Cherreads

Chapter 19 - A Real Leader

On the boat, Kyle groans as he comes back to reality. He sits up, shakes his head and sees the cell door was shut.

Kyle: Shit.

Kyle turns and sees Samantha glaring at him.

Kyle: Samantha?

Kyle turns to face Samantha.

Kyle: What happened? Are you alright?

Samantha doesn't respond as she turns her head away.

Kyle: Samantha, talk to me...we're here to take you home. To Berrington. To your son and sister.

Samantha: I'm here because of you. You let them take me. You let them. Am I supposed to just forget that happened? Some fucking friend you are.

Kyle: I'm sorry, Samantha. If I could, I would've tried to save you both—

Samantha shakes her head.

Samantha: Whatever.

Kyle: The hell is wrong with you, Samantha? Come on, let's get the fuck out of here. You have a son and a sister back home worried about you!

Samantha: No, Kyle. I'm done. I'm tired and I've had enough. This whole situation is so fucked! At least here I have Melanie—

Kyle: You mean the Melanie that turned against us? Who's with the people that attacked Berrington?

Samantha: Don't you dare act like you know who she is. She tried to escape. Her and Colleen....and they killed Colleen. Wes told me if I fight back....they'd Melanie or one of you. All you've done, Kyle, is get us hurt or killed. If you fuck this up much worse...I'll kill you myself. And don't think I won't. I'm not gonna lose her or anyone else.

Kyle: Samantha, are you serious?! They're just trying to scare you! We can't give up now. If they take us back to their war, we die. That's it.

Samantha: You want to make us die now, then later? Whatever you do, leave me out of it.

Kyle sighs.

Kyle: Goddammit....

Kyle then stands up and goes over to the cell door.

Sylvester: Kyle, you alright, son?

Kyle looks through the door.

Kyle: I'm fine. Where's Sarah and Peter?

Sarah: Over here!

Kyle looks over to see Sarah and Peter in the cell across from him.

Kyle: Thank God.

Peter: Is Samantha all right?

Peter walks up next to Sarah.

Kyle: She's saying she won't help us.

Peter: Is she serious? What the fuck?

Peter sighs.

Sarah: Well, we're not moving yet. So at least we've got some time. I guess.

Kyle nods at Sarah.

Kyle: Peter, you good?

Peter: Me? I'm good. Just wondering how to survive an explosion.

Peter sarcastically laughs.

Peter: We're fucked.

Sarah: We're not fucked. We're going to be fine.

Kyle: Hmm...these doors don't look very well made, maybe that's something we can work with.

Kyle looks over at Sylvester and Chloe.

Kyle: Chloe, are you hurt?

Chloe: Can we just get the fuck out of here, please?

Chloe looks at Kyle with sadness.

Kyle: We will.

Kyle looks over at Sylvester.

Kyle: You okay?

Sylvester: Wes...he's....he's a frightening man, Kyle. Earlier he and Tobin came down to talk. Fuck. I don't think I've ever been that scared. Those two are not fucking around.

Kyle: We'll get you home soon. Just hang in there.

Kyle looks at the doors to see the latches on the side of the door. Kyle kneels down to look over his door.

Kyle: Maybe I could chip away at this if I had tool or....my machete!

Kyle starts to dig in his pocket but scoffs when he finds no machete.

Kyle: Of course they took my goddamn Zeus Corps machete. Shit!

Kyle stands up and looks over at Sarah and Peter.

Kyle: Peter? Sarah? Do either of you still have your knives?

Sarah: They took my machete, but not my small knife.

Sarah digs into her boot and pulls out a small knife from her sock.

Peter: Shit, Sarah...

Sarah: Never leave into the wasteland without it.

Kyle: Slide it over to me.

Sarah kneels down and slides the knife across the hall. The knife slides across the hall and through the gap and into Kyle's cell. Kyle grabs the small knife and goes over to the door and starts to chip the door.

Orion: Yo!

A kick to the door makes Kyle jump and drop the knife. Kyle looks up to see Orion standing before the door.

Orion: Whatever you doin, boy. I suggest you stop. Trust me, it's not worth it. Step back! Now!

Tobin then walks up the cell door and smiles.

Tobin: Sup, Desipich. Oh, man. How the tables have turned? This is what I should've done when your people first showed up at my tower all those years ago.

Kyle: Look, Tobin, I'm sorry about your people. I really am, but that doesn't give you the right to fucking take other people from their homes and force them to fight in this stupid ass war! These are good people!

Tobin: And you think we're not good people?! You think the people at my tower wasn't good people? You know; I still play it over and over again....when I left my tower, I had a hard time surviving....The Krens....The Condemned....they almost got me until your Dad's little experiment killed them all....it was still hard to survive out there. Gangs. Monsters the wasteland created. People wanting your shit....but then Wes gave me a purpose.

Sarah: Does it feel good, Tobin? Knowing you've ripped apart a lot of families. Over and over again.

Tobin turns to Sarah.

Tobin: Don't you dare talk to me about families, girl! You and your people took my family away from me.

Sarah: Mina took your family away from you.

Tobin glares at Sarah.

Tobin: You led her to us.

