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Chapter Text

September 27th, 2013

Wilbur POV

I wake up at 2 am after waiting for my father and brother, I hear some noises outside and downstairs, "Father? Techno? Are you guys home?" I go outside of my room, seeing as the place is being rummaged with the news on, "What are you guys doing?" Techno looks at me and hands me a gun, I push it away, waiting for an answer, "L-listen, Will, just- just listen to the news, please, and take it." I nod slightly, grabbing the gun, walking over to our couch. "In a statement released earlier today, officials have confirmed the emergence of a new pathogen in the area. The disease is currently unknown, and authorities have issued a warning for all residents in the affected area to take precautions to avoid contracting the infection. Symptoms of the disease include black veins, bleeding from particular areas, biting, and it is recommended that any individuals who may have come into contact with someone infected should seek isolation immediately. Authorities are working to contain the spread of the disease and ensure the safety of the public." I stare shocked as the TV goes dark from Father shutting it off. 

"Will, we need to go. Now. Get whatever you want, small things, and LETS GO!" I rush upstairs, grabbing a jacket, a special toy that was given to me, and my shoes. I stuff the toy into my pocket, running out and into our car. I see Techno come out with a bat, and more guns. He throws them into the back, then jumps into the front seat. "Dad, start the car already! We can't wait for it to reach us!" Father starts the car, not regarding for the surroundings anymore, hitting our trash. "Wait, so exactly what is happening?" I ask them as we go down the road, "I don't understand fully, but, I think people are becoming...zombies?" Techno says hesitantly, to be honest, that sounds fake, why out of nowhere, here, would zombies come? I don't even think we have a lab here. But instead of saying any of that, "How the fuck did that happen?" Phil doesn't bother to scream at me for my language as he seemed to have sworn himself on multiple occasions as we left.

We reach the road of which leads us into town, passing by the farm that we weekly visited in flames. "God...I hope Oliver is okay." Father says as he slows down to take a look at the farm, "Dad, I'm pretty sure he's fine, he has all those thingamabobs that he kept gloating about when we visited." I hope he's actually okay, we spent so much time together, taking care of the pigs, tending to the wheat...what happened? We reach town, people were running through, the cars began crashing. "Dad! Watch out, their all running. You might hit one of them." We wait for everyone to clear up before moving. "Holy-"

Techno POV

"WILL!" I scream as I see him in the car, unconscious, "WILL! PLEASE, WAKE UP!" He mumbles then opens his eyes, "What happened?" I don't bother to tell him as the truck is already behind the car, I grab a gun from the back, pulling him out as well. "Are you okay?" He tries to walk, but then falls, I notice his leg was bleeding so I rip off the belt from the car seat. "Boys, I need you to hurry, I can see them..." I nod while screams, gunshots, and loud steps are echoed throughout the town. "Now just hold on, alright?" I say in a reassuring voice to Will, wrapping the seatbelt around the wound. "Shit." He stands up, holding on to me for support, "I don't think I can make it with this leg." Rushing through my thoughts as to what to do for him, leading to two options, one, we stay in a place, waiting for everything to calm down, unsure about how long that would take, or two, we could carry him. The first one is risky, cause we have no idea about what's inside or how long we can stay inside, but the second is a little hard, as he is a little taller than me, but it's quicker then waiting.

I pick him up by his legs and back, "Techno!" He screams as I pick him up, "Well we don't have much of an option here, do we?" Dad runs in front of us, shooting those zombies. "Boys! Come on! This way!" He runs into an alley, and I try my best to run as fast as I could with Will, "Techno, just leave me, find a car, I'm sure I'll be fine." I shake my head, running towards the alley, seeing dad waiting and shooting. Wilbur suddenly reaches into his pocket, grabbing the gun and shooting right beside my ear, I feel a blood splatter on my back, "Will...did, you just kill someone?" He looks back at me, his face half-covered in blood. "It was one of them." I didn't feel right to reply so I just kept walking forward. Dad continues to walk, heading into a restaurant. "BOYS, GET INSIDE." He screams while looking behind us. I rush as fast as I could, I heard the screams, it was so...terrifying. When we got inside, I put down Will on a chair, he rubbed his leg and tried to walk. He made it a few steps before falling. 

"I'm sorry, can't you just leave me here? I promise I'll be fine." He looked up at me from the floor, grabbing onto the table, lifting himself up. "Will, you know we can't do that." I hear dad in the back, holding the door. "You can't leave each other. But you can leave me. You need to get to a safe place. Techno, take Will to the bunker, its near here, there's enough space there for you guys." I pick up Will again, helping him out the door. "What's the code again?" I stare at him, waiting for the answer, he sighed then said, "six-one-nine-nine." He continues to hold the door, allowing us enough time to reach the bunker. "Did he make it our birthday?" I nod then laugh as we continue to walk.

We reach the base after a few minutes of walking, only encountering a few people who were begging for help, "Alright so, six-one-nine-nine." I mumble while unlocking the bunker, we get down, it being harder for Will cause of his leg, "This looks like a place where he would lure people in for sex. He got lonely after Zoey left" Zoey was a girlfriend of dad, she was actually really nice, not like the ones who show in movies that they're mean or just straight up annoying, "Yeah, she made him really happy, it's sad she left. He really needs someone or something to make him happy." Will laid down on the bed that was there, and then lifted the wrap and his pants, it stopped bleeding but it didn't look good. "We need to get medical help for you. Or something to sew that." I look around the bunker, as it had 4 rooms, a storage, sleeping area, lavatory, and a kitchen. We can stay here until the infection goes away. 

I went into storage, grabbing a normal wrap, sutures, and the needed tools. "Just stay still, I've had idiotic friends who got hurt before and I was the medic." Will holds the toy I gave him, the small blue sheep I gave to him on our 9th birthday, I had a small pig keychain from him, it became my favorite animal. I start to close up the wound, I can hear him trying not to scream, but he fails miserably. After a while of him almost alerting everyone outside passing by, I finished and he was sweating. I lay down on the opposite bed beside his, "You okay?" I don't hear a reply, looking to the side, I see him asleep.

"WAKE UP! TECHNO." I hear dad's screaming, as well as Will crying, "What? Why is he crying what happened?" Both of them had blood stains on them, I look at the entrance, seeing 2 bodies, one of which was pale, as the other was military. "Father...we're going to jail because of this! Or...they could put us in a room with the one who bit him! He could've been fine! Who knows!?" Piecing together what happened, from Will's words. "Did you kill a military officer?" I looked at dad after looking at Will. "Yes. I didn't mean to but it was needed. he got bit, Techno. And it doesn't seem like there's hope for the government to save us." Considering what he said, it's true, the place looks like it's dying, I can hear faint screams right outside. "I mean, Will. Didn't you see what was outside?" He seemed offended when I said that, he rushed into the kitchen, leaving me and dad here.

"Go talk to him, I have to look if I stored some clothes here." I sigh then walk into the room as he goes into the opposite, "Will, I'm sorry, but you have to admit, dad did what he needed to do. And he has to protect us." He looked at me after staring at the shelves, "When did he get this place?" I think for a few seconds then reply, "I think he got this before we were born, when he met our mother, I think he wanted to protect her when problems came, he really prepared...I still wonder why its barely stocked." I went closer to Will, then looked down at the folded pant leg and his scar. "How do you feel? I mean you got to walk." He looks down at it, rubbing his thigh slightly, "Well it's okay, it hurts but I can bare it." He stares at the shelves again, looking at the few cans of food, some knocked over, some looked as if rotten already. "Will, here" Dad threw some clothes that were for Will, he went to the lavatory then changed. I was given clothes as well, a gray shirt and pants. I waited for Will to finish then went after him.

We spent a while just sitting and waiting, staring at the wet roof, hearing small mutters from each other. "Okay, I can't do this any longer, wait here." Dad went to the storage room again, coming out after some rummaging, "I don't wanna wait for another officer to knock, throw us into a contamination center, and then just continuously putting tests on us." He throws us 2 backpacks, it was filled with rags and alcohol, "What are we meant to do with these?" Will asked, as I wore the backpack. "I taught the both of you how to make med kits, didn't I?" He catches up on what to do with it, then waits at the ladder. "Wait, what are we gonna do? I don't believe we have enough bullets to be rid of them." I went into the kitchen, and found one of the pipes that didn't work. "Well, this'll do..." I grab it and forcefully pull it out, "Hey! If you don't wanna use your gun then this seems better for you." I hand it to him, as he takes it, he grabs the gun he uses. "This'll do just fine." Dad gets ready then we start to head up. 

By the time we went out, the bunker was surrounded with flashing lights, bloody people, feasting onto a dead body, we could see some soldiers already fighting those who were feasting. We rush over by a rock, hiding while watching what they do.  "Bravo team, be advised - we've got a full-blown outbreak going on here. I've got a clear line of sight on a group of infected, waiting for your confirmation to engage. If there are anymore civilians left in the area, escort them out, and bring them for tests. Over and out, Bravo team." Dad moves closer to them, still hiding, we crawl in the grass, hoping not to be spotted. We all stayed quiet, trying to reach the small team of soldiers for protection. We hear loud gunshots, coming from them, the screams of the infected were heard from afar.

I could feel my heart quickly pace more, it made everything feel horrible, I could see infront of me, Will was covering his ears, it was always his defense mechanism whenever everything was loud or people were fighting. We wait for what felt like a millennium but it was only a few minutes after they started shooting. Once everyone stopped screaming, Dad stood up, with his hands up, "Hello? Please, don't hurt us, we're just here for protection! Come on, stand up." I stood up as Will continued to cry on the floor, he sat up though, it was good enough for the soldier to see. "Is it only you three?" He asked as he put his gun up a little. "Yes, only us three. Me and my two sons." Will stood up properly after that was said, wiping away the tears spread across his face.

"Team, we have a man, and two kids, requesting a vehicle, Over." He began walking towards us, when I spotted an infected coming towards him, almost immediately he was bitten by the neck, the other soldiers were hidden and made their way to make an attack, we all froze as the infected walked towards us, it made moaning noises, Dad slowly walked away, signaling us to as well. I did, but Will didn't notice and froze, leaving only him in sight of the infected. "WILL MOVE-" Dad screamed as soon as it began running, Will did, he tried, he really tried. He tried grabbing the pipe I had given him but as he had suffered the same fate as the soldier, he was bitten. I froze, while the soldiers only watched, only then, only then they did something, they shot the damn thing but Will was already bit. 

Phil POV

"My fucking- shit." Will said as he saw the blood on him, "Fuck, please, don't kill me. PLEASE" He kept screaming, they didn't, but as soon as there was a car behind us he was dragged inside. Me and Techno couldn't do anything, we just watched as my son, my son, was dragged inside, I couldn't move, all everything was blurry. It didn't feel real, couldn't even feel what was happening. Is my son dead? Are one of my kids dead? I kept trying to move but it only lead to my fall, I couldn't even say his name, but I'm not letting him go, even if he has the chance to kill me, regaining my strength, I ran over to the car, pulling each of the soldiers out of the way, trying to reach Will. "Please! Don't leave me he-" He was tazed before he could finish, they pushed me aside, holding me down. I couldn't hear what they said while I focused on the car.

They continued to hold me down until the car was out of running distance, they then grabbed me by my shirt. "Get your son, and wait." I turned to see Techno was crying, he looked scared, and I was scared as well. Without hesitation, I picked him up and ran towards the woods, although I didn't hear the soldiers chase after us, I just kept running. Techno hugged me as I ran, which caused my stopping, leaning onto a tree, I hug him back, hugging him as if it was fine, trying to reassure him that Will was going to be fine and we would see him again. But I couldn't make him feel that way for long enough as I began crying as well, "He's gonna be fine, Techno. He's gonna be fine..." He cried louder, which caused my heart to hurt much more, my only instinct was to hug him again, shushing him. 

"Techno, we'll be together. No matter what, and we'll look for Will, okay?"

Techno POV

"What happened to staying together, Phil? What happened to Will?" Constantly asking that question to myself every time I wake up to that dream, looking around, I remember where I am again, this is mine and Niki's apartment, we're living in a quarantine zone now, or for short, QZ, she didn't seem to be here, or anywhere in the apartment, we didn't do much on days like this, well I would usually just read some training manuals I found while we went out, but I found a notebook in a children's room as we went out, Dear Arnie, my name is Sidney Reeds, or Sid for short, I'm 12 years old, today is July 13, 2014, my mother gave me this book after leaving to find food again, it's been long since I've had normal food, I'm grateful that she found some meat. I still wonder what's outside, and why I can't go. I hear screams when my mother comes back, she has these red stains on her clothes and it seems like she's crying. I always ask her, are you okay? And she just nods and rushes upstairs, I don't believe her, cause I keep hearing her crying and whispering while she's in her room. I want to ask her about it, but day after day she gets more closed off and it's like we aren't even mother, daughter anymore. 

Dear Arnie, the page had stains which seemed like dried tears, today is July 20, 2014, some men in dark clothes were outside, they broke into our house and hurt my mother, she didn't wake up after a few hours and I started to get hungry, so I left, there were people hunched back, I hid behind some barrels cause my mother said if she ever looked like one of them, hide. I found some chips and a can of...cat food. It has food so I might as well had taken it. Mother woke up when I got back, she continued to cry when she learned that I went out, I gave her the food and she thanked me but told me never to go out. The door opens to Niki mumbling as she holds something, "Where did you go so early?" She continues to mumble, ignoring me, "Niki? What happened to your head?" I went to grab the med kit that was in our bathroom, till she handed a new one to me. "Jack screwed us."We lent some weapons from Jack Manifold a few weeks ago and we were meant to get it today, apparently he stole from us. 

Niki continued to ramble about what she's gonna do to him when we find him, "Alright, your gash is now covered." She stood up and dragged me outside, "C'Mon, Pink, let's go." She constantly called me pink cause I chose to dye my hair pink a while back, she wouldn't stop teasing me after it came out lighter than I wanted, although, it wasn't that bad. She let go of my wrist when we reach the stairs then starts talking, "First, we gotta find Jack, even if he's honest Techno, fuck him up." It's been a while since we had a good beating, I was getting bored of just reading random diaries or comics I found around hotels or houses. After reaching outside, Niki continued to walk to the gate, slightly greeting some guards or bystanders. Why make relationships with those who are gonna die anyway? Some guards had a few escapees and Creepers tied against a wall, of course their natural instinct was to shoot them instead of getting information. Everyday I went out another died, I thought they were going to save people? "Why are you going out?" The guard infront of the gate questioned Niki, "Just checking on our friend." He opened the gate to an explosive vehicle, "Everyone get back inside! Now!" 

Niki hit the wall as we entered another building, "Guess we're going the longer way." I continue to follow her, going through the normal route we went whenever it was hard to go out. Niki was having a conversation with a random guy in the hall, asking if whether or not the passageway was still okay, she patted his shoulder then we went through some stairs going down. "Pink, help. Push the other side." I went over to the right side of a cabinet, pushing it so we could make it through. "Always delightful to go through here." Niki chuckled as I joked, "Get your things." I grab the dingy backpack, the Pistol, and a painted gas mask. "Did you draw on this?" She nodded smiling. "Cute." I stuffed it into the bag and we made our way out of the QZ.

"Fresh air...no military or gas..." I had to admit, I always enjoyed going out, what I would give just to stay outside without needing to see blood. Just me and everything. "Everything is so overgrown..." Well she was right about that, anything could blend in here, which is why we had a small door for us to get into the building towards Jack's area. "Mask on, apparently spores found its way into here." Niki goes in first as she was quicker with her mask, I follow after her, turning on my shoulder light, "Infected. I'll take the one who's in the corner, you take the one who's having a feast." We both nod while looking at each other, we move over to the infected as we crawl. I grab it in a chokehold, waiting for it to choke, it's bloody hands kept rubbing onto my arms and mask, causing vision problems and the feeling of blood on your skin. It died then Niki continued walking towards the light, "Got a rag? Or anything to wipe this, I can barely see." She threw a rag from the floor and continued walking, good enough I guess. While we walk, we get outside again. We both remove the suffocating masks, taking in the sweet air of nature. "Enjoy your last minutes of air, we're going back into the city after this." 

It's been half an hour of just walking around the city, avoiding some soldiers and cars. We reach this area that I suspect only Niki knows, everyone stared at me as they flocked to Niki, although I didn't care, it was still annoying, there's this bus pathway, and a guy sitting by the exit, "And who are you?" He stood up, towering over me, only staring, he continued to block the path out, "He's with me." He shrunk when he discovered I was with Niki, she has a reputation around these places as one of the biggest smugglers, even if I do most of the brutality, she is the only reason we earn so much. I waited for her while she talked with a woman standing guard by another gate, paying her some ration cards. We're let through, being watched. She stops and I observe what she is staring at, it was Jack and his guys, he leaves then we get closer, hiding behind a convenient box. 

He leaves two of his men behind to keep watch, giving us the chance to execute them. They got closer to us, talking as they walked, mostly about The Creepers and if they'll win or not, they turned their backs and sat down on another box, it gave us the ability to get to them without being seen. "The fuck is wrong with you? Why the fuck would FEDRA win? Boston is literally the only fucking place in America that is actually intact. After Creepers blew every other QZ up, I bet they win." The two continued to scream at each other to the point they already prepare themself to die and hung a sign saying "Kill Us Now" it was easy to take them out cause they didn't even notice who hit them. We stood up after crouching to get to them, "Who do you think'll win?" She looked at me, wondering, "Creepers, the QZ's are gonna get knocked down eventually." We eventually reached a dock, it was flooded with random guys of Jack. "Techno, wanna let out the Blood God?" Out of everything people have called me, Blood God had to be my favorite, "Bring out the man who killed 30 people." 

