III - Blood of the Rhondas
The half-moon hovered in the sky as the fog hovered over the creek.
A handcuffed Lynn, who was duct-taped at the mouth, sat on a wooden picnic bench. Becky stood in front of her, holding a pistol.
"I'm going to take that tape off your mouth," said Becky. "You promise not to scream, yeah?"
Lynn glared up at Becky.
Becky ripped the tape off Lynn's mouth, causing her to groan in pain.
"Good job," said Becky. "So you hopped into the car of one of your enemies… followed them to their base… and tried to escape, yet got yourself captured. Doesn't that remind you of something?"
Lynn continued glaring at Becky.
"Right, that time when we followed Buck. You got caught and I got away. And that led to the demise of our home, huh? Only one thing is different this time around. Royal Woods is not my home."
Lynn looked away.
"For someone that talks out of their ass a lot, you sure are quiet today."
"What? You want me to beg you to let me go?" scoffed Lynn. "You want me to remind you how we were traveling companions and went through the most traumatic shit together and somehow you shouldn't kill me because of that? No, you won't catch me saying shit. If any of the shit we went through together meant anything, then you wouldn't have done any of the shit you put us through. So I got nothing to say to you. Other than for you to go to hell."
Becky clenched her jaw as she gripped her pistol tightly. She then closed her eyes and chuckled.
"At least you haven't changed," said Becky. "You know, I never wanted to tear us apart. But Lori… she sent me away. What else was I supposed to do?"
"Huh? She didn't send you away. She didn't want you to get locked up by that cop freak. But looking back at it… maybe that would've been the best option."
"Why didn't she just take over then? Or she could've just killed Schoffner… was I not worth it?"
"Didn't you get the memo? We don't have to kill to survive. Not anymore. We're trying to build a civilization."
"Right… a civilization that will doom us again like Houlton. No… she should know better. She does know better. She just… she just wanted me gone…"
Becky began to pace around as she murmured to herself. She was rubbing her head as she groaned. She then smacked herself hard in the head as she groaned louder.
"Why? I don't understand! No, I do! I do!"
Lynn was unnerved. She was now witnessing it first-hand how unstable Becky was. Not that she didn't show signs before, but now it was clear to her. This was not the same Becky she knew months ago.
Headlights appeared from the foggy road.
A few Vultures stood up and Becky caught sight of it. She quickly grabbed Lynn by the collar of her shirt and dragged her off her seat while pointing her pistol at her.
"Is it her?" asked Becky frantically. "Is it?"
Shiwen approached the approaching vehicle as it slowed down. She then tilted her head and looked back.
"There are others," said Shiwen.
"Others?"
Lori came out of the vehicle with Carol, Clancy Rhonda, and Kari Carmichael.
"What… the actual fuck? Lori!" screamed Becky. "I was clear earlier, wasn't I? Just you!"
"Becky, calm down!" exclaimed Carol. "I convinced her to take us!"
"Carol…"
"I promise it's just us! No one else is coming!"
Becky huffed and puffed as Lynn looked at Lori nervously. Lynn expected Lori to be mad, but she was instead stricken with worry and fear.
"I… I just wanted her, no one else…," stammered Becky. "You… you can stay, but not— not them! Get 'em out of here!"
"Rebecca, please!" exclaimed Kari.
Becky aimed her pistol at her mother, causing her to flinch and grab her ex-husband's arm.
"Becky, just hear them out," said Carol. "For me… please."
Becky looked at Carol, sweating intensely as she kept her pistol aimed at her mother. Her heart pounded against her chest as she kept her pistol up.
"Lower your gun, sweetheart," said Clancy.
Becky hissed as she aimed her gun at Clancy.
"Okay, okay," gasped Clancy, raising his hands softly.
"We came all this way… to tell you we're sorry," said Kari. "We're sorry about everything."
"A bit too late for that isn't it?" muttered Becky.
Shiwen turned around as she heard roamers growling from the road. She grabbed her machete and motioned a few Vultures to come with her. She swung her machete at one of the roamers, killing it.
"No, it's not too late. Everything that happened… we still believe you are in there. Because this… this isn't you."
