Season 3 Episode 3: Give A Hand

[Mrs. Reed]: Where is Alyssa?

            Brittany blinked hard. Tears ran down her face and she quickly wiped them away. Rich humbly walked over to Mrs. Reed and whispered the answer into her ear. She covered her mouth, dropping to the floor and sobbing. Hunter knelt beside her and put his arm around her. Everyone else just cried.

            Then the sound of footsteps silenced everyone. They all quietly grabbed their knives, spears and machetes and stood at the ready. The footsteps grew loud, and the pace and the timing between them seemed all too familiar. They had heard these same footsteps before in the past. Whoever was walking towards them down the hallway towards the entrance doors was a friend. Someone they knew from before. Then the person appeared…

            It was Timothy. He was covered in blood. In one hand was a communication remote, and his left hand was missing.

            [Timothy]: (Panting) There’s something…I have to tell you.

(Thirteen hours ago.)

            Night had fallen. It was at this time that the rovers were most active. Probably something about the air; the coolness of it when the sun goes down. Because of this no one was allowed to go out at night. No one. But Timothy Roland had rebelled against most of the rules and the responsibilities since the confirmation of Zach Golden’s death. Tim knew he had lost it, but he truly didn’t care anymore. He just wanted purpose; he just wanted to breathe the coolness of the air. He was standing on the balcony of the student center looking off in the dark distance watching the rovers wave off in the open grassy area slowly drift from one side of the property to the other. They were barely visible; little black dots floating across the grass like a leaf in a pond.

            Then he saw quickly paced movement in the corner of his eye. He turned and faced the direction of the movement. His eyes widened when out in the distance along the property line of vehicles he saw three figures standing in the darkness. One was standing tall beside a tree, the other shadowy figures knelt down in front of one of the cars. They stood there for some time. They seemed to have been talking to each other. Suddenly after what seemed like hours, the three dark figures sauntered off into the darkness.

            Wasting not a minute longer, Tim rushed into the student center. For but a single moment he thought about calling out for Rich and Kelly to come and help, but something stopped him. He had opened his lips and felt the air come from his mouth as if to cry out, but nothing came. Why didn’t he call for them? Tim wasn’t sure why, but something in his gut told him not to. Whether it was God, or just his rebellious nature it didn’t matter because Tim had already decided on not speaking, and had already taken his AR-15 and his only box of ammo remaining with him. Pulling over his jacket and shoving the small box of ammo into the hand pocket, Tim pulled the hood over his head and raced back out into the cold dark night in pursuit of the three dark figures.

            Clinging to the shadows like a blood thirsty nightcrawler, Tim crept swiftly towards the wall of cars lining the property. If he could just reach the wall he could try to spot them from where he stood. Yet even as he kneeled down behind the black sedan and looked over the rusting hood, he knew that through the developing, chilling, fog that had settled above the tall grass, meeting with the black night, there was no way Tim could see them from where he stood. He had to move forward.

            Carefully climbing over the car, Timothy raced through the cemetery towards the nearest tree and stood behind it peering over the side. Still no sight of them. He had to get closer. Kneeling down low, he moved much slower this time towards a tree about ten yards from the one he came from. Along the way he passed multiple grave stones with names he didn’t recognize. There was an eerie way the fog ripped and curled around the stones…almost as if the fog was avoiding the names engraved into them. Reaching the tree, Tim pulled his gaze from the gravestones and held his steamy breath. He slowly leaned over to look around the mossy trunk for his eyes to only meet a raspy growling rover that had spotted him.

            [Tim]: (Whisper) No!

            Setting down his rifle, Tim braced his arms against the rover as it clung to Timothy’s jacket with its rotting, bony fingers. The growling was so loud…significantly louder than usual. They were going to find Tim if he didn’t get this rover to shut up. But it was so strong; so furious and hungry…it was disgusting to think but this rover was so energized it almost seemed…alive.