Niki POV

Smirking while sitting on a vent, watching Pink slowly walk down with a crowbar we found, I could see it again, that majestic day that murder wasn't horrible, it was beautiful. He went on a rampage down there, he killed them one by one, grabbing the guns from their hands, their screams that could be heard from miles away. The amount of blood pools that were being made cause of the countless shots that Techno made to their body. Truly...majestic... he found one of the biggest guys there, it was ruthless, the amount of blood that came out after he shot his head to bits, him clawing the living fucking hell out of the guy. I could see he went back to normal after that, he wiped his face and his arms, tying his stained hair, I applauded his performance, as he bowed in return. "Bravo, Pink." The guy beside him was gushing blood, "Thank you. " He chuckled then stole the upgraded axe from the guys hand, "This, this is gonna work." He held onto the axe as we walked towards Jack's office. 

"Holy shit. Get the fuck away from me!" Jack screamed at us after going out, he began shooting his Pistol at us, but failed miserably to hit. He ran after the bullets had been emptied, Techno seemed to have came back, he ran after him, I followed, watching as Jack did his hardest, running through the halls, breaking glass for shortcuts, till he was cornered. "N-niki- we can talk about this?- r-right?" He went further into the corner, slowly slinking towards the ground, "You should ask my partner, who had been expecting for some new weapons." Techno was absorbed in bloodlust, "Where are our weapons?" I asked him, crouching down, he was sweaty and had no true answer to my question. "Manifold. Answer the fucking question before we run out of patience." He stayed silent, Techno cut off his arm, without hesitation, "Shit. What the fuck is wrong with YOU MOTHERFUCKER, Fine! I'll tell you what I fucking did, I sold the shit to Sam, I made a deal as-" He holds the remain of his arm in agony, trying to finish his sentence, "As well with them, I- I didn't think. I'm sorry. I can get it back if you'd like! I just need to wrap this and-" I shot him with the gun I grabbed from my holster, "Sam. Alright. King of The Creepers." His blood spilled out, leaving Techno satisfied, I as well. He put the bloodied axe into a section of his backpack, getting ready for more.

Chapter Text

Techno POV

"Well, now what, Niki? What the hell are we meant to do about it?" Niki looks at Jack, then back at me after a few seconds, "We go get our weapons back." I pondered on that sentence, how are we meant to get weapons from The Creepers, "How are we gonna do that?" She leaned against a wall then sighed, I leaned against the window Jack jumped out of, waiting for Niki to make her response, "I- I don't know, we- I guess we just have to find out a way to do it? Let's, just look for one of them, hm?" We both were about to walk when a familiar face had shown, "Don't need to move, I'm right here." Sam had a shot in his stomach, he was holding it, applying pressure for as long as he could, "Why are you guys here?" It seemed he wasn't there for long, he must've only heard the part of which Niki had said, "Business, what happened to you?" He looked down on it, removing his hand for a quick second, "Where's Jack?" Niki moved from in front of him, revealing his dead body, "I needed him alive, y'know? Well..." I sat on the window once more, observing the two, acting as a background character in a movie, "The guns he gave to you, were not his, we had it first. I want them back." He moved closer to us, leaning against the wall for support, "It doesn't work like that-"

"As if it doesn't." Sam stayed still, only wincing when he moved his hand, "If you want them back, then you need to earn them." Niki sighed, rubbing her head, she knew what she had to loose to get it back, "How many cards are needed for them back?" He chuckled at it, we're getting these the hard way, damn it. "I couldn't care less about those fucking ration cards. I need someon- something smuggled out of the city. If you are able to do that, then I'll give you double of the guns." Niki stayed silent, it was my turn to talk, I walked over to him, I was ready to grab the axe if anything was needed, "How are we supposed to trust that you have them? We heard some news, the government is taking your guys' groups one by one." He stood straight, nodding at what I said, "I'll show you the weapons, if you see it, will you trust me?" We heard a radio static followed by some voices, "Search the area." Sam toughened, he stepped back then looked at us, giving that look of What's your decision? "I wanna see those guns, Sam." He nodded then we began running to some stairs. "We have to get out of here, now, before any of them find us." I continued to hear voices behind me, they were screaming as they saw the bloody massacre, "Get a move on if you want this deal!"

We made it up to the roof, an explosion was heard in the distance, "Holy- Was that yours?" He sighed then jumped off onto another roof, "What's left of them...why do you think I'm turning to you guys? Just keep following me." We jumped off after him, "So, why now?" I ask as he descends to the highest floor of the building, "We've been planning on leaving, but they need a scapegoat, they've been trying to rile us up." He entered the place, leaning against a box for support again, "It seems like they did." He stood up, his wound bleeding more, he began looking pale, "We're-...trying to defend ourselves." He walked up to a metal covering, asking for help as it was too heavy for one hand, "How is it? You need something to cover it?" Niki asked while she followed me down the stairs, "Eh, I'll live. Don't worry." We continued to walk through the building connected to the bridge, stopping by a large crate, "Wait, there's soldiers. The door under the bridge, that's the way out." He walked back a bit, leaning again, getting paler, "Sam, I really don't trust these odds." 

"We can sneak by them, it's risky but we can do it, I know you're not a big fan of hiding but from my state, I don't think we have much of a choice here." He moved back, hiding behind the lined up items, crouching as he walks, "We need to get to that door." I looked at the small door underneath the bridge, it had a large space leading to our death, we had no choice but to enter where the military was, we go up, only to immediately see 2 soldiers, watching over the area on which we have to cross, "Niki, you take the guy on the east, I'll take the other." She looked at me pissed as I used east and west to talk, but she went either way, we were noticed by the ones surrounding, they began shooting while Sam made his way, hidden, as we had to deal with the soldiers, there were about a dozen guards, they rushed to hit us, I grabbed the axe from my backpack, and Niki with her gun. We both ran opposite ways, I hit a soldier in the head, the axe stuck, able to pull it out, a string of blood came out, my vision went red, only the enemies were targeted, I sprinted with no problem, jumping onto a crate, hitting two guards, bashing their heads together, a loud crack could be heard as they both expired. 

I ran towards another, using the gun, shooting them but failing for a headshot, he sprinted to me, punching my face, pain was felt everywhere, but I fought back, tears came as well as blood, but I didn't bother, he tried pushing me off him, but was unsuccessful, he died shortly after, Niki was being attacked by a bigger man, I moved on from the man, running to the guy holding Niki by her neck, I shot him, head on. "Fuck..." She rubbed her throat as there were read hand marks wrapped around, there were a few left but they had flee, Sam came out of hiding, "Not far now, I'm gonna ignore what happened cause I myself am bleeding." He ran down the stairs that lead to the door, I held it open, then they pushed a cabinet to block it, I noticed again the amount of blood coming out of my nose, grabbing a kit in my backpack, I grabbed the cloth and blocked the bleed. "Where are we going, Sam?" He sat down on a crate, he looked worse, he began limping his way towards another door, "I'm saying this for the last time, you do not look well, and you should really do something about that." He went through a door, ignoring Niki's words, "The place is right up ahead."

An intercom began speaking, "Attention, curfew is now full affect, anyone caught outside without proper authorization, will be arrested and prosecuted." We went into another building, it was a basement, "What are we smuggling? Cause we seem to be doing a lot to just get to it." He lead the way upstairs, only for us to be jumped by a child, "Get the fuck away from him, assholes!" A blonde child had jumped on my back with a switchblade, "Get your fucking hands off of him!" As he was about to stab me, I threw him to the ground, holding his knife by my foot. Niki had held him still, as Sam collapsed to the ground, "Let him go." He had fully lied down on the ground, giving up on trying to sit, he seemed too young to be a creeper, so I suspected something else, "You have a kid?" Niki asked as she let him go, I didn't remove my foot from his knife, "He's not mine." He tried to sit by a crate, moving slowly, the child had ran pass me, helping Sam to the crate. "Shit, what the fuck happened to you!?" Sam was able to sit, with his assistance, "Don't worry, this is fine...I got us help, but I can't come with you." He looked at Sam angrily, "Well then I'm staying" I let go of the knife, he grabbed it as soon as he heard, "Tommy, we won't get another chance at this, just go with them." I realize what we were smuggling, as Niki did as well, I step into their conversation cause if we took this then it would be a first, "We're going to be smuggling this child?" 

"There's a group of Creepers at the Capitol building." Niki stepped in as well, "That isn't exactly close." From what she said it seemed she already accepted smuggling a child, "You're capable of doing this, look at me! You just need to hand him off, come back, then the weapons are yours, easy, right?" I leaned against a wall, pissed off at what we could possibly be agreeing to, "Speaking of the weapons, where are they?" I crossed my arms, staring at the kid, "Their back at our camp. You will get it if you smuggle him." Tommy stepped back from the conversation, his hands shaking, while he did, "We aren't doing anything till I see them." Sam looked at both of us, I didn't know if whether or not we could trust he actually had the guns, what if he was just making us smuggle him, then killed us? "You'll follow me. You can verify the weapons, and I can get patched up. But he is staying here. I want Techno to watch over him." Tommy barged into the conversation again, the both of us speaking over one another, "Bullshit! I'm not staying with this guy!" "I don't think that's a good idea, Sam." He silenced us both, talking to him first, "Tommy. Just go with him." I mean, I wouldn't trust me either if I was him, "How do you know them?"

"I was working with his father, Phil. Said if I was ever in a jam, I could rely on him." The name of my dad just angered me, he left me, and the thought of Will living, "Was that before or after he joined your little group?" I didn't enjoy having him brought up as it brought back too much memories of what I believed and trusted in, "He was a good man." Niki talked me down, before I got mad, "Just take him to the North tunnel, and wait for me there, alright?" I mumbled a little, making her mad, "He's just someone to smuggle, Techno!" I stepped back to the wall I was leaned against before Sam suggested, just as Tommy was meant to speak, he was cut, "No more talking, you will be fine with him, I'm not going to leave you with someone I don't trust." He stood up, struggling, I then looked at Niki, who was paying attention to them, "Don't take long, and you, stay close to me. Got it?" He nodded while rolling his eyes, we left Niki and Sam to talk. I brought him with me. He had his arms crossed, avoiding eye contact with me, we walked forward to see a few bodies of Creepers mixed with military, "Holy shit! I heard all the shooting and screaming but...what happened?" I walked forward and he followed me, I was wary not to step over the bodies, "The...creepers and military, same things gonna happen to us if we don't move."

"You're the pro, just following you. I heard your name was Techno?" It's been awhile since I made introductions, I just met someone new and thought, I'll let Niki introduce me, "My names Alex Watson, I go by Technoblade but most shortened it to Techno." We went down some stairs as an intercom spoke over Tommy, "Attention. Harboring or aiding wanted criminals, is punishable by death, do not put yourself at risk. Report any suspicious activity immediately." The car that was blasting the intercom drove by, "Well as I was rudely interrupted, my name is Tom Simons, you can call me Tommy. But I'd like to go by Big Man." the name was childish, but it's expected from someone who looks as young as he does. We went down a small tunnel, leading to a crevasse going to the building of which Niki requested me to keep this kid. The intercom repeated what it said, apparently the military knew about Sam, we're really taking this deal. The ladder we had usually went up was destroyed, by what I expect to be military or someone just removed it, "Tom, can you help me push-" He was distracted by something in the grass, it was a small flower, the only thing in this entire place that had color.

The intercom was blasting the same message over and over again, "Tom?" He jumps at the sound of my voice after looking at the flower, "Yep! What is North Tunnel exactly?" He ran towards the garbage bin, helping me push it towards the broken ladder, "Get up." We were lead towards the stairs to the room, he followed me quietly, but it looked like he had something to say, just didn't know how to phrase it, he was also looking at the sunset, the kid was really deprived. We were almost to the room till he asked me, "So this tunnel, you use this to smuggle things? Like guns and shit?" I nodded at his question, not having the energy to reply with words, I don't enjoy talking as much as I did before, actually, I didn't enjoy talking even before. I just wanted to observe, I was only loud or talkative with Phil or...Will. He asked more questions about my line of work, most were basically the same but it was just rephrased, but one was related to our current situation, "Have you ever smuggled a kid before?" He stopped moving, which caused me looking back, "Nope, that's definitely a first." I continued to walk towards the room, I decided to ask my question I've been thinking of since awhile ago, "What's the deal between you and Sam?" We passed through a hallway made of glass, he stared out as he answered, "We're friends, sort of? He's like my guardian I guess."

"You're friend? Friends with the leader of the creepers? How old are you? Like 11?" We were about 5 rooms away from ours, he was looking at each, "My mum knew him, they were close friends, he was made to take care of me when she died. And, you fuck, I'm 15" We were at the room already, I sat on the couch and continued to talk to him, "So, you just said, I hate school so I'm gonna go join a group of people who bomb the city I was born in. Did I get it right?" He sat on the stool by the wall, looking at me annoyed, "Listen, Technoblade, I'm not supposed to tell you why you have the pleasure of smuggling me, if that's what your getting at." He leaned against the wall, looking at me as if he was threatening, "Listen, child. The best part of my job, I don't need to care about what I'm smuggling. To be honest with you, I couldn't care less about you or what you're doing, as long as you reach it, and whatever is needed from you is fine, then I do not care." He stayed silent afterwards, I grabbed the notebook from my bag, skimming through pages of boring. Till one caught my eye, it was splattered with dry blood, tears, and stains. Dear Arnie, it's been a while since I've written in this. I'm 24, if I remember correctly, the last time I wrote here was 2024, 2 years ago, well, on that page, I wrote I had a kid, her name was Bea. She was killed today. I could've protected her from his blonde-headed fuck, Mr. Za, I will get you, and I will kill you for hurting my family. He killed my mother, boyfriend, and daughter, apparently my boyfriend did something to this group, creepers? We haven't been interacting with anyone with the military, this fucking asshole just killed my family and left me so I had to sit with all this fucking guilt. But guess what, Za? I am going to chase you fucking down till you are nothing but a pile of flesh. There was nothing left afterwards, although, there was a drawing, a very descriptive drawing of a blonde man, long hair, and a  mask with some drawings on it. "Whatcha readin' there, Blade? Or writing? The pink matches you." He peeked at the notebook of which I stuffed into my bag, "These are my things, don't touch it, don't try to use it, don't do anything with it. Got that?" He raised his hands up, going back to the stool. I laid down, fixing the pillow, closing my eyes. "The fuck are you doing?" I could feel him staring at me, "Killing time, don't bother me." He mumbled loudly, but I ignored him, trying to get some sleep after last night. "That's a cute pig, but it's stained." I fell asleep while he said that, rubbing the said pig for comfort. 

I woke up to it being darker and Tom looking at me, "You talk in your sleep, a lot. Had a bad dream?" Sitting up straight, rubbing my eyes, sighing, "Yep." He was by a window, he seemed to have moved the other chair towards the window, it was pouring heavily. "You know? I've never actually been outside, the fact I am so fucking close to it is unbelievable." I went towards a battery powered light, turning it on. "You should bring that, it's way probably way worse outside." He looked back outside, I felt tired even if I woke up, the world felt like it wanted to drag me back to hell. I just wanted to melt and never be here, trying to get my energy back I asked Tom a question we already established. "What do they want from you?" Niki came in, she apologized for being late, then came towards us, "There was a fuckload of guards." Tom forgot about the question, going back to Sam, "How is he?" She seemed as if she was in a rush, "He's fine, I saw it, there's a lot. Wanna do this?" She was jumping a little, excited by the weapons. "Fine." She went towards the other door on the left side of the room, "Let's go then!" I followed her, letting Tom pass first, going behind the both of them. I picked up a paper, it had some writings of trades between us and Schlatt. I scanned through it, seeing as most was completed. I followed them after leaving it on the table.

Niki was looking outside, not paying attention to anything else but the guards. "Niki, don't you think, it's just weird why they're having us do the smuggling? Sam's fine already, why can't he do it?" She looked at me, seeing if Tom could hear us, "Sam would do it if he could. We weren't their first choice, nor second, we weren't even in the top five. He's lost a lot of friends and people, beggars can't be choosers." I looked out as well, seeing the mass amounts of guards at the exit. "Well, let's just hope someone is alive by the time we're there." She left, moving the bookshelf to a hole in the wall used by us to get out. We stood at an elevator, I started it, leading us down. "Who's waiting for us?" As we descended, me and Niki were talking about the handoff. "Boy must be important. What is the deal with you? Some big guys son or something?" She looked at him as she said, he went farther from us, leaning against the railing. "Something like that, but I'm better. How long is this gonna take? I have many urgent matters to attend to, such as my women." She laughed while she heard him say that, "Well, first, if everything goes according to plan, we should get there in a few hours, and secondly, the only friends you have are men. Tommy, I know you haven't been out, so when we are out there, I need you to follow us, and never leave or get distracted, alright?" He nodded while looking at her, "Good."

