District 6/District 2, Old Texas.
Present time.
I banged on the doors to agitate all the blues, then I quietly slipped outta there. Sure enough, those idiots waited outside for a bit thinking I was gonna kill the blues then give them a free pass. They were in for a treat.
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[boom!!]
Hallelujah, they came in with a bang. Kicking the door open was even louder than the noise I made. I'm sure everyone knows what accompanies noise. They were caught off guard as the zombies launched onto them. Meanwhile I was watching 'n grinning from where I was. As they were struggling with my gift, I slipped away to make use of the back. As I was doing that, I stepped on something. It definitely wasn't a body… it felt like iron… wait, is it? – A Grappling HOOK??!! Yes, it was!! It felt as if God himself was on my side. That grappling hook would definitely come in handy. Afterall, it was the technology of the hook that got me in this stupid mess. Thankfully my plan worked, and the back was expectedly blues free. We all know the reason… Hehe. So, it looked like I'd gotten rid of all my tails. But still something felt really off.
Something felt real off 'cause, 1. Where the fuck is my partner??? 2. Why haven' t I run into my former division buddies yet?? Could it be Dan was holding them off?? No, Ezekiel would really kill him if he did that. But first things first. Where was Bella? I couldn't stop thinking until I got to Andrews. I expected to find her there. We decided earlier on that if we ever got separated, we'll meet back at Andrews (district 2). But getting there, no bells. Talk about the worst time to go missing. I had to go search for her. Yes, start going back towards district 6. I couldn't have cared less if it was any other rando, but Bella was kinda my ride, and that ride was allegedly in the hands of Ezekiel right now. I have to rescue her, even if it's the last thing I do. But life always had a way of smacking me on the ass. Why? Because right then, I heard a familiar voice.
"Miss Juliet. Hello. I've been instructed to bring you back to camp. Please do not make this harder than it already is."
No doubt… I've just been fucked in all directions. Standing there with the moonlight illuminating half of his face, holding the head of a blue to ward off other blues while wearing a dark blood-stained jacket… spoke with few words but filled with intention... It was no other than RICHARD, the second in command of the 2nd division.
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SOMETIME AGO.
I, Daniel, and Johnnie were playing cards on the field when Bella wanted to join us. We had already kicked off the game so we playfully shooed her. While sitting and watching us play, she noticed Richard sitting on his own at quite a distance, staring at the wall. Struck with curiosity, Bella started asking questions.
"Hey Dan, why don't you and Richie play as much as you do with the rest of us?" Bella asked Dan, who was playing cards with the I and Johnnie.
Daniel dropped his cards and heaved a heavy sigh. "No reason. I'd really love for Richard to join us but... let's say his demons are latched onto him like a chain."
"Yeah, dude's got lots of walls. plus, his condition." Johnnie added.
"What condition?" I asked
"Well that's not my secret to tell… but maybe give me a bonus and I'll tell." Johnnie teased.
I and dan gave him a disgusted look. "For the 100,000th time, you aren't getting in my pants."
"Your loss."
"Autism. Given how he's always coordinated and the way he speaks, he was born into a rich home. All I'm sure of is that he killed his folks to stay alive." Daniel said amidst John's protests of disapproval.
"Fuuuuckkkk….." I said in shock.
"Yeah, that's what broke him more. He's a really good guy, but he's a real stickler for the rules, like a damn robot. I remember when he landed here, he really didn't know how to shoot a gun. Then 'P' taught him… in a week he was giving headshots to walkers back to back. Just like me, he would have been in the 1st div if he wasn't such a loner. Thing is, once he sets his mind to do something, he would do all in his power to complete that task. That's what makes him valuable and also very dangerous. So, if he sets his mind to either catch you, or kill you, then you know you're dead."
" So he's basically a robot…" Bella droned.
" yeah, but is he really that good, like all our raids, I haven't really seen his superman side…" I said smugly.
"Then pray you don't. 'Cause I have. Only knocking him out or killing him can make him stop."
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I started backing away slowly. Even though I was trembling, I still had my brains to use. Maybe a little trick would work.
"Um Richie… Look, this is all a misunderstanding. I really didn't do anything. I have been fram-"
[PEWW!!]
That shot caught me off-guard.
