McFarlane's Ranch
The ranch hands were atop any structure they could to avoid the Undead who were trying to claw at them. Bonnie McFarlane stood atop the ranch house, with her rifle. About half of the ranch hands were shooting at the Undead, and the other half had become Undead. Bonnie was swiftly running out of spare rounds, there was only a small pile left. She the Undead were coming faster than they could be put down. Bonnie looked at the ranch this was the second time the ranch had been decimated by the Undead, and it only survived the first time because of the intervention of John Marston. But he had been laid to rest shortly after the last time the dead rose.
Bonnie dropped her rifle having run out of shells and drew her revolver, with several well placed shots she sent down several of the Undead. She looked below the Undead were dwindling in in number, perhaps they could save the ranch. Bonnie turned towards the train station, her eyes widened in horror.
A huge mass of the Undead were heading straight for the ranch. There were far too many of them and she was almost out of bullets. Bonnie fell to her knees. It was impossible; tears began to flow from her eyes. But the sound of whinnying horses and galloping caught her attention, she looked in the direction the noise was coming from.
A black stage coach was heading for the ranch it was being drawn by four horses of seemingly unnatural power, and at the reins was a man dressed entirely in black. Bonnie thought that Death himself had come.
The stage coach stopped in front of the house and the driver disembarked. He stood by the reins and released the ties of the horses letting them run towards the masses of the Undead. He walked straight for the Undead. He a long rifle from, his back and fired straight for the Undead a large explosion tore apart the centre rank, and knocking several of the Undead off their feet. He then replaced it with a much shorter barrelled gun. A large group of the Undead charged He pointed the gun at them, a loud bang ensued and the Undead were reduced to a fine mist. The figure once again his guns back into his holster. He then drew two revolvers out of his leg holsters. And began firing both in rapid succession, every Undead one of the bullets hit was set ablaze, and fell to the ground. Whilst all this was happening the four horses that he had set loose were trampling the Undead and leaving them to rot. The ranch had been saved.
Bonnie looked at the stranger, very carefully she clambered down from the roof, whilst the man called the horses back to the stagecoach. He lifted a large scythe that the ranch hands used for cutting corn, he ran a finger along the blade gently, it was sharp but he didn't break any skin. 'This'll be useful' he thought. "Excuse me…sir" he turned to look at Bonnie who stood behind him upon looking at him she suddenly realised "John?"
Bonnie looked at the man in front of her there was no mistaking, even in the dark she recognised John Marston. But he had been dead for three years. He was wearing an eye patch and a bandana, Perhaps he had suffered at the hands of the Undead.
John looked at Bonnie. But knew he was unable to speak, he had to help her in some way. The Undead surely would have drained their resources and ammunition. He lifted the scythe and dragged the blade in the dirt tracing out a message.
Bonnie looked at John looking very confused, why wasn't he speaking. John then climbed up into the driver's seat of the stagecoach. He then looked at Bonnie pointed the ground where he had dragged the blade. He then drove the carriage forward and departed. Bonnie looked at the ground to read what John had written. "Fort Mercer."
Fort Mercer
Jack walked along he through Jack stood on the wall of the fort taking shots at the Undead below, trying to let off steam. "Are you okay Mr Marston?" Jack turned to see the man from earlier standing by his side.
"Just dandy," Jack emphasised each word with a gunshot. "Who are you exactly?"
"I am no-one special sir."
Jack looked at the man he noticed that he didn't have a gun. "How are you planning on defending yourself?" Jack asked him. The man laughed and pulled a rolled out sack from behind his back and laid it on the ground. He rolled it out to reveal several swords. Jack examined the different designs and styles of the blades, he had read a little on swords a few years ago, but didn't know overly much about them.
"I have here several fine swords, a cutlass, a rapier, a katana, a claymore and a kilij. Each one has a different use. And I have many more in my trunk. These are just my favourites."
Jack picked up one of the swords; it was over four feet long, quite heavy jack gave the blade a quick flick. "I'll admit, it seems like a nice weapon, but I'd rather have my guns."
"I thought you might Mr Marston but I believe the sword to be superior." Jack reached on of his guns behind his head a fired blindly into the crowd of Undead several times. Each bullet, putting an Undead to the ground, none of them got back up.