            Forcing his feet to regain footing, Tim slowly overpowered the slender, rotted beast and bent it into the ground. Grabbing his knife from his belt, he slammed the blade into the top of its head, and yanked it back out, allowing the corpse to slump down in front of the gravestones.

[Dom]: We didn’t want to be seen.

Immediately rolling behind the tree and retrieving his rifle in the process, Timothy angled himself around the to the other side of the trunk and pointed the barrel towards the voice.

[Dom]: We weren’t here to cause trouble…just to see what this place was all about.

Dom’s twin brother, Pat came up behind Timothy with his weapon pointed at him. No matter how fast Tim might be with a gun, there’s no way he could get out of this situation unless he surrendered. Tim slowly lowered his firearm.

[Tim]: So. what are you doing here?

[Pat]: The people at Costco wanted us to scout the community here; see if there were anything worth trading for any possible negotiations.

[Tim]: I wouldn’t hardly call it a community. There’s nothing to trade here. We aren’t worth your time. Plus, they all know that Denbury was linked to the death of many of our loved ones. The same Denbury you people traded with. They would never agree to a negotiation.

Lowering his weapon, Dom walked closer towards Tim. Pat kept his weapon up.

[Dom]: That hardly sounds like the truth. You have a lot of cars lined up around the student center. We checked a handful of them, and…they don’t have gas in them. So, our theory is…you have fuel. Lots of it, actually. Now, I know Costco and you guys can work up some kind of deal. What is it yall need? Weapons? Ammunition? Food? Name it, and we’ll work something out, I’m sure.

[Tim]: I told you: they won’t do it.

[Pat]: That’s the second time you’ve said “they”. It seems like you yourself don’t think it’s that bad of an idea.

[Tim]: It’s not for me to decide whether we trade with you or not.

[Dom]: But you have a voice amongst them, I’m sure. I mean, this is Timothy Roland we’re talking about. I’m sure they’d listen to you.

[Tim]: I don’t think so. Not anymore at least. A lot has happened.

[Dom]: Zach’s death. Right.

Taking a step forward; his interest peaked, Tim’s eye drove into Dom’s like knives.

[Tim]: How do you know about that?

[Pat]: How do you think we found this place?

Taking a moment to think, Timothy did the math in his head. He turned and looked at Pat, who was still aiming his firearm, then back at Dom.

[Tim]: There were three of you here.

[Dom]: What?

It only took a moment. Tim’s long arms knocked the firearm behind him in a single swift motion just as his other arm balled its fist and knocked across Pat’s face. Dom attempted to reach for his weapon but Tim had managed to yank Pat’s gun from his grasp and side stepped to point it at the twins before they had the chance to counter. Rubbing his bruised jaw, Pat motioned Dom to lower his gun.

[Tim]: Lower the weapon. You don’t want to start a war just as much as I do. There was a third person with you. Where is he?

[Dom]: Look, Tim it’s complicated-

[Tim]: There’s nothing complicated about pointing. Now, tell me: where is the third person?!

[Dom]: Look, man, he didn’t want us to say. He threatened us not to-

Tim fired a single bullet into Pat’s leg. The bullet went through and popped into the ground behind him. Pat dropped almost instantly screaming in agony.

[Dom]: Okay, okay! Stop shooting! Look it was just one of our guys he’s scouting down the property line.

[Tim]: There will be rovers everywhere in about five to seven minutes. He can’t walk without your help so if you want to survive this you will tell me the truth.

They could already hear multiple rovers coming from the shadows in all directions.

[Tim]: Will you look at that? Sounds like they’re hungry tonight.

[Dom]: Okay look…he’s on that big grassy dirt mount behind the metal shed in the far corner of the property. He told us not to say who he was though man he said he’d kill us if we did.

Tim’s interest had officially met its peak. The three could make out the wobbly, dark figures shuffling towards them through the gray fog.

[Tim]: Tell me who he is and I’ll help you to your vehicle.

[Dom]: I…I can’t.

