𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗲 ( znation. )

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chapter five - "Cool I vote on one of those cute animal backpack ones,"

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫:
‧⁺˚*‧☾ 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ☽‧*˚⁺‧

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"No Z's in sight." Mack commented walking back over and climbing into the black truck. "Anybody else worried about Mr. Sunshine out there?" Doc questioned squinting his eyes against the blazing sun. "I know. He's looking worse," Garnett muttered with a small stretch in his back. "Yeah, he was pretty creepy to start with." Warren added.

"Come on, guys give him a break. It's the apocalypse. None of us look our best. It's like one long bad hair day." Addy suggested trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Speaking of hair, what's with all the bald patches?" Mack asked, gesturing to his own head of hair. "Maybe that vaccine is like zombie chemo." Cassandra suggested with a slight shrug. "Or maybe that vaccine isn't working." 10k protested, causing Ash to sigh lightly at all the back and forth, "I don't know but if I keep looking at him I'm gonna puke." She remarked leaning against the back window. Murphy, who was out peeing in the field, glanced over his shoulder to see all of them looking at him before slowly turning back.

"What do you think, Doc?" Garnett asked as the man pressed his lips together think for a moment before answering. "I've seen Z's look better than him."  "Will he make it to California?" He added to which Doc tilted his head slightly, "If we haul ass."

"If he goes zombie, we might have to put him down." Garnett muttered thinking the obvious part that everyone already thought of aloud.

"Dibs on piking him!" Warren quickly called, causing Ash, Mack, 10k, and Cassanda to let out a breath, wanting to be the one to put an end to his consent complaining. "If he turns, piking him is the last of our problems." Garnett added. The topic of the conversation turned back and noticed that they were all watching him.

"Pit stops's over, let's get moving!" He announced as Murphy started walking back towards the truck, "I have a ginormous bladder. Sue me,"

🌁

Driving down a dirt road passing by a zombie holding a still living head. 10k shot them both as the truck drove past, "1,554."

"Wouldn't it be like 1,553 and ⅛?" Ash asked, trying to break the awkwardness between the two.

"Why 1/8?"

"Cause it's only a head," He leaned in closer towards her with a sly smirk, "I don't think details really matter in the apocalypse." She pressed her lips together trying to hide her smile, "It's your number."

Turning a corner getting met with different roadblocks and a barbed-wire fence. The two exchanged a confused look, "Surrender all weapons? Are they serious?" He asked reading off one of the signs. "Looks like," Mack replied as the car drove closer towards the gate, slower. Just before the gate a small handful of people popped out with their guns pointed at them. "Stop right there! This is a private compound. I'm gonna have to ask you to turn around and go back the way you came."

Garnett got out with his hand ups walking slowly towards them as he spoke calmly, "I'm looking for Major Wiliams. Joe Wiliams."

"And who are you?"

"I'm Sergeant Charles Garnett, Georgia National Guard. We've known each other going back pre-z." The woman looked over before nodding towards a very familiar guy in a black shirt. "Wait there, your crew stays in the truck. They try to get out or we see a weapon, we'll fire."

"Easy everyone, Charlie's got it under control." Warren stated. "So you're calling him Charlie now?" Murphy asked. "Yeah, and I'm gonna start calling you my bitch if you don't shut up."

The man returned as an older man walked out with him. "Well holy shit. It's the ghost of Charlie Garnett. Never expected to see you again, at least not alive." The older man exclaimed "Hey, Joe. Didn't expect to see you again either. Looks like we're both still standing."

"Looks like. Last time I saw you, you were pulling my ass out of a ditch full of Zs."

"Just returning the favor. How many Z's we killed that day?" Garnett reminded the older man grinning at the fawn memory. "Not enough,"

"Do you mind?" Garnett asked, referring to his hands as a gust of wind blew Ash's hood down. "Stand down. "Joe ordered his man as they put their guns down. "You're the first person I've seen from before. How the hell you end up here?"

"Tinker Bell?" Ash's head snapped up as her face twisted in confusion. There were only three people who called her that and two of them were dead. "Leo?"

"You know her Leo?" Joe asked, pointing towards the man wearing the black shirt beside him. "Hell yeah, I know her, she's my sister-in-law." He replied as Ash was already running up to him and hugging him. Which he quickly returned just as tight. When the two pulled apart Leo rustled her hair, like he always did when he saw her, before keeping his arm around her shoulder.

"Anyone else lost?" Murphy remarked.

