V - Broken
In the Wasteland, thousands of roamers moved in different directions, causing clattering noises and preventing the prisoners from having a good sleep. However, the sun was high by now.
Lori found it strange that Hana never wanted to interact with her family. She always walked around the platform, looking around, searching for something.
"Where are you from?" asked Lori.
Hana continued to stare out the platform.
"Tokyo," she said.
"Oh, do you speak English?"
"Speak English? Not well."
Black entered the platform with Lead, Sturgess, and another rogue soldier.
"What do you expect from a Japanese girl?" said Black. "This one is dangerous. But her dog calms her down. Which is why we brought it here."
Sturgess lifted the cage and allowed Hana to see inside. Her dog whimpered softly.
"Kimi…"
"The dog will live if everyone listens to what I say," said Black.
The rogue soldier translated Black's words to Hana. She nodded.
"There is a small area in the Wasteland, over there," pointed out Black, "that we'll use to test out your fighting skills. Follow me."
Black and the rogue soldiers led Hana and the Louds down the stairs and through an enclosed and ventilated concrete tunnel. Black's voice echoed in the tunnel as he continued speaking.
"You survived seven months out there in the infected world. But how? If you fought off the infected, then you're useful. If you have trouble keeping their damn teeths out of your fucking skin, then… it's over for you. Not like this world needed you anyways."
The prisoners arrived at the small arena surrounded by mountains of trash. Broken chairs, scraps of used cars, piles of cartons, and more garbage were scattered around the dirt field. Makeshift seats were set up around the field, making it appear like a stadium.
"In here, each of you will face five infected ones or roamers," said Black. "You'll be unarmed at the initial start, but anything you find in this garbage pile, you can use to fight off the roamers, individually. Once you take out the five threats, you are to drop everything in your hands. If you're not bitten or scratched, then congratulations… you're useful."
Black stood in front of the prisoners with a clipboard. He then held out a picture of a prisoner.
"Luan Loud. You're up first."
The rogues grabbed Luan's arms and walked her down into the field. She was released and allowed to consider her options. Soon after, a gate from the opposite side was opened.
Five roamers walked out with their arms out and mouths salivating. They each wore a headband that were labeled with either the letters A, B, C, or D.
Luan ran around, looking for a weapon. The roamers were grouped together and followed Luan wherever she ran. She knew that running around wasn't going to be an option.
She found a broken broom handle, and thought it would be a great weapon to use against the roamers. A grenade would be a great weapon as well but she didn't know how she was going to avoid the shrapnel, so she just stuck with the broomstick. But something just didn't feel right.
She thought about Leni. She thought about how she wouldn't be able to fight off the roamers, so she constructed a plan so elaborate, the rogues wouldn't have a clue what was going occur.
She found a couple metal wires on a pile of trash. She broke her broomstick in half and placed the two sticks close to each other. After making them stand, she tied the wires around them.
The roamers approached her, causing Luan to grab a car door. The five roamers tripped on the wire and fell to the dirt. Luan thrusted the car door on their heads one by one, until all the roamers were eliminated.
"Tripwire," Luan whispered to herself. "I could've made a pun there."
Luan dropped the car door and looked at Black. He clapped softly while the rogue soldiers escorted Luan and the others out of the arena.
"Impressive. Next week, Rita Loud will go," said Black.
Hana and the Louds returned to the platform. They looked around the Wasteland and wondered what this entire month was going to hold for them. Apparently nothing, except punishment for the liberation in Houlton and the revolt in Royal Woods.
Luan tapped on Lori's shoulders.
"Did you see what I did there?" asked Luan.
"Yeah," replied Lori. "Must be the first day of April because that tripwire worked."
"Must be, right? Anyways, that was just a distraction."
"What do you mean?" asked Lori.
"I found a grenade inside the wheel next to the creepy mannequin. Now, your job is to tie the wire to the pin of the grenade without letting the rogues notice."
"That sounds like a wonderful plan, but why? Is this some sort of escape plan?" asked Lori.
"No, this is for Leni. She can't kill roamers. But she doesn't have to. Just like what I did there, she just needs to get five roamers to trip on the wire. Then, the grenade will explode and she'll be saved!" explained Luan.
Lori smiled. She shook Luan's hands in approval and informed the others of the plan. The others except Hana, who watched the roamers wander around in the Wasteland.
Next week, Rita was able to kill off five roamers with a pan. She smashed their heads over and over until they no longer moved.
In the following week, Lynn Sr. used a tiny rake to kill his five roamers. He swung it at the roamers and beat them with it until the rake pierced through their skulls, effectively ending them.