[Tim]: You have two choices: tell me and face a chance of getting killed, or don’t tell me and I shoot you in the face right here and now.

[Pat]: (Hyperventilating) Look, Tim it was Zach!

His voice echoed across the cemetery…as if the graves knew the name and began to whisper amongst themselves. For a moment, Tim thought that they had either completely lost their minds, or they were actually attempting to lie to him. But neither would make sense considering Timothy was so ready to shoot both of them; they wouldn’t dare lie to him. They also knew of Zach’s death just as they had claimed to have known.

[Tim]: That’s not possible. We both saw the body.

[Dom]: Look, man. I don’t know what to tell you except that we were approached by him tonight and he warned us to never come here again and then he walked away towards the dirt mound. I’m not lying, man I swear.

The rovers were slowly closing in. They had maybe three minutes.

[Tim]: This is your final chance, guys. Tell me the truth. How could Zach possibly be alive?

[Pat]: (Wincing in pain.) Tim, we don’t know we’re just telling you what we both saw. Now help me up and get us to our dirt bikes!

Tim kept his rifle up. What could he possibly do? His friend was dead. He saw the body-the decapitated and rotted body lying in a pool of his own blood on the asphalt. Zach was dead. How could he suddenly be alive? But Tim could see in the twin’s eyes: they weren’t lying. But somehow in some way they weren’t telling the truth either. As Tim considered his options the rovers were gathering even closer.

Losing his patience, Dom bent down and helped his brother to his feet. Tim put his finger on the trigger in reaction…but eased off and lower his weapon. He couldn’t let these two men die. He knew them from before. He had to help them survive the night.

[Tim]: Stay behind me. Where are the dirt bikes?

[Dom]: The Valero at the intersection.

[Tim]: Let’s go, then.

Steadily moving through the cemetery, the three weaved through the foggy-wooded area avoiding the rovers as much as they could. They were coming within meters of them as they closed into the gathering crowd of the dead. One rover came all too close to the three, but was swiftly picked off by Tim as he escorted them closer towards the gas station.

[Dom]: How’re you gonna get back to the church? The place will be packed!

[Tim]: I'll figure something out. Just focus on getting to the bikes as fast as you can!

[Pat]: Serves you right for shooting me…and punching me!

            The way to the bikes got tighter as the rovers began to close further in. Popping a second rover in the forehead, Tim managed to clear a path that bought just enough time to get the twins on the bikes and away from here.

[Tim]: Get on the bikes and go!

Helping Pat onto his bike, Dom jumped onto his and looked at Tim one last time.

[Dom]: We’ll talk again.

Speeding out of harms way, the twins disappear into midnight fog leaving Tim to deal with the herd of dead corpses walking towards him. However, to his fortune, most of the herd had been drawn towards the loud speeding of the bikes, so having thinned the crowd, Tim was able to move back through the cemetery with little confrontation. But he had to know. He had to know if the twins were telling the truth.

The moon light was full tonight, and it shone bright blue light in very center of the sky. Reflecting off of the metal storage building in front of the dirt pile, the night light in the sky shone a perfect amount of a dim glow that the landscape around Tim was almost completely visible, safe for the thick blanket of fog nestling on the ground. However, as Tim reached the dirt mound, and as he took quiet steps up the side of it, he reached the peak of the fog and everything else became clear. Keeping his gun raised, Tim slowly stepped onto the top of the hill. There was a man kneeling down in the tall grass. He had a katana sheathed in his leather-armored back that had a very samurai-styled design to them, yet it was much lighter and conforming in size. The gray long sleeve was tucked in his sand colored BDU pants, and the lengthy, dirty-blond hair hung just below the neck.

[Stranger]: (Chuckles) You used to always be the quiet one. Look at what this world did to you. I heard you coming all the way from the gas station. Or maybe that was just my instincts?

[Tim]: Who are you? Stand up, turn around and face me.