"Leo married my older sister," She informed smiling up at him. "Is she inside?" Addy asked as the air grew stiff as both of the faces slowly started to fade. "No, Daisy she, uh, she passed a long time ago."

"You never answered my question," Joe reminded trying his best to steer the conversation away from the sore topic. "I'm actually on a mission for the government, if you can believe that. We've come from New York, haven't eaten in a few days." Garnett answered with the same copy and paste. "New York? Haven't seen anyone east of the Mississippi for over a year. How many of you are there?" The man asked, glancing towards the group.

"9, including a doctor."

"Real doctor?"

"Sort of,"

"He watched a hell of a lot E.R." Ash added as part of her southern account came out slightly. Doc was hanging out of the window giving Leo a little wave.

"All right, come inside and tell me your 온라인카지노게임. We'll get you some food, but the truck stays outside. Let them in! And of course you'll have to check your weapons." Joe declared watching from the side of the open gate as each of the group went up to the window and handed over each of their weapons. Before getting checked over with a metal detector. "Do I have to?" Ash whined, being the last person in line. Leo put his hands up, "I don't make the rules, Tink."

She turned towards the booth, looking down at the small silver shelf. Truthfully she wasn't going to give up all of them. But after seeing the metal detector she knew there wasn't a way around it. She was nervous that if shit were to hit the fan she didn't want to have to result on fighting her way out. But things are different now. She had a group with her now. People who would look out for each, of course not so much Murphy.

"You got a bucket?" The man on the other side of the window raised his brow. But he reached down and placed the large red bucket in front of her. She reached down and pulled up the jacket carefully up and over her head. Placing the fabric into the bucket as the different metals from the hidden knives clanked about. Revealing her black tank top and silver dog tags hanging around her neck. Along her waist band with a large hunting knife, a small pistol and 2 throwing knives were put into the bucket. From the two right side pockets of the faded green cargo pants were 3 throwing knives, 4 long bowing knives, and 3 bullets. Moving to the left side was 6 more throwing knives, followed by 8 more in the pocket below. Pulling a butterfly knife and a small multi-tool from the sports bra that was under the tank top. Finailly ending the long wait by propping her leg up on the side of the building rolling her pant leg up. Placing 2 regular knives that were strapped on her sheen and calf with a small handheld that was on her ankle. Rolling the pant leg down before turning towards the group. "What? It's the apocalypse,"

Placing the palms of her hands onto the top of her head allowing the woman to step up with the metal detector in hand. The woman reached and grabbed a hold of the dog tags after the detector kept going off. Leo was quick to come over and grab a hold of her shoulder, "The tags can stay." Ash smirked as the woman dropped the chains as the tags clinked together.

Walking up to the group feeling their eyes all over her. Hoping they wouldn't ask about any of the scars on her back on shoulders. Changing the topic as they past by 3 teenagers begging Joe to let them back in, and he did. The girl of the 3 caught 10k eye. Ash could only watch looking her up and done, noting the wooden cross around her neck, before turning her head and letting out a soft huff.

Leo laughed, slightly shaking his head, "You gotta a crush." He teased as she titled his head wondering how he knew it. As if he could read her mind, the next words he spoke answered her question, "You and Daisy act the same when you're jealous."

🌁

"I feel so much lighter without that damn hammer."

"Yeah, I feel naked, and not in a good way."

"When we started out, everyone was armed. Then one day a guy decided to shoot his wife's boyfriend. He turned, and we lost 5 people. So we made a rule, only guards could carry inside. Then a trading group came in, took a gun off a guard. 7 dead that time, we were lucky it wasn't worse. We have a strong perimeter. Never been breached. All out problems happened inside, so we removed the threats. No weapons inside period. It's a better way to live. Safer." Joe informed the group leading them through the area.

"Being armed all the time has an effect on people. Maybe I'm naive, but this gives me hope." Garnett said.

"Is this a zombie cage?" Warren questioned passing by a giant cage.

"Doesn't seem much use these days." Leo replied simply. "We patrol the surrounding area for Zs twice a day, so they aren't really a problem."

"It's the people we have to worry about. Since going weapon-free, we've gone over a year without a fatality. Think about that, you've been out in the world. How many deaths have you seen in the last year?"

"Enough for a lifetime."

"What if someone, you know dies of natural causes?" Murphy asked. "Sure, that could happen." Joe replied as he walked up to a door, "All the doors and gates close automatically, sealing off each section of the compound. Like on a submarine can't be opened by Zs. Everything's been zombie-proofed."

"You ever hear of the Titanic?" Murphy remarked.

