"Twenty or so more blocks to go." Bree spoke up to the group she was in as they hustled down the road.

"You've got to be kidding me." Another person spoke up as they all pulled to the side of the street.

The lead group was stopped ahead, all crouched down beside the intersection of the block, clearly watching something ahead. Guns were being pulled out now, and Bree knew what was to happen.

"Guns out, we are going loud, and proud here. Everyone push up to combine to first group. Someone pass this along with the rear." Bree yanked the pistol from her jeans as she ordered those around her.

Hesitantly, but surely they all drew guns and jogged over to the front, the rest of them already right behind them. Bree passed them slowly to get to Micheal who was lead at the moment.

"What's the hold up?" She whispered once crouched beside him.

He fingered the rifle he held and took a glance past the building side, "Whole horde in the street, very little cover, and only way through is this street unless we want to risk swimming across the broken bridge two blocks back."

"That will waste time if we do, we need to push through here." Brent appeared behind them, already prepared for whatever was to happen next. "Don't forget we are on a time frame, he's already gone delirious, only a matter of time until he dies."

They nodded solemnly, and then an unspoken word went through the crowd of survivors as they broke cover and pushed into the street. Mere seconds until the Rotters noticed them, and then gunfire erupting to take some down.

"Get a group past these while we take them out! Alley way up ahead to cut through!" Brent shouted as the horde pushed closer instead of being farther away.

"Get in the buildings!" Another person shouted, everyone already having used them for what little cover there was.

With the Rotters pressing forward, small groups took hold inside stores, and behind cars as they continued to thin the horde. More bodies dropped, and more bullets were shot as they all finally fell to the ground.

"That noise is gonna draw them in. Break up into groups again and push forward as fast as we can. One group head back for the others and the other two keep heading for the research center." Brent was already organizing his group to return, leaving Bree and Micheal to press onward.

"You heard him!" Bree shouted, "Move!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Markus stood crouched beside an overturned van, watching the people ahead of him. Horses were hitched to a trailer, and people milled about, warily watching their surroundings. Very little weapons on them, he noticed, and too much stuff for just the amount he could see.

Moving from his position he hoisted his rifle lightly, and moved forward, intent on watching them closely. Before he would let them see him, he moved into the wreckage of a building nearby, noticing how this place must have been the source of the large heat signatures on the Satellite system a month and a half ago. Fire swept through this area, he was sure of it.

"I've got confirmed hostiles near the perimeter. Be wary, this is a small group only holding their base; expect a larger amount inside or around the area." Markus muttered into his wallow talkie as he faced them again.