We went through a small tunnel, crawling through. We went to the ladder that brought us closer outside, I went first, looking around for soldiers, there was, "Stay there, patrol." I waited as they left, giving them a signal we can go out, holding the cover to the cave. "Tommy, remember, follow us. Alright? Don't get nervous, we're right here." We went out to the bombed land, jumping down to the wet floor, rain landed on each of us, as we walked. "This rain isn't gonna help." Tom looked up at the sky, in awe, although he didn't stop, he slowed down. "Holy fucking shit. I'm outside." We went up towards a broken path, it lead us up outwards. Only to be hit in the head by a soldier, Niki went out after, putting her hands up, the child went out, doing the same. Slowly shaking, I was held on the floor by another guard.

"Don't do anything stupid. Turn around, on your knees." I was let go, being forced to kneel, putting my hands behind my head, "You scan them, I'll call it in." She held the radio to her mouth, "This is Queen, at Sector Twelve, requesting pickup for three stragglers." The reply was another woman, "Understood." The soldier went to Niki first, putting the scanner to her neck. "Clear." Tom began shaking further, he was worried about something. He went to me next, saying bluntly, "I'm getting tired of these fucks getting out. Clear" He went to him next, he was worried. Shaking more as the scanner went to his neck. "What's the ETA?" 

"Just a few minutes." Tom was swearing as much as he could, he quickly reached into his pocket, stabbing the soldier in the leg. Niki took the chance and took out her gun, I ran head-on towards the guy, as he tried shooting, his partner was being dealt with by Niki, she shot both him and her, as I held him down. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck." He said, curling up into a ball, looking down, "Techno, look at this." She threw the scanner towards me, the scanner was blinking danger after it scanned him. "It's not what you think!" He tried grabbing the scanner, but I threw him to the ground. "Sam set us up? Why the hell are we smuggling an infected boy?" He tried explaining himself, but didn't get a single word out, only making random movements with his hands.

"I can explain! I'm not infected!" Niki held her gun to him, "I'm being generous, you better fucking explain why that scanner says your infected." He lifted his sleeve, revealing a bite mark. "Look at this! This is three fucking weeks old. And most turn within a day or two." Niki didn't put the gun down, I doubted him as well, everyone turns within 2 days, no way in hell anyone survives that. "Stop lying. Everyone turns. No matter what." He stood up properly, showing the bite more, "It's three weeks old, I'm not fucking lying. Why would he set you up?" Niki put her gun down, looking at me, "I'm not buying it. It's a bite mark for Pete's sake!" The car that was meant to come arrived, we were gonna fight later. But for now we had to run. "Niki, run." Leaving immediately, the truck chased us, we were chased into a hole, it continued to follow. Forcing us into the darker parts of the hole, soldiers were heard screaming about the dead ones, we stayed silent, pressed against the wall. The truck went the other way, we didn't waste much time, going under a metal item, holding our weapons. Niki was in front, the lights were roaming around, looking for stragglers such as us, "When I give the signal, we run." I knew the signal well and good, it wasn't smart or good. "Go!" We rushed to a car, hiding behind it as guards began swarming in. We ran to another hole, the truck that was once following us made an appearance again, the lights became more, guards were in the hole, looking for specifically us. "Watch out for the light."

Niki ran first, professionally dodging the lights, she waited for us at the other end, "Can you do this?" He shook his head quickly, "Alright, I still don't believe you, but follow me. Alright? Go in all the same steps I go in." He nodded, still shaking, I ran quickly towards the went, jumping over it, he followed quickly, avoiding the light, barely. We reached Niki, she was crouched behind a box, "It's gonna be another sprint, you still got it?" He nodded, softening up. She went first, running to a hole in the wall, leading us to a deeper hole. "Soldiers, step back." Two of them were patrolling from up and down, "I know, I see them. Stay down, don't let them see you." I went ahead, having my pistol aimed at him. "Three, two...one..." I shot him, he fell to the ground, suspending the light. "Boom. Go." We all ran, doing our best to avoid the lights and the soldiers who heard the gunshot. We ran through a multitude of tunnels, each one having its own guard protecting it. After all that, we were in a broken home, having bricks scattered everywhere. A soldier who caught up to us ran directly behind me, having me in a chokehold, Tom jumped onto him, puncturing him, "Take that bitch!" I tackled him, choking him, taking the switchblade of Tom, I be rid of his air, cutting through his throat, I gave it back, he wiped it on his pants. We then crept to another house, it having less soldiers seen, there was a garage and something to pull it up, "We can get through here." I began pulling it, giving them enough space to get through, Niki held the garage door up, letting me pass through, I helped her lower it without making a loud bang through, alerting the soldiers. 

We were in the destroyed city, littered with soldiers, we ran to each car and truck for cover, not being spotted, we went into another broken house, a soldier very close to us. "Oh, shit. There's some in here with us. See if you can distract them." I threw the brick that was in my bag, hopefully they were distracted by the noise, the soldier saw where it came from, spotting us, alerting the others. "Tom, stay here. Pink? Are you ready?" Grabbing the axe, and my pistol, we both ran into the swarm, I always had a hatred for this military, it didn't mean I sided with the creepers either, they're basically their own government by now. The entire place was swarming towards us, had bloody knuckles already, multiple people with a broken nose and gunshot to their head, blood on my face again, blood coming out of my head and any where they were able to hit me. I'm not done... Wiping off the blood coming from my nose, only a few left showed, my gun was empty, and Niki was getting worn out, we had no choice but to run, we went through a back portion of a truck.

Running into another hole, "You got an idea where?" She looked around after patching herself up, "I- I don't know, it's all so different." I looked around, spotting a tunnel with water and light coming out, we were in another basement, it was more worn out, debris was collecting by each corner. "At least we're out of the rain." There was stairs leading to a destroyed living room, Tommy curled up against the wall. "Can we get one fucking moment of rest? I just witnessed a massacre." He took a few breaths before standing up and looking around for an exit. "I think we can squeeze through here." We were in another hole, soldiers appeared again, "These fucks again?!" We began walking through, hugging the walls, even if it was dirt mixed with pipes, "Stay in the shadows." It was dark, they didn't see us, we walked through quietly. It was a room, a room filled with random things, "Look around if there's anything we can use." 

"Yes, boss!" There were duct tape, some scissors, and weapon parts. Leaving, there was this make-shift passageway, a bunch of sticks holding up the roof, some metal plates stuck to the wall and roof. "I think we can make it through here." It was a mucky tunnel, moss was dripping from the roof, sewage was invading my shoes. In front of us was a gate to downtown, I opened it, and we were finally outside, a few steps closer to delivering this kid. I don't know what we are supposed to do after it though, we've been spotted already, we can't go back anymore, we're stuck out here, maybe...just maybe...I could find Phil. Tom sat down on the rocks, breathing heavily, "What was the plan? We deliver you to the creepers then what?" He was remembering what their conversation was, "Sam, said they had this little like QZ of their own? With doctors, that could develop a cure, with this immunity of mine" He rubbed the spot where the bite mark was, looking down, "We heard that before, remember? Developing a cure! Well we're still dealing with this."

"He said that, whatever happened to me, could be the key to the vaccine or cure." Vaccine? Really? I've been waiting for that, needed a laugh today, "Really?" I laughed slightly at the thought of it, "It's what he said." He stood up, looking at me, "Oh, I'm sure he said that." He pushed me back, I wasn't gonna fight a 15 year old, I mean...I could. But nevermind. "Fuck you Technoblade. I didn't ask for this shit." He looked ready to grab his switchblade, he had his hand on his pocket, "Niki, what are we doing here?" I ignored him, looking directly at Niki who was the lead of this situation, "What if it's true?" Stepping back, in absolute disbelief of what she was considering, immunity? Lies. No one is. "What if? I mean, we've gone so far, and I don't believe we can go back anymore! We've been seen, and they know where we live. There's no point anymore." I sat down, processing everything, those things may not infect Tom, but it can infect us. And how is he immune? How do any of us know if we might be the same as him? "Do I need to remind you of what is out there?" She palmed her forehead, thinking of what to say or do. "I get it." Tom followed her, his hands on his waist, staring me down. 

They left me by the sewers, I didn't have a choice. Following them further into downtown, "This way, if we cut through here, we'll get to the capitol building by sunrise." I stayed silent, watching them as they walked, we went up the debris of the city, making us slip, but we made it up, as soon as we got there, two buildings were collapsed onto each other, allowing to fall at any given moment. "Holy shit! I guess this is what those buildings look like up close. This is how fuckin tall buildings were in your time? What happened here?" This kid is loud as hell. Wish I could duct tape his mouth, but I need the supplies. "They bombed the hell out of this place, hoping to kill any infected." The sounds of clickers were heard from a far, "It's far...I hope.." We went up through more debris of the city, revealing a much deeper hole, through the parking garages, it was too dangerous to move through. In the distance the Capitol Building could be seen, only a few hours till we reach it and get this over with.

After God knows how much walking and infected we encountered, we reached a broken down supermarket, Niki gave me some molotovs, time for burning, it wasn't my style, but it was effective. I used a brick to lure them all closer, they all went, making noises that made me shiver, when all of them stopped moving, I threw the lit molotov, allowing them to die in flames. We waited for the fire to die down, walking through the store, gathering items. The exit was covered, but there was a ladder that was reachable, I went into a stance of which Niki could reach the ladder, pulling it down. We climbed up, making it through another hole in the wall that conveniently allowed us passed the blocked exit. It was connected to a subway that had some things set up like a person was living here. "Everyone okay?" No one got bit or hurt by them?" I asked as we were briefly separated while walking, "Yes, let's keep going." The people that were there were all dead, some had papers, some had guns attached to them, and most of them had an entirely eaten out stomach. There was a map laying around, having instructions and pathways, Meet up with the second Creeper group at capitol building, BOY: Blonde hair, 5'3, 15 years old. Seems like Tommy was already famous. "You guys are good at this. You sure you haven't smuggled a human before?"

"It's called luck. And it's gonna run out soon. Very soon." Niki stayed quiet, occasionally rubbing herself, we were back in the city after climbing, everything was destroyed, the city I had once visited was so destroyed I could barely tell which was which, "Uh...the buildings this way." We went right, towards the amount of cars stacked up on each other, I looked around for anything to help us get over the cars, Niki and Tom were also looking around the buildings, there were infected in the other, causing us to use are almost empty guns again. Sneaking up to one from behind, I hold it in a chokehold as there was another beside it, as soon as it was dead, I went for the other, using the axe for it instead, not wanting to cause an echo throughout the building that possibly have more. The building we entered was a hotel, having more infected through the other floors, "They look like the ones who bit me, runners? Is that what their called?" 

"They've recently been infected." There was a large drawer, prompted onto a hand truck, "Which means there are more, we gotta keep going, no time for chitchat." We pushed it out, putting it beside the stacked cars, hoping to get over. There was another garage door on the other side, and the path forward was blocked, we had only one way, through the garage. "Shh...shh. Can't you hear them?" A group of clickers and runners were heard coming over, Niki made me rush pulling the chains to lift the door. The infected began banging on the door as soon as I got in, their hitting only getting stronger each time, the two were talking about this, "immunity" thing, I still don't believe it, but if it works then add me in the credits. After a few rooms connected to each other, we made it to what looked like a museum, Niki confirmed it not short after. It was overgrown, hearing slight clicking coming from both up and down, this place was dangerous, "Let's hurry to get out." We kept walking through the museum, avoiding the holes of which clickers and runners could be seen at the bottom. There was a small area, it had wood blocking the exit, I held it up, waiting for the two to pass through and hold the wood themselves, so I may pass. There was a slight error in our movement, causing a loud noise, making everything collapse. 

Clickers began chasing the two as soon as they heard the noises. I was stranded behind the planks, watching as they ran away. The hole was close to collapsing with all the movement, I left it, looking around if there was any other door to be used. There was a door covered by movable planks, I slowly removed it, placing the planks on the floor lightly as to not make any sudden sounds, as soon as the door had been closed, I went through. "Niki." Whispering as I said her name, the clickers that followed them came back closer to me, they may just be clickers, but they are dangerous, they use echolocation, the slightest sound that is made, will make them immediately turn to you and run, melee weapons are effective, but their protection causes the thing to break. The best solution to defeating these, is a shiv. They kept moving around the entire museum second floor, their sounds always terrified me, it was so freaking creepy, although I defeated a lot of them before,  no matter what, they'll always scare me. 

As I looked around at the old, still intact, artifacts, a clicker jump scared me, making me use one of my shivs. It's remaining blood had left stains on my shirt, I need a good clean after this, or change. Doesn't really matter. All that mattered was those two, mostly Niki. Two of the clickers were in the same proximity as each other, grabbing the last Molotov I had in my bag, I lit it, then threw a brick in the middle of them, they ran towards it, looking around, occasionally hitting air, throwing the bottle, they were engulfed in flames. Screaming was echoed through the entire place, but it was silent after...I could go look for them, there was a door leading to a staircase, which I hope that they went up, "Niki!? Tom!" No one was heard, but really faint screams were heard at the end of a hallway. Niki was being held down at the neck by an infected, I shot the thing, letting her go. "I'm fine, don't worry." She showed her neck which only had stains of blood from the infected trying to bite her. 

A relief was felt all around, but Tom screamed, "GUYS FUCKING HELP ME IF I FUCKING DIE- GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME" He kept grunting after each time he used his switchblade, "TOOK YOU FUCKING LONG ENOUGH" I threw the runner on the ground, demolishing its head, multiple kept coming. "Get ready for another fight." Niki had a plank in her hands, I with my axe, and Tom with his switchblade, good enough. They began screaming while rushing towards us, my hair was tied up, and my axe was ready for more. Two came after me and Niki, she took care of hers with swift moves, as I impaled mine on a replica of a ship from...the 1600s. More kept coming, smashing the glass cages of replicas and outfits, it finished around 7 runners. "You both alright?" 

They both nodded, there was a broken window, connected to stairs upwards. The sun was almost up and we were unbelievably close towards the Capitol Building. We climbed up to the roof, it had a crossable plank on the floor, "Stay back." I picked it up, carrying it towards the ledge, placing it carefully. "Alright, one by one now. Now watch your step." He pushed me and went on with no concern for his safety, "Shut the fuck up and cross." He went first, stopping as soon as he saw the sunrise, I followed, standing behind him as we watched. I never really caught the sunrise these days, but seeing it...was beautiful. "Let's go, I wanna get this over with..." She allowed him to go first, looking at me after I continued staring, "Let's pick it up! Techno! We're almost done, just stay focused." Can't we just appreciate the sunrise? Will loved the sunrise, he wasn't a morning person but sunrises and sunsets were always our favorite. Well...my favorite now.

"Right around the corner." After the sun had fully rised, we had already made it to the building, "We're here, we can get this over with, and...something after." We came across a deep area with water filling it, "Can you swim? Or you need a little floatie to help you?" He jumped onto the higher areas, such as the car, or others. "I can swim...kinda. I don't wanna get wet." We stayed silent as we walked, finally, reaching the doors of the Capitol Building, we wiped ourselves, then entered. "No. No. No. No! They can't. NO! Please, we- No..." Niki looked down at the dead bodies littered across the area, falling to her knees, "What are you doing?" She continued to rummage through the dead bodies, "They must've had- ah- a map? Or something to tell us, where- they- uh..were going, right!?" She went to each body, stripping them of their items, "How far are we gonna take this? They're dead, alright? We can't do anything about it." She kept shaking her head, close to screaming. "W-where was this lab of theirs? Did Sam say?" She looked at Tom, walking over to him, "Didn't say, only mentioned it was somewhere out west." 

She acted like a madwoman, looking through dead bodies, muttering crazily. "What are we doing out here? We did the job, delivered the kid to the place that was said, what more do you want? This isn't like u-" She cut me off before I could finish, standing up after looking through, "What exactly do you know about me? Huh?" She was on the verge of tears, over a few guns, I know we can't go back, but we can do something else? Maybe...it's too painful..."I know, sure as hell! You are smarter than this." She looked towards the other side, "Guess what, we're shitty people, Alex." Didn't I make it clear? Not to call me that? I may have said my name, but it doesn't mean that is what I want to be called. "Don't. Just don't. We are survivors, Nikita. It is over. We tried, now let's just, try and go home, alright?" She allowed some tears to come out as we talked, I've never seen her cry. This was heartbreaking...

"I can't go anywhere. I just can't. This is my last stop..." Her eyes swelled up, letting more tears come out, she held herself, crying. "What?" She held herself tighter, crying more. "I'm gonna miss you, Pink." She laughed slightly, showing the bite on her nape. "Luck had to have run out sooner or later, am I right? Haha..." She didn't stop crying, falling to the ground, getting her gun. Tom watched as the situation went down, often looking out the window. "Niki...why didn't you tell me!?" Tears slowly came out as well, "Oops right?" She went to Tom, grabbing his wrist, "Let me show your arm. This was three weeks, and it looks just like a scar. This is an hour, and it's already worse. This is real, Techno. I'm sorry, but you have to get this kid to Phil. He might know." I don't wanna hear his name, but he might be one of our resorts, and I had this feeling, I wanted to see him..."No. I can't, not without you..." Both of us cried as she slowly got more infected, "You better get her to fucking Phil, alright? We've done enough for each other for you to feel some sort of obligation to me. Please, consider it my dying wish." She rubbed my face, hugging me tightly, "Hey guys...there's some company!" Tom ran behind the both of us, as Niki looked out the window, "I can buy you guys some time, but you have to run."