"And what if it is? You and Dad made it clear you don't accept me for who I am now… so what happens when you realize this is my true self?"
"We are willing to help you find yourself again. I promise. All you have to do… is stop all the violence and come back home with us."
Clancy nodded.
"We will always love our daughter," said Clancy. "And right now… we're missing her. We're missing her right now."
"I'm… I'm standing right in front of you…" murmured Becky. "And I don't need you to help me. I don't need you here…"
The Vultures spread out as they took out the roamers that were approaching the picnic area. As they spread out, the fog began to cloak them from the rest of the group.
As one of the Vultures swung her hammer, the roamer that she was supposed to kill dodged the swing. The roamer then took hold of a balisong and inserted it into the Vulture's gut before removing it and slashing her throat open. The 'roamer' dropped the Vulture to the ground, leaving her body as she looked over to a neighboring Yellowjacket, who also killed a Vulture.
"You don't have to prove yourself to us," said Kari. "Just come back to us… and we'll know you're still with us. That's all you have to do."
"No, no… you're lying," murmured Becky. "This is a trap. It's always a trap…"
"Becky, I promise you it's not a trap," said Lori.
"Shut up!" screamed Becky. "You… you came all this way to save your sister… you don't give a damn about me!"
Lynn panted before hearing a thud behind her. She turned around, though she saw nothing.
Becky noticed and peered into the fog.
"What?" said Becky. "What did you see?"
"Nothing," said Lynn.
"What did you see!"
"Becky, stay with us!" exclaimed Lori.
"Where… where are my Vultures?"
A few Vultures appeared confused as they looked at Becky.
"We're right here," whispered one of the Vultures.
"I wasn't speaking to you!" huffed Becky.
Becky continued to look around, seeing less Vultures than usual. Even Shiwen was gone, though Becky knew she went out to keep the roamers away. But even then, her paranoia took over.
"Shiwen!" shouted Becky.
"I'm here!" Shiwen shouted back. "Everything okay?"
"Okay? When is anything ever okay?"
"Becky…" said Lori.
"I told you to shut up! Why… did you bring my parents here? Do you think I'm weak? That a few words would get me to fall into this trap of yours? You backstabber! You should have just come alone!"
"Rebecca, she didn't make us come here," said Kari. "We came out of our own free—"
"I told you to GET OUT!"
A loud gunshot resounded throughout the foggy woods.
Blood splattered onto the damp dirt.
The sound of water rushing through a creek was muffled by the sound of a thud for a split second before being followed by the sound of a scream.
"No!" shouted Clancy. "Becky! What did you do?"
The sounds of screams could be heard as civilians ran from the roamers. The sound of Devin screaming as he begged for Becky, Dana, and Tad to come back burned into Becky's mind. Tad's blood splattering all over her as he was pierced by bullets. The guilt Becky felt as Derrick was punched over and over by Sherry washed over her. The terror she felt as Derrick was pushed off the building by Richard to be torn apart by roamers paralyzed her. The image of Dana's upper skull being torn apart burned into Becky's mind. The rage Becky felt as she watched the raindrops wash over the gunshot wound in Leni's head. She felt the very same fear she felt when the cannibals were about to kill her in the parking garage. The burning sensation followed by the smell of burned flesh as she screamed for her life as Damien burned her throat.
All of the pain and fear she felt then seemed to numb away as she watched her mother lay in the ground with a bleeding hole where her heart was supposed to be.
A teardrop fell from her eye as Carol ran over to Kari's body. Her hands trembled as she dropped her pistol, watching her father drop to his knees.
She blinked slowly before looking up, seeing a Vulture ahead of her get decapitated. She gasped as she turned around, seeing the Vulture behind her get stabbed through the chest by a Yellowjacket. She then blinked rapidly as she turned around, seeing a Yellowjacket lunge at her with a knife. However, the Yellowjacket had the upper half of her head sliced off by Shiwen.
Shiwen then shoved Becky away.
"Go!" exclaimed Shiwen.
Becky panted as she quickly turned around and ran towards the creek.
Lori looked at Kari's lifeless body. She then drew her revolver out and felt a rage grow inside of her. She ran towards Becky, ignoring Shiwen, who lifted her machetes to stop her.