There was a long pause before the stranger stood up. There was a feeling of breathlessness that gripped him. Maybe it was the adrenaline because he felt himself ready at any moment to shoot this stranger without hesitation. The stranger stood up, suddenly. His height and build looked very much like Zach. Then, before Tim could full process everything that was happening, the stranger turned around and looked him dead in the eyes.

The gun gripped in Tim’s fingers suddenly fell, yet his hands remained afloat as if he didn’t realize he lost his weapon. The stranger bared Zach’s face. He had that same smirk on his face that Zach always had. He had the same wrinkles on his face that had come from smiling so much. It looked just like Zach, but there’s no way it was him…right?

[Stranger]: Now see if you were in a shooting competition you’d be disqualified…for like the entire weekend.

[Tim]: I don’t…I-

[Zach]: I get it. You have a lot of questions. And I can assure you. It really is me, Tim. I used to come over for lunch at Aunt Dorothy’s, we used to meet up at Lonestar and hangout with Zack, we wrestled each other in your front lawn and I beat you…twice.

Tim couldn’t believe it…

[Tim]: Okay…tell me something only you and I would know.

Zach thought for a moment.

[Zach]: One time, you, my dad, and me were driving to my house. You had a bag of candy but you couldn’t get the bag open. You were struggling for a while trying to rip it open, so you started using more and more strength, until finally it just burst open and all the candy blasted everywhere in the car. (Chuckling) You wouldn’t shut up! You couldn’t stop apologizing and I couldn’t stop laughing. It was a great day. I miss those times…I miss the man who lived those times.

Zach’s rant was suddenly interrupted when Timothy embraced his friend; his brother. Zach didn’t waist a second hugging him back. He could hear the pitter-patter of Tim’s tears hitting his leather padding.

[Tim]: (Whisper) How are you still alive?

Zach let go of his friend and looked at him hard. Tim looked back. Zach could see the weakness in his eyes. Much has happened, Zach knew it. He just didn’t know what exactly. Maybe he had been away too long. Maybe this was the perfect time for his return. Maybe Zach was feeling guilty seeing a friend, who he had never seen cry before, break down and be seen torn apart by the world. Tim needed an explanation; he needed reassurance.

[Zach]: Zach Golden destroyed Denbury. He killed them…every last one of them using the rovers as help through most of it. But he was careless, and he got shot and injured multiple times. He was gonna bleed out. He knew it. He fell on the road and it was there that he knew he was gonna die. A man approached him, he had a sword; a katana. He…he killed a rover that had almost bitten Zach from behind. Zach had believed that he had been killed in that moment. He was so disoriented, he didn’t hear the rover, and the blood that fell down his face had developed in a pool under him; he thought it was his own blood. Zach Golden thought he died that day…He was right. I woke up on December 12^th, 2018 in a bedroom of white. After that, I was taught and trained by someone who helped me destroy the person I was. See, physically, Zach died that day on that road. Then I destroyed him over the course of several weeks of training from the heart; from within. I was taught to control what I feel, thus controlling my reactions, determining my decisions, and finally, deciding whether or not I live or die. I am not Zach Golden. At least not anymore. I go by a new name; Zach’s middle name: Taylor. That was the name that was between the two names Zach went by; the name within. When he died, the only thing left was the good that my master brought out: and his name is Taylor. That is who I am.

For a moment, Tim stood blankly at his friend. He didn’t know what to think. He didn’t know what to believe. A man teaching Zach to destroy himself?? Name himself Taylor?! It seemed so outrageous. But Tim knew Zach. He knew that he wasn’t kidding around. Everything Zach said was completely truthful in his eyes.

[Tim]: You really expect me to call you Taylor?

[Taylor]: (Laughs) No I do not. I’m ready to train myself to respond to that name.

[Tim]: Why didn’t you ever come back? You finished your training, why didn’t come back immediately?

Taylor combed his hair with his hand and licked his lips.

