Gun fire erupted immediately. Lacy's heart was beating out of her chest but, she was relieved to be able to protect herself.

Macenna yelled and Reese flung a round of shots across the parking lot.

Macallan, Dylan, Krisslyn and Lacy turned in unison to see National Guard troops scrambling for cover as gun fire whizzed all around them. Screams of fear and panic rose in the foggy night air as the people who had been with Basinger bolted in every direction, some making for cover as others looked around in confusion and still others fell to the parking lot beneath the feet of the stampeding groups.

Macenna yelled again hollering for Macallan and the others to follow him as he took cover behind the Humvees with Reese's men.

But Lacy stood transfixed.

From the swirling mist of the humid night, robotic like in movement and staring blankly ahead, they marched.

People who, just weeks earlier had been alive and well. People well known to Brew Town and to her, entered into view on the highway, stepping in sync together.

The sight of it slowed Lacy's heart down to a dull thud in her ears.

Pale and ominous, their lifeless eyes staring but seeing nothing they came. Like dead men walking, their bodies had somehow been repurposed, designed by an unseen enemy to track and kill.

Lacy shook off the dread knot in her gut. She shook off the desire to run, to flee and never look back. To wake up from this nightmare her world had become.

High beam flashlights carried by the National Guard lit up the scene piercing through the heavy fog as they fired on the marching human drones and without warning the reanimates stopped, turned and like puppets on some invisible string, slowly advanced honing in on them as a target.

Lacy did not wait to see what the moment held. It was either run, or fight. She lifted her rifle to her shoulder, took aim, released a slow breath and felt the world fall away from her thoughts as focus took control and she began firing, expertly dropping the cybrids in the front row. From her peripherals, she sensed Macallan next to her and she looked over at him. He nodded and joined her in the onslaught. Soon they were joined by Macenna, Reese, his men and the National Guard took their six, moving deftly to fan out with strategic precision.

They dropped them row after row but soon realized if they didn't fall back to reload, they'd soon be overtaken anyway as there seemed to be no end to the row upon row of this never ending army of lost souls that had somehow been violated and altered to hunt down their own kindred.

The sound of hollering broke through Lacy's distorted thoughts to see Silas Fisher waving madly in their direction.

"Come on!" He shouted hoarsely as his arms flailed in huge circles above his head. "Follow me!"

Lacy looked at Reese and he was nodding. They fell back and the National Guard resumed offensive fire.

Macenna grabbed Lacy's arm and pulled her along. "We're getting out of here!"

"No! We can't just leave all these people Macenna they'll be slaughtered!"

"We aren't leaving anyone Lacy now come on!" Macenna grunted. "Follow Silas!"

Lacy clamped her mouth shut and sprinted after them. A large group of survivors had taken off for the forested land behind the church and Silas Fisher was leading the way. Lacy looked back, her eyes searching the crowd behind her for Krisslyn and Carolyn but she could see them no where. With her heart beating furiously in her ears she screamed for Macallan. He turned to help her but she was stopped in the parking lot looking around frantically.

Macallan ran back to her and she was bawling, calling Krisslyn and blubbering about Tibbs. Macallan took her by the shoulders and shook her. "Lacy! We have to get out of here!"

"No no! Damn you! I'm not leaving without Krizz!" She jerked free of his grip and turned back but Macallan grabbed her by the waist and held on, telling her over and over that Carolyn and Krizz were way ahead of them. Lacy went limp with relief when his words finally broke through her trauma.

"Krizz has Tibbs! Now come on." He whispered heatedly, pulled her in front of him and took her hand as they disappeared into the dark cover of the woods. They crashed through the underbrush following the fast moving backs of those in front of them meeting Macenna a short way in. He had stopped to wait and he and Macallan each took one of Lacy's arms and they moved on, trekking deeper into the surrounding darkness.

Further in they slowed down with everyone else as the threat ratio faded and came upon Silas who had paused to catch his breath and wait for them. Carolyn and Krizz were with him and Lacy fell into her cousin with a sob hugging her with relief as Tibbs, between them, licked her face with exuberant puppy joy.

Lacy pulled from Krizz and sighed taking Tibbs and looking around for Macallan. He was talking to Reese, Silas and Macenna.

His face was stoic. Lacy went over to listen and Macallan pulled her into his side holding her tightly. She could feel his heart pounding against his chest and a fluttered nervous angst filled her stomach as Silas clarified what his plans were. He explained how he had come through this very area when the shit had hit the fan spending a night and day in a shed where Dingo and Tilley had stumbled upon him after almost becoming toast.

"We'll make our way back as quiet as we can. On the east edge of town we can enter the tunnels that run east and west under Brew Town and turn back south directly below the courthouse." Silas disclosed. "Now, I'm going to go talk to Reese and the others. Y'all take five and I'll send word when we move out."

Lacy drew a nervous breath. Macallan gave her a one armed hug and guided her towards a fallen log where they sat down to catch their breath. Looking around at those who had survived by running into the forest she suddenly looked at Macallan. "Where's James?"

Macenna gave his twin brother a look that Lacy didn't like. "Mac?"

"He's fine Lacy. But, Basinger was shot. He didn't make it."

"James," she asked feeling like she would vomit.

"He's going to catch up to us. He took the Humvee with all the gear and supply and he's going to meet us on the other side of town. Dingo and Tilley have some ammo in ruck sacks but it won't be enough if we run into trouble." Macallan explained.

"I want to know what those things, those human drones use as weapons. Because it didn't look like to me they had weapons Mac. Not like my dad. It makes me wonder," she thought out loud.

"Did you actually see your dad, Lacy?" Macenna asked.

She nodded. "He stood right in the middle of the road and pointed a pistol at me," she admitted. "Actually at all of us. James, may have saved my life but Mac shot towards him and he ran off. It all happened so fast," she recounted.

Macallan couldn't believe she was talking about it like it happened to someone else and not her.

"It makes me wonder if it really even happened. Maybe my dad--"

"No Lacy." Dylan interrupted her. "He may not be one of the robots, but I saw your dad disappear into one of those blue beams. I saw it Lacy, with my own eyes," he said looking down at his feet.

Lacy gasped. "Are you kidding me right now Dylan," she said standing up.

Dylan shook his head.

Lacy looked between him and Macallan. "Did you know this Mac?"

Macallan sighed.

"Oh my God Mac. Why would you keep that from me?" She stammered sitting back down on the log.

Macenna approached her and knelt down in front of her. "Look, Lacy. Don't hold it against Dylan or Mac. Every one is scared and none of us have answers. As for Basinger, he took a hit from friendly fire as did several civilians . When Silas started yelling it was because he saw unidentified craft over head. Small silver flying apparatus. The same type of vessels that we saw on the surveillance monitor right before we evacuated.There was a whole fleet above the black site. Those vessels are weapon capable. The main thing we have to do now is get these people to safety. Ourselves as well. I'm going to find Reese," he said pushing himself up and left them.

Macallan and Dylan said nothing more as she sat there trying to come to grips with everything. With a sigh she stood up and went to Macallan. "It's fine guys. I'm fine. Macenna is right. There is nothing we can do now but get to safety. But," she held up her rifle, "at least we have these."

Dingo and Murfree walked up. "You guys alright over here?"

Macallan nodded. "As best as we can be."

Dingo rubbed his hands together. "Well, we're about to move out. Keep the noise factor down. Stick together. Silas is going to lead the way."

Lacy gave Tibbs back to Krisslyn, slung her rifle over her shoulder and followed Dingo. Macallan and Dylan looked at each other uneasily and fell into step behind them.