3 Years Later

There was only so few big groups of people living now a-days. Most are off in their own locations and most times, they are bandits or raiders. Their strength in numbers being more than enough to help them survive through other hostiles. Be it humans or Zs.

I've never gotten around to knowing them. Devoting myself to solitude, I only found myself at the jaws of them once. My scars burning each time I thought of it.

Even now, as I watched the two leaders of the helicopter step out towards us, I can feel those same scars on my side throbbing in agony.

Nick just finished tying his hair up in a ponytail, arms outstretched and legs apart, as he widened his stance. All of his gear as at the end of his feet, almost as if he was paying tribute to them.

I couldn't help but find myself inching closer towards the edge. My fingers tethering dangerously close over the cracked concrete as my eyes flickered downwards. Would it be better to stay in this situation? Or better to risk it and be sent flying again.

"Ah, Brutus." The main authority figure asked, her stature larger than my two companions and her hair tied up in a messy ball of red. In her hand, she twirled a large bulky gun. Something that barely looked like a gun, almost as if it was handmade.

"I'm surprised to see you still up ol' girl." Nick chuckled, stepping forward only for a loud resounding shot to split the air. My eyes widening as he fell backwards, smoke coming out of his c.h.e.s.t where he was hit.

"NICK!" Jake screamed as I was sent into overdrive. My body twisting, hands pulling me up, the feeling of air already hitting my face as I propelled myself over, but it was cut short as two pangs of pain hit my lower t.h.i.g.h. Wind getting knocked out of me as I felt all energy leave me, my c.h.e.s.t slamming onto the railing as I hung there like a rag doll.

I could hear Jake screaming obscenities behind me. His heavy steps bouncing about on the roof as the woman laughed in response.

"Oh calm down with the heroics kid." She sighed and I could practically feel the anger radiating out of him.

"How do I trust you not to kill any of us?"

"You can't, but really it's a precautionary measure. Just so that you can't tell whoever you're working for what's going on. Don't need everyone figuring out where we have base at," the woman giggled as the sounds of heels click-clacked about on the roof, "Are we doing this the easy way or the hard way kiddo?"

A moment of silence passed before several more footsteps moved about behind me. My mind barely being held together, consciousness barely mine, as burly fingers dug their way into my h.i.p.s. My body being hoisted upwards and I caught sight of the heavily bearded man that was carrying me. Holding me out and giving me a glance over.

"Jesus, the hell's wrong with this one?" He mumbled as my head rolled backwards. Just in time to see the gun the woman held be shifted off to the other noticeable figure. A younger kid, maybe even a teen, who smirked. In one quick movement, Jake was thrown back as a shot directly impacted his shoulder. A silent groan of pain was all he could manage before he folded over. The teen, mouth open in a wide smile revealing the glint of a tongue piercing, shrugged as he gazed at the rest of us over.

"So this is what Brutus has been up to?" He sighed out, a nazily sort of sound, as he lazily kicked out things over.

"Watch your tone, Shuck."

"Sorry, Dare."

The woman rolled her eyes, soon beckoning the other 4 men that was accompanying her to head back into the helicopter. The sounds of heavy steps on metal made my headache split yet I could do nothing but whimper at the noise. My body soon chucked against the metal walling and my turning blank within seconds.

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No dreams came to me this time. Just shifting from one sense of consciousness to the next. Somehow not knowing when I was ushered out of the helicopter but waking up walking through halls. My body swaying back and forth as the bearded man from before kept a stiff grip on my shoulder, making sure that I didn't fall down or bonk into my surroundings.

I could barely make out the shapes in the corridors. The building seemingly without lights and at the mercy of the time to provide visuals inside. The white outlines coming from windows and closed glass doors provided large heavy shadows on each form. Several bodies moving as one amalgamate blob as we were guided about.

In one quick swoop, we turned right. The sound of heavy metal doors opening before it gave way to a candle lit room. The harsh shadows soon melting into a gentle warm glow as I was guided towards the corner. The feeling of stiff matts and the smell of rotting dust hit me as I felt around the familiar material of gym mats.

My two companions were placed in various areas around the room, the longer I stare at it the longer it felt like I was staring at some gym room. Part of me wondering just what the building is, or rather what it used to be.

A low, barreling groan brought me back to my senses as I lazily turned downwards. Jake's body beginning to writhe as he clutched at his shoulder, presumably where he was shot if I had to guess. Strings of curses and hexes streamed out of his mouth before the bearded man promptly sneered at him to shut up.

"What the f.u.c.k was that," Jake persisted, pulling his hand back and staring at the empty palm of his hand, "god I feel like I'm gonna be sick."

"You puke, you lick it up." The bearded man barked, the sound booming and causing my body to jump in response. The bulky man soon leaving the room and shutting the door in a loud thud. A familiar silence hitting the room as all became still.

Jake shifted about, pushing down his jacket and stretching the collar of his shirt to inspect his wound. Even in the dark glow of candle light I could see the purple splotches beginning to form. Whatever gun that lady used, I think her name was Dare, had some crazy radius damage. His entire shoulder holding that moldy colored bruising.