"What? You- you just want us to fucking leave you here?! With them!?" Tom looked at her, she patted his shoulder, "Just listen to him, alright? You two should get along." She looked at me after, "Get him to Phil. Do it, for me, please. I will not turn into one of those things, alright? Go. Please, don't make this harder than it already is. " She pushed me, the doors were being banged on, "Don't wait for me. I won't be able to go anyway. Just go!" She cried while holding her gun up, "Tom." He looked at her, hugging her then followed me. "Thank you." She held her gun up, stepping back a few. We reached the next room, I want to help, I can help, we can help. Why? It felt hard to breath, everything was closing up on me, "Why the fuck did we do that?! We just left her to fucking die!" Couldn't say anything, so many emotions arose, she was my friend, my boss, but my friend..."Stop, let's just go. Stay close to me, as always. We have to move before they catch us."

Chapter Text

We made our way upstairs after leaving Niki, hiding in rooms for safety, "Remember, Tom." He rolled his eyes, looking around for anything. "Why don't we jump down here?" He looked down out the broken wall, leading to another floor, "Sure." I jumped down, looking up at him after dusting myself off. "Can you do it?" He jumped, landing right beside me, gunshots and fights were heard from the room we came from, leaving Niki, "If I'm a cure, she could've come. Or something..." Please, just buy us enough time to leave...we ran through the room we were currently in, a dead body was there, it was holding a Hunting Rifle, I took the rifle, bringing it along for more protection. "What do we do?" He was shaking a bit, hearing people talk in the other room, blocking the exit, "I got it. Stay back." Hiding was the best solution to this, hate to admit it, but there were too many of them to take on by myself, and he only has a switchblade, has to physically go closer to them, just to hurt them, and I'm not giving him a gun. We hid behind the crates and tables that was there, passing by 3 that didn't notice us. "Look, there's the exit." I looked at it, there was a subway station, allowing us to take cover there, a scream was heard, running towards us, they punched me, making me fall to the ground, I quickly stood up, attacking him as well, watching as the blood left him, they began surrounding us, but there was a clear way towards the exit now. Only need to deal with a few, whatever team these guys are. My clothes had dried blood on it, my face had fresh blood, coming from others. "Kid, run out. Give me a few minutes."

Tommy POV

Fuckin, dumbass, idea. I can help! Why can't you just let me fucking help? All I've been fucking doing is sitting in the corner, literally thinking of To- Thinking of what we'd do when we got here, well I can do this shit now. And we left Niki, and guilt is just filling me up, but the weird part is, I'm already outside, he was already killing the soldiers, I saw as their blood flew every where, he looked like he had new clothes from the amount of red on his entire body. Kind of just sat here, waiting for his bloodbath to finish, wouldn't enjoy doing it, but I can help. "You okay?" He asked me, wiping using a cloth he found while we walked, why are you asking me? You're literally the one who's bleeding right now...or is that? is that their blood? I nodded, then a new truck started following us, "Okay, INSIDE." We jumped down from the broken staircase, "Hurry up! You wanna die?" I ran first, through this train shit thing, he followed me, they were screaming as we ran, the room was filled with spores, I ran to the side, while he took his time putting on the mask.

Pulling him aside, behind a box, "How- how the hell are you breathing this?" Didn't I fucking explain, I got a fuckin bite, nothing happened, then boom, I'm immune. "I wasn't lying, what do you think of me? There's two soldiers there." He had his rifle out, aiming it at them, we had an advantage, they didn't know where we were, he shot both of them, they both fell to the ground, only problem, we didn't know if there were infected or more of them. But it didn't seem like it. We went through the train, it had water across, I can swim, but it isn't very good. Almost drowned. "I can't swim, I'm just gonna take another way, like that over there." There was a platform with rails, it lead to the end, or another, not wet concrete platform, "Alright." He began swimming across the place, man that's just tiring. He dived down under, after seeing it being blocked by wood, "Techno? Don't leave me!" I went the same direction as him, the rails were good enough for me to hold on while crossing. He was further than I, "I'm fine! Thanks for asking!" Fuckin mucky water was getting all over me, he continued to swim, it's like I'm the only one here, being guided by a ghost. The rails stopped, but there was a water filled area, it could've had something good. "Stay here." Can't go anywhere, if I could, you won't be seeing me. 

3rd Person POV

The elder of the two had went under to find some supplies for them, hopefully, but there was nothing, it was an empty basement, filled with dead bodies, the blonde had screamed out for the elder, "Are you still alive down there?" The elder emerged from the water, walking up to him, "It's a dead end." The elder then noticed a ladder hanging off from the other side, he jumped into the water again, leaving Tommy back there. "You really can't swim?" Questioning the younger, he nodded, then sat down. "I'll go find something." He began swimming to the other side, looking for anything to carry him. There was a palette floating in the water, he began pulling towards Tom, "Get on." He looked at the palette, confused, "Really? This?" Techno looked at him pissed, "Alright! Jesus." He jumped on, they slowly floated to the other side, Tom struggling to stay on, "Alright, just push it off." He did as said, allowing Techno to get up. "Don't wanna be down here any longer." They went up, the sun was harsh, "Hey- look...about Niki." Techno sat down, looking at him. "Listen, Tom, this is how this is gonna go. Don't bring her up, ever. Matter of fact, we can just not talk about our histories all together. Secondly, don't tell anybody, about your condition. They'll think your crazy or try and kill you. And lastly, you follow whatever I say. No excuses. Clear?" He stayed silent after, nodding, they both started walking again. "Now there's a town, few miles north from here. There's a guy who owes me some favors. Good chance we can get a car."  

Techno POV (I'm having problems with which POV I should use)

We were on a road, the town he lived in was blocked by electric fences, and countless traps. "We'll just cut through here." We walked through the woods, "Hello, little bunny!~" He stopped walking and began petting the bunnies that were hopping around the place, "Can I bring it with me?" Seriously? Although, gotta admit the bunny was adorable, "You can bring it but when we get into the town, you gotta let it go." He grabbed the rabbit, bringing it along, gently petting it as we walked through. "Why don't you just bring me back to Sam?" I was suddenly questioned why I continued to do this, "If he was gonna do it, why'd you think he dropped you off with us?" The sounds of the forest, calmed down both of us, after walking for so long, and processing what we did to Niki..."Don't you think he'd be fine by now?" 

"Sorry, Tommy, but, your friend's chances at survival weren't high to begin with. But either way, I doubt I can get either of us back in one piece. Trust me, wish there was another option." He stayed silent, only paying attention to the animal in his arms, but as we neared to the town, he had to put it down. There was a gate that looked like it wasn't electric, but it was rusty and covered in vines, "Should we climb it?" I walked around, shaking my head. "Where do you think they got the name, "Creepers"?" There was this game, everyone loved, well until the Outbreak, guess they wanted to bring back that game...forgot what it was called, and the creepers in the game explode, and they bomb cities. As I walked around, after that short exchange, there was a long plank, which was conveniently posted beside the building we could cross. The plank was heavy to lift, from the ground, up a shack of sorts, Tommy waited, sitting on the edge, staring at the sunset, "What was it like before? Everything started?" That question would come blank in my mind, "The memories of before everything were amazing...back then, I never thought I would actually, kill a man, but look at me now." The blood stains on my clothes were never gonna leave, each were just different people, lying, dead. 

"After all I've ever seen, just roaming around abandoned malls, the old times would've been great to live in." The plank was already place, he didn't notice until I stopped talking, he stood up, and began crossing the plank. "Techno? Could that possibly be your friend?" He pointed at the smoke emitting from the town, "I hope so." We jumped off from the other unknown structure, he began talking again, asking all about Schlatt, I would say we are business partners, the area was all rubble, blocking an easier way towards the town, we required to go through the, traps he's laid, the mass amount of infected just walking around, looking for its next prey. The sounds of clickers were heard from both of us, we snuck into a building. Tommy then made sounds no one would like to hear, "What are you doing?" He had his lips puckered, continuing to make the raspberry sounds. "I wanna whistle." He continued to make the sounds, I'm very sure that the clickers outside can hear you. "Stay inside, I'll take care of them." He- I went out towards the infected, making slight noises to get them here, the closer one noticed, and began to walk towards me. The axe was really helpful through everything. It's head fell to the ground after a swift movement, the other was behind a wall. Didn't need to worry anymore of what I was meant to do.

As it was easy to hit it, the screech echoed throughout, my clothes had a new addition of blood, by the time I got back, he was already outside, looking at a blocked gate, "Think you can get me over there?" I positioned myself in a way he could step on my hand and grab onto the top, "Only remove the pipe, nothing else." He climbed over, removing the pipe, opening the gate smiling, "No applause?" Clapping twice, he ran towards me, like a dog when their owner comes home, "When I've saved the world, you won't stop clapping for me. Cause I'll be the king of the world!" Not a chance, Big Man. There were multiple stores, blocked off, noises coming from inside, there was a music store here, it was open, and there wasn't any infected inside. We went inside, there were a bunch of records and albums of bands I used to listen to or find in Will's room. Tommy looked at all the albums, the records, and everything, I could see him stuffing some stuff he found interesting into his backpack. Then I went to the back, there were some things we could use. The entrance to the town Schlatt lived in was blocked off, of course. After a while of looking around at each of the buildings, there was an alley, it looked like it lead inside.

11 years ago

"Where are we going? We have to go back to the QZ soon, the curfew is near." He led me through some buildings, focusing on where we were going to, "Listen...Techno. You know the current group, slowly taking over the zones? Well, I joined them, and they can help us. Find Will." What's the point anyway? It's been 9 years, not one time have we seen a single clue as to him being alive, either their testing on his infected self, or he's just dead. "We're here" He whispered to the guard, they let us through the building. "Phil Watson! Good to see you again, I see you've brought someone." The green-haired man looked at greeted us after looking at a map, "This is my son, Techno." He nodded as he looked at me and my skinny appearance, "Why did you bring him here?" The place was surrounded with various explosives, some of the people apart of this group were moving said explosives, "Have you gotten any news, or any hope he's out there?" Sam looked down, shaking his head, "We will continue looking though, but, there is something related, but I don't think it's him. You can check though." He lead us to an area, littered with papers, "We went digging in some zones, to help your look for your son, and I found this." He handed us a paper, dad read it first, he looked shocked at what he read. I waited patiently for him to pass it to me. 

Test #17: The subject has been more "in control" recently, it has been starting to talk to my daughter, but will not reply to any one else. I don't want to put her in risk, but if it's what makes it talk, I have no choice, it's been denying surgery, by threatening to commit suicide, we could not loose it, it is the first smart infected. But as we've examined more, it has not grown any fungal accessories, or has tried biting anyone, no hostility or anything. It's been staring at us, whenever we try testing it. There's been a single successful operation, but nothing much was found, I wish we had the right equipment to test, an MRI machine, or anything to see what's inside. It then showed a blurry, and distorted photo of a person in a hospital gown, they had white hair streaks, and was a brunette, their hair was long, I wasn't able to decipher if they were a woman or a man. Brunette hair is very common, and white could just be side effects of what they're testing. And Will had 0% of a chance of living. "This isn't him, and it's very much implied that they're infected. So even if that's Will somehow, then this could just be hallucinations." They both sighed, "If he's gone, I'll find that toy he was given. And I promise to give it to you, as a keepsake." We both nodded, leaving the place. "That's why you joined?" We both were going back to the city, to our small shared home. "Techno, I promised you we'd find him. And I am trying, there is a group of people, who are doing something about this corrupt government, and if they can find him, or anything of him, I will not hesitate to join." After that our walk back stayed quiet, as well as arriving, we weren't caught, so it just added to the silence.

Me and Tommy had made it to a warehouse, after traps, infected, and obstacles. I received a bow as well from Schlatt's adventures around here. Tommy continued to practice whistling, which made our walk, much more annoying. "Stand back. Explosive." There was a line with a nail bomb attached, waiting for someone to come across, he threw a brick towards it, making it explode. The next room we walked into wasn't much, there was a door beside the table, which I hope leads us to his home. As soon as I opened the door, a rope tied my legs, bringing me up, making me hang upside down. He ran towards me, trying to hold me still after I kept swaying, "Are you okay?!" We both let go, as I was held still, "Another one of these stupid traps." I got caught once before, it took a while to get down cause I was continuously laughed at. "Cut the rope over there, it's being held by the fridge." He ran over to it, beginning to slice the rope. "Techno! We got company!" A horde of infected began banging against a metal fence, starting to climb over it. Guess I'm doing this. I took my gun out, aiming it carefully at them as they began running towards me, shooting 2 or 3, one caught me, trying to bite. Had to push it away, shooting it as well. 

"Hurry up!" More started swarming in, some were clickers, he was able to cut it, from where it was prompted on, but it only made me go higher, making him the target for the infected. They began attacking him while he was cutting the rope, "Fucking shoot them! I can't get you down if they're doing this!" And so I did, this child...he was able to continue cutting, letting me down, I was thrown onto the floor, an infected attacked me, holding me down. Then, it's head was cut off. "You gonna get fuckin up?" He let his hand out, helping me up, "Not time for chit-chat, run." Schlatt lead us out, shutting the warehouse doors, he had his gas mask on, making his speech muffled. "Just follow me!" Many infected showed upon cars, and inside the trucks, attempting to bite us. He threw us back, getting them with his machete and shotgun. We had to cut through another alley, good enough for us, a door was there and he had the key. "Wait, gotta find the key, cover me." They kept coming, the horde expanded, a legion, in fact, the more came, the more blood had been displayed on me. "You better hurry, I can't hold them all!" 

He was able to find the key, opening the door, we were in a laundromat, all of us panicking, "Don't stop, it isn't secured." More started to come through the door, had to run, as quick as possible, Tommy was way ahead of both of us, he was waiting at the next door, holding his switchblade out in terror. We ran out again, to the broken cars that covered each area, being used as a barrier, but it was no point, they could get over. "Into the truck, c'mon, we're already there!" We ran through the truck, into a diner. "Holy shit that was close! You're both-" Schlatt wasted no time, cuffing her by a pipe sticking out the wall, "What the fuck, man?!" He pulled on the pipe, it was damaged, he could easily remove it if he was strong. "Schlatt! Let him-" He hit my knee, causing me to fall to the ground, "Hands on your head. You got any bites?" He checked my neck and everywhere that was visible, looking for any bites. "Alright...if I see anything as close as a twitch, you're dead." After moments of pulling, Tommy got the pipe, hitting him. Grabbing the pipe, and throwing it to the ground, "You done?" He wiped where he was hit, "Am I done? You come into MY town, set off all my traps, that took days to set up, and you almost get me killed saving you! Who the fuck is this little shit, and what's he doing here?" 

"I am none of your fucking business, and we're here cause you owe him some favors. And you can start, by removing these." He held up the handcuffs, looking annoyed at him, "I owe him favors? Really, this some kind of joke?" He went over to a table that had sharpening materials, he took out his machete, cleaning it of the blood. "I'll just say it, we need a car." He stopped sharpening the machete, beginning to laugh, "I guess it really is a joke! Techno needs a car! Well if I had one that works, what makes you think I'd just let you have it? Huh? Yes! Oh, yes Techno, take my car. Take all my food as well!" Behind us, Tommy grabbed a brick, and started bashing in the cuffs, "Stop that." He continued to do so, getting damage on the cuffs, "Whatever favors, you think I owe you, they don't mean as much." He continued what he was doing, sharpening the machete further, "Actually, they are." 

"Well, it doesn't matter, cause I don't even have a working car. Before you say anything else, there is only parts here. No working car, no way out." He denied everything, not wanting to fix a singular car, not wanting to get out of this hell hole of a town. "But you can fix one, if we get those parts." He tried speaking, but then considered it, "Fuck it, alright, if I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna need some gears, it's on the other side of town. Now you help me get it." He showed us a map he had hidden in his table, that was circled with areas that we need to go to. "Maybe, just maybe, I can put something together that moves. After that, I owe you nothing. Got that?" He grabbed a pair of keys from his pocket, "That's fine, we'll probably be dead in the next few days." It was the keys to the cuffs on Tommy, grabbing his arm, unlocking the cuffs, he rubbed his wrist, and then walked by me. "Follow me, the whole town is booby trapped, best to stay right with me. Whatever supplies you may need, or want, I suggest you grab them now." The rest of the place was a bar, many useful items were displayed on the tables, "Put some in your bag, and also remove some of those records." He let out an exaggerated gasp, holding his backpack in defense, "How dare you!"

Even saying that, he let out some records and put them carefully on a table, then grabbed some food, "Found everything?" We both nodded, walking over to him, he had the door unlocked, allowing us to go up, "Don't leave the door open. We have to cross to the other building, up the stairs, move it." The both of them were waiting a top the staircase, Schlatt went first, as Tommy waited for me. "Can't believe you agreed to this bullshit, Schlatt. What you should've done, is just leave them there, and move on with your life." He started talking to himself, the child was staring at him weirdly, mouthing, 'What the fuck' "He really is crazy." We stayed back to talk about him, he noticed and waited on the balcony, "Just ignore him, and be quiet."  I was mistaken, it wasn't a balcony, it was a destroyed bedroom, "So, what kind of trouble you in? And where the hell's Niki?" Can I tell him, she's dead? No...he would probably just make us turn back and abandon us after learning we're doing this without Niki, "It's just a quick drop-off."

