ZRP-2 Chapter 8: Survivors One and All

In the mean time, the mood in the Harris's house was...subdued, to say the least. After both of the attacks that day, the trio had went back home, Andrew settling down to watch the door. He didn't want to get caught off guard by any surprises, while Sarah had gone to bed, saying she was exhausted.

The reality was far from different in the younger sibling's mind. While she rested...the dream that came to her was far from sweet. In the dream, she was in her night clothes, standing in a field all too familiar to Sarah. But, she was drawn forward in her dream by a familiar voice that drifted to her.

"Help me...I'm scared...please...help me..."

Intrigued, Sarah followed the voice that called to her as she dreamed. The waking were oblivious as to what happened in the dream.

Ella's smile faded away. She knew full well, if only from imagination, what Hayley was referring to. "Yeah......well, hopefully Eve has some stuff we can use for you. In the meantime let's shove those other thoughts away, shall we?"

Hayley grew still. "Sorry...yeah...lets do that." She snuggled even more if possible. "Thats why...please don't stop yet...please..."

"Sure thing," Ella said as the night wore on.

--Next Day--

It was late in the morning again when the new day came. A storm didn't sweep in, but the trail it left lingered in the form of large, scattered clouds that drifted over the land and cast dark shadows on the ground. The town was quiet, despite active with people moving. Within the walls, the air was tense and forbidding, people whispering against each other, suspecting one another.

Jason had been awake for a while now, laying in bed fully clothed, gazing at the ceiling as he was deep in thought about what may or may not happen today. He was worried that the events of the past two days would lead to someone doing something stupid.

Sam on the other hand, was still asleep as she slept up in the top bunk.

Ella and Estel were both asleep, sharing the same mattress, though with a pillow placed between them.

Hibiki had been sleeping alone until a warmth had entered. She had sleepily moved to kiss, but stopped when silky hair and lack of any stubble or any facial hair had been encountered. Shaking herself awake, she verified her daughter was curled up against her before reaching for the gun. She had smiled and put her arms around her Eve, hugging her close.

Hayley had not tried to follow Ella when she had gone to bed. Not wanting to intrude, Hayley had curled up alone on the couch, falling in and out of sleep. She was exhausted though, so finally she conked out for good, only to fall into a perverted dream she woke herself up from.
with a few choice British curses she fell back to sleep, and into a dreamless sleep finally. In the morning she had risen, finally dressed. She was looking for things to make breakfast for, hoping the small gesture would help with her standing with the family. She was just there to keep an eye on Ella's leg, but it was fine. The young girl's cold should have cleared up; it was a mild one that fluids and rest would defeat. So she gathered some rations, using some rationing tactics, and began to put together some breakfast for everyone, doing her best to avoid using too much food.

But she did add a bit more to Eve's plate. She needed some food to help ensure this was the end of the cold, and not a lull.

Miranda was curled up to Sarah, snuggled happily into the other woman's chest. Her dreams ones of rainbows, unicorns, and strawberries, she was unaware of Sarah's nightmare.

Sarah followed the voice inside her mind, recognizing the building with mute horror. But...despite that, she followed it in, and now the panicked and plaintive voice was replaced by an inhuman and terrible scream. Still curious, Sarah went towards the screaming. Sweat began to drip down her dream self in both horror and curiosity as she heard the screaming stop.

Sarah stifled a gasp as she look on the scene before her. The were three of them, clearly Shepherds, all bloody messes. They didn't look like human beings any more. But...the murderer turned their head to Sarah, who didn't even try to hide her gasp. Her dream-self shook, and in the real world, Sarah's body went rigid out of what was happening in the dream.

The figure looked at her with a macabre version of a smile, clothes torn, a gun in one hand and a bloody knife in the other. Looking at Sarah with blood-red eyes, the voice that came out of it made her dream-self pale.

In a twisted version of her own voice, the figure said to her "Well...hello...glad you've finally come...~"

Sarah nearly let out a scream in her dream. And, in the waking world...a soft and nearly inaudible plaintive moan came from her throat.

Getting up from bed, Jason stood and headed for the door to the room. He regretted that it wasn't the same room as Hibiki's.....but they agreed to sleep separately for the night. No sense belly-aching over it. Making sure his boots were on before leaving, he trudged down the stairs to the front door of the house and opened it to step outside. It was chilly, clouds overhead casting shadows on the ground and a strong wind in the air blowing the branches in the trees. Standing on the porch, James could only wait, though for what he wasn't sure.

Sam slowly started to wake up, turning in her bunk slowly before waking up. Rubbing her eyes and groaning, she climbed down the steps of the bunk bed and to the ground.

The door opening woke Hayley up. Sitting up, she yawned.
"Morning?"

Mira had been woken by the rigidness, and the moan caused her to start shaking Sarah. "Hey...wake up Sarah!"

