~Zombie Land~

Chapter 1- Chicago​

The sound of one of the undead fucker was the first thing to register in Tallahassee's mind. The next was the sad fact that his gun was too far away. The third thought was the ironic idea that he's been caught taking a piss. The last was the sound of a gunshot.

Tallahassee turned around to see the zombie land in a heap a few feet away. His eyes traced back to the source of the shot and confusion flooded his mind when he spotted a girl. She took a few steps forward cautiously aiming the pump shotgun at him. He just stared at her like an idiot with his dick out for everyone to see.

"Are you trying to get yourself eaten?" she asked at length.

"No, how about you?" he countered coming to his senses. He put himself away and zipped his pants. She came closer, entering the light so he could see her better. She wore not overly tight jeans, a black t-shirt, combat boots, and a deadly arsenal of weapons. In the back of his mind he realized how attractive the blond was while the front of his thoughts belonged to the fact that she had a gun on him.

"Not really," she smiled resting her shotgun on her shoulder. He relaxed a little. "I'll make a guess that it was you lighting up the theme park a while back?" she sighed. He sighed and looked around the gas station where they stood.

"Some friends of mine, yeah," he nodded.

"There are others?" she asked interested.

"Three others," he said starting to wonder about her intentions.

"Where?" she demanded more than asked.

"Why?" he replied getting suspicious.

"Because I know this city a lot better than you I'd bet, and there are some places you don't want to be. I don't need all of you stirring up my neighbors," she said shortly.

"They're at an old bank on the east side," he replied.

"What are you doing here?" she asked without a pause.

"Twinkies," he shrugged. It wasn't his only goal, but it was all she needed to know. In truth Tallahassee had been gathering up a new arsenal of common objects that he could use to claim zombie kill of the week. She didn't reply, but her eyes had gone wide. A tingle ran up Tallahassee's spine. "What?" he asked realizing that she was fixated on a point over his shoulder.

"Run for your truck," she whispered. He turned his head to see over his shoulder. A mob of twenty or thirty zombies was moving around a hundred yards away.

"What about you?" he asked. She pulled something out of her pocket. He watched her yank the pin out of the grenade and throw it as far as she could. It still didn't land even close to the mob. "What good does that do?" he murmured.

"Hey!" she screamed getting the full attention of the horde that proceeded to charge. Before Tallahassee could register what was happening she had taken off in the direction of the truck. He followed her after grabbing his gun from where it was leaning against a nearby trashcan.

She reached the truck ten feet sooner than he did and jumped into the driver side. A twinge of panic sat in. Tallahassee envisioned her driving off and leaving him for dead, but instead she waited patiently. The grenade exploded as he reached the truck. Most of the zombies had been taken care of but a few continued their charge. Yanking the back door open he jumped in and she floored it mowing over the remaining undead before squealing out onto the road.

He looked out the back window at the destruction they had caused. "Nice," he nodded approvingly.

"Your friends are probably in trouble," she said in an all business voice.

"Everything was quiet when I left," he said crawling into the front seat.

"Always is, then you come back and everyone is mauled really well," she smiled sweetly. "Nice wheels by the way."

"Thanks," he shrugged opening a Twinkie. She glanced sideways at him.

"Really?" she asked trying to decide what to make of him. He looked at her innocently. "Are you going to give the girl who just saved your ass a bite?" she chuckled. He held out the Twinkie and she took a bite while keeping both eyes on the road. For a moment he wrestled with the thought of thanking her for saving him. "Don't even bother," she sighed.

"What?" he asked wrinkling his brow.

"You're making that 'man face' trying to work up a thank you. Don't even bother it was nothing," she smirked. He looked away from her finding the conversation very unsettling. The last thing Tallahassee wanted was to be locked up with a fucking mind reader. She continued to wear a sly smile.

He didn't speak until they reached the bank. Everything seemed quiet when they pulled up. "I told you everything's fine," he said knowingly. The girl just sat watching the bank as if waiting for something. Then it came. A gunshot echoed from inside the back causing Tallahassee to whip his head around towards the bank. "Shit!" he hissed staring to move, but the girl was already ahead of him.

Side by side they ran into the bank. First zombie down went to the girl. Columbus, Wichita, and Little Rock were all assumed to be in the giant safe that the zombies were storming. Tallahassee shot two zombies before taking out his very large hunting knife and hacking his way forward. Upset didn't even begin to describe what he felt as the girl stole a zombie that he was about to kill. She finished off the last one in the room leaving the count at seven kills to five kills by Tallahassee.

Less than pleased he moseyed his way to the safe and knocked. "You can come out now," he said lazily. The door opened slowly and the three kids made their appearance. "Everyone ok?" he asked looking each one over.

"We're fine," Columbus sighed in his normal nervous voice.

"Nice family," the girl said. Everyone looked at her.

"Who are you?" Little Rock asked.

"No names," she shook her head.

"Whoa, she's scary like you," Wichita smirked at Tallahassee, who grimaced.

"I'm Little Rock, he's Columbus, she's Wichita, and you've already met Tallahassee," Little Rock said. The girl looked at each one.

"I'm Chicago," she said.

"Great now that we're all introduced lets get the fuck out of here," Tallahassee muttered pushing past everyone. The three kids followed him but Chicago stayed in place. Columbus stopped at the door looking back.

"Are you coming?" he asked. She thought for a moment. The kid seemed like a push over. The cowboy was just annoying and the girls would probably be trouble in some form. On the other hand they had a good set of wheels and were the only non-zombies in a thousand miles. Chicago didn't have a choice. If she wanted to complete her mission she would have to go with them.

"Only if sunshine won't mind," she sighed rubbing the back of her neck.

"It's not a problem," he replied.

"Thanks," she smiled following after him.

 

Chapter 2- The Mind Reader​

Tallahassee sighed as Chicago got in the back seat with Columbus and Wichita. "So where are we going?" he asked deciding that somehow he owed the annoying girl.

"I always wanted to see Vegas," Wichita said with a smug grin.

"Vegas it is," Tallahassee smiled thinking about the city. Chicago looked between her new 'friends' trying to figure out what the deal was.

"Are you all just on a road trip?" she asked furrowing her brow.

"Pretty much," Columbus shrugged. Chicago wasn't sure how she felt about that. Buckling her seatbelt she stared out the window. She wasn't going to speak to them anymore. She didn't want to get attached they were just a ride.

Four hours down the highway Tallahassee stopped the truck and opened the door switching places with Little Rock. "How old are you?" Chicago asked the kid as she buckled into the drivers seat.

"Twelve," she replied putting the vehicle in drive. Chicago sank her nails into the seat a little.

"Don't worry, she's a good driver," Columbus said. Chicago nodded not trusting the idea. Tallahassee rolled down the window shooting zombies as they passed them on the highway, but he seemed rather bored with his activity.

"So what's your story?" Wichita asked finally.

"No story. I'm just trying to get home," Chicago sighed.

"What are you doing in LA then?" Tallahassee asked.

"I came out west to make movies," she smirked.

"You don't seem the bitch type," he replied nonchalantly.

"Nah, I'm a writer, not an actress," Chicago chuckled. Little Rock hit a pothole jarring the truck.

"Sorry," she mumbled. Chicago tightened her grip on the seat again. Columbus looked away from Chicago and she knew what he was thinking.

"Go ahead and ask whatever question you're cooking up man," she sighed. He looked at her a little shocked. "You're making that face, I know you want to ask a question," she explained.

"That is the second goddamned time! What the hell? Are you a mind reader?" Tallahassee exploded turning around in the seat. Chicago only looked away playing coy.

"I was going to ask if there was a reason you're heading to Chicago?" Columbus asked. She smirked again and took a picture from her pocket.

"I'm going to find him," she said. The car fell silent even Tallahassee was reserved, because no one wanted to say what they thought. "Relax, don't think I'm stupid. I know he's dead or a zombie. I'm going to find him and kill him. I made a promise," she said trying not to sound too weak.

"You are just a fucking mind reader," Tallahassee mumbled as he loaded another clip into his gun. Everyone smiled except Chicago.

"I don't want to know what's in your brain," she replied. He gave her a warning glance as the others snickered, but nothing else was said.

Eventually everyone grew restless and they pulled over at a gas station. While the others proceeded cautiously Chicago barged in. Four zombies attacked. Two hit the floor with one strike of her knife. The third went down at the heel of her boot.

The last came at her just as Tallahassee arrived. Eager to show off she ran to the counted jumped up on it and did a back flip over the charging zombie. Behind it she grabbed him and slammed its head into the counter pulling out her knife and sinking it through the back of the skull.

Tallahassee blinked trying to catch up with what had just happened. She turned to him and smiled. He slid his gun into its holster disappointed that he'd been shown up again. The kids entered the store and Columbus quickly took account of what had transpired. "Zombie kill of the week," he announced. Tallahassee gritted his teeth and went back outside too upset to even look for Twinkies.

Chicago followed him not wanting to have a problem this soon on the trip. "Hey!" she called trailing him. He stopped in his tracks. "What is your deal?" she asked.

"No deal, you're just being a bit of a bitch," he said crossly.

"What?" she asked completely lost.

"You're getting in the way," he clarified. She didn't have time to respond because an ominous creaking sound came to her ears. Instinctively she looked to the source as he stormed away across the parking lot. She spotted the sounds origin. The hundred foot sign advertising the gas station had been hit by a car and was bent. Suddenly she noticed how windy it was and how much the sign was moving. It was coming down.

"Hey!" she shouted again trying to stop him from walking right under the falling mass because he was just to steamed to notice the non-zombie danger. He didn't stop for her so she ran tackling him as the sign fell only a few feet away.

As the dust settled she got off of him and he stood up brushing himself off. "Jesus!" he exclaimed.

"I just saved your life again!" she shouted back at him.

"I don't need your help!" he yelled flailing his arms.

"Jesus you are just a complete ass!" screamed shoving him in the chest. He was too mad for words. "I kill a couple zombies and all of a sudden you hate me? I didn't see your name on them!" she shouted. The kids had assembled to see what all the racquet was.

"You guys okay?" Columbus asked timidly seeing the wreckage.

"Peachy," Chicago snapped.

"You think you're so great?" Tallahassee snapped. "I could take you with one hand tied behind my back." She rolled her eyes.

"Put your money where your mouth is!" she challenged.

"Okay," he nodded taking off his jacket. She smiled as he came at her. She grabbed his first blow and twisted his arm making him yelp. Attempting to break free he swung with the other arm and she did the same thing as before. Somehow she used her weight to overpower him and she took one of his legs out from under him with her own forcing him to the ground.

The kids watched completely unable to figure out anything better to do as the fight progressed. Chicago pinned Tallahassee's arms under her knees and pulled out her handgun in one fluent motion. She jammed it under his jaw line pressing in hard until he stopped moving. "I could kill you," she whispered and for a moment he actually thought she was going to pull the trigger. "I don't want any trouble. I just want a ride as far as you can take me then I'll get out of your hair. I'm not aiming to cramp your style, all I know is that if I wasn't around you would be dead right now," she hissed. He was starting to see stars from how hard the gun was pressing into his neck and she could feel his pulse running a million miles a minute. She eased up putting the gun away and got off of his chest. As he got up she offered her hand and after a second of hesitation he took it.

She turned to go back to the truck and was surprised when his hunting knife came to rest against her neck. "You shouldn't ever turn your back like that," he whispered in her ear. She rolled her eyes, knocked the knife away, kicked him in the nads and continued to walk as he crumpled.

"And that's a move you should learn really well. Always aim for the jewels," she chuckled patting Little Rock's head as she walked past. Tallahassee struggled to his feet again holding himself. Wichita, Columbus, and Little Rock watched trying not to laugh.

"She's trouble," he grunted as he hobbled past Columbus.

 

Chapter 3- Not A Good Thing​

As the sun rose and they drove on Chicago found herself feeling at ease. Columbus was driving with Wichita in the passenger seat. Tallahassee sat in-between Little Rock and Chicago in the back seat.

For a long time she listened to Columbus and Wichita talk. Little Rock and Tallahassee had been asleep for a while. Giving into the hypnotic sound of the engine she closed her eyes for just a few seconds at a time, but slowly the periods of darkness became longer and longer. Unable to stay awake anymore she leaned over against Tallahassee without really meaning too. His soft snakeskin jacket smelled good and she could hear the sound of his heart beating. Chicago fell asleep to the rhythmic sounds of life around her.

Tallahassee woke up a half hour later and it took a moment for him to figure out who was leaning against him. On one side Little Rock was resting against him lightly and on the other Chicago had a hold of him. Her head rested on him and both of her arms were wrapped around his. She looked like she was afraid he was going to get away. He almost chuckled, but held still.

"What do you think of her?" Columbus asked. Tallahassee took a deep breath.

"She's trouble," he whispered.

"But do you want to kill her?" Columbus asked as if it was an obvious question.

"There aren't many people who can take me down like she did. That earns points in my book, but for the same reason I still don't like her," Tallahassee replied. Little Rock shifted leaning against the door.

"I think she trusts us," Columbus whispered.

"That's not necessarily a good thing," Tallahassee replied.

Nearly two hours passed before Chicago shifted waking up. Tallahassee expected her to sit up when she realized she was on top of him, but instead she remained still.