The week after, Hana found a wooden chair. She stomped on one of its leg, causing it to split from the chair. She grabbed the leg and sharpened it with the metal body of a car. After sharpening it, she stuck it on one roamer after another.
She then aimed the leg at the rogues and almost tossed it at them. However, Black held Kimi and rubbed his head before threatening to break the dog's neck.
She dropped the wooden leg and was beaten down by the rogue soldiers. She was then carried out of the arena.
In the next week, Lola managed to kill all five roamers with a pieces of broken glass. She tripped and jammed the glass shards in each their skulls.
The week after that, Lucy found a metal pipe that she used to kill her five roamers. She swung it at the roamers knees breaking them, and then proceeded to smash their heads until they were dead.
In the final week of April, Lori ran around in zigzags, causing the roamers to scatter. She then quickly dug her hands in the wheel next to the mannequin and grabbed the grenade. She hid it inside her sweater and found another weapon to fight off the roamers.
After tying the pin of the grenade to the wire, she covered it with a plastic bag and immediately stood up to keep the roamers off of the wire. She stabbed them with the screwdriver that she found in the floor and proved herself worthy to Black.
"Very well," said Black. "Next week, the final week, the fighter in the arena will be Leni Loud!"
Next week, the Louds went over the plan with Leni. They knew that this was a risky plan with risky results and the chance of Leni messing it up was very high. However, they went step by step to make sure the grenade goes off when Leni was safe.
Hana and the Louds arrived at the arena once again, this time with Leni in the scrap field. The five roamers were released and Leni had to act fast.
Already, Leni forgot where the tripwire was, so she ducked and looked around. The roamers were mere inches away from her when she found the tripwire. She dashed towards the tripwire and tripped.
The Louds gasped. However, they noticed that Leni tripped on a small can and not on the tripwire, causing the Louds to sigh in relief. Leni carefully walked over the tripwire and waited for the roamers to walk on it.
The roamers tripped on the wire, and Leni stood near the ground, watching the roamers struggle to get up. She looked at her family and saw them flailing their hands. She quickly realized she had to move, and so she jumped behind the car body.
Three seconds passed, and nothing occurred. Leni looked at the tripwire and found the pin on the floor. However, the grenade remained intact and in the floor, being useless.
"It didn't work…" gasped Luan.
"Of course it didn't," said Black. "We're not stupid. We told you we wanted to test your skills out, individually. Now look at poor Leni. Relied on her sisters way too much. She doesn't realize that her sisters will not always be there for her in the real world."
Leni covered her head and cowered to her knees as the roamers approached the body of the car. The roamers turned towards Leni and were ready to grab her.
"Leni, move!" yelled Lori.
"No, Leni!" yelled Rita. "Get out!"
Leni's eyes widened. In her eyes was a reflection of the surrounding roamers. They held out their arms and crouched to grab Leni.
Suddenly, the reflection in her eyes showed bullets tearing through the roamers' heads. She covered her face with her arms as the blood splattered onto her hair.
She shrieked as she noticed blood dripping from her beautiful hair. She then turned towards Black who held his Desert Eagle aimed near Leni.
The Louds looked at Black with surprise. Hana only huffed at the sight of seeing someone so weak. And so did Black.
"So, you're as useful as a shitbird," said Black. "Such a waste. Your youthful and attractive qualities would've made you the perfect candidate to pass down genetics. But why else should you live?"
Black aimed his handgun at Leni.
"For me!" yelled Lori. "She needs to live for me! She is my main motivation for living in this hellish world! My entire family is."
Black looked at Lori. She noticed that he didn't lower his gun yet.
"You want me to live don't you?" said Lori. "You want me to be your prisoner? Fine! But please let my sister live. Please, I'm begging you."
Black placed his pistol back into his holster. He grabbed Sturgess and Lead and gave them an order. Sturgess and Lead nodded and walked behind Lori.
"What I'm doing… it's for the good of humanity," said Black. "This world was already infected before the dead came back from life. Plagued by weak people. Not having a fucking clue on how to defend their own asses. But this infection, it's the solution."
Sturgess and Lead grabbed Lori's arms as Lynn Sr., Rita, Luan, Lucy, Lola, and Hana watched.
"Every single person in the world was going to die through from the stupidity of mankind. So we let nature take over."
"How is this nature?" exclaimed Lori. "The infection was literally man-made!"
"Yet, evolution is taking its course! The infection will create a new world that only the strongest can evolve to adapt to. People like Leni… well they die! People like you… they adapt… they change… they do anything to survive the new world… because that's the way nature works. That's survival of the fittest."