Wes: Tobin!

Tobin turns to see Wes.

Wes: He awake?

Orion: Yes, sir.

Wes: Orion, go check the rest of the ship.

Orion: Yes, sir.

Orion walks past Wes, who walks up to Kyle's door.

Wes: I'll take it from here, Tobin.

Wes glares at Kyle while in her cell, Sarah clenches her fist with anger.

Samantha: Shit.

Melanie walks up next to Wes.

Wes: You killed Griffin and Damon....

Kyle: I did...

Wes: Where's my son?

Peter: Son?

Sarah: Hunter.

Peter: The boy we caught? Hunter?

Peter turns to Wes.

Wes: Dude, you got your son involved in this horseshit?!

Tobin turns to Peter.

Tobin: Hey, boy. We ain't talkin to you. We talkin to your master here.

Peter: Fuck you, asshole!

Sarah: Peter...stop.

Wes: Where is he?

Wes turns to Sarah's cell. For a brief moment, Wes gives a saddened look, which quickly turns to anger.

Wes: Fuck. You little bitch.

Wes walks up to the door and slams his fist against the door.

Wes: Damn it!

Kyle: Hey, watch your fucking mouth! Tobin tell you I almost broke his jaw when he called my wife a bitch?!

Wes sighs, then turns to Kyle.

Wes: You killed my son....he was just a boy.

Kyle: He was a threat inside our walls. Couldn't risk letting him go so he can come here and tell you about our plan.

Wes chuckles and turns to Kyle.

Wes: Is that supposed to make me feel better? My boy always was weak.

That statement surprises Kyle as Wes pulls out his gun and aims it at Kyle.

Wes: Back up.

Kyle takes a few steps back and feels the knife under his foot then kicks it towards the bed.

Wes: Melanie. Open the door.

Melanie: Yes, sir.

Melanie unlatches the door and steps aside.

Wes: With the shitstorm you've caused, I'd should shoot you and toss you overboard to serve as an example to the other prisoners.

Wes walks into the cell and Kyle backs up to the wall.

Wes: But I'm very impressed and that's rare when someone impresses me. First you organize these idiot home people into fighting forces, and kill one of my Lieutenants and four of my best soldiers, including my son. Then you sneak onto my boat under the cover of an infected herd and kill two more of my soldiers? You're too much a prize to kill. I bring you back to San Francisco and it'll make this fuck up of a mission worth it. Someone with military experience and tactical thinking. Just the type of soldier I need.

Kyle: Look, if I'm the one you want, let the others go.

Wes: You're in no position to make demands, son. This is how things are going to be. You know, I never told you this, but I too, am a military man.

Wes goes and sits on the bed.

Wes: Before the apocalypse, the one thing that really pissed me off was waste. If my goddamn wife ever left a light on, I'd lose my cool. No matter how many times I ranted about the cost of electricity, she could never remember to flip that goddamn switch.

Kyle: So?

Wes: So I decided to let our power get cut. I'm a man with illustrations. I like to show that certain actions had consequences. No more movies. No lights. No more ice cream cake. Just me and my wife in a dark house....funny thing is; that's when the apocalypse started, too.

Kyle: Sounds like prick runs in the family. Is that the consequence? Is that you're an asshole?

Sarah smirks at this.

Wes: The consequence was the dumb bitch should've had left my goddamn lights on. As a husband and father, I had my faults, but I always showed my boy the effectiveness of teaching by example.

Kyle: Oh, please. Is this what this is? A fucking lesson? You gonna discipline me like you did Hunter?

Kyle takes a couple steps forward, but Tobin and Melanie raise their weapons at Kyle, who stops. Wes raises his hand at Melanie then lowers it, then gestures to Kyle to move over, so he does.

Wes: Let me tell you a story, Kyle. It's called the twins. A year ago, two girls were taken from their home, Berrington, and brought to a new place to live. They had to leave their friends and family behind and that was hard at first. It was a like a very sad bawler movie. Think Titanic. They could never let go.....but then this new place was a good place for the girls. The people there grew vegetables and raised farm stock, and ate well in the first time in years. They didn't have to do dangerous runs. They had hot showers. Clean clothes. Warm beds. They were given weapons and trained to use them if needed be. The people there showed kindness to the girls. All that was asked in return was tat they help protect the group. You see, this group was small, this place had a lot of enemies, killers and thieves, who wanted what they had. They needed help fighting, or they'd lose everything they've build. Their farm animals, their home, even their lives.

Kyle: Wonder if that's how the twins would say it.

Tobin scoffs.

Tobin: One of em would....

Wes: Tobin...

Wes clears his throat.

Wes: One of the girls saw that this was a place worth fighting for, and her tears dried up....but the other twin....she could never forget her old home. She rejected every opportunity, every gift and caused trouble every chance she got. She eventually convinced her sister to steal a raft and leave on the river, but of course, Tobin stopped them.

Kyle: Is that when you killed Colleen?

Wes: No....cause I didn't need to.

Wes looks at Melanie then back at Kyle, who looks over at Meanie with concern.

Wes: What happened then, Melanie? What did you do that was very hard? But made me so proud, cause you got it.

