“Last Survivor” -- Walking Dead / We’re Alive Crossover (Carley is found and saved.)

[Carleyleo]

I actually laughed together with the characters during the last lines And really neat reference at the end of the chapter!

[RafaelBrasileiro]

great story!
Waiting for the next chapter.: D: D

[Cyreen]

A little bit The Walking Dead, a little bit Battlestar Galactica, a generous dash of We're Alive... am I missing anything?

[Sir Fruitcakes]

Originally Posted by Cyreen

A little bit The Walking Dead, a little bit Battlestar Galactica, a generous dash of We're Alive... am I missing anything?

Fusing battlestar galactica with anything makes me depressed for what the director of that show did to my stargate...

[ZombieGoBoom]

Chapter Four: Mayday

Lying on her back, Carley nervously held the sharp metal rod in her hand.

This feels like a dumb idea, she thought to herself. On a scale from one to ten, this has to be an eight. A ten would be trying to high-five a walker.

Carefully, she placed the tip against the metal surface above her head. In her other hand she held a hammer. Slowly, she prepared to strike the end of the rod to drive it home when she stopped.

“Are you absolutely sure this is safe?” An anxious Carley asked Burt and Saul who were watching her.

She was under an abandoned SUV, ready to drain its gas tank by hammering a hole in it. The two men were kneeling down to watch and help talk her through it.

“Like I told you, the rod you are using is made of brass and it will not create a spark.” Burt assured her. “Trust me, it’s faster than siphoning it out with a rubber hose and this allows us to get every drop.”

Carley still hesitated. “And you have done this before?”

“Hundreds of times with no problem,” Burt said with all seriousness. “Except for that one incident when I lost my hair.”

“Burt, you are very close to my feet,” Carley warned with a deadly one eyed glare. “And I will not hesitate to kick you!”

“Geez! Relax Rooster!” He chuckled. “You have no sense of humor.”

“Stop teasing her,” Saul finally said. “It’s safe Carley. Just give it one quick blow. Just make sure to not get any gas on your clothes.”

With great reluctance, Carley placed the pointed tip of the rod against the gas tank over her head again. Then with a quick, short swing, she whacked the end with the hammer but it failed to pierce the metal surface.

“Just a little harder than that,” Burt told her. “It won’t bite.”

“No, but it might burst into flames.” Carley grumbled as she struck it again. The sharpened rod dented the metal of the tank even more but still didn’t penetrate.

“Come on,” Saul urged her. “Show us those muscles.”

One last hit finally drove the brass rod through the bottom of the tank.

“You got it,” Burt said. “Now quickly slide the container under it before pulling the rod free.”

Carley followed his instructions and when she pulled the rod free, gasoline quickly started to empty into the container.

That was easy and no flames or explosions.

Smiling, she crawled back out from underneath the SUV and stood up with a helping hand from Burt.

“How many more do we need?” She asked.

“If we can fill up five gas cans, we’ll be good to go.” Saul said.

Carley looked pass the SUV to the long line of abandoned cars, locked in a traffic jam that stretched on for miles. This place has become an easy source of canned goods and fuel for them to pick over. The only danger is to avoid being taken by surprise of any large packs of walkers wandering along. Just twenty feet away, Michael stood on the roof of their humvee on the lookout to avoid any such incidents.

“All of them were trying to flee to Atlanta.” Carley said. “Trying to get somewhere safe.”

“Like getting there would have been any better,” Saul replied. “Before the official channels went dead, the last communication we received was that the city became infested. It sounded like hell on earth, literally one half of Atlanta was eating the other half. Finally, someone gave the order for the air force to bomb it.”

This was first time Carley had heard of this and she was horrified. “Bomb Atlanta?”

Saul nodded his head. “Everyone was panicking by then, including our leaders. That’s when we knew we just hit rock bottom and with communications cut off we were on our own. We tried our best to save anyone we could and simply get through this,” Then he gestured towards the abandoned vehicles. “Come on, let’s gather up what we can and get out of here.”

About an hour later, they had managed to scrounge up the needed five cans of gasoline. Along with that, they collected several boxes of canned food and even some guns and ammo, almost filling the back of the humvee to the roof.

Carley was taking a turn on lookout duty as Michael loaded the last of the supplies in the back. She glanced down at him from the roof of the vehicle.

Now is a good time as any. Carley thought.

“Michael, I know I asked this many times…” She started to say.

He stopped and looked up. Michael knew what she was going to ask and it was starting to annoy him but he had to credit Carley for her determination.

“And my answer is still no. I’m sorry but Savannah is too risky. I know they’re your friends but I can’t risk my people to help yours, not without more information as to what happened to them. You don‘t even remember what happened to yourself.”

“And I understand but I have another proposal. Let’s try Macon, its closer and I know the place to try to look for them.”

“The motel?”

Carley nodded. “If something went wrong, they would have gone back there and it might be worth your time. We have our own supplies, including fuel and weapons if it’s still there.”

“It’s still about 70 miles.”

“Please.”

Michael paused. “Okay, just give me a day to think about it.”

“Thank you.” Carley said just as Saul and Burt returned with the last of supplies they had gathered.

“Get a load of what I found,” Saul reached into the box he was carrying and pulled out a tiny package. “Twinkies! And just not any Twinkies but the last Twinkies that anyone will enjoy in the whole universe.”

“They must be how many months old and sitting in a hot car just baking,” Carley winced in disgust. “And you want to share?”

“Oh, come on,” Saul said. “Remember Zombieland with Woody Harrelson when his character delivers that line; ‘There's a box of Twinkies in that grocery store. Not just any box of Twinkies, the last box of Twinkies that anyone will enjoy in the whole universe. Believe it or not, Twinkies have an expiration date’ … And you guys really have no clue as to what I am talking about.”