"What're you delivering?...that little shit?" Tommy heard the conversation, flipping him off. Sighing, tired of these two children, "Where are we going?" Genuinely questioning him, we were walking through this destroyed home, the litter of random toys or children's clothes, Tommy was looking at them, tempted to take the toys. "Going to my other safehouse, it's more of an armory, in fact." Tom then had toys in his hands, whispering to himself, making them move slowly, "What I need is on the other side of town. Now, that side, I don't ever go to, cause it's filled with infected. So, we're gonna need more guns." As we continued walking, looking at Tommy, a part of him knew he shouldn't've taken them, but another part of him wanted them, wanted something that could bring him just a little bit of joy amidst this horrific world we're now surviving in. Looking at all the kids who have to go through this, like I did, just bring back the time we had to deal with it, while we didn't know what to do or where to go.

9 years ago

"Will you please, just give up already! You have put the both of us in jeopardy from this group you've joined! The amount of times I could see you riding with them, exploding the QZ's WE were staying in! The amount of times we've had to move, cause of it!" Me and Phil fought again, about this stupid group he'd joined, these years since he joined them, have just been making everything worse, he keeps staying up late, looking at papers he's found, covering our home in it, screaming whenever I'd touch one of them, begging for me to join and help. "I am not fucking loosing Will, I know he's out there. And I know, he is waiting for us. So, if you don't want to do it anymore, so be it, pack up your shit, and leave. Actually, I'll do it instead, I have to move anyway, this entire QZ is getting bombed in the week." Thanks for the heads-up, like you did that last time, "Just leave. You are ruining yourself, you know that." He went to the table he had, carefully putting the papers he had collected into a bag, then he went to his room, grabbing the clothes he used most, packing them as well. "Goodbye, Alex. I'm going to look for the son who'll appreciate my efforts." He slammed the door, after ruining everything, my heart ached, I miss Will, but he's gone, and the fact he's willing to ruin his own life, just to find a dead person, is heart-breaking. 

I'm considering myself as someone who's family didn't survive. Being alone is what I need, this is all so, confusing, these infected, this QZ, this government, I hate it here. I'm leaving as well. There's a transfer tonight, driving us to Boston, it's far from here, and I heard it was the most secure QZ out of all. And so I did, packing up all my things, getting ready to leave. Phil was long gone, he took those secret tunnels he used to go to the creepers. Later that day, I rode the truck, leaving this place, a few had joined the truck, with a light package. As we went down the road, I looked back, seeing guards in front, but they were taken out slowly. Chaos raised as we left, the kids in the truck were covering their ears, crying. I held the pig, closing my eyes, slightly humming a song. It took us a few hours to get there, but we finally made it after a few stops. The place was heavily secured, as soon as we entered the city, we were checked, each zone we stopped at, we were checked. "You are now on your own, there will be a shared home for those who do not have a place to stay at. The curfew is 6 P.M. Be back by then, or else." Left to wander throughout the zone, multiple people were threatening each other, but then held back by the soldiers, except one, a woman, with blonde hair, she seemed to be trading ration cards with someone. 

Walking up to her, she greeted me happily, not territorial, or mean, the first one who looks like they didn't turn into some beacon of violence. "Welcome to Boston, my name is Niki. Yours?" She let out her hand, I shook it, then introduced myself, "Alex. I'd rather be called Technoblade or Techno." She nodded, then offered to show me around the place. I agreed, she told me about what usually happens here, what most do, and what she does. "Most aren't trusting with newcomers, but you seem like a good person. But if you ever, tell anyone, about anything. The entire smuggling community will be after you. Best is to stay shut and just observe." After showing me around, and talking to most of her 'friends' she left me be, dropping me off at the shelter. "See you, Techno!" She left, making a peace sign, going to an apartment. "See you." There were many crowded rooms, thankfully, I was sectioned into a less crowded one, and more orderly one, each had a section, or area. I stayed in the corner, placing my bag as a pillow. I laid down. 

"Will! Mov-!" It was too late, I tried running, but all that happened was him loosing his life. Cause we didn't get to save him, and they didn't do anything. Why didn't I move? I could've helped! It was possible, we could've done something, he could've survived, but I just stood there, as a coward. He felt his bite, knowing his fate was sealed to die. He pleaded, as they dragged him away. Phil tried, he really did, only if you tried before. He really tried to grab him, bring him back, wanting to run away from these people. Why didn't I just help? But I cried, like a baby, like a useless person. My ears were ringing, but I was grabbed, brought to the woods, everything went by so fast, everything just went by like nothing. He promised me, gave me hope, that Will could possibly be alive, but looking at what those things could do to a person. Hope was crushed immediately. 

After a few infected, and a little walk. Finally made it to Schlatt's armory. "Y'know, as much as I hate these things, at least their predictable. It's the normal people that scare me. You of all people should know that." Must you mention it? I told you cause I saw you as a close friend, but you don't have the privilege to talk about it. No one does, it remains in family, which I don't have much left. "Don't, just don't." We walked up some stairs, ending up behind a building, "In the cellar." Opening the entrance to it, we continued. "You don't touch anything. And you close the damn door." He went towards a lamp, turning it on, both me and Tommy were looking around at this supposed armory, it was quite empty, aside from the stack of comics and books. Tommy was staring at the guns that were displayed, already close to grabbing one. I took the one he reached for, it wasn't a new one, so leaving it aside, he decided to snoop around in the comics. "Alright! I'm gonna wait for the both of you to get me killed!" 

"This goes on the record of one of the worst jobs you've taken. How in the hell is Niki okay with this suicide mission?" We're meant to be here together, but in the best events. She isn't I stayed silent, he took some word from it, "Guess she isn't as smart as I thought she was, but fuck her. You gotta take that child back where you got him. If you can't, then just throw him out. Niki isn't here to stop you." Considered it at one point, but it's what Niki wish for. "Let me tell you a story, Techno. I had a friend I cared about. Someone that I needed to take care of. And in this world, that shit is only good for one thing. Getting you killed. So I thought straight, instead of believing that the world was fine for a while. I had to be alone. And so did he, so we both went our separate ways." "It isn't like that-" He gave me a long gun, after grabbing others. "Bullshit. You little shit, the fuck I tell you about touching?!" He spotted Tommy looking at the comics, pointing a gun at him. "Fuck you, I'm allowed to touch whatever the fuck I want." He continued to look through it, "I can take him off your hands." 

"Tommy, put those down." After hearing a loud thump, he finally put the gun down. "Seriously, it would be a pleasure. You keep taking care of that child, you're gonna regret it. Don't say I didn't tell you." As soon as he was out of vision, Tommy began taking comics he liked. "Tommy-" He flipped me off, continuing to steal. "Before we go, gotta show you something. New toy." Going towards his workbench, "This, is a nail bomb. You gotta be really careful, this thing blows, it shreds anybody standing nearby." Grabbing it cautiously, putting it into my bag. "Alright, so every few weeks or so, this military caravan rides through town. I assume looking for supplies. I mean, you'd be amazed at the shit they overlook." Few months back, they were attacked by a horde of infected. All over the truck, plows right into the high school, still sitting in there with a battery in it."  "So we get it and transfer it to another car?"

"Bingo! I was supposed to avoid that part of town cause of all the dangers there. But, fuck it, Technoblade needs the car! Risking a lot here. I don't want to see you after this." No problem, we're probably gonna be dead in the next weeks. We went upstairs, into a church. This place....has no meaning to me, I accompanied Phil and Will here though, out of respect. But I never really prayed, or believe there was anything or anyone up there. "I swear to God, when I get back here, and notice anything missing. I'm hunting you down." Tommy looked at him, guilty, of course. He opened a window, waiting for us to get out. "Look there, that's the school. Now I must warn you, beyond here, is unknown territory."

8 years ago

"Techno, you mind finishing up?" Niki requested, as the man on the floor screamed for his life. Recently, Niki invited me to be a partner in this business, she said she got tired of doing both brain and brawns. And thought of me, "With pleasure, ma'am." Holding him down, then choking him. Our job was done, "Not so bad! For your first few weeks, you're doing good." I've never much killed people, but had to admit, it felt good. "Where to next?" She shrugged, looking out at the sun. "Why don't you stay with me, it'd be easier than waiting for you to arrive. Plus, my roommate just moved out. It doesn't seem like that shelter is doing any good for you anyway." It wasn't, everyone complained as to how I would wake up screaming. They kept requesting for me to be moved somewhere else, or to be thrown out. But the soldiers didn't care about what happened. "Alright." 

I packed up, they all looked at me happily, shutting the door as I left. "Lets go." She lead me to an apartment, that was mostly covered in alcohol, "Want some?" I put down my bag, by a couch. Grabbing the bottle, drinking it whole. "You can put your stuff in that room, stay up as long as you want." She went to her room which was at the end of the hall, I was probably gonna sleep after a while. But it doesn't feel comfortable sleeping anymore, ever since leaving, and not having someone to wake me up from those dreams. Just made me think of it more. It keeps haunting me, so harshly. I don't even know what to do. Why not drink more? I drank another, after another. Passing out after.

"Techno...Techno! Wake up!" Shook, harshly, after dreaming, again. "You screamed. It woke me up. Are you alright?" The sounds were echoing in my head, it was too much this time, if I stayed there much longer. I don't think I would've woken up, "Yes. I'm sorry, I'll just go to the room." She nodded, respecting whatever was going on, "Keep the door open slightly, I don't want you dying on me. "Got it." And so I did, the door was open slightly, for her to hear, whatever might happen to me again. So many things are crowding my mind, I just want it to stop, it's so loud...why can't I just make it stop? I have control over myself, why can't I just stop a few voices in my head?! "Cause you don't want to let go, Techno. It's okay to feel." 

How are you alive?! "Your just hearing this all cause you don't want to loose us. You don't want to move on, I know that you have a single bit of hope I'm alive, even if it's impossible." Please, just stay away from me, Will. You being here doesn't help, just shut up, please! "Is that anyway to treat your brother?" You aren't him, you are a figment of my imagination, who is trying to trick me into madness, I'm not allowing you to succeed. "You're talking to a dead person, how do you not call that insanity?" Just shut up, shut up! "Techno, we need to talk." Niki came into the room seeing as I was staring at the wall, talking a little. "I need to trust you, and seeing you do that, while staring at a wall. Isn't exactly what I want to wake up to every night. Please, just tell me what's wrong." 

He just stared at me, leaning against the door, covered in blood and dirt. "Niki,  I'm sorry to say this, but I lost my twin brother, to the infection a long time ago., but let me explain what happened. It was outbreak day, we were getting help from military, but, he was bit. I tried to help him, but there was nothing I could do to save him. I've replayed that day in my mind a thousand times, wishing I could go back and change his fate. But it's too late now. he's gone and I have to live with that fact." She stared at me, as I dumped long years of trauma onto her, she processed what I said, "I lost people too, and I can always see them haunting me. But I've learned to know that it's best for them not to live in this shitty world." Will continued to stare, he may have been a figment, but he was crying. It was like his soul decided to visit, she seemed to have remembered those who she lost. Crying a bit, smiling. "Thank you, for telling me. I'm sure your brother is happy you're able to talk about it." He nodded, while slowly fading. "You will see me again. Do not fret." No, I won't, but, it was nice to see you again. "You're welcome, Niki. I'm glad I could be honest with you about what happened to him. He wouldn't want me to be sad or haunted by his loss anymore." She patted my back, wiping away the tears on her face. "No one wants to think of their loss anymore."

"Didn't expect this much. You ready?" Schlatt looked at me, I nodded. Looking over at them, "Tom-" Had already rushed into battle, jumping onto an infected, stabbing it. As they had all rush towards each other, an idea had come. "You have an extra bomb?" Schlatt nodded, picking his out. I grabbed the one he had gave me, throwing it onto the horde, covering myself and Tommy. "Well, that was easy. I should make more of those. These fights would be easier. Oh shit." He looked above a bus, seeing the rest of the horde. "Okay, we go now, go now!" He ran to a corner, watching as we dealt with it. "They began piling onto me, scratching me one by one, although I wasn't bit, miraculously, everything was bleeding. Schlatt then took care of it, shooting them each, blowing them off of me, "Do I need to kill you as well?" Shaking my head, Tommy came out of the corner, screaming, and rambling on about what's happening. "Also, th-there's a ladder up there. If you can get me up?" He lead me to the bus, kneeling down, he climbed a top, and dropped down the ladder. 

"We just need the truck. which is right there. Fucking shit, run." The sounds of the clickers and runners came towards us, we ran as fast as we could towards the high school. "We gotta get in quick, take the fucking battery, and get the fuck out." A window was open, we rushed directly into it. "Close the fucking door and window!" Both me and Tom held it down, feeling as they tried pushing. He lifted the truck hood, "No, no, no! What the fuck!? It's fucking empty." The door chains came loose, they were already touching us through. "Run." They broke down the door, entering. We had already reached the next room, they started banging on the barricaded door. "We can probably go out back...right...?" His answer was terrifying, he didn't know what to do, didn't know where to lead us. We're dying today.

"Know what, I may not be from here. But I'm getting us out. Follow me." He surrendered, immediately allowing me to lead. This is even worse, none of us know where to go, what to do, or anything. The halls were empty, mostly rubble, and infected, lying on the ground, spreading their disease. We went around a bit, but then landed at the gym, knowing what does look like, we had a chance of getting out through the windows. "Help me open this." We entered, the place was as promised, the windows were easy to reach, only a small boost would let us up. But since we are the most lucky people alive, a bloater came out, "What the fuck is that thing!?" 

It raced after us, throwing it's spores towards us. "That is a bloater! Now run and hide." Schlatt made his first move, throwing a molotov towards it. The flame engulfed it, but didn't kill it. The bloater continued to throw its spores towards us, leaving a gas particle lying around. I threw a molotov as well, it screamed in agony, making the walls emit debris. It was close, it's skin became black, the armor it naturally had was gone. We took advantage of that, using the shotguns we had. It fell to the ground, after a few swift shots. Tommy stayed silent, staring at its corpse, "I fucking hate these things. You mind helping me up?" That I did, crouching down, letting my hand out. He climbed up, Tommy going after. "C'mon, let's go. I hate this place so much." 

More of them arrived, chasing us when we were out the high school. Into a small canal, "There's a ladder!" Rushing towards it, our stamina slowly running out, climbing over the fence and removing the ladder, "Where to now?" Asking that, we leaned against the fence, looking through the backyard. "Inside the house. Before they start piling up again." He walked towards the house, opening the sliding door. Tommy looked in front of him, stuttering as he went to the kitchen. "Somebody had the same idea as me. They stole my shit." Who else could possibly be here that would know your idea? "Well then what's plan B?"

"You should be happy that your still drawing breath, that was plan A all the way to fucking Z. And furthermore, tell Niki she-" 

"Don't bring Niki into this! She had nothing-" He stopped screaming, looking behind me, looking behind, a body hang. How did we not notice this? He continued to stare at the dead body, "You know this guy?" He was staring at him more, shaking at the look of the man. "Ted. He was my friend. He's the only idiot to wear a shirt like that in this world." He took out the machete he had, cutting through the rope. Tearing up slightly, "He's got bites...here, and here." He pointed towards the areas with his machete, holding in as much tears as he could. "I don't think he'd want to turn, so he..." Nodding, he left to go to a different room. I decided to look around the house, seeing if anything here was from 'Ted' And there was, a note was placed in a room nearby,  Whoever's reading this, hopefully Schlatt, but you probably didn't even come cause you're too fucking scared of coming here. I'm sick and tired of your bullshit rules, constantly screaming once I leave and come back. So I left, took that stupid battery you kept moaning on about. But I guess you were right. Going to this part of town would kill me. Still fucking better than spending another day with you. "Guys! Check out what I found!" I went over to the garage, of which Tommy was already starting a pick-up truck.

"That's my battery! Fucking asshole. Get out." He went inside after Tommy left, checking everything. "Battery's drained, but the cells are alive." I held the note in my hand, questioning on whether or not I should give it to him, but putting it in my bag first, waiting till later to give it. "Guess we do have another plan. It's we push, and he drives." Tommy got in, holding onto the wheel. "Ted...left this. It's for you." I passed him the note, as he waited for both of us to get ready. "Fuck you." Crumpling it up, he threw it into a corner, ignoring it as we both lifted the garage door, and went behind the truck to push. "Put it in first. Just keep your foot on the clutch, and when we-" He looked out the window, already finishing each of what he requested. "I know how to pop a clutch!"

"How the fuck? You know what, I don't care. Just don't screw it up!" We pushed it out, and it started, but later on stopped once more. "Good job, Tommy!" We went back to the truck, pushing it to the next hill. "Guys, over there!" Three infected came out of the house, chasing us after we spoke. Schlatt took care of them, while I tried to continue pushing it. "Okay, keep going." The hill neared, but infected threatened us, climbing on top of the truck, jumping upon us. I tried pushing it away, fortunately, I was able to, and we took care of them. "We're really close now, c'mon!" Schlatt came from the floor, pushing the truck almost immediately. "You have really fucked up everything here, Techno, y'know that?" Another group came out of the house, we are so close...one came at me from my back. Scratching my clothes and skin, leaving slight marks and tears throughout my entire body. 