Sturgess and Lead grabbed Lori's arms as Lynn Sr., Rita, Luan, Lucy, Lola, and Hana watched.
"Every single person in the world was going to die through from the stupidity of mankind. So we let nature take over."
"How is this nature?" exclaimed Lori. "The infection was literally man-made!"
"Yet, evolution is taking its course! The infection will create a new world that only the strongest can evolve to adapt to. People like Leni… well they die! People like you… they adapt… they change… they do anything to survive the new world… because that's the way nature works. That's survival of the fittest."
"Thanks, Darwin, but you're not helping your case," replied Lori. "You literally slaughtered hundreds of people and for what? You never gave 'em a chance to survive!"
Sturgess and Lead escorted Lori down to the scrap field. Lead stayed by Lori and took out his own pistol. He loaded the gun and removed the magazine, leaving only one bullet in the chamber.
"That's where you're wrong," said Black. "You see, people should've known better than to go to a city for a safe-zone. Detroit was never going to be safe. The herd of roamers were going to break down our fences soon anyways. However, the children couldn't disobey their parents especially in times of disorder… so I chose to spare them. Why should they die for something they weren't in control of?"
Sturgess handed Leni his gun with a full magazine. Leni trembled as she held the gun.
"That's why you bombed the buildings," said Lori. "So we would have to fight the herd."
"Yes, you are seeing my plan clearly now!" exclaimed Black. "But people like Leni aren't part of the plan."
Lori looked at her pistol. She considered shooting at Black. But with only one bullet, there was only so much she could do. And she didn't like what Black was going to order her to do.
"Lori. In order for you to prove your worth in this new world, you're going to have to lose a piece of your humanity. You can't let people like Leni hold you back. When they do, your family pays the price."
Black turned towards Leni.
"However, I'm willing to give you a chance!" yelled Black. "If you can take the life of one of these fine people, then you'll prove to me that you have potential. Or if you want to, take the life of that Japanese bitch! She's a threat to you and your family!"
"Fakku!" yelled Hana. "Anata wa jigoku de kusatte shimaimasu!"
"What the hell did she say?" yelled Black.
"Either she's damning you to hell or she thinks you're a wonderful man," said one of the rogues.
"Tell her I said thanks," Black replied before turning to Lori. "You shoot Leni, you and your family survives! If you don't, one member of your family will die! And you'll probably lose sleep after this! If neither one of you shoot, then I'll slaughter both of you, then your family! I'm gonna give Leni five seconds!"
Sturgess and Lead headed back to the seats. They had their weapons aimed at Leni. Lynn Sr., Rita, Lucy, Lola, and Luan watched in pure horror. Hana kept her mean face on and prepared to have her life taken by an innocent girl.
"Five!" yelled Black.
Lori gulped and began to hyperventilate. She eyed Black and shook her head softly.
"Four!"
Leni lifted her gun and began to break down in tears.
"Three!"
"I'm sorry, Mom, Dad, Lola, Lucy, Luan. I'm so sorry!" sobbed Leni.
Lori wiped her eyes and moved her hair to the side. She saw her family in the corner of her eyes, weeping and holding each other. She lifted her gun and aimed at Leni.
"Two!"
"I can't! I'm sorry! Lori, just do it!"
"It's alright, Leni! It's alright! Just look at me!"
Leni's arms remained in the air. She gasped as she found the gun aimed at her.
"One!"
"I love you, Leni!" said Lori.
Lori shifted her gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet tore through the air and struck Leni's pistol, slapping it out of her hand. Leni flinched and was then tackled by Lori.
Lori quickly picked Leni up and placed her behind the body of the car. Leni gasped in relief and held Lori tightly.
The rogues fired onto the body of the car. The spectators seemed surprised while Black seemed astonished. He raised his right fist up and clenched them.
The rogues walked down the stairs with Black. Leni felt Lori's heart beat faster. Lori continued to hold Leni tight. Sweat formed on her head and she sighed in defeat.
The rogues walked to the body of the car. Lori gave Leni a quick kiss on her cheek and moved her head onto her chest.
Black slowly clapped as he looked at the frightened sisters.
"You really love your family, don't you, Lori?" he remarked. "That was clever. But it's– we still need to come into some sort of understandment."
"I'm not going to kill my family," hissed Lori. "And you stay the hell away from them!"
"Don't worry. There are other ways to prove your worth. Sturgess, pick Leni up and return her with her family."