“Zombieland?” Burt laughed. “Never heard of it but let me guess, did it have zombies in it?”

“I think I was in a place called Iraq at the time.” Michael commented. “Didn’t see it either.”

“I hate Twinkies and junk food in general,” Carley said before taking one last look around to make sure no walkers were about before hopping down from the roof. “And guess what, I also hate horror movies and now I’m living in one. How ironic is that?”

“I’m willing to bet at least you are no longer afraid of spiders.” Burt mused aloud.

Carley just looked at him before grinning. “Yes and now it’s replaced with punching holes in gas tanks.”

Her joke immediately earned a good laugh from the old marine when suddenly from inside their humvee, their radio came to life as a panicked male voice was heard.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday! This is Atlanta news copter, is anyone out there? Mayday, mayday, mayday!”

“Holy shit!” Saul exclaimed, shocked to hear another human voice on the radio that wasn’t from their group.

Michael quickly ran and opened the door to the vehicle and grabbed the radio mike and spoke calmly into it, taking the risk of using his rank and name.

“This is Sergeant Cross. We read you. Can you give us your location?”

For a moment there was silence then the voice returned in guarded relief. “We’re south of some town… We’re checking the map… It’s Woodbury. We’re losing oil pressure fast! I have to put her down soon. Can you help us, Sergeant Cross?”

“Woodbury,” Saul thought, remembering it’s location from memory. “That’s about a 20 minute drive if none of the roads are blocked. We never explored that area before.”

“We have to try and help them,” Michael said before speaking into the radio mike again. “Atlanta copter, we read you and we’re on our way. It’s going to take us at least 20 minutes to reach you and it’s vital you have something that can signal us. An emergency hand radio, some flares, or even smoke signals if you have to.”

“Understood and thank you Sergeant Cross.”

“And remember, you’re probably going to have company when you’re back on the ground. Just run and climb onto something high and solid to get out of their reach but try to stay close to the crash site.”

“You don’t have to tell us twice… Shit! Engine is failing… Going down… We’re coming down along Highway 85... About ten miles south of Woodbury… Trees! Everyone brace!!! Fuck… “

Then the radio transmission went dead.

“Atlanta copter, are you still there?” Michael called but he received nothing but static. “Atlanta copter, do you read?”

“We will be wasting a lot of fuel searching for them.” Burt said. “Surviving a helicopter crash is dicey enough without the threat of walkers waiting for you as you crawl your way out of the wreckage.”

“I know.” Michael considered for a moment. “But we’re going to give them a chance and find them.”

They loaded up the rest of the supplies and radioed the Nest about their unexpected detour north before setting off towards Woodbury. Along the way, twice they had to backtrack to find another route because of blocked roads . Burt wasn’t happy about the amount of fuel they were using in trying to find the helicopter but Michael was behind the wheel and he wasn’t planning to give up on them.

Saul was still checking the map when they finally got on Highway 85 which would take them directly to Woodbury. All the way it was more of the same, rows of abandoned cars and sheer desolation of entire communities. If there were other survivors, then they’re in hiding. Nothing else was moving except for walkers. The ones on the road were easy to maneuver around them but a few times the narrow roads forced Michael to run them over.

By now, Burt was voicing his concerns about the real possibly of breaking down out there and being out of range with their CBs when in the front passenger seat, Carley spotted something to her right. A very faint trail of smoke rising amongst some trees

“I think I see something.”

Just a half of a mile off Highway 85, almost concealed in a group of trees was the helicopter. Michael steered the humvee and went off the road to make their way to it. As they got closer, they could see the helicopter was a complete write off but the pilot and crew section looked mostly intact.

Michael stopped the humvee about sixty feet away and no walkers were in sight for the moment. With weapons ready, they exited the vehicle and slowly approached the wreck.

“Definitely an Atlanta news copter and the engine is still smoking,” Carley observed. “This has to be it.”

“No bodies,” Saul commented as they drew closer. “In another time and world, that would be considered a good sign.”

“Well, lets get this over with,” Burt muttered before shouting out in every direction. “Hello! We’re here to save your sorry asses! Come on out!”

Michael stared at the former marine saying in a very dry tone. “Thank you Burt.”

“Just trying to move things along,” Burt replied. “If they’re alive they should be answering.”

Saul moved around the copter and stared at the ground. “I have a lot of foot prints here!” The rest of them joined him as he inspected the direction of the tracks in the soft ground. “A set of tracks came from the north and probably took the survivors. If they went willingly, I can‘t say.”

“So are we going after them?” Carley asked.

“I don’t like this,” Burt said. “We have no idea what we‘re getting ourselves into.”

“We just might have found another group of survivors.” Saul said. “It’s worth investigating.”

“They could be bandits for all we know.” Burt replied. “I say we head back while we can.”

Michael was still studying the tracks around the copter, debating whether to follow them or not when he noticed something else.

“There are another set of tracks over here,” he pointed out to the others. “Three people came from the east and it looks like they followed the group that came from the north.”

“Another group of survivors?” Carley said hopefully. It was comforting to know that they were not the last people on earth. “What should we do?”

At that very same moment, they were all being watched unknowingly from a hill top just a few hundred yards away. Three figures were huddled behind some bushes.

The leader of the small group lowered a pair of binoculars down from his face. “The Governor was right, that helicopter crash is pulling every living person in for miles. We have two heavily armed soldiers with two civilians in tow, some old guy and a woman with an eye patch and both of them are armed too.”

