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chapter three — "You don't sneak up on people in the zombie apocalypse!"

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫:
‧⁺˚*‧☾ 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐨, 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 ☽‧*˚⁺‧

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𝙿𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚜𝚢𝚕𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚊,
𝙰𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢

"Amish zombies, really? Really?" Addy muttered a loud as they all watched the two that 10k just shot down with his slingshot.

"They tried to quarantine themselves from the rest of society. Keep the Z's from spreading the infection." Garnett explained to the bunch. "That was before we knew Romero had it right. We were all carrying the virus. Didn't matter who you were or how you died." Mack added while working on the truck.

"Night of The Living Dead. Great movie, sucky reality." Ash remarked resting her forearms onto the top of the truck, standing next to Cassandra in the bed.

"You know what I don't get, if the Z's didn't spread the virus how did we all get infected?" Addy asked the single question that everybody has asked themselves at least once in their lives. "Best guess I hear, it was spread by birds. Some kind of parasite piggybacked on the bird flu. Stays dormant 'till you die." Garnett quickly replied what any military-type person would answer with. "You know, take it from somebody who knows first hand. Other than the fact that they find brains delicious, when it comes to zombies nobody knows nothin'." Murphy added to the conversation and not something that sounded dumb. "That's where you're wrong. Someone has to know pretty much everything about these things." Ash stated, looking down the long empty road in front of them, "Someone had to create the virus after all."

After that bomb it was a blessing for Warren to come back and bring some comfort back to the air. "My turn." Murphy declared happily walking up to Addy and holding out his hand. She gave him two squares of toilet paper. "Have we just met?" She rolled her eyes before giving him two more, "Thank you." With that he was off towards the empty field. "Hey, hurry up. I want to get past D.C. before dark." Garnett stopped him in his tracks. "Yeah, yeah," He waved the man off before continuing to the field.

"I'm tellin' ya, there ain't nothin' there. No thoughts, no memories. No soul. Nothin'." Doc started the conversation back up again. As he, Cassandra, 10k, and Ash were not sat in the bed of the truck. 10k let her lay her legs on his, watching as the small blade in her hand was flipping around.

"Well they're not dead. They want something." Cassandra agreed.

"Yeah. Brains."

"You can't want something if you're not conscious, if you don't have a soul." She stated opening her canteen.

"When my Pa was wounded, he told me to tie him up before he turned. Made me promise to show him mercy when died. Kill the brain, you know? I couldn't do it. I couldn't hurt my Pa, no matter what he'd become. I stared into his eyes for the longest time, just looking for some sign he was still in there." 10k lamented as each of them had a septic expression. "Did you see anything?" Cassandra asked only getting a head shake in response. "What did you do?" Doc questioned his tone laced with care. "I killed it."

"Damn kid, you had to put down your own dad?"

"Didn't kill him. Killed it." He corrected harshly.

"But if it's not alive, how did you kill it?" She questioned softly knowing it was a touchy subject. "Piked it. Right here." He replied touching his forehead, "My first kill. I always wish he knew, you know, somehow knew that I kept promise."

Ash stopped flipping the knife and instead took her finger up and down. "He knows what you did for him. No matter how many times it takes to actually kill it." Her nose twitched as the blade created a small slice on her finger. Quickly placing it into her mouth. Feeling each of their eyes lingering on her but she kept her sights focused on the small bit of bright red.

🌁

The road was empty, a part of the few disregard cars that were weathered showing their age. So when a rusted bug flew around a corner and started speeding towards them. It was obvious to everyone in the bed what was happening. Doc banged on the back glass, "Humans! 6 o'clock!"

Warren's eyes darted between the rearview and side mirror, "I see them."

10k was already standing up, arming his slingshot with a sharp object. Ash stayed on her knees – in case of any sudden stops she wouldn't get thrown too badly, "Aim for windshield or the tires. Not the people." He looked down at her confused, "They could have kids. I draw the line at kids."

"Is that more of your cannibal friends?" Doc asked, turning his attention towards Cassandra who shook her head, "No. Something else."