A frustrated groan left his lips as he forced himself onto his stomach, arms shaking as he tried to pull himself upwards only to fall back down. Grunting softly as he landed with a thud.

"Don't f.u.c.k.i.n.g bother." Nick wheezed out, flipping onto his back as his hands grasped his c.h.e.s.t wound. Fingers shaking as his face screwed up in slight pain. "The shit lasts for at least a couple of hours, don't move too fast. You will spill your f.u.c.k.i.n.g guts."

"What the f.u.c.k Nick!"

"What?"

Jake's head shot up, glaring at the other man who didn't so much but glance over to him. Almost as if he was oblivious to the anger steaming out of him.

"These are the guys we were supposed to meet with?!"

"Yes and?"

"You didn't think to tell us that they were crazy sons of bitches?!" Jake hissed just as the door slammed open. The familiar clacking of heels reached my ears as I lazily turned towards the door to see the woman from before. This time, I was able to take in her features.

Sharp angles and dark shadows crawled along her form. Whether it was because of her natural body stature or lack of food, she was built like a house of cards. Elegant yet one wrong move and it seemed as though she'd topple on top of herself. Clad in a fur cape and black clothing, she gave the air of someone in command. Despite her frail build.

"Thanks for the compliment kid, glad to know I'm still crazy to others." She giggled as she stood in the middle of the room. Her hands, red talons latched onto the end of each finger, rested on her boney h.i.p.s. The appendages molding into each curvature of her figure.

A short whistling tune came out of her cracked lips as she stalked towards Nick, bending over and giving him a wide eyed smile. In a flash, the glint of that large metal gun shone under the candle light. The barrel being pressed back against his flesh causing both me and Jake to yell in protest. Nick did nothing but let out a barreling laugh again, one so familiar now but it felt as if it fit in this setting. That same crazed laugh that had given us a glimpse of what he went through. Part of me wished I noticed it before, noticed just how he changed and why. But it was far too late now.

"Alright now Brutus, tell me who you work for." Dare hummed, pressing the gun closer causing a wheeze to leave him.

"Oh come on ol'girl, y'know I got blood ties to this place."

She rolled her eyes, not buying his words for a second.

"So, you're telling me you stole are top supplies of goods, left the clan in a wild hellscape of fury, hid for almost 8 months, and you still think you got blood ties with us?"

He shrugged as if what she just said was plain as day. This led to a very familiar laugh to come out, but this time from her. Her whole body shaking and eyes, usually narrowed, now wide with a dangerous sort of look coming across it.

"God you're a f.u.c.k.i.n.g cretin. Alright, fine! But what's up with the kids with you hm?"

The gun soon swung back up, shifting between me and Jake respectfully. A dry gulp made its way down my throat as Jake began to sputter out words. Some sort of combination to try and claim our innocence but that seemed to urge her on further. He begun to scramble back as she took long strides towards him, gun barely hovering away from his head. I couldn't see her face but whatever expression she was making was enough to make Jake pale.

"Don't lie to me kid. No one hangs out around a hoard unless they are part of some group. Espically when they are with that f.u.c.k over there." She hissed, pointing off to Nick who simply waved his hand in dismissal.

"Does… Does it help if you know that we first met each other like a week ago?" I said in a gurgled sort of mess. She barely gave a glance towards me. Too focused on staring down Jake, trying to break down some part of him but which part I do not know.

"I was heading to the mountains if that is of any help Dare. Got side tracked when I found some old friends, y'know how it is." Nick's statement seemed to have pulled her from her trance. Turning around slowly, she c.o.c.ked her head to the side as she stared down at him.

"The… Mountains…?" She paused before that laugh came again. This time raising in ocative, raising in bite, her mouth practically unhinging as a bubbling cackle came out of her. It's like every part of her moved in that moment. The cape flipping about, her hair swinging, in the dim light of candles I finally took notice of the multiple bone piercings that littered her skin. It was like the physics on her was multiplied by 10, each part moving about in a cartoonish manner.

It all boiled down to one very sorry look in the end.

"You still believe that something is out there Brutus?"

Nick grew quiet. His head turned away from all of us and instead, staring up at the wall and avoiding our gazes.

"So you've left to go to the mountains? Don't you remember what happened to the others huh Brutus? You left go to mountains and for what? There's no f.u.c.k.i.n.g uptopia p there. If there were, we would've seen recruiters by now, we would've heard something more than some f.u.c.k.i.n.g crazy assholes high off their asses!"

She laughed once more, this time more hollow and almost worrisome.

"How many drugs are you on Brute?"

"...Not enough…" He whispered.

She fell silent before nodding, pushing herself off from Jake and leaving promptly without another word. I glanced over at the both of them, my stomach stiring something fierce as unease began to settle in. With a sigh I found myself lying back on the mats, eyes closing.

What we get ourselves into?