I grabbed the shiv out of my bag, stabbing it's eyes before it took my skin off. My skin bled as I pushed, but I couldn't give up, we are so close. "Tommy, get ready!" We pushed it off the hill, it's lights flickering. "We fucking did it, now run! All those fuckers here heard that." Both of us sprinted to the truck, Tommy slowed it down for us, and we caught up. Jumping into the back, we both sat back, watching as all the infected chased us. Tommy recklessly hit almost anything in his way, but he cheered, the truck moved. Allowing us to reach Phil faster. The sun set, we were far from his town, "Alright, stop it here." He hit the side, getting off. "That little shit almost got us killed." He did great, aside from the driving, that is what's going to kill us this entire trip. "You aren't gonna make it. Oh, oh, here." He threw an item to me, "You'd be amazed at how many  cars still have gas in them." He saluted us, making his way through the building we stopped at. "Alright, Tom, go to the back." He stood up in the seat, making his way, the thunder roared in the distance, as soon as we reached further rain was going to hit us.

"Oh, man..." Tommy was reading something in the back, it was a comic book. "Look at what I found at his place." He showed off his bag filled with comics, and a pile of ones he read. "What did he say about no stealing?" He put the comic down, reaching into his bag. "This make you all nostalgic?" He showed a cassette tape, "Oh, I remember them, hope they survived." I put it into the radio, it played but cut out sometimes. "Eh, better than nothing." He went to the passenger seat, trying to whistle again. "Why don't you get some sleep? It's gonna be a long drive." As I said that, he was already trying to sleep. The music went through, not cutting out anymore, and it was all I heard.

Chapter Text

8 years ago

I've been living with Niki for months now, and I've never been as close to someone before, we were smuggling some guns out the zone. Taking a break inside a music store, "You know how to play anything?" I nodded, grabbing a guitar that was on the floor, "My brother taught me how to play some songs, their a little fuzzy now. But I'm pretty sure I can." He taught me how to play the song Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's he said it was easy and a good introduction to guitar. I wasn't much of a singer so I slightly hummed the lyrics. The chords I had played were D, F#m, Bm, A, and G. She listened to me as I played, smiling. "You've gotten so great at it." Will came again, sitting on a box, he looked different this time, he was less blood and more dingy. Why are you here again? "Can't I visit my brother once in a while?" Stop it. "Are you seeing him again?" I nodded, still looking as he talked. "I thought you missed me." I still do, but just stop it. "Alright, Techno, let's go..."  Placing the guitar on the floor, he waved and began fading again. 

"Where you gonna go?" Will? "Thought you and the old man had problems? Why are you going back to him?" Thought you were watching over me? "I am but I'm not fucking omniscient, and being here is pissing me off. Honestly, I wanna go on adventures with you and this child. He seems cool." You'd like him, Will. Saw those comics you liked, bet you both would love reading those here. "Aww...look ahead." His body began fading as we came across a two-lane freeway. Leaning back, his body evaporated against the chair, "See you, blade. See you really soon." The lane we needed to go through was blocked, as a one towards Pittsburgh was free. Tommy, as I thought, woke up, "What're you gonna do?" We needed to go through the other one, but, "Screw it." Turning towards the city, Tommy looked out the windows, at the overgrown buildings.

"Please! Help me!" Screeched a man 'holding' his 'wound' I hate these types, "Are we gonna help him?" He got closer, his team got closer to us as well. They were surrounding the truck, "Fasten your seatbelt, now. He isn't even hurt." Putting on mine as well, I stepped on the gas, making him pull out the pistol he had in his holster. "What the fuck!?" The surrounding team jumped out, chasing our truck. Throwing anything lit, or heavy. "Cover your eyes!" A brick was thrown at Tommy's window, destroying it, the glass scratched his skin. "Motherfucker! Oh shit, Techn-" A larger larger truck was moved to crash us, it successfully did, knocking us out.

21 years ago

"Hey, nerd!" I screamed while Will left his after school activities, he looked down while getting into the car, "Will, you okay?" Dad asked while we were getting into the car, "She came after me again." He pulled back the long hair he had, showing the marks on his neck and showed his entire body. "Techno, I'll take care of this, why don't you go find her?" Dad climbed into the back, grabbing his emergency med kit, as I had my own role, to beat that little brat up. "Where is the girl who beat up my brother?!" There was two ginger's laughing with their hands wrapped, "Are you the two pumpkins that beat up Will Watson?" They both nodded, laughing. I nodded, heading to the arts and crafts room, the place was littered in scissors and sharp items, perfect. Grabbing the scissor that looked the sharpest, I went back to them, grabbing the one in front's hair, cutting it off. "What the?! My hair!" The left kids were all staring, whispering. The male, apparently, came up to me, with his skull rings, he looked older, and seemed to be 'tough' "What the fuck? That's my sister you just cut!" 

"And that's my brother you left bruised." He was significantly taller than me, but that wouldn't stop me, using what I was taught, punching his crotch, he bent down in agony, "Well that was easy." Grabbing his hair, lifting his head up, he was crying, "Don't ever mess with a Watson again. Got that?" He nodded, and his sister was crying. "And to all of you bullies, don't ever mess with my family, or else you'll end up like these two, or worse." They all stepped back, staring at me in fear. All right. "What did you do? Techno, by find, I meant bring her to me or talk to her. I saw what happened." Shrugging, I went back into the car, "I taught you those for self-defense, not assaulting a bunch of kids!" Leaning back, Will was covered in Band-Aids, "Why don't you defend yourself for once?" He stayed silent, beside the almost empty med kit. 

Tommy POV

After getting hit, Techno was rushing to pull me out, "Good, get your backpack. Now!" I tried to grab the backpack, but one of them grabbed me, as well as Techno, holding him above a broken vending machine, threatening to puncture his neck, the man who was holding me down, was laughing. "Look at your brother! He's about to die, watch it well, watch it carefully. Cause your next," He was able to break out of the grasp of the guy who was holding his head, and threw him onto the shard instead. "Tommy!" He charged towards us, immediately killing him. "Tommy, get into there. And don't come out until this is done. Got it?" He pointed at a hole, I jumped into it, hearing as they all screamed, a guy fell into the entrance of the hole, blocking it, his blood spilled out, almost touching me. I heard Techno scream, I wanted to help, but he told me not to. Technoblade don't die, please, I can't do this without you.

"Tommy, come out, it's all good." He pulled the body off from the exit, I screamed then hugged him. "Technoblade never dies! Motherfucker, don't do that to me again." He laughed then looked around if there was anything to exit through. "I like that, Technoblade never dies, really do." He patted my head, then went towards a garage door. "Find something to block it." He held up the door, struggling to keep it up. Going through, and grabbing a cart, prompting it under the door. After entering, a male came out of the vents, "Please! Don't shoot!" Techno had his gun out already, deciding he was going to kill him if he wasn't worth it. "I'm just looking for my brother, he knows how to leave this place! Please, if we find him we can help you." Techno lowered the gun a bit, but didn't let go of the trigger. "What's your name?" He stuttered as he talked, looking at the gun nervously, his bag was filled with random made trinkets, "Charlie, Charlie Dalgleish, but just call me Slimecicle." 

"Techno, this is Tommy." Techno kept pushing me behind him, while I was trying to go first and see. While Slimecicle was walking, Techno stopped and started talking to me, "Please, just stay behind me. I don't trust this guy that much." He offered us help, how could you not? But, fine. I stayed behind him, as he was still wary of the guy. "How did you know the guy was a trick?" We were heading up some stairs, Slimecicle lead us through, nervous, shaking while he brought us up. "Eh...I've been on both sides." We reached the 3rd floor of the building, and a room was blocked off, he started moving the cabinet. Letting us out, "My brother, he's in a building over there, I went out for supplies till those fucks attacked me, got lost in the sewers then I got here." I tried testing out my whistle again, and it finally worked, "Mind keeping it down?" 

"I suggest you guys should look through some of these cars and trucks, can't believe how much good stuff they leave." Techno nodded, then entered a bus, "How old are you?" He asked, while standing beside me, waiting for Techno to finish looking around, "15, you?" He stopped crossing his arms, counting his fingers, "15...16...17! I'm 17." This is killing me, Techno...please save me from this. "I found this in one of the cars." He handed me a Savage Starlight comic book, as I had one missing in my collection, "Holy shit! This is exactly what I needed." I placed it carefully into my backpack, then we continued walking, "Alright, check over there, can't believe boss is sending us out just for two fucks." A few rebels were coming out of a hole above a bus, complaining about us. Will you shut the fuck up and leave us alone? "You got anything in that bag of yours that can help?" He handed a smoke bomb to Techno, "Throw it and-" Without hesitation or listening to him, he threw it immediately, "Ah shit! Watch out." The guys were all stunted cause of the smoke, Techno disappeared in it, shouts were heard while he went in, bodies thrown away. "Alright, let's get up." Before that...grabbing the pun book I had from...I had, "Let's lighten the mood a bit. It doesn't matter how much you push an envelope, it'll still be stationary." The both of them looked at me, confused, although Slimecicle seemed to understand the joke as Techno was still processing what I had, "It's a pun book, No Pun Intended: Volume Too, By Will Livingston. I walked into my sisters room and tripped on a bra, it was a booby trap. I...don't get that one. What's it mean?" They both left me while I read jokes, already over the bus. "Oh fuck you, this is good." Climbing over and following them, an empty checkpoint was there, "Never seen a checkpoint with no soldiers before."

"This is how most zones look like now. This place has been abandoned for a while." Nodding, reading the wall that was displayed with requests, Give us our rations! "Y'know why they're screaming that? It's cause they usually ran out, or held on to them." What kind of fucks do that? I hated living in a QZ, and then all that shit happened, I miss you...ignoring those memories, repressing all the emotions that came whenever I thought about him. Going through these halls of sorts, the random graffiti that would be shown, requesting care, or other shit. "Keep it down...there's more of them." Slimecicle hid behind a car, watching the rebels walking through the place. "Alright, move quietly." The two of them took matters into their own hands, telling me to stay back, killing them off one by one. "Tommy! Come out!" I did, noticing that Slimecicle barely had been covered in blood as Techno was...becoming more red that before. "We need to find you new clothes. But anyway, let's go." I was shot at by someone inside the building beside us, "Take cover!"

"Why the fuck would we go into the building that they are in!?" He shrugged, impulsively sprinting towards them, taking them down, blood splattered on the floor, gunshots echoed through this library. "You gonna help?" He shook his head, looking at the gruesome mess Techno made. It was almost like his eyes were turning red, from everything being splattered onto him, looking away before I vomit, he laughs, "Niki-" I hear, until he goes back to normal, a thump was made. "Hey! Are you okay?" We were surrounded by either decapitated or shot people, Slimecicle went beside him, placing wraps around all the wounds, "Should be fine soon..." We both helped lift him up, he tried walking himself, and was only limping. "I feel great."

We left the library, by fire exit. We all stopped, looking at the strung up soldiers, "If I see anything else I'm gonna vomit." Running away, into the alley, "Tom! Be careful." I'll be fucking fine, not a single worry, except for falling off this scaffolding, which I did. "What did I just say?" Fuck you, I'm still smart, "Hurry up with the plank!" Two of them were screaming at each other, going into, Eloise's Hotel, "Don't think they saw us." No shit, would've been shot at, Techno jumped into the water, Slimecicle basically blended in cause of his outfit, "Don't forget! I can't swim." It's still embarrassing to admit, "I'll find something." Waiting near the water, lightly guiding my hand, "Get on." He appeared once more with a palette, this shit again. He moved me to the other truck, letting me move the plank, they both swam to the other truck, climbing over it. "I wish I had coffee." He mumbled as we walked into the hotel. "Woah...you ever stayed in a place like this?"

"One time, Phil he brought...he brought me." That doesn't sound good, "I was born during this entire thing. But my brother used to explain everything, really graphically. God, I hope he's still alive." After a while, we stayed silent, as if we were ignoring each other. Would much rather like small talk than this, till I spotted a counter, Techno went to the back to check out if there were supplies. As soon as he went out, "Oh, finally! Service, I'll be checking in for one night and I would like your best suite! With all the food! Yes you may take my bags up." He looked at me confused, "Nerd." He left after saying that, grabbing a ladder he spotted, placing it against a wall. We reached a balcony with tables, more of those rebels were patrolling around, Slimecicle threw a smoke bomb, stunting everyone that was inside, Techno climbed inside, fading into the smoke. Bones were broken this time, each of them died silently, Slimecicle climbed inside, helping Techno this time. Did it fucking look like I wanted to stay out here much  longer? I know I wouldn't like what I would see in there, but what other choice could I have had?

As I entered, through the window, Techno had held up a man, covered in blood, he took his life, swiftly, it seemed he got his hair dyed from the blood splattered onto him, like an absolute psychopath, he licked off the blood near his lips, was that yours or another man's? Either way, disgusting, "Man, your brother is fucked up." He's got brown roots, I'm fucking blonde, how are we siblings? "He isn't." He wiped off whatever fresh blood was on him, trying to salvage this outfit of his, "Through the elevator." he spotted a broken elevator door, pulling it apart, "Get through." We both went in first, climbing on top of the elevator, there was a small ledge we could go through, as there was an open door in front of us. "Be careful, these aren't exactly stable." He squatted down in another position which he could boost us up, I went first, holding onto Slimecicle, as he was left dangling after the elevator broke, I began using all the strength I had in this body I had. "Fuck... Techno!? Are you okay?!" 

"Yeah! I'm fine!" That scared the living shit out of me, he was faintly seen at the bottom, swimming, "Both of you! Just wait there, I'll find my way up!" He swam through the rubble, disappearing into a room. "Guess it's the both of us right now." We were both meant to walk through this place, this unknown hotel. It seemed we landed somewhere near the kitchen, but the area was blocked. "We can...go through here." He opened a door, revealing 3 infected, they were all clickers, which made us hide behind some counters. He pulled out a gun with a bottle on it, "Silencer." He shot one of them, it instantly was stunned, he prepped other of these silencers, shooting the 3 after changing multiple times. Even after that, what I could think about is Techno, what if he's already dead? I obviously can't trust this guy with bringing me to the creepers, and even if I go to this Phil's place, what am I supposed to say? Hi, sir! I knew your son, he's dead now! If you wouldn't mind, we were meant to travel to a creeper base, would you please, travel with me? I'd be dead immediately.

We're currently hiding from a few rebel fucks, we weren't spotted, but just hiding, he had his gun out, and nothing else, I can help, if I just had a gun..."That all of 'em?" they were all talking as they circled around the place, we were hidden in a cabinet, a really tight one in fact. "Oh, shi-" The guy was cut off, by him getting shot in the head, the other one was taken down by a familiar face, Slimecicle prevented me from going out, still wary of the man, "That's Techno!" He continued to block me off, holding me back and covering my mouth. Fuck you, Techno was about to climb up the place we were meant to go through before hiding, till he was pushed off into a puddle of water, his head right under it, being drowned by a guy, I couldn't help but jump out, biting him, grabbing the gun he was aiming for, and shooting the man who was there. "Oh I feel sick. Jesus-" My stomach whirled, that didn't feel right, that really didn't feel right. I don't like it, this feeling it really bad, hearing absolutely nothing except a ringing in my ears, my hands were shaking and my vision was blurry, I just took a human life out of this world. He could've had someone, why do I feel so bad? "Why didn't you just hang back?"

"Well your glad I fucking didn't right?" He looked at the dead body, seeing if there was anything to take, "I'm glad I didn't get my head blown off my a kid." Oh this motherfucker, "No, no, how about, "Hey, Tommy, I know it wasn't easy, but it was either him or me, so thanks for saving my ass!" You got anything like that for me? Any sort of thanks for killing a guy who was about to take your life?" He walked away, climbing the ladder, Slimecicle followed, looking 'sorry' they both went around the rooms, leaving me alone again. I still can't shake off this feeling...why did you do that? You could've just thrown a bottle or a brick at him, he would've stopped. You didn't need to do that, one of them patted my back, walking forward. The walls felt like it was closing up on me, my ears were still a ringing sound, everything was just blank to me. I sat whenever I could, as they did most of the work. We were in some sort of stage, with a piano on it. They both moved it towards a wall, "Let's go." 

Going through the doors they pointed out, we were at some scaffolding by the next window, apparently Techno saw a sniper rifle, he handed it to me, "You ever shot on of these before?" At rats, and cockroaches, "Yes, with BB's." He stared at me, reconsidering his decision of giving me this, "Well, it's the same basic concept. So, we're gonna go down there, clear a path, and you...you know what you're gonna do." I nodded, pointing it at one of their heads already, "You make every shot count, got it?" Slimecicle jumped down already, getting prepared, "Listen, Tommy. It was him or me." Jumping after saying that, "You're welcome." Paying attention now to these assess, they were obviously outnumbered, but I've seen what this man can do, Slimecicle basically had no point in being there. Being smart about his attack, he threw a molotov at a group of them, as I went for someone in a clear window, he died the same time as they were ignited, the remaining ones of them charged towards the two. 

I didn't have a clear sight at where the two were, but I was able to shoot the ones running towards, killing only two, this still doesn't feel right. But I complied, it didn't feel right, so the only thought that repeated in my head was 'They're horrible people, they deserve this' We're doing the same as them, killing, they kill those who are innocent, as we just take the bad ones out...right? It was all bloodshed then forth, once they finished, I was called down. Given a smaller gun as Slimecicle rummaged through the buildings for Techno's wounds. "You need something a little more of your size. Now, this is for emergencies only. Got it?" I nodded, placing the gun into my backpack. He was then thrown a wrap by Slimecicle, while we walked through the place for an exit. He wrapped said wounds. Finding an exit inside a garage, Slimecicle pushed us to the ground, covering our mouths as we all heard something. Two voices were heard screaming about mercy, but it didn't seem like their plea worked. "No food, old pair of shoes. They don't have anything." As they entered their vehicle, driving off, Slimecicle let go of us. Leaning against a wall and groaning, "I thought we'd have enough time before that fucking truck would reach us. Please...be okay..." He rushed after talking, trying to look through the building we were in for a different way to go for us not to encounter this truck.