It took a moment for Chicago to realize where she was and what was happening, but then she felt the snakeskin and realized where she was. Her face went red as she realized that her arms were wrapped around his. She took a deep breath relaxing against him again. "Sorry about last night," she said softly deciding the best thing to do was swallow her pride. He stiffened having been completely unready for her apology. "You were right I was being a bitch," she sighed.

"It's okay," he replied unable to come up with anything better. She closed her eyes for a moment listening to his heart again. It had been so long since she felt like she could relax and now that she had someone to watch her back she didn't want to go on guard again.

"I'll back off and leave the zombies to you," she murmured before slowly she fell back asleep. Columbus looked back in the rearview mirror wondering how Tallahassee was going to cope with so much kindness in one sitting.

"This is a fucking nightmare, you all are such a pain in the ass," Tallahassee grumbled pulling out a flask and downing its contests with his free hand. Columbus smiled.

 

Chapter 4- Maybe A Good Thing​

Chicago woke up as Tallahassee removed himself from under her. The unwanted disturbance made her sit up and yawn stretching out after being curled up for hours. "Where are we?" she mumbled.

"Dyer Nevada," Wichita replied. Little Rock and Tallahassee were already out of the car and heading for a building. Chicago pressed her face against the window of the truck and read the sign through blurry eyes.

"Marge's down home kitchen?" she sighed wanting to go back to sleep. Columbus and Wichita got out of the truck and Chicago decided not to miss the party. Slinging her shotgun over her shoulder she lazily followed the others inside. Directly beyond the doors were the sorry remains of a zombie that Tallahassee had obviously gotten a hold of. Chicago smiled as she looked up and saw him beating another zombie into submission with what looked to be a lamp.

She was just about to comment on his creativity when a gurgling growl rang out. Chicago spotted what she assumed to be Marge charging Tallahassee, who pushed Little Rock away to safety before being tackled by the elderly woman turned zombie. He managed to get a grip on her neck so she couldn't bite him, but she still had the upper hand.

Columbus and Wichita were busy getting Little Rock to safety so Chicago approached. "Do you need help?" she asked feeling ridiculous for even asking. Tallahassee grunted still wrestling with Marge.

"No, just give me a second," he said over the hiss of his opponent. Chicago looked around and rubbed the back of her neck definitely not feeling right about the situation. Standing by idly while he was pinned under a zombie didn't seem fitting when she could easily dispatch the ghoul. Chicago waited painfully as Tallahassee grappled and at last got the upper hand managing to get on top. He pulled a nearby chair up and jammed a leg through Marge's eye socket. It made an awful mess and an even more awful sound, but it solved the problem.

"Ummm… good kill?" Chicago said a little unsure of how to take the way this seemed so average and mundane to everyone else.

"Thanks," Tallahassee panted getting to his feet and recovering his hat. He moved back into the kitchen finally pulling out his gun. Chicago looked to Columbus who was busy reading a menu.

"Is this normal?" she asked.

"Oh, he's just passionate," Columbus replied absentmindedly. Chicago gave a crooked smile. They were certainly a fun group. She followed Tallahassee back into the kitchen. He'd just finished inspecting the freezer as she moved through the saloon style doors.

"All clear, we have the place to ourselves now," he said.

"And what do we do with it?" she asked.

"We see if anyone can cook," he grinned.

"Finally something I can do without stepping on your toes," she chuckled putting a hand on his chest as she brushed past. She turned on the gas grill, finding matches above the hood. Striking one and she lit the flame. "We have gas and water," she cheered triumphantly. He moved back out into the dining area after washing his hands, leaving her alone to work.

The kitchen was well stocked and Chicago made sure to use only ingredients that were still sealed. Macaroni and cheese, pan fried parmesan chicken, and potato pancakes were her final product. Half an hour passed before Tallahassee entered the kitchen again just as she had flipped two of the pancakes into the air letting them land on plates she held in her other hand. "Whoa," he murmured alerting her to his presence.

"It's almost done," she said handing him a plate full of food. Together they carried out the feast and sat it down for everyone. "I know it's not really a complementary meal, but I figured everyone would be able to pick out whatever they liked, since I really don't know your tastes," she said almost apologetically. Everyone dug into the food. This was the first hot meal they had had in some time. Chicago smiled happy to see someone liked her cooking.

"Oh, my, god! Chicago where did you learn to cook this?" Wichita exclaimed biting into the chicken.

"I watch the food channel a lot," Chicago said modestly.

"I never could learn from those things. They always went way too fast," Columbus laughed.

"Write the recipe then try it," Chicago chuckled. Tallahassee chewed looking thoughtful for a moment. "What?" she asked.

"Maybe having you around isn't such a bad thing," he said. For a moment she thought she should be offended then she realized that in his language that was as close to a confirmation of acceptance as she was going to get.

"You think?" Little Rock exclaimed shoveling in another potato pancake. Everyone laughed at her and Chicago sat down with them sharing in the feast that she had prepared.

 

Chapter 5- A Good Thing​

After all of the food had been devoured and everyone was miserably full they piled back into the truck. Tallahassee took the wheel and Chicago claimed the passenger seat. The kids took up the backseat and both Columbus and Wichita were almost immediately asleep. Little Rock was listening to an iPod that she had looted causing the truck to be completely silent.

Chicago looked back at the three younger survivors. "None of them look like you," she commented softly.

"That's because they ain't mine," Tallahassee replied. She looked at him for a moment.

"I know they aren't yours. I meant that none of them seem your type. I've met guys like you before," she said looking at her nails.

"Ah, trust me sweetheart, you haven't met anyone like me before," he smiled. She gave him a humorous glance.

"All I'm saying is I never though kids like them could keep time with someone like you," she sighed.

"What about you? If you made it this long you must not be a push over," he said.

"I made a promise. I'm going home to make good. I don't care how many zombies there are between me and my goal," she said with more determination.

"Hell of a plan," he chuckled.

"At least I have a plan," she shot back. "I'm not just going to settle for surviving."

"Hell, then I'm way ahead of you," he smiled and looked over at her. "I've been living it up."

"Oh yeah, Twinkies and guns," she sighed sarcastically. "All you need is a girl and you'll have the whole world."

"You want to fill that slot?" he asked raising an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes.

"Thanks but no thanks," she replied and tapped the ring on her finger.

"Married huh?" he asked looking back at the road.

"Engaged," she nodded.

"Did he turn?" Tallahassee asked without compassion.

"I'm not sure. That's my promise. Last thing we talked about before the phones went dead was getting back together. We promised that no matter what we would find each other and the last one left alive would make sure the other was out of misery," she said looking out the window.

"You really think you'll be able to find one zombie in thousands?" he asked.

"I'll kill them all if I have to," she said with steely determination. Tallahassee shrugged.

"Well Chicago, I admire your spunk, but I don't sugarcoat stuff like this. You're just a walking meal," he said.

"Like it matters," she replied.

"Of course it matters," he said seriously.

"We got no hope. Die today or die ten years from now it doesn't make a difference. Humans are finished. The only difference is how long we suffer," she said.

"I didn't pick you for a bleak one," he sighed shifting in his seat.

"Realistic," she corrected.

"Whatever… are gonna have it in you to pull the trigger if you find him?" Tallahassee asked.

"Once again it doesn't matter. If I do great, if I don't I won't have to live with it for very long will I?" she replied.

"You are such a downer!" he exclaimed. "What you need is a little liquid happiness," he said fishing his bottle of whisky out from under the seat.

"You are a fucking nightmare," she smiled taking the bottle.

"Look who's talking," he countered. She took a long drink before handing it back to him. He drank and made a face as it burned its way down to his stomach. "Whoa! Good stuff," he proclaimed. Little Rock took her ear buds out.

"Can I have some?" she asked.

"Sure, just don't tell your sister," Tallahassee said as he started to hand over the bottle, but Chicago grabbed it away.

"Don't give her that!" she laughed.

"What?" he asked as she batted at him.

"When you're sixteen you can have some," Chicago chuckled before taking another drink.

"She wouldn't have liked it!" he argued.

"Just shut up and eat a Twinkie," Chicago laughed.

"Will you feed me?" Tallahassee asked batting his eyes.

"Jesus!" Chicago sighed laughing again. Little Rock giggled at the display. Willing to humor the childish man Chicago fished a Twinkie out from under the seat and opened it. She held it out for him to take a bite but drew it back quickly as he attempted to do so. Little Rock laughed harder as Tallahassee looked annoyed. Chicago took a bite and he grabbed it away from her.

"Never mess with a man's Twinkie!" he said. Little Rock grabbed the snack out of his hand eating the rest. Tallahassee looked heart broken, so Chicago handed him another one. "Okay this is a good thing," he said.

"Bet your ass it is," she smiled.

 

Chapter 6- Storming The Palace​

Vegas rolled around soon enough and as they drove through the ghost town it seemed depressingly dead. "Not as much fun as I remember," Tallahassee observed nonchalantly.

They seemed to be the only things alive or undead in the city. Not a single zombie was to be seen. "Okay, we came and we saw, now we should leave. This place doesn't feel right," Columbus said looking out his window.

"This isn't as impressive as I thought it would be," Wichita sighed sounding disappointed.

"I know how to change that," Tallahassee said keenly. Chicago looked over at him.

"Motive?" she asked. He smiled at her as he put the truck in park in front of Ceasar's Palace. She looked at the giant casino hotel for a moment before looking back at him.

"I need a new shot glass," he said simply as he got out.

"This is a really bad idea. Do you realize how many zombies will be in there?" Columbus said nervously.

"I dunno, this could be fun," Chicago smiled getting out. She was eager to keep time with Tallahassee, because surely there would be enough inside for both of them. "What kind of toys have you got?" she asked. Tallahassee shooed everyone out of the backseat and folded it up. She chuckled with a small smile as he pulled out a flamethrower.

"You've got to be kidding me," Wichita sighed.

"Don't like it stay with the truck," Tallahassee grunted as he put the pack on.

"Where did you get that?" Columbus stammered.

"Not important," Tallahassee replied. Chicago chuckled.

"Cool," Little Rock said in awe.

"Be right back," he said taking off with determination.

"I'm coming with you!" Chicago chimed grabbing a few choice tools out of the back. He didn't slow up. "Keep the car running huh?" she said poking Columbus in the ribs before she ran after Tallahassee.

Inside the dark lobby they squinted for a moment getting adjusted. "Okay, gift shop," he muttered to himself scanning the area. She rolled her eyes looking around at the general mayhem.

"Where is everyone?" she sighed moving towards an overturned baby carrier as he headed in the direction of a gift kiosk. She picked up the carrier and frowned at the bloodstains on the inside. "Maybe Columbus was right," she whispered so Tallahassee could hear. He was too busy sorting through shot glasses to find one that wasn't cracked or bloodstained.

A shiver ran up Chicago's spine as a sense that they were no longer alone. She watched as Tallahassee pocketed a shot glass and slowly raised the flamethrower. Instinctively she sprinted forward knowing that there were zombies behind her. He wasn't sure what she was planning as she sprinted towards him at full tilt until she slid like a batter into a base between his legs, leading the zombies right into the flames.

He toasted them with a loud 'Yeeeeehaaawww!' while she came back to her feet never pausing. She pulled out a crowbar that she had tied into her belt and sank it into a skull. She turned around when she realized that fire probably wasn't as effective as it was flashy.

"Ah shit!" she hissed seeing that it was all to true. Tallahassee had just set a bunch of monsters on fire and they were still going to move forward. She took some chains that were looped around her shoulders and, feeling a bit like a poor Ghost Rider knock-off, swung them with astounding force. She smirked a little despite the situation because yet again she had saved Tallahassee. By the look on his face he knew it too.

He blew a zombie away with his shotgun and shrugged the flamethrower off. "Well you certainly don't take long to make a mess of things do you?" she asked over the sound of the undead.

"Darlin' that's half the fun!" he exclaimed. She sighed feeling a stress headache coming on. More and more zombies were filling the lobby.

Outside in the truck Columbus sat behind the wheel sucking on the drawstring of his sweatshirt. Little Rock had claimed the passenger seat while Wichita looked out through the back window on high alert. "What's taking so long?" Little Rock sighed. Of course that was the cue for all hell to break loose.

Wichita spotted the first zombie sprinting towards the truck. Then a handful more. Then a few dozen more. "Time to go," she snapped leaning forward over Columbus's shoulder and punching the horn.

Chicago heard the horn over Tallahassee's crazed shouting. "Let's go!" she said grabbing his arm and clearing a path to the door. Smoke was starting to fill up the place from fires that the zombies were inadvertently starting and the smell of burning flesh was becoming overpowering making the idea of a quick departure inviting. He followed her reluctantly still shooting backwards.

She had completely abandoned fighting and accepted fleeing as the new plan. "Go! Go!" she shouted to the kids in the truck when she saw that the zombies were going to get there first. Columbus started to drive slowly. He kept the truck moving at a steady fifteen mph as both the horde and his friends chased the SUV.

Wichita opened the back door and held out her hand as Chicago managed to get close. In a less than graceful dive she miraculously was able to get inside. Turning around she looked for Tallahassee to be close on her heels, but he was still a good ten feet away.