Hearing a sound behind him, James turned around and saw through the open door Hayley, sitting up on the bed. "Hey there," he said before stepping back in and closing the door behind him. "Sleep well?"

"Sorta. Wish I had been sharing space with someone like you all can." Hayley said softly. "Anywhere I can wash my hair and get any grime off?" The medic asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Tyler rolled out of bed quite literally, landing with an audible thud. He slowly stands up and rubs his head muttering curses at the bed. He hasn't had a decent night's sleep whenever he slept on heightened beds. To this day he still didn't know why. Tyler sighed as he started putting his gear on. Afterwards he sat down on the bed and looked at window. The weather wasn't looking too good.

Trevor's eyes opened slowly as he began to breathe normally again. He scanned the room and checked his hearing. He didn't see or hear anything wrong... or dead. He stood up and grabbed his rifle, it being the only thing he didn't keep on him 24/7 and headed for the door. He was hungry and it was beginning to affect him, he needed food now or he'd perish.

For once, Marcus did not go to James' house. Instead, he went to Andrew's. Stepping up onto the porch and to the door, he rapped his knuckles a few times. Andrew was one of the few people he could trust, right up there with Clara, James and Hibiki. But Andrew--for the most part--had been kept out of the loop. It was time to change that.

"Well.....plumbing doesn't work, obviously. There's the river, but it's too cold for that. So actually......no, not really," James said grumpily.

Sarah heard Mira's voice in her dream, and not-Sarah looked at her with disdain, saying "Shame...she interrupted us just as we were about to have fun~" the demented girl let out a horrifying cackled, which made her dream self-shiver even more, Until next time...~" the voice fading out as Sarah woke up, her breath coming in gasps as sweat dripped down her body, and her eyes snapping open.

She hugged Mira, saying, "Thank you...from pulling me from my nightmare..." the woman shuddered, "What I saw...in there...it terrified me..." the nightmare clearly being the cause of Sarah's shaking.

Andrew got up out of the chair, having drifted off to sleep in it. It was the first time he'd ever done so, and he didn't intend to make it a habit just yet. He walked over to the door, letting out a yawn as he grabbed the door knob, blinking in surprise as he saw Marcus in the doorway.

"Well....what brings you over here?" he asked, keeping the surprise out of his voice. However...Andrew's curiosity was piqued, unaware of what his sister just experienced.

"Andrew, we need to talk," Marcus said as he stepped inside without being invited. He was worried, and wanted to get out of the open for the talk.

Mira nuzzled Sarah's cheek, then planted a kiss on her forehead.
"You're not alone. No nightmare can really touch you." she said. "Just remember what you wake up to - me, your brother, and your friends."

Hayley sighed. "Yeah. Guess so."

Jen sat up at the thud and rolled her eyes, then fell back to sleep. As Tyler sat down, she rolled over. "Busy morning?" She joked.

"Besides, we're going to have more pressing concerns," James said. "We're still low on fuel. Plus we have this.....saboteur in our midst, with no idea who they are, or what they'll try doing next. Danger without, and within the compound......"

Andrew looked at Marcus, a serious expression on his face. He figured that the man was here to talk about something serious, so he kept what sarcasm he had to himself. That...and his sister and Mira were in the bedroom. Andrew locked the door behind them, not wanting to take any chances.

"Right," he said. "So...what are you here to tell me? I have to assume it's about what's happened in the past couple of days...otherwise, neither of us would be uneasy."

Sarah couldn't really smile, not after what had transpired in her nightmare. And she still heard the voice inside her head, saying "She's so naive...I've already done my damage. She speaks empty words...every single one...~" However, Sarah said, "I know...and...thank you..." the two still unknowing of their house guest.

And Andrew sure hoped it stayed that way...at least, for now.

Tyler smiled briefly before talking. "Well with the recent uh... sabotage and the weather, I figured I could help in some way. Prepare or something." He stood up and walked to the door. "If you want you can come."


Trevor was already down the street and heading towards his hunting grounds. Which was really just a traps fit for game. He didn't know how to hunt or make bigger traps for bigger food. It was just up to his  string traps made of weedeater string to feed him. But those were starting to slow down, less and less each day. It was worrisome... Once he got there he began checking them. Out of the forty three he placed only three had anything in them. He thought about it and came to the conclusion he was killed too many of them in one spot. He sighed and put the rabbits in his bag.

This meant one thing he didn't want to do, he was going to have to move from his home. Where? He didn't know. Good thing he came prepared. Throughout the two years he had been in this little town he's been siphoning and collecting gas wherever he could. He had a pickup truck in his garage that still worked. It was a escape should things go wrong. Starving was one of them.