"Up ahead!" Mack warned, pointing towards a line of zombies blocking the road.

"Something's weird." Ash muttered, earning a nod from 10k. The two exchanged a look as somehow understood what the other was about to do. The moment Warren stopped the truck the two were already hoping out, "Where are they going? Hey! Kid's!" Doc called after but to no avail.

The two went over towards a small grouping of trees, climbing up one of their own. Ash looked down to see he was struggling just a bit. "Give me the gun. This would go a lot faster if we treated it like a game of hot potato." She remarked sitting on a branch with a sly smile. He shook his head at her joke, pushing past the way his body wanted to laugh as it wasn't the time. Reluctantly handing over his prized possession before climbing up to a branch that was a bit higher than where Ash was. She waited for him to gave his balance before handing the gun over to him. "See so much faster,"

The group was already out by the time the two were waiting for the shit to hit the fan. Ash started to pull out her small knives. They weren't the best, sure? But they were sharp as hell and lightweight enough to be thrown for as hard as she could. "The zombies are chained up." He announced after looking through the scoop of his rifle. "And the punch buggy is right on time." She added seeing the rusted small orange car pulling up right behind the truck. Causing three 'zombies' out of the chained up line to pull out guns, revealing that they were in humans. "There's the twist." She remarked, flipping the knife around getting her arm ready for the throw.

"Alright, now drop your weapons or die right where you stand. Put down the weapons or eat brains!" The main man yelled. 10k shot the zombie on the man's right while Ash threw the blade straight into the zombie on the left. "Nice throw," He said, reloading his gun. She smiled softly glancing over towards him, "Nice shot,"

"Now, we just want the vehicle. All right. So give us the truck and we'll let you live to die another day." While the man kept rambling Garnett's hand closed towards the two, not wanting them to do anything more.

"Give them the truck!" Murphy yelled, obviously looking terrified and more squirrely.

"Don't give them a goddamn thing!" Warren argued.

"Do the math, Garnett. We have other priorities. Give them the damn truck." He protested as the main man started to laugh, "Listen to your friend there. Nobody wants to die. But we're taking that truck."

"Say the word, Garnett." Mack added to the current standoff.

Garnett was silent looking between the two groups. Looking around before sighing and putting his gun down, "Let them have it." He said as everyone was about to unload on them, "The truck! Let them have the truck!" He quickly clarified. The two looked at each relaxing upset that this was the result.

"Smart move. All right guys, let's go! And leave the junker! They're not gonna get very far." The man ordered his group starting to go towards the truck. "Murphy," Garnett called, motioning for him to come over as they watched the group take the truck.

Cassandra turned to see only 10k standing there, "Where's Ash?" He turned and pointed to where the girl was hung upside down . Pulling the knife from her teeth, "Really? Really?" She asked looking towards Garnett, using her free hand to move bits of her hair from her face while the other held the knife. "We'll be lucky if that piece of junk motor doesn't explode on us, and we die in a fiery death."

Garnett nodded his head letting out a sigh, done with all of their shit, "I know Ash."

"Come on kid," Doc motioned for her, also disappointed with the result of the events. She herself over and off the branch landing on her feet before jogging over to the group. Seeing Warren open the door only for it to fall to the ground, "Beautiful."

🌁

Somehow all of them were able to pile into the car, either inside or hanging on the side of it. "You okay up there kid?" Doc asked, tapping Ash's knee. She was currently sitting on the roof as there wasn't any more room for her. One leg propped up while the other was hanging off the side. "Doc, I could probably jump off and walk next to it." She remarked, causing him to chuckle softly as the buggy was in fact going at less than 6 miles-per-hour. "But really I'm oka–do you see what I'm seeing?"

"Hey!" Mack called.

"Y'all see that!" Addy added attention to the scene.

Warren stopped the car, if that even made any differences. Everyone noticed that the group of men now had a family hostaged. "Looks like they're trying to rob some poor family this time." Warren stated. "Not if I have anything to say about it. Come on," Garnett insisted, clearly needing to settle the score.

