The old lady led us over to a fifth sneezing person. Daniel didn't even bother approaching her, "She only has a cold. Is there anyone else?"

The old woman shook her head, "Not that I know of, but we can finish up the last bit of the tour if you like."

Daniel nodded courteously and I refrained from rolling my eyes. One shed looked much like another in my opinion. The lady started tottering off in a different direction and I subtly inspected the chain link fence. This part of the tour did interest me since I planned to sneak over that fence undetected. I saw several potential ways.

I glanced to the side as a man started approaching our group with a hopeful expression. My eyes blinked slowly as the familiar looking man came right toward us. Nicky followed my stare, before her jaw dropped, "Shit. That guy looks almost exactly like Luke."

Glad I am not the only one to think that. Nicky's comment had caught the attention of Nina and Daniel and they paused to look. The old woman looked confused as she greeted the man, "Ron, how are you doing today?"

His eyes barely left us, "I heard this group knew of a Luke who was looking for a John McComfry?"

Nina took a few steps forward, "Yes, Luke is at our Stronghold and is looking for his brother. Do you happen to know where he might be?"

I was a step ahead of Nina since my nose finally caught his scent. Even with Luke being a zombie, I could tell that he was somehow related to Luke. Luke had managed to discover the fate of all of his immediate family members with one exception...

The man nodded slowly, "That would be me..."

The old woman scratched her head, "I thought they were looking for a John?"

He smiled gently at her, "No offense, but I tried to correct you a few times. My name is John, not Ron."

She shrugged, "I ain't no spring chicken and my hearing isn't as good as it used to be either."

John turned back to us with excitement, "How is Luke? I looked for him for a bit and hopped between a few Strongholds, but I never found any trace of him."

I remained silent to let someone else tiptoe across this minefield. I had barely spoken a few words, so no one here was about to expect me to step up either. Nina took another step forward, "He is okay and is currently at Ironwind Stronghold. He looked for you for months. There is one detail that may make you not want to see him though..."

John shook his head, "He is my brother. As long as he is alive, I don't care."

Daniel focused his dull red eyes on John, "Good to hear you proclaim that since he is actually a sane Runner."

John paused and stared at Daniel as if expecting that he was trying to pull a bad joke off. He shook his head before inquiring, "He is sane though, right?"

When John didn't react poorly, Daniel relaxed marginally and replied, "Yes. The only difference is that his eyes are red and he is a bit easier to irritate. You will have to be careful with direct contact, but it isn't too bad."

That seemed to reassure John, "Where exactly is Ironwind Stronghold? I have heard of it once or twice, but I have no clue where it is."

Nina perked up, "It is to the north. A day or two of driving. If you don't mind traveling with us for a week, we will be going back there and will be happy to give you a lift."

I suppressed a groan of exasperation at the thought of another traveling companion. I reined in my growing irritation. He was Luke's long-lost brother after all. Luke was going to owe me big time for this...

John grinned, "Thank you so much! I appreciate the lift. I can't wait to see Luke again. It would take me a few minutes to pack, when do you plan on leaving?"

Nina smiled, "We are staying the night and leaving early in the morning, so you have time." Nina was clearly thrilled that John wanted to come to Ironwind Stronghold.

"Thank you. I will certainly be ready in the morning whenever you choose to leave." John was just as polite as his brother.

The old woman looked bemused, "Talk about a last second vacation. Well, I wish you luck dear."

John smiled at her, "Thank you."

Nicky started chuckling and muttered, "Oh, he is going to need more than luck to survive this trip..."

John didn't hear her comment, but Logan did. He watched her with a perplexed expression. At this rate Logan was going to remain in one of the Strongholds we were visiting just for his sanity's sake. The tour continued and John came along as he peppered Nina with questions about his brother and Ironwind Stronghold.

~

We all piled into the truck in the early dawn light. Thankfully John decided to sit beside Logan. Nicky was attempting to become the Great Barrier Reef as she sprawled across the middle of the mattress as she separated me from the two men. John had no clue that I was a zombie. I didn't see that state of naivety lasting long, although he didn't seem to have any problem with Daniel.