Lori squinted his eyes and began breathing faster.
"Unharmed," said Black.
Sturgess grabbed Leni and escorted her back to the seats. Lead picked up Lori before heading back to the seats.
"As far as you know, I'm the only danger to your family now," said Black, taking off his uniform. "So why don't you protect your family by stopping me? Fight for them."
Black was a bit rugged for a man his age. He handed his beret, his coat, and his weapons to the rogue who also served as his translator.
"I can punch you?" smirked Lori. "I've been waiting a long time for–"
Black landed a powerful blow with his fist on Lori's face. She stumbled back to the car and found herself punched again in the chest. She grasped her chest as she tried to regain the air that was knocked out of her windpipe.
Black spun and kicked Lori in the head. She fell onto a pile of plastic bottles and gasped. Lori rubbed her head and growled.
Lori stood up and lunged towards Black. However, he quickly blocked her punches and instead kicked her in her stomach, causing her to lower herself. He then grabbed her neck and placed her under a choke hold.
"You're not putting up much of a fight," commented Black. "You don't love your family?"
Lori quickly moved back and caused Black to stumble to the body of the car. A shard of metal from the car stabbed Black in his hip, allowing Lori to escape his grip. He yelled and chased after Lori.
"Can't even land one hit!" yelled Black.
Lori picked up a metal pipe and swung it around Black. He attempted to block it with his hands, but it was too much for his palms to take, so he pulled them back. He then waited until Lori made a hard swing.
Lori swung the metal pipe with both of her hands, but Black quickly pushed it out of the way and slammed his knuckles on Lori's neck. He kicked and punched and beat and smacked Lori around until she was bleeding.
Lynn Sr. and Rita found it very hard to watch their daughter beaten by their captor. Luan and Leni watched with a face that expressed massive guilt. Lucy and Lola watched with a worry expression on their faces. Even Hana felt bad for Lori as she was losing badly to the general.
"C'mon, get up!" yelled Black. "Is that all you got! Your family will die out there!"
Lori placed her hands on the ground and spat out the blood from her mouth. She stood up and swung her right foot towards Black's crotch. However, he grabbed her foot and kept his grip on it.
"Low blow," said Black. "You're not worthy of this world yet."
Black walked Lori back to a pile of trash and shoved her there. She landed on a wheel and tipped over a mannequin, causing it to fall on her.
"The world never stopped beating everyone to the ground," stated Black. "You see that now, right?"
"Go… to… hell…" groaned Lori.
Black growled and lifted Lori up. He swung his fists on Lori's face, causing blood to splatter all over his hands. Lori tried to block the punches, but at this point, her brain was just trying to keep her awake.
Black dropped Lori to the ground and went with her, slamming his fists on her stomach. Tears formed in her eyes as Black continued his brutal beating. She wasn't trying to hit Black anymore. She was trying to survive now.
Lori kicked up to no avail. Black grabbed Lori's arms and twisted them.
Lori's screams flew through the Louds' ears. It echoed inside their heads.
"Enough!" yelled Lori. "Stop!"
"Life doesn't stop, Lori! It keeps on pushing and pushing until you break!"
Lori felt her shoulders dislocating. Hana cringed while Luan, Lola, Lucy, and Leni joined their parents in looking away.
Lori let out one loud scream as her shoulders twisted before losing her voice. The tears continued to run down her bloody cheeks as she fell to the ground. Black turned her over with his feet so she could see his face one more time.
"And that… was your physical breaking point. Life is hard, isn't it? Try not to fall asleep. I'll get a medic here soon."
Black groaned as his knuckles were dislocated. However, in his eyes, he didn't go too far. He pushed Lori just right.
Lori looked at the moving clouds in the sky.
Her breaths moved as peaceful as the winds in the Wasteland.
Her heart beat as slow as the birds hovering above Lori.
"Oh my gosh, I hope he didn't hurt you too bad," said a familiar voice.
Lori turned her face to her right and found Lola standing above her, however she was glowing a special kind of bright light.
"You almost died," said her other fortunate living sister. "But your will to live. It saved you."
Lori blinked rapidly. Lola smiled while Lucy knelt down and felt her head.
"What you were willing to do for Leni's survival," said Lucy, "We felt that. It's that same will you had back then."
"No, it wasn't," sniffled Lori. "I almost let you guys die. I just got lucky this time."
"Luck played no part," said Lola. "You learned from our… Lucy can you say it?"
"Deaths. Or in this case are near death experience."
"Yeah, that. You're only human, Lori. Please don't blame yourself for what could have happened to us."
