It been a day since Jason joined the group. David introduced Jason to group, although Jason already knew who they are he didn't say a word about him being from a another dimension and that he knew they future, he was debating if he should tell the group he's knows the future.
As they set up camp for the night, Jason set next to a tree he was thinking about events to come and protect the group.
"Hey are you okay," one of the member of his group Dana was check on him.
"Yeah I'm okay just thinking," said Jason not wanting to discuss his problems with her but he is happy to see her. Jason always thought that Dana was cute on the show and to be talking to her in person, his heart skips a beat for a second.
"Oh okay, so where you lived before the dead started walking," asked Dana.
"Chicago I lived in a apartment building," said Jason getting tired and wanting to sleep as he lay his back against a tree, Dana sat next to him and lay her head on his shoulder.
He was surprised by this not expecting her to do that.
"What are you doing," asked Jason heart rate increasing by the minute.
"Just keeping you company and I wanted to thank you," said Dana
"For what?" asked Jason.
"For help us with Carlos group I was worried for my friends and myself so thank you," said Dana closing her eyes and felling asleep on Jason's shoulder.
He smiled at how cute she looks sleep and falls to sleep to, not befor planting a small kiss on her forehead.
From the camp fire Lori, Bobby, Becky, and Tad we're watching the scene and had smiles on their face.
"I'm happy for Dana glad she found someone like Jason," said Bobby.
"There not dating yet Bobby but I do agree with being happy for her," said Lori.
"I know but you gotta admit they look cute together," said Bobby.
"You can say that again he's tough strong and cute," said Becky.
"Yeah who wouldn't want to be with him, his a nice guy, I hope they get together soon. I think he's the right guy for her," said Tad.
Jason open his eyes as the sun came up, he noticed something on his shoulder he look to his left to see Dana sleeping peacefully. He smiled at the cute scene in front of him. He gently moved her head from his shoulder and lay her on the soft grass.
"Morning Jason,"
He trund around to see Lori staring at him with a friendly smile.
"Moving Lori, you look like you're in a good mood today," said Jason stretching his arms to wake himself up.
"Well yeah, I had a good night sleep last night, by the way is there something going on with you and Dana. You to seem pretty close. especially after what we saw last night?"
"If you're asking if were dating then no, but I'll admit it she's attractive, and before you say if I like her the answer is yes," said Jason with a small smile on his face.
Lori just smiled at him happy to hear his answer and when to check on her siblings and adopted daughter Darcy.
After his short conversation with Lori, Jason walked over the David's RV, David was speaking to Richard when he noticed Jason approaching.
"Jason good timing, Richard was about to head out on a supply run can you go with him," said David.
"Sure I was going to ask you if you had anything for me to do today," said Jason.
"Good lets head out while we can," said Richard.
As they starting walking Richard decide to ask a question.
"So Jason you remember that conversation we had last night about the the leadership of the group.
-Last night-
The group ate quietly. Leni clung to Bobby and Lori. It seem she never wanted to let go of both of them. Bobby would talk with Clyde and Lynn as Lori played with Darcy. David, Richard, Jason and Missy sat together, watching Lori. David suffered a slice of canned peaches into his mouth.
"When are you going to break the news to her? that she can't be the leader?" That it has to be you? asked Richard
"When the time is necessary," replied David reaction for another slice.
"It's a shame. she's a strong, determined, courageous, young woman," said Missy
"Too bad she has so much to lose," sighed David. "She wouldn't be able to handle major losses if they occur frequently, I mean look at how many siblings she has! The loss of each sibling would break her."
"I thought we weren't going to lose loss anymore people other than Chaz and Rocky?" asked Richard.
"We can try, but frankly, we are nowhere close to Maine, and look at the treats that we're already faced. shit, our luck's going to run out soon."
"You're wrong Lori has what it takes to be a leader," said Jason, they looked at him wondering if he serious.
"What do you mean," asked David.
"She has what it takes to be a leader I can see it in her eyes the determination and confidence. I agree you should lead the group, but Lori can do it I know she can," said Jason.
"So you think she has what it takes, and I'm guessing there's a reason you agree that David should be the leader," said Missy.