“Fuck, anyone can put on a uniform and helmet and look the part. That‘s doesn‘t mean anything,” A second man commented before pointing to the brunette woman next to them. “Give the binoculars to her. She claims to be military. She might spot something amiss if they‘re fakes.”

The leader passed the binoculars to the brunette who then took them to study Michael’s group.

“Their gear looks real, including their weapons, helmets and ballistic vests.” She informed them. “Right down to the way they‘re wearing their equipment, military patches and even how they move‘”

She then looked over the two civilians with them. She saw the huge older man was holding a Desert Eagle pistol and the woman was carrying a Glock but she was looking in the other direction, keeping her face from view. Giving up, the brunette turned her binoculars to inspect their ride.

“Their vehicle is not a civilian hummer. That’s definitely a military up armored humvee.” She told them. “We’ll need explosives if we have to stop it.”

The second man shook his head at the unwelcomed news. “Are you sure Lilly?”

“Positive.” Lilly looked at them. “Just because I was an air force mechanic doesn’t mean I was limited to just fixing planes.”

“Well, that doesn’t change anything.“ the leader said. “The Governor is interested in anyone else who comes to investigate the crash site and to determine if they‘re a threat. We have to try everything possible to get them to come back to Woodbury with us.”

Lilly looked doubtful. “Terry, it might be wise if we let this group pass. If they are hostile, it‘ll be for the best if they don‘t know about us.”

“We already had three people appearing at our doorstep not long ago and the Governor wants information on anyone else who shows up,” Terry said firmly. “He won’t be happy if we just let them go. We’ll just approach them and act all friendly. No doubt they’ll be curious about us too, then we can use that to lure them back with us. It’s risky but it’s not like one of them is going to shoot you just on the spot Lilly.”

Next Chapter: Crossfire

[Cyreen]

Ooh tension! *DA-DA, DAAA!*

[sQOrPION]

:d:d:d

[Carleyleo]

Great chapter! Very unexpected turn of events.

[CTCCoco]

Nice !

[Sir Fruitcakes]

Great

[RafaelBrasileiro]

more,more,more!: D: D: D

[xXNinjaScoreXx]

Really neat story-line...any chance you could make one for Doug? :3
I really liked Doug :3
Pwetty pwese :3

[Wrighty]

Moar please

[Chiiyoko]

This is an awesome story! xD it makes me want more :B, oh the tensed suspension. great job on this!

..don't do it Lilly D:

[ZombieGoBoom]

Just a quick note. I’m appreciating all the feedback and even some requests that I am getting. As much as the ‘We’re Alive’ crew could really use Doug’s technical know-how I just don’t have the desire to start another story focusing on him. I’m sorry.

For Carley’s story, I am planning a few more chapters before wrapping this up. I do have an ending in mind and it will be a happy one… sort of. No rainbows or unicorns, just something as close as you can get to with the world being swarmed by zombies.


Chapter Five: Crossfire

Burt wasn’t having any of this and made it known to everyone else, especially Michael. “Trying to follow those tracks through the woods would mean abandoning the humvee. I hope that’s not what you are suggesting?”

“No, I’m not,” Michael replied calmly. “Saul and I will go and you and Carley will stay with the humvee. We’ll keep in radio contact and just see where the tracks go.”

“I agree with Burt on this one,” Carley spoke up. Michael and Saul were too valuable to risk. “Following those tracks might be a bad idea and we shouldn’t split up.”

“We could try broadcasting on every channel and see if anyone answers,” Saul suggested. “If any groups of survivors are around, they should have a radio going and listening for anyone over the airwaves.”

Carley nodded in agreement. “Let’s at least try that first.”

It sounded like a good idea to Michael but it would be tipping their hand to any hostiles that they were here. This rescue mission for the helicopter crew just got way more complicated that he would like. Then he saw Burt tense up.

“We’ve got company.” The former marine warned aloud, pointing past Michael’s shoulder.

Michael turned and saw three people standing on a hill top just a little over two hundred yards away. One of them was holding a white cloth high up in the air. Michael reached for a side pouch on his vest and pulled out a small pair of binoculars. Bringing the field glasses to his eyes, he saw it was two men and a woman. The one standing in the middle holding the white cloth also had a hunting rifle slung across his shoulder.

“What do we have?” Saul asked.

“I think they want to talk.” Michael said, putting his binoculars back in its pouch.

“And I suppose you’re going over there to chat,” Burt commented. “If that’s the cause I’m going with you to watch your back.”

Michael looked at the old marine. “I’m touched but it’s a good idea.” Then he turned to the rest of the group. “Saul, stay here with the humvee and cover us with your rifle.”

“You got it,” Saul said. “Just be careful.”

Michael glanced at their newest member. “Carley, stick to Saul and watch our flanks, just in case they try to have someone sneak behind our position.”

“I will and the same from me, be careful you two.” She told them.

“I think they’re trying to jinx us, Michael.” Burt laughed slightly at everyone‘s concern. “Let’s go see what they want.”

Saul and Carley headed back to the humvee as Michael and Burt started walking towards the three newcomers. As they approached, the newcomers started moving towards Michael and Burt to meet them halfway.

Halfway there, Michael and Burt stepped over an old fallen tree, apparently knocked over by strong winds years before, ripping the roots right out of the ground.

“Would I be overdoing it by saying I have a bad feeling about this?” Burt said under his breath as they drew closer to the newcomers.

“I get that feeling too Burt, but it’s worth taking the risk if we make friendly contact with other survivors,” Michael replied softly. “We could setup some trade for items like machine parts or food. Let’s hear what they have to say but be ready.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” The old former marine muttered quietly as they finally came face to face with the three new arrivals, stopping within several feet of each other.