Melanie sheds a tear, but then glares at Kyle.

Melanie: I slit her throat. I killed her.

Everyone gasps at this.

Chloe: No...

Sylvester: Shit!

Sarah: How could you do that?!

Peter: What the fuck?!

Samantha: Is that true?! You killed your own sister?!

Wes laughs.

Wes: Yes, she did....and tell him why you killed your own flesh and blood.

Melanie: Because she was fucking with my head....

Wes: and?

Melanie: I was sorry. I needed to show my loyalty to the place I called my home.

Wes: Like it or not, you're one of my people now, Kyle. The question is, which twin are you going to be? The smart, loyal twin? Or the stupid dead twin?

Peter: You...you brainwashed her!

Peter hits his fist against the door.

Sarah: You people are fucking sick!

Tobin walks up to the door.

Tobin: Y'all better back away from that fuckin door now!

Kyle: Go to hell.

Wes sighs.

Wes: Jesus Christ.

Wes stands up and then calls out to Tobin.

Wes: Pull Peter out of the cell.

Tobin opens the door.

Wes: Since you all clearly didn't get the main picture of the story, I'll have to educate you all.

Tobin pulls out his blade as Sarah steps in front of Peter.

Sarah: Leave him alone!

Tobin scoffs, then punches Sarah in the jaw, knocking her down.

Tobin: Better learn your place, bitch, or you gonna be in a world of hurt.

Tobin grabs Peter, who lets out a scream as he pulls him out of the cell and slams him down on the ground. Kyle tries to run to Peter, but Wes backhands him with his pistol, knocking him down, before Wes aims his gun at him while he's on the ground, making him stop. Kyle looks at Wes then over to Peter as Tobin looms over him and holds his head down, pushing it to the floor.

Peter: Get the fuck off me, asshole!

Peter tries to squirm his way out of his grip.

Tobin: Easy, boy. Stay still.

Peter: Let me go! Kyle...!

Peter looks up at Kyle in fear while Tobin prepares to cut Peter's ear off.

Tobin: Come on, man. It's just an ear. Don't make this hurt more than it has to. Come on, son....Just breathe and it'll be quick.

Kyle looks to see Sarah slowly walking up to Tobin.

Sarah: I said leave him alone!

Sarah jumps onto Tobin's back and latches her teeth on his ear. He screams in pain and shoves Sarah off of him, making her hit the floor.

Kyle: Sarah!

Sarah sits up and spits out a piece of ear she bit.

Tobin: Goddammit! Fuck, that hurt!

Tobin places his hand on his bleeding ear then turns to Sarah. Tobin growls.

Tobin: You fucking cunt!

Tobin kicks Sarah in the face.

Kyle: No! STOP!

Tobin turns to Kyle as Sarah rolls on her back and kicks Tobin the groin, causing him to fall on his knees. Tobin then turns around and gets up and stands over Sarah, his knife raised.

Wes: That's enough.

Tobin: She bit and kicked me!

Wes: I said that's enough, Tobin!

Tobin stands over to the side of Peter, grabs his jacket and drags him into the cell and tosses him. Tobin then points at Sarah.

Tobin: You fuckin lucky....

Sarah groans as she rolls over to Peter, who helps him sit up. Sarah yells to Wes.

Sarah: You seriously don't know who were are, do you?! The type of people we are. People like us have killed people like you!

Sarah stands up.

Sarah: We'll kill you, you hear me?!

Wes turns to Sarah and walks to him as Melanie aims her bow at Kyle.

Wes: You think you can kill me, sweetheart?

Sarah: I've killed men like you! Made them beg for their lives!

Wes: You sure have a lot of backbone.

Wes looks at Sarah.

Wes: You look like you have seen a lot.....especially with that scar.

Wes looks at Sarah, impressed.

Wes: You know; you must make a great soldier. After all, you're married to one.

Kyle's eyes widen in fear.

Kyle: You leave her be. This is between you and me, Wes.

Wes: I see your husband seems to care a lot about you.

Wes looks Sarah over.

Wes: Why don't you and me have a chat? Just us.

Wes grabs Sarah's arm and drags her out of the cell.

Kyle: Wes, if you hurt her, I swear to God! I'll fucking kill you!

Kyle runs to his cell door, but Melanie hits him in the stomach with the butt of her crossbow, then shuts the cell door. Kyle gets up.

Kyle: Wes! You leave her alone!

Sarah: Kyle!

Wes drags Sarah away. Tobin speaks to Wes.

Tobin: Wes, her?! You can't be serious!

Wes: Maybe I am! If she'll play ball, maybe they will, too!

Kyle: No! Please!

Kyle looks through the doors.

Wes: Melanie, you stay here and watch them.

Kyle: Wes, don't!

Wes speaks into his radio.

Wes: Orion, get this thing moving. I want to be far away from here. We're done.

Orion: Yes, sir. I'll start up the boiler.

Wes and Tobin drag Sarah away as Kyle's eyes widen in fear. Outside the boat, Alicia and Anna are sneaking away when suddenly, there is a spotlight.

Anna: Alicia, wait!