"Yes she doesn't know how hard being a leader is and the only way for her to learn is with experience, she worried that she'll make the wrong choices," said Jason.
-Present day-
"You really believe Lori can lead the group," said Richard.
"Yes I do, she can do it but she afraid she'll mess up and get someone hurt or worse," said Jason.
"Okay I hear you, but as long as David is leading the group to Houlton we have nothing to worry about," said Richard.
As conversation finished they arrived at a town.
"Okay I'll look for food and medical supplies, you see if you can find any ammunition," said Richard.
"Okay I hope there's a gun store here,"said Jason.
As he and Richard split up, as Jason was walking he thought about telling the group what he knows about the future, as he thought about this notice a gun store in the distance.
"Well hello protect time hope there's some ammo lifted," said Jason.
As he walked into the store, there are some guns that we're left behind and some ammo too, as he got what he needed he saw some guns that he caught his eye, a M4A1 along with a M14 sniper rifle and two colt 1911's one silver and the other black he decided to take the guns since he didn't have his own.
As Jason left the gun store and went looking for Richard he final decided that he'll tell David what he knows.
"Where is your group!"
He heard an unfamiliar voice he followed where the voice came from and saw six men and one of them pointed his gun at Richard head.
"I'm going to ask you one more time where is your group," said the leader of the group.
"I'm alone no group been by myself since shit hit the fan," said Richard earning him a punch to the face.
"Bullshit all this food and water, you got is enough for twenty people here, now I'm going to ask again and if you don't tell me where you group is your dead," the leader screamed pointed his gun at Richard forehead.
As Jason was watching this he thought of an idea that would save Richard he just needed the tools of the job.
"I'm giving you ten seconds to tell us where you group right now or your dead."
Just as he finished his sentence Richard walkie-talkie started to act up.
"Jason to Richard. I found a gun store with lots of ammo and weapons to bring back to the ground," the leader smiled hearing this.
"Ask him where he is so you can find him," said the leader as Richard curse to himself as he grabbed the walkie-talkie.
"Jason where are you at," said Richard.
"Not too far on the other side of town," said Jason.
"Okay I'll meet you there," said Richard as the leader couldn't help but smirk at him.
"Well this is some good news for us, Dan and Tony you stay and watch him the rest of us will go and say hi to your friend maybe he'll tell us where your group is," said the leader as he and the rest of his group walked away.
As they reach the gun store and where about to walk in they head a sound close by, the leader ordered two of his men to check it out as they got closer the source of the sound they didn't notice a can with nails and scissors sticking out of it.
Before they could figure out where the sound came from the can explode, as it send the nail and scissors flying in all directions and shredded the bodies of the two men.
This alerted the leader wondering what had just happened before he could say anything his right hand men was shot in between the eyes with a silenced rifle and fell to the ground.
The leader panic wondering where the shot came from starting to aim his shotgun left and right, he heard footsteps behind him he turned around to shoot whoever was coming at him but before he knew it, Jason knocked his shotgun to the left side and punch the leader in his right side, before the leader could retaliate Jason grabbed his knife and stabbed the leader in the left side of his neck and the knife came out of the right side, he then grabbed the leader's pistol in his holster and shot him in the head and pulled out the knife.
While this was going on Richard and two men holding him captive heard the noises.
"Did you hear that what the hell going on," asked Dan.
"I don't know maybe they ran into some trouble with that guy at the gun store," said Tony completely calm.
"What if they need help they could be dead," said Dan worried for his group.
"It's guess one guy I don't think there's anything to worry about they can handle it."
"Yeah maybe you're right."
As he said that he was shot in his left eye and fell dead to the ground.
"What the fuck!" screamed Tony as he aimed his pistol looking for the the source of the shot, he then saw Jason running out at him
"Richard move now," screamed Jason he threw something in the air and Richard got out of the way and the thing Jason threw explained and smoke came out, Tony try to shot even though he was blinded by the smoke Jason smacked the gun out of his hand punch him in the gut grabbed his head with both hands and brung Tony head down to his knee, he fell ground dizzy before he could get himself up Jason grabbed his colt 1911 and shoot him in the head.
After the smoke cleared Richard walk over to Jason seeing Tony's dead body on the ground.