"Would it matter at all if I said don't do this?" Murphy asked, already knowing the answer.

They all ignored his remark and instead all pulled out their weapons and walked with Garnett, backing him up. "Drop your weapons on the ground or the first shot takes your head off." Garnett ordered as they reached them.

"You heard the man. Drop your weapons." The father of the family – who was standing in front of them.

"Now."

Ash glanced over her shoulder, to make sure nobody was trying to sneak up on them. But quickly saw that Murphy was not standing on the outside of the car, and not the inside where he was supposed to be. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

The leader of the zombie gang thought about it for a moment before he signaled for his guys to lower their weapons. "Where's the rest of them?" Murphy asked as Ash could feel her heart drop. He was right, where was the rest of the gang?

"What's this?"

"A robbery." The father replied before each of the four-person family took out their own guns and killed each of the members. Even the two kids had their own guns and were shooting them. "Drop your weapons. Now." Everyone did what they said and lowered their weapons. Murphy put his hands up as Ash took a step in front of him. "I don't want to have to kill you." The dad threatened as the kids climbed into the truck as the parents followed afterwards.

"Son of a bitch," She breathed out, dropping her arm that was in front of Murphy.

And just like that they had lost the truck, again.

Each of the group returned to pile into the bug. 10k and Doc held their hands out for Ash to climb back up onto the roof. "What?" She asked, raising a brow at the look 10 was giving her. He shrugged, "Nothin' it's just you said don't hurt the kids." She rolled her eyes, lightly shoving his head, "Shut up."

The car barely rolled for half a mile before coming up onto a scene. "Stop the car!" Doc shouted and that was what the car slowly did. "Oh it's the family." The family were all died, each of them getting eaten by zombies. "We gotta get off this road." Garnett stated as Ash rolled her eyes, "What gave that away."

🌁

"This is Sergeant Charles Garnett calling Northern Light. Come in Northern Light. Can you read me? Citizen Z, are you there? Over." Garnett spoke into the speaker waiting for a response over the static. "Yes, this is Northern Light for Garnett. Citizen Z hitting you back. Go for Garnett." Citizen Z answered, making him let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God. We've been trying to make this work for hours."

"What are you broadcasting on?"

"Uh, Clowny the french fry guy. One of our team, Carver jerry-rigged a drive thru camera."

"Addy Carver?"

"Yeah."

"Is she there? I wanna say hi." He asked as Ash looked over, meeting Addy's confused look, "I'll take over. If 10's arms can keep up." She remarked taking her place that was next to 10k helping hold up the dish. "Can we get a chocolate shake and fries for 10,000 men?" Doc joked speaking into the speaker to Citizen Z. "Could we please get on with this before the Zs find us?" Murphy asked, walking towards the group huddled around the clown. "Wait. Is that Murphy... Outstanding. Glad to see you're still alive sir."

"Yeah but he won't be for long if we don't get off this highway. We're in desperate need of alternate transpo. We're looking for an airplane or a chopper or a hot air balloon. Anything airborne." Garnett asked as the man on either end of the speaker started typing. "Uh...There is one thing. I've been monitoring some random transmissions from what's left of the Emergency Headquarters for Infection Control. I can hear them, but they don't respond when I reply. And it's pretty garbled. General McCandles might still be holded up there. You're in luck. I have a visual confirmation on that chopper. It looks like it's still there." Citizen Z informed them.

"Where is it?" Garnett asked as we were all listening but Mack, Warren, and Cass kept watch.

"McLean, Virginia. Twenty clicks due west of Washington D.C. Look for a high-rise with structural damge and a chopper on the roof."

"Now that's a hundred miles south from here. We're going west, not south. West."

"Do you want to get off the road or not?"

"Guys!" Warren pulled both Cass and Mack back. "Puppies and kittens!" She called as everyone was quick to pilling into the truck. Ash and 10k waited for a nod from Garnett to move from their spot before following into the truck as well. Barley getting away just as the group of zombies were quickly approaching them.