"Come on!" she shouted looking back and seeing the entire zombified Vegas population chasing them. Somewhere in the back of her mind she made a mental note to laugh when she could breath again, because Tallahassee looked just like Jack Sparrow running in front of the mob of natives. "Too close too close!" she muttered pulling her last grenade out of her pocket.

Tallahassee wasn't running as fast as he could because he wasn't finished just yet. However, when he saw Chicago throw something out of the open door he picked up the pace. In a full sprint he reached the car.

"Put some distance between us and that bomb!" Chicago ordered Columbus. He poured on another five miles not wanting to leave Tallahassee while at the same time not wanting to be blown up.

"Jesus!" Tallahassee snapped as the SUV sped up just as he was going to make a jump. Chicago held out her hand for him to grab. Deciding her help wasn't needed he made a jump on his own, nearly falling back out as a zombie leapt and grabbed his leg. Luckily Chicago grabbed one of his flailing arms pulling him in. The grenade exploded adding to the chaos.

The zombie attempted to crawl into the truck only to be rewarded with Tallahassee's other boot smashing into it's face. The blow sent the unwelcome passenger tumbling back to the pavement. Chicago slammed the door shut letting out the breath she had been holding since the beginning of the ordeal.

Tallahassee untangled himself from her and got settled into the seat with a satisfied grunt. "Not bad," he nodded happily. Chicago threw her head back. This was a new style of zombie killing for her. Before Tallahassee she had always planned her attacks. The chaos did feel good though.

He reached into his pocket, but instead of pulling out the shot glass he pulled out a handful of shards. With a disappointed face he rolled down the window and dumped out the broken glass. Sensing the unhappiness Chicago patted him on the shoulder. "Can't win them all," she said holding in laughter.

"Yeah," he sighed like a child who just lost a game.

"Well look on the bright side," Columbus said. "You have now burnt the Ceasar's Palace down and killed Bill Murray."

"Whoa! Bill Murray?" Chicago sputtered.

"No, you shot Bill Murray," Tallahassee argued, though it felt a little halfhearted. Obviously he was still in mourning for his shot glass.

"You shot Bill Murray?" Chicago asked leaning forward in disbelief.

"It was an accident," Columbus said shrugging. As they drove off with no particular destination Chicago settled into her seat with the intent of getting every detail of the story behind the odd tidbit.

 

Chapter 7- In Too Deep
​

Chicago was behind the wheel of the truck in the early hours of the morning. The kids were in the back sleeping while Tallahassee sat in the passenger seat nursing a soda he had picked up at the last rest stop. Serving her own purpose she was heading northeast. She glanced sideways at him because the truck had been quiet for the last twenty miles.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"I thought you didn't want to know what's going on in my head," he replied mellowly.

"I'm feeling brave," she sighed.

"I don't know. Just thinking about what to do next," he said sounding somber.

"Yeah? I guess that's better than what I do. I'm always thinking about the past," she smiled weakly.

"No use in that," he shook his head. "Done is done."

"I suppose… I think about what things would be like if this hadn't happened a lot too. I'd still be sitting in my apartment writing and watching cooking shows," she sighed thinking about the long gone luxuries. He chuckled a little at the idea, but didn't say anything. She could feel the melancholy mood settle on them and didn't really know where to take the conversation.

"It's about the time of the year that I'd be taking him swimming… and fishing," Tallahassee said letting the words trail off. Chicago took a minute to soak in the meaning of the sentence. She was trying to formulate an appropriate response when he continued. "I don't know how you do it. Heading off to kill someone you love," he sighed taking another long drink.

"I can do it because he isn't the man I love anymore. I don't want that body to just be walking around without the soul," she said slowly choosing her words carefully.

"I guess you at least have a plan," he shrugged.

"Not much of one," she replied.

"Can you pull over? I don't feel well," Little Rock said waking up. Chicago stopped and immediately Little Rock hopped out running to the ditch in the middle of the two-lane highway and throwing up.

"Whazzit?" Columbus mumbled coming to.

"Little Rock's sick," Chicago replied.

"I knew she was pushing it with that last bag of Twizzlers," Tallahassee mumbled. Wichita was slow waking up so Chicago sighed and consciously scolded herself for getting roped into playing the part of mommy.

Stumbling down in the dark she held Little Rock's hair until the girl finished heaving. Somehow it had taken this long for Chicago to realize how much she cared about these people. The idea became increasing disturbing as she uttered, "it's okay sweetie," to Little Rock. Any happiness Chicago had been feeling was completely gone now. It had drowned in a growing pool of fear and weakness.

Wichita arrived and relieved Chicago by patting her sister on the back and whispering soothing words. Feeling like a zombie herself Chicago got up and stepped backwards wanting to distance herself from this. She'd broken the golden rules: never trust anyone and never get attached.

Tallahassee was leaning against the driver's side door with one leg bent at the knee and his boot resting against the number three he had painted on the door. Columbus tripped down the slope to join the girls in the ditch while Chicago climbed back up towards the truck.

Becoming more and more caught up in the issue that she was getting to close to these people she didn't speak. Chicago leaned against the door inadvertently striking the same pose as Tallahassee. He drew in a long breath and let it out slowly causing Chicago to expect a wise comment, or at the very least something of relevance to the situation. "I'd kill for a Twinkie," he said still watching the kids at the bottom of the hill. She looked at him for a moment letting her mouth hang open.

"You have no idea how hard you are to deal with do you?" she asked dryly. He looked at her for a moment.

"You think you're a picnic?" he accused more than asked. She really didn't know why she felt the urge to start a fight, but it was suddenly so undeniable that she couldn't help herself.

"Compared to you? Yes," she said blatantly and watched his face become hostile. The argument was snuffed out as the sound of a zombie came. Tallahassee spotted it first, but his gun wasn't loaded as he found out when it made only a depressing clicking sound. Chicago moved fast dashing forward. The zombie was coming across the other lane moving for the kids.

Tallahassee waited for a moment, watching as Chicago vented her rage. She grabbed a random piece of wreckage off of the road. She sprinted out to meet the loan zombie and stopped it from reaching Columbus and the girls. One whack to the middle made the zombie fall over, then it as just like watching someone play whack-a-mole, only the mole was coming up out of the same slot each time and the player was completely insane.

Tallahassee observed tipping up the brim of his hat and folding his arms. The way Chicago attacked was so fluid. For a second he contemplated that there was somebody else who was as lethal as he was with random objects. The idea didn't sit well so he convinced himself otherwise.

The skull of the zombie was nothing but mush when Chicago finally finished. She hurled away whatever she had been using to bludgeon the monster and stomped back to the car where everyone was waiting.

"Done?" Tallahassee asked. She didn't respond. She just threw open the back doors and grabbed her duffle bag slinging it over her shoulder. Her mind was made up. This was against everything that had kept her alive and it was begging for trouble. Columbus peeked around the door at her.

"What are you doing?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"This is where I take off," she answered. He looked confused. Little Rock looked over the backseat seeming hurt.

"Why?" Wichita asked joining him.

"Because I have a job to do, and I'm getting in way to deep with you. When one of you gets bit… I don't think I can shoot you," she said looking at the kids. Columbus didn't like the fact that she had said 'when' instead of 'if you get bit.' However he was able to understand that beneath the initial offense there was a core of love. She meant that she cared about them. He wanted to scream 'Jesus you are just like Tallahassee!' but chose to keep quiet. "Good luck," she said with a killing sense of finality.

Chicago spared a fast glance at Tallahassee who was leaning against the door again, but he looked different. He stared straight at the ground and wouldn't look at her. Something about the intensity in his eyes let her know that he wasn't thinking about Twinkies. She looked away. She was so sick of reading him like a book, but not understanding the words on the page.

Turning away she walked. Things slowed down and it took forever for her to reach the car she had chosen to be her new home. The doors echoed through the dead world as they closed behind Columbus and Wichita. Chicago swallowed tears that welled up and betrayed her. "You don't need them," she whispered to herself. She ripped open the back door and threw her bag inside. She could see Tallahassee in her peripheral vision still standing like a statue by the driver side door.

The keys were still in the ignition and her new ride started perfectly as she sat down in the driver's seat. She took a deep breath putting her hands on the wheel. In the mirror she saw Tallahassee's shadowy form get into the truck with the others. She closed her door and the sound mixed with his closing.

Both of them carefully maneuvered their vehicles so that they faced the opposite direction that they had previously. She would continue east and he seemed content to go back west. When they stopped and both trucks were facing each other with the headlights flooding in and illuminating the cabins Chicago finally locked eyes with Tallahassee. She paused unable to put the car back in drive. She wanted to start crying again because she couldn't figure out what his eyes were trying to tell her.

All of her life Chicago had been able to 'read minds' just by looking at someone's eyes. It had never won her any friends. In fact most people hated it about her. She didn't care. It was her defense against the evil that was people and now she had finally met someone she couldn't read. That fact was scarier than the zombies, especially since there was something about him that she liked.

The stand off lasted for what seemed an eternity before she took her hands off of the wheel and leaned back in the seat. Her fragile thoughts were disrupted as a bloody face smashed itself against the window. She yelped startled by the undead appearance, but got it together and drew her pistol shooting right through the window. The zombie fell away from the car and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Chicago wondered how many rules she was going to break that evening when another zombie popped up assaulting the truck, catching her with her guard down. She shot it and realized that a whole horde was coming down on her. Chicago briefly wondered where they had come from then decided it was time to go. She put it in drive and punched the gas only to be rewarded by a total loss of power in the truck. "Shit!" she shouted as the zombies reached the truck.

She shot the first couple that attempted to get her though the broken window before trying to undo her seatbelt. She'd have to run for it. God was laughing at her that night though, because the seatbelt was jammed. She tore at it furiously but it refused to release, trapping her. "No! No! No!" she screamed as more zombies attacked breaking the other windows. Shooting wildly she already knew that she couldn't take them all. This was it.

The in the other truck Tallahassee and the kids had been watching. "Why isn't she getting out?" Columbus asked. Tallahassee had been waiting the entire time for Chicago to pull a spectacular zombie killing stunt. It had been too long.

"Something's wrong," he said sounding as close to concerned as Columbus had ever heard him. Tallahassee opened his door and jumped out slamming it behind himself to get the zombies attention. "Hey!" he shouted drawing a good few off. It didn't prove much of a challenge to shoot them dead one at a time. He ran towards the other truck picking up what he though might be a muffler and beat a couple more away.

Tallahassee tore open the door as soon as he had dispatched the last zombie. Both he and Chicago were panting. The shriek of another undead fucker caused him to shout. "Whoa!" he exclaimed being caught without anything to swing. The sound of a shot accompanied the zombie falling. Columbus stood a few feet away shaking like always.

"Thanks," Chicago breathed.

"Are you bit?" he asked.

"No I'm okay," she replied.

"What the hells wrong with you? Why didn't you run?" Tallahassee said sounding almost annoyed.

"Fucking seatbelts stuck," she admitted. He smiled and looked over his shoulder at Columbus.

"Hear that? The seatbelt almost got her killed," Tallahassee laughed. "Okay," he sighed leaning in and grabbing a hold of the belt. Chicago put her hands up to get out of his way and felt her face flush with embarrassment. The closeness was a little uncomfortable and she could smell whatever cologne he was wearing. "And… Jenga!" he grunted breaking the latch.

He moved back and she got out. "Umm… thanks," she sighed.

"Ya know you ain't gonna find a car worth shit out here," he said as she gathered her things out of the back. "We could get you one in the next town," he said slowly as she looked at him.

"Holy god, was that compassion?" Columbus said sarcastically.

"Shut up ya little spit fuck," Tallahassee snapped causing Columbus to cower. Chicago weighed her options.

"Yeah I guess I'll hang for a while. I owe you now anyway," she said shrugging.

"We should go now," Columbus stammered. Tallahassee and Chicago looked back. More zombies were on the attack.

"Of course," Chicago sighed.

"Shall we?" Tallahassee asked. They all ran and got back in the truck speeding off into the night. Chicago sat in the seat beside Tallahassee and smiled looking out the window. She knew that she was just dodging the problem and that it would get worse, that it was going to come back to bite her later. She rested her head against the seat. 'So what?' she thought.

 

Chapter 8- Pulling Strings​

The group drove and drove leaving Nevada behind. Whenever they stopped Chicago would reject all of the possible rides. No one raised an argument realizing that she was trying to prolong her stay. The days passed slowly and they took their time driving.

Somewhere in the middle of Utah they stopped along the side of the road. Tallahassee and Columbus both went off behind some brush to pee leaving the girls alone. Chicago sighed looking out her window. It was just too picturesque for words. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds and the land stretched out in every direction forever. The red soil and rock formations were absolutely beautiful and the gentle breeze made the whole world seem like a dream instead of a nightmare.

"So you and Columbus are an item?" she asked Wichita. She laughed.

"Sort of," she sighed. Little Rock burst out laughing.

"They kissed at Pacific Play Land!" she said. Wichita punched her sister playfully.

"Shut up!" she chuckled.

"Oh ho ho? How was it?" Chicago asked. Wichita bit her lip.

"He was nice. He's a good kisser," she replied. Little Rock made a face of disgust.

"So then why sort of?" Chicago asked turning in her seat.

"We haven't done much since then… you know? Hard to get a moment of privacy," Wichita shrugged.

"Yeah, kids do that," Chicago joked looking at Little Rock.