[Taylor]: I uh…I understood that Zach had destroyed trust in his lifetime before he died. Because we share the same body, I knew that you wouldn’t accept me. So, I waited, and while I waited I observed you and the group, killing rovers that posed a threat to you and our friends. You can’t imagine how many I’ve killed since the past couple of weeks I’ve been here.

[Tim]: You mean to say you have been alive and here watching us this entire time?! We needed your help! Lee got into a serious accident, missions went haywire, and you have no idea how hard it was to line up all these cars around the church. We needed you, Zach!

Just then, rovers began to snarl from the bushes and circle around the hill. Some of them tried to climb up but all attempts failed; the steepness of the hill provided plenty of safety. But the numbers developed, and soon the entire hill was surrounded by dozens of rovers.

[Taylor]: I…wanted to help so many times. I wanted to intervene, I wanted to help. But for the longest time God told me not to.

[Tim]: Oh, so you reconnected with God while you were away too?

[Taylor]: Yes. I did many things while I was gone. Since my rededication, I’ve been able to hear him speak in my prayers. I felt it in my heart: He didn’t want me to intervene till He said so…I begged him and asked him every hour, and the same reply screamed at my soul…until now. I felt him call me to reveal myself to you when I heard you coming.

Tim could only stare. He was so baffled by everything that Taylor said that no words seemed to be capable of slipping past his lips. All of this just seemed unbelievable.

[Tim]: Why are you dressed like that?

[Taylor]: Part of the training was making armor of own personal design that matches my physical attributes. But as part of the training it had to bear resemblance to the armor worn by the Samurai.

It felt like with every question Taylor answered, more questions arose. Nothing made sense. Tim was happy to see his friend back, but it didn’t feel like Zach Golden was standing in front of him right now. He felt like someone else. That’s exactly what Taylor has been trying to tell him.

Taylor took multiple glances at the rovers attempting to climb up the dirt hill. Each time slipping at one point or another and rolling back to the bottom.

[Taylor]: Well we can’t stay here forever. We’ll draw them to one side and we make a run for the cemetery office building.

[Tim]: Wait, why there? Why can’t we go back to the church where you belong.

[Taylor]: Well, dude, first of all we’d be bringing all the rovers with us. Second…it’s just not time for me yet. I’m sorry.

[Tim]: Don’t expect me to understand. But fine, we’ll go to the office. Lead the way.

Nodding in reply, Taylor drew his katana from the leather sheath in his back. Leaping off the hill and rolling into the ground behind the group of rovers circling the hill. Automatically gaining the corpse’s attention, they turned around and shuffled towards Taylor. After a few moments, the rovers around the hill were pulled towards the action, giving Tim enough space to make a break for the office building. But he didn’t leave yet. He wasn’t going to leave Zach to die a second time.

[Taylor]: Go, Tim, I got this!

[Tim]: No, not without you!

Agreeing not to argue, Taylor charged sword first into the herd of the dead. His chrome blade dipped into the rover’s skulls like a knife into butter. It became a blur as it spun all around him lopping off skulls and slashing into eye sockets. Before even Taylor realized it, he was already climbing back up the hill with Tim. The two sprinted to the other side, climbing down and running as fast as the wind could carry them towards the building. The fog hadn’t risen at all yet, and the darkness around them grew dark as the trees blocked the moonlight.

They were so close to the doors. They would have reached it within the next few seconds for sure. But the rover came out of nowhere; like it was waiting for them. It burst from behind a tree, grabbing Tim and sending both bodies tackling to the ground. Throwing the body off him, Tim bashed the butt of his rifle into the rover’s face, buying him time to scramble to his feet. Not wasting anymore time, they sped to the building.

Bursting through the doors, Taylor locked the entrance and barricaded it with chairs and tables. It was dark inside, and it wreaked of death and gore. Taylor stepped towards the center of the room and turned on several battery-operated florescent hand lights. It was just enough light to dimly light the lobby. After that, he walked towards a corner of the room where several bags of supplies were piled. He opened one and pulled out two cans of corn and a bag of chips.