🌁

𝙴𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚢 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝙸𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝙼𝚌𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚗, 𝚅𝙰

Having to drive through a broken up fence, makeshift barbwire and chain linked fences popped up every other couple of feet. "Not exactly what I was hoping for." Garnett remarked as the truck drove past an ambulance that had rotten corpses. Finding a spot for them to park in front of the large building, with blown out windows. "One of these days you're gonna learn to quit hoping for things." Murphy remarked as Warren was quick to add, "You better hope not, cuz that's when we leave your ass on the side of the road."

"Halt! Who goes there!" A man sat on the top of the gate pointed a gun towards the group, dressed in army gear. Ash couldn't help but frown her brows at the saying. "Sergeant Charles Garnett, National Guard. This is Lieutenant Roberta Warren–"

"State your business."

"-also National Guard. We're on a high priority mission to get this man to a CDC lab in California. We were sent here by an Intel Officer from the NSA to see General McCandles. We need his help finding transpo. We were told he has a helicopter." Garnett explained not showing any sign of the man cutting him off got to him.

"Yeah, he's got a chopper. But General McCandles is a very busy man. He's got the entire east coast under him command. He can't worry about some raggedy ass group of civilians on a suicide mission. I suggest you move on before the infected find you." In a collective group expression they all tilted their heads slightly after the dismissal of 'raggedy ass group of civilians'. "Nothing raggedy ass about this group of civilians, sir.And this man has important information about a vaccine for the zombie virus."Warren quickly defended. The man slowly backed up, not taking his gun off us while walking down the stairs, "He smells like a damn Z."

"You don't smell so good yourself, septic tank." Murphy quickly shot back, crossing his arms.

"You gonna help us or not?" Garnett asked, clearly wanting a clear cut answer.

"You want to see the General? You're going to have to pay a tribute. Gesture of goodwill to show him you're serious." The man stated causing Garnett to roll his eyes slightly knowing this was probably going down this way, "What kind of tribute did you have in mind?" "Our medic has been MIA over a year. We need painkillers. Antibiotics. Anything you got."

Garnett turned towards Doc who was right behind his shoulder. "I'll get my bag." Grabbing the black backpack and setting onto a barrel. "I got aspirin, tetracycline, cipro. That should knock out most any infection...and oxycontin." He listed off going through the different drugs. "The oxy, we need painkillers." The guy repeated, sounding desperate for that certain drug. "You want to see the General or not?" He spit after noticing Doc's redundancies for handing him one oxy. "This is the last of our supply." He protested, glancing up at Warren and Garnett before handing the rest to the man.

"That'll do." He then took all the pills that were in his hand and threw them into his mouth. Quickly chewing them up ignoring Doc's shouts and swallowing as the pills slowly started to take their effects. "The General will see you now."

Garnett, Warren, Doc, Mac, and Addy took a step forward but the man was fast to throw his hand out towards them. Causing both 10k and Ash to tilt their heads and reach for the closet throwable object they had on them. "Just him." He clarified, pointing his full attention towards Doc.

Garnett and Warren exchanged a look, but after a moment Doc zipped the bag shut and smiled softly. The same smile that would wash away anyone's worries about anything. "It's fine." He insisted before glancing over towards where Ash and 10k were giving them a small nod. "I got this." And with that the soldier led him inside and he was gone.

Walking back towards the truck and climbing into the bed as everyone started to make themselves busy. Wanting the time to pass anyway it could. Ash then climbed onto the roof of the truck looking up towards the building. Looking up at the different levels, having to use her hand to block the sun that was bouncing off the few windows that were still intact. She would be lying if she wasn't thinking about climbing it. Or at least climbing through one of the broken windows and just being there in case Doc needed any type of back up.

"I can see the wheels turning in you mind. What's up?" Cassandra asked, leaning on the side of the truck.

"How easy do you think it is to climb into the building through one of the breaking windows?" She asked looking down at her to see that 10k and Addy had joined her on either side. "No, no no, no Ash." Mack repeated joining Addy's side.