Too late, Alicia runs into the spotlight and is caught by Leanne, Georgette and Gorman while Anna manages to back away into cover.

Leanne: Hey, trespasser!

The three raiders aim their weapons at Alicia.

Georgette: Hands up! Now!

Alicia raises her hands. Meanwhile, Rocky and Margaret still keep an eye out for the others. Chris, John and Caleb are with them.

Rocky: Damn it....What the hell's taking them so long?

Chris: They might have hit some trouble.

A noise is heard behind them as the five turn their guns to see Shawn, James, Cassandra, Rachel and Abigail.

Shawn: Hey! Hey! It's just us!

The five lower their weapons.

Caleb: What the hell are you all doing here?

James: We came here to help.

Cassandra: Yeah...we figured you guys could use the extra hand.

Rachel: Plus, we need to deal with Kyle. He almost had Hunter killed.

Caleb: Wait, what?

Shawn: Look, I'll explain later, but right now, we're here to help get the others out.

Margaret: Wait...you said almost had Hunter killed? Where is Hunter, then?

Back on the boat, Kyle glares at Melanie.

Kyle: You're a fucking coward, you know that?

Melanie: Shut up.

Kyle: You just killed your own goddamn sister for these people. Your own flesh and blood!

Melanie turns to Kyle.

Melanie: Don't you dare to try lecture me! This is the only way we live.

Peter: "The only way we live"?! After all these assholes have done, you're just doing to side with them?! Well, fuck you, Melanie!

Melanie turns to Peter, glaring.

Peter: Melanie....

Melanie: Fuck off, Peter!

Peter: You killed Colleen! What the fuck?! These people are the ones who twisted your head with lies!

Melanie: Stop acting like you know what happened! You weren't there! It was a hard choice, but if I had to kill Colleen again, I'd do it again. These people are my family now and soon, you are going to be apart of it! Like it or not!

Melanie turns before a voice calls to her.

Hunter: Melanie?

Melanie turns to see Hunter on the other end.

Melanie: Hunter?

Kyle: Hunter?! What the hell?!

Melanie: But...I don't understand. I heard you were dead.

Hunter scoffs.

Hunter: Well, I'm not.

Hunter turns to Kyle's cell.

Hunter: I see you caught this asshole. You know he tried to have me killed....but I got away.

Melanie turns to Kyle, then back at Hunter.

Melanie: Yeah, thank God. This asshole's already caused so much damage.

Hunter: Tell me about it.

Melanie: How'd you get away?

Hunter: Believe it or not, I...I killed them.

Kyle's eyes widen.

Kyle: What?!

Hunter: Yeah, it so easy to kill them. I just grabbed their gun and shot all of them. I enjoyed it.

Melanie: Good, Hunter. You're learning....

Kyle shakes his head and puts it against the cell.

Kyle: Goddammit, James....

Hunter: Yeah, that's what he gets for trusting me.

Hunter looks around at the cells.

Hunter: Is this everyone?

Melanie: Yeah....

Hunter: Good....Hey...uh...Melanie, I'm sorry to ask this, but I need you to do something.

Melanie: What?

Hunter pulls out a pistol and aims it at Melanie.

Melanie: Hunter!

Hunter: Don't....please...just listen to me. I need you unlock all these cells and let these people out.

Melanie shakes her head in disbelief.

Melanie: Are you out of your mind?!

Hunter: No...I'm not. What my Dad and Tobin are doing here....this is wrong! These are human beings.

Melanie: You just said they tried to have you killed!

Hunter: They spared me! They let me go! Please, Melanie. I don't want to hurt you. Just let these people go.

As Hunter and Melanie argue, Kyle goes to the bed and picks up the knife, before he goes to chip at the door, but then Samantha grabs Kyle and shoves him away from the door.

Samantha: What the fuck are you doing?!

Kyle: What the fuck are you doing, Samantha?!

Samantha: You're going to get us all killed!

Samantha starts to raise her fist.

Kyle: Fuck this.

Kyle blocks it and shoves Samantha up against the wall, his arm against her.

Samantha: Fuck you!

Melanie turns to the noise as Hunter looks ahead.

Hunter: Kyle, you okay?!

Melanie raises her crossbow and hits Hunter in the face with the butt of her cross bow, causing Hunter to fall and drop the gun as it slides to the lower floor. The gun lands on the lower floor and lands on the ground, getting Orion's attention. Orion grabs the gun and looks up.

Orion: What the fuck?!

In the cell, Kyle glares at Samantha as he holds his arm against her throat, making her cough and choke. Melanie looks inside the cell.

Melanie: Hey! What the hell are you doing?! LET HER GO! STOP IT!

Melanie goes to unlatch the door, before Kyle punches Samantha in the face, knocking her down. Kyle then kicks the door open, knocking Melanie down, then prepares to unlock Peter's cell.

Peter: Kyle, behind you!

Kyle turns to see Melanie running at him with a knife.

Melanie: You're a fucking pest, Desipich!

Kyle blocks Melanie's arm and she kicks his leg, making him fall to the ground. Melanie topples on top of Kyle and the tip of the knife enters his chest. Kyle yelps at this.

Melanie: I won't let you get them all killed, you hear me?!

