III - I Know Who Betrayed Us

-Three Weeks Later-

Over the past three weeks, Lori has done a number of tasks for who she called the subway people. Waylon didn't take offense to this and even went along with it, knowing that Lori was carrying her own weight and more after that.

She has looted stores and buildings with people she didn't know. But she trusted them. She cleared out streets using weapons, both melee and ranged. She was even able to save the life of a survivor who had disappeared for a few days.

Through the rain, wind, and heat, she conquered it all. She wasn't just someone in control of a town full of survivors. She was a survivor herself– more than. Lori was a warrior who made it clear that she was able to adapt to a world of the undead.

However, it wasn't the undead that Lori was worried about. It was the same fear that Waylon had. Other survivors whose intentions weren't to rebuild civilization, but to take it down, piece by piece. And despite all the tests proving Lori's skill sets to be higher than others, Waylon hesitated in giving up some of his men and women to fight with her.

Lori and David ate dinner in the large open area that David called his room, despite not having four walls. The deer meat tasted worse than Lori expected. It was too chewy and the flavor strayed away from that of chicken and pork.

"You think I'm doing something wrong?" pondered Lori.

"What are you talking about?" wondered David.

"Waylon. Is there anything I'm doing that's irritating him? Or perhaps… does he feel threatened by me? Is that why he won't lend some of his people?"

"I thought it's because he's having trouble convincing them to follow you."

"Nah, that's literally bullshit. He's been testing my skills. He wants to see what I'm made of. I've been doing everything he asked… and more. I don't want to believe that he's just using me, so I'm asking– am I doing anything wrong?"

"Nothing at all," said David. "Maybe he wants his people to gain trust in you. Remember, they don't any motive as of right now to defend Houlton. But they'll see. They'll see that they can build a relationship between their own community and yours."

"Yeah maybe."

Lori tore off another piece of deer meat and stuffed it in her mouth. She rubbed her hands against the floor and set her plate on the floor.

"I've noticed a while back, but I didn't want to say anything," said David. "What's with Missy's vest?"

"She was the strongest woman I ever knew besides my mother. I wear this to honor her and respect her last words. It's… my way of telling myself that I can lead these people and that I still have my humanity."

David looked below her vest and swallowed hard.

"What's with the Python?" he asked.

"It gives me strength," said Lori. "I took it from Carol right before I almost shot her in the head. I don't know how to explain it but there's something… symbolic about that revolver."

"Wait, hold up. You almost shot Carol in the head?"

"She was working with you-know-who. I was angry. My parents had just died and she was one of my closest friends who just abandoned me. She begged and begged… but at that moment, I wanted to shoot her so bad. But I didn't. And thank god I didn't. The guilt would've followed me for the rest of my life."

"I would know," said David. "I still have nightmares about that night. Sometimes I wish I could've just had a clear head… and let him live. But then I wake up, and I realize that I'm never going to wake up next to my wife again. And I could never have a beer with my best friend."

"Is that why you still carry that rifle around?"

Lori pointed at the rifle under the bench near his mattress. It was Bill's Ruger, which Richard took as his own.

"You have your gun. I have my gun," said David. "Ain't nothing much to it. They're just things we use to protect ourselves. Nothing more."

"I'm feeling exhausted," said Lori.

"I'll get the candles."

David stood up and blew the candles out. Lori lied on her sleeping bag and closed her eyes, knowing that despite how conflicted David was, she felt safe.

-One Week Later-

The militia members guarding the church allowed Dr. White to enter the cemetery. He walked to the tombstones and found Pike where he thought he would be at. He was kneeling by a wooden cross. The doctor walked up to him and tapped him in the back.

"Pike. I know how you're feeling right now. It's not so easy losing a close friend, especially by someone you used to look up to."

"I never looked up to General Black," said Pike. "I do not look up to anyone! Not even Lori!"

"Look, Pike. People are more worried than ever. Sure, most of the town received gun training from George, but they would feel better knowing that someone specialized in weaponry is guarding the area."

"Well fuck them. I am not anyone's slave. I need some time alone outside of this goddamn town."

"Are you taking the truck?"

"Don't worry, I'll bring back something worthwhile. Will timber satisfy you… doctor?"

"Just be back by evening so we can discuss Donovan's plan."

Pike nodded and left the cemetery. Kathy, who was one of the militia members guarding the church walked to Dr. White.

