Near Plainview, Stagecoach Convoy

Jack blinked in the wind. His Father was driving the stagecoach as fast as possible. The oil wells in Plainview were no longer pumping oil. They were presumably stopped after the Undead rose. It made the place seem even more eerie. The tents had been taken down and many of the Undead were wandering the area. Jack and several other shooters quickly dispatched them.

John suddenly stopped the carriage. His eyes were caught by a large smoke stack coming from Fort Mercer. "Everybody back to the fort! There's trouble there. John quickly turned the stagecoach towards a small dirt track that was barely big enough for the stagecoach. everyone inside was bouncing out of their seats.

About a minute later the stagecoach re-emrged onto the road. Jack's eyes widened at the sight of the Fort. The entire fort appeared to be on fire. "Pa you gotta do something."

John nodded. "Take the reins. Keep circling the Fort." He said. and without warning he Jumped from the seat and onto the back of War, he released the horses bonds to the bracket and chaged away from the stagecoach and towards the inferno that was Fort Mercer.

Jack looked amazed at his father agility. His father was in good physical condition in life but knew that he never would have attempted that jump before hand.

John steered the flaming steed around the fort knocking many of the Undead down and setting them alight. John and War were both absorbing the flames. John knew that he would have to get inside inorder to search for any survivors. He passed the gate, suprised to see it still stood, firmly on its hinges. John looked at the top of the wall standing on the horse he positioned himself to jump. His legs straightened and he sprang into the air. John watched amazed as the ground moved away from him. He had launched himself well over twenty feet into the air. John suddenly began to descend. The central courtyard seemed to speed towards him. John's feet connected with the ground but he had barely made an impact.

The flames were still consuming the fort. John looked at the flames, "Here goes nothing." he said, he concentrated on the flames that surrounded him. his eyes began to glow, as he took control of them, as quickly as he could ball his fists the flames disappeared.

The Fort was destroyed. Everything was charred black. countless bodies lay within the wreckage. "What the Hell happened here? IS ANYONE STILL ALIVE!" John called out. Johns words echoed throughout the Fort. It had been only a few hours since he was last here. What could have caused this damage.

The sound of crying caught John's attention. He closed his eyes for a moment to determine the direction it was coming from. He then realised it came from the old treasure room he rushed towards the door. He pushed it but it was barricaded from the inside. John swiftly kicked the doors, causing them to break off their hinges. He drew his guns as he ran into the room. He quickly scanned the room to see a young girl cowering under a table "Miss?" he began.

The young girl turned quickly and shot John in the shoulder with a rifle. The bullet went straight through and John didn't even flinch. "MR MARSTON! I'M SO SORRY I THOUGHT."

"Forget it I've been shot a lot of times. What happened here." John replied.

The girl was about to answer when a loud cracking sound caught their attention. John looked outside to see the doors to the Fort craking.

"We gotta leave, now." John said "Get on my back. And close your eyes."

Doing as she was told the young girl scrambled to her feet and wrapped her arms around John's neck and hoisted herself up. Once he was sure she was secure John charged thought the courtyard faster than he though was possible for a human. The Undead began pouring into the fort as John Reached the stairs. The stairs began to collapse under the combined weight of John and the teenaged girl that was on his back. But luckily John was faster. John charged straight for the wall and with as much force as he could muster he jumped clean over the Undead horde that circled the fort.

Jack steered the Stagecoach around the the circular road that encompassed Fort Mercer. The Undead hordes began to lose interest in the burning Fort and began to turn their attention to the stagecoaches. Jack heard numerous gunshots being fired as the Undead charged. "Come on Pa."