There was a brief moment of silence as the two sides stared at one another. Michael took a good look at them. The one holding the white cloth and carrying the rifle was still in the middle of the group and stood average in height and appeared to be in his late thirties. The man relaxed a little, lowering the cloth to smile. To his left was a slightly younger man, about the same height and was smiling nervously. To the right was a shorter brunette woman, maybe in her mid twenties and was watching Michael and Burt with a guarded emotionless expression. She would make a good poker player.

The rifle was the only weapon Michael could see but he was sure they carried other weapons concealed under their coats.

Burt had Shirley, his Desert Eagle gun holstered but Michael held his M4 rifle close to his chest with the barrel pointed down and the safety on.

The one in the middle spoke first. His voice sounded relaxed. “I see you came to inspect the helicopter crash. We found the pilot and the crew alive and in good shape and they were taken back to Woodbury.”

Michael nodded and watched their body language closely as he spoke to them. “We picked up their distress call and we came to help. We’re happy that they’re safe.”

“You could meet them if you like.” The man replied. “My name is Terry and this Ron and Lilly.”

The soldier and former marine shared a quick glance of surprise. Terry saw their reaction. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Michael replied now looking at the woman. “Your last name wouldn’t happened be Caul would it?”

Lilly looked surprised. “How do you know my last name?”

“I think we have a friend of yours, a girl by the name of Carley” Burt said. “We found her four weeks ago, shot and left for dead on the road. She has been trying to find you and the rest of your group ever since. I bet she’ll be glad to see you.”

Terry and Ron looked surprised to this unexpected turn of events but this could work to their benefit in gaining their trust. However, for Lilly, it felt like the earth was about to open up and swallow her.

Carley is alive? She thought in disbelief. This can’t be.

Lilly finally found her voice. “This has to be a mistake.”

“This is no mistake, I can prove it.” Michael said reaching for his shoulder mike and radioed the people at the humvee. “Penguin, can you send up Rooster. Tell her we have Lilly with us and we confirmed it. Over.”

A few seconds later, Saul happily answered back. “She’s on her way. This is good news Broken Wing. Over.”

Terry smirked. “Nicknames?”

“Yeah,” Michael nodded. “For security against prying ears but it does work.”

Lilly wasn’t amused like Terry or Ron. She was trying to keep calm as she watched from about 100 yards, a small lithe figure moved from Michael’s humvee and started hurrying towards them.

This has to be mistake. Lilly thought. If this was really Carley she would have told them what happened and they would have at least pulled their weapon on us already.

“Is something wrong?” Burt said to Lilly. “You are suddenly looking pale.”

“I’m fine.” Lilly answered, her eyes drifting towards the small figure still approaching them.

Burt followed Lilly’s glaze and looked towards Carley as the former reporter came closer. The old marine faced the brunette again, his suspicion growing. “Is there something we should know before she gets here?”

Terry didn’t like this at all. What was going on with Lilly and this Carley woman?

“Wait a minute, I have no idea what is going on but I assure you…” He started to say.

“Shut up,” Burt growled. “I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to Lilly here. Got something to get off you chest?”

“Just a damn minute!” Ron said loudly. “What right do you have to interrog…”

He was instantly silenced by the tiny but ominous click of Michael flipping his M4 selective rate of fire lever, switching it from safety to single shot. Michael never moved his weapon, keeping the barrel aimed at the ground but the point was made clear.

We’re talking now so STFU!

The army Sergeant spoke evenly but forcefully to all three individuals in front of him.

“Carley lost part of her short term memory from the trauma she suffered. She remembers the bandit raid on the motel and the escape on the RV but what happened between that and when she woke up on that stretch of road is a troubling mystery for her and for us now.”

Michael locked his eyes with Lilly and the air force mechanic felt her mouth go dry as he asked with an eerie calm voice. “Care to fill in the blanks? I’m betting that you know what happened, so tell us. Who shot her and why?”

Lilly looked at him and to Carley who was very close now, hurrying as fast as she could. Lilly could now see her clearly, the eye patch she was wearing on the left side of her face, the injury she had inflicted on her. She thought about that night, the intense uncontrollable anger she felt because someone inside their group betrayed them and from losing everything to the bandit attack. Then in a fit of rage, she lashed out in violence, using a gun over mere words spoken harshly to her. Lilly tried not to think about that night and what she did but her actions were finally catching up with her again.

Lilly closed her eyes and whispered. “I did it.”

“What?” Burt said.

“I did it,” Lilly repeated, opening her eyes. “I shot her.”

This was earth shattering news to Terry and Ron as well. Terry just stared in horror, while Ron just gasped out. “Oh shit…”

Michael was stunned. “You did that to her?”

“Fuck me…” Burt muttered to himself before his face reddened with rage. “For all the -- Why?!!”

It was almost amazing to Lilly that she didn’t care anymore or what they would do. It was out and she was relieved. “It doesn’t matter. I did it and I can’t take it back.”

Behind them, they could hear Carley shouting out almost joyfully. “Lilly!”

“We’re leaving right now.” Michael said to Burt before shouting out to the woman approaching them from behind, never talking his eyes off the three people in front of him. “Don’t come any closer Carley!”

The young woman stopped within thirty feet of them, confused. The tone in his voice worried her and she put her hand on the holster to her weapon. “What’s wrong Michael?”

“Just stay there!” Michael yelled still keeping his eyes forward. Then under his breath he spoke to Lilly. “She will kill you if she finds out and I’m not really in the mood to stop her.”

Burt just glared furiously at her. “You’re not alone in that sentiment, Michael.”