"You're welcome to wait outside in your vehicle." He quickly shot back, making Ash smirk. Glad to see someone able to keep up. "You'll have to forgive my friend. He's been through a lot." Garnett clarified hoping to ease any bad mouthing the blue man does.

"We all have. Nothing's perfect, but this is as close as it gets. Most people can actually sleep through the night." Leo explained looking down at Ash who smiled fondly. If things had gone different she would be happy to hear something like that. A part of her still wanted that life to live with her sister and brother. Even if her brother chose their family over the girls.

"Really? I can't imagine that." Addie said.

Leo grabbed Ash's forearm lightly, letting them trail to the back of the group. Clearly wanting to talk to her in a more private conversation. "Where did we leave off?" She nodded pressing her lips together with a small hum, "You and Dylan were helping me pack up after my mother gave me a week's notice about shipping me off."

"And how did that go, ya know–" He gestured his hand around them, "--before the world ended."

She chuckled, "Good, it went good. I was actually picked to perform as the black swan, but before we could actually start any practices people had to go and start eating everyone." She could tell that he was trying to say something to her. To tell her something he had been holding within her ever since his eyes found her.

"I looked for you." Her brows frowned as her face slightly knitted in confusion. "After shit hit the fan I went back to your house to find you. Dylan was the only one. He said that Violet had gone with your Uncle and cousin to visit you and he hadn't heard from either of you. I tried to get him to come with me. To get him away from your parents but your mom has her claws deep into him."

She looked towards the ground as her mind started to play the different events. First one was when she walked in on her uncle eating her cousin's face while Violet was hidden under her bed. Then the two escaping and figuring out what to do. The second year into all of this, the one where Ash and Violet had gotten separated, she had made her way back down to Texas. Trying her hardest to get her younger brother to leave with her. That it should be just the 3 of them. No parents. Just like Joshua, Daisy and Leo wanted for them. Dylan chose their parents over her. She didn't blame him. She knew how manipulative their mother was. She had been gone for two years and there wasn't any telling on just how deep her lies were planted in his head.

"I did too." Leo's head shot towards her, feeling his eyes but never actually looking at him. "Me and Violet got separated near the end of year 2. I went down to try and convince him to join me in looking for her."

"How was your mother?" She shrugged her shoulders. "I avoided her. But the house looked the exact same. So I would say she's probably doing the same shit. But probably just on wine instead of her usual wine and pill combo."

"We grow all our own fruits and vegetables. The scraps and our waste all go into a biomass generator. We're up to 5 hours of electricity a day." Joe informed leading the group through the kitchen and into a cafeteria. This gained the two of their attention and ended their conversation.

"Really? That's cool!"

The 3 people from earlier walked into the cafeteria, passing the group. "What's their 온라인카지노게임?" Warren questioned not taking her eyes off the small trio.

"We had a little trouble a while back with a preacher we took in. He drank his own Kool-Aid. Decided the zompocalypse was actually the second coming and we need to save the Z's. Not kill them." Joe explained with a shaking of his head, and a small grin as he clearly thought the man was out of his mind. "Calls them 'The Resurrected'. Real whack-job." Leo added as Ash nodded her head in agreement. "I'm not an expert on the bible, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing in there about zombies." Warren added as Ash raised brow while muttering, "There isn't." This caused Leo to glance down and give her an empathic look knowing how bible crazy her mother had been.

"We had to kick him out, along with his followers. I've seen this kind of thing before. Crazy spreads fast."

"So why would you Let them back in?" Warren asked the question all of them were thinking.

"They all had family still here. I knew once they were out a while, they'd get hungry or scared and some would come back. Like clockwork these 3 turned up today."

"Not true believers, huh?"

"Hard to believe on an empty stomach," Joe said. "Speaking of which why don't we get y'all something to eat." Leo stated wanting to change the topic, looking towards the older man, who nodded. "First meal is on me. The rest you trade for. No meat of course, hope you're vegetarian."

"Oh yeah," Cass remarked looking down the line of different fruits and vegetables.

"Don't tell Tink that Joe she'll eat everything." He teased handing her a plate already placing a helping scoop of plum colored cherries on them. She softly shoved his shoulder shaking her head. "You know cherries were Daisy's favorite." She rolled her eyes, "Duh, who do you think taught me how to tie the steams with my tongue."

He shook his head glancing over her shoulder towards the clock, "Listen, I need to go on patrol. But I'll find you, okay?" She nodded her head matching his soft smile. He reached forwards and ruffled her hair before walking away.