Kyle grabs both of Melanie's wrist and holds them up as best as he can. Hunter runs and grabs the crossbow.

Hunter: Melanie! Stop! Let him go! Don't make me do this!

Hunter aims the crossbow at Melanie until he hears a voice behind him.

Orion: Hunter! What the hell do you think you're doing, boy?!

Hunter: Orion?!

Panicked, Hunter turns around and fires the arrow through Orion's left eye as it pierces through the back of her head.

Hunter: Oh, god....n-no, no, no, no....I didn't mean to....I didn't mean to that.

Orion flops forward dead.

Melanie: Orion! What have you done?!

Taking advantage of Melanie being distracted, Kyle punches Melanie in the face, knocking her to the side, before Kyle gets up and bashes Melanie's head into the wall, and punches her across the face, this time knocking her out.

Kyle: Crazy bitch.

Hunter: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Hunter looks at Orion in shock as Kyle picks up the knife then looks over at Hunter. Kyle then walks up and grabs Hunter, forcing him against the wall.

Kyle: Where's my people?! Did you really kill them?!

Hunter: No! No, I didn't!

Kyle: Where are they, then?!

Hunter: They're outside the boat! Shawn, James, Cassandra, Rachel and Abigail!

Kyle: Wait, Rachel?! You got her involved in this?! Abigail, too?!

Hunter: She aimed a gun at Shawn, who was gonna kill me!

Kyle shakes his head, then looks back at Hunter.

Kyle: Why? Why help us? Against your father? 

Hunter: I want to make this right....I want to help...Please, trust me, Kyle.

After some hesitation, Kyle releases Hunter, who goes over and unlatches the cell for Sylvester and Chloe. Samantha walks out of the cell and looks at Kyle, who glares at her. Samantha then runs over to Melanie, before Kyle unlatches Peter's cell.

Kyle: Samantha, we have to go.

Samantha: NO!

Kyle: There's a goddamn bomb on the boat!

Samantha: Fuck you, there's a fucking bomb! Brigg is dead! You just...get the fuck out of here!

Kyle: Well, fuck you, then! Burn with the ship! I don't have time for this!

Chloe: We have to get the hell out of here. Now.

Kyle: Go. Get off the boat. I need to find Sarah.

Hunter: Your wife?! Where is she?!

Peter: Your Dad and Tobin took her.

Hunter: I'll go with you.

Kyle shakes his head.

Kyle: No, you help them. Get them back to our people!

Hunter: Kyle, please! You're my people now! I want to help you! I don't want anything to happen to any of you. My Dad's a monster and I want to help! I'm not going to let him take anymore people like this. Not Sarah! Not you! Not...just...never again!

Convinced, Kyle walks over to Orion's dead body and grabs her pistol, handing it to Hunter.

Kyle: Come on, then....

Sylvester: Hey, better see you on the other side, son.

Kyle and Hunter run out of the hall and up the stairs next to the doorway on the left. Both of them walk up the stairs but duck as they hear footsteps. Both of them look over to see it was Wes dragging Sarah, who is trying to get out of her grip. On the cliffside, Caleb looks at the deck from his binoculars.

Rocky: Caleb, what do you see?

Caleb: I see Wes and Tobin! They got Sarah!

Abigail then sees some smoke was billowing out.

Abigail: Uh-oh....they started the boiler.

John: Shit, they don't have long, then.

Meanwhile, Peter helps Sylvester and Chloe get out of the boat. On the deck, Sarah speaks to Wes.

Sarah: You obviously don't know my husband. He won't bend so easily like all these other pussies you've got with you.

Wes: That's what they all say, before they see what we have to offer.

Kyle and Hunter slowly walk towards Wes while they walk to one end of the boat.

Wes: I'll even make sure you share a room with Kyle and your kid.

Sarah: You're not taking her, too.

Gorman: Sir, we found one more sneaking over the docks.

Kyle and Hunter hide behind a large crate. Kyle and Hunter look over and see Gorman, Leanne and Georgette had Alicia.

Sarah: Alicia!

Kyle: Fuck.

Wes: Hello, Alicia, did you get lost?

Tobin: Sir, if she's out there, there's bound to be others.

Wes turns to Gorman, Georgette and Leanne, who Kyle notices has his Zeus Corps machete.

Wes: Spread out. No more surprises.

The three raiders make their way towards Kyle and Hunter, who duck and get behind a crate waiting for those two to walk away. Kyle and Hunter run up to another set of crates, to get a closer look at them.

Wes: Y'all must've thought y'all were slick, leading all those infected here. Or was that your husband's idea?

Tobin: You ain't got nothing to say, girl?

Sarah: You leave her be!

Kyle and Hunter go down another end.

Sarah: You know the difference between our groups; you force your ways onto others because you're scared. Because you're weak. That's why your son is dead, because of you!

Wes: I gave my boy and my people a cause to fight for.

Sarah: I've heard that from assholes like you before and they've all ended up dead.

Tobin: Wes, I know this woman and the thing about people like her, as that they're too fucking broken to fit into a community. They don't fight for anyone but themselves and their own. And this community folk ain't their own. They're Kyle Desipich's kind.