"No actually it's been Tallahassee we don't really get away from," Wichita corrected. Chicago scoffed.

"What to say about him," she shook her head.

"Say about who?" Tallahassee asked returning to the driver's seat.

"Jesus," Chicago said dryly. Tallahassee looked confused and chose to forget the conversation. Columbus got in next to Wichita. Chicago stole a glance backwards at the kids. There was a good couple inches between Wichita and her would be lover. Holding back a chuckle she seized a napkin from the glove box and scrawled a few choice instructions on it. Folding up her message she passed it back to Wichita, who read it and laughed out loud before throwing the napkin out the window.

"What's so funny?" Columbus asked.

"Nothing," Wichita said cuddling up to him, per Chicago's instructions.

"Well look at that," Tallahassee said completely oblivious to the romance trying to unfold in the backseat. Everyone looked forward to see a ranch house in the distance. As they got closer they realized how nice the place was. It was a cowboy mansion for sure with a big barn out back and nothing else in sight.

"That looks like a good place to crash," Columbus said as he put his arm around Wichita prompting more smiles out of the girls.

"Agreed. If I have to spend one more night sleeping in the car I'm going to go insane," she sighed.

Tallahassee pulled right up to the front door. "No broken windows," he observed.

"Maybe no ones home," Chicago said.

"Well lets just see," he said cocking his gun. She followed his example and kept right on his heels. They stopped at the front door and he beat on it with his fist. Waiting the kids joined them and when no one came to the door Tallahassee tried the doorknob. "Locked," he mumbled.

"Move," Chicago said pushing him aside. She kicked the door hard, but it didn't give. Tallahassee smirked.

"Allow me," he said pressing her out of the way. He landed a kick and the door didn't give to him either.

"On three?" she suggested. He nodded.

"Uh guys?" Columbus said, but was ignored.

"One. Two. Three!" she counted and they both kicked the door with shattering force, but it wouldn't budge.

"Okay that's it," Tallahassee said aiming his gun at the doorknob.

"Hey!" Columbus said grabbing a hold of the barrel. He bent over and peeled up the welcoming mat exposing a silver key. Unlocking the door and pressing it open he motioned for everyone to enter. Tallahassee and Chicago both seemed annoyed, and silently entered.

"Anyone home?" Tallahassee shouted. Everyone held their breath waiting for the sound of a zombie to come, but all was quiet.

"Split up search the place top to bottom," Chicago and Columbus said simultaneously. They looked at each other and smirked before breaking up. Tallahassee and Wichita climbed the stairs to search the second floor while Columbus and Little Rock took the basement, leaving Chicago to scan the ground floor.

Ten minutes later they regrouped after every room, closet, and possible hiding place had been thoroughly searched. "No sign of blood or people," Columbus said meeting up with the others in the kitchen. Chicago flipped a light switch, but the power was out.

"This place has to have a generator," Wichita said seating herself on the counter.

"Probably out in the barn," Tallahassee said.

"And they probably have a well too," she added.

"Lets see if we can get some lights," he said opening the back door and heading towards the barn.

"Wait here," Chicago said following him. Cautiously they opened the door and entered. Tallahassee holstered his gun upon seeing what was inside. Chicago stopped in her tracks because the smell was so overpowering.

"Well we found the owners," he sighed as they stared at the bodies hanging from the rafters. "In truth they probably took the smart way out," he shrugged as he continued to look around. Chicago looked away holding her breath. "Bingo!" he smiled finding the generator. In no time he had it running and they returned to the house.

"Well?" Little Rock asked. Tallahassee reached out and flipped a switch turning on the light.

"And Tallahassee said let there be light," he chuckled. Chicago went to the sink and turned on the water. She beamed putting her hand in the icy stream.

"This means showers and clean clothes," she said. After a small celebration Tallahassee started his normal inspection of the kitchen for Twinkies. Columbus and Little Rock began talking about what movies they hoped to find in the house. Chicago went to scope out the parts of the house she had yet to see. When she pushed open a door upstairs and found a music room she couldn't help but do a silent dance of victory. There was even a grand piano.

She sat down and caressed the keys savoring the feel. "Hey," Wichita said leaning against the doorframe. Chicago jumped and jerked her hands back. "Didn't mean to scare you," Wichita sighed.

"It's fine. Whatcha need?" Chicago replied.

"Thanks for the tips earlier," she said. Chicago smiled.

"No problem," she replied. Wichita sat down at the piano bench with Chicago.

"I guess I was just hoping that he would initiate things you know?" the younger woman sighed.

"You wait on that to happen you're going to be lonely a long time," Chicago chuckled striking a cord.

"Are you speaking from experience?" Wichita asked. Chicago thought for a moment while doing arpeggios.

"When I was in high school I had a crush on Sam Plavis… he was a good looking boy, but he wasn't a popular guy because he had a soul, unlike the rest of those bitches and bastards. Naturally he knew it I think. We were two of a kind, and that included the inability to start a relationship. I waited and waited and suddenly we were lined up to get our diplomas and he left town to go to collage. Trust me, don't wait just go for it," Chicago smiled starting a song. It was a piano cover of a rock song and as she hit the keys she started feel the music. Wichita smiled.

"So, what are you thinking now?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Chicago asked starting to become engrossed in the music.

"I mean love," Wichita clarified.

"I'm not on the market. I'm happily engaged to a dead man," Chicago replied in good humor. When she started to sing Wichita listened intently. It was a Linkin Park song that she knew so she sang along. After a moment Tallahassee appeared in the doorway along with Columbus and Little Rock.

"You two are like a couple of fucking sirens up here," he said.

"That was amazing!" Columbus said being a little more eloquent than Tallahassee. Chicago removed her hands from the piano feeling a little embarrassed.

"Thanks," she said standing up. "So… who's hungry?" she asked smiling.

 

Chapter 9- Home​

A couple hours later everyone was seated in the dining room. Chicago had prepared a pizza from scratch and everyone was devouring it. The houses kitchen was literally like heaven. Stocked to the ceiling with everything anyone would need.

"You certainly live up to your name," Columbus nodded chewing. She smiled graciously before getting up. Quickly moving into the kitchen and back she refilled the other's glasses with soda.

Tallahassee watched as she did so and smiled. "How about something a little stronger?" he asked when she got to him.

"I have just the thing," she replied. After another trip to the kitchen she appeared with a bottle of whiskey. "Close your eyes," she instructed. He looked at her suspiciously expecting it to be a trick. "Just close your eyes," she repeated sounding sincere. He sighed and did as she said.

Biting her lip to hold back giddy laughter she displayed a Ceasar's Palace shot glass to the kids. Pressing it into his hands she smiled. "Open," she laughed. He did and looked at the glass in his hands laughing. "What are the odds right?" she laughed. He took a few shots out of his new glass as the rag-tag family talked.

After everyone was done Chicago cleared away the table in one trip. Tallahassee observed how her fingers nimbly grabbed all of the glasses in one hand. He leaned back in his chair when she returned with a rag to wash down the table. "Only one person in the world I know who could clear away a table like that," he said. "How long were you a waiter?" he asked.

"Olive Garden. Four years," she replied.

"Really?" Columbus asked watching the rag with a bit of unease.

"Yeah, I had some set backs," she sighed sounding a little sad.

"Didn't we all," Wichita said resting her head in her hands.

"Amen," Tallahassee replied. Chicago finished cleaning the table and looked around. Somehow everyone at the table seemed a bit gloomy.

"Well don't be so sad, we have this whole freaking house to ourselves!" she exclaimed trying to lift the mood. Columbus smiled.

"We have the movie picked out," he said elbowing Little Rock.

"Great, but first I'm going to do a load of wash," Chicago said. Everyone gave a cheer and fanned out finding clothes that fitted well enough to wear while theirs were being cleaned. Wichita and Chicago were about the same size, so they found a dresser full of girl's clothes and split it up. Tallahassee didn't have any trouble finding a fruit of the loom t-shirt and some jeans. Columbus however got stuck wearing clothes that were two sized too big and so did Little Rock.

They regrouped in the living room after Chicago had started the washer. Tallahassee and Chicago claimed the couch while Columbus and Wichita sat on the floor. Little Rock started the DVD and the giant HDTV screen came to life. Titanic started playing and both Columbus and Little Rock started laughing manically. "What?" Chicago asked.

"It's nothing," Tallahassee grumbled, so she let it go and settled in watching the show. Halfway through she popped some popcorn and the bowl was immediately stolen by Tallahassee and Little Rock.

Chicago sighed getting bored after a while. She never liked Titanic. The world was full of enough depressing things she didn't need movies too. Lazily she looked over at Tallahassee and almost had her eyes bug out of her head when she saw a tear rolling down his cheek. "Tallahassee are you crying?" she asked in complete and total shock. He shook his head.

"It's just so sad," he said. Little Rock and Columbus were again laughing and even Wichita snickered. Chicago just stared in disbelief. Tallahassee was a big softie for Titanic. This was a complete revelation and it took a very long time for her to realize how funny it was. As the credits rolled she finally started to snicker so she left to switch the clothes to the dryer.

Walking down the upstairs hallway Chicago was hoping she could snag an actual bed when she passed in front of the room Little Rock had claimed. "Goodnight Chicago!" Little Rock chimed. She stopped and entered the room.

"Goodnight sweet heart," she sighed smoothing the blankets a little.

"Can we have pancakes tomorrow?" the kid asked. Chicago laughed.

"Sure," she smiled. "Goodnight. Sleep tight." Chicago left the room shutting the door gently like her mother had always done. Outside she slid down the wall sitting on the floor with her head in her hands silently sobbing. The tempting prospect of a family was just too much.

As she sat weeping she began to realize how bad it would be if Tallahassee found her like this. Getting up she moved down the hall and closed the door to the bathroom behind her. After she was all cried out she stood up and looked in the huge vanity mirror. If a word was to be picked to describe the person she saw staring back Chicago would pick wreck. He hair was tangled and it had been forever since she had put on makeup.

"Screw it!" she whispered before striping naked and turning on the shower. The water heater had been on long enough now that steam started roll out from behind the curtain. She folded her clothes neatly and laid them beside the shower so if she needed to make a quick get away she could. Finding a towel she laid it out as well.

Stepping into the water was bliss. She closed her eyes and just let it run over her forever before she started to actually wash. As she got the shampoo out of her hair she closed her eyes then someone on the other side of the curtain grabbed her. She screamed almost slipping, but managed to take hold of a bar that washcloths hung on and right herself. As Chicago's mind ran on overdrive she started to desperately think of a way to survive the zombie on the other side of the curtain when all of a sudden Tallahassee's roaring laughter made her thoughts skid to a halt.

She poked her head around the curtain already furious and found him laughing his ass off. "Oh I got you good!" he said almost sobbing he was laughing so hard.

"I swear to god I will kill you," she spat with utmost venom in her voice. He finally stopped laughing enough so he could speak again.

"Why you got a gun in there?" he asked acting like he was going to peek in the shower. She clutched the curtain a little tighter.

"If you look in here I will shoot you Tallahassee," she warned.

"So you do have a gun," he smirked. She rolled her eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked eager to get him out of the bathroom.

"I gotta take a leak," he said turning away from her. Her jaw dropped.

"And you had to use the bathroom that I was in?" she asked.

"What? It's not like you haven't seen it before," he shrugged lifting up the seat with his foot. She sighed again and closed the curtain. A world of undead freaks and the greatest annoyance in her life was this man. "Reminds me of when we met," he said. She wouldn't answer him. "You know when I shower I don't even close the curtain so I know who's coming. You should try it," he said content to do all the talking. She smiled in disbelief but kept her laughter quiet. "Okay then," he said starting to leave.

"Tallahassee!" she shouted stopping him. She poked her head back out. "Flush the freaking toilet!" she exclaimed before disappearing behind the curtain again. Chicago heard him sigh then flush the toilet. She leaned back into the water thinking that he was gone finally. Then she felt the curtain move, but it was too late. All she saw was his hand and a cup. Tallahassee threw the cup full of icy water onto her and beat a hasty retreat laughing hysterically again as Chicago screamed "Tallahassee!"

 

Chapter 10- Nightmares​

Chicago wrapped the towel around herself stepping out of the shower. She cracked the door open and looked down the hall both ways. No one was in sight so she crept down to the bedroom she wanted. Closing the door behind herself she sighed.

Moving to the closet she began rifling through looking for something to sleep in. After finding a huge t-shirt she started to drop the towel. "You know this rooms taken right?" Tallahassee said in his southern drawl. Chicago almost shit herself and wrapped the towel up tight again.

"Fucking shit!" she exclaimed whirling around to see him sprawled out on the king-size bed.

"But if you want you can go right ahead," he smiled.

"Pervert!" she snapped throwing a hanger at him. He smiled and leaned back into the bed closing his eyes. She sighed completely annoyed with him and upset with herself. Closing herself in the closet she changed with much difficulty.

Reemerging Chicago didn't even look at him as she started to leave. "The kids have the other rooms, but if you don't want to sleep on the couch there's plenty of room here," he said sincerely. It made Chicago flinch.

"No thanks. I'll be okay," she said shaking her head. Sleeping in the same bed as this guy would just be too weird.