"Should we stop him?"

Dr. White shook his head.

"Leave it. It takes more than a month to handle the loss of a close friend."

Pike opened a door and went inside a military truck. It held crates– some empty and some partially filled with firewood and timber. He closed the door and started the truck, eventually heading out of the town. He waved at the doctor and passed by the burnt houses slowly.

As the truck began to pick up speed, Lynn popped out from the back of her former home and chased after the truck. She tossed the bow through the green back fabric and into the back trunk. Then, she ran as fast as she could and leaped inside like a rabbit.

"What the hell?" gasped Dr. White.

"We'll get her," said Becky.

Becky, Hana, and Luan entered their RV. Lynn lifted the fabric open and waved her walkie-talkie around. Becky turned on her walkie-talkie. She was about to speak when Luan jumped in.

"Lynn! What the hell are you doing?"

"This is a part of the plan," she replied.

"What plan?"

"I didn't tell you guys the plan?" asked Lynn.

"All you told us was to stand outside the church and guard it! Wha– what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Stay back for a little. Let Pike drive over the hill and do not let him see you. Just hang back until the truck is out of sight. We don't want him to think that he is following you."

Hana stopped before she left Houlton. The truck went over and down the hill, disappearing from sight.

"Why are we following Pike?" asked Becky.

"To find out what he's up to. He's been acting like a total weirdo lately. He leaves very often and doesn't come back after a long time. Don't you think that's strange… with our siege enacted?"

Hana started the RV. She drove up the hill slowly, eventually making it to the top, and when she did, the truck was gone.

For an hour, Pike remained unaware of the RV following it. He made turns and stops, which Lynn told the trio in the RV about. Then, he made one final stop.

The truck halted near an eerie looking part of the woods. Roadkill lied by a dirt path for pedestrians. Lynn whispered into the walkie-talkie before turning it off.

Pike exited his vehicle, clearing his throat before he hummed the national anthem of a country that lied in ruins. He walked to the trunk of the truck and hopped inside, moving around boxes in the darkness. Lynn hid in an empty crate. Pike got closer and closer until he laid his hands on her crate. He picked it up but groaned and dropped it down.

"Too heavy," he said to himself.

Lynn kept herself quiet as she rubbed her back, hearing Pike move around more crates. He then grabbed one and picked it up, sighing in relief as he turned around and leaped out of the truck.

He followed the dirt path while carrying the crate of firewood. From a hundred feet away, Becky, Hana, and Luan followed Pike. They carried the same weapons they did when they visited Donovan and they remained low like they did when they walked to his tent.

After a couple minutes, Pike arrived at a camp with his firewood. He passed by a couple tents and continued on before stopping next to a rogue soldier.

"Some extra firewood. Consider it a gift," said Pike.

"Greatly appreciated," said Coal. "You know what you're meeting us for."

The girls hid behind a line of wide trees and thick shrubs. Pike handed the note that Donovan hid in Leni's wardrobe a month back. Coal opened it up and read it.

"My suspicions were correct," said Pike. "It's Donovan. That's your confirmation."

"The General's going to love this. Remember. We have a chopper waiting for you at the base."

Pike nodded as he headed back to the trail. He walked past the trees, unaware of who were hiding behind them. After Pike disappeared, Hana stood up from where she hid.

"What are you doing?" whispered Luan.

"Finish what they start."

Hana snuck into the camp and waited for one of the three rogues to come out. One of them came out from her tent, and she was met with a mouthful of katana. One of the rogues came out from his tent with his gun and aimed it at Hana. Becky aimed her suppressed pistol at the rogue and shot him in the chest, then his face. Hana ran towards Coal and swung down the katana to his shoulder. A second after, he was shot in the chest with Becky's pistol and was dropped down to the ground.

Luan stayed back and felt her heart beat faster. She watched Hana pick up the dog tags and Becky running back to where the RV was. Luan followed her, shaking off the image from her head.

Meanwhile, in Augusta, Lori and David were inside a hardware store. Lori knocked a roamer out of her way with a flashlight before stabbing it with her knife. David crouched down and stabbed a roamer who was stuck under pile of shelves that fell.

"Swarm!" warned Lori.

David took out his pistol and faced the group of approaching roamers from one side as Lori faced the other group in the opposite side. He aimed his pistol at the incoming roamers and pulled the trigger in a repeating pattern. Lori aimed her revolver at the roamers and shot it at a rapid succession before taking out her AK. She gunned down the rest of the roamers before David made his last shot.