The encounters we had with these rebels were countless, even encountering the truck at one point. Techno was hit, but he didn't seem much affected after he was. We had ran up a building to escape the truck. "They can't see us." We climbed onto a ledge, my heart was threatening to leave, as I stared down my doom. "Just pay attention to what's in front of you, alright?" While I almost slipped off this risky plan, Techno climbed through a window, only to be held at gunpoint by a man in some sort of cover on his head with the letters LAFD. Putting my hands up, "Techno! Put down your gun." as I said that, he did so, grabbing the man's head and throwing him towards the ground, about to kill him. "That's my fucking brother!" As he said that, he threw Techno off of his brother, embracing him tightly. "Quackity...are you alright!? How did you even get here?! I fucking told you to stay in bed." This Quackity, had wraps all over him, which seemed to worsen after Techno had hit him. "Man, you punch hard. Your name is Techno? Quackity."

"Tommy." The guy seemed really bruised, well no shit cause of that fucking truck. Even I got fucking hurt, "We have a safehouse, which I'm sure he mentioned to you. Better if we chat there." Slimecicle continued to nag him about staying in bed and waiting for him, but he just brushed it off. Techno started to talk to Quackity, as he was still wary about the man. "I found this in a room. I saw you liked it." He handed me another comic that was missing, "Thanks!" I started to warm up to Slimecicle, as he didn't seem as tense or awkward like before, he's quite cool. As we went through the building, discovering at the bottom there was a toy store, there were Savage Starlight figurines displaying in the middle, being in perfect condition, aside from the box being covered in dust. I took two of the characters, while they all stared. Let me be a fucking kid.

"Here we are. Welcome to my office." He opened the door to a clean office, which had stacks of food, 2 beds, and boarded up windows. "How long have you guys been holed up here?" I questioned, as the things in the room looked like they've been here forever. "Come look at this, Pig. You have a cute keychain- anyway. Look at these hijos de puta. Everyday, they congregate down there. Guarding the bridge. Come night time, it's down to the skeleton crew. After sunset, that's our window. Most of them gone, we can sneak right past." While they talked, me and Slimecicle played with the blueberries they found, trying to land one in our mouth. He laughed at me as I missed and hit my nose, "Blueberry hurt you?" We continued to play, while the 'adults' talked about how to leave. But a sentence caught me. "We got word that the Creepers were out west somewhere, we plan joining them." As he said that, Techno laughed at it, "Seems like a lot of people are putting their trust into these creepers. And your plan is to drag him cross country, without knowing where they are?"

"Let me tell you something. Techno. How about I worry about my brother, and you worry about yours. Got it?" 

"Heh...we're looking for creepers as well." Slimecicle noticed as well, silencing as we both listened, "There's an abandoned radio tower right outside town. Any survivors from our group, meant to meet there tomorrow. You and your brother want to join us. It goes down tonight." Why the fuck are we brothers? He's got brown fucking roots! I'm blonde! What the fuck!? "We better rest up then, shall we?" They both nodded at each other, while Techno went to a couch by the other door, lying down. "He's not easy to trust people, at all. After all the shit that happened between the groups. He just won't make relations with anyone aside from me." Shrugging as I watched Techno slowly fall asleep while he had his hand over his eyes, I walked over to his bag, grabbing that notebook he kept reading. It was a diary of a little girl, her story seems quite depressing, as this 'Mr. Za' seemed to have ruined her life after she'd already built one...Slimecicle and Quackity went to the sleeping bags they had set up here, falling napping and getting ready for the long journey we were about to have. I lied down on the couch I was currently on, continuing to read whatever else she wrote.

"Hey, Techno, time to wake up. He says it's time to go." Techno was turned over on the couch, mumbling as he always did when he slept, he nodded as he woke up, following me when I walked towards the pair, "Listen, Charlie, I know right now I'm hurt, but I want you to stick with me, no matter what. Got it?" He hugged Slime a last time, before rushing out the room while looking nervous. Slime followed Quackity, occasionally checking the wrapped wound he had, making him have a limp. Techno on the other hand, was rampaging each of the tables. "We can find shit later. Let's go!" He hit my head, running towards them while smirking, asshole. After going down some flights of stairs, we were already at the point that the ones who guarded the gate were there, "Stay back." Us 'kids' were pushed behind, set to watch, "Q, I can help." He shook his head, making us sit back, they snuck behind two guards, choking each of them. "Hey...Tom. What are you scared of?" Why ask that now? But...why not answer, "Getting left alone or abandoned."

"I'm scared of loosing him, or I leave him alone. He acts tough but he's just as broken as we all are...all those assholes he trusted broke his heart." He stared as the two went on a spree, letting a singular tear out, "Blade's gonna be out there to protect him. Don't worry. We can protect him." He curled up into a ball, sniffling, "It's gonna be fine..." I rubbed his back for some sort of comfort, as he continued crying. He didn't look up while they were fighting, waiting till they finished, but I witnessed all this, his brother was mostly protected actually by Techno, he took over a fight whenever he looked like he couldn't take it. "Hey! It's all clear. Hurry!" We both rushed, he covered his face by looking down, but as all things go, the truck eventually caught up to us, barging through a gate.

"Shit, shit, shit. Get in." They locked the gate, as I looked around, there was a broken ladder hanging off a truck, Techno noticed as well, getting into position for us to climb. The two climbed first, when I went next, the ladder broke off but I was able to get up, "Wh- what do we do!?" He looked around, then began apologizing, grabbing Slimecicle and running. What the fuck!? I can't leave him down there, so I jumped down, "I'm not leaving you." He grabbed onto a garage door, lifting it up, "Tommy, do your thing. But quicker." I went inside, holding up the door for him. He rushed inside, while the truck neared, "I knew we couldn't trust them...let's look around." It's just his brother, not Slime, he's genuine. The place was empty, so it was easier for us to get pass to the bridge. The truck reached us again, opening another gate, we both ran through the street, the cars that blocked our way, the bridge was broken where we needed to go, there were only two outcomes to this, die, or jump. I looked at him, giving that look of recklessness, "No. It's too high and you can't- Tommy!" I jumped before he finished his sentence, without hesitation he jumped as well, grabbing me, he held onto me tight, as he turned us around, to him facing back to whatever obstacle in front of us. 

I woke up, while Slimecicle and Quackity were both trying to check if we were still alive, I coughed up water, seeing Techno still lying on the ground. "Techno. Techno! Techno, wake up, please. Please. T-techno, wake up." He opened his eyes, coughing up water as well, he looked at the two, punching Quackity, and holding out his gun. "You stay out of this! He left us out there to die!" He pointed his gun at him, about to pull the trigger, "No, you had a good chance at surviving and you did! But coming back for you, meant putting him at risk. I saved you." He had his hand on his holster, ready to fight, "He saved me too. We would've drowned, put down the gun." He did as said, walking away, "Radio tower is over that hill, there's gonna be a lot of valuable shit there. You're lucky you didn't kill me."

As we walked through these sewers, there was a room, Slime and Techno were on the other side, while he opened the door, a system let down ours. "Slime!" We were both separated, of course I have to be with this guy. "That was me, guess I triggered some sort of gate or something." They were trying to lift the door, Slime tried lifting as well, but it was no use, it only went off the ground slightly, as they tried thinking. Clickers began running towards us, "You keep him safe!" Techno screamed as we ran, they jumped from the roof, chasing us through where we went last. Quackity kept pushing me forward, "There!" He spotted a door that was covered in vines, he ripped off the vines, rushing inside. "Ah fuck." We were in some sort of room, the walls were covered in random spray painted words. Hope will shine even when the world turns cold. Fuck you It was all the paintings of the Creepers, with constant insults. There were infected walking around the place, their groans and clicks echoed throughout the rooms.

"Do you have anything to shoot with?" I nodded at his question, as he stood up and slowly crawled through them, "Use it when they notice us." Fortunately, they didn't, as soon as there was another door, we sprinted towards it, I threw a glass bottle in the middle of the room, they all ran towards it. After they all grouped into one place, he eventually threw the molotov at them, engulfing every single one. "That was fucking cool." He leaned against a wall, as he held the wound he had on his leg. "Did it get worse? I have a med kit." He pushed it away, getting up. "I'm fine. Just a quick rest was needed. Let's keep- Shit I thought they were all dead." More of them chased us out, we ran out of the door, seeing runners, stalkers, and clickers chasing us, "It's them!" Quackity screamed, but continued running pass them. Techno and Slime were both covered in blood, "Keep running!" We made it into another room, but the door was definitely not going to hold.

A gate was there, the door was blocked by a pipe, but not a vent. "Give me a few seconds." I crawled through it, removing the pipe, "Get in! Quickly!" They broke down the door, going through the gate we were behind, there were stairs leading up to the surface. A room with a skeleton and quite some supplies, a door with a small window above, "Push!" After a few tries with everyone, the only choice we had was to climb through it, "Boost me up!" Going through, I began hearing them fight, a vending machine was blocking the door, with my arms...this is gonna take forever. I began pushing it off the door, it was positioned to the point of which I could open the door for them. "Get out! Now!" Panic fled my mind, as they didn't go through instantly, they were holding off an infected from getting out, Slimecicle left first, falling to the ground. Staring at the door, "Just go already!" They left, pushing the vending machine back in place. DO NOT REMOVE MACHINE, INFECTED INSIDE "Oh fuck you, look at where they put this." 

"Techno, when we find a shop. Or something. We're getting you new clothes." I stated as his outfit and self were covered in blood, he nodded as we jumped off from the town. "I see you motherfuckers!" We were being shot at by a sniper in the house farther. "I need you guys to stay here. Before you get mad, I need you to distract him, I'm gonna go around." He kept screaming slurs at us, shooting at the floor. "Hey. Be safe." He nodded then started running around to the house, "What are we doing?" The pair ran behind another car, causing the guy to shoot at us, I'm gonna die today. "Where'd you go kids!?" How is his voice heard from so far? Guess he just screams loud enough. We ran again, barely dodging the bullets he shot. As we risked our lives for a distraction, he stopped as we were halfway towards him, the other ground level rebels were chasing after us, but it seemed the sniper changed, shooting them instead of us. I looked at the window, noticing Techno was waving, "Fuck yeah!"

The rebels multiplied one by one, all shooting at us. Quackity tried his hardest to fight them off with his little bullets, I did as well. A familiar roar was heard, the truck we dreaded came from the street, beginning to shoot at us. Throwing molotovs as well, "Run, now. As fast as you can." He gave us a quick signal, running towards a house that already warned us with clicker noises. The driver started to get reckless, standing up, exposing himself to Techno, allowing himself to be shot. He might as well have had a sign that said KILL ME, I'M FUCKING STUPID We were trying to hide behind anything that had cover and no holes, but they just keep shooting, we aren't going to surrender, we have a fucking Blood God surveilling all of this, waiting for his move just like a predator.

As soon as the driver was out for long enough, he was eliminated right away, the molotov he held fell inside, it exploded and crashed into the house we jus jumped off from. Everything began ringing again, as the house slowly crumbled, "Thank you, Techno!" I waved to him again, as he shot no so near us, as some sort of message. He shot more, nearer the house, but missed. The two were then held down by infected, pulling out my gun, and shooting each, they both sighed, "You both oka- Fu...ck. We go now, we go NOW!" More hordes of infected seemed to have heard the loud crash and all the gun shots, finally catching up to us. They had been hidden, somewhere, we sprinted to the house Techno was in, more of his shots were heard, but stopped as we made it. He grabbed me and hugged me, "You two aren't bit right!?" They both nodded, holding out their guns. "We need to leave now." The backdoor was still available, letting us leave without problem, going through the broken fence and running to a motel.

Slime and Techno were both drunk and laughing cause the motel had an endless stack of alcohol in one of the rooms. I took a few sips of the alcohol, still hating every one of them. "I'm gonna go check on Q, expected him to be happy as well." Finding an excuse to leave this entire thing, "Hey! Big Q. What're you doin'?" What the fuck did I just say? "Just checking all the food we have. And enjoying a puff, are you old enough to try this?" He handed me the cigarette he had, why not. I took one, the smoke filled my lungs. My throat felt like it was on fire as I coughed up a mass amount of smoke, I was basically begging for air. But...I had never felt so alive before, my senses heightened by this strange new experience. "I'm 15." He stole it from me, "Your brother won't mind that one of the first things I do is give you a smoke right?" I laughed as we were continued to be seen as siblings. "Did Slime send you? He keeps worrying about me...I hope...nevermind." He stood up, putting it out. "Everything alright?"

"What if the people are still inside? Trying to fight it? Screaming for help but all they can do is violence? I'm terrified of what will happen if we're just together and I just get bit and hurt him." He looked outside, at the pouring rain, clenching his fists. "Listen, Quackity. They might still look like people, but they are not. The person who they once were is not inside of there anymore. Look, I don't know if there's like anything up there, as I've been taught about God. But I'm sure they're in a better place now. I'd like to believe they are, happily with their family who have left them." I was obviously lying, noticing that his leg was bleeding more than before, but it definitely wasn't from the wound he had, I believe their just dead, and considering what people have done after the outbreak, their all in a horrible place, but aren't we all? He had a bite mark through his pant leg, he tried hiding it desperately, trying not to alarm us. "Good night." Is this the right decision? Not to tell them? Well, I guess we'll just have to suffer the consequences tomorrow.

"Oh, that smells fucking good!" I woke up to a delicious aroma, running out of the room me and Techno stayed in, Slime was cooking some MRE (Meal, ready-to-eat), "Had a good rest, Tommy?" Techno came out the room shortly after, smelling the food as well, "Why don't you call Q?" I'd much rather not, well since I'm fucking immune I guess it's best for me to get bit first. Going into the room he was in, with my switchblade out, he was already pale, twitching all over the place. He turned to me, with strong veins crossing everywhere. He ran to me, pinning me down and attempting to bite, Techno rushed to his backpack, grabbing the gun he had, but was interrupted by Slimecicle shooting him himself, as he landed on me, Slimecicle stared in horror. "What did I do? Alex...please? Alex." He held the gun close to his head, as Techno rushed to pull it away from him, "Don't. He'd want you to live." Slimecicle sobbed as he stared at the corpse. "I killed him...I killed my brother. What's wrong with me?! Why can't you just give me it!?" He reached for the gun again, but Techno pinned him down, "Charlie what have you done? What did you do...? It's your fault! It's all your fucking fault!" He tried fighting against Techno's grasp, I rushed to him, hugging him tightly, "It's not your fault." He screamed at himself for killing his brother, Techno blocked his view of the corpse, hugging him as well. "Alex..."

He didn't stop crying but began hugging the corpse that was there, pushing us away. Techno on the other hand, was grabbing all the guns Slime had, throwing them away or emptying them. "Alex, please wake up. I know you're there, don't leave me. Please." He cradled him, while me and Techno stared, he continued trying to call out for Quackity. After he somewhat accepted that he was gone, he carried him out. "Find a shovel, Techno. And Tommy, flowers, if you can." He grabbed some tools from the supply closet, while I went out for the flowers nearby. When I came back he was already buried, with a sign, "Alex Dalgleish 2010-2033, May You Rest In Piece" Slimecicle continued crying, kissing the sign and the beanie that was worn by him. Stuffing it into his backpack, "Just stick with us." 

We walked off, while Slime kept staring back, "Hey, there's a store over there. You wanna change at least? Look presentable in front of your dad?" We all walked in, taking our time after the loss, a dead soldier was inside, we ripped the bulletproof vest off, handing it to Slime. "You're gonna be safe." He looked around for some clothes to wear, grabbing a green shirt, and black jacket. The place had all sorts of clothes, costumes, and other random categories. Spotting a white sweater, red and white shirt, and brown jacket, I grabbed all three, also getting the green bandana I was given. Why was I chosen to be immune? But changing in plain sight, I looked in a mirror nearby, looking amazing. "Are you done already?!" Techno came out, in some sort of polo with some chest hair in the middle of it, a red sash around his waist, brown boots, and a red jacket on his shoulder. "Well don't you look dashing? I'm waiting for that to be red in a few hours." He laughed while brushing off some of the dust on it, "I'll use my jacket. It looks like it's about to rain anyway." Slime came out after, still having puffy eyes, "Where are we going?" We went out, continuing our journey to his dad, Phil. "Jackson, Wyoming. As far as I know, he's staying there."