Moving the plate into one hand while taking her other and pushing the front part of her hair from her face. Taking a seat next to Cass before flipping it over her shoulder. Forgetting that she didn't have on her hoodie as her hair brushed against her bare shoulders. "Tink?" Cass asked with a small smile, glad to see a happier side of her. "My room growing up was Peter Pan themed, him and the twins helped put it together."

"What about those tags? Your Dad's?" Mack asked, joining in on the conversation. She laughed once, covering her mouth before shaking her head. Gathering herself before answering, "God no, uh their my older brother. He and Daisy are twins actually...were twins."

Addy looked over her shoulder after feeling a pair of eyes on her. Raising a brow as she turned back looking over at Ash, who was sitting in front of her. "Looks like you got a stalker as well." Ash's brows frowned looking at who she had previously looked at. Seeing it was one of the trio that was looking at her. As if he could look into her soul.

Seeing that the girl was walking out of the cafe. 10 followed her, making sure to keep her distance. She wasn't jealous of them, why should she? There was a small pit in her stomach twisting together like a balloon animal when she looked at any one of them. Blaming it on the 온라인카지노게임 that Joe had told them.

"Dude, dude, slow down." Addy's voice speaking to Mack caused her to snap from her thoughts, "They're not gonna take it from you."

"So.." Warren trailed off as she joined the table with Garnett at her side. "We got the lowdown on the sleeping situation. There's a room that 2 or 3 of us can share, and there's a communal bunk."

"Dibs on the room!" Murphy was quick to call, even holding his hand up. "What? Be less risk of anyone figuring out who I am."

Ash rolled her eyes, "If anyone were to take you, they would give you back." She remarked with biting off a cherry from its steam.

"I think we should give it to those two." Doc suggested pointing to the two still standing. They each gave him a confused look, "What, no, no, no. We're not a..." The three girls at the table laughed, shaking their heads. "Yeah, you guys take it." Mack agreed as his red haired girlfriend shook her head in agreement

"Is it that obvious?"

"Well...If we're gonna do the time, we may as well do the crime." Warren remarked, grabbing one of Garnett's shoulders, having him follow after her. Doc laughed while setting his coffee cup down.

After a few minutes had passed he tapped the mug before speaking, "that fella seems pretty popular for a guy who just got kicked out of here." Everyone knew who he was talking about. The guy that hadn't been able to take his eyes from Ash had been getting plenty of people coming up to him. Saying how much they've missed him and how nice it's to see him again.

Addy let out a small scoff, "That's Ash's stalker." She teased placing her fork into her mouth.

She shrugged her shoulders, figuring he was just staring at her because he could see the different scares littered on her body. All were healed and scared over. But thanks to that different type of skin tissue it caught the light more than normal skin did. "He just has a staring problem."

Ash reached down for her cup, keeping her eyes on him. She wasn't going to break their contest. Learning a long time ago that if someone was staring at you making you uncomfortable you should stare back. They want you to look away. They want to know that they have some type of power over you. But she wasn't expecting to see the similar wooden cross on a cord around his neck to be pulled from his shirt. Then he stood up and jumped on top of the table. "Listen to me, all of you, for I have good news! The major didn't believe in the word of Jacob. But he will."

"Oh no," She muttered, taking in a deep breath.

"All of you will be given another chance to hear his word and join the Resurrection Church."

"What are you doing? Get down from there." The guy next to him scolded.

The crazy-eyed man then pulled apart the cross revealing part of it was a short shiny knife. "He's got a weapon!" Everyone stood up reaching for where their weapons were before collective groaning when they weren't found. Looking towards Ash with confusion. She was still sat at the table with the eerily calm look just tapping the mug as the man spoke. People tried to pull it away from him, but the man was stronger. "For as the father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the son gives life to whom he will! He shouted before taking the blade and slid it across his throat. He started to choke as blood pooled from the wound and out his mouth. Down to the floor he went as everyone crowded around him.

That's when the chaos started. People started to drop like flies before quickly popping back up as bloodthirsty zombies.

Ash tossed the rest of the coffee from the mug into her mouth. Quickie swallowing it a zombie ran forward reaching out for her from across the table. Grabbing a hold of the zombie woman's hair pinning her down to the table. Taking her hand that held the cup and smashing into her head.

Hearing the sounds of footsteps and snarling coming towards her from behind. She stood up, using the chair as a barrier between the two. Raising her leg up and kicking the zombie back. The zombie fall to the ground scrambling to get back onto its legs like a cockroach.