"What I wasn't actually going to do it." She shrugged as each of them gave her the expression that they all knew better than that. "Okay, I was gunna give it 5 before actually making the decision or not."

"Doc said he had it covered." 10k replied climbing into the bed.

"Yeah just let him do his thing before you go climbing up in there, okay?" Addy added.

Ash nodded, sitting down on the roof with her legs crossed, "My ass will stay planted here." She gave them all a small smile before walking off to do whatever they could to each past the time.

10k set up his gun on the other side of the roof. Allowing it to rest on the metal but keeping a good distance between the gun and her. She let out a small huff searching around the sight trying to find something to take her mind off things. He looked up at her before looking through his scoop. When he couldn't see anything to shoot his attention was back onto her. "What were you doing before this?"

She gave him a soft smile, pressing her lips together before answering, "I, uh, I was doing my 2nd semester at a boarding school in Austin. My parents ship me off too after we got into an agreement." She was trying to make it clear that this was supposed to be a form of a punishment.

"What did you do to get ship off?" He asked resting his elbows onto the roof and looking up at her.

"Nothing." She said bluntly as his brows frowned. "My parents were – still are – obsessed with their image. So I technically went because it's the best ballet school in Austin. But in house it was because my mother didn't want the neighbors to call the cops because our screaming matches got physical, again."

His eyes darted down, looking up to make sure she wasn't crying before looking down once more. Truth be told he wasn't the best with emotions. He could pick up on what someone was feeling, but he wasn't that great at knowing how to deal with them. So he changed the topic to something lighter, "You were a ballerina?"

A soft smile cryptic onto her face, which caused him to smile as well. "Yes, me and my sister's were ballerina's. Our aunt owned a studio. In the back was a boxing gym that our uncle, her husband, owned and he would teach us how to fight on the weekends." Her eyes trailed over towards the field that was outside the fence. Reaching over and nudging his side, "You better be ready, pretty boy. 'Cause I think your target practice is on its way soon." She looked away after a moment watching the field hoping that time would pass by. But 10k kept his gaze on her. Watching as the wind blew the flyaways from her ponytail away from her face. Staring at the small crease that formed when she smiled.

"1,090...1,091...1,092." 10k counted aloud and that was the final straw for Ash. It had been at least 3 hours since Doc had been gone. Since she didn't have a watch she was keeping track of the shadows made by the sun and although it wasn't a long time the shadows were different. Hoping down from the roof and over the siding of the truck bed she started speed walking towards the guard. Passing Addy who had just stabbed a Z with one of her spikes on her bat. "Okay, what's going up with Doc?"

"Guys, if we don't get out of here soon this could get ugly." Mack's voice said from behind her.

"Oh you mean uglier,"

"Do you hear that?" Cassandra asked.

"I don't hear any-"

"Shhh." The small huddled group stopped and listened, hearing the distant voice. No one could make out what it was yelling but they could make out that the tone was Doc's.

"Sounds like Doc."

"That's Doc, but where the hell is he?"

Ash declared running up the small set of steps, snaking her way past both Cassandra and Murphy. "Don't know but it's somewhere up there." She waved her hand upwards. "We're going up after him." Garnett declared as Warren and him were right behind Ash, "No, you don't." He protested by shooting his arm forwards, again, and to try and stop them. "Let us up now!"

"Nobody goes upstairs without the General's orders."

Ash rolled her eyes, the shelf that was holding any of her patience had snapped and now she didn't care. Pulling out one of her hunting knives, one with jagged teeth. Using her forearm to shove the man against the doors, then replacing her arm with the knife. "See, Garnett is calmer than me. Either you let us up and if you don't I'll ruin your little high by shoving this very large knife down your throat. That way you can internally bleed your way through this damn apocalypse." She threatened, her voice was very calm but laced with venom.

"You'll be sorry." The man vaguely threatened looking down at her, causing her to raise her brow at him.

"So will you cause you're coming up with us." Garnett stated, pointing his gun at him. Moving the guard over towards the pin pad by the door. "10k! Cover our flank! Don't let any men or zombies follow us in."

"Yes, sir."