Chapter Text

The rain ruined our new clothes, but it seemed we were nearer to this Phil. "You ready to see dear old father?" Judging from the last time he was mentioned, with Sam, it didn't seem like they were on good terms. "Slime! Please!" Techno pulled Slime back from the cliff that showed his demise, he's still been silent about the recent loss, we've been saving him from all the random shit he's been trying to do, be it jumping off, using one of our guns, trying to sacrifice himself to a clicker, you name it. We've basically got a leash on him from all of it, "You nervous?" Slimecicle was picked up by Techno, being carried on his back, "I don't know what I'm feeling to be honest. He became closed after the outbreak, which made our relationship worse and worse by year." Slimecicle started ruining Techno's hair more by crying onto him, mumbling about Quackity. "I'd rather not talk about it, Tom. He might, but I truly doubt it." We reached the point of which Slime needed to walk again, he let him down, patting his shoulder. "One thing I can say, your friend Sam, promised him hope. From the fact we didn't see him with them you can guess what happened." We jumped down, landing into a river. As we walked, a machine somewhat taking the water from the river was there, "What is that?" He looked at the machine while we walked towards it, "That right there is a hydroelectric power plant. It uses the rivers movement...to...uh- turn it into electricity." Genuinely confused about this hydro thing, "What's it do?"

"I know what it is, I don't know how it does it." He went towards a wheel connected to these two round surfaces, which only made one of them move. "If you can get me across I can turn it." As he nodded, Slimecicle jumped into the water, not coming back up after a while, "Techno! What the fuck are you doing!? Go after him! It's not like I can!" He shushed me, staring as a figure came up with a palette, "I saw it stuck." He went towards me, "Get on." Jumping on it, he quickly traveled to the other side, allowing me to help them cross. "Yeah, teamwork!" Having my hand out, they both ignored me. "Really, you gonna leave me hanging? I see how it is." A grave with a teddy bear was on the cliff, Slimecicle stared at it, his eyes welled up again. "I'm so fucking hungry, next squirrel I see I'm a hundred percent gonna shoot it." He goes towards a gate, about to open it. "Halt! Drop your weapons." A woman in a purple vest and black hat was holding a rifle at us. "Tommy, put them down. We didn't know the place was occupied. We're just trying to get through." 

"They're alright." A blonde male, similar to the man in the notebook Techno had, opened the gate. "What you know these people?" She put down the gun, still wary of us, "I know him, he's my fucking son." Oh, holy shit, this dude is fucking old. How old is Techno? The two hugged immediately, not letting go at all, "How you doing, old man?" The woman came down from her post, smiling as she looked at them, "Holy shit, it's been so long. Oh- This is Kristin, be nice to her, she sorta runs things around here." He nodded to her, while me and Slime watched as the family was reunited, "Would've been embarrassing considering I'm family." They both hugged, hinting some sort of message, "Kristin is my wife, sorry I wasn't able to send out wedding invitations." Techno stared, not breaking his gaze, "Tommy, right? And who are you?" She looked at Slime who was sulking behind us, "Charlie, you can call me Slime though." We all got acquainted, entering the plant. 

"You guys hungry? We just got some food ready." Fuck yes, "Phil, you don't mind if we can talk, privately?" He nodded, who calls their dad by their name? "You guys have horses?!" Both of us were excited, petting the horse and adoring them, "Have you ridden one before?" A soldier taught me how to, he was nice, until he was caught by stupid military and they executed him, "Yes, I have." A radio came on, We're in the control room, Steve's about to start it up, do ya wanna come check it out? "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. You go eat with them." I don't give a shit who I'm with as long as they give me food I'm going, "It's nice their back together, don't mean to overshare, but Phil's only been talking about his kids since we got married." Kids? "I thought Techno was an only child?" The conversation was a bit uncomfortable, but I want to learn more about the guy who's delivering me across the country, "He didn't tell you? He has- had a brother, twin, name is William Watson. Kinda looked like you, I saw some photos after he traveled back from their old house. He died on outbreak day cause of the infected and the military." Oh shit. Techno's a twin? What does this mean? "Here, I borrowed a photo cause when they were kids they actually looked adorable." She handed me a faded photo, this dude doesn't look anything like me. Or him.

The photo seemed to have been ripped from all the debris, but there was another person in the corner, seemed like they were Techno. "Anyway, enough of that...we got some food over here." A few plates were at some tables, some had people hanging out, and it seemed like this was the cafeteria of this plant, there was a girl staring at me, serving something called coffee, "The fuck do you want?" She looked away, continuing to serve the people who were trying to bring this place back alive, "So, tell me. How exactly are you guys with him?" On the way here, we told Slime about my entire situation, showing him the bite I had, "It's a long story...all I can say is we're best friends now." She laughed as we ate, covering her mouth as to not spill. An alarm came shortly after, causing her to grab the both of us, multiple guys came in with shotguns and explosives, "Run as fast as you can!" We rushed to this office, jumping through the broken window, ignoring the existence of the door. "Just stay quiet." Slime began clenching onto Quackity's beanie, closing his eyes. My entire body was shaking at this, but looking through the window, Techno and Phil came, taking care of each with his axe and guns. "They're all dead!" He came rushing at us both, hugging and checking if we were hurt in anyway, "They- there was this big guy who just came storming in with a shot gun, and they all rushed- swarmed through the entire cafeteria, and we- running! And you know?!" He laughed at what I said, still scared, "Goddammit, I need to talk to you."

Techno POV

"Absolutely not! You tell him to go find someone else, find some other fucking group to deal with." Tommy came up to me, after comforting Charlie, "Do you know how many men we lost today!?" We both looked at them, as they fought about what I requested, him to join us, just a small group to come with us, or maybe he could be taken off my hands. "Does it have anything to do with me?" Shushing him for a bit, he dragged Charlie with him, going towards somewhere. "It takes one fuck up, one! And I become one of those widows. Okay?" She pointed towards somewhere, supposedly the town, describing how many people have lost each other, "I have to do this. And I won't fuck up." They went towards me, I stood up from the crates I sat on, "You, if anything. Anything happens to him. It's on you." She walked off, a static from her radio was heard, but the message wasn't. "I'll check in if I can take him, after that, come stay with us. We have a home here, and a lot of empty houses. You guys can stay together or whatever." He patted my shoulder walking off to Kristin, "Wait, can. Can Slime stay here? I don't want him to deal with anymore things, can he stay in one of those houses?" He nodded.

"Hey! Tech, the two of them ran off with one of the horses." Tommy, dammit. He grabbed two horses, waiting for me to get onto another. We followed some tracks, it lead to a small village, polluted with more bandits. "Hope you still have bullets'." Grabbing my axe since I was already out, "Phil's gotten old." Why are you here again? "I want to see him." He stared at Phil, trying to hug him. "I miss you both." We miss you too. As I talked to this fiction of my brother, my clothes were once again covered in blood, luckily I had my red jacket on, most of their heads were split into two or cut off. "Why can you see me but he can't?" Guess he's moved on, "Why haven't you?" I just can't for some reason, "Well, if you looked at me." He was fading as his voice was clear, "You can, and you are." He didn't leave this time, only watching us ride towards a farmhouse. "There! A horse, they've got to be here." Charlie was sitting at the dining, "He's upstairs." Phil left me alone to talk to him, trying to talk to Charlie.

"This is what kids worried about before? What game to buy, what outfit to wear, how to impress each other?" He was sitting at the window, in a room decorated with posters and clothes, "Get up, we're leaving. C'mon."

"And if I say no?"

"Do you even realize what your life means, huh? Running off like that, Tommy. Putting yourself at risk!" 

"Well I guess were both disappointed in each other then." Why are you doing this to me?

"What more do you want?" He stood up, going towards me. "Admit you wanted to get rid of me this entire time."

"He knows, they know this place better than I do-"

"Fuck that." He rubbed his eyes, annoyed at me, I didn't want to get rid of you, I don't want to get rid of you. "I'm sorry, but he knows more about this place than I do."

"Stop with the bullshit, Techno. What are you so afraid of? That I'll end up like Quackity? I can't get infected. I can take care of myself." I know that, they know, but the countless times I have felt terrified about this, "Techno, let him talk." Will, this is between us.

"I'm not him. You know?" I looked away, as he mentioned, him. "I don't think it is anymore." Will. "Kristin told me about Will, and I-" 

"Do not mention him. At all." 

"I'm sorry about your brother, Techno. But I have lost people too." I'm sure you've lost someone who was so dear to you, so close to you that you basically needed him to survive, and he needed you as well. "You have no idea what loss is."

"Everyone. Everyone I cared for, has either died, or left me. Everyone, fucking except for you! Fucking except for you, Techno." He pushed me, already tearing up, "So don't tell me I'd be safer with someone else, cause to be honest, I'd only be more scared."

"You're right. You aren't my brother, and we sure as hell aren't family. And we are going our separate ways." Both Slime and Phil barged into the room, "Get it together, we aren't alone." He hid behind Phil, looking down. "I got two walking in." More were heard downstairs, "Both of you, stay up here." 

Tommy POV

Fuck. You. I'm going to help. Whether or not you like it, Slime had left his bag on the floor, crawling into a corner, I took it cause it seemed he didn't have much of a thought while sitting there, running past the two, I threw some explosives, taking out the remaining bandits. They both stared as there was blood and random parts of their body everywhere, their blood had reached me, "They're all gone, right?" Slime came down, grabbing the backpack and frantically looking for stuff. "Don't take my fucking stuff again." He left the house, getting onto the horse that we rode on to get here. Techno left the house as well, going onto one of the other horses, "Kid, just ride with me." As we left, they both stared at me with either hatred or disappointment, either way it hurt. We began going back to Jackson, the sun set as we did, revealing a wonderful view of the town. "Tom, let's get some rest for tomorrow. And a good meal, Phil, would you still like to help us?" Phil nodded, looking back at me. "I just got you back, I don't want to loose you again. And it seems your gonna need more help taking care of this child. Luckily for you, I'm a great fucking dad." The two shared laughter, as we went down through the large wooden walls. 

"Slime, I know you're still going through it. So I thought you could stay here, there's food, people, horses, and a buttload of things you can do." He nodded without hesitation, to staying here. "I'd like to show you something." We walked to the end of the town, where there was an empty street, no buildings, nothing at all except some painting materials and a bench, looking up, some peoples faces were on the wall. "We've dedicated this section for those we lost. It was Kristin's idea after I told her about him, and it seemed a lot of people were feeling horrible. So we painted, drew, spray painted them onto this, when we'd feel like we can finally accept it, we paint our hands, leaving a handprint on the person. Why don't you try drawing whoever you lost? It might help." Many people were on it, especially Will, he was basically in the middle of it, and there was a hand the shape of Phil's on him. "I'll show you to a house. You can rest there then come join us at the restaurant, some food and drinks." 

Techno stayed back, staring at all the people, "Here, it's one of the best houses on sale." He showed a clean house, with nothing destroyed, nothing growing on it, a perfectly preserved home. A few stairs led us up, towards the door, all the furniture was preserved as well. He left us be, to change or whatever, "Tom, I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was saying, and- being here with him, it's just making me remember." Cool shit here, bunch of carving materials, and books about farming. "It's fine. Sorry, as well, for mentioning him. I shouldn't have." He went up after we had a short conversation, the shower turned on, there was another bathroom down here, I'm not a big fan of taking a bath. I grabbed a towel and washed my face in the sink, looking up to see him. He was covered in spores. With his red bandana wrapped, so vibrant. He waved to me before leaving out the door, Techno came in, with a different brown jacket, "I don't know where to go." We spent a lot of time in that restaurant, drinking whatever shitty alcohol was there, mostly eating food. "Please, stay safe. You guys as well." She gave Phil a goodbye kiss, as we left the town at dawn. "So, where is this lab of theirs?" The sun rose, blinding me. "It's all the way out - University of East Colorado."  "Go big horns." 

"Okay, so let me see if I get this straight. If you mess up your fourth down, then you give the ball to the other team? And if you wanna clear the ten yards then you're back at... first down? My head hurts." They both laughed at me, after explaining this sport, "Good job." We arrived at the gates of the University, "How many people do you guys think there are? Creepers I mean. You think there'll be people my age?" Phil watched as Techno struggled to answer the questions, he went off the horse, "Why did you name him Ju-orse?" Cause it's a good name. "It's a funny name, Tech. Oh shit, did you hear that?" Phil went off his horse, hearing the runner noises, "Tommy, you stay here. Really, stay here. We'll go deal with it." Fuck you. I want to go, but of course, someone's gotta stay with the horses. After waiting for a bit, seeing random runners fall out the windows above, they came out. "All clear." I want to play games for a living. "What is the job for playing games for a living? I would've wanted to do that." They both looked at each other, as if they remembered something, "YouTuber, we actually did that before." That's way more fucking interesting than some fucking sport. "I would've definitely wanted to do that! What did you guys usually do?" Oh, it's probably what they do now, fight against enemies, "We sat down and talked into our computers. Fighting, basically what we're fighting today." Not as cool as I thought, but still. "Monkey! It's motherfucking monkeys! Follow them! Please." There was a group of them, just looking at leaves, not yet noticing us. We went closer, the horses made noise that startled them, screeching and running off. "That was majestic." 

"You really are like- it's the building!" We didn't even notice that the lab was there, it was covered by all the debris over the years, "Hide the horses somewhere, who knows?" He brought both of the horses inside a building, tying them behind the lab. Techno moved a trash can towards the blocked area, allowing us to enter into the lab, which hopefully, contain the creepers. We went up again, as we arrived in, it was trashed, having packs left all over, some of the tables knocked over, supplies were left as well. "Where are they?" Techno seemed to have hope they were here, as Phil was exploring the rooms, seeming as he knew what this place was like. "How do you think they'll do it?" The two came near me, answering the question, "I think they'll just draw blood from you. It doesn't hurt." Thought there might be a surgery of sorts, that would look cool, when I finish it, the people who were saved will say I'm awesome and all will praise me and I'll have more women. "The place seems deserted, I thought they'd be here..." Phil looked through each of the rooms, thoroughly, looking for any indication of the creepers, "Looks like they packed up in a hurry. Look at the trashed stuff around." Techno picked up the stuff on the floor, dusting them off one by one, "Nothing useful, all medical mumbo-jumbo." A noise was heard upstairs, items fell and shattered, "Creepers?" 

We rushed up through the stairs, looking through each room if there was a single one of them, alas, none were seen, only the monkeys that were there earlier looking for something to eat, they hissed or screamed at us then left. "Please, please, please. Fuck! Where the fuck are they?! You said they'd be here!" I screamed at Phil who looked defeated, "I thought they would, if we just look around more, perhaps we could find something." Techno went to a room in the corner, displaying the building we hid the horses in, a skeleton with body armor on was there, holding onto a recorder. Phil came in, shortly after, leaning against the desk, waiting for the recorder to be played, If you're looking for fireflies, they've all left. I'm dead, or will be soon, fuck...Got me some time to reflect, heh....been years that felt like we were...fucking thing was a waste of ti- not gonna do this anymore....Looking for all the others, they've all returned to Saint Mary's Hospital in Salt Lake City. You'll find them there, still trying to save this fucked up world. Good luck with that, whoever this is. "Alright, so Saint Mary's Hospital. That close?" The two were disappointed and worried, "It isn't exactly close. I mean on horseback-" He looked out the window, seeing hunters or whatever fucking crew this is again checking out the noises of which we hid the horses, "Oh fuck. We got company." 

Us three fell to the ground, as they spotted our existence, rushing inside. "Tommy, please listen this time, stay hidden." Fine, I'm gonna throw shit I find though, they both rushed out, gunshots already being placed, Techno beheaded each of them, tearing them apart, breathing heavily as well. "The fuck happened to you?" He barely had a scratch on him, each of these fucks had no power against The Blade, "Let's go." He rushed out, after checking out whatever was left of their bodies, stopping at a glass fence, "Where do we go now?!" A male came out, strangling Techno, breaking the glass, Phil tried knocking him off, but unfortunately failed, causing both of them to fall, the enemy died, as Techno...impaled on a rod. He was still breathing, he reached out, staring at the rod that went right through him, bleeding out slowly. "Okay, I'm gonna lift you, alright?!" Phil lifted him from his back, holding his hand, he screamed in agony, alerting all around us. "I'm not loosing another son I just got back! Techno, don't you dare fucking leave me." He carried Techno, holding his back and lifting his arm, I helped them out, "Just get to the damn horse." We slowed down cause of this injury, not getting through things fast enough, making our chance of leaving and getting to safety slim. "Please, Techno. I can't do this without you..." I pleaded Techno to hold on just a little longer, he fell to the ground, leaning against the wall with Phil crying, "Just stay with him, I'll clear a path." He went out, with his shotgun, screaming as loud as he could. 

"Techno. Techno, stay with me, please. Don't leave, please." He was trying his best not to faint, or leave, "Tom, I'm fine. It's only a rod through my flesh." Keeping his humor up, while also hurting badly, "Guys! Let's go before the rest of them find us." I helped him up, trying to bring him to the door, he pushed me away, trying to convince he can walk, "Can you fucking walk?" He nodded slightly, "Then fucking walk." We neared to the exit, it was basically calling us, but Techno collapsed, looking as if he passed out, paler than he was before, "Alex, please. I can't loose you too..." Phil, who was already old as hell, lifted Techno onto his back, trying to run out with his legs being dragged across the floor. "You're just gonna fucking watch or you're gonna actually do something?" I ran out, they screamed, "You killed our friends you fucking assholes!" Shooting, horribly, we made it to the horses, dropping Techno right onto one, "I know somewhere close here that's safe enough." I had Techno at my back, barely breathing. "Let's go then!" 

Chapter Text

I apologize for not writing, I'm currently dealing with loss in the family. I will not be writing this week nor next week, as exams are arriving and I need to study. I promise I'll write once everything calms down.