[Taylor]: You hungry?

[Tim]: I’m okay.

Putting away one can he sat down next to the pile, opened the can and spooned the corn with his hand.

[Tim]: You’ve been here all this time?

[Taylor]: Yeah. I’m actually kind surprised ya’ll never checked this place.

[Tim]: We didn’t want to. Something about breaking into a place that held dead people in world ruled by the dead just didn’t seem…

[Taylor]: Right.

[Tim]: Yeah.

Tim suddenly felt searing pain in his left hand. It was so sudden, it felt like fire and knifes dancing in his wrist. Timothy looked at his hand: his heart sank when he saw the bite mark imprinted into his hand. The next thing He saw was Taylor grabbing his hand, and without another moment passing, Taylor’s second hand holding the katana swept across Tim’s arm, then his hand above the wrist was no longer there. So much blood spilt. Everything happened so fast. He felt himself fall down on his back as Taylor tied off the end of Tim’s hand with zip ties. Then everything went black.

Tim woke up. He opened his eyes and looked at daylight that had seeped through the building. He slowly sat up. He felt weak. His head felt like it was run over by a train. He went to rub it and that’s when he noticed his hand wasn’t where it used to be since the day he was born. It was just…gone. Like it never existed; wrapped up in gauze and medical tape. He remembered how it felt to move his fingers, and he could feel his hand moving his mind. But there was no longer anything there to move.  

Moving his tearing eyes away from his hand, he looked around him. In the far corner of the room, Taylor was on his knees praying. In his hands was a Bible. Tim slowly rose to his feet and quietly stepped towards him. He sat down besides Taylor and watched him for a moment before he opened his eyes.

[Taylor]: You should eat.

Handing him a can of corn and the bag of chips he had last night, he motioned his eyes to the food, telling him to eat. Taylor had already opened the can for him as well as unraveling the bag of chips. Tim began to eat. 

[Tim]: So, about your name…I understand why. But your name is Zach. You have always been Zach. I’m sorry, but I think it’s kinda ridiculous to go around calling yourself Taylor. One of these days you’re gonna come back home and we’re all gonna call you Zach. I think you should too.

[Taylor]: I was trained to destroy my dark side. I used to be so dark and evil. I was depressed and ready to die. I destroyed my friendship and their trust for me…and I became a murderer.

[Tim]: Zach…this world changed people. In different ways for different people. It changed you drastically. Sin and depression had broken you when you lost your family, and your relationship with God had become so broken with it. That day at Denbury…you didn’t die. You were broken. Then…whoever it was that saved you, and taught you to move forward…obviously God seemed to have worked through him to rebuild you. Now you are made new. But you are not a different person. Just a person who is different than the person he used to be. You are, and always will be family to me.

Tim put his hand on Zach’s shoulder and shook him gently.

[Tim]: Hey. You’re my brother. Not Taylor. You. And everyone else in that church is your family too.

It was a long time before Taylor responded. Tim had already finished the can of corn and most of what was left in the bag before Taylor replied.

[Taylor]: The people at the church went on a mission this morning.

[Tim]: I think I overheard something about them getting concrete sound barriers to make walls.

[Taylor]: I scouted their movements and the rovers around them while you were unconscious. They’ll succeed in getting the barriers to the church, but the rovers headed their way will wipe them all out. They’ll need our help.

[Tim]: What?! Well then let’s go, Zach what are we waiting for?

[Taylor]: The general speed of the herd is moving at three miles an hour. We have about seven minutes before they get to a specific point of advantage that me and you will have to meet them at. Even if we both helped the group at the church we would get overrun. But if we thin the crowd; distract a group of the herd from the church, they’ll have a chance at surviving. I’ll need you with the gun.

Rising to his feet, Taylor collected his sword and stashed away his bible.

[Tim]: As much as I am all for it, I’m no good with a rifle. I mean, look at me.