However, before Shiwen could take down Lori, Hana lunged towards Shiwen.
Shiwen quickly raised her machetes and stopped Hana's katana from slicing her apart. She then kicked Hana away as she turned around.
Lori pulled out her knife and tossed them onto the picnic bench close to Lynn.
Lynn gasped and leaped over her handcuffs, placing her arms on the other side. She grabbed the knife and looked at Lori, who continued to chase after Becky. She wanted to follow her, but was then approached by a roamer.
"Careful, there's a herd that way!" shouted Rena.
Lori ignored her and followed Becky into the fog as they followed the river downstream.
Carol looked up and ran after her too.
Rena growled, attempting to follow them as well. However, a Vulture prevented her from moving as the Vulture tried to attack her. However, Rena quickly took down the Vulture with her wakizashi sword without breaking a sweat.
Lynn took down the roamer near her and then knifed another roamer. She gasped as she saw a tiny Yellowjacket approaching her and tried to hop away from the picnic table. However, she simply collapsed to the damp dirt.
"I got you, Lynn!" exclaimed Debi.
"Who are you?" shouted Lynn.
"No time for introductions! We have to get you out of here!"
Debi unlocked the handcuffs on Lynn and freed her. Lynn quickly grabbed her bow on the table and used it to smack a roamer away.
Hana yelled as she thrusted her katana forward. Shiwen quickly dodged it before making a spin and swinging her machete towards Hana. However, Hana was able to throw herself into the ground to duck the machete blades. At the same time, she sliced one of Shiwen's ankles, causing her to fall to one knee. Hana then stood up and swung her katana downwards.
Shiwen used one machete to block the blade while sticking the other into the dirt, stabilizing herself. She then switched the machete's position, using the left-handed one to cut the katana blade in half. She smiled and quickly took advantage of the split sword in front of her and lunged at Hana with both machetes.
Hana, however, backed away, allowing Shiwen to stumble. She then slammed the butt of the handle on top of Shiwen's head, causing her to drop to the floor face-forward. Hana then turned around, allowing her poncho to wave with the spin.
Shiwen, surprised to see Hana walking away, growled.
"I haven't surrendered yet, you—!"
Her eyes widened as the tip of a sai pierced through the back of her skull and out her mouth.
"You lost already," said Debi before pulling out her sai. "Hana, what do we do with Becky and the others?"
"I will follow," said Hana. "All of you, stay."
Debi nodded as Hana walked into the foggy woods.
Lynn grabbed her quiver and prepared to follow Hana. However, she looked back at the grieving Clancy and felt guilt wash over her. It was her fault they came in the first place, she thought. Had she not followed Becky, Kari would still be alive.
She took a deep breath as she walked by the dead Vultures and living Yellowjackets. She then stood over Clancy and Kari with a remorseful expression on her face.
"Mr. Rhonda…" stammered Lynn.
However, Clancy simply ignored her. Or perhaps he didn't hear her. After all, he could hear nothing but the beating of his heart and the ringing in his ears.
Two separate pairs of headlights shined on the I-75 highway. They belonged to the pickup trucks that Albert and Rex were driving. The pickup trucks were initially separated, leading two different sections of the herd, but with the wide highway now leading straight to Hawk Woods, the vehicles merged the herd together.
Seeing an exit ahead, Albert picked up his walkie-talkie.
"Hey, kid, you can go ahead and take the exit," he said.
"You sure?" asked Rex.
"Yeah, no use in two vehicles when one can do the trick."
"What if you need backup?"
"It's straight ahead, what kind of trouble can I get into? Go on. Really, I insist. I don't wanna waste your time."
"Alright. See ya back at the walls."
Rex drove his truck towards the exit. To keep the roamers away from following his truck, Albert honked his truck, keeping the roamers' attention on him.
"Whatchu' planning, old man?" asked Bruna.
"Do I have to be planning something?" asked Albert as he peeked into his rearview mirror, seeing Bobby's face.
"You know we're supposed to head back together. Yet, you sent that kid on his way."
"I can't be worried for their safety?"
"Cut the bullshit. Just let me know what you're planning so that I could help you not fuck it up."
