreling onto the stage, slapping each of the survivors aside and targeting Coach. Everyone regrouped and and fired all they had, the southern man yelling for help the whole time. Eventually it fell, but Coach was unable to stand. It took both Rochelle and Nick to get the man to his feet as the shopper started to land. The three climbed inside to see Ellis lagging a few feet behind. As the helicopter started to rise, the country boy picked up the pace and jumped, missing it's leg by an inch, and surely falling to his infested death when a firm grip caught his wrist. He looked up to Nick, grinning in surprise.

"Now you know I'd never leave you down there." He said as he pulled up the country boy.

Ellis turned to him greatly. "I do." He said genuinely.

Nick felt himself softly smile at this as they all rose into the sky, taking of as the lyrics 'And we shall be the ones in victory.' rang out, finishing the concert.