"Well as you already know there's someone in the compound doing their best to sabotage our defenses. Clara and I were talking last night in the tavern, and as it turns out......some people in town not only think it's one of us--as in the caravan, us--but they intend to do something about it. What, I don't know and I'll be informing James and Hibiki about this. But you should be on guard, and I need help protecting the group. We also need to find out who this person is," Marcus said, finally stopping to take a breath.

Hayley looked...uneasy...
"A sabtoeur?" She whimpered. "As if zombies and bandits and shepherds aren't bad enough..."

"Yeah well, not like the end of the world means we all get along," James said. "Humans are humans, and every now and then, you'll find a traitor."

Hayley sighed softly. "I know James. Least I found you all, so everything is better..." She looked up. "Think it would be okay if I babysat Eve once in awhile? She's a sweet kid and I kinda...I dunno, it felt normal to watch her while you all went out..."

"You'll have to ask Hibiki about that, she's more protective than I am," James said. He was going to say more, but then he dimly heard something from outside. "What is that?" he asked, standing up and peering out the window. It was a crowd. The same crowd as before with the ammo. And there were more of them.

Hayley got up and headed over. Frowning, she looked outside with him.
"Oh great...what's up with them?" She looked nervous. "The door is locked, right?"

"Would that stop a crowd?" James asked nervously. "Dammit, thought we'd have more time. Hibiki!" James shouted. "Everyone, up and at 'em! Living room now, and bring your weapons pronto!"

The shouting had Hibiki downstairs and thankfully somewhat dressed...Eve though, was in her underwear with her bow. She looked a bit sleepy but ready.
"What's wrong James?" Hibiki asked.

James blinked when he saw Eve in nothing but her underwear, and said "First? Eve, get more clothes on please. Secondly.....we're about to have company. Bad kind."

Sam thundered down the stairs, dressed and armed with her shotgun. "What the hell? I looked out my window and saw half the town and then some, gathered down the street. Is the circus in town?"

Ella and Estel came up from the basement, both silent and letting everyone else ask their questions.

Eve looked down.
"Oh."

She headed upstairs, and came back down in some shorts and one of her red T-shirts. "Sorry. I wasn't in my room and mommy didnt' shake me awake until she was getting her shirt on..."

Sighing, James moved to the door and slid the lock in place. "Everyone, lock the doors and keep an eye out. I doubt the mob outside is going to do anything rash......but I doubt just as much that they're standing out there for their health." Sam nodded, moving to the rear door to lock up. Ella groaned and said "This place really isn't looking to be worth the effort James."

Eve rubbed her eyes. "I'm just over sickness, I don't need some mob dragging anyone out." she hung her bow, drew her gun, and grabbed Hibiki's.
"I say, if the door is broken down, we light all them fuckers up like an old christmas tree."

"That's not going to help at all," Estel said. "Look.....we just hole up and defend ourselves without killing anyone. We should just discourage them if they try anything."

"What about the others?" Sam asked. "Andrew, Mira and Sarah? Marcus, the rest of our group? If the mob's after us, they'll be after them."

"They'll have to fend for themselves. I don't exactly have a tank in the garage." Hibiki growled.

Eve looked at Estel. "If they try and break in, it will help a lot."

"Yeah well we shouldn't abandon them either," Sam said. "If we were in their shoes, would you want them to hang us out to dry?" Before anyone could answer, there was a sudden pounding on the door. "Open up cowards!" a voice said. "We know one of you is responsible, so get out here now!"

Hibiki made sure her magazine locked in with a very audible click. "You calm down there or we'll light you up like a Christmas tree. Explain what you think we are responsible for this time around, because I will ensure I keep my right to blow you away."

Eve frowned. Something was really off. This just didn't make sense.

"We know the girl is a Shepherd. Who else would work so hard to destroy our home? Send out the Shepherd whore, and we won't burn down the house!" Sam bristled at them calling Eve a whore, and was about to pump a round through the wood of the door before James grabbed her wrist firmly and shook his head. "How 'bout no? You crazy asshole."

Eve was pretty calm...and she set her guns on the table, then put her bow on the other table. Hibiki was about to just start lighting them up, when the sound of disarmament drew her attention. As Eve pushed her bow away, Hibiki grabbed her arm.
"What the hell are you doing?" She said. Eve shook her mom's arm off and began taking out...knives. "I'm giving myself up. And don't anyone stop me." She growled. As Hibiki was about to get really pissed, Eve shut her up. "Its me or everyone. It's a fucked up reality but we neither have the ammo or the time to think of a plan. Marcus is too far away."

Hibiki was ready to tie her down, but Eve moved away. "They can't kill me or mommy gets the tank and they all die. Marcus trusts me, so if they kill me, you all kill them." She finally removed a pocket knife, and Hibiki paused. Eve looked at the smal pile of pocket and a few steak knives. She then facepalmed. "James. Reason with her."

James was already looming over Eve, and said "Eve, I know you think you're doing the right thing. But you're not, you're doing something stupid and those people are going to kill you. Whoever is doing this, the sabotage, they don't care if you're alive or dead: they want us all, dead."