"Not every death is your fault," said Lucy. "We survive this long thanks to you and Jason."
Lola placed her hands on her shoulder.
She then uncovered her shoulder revealing a gunshot scar. Lucy moved her bangs and showed Lori her crystal blue eyes before taking off her mechanical arm exposing her stump.
"These were caused by monsters," said Lola. "Monsters like that old general."
"You should be taking credit for saving the life of Leni. And Mom and Dad. And Luna, Luan, Lynn, Lincoln, Me, Lola, Lana, Lisa, and little Lily."
"How do I stop this monster?" asked Lori.
"Just like you would stop any monsters," said Lola. "Not alone. Face them with family!"
Lucy looked at Lynn Sr., Rita, Luan, and Leni.
"Even if they don't stick around forever," said Lucy before turning back to Lori. "We'll always be with you in life or death."
Lori lied on the ground while her family and Hana walked down to the field. The rogues allowed them to talk to Lori while they waited for the medic.
Lori's parents coughed and tried to hold their tears back. They knelt down to their daughter who was clearly distraught by what she experienced.
"Mom. Dad. I'm okay. Lola and Lucy they made me feel better."
"We wouldn't be good sisters if we didn't," said Lola.
"What? W-What did they say?" asked Lynn Sr.
"Nevermind. Just… stay here with me."
"Oh, Lori. We're so sorry this happened to you," sniffled Rita.
"Is it true?" whispered Lori. "Am I not worthy of this world? I couldn't even land a single punch on Black."
"He's not right in the head," said Rita. "He's wrong about you. You're like your Pop-Pop. He always fought for the people he loved. And he protected them. He might've been just a soldier to some others… but he was my leader."
"You're the best leader we can imagine," said Lynn Sr. "You were always in charge for a reason. Don't let whatever Black said or do discourage you from taking on this world!"
"This isn't over, Lori," said Luan. "We're going to kick his ass! Make him pay for what he did to you!"
"We all got your back," said Lola. "We'll take him down together."
"Together Lori, as a family," said Lucy.
"There's the girl!" Black told the medic. "Think you can help her, Donovan?"
"I can try."
Before Donovan placed Lori on a stretcher, Leni leaned in close to her sister and whispered to her.
"Lola and Lucy looked beautiful. They looked like angels for a moment. Believe me, I saw them."
Lori gasped as Donovan placed her on the stretcher. Hana looked at Lori and made a small bow.
"Arigato."
Donovan followed Black out of the arena along with the rogue soldiers and their prisoners. Donovan then separated himself from the others and followed a different path in the tunnel. It lead to the dirt road with a truck on the trail. He placed Lori inside the truck. He then ordered the driver to head back to the closest base.
The motorcycle moved through the empty roads of Maine. Jace looked around the towns in Aroostook County, but could not find his family.
He looked around in Medway, but found the hanging roamers in the tree very creepy. An encounter with two survivors drove him out of the quiet town. The blond man with a messy beard and a young blonde woman tried to kill Jace, but he was able to drive away before their bullets ever reached him.
Jace then headed to Houlton and its surrounding towns, beginning to lose hope for his family. He drove up the hill and saw fences around the small town, leading him to smile.
"Someone's coming," said David.
"Gents from Michigan can hear that motorcycle!" said Luna, giving Lily to Lincoln. "Go back, dudes! I gotta take care of this!"
Lincoln grabbed Lily. Lynn and Lincoln ran back home, running into Lana and Lisa along the way.
David and Sandy ran to the front gate. They saw Luna peeking through it while holding a pistol. Pike remained in the platform and kept his gun aimed at the visitor.
"Stop, right there!" yelled Pike.
Jace slowed his motorcycle until he came to a complete stop. He exited the motorcycle and placed his arms up.
"I'm not here to harm anyone!" exclaimed Jace. "I'm looking for my family!"
George opened the gate slightly and walked towards Jace. He kept his arms up while George patted him down.
Jace looked inside the fences. People were staring at him while he gazed in wonder. He thought that this was where his family was going to be at.
"Who are you?" asked David.
"My name's Jace Taylor. I'm sixteen years old. I used to live in Augusta. And I'm looking for my family."
George placed his hands on Jace's backpack and shouted. He immediately dropped his backpack and pointed his gun at it.
"Woah, woah, chill!" exclaimed Jace, ducking to his bag. "They're my lizards, Lizzie and Izzy!"
Jace held up his reptiles and made a sheepish smile. Lana looked at the gate through her window and silently walked out of her house.
"This weirdo checks out," said George.