Seeing Michael and Burt’s attention was on Lilly and concern for his own safety, Ron tried to reach for his gun that was concealed in his waist belt behind his back. The instant he tried, Burt’s eagle eyes caught his movement and the old marine pulled out his Desert Eagle and leveled it in his direction within a heart beat.

“Don’t even try it!” Burt snarled at Ron. “Shirley here can be very unforgiving!”

Michael brought up his M4, his finger on the trigger. “We’re leaving. Don’t try to stop us.”

“No, please try to stop us!” Burt taunted them.

“Burt…” Michael warned. He didn’t want any bloodshed if they could avoid it and possibly cause serious problems between them and this Woodbury in the future.

Suddenly, Carley was beside them with her pistol ready. “What is going on?”

“We’re going.” Michael told her. “Get back to the humvee. We‘ll cover you.”

Carley couldn’t understand what was happening then she looked to Lilly. “What about her? We just found Lilly, we can‘t leave.”

“Oh, yes we can.” Burt said with a sneer. “She might try to finish what she started.”

Carley became even more confused. “What?”

“Carley,” Michael almost begged, trying to keep his eyes on the three Woodbury people in front of him. “You have to trust me, go back to the humvee right now. Burt, shut up!”

“No, I have questions!” Carley said before looking to Lilly. “What is going on? Where is Lee and the others? Talk to me Lilly!”

“Carley!” Michael shouted, raising his voice for the first time. “Leave now!”

“Will someone please TALK TO ME?!!” Carley yelled.

“They have gone to Savannah.” Lilly finally spoke. “Or at least tried to, I can’t say if they made it.”

Carley calmed down a bit as she looked back to Lilly. “Did something happen? Is that why you’re here?”

“Yes… I was left behind.” The brunette told her.

The former reported blinked in surprise. “Why?” Carley was suddenly becoming afraid of the answer but she had to know.

“Carley,” Michael said, trying to get her attention. “We need to get out of here. Let’s go.”

“Fuck this,” Burt had enough. “She has every right to know what this bitch did to her.”

“Know what? What happened?” Carley demanded once more to Lilly. “Tell me what happened? TELL ME!!!”

Lilly took in what might be her last breath and looked Carley right into her one remaining eye. “Lee and the others left me behind because I shot you.”

For a moment, Carley didn’t react. She just stood there horrified as her mind struggled to process the words ringing in her ears. Then her expression became as hard as granite when she suddenly moved, stepping towards Lilly. Her intent was clear as she raised her glock, aiming it at Lilly‘s head.

“Carley!” Michael shouted.

***

Standing next to the humvee, Saul didn’t like this. At first everything seemed okay and Carley was overjoyed when Michael radioed them, telling them they had found someone from her old group.

However, as soon as Carley got up there, Michael and Burt drew their weapons. He watched through the scope of his rifle and Carley even looked rather upset now and her anger seemed directed at this Lilly person.

Despite her injuries, Carley was still pretty and even her eye-patch made her look a bit of a badass but Saul had never seen her really mad before and it was definitely not a pretty sight. What happened to set her off?

As he watched, a gentle breeze brought a foul stench in the air. The type of stomach turning odor that only one thing can bring. Cautiously, Saul looked over his shoulder and he saw several walkers slowly moving through the trees about hundred feet away. Thankfully, he was up wind to them so the walkers hadn’t picked up his scent yet. Unfortunately, they were passing very close and it was only a matter of time before one looked his way and spotted fresh meat.

Carefully and with no sudden movement, he reached for his radio to warn Michael when he heard a single gunshot. Saul jerked around and looked towards Michael and the other’s position.

Even from this distance, his naked eyes could make out what had happened. “No!”

Then with an icy chill, Saul remembered what was behind him, he turned and saw several walkers now looking towards the sound of the gunshot and him. They starting moving towards the lone soldier and behind them came dozens of more walkers out of the trees. There could be an entire herd of them in the woods, maybe in the hundreds.

This was bad and he was the guy in the middle.

“No, not now!” Saul cursed. He raised his rifle, flipping the safety off and started shooting.

Next Chapter: Confessions

[RafaelBrasileiro]

fantastic story MORE!!!!
A question will appear on it Lee: D?

[Crixus]

Awesome! Keep Them coming!

[Cyreen]

I suspect Lilly got off lucky. Just think what Carley would have done if this Lilly also confessed to stealing the RV and abandoning the group. Canon or not ~ BOOM!

[ZombieGoBoom]

I cannot believe how many times I rewrote this chapter but the ending was worth it.

Chapter Six: Confessions

“Why?”

Lilly had her eyes closed when she heard Carley’s sudden question. When the former reporter walked up to her to place her gun to her forehead, Lilly expected her life to end right there. She couldn’t fight, not with Carley’s two well armed companions standing just a few feet away.

Slowly, Lilly opened her eyes to find the barrel of Carley’s glock still hovering inches from her face. The woman holding the gun on her was trembling with rage. Lilly knew at best, she was on borrowed time.

“Why did you do that to me?” Carley demanded once more.

“I had two likely suspects that could have been giving our supplies to the bandits. Ben and you,” Lilly said in a shaky voice. Expecting the gun pointed at her to be fired at any second.

“And that’s why you shot me?” Carley hissed. “I didn’t betray you or the group!”

Lilly flinched as the gun moved a bit closer to her forehead. “Lee spoke out in your defense… and I believed him.”

“So what happened? Why did you shoot me!”

Lilly debated what to say but decided to put everything out on the table and not go out as a crying coward, even if Carley kills her for it.

“You wouldn’t shut up.”

“What?”

“After eliminating you, it had to be Ben and I was grilling him but you kept trying to defend him. Why couldn’t you just shut up?”