"Let's see you sword do that." Jack laughed. The man looked impressed however he picked up one of the swords and sliced cleanly through a wooden crate that was beside the two men. "Let's see your gun do that."
Jack was impressed. "Clearly we can learn a lot from each other. I have a proposition for you."
"I'm listening." He replied.
"I'll teach you to shoot, if you teach me how to use one of your swords." Jack replied.
"Well, Mr Marston we could be here for a while so that seems like a fine way to pass some time at least." He reached out his hand Jack also extended his and the two men shook hands. "We'll start tomorrow." He then walked towards one of the rooms which contained beds.
Jack put his gun back into the holster. He didn't feel as angry now. He holster walked along the wall, he had wiped out a huge number of the Undead single handed they were dwindling in number. Jack Looked to the track leading to the door several stagecoaches were making their way to the fort. Jack called for the doors to the fort to be open. Several men went out to clear the path the Undead were quickly pushed back, and the stagecoaches made their way into the courtyard.
Jack made his way down and to help. But a man stepped in his path, he was wearing a US Army Uniform, he had a thick black moustache, and wore a look of anger. "Who do you think you are?"
Jack was heavily confused, "I beg your pardon sir?"
"I'm running things around here, my orders were handed down from the Major, who got them direct form the president, this area is one of ten safe zones across New Austin, and I run this one. Do you understand me boy?"
Jack merely snorted to let the man know he understood then walked past him. There seemed to be something familiar about him but Jack couldn't think what that was.
He made his way to the stagecoaches from one of them disembarked Bonnie McFarlane. Jack walked towards her "Miss McFarlane, it's good to see that you're okay." Bonnie looked at Jack, she opened her mouth as if to reply but then closed it promptly. She walked around to the back of the stagecoach. He walked promptly to her side "Miss McFarlane is something wrong."
She turned to face Jack "It's your father. He's…he's alive."
Jack froze "You mean he's one of them."
Bonnie shook her head "No I mean he's alive."
Jack couldn't believe it. There was no way he was alive, he had dug the grave himself. "There's no way."
"I assure you it is possible. Senór Marston." Jack turned to see an elderly nun. She walked towards him, from the other Stagecoach that had arrived.
"I'm sorry Sister I don't see how he could be alive and not be one of those things." The Nun began chuckling "I'm sorry did I say something funny Sister?"
"You're father made the exact same mistake when he met me. I am Mother Superior Calderón. I met you're father several times on his travel's; He even helped me when the Convent of Las Hermanas was overrun with these foul creatures."
John looked at her "You knew my Pa."
"Not exactly, but he was a good soul." She looked at Jack "You are very much like him."
Jack thought about this for a moment. His father had lived a life of crime and even after he tried to make amends for his wrong doings he was still put to death by that coward Edgar Ross. "Do you know why he's not like the rest of them?"
"I'm afraid I do not know the answer to that question Senór Marston, But for whatever reason, It seems to be that he is here by God's Will." She smiled and walked away.
Jack turned his attention back to Bonnie, who was now in the process of unloading the Stagecoach. He then walked away. Javier saw him and decided to keep out of his way.
Jack headed up the stairs into one of the rooms; he laid down on a bed and stare at the ceiling. It was going to be a long Apocalypse. The sound of footsteps caught Jack's Attention. He rolled on his side to see who it was.
Cathy was walking towards where jack was sitting with a glass of water and a plate of food "You must be Hungry Mr Marston." She placed the food on the small bedside table. "You look troubled."
Usually Jack had a tough time trusting everyone since his father's death, but for some reason he knew she could be trusted. "Well, apparently my Pa is out there somewhere helping all the people, who've been attacked by the Undead."
"Well that certainly is a reason for you to be worried. He sounds like a very brave man." She replied.
"Yeah, well you see the problem is Pa died three years ago. A few months after the last time this happened. What I don't get is why he isn't like the rest of them."
She looked at Jack. She seemed to feel bad for him. "I don't understand either Mr Marston. But I guess that whatever the reason is is a very good one." She turned and walked away. She looked around again smiling "Now eat up. You'll need your strength." She left the room.
Jack picked up the glass began to drink. 'She certainly is a strange girl' he thought to himself.