"Jason your okay what happened to the other four," asked Richard surprised by Jason's appearance.
"I saw you we're in trouble with these guys so I thought the plan to save you," said Jason.
"Thanks for the save, what was that thing you threw by the way," asked Richard.
"It was a smoke bomb I made along with a nail bomb I used on the other four," said Jason.
"Well thank let's get back to the others," said Richard.
When they got back they explained what happened on the supply run the group was socked to hear how Jason handled the situation.
"Hey David can I talk to you," said Jason.
"Sure what you want to talk about," asked David.
"In private it important and bring Missy to," said Jason as David got Missy and the Three walked away from the group.
"David said you wanted to talk about something important," said Missy.
"Yes I don't how to say this but I'm just going say, I know everything that going to happen to the ground and the treats that we'll face," said Jason.
David and Missy looked at him like he was crazy and wondering if he's okay and didn't hit his head daring the supply run.
"Yeah those are the Looks I figured give me I can prove it I know you have a wife name Sandy and a son name Seth, the two people in the group that dead because their were a lot of roamers, Rocky was bit and trund Chaz was eaten alive and you shot black in the eye back at Royal Woods," said Jason.
David was caught off guard by this since he didn't tell the group about his wife or son and he didn't saw a word to Jason about any of this.
"Okay say we believe that you know the future how did you know," said David.
"I'm from another world and in my world this world is known as a story, you don't have to believe me right now but I can tell you that when we get close to New York we're going to run into two toll collectors who are members of the piranhas and they won't let us pass unless we show them passes or proof of identification they names are Madison and Kevin," and with that Jason walk back to the group.
"Do you believe what he said," asked Missy.
"I don't know he seems serious we'll find out tomorrow," said David.
David and the other drivers headed off the road. Richard open up the map and told David to head on a particular road. after a couple of hours of silence, The group had finally arrived at the border. however, there was something different about the border.
"I see two people. David to all. slow down. We're gonna stop. Gotta see what these people want."
"Chunk to David. What if they try to maraud us?"
"Doesn't seem like it. Can't even go ahead, they got some traffic gate blocking the road.
The RV stopped right before a highway. A woman with black hair tied in a bun and glasses walked to the RV. A bald man with glasses as well followed the woman. They both wore blue toll booth uniforms. They had black pants and black shoes. They carried a UZI in their hands They both also had tattoos on their back neck that resembled a piranha. David rolled down the window.
"My name is Madison, a this is my coworker Kevin. We're going to need to see some passes or proof of identification that you are allowed to come here."
"Did anybody tell you guys we're in the middle of an apocalypse right now?" snarked David.
Madison and Kevin laughed.
"Yeah, we get that a lot. I'm sorry, but I'm asking for passes since I have a group to protect behind this borderline," said Madison, pointing at a large white line painted across the highway.
"Can't we just pass through whatever you're protecting? We're heading much further than here," asked David.
"No, sorry. I'm guessing you guys do not have passes, so I need you guys to leave," replied Kevin.
"Can't you guys just lead us through the road?
Kevin shook his head.
"Where are we supposed to go," asked Richard.
"Anywhere, but around here. Go to the Albany area or the Hudson area. We don't have more patrol guys guarding that area since we don't control that area," replied Madison.
"That is very close to the cities. I would want to avoid those areas," said David.
"Too bad don't make me ask again," said Madison, grabbing her UZI.
David looked at the group. then, he look back at Kevin and Madison.
"Are you protecting yourself, or are you protecting us?"
"Their protecting what's left of their group am I right that your boss order you two do this so she can making sure that no one gets involved with what she's doing," said Jason glaring at them
Madison and Kevin glared back.
"Go. Don't come back."
"David to all. Turn your vehicles around. We're taking a different road," said David into the walkie-talkie.
"Thank you for your cooperation," said Kevin.
Kevin and Madison headed back inside the toll booth and watched as the vehicles turned around and away from the tolls.
"Damn, now are trip is going to take a couple of weeks longer if we go the long way to Albany," said David.
"Are we really going to listen to them?" asked Lori.
"We have to."
"What do you mean, we have to? Can't we just, like, I don't know, run through the traffic gate or something?"