"Suit yourself," he sighed rolling over. She left the room as he switched off the light. Wondering down the stairs she made her way to the couch and plopped down. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

Chicago woke up to the sound of breaking glass. She sat up and immediately was on her feet. The house was on fire. She coughed inhaling the thick black smoke that filled the room. Dropping to the floor she crawled to the door and was almost outside before she heard the calls for help. The others were still up stairs.

Standing up she felt a pang of guilt, it had taken her this long to remember that she wasn't alone. Taking a deep breath she sprinted through the house and up the stairs. It was so hot that she almost went back, but the desperate calls for help made her go on.

"Little Rock! Columbus! Wichita!" she called dropping onto the floor in an attempt to get beneath the layer of smoke. There was no answer and the calls had stopped. She crawled to the first door where Little Rock should be but instead she found an empty room.

The heat was too much and Chicago knew she had to get out. She was too late to save the others. Crawling towards the stairs her world started to get blurry. As she began to slink down the steps she felt a hand on her ankle. Looking back up hoping for one of her friends she was met with a horrific sight. Tallahassee had turned. He was standing fully zombiefied above her.

She tried to get away but he was too fast. He flipped her down the stairs she met the floor face first looking up only in time to see him bound down and attack. "No! No! Tallahassee!" she screamed. His teeth started to sink into her neck.

Chicago sat up on the couch screaming as tears ran down her face. She shook violently and was completely chilled to the bone. Taking a moment to confirm that she was okay she sat breathing hard. The house was fine. Everything was quiet. She was still in one piece and hadn't been eaten by Tallahassee.

The blinking clock on the DVD player read that less than an hour had passed since she went to sleep. Standing up her legs wobbled as she climbed the stairs and pushed open his door. At risk of being shot she decided to announce herself. "Tallahassee?" she whispered loudly. He rolled over seeming annoyed that she had disturbed him.

"What?" he snapped groggily. She hesitated trying to swallow her pride. It was going to be weird, but she could not spend another night having bad dreams.

"Can I sleep in here? The couch isn't very comfortable," she sighed trying to cushion the blow to her self-esteem. He drew in a deep breath.

"Yeah, sure," he mumbled. Knowing that he wasn't fully awake she smiled weakly and crawled up from the foot of the bed. For a moment she hesitated getting under the covers until he lifted them up in an invitation.

She settled in as far away from Tallahassee as possible still quivering from the dream and pulled her engagement ring off of her finger rolling it over and over in her hand. Chicago sighed beginning to cry again, but this time it wasn't out of fear. This time it was for Michael. Knowing she would never see him again almost made her wish that the dream was real.

"Are you okay?" Tallahassee mumbled face down in his pillow.

"Yeah, sorry didn't mean to keep you up. I just have nightmares," she answered quickly shoving her ring back on.

"Yeah Marie used to have night terrors. She'd wake up screaming and kicking. If I had a dollar or every bruise I got that way I'd be a rich man," he murmured. Chicago was just about to ask who Marie was when a snore came from the other side of the bed. She nestled back into the covers and closed her eyes hoping that having someone close would keep the nightmares at bay for a few hours. Slowly she found sleep.

 

Chapter 11- Everything Passes
​

Chicago had been in some pretty awkward places during her life, but nothing could compare to what she woke up to the next day. As she blurred into awareness she nestled her face against her bedmate. That was the cue for her to snap wide-awake. This wasn't Michael in the bed with her. This was Tallahassee. She sat up in complete revulsion at what she had just done.

Her sudden movement disturbed Tallahassee enough to wake him up since his arm had been around her. He rolled over pulling the pillows closer. She sighed rubbing her face. Sunlight was filtering in through the windows and she plopped back into the bed putting a pillow over her face. It couldn't be more than six and she had gone to sleep at around two probably.

She stayed in the position for a long while contemplating weather or not to smother herself. "Chicago?" Little Rock asked. A cascade of chills ran through Chicago. What could be worse? Sleeping in the same bed as Tallahassee or getting caught doing so? She rolled her eyes and flung the pillow away.

"Yeah?" she asked finding Little Rock at the foot of the bed.

"Are you going to make the pancakes?" the little girl asked.

"Yeah, in just a minute," Chicago sighed.

"What are you doing in here?" Little Rock asked impishly. Chicago felt her whole body sag. The truth was probably better than any lie she could come up with.

"I didn't want to sleep on the couch," she said as casually as possible. Little Rock seemed satisfied and left the room. Tallahassee rolled over.

"Ah, short people entering the room at ungodly hours of the morning… that takes me back," he sighed stretching. Chicago flopped back and put the pillow over her face again, but this time she screamed. "Lovely," he mumbled when she finished.

"Oh this is so fucking stupid!" she hissed throwing the pillow away. He rolled out of the bed searching for his jeans.

"Welcome to my world," he said dryly.

"No, no, no. This is bad," she whined. "Please just kill me."

"The thought crossed my mind," he grumbled as he got on his hands and knees searching under the bed. "Ah ha!" he said grabbing them and pulling them on. She didn't want to get up. She just wanted to lie in bed and die. Screw going to Chicago. She sighed watching him move for the door.

"Who is Maria?" she asked. Tallahassee froze and she saw every muscle in his body tense up.

"Why?" he asked slowly.

"You said something about her last night. She had night terrors like me," Chicago replied. Tallahassee rested his hand on the doorknob.

"She gave me Buck," he said then opened the door and walked away leaving Chicago alone in bed confused.

It took a major pep talk to drag her ass out from under the covers, but eventually Chicago made it down stairs only to find that Tallahassee had started the pancakes already. She sat down in the breakfast nook watching him work. He had that same look of intensity as the night she had almost left and in that moment Chicago would have given anything to know what he was thinking.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" she trailed off wondering exactly what she had done.

"No, it's alright," he assured. "But I feel like it entitles me to ask who Michael is. You were calling his name half the night," Tallahassee said focusing on his work.

"He was my fiancé," Chicago replied holding herself a little.

"The one in the picture huh?" Tallahassee asked flipping the golden brown circles.

"Yeah," she replied quietly.

"I never kept a picture of Marie after she left, but I have a couple of Buck," he said softly. She looked up as he offered a duct tape wallet. Taking it she opened it gently and looked at the pictures of the child.

"I'm sorry," she whispered feeling her throat getting tight.

"They say everything passes right?" he asked laughing a little.

"Do you believe them?" she asked. He paused for a moment.

"No," he replied.

 

Chapter 12- Corpses, Santa and a Waltz​

"Whoa, who died?" Columbus asked entering the sullen kitchen where both Tallahassee and Chicago were moping.

"Just about the whole fucking world," she spat as he sat down next to her.

"Do you pride yourself on asking stupid questions?" Tallahassee growled as he sat down the platter of pancakes. Columbus had already realized his mistake and was trying to make himself as small as possible until the couple came out of their mood swing.

Wichita and Little Rock joined everyone shortly and they ate together in silence. When she finished clearing the dished Chicago made her way to the garage. Columbus followed curious to see what she was up to.

"What are you doing?" he asked finding her collecting a shovel from a storage bin.

"I have four fucking big holes to dig and until sun down to do it," she replied shortly.

"Why?" he asked still oblivious to the corpses on the premises.

"Because the owners are still hanging in the barn. That's what separates us from the zombies. We bury our dead," she said resting the shovel against the ground.

The sun was gaining some height in the sky as her shovel broke into the earth behind the barn. She didn't get far before Columbus joined her. Neither spoke, but she was glad to have his company.

Halfway through the second grave a shadow fell over Chicago. She looked up to see Tallahassee with a shovel resting on his shoulder. "Need some help?" he asked. She nodded before returning to her work.

By noon they had the graves dug and went to the barn to collect the bodies. Tallahassee tied a rag around his face prompting the others to do the same. Carefully they cut the bodies down and carted them out to the graves. Tallahassee stopped briefly to laugh at Columbus as the boy wretched because of the grossness of the bodies.

As they started to fill the dirt back in a sound from around the corner of the barn made them stop. "What the hell was that?" Columbus stammered.

"Wait here," Tallahassee said taking his shovel to investigate. Chicago rolled her eyes. He actually expected her to listen? Poised to strike she followed him around the corner of the barn. He put his and out stopping her when they rounded the corner. "Ho, whoa whoa," he grunted.

Chicago lowered her shovel staring at the tan horse that was grazing on some tufts of grass that had dared to grow beside the barn. She watched as Tallahassee approached the animal slowly and her jaw hit the floor as he touched its muzzle.

Columbus rounded the corner joining Chicago in staring at Tallahassee who took hold of the horses worn out bridle. "Where the hell did that come from?" he exclaimed.

"Must have just been living around here to keep away from the zombies," Tallahassee said leading the horse over. Columbus timidly stroked the horse's nose while Chicago drew back. "Do not tell me you don't like animals," Tallahassee said.

"I like you don't I?" she replied smartly. He just glared at her with a stare that said 'pet the horse!' She reached out and stroked the animal's soft nose.

"Nice isn't she?" Tallahassee asked patting the mares side.

"You're not thinking of eating her are you?" Columbus asked jokingly. Receiving a killing glare from Tallahassee he shrank away.

"Anyway, I have an idea. Go open the kitchen window and get Little Rock in there," he said looking back at the horse. Columbus went with Chicago who did as Tallahassee said.

Opening the window she called Little Rock, who appeared promptly. "I think Tallahassee has a surprise for you."

"Are you one of those girls who asked Santa for a pony every year?" Tallahassee asked appearing in the widow. Little Rock folded her arms.

"I never believed in Santa," she said.

"Too bad," Tallahassee replied bringing the horse to the window. Immediately Little Rock shrieked and sprinted outside hugging Tallahassee hard before descending on the horse with hugs and kisses.

Chicago walked outside and folded her arms. "You are a good guy aren't you?" she asked Tallahassee. Suddenly the sight of the happy child made her happy.

"I don't know. You tell me," he said dryly. "Come on I'll teach you how to ride," He called to Little Rock.

It didn't take long to find out that the barn had a stable and a full rack of saddles. In no time at all Chicago, Wichita and Columbus were sitting on the giant patio watching Tallahassee instruct Little Rock. The Twelve year old was on top of the world while she sat on the back of the horse.

"You know she should have a helmet on," Columbus said nervously.

"Relax, do you think he would ever put her in danger?" Wichita sighed referring to Tallahassee.

"Still," Columbus mumbled. Tallahassee eventually joined the others on the patio content to watch.

"She's a natural," he grunted sitting down next to Chicago.

"Where did you learn to ride?" Wichita asked.

"My daddy had a ranch in Texas when I was a kid," Tallahassee replied.

"Couldn't tell," Chicago chuckled.

"What's that mean?" Tallahassee asked defensively.

"You dress like a cowboy," she said tapping the brim of his hat down over his eyes. He righted himself and looked at her sternly, but she looked right back with a relaxed face. Chicago was too tired to fight with him right now.

"Least I don't dress like him," Tallahassee said looking at Columbus.

"What's wrong with how I dress?" Columbus asked as defensively as he could manage.

"Ya dress like a mama's boy," Tallahassee replied. Chicago and Wichita snickered.

"It's not that bad," Chicago assured. "At least you can look halfway decent. I always look like a wreck. It's not just z-land making me look this way."

"You don't look that bad," Wichita sighed leaning against Columbus. Everyone got quiet and watched Little Rock on the horse.

"That's probably enough," Tallahassee eventually sighed and got up. Chicago stood too and stretched out. Heading inside she had no desire to finish the graves or watch Tallahassee mess with the horse.

In the music room she turned on the stereo and put on a classical CD she found nearby. It wasn't her preference, but it was the only music she could find. Losing track of time Chicago wasn't sure how many hours she spent listening to the classical collection.

Eventually a knock came at the door. Tallahassee appeared. "Dinner?" he asked.

"What do you want?" she asked tiredly.

"Whatever you want," he replied listening to the music. "What is this shit?"

"I don't know. It's all they have," she shrugged. "Makes me feel like I'm at a colonial dance," she added to emphasis the point that the music wasn't her type. He laughed out loud.

"When would you be at a dance like that?" he chuckled.

"I can waltz!" she said defensively.

"Shut up," he said shaking his head.

"I can too! Can you?" she asked knowing the answer.

"As a matter of fact I can," he said surprising her.

"Liar," she rolled her eyes.

"Want to see?" he challenged. She rolled her tongue across the inside of her cheek trying to figure out the gag. He stepped into the room and held out his hands. Biting her lip she took his offer. Placing one hand on his shoulder and the other in his she tensed up as his free hand rested on the small of her back.

All at once they began to move but were awkward and clumsy. For a moment Chicago was confused then she realized both of them were trying to lead. "This doesn't work of we both lead," she said sounding annoyed.

"I know, so let me," he replied. She rolled her eyes. 'Always something to prove' she thought, however she was the girl so she yielded and let him lead. They flowed around the room and she started to realize he was serious. This cowboy could waltz. He didn't even seem to be concentrating as much as she was.

"Where did you learn to dance?" she asked.

"Ballroom dance was required in high school. It was a good way to meet girls and start fights so I actually paid attention," he replied. "You?"

"Seventh grade cotillion," she replied. He nodded and the music came to a close. They stepped away from each other and he promptly left without a word. She smiled as soon as he was gone. A battle for dominance through ballroom dance. Hanging with this group was leading her into all sorts off odd situations.