Wes: Well, shit....if that's true, then I guess we'll have to test that, then—

Wes aims her gun at Sarah.

Alicia: No!

Kyle: Wes!

Kyle runs up to Wes and Tobin, who grabs Sarah and aims his pistol at her head.

Tobin: Better put that fucking gun down or I'll blow her brains out!

Kyle: Careful, Tobin....Laura was the last person who had a gun to my wife's head and you heard what happened to her.

Wes: Bold of you, Desipich....but as you can see, we have an advantage...and it's just you with the gun.

Kyle scoffs.

Kyle: Is it?

At that, Hunter rushes up behind Kyle, aiming his gun at Wes, who's eyes widen.

Wes: Hunter? But, they said you were dead. He said they killed you.

Hunter: They didn't, Dad. This has to stop. This has to end. You're gonna let these two go.

Wes: Why would I do that? Because you're asking me?

Hunter: I'm not asking; I'm telling you. You let them go.

Wes laughs.

Wes: Look at you. You think you're all grown up because you finally got some balls? This is what it's come down to? You gonna turn against me and your own family?

Hunter: This isn't a family. It never was.

Wes laughs, then turns to Tobin.

Wes: Look at him, Tobin.

Tobin: The boy's all grown up....

Wes: Tell me something. While you were in that community, did they ever teach you to kill?

Hunter: No....but I killed Orion.

Wes: Oohh....you killed her, huh?

Wes shakes his head.

Wes: Is that what you are? You killed one of my people, so you think you're some bad-ass killer, huh? The fuck you plan on doing, Hunter? You gonna really kill me and Tobin before he can get a shot off at Sarah?

Hunter: No. Just you, you asshole.

Wes, amused, steps up to Hunter places his forward against his gun.

Wes: Go on and do it, then. Shoot me, then save this community. This community that ordered a hit on you....

After some hesitation, Hunter gives a confused look.

Kyle: Hunter! Shoot him!

Wes: He won't, Kyle. Because he's not like you....He's not a killer....he won't do it. Unless it's accidental.

Wes looks at Hunter with a smirk.

Wes: You can't do it, can you?

Wes then grabs the pistol and slowly taking it away.

Wes: You're not a killer, son. Here.

Wes then takes the pistol.

Wes: You know why you can't do it....because you're weak. You ain't nothing....you always will be nothing.

Wes laughs, but then suddenly, Hunter punches Wes in the face, then punches him twice again, before uppercutting him, knocking him down.

Tobin: You little motherfucker!

Tobin aims his pistol at Hunter, but then Sarah grabs his arm, bites his hand, causing him to drop the gun. Sarah elbows Tobin the gut, before backhanding him. Hunter tackles Wes into the lower deck, while Sarah then pushes Tobin off the edge onto the lower floor.

Kyle: Sarah!

Alicia: Kyle, look out!

Suddenly, Gorman, Leanne and Georgette arrive and open fire at Kyle, who takes cover. Alicia does the same thing. Sarah and Tobin recover, before Tobin stands up and picks up a knife. Sarah picks up a dropped knife, confronting Tobin.

Tobin: Your husband ain't here to save you this time, bitch. It's just you and me.

Tobin swipes at Sarah, who swipes back, cutting Tobin's shoulder, before the two engage in struggle. In the boiler, the bomb begins to react. Back in the fight, Hunter stands up and kicks Wes in the stomach.

Hunter: Get up!

Wes groans as he looks at the blood.

Hunter: Get up, you motherfucker!

Wes looks up and spits out blood.

Wes: Gotta say I'm impressed...I didn't you'd draw blood the first time you'd hit me....Ain't gonna help you, though.

Wes stands up then tackles Hunter to the wall, before punching him in the stomach. Wes then backfists Hunter, knocking him to the floor. Hunter turns on his back as Wes walks to over to him, but then Hunter kicks Wes in the groin, causing him to kneel, before he backhands Wes. The two then face each other, then run up to each other, grappling with Wes attempting to choke Hunter, who claws Wes's face.

Wes: You little shit!

On the deck, Kyle and Alicia continue taking cover from Gorman, Leanne and Georgette.

Georgette: Gorman! Get around him!

Gorman: Got it!

Gorman runs over, only to be shot in the head by Kyle. Gorman steps back and falls to overboard to his death.

Leanne: Gorman!

Georgette: You are fucking dead, asshole!

Leanne and Georgette continue opening fire as Kyle turns to Alicia.

Kyle: Go! Go!

Kyle and Alicia run from cover to the front of the boat. Meanwhile, Tobin disarms Sarah of her knife, but she then headbutts and punches Tobin. Sarah then wraps her arm around Tobin's neck as the two struggle. Wes rams Hunter into the wall and punches him twice.

Wes: I warned you what hitting me is gonna get you, boy!

Hunter: Fuck you!

Hunter knees Wes, then punches him in the face. On the deck, Leanne and Georgette look to each other as they search for Kyle and Alicia.

Leanne: Split up. They can't have gone far.