"Hey, I'm not a weirdo! Can we come inside?" asked Jace. "I just got back from a really long trip and I'm mad tired."
"Do we bring him in?" Sandy asked David.
"Remember the three questions I told you about?" reminded David. "Here is when it comes in handy."
David walked forward.
"How many roamers have you killed?"
"By roamers you mean…"
"The zombies," said Luna.
Jace looked at her and then at David before smiling.
"About twenty," he answered.
"How many people have you killed?" asked David.
"None, what, do I look that intimidating?"
"Why?"
"Why I haven't killed anyone? What kinda question is that?"
"Answer the damn question!"
"Chill! Killing is bad! I mean, isn't that obvious?"
"You haven't been out that much, have you?" asked Luna.
"I have. Since, probably, I don't know, the third week of the apocalypse? Look I don't know what you guys went through, but I haven't met a lot of people out there."
"Makes sense," said George. "You didn't have a single gun on you. Just a crowbar."
"Why don't you come inside?" said David. "But walk your bike. We don't need the noise."
Jason walked over to the gate, after he ran into Lincoln and was to that somebody was here, when saw who it was he couldn't help but smile at Jace.
"Hey there friend," said Jason. "My name is Jason Wilson, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, I'm–"
"Jace Taylor. Yeah I know."
"Oh, have we met before?"
"No, never. And by the way you're lucky that he left that pistol in the can when you found it, when those roamers came for you," said Jason pointing at David.
"Wait, what. How do you know about?" asked Jace he then look at David.
"And you're the one who left that gun behind?"
David looked Jace for a second than looked at Jason.
"Jason why didn't you tell me that someone was going to show up?" asked David.
"I knew he would be here, but I didn't know the exact date," replied Jason.
"Whatever, let just go."
Jace was given a home to rest in. He met some of the people in Houlton and ate dinner with Dr. White, Haley, David, Sandy, George, Jason, and Luna.
"So you said you were looking for your family?" asked Sandy.
Jace nodded. He reached into his pockets and took out a picture of his family.
"That's my mom, my dad, and my older sister. I was really hoping that I saw them here, but I haven't yet."
"I'm sorry," said David. "We haven't seen 'em."
"You know," said Luna, "we're searching for some people ourselves. I also need help finding my mom and dad and five of my sisters. A friend of my sister's as well."
"I saw two people back in some town," said Jace. "Some tall, blonde dude with a brown vest and a small beard. And a young blonde woman, maybe a teenager, with a tank top."
"Really? Did you get their names?" asked Luna.
"Not really… they were shooting at me. It was just for a few seconds before I ditched that town."
"That was definitely Richard and Carol, who shot at you. At least I think so," said Jason.
"Luna, why don't you get pictures of your family. Got a picture of Carol as well?"
"Nah, she was never in our group photo. I'll be right back."
Lana looked inside Jace's home. She snuck in through one of the windows. However, she made a loud thud from hitting the floor and accidentally shattered a vase.
"Who is this?" asked Jace.
"I'm Lana. Sorry about that. I wanted to meet you… and your lizards."
"Oh, you mean Lizzie and Izzy?" smiled Jace as he grabbed his two lizards.
"You know, I had a lizard named Izzy too! I miss her so much."
Lana looked at Jace's two lizards with wonder. Luna walked in with the photo album that Leni organized. He went through it and showed Jace a picture of her family.
"I don't think I've seen any of these people," said Jace. "Wait, hold on. This one. I think this was the one I saw back in the town."
David shook his head softly. Jason sighed. Luna frowned.
"Carol," whispered David. "It might not be that girl in the picture that you found, but rather someone else."
"I guess my memory was right after all," muttered Jason.
"Thank you," said Luna glumly. "C'mon, let's go back, Lana."
"If you want me to," said Jace, "I can come back here once I found them. If I find my family, I'll consider coming back. If I can't do either before winter, think you can save this house for me?"
Luna nodded. She closed the photo album and rubbed her arms. Before she left the house, she gave Jace one last look. He winked at her.
The days passed by, and Jace left the community with his motorcycle and lizards. Lana hoped that when he came back, his lizards would still be alive. Luna hoped that he would be able to come back.
After Jace left, Richard and Carol walked out of the woods. They were done stalking Houlton and continued to follow Jace. When they left, Richard thought about David's wife, Sandy, and he plotted something sinister.
-Day 1-
Lori and Leni left the bathroom, all cleaned up and ready for school. Luan sat in the couch, waiting for them. After sneaking out to a concert the day before, Luna was exhausted, and Luan figured that a day's sleep would give her the recovery she needed. Besides, Luan already slapped her with a whoopee cushion to which Luna responded by begging for five more minutes.