"Oh and I swear to god If you say anything to the other's it won't be the zombies you have to worry about," he said poking his head back in the room. She looked over her shoulder and flipped him off.

"Like you scare me Lord of the Dance," she smiled.

"I should," he replied darkly, but she only laughed. She could see the anger flush through his face.

"Yeah okay I promise not to say anything," she laughed. He turned to leave and she couldn't help herself adding, "Twinkle toes," as he moved away. A growl came from somewhere down the hallway, but he didn't return.

 

Chapter 13- Spin The Bottle​

Chicago made dinner easy on herself and fixed burgers. None of others complained and dinner passed rather quietly except for Little Rock who wouldn't stop going on about the horse, who she had named Daisy.

Hoping for just a few minutes of quiet after the dishes were done Chicago sat down on the couch already feeling a headache rearing it's ugly head. "We're going to play spin the bottle," Little Rock announced entering the room. Inwardly Chicago screamed at the top of her lungs every profanity known to man. The game hadn't been fun in junior high so why would it be fun now?

"Okay?" she replied tiredly as the others filed in and made a circle on the floor. She glanced at Tallahassee wondering why on earth he would agree to this then she realized he was half drunk already.

"Okay the rules are easy. Truth or dare. Anyone who won't do the dare of answer the question has to run around the house naked or get punched by Tallahassee," Little Rock said sitting down an empty wine bottle. Chicago rolled her eyes again. The bottle was spun and it landed on Columbus. "Truth or dare?" Little Rock asked.

"Truth," he replied.

"Was there really a Beverly Hills?" Tallahassee interrupted loudly.

"No," Columbus mumbled.

"I knew it!" Tallahassee exclaimed triumphantly. Chicago smiled. He was definitely a little drunk. No one really knew what the question was about but no one really cared so Columbus spun the bottle and it landed on Little Rock.

"Truth or dare?" he asked.

"Dare!" she exclaimed. He though for a minute.

"Do a handstand and say the ABC's," he said.

"What kind of dare is that?" Tallahassee asked.

"It was the dare that got me in a lot of trouble in sixth grade," the younger man replied evenly. Little Rock took on the task and got to about G before she toppled over. She sat up and spun the bottle. It landed on Tallahassee and preemptively he responded.

"Dare," he sighed. Little Rock got an evil grin on her face.

"Kiss Chicago for a five count," she said.

"No!" both Chicago and Tallahassee shouted.

"Nope that's the dare you have to do it!" Little Rock insisted making Columbus and Wichita laugh. Tallahassee and Chicago stared each other down.

"Fine," he sighed breaking a little too quickly for Chicago's taste.

"No way," she said again.

"Then you have to run around naked," Little Rock grinned.

"Are you just a sadist?" Chicago replied feeling completely trapped.

"What's a sadist?" the child replied.

"Come on just do it," Wichita grinned. Chicago rolled her eyes.

"Fine," she sighed. Leaning in she got closer to Tallahassee. Both of them paused hesitating to touch until he took the leap and put a hand on her neck. Shear panic ran through every fiber of her being as his lips touched hers and the others began counting.

It had to be the longest count to five in history and when it was up Chicago pulled back putting as much distance between herself and him as possible. The others were laughing and even Tallahassee had a smug grin, but she just sat brooding trying to get the butterflies out of her stomach.

The game didn't last much longer because quickly they ran out of things to do, so instead Columbus picked out a movie and everyone settled in to watch. Chicago however couldn't get settled. Her head was aching, she was still all turned up from kissing Tallahassee and she just wasn't in a good mood at all for some reason she couldn't even

put her finger on.

After she popped some pop corn that was again stolen and eaten by Tallahassee and Little Rock she stood up. "I'm gonna go to bed," she sighed.

"You okay?" Columbus asked.

"Yeah, it's just a headache," she replied before climbing the stairs changing

clothes and burrowing under the covers. Sleep was easy to find and she didn't dream at all for once.

As Tallahassee climbed in bed beside her she woke up. "Sorry," he sighed.

"It's okay. Are the kids asleep?" she replied in a whisper.

"Little one is, but I think the other two are still downstairs necking," he replied.

"Good for them," she replied eager to get back to sleep.

"I think the little spit fuck might actually try to get some," he added.

"Great," she said uninterested. Then Chicago rolled over facing him. "If they are the ones in love why are we sharing a bed?" she asked.

"Because we are older and more mature," he replied authoritatively. She smirked.

"Please. Little Rock has more maturity than you," she snickered.

"Hey I would have never made that dare," he said. She stopped laughing.

"This, I hope, is true," she shrugged.

"Count on it! You didn't seem that into it," he smirked. She tossed a pillow at him.

"And once again the maturity level hits zero," she sighed.

"Goodnight," he replied.

"Good night," she said settling back down.

 

Chapter 14- Coaching ​

Chicago woke up and rolled over expecting Tallahassee to be occupying the other side of the bed, but instead it was empty and cold. She sat up looking around. Wondering downstairs she rubbed her eyes until they came in focus. Wichita was sitting at the kitchen island sipping a cup of what smelled like coffee.

Chicago poured herself a mug then joined the other woman. "Where are the other?" she asked.

"Two guesses but you only need one," the younger girl said. Chicago looked out the window and spotted the others playing with Daisy.

"Ah," she sighed and sipped her coffee again. She looked at Wichita who seemed distracted. "What's up?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing. Last night was just… weird," Wichita replied shaking her head.

"Columbus?" Chicago asked.

"Yeah… I lied, he's not a very good kisser… he's just… I dunno," Wichita said cracking a smile at the end.

"He's timid?" Chicago suggested.

"One way to put it," Wichita said nodding her head.

"Well I don't think he had much experience," Chicago chuckled.

"Right," Wichita replied drawing the word out.

"I think he's kind of cute though," Chicago added.

"But he isn't you know, rugged or tough," Wichita replied.

"But he's sweet," Chicago said.

"Yeah… and he did save me," the younger woman smiled.

"Did you try teaching him?" Chicago added dancing around how awkward she felt talking about this.

"Not really. I mean, how do you teach someone to kiss?" she asked. Chicago didn't answer, more because she didn't know how to explain instead of actually not knowing how to teach someone.

"I think I'm going to take a walk, get some air," she sighed after finishing her coffee.

"I have a date with the shower," Wichita smiled putting her mug in the sink. They parted ways and Chicago grabbed a pistol before heading out the door.

She walked watching Tallahassee punch Columbus in the shoulder for god only knew what and smirked. Columbus picked himself up out of the dust and ran over to her. "Where you going?" he asked.

"Just for a walk. I need to stretch," she replied. He looked over his shoulder at Tallahassee.

"I'll come with you," he said. She shrugged and walked on with him at her heels. For a long time they walked down the road talking about this and that. He told her about his list, and meeting Tallahassee. He even told her about the events at Pacific Play Land.

"So you and her are a couple?" Chicago asked when he mentioned the first kiss he had with Wichita.

"Sort of… We're kind of having trouble," he sighed and looked at his feet.

"Yeah?" she asked playing dumb.

"I don't know… Wichita just goes for bad boys and I'm uh… yeah," he stammered.

"Trust me brother, you're better for her than any bad boy she would ever find," Chicago said.

"That doesn't help my case at all though," he laughed. She looked at him then looked back over her shoulder. They had been out of sight of the house for a while now. "Maybe you have a tip?" he asked. She looked at him for a moment pleased that her 'evil plan' was unfolding itself.

"Okay then. Lets see what the problem is," she said moving off of the road and sitting down against a big rock. He made a confused face but followed and sat down next to her. "I'm Wichita and you're you. We just finished watching a movie and everyone else is gone. What do you do?" Chicago asked.

"Are we cuddling already?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied.

"Then I guess I would brush her hair behind her ear…" he shrugged.

"And?" Chicago prompted.

"And that's as far as I've planned," he said. She rolled her eyes.

"This is worse than I thought," she sighed and cuddled up to him mimicking the situation. "Now what?" she asked. Stiff as a bored and completely out of his comfort zone Columbus brushed her hair behind her ear and waited. "Keep going," Chicago said.

"I'd probably ask if she liked the movie," he said.

"Okay good start, then what?" Chicago smiled. He shook his head lost again. "Okay how about we just role-play here for a moment okay?" she asked getting a little annoyed.

"Okay," he nodded clearly trying his best, but she could tell he was just freakishly nervous.

"Ask if I like the movie," she said leaning against him again.

"Did you like the movie?" he asked.

"Yeah it was nice. I liked the part where they kissed," Chicago replied looking up at him.

"And this is where I kiss her?" he asked. Chicago sighed.

"Yeah probably… okay let's just move onto the kiss," she said shaking her head.

"Right," he nodded then looked at her expectantly.

"Well?" she asked.

"Well what?" he replied.

"The kiss! What do you do?" she asked.

"I kiss her what else?" he asked.

"Yeah, but how?" she pried.

"I don't know, isn't a kiss a kiss?" he asked.

"No a kiss is not just a kiss. There is good kidding and bad kissing," Chicago explained. He looked around. "Just kiss me like you would kiss her," Chicago explained patiently. He looked terrified. "Will you relax? Do you want help or not?"

"Yes I want help," he nodded.

"Okay. Then just relax and show me what you would do," she replied. He took a deep breath and leaned in putting a hand on her neck. His lips met hers gently and it lasted only for a moment before he pulled back. "Not bad," she said. "What next?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean what would you do next?" she clarified.

"That was it," he said removing his hand from her neck.

"That's it?" she asked. "It was a nice peck, but… I dunno not really enough to sustain a relationship," she smiled. He looked terrified. "Relax," she said again and placed an arm around him. Their lips met again and slowly she got him to use a little tongue trying to set an example. When they stopped he looked away and she could see him shaking. "Best advice I can offer is to stop being so timid," she smiled. He got up and took a few steps away placing both hands on his head.

"Yeah, but," he started to object until she held up a hand.

"Operate off of what you know. Wichita likes you. You like her. Stop being so timid and just go for it. If it doesn't work stop and try something else. That's what new relationships are about," Chicago said standing up.

"And when I make a fool of myself?" he asked dryly.

"It won't matter," she said. He looked skeptical. "Trust me," she said and he broke a smile. Together they started back for the house.

"So… have you taught someone this before?" he asked.

"No, but my best friend taught me just like that when I was in high school," she said.

"Oh," he replied mulling over the thought.

"I think as long as you don't tell anyone about the coaching it's an okay thing… just one of those things you do, but never speak of," she added.

"Definitely," he nodded. "Thanks anyway," he added.

"No problem," she shrugged.

 

Chapter 15- A Wall Down the Middle​

For a few days after his coaching session Columbus was particularly awkward around the girls and a little more than skittish around Chicago. He got over it however when Chicago kicked his seat as she left the room prompting the frightened young man to use what he had learned. Chicago peeked around the corner watching the display of youthful romance and smiled. "Better," she whispered to herself as she turned and left.

Nearly a week passed quietly, with the exception of nightly fight with Tallahassee before bed. Chicago was surprised at the family like atmosphere that she had landed in. They were weird and dysfunctional, but it still was enough to make her hang around and put off her mission in Chicago.

One night it was well past twelve when she and Tallahassee crawled into bed. Columbus had insisted on a Lord Of The Rings marathon and for some reason both of them had actually paid attention the whole time.

She sighed being the first under the covers shortly followed by Tallahassee. He looked straight up at the ceiling for a while. "I think it's just about time to move on," he said at last.

"Getting restless?" she asked. He nodded and she mulled over the idea of leaving what seemed the safest place possible. "In the morning I guess," she shrugged rolling over.

There wasn't any more discussion and both of them promptly fell asleep. Chicago however woke up again as he tossed in the bed violently. She could tell he was dreaming and as he continued to fight whatever was after him she leaned over shaking him gently. "Hey," she whispered waking him up. "You were having a nightmare," she said softly.

"Sorry," he mumbled throwing the covers away.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I gotta piss," he replied. She smirked as he left the room. 'What a gentleman at this hour,' she thought rolling over to sleep again.

The pitter-patter of rain on the window made her relax and as she lingered on the edge of sleep he returned sitting on the edge of the bed. "You should get some sleep while we have someplace safe," she murmured.

"Yeah," he replied, but she could tell he was distracted. She snuggled into the pillows again knowing that she couldn't help him and that whatever he was thinking he had to sort out on his own.

Chicago was on the brink of sleep again when he moved and as she was just about to slip from conciseness she felt his arm slip around her waist. Wide-awake again she immediately smacked him away. "Jesus!" he exclaimed as they both flailed about in the bed.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked sitting up. He looked like a deer in the headlights and she wondered if he actually knew what he was doing.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were so damn touchy," he mumbled. Suddenly Chicago felt guilty. There had been several nights that she woke up cuddling next to him and he hadn't smacked her.

"Sorry," she apologized.

"S'ok," he replied settling back into his side of the bed. Without anything else to say she also snuggled back into her side.

She was wide-awake again and used the time to mentally give herself a stern talking to. Finally they had gotten to a point of being able to tolerate each other without constant fights and threats and challenges, so naturally she had to build a huge brick wall right down the middle of the bed. A freaking impervious emotional barrier that was hurting more than helping.

Chicago stayed awake as the rain got louder and louder against the window. Her head buzzed with what she had just done and the wind began to howl outside. She cringed a little as the first clap of thunder came.