Turning her attention back to the zombie still snarling at the table. Grabbing a hold of the woman's hair with both her hands using it as leverage. Raising the zombies head up before slamming it into the table over and over again until a pool of blood formed. Tossing the body to side.

Her body felt hot and electric. Hyper aware of everything and everyone around her. Her body buzzed with adrenal. She couldn't feel the way her nails dug into her palms as her hands balled into fist. Her mind was racing trying to find a way out but she was certain about one thing and one thing only. She hadn't died in that cage and she wasn't going to die in this one.

Taking the plate and walking past the dead bodies around her. Watching as people tired to fight around her. Not taking in any of their faces instead her mind forced on if any of them were going to kill her or not.

A zombie that had half his face freshly chewed off ran its way towards her. She raised the plate up and smashed it into his face. The plate broke into pieces making her have to drop it to the ground.

He barely allowed her to take a breath before he was on her again. She let out a struggling scream as her body pushed against his. Grabbing a hold his wrist fighting the opposing force. Her body fought not wanting to end up like him. Mustering all the energy she could she pushed his body back. Snaking her hands up and grabbing a hold of his face. Bringing her knee up and colliding it with his face. Hitting him twice before throwing him to the ground, taking the heel of her boot and caving in the rest of his face.

A force grabbed a hold of her collar and threw her backwards. Swatting her arms at them as they quickly let her go. Turning to see it was Doc and Cassandra clearly panicked with a door open. "We'll find Murphy later!" Cassandra shouted holding the door as Ash could see Addy and Mack on the other side. Still holding the silverware they were killing with in hand. Doc nodded his head, "You heard her, let's go kid!" He pushed the two through the door.

They ran down the hall as two zombies had made it through before the door shut behind them. Mack and Addy were handing one of the zombies while Ash had the other. Leaving Doc and Cassandra to block the door they had just gone through to get into the kitchen.

Mack held the zombie down while Addy grabbed a hold of the mixer from above her and drove it into its face. Panting after killing it and watching Ash slamming her zombies head into the counter top over and over again. Dropping it and reaching to one of the drawers. Ripping it open and raising her leg up and kicking it. Breaking it free from the tracks that kept it in place. Reaching down and breaking off the back wall of the drawer. Using the handle as she walked over to the now crawling snarling–still undead–zombie. Raising the broken drawer up and smashing it into the zombies skull.

Taking a few steps back as she started to pant trying to catch her breath. Looking over her shoulder, making sure the zombie that Addy and Mack had was dead. Revealing that she had blood splattered across her face. Droplets stain the off white tank top. Her hands were dripping with the bright crimson. It always caught Ash off guard when she saw how bright the blood was. Forgetting that newly turned zombies still hold the bright red color instead of a dirty maroon almost brown color.

"Where's Murphy?"

"The last we saw, he ran out some other door." Cassandra said with her back against the door. "We need a leash for that guy." Doc remarked.

"Cool I vote on one of those cute animal backpack ones now look at what I found." Ash added setting the drawer onto the countertop holding the few sharp kitchenware that she had taken from the drawer.

🌁

"Garnett!" Mack called out as the small group slowly made their way through the hallways. Careful and ready for anything to jump out at them. "Garnett!"

"Thank god you're okay." Warren's voice came as her, Garnett and the Major rounded the corner. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ash who was the only one with visible signs of blood. "Are you okay?"

She looked down, her senses were buzzing with adrenal and her body was in fight mode that she hadn't even caught onto the metallic smell coming from her. Only until she saw the red did she realize why the woman was so concerned. "Yeah, zombie blood."

"Where's Murphy?" Garnett asked seeing he wasn't a part of the five.

"Got separated. Zombies everywhere." Addy replied.

"10k?"

"He's out there somewhere." Cassandra answered.

Ash's eyes widened, pushing past the group and going towards the doors but Doc and Mack were quick to stop her. "Ash if anyone can make it he can." Doc insisted as she simply shook her head, "I'm not worried about him. It's Leo. I need to find him."

"He knows all the procedures, he does drills every 2 months." Major Joe reassured her, "Now you have to get to the emergency exit before we're completely overrun."

"Where is it?"

"Through those doors. There's a long hallway ending in a reinforced door. It leads outside the perimeter. Don't stop till you hit the woods, then you can double back around to your truck." He informed the group.

"What about you?"

"I've got to stay and try to save as many as I can." He replied before him and Garnett nodded. He took a step towards Ash, placing a hand on her shoulder, "He survived this long." She shut her eyes taking a breath hating the fact he was right. With that he walked off going back to where the chaos had started.