The door slide open and the group went in after Doc.

🌁

Stood in an elevator, looking around each other. "Now what?" Warren turned her head, asking Garnett. "Be ready for anything."

"Did I mention that the one thing I have a phobia of aside from zombies is elevators?" Murphy stated clearly starting to freak out.

"Shouldn't have messed with the General."

"Is it getting hot in here? Hey, come on. Open the damn door! I got to get out of here!" Murphy shouted at the doors. "Relax Murphy, you're making me freak out even more than I already am." Ash stated taking a deep breath and staring straight ahead of her. It wasn't the small space that scared her, it was a crowded space. More people meant more issues if things were to hit the fan. Especially if it is a small space where she had to deal with zombies.

"No, no, I got to get out! There's not enough oxygen!" Warren reached over and slapped him. "Chill out!" She threatened pointing her finger at him.

Suddenly the lights just shut off without any warning. "Mack!" Addy's voice shouted as he responded without missing a beat. "I'm here, babe!"

"Hey, why aren't we moving?" Garnett's shadowy figure asked. "It'll start in a second." The guard's voice answered. Ash could only do one thing, shut her eyes and take yet another deep breath. Trying to ease the feeling of her stomach souring. "Hope you're right, cause I'm–I'ma need Warren to slap me if not."

Just when the walls seemed like they were slowly starting to close in on her, the elevator started to move again. But it didn't last for more than a minute when it suddenly stopped again. "Why aren't we moving?"

"What's going on?"

"Not again," She muttered, tightening her ponytail. Letting her hands fumble with her necklace. Moving the dog tags back and forth, while trailing her thumb along the edge.

"All right, everybody needs to relax."

"Don't mess with us." Mack threatened watching his shadowy figure point his gun at the general's minion. "I'm not messing with you, man." He assured as the elevator started back up once again. "Anything happens, you'll be the first to go." Garnett threatened as silence filled the air.

A little ding cut the silences like a knife. Slowly the doors pulled open to reveal a group of zombies on the other side. "Oh fuck," She cursed as her back hit the back of the elevator. "We got to get out of here!" Murphy shouted as the undead were his final straw, running out of the elevator. "Murphy! No! Don't fire!" Garnett shouted but the doors shut before he was able to run after him. "I should have slapped that fool harder." Warren groaned.

"Murphy!" Garnetted called after hearing the elevator bell ding once again. The door slowly squeaked open revealing no one. Taking a step out shouting for the man. Looking either way for any sign of the zombies before calling his name a couple more times. Turning on his heel and looking back towards the group, "Warren you come with me. You guys stay here in case he comes back."

"Got it." Mack nodded his head, tightening his hold onto his gun.

"Besides, I don't think Ash is gunna leave that spot anyway." Cassandra said not letting her eyes move from the girl who had her arms pinned against the back wall of the elevator.

After Garnett and Warren left, Mack walked to the back wall the Ash was against and leaning against it. Addy's face turned as she heard the squeak of the doors start to move. Shoving her bat to jame the doors open. Something started to pull on it from the other side. Mack shoved it off of Addy before it turned its attention towards Cassandra. This was the exact reason Ash was hoping it wouldn't happen. Just for the lights to start flickering, The undead man was bouncing between the three of them. Ash felt her chest start to tighten feeling like all the air was leaving her lungs. Slowly sinking down and bawling herself up.

The lights flickered back on just long enough for the scene of Cassandra being pinned to the wall by the zombie to be shown. Ash couldn't let someone get hurt again because of her. So taking a heavy deep breath she reached down by her thigh and pulled out the small revolver that she used in case of emergencies. Pulling the trigger and as the shot rang out the lights slowly flickered back on. Cassandra pushed the now fully dead man off of her as they all watched as his body thudded to the ground.

"You okay?" Mack asked as Addy nodded her head, taking a harsh swallow, "Uh huh, nice shot." He titled his head slightly, "I didn't shoot it?" They both had matching confused expressions before their attentions turned towards Ash. The only way you could tell that she was rattled was her glossy watery eyes and her chest quickly rising and falling.