"Yes we can, but than we're going to have to deal with the gang Madison and Kevin work for," said Jason.
"Jason right, I've seen those tattoos that they have on the back of their neck. It's from a gang that calls themselves the pirates. They stay around the Hodson Rriver areas, which is very close to Albany."
"You mean they aren't actual toll collectors?"
"They could be. They could be leading us to a trap by sending us to Albany, but I doubt it. I think they are legitimately trying to protect the remaining Piranhas, but what do I know? I wasn't informed on gangs in New York."
"I'm just pissed we're going have to wait longer to see our parents," replied Lori.
"I agree. I really need to get to Houlton as soon as possible to take out that son of a bitch," said David.
The road back was a long and rainy one. The group was forced to see the deceased corpses of their attackers. The RV, Vanzilla, Chaz's car, and Chunk's car drove quickly past the corpses and moved to a different road. The group took a quick stop at noon in order to distribute the food that they were going to eat of lunch. If it wasn't for the rain, the tense emotions between some of the group members were enough to keep everyone inside their vehicles.
While the group ate inside the vehicles, roamers would sometimes stumble upon the vehicles and bang the windows. In one instance, Lola was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when a roamer suddenly banged on the window. Lola dropped the sandwich in fright and started at the lifeless monster. She swallowed hard and then picked up her sandwich— too hungry to care about it being messy. Lori would get out of the vehicle with a golf club and shove the roamer away from the window. After the roemer was away from sight, Lori would swing the golf club at such amazing speed, that she chopped the head of its body. After the group finished they lunch, they moved on to a different road, heading towards Albany.
"Jason I need to to talk to you when you have the chance," said David.
"Okay is this about what I told you and Missy yesterday," asked Jason.
"What are you talking about what you told them," asked Richard.
"That he knows the future."
Richard looked at David and laughed thinking he was joking but when he noticed the serious look he was giving him he knew he wasn't joking.
"Wait your serious, he knows the future that impassable," said Richard.
"Just as impassable as the dead walking and eating people," said David.
"Okay you have a point, so you really know the future Jason," asked Richard.
"Yes I know everything that going to happen to the group and the treats will face," said Jason.
"Do you also know if we make it to Houlton," asked Richard.
"Yes but will talk about it later."
After a couple of hours on the road, the group came across a problem. There were roamers blocking the road. After David took a look at a couple trees in the distance with his binoculars, he contacted the group.
"David to all. There's a herd of roemers in the distance. We can't go any further on the road. Everyone turn back!"
The roamers roamed closer to the group and the trees distinguished themselves as the undead. Sergei led Chaz's car, Vanzilla, and the RV back in the road. The roamers then became indistinguishable in the distance as the vehicles drove further back where they were.
"That was close call. look like we take different road now," said Sergei.
After the sunset, the rain disappeared, revealing the beautiful stars in the sky and a milky streak. Some of ate dinner inside their vehicles. Others ate outside, heating their food in a fire.
"Okay Jason how much do you know about the future," asked David.
"Enough to know who to trust and who not to trust that's how much I know," said Jason.
"And the kind of threats will face and the road," asked David.
"I'll warn you when the time comes," said Jason.
"That's fine by me, will talk to more tomorrow," said David.
"Time to rest!" yelled out Richard.
"Let's get some rest for tomorrow, it's going to be a long dive," said David.
Jason walked to the RV and grabbed his M4A1 and got ready for what was about to came.
Every member of the group fell into a deep slumber, except Richard, who kept watch of the group at the top of the RV. And Jason was keeping an eye out for the herd. The night was quite, or so did Richard think. He didn't know or seemed to have forgotten that the herd of roamers would follow the last noise or object that they seen/heard. The herd was slowly making its way to the vehicles over the night. The thunder of growls was not yet heard until the sun rose over the eastern hills.
"Fuck," whispered Richard as he saw the hard coming to the group. "Wake up! Everyone wake up!"