'A silenced gun!! He's without night goggles, yet he aimed perfectly! Carefully avoiding my foot, he shot the ground to give me a warning to stop moving. I really don't have time for this.'
Richard lowered his gun. "Miss Juliet, I have been instructed to bring you in. Please do not make this harder than it already is."
Damn you and that robotic tone… I thought to myself.
"How did you find me?? I'm definitely past everyone."
Richie frowned, "Weren't you just turning back?"
"Yes, but-"
"I followed you. Ezekiel specifically put me on your tail. I was intrigued by your skill in sneaking past the others but I knew Andrews was where you'll let your guard down so I decided to wait till you got here."
"Wait, how did you– How long have you been following me?"
"You are more formidable than Miss Dhawan. That's all"
Till this day, I can't say if that's an insult or a compliment. Standing there I admitted that the situation was daring, but I wasn't going to let this ROBOT block my way. I'll just trick him like the others and slip past... thank God there are a lot of debris here. or so I thought.
"Tch… Look Richie, I know we're friends and all, so I really don't wanna hurt you." I said smugly.
"They said to bring you in, but they didn't specify what state I should bring you in." Richard said, reloading his gun."
I pulled out my knife. "Alright, hard way then…"
"Miss Juliet, I really don't want to do this… but-"
"Stop your yapping and come at me" I beckoned.
I started walking towards him, but he just stood, looking at me intently. Noticing this, I stopped, returning the gesture. Then he said;
"Miss Juliet, your six."
I immediately turned to see a blue whose legs were cut off creeping towards me. Filled with disgust, I drove my knife into its skull. Standing back up to continue my fight, Richard was in thin air. But the car he was standing close to previously had its driver's door open, which was new.
Where did this bastard take off to? I asked myself as I moved towards the car to check out what Houdini trick he was playing on me. As I got close, i noticed he wasn't in the car. No trap wires set either. Just a door left ajar. I giggled. 'Is this the superman act?? Honestly I'm disappointed.' I tucked in my knife and made to close the door. As soon as I touched the door, I heard a soft sound–like a silenced gun.
[PEWW!!]
Like an animal instinct, I left the door, turned at a set speed while pulling out my only weapon, my knife. But it was too late. I let my guard down, and he got my ass. Real good. The bullet bounced off the rusty street-light stand then hit the car door which I left open then my legs. I don't know why, but that shit, hurt like hell. 'A damn ricochet??? Fuck you, Richie.' I said to myself as I sat reduced myself to the ground to nurse my wound. Almost immediately I felt his silencer on my head.
"Ready to surrender now, miss?"
I was feeling really shitty at that moment. My friend was nowhere to be found, I've been shot like thrice, i was tired, hungry, probably dying, and yet I couldn't even tackle my own teammate in my game. Then for the first time in five years, I started crying.
"Waaaahhhh!!! Why is this happening to meeee???!! I just wanted to live a quiet life. But no. Now I want to find my friend, but you too are getting in my way. Why am I so fucked up????!!! WAAAHHHHH!!"
Richard pressed his gun harder on my head. "Hey, Miss Juliet, For Your Information, I saw you pull a similar trick on master Pedro of the first division. Just a note of warning, if you try to pull a similar trick here, you might end up dead. So, I urge you to just stand up, and let's go." he pressed.
I stopped crying and sniffed. "Does it look like I'm playing games here? I was really about to go back to look for Bella. But you decided to show up and put a bullet in my leg."
"That was just a warning shot. As for Miss Dhawan, I do not know. I was following you, not her. But if I'm to guess, the 3rd division got her."
"See, that's why I wanted to go back."
"So in other words, you stopped trying to escape?"
"Suprise."
With his gun still against my head, he brought out cuffs from his pocket and tossed it on me.
"Cuff yourself. Stand slowly. Cooperate and I'll help you look for Miss Dhawan."
There was no point fighting anymore, so obediently, I did as I was told. If he was going to help me find Bella, that was enough for me. As I stood, he took bandages from his side bag and covered my injuries, all of them. He tossed the clothes I used to cover them previously. He then took off his jacket and gave it to me, saying I was 'naked' and I needed to cover up. A true gentleman indeed. Done with his gentleman conquest, he started leading me back. While walking I started looking at the night sky, I started asking myself, is this the end for me? Then out of the blue, the unexpected happened. Richard fell asleep.