"You have a gun?"

"Knives don't always work." She replied, switching the safety back on before sliding back into her thigh holster. "Murphy was right, we need to get out of here....Don't tell him I said that."

🌁

"Is everybody okay?" Garnett asked him and Warren ran back up to them. "Ehhh.' Mack said shakely. "Anybody seen Murphy?" He asked but they all shook their heads in response, "Murphy! Murphy!"

"You don't have to shout! I'm right here." The man spoke running around the corner as he quickly shot his hand up. Seeing as all of them pointed their weapons towards him out of fright, "You don't sneak up on people in the zombie apocalypse, okay?" Garnett scold him as they all relax. "Sorry, sorry. I know where Doc is."

"Where?"

Before anyone could say a single word the elevator bell dinged once again. Each of the group pointed their weapons at the silver doors. Murphy of course cowardly hid behind Ash who had a knife in hand. Not knowing who or what was going to be on the other side of the doors. But when the doors slowly and painstakingly rolled open nothing was there.

That's when the loud growling started to come from behind the group. Quickling turning to see nothing once more. Except this time the growling was followed by loud steps. "Holy shit," Murphy cursed at the sight of the giant military now zombie coming around the corner. Very pissed off to see them.

"I'm out of ammo!" Garnett announced.

"Me too!" Warren added as the zombie kept getting closer and closer.

Mack put his gun down only to pull out a smaller one, "I got this." He started to only load the enter mag into the large zombie aiming for his head. Ash got only put aside any thoughts about the fact that the smaller gun would probably hold less bullets. Instead took out a knife with a sturdy handle knowing Mack didn't have this covered. Everything that Mack had did was only pissing him off more. He grabbed a hold of Mack by his throat pulling him up and starting to swing him around like a rag-doll.

Placing her thumb and finger into her mouth and letting out an ear piercing whistle. "Good, now that I have your attention." She took the knife and sliced her thumb, her nose scrunched up from the pain. "I probably taste way better."

He tossed Mack to the side as Addy ran to him. He let out this growl that was most blood and spit. Reaching him as both of his arms swung out towards her. Ducking under them and jamming the knife into his side. He let out a groan going for the dark brown handle but Ash's foot was already stepping onto it. Using it as a step to allow herself to reach his neck. Wrapping her left leg around his neck while her right went under his armpit as a way to stabilize herself. Taking one hand to pull his head back by his chin while she grabbed a knife and stabbed it up into his neck. But she missed the spot. He reached up grabbing her by her collar and tossing her off of him.

Sliding on her ass before kicking her thigh out and using it to push herself up to her feet. She narrowed her eyes at him as he snarled at her. Watching as he yanked the knife out from under his neck tossing it to the side followed by the one in his side. Searching his body for anything she could use to get him away. But he already charged her. Pushing her hands against his chest and using every muscle in her body to push him back. Her finger got caught on something. Having to yank her hand away, losing the power she had. Turning on her heel and kicking him as hard as she could. He stumbled backwards and down an air shaft.

Taking a few steps back feeling like she had the balance of a baby deer. Feeling like when she yanked her hand away something came with it. Looking down to see something was in fact there. A pin from a grenade. "Get down!" She shouted as she turned and dove onto the ground just as the grenade went off.

"Is everybody okay?"Garnett shouted after the dust settled.

"Yeah!"

"Sorry that one was my fault," Ash announced, letting out a small cough. Getting up and brushing off her pants. "Murphy, where was Doc again?"

"He was down that air shaft."

Ash's hearing turned into this loud ringing in her ears. Ruling as a result from the grenade. Her chest hurt, feeling like her chest was getting every air squeezed out of her lungs. She didn't kill Doc, did she? No, she liked Doc. He was kind, and sweet, and caring. He made Ash laugh with his jokes or quick remarks. A person that she would've killed to have in her life...And she killed him.

"Ash?" Cassandra asked, touching her shoulder lightly. "Yeah?" She replied, pressing her lips together. "You okay?" She asked softly. "It's the apocalypse everyone dies," She said emotionless before following the others.