Albert smirked before looking at the rearview mirror again.
"Hey, son. You got the flares?" asked Albert.
"Yes, sir," said Bobby.
"You got a flare gun?"
"Y-Yeah."
"I need you to fire a flare in that direction."
Bobby looked at where Albert pointed at. He loaded a flare into the flare gun before Bruna realized where Albert was pointing at.
"Wait, that's where the CHQ is at," said Bruna.
"You're fucking up the plan," said Albert.
"You haven't told me what the fucking plan is."
"Wait, the CHQ… that's April's community, isn't it?" asked Bobby.
"Yes, yes it is, Bobby," said Bruna.
"But if I fire a flare at the CHQ, wouldn't that lead the herd over there?"
"It would, wouldn't it?"
"That's the plan," said Albert. "That flare is bright. Every roamer in Hawk Woods will see it too."
"I'm very confused," said Bobby. "Are we planning to destroy the CHQ?"
Bruna looked at Albert with a curious face as well.
"No," said Albert. "With all the weapons and ammunition they have, they should take out the herd. And that's the goal. By having them eliminate the herd… the Yellowjackets will no longer be a threat. They won't be able to hide among the dead and they won't be able to threaten us with herds."
"I see…" whispered Bruna.
"But the Yellowjackets are our allies," said Bobby. "They wouldn't threaten us like that."
"They already have," said Albert. "And they won't be our allies forever."
"I don't know…"
"I'll do it," said Bruna.
"No, hold on," said Albert. "It has to be him."
"Huh?"
"Wait, why?" asked Bobby.
"Look, son. Lori is a very strong woman, is she not? But that does not mean we should have to keep piling burdens on her to deal with. She will be the leader… that's inevitable… so we should accept that. And by accepting that, we should go ahead and make it easier for her to carry the burden of leadership by removing one of her headaches. Last thing I want is for her stress to kill her before she reaches my age. You don't want that of my granddaughter, right? Of your wife?"
"No, sir."
"You're a good husband, Bobby. You can ease her burdens. All you have to do is fire over there."
Bobby gulped as he took a deep breath. He tapped on a button and rolled down the window. He then stuck his flare gun out of the window, getting ready to fire it.
In the woods, Becky huffs and puffs as she jogs through the forest, keeping the creek to her right. Her heart pounded against her chest and her lungs burned and her throat stung. She slowed down and grabbed her knees, gasping for air as tears ran down her cheeks and nose. Sweat drenched her face and body, causing her to rip off her robe.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck…" muttered Becky.
She then saw a roamer come out of the fog as it stepped through the creek. The roamer growled as it smelled the sweat from her. She panted heavily as she reached for her knife. The roamer then closed in on her.
Lori continued jogging through the forest, shining her flashlight ahead of her. The sound of the creek water splashing against the rocks could be heard to her right.
On the damp ground, she saw fresh footsteps, no doubt belonging to Becky. She followed the footsteps before hearing a low scream in the distance. She picked up her pace and held her revolver out in the other hand, just in case she was ambushed.
But to her surprise, she saw Becky on the ground with a dead roamer next to her. She saw Becky frantically rubbing the blood from the dead roamer all over her face before noticing the flashlight.
Becky gasped and went to pick up her knife before Lori rushed in and kicked the knife out of her hand.
"Wait!" exclaimed Becky. "Lori—!"
Lori kicked her across her face. She knelt down and slammed the revolver at Becky's nose, breaking it. She then continued to swing the revolver at her, beating Becky relentlessly.
Carol ran over and grabbed Lori's arm, dragging her away from Becky.
"Let go of me!" grunted Lori.
"Stop it!" exclaimed Carol.
Lori shoved Carol's arms away and pointed her revolver at Becky, blood dripping from its barrel. She kept the flashlight pointed at Becky as she spit out blood.
"I trusted you!" yelled Lori. "I did everything I could to save you and you wasted it!"
Becky panted, with each exhale becoming heavier by the second. She then broke into laughter as tears flowed out of her eyes.
"Oh, oh god…" laughed Becky. "I know! I did too!"
Becky continued to laugh as both Lori and Carol watched her with fear in their eyes. Her laughter was then cut short by her cough as tears flowed down her cheeks and nose.