Garnett turned towards Warren, tightening his grip on the thick hardcover book in hand. "Ready?" She nodded her head, "Yeah." He then looked back towards the rest of the group. Each nodding, tightening their own grips onto their weapons. "All right, let's go!"

Running down the hall that Joe pointed them towards. Expecting to see anyone there but there wasn't, they were the first. Which also meant they were the first to discovered that the door was jammed. "It's jammed! It won't open!" Garnetted shouted as running footsteps started coming towards them. And coming fast. "Turn around! Turn around! Back up! The door's blocked!"

"Guys, we're not gonna make it."

Everyone then started to crowd against them. Pinning the group up against the still jammed door. Shouting and begging to open the door. While others on the other side of the mob were announcing that the dead were coming closer.

"We have to turn around!"

"Go back! Go back!"

Ash fist clenched her whole body stiffening once again. She was stuck between both Addy and Cassandra. Pushing her back against Doc's as the group tried to push their combined weight against the door. Allowing her to watch as the different zombies started to pick people off.

"Push those zombies back!" Garnett ordered over his shoulder. "I can't even turn around!" Mack respond.

"Push!" Cass's voice struggled out.

"Addy!" Mack shouted, causing Ash to look over seeing him wrap his arms around her waist. She has passed out. "Stay with me! Addy! Come on!"

Each of them started to let out a strangled groan as they kept pushing against the door. Their voices combine with the screams of people getting eaten and the undead groans and snarls. It all became too much for her. Her mind had switched a flip, and she was off. "I didn't die then and I'm dying now!" Pushing off Doc and going through the few people that were left. Raising her fist up and colliding them into the jaws of the undead. Using every part of her body, fist, elbow, knees, heels, head. She wasn't going to die this way. She had survived night after night in that makeshift fight club. She survived without anything more than a few scars.

Suddenly two arms were wrapped around her waist, hooking her body and pulling them flushed against them. Her back collided with their front as her eyes were blinded by a bright light. Feeling the warmth of the mid-day sun on her skin.

Doc and Mack slammed the door shut, jamming the door on again but with a giant wooden cross. The door creaked open enough for arms to pop out. Causing the two to jump back from their reaches.

Ash pushed against the person holding her. Landing on all her hands and knees. Her breathing was frantic, her throat was dry and tight. The metallic taste sat in the back of her throat. Her lungs were screaming trying to take as much oxygen as fast as it could.

She felt like she was about to pass out. The corner of her eyes grew fuzzy.

So she fought her body. Slowing down her breathing feeling her lungs expand and deflate with each breath. Focusing on the feel and look of the dried out yellow grass under her palms. Starting to finally feel the stinging pain on her palms.Once her body calmed down she leaned back on her heels. Running her palms onto a clear part of her tank. Feeling the end of a rag hit her ear. Looking over to see 10k holding out a red rag for her. She took it, whipping the brown and crimson color from her palms. Leaving behind red crescent shapes.

He then held his hand out for her. Which she took using it to help her up onto her own feet. "How do we get out of here?" She asked, hating the feeling of all eyes on her.

"I've been using the roofs to move. The cult freaks are in the compound. Armed." He informed slowly, pulling his attention away from Ash. Still worried about her after her episode.

"Murphy?" Warren asked as he slowly shook his head, "Haven't seen him."

"We need weapons." Garnett said, stating the obvious. "Correction y'all need weapons I need to find Leo." Ash corrected, her southern accent coming out once more, turning and going to walk but 10k softly held her forearm. "We'll find him, okay I promise,"

"We need weapons then we'll find both him and Murphy. Let's go," Garnett ordered as the group rounded the corner moving towards the center of the compound. Only to be met with the cult freaks.

"Greetings brothers and sisters. The Resurrection Church welcomes you. Please raise your hands to the heavens or I will resurrect you where you stand." The leader, dressed in white robes, spoke holding a handgun at them. While other members stood by his sides with atomicas.

Slowly Ash raised her hands up, glancing over to see both Cassandra and 10k on either side of her. Reaching out and grabbing each of their wrist before running off. Hearing a few stray bullets their way, but nothing truly reaching them.

Taking cover behind a brick wall as they each panted to catch their breaths. "Do you have a plan?" Cassandra panted out.

"That was the plan." She replied standing up and moving past the corner towards the armory.

"Will you get anything else with said plan?" He remarked.