"Not bad," said David. "You probably wanna work on that trigger finger though."

"Literally, right?" chuckled Lori. "Well, here it is. Mold and mildew remover. From the looks of the station, they're gonna need a chock full of it."

"Can't argue against that," said David.

David and Lori made their way to Waylon's office when they were stopped by the leader himself.

"We got your mold and mildew–" said David.

"Yeah, yeah, can you put it in that closet over there?" interrupted Waylon.

David nodded and walked over to the closet. Waylon turned towards Lori, making it clear with his facial expressions that he wanted to talk to her alone.

"Look, after weeks of persuasion and questioning, I didn't get any good answers. That manpower you may seek– they don't feel that they want to be a part of it. That goes for everyone I asked."

"So that means…" gasped Lori.

"No one wants to go fight for you Lori. You weren't able to convince anyone. I'm sorry."

"It's alright," said Lori, tossing Waylon his flashlight back. "I'm here for only one man anyways."

Lori joined David as they walked back to his room. Waylon kept his chin high as he swallowed hard. He rubbed his head and headed back into the office, before whispering to himself.

"It wasn't going to be worth it. It wasn't."

Lori and David sat in their benches in the cafeteria. Lori ate a cup of pudding that he was able to find in the hardware store. The pudding added to her indignant mood as it tasted bitter.

"So what are you going to do now?" asked David.

"Dr. White suggested an alternative. D.C. It would make sense. We could send him and Lisa over there. But I'm going to stay and fight. Black may seem intimidating but we outnumber him now. We just have to hope for the best."

"What do you want me to do?" asked David. "'Cause I'm not going back."

"I know. I want you to go to D.C. with Dr. White and Lisa. They are literally holding our future in their… glass tubes."

David seemed distraught. He lowered his head and nervously jiggled his fingers around."

"You're thinking of going somewhere else, aren't ya?" asked Lori.

"I'm going to admit it. I want to go to Miami."

"Miami?"

"My son… he went to college there. I doubt he might be there, though. He could be in Key West or– hell, he could be across the country. Think he's in New York?"

"Whatever is left of it? No, I don't think so. That's a very long trip."

"We took a very long trip in the span of three months," said David. "It's been almost two years. I worry every day for him. Knowing that he's still out there… that's what keeps me going, Lori."

Lori tossed her pudding to a trashcan and nodded at David.

"Family is everything, right?"

Hana drove the RV, following the truck as it continued heading more southward. Lynn remained in the truck, updating the group about Pike's position. Luan remained seated on the passenger seat, staring ahead in the empty road.

"I can't believe Pike would do that," she said, holding the walkie-talkie. "Pike's been working for Black behind our back! Even Buck died for us!"

"That's why they found Buck instead of Pike in the sewers," said Lynn. "They didn't want to look for Pike. They only wanted Buck."

The truck picked up speed.

"That's why I looked into Pike," continued Lynn. "I knew something was up. I've been following him–"

The walkie-talkie crackled. Luan leaned closer to the walkie-talkie.

"Lynn? Lynn? Damn it. I think we're out of range."

"We're really behind then," said Becky. "Hana, can you pick up the speed?"

The truck came to a stop. Lynn looked around and turned on her walkie-talkie when she suddenly heard Pike humming again. And it wasn't an anthem. Lynn turned off her walkie-talkie as the humming remained grew louder.

"Try speaking again," said Becky.

"Lynn, can you hear me? Lynn!"

Luan sighed, knowing that no matter how loud she spoke, Lynn wasn't going to hear her. But she didn't know why.

"We should be getting closer! Spednic Lake is kinda close now!" said Luan. "We've been driving this fast and we still haven't– oh shit."

As the RV drove along a curve, they spotted the truck waiting for them, dozens of yards away. Hana slowed down the vehicle and saw Pike's face of surprise.

"I fucking knew it," said Pike.

Pike ran inside his truck as Hana began to accelerate her vehicle. Pike started his vehicle before finding the RV right on his tail.

"Hey, move!" shrieked Luan. "Lynn is still in there!"

Hana turned the RV, narrowly missing the rear part of the truck. She turned the RV to bump the side of the truck, but Pike kept it steady. Instead, he increased his speed.

Lynn held on to the metal bars on the interior sides of the trunk. The crates rocked around the trunk, smashing against each other. She swayed left and right as the car chase became more intense. She looked out of the green fabric and realized that the truck was going way above the speed limit, not that Lynn thought Pike or anyone would follow it, but now she feared for her safety.

"Slow the fuck down, bitch!" groaned Lynn.

Suddenly, Pike pressed the brakes on the truck as hard as he could, causing the truck to slide across the road. The crates were tossed deeper into the trunk, some of them smacking against Lynn, causing her to lose her grip on the bars. She also lost her balance and was tossed along with crates.

Hana struggled to brake along with the truck, sliding even further out, since the wheels on her vehicle did not have as much friction as the ones on the truck. By the time the RV came to a complete stop, Pike had already dashed out his truck and into the woods, carrying a rifle, a pistol, and a knife.

Hana, Becky, and Luan grabbed their weapons and ran out the RV, chasing after Pike in the woods. Pike grabbed his rifle and shot back at the girls, making them jump for cover. He repeated this strategy, taking him further and further away from the girls. Then, Becky knelt to the ground and aimed her pistol at him. She pulled the trigger a couple times, hitting Pike in the back once. However, his vest caught the bullet, and he was able to run further.

Hana ran ahead of the girls, placing her katana back into her sheath and just relying on her feet. Pike panted as his armor began to take a toll on his stamina. Becky continued to fire onto Pike, until he want leaped behind a tree for cover.

He aimed his rifle at Hana and shot a couple times before running out of ammo. She leaped out of the bullet's path in time and hid behind her own tree. Becky moved closer with her pistol and saw Pike. She shot him once, running out of ammo herself.

"Shit! Luan, shoot him, he's open!"

Luan aimed her pistol at Pike, but hesitated to pull the trigger. She had the sights around his head as he was distracted with Hana. but she couldn't do it.

"Here," said Luan, handing her pistol to Becky. "Sorry. I can't do it."

Becky grabbed the pistol and prepared to aim at Pike when suddenly, he pulled out his own pistol and fired onto the group. The girls remained low, and when they rose up again, they found him fleeing again.

Pike wheezed as he struggled to take his armor off. He knew that if he wanted to make it back to the military base at Spednic Lake, he needs to be run with the least amount of weight on him.

Becky continued firing as she ran, but the bullets ran out faster than she could run. Pike noticed this and removed the armor in his legs. However, the girls continued to catch up to him.

He grabbed the knife in his vest and spun around, tossing the knife at Becky. She covered her face with her arms, but the knife didn't strike her. It hit the tree next to her.

Becky grabbed the knife from the tree and ran after Pike. But he was getting away.

Pike ran along a ditch and found another road ahead. He smiled as he knew he was getting much closer to the base. He prepared to cross the road when he heard a vehicle coming from the road. He ran towards the vehicle, hoping that his rogue friends would help him out. However, there was something familiar about the vehicle.

It was his own truck.

Pike turned around and found Hana coming after him with her katana. He ran along the ditch away from the truck as Hana leaped out of its way. The truck drifted off from the road and drove into the ditch.

"No, no, no!" screamed Pike.

The truck slammed into Pike as it went down the ditch. The truck kept on going and smashed into a tree, tossing Pike into another tree, his body finally hitting the ground a second later.

Hana panted as Becky and Luan gasped in shock. Lynn came out from the driver's seat, blood leaking from her forehead.

"I got him," panted Lynn.

The girls walked up to Pike's mangled body. The vest remained intact, but his limbs were all turning the wrong sides, with a bone popping out from one of his legs. Luan held her chest and puked into the ground, wheezing right after.

Lynn rubbed her forehead, wincing at the pain in her head and the sight of a katana being driven down Pike's head. Hana grabbed the bloody dog tags from his neck and wiped it against her pants before hanging it around her belt.

"We put his head on stick," said Hana. "Scare rogues away."

"Putting Pike's head on a pike?" groaned Luan. "We're not savages, Hana."

Becky looked at the knife she held. She found the finger holes in the handle and recognized it as Wavehead's knife. But she was told by Carol, countless of times that it was Dana's. Pike had just been carrying it the whole time after her death.

"They would do the same to us," said Becky. "We should go. The rogues are going to look for us. I'm not trying to have my own head in a pike."

The girls crossed the road and made their way closer to Spednic Lake. Even though none of them said anything, they all knew they had to see it.