"No disrespect Madam President, but you're not fit to lead a gang of kindergartners in a dirt cold war. Let alone this great nation in a moment of grave national peril like we find ourselves in now." A old man rambled as they slowly interned the makeshift conference room. The man, the General, sat the radio down and picked up a very large bazooka.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"I've been waiting for you." He stated clicking the button only for nothing to come out of the bazooka. "Ah, crap." He than repeatedly pressed the button, only still not getting anything. "Nothing works anymore. Nothing." He sat the bazooka down as they each let out a small breath of relief. "What do you people want anyway?"

"We're on a mission that just might save the human race. This man had antibodies in his blood–" Garnett started to explain as the General sat at the head of a table that had a few zombies duct taped to their chairs. Pushing Murphy forward, "--need to make a zombie vaccine. We've been tasked with getting him to a CDC lab in California. Alive. We need your helicopter."

The older man thought for a moment before speaking, "Well hell, why didn't you say so sooner? I'll fly you there myself." He then led the group up to the roof. Revealing a clearly rusted and dusty broken down helicopter. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"What is this some kind of joke?"

"Sure, she needs a little maintenance. But, with some TLC, a little help scrounging a few spare parts. I'll hake you to California in no time."

"Jackass!" Murphy shouted as he lunged forwards only for Warren to stop him. "Hey! A friend of mine died trying to get to that pile of junk!"

"You and Doc were friends?" Addy asked, confused, causing Murphy to slightly relax. "We played cards...once."

"This is war, son. We've all lost friends. Hell, everybody I ever knew is dead." Ash rolled her eyes placing her hand on her hip, "Yeah definitely not because you're pushing 200," She muttered as Murphy scoffed and added his own remark, "Yeah, why am I not surprised?" The old man took a step towards the two, "You know I don't like you?" He scoffed once more at him, "Well get in line."

"General McCandles. Sir. Thank you, but I think we'll find alternate transportation." Garnett explained civilly, clearly trying to defuse the situation. "You think I'm insane, don't you?" He asked as everyone's silence was the answer he needed, "Well maybe I am. Too much death. Too many good men sent to an early grave. Too many zombies." He spoked walking up towards the edge of the building. Two zombies came stumbling out of the helicopter, "Stand down! I got this!" The older man yelled, pulling out two pistols. "Come here you godless brain eating scum!" He started to shoot the zombies, but they both reached him, sending all three of them off the side of the building. "I'll see you in hell!"

🌁

Slowly walking back towards the truck. "What happened to Doc?" 10k asked as Ash made her way to him. Wrapping her arms around his neck trying to hide the forming tears in her eyes. "He didn't make it." Warren said softly as Ash unwrapped her arms and looked down, whipping her nose with the back of her sleeve.

"Zombies," Addy announced. "Oh, whoa, whoa." Mack muttered as Doc was on of the few to stumble out. "Oh god, is that..."

"It's Doc."

"Someone's gotta..."

"I'll do it." Warren declared as Ash turned away, not wanting to see him die again. "Steven 'Doc' Beck. I give you mercy." She heard Warren's voice say followed by a gunshot. "What the hell, Warren?! You trying to kill me?!"

"You're alive?"

"Damn straight I'm alive." Everyone started to break out in a huge smile.

"We thought you were dead."

"So did I. Some numbskull threw a grenade in the air shaft I was stuck in." He explained as Ash's hand went up. "I would be that numbskull, I am so sorry." As her hand fumbled with the tags around her neck.

"Here." Warren handed him a red rag to help clean off the black soot and dirt off of him. "Come on. Give me a kiss, baby!" He joked holding his arms out causing them all the laugh.

"Here's a song for all the lonely people out there, which is just about everybody that's left. So if you've got somebody to go through the Apocalypse with, you better watch their back. Cuz there ain't many of us left. And oh yeah, I'd like to dedicate this song to Addison Carver, wherever you are." Citizen Z spoke over the radio as the truck was back on the road once more.