Chapter Text
With the first snowfall of the season, Jack has been tasked with finding new coats, boots, and anything else that he could find that could be useful. His dad, Charles, and Sadie had gone farther into the city while Jack was sent in the direction of the tailor. Most of the undead have rotted away in the streets since there’s nothing to continue feeding them, though Jack heard that it’s worst closer to the center of the city and the docks.
A fine layer of dust jumps in the air when Jack shoulders the door opens; coughing and waving a hand to clear the air. He would think this place would have been ripped to pieces but with the rotten bodies out in the streets, it’s likely that not many had made it where they can steal from the local shops. He runs a hand over a jacket – checking for any holes – when he hears a familiar click and feeling of a gun train on his back.
Jack makes sure to keep his hands visible when he slowly turns around.
Standing before him is a girl about his age with a steady hand and a gaze that never wavier for a moment. It’s a surprise to see another person in the city since many had either become an undead, escaped, or just dead out on the streets.
“What are you doing?” her question sounds rehearsed.
“Winter had caught us off guard; I was tasked to get coats and stuff.” Jack gestures to the coats that he was looking through. “I’m here with three other people and they’ll be looking for me soon.” Don’t show your hand but Jack has a feeling that he should share that bit, specially since she doesn’t look surprise by anything Jack had said. “Which you already know, somehow.”
“Walking the streets are a death sentence,” she said. “Do you know where your friends went?”
“The train station, near the harbour.” They had only spilt up for less than an hour but there’s a reason why everyone at camp had called them insane for even attempting coming here. “Let me guess, the worst part of the city is down there.”
“Pretty much.” Her gun clicks again before being stored in a pouch on her hip; she motions for Jack to follow. “If they’re not already dead, we can check by using the roofs.” She leads the way through the back of the store to a staircase that takes them up to the roof where the cold air snaps at Jack, causing him to shiver at the suddenness of it. “Maybe you should have grab a coat before leaving.”
Jack waves away the concern; “I’ll be fine.”
The cold should mean nothing compared to everything that had happened…but it’s his mind trying to punish him again. Someone had mentioned hat to him once; how he allows himself to suffer because he believes that he deserve it, despite the fact that’s not true for even a moment. Even with the blood on his hands, he shouldn’t freeze just because he’s trying to survive.
Suddenly, a warmth wraps around him and Jack didn’t think twice about putting the coat on. It looks familiar but Jack can’t remember where he had seen it at the moment. A simple blue gunslinger coat (if he remembering the names right) with a nice fur lining on the inside; Jack went about closing the coat and fixing his hat to block more of the wind before giving his thanks.
“You know, I never got your name?” Jack asks while quickly following after the girl. “I’m Jack.”
“Linde,” she said; taking a quick turn to another building which leads them further into the city. “So, why are you in the city? Other than for the winter gear.”
Jack isn’t sure on how much he should tell her; his father would be happy if he goes around sharing all their information to a stranger. However, if they need to return to the city at some point than maybe Linde will be able to help them. Which he why he decided to share a small bit on why they are in the city, not only for the gear but also because a person that could give them some information about what’s going on.
Linde doesn’t look convince but didn’t push any farther.
Not until they hear a single gun shot ring through the silence…and the cries of the undead.
…
It feels like the universe is laughing at him, at this point.
John looks over the desk to see the hoard of the undead swarming outside in the search of the noise, which he wants to know where it had come from as well. It was close to their location but none of them had even raised their weapons against the undead that were sleeping. From what Pearson had told hem; the dead in the city sleep during the day and are active at night. It’s the whole reason why they came as early as they did.
“The stairs have been blocked,” Charles said; sliding next to Sadie. “Our only way out is through the front unless you want to alert them while clearing a way through.”
“If we don’t get eaten first,” Sadie points out.
John blocks the conversation out while taking another look over the desk; trying to figure out some kind of way out. Going through the front means death; no matter how fast they run or how many they shoot. There’s a reason why Pearson was admitted that they never stay here after dark; with how dense the hoard is it’ll be impossible to make their way through. Clearing the stairs could be their best hope but that means nothing if they make too much noise and caused the undead to come inside.
“We’re trying the stairs,” John states; ending the argument. “We’ll take it slow and quiet.”
Charles and Sadie look at one another, not convince but not giving any other idea. However, they didn’t even make it to the stairs when another ring of a gun shot spilt the silence in half. The hoard cried out and runs out towards the noise, leaving them enough of an opening to get to the train station across the road, which they did.
The train was one of the main reasons why they even bothered with coming into city; if they get it started than they can get supplies moving between camps and maybe give them a fighting chance against the undead. Charles had went straight to the train while Sadie went about clearing out the cars while John went onto watch, making sure to alert the others when the hoard comes back.
That’s when he sees…
“Arthur?” the name feels heavy in this mouth.
The snow falling doesn’t help with the visibility and the figure is gone from the roof, leaving John to question if that even happened in the first place. That’s until his son comes running into the station with a girl following behind him; the two are more focus on the shut doors than John standing there.