[Taylor]: I don’t expect you to shoot rovers. I just need you to pull that trigger and get the rover’s attention. If you just so happen to hit a rover while you’re at it, then less trouble for me. But we have to go now.

Standing up and take his rifle with him, Tim checked his clip as they stepped back outside and towards the intersection.

[Tim]: I’ve got five shots left.

[Taylor]: Make them count. You ready?

[Tim]: I’m tired, I’m weak, I was bit last night before I got my hand chopped off, and before all of that…I found a friend who I thought was dead. 

Laughing in response, Taylor patted Tim on the back.

[Taylor]: It’s okay, buddy. I remember from before all this, you and I use to fantasize how fun it would be to be in the apocalypse.

[Tim]: Those were good times but we didn’t know what we were asking for. This is really happening now, and I haven’t been ready for anything that has happened and yet somehow, I manage to pull out what it takes to make it to the next day.

Reaching the intersection across the street from the Valero gas station, the two-lay low in a ditch.

[Taylor]: Then let’s pull out what it takes to survive today.

Looking back at the church, Taylor took note of the crane and all the trucks that made it safely back home. All except one truck. As Taylor observed the church from where he was standing, the herd poured into view.

[Tim]: Here they come, Zach.

[Taylor]: There’s a truck missing. Someone didn’t make it back.

[Tim]: …What do we do?

[Taylor]: We wait for the herd to pass us and then we attack from behind. That will thin the group hopefully enough to make the battle at the church winnable.

[Tim]: Do you know who was in the other truck? The one that’s missing?

[Taylor]: I don’t know…pray it doesn’t come to worst.

The roaring horde began to pass the two brothers. It had to have been at least several hundred rovers. Tim and Taylor had to carefully pull back into the brush to avoid being seen or smelt. The noise was unlike anything they’ve heard before. It sounded like the ocean in a blasting storm.

[Tim]: There’s so many of them…was the mission worth this?

[Taylor]: Our people obviously didn’t think to draw them out like we are now. If whoever is in charge planned it out, they did it very poorly.

[Tim]: Rich McDowell is in charge.

[Taylor]: Christian’s dad? I’m surprised the group didn’t pick you as the leader. You would have been good at it.

Tim didn’t respond. He didn’t know how to.

The silence amongst the two brothers were interrupted by the sound of a truck speeding in their direction. Peering through the brush, the two saw a white truck with a trailer latched in the tailgate carrying several of the sound barriers. Looking closer, Zach could make out Lee driving the vehicle and Brittany sitting in the passenger seat.

[Taylor]: There they are. They must have gotten separated.

[Tim]: Thank God.

Turning the corner, the truck sped along the horde of the rovers between the road and the ditch. After gaining several hundred feet, the truck met with the herd of rovers, running them down like a mower over grass!

[Taylor]: Alright, you ready?

[Tim]: Let’s do it.

Rushing from the brush, Tim lifted the rifle with one hand firing all five shots into the horde of the dead. Almost half of the herd turned their heads towards the noise.

[Taylor]: How many did you get?

[Tim]: I think I got one.

[Taylor]: You had five bullets!

[Tim]: I also have one arm!

[Taylor]: Because you were carelessly running through the woods in the middle of the night!

[Tim]: Because it was your idea!

[Taylor]: I’m not the one who shot Pat in the leg!

[Tim]: Well it’s their fault for coming here and spying on us.

As the herd got closer towards the two, Tim dropped his rifle and took out his buck knife. At the same time, Taylor drew his katana from his back. 

[Taylor]: Very well. If we die, we’ll blame it on the twins.

[Tim]: Fine, Zach, sounds good.

As the herd came closer towards the two lifelong friends, Taylor began to think after his brother had just called him by his real name once again. Even amongst the chaos, Taylor and Tim were able to joke around and have a memorable moment. Much like the times the two would team up for airsoft. Those were good times lived by a good man who was made corrupt…

…made corrupt…

…made new. 