John was talking with Logan as the truck left the gate, "I am surprised that so many people are in one group as you hand out the cure. Wouldn't it make more sense if you split into two groups?"

Logan shrugged, "Possibly, but I am just catching a ride like you are."

"That is interesting. May I ask which Stronghold you came from?"

"I was at Drayton Stronghold for a couple of weeks and spent a lot of time at the Stronghold by Bow River before then."

John turned his intrigued gaze toward Nicky, "Can I inquire as to your story?"

Nicky grinned, "Oh, I came from Ironwind Stronghold. They brought me along to bring color to their wardrobes and to keep them on their toes."

John blinked in confusion and Logan didn't look any wiser despite the amount of exposure he had to her. John tentatively commented, "I am not sure I understand..." Yep. John is definitely Luke's brother. They look similar, act alike, and talk like one another.

Nicky chuckled, "Yeah, that is what Logan said yesterday as well. Just stick around, you will both figure it out eventually."

John looked kind of lost as well. He turned to me as if hoping to change the topic and break up the dispute, "Did you come from Ironwind to help distribute the cure, or are you catching a ride there as well?"

I exhaled slowly, "I came from Ironwind, although I am not along for this ride entirely willingly." I decided to distract him, "I met Luke months ago, but he left not long after we met to look for you. It wasn't until this last week that he decided to stay at Ironwind and that was only because we promised to check the Strongholds we visited."

John was quiet for a while and seemed touched that his brother had not given up on him even though he was a zombie. "That sounds like Luke. That guy never gives up when it comes to family and friends."

I replied quietly, "He hunted for you for months. He managed to locate all the rest of your family, but all he knew is that you survived whatever happened in your house and that you were nowhere in that town."

John lowered his head into his hands, "I had no idea he would turn up there. He was in the east visiting our grandparents and I headed in that direction trying to find him. I should have remained around there so he could find me..."

I had no reply to that and remained silent. Nicky turned her head as she looked up at him from her prone position, "Well, look at the bright side, you get to see him again."

He looked down at her and nodded solemnly, "That is true and I am looking forward to seeing him again. He is, and always will be, my brother."

John was apparently a bit more sentimental than Luke, although the zombie virus likely had a hand in Luke's current personality. I knew that Luke was intensely loyal once you earned his trust and it looked like John was much the same in that regard. Blood ran deep too, and family bonds often bent rational law.

~

Evening was once more approaching and we still hadn't found the third Stronghold we were searching for. John was a bit nervous as the sun started to approach the horizon, although it didn't seem to bother Logan. He was just more watchful.

"I can see the Stronghold in the distance, so we will be there before too long." Considering it was Daniel speaking, he either delayed his discovery or we would take twenty minutes to get to this place with his eyesight...

He must have waited until we were closer since it wasn't more than five minutes later that we pulled up in front of the fence. The people at the gate heard Daniel out and let us in. Rumor had come to this place that a group of people and a zombie were traveling around and handing out the cure.

"You can use this guest house. There are only two beds and a couch so it may be a bit crowded if you like your personal space."

Nina thanked the leader, "This will be fine. We have sleeping bags with us. Thank you very much for your hospitality."

He nodded, "I will have someone cook up some food since everyone else has already eaten. It isn't that much trouble for just a handful of people. We are kind of hoping that you can check if there is anyone infected here before retiring to your rest."

Nina reassured him, "Of course, it would be our pleasure." She turned to Daniel, "If you could?"

Daniel nodded and turned to the man, "Care to give us a tour? I can smell that someone here is infected, but it is often easier to locate them if I get closer to them."

The leader happily provided the tour as Nina went over the details of the third wave and various precautions. I tuned them out as I gazed at our surroundings. Logan and John listened intently to Nina despite hearing the same spiel for the third time today.

Daniel was clearly not having any luck locating the guilty culprit. I sighed before quietly helping him, "Turn to the left."

Daniel took shameless advantage of my assistance and headed down the correct street.