Tallahassee sat up in the bed and she felt like he probably hadn't slept either. "What is it?" she asked.

"The horse is spooked," he replied already getting dressed.

"What?" Chicago asked dumbly.

"Listen, you can hear her. She must not like storms," he replied. Chicago listened and finally heard the faint sound of Daisy whinnying. Tallahassee collected his hat off of the bedpost and left, leaving Chicago to try and sleep until at last she couldn't take it anymore and went downstairs.

 

Chapter 16- Words of Truth​

Chicago moved into the kitchen and sighed as she put some water on to boil. For some reason despite all of the caffeine tea helped her sleep. She rifled through the cabinets until she found some chamomile in the very back.

He just needed someone to hold for a little bit. Chicago sighed folding her arms. He'd chosen her. Big tough Tallahassee had chosen to trust her and silently ask for a little back up and she had been the bitch who totally rejected him. Maybe she was reading too much into it, maybe he was really just grabbing her for the hell of it. She wished it could be true, but deep down she knew that her first guess was right. Like everyone else left in the world Tallahassee just needed someone to be close to for a moment. Just to assure himself that he wasn't completely alone.

As the water started to whistle she took it off the stove and poured two cups. 'Tallahassee might want some,' she thought sitting down at the island while steam rolled off the drinks. The rain was getting louder and as she looked through the back window she couldn't even see to the barn anymore.

Flipping a switch Chicago turned on the porch light hoping to see if Tallahassee was returning. How hard would it be to apologize? Not very, in truth, since this time she actually meant it. Most of her life when she apologized she didn't mean it. Chicago prided herself on living without regrets. She added swatting him away to that limited list.

Her mug hit the floor shattering into pieces when she saw the zombies outside. Her instincts kicked in and she knew she didn't have long. The porch light would draw their attention.

Sprinting she ran up the stairs three at a time waking the kids by flinging their doors open. "Up! Up! We gotta go! Grab everything and throw it in the truck!" she barked. They were no strangers to such rude awakenings so they were fast to start moving.

"Where is Tallahassee?" Columbus asked as he ran beside Chicago to the truck.

"He's in the barn. I'm going to get him. If we don't show up leave without us," Chicago said in one breath as she grabbed her pistols and a pump shotgun.

Sprinting as fast as she could through the house that was in complete chaos Chicago went out the back door shooting down the zombies who were heading for the house. Icy rain pounded against her soaking through her t-shirt almost immediately as she tried to run on the muddying earth.

Tallahassee managed to fight his way to Daisy's stall using a shovel he had grabbed when the zombies attacked him. The panicked beast was throwing a fit and as he opened the latch to release the door she kicked it sending Tallahassee to the ground. Rolling out of the way to avoid being trampled he realized how close the undead where. They had broken through the door and were charging him.

In a last-ditch attempt to stay in one piece he crawled under an old truck that was rusting in the barn. Hands were starting to pull on his legs and he knew it was over. A gunshot heralded Chicago's arrival through the other door. She shot the zombies closest to him and as he got to his feet threw Tallahassee the shotgun. "Thanks," he said as they met up.

She nodded and looked over her shoulder hoping for an exit. Instead more zombies were coming in. "Shit!" she hissed shooting at the growing crowd.

"Shit!" he shouted louder as his gun jammed and he flipped it around making it into a club. Chicago looked around already knowing they were both dead. She searched for any possible hope and as her ammo ran out she grabbed the nearest tool, a thing used to make holes for posts. She gritted her teeth and knocked a couple more zombies away. It was only a matter of time.

Tallahassee grabbed a pitchfork and started doing some major damage. For the briefest second Chicago saw him and wondered if he was still trying to survive. It became apparent he was, as he didn't just stand his ground, he charged the zombies. She wondered what kept him going.

Tallahassee hurled his pitchfork like a spear picking up a hammer and a screwdriver from the floor. He drove it into a zombie's skull using the hammer. "You want a piece of me?" he screamed and threw the hammer killing another with deadly force. "Come get some!"

Chicago broke the posthole digger and abandoned it for an iron vice that she swung hard knocking a zombie back. Tallahassee noticed out of the corner of his eye light shining through the cracks in the old wooden barn wall. The light got stronger and he only realized what it was in time to tackle Chicago out of the way, wrapping around her protectively.

Wichita had driven the truck right through the wall sending shrapnel out into the mob of zombies. Tallahassee and Chicago picked themselves up and immediately jumped in the back of the truck.

"Close one," she breathed as they drove down the road away from the chaos.

"Why didn't the airbags deploy?" Columbus mused. Both Tallahassee and Chicago looked at him panting from their fight.

"Are you fucking with me?" Tallahassee asked. Columbus immediately averted his eyes.

"Shit you're bleeding," Chicago observed looking at Tallahassee's arm. She traced the line of blood dripping down his forearm up to the piece of wood sticking out of his left bicep.

"Oh my god," Columbus said sounding panicked. Tallahassee just looked at it curiously.

"Well look at that," he mumbled examining the wound. The piece was about as big as two fingers and Chicago eyed it.

"We need to take care of that," she said.

"Agreed," he said taking a hold of the wood.

"No wait!" she objected but it was too late. Tallahassee pulled it out and the blood flow increased.

"What?" he asked. She turned in her seat looking for something to put against the wound.

"You never remove something that's impaled into you like that!" she said.

"That's what she said," he replied with a smug grin. Chicago resisted the urge to slap him in an attempt to fix his immaturity.

"Damn it! Do you have a first aid kit or something?" she snapped still searching. Columbus seemed to break out of his blood-induced daze and dug into his suitcase in the back while Chicago put her hand over the puncture wound as it continued to bleed.

"It was just a splinter!" Tallahassee sighed sounding annoyed.

"Did you even look at this thing?" Little Rock asked from the passenger seat as she looked over the piece of wood.

"Here," Columbus said handing the kit to Chicago. She opened it and tore open a package of gauze pressing it against Tallahassee's arm. He winced for the first time since getting hurt.

"Not so great without adrenaline is it?" she asked. He didn't reply gritting his teeth as she continued to work. It didn't take long to clean the wound up and after the blood was wiped away it wasn't as bad as Chicago thought. "No stitches?" she asked letting Columbus glance at it.

"I don't think so," Tallahassee answered for the younger man. "Just wrap it up," he added. She agreed with him and the bleeding had almost stopped, so she wrapped it up in a fresh piece of gauze and called it good.

"Hey guys where are we heading?" Wichita asked as things finally settled down.

"North please," Chicago requested.

"Tallahassee, did you get Daisy out?" Little Rock asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

"You think she'll be okay?" the twelve year old asked with innocence that everyone else had assumed was long since gone. Tallahassee gave an assuring smile.

"She's a smart horse, she'll be fine," he said. After that no one spoke. Tallahassee took a few drinks of whiskey probably to dull the pain he wouldn't admit to having, but otherwise he didn't speak.

After Little Rock and Columbus had drifted off Chicago worked up her nerve and looked at Tallahassee. Being careful not to touch his bad arm she leaned in and before he could react gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks for saving me," she said. He looked at her clearly embarrassed that Wichita had been present for the event.

"Well, you came to get me," he shrugged. They held each other's gaze for just a second and Chicago knew that any apologies that had needed to be made were taken care of.

 

Chapter 17- Dark Intentions ​

Chicago woke up first the next day. Tallahassee was asleep beside her and Wichita was next to him. Columbus was driving. He glanced back in the mirror. "Good morning Chicago," he whispered.

"Morning," she replied.

"I'm glad you're up. I need to pull over," he said.

"Bathroom?" she asked. He nodded and she smirked, but had no argument. The next truck stop they passed he pulled over, loaded his double barrel and went in. She got out of the car silently and sat on the back bumper.

Chicago sighed long and loud as she looked at her reflection in the window. For a few days she hadn't looked so bad, now she looked like a wreck again. Not to mention a nick that ran along her cheekbone under her right eye. It wasn't deep, but she could already tell it was one of those that would heal dark for a while then just vanish overnight. Not that it mattered.

The click of a door made Chicago focus back on important things. Tallahassee moved around stretching his back and legs. She watched quietly as he gingerly straightened his injured arm. From the look on his face she guessed it was pretty bad this morning.

"You okay?" she asked leaning back against the truck, still tired.

"Yeah," he replied moving to join her.

"Columbus is in the can," she said. Tallahassee looked towards the bathrooms.

"Of course he is," he muttered. She looked at a puddle a few feet away, starting to wonder why it quivered all the time. The whole world was dead yet the puddle still moved. She jumped a little as Tallahassee's hand traced the scratch on her face.

"Just a nick," she assured. He nodded and they were silent again. At last he cleared his throat and pushed his hands into his pockets.

"So what's the plan?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I'm still heading for Chicago. I understand if we have to part ways, in fact I'd be more comfortable if we do," she said trying to sound professional. "I don't want to get you guys killed."

"You're still bent on that are you?" he asked.

"I have to… I have to at least try," she said solemnly. He nodded.

"I thought so," he said sounding disappointed. "I've never been to the windy city." She looked at him. "I've been thinking about it for a couple days… we're coming with you," he said. She felt her heart sink.

"Tallahassee… you guys can't come… suffer no delusions… I'm not coming back. I know that and I'm okay with it, but for god sakes… they're just kids," she sighed feeling like she might cry. He huffed seeming annoyed.

"I bet you aren't more than five years older than Wichita," he said. Chicago cracked a smile and wiped away a tear that threatened to appear on her cheek. He wanted her to stay. This was his way of asking her to stay in the family. She couldn't no matter how much she wanted to.

"It doesn't matter… What about Little Rock?" she asked knowing that the girl was a trump card. Tallahassee paused. "Take me to the edge of the city," she offered. He looked up. "Then I'll go do my thing," she shrugged. He mulled over the idea.

"I'm ready," Columbus announced approaching them.

"Wait in the car," Tallahassee ordered. Columbus glanced between Chicago and the older man before doing as he was told. Tallahassee looked back at her seeming to soften again. "Yeah I guess we can take you to the edge," he said. Chicago nodded sweetly although on the inside she was picturing the whole scenario from the start. A tiny fleck of problem had rolled down the snowy mountain ballooning until it reached this moment where she would classify it as an avalanche.

She rubbed her hands together trying to fight off the morning cold and realized that both of them were still coated with his blood from the night before. "Jeez," she sighed looking down. He followed her gaze.

"Hands of a hard worker," he said brushing past her. She smiled gently and plunged her hands into the puddle that she'd been watching, making sure to scrub her engagement ring clean. After drying her hands on her pants she followed him.

They got in the truck and she took the wheel. When the others started to play I-Spy on the road she almost laughed so hard she peed. Every other answer was a broken car along the side of the road.

For lunch they stopped at another gas station and while Chicago filled the tank Tallahassee took the girls to clean out the store. Columbus nervously approached Chicago. "What?" she asked with a small smile.

"I did what you said," he smiled. She laughed a little.

"And?"

"I just went for it and she seemed a lot happier. Thanks for the help," he said as only a sweet guy like him could.

"What are friends for?" Chicago shrugged.

"Can I ask how you knew all that though, I mean other than getting a lesson from your best friend?" he stammered tripping over the question.

"I've been around," she smiled. He laughed a little and leaned against the gas pump but slipped and nearly fell down.

"So what were you and Tallahassee talking about earlier?" he asked trying to cover up his lack of smoothness.

"Just the plans," she said wondering if she should tell him. His eyes begged her for the info and she shook her head. "You guys are gonna drop me off on the edge of Chicago," she said playing it off as a good thing. Columbus's face changed.

"You're not going to stick around?" he asked. She swallowed hard and lied through her teeth, because he was worth it.

"After I take care of some business… who knows? Maybe I'll meet back up with you," she said as hopefully as possible. He looked hurt and as he tried to speak he couldn't find words.

"My dad always said the only person you can't lie to is yourself," Columbus said at last. She took the hose out of the tank.

"He was right… and don't think I am," she smiled weakly. He stepped in front of her as she tried to move away. "I'm not coming back Columbus. As much as I've come to love you guys… I love Michael more," she said putting her hands on his shoulders. Moving around him again she tried to walk away but he spun catching her sleeve.

"You know we all lost people we cared about," he said. She froze. "None of us are killing ourselves." Chicago paused unable to believe he was saying this. Little Columbus, the guys she could break in two or melt with a glare was calling her out. "I know none of the others will say it, but I will. Chicago we need you," he said as his voice cracked a little.

"Will you just stop?" she snapped.

"No… I know Tallahassee and Wichita are too proud to say it… and Little Rock shouldn't have to. We need you. All of us need each other," he said. She walked back to him and put her hands on his shoulders again.

"You are all going to be just fine. As much as he may hate you sometimes Tallahassee isn't going to walk out on you guys. As long as you have him and the girls you'll be fine. You managed without me before and you'll make it without me now. I'm sorry Columbus," she said looking him deep in the eye.

As Chicago walked away it dawned on Columbus what was happening. She was running just the same as they rest of them. She couldn't handle that everything was gone so she was going to kill herself. Instead of killing zombies like Tallahassee and taking revenge on the ones who had taken everything from her she was going to just give up. She was running from the dark thought of suicide by labeling it as a mission.