She glanced over her shoulder, "Working on it." Turning her head forwards just as her body ran into someone else's. Her head shot up, hoping it wasn't one of the members. But a smile of relief broke onto her face seeing him. Leo was drenched in sweat trying to catch his breath. "There you are." He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her in.

Her face dropped from the smile into pain after the smell of blood filled her nose. Seeing a fresh bite on his shoulder. "I found your stuff." He pulled aparted, pulling the black strap duffle bag from his shoulder handing it to 10k. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"You got bit, didn't you."

He swallowed harshly, whipping the beads of sweat from his brow. "The, uh, guard turned as I was getting those. Tink I wanted to give you these." He took off 2 rings from his fingers and handed them to her. "You still have them?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Daisy was going to give you hers before she died."

She closed her fist around them, putting them into her front pocket. The only pocket that she knew didn't have a hole. "Thank you. What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gunna stay and help some people while I still can. I'll see you in Neverland, Tinker bell." He reached forwards kissing the top of her head before ruffling her hair one last time. Watching with teary eyes as he stumbled off. Disappearing from her view. Feeling Cassandra put a soft hand onto her shoulder, sympathetically.

Ash pressed her lips together, turning to face the two. "I have a plan." 10k nodded his head, already taken out one of her knifes and handing it to her.

🌁

One of the armed cult members walked into the building the three were hiding in. 10K swiftly knocked him out, taking his gun as they continued up the building. "Helping one another, working together. It's not too late. Put down your weapons. Let us be free. We'll help you. The Resurrected aren't any closer to God than you and I are." Garnett started to speak as they found a spot where an empty window was.

"I envy you, brother." The 'pastor' walked behind Garnett who was on his knees and had zip-ties like the rest of the group. "The time for you to walk among the Resurrected is near." The man than pulled out one of the knives that were hidden in a cross

"Charlie." Warren tried to warn but only getting hit over her head with the buttend of a gun. "I'm gonna kill you psychotic bastard." She threatened.

"Now would be the time to hurry up." Ash stated the obvious not waiting to pull her eyes away from the scene.

"Don't you worry, sister. You won't be fair behind your Charlie." The leader said as he kept the same uneasy smile on his face.

"Shoot him." Cassandra ordered not understanding why he hasn't done so yet.

"I can't get a shot." He declared as he kept looking up from his scope. "I gotta get on the roof." He shot upwards before turning on his heel and going up the stairs. Leaving the two girls to look at each other before following, "You heard him up we go,"

"Blessed is the path before him!" The man preached as the three finally reached the roof. "I'm the new resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live." Suddenly a shout was heard coming from the zombie cage leaving everyone frozen in place. It was a normal calm shout. Not one that any zombie could make. Neither something that could be mistaken as only a noise from a cage full of freshly turned zombies. It was human.

Murphy walked up to the door. "If you think the resurrected are one step closer to heaven then prepare to meet your new god!" He declared moving his jacket to the side showing extremely badly scared bites.

"The fuck is he doing?" Ash thought out loud.

"Come brother. Step away from the resurrected. That's no place for a mortal human. COme join our flock, all are welcome." The leader guestered for him to join him.

Murphy reached through the bars and unlocked the door and walked out and shut the door behind him. "Join your flock." His tone was as if a mockery as he locked the door behind him. "I am not one of the Resurrected. I'm your messiah."

"That's blasphemy, brother. We can all see you're one of the living."

"8 times! I was bitten and did not turn!" He yelled as everyone watched. "8 times I was infected by their bloody saliva. And yet here I stand before you. And I am here to tell you that he-" He said pointing towards the leader. "-is a false prophet! For I am the true incarnation of the Resurrected!"

"We definitely have to get to California faster," I muttered.

"Kill the blasphemy,"

"But the bites, Jacob."

"He's a false prophet!"

"I can prove it! I can prove that my words are true." Murphy started once more clearly buying himself more time. "Tell us, blasphemer. How can you possibly prove this outrageous lie?" the main man questioned, shoving the knife back into the cross. Murphy then thought about it for a moment, "I'll show you," He turned towards the cage. Opening it and pulling out a zombie Major. "Observe Ye of little faith." He stuck his finger into the zombies mouth. Ash could feel her stomach turn seeing the bloody drool dripping from the Z's mouth. Then he stoped before putting the zombie major back into the cage. "The Resurrected will not attack me because they love and fear me. Behold my flock."

"There's your proof, brothers and sisters!"

"Now let us go, Jacob, before my flock resurrects all of you!"

"Jacob, what if he's speaking the truth?"

