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Dead Men Walking
Topic Started: Nov 28 2014, 02:20 AM (71,033 Views)
Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
After finishing her 'business' behind a tree, feeling like a bear all the while, Glenda made her way back to the bar. She still felt weighed down. Eli's words had struck a chord with her, that they were all in this together. But it didn't feel like any of her own personal guilt was absolved as a result of it. It was still there, eating away at her. And the moment she had to face Randall and tell him exactly what had happened was one that she was dreading. She had told Eli she was going to do it, but she still didn't know how.

She climbed the truck to toss the roll of toilet paper back into it. She must have been fixated on finding the toilet paper real bad last time she was here because her eyes fell upon something she had missed before. It was a piece of paper tucked underneath a two-way radio. When did they pick up a two-way radio? She leaned over and gingerly picked up both items, unfolding the piece of paper in one hand.

Her eyes widened at the single line that was scrawled roughly on the paper.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE. I'LL BE IN TOUCH.

**********

"I think..." Willow paused for a moment. "I thiiiiiiink I would like that. Aaaaa lot."

Willow broke the hug and tried to make eye contact with him. She pointed a finger to his chest.

"Undeeeer one contin... condrin... condishun... One! You giff me like... liiiike an hooour or somethiiin', cause I was gonna kissh you, but if I do it now..." She put her other finger near her lips. "It will tashte like barf... an' I dun think you wanthat..."

**********

Glenda came back into the bar, holding the radio and the note. She didn't say anything to anyone; in fact she hardly noticed them. Most of those remaining in the group were doing what they could, and she didn't see any of them. She tunnel-visioned her way past all of them, up the stairs, and directly back to Eli.

"Here." She handed her cargo to Eli with a stern face. "This was in the truck."

It's meaning was obvious to her, but she wanted to know what Eli thought of it first. She wanted someone to confirm her suspicions.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Eli accepted the note and walkie-talkie in surprise. When he looked down at what it said, it was like a starting pistol had gone off in his chest, and his heart started racing.

He looked back up into Glenda’s eyes. His own revealed a volatile mixture between excitement and alarm.

“Holy shit,” he said, and was otherwise at a loss for words.

His mind struggled to catch up with his heart as it sorted through what the two-way radio meant, who could have left it, and why. It got off track, though, when Eli heard a moan behind him.

Even more alarmed, Eli spun around again. His hand instinctively went for his belt, but he stopped when he realized it wasn't the call of a rotter. It was something almost more worrying.

Randall was awake.

* * *

Emmett Mitchell was still and focused, like usual, as he stared through the lens of the binoculars. He watched as the stragglers of the horde limped along into the sunrise. He kept watching until he was absolutely sure they were gone.

Finally, when the last remnants of the roamer horde disappeared from his view, he lowered the device and folded it together. In its compact form, he placed it in one of the pockets of his leather jacket. Now he could resume what he had come all this way to do. First, though, he finished seeing to his food – a plastic cup of apple sauce, like you’d pack for lunch at school or work. It came with a plastic spoon, which he used to wolf the rest of it down before dropping it all onto the grass.

A couple months ago, he would have gotten angry if he saw someone doing the same thing. He might have even said something, and if it was a man, and he was an asshole to him back, he might have even put him down.

In a world without garbage collection, though, there was no reason to care. Anywhere that someone wasn’t living was as good as a trashcan.

He lingered on that cheerless thought as he returned to the cab of his new trailer, where his hefty backpack waited on the passenger’s seat. It was black and orange, and ergonomically adjusted to fit his frame. It was designed for motorcycling, and a possession of his since even before the outbreak. He opened up one of the compartments and retrieved some more of the packed lunch food he had stocked up on.

Finally, he returned to the back of the trailer, and opened it for the first time since they parked there. That time, he had his SMG in his hands, and asked them nicely to hand over their weapons. They complied quickly enough, and after collecting the older Asian one’s kukri and the younger one’s knife, he left them alone in the darkness once again.

This time, he was armed only with the food in his hands. Just as soon as he revealed the morning light to them, he slid it all over – two apple juice boxes with the plastic straws attached, and two snack packs with bread and cheese for dipping. He offered them without comment. They would either eat or they wouldn’t. That was their choice.

“There’s a man in your group,” he started talking without further ceremony or introduction. “Bald. Hispanic. What’s his name?”
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Is that so?
As he pushed himself to a sitting position, Randall was glad to find his strength already starting to return. He still felt like shit, but less like shit than he had last time he was awake. This time, he was able to sit up without toppling back down onto the bed. If nothing else, he could consider this an improvement. He cracked his neck and back and rolled his shoulders, constantly aware of the burning pain in