Z02014

Your Friendly Neighborhood [REDACTED]

Stalker just stared at me. "So, you're telling me that there are smart ones?" He asked, I nodded. "Were." I replied. "I have so many questions." Dani looked over at Rose and I. "So that's what happened while I was distracting the biters…" Rose rested a hand on her forehead.

I looked at her and nodded. "I wish I could have kept his promise and just did it, but I had to let Knox do it for me." Dani went over and kneeled. "I think you need a hug, asshole." She grinned. I looked at Dani and hugged her. "Yup, just as I thought. You needed one." She smiled and hugged back.

"So, this Hayden guy is crazy as shit?" Andrew asked. "Yeah, I'm assuming you guys have already faced the other variants of biters. Since you guys were in the Russian military." I looked at Stalker and then at Andrew. "Yeah, we never encountered the smart ones though." Stalker scratched his beard.

Emmy held Ted close. "I think you guys are safe here, with us." Andrew looked at the two. "We will escort you guys to the safe haven, but which one?" He looked at Emmy. "The one in the city, it's a couple blocks away from the barber shop." Dak slung his bow on his back.

Annabelle looked at Dani and I. "You two have grown close while I was gone." She looked around. "No casualties on our side, nice."

"As usual, we have to check for bites." I stood up and went over to Alice. "Hey, Alice. Are you hurt?" I asked her since Evelyn moved out of the way and the biter went through our barrier. Ash patted Evelyn's head. "It's not your fault." Ash smiled and hugged her, Evelyn slightly nodded and looked at Emmy and Ted with a saddened face.

"It's about a 12 hour walk, maybe?" Andrew looked at Emmy. "Are you sure about that one?" Emmy nodded. "Yeah, I am." She smiled. Alice shook her head. "The biter didn't get me." Her cat ears twitched due to anxiety. Aria scratched her ear and went over. "Now, we only have one problem. Which is getting them to that safe haven. What if it's gone?" Aria asked.

I looked at Aria. "No, they wouldn't. They are strong." I answered. "You know them?" Aria asked, I shook my head. "No, but I know who made the safe havens happen." I stood up. Stalker clapped his hands. "Come on! We have to go; we don't have much time." He began to walk.

Jug went over to me. "That's a great story you told." He stood next to me as we began to walk. "Thanks." Ash picked up Rose and walked. "I can walk." Rose complained. "Not with that leg." Ash laughed.

I stared at the car that had the vines wrapped around the biter. "Did you kill it?" Dani asked. "Yeah, I did." I looked down. She examined my face, she could tell I was upset about killing it, which was unusual.  "Was he?" She looked back at the car. "Yeah, he was Mr. Peterson. I thought he died during the collapse, but he turned and made it all the way there." I chuckled slightly. "I'm sorry." She watched Annabelle who was up ahead. "My sister and I's past won't be able to compare to that." Dani mumbled.

I rested a hand on Dani's head, she looked up at me and smiled. "We all have our traumas." I mumbled; Dani nodded. "Glad to see you're in a better mood though. Is it because your friend is alive?" She asked, I nodded. "Yeah, I thought she was dead for so long." I sighed. "I'm sorry to intrude but… what happened to your parents and Vincent?" Dani looked around, scanning for any biter.

"My mom died within the first few months; my dad survived the first year. My mom died from being bitten and my dad lost himself. Early on we had to let Vincent go out in the wild due to his constant barking." I frowned.

"Hey, you found Rose. You can still find Vincent." She smiled; I smiled a bit. "Yeah, I guess I can still find him somehow." Dani smiled; she was glad that I was smiling. "Now that isn't a fake smile." Dani pointed at me.

Jug watched Dani and I and smiled, he was about to talk to us but Stalker stopped him. "Don't. He's beginning to be himself again; let them be." Stalker smiled, Jug looked at him and nodded. Evelyn looked at Emmy and Ted. "I'm sorry…" Evelyn looked down, Emmy looked at her. "I'm not going to forgive you easily." Evelyn nodded. "What can I do for you to forgive me?"

Emmy shrugged. "We will see." Stalker went over to Andrew. "What do we do about Rose and Cody's situation? What if Hayden does show up with his men?" Stalker asked, Andrew looked at him. "We'll kill him." Andrew coldly spoke. "He tried to kill Cody and is obsessed with Rose. Not to mention if he is willing to kill his friends, then he is willing to kill his group. Maybe even his brother." Andrew mentioned.

"What if Knox is good?" Stalker asked, Andrew looked at him and then towards the street, they were entering the city. "Well, we will have to see what he is like."

Annabelle went over to Dak. "It's a shame I couldn't cook all the food I gathered." She sighed; Dak looked at her. "Yeah, it is. But biters came, let's hope nothing else comes our way for today." Dak looked around.

Someone stood on the building, they held a sniper rifle, they had a mask on due to hiding their identity. He stared at the group of people, he then noticed two people that he recognized. "Huh?" He lowered the gun and stared at Rose and I. "Cody…? Rose…?" He mumbled to himself.

I looked up at the person. "Someone's up on the roof!" I yelled, Stalker and Andrew aimed their guns at him. He lowered his gun. "Yo shithead! It's been a while!" I looked at him. "IS THAT YOU?" My eyes widened. "Yep!" He took off his mask, his hair flowing due to the wind. "Your friendly neighbourhood Bandy!" He smiled.