Carley gave out a little half laugh, using her free left hand to point to the remains of the left side of her face. “So bitch, please tell me what I said to you that earned me a missing eye?”

“My father practically used to say the same thing to me while growing up and I hated it but he did it to toughen me,” Lilly said. “You’re just a scared little girl. Get the fuck over it. When you said it and between what Kenny did to him in that meat locker… I lost it.”

“You lost it?!! I think I might lose it myself right now.” Carley slowly tightened her finger on the trigger of her gun. “Any last words?”

Lilly gave a short fatalistically laugh. “What do you want me to say? I’m sorry? It’s nearly empty and meaningless to you as our world has become to us. I had nothing left after I lost my dad.”

“Nothing left? I was in the same boat that night with you in that RV. My entire family is gone! Don’t try to make me feel sorry for you!”

“Don’t give me that, you had Lee.” Lilly said. “I saw the way you two looked at each other.”

Carley hesitated. Another question came to mind that she needed to be answered. One that had be plaguing her every night. “I was still alive, why was I left behind with you.”

“Ben checked you and declared that you were dead. Obviously he‘s a bigger idiot than we thought.”

“What about Lee? Where was he?”

“He was busy disarming me,” Lilly told her, remembering that night. “The look in his eyes, he wanted to kill me for what I did to you but I guess he liked Kenny’s suggestion to just leave me behind. He would have checked you himself but the gunshot attracted some walkers and Kenny had to physically pull him into the RV. You were lucky the walkers were focused on me and not on you.”

“And the others, are they safe?”

“Clementine and the rest of them are safe as far as I can tell when they left me,” Lilly paused and looked very tired now. “So, are you going to shot me now and or simply ask more questions?”

“Carley,” Michael finally spoke up. She almost forgot that they still had an audience. “She’s not worth it.”

“Except I have a nice little reminder whenever I look into a mirror thanks to her.” Carley replied, her anger boiling over again. “Do you know what it is like to hate the very sight of your own reflection?”

Michael’s answer was sincere. “Yes I do and you will hate yourself even more if you do this.”

“Then tell me how to forgive something like this?” Carley said through clenched teeth. “She scarred me for life!”

“I never said it would be easy,” Michael said. “But you have some of your answers about Lee and the others. We can go home and figure this out. You‘re not alone.”

Carley lowered her weapon slightly as she glanced from the soldier to the old marine.

“Don’t look at me.” Burt said softly as he could with his gruff voice. “I would just shot her myself but you’re not me. Listen, just forget about me, forget about Michael, just do what you feel is right.”

What is right or wrong anymore? Carley thought darkly. There are no cops left to arrest her, let alone thinking of trying her in court. It was so easy to talk to Lee about doing the right thing, I even convinced him to tell people who were the closest to him about his past. It’s what I believed in but when something horrible happens to you then suddenly all of it goes out the window as you seek your pound of flesh in the name of revenge. My only two options are to kill Lilly or let her go. It’s easy to kill when defending yourself or others but to shoot someone who is defenceless. However, this is what that bitch did to me!!! I hate this…

Slowly, Carley lowered her gun and Lilly was literally holding her breath, unsure what was going to happen next.

“I want you to listen to me Lilly,” Carley said, her voice dripping with venom. “If I ever see you again, so help me I will…”

She was interrupted by a gunshot.

Carley flinched but she wasn’t hit. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw and heard Michael’s ballistic vest take the hit. Burt took his eyes off of the Woodbury people for a second as he saw Michael stagger slightly from the force of the impact.

Using that distraction, Ron went for his gun. Reaching behind, he pulled out a 357 magnum revolver from his waistband and aimed it at Burt. Before he could fire, Ron was hit multiple times in the chest and once in the head from Carley, as she unloaded her own weapon into him.

Terry was shouting, unable to stop Ron from getting himself killed. Terry didn’t want this mess to happen and now they’re going to die because the fool who was covering them thought it was a good idea to shot the soldier dressed in body armor first. Suddenly, he was tackled by Lilly, as she pushed him to the ground, just as Michael shook off the hit and stood up straight and returned fire towards the hill top.

“Get behind me!” Michael yelled as he fired his rifle at the hill, trying to find, or at least, keep their attacker from sniping at them again.

“Stay down!” Carley shouted at Lilly and Terry. “Don’t fucking look at us!”

“Look up and you’re dead!” Burt added. The two on the ground instantly obeyed.

From the humvee, they heard Saul open up, firing several rounds over their heads at the same hilltop. There was a pause in firing when they heard his slightly stressed voice over Michael’s radio.

“I got a lot walkers coming at me from behind my position! Get back here now before I run out of bullets because I refuse to be on their menu!”

“Get back to the humvee!” Michael ordered. “I’ll cover you!”

Carley didn’t argue this time as she and Burt started retreating back to the humvee, firing several parting shots at the hilltop, adding their fire to Michael’s and Saul’s.

Dashing back to their vehicle, Carley ran as fast as she could. Even though Burt was twice her age, the old but still strong marine was out pacing her. Then she heard Michael behind her and she glanced over her shoulder, expecting the army sergeant to be passing her but he was right on her tail, almost shadowing her. Michael was in excellent shape and even with all his gear on, he could outrun her fairly easily but he was remaining right behind her. Carley then realized he was shielding her. He had the helmet and protective vest on and he was using his body to protect her from any possible sniper fire.

They came to the old fallen tree and Burt jumped over it first. Then it was Carley’s turn and she leapt over it but a second later, she heard the shot from behind and a cry of pain from Michael. She stopped to look back to see Michael on the ground in a sprawling heap just pass the log. He must have been hit when he had just jumped over it. She feared that he was dead but then she saw him moving and blood on the back of his right thigh soaking his uniform.