"Then I buy you all time." She looked back up...then shoved James back. Grabbing her gun, she sprinted into the kitchen and headed for the side door. Hibiki lunged...but Eve slipped out, leaving Hibiki shouting her name.

Eve came around the side, gun raised.
"I'm who you are looking for. and I will surrender only if you leave us from the caravan alone. If you break this term, you forfeit your lives." She kept the gun raised. "Accept my terms, and I will go quietly."

Hibiki was right behind her. "EVE! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!"

James was stunned at being shoved back, but ran out behind Hibiki after Eve. It was too late though, as the mob advanced on her and the leader of it grabbed her. He was grubby looking man (then again in an age of no plumbing who wasn't?) in need of a shave, and he growled at her "We'll make no bargains with sneaking Shepherds. But if it's any consolation, we only want you."

Eve clicked the safety and one arm threw her gun to Hibiki.
"Fine. Then if you make no bargains, I'll make you a promise - kill me, and you all die. Now leave my family alone. You have what you want."

"That we do," the man said as he started to drag Eve....before a gunshot rang out. Everyone turned to look and see Clara standing in the street, a pistol raised above her head and a look of anger on her face. "What. Is. Going. On?" she demanded. The man stepped forward and said "We've had a vote Clara. All of us. Majority ruled, and it ruled that you're no longer in charge and that we're taking action when you wouldn't. We know the girl's a Shepherd, and we're making sure she get's what's coming to her."

"This is madness!" James shouted as he moved to the man holding Eve and grabbed the arm holding his adopted daughter. "Now leave her alone!" He didn't have any warning, and he was so focused on Eve that he didn't notice the fist that crashed into his face, breaking his nose and sending him the ground.

Hibiki's blade hummed. It was pressed fo the man's throat.
"I will fucking end you."

Then Eve spoke. "Mommy. Let it go. They know if they kill me, they all will die to the walkers. Like it or not, asshole, but our bus is blocking the big hole." She looked over at James. "I'll be okay daddy...I'll be okay."

James was too dazed to even register that Eve was talking to him. It was actually a pretty strong punch, and coupled with the pain of his nose......well, Eve and horde of zombies could have been dancing to Thrilller and he wouldn't have noticed. Sam rushed to him, grabbing his hand and slowly helping him to his feet. "Let it go Hibiki......we'll have their asses later."

Hibiki growled, then pulled back.
"Sam. Take James to Hayley. Anyone but me or Marcus enter the house, light them up like a wildefire."

She stormed off to find Marcus.

While the mob dragged Eve away, Sam helped James back into the house and said "Hayley, we have a problem; James got a broken nose and it needs fixing. And.....they took Eve." Estel froze, and said "They took Eve? Why?" James finally regained his senses, and said "They think she's the saboteur."

Eve didn't struggle as Hibiki grabbed Clara and moved on.
"Where is Marcus, where is my caravan, and where is my fucking tank." She growld.

Hayley started looking him over. "Looks fine..." She was pale though. "We're gonna save her, right? Gonna gear up, storm the place and save them?" She looked at James. "Please tell me we can."

"We could. But if we did, the entire town will turn on us and there goes our refuge," James said. Ella growled and said "Bullshit. We should take back Eve and leave these assholes." Sam shook her head and said "No, we can't. Believe me, I want to but we just don't have enough gas for that. If we tried, we'd be stuck with no way of moving the vehicles."

"I don't know where Marcus is, the caravan is where you parked it, same with the tank," Clara growled. "Look, don't do anything rash yet. I'm just as pissed off as you.....but these were rules I put up. Can't whine when they've been used against me."

Hibiki shoved Clara against the nearest wall. "I am anpregnant mother whos child is in danger. You try and fucking stop me from throwing your rules in the mud. Fucking try." She growled. Letting Clara go, she stalked off.

Hayley helped a bit more, then pulled back. "...take over the ammo dump...take over their food...I hate saying it...but we might have to takenover to save everyone."

"Yeah and that will just lead to an eventual rebellion," Sam said. "Look, our best bet is to find out who it was that's been doing this, sabotaging the compound I mean." James nodded, though his face was twisted in a grimace, blood coming from one nostril and his nose swollen.

Clara grabbed Hibiki's arm and held on, saying "Dammit no Hibiki! You're not going to help your daughter by running off half-cocked. These people are afraid dammit. This is how they're dealing with it!"

Hibiki turned around to nearly touch noses with Clara.
"One day. If you andthenothers can save my daughter, I'll fucking kill them. I'll move the bus and take the caravan and fucking watched you all die by walkers. Now go tell Marcus exactly why he has one day before that tank starts making meatloaf."

She shook Clara off and headed home.

Hayley rubbed her temples. "Okay sorry..."