Geno's P.O.V

With FC's orders, everyone grabbed a weapon and went outside. Almost everyone. Sci stayed with Fell in the bus, as well as Blueberry, since both were still injured. I would've suggested that Nightmare stayed too, but his shoulder had already regenerated. Also, I don't care.

"What brings you to our side go the road, my friend?" FC asked.

"I wouldn't of bothered you, but I really need some help. And you guys look like you could help me out." Explained the boy. "My name's Fred by the way."

"FC. Nice to meet'cha."

"So what is it you need?" Error asked.

"A friend of mine is injured. The building we were hiding in last night collapsed on us. I was fine, but she was caught under the rubble." He continued.

"Shouldn't be a problem." FC smiled. "We've got plenty of med kits and the best hauler around."

FC pointed at Error, who smiled proudly in response.

"Thank you so much. I don't know how I would be able to repay you."

"Call it a free act of kindness, bud."

With that, the Fred led us to where his friend was. Cross, Lust, Killer and Dust decided to stay behind, since they knew Sci wasn't a fighter and the other two couldn't fight even if they wanted to. Into the forest we went, far from the bus. I was alert and cautious. After this morning's attack, I was afraid of whatever creatures that might be out there. Something as big as that last bird could've done a lot more damage, but there are much bigger animals out there.

"Nervous, Geno?" Reaper asked.

I didn't bother making eye contact. "No."

"Really? You seem nervous."

"Leave me alone, Reaper."

Reaper huffed. "Rude."

Up ahead was the building Fred was talking about. An old radio tower, most likely used way back before the apocalypse. The roof had collapsed in on itself. The actual metal tower itself had fallen down years ago, it's rusted frames had given up.

"Come on, she's in here." Fred said, running through the rusty door.

Inside was lit up by the sun coming through the many holes in the roof. Or what was left of the roof. Around the non-collapsed side of the room, there was a generator that had become victim to age, like everything else here. Under the stone rubble as a girl. At least, what was left of the girl. Clearly something had gotten to her before we did. Her body was covered in horrible gashes and blood. Her arms had been ripped off and her head had a big bite mark in it.

"She, uh...doesn't look very alive." FC commented.

Fred stared at the girl's dead body. "She...she was alive fifteen minutes ago...she told me to get help..."

"It's quite possible that she knew something would get to her, and wanted you to stay safe." Dream suggested.

Fred fell to his knees, tears forming in his eyes. "She...she can't be..."

FC put her hand on Fred's shoulder to comfort him. That's when I got the feeling that we were being watched. Now normally, I always had that feeling. Mainly because Reaper seemed to never stop staring at me. It was quite annoying. But this time it was different. It was a different presence. Then, I heard something standing directly behind me. The thing is, I'm at the very back of the group, there shouldn't be anyone behind me. I very, very slowly looked back at who it was. A bear. A big, rotting corpse of a bear. First zombie birds, now zombie bears.

The bear let out a mighty roar, which caught everyone's attention. It swung it's great claws at me, it was too close to dodge. Luckily, Reaper intervened, using the baseball bat he had in his hand to block it's claw. Reaper then swung at the bear's head, there was a sickening crack sound upon contact. The bear stumbled backwards, snarling and growling. Reaper looked at me with a cocky smile.

"You alright, Geno?" He asked smugly.

I just huffed. The bear shook it's head, regaining it's lost concentration and it leaped at Reaper. I used the gun I had and shot the bear right in the head. The bear howled in pain, but it wasn't dead yet. Damn. This time, the bear charged through everyone, knocking them back, and went for the person at the very front of the group. Who happened to be Fred. The bear's jaws came down on Fred's shoulder, Fred cried out in pain. His screams only became louder as the bear started shaking him violently, trying to rip his flesh apart.

Horror swung his axe down of the bear, cutting deep into it's back. The bear let go of Fred and gave another howl of pain. Dream loaded three glowing arrows into his bow at once and shot the bear, all three impaling it. The bear turned around and roared furiously, saliva flying out from it's mouth. It started charging again, going for me again. Having a smelly open would that's forever bleeding isn't helping me right now.

The bear leaped at me, knocking me to the ground. I tried to struggle, but I was pinned down. The bear went to bite my neck, but I wedged my gun into it's mouth, stopping it. Unfortudently, the bear took the gun and tossed it away. I was wide open for attack. Reaper grabbed the gun the bear threw away and aimed it. With one last shot, the bear went limp on top of me. I heaved the rotten corpse off of me. Reaper held out his hand to help me up. I looked away, huffing, but I accepted. Fred was crying, clutching his now mangled shoulder. Horror raised his axe, ready to swing at him.

"Whoah, whoah, whoah! He's not the enemy!" FC said quickly.

"Look at him!" Horror replied. "There's no way he wasn't infected from that!"

I had to agree with Horror here. After that kind of vicious bite, there was a practically non-existent change of him not being infected.

"P-Please don't k-kill me!" Fred begged.

"Horror, put the axe down." Dream ordered.

Horror looked at Dream for a moment, then lowered his axe.

"Fine." He said. "But we should put him out of his misery."

"Reaper, you're the one with the gun." Nightmare said.

Reaper nodded and aimed the gun at Fred. Fred continued to beg for his life, trying pathetically to drag himself away. Reaper put his finger on the trigger, staring blankly at Fred. We all waited for the sound of a gunshot, followed by the sound of a bullet piercing Fred's skull. But that ever so familiar sound didn't come. Reaper lowered the gun, looking away from Fred.

"What are you doing? Shoot him!" Nightmare ordered.

Reaper shook his head. "Sorry mate, I'm not doing that."

Nightmare growled and snatched the gun from him, and without hesitating, shot Fred in the head. Fred's now lifeless body fell to the ground. I looked at Reaper. He had his eye sockets closed.

We went back to the bus after that. I don't know what got into Reaper. He wasn't the kind of person to care about whether or not someone died. So why didn't he shoot Fred himself? For the first time, there were no cocky or smug remarks upon walking past me. He just sat down, silent. This was completely unlike him. But seeing him like this, almost made me respect him. Almost. I walked up to where he was sitting.

"Hey Geno." He greeted.

"Hey..." I replied. "Uh...do you mind if I sit down with you?"

Reaper gave me a slightly confused and surprised expression, but he nodded. I sat down next to him. Now that everyone was seated again, the bus' engine started and we continued on our way.

"I, uh...just wanted to say thanks for helping me. I probably would be dead if you didn't." I said.

Reaper seemed even more surprised. "It's the least I could do, I suppose."

I looked down. "...Why didn't you kill Fred yourself?"

"Well..." Reaper took a moment to think. Then he answered. "I guess, knowing what it feels like to be cared about, it..." Reaper looked up and smiled at me. It wasn't a cocky smile, but a gentle and genuine smile. "It made me care, too."

Now that surprised me. So much so, I couldn't help but smile back.

"Huh..." Reaper smirked. "I didn't know you could smile, Geno."

I playfully punched Reaper and crossed my arms. "Of course I know how to smile!"

Reaper chuckled. "Whatever you say Geno."

He put an arm around my shoulders, I blushed lightly. I don't know why, but I didn't push away.

I huffed and mumbled. "Idiot."

Reaper laughed again. But I guess, he's not as bad as I initially thought.