Lynn Sr. gave Lori his keys to Vanzilla while Rita held Lily.
"We're going to the daycare center to talk over some things with Dr. Shuttleworth," said Rita.
"So you can drive yourself and your sisters and Lincoln to school," said Lynn Sr. "Not L.J. though. She's not feeling too well. Have fun in school! Bye!"
Lori looked at Leni and Luan.
"No way, I'm not waiting for the others," said Lori.
"Yeah, we want to say goodbye to some of our friends before they go on that school trip!" exclaimed Leni.
"So, it's just us three? What about the others?" asked Luan.
"They'll just have to take the bus," said Lori. "Are you coming with us or are you also going to take the bus?"
Luan followed Lori and Leni out of the house and hopped inside Vanzilla. Lori drove off to school with Leni and Luan, leaving the other Louds at home without a care in the world.
-Day 365-
The summer night felt chilly in the Wasteland. All the prisoners were asleep except Lori. She looked over at her parents and her sisters. Leni shifted around the bed frequently, making Lori feel sorry for her innocent sister.
Lori's face showed marks and scars while some other spots were covered by bandage strips. Her oily hair reached below her chest. The bruises on her finger faded away and only left her ring to shine.
Suddenly, a large beam of light woke all the prisoners up. General Black walked to the platform in the top of the trash pile with his rogues. He looked at his watch and cleared his throat.
"We are about an half an hour from midnight," said Black. "I know everyone's tired but it's an important event. By midnight, it will be one full year since the Virus Crisis has been renamed as the Global Infection Event. So before we celebrate, I need to run some tests on you."
The Louds watched over the Wasteland with Black as the translator spoke to Hana.
"You're going to run from that point to that building over there by the big shit pile. It's about a klick," said Black. "Now, your old weapons should be somewhere near the beginning point. Except that curved katana. Luan, you're not getting that back."
Black and the rogues lead the prisoners down the platform and into the tunnel. They exited the tunnel through a different point. The rogue soldiers placed Hana and the Louds outside of the arena.
"Good luck," said Black. "See you by midnight."
The tunnel door closed. Fireworks were shot up in the sky. Their explosion caused the roamers to scatter around and be more active.
Lynn Sr. and Rita felt weak. They couldn't explain why they did in the past few months, but now it was taking its toll on their bodies. Lori and Luan noticed this, which is why they intended to protect them.
The prisoners noticed the roamers coming out of their trash piles. The roamers noticed the prisoners out their platform. They walked quickly to them, raising their arms and biting their teeths.
Lori, Lucy, Lola, and Hana searched for their weapons while Luan tried looking for something to defend herself with. The roamers reached for Leni.
Lynn Sr. kicked the roamer out of the way. He fell down to the ground before being picked up by Luan.
Luan grabbed an empty barrel and tossed it a roamer before it grabbed Rita. She grabbed both of them and walked them away from the roamers.
Lori found her hatchet. She ran to the closest roamer and slashed its head off. She pushed a roamer away before swinging her hatchet at another roamer at the side of its head.
Hana grabbed her ninjato sword. She quickly sliced the head of a roamer by moving the sword swiftly to the left, then right, then left again. She ducked and impaled a roamer through its chest. She then moved the sword upwards and sliced its head vertically in half.
Lucy grabbed her shovel. She ran to the closest roamer and smacked its head sending its jaw off. She ran up the roamers back jumped off launching herself at another roamer and sliced its head off. She got up and quickly turned around and stabbed the first roamer in the head.
Lola got her buck knife. She kicked the roamer in front of her in the leg as it fell down on one knee and stabbed it in the left eye. She claimed on another roamers back and slammed her knife in the back of its head.
Lori, Lucy, Lola, and Hana ran through the path of roamers. Luan grabbed a metal pipe and beat the roamers away from her. Leni kept her head low as blood splashed everywhere.
Lori climbed up a mountain of trash. She looked at the dirt road and found the golf cart she has been eyeing for a few months.
"We're not going to that building," said Lori. "We're getting the hell outta this place. Literally."
Lori, Lucy, Lola, and Hana cleared a path to the golf cart. Luan continued to beat the roamers until they overwhelmed her. Lynn Sr. and Rita pushed Luan and Rita behind them as the roamers went closer.
Lori, Lucy, Lola, and Hana killed the roamers close to Lynn Sr. and Rita. Heads went flying, bodies dropping, blood dripping. Lori yelled as she cut body after body.