Taylor’s master was wrong. He trained him to destroy who he was. He never changed in the first place. All that happened was that God revived him. Rededicated him. Rebuilt him.

Taylor looked at Tim as the rovers came closer and closer.

[Taylor]: You were right. I’m not Taylor. I’m Zach Golden just as I am.

Smiling in response, Tim nodded.

[Tim]: I’m ready now.

[Zach]: Good. 

The herd med the brothers. Knife met temples and sword swept across necks. Zach was in constant motion. His foot work spreading across the road like a dance as he defended himself and Tim from rovers that got too close. The passion behind the blade, the fury and inspired bloodthirsty drive fueling the hearts of the brothers kept them alive, kept them fighting, kept them stabbing, kept them swinging, beating, breathing, roaring and above all, kept the blood running through their veins; the entire difference between the rovers and the humans.

The herd had begun to shrink further and further with every passing minute, with every passing swing or jab that brought a rover down. Blood filled the streets and drained to the ditches. The blood ran through the grass and between the roots. It turned the dirt into sludge, and tainted the roads with crimson. It stained the clothes on the brother’s backs, it splattered and ran against their skin. The red mist filled the air and filled their lungs, it escaped their breath and ran from their mouth as they foamed with fury. Zach had managed to take down enough rovers to buy Tim enough time to catch his breath. He soon realized that Tim was too weak to continue. He couldn’t make his brother keep fighting. He wasn’t going to make it if he did. Grabbing his friend and dragging him farther from the herd, he pulled a communication remote from his belt sack and gave it to Tim.

[Zach]: Take this and go back home. I’ll contact you when I clear the herd.

[Tim]: (Panting uncontrollably) What…? No…you have to come with me, we can do this. Why won’t you come with me?

[Zach]: The twins will speak to the leader of Costco, and they will come here. You have to prepare and I have to find what they are planning and what they are doing. I can’t be here and protect my friends at the same time. Go! You don’t have much time!

A memory flashed across Tim’s mind as he recalled the good days when the two would say their goodbyes after hanging out. They would grasp each other’s forearm and quote one of their favorite films by saying “strength and honor”. It had been a long time since they had done that. Offering his hand to his brother, Zach knew exactly what he was suggesting. Cooperating and grasping his forearm covered in dripping blood, the two mumbled the words from their mouths.

[Tim and Zach]: Strength and honor.

            Letting go, Tim ran away from the battle as Zach faced off against the remaining rovers that had were within a few feet from him. There were about two dozen remaining. This would be easy.

[Mrs. Reed]: Where is Alyssa?

            Brittany blinked hard. Tears ran down her face and she quickly wiped them away. Rich humbly walked over to Mrs. Reed and whispered the answer into her ear. She covered her mouth, dropping to the floor and sobbing. Hunter knelt beside her and put his arm around her. Everyone else just cried.

            Then the sound of footsteps silenced everyone. They all quietly grabbed their knives, spears and machetes and stood at the ready. The footsteps grew loud, and the pace and the timing between them seemed all too familiar. They had heard these same footsteps before in the past. Whoever was walking towards them down the hallway towards the entrance doors was a friend. Someone they knew from before. Then the person appeared…

            It was Timothy. He was covered in blood. In one hand was a communication remote, and his left hand was missing.

            [Timothy]: (Panting) There’s something…I have to tell you.

Standing in front of the desk, the twins waited for Anders’ response. He looked at Pat’s bleeding leg, and he looked at Dom’s infuriated face.

            [Anders]: They have enough fuel to keep us going for a long time. Or at least until we can get enough supplies to make the trade with Houston. What they have…is a necessity to us.

            [Pat]: So we’re gonna talk to them?

            Anders smiled. He opened a drawer, a drawer containing his fire arm. He pulled it out and holstered it, standing stall above the desk and above the twins.

            [Anders]: Yes. We’re going to…talk to them.

THE END