Leanne and Georgette separate to search for Kyle and Alicia. Alicia hides behind a box of crates. The two raiders continue searching until Leanne spots Alicia from afar. She then aims her rifle at Alicia, but is grabbed by Kyle from behind, causing her to drop her rifle. The two struggle as Kyle grabs his Zeus Corps machete and activates, pressing his blade into Leanne's neck.

Kyle: This is mine!

After slicing her throat, Kyle tosses Leanne into the shadows in between the crates and hacks into her multiple times, splattering blood on him. After killing Leanne, Kyle steps back, whipping his forehead, before he hears a gun cock. He looks to the side to see Georgette aiming her rifle at him.

Georgette: You motherfucker. I'm gonna—

Alicia: Hey!

Suddenly, Georgette turns and is met with knife to the chest by Alicia, who gives a shocked look at what she has done. Alicia then gets on top of Georgette and repeatedly stabs her to death. Kyle then grabs Alicia's arm.

Kyle: Alicia! Hey, Alicia! She's dead!

Alicia then stops before she looks up at Kyle.

Suddenly, a loud boom is heard and the boat starts to shake.

Kyle: Shit, the bomb!

An explosion happens, splitting up the boat.

Kyle: Alicia! Jump! Get off the boat!

Alicia jumps off the boat and into the water, before Kyle runs off. Back at the knife fight, Sarah and Tobin continue attacking each other, before an explosion knocks Sarah and Tobin off. Tobin to the lower floor above Sarah as she hangs onto the railing. Tobin looks up and swipes at Sarah's feet.

Tobin: You know what Sarah the thing that was gonna give me comfort was hoping you, your husband and your friends were dead! I thought that for years...but then you showed up a few weeks ago...it's like one of my worst nightmares come true, but my biggest dream is about to come true when I'm actually glad God kept you alive this long, because I get to kill you!

Sarah: Fuck you!

Alicia swims to shore as Shawn, James, Cassandra, Caleb, Rocky, John, Margaret, Chris, Abigail, Rachel, Peter, Anna, Sylvester and Chloe all run up to her.

Margaret: Alicia, you okay?!

Alicia: Yeah!

Rachel: Where's Kyle, Sarah and Hunter?!

Alicia: They're still on the boat!

James: What?!

On the boat, Sarah is losing her grip as the boat begins to tilt, while Hunter and Wes still fight. Kyle is having trouble keeping his footing.

Tobin: This is it, bitch. You die here, by my hand.

As Sarah attempts to hold on, she sees a knife sliding to her as the boat is still tilting. Sarah then looks at Tobin, then back at the knife. Sarah grabs a hold of the knife, then back at Tobin.

Sarah: You want me, Tobin. You got me.

Sarah then releases her grip and falls, allowing Tobin to stab her on the side of her stomach. Sarah groans.

Tobin: Got you, bitch!

Tobin laughs.

Sarah then stabs Tobin in the mouth, causing him to spit up blood. Sarah then takes the knife out and repeatedly stabs Tobin the chest, before she looms over him as he coughs up blood.

Sarah: Got you, bitch.

Sarah then stabs Tobin in the head, right between his eyes. She then pulls the knife out of Tobin's head and takes a few steps back, before Tobin falls over dead. Back in the fight, Hunter tackles Wes to the floor, repeatedly punching him in the face.

Hunter: You were my father and all you did was treat me like shit! You tried to make me scared of you! I'm not fucking scared of you! You're weak! You always were!

Hunter then begins to choke Wes, anger filling his chest, but then suddenly, begins to realize he cannot do it. Hunter stand up and looks down at his beaten father, before he spits.

Hunter: You don't scare me, anymore....I'm done with you.

Hunter then begins to walk away, before Wes looks over and grabs a shard, walking towards Hunter and raising it.

Wes: You weak piece of shit!

Hunter turns and gives a frightened gasp, but before Wes can stab Hunter, he is suddenly shot in the stomach and chest, causing him to fall to his knees. Wes clutches his wounds just as Hunter turns to see Kyle, who walks up to the wounded Wes.

Sarah: Kyle!

Sarah runs in and is surprised.

Kyle: Sarah...get the boy out of here. I won't be long.

Sarah nods, then grabs Hunter.

Sarah: Come on, honey....

Sarah begins to take Hunter away, just as Wes calls to him.

Wes: Hunter....I'm still your father, boy....you hear me?!

Hunter shakes his head and dismisses his statement, before leaving with Sarah. Wes then looks up at Kyle, who has a gun in his hand. Wes then raises his left hand.

Wes: Wait! Wait, son! Look, just stop! We can talk about this! If you spare me....I will go and never come back. You have my word. Just let me go and I promise you you'll never see me again.

Kyle looks at him to think for a moment, before looking back towards Wes.

Kyle: Liar.

Wes gasps in fright.

Kyle: You'd just come back for us.

Kyle then executes Wes by shooting him in the head. Hunter briefly jumps at the gunshot as Wes falls over dead. Kyle then rushes up to the deck and rejoins Sarah and Hunter.

Hunter: Did you....?

Kyle nods, confirming he has killed Wes.

Sarah: Come on! We gotta go!

Kyle, Sarah and Wes then rush to the front of the boat, then jump off into the water. The ship explodes and starts to tumble.