The roamers scratched Lynn Sr. His clothes and skin were torn by their infected nails.
"Dad!" yelled Luan.
"Daddy! screamed Lola.
Lynn Sr. yelled as the roamers sunk their teeth onto his hands. Rita cried as she shoved the roamers away.
Lori killed the roamers near her family. She then saw what happened to her father. She looked at Hana and motioned towards her hands.
Hana raised her sword and sliced Lynn Sr.'s left hand off. He yelled and fell to his knees.
"Let's go!" yelled Lori.
Lori, Hana, Leni, Luan, Lucy, Lola, Rita, and Lynn Sr. stepped inside a golf cart.
"Look at me, Dad," sniffled Luan. "You're going to be alright. Lisa should have a cure ready for your scratches. Just stay calm."
Lynn Sr. shuddered as Rita wrapped her arms around his bleeding wrist.
The golf cart followed the dirt road to nowhere. After a few minutes, Lori saw a metal fence. Lori pressed on the brakes and alerted Leni.
"Can you please open the lock?" asked Lori.
Leni nodded and ran to the lock. Lori and Hana ran around her, protecting her. Leni took a hair pin and picked the lock, and after five seconds, the lock was opened. Leni pushed the fences and opened it, allowing her, Lori, and Hana to return to the golf cart.
Lori started the golf cart and drove it out of the fenced garbage dump. She thought she made it out of the Wasteland.
Suddenly, a few rogues popped out of a trash pile and shot the wheels in the cart. Lori screamed as the cart flipped over and eventually crashed to the small garbage piles that lied outside of the Wasteland. After a few seconds, Lori's vision went black.
"Fuck, Lori, what a futile attempt," he said. "If you had just listened to me, things would've worked out for your family."
Lori spat some blood from her mouth into her lap. Leni and Luan held their dying father's arms. Rita stood in front of her husband while he struggled to remain conscious with blood dripping from his arm.
Hana stood next to Lori with her sword in her hands. Lori looked at her own hands and found a hatchet, not realizing she was holding it.
"Drop your weapons. Wasn't that fun?" said Black.
Lori rubbed her eyes and looked at her father. His body shook as he slowly turned towards his daughters.
"Go on," said Black. "You still got a minute until midnight."
"Girls, no matter what, keep fighting for what's right and good for you," said Lynn Sr. "This is just a step back. Keep fighting for your happiness. Preserve that happiness. I'll be watching, Lori, Leni, Luan, Lucy, Lola. Tell your sisters and Lincoln that I love them. And I love you girls too. Keep your mother safe for me."
Black pressed his lips against each other and softly shook his head at Rita and Lynn Sr.
"Hey, at least you survived a whole year," said Black as he cocked his gun.
He shot Lynn Sr. in the chest, almost shooting through Luan and Leni as well. Rita shrieked as her husband's lifeless body dropped to the ground. Leni, Luan, and Lola felt their own hearts sink. Lori and Lucy was speechless.
Rita lied by her husband's side, sobbing into his chest. She knew that she was under threat by Black as well. She then quickly swallowed her tears and looked at Leni.
"H-H-Honey, Haley keeps a sewing machine and a bunch of fabric in one of the rooms in the infirmary.
"She then turned towards a grief-stricken Luan.
"Luan, your retainers should be by Dr. Feinstein's new office. He'll know what to do with them."
She turned towards a teary eye Lola.
"Lola, sweetheart, there are some new clothes we got for you that I think you'll love, they're hidden in my closet."
She then turned towards the shocked and frozen Lucy.
"Lucy, I got you a new poetry book and diary for you in are room. Lynn will know where they are."
She finally turned towards Lori, wiping her own eyes.
"Lori, take care of your sisters. Be the leader. I know you can do it. I love you all.
"Rita lied her head on her husband's chest. Black suddenly pulled the trigger on his sidearm and shot Rita on the back of her neck. Rita lied still on Lynn Sr.'s chest, stiff as a rock.
Lori stumbled forward and placed her hands on their bodies. She saw the bright-red blood flowing around her hands, drenching them while she turned towards her hatchet.
She lifted her hatchet, screaming. She ran towards Black, raising her weapon to strike him. She ignored all the rogue soldiers around her and caught them off-guard. However, Black expected Lori's sudden outburst and lowered his Desert Eagle.
In a split second, Black took out Donovan's M9 and shot Lori in her right shoulder. She dropped her hatchet and fell. Her tears dropped to ground before her eyes completely shut off as her face hit the ground.