“Michael!” Carley ran back to him even as the sniper fired again and missed, hitting the ground beside her. Then she heard Saul’s rifle returning fire.

Holstering her gun, she dropped down to Michael’s side. Grasping his protective vest with both hands and all her might, Carley started pulling him back towards the log for cover.

It was then Michael started coming back to his senses from his hard face plant to the ground. He realized he was being dragged back to the log and saw who was helping him. “What are you doing Carley? Run!”

“Shut up and help me move you!” Carley shouted back.

Using his arms and good leg, Michael helped Carley move him back to fallen tree. She collapsed down to Michael’s right as the sniper opened fire again, striking the log.

Michael checked his rifle before looking at Carley. “You should have kept on running.” He told her .

“You’re welcomed,” She replied sarcastically. “Can you imagine the hell that Pegs would give me if anything happened to you?”

Michael shook his head with a slight smile and pointed to Carley. “Watch our right and the tree line. Our left is okay, it’s clear straight to the highway and Saul has an easy line of sight over that area.”

Nodding, and still keeping low, Carley drew her gun again and aimed it to protect their right flank. “How’s your leg?” She asked.

“Hurts but nothing is broken.” Michael grunted as he tested his leg. “Bleeding is not bad. Nothing vital was hit.”

“Want me to check it?” She offered.

“No, keep your eyes forward. We’ll just wait for Saul and Burt. They will come for us in the humvee.” Michael said as he watched Burt reach their vehicle and disappeared behind it before hearing an eruption of gunfire.

That didn’t sound too promising. Carley thought.

“Uh, are you sure you don’t what me to slap a tourniquet on it if we have a longer than expected wait?” She offered again.

***

Puffing, Burt finally reached the humvee and as he came around to the other side, he found a slaughter. Dozens of walkers were littered about twenty feet from their vehicle. Saul was alternating between giving them covering fire against the sniper on the hill before being forced to shoot the walkers that were creeping up behind him. He was basically fighting a battle on two fronts, protecting them and protecting himself.

The old marine walked towards the young black soldier while firing Shirley at three of the closest walkers causing their heads to literally explode from the impact of the powerful rounds fired from his Desert Eagle gun.

“Michael got hit!” Saul yelled to him as he also turned to fire on even more walkers continuing to pour from the forest.

“I know!” Burt shouted back as he shot his gun again at the approaching dead, his temper threatening to get the better of him. “I knew this rescue would be a waste of fuel, ammo and maybe our lives!” He then gestured his head to the humvee. “Get in and pop the roof hatch! I’m driving and while you‘re at it, get the SAW out of the back!”

They just fucked with the wrong people! Burt thought to himself and he was going to hit that point home to these Woodbury people.

***

“I don’t see them.”

“What?” Carley looked back at Michael in alarm to see him peeking over the log with his rifle, trying to locate the sniper. She then glanced to the humvee which hadn’t moved yet.

“I don’t see them,” Michael repeated before ducking back down. “Lilly and Terry must have crawled out of sight.”

Carley looked at him and his bleeding leg for a moment. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I endangered everyone by threatening to kill Lilly.”

Michael managed a chuckle. “Well, she did pull a Dick Cheney on you but in the end you kept control. A lot better than some soldiers I served with during combat.” He paused and looked at her. “When we get out of here, I’ll see if I can get some volunteers to go with you to Macon and check out that motel and see if your friends are there. It sounds like a longshot after what Lilly told us but we can make sure.”

Carley couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you Michael.”

“Good,” he pointed to Carley’s right. “Now, keeping checking that tree line, until we‘re out of here.”

“You got it boss.”

A moment later, she heard Michael saying in relief. “The humvee is moving. They’re coming for us.”

Carley glanced over and the humvee was indeed on the move and heading for them. Then she finally saw the massive horde of walkers slowly trying to chase after the vehicle.

Quietly, she started praying for their transportation. Please don’t breakdown. Please don’t breakdown. Please don’t breakdown. Please don’t breakdown.

***

Standing with the top hatch opened, Saul rested the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) on it’s bipod on the roof of the humvee before levelling it down range at the hill. With a simple pull of the trigger he unleashed a hail of 5.56 rounds. He couldn’t see the sniper but machine gun fire is always an effective deterrent for any would be living attacker. Accuracy by volume hardly ever fails.

Burt accelerated slightly as he swerved around the log placing the armoured vehicle between Michael & Carley and the hill where the sniper was firing from.

“Get in!” Saul yelled to them as he fired another long burst from the M249 as they came to a complete stop next to them.

Carley grabbed Michael by the arm and helped to pull him to his feet and together they stood up.

***

It took a bit of effort and luck but Terry managed to circle quickly around to flank them. Their leader Michael was with that Carley woman and both were seeking shelter behind that fallen tree. He was back in far enough in the woods on their right that they couldn’t see him. In fact, their leader appeared to be wounded.

Both he and Lilly managed to crawl their way to the trees to get out of the crossfire. However, as soon as they got to cover, Lilly started to insist that they head back to Woodbury but he wasn’t going runaway like a coward. That Carley woman killed Ron and he was going to make her pay.

As Terry readied his rifle, it was then the humvee pulled up and one of them was on top firing a machine gun!

Terry ducked down further but they still couldn’t see him. As he watched, Carley helped Michael to his feet to get him to the vehicle. It was perfect. He couldn’t do much to the soldiers with their protective helmets and vests, but she was between him and their leader, completely exposed.

“Goodnight darling.” He whispered. This is for Ron.