“The hoard won’t be gone forever,” the girl said. “This is where most of them are during the day.”
“Do I even want to know what you got up to?” John question; causing his son and the girl to jump and whip around, both reaching for their guns before settling when they realize that it’s not an undead standing there.
“Not really,” Jack said before going about introduction his friend. “Oh, Dad, this is Linde. She’s help me get to you guys and to deal with the day.”
“Had to set off one of my decoys but I think it’s worth it.” She crosses her arms while moving past John to look at the train. “You guys trying to get train working?” Linde continues before John could answer. “You won’t be the first, it’s missing the master key which only the conductor has.” She nods towards the main street. “He’s part of the hoard.”
“Well, that does put a stop to that plan.” John wonders how they’ll even get the key; the sun isn’t going to be the problem at the moment; no, the problem is waiting for the hoard to settle again. It could take hours or more for that to happen. “Any ideas?” He turns to the kids to see what they are thinking; mostly because Charles and Sadie haven’t return yet.
“Linde, you know this city better than anyone, got any ideas?”
“Only one but you won’t like it.”
…
The problem with being immune isn’t that Jack can’t turn into an Undead, it’s the fact that he can still be killed with one miss step. They had waited for the hoard to have settle back down but that leaves with almost no day light left and now a ticking clock in finding the conductor before the street lights turn on. Jack glance back to the station to see his father, Linde, Sadie, and Charles watching from inside.
Only Linde gives a double thumbs up and a smile.
Each step through the undead cause Jack to freeze – watching limbs twitch, unseeing eyes flicking towards him, and what he wants to believe to be snores. It reminds him of a game from when he was younger, the floor was untouchable and he had to get to whatever goal he had set while his parents attempt to make him fall. That was fun, this is stressful.
The wind doesn’t help either; the snow had started building and the temperature started dropping. He had to leave his jacket behind to give him full movement through the hoard. Focus. It’s hard to tell which one could be the conductor since almost all the undead are rotten or gotten down to the bone. The clothes aren’t even helpful; there’s a few pieces that gives way to banker tellers, shop keepers, or street sweepers but if he were looking for one of them than it would be useful.
Focus.
Finally, Jack managed to find the conductor and had to carefully pat down the undead to find a keyring that they can sort through once he gets back. He steps back and freezes at the sound of something snapping under his boot. Slowly, he continues making his way back to the station until he tumbles through the doors and firm shut them behind him.
He hands the keyring over to Charles, who went straight to the train with Sadie. Jack jumps when his dad pat his shoulder before he and Linde follow after him into the train where Charles and Sadie have managed to get everything set up.
“Once we start moving, the hoard going to try to climb aboard.” Charles had taken the helm while Sadie is setting herself up at the entrances. “I want you kids to get up high to give us cover down here.” His dad hands over some extra bullets to Jack before pointing out where he wants them. “Only come down when I tell you, got it.”
They did agree before making their way up on top of the car behind the engine; readying themselves for a fight of a life time.
…
Escaping the hoard was much harder than they thought, specially since getting the train up to speed felt like an eternity. John had been going through each of the cars to make sure that there’s no undead lingering behind until he reaches the dinner car where Linde and Jack are playing some card game; Linde had gotten up after John told her that Sadie wants to talk to her about something.
“Don’t peek at my cards, Mr. Marston.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Ms. Smith.”
John takes the seat across from his son, who gives him a look to not say anything which he only put his hands up in defense.
“It’s really coming down out there,” Jack said; watching the scenery outside the train. “I’m surprise since I thought it would be to warm down here for the snow…maybe that’s part of all of this too?”
John haven’t thought much about this curse or whatever they are doing with. They have spent most of the beginning of this looking into different leads and ideas but they came up empty handed. Maybe someone smarter than him could figure it out…maybe there’s nothing to figure out, nothing to stop. Or maybe he’s been spending to much time thinking about Arthur and Hosea lately to really think straight anymore.
“You trust me, right?” Jack asks, suddenly.
“Trust you?” John couldn’t help sounding surprise.
“Well, it’s not like we hung out that much before all of this and then we had out moments.” Jack have been shuffling his cards while talking. “I mean, I trust you now but I have no idea if you trust me to have your back.” He refuses to look at John for even a moment. “I mean, even if you don’t you won’t be able to get rid of me.”
“Wasn’t planning on it,” John said; startling his son a bit. “Much rather have you with me than anyone else.”
Mostly because there isn’t anyone else to take that place; Charles, Sadie, and Linde aren’t going to stick around forever, specially since the two are used to do things by themselves these days. And at some point, John wants to return to Beecher’s Hope to properly bury Abigale and Uncle which is something that Jack at mentioned off handedly.
“Thanks, that means a lot coming from you,” Jack said.
John ruffles his son’s hair while standing up and heads out – giving a greeting to Linde, who retakes her seat across from Jack – to return to the engine.