"He's no messiah I'll prove it." He said before nodding towards a women who gave him a gun. "There's one last test for you to pass, blasphemer."

"Damn it," 10k cursed causing the two girls to look at him, "Don't tell me you don't have a shot," Ash said as he stayed silent.

Jacob points the gun at Murphy, "A bullet to the heart will reveal the truth!" Murphy backed up to the cage as Warren screamed and smashed into Jacob. He stumbled to the side as he went to shoot Murphy just when Garnett jumped in front of him taking the bullet. 10k then finally shot Jacob, and for good measure the guy next to him.

The truck driven by Doc pulled up. "Time to go," Ash announced, tapping onto his shoulder, but he wouldn't move. "Come on!"

He still didn't move.

"Ash! 10! Move it!" Cassandra's voice called as she was already half way through the cut fence that Mac and Addy were holding open.

He still didn't budge.

"Hey," Ash dropped to her knees, taking his face into her hands. Forcing him to look at her, "You did everything you could've done. Now we need to go. Leaving is the only thing we can do." He stared at her for a moment before nodding his head.

🌁

Warren had gotten out of the truck after shouting for it to stop. Walking from the front seats and to the bed of the truck. "What is she doing?" Murphy questioned but nobody replied knowing what she was about to do.

Holding her hand out towards 10K, who nodded handing over his snapper. Ash moved onto the other side of him getting out her way. Watching as she lined up her shot, taking a long deep breath before looking into the scope. "Charles Garnett, I give you mercy." Pulling the trigger allowed the barely turned Garnett to die. She finally looked back up breathing heavily before looking back through the scope. Pulling the trigger once more sending a shot straight into the Leader Jacob's heart, turning him. She gave 10k his gun back before silently getting back into the truck. Each slowly filling back into their places before Doc drove back down the road once again.

Only stopping in the middle of the night, when he couldn't drive anymore. Everyone's body was tired and exhausted as the events, both emotional and physical, were finally hitting each of them.

Ash was sat on the roof truck. One end of the ball chain that housed the tags was in her mouth. The other end was searched out as she threading the two wedding bands onto the chain. The two metals clinked together making her smile softly.

The twins were back together.

She place the necklace back on. Untucking her hair from the chain, having to pull apart the few strands that tangled around the ball chain. Letting one of her hands trail down and touching each item. The cold dog tag, feeling the engraved letters. Then to a thin band that had one medium sized red ruby. Her sister's dream wedding ring that she only was able to wear for 2 years. Then a thicker silver band with a much smaller ruby matching the other band. Taking a deep breath in before looking up to the sky searching for the brightest ones. Her eyes found them causing her to smile at what was once only 2 bright ones, now we're a family of 3.

"Y'all gunna keep staring or ask the damn question?" She asked abruptly before turning her head towards the whispering group. Her boldness shocked them each, not waiting to answer but within the second minute passing Mack spoke up. "Back when we were trapped in the back hall you seemed like you knew how to deal with it."

She pressed her lips together, turning her body so her legs now dangled over the edge. She knew something related to this would happen. Rather it be because of her survival instinct kicked in. Or the many healed scars on her back and shoulders. Think it was the second option. "The beginning of Black Summer almost took me and my sister out. She had a twisted ankle and we were both dying from dehydration and heat exhaustion. We found this farm that took us in. A week later I get told that I need to pay off our debt. That I could work double the time causing us to have to stay longer. Or a second faster option."

Her eyes dropped to her hands. Picking at the skin on the side of her short nails. Hesitating to say the next part. Feeling like she was the most nonsensical choice she could have made. "There was a part of the land that the owners originally used for the local rodeos. Guys would throw you in and you just had to survive."

"Survive what?" Her eyes landed on Mack, who drew the short straw and asked the burning question.

Her shoulders shrugged upwards before dropping, tucking pieces of hair behind her ears. "Anything they wanted to see." Watching as their eyes filled with both realization of the main two answers that were the obvious. Human and the un-dead. But it mixed with a expression of confusion as their minds started to race with any and every possible.

"Sometimes they gave you a weapon, if they liked you. And then other times you just hoped that you wore good shoes to bash their heads in." Her eyes trailed down to her own stained shoes. The wet noises of her foot caving in the decaying heads of the un-dead echo throughout her skull.

The voice of Addy brought her back, blinking away any gory sound to dissolve. "How'd you get your sister out?"

"I killed a doctor who liked to hurt little girls. One of the girl's brothers helped me and Violet get through the fences. When I get cornered I try to get out anyway I can. No matter what, or who, I gotta get through."