The group looked out the windows and immediately noticed the herd. David went behind the wheel and Richard made his way down the RV. A few roamers reached the vehicles. Richard quickly climbed back up to the roof of the RV. Jason started shooting the roamers in the head with precision not missing a shot. Vonda grabbed her arrows from the cabinet above the sofa and put them in her back quiver. she dashed outside the RV, surprising David. Richard reached for his python and aimed at the roamers. however, each roamer was killed quickly by the redheaded archer. She swiftly shot her arrows to the heads of more roamers. She dashed and grabbed her arrows, putting them back in her quiver.
"Get down," shouted Vonda.
Richard climbed down the ladder and entered the RV. Vonda grabbed all her arrows and went inside the RV. Jason got into the front seat of the RV. All the drivers drove their vehicles away, heading back to the familiar road. The roamers were hot on their tails and attached more roamers from nearby cities. Danger followed them.
After a couple of hours, the group reached the New York-pennsylvania borderline with danger still hot in their tail as they were unable to outrun the roamers.
"Oh, fuck, not you guys again," sighed Madison.
"You two let us through!a herd's on are ass!" yelled David.
"A herd? No, we're not letting you people through unless you have passes," replied Madison.
"Please! look! The herd is literally right over there in the distance," begged Lori.
"Damn it in that case, We going to hide. Sorry, you guys are still not allowed to pass," replied Kevin.
"We hide with you! Don't send us to are death!" yelled Lori.
"Just let us through asshole so everyone here including you two can live," yelled Jason.
"No! Get the fuck out of here! You lead the herd here! Now lead them away! yelled Kevin.
"Or else..." said Madison as she pulled out her UZI.
"Fine. Fine," hissed David.
David, Jason and Lori walked back to their vehicles. They pressed their gas pedals and moved slowly towars the herd. Lori turned on her walkie-talkie, her finger leaving a mark of sweat on it.
"What do we do? We can't lead them away! We have to run the gate," said Lori.
"That's what I was thinking," said David.
"Are we doing that?" said Lori as she saw Kevin and Madison point their guns at the group.
David drove the RV close to the herd. suddenly, he made a U-turn, to which all the group mimicked. Kevin and Madison stepped behind the traffic gate and started at the group in confusion. suddenly, David accelerated, his shoes not letting go of the gas pedal.
"Shit," muttered Madison.
As David drove faster and faster, he ran over the traffic gate, clearing it for Lori, Chunk and Sergei. Kevin and Madison unloaded their UZI on the group, firing all their bullets. The group ducked as most of the bullets reached of the vehicles. Madison jumped out of the way as the RV came very close. Kevin kept firing at the RV. David collided and ran over Kevin, crushing him. He kept his high speed and drove into the highway. Madison watched as Kevin's bones were crushed against his flesh before noticing a vehicle coming to her.
"Fuck," whispered Madison.
Lori drove her van towards Madison, running her over. The wheels of vanzilla crushed Madison's ribs, focusing them into her lungs. Chunk and Sergei drove past the mangled bodies of Madison and Kevin, following Lori and David into the road in New York. The herd come closer. By the time they reached the border, there were hundreds of roamers. Madison lied on the hard pavement, coughing out blood. She looked at the herd and shrugged to move. As she inched her body closer to the toll booth, she coughed more violently. The herd rushed to consume her, passing the toll booth. Seeing this, Madison shrugged to cry out in anger, and only ended up shrugging to breathe as she suffocated. The roamers dropped to the floor and began to tear the woman's flesh, little by little, adding to her suffering until she suffered no more. After the roamers were done, they got back up with blood on their decomposed mouth and kept on wandering, following the last noise they heard.
The group watched from the distance as the herd got smaller and smaller. David was breathing heavily and sweating profusely. Lori was shivering and was probably the only person in the group not looking back.
"Lori to David..."
Lori continued to shiver. She shrugged to get her words out as her throat began to feel clammy. But nevertheless, the words came out anyways.
"...did we go too far? Are we borderline in losing our humanity? If not, what would it take for us to cross that line?"
Jason grabbed the walkie-talkie knowing David wasn't.
"Jason to Lori. We can talk about this later David needs time to think about it, but in my opinion unless you enjoy killing people that's when the line is cross."
"Okay that's fine and thank you for that answer Jason," said Lori.
Jason relax a little and collected his taught the big problem the group will face.