"No—nothing hurts worse than betrayal, right?"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" asked Lori as she cocked her revolver. "Your mother was only trying to help you. Your… your own mother. And you killed her."
Becky smiled and nodded as tears continued rolling down from her eyes.
"I know… I… I don't know why I did that. Or maybe I did…"
Lori placed her finger on the trigger.
Becky looked at her, eyes trembling as her smile faded. All that was left of her face were tears.
Then, Carol stepped forward, getting in the way of Lori's line of fire.
"Get out of the way," panted Lori.
"No," said Carol. "Look at her. Her mind… is not in the right place. She needs serious help."
"We can't… help someone who doesn't want to be helped."
"Let me talk to her. Please."
"Don't make this any harder than it needs to be."
"I owe her my life…" said Carol, her breath shaking. "Remember the last time I saw the end of that barrel? You were going to kill me… until she stepped in and saved my life. Please let me do the same."
"This isn't the same situation at all."
"I know you have every reason to kill her… but despite everything she's done… I can't watch her die."
Lori's grip on the revolver grew weaker as her hands trembled. She was holding back tears as she continued staring down at Carol.
"It's… it's nice that you think I'm worth saving," said Becky with a raspier voice than usual. "But you should really move out of the way."
Carol turned around and looked at Becky, who pulled down her fur collar to reveal a bite mark on her neck. Tears flowed out of her eyes as she covered her mouth.
Lori lowered her revolver and clenched her teeth, tearing up now.
"Is that real?" asked Lori.
"Yeah. It just happened. Before you beat me."
Becky tilted her head at the dead roamer on the ground.
"It's a shame. Even in this stupid fucking world… I wanted to live."
Her rage caused her to growl her words out. But then she giggled as she teared up again.
"Maybe… maybe the walls aren't such a bad idea now."
Lori wanted to scream at her. She wanted to kill her for being so stupid. But she couldn't. All she could do was lower her head.
"You look even more pissed," said Becky. "I know you probably hate my guts right now… but could you at least… tell my father… vodka takes the pain away the best? Wait… scratch that… he probably already knows."
She broke into soft laughter before sighing.
"Well…? Weren't you going to kill me?"
Lori kept her head lowered.
"Come on. Fucking do it already!"
Becky huffed before seeing Carol pull out her revolver.
"Carol…"
"You want it quick, don't you?" asked Carol.
Becky's rage faded away as she looked up at the sky.
"Could you at least sing for me?" whispered Becky.
Carol gulped before nodding. She then looked at Lori who began walking away.
"I'll wait for you," whispered Lori.
"Okay," whispered Carol.
Lori placed the revolver back into her holster and walked away, nearly dragging her boots along the damp dirt. She disappeared into the fog.
Becky lay against the dirt, breathing heavily as mist came out of her lips.
Carol wiped her tears and cleared her throat.
"Never mind the darkness… never mind the storm… never mind the blood red moon…"
A teardrop from Becky dropped to the damp ground, mixing with the drops of blood underneath her head.
"The night will be over soon… the night… will be over soon…"
Carol looked up, her voice fading away as tears fell. She placed her finger on the trigger of her revolver.
Lori continued to walk through the fog. Then, she heard the gunshot.
She leaned against a tree and whimpered softly as she placed her hands on her head. Tears flowed out of her eyes as her breath shook.
Footsteps approached.
She looked ahead and saw Carol looking right back at her, her eyes unblinking and unfocused.
"Let's go," whispered Carol.
Lori sniffled and nodded. With Carol, she made her way through the foggy woods in complete silence.
Then, Hana showed up.
"Where's Becky?" asked Hana.
Lori looked down at the ground as tears continued to flow out of her eyes.
Hana looked at her eyes and then down at her hands, seeing the blood in her knuckles.
Looking at Lori and Carol, and having heard the gunshot, Hana knew the answer.
In a way, Hana felt bad. But at the same time, she felt relieved.
"We have to get out of here. Horde heard gunshots."
She then looked up and saw red flares shimmering in the sky.
"Nandayo?"
Lori and Carol both looked up, wondering who was firing the red flares this close to Hawk Woods.