John landed. The stagecoaches were nowhere in sight. John whislted for his horse. War didn't seem to hear the whistle. John turned to see the Undead heading his way. "Well looks like I'm running. Mary hang on!" John said before taking off around the Fort. With ease John pushed himself forward, with great speed. John still couldn't believe the extent of the change. He saw the rear stagecoach War was level with it. Kicking off the ground John launched himself at his horse. He landed on the horse back and spurred it forward. John glanced towards the stagecoach to his right. The occoupants of which were amazed by what they saw. John quickly made his way to the front of the convoy, and to his own stagecoach. He rode close to the Stagecoachdoor, "BONNIE OPEN THE DOOR!" John yelled.

Bonnie quickly opened the door "OKAY JOHN IT'S OPEN."

"ALRIGHT. Mary I need you to climb into the stagecoach." He said to the girl who was still clung to him.

"I can't." She cried. John could feel her trembling.

"Listen to me. You can. Just do it quickly. I'll Get close enough for you to step over." John reassured her. He felt her nod. John looked at the open door. Riain was leaning out with an outstretched hand, to help the young girl in. John got closer "Okay go!"

Mary half jumped, and half fell into the stagecoach guided by Riain. John sped forward infront of the stagecoach.

Jack caught sight of his father. John positioned War infront of the harness, he slowed the horse and allowed the stagecoach, to catch up. John expertly reeattatched the harness, he then leaped back to the bench. "Pa what the hell happened in their?"

"I don't know. Just get us to the bridge." John said. Jack charged the stagecoach towards the bridge at full speed.

Within a few minutes. Jack stopped the stagecoach on the small island. between the two small bridges. The convoy stopped behind the coach and everybody began to disembark. Everybody seemed to be grieving for their lost family and friends. Jack sent two groups to keep watch on each side of the bridge. Jack opend the chest on the rear of the stagecoach. He pulled one of his many rifles he pulled the lever to load the first shell into ther chamber.

Riain approached him "Jack. Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I just don't understand. We were just there a few hours ago. What could have caused this? The Undead were still trying to get in."

"I don't know Jack. But I think you should talk to Cathy. She is looking a little pale." Riain walked past slinging a rifle over his left shoulder. He slapped Jack on the shoulder and moved on.

Jack looked through the window of the stage coach. Cathy was still seated, staring at the floor. John knocked the door. "Cathy?" She didn't answer "Cathy, what's wrong."

"It's my fualt. I was in charge of making sure they didn't get in." She looked up her face was streaked with tears. "Those people are all dead because of me."

Jack sat in the seat beside her. "Cathy you listen to me. The fort wall's were still standing when we got there. And the door was in one piece. Whatever did that was either already inside or was capable of climbing the ladders. There was nothing you could've done to stop it. Do you understand." Jack tried to be slightly forceful yet was not condescending. Cathy nodded in response, she threw her arms around Jack and bawled into her shoulder, Jack rubbed her back to comfort her, the way his mother did to him when he was a boy. "I'm gonna go talk to my Pa. See what he knows." Cathy nodded and let go of Jack who then exiited the interior and made his way to his father. "Pa, do you know what happened yet?"

"I'm gonna try and find out now." John approached Mary who was leaning over the rail of the bridge. "Excuse me, miss?" the young girl turned to John and Jack "I know now probably isn't a good time but, we need to know what happened in there."

Mary looked between them, "They were animals. They came right over the walls. the tore the place apart."

"What do mean animals?" Jack said.

"They were like dogs...But Bigger. We tried shooting them but nothing would work...And the Captain..."

"THE CAPTAIN WAS THERE!" Jack yelled. Mary merely nodded "How did that son of a bitch survive?"

"Jack calm down. Thanks, thats all we need to know." John turned to leave the girl. "You need to calm down Jack. How the hell dogs do that."

Jack snorted.

"What?" John asked.

"They're not dogs Pa. I read about this in a book a few years ago."

"Is there anything you haven't read a book on Son?" John laughed.

"This ain't the time for Jokes Pa. Undead are one thing but what we're up against now is a whole new story."

John began to worry. "Son what are you talking about?"

"Pa, I'm talking about Werewolves."