Shawn: Get back! Back!

The survivors and rescued Berrington residents back away, before Kyle, Sarah and Hunter run for their lives as the ship crashes down, making the three face-forward to the ground. Kyle coughs and raises his head and shakes it. He then looks up to find a gun aimed at him and the end of the gun; Melanie, who is angry.

Melanie: You...You destroyed everything.

Before Melanie can pull the trigger, she is suddenly bitten on the cheek by an infected, causing her to drop her gun. Melanie shoots the infected in the head as Kyle grabs a nearby knife, but before Melanie can shoot Kyle, he stabs her in the chest. Melanie, fatally wounded and in shock, drops the pistol and kneels to the ground, clutching her chest.

Kyle: For your sister, bitch...

Melanie falls over, seemingly dead. Sarah and Hunter run over as Sarah hugs Kyle.

Sarah: You okay?

Kyle: Yeah...

Kyle turns to see Hunter.

Kyle: Thank you, Hunter.

Hunter nods.

Samantha: Get the fuck off me!

All three of them turn to see Samantha on a shoreline and was struggling with an infected that has ahold of her foot.

Kyle: Samantha!

Kyle runs over and shoots the infected in the head. Samantha then starts to crawl away as he runs up to her. Kyle offers a hand as he helps Samantha up. Kyle, Sarah, Samantha and Hunter regroup with Shawn, James, Cassandra, Rachel, Caleb, Chris, Abigail, John, Alicia, Peter, Rocky, Margaret, Sylvester and Chloe over towards another part of the beach.

Sylvester: Oh, thank God!

Chloe: You guys made it!

Rachel: That's a shitload of infected.

Caleb: And more coming by the fucking minute!

Sarah: Everyone stay cool, we knew this was gonna happen.

James: We just need a way off this beach.

James looks around until he sees a truck with a cart along with Anna.

James: Look, it's Anna! She brought the cart around! We can get home from there!

Sylvester: Anna!

Anna shoots a few infected.

Anna: Come on! We're getting the hell out of here!

Rocky: We gotta make a break for it! Now! Everyone run for the cart! I'll stay behind and cover you.

Margaret: I will, too! Just go!

Kyle: You two sure?!

Margaret: Yeah, the second we see an opening, I'll make a break for it.

Sylvester and Chloe stand up and make their way.

Samantha: Kyle? The shit I said on the boat, in the cell, I, I didn't..

Kyle places a hand on her shoulder.

Kyle: Later, Samantha....

Peter: Come on.

Peter and Samantha stare to make their way over a large crate.

Kyle: Alright...let's go.

Rocky and Margaret fire at a few infected, before Shawn, James, Abigail and Hunter rush up next to the pair.

Rocky: The hell you guys doin?!

Shawn: Can't be just you two!

Abigail: We'll help you out!

Rocky tilts his head as the six fire on the infected, giving everyone else an opening. Kyle, Sarah, Cassandra, Caleb, Rachel, Alicia, John, Chris, Peter, Sylvester and Chloe make it over to Anna. Peter turns and raises his arms, signaling the five.

Peter: Come on! Let's go!

Suddenly, another explosion occurs as the top of the boat falls, separating the six from the others.

Caleb: Guys!

Kyle: No!

Cassandra: James!

Anna looks around to see infected closing in.

Anna: Guys, we have to move! Now!

Rachel: Hunter! Abigail!

Kyle: Rachel! Come on!

Kyle, Sarah, Rachel, Cassandra, Caleb, John, Chris, Peter, Sylvester, Alicia, Chloe and Anna all jam into the truck and take off. Shawn, James, Abigail, Hunter, Rocky and Margaret look around to see they were getting surrounded.

James: We're almost out of ammo!

Hunter: Come on! This way!

Rocky: Go!

Margaret: We'll give you cover!

Hunter sprints and runs over with James following behind. Hunter and James climb over the large pile of rocks and look back at Shawn and Abigail.

James: Shawn!

Shawn: Fuck!

Before Rocky and Margaret can give Shawn and Abigail support, they are surrounded by infected.

Margaret: Shit!

Rocky: Shawn, Abigail, get the fuck out of there!

The pair run off.

James: Shawn!

Hunter: James, behind you!

James turns and is attacked by an infected, but Hunter manages to stab it in the head.

Shawn: James! Hunter! Get out of here!

Abigail: There's too many of them!

Shawn pulls out his machete and slices through several infected.

James: What about you?! You're trapped!

Shawn: We'll make it! Just fucking go!

James: No!

James is about to rush back, but Hunter grabs his arm and starts yanking him away.

Hunter: James!

Shawn: That's my brother out there!

Hunter: James, please! Come on!

Shawn: James, listen to me! I'll meet you back in Berrington! I promise! Get the boy out of here! Now!

James eyes tear up as he looks pleadingly in Shawn's eyes, begging him to change his mind. When his gaze remains firm, James sighs in compliance and stops struggling, before turning to Hunter.

James: Come on, Hunter! Come on!

Abigail: Shawn, we gotta fucking move!

Shawn and Abigail goes another way while James and Hunter go another.

More Chapters