He careful raised his rifle and sighted her in. He was an expert hunter and had made shots from this distance many times before. He rested the crosshairs on her head before he held his breath and squeezed the trigger.

A hand slammed down on the barrel of his rifle as he fired, striking the ground instead. Startled, he looked up to see Lilly was standing over him.

“NO!” She said. “Just let them go!”

Angry, he rose up to his knees. “What the fuck…” He started to demand.

***

Saul heard a rifle shot to his right. He swung the machine gun around and immediately raked the nearby tree line with a shower of lead. He kept on shooting, giving covering fire as Carley helped Michael into the back of the humvee before jumping into the front passenger seat herself.

As the doors to the humvee closed, Burt floored the vehicle and they were off racing back to Highway 85 and home leaving Woodbury and the hungry mass of walkers far behind them.

***

Lilly heard the roaring engine of the humvee departing which intermingled with the sounds of hundreds of moaning walkers nearby. She was amazed to be alive after what felt like the entire forest around her exploded with machine gun fire.

She tried to get up but there was weight across her chest holding her down, it was Terry’s body. Carefully, Lilly pushed him off and checked him. He was just inches from her but he was stuck with several fatal rounds fired from that machine gun and she was barely scratched.

She looked upon his body with sadness. Like her, he just didn’t know when to let go. He wanted to avenge Ron but killing Carley could have ignited a war between Carley’s well armed friends and theirs. Also, Carley decided to spare her life, for whatever her reason. Lilly owed her for that and for what she did to her before. She just wished Terry wasn’t the one that had to pay the price. He was kind to her and looked after her when she first joined Woodbury. Now she had some explaining to do with the Governor about the death of two of their people. She was starting to feel cursed.

Wasting little time, she gathered up Terry’s rifle and fired one mercy round for into him to prevent from turning. Now moving quickly, she hurried back to the top of the hill. Thankfully the departing humvee was drawing most of the walkers away from her by now.

She raced to the top of the hill, praying he was there because it will be a long dangerous walk back to Woodbury by herself. Once there, she looked and spotted the truck parked along the trail and standing next to it, holding his rifle was Bruce.

Lilly waved in relief and hurried to him, thankful he stuck around. Bruce himself was also relieved as she approached him. He was young and unfortunately, reminded Lilly a little too much of Ben from her old group but at least she could tolerate him.

“I thought you were all dead but I decided to wait five minutes.” Bruce said. “I saw what happened to Ron… Did Terry make it?”

Lilly shook her head and Bruce looked depressed and started blaming himself. “When they drew their weapons on you I didn’t know what to do. I thought that one woman was about to kill you. When I saw the chance, I took the shot and kept shooting until I ran out of ammo. What happened?”

“They…” Lilly thought for a moment. “They were interrogating us, trying to learn more about Woodbury. The number of people we have, weapons, food stores. You did the right thing.”

She wanted to punch Bruce for shooting in the first place. If he hadn’t, both sides could have walked away and never bothered each other again. Regardless, Lilly had to lie or the Governor would punish her. He seemed to be a good leader who can make the hard calls. Unfortunately, he can be very unforgiving to utter incompetence and especially to betrayal. Lilly was new and she can’t risk being thrown out or worst. However, Bruce is originally from Woodbury and all she had to do was matchup her story with what he saw.

Bruce looked up saw walkers cresting the hill that Lilly had just came over. They were following her. “We best clear out and get home. Did you get a name of who they were?”

“No,” Lilly shook her head as they hurried to the truck. “They didn’t give a name or where they are from.”

Lilly couldn’t believe how lost she was and she needed purpose, a reason to live. Maybe she could rebuild her life in Woodbury as she hoped. The people there seemed to have faith in this Governor and perhaps he can lead them all out of this darkness and horror and not into another nightmare.

She can only hope.

***

A mile down the road, Burt was driving the humvee as fast as he dared on the wreckage filled highway, trying to get Michael back to the Nest and Doctor Cottle as soon as possible.

“As soon as we’re in range of the Nest, I’ll radio them to be ready for us.” Burt said.

A concerned Carley looked over the backseat. “How is he?” She asked Saul as he worked to control the bleeding from Michael’s leg.

“I’m still conscious you know.” Michael winced as Saul tightened the tourniquet around his right thigh. “You can ask me.”

“But a patient makes for a lousy doctor.” Saul joked.

“Okay, doc,” Michael relented. “Tell her how am I doing.”

“The bullet went clean through and I got the bleeding stopped.” Saul informed Carley before adding jokingly “But I’m not sure if he’ll be able to ever dance again.”

“Maybe it’s because I can’t dance to begin with.” Michael declared.

Michael’s rare attempt at dry humor got everyone in the vehicle to laugh and release some of the tension builtup from their close call. After they quieted down, Burt spoke up.

“I think it’s safe to say we won’t be coming this way in the foreseeable future unless we’re looking to start a war.”

For once Michael was in complete agreement. “For now, none of our patrols comes within 30 miles of Woodbury for any reason.”

Carley sat back down silently wondering if sparing Lilly‘s life was the right thing to do. She can’t help but to wonder if her act of mercy will cost someone else in the long run. She can only hope that it won‘t.

“Lets make it 40 to be safe.” Carley suggested. Lilly is not her problem anymore and she won’t waste another moment thinking about her .

Unknowingly, she glanced at a road sign on a turn off along Highway 85. Carley read it but didn’t give it a second thought as they drove on by heading straight for home.

The road sign read:

WEST CENTRAL PRISON
5 MILES

Next Chapter: Travelier

Be kind and leave some feedback.

[RafaelBrasileiro]

Lilly survived?
ah dammit!
Great chapter!