Hana then darted ahead while prompting the girls to follow her.
Lynn looked up at the red flares before turning around, seeing Hana return with Lori and Carol. The roamers and Vultures were all lying on the ground, lifeless.
"Who's firing that?" asked Lynn.
"That is what I want to ask," said Hana.
"None of the Vultures escaped from us," said Rena.
"Maybe all the Vultures weren't here," said Lynn. "Polly was missing. But I don't think she's dead."
"Polly Pain?" asked Hana.
Lynn wondered how Hana knew of her. Nevertheless, she nodded.
Clancy looked over at the girls. He shuddered as he looked away, trying his best to not throw up. But he knew it. He knew his daughter was gone.
Outside of Hawk Woods, Bobby placed another flare inside the flare gun and fired it, sending it over Auburn Hills.
"Alright, that's it," said Albert. "Give me the gun now."
Bobby nodded as he handed over the flare gun.
Albert grabbed the gun and placed it inside the glove department.
"If anyone asks, we didn't fire shit," said Albert.
"You won't catch me snitchin'," said Bruna.
"Bobby?"
Bobby nodded.
"Alright. We'll keep heading north until— what the hell?"
Hana, Rena, Lori, Carol, Lynn, and Clancy came out of the woods. All of them were wearing robes and ponchos that were covered in roamer blood.
Albert braked the car as the survivors ran over to them.
"Did you guys do this?" asked Rena.
"What? That?" exclaimed Albert. "No, it had to be one of the Vultures."
"The Vultures are all gone. There's no one else—"
"We have no time," said Hana. "Everyone. Get in."
Lynn hopped into the bed of the truck as Lori, Carol, and Clancy removed their ponchos.
Lori then entered the back seats along with Carol.
However, Clancy hesitated, simply staring off into the fog as he could see silhouettes in the distance. Then, he felt Carol touch his hand.
He looked back at her, her soft eyes consoling him. He gave a nod and entered the pickup truck.
"You're not coming with us?" asked Albert.
"No," said Hana.
"You're going to try to divert this massive herd by yourself?"
"I will."
Albert and Hana gave each other a strong glare, bordering on distrust.
Hana then jogged away from the truck as Rena followed her.
"You really think the Vultures did this?" asked Rena.
"I don't know," said Hana. "Slow down now."
Hana and Rena slowed their jog as the herd they held in the woods were now visible through golden glowing eyes. They approached them, though they were moving in the opposite direction.
"It's too late to get out," said Albert. "We're just gonna have to stay very still."
Lynn lay flat on the truck bed as she looked up at the foggy white light in the sky. Many thoughts ran through her head. She knew how the world could rob her fellow group members of their humanity. She saw it in Richard. She saw it in herself. But Becky… she saw something else. Besides rage, loneliness, and fear, she saw something else. She saw delusion.
The roamers growled as they came out of the woods.
Perhaps Becky really did lose her mind. If that were true, that means the real Becky, the one she knew and loved, died a long time ago, Lynn thought. But she couldn't pinpoint when it was exactly. Maybe it was when they arrived at Royal Woods. Or maybe when she shot Kimi to death. Or when she got kidnapped by Calvin's group the second time around. Or maybe when she was nearly killed by the cannibals the first time around. Or maybe when Leni died. Or Dana. Or D. Or Tad.
Lynn could hear the growling from the roamers as they walked around the truck, heading eastwards.
Now that she recalls, she remembered when she was kidnapped by Sherry. They were in a house near a shipyard and Becky snuck out of the bathroom. She knew Becky intended to kill Sherry. But then Becky failed and was forced to witness D get tortured. And she remembered how different she came out of it. The fear, the rage, the loneliness… was it then where she died?
The truck was now trapped in a massive wave of roamers.
Lynn continued to ponder. Or maybe, Becky was always this way. Or maybe, it wasn't as complicated as she was making it out to be, Lynn thought. One thing was simple, though.
Lynn sniffled as tears came out of her eyes. She missed her.
A gunshot roared in the distance. Then, another. And another. A burst of gunfire then followed. And another burst. Suddenly, a rumble of gunfire resounded throughout the fog as it began to clear little by little.