It made him sad to think that he and the others weren't enough for her. He could tell she really loved them, but just couldn't let go of whatever dark intention had rooted itself in her head. Hopelessness had now become a greater enemy than the zombies and Columbus knew from experience that it was much harder to fight.

 

Chapter 18- Breaking​

Things were quiet in the car after that. Chicago rode in the passenger seat most of the time while Tallahassee drove. Columbus and Wichita took turns playing hangman with Little Rock. Eventually she lost track of where they were, but knew that ever mile gone was one closer to the end.

When the sun started to sink low they passed a motel by chance and the vote was four to one that they stop. Tallahassee blew the car horn to draw out any unwelcome guests. Four or five zombies appeared but stood no chance against the firing squad that Chicago and the others formed.

After a healthy meal of junk food for supper they split up into their different rooms. Tallahassee and Columbus took one room, Chicago in her own and the younger girls in another. It was apparent in all three rooms that Chicago's plans were causing problems.

Tallahassee sat down on his bed and rubbed his face. Columbus came out of the bathroom and flopped down on his bed. "You have to do something," he sighed. Tallahassee looked at him tiredly.

"What?" he asked.

"You have to do something to stop her. She's going to kill herself," Columbus clarified. Tallahassee sighed.

"There's nothing we can do. If she wants to get eaten that's her choice," he said shaking his head. Columbus stared at him in disbelief.

"How can you be so calm?" he exclaimed. Tallahassee looked surprised. Columbus had only gotten really short once before and had only acted like he actually had a pair a select few other times. Tallahassee shook his head. "You have to talk to her! She'll listen to you!" Columbus shouted.

"Not so loud spit fuck. The walls are thin," Tallahassee said feeling too depressed to really get angry.

"If you'd just swallow your fucking pride and tell her that you need her around too, she might stop this," Columbus spat getting up and pacing the floor. Tallahassee opened his mouth to respond but fell short of a come back. "I already told her," Columbus said in hopes of making Tallahassee feel guilty.

"See? This is why I didn't want everyone getting so fucking close. I already told you why you should never let people in," Tallahassee replied finally.

"Like you held that rule," Columbus spat. Tallahassee gritted his teeth.

"Yeah I broke that rule and see the headache it got me?" Tallahassee replied.

"She risked her life to save you," Columbus argued. Tallahassee looked down at the floor desperately wishing that he were back in the days when he traveled alone. Back in B.C. 'before Columbus.' When things were simple and he didn't have to worry about feelings getting in the way all the time.

Tallahassee stood up. "Where are you going" Columbus asked.

"I'm gonna sleep in the truck so I don't drown in all your bullshit. Leave her alone. If she wants to get torn apart let her. You can only protect you, no matter how much you want to help someone else," he growled leaving the room.

It was starting to drizzle outside as Tallahassee walked past the other rooms and towards the truck. When he saw the lights were on in the vehicle he panicked a little. She was stealing the truck. Running up he found however that Chicago was digging around under the drivers seat, not the dash.

"What are you doing?" he asked. She jumped hitting her head on the steering wheel.

"God damn it!" she snapped looking back at him. He smirked a little when he saw the whisky bottle in her hand. "I'm fixing to get wasted," she replied rubbing her head. He nodded. "What are you doing?"

"Trying not to be smothered to death by the little fuck," Tallahassee replied motioning back towards the motel room. She laughed.

"Would you like to join me since this is yours?" she asked swirling the liquid in the bottle.

"I would," he smirked following her back to her room. Chicago locked the door behind them and immediately kicked her boots off flopping down on the bed. She took a drink from the bottle as he sat down next to her. Handing it off she sighed.

"So where are you going to take them?" she asked.

"I don't know," he sighed drinking.

"You should find a place to settle. Someplace secluded," she suggested getting the bottle back.

"Oh yeah, you can see how well I do when I'm secluded with him," Tallahassee laughed. She chuckled. He kicked his boots off and shed his jacket. Chicago stole Tallahassee's hat putting it on as she took another drink.

"He's a good kid though," she said fondly.

"Yeah, he ain't bad, but boy does he have some work ahead of him if he ever wants to get Wichita," Tallahassee sighed taking another drink.

"True, unfortunately my gender is sick and feels like bad boys are the way to go," she laughed. He looked at her realizing she'd probably already been drinking.

"Well we are the way to go," he replied leaning against the headboard. She looked at him taking the bottle again.

"You… are not as charming as you think you are," she giggled.

"No?" he asked jokingly.

"No," she said shaking her head.

"Why not?" he asked curiously.

"Because you are bull headed, and temperamental… and immature," she listed playfully.

"So are you!" he objected smiling and stealing the bottle back.

"But at least we have our good qualities," she said more seriously.

"Yes, yes we do," he nodded matching her tone before they both cracked up again.

"You're brave, that's good… and you're cute," she sighed as they stopped laughing. He stiffened up. This was getting dangerous.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah. You're not cute like Columbus is. Yours is more of a… I dunno, 'the world is mine' type of cute," she said. He tried to figure out what she meant. "I wish I could live that way," she sighed tossing his hat away.

"So do it," he said simply.

"Nope… I got a plan… no breaking it," she murmured leaning against him and forcing him to put his arm around her. Tallahassee felt a pang of guilt. Columbus, the little wuss, was willing to deal with the problem while Tallahassee chose to ignore it. She sighed again lazily looking at him. "You know what I like best about you?" she asked. He could hear her speech slur a tiny bit.

"What?" he asked humoring her.

"You were right," she smiled. He shook his head not following her. "I've never met anyone like you before," she said. He cracked a smile and downed the last of the bottle. "You're a good guy," she sighed. He looked at her. "I'm glad I met you," she whispered.

She was saying goodbye. 'Bad,' Tallahassee thought feeling slightly panicked. She was saying goodbye to him now because she knew she probably wouldn't get another chance to be alone with him. This was the last chance he would have to speak with her privately.

But he didn't speak. Instead he stared her right in the eye and closed the already limited distance between them. Both of them shut their eyes as their lips met. It wasn't like the first time they had kissed, this time they were doing it on their own accord.

Chicago realized how wrong it was and she didn't care. Her heart fluttered as his hand slipped on her neck pulling her closer. She kissed him back, parting her lips a little demanding more. Tallahassee was no stranger to this situation and he did as she wanted. The tip of their tongues brushed and Chicago had chills run down her back.

When the kiss broke she rested her head against him again listening to his heart. "I'm glad I met you too," he said stroking her hair.

"You going to stay here tonight?" she asked closing her eyes.

"Can I?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied stretching out straight on the bed and pulling a pillow up close. He mimicked her and put his arm around her waist. She smiled a little as his breath came in short little puffs on the back of her neck. "Goodnight," she whispered.

"Goodnight," he replied. She drifted off almost immediately, but he remained awake for a long time listening to her. He contemplated what was happening and eventually came to the conclusion that he just had no idea. His last thought before he fell prey to sleep was the hope that maybe this development would keep her around.

When he woke the next morning he rolled over expecting to find Chicago on the other side of the bed, but instead the sheets were cold. He sat up looking for her, but all that was left was her engagement ring on the bedside table next to the empty whisky bottle.

Clutching the ring he stumbled to the door and went outside still only half dressed. The truck was still there, but the compact that had been parked next to it wasn't. For the second time Tallahassee had been left and he was so hurt that he went back inside, sat down, and sobbed.

Chicago looked in the rear view mirror again. It had been nearly an hour since she lost sight of the motel and she was still crying. "I am so sorry," she sniffled out loud.

 

Chapter 19- No Bathroom Breaks​

The kids watched as Tallahassee violently took inventory of what Chicago had taken. In truth Columbus was worried about how little she had taken. Her survival would soon be dependant on ammo.

After throwing things around in the back Tallahassee slammed the doors shut and opened the drivers door. Little Rock freed herself from Wichita's grasp and got in the backseat still trying to hide that she'd been crying.

Tallahassee closed the door and rolled down the window looking at the older kids who stood like statues. "Well?" he asked harshly.

"Tallahassee," Columbus began but the older man pounded his fist on the steering wheel.

"Get in the car!" he snapped. Wichita was holding back tears. Columbus shook his head deciding now was the time to stand up to Tallahassee. "Columbus, get in the fucking car," Tallahassee growled.

"Where are we going?" Columbus asked. Tallahassee wiped his mouth looking sharply at the kids.

"Mexico… we're going to go to Mexico," he said. The look in Columbus's eyes was enough to let everyone know how the reply had sat with him. "We'll find someplace nice and secluded to settle down… get a fresh start," Tallahassee said regaining a civil tone. Columbus looked away down the road where hours earlier Chicago had been. "Just get in the fucking car right now," Tallahassee said finally.

"Come on Columbus," Wichita said getting in the back seat. Columbus looked down the road again then back to the others in the truck. He sighed as he walked around and got in the passenger seat.

Tallahassee floored it heading south. No one spoke. Columbus sighed resting his head against the seat prompting Wichita to lean up and give him reassuring peck on the cheek. She whispered something to him before leaning back.

Tallahassee watched the display and punched the breaks causing the truck to skid to a halt. "Jesus Christ! Are you trying to kill us?" Columbus shouted. Tallahassee was miles away though. In his head he was watching Chicago being ripped apart by hundreds of cannibal freaks. He swallowed hard.

"When we get eaten… When we're being ripped apart because we went after her… are you going to blame me?" he asked looking at Columbus. The younger man looked back at the girls. "I was trying to keep the three of you safe, and that meant letting Chicago go," Tallahassee said.

"How could we blame you when we are the ones who want to do it?" Little Rock asked. Tallahassee wrestled with the thought of killing everyone for only a second more before he turned the truck around.

"She's way ahead of us," he said. Columbus nodded. "That means no bathroom breaks spit fuck," Tallahassee said to the younger man. Columbus actually breathed a sigh of relief at the completely inappropriate remark as it assured him that the Tallahassee he knew was still in there.

 

Chapter 20- The Lone Spartan ​

Chicago didn't stop driving. She kept going because every time she shut her eyes nightmares attacked. She just wanted to be done with her job. Everything was blurry and confusing to her. A strange numbness crept through her and she no longer cared about anything.

It took about fifteen hours to reach the edge of Chicago. She frowned seeing the dead city. Thousands of people in there and there was only one that she wanted. After stretching for a few moments she got back in the car and started to work her way in.

The few zombies she passed didn't seem too active. They watched as she passed, but didn't chase her. The walking dead had just found a new way to be eerie.

Eventually she stopped and parked in an alley not wanting the engine to spook any zombies in the apartment building nearly four blocks away. She opened the trunk and threw her jacket in feeling like she was on fire already. Four pistols and two shotguns were all she had brought.

Walking down the street silently she was on high alert despite being completely sleep deprived. Everything was dead and as she entered the old apartment building she started to see her breath. A half eaten body made her jump a little, but she continued and crept up the stairs. On the third floor she went to room seven and cautiously opened the door. It was unlocked and pushed open easily.

"Michael?" she whispered loudly entering the apartment where she had once lived. No one answered. Cautiously she moved through the place searching everywhere for some sign of him. She found none and Chicago sat down on the bed pulling his pillow towards her. She held it to her face and inhaled trying to catch the scent of his cologne.

"Michael," she cried softly picking one of his sweatshirts up off the floor. Pulling it on she wrapped her arms around herself and cried harder. Lying back on the bed she thought about all the time they had.

Her pity party was interrupted by a gurgle though. She looked up hoping to see Michael, but instead it was a zombie she recognized as a former neighbor. She used a pistol and blew brains all over the light blue walls of the apartment.

Realizing she stood no chance against the mob that would soon be after her if she was in the apartment, Chicago ran down the hall and down the stairs before being accosted by two more zombies. She dispatched them quickly and continued to run, busting out onto the street. She glanced around and sure enough there was the horde charging straight at her.

"Shit!" she hissed sprinting away. She knew she had to think of something and as she fled. Seeing an armored truck she ran for it and jumped in the back closing the door behind herself. Panting she sat in the dark she tried to catch her breath. A moan from inside the truck made her blood run cold and she fell backwards pushing open the doors.

In an attempt to kill it as it lunged she fired twice. The first bullet ricocheted around the inside of the truck and flew back hitting Chicago in the leg. The second bullet found its mark.

She limped to another car and locked herself inside as the zombie mob reached her. She had a matter of seconds before they broke the glass and suddenly Chicago didn't want to die. She started to cry again pulling out her pistol. "I don't want to die," she chanted over and over waiting for the monsters to reach her.

The glass broke and she opened fire keeping them at bay until she ran out of ammo. She opened the door tossing a couple back and grabbed a rod that was lying in the street. She swung it keeping them at bay for a moment, but they out numbered her by what seemed thousands to one.

She ran down an alley hoping to bottleneck them and keep them all in front of her. Ironically in the time of crisis she actually thought about the movie 300. As a last resort she jumped, grabbed a fire escape just barely and pulled herself up to the platform fifteen feet above the ground. The zombies couldn't reach her for the moment and she turned her attention towards her leg.

The sight of all of the blood made Chicago feel faint. She put her hands on the wound but it wouldn't stop bleeding. She was trapped with no way out and a hole right through her leg. Leaning against the protective bars she sat and cried some more. A fine mess she had gotten herself into.