Hello, everyone! It's… been a while, hasn't it? My apologies for making you guys wait SO long, but finally… the newest chapter is here! I'm sure you guys want to get right on it too, so just a few shoutouts and then you can go ahead!

First, I wanna give a shout out to jM00n7255x for making a HUGE contribution to this chapter! Thank you for everything!

Also, I wanna give a shout out to Brizillaking1 again as he created the character Will. I also recommend checking his latest update (specifically the 4th chapter of his Sonic story). Just like him, I will soon follow that path where I may no longer write any more on this site and move on to new challenges. Anyways, thanks for your contribution to this site, Brizillaking1, and I hope you do well in life!

In addition, ALL chapters up to Chapter 10 have been updated! Neat, huh?

Anyways, read and enjoy!

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"What are we gonna do?" asked Sam.

"I don't know," said Luna.

Both Luna and Sam released each other from their quick hug while Lori continued to look at Royal Woods, her face in disbelief. The survivors all looked defeated, including the ones that managed to escape from the invaded community. However, they were all still wary of their surroundings, with the exception of Bruna, who kept her eye on the wounded Yellowjacket while holding her at gunpoint. The Yellowjacket's gunshot wound was patched up, though she still looked pale.

"Your doctors better be alive…" panted the wounded Yellowjacket.

Albert looked away quietly. Lori turned towards the Yellowjacket, seemingly snapping out of her daze.

"We're not going in there," said Lori. "We don't have the numbers nor the firepower. Sam told us where the guns are being kept, but getting there is no guarantee and it's almost certain we'll lose lives if we try to arm our people inside. It'll be like Houlton."

"But we were able to liberate Houlton…" said Lynn.

"And way too many people lost their lives for that. These people don't have the training or the experience to fight back. And according to Sam and Whitney, all the cops in there are most likely dead. The good news…"

"There's good news?" quipped Jackee.

"—the good news is that the Vultures aren't slaughtering people aimlessly… yet. That gives us time."

"And the bad news?" asked Benny.

Lori took a deep breath.

"We don't know how much time," she said.

Benny gulped as he glanced at a worried Luan. Clyde looked at Ronnie Anne, who seemed distressed. Jane waved her legs as she sat on the open trunk of the van while Lori looked at her. Lori then looked back at the nervous survivors.

"Here's what we're gonna do," said Lori. "Luna will take all of you guys to another community on foot. Not Huntington Manor— Vultures must be waiting for you guys. It's also defenseless. No, you'll all go to Detroit."

"Wait, what's wrong with the van?" asked Sam.

"It's out of gas."

"You make it sound like you're not coming with us," said Luna.

"The small car still has gas. I gotta take this Yellowjacket back home. Then I'm gonna get us some help."

"Miguel and I are actually gonna take shelter in a house nearby," said Fiona.

"It's too risky."

"I know. But we know our way around. And it's just gonna be us. That way we can easily move in and out in case the Vultures find us."

"Fine."

"My name's Lexa by the way…" panted the Yellowjacket. "You— you don't have to keep calling me Yellowjacket. It's not even our name. We're the Suzumebachi."

"I'll come with," said Albert. "I need to explain everything."

"Me too," said Whitney, looking guilty.

"N-No, Whitney—" stammered Lori.

"Come on, Lori. I need the experience. I don't want to live my whole life relying on you and your group."

"You won't have to when you're inside a community."

"Something tells me this isn't going to be a one-time thing. I don't want to be the person that has to be protected every time."

Lori looked displeased. She then looked at Roger.

"Oh, don't look at me," said Roger. "This is all her idea. And for the record, I don't agree with it."

"Fine. You're taking the shotgun seat. Bruna, you wanna keep watching that Yellowjacket? You know, my Pop-Pops can do it."

"It's fine," said Bruna. "I won't let her out of my sight. Anything to help you."

Albert and Whitney looked at each other. Whitney seemed to show remorse while Albert maintained a cool and serious expression. Lori walked over to Luna.

"You can handle this, right?" she asked discreetly.

"Yeah, of course," said Luna.

"Good. When you get to the RenCen, tell Chris everything."

"Got it, dude."

Lori walked back to the small car with Whitney taking the front passenger seat. The other survivors grabbed their weapons from the van. Luna held the strap of her rifle tightly and watched Lori drive Whitney, Albert, Bruna, and the Yellowjacket along the road, taking them north. Then, she saw Fiona and Miguel jog down the block. She then looked at the rest of the survivors, who all appeared uncertain. She maintained a confident look and walked the group away from the streets and out of view from anyone who might peek through the main gate of Royal Woods.

A dark, uncertain, and frightening night awaited them.

Chapter 38: Her

I - The Burden

The glow of the moonlight gave light to a large road leading to Detroit. However, Luna and her group were still more than a few miles away from downtown Detroit, where the RenCen was located.

Luna then noticed that the night was getting darker with the clouds covering the moon. This made the flashlights in the distance more noticeable, causing her to stop in her tracks.

"Wait," she whispered.

The rest of the group stopped where they stood as Luna took out her binoculars and peered ahead. Under a bridge a few hundred meters away, she was able to spot a few Vultures moving their flashlights around. They were patrolling the area.

"It's no good," said Luna. "We can't just walk through there. They know we want to enter Detroit."

"What do we do then?" asked Sam. "Take the sewers again?"

"Maybe. But not here. We have to be away from the main road so that when we come out on the other side…"

"...the Vultures don't see us coming out. That's smart."

"Well, where do you suggest we go?" asked Lynn.

"Let's take this street here," said Luna.

The group followed her, now going deep into the suburbs where abandoned houses and overgrown lawns reigned.

The wheels in the car hummed as the rusty metal plates attached to the car quivered. The headlights lit up the wet empty road ahead of them, so far showing nothing out of the ordinary. It seems they were out of the range of the Vultures and Laborers.

"Why do we have to keep this Yellowjacket alive?" asked Albert. "I could shoot her right now and Hana would never know."

"That wouldn't be right," said Lori. "She didn't know who we were."

"We still have her tied up, right? You think she's still a threat."

"It's just a precaution. I don't trust her but that doesn't mean I should kill her. I have to let Hana know it was a misunderstanding."

"Really? You think she's gonna greet us with a welcome party if we bring one of their own with an injury we caused?"

"Hana will understand. She will, right?"

"Y-Yeah," said Lexa. "Of course. You guys are friends, right?"

"Eh…"

"Yeah, no," said Albert. "The fact that you guys aren't friends worries me. This Yellowjacket already knows too much about us."

"We're not gonna kill her! You sound like Becky right now!"

Albert sighed as he went quiet. Bruna cleared her throat while the Yellowjacket fidgeted with her fingers. Whitney looked uncomfortable.

"So… Lori…" said Whitney, trying to break the silence, "...about Carol…"

"What about her?" asked Lori.

"How'd you forgive her?"

"For what?"

"You forgot already? She kissed your boyfriend-then… remember?"

"Oh… right. Hmm, I don't really know. I don't think I ever told her that I forgave her, but… the understandment is there. I guess after Lola died, Carol was there for me despite how I treated her… and the fact that I accepted her friendship— that must've been the point where I realized how pointless it was to hold a grudge for something she already regretted."

"And now you two are best friends?"

"Well… I think Carol and… Becky… are closer. We've had a few bumps… more than a few bumps in our friendship. I almost killed Carol at one point—"

Whitney's eyes bulged as she felt fear rapidly creeping into her heart. Albert raised an eyebrow. Bruna kept her eye on the Yellowjacket who was quiet through all this.

"—because she betrayed my group. Not exactly my proudest moment. It's funny… because it was Becky who convinced me to spare Carol. She wasn't always like this, you know."

"Becky?"

"Yeah. She may have been tough at times but she still believed in people. Hurting others was not something she would've liked to do. It's kinda hard to pinpoint when it all changed. Maybe it was after losing Dana. Or after… Leni."

Whitney stared ahead with a sad expression.

"What are you gonna do with Becky?" asked Whitney.

"We'll lock her up. Exiling her won't help her or us. I think she's just filled with anger. She's very misguided, but she's not evil. She can't be."

"That's if you're the leader. What about Melissa? What do you think she'll do?"

"I don't know. I lied to her. I told her I wasn't harboring Becky. I feel bad. Melissa literally believed in me. I guess Schoffner was right."

"No… no, she wasn't…"

"Enough," said Albert. "Your friend here is trying to soften you up because she's too afraid of what might happen when we tell you what we did."

"What are you talking about?" asked Lori.

"Yes, Albert, what are you talking about?" asked Whitney, shaking her head subtly.

"Whitney held Becky in her house. Roger then told me about this and wondered what to do with her. They didn't want to get in trouble after all. So I told Schoffner. I set the whole operation up so we could get Becky. And we did. Why? 'Cause she's a threat. I know she's your friend, but that's exactly why I had to do what I did."

"You… captured her?" gasped Lori. "Why the hell did you do that? Do you know what you did to me?"

"Yes. Stopped you from becoming the leader. That's right— I knew about the promise you made to Melissa. We talk. And you know something about Whitney? She agreed to this."

"Y-You know, you don't have to tell her that…" whispered Whitney.

"W-Why?" exclaimed Lori. "Why did you two not want me to lead?"

"Leadership is too much of a burden," said Albert.

Lori braked the car hard. The passengers felt the tug of inertia pulling them forward before falling back on their seats.

"Oh my god!" shouted Lori. "You know how many times I've heard that? Lincoln, Bobby, Luna, David—!"

"It's true."

"I know! But I can bear it! I have to so that we can live!"

"But Houlton— it fell, didn't it? You lost a sister!"

"No one else stepped up. Two people tried— and they couldn't handle it! And Houlton is literally the worst example you can use— we went up against the world's most powerful military. You know what I did? I made sure some of us actually survived! And the rogues? They have long been fertilized by worms! That's me! I did that!"

Bruna and the Yellowjacket looked at each other awkwardly.

"We thought… it would have been too much," said Whitney. "You deserve to live a happy life, but leading us? That's a ton of responsibilities."

"When has my life ever not been filled with a ton of responsibilities?" sighed Lori.

"We're sorry, Lori," said Albert. "We were wrong to do what we did. I can't help but feel responsible for what happened to Royal Woods."

"Yeah," nodded Whitney.

"Schoffner only felt comfortable taking over Royal Woods because she had Becky… and that caused a riot. Hadn't the cops been busy trying to contain the riot, they surely would have had the numbers to defend Royal Woods— even arming the residents would have been helpful."

"Yeah, and you know we would never do anything to hurt you. We were just—"

"I think she gets it," said Bruna.

"Yeah. Sorry."

Lori let her foot off the brake and began driving the car again. The car was filled with uncomfortable silence again.

Footsteps made up all the sound in the dead neighborhood that Luna and her group found themselves in. The night sky was completely cloudy, and so Luna and the group had to resort to using their flashlights to move around.

"So, uh, when do we go down the sewers?" asked Lynn.

"When we spot some of the Vultures again," said Luna. "Though it's probably better if we just keep on walking. Not all sewers are going to be big enough for us to fit. The only one I'm certain about is the one on the main road."

"When are we going to get there?" asked Lana. "'Cause I'm really hungry now. And tired."

"Yeah, same here," said Benny. "It's been a really long day."

"I couldn't agree more," said Clyde. "Why don't we take a break?"

"Are you serious?" scoffed Lynn. "What were you doing all day, Clyde? B-Benny? Lana? We have a mission to do. People in Royal Woods depend on us to get them help right now!"

"Yeah, we can't stop now! Who knows how much time our family has left!" said Ronnie Anne.

"Detroit can't be that far, right?" asked Vonda. "How many miles?"

"I don't know," said Luna. "Maybe five? Six, possibly?"

"It's gonna take us hours to get there," said Luan. "A twenty minute break can't hurt, right?"

"I can kill a hundred people in those twenty minutes," said Lynn. "And Becky certainly will. Let's move."

"It's not up to you," said Sam. "Let's see what Luna has to say."

Luna looked at the cloudy skies. She couldn't even tell if she was walking southeast anymore.

"Let's take a break," said Luna. "We'll check these houses to see if there's a good place for us to rest. Maybe find us some supplies if there are any left over."

"Ugh, come on," groaned Lynn.

"Don't stress, Lynn," said JuJu. "Ya know, if we take a break, it gives their body a chance to recharge and we will actually get there faster. Follow what I'm saying?"

"Yeah. Of course. Simple exercise basics."

"So let's just chill for a bit."

Lynn nodded. The group began to split up to inspect the houses. However, before JuJu could follow Lynn to a duplex, Luna placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I need to ask you something," said Luna.

"Something wrong?" asked Lynn.

"Can you go with Sam to that blue house over there? I just need to talk with JuJu privately."

"Umm… okay."

Lynn took a deep breath as her heart began to beat faster, wondering if Carol spilled their secret and told Luna about her kiss with JuJu. But she couldn't stay back and make it more suspicious. She had no choice but to follow Sam into the blue house.

"What's up, Lunes?" asked JuJu.

"I think it's time for me to just be straight up honest with you," said Luna. "I know about you and Lynn. What you've been doing together."

JuJu's breath stopped as he felt like sweating now.

"You've been sneaking outside the walls together. It's nice to see you and Lynn make up for lost time. But you two have been spending so much time together. And I think… I think I understand now."

"Understand what? That we both hate being stuck inside them walls?"

"Tell me… do you and Lynn have feelings for each other?"

JuJu stared intensely into Luna's eyes. Luna stared right back with the same intensity. Then, JuJu laughed.

"What… what the hell?"

"Clyde is a good guy," said Luna. "Don't try anything with Lynn. And don't let Lynn try anything with you."

"C'mon now. Look at what you're saying."

"Right… and there's something else I need to bring up. Since you've been sneaking around, do you know where we are?"

"Yeah. Nine miles northwest of the RenCen."

"Damn… for a minute there, I really thought I knew where we were going."

"Bro, really?"

"Don't say anything and I won't say anything about you and Lynn. You two have been clearing out all the roamers in the area, right? Kinda like taking out your anger on the roamers kinda thing?"

"Yeah."

"Huh… I guess that explains why everything's so quiet right now. And that for some reason…"

Luna pointed the flashlight down at the ground, the light revealing dead bodies in the ground.

"...there are corpses all over the ground."

"Wait… we didn't do none of this. These bodies are still fresh… and not from roamers…"

Luna looked at the lifeless face of one of the corpses in the ground. Blood could be seen still seeping from the corpse's throat. She gulped and looked at JuJu.

"Follow me," said Luna, taking out her pistol.

"What's wrong?" asked JuJu, taking out his pistol as well.

"We might not be alone. Let's go."

Lynn pointed the flashlight around the living room on the first floor. Sam looked around the stairwell. The girls then turned to see a pair of magazines neatly stacked next to an unkempt pile of shoes. Lynn then turned her flashlight across the room and lit up the dining room, seeing flies buzzing around corpses on the ground. Lynn walked up to the corpses while holding a knife in one hand and bent down to inspect them. She shined the flashlight on one of the corpses' faces and saw malnutritioned skin and veiny eyes. The eyes appeared to have a pale, almost cloudy look to them. A small paint of blood appeared behind the corpse's head, dark in color, though appearing liquid-like.

"Roamer," whispered Lynn. "Wasn't killed that long ago."

"I'll check around upstairs," whispered Sam.

"Be careful."

Sam stepped on the stairs, creating a creaking noise as she walked up the stairs, holding a flashlight and a knife on hand. She slowly moved up until she was able to see the hall of the second floor. Unlike the first floor, the floor was carpeted.

Upon stepping on the ground of the second floor, Sam moved the light of her flashlight around the hallway. There were scratches on the walls and the paint was peeling off. All the nails in the wooden floor were perfectly nailed in except one, where the rusty exterior of the head of the nail could be seen, pointing out as if ready to create a wound and infect it with tetanus.

She then heard a noise come from the end of the hallway. She pointed her flashlight at the source of the noise, which revealed a bathroom. She slowly made her way towards the bathroom, taking one slow step at a time. She avoided the rusty nail by taking a wider step over it. She then found herself in the bathroom, facing a cabinet with a mirror. The light on the flashlight reflected back onto her, revealing an almost dark background behind Sam. She moved the flashlight around the bathroom, seeing a toilet, a bathtub with shower curtains above it, and a sink. The light from her flashlight revealed dried bloodstains on the sink, red in color. There were also torn bandages next to her boots, appearing dark-red in color. She then looked at the mirror again, seeing the flower pattern printed on the shower curtains in the reflection. She then opened the cabinet and saw a few bottles of medicines. She grabbed them and shook them, but none of them made a sound. She tossed the bottles back into the cabinet and closed it, now seeing the flower patterns moving with the shower curtains.

Sam spun back, pointing her flashlight at the shower curtains. She then pulled them back, seeing an open window above the tub.

"Hmm."

Sam then pulled out her walkie-talkie and noticed that it was off. She gasped softly and turned it on before hearing a noise come from the hallway again. This one was a lot closer. She stepped out of the bathroom and walked into a room. There was a dusty bed and books lying around, but those weren't what caught Sam's attention. What caught her eye was the fresh apple sitting on top of the drawer next to the bed. She quickly turned around towards the closet, but before she could react, the closet door slammed open, smacking against her face. She stumbled back and dropped her flashlight before being grabbed, turned around, and pinned up against the wall. She tried to turn around to see her attacker. Not that it would help her as it was too dark in the room to see anything anyways. However, she did recognize the cold touch of the barrel of a pistol. Indeed, she felt the cold touch against the back of her head.

"How many did you bring?"

"W-What are you-?" stammered Sam.

The stranger twisted Sam's arm, causing her to gasp in pain.

"How. Many?"

Sam was then grabbed, pulled away from the wall, and turned around as her eyes lit up with the reflection of the light from Lynn's flashlight. Lynn was aiming her pistol at the stranger, whose face could be seen a little by the flashlight. It was a young man with black hair, light skin, and glasses. But that's about all that the flashlight could reveal. The stranger held Sam and used her to shield himself from Lynn's pistol.

"Drop your dang pistol," hissed Lynn.

"Oh my god!" said Luna's voice, heard from downstairs.

The attacker felt a cold breeze run down the back of his neck. He then heard footsteps run up the stairs. He quickly threw Sam towards Lynn, causing Sam to stumble and crash into Lynn while he rushed to his backpack.

Lynn quickly recovered and moved her pistol, letting off a shot, nearly striking the attacker's backpack. The attacker then mantled over the window and leaped out. Sam quickly stood up as both girls heard a crash. They then ran up to the window seeing the attacker standing atop the dented roof of a car on the driveway, using his backpack to balance himself. He then drew his pistol and fired at the window, causing Sam to yell as both girls flinched and backed away from the window.

Luna and JuJu ran to the doorstep of the room, seeing Sam and Lynn laying low a few feet away from the windows.

"Where are they?" asked Luna, gripping her pistol.

The attacker bent down and groaned as he sat down and moved his legs away from the roof. He then hopped off the roof of the car and landed on the pavement of the driveway, stumbling down while grunting in pain. He slowly stood himself back up, though clumsily, and leaned his back against the car. He looked up to see if the car provided good cover for him from the window. He then lowered his head and took a series of deep labored breaths as he held his leg.

Suddenly, the stranger reached for his pistol before freezing. In front of him was Simon, his pistol drawn and aimed at the stranger.

"A-A kid?" murmured the stranger.

Simon kept his eyes on the stranger. His finger was on the trigger, ready to pull it at any moment.

"What did you do to her?" yelled Simon.

The attacker remained silent.

"What did you do to my sister?!"

"Hands up, asshole!" said Luna, standing on the front door with her pistol out.

The attacker smirked softly before turning around. Sam, Lynn, and JuJu came out of the house as well, causing Simon to feel a sense of relief wash over him.

"You need to move your hand away from the gun," said Luna.

"I don't think so," said the attacker. "I need it… just in case."

"Just listen to me, dude. I don't wanna have to shoot you."

The attacker refused to budge. Luna sighed.

"Screw it," said Lynn, pulling out her pistol. "He's not cooperating."

"W-Wait," said Luna. "Who are you?"

The attacker raised his eyebrows slightly in confusion.

"You're… not with them?"

"With who?"

"The raiders. No wait-"

The stranger closed his eyes. Luna looked at Lynn, who shrugged. Benny held out his katana sword, looking around, while Jane kept Carlitos behind her.

The stranger then opened his eyes.

"Laborers."

Lynn looked at Luna, who kept her eyes on the attacker. They both then lowered their guns.

"What's your name?" asked Luna.

"My name's Aiden."

"I'm Luna. Did you and your group do all this?"

Aiden looked at all the bodies in the street.

"Group…?" answered Aiden.

"Yeah, your people."

"I was part of one. Not anymore. But yes, I did all this."

Luna was skeptical of his response.

"How many roamers have you killed?" asked Luna.

Aiden tilted his head.

"Roamers?"

"The dead ones. The zombies."

Aiden stared at Luna, his face unchanging.

"One-thousand six-hundred eighty-four."

Luna looked at Sam, who looked back with surprise. Jane continued to hold Carlitos's hand as she felt her heart pounding against her chest.

"Alrighty, then," murmured Luna before clearing her throat. "How many people have you killed?"

"Fifty-five."

"Christ," said Benny.

"Why?" questioned Luna.

"They hurt me."

Luna took a deep breath, which gave a quiet shudder.

"Like that one over there."

Luna looked at the corpse that Aiden was pointing at. It was the corpse of a woman lying face-down on the grass with a knife in hand. One side of her jeans were drenched in blood. Luna looked at the body and was suddenly reminded of what she saw earlier in the day.

"Did you do this in Ann Arbor as well?" asked Luna.

Aiden began to walk away. Luna and Lynn raised their pistol, though Aiden did not flinch.

"Hey, dude, I didn't tell you to move."

"We need to go now. It's not safe here."

Aiden continued walking away as Luna lowered her gun. Luna then groaned and followed him.

"You better know where you're going," said Luna.

"Wait, are we seriously trusting this guy?" asked Lynn.

"No," said Luna. "I don't think he trusts us either, but there's no way around it. It's not safe here and we need to move. Gunshots alerted every roamer for miles. We don't wanna be here when they are."

"Ugh."

Lynn, along with the rest of the group, followed Luna and Aiden as they walked away from the street. The corpses remained on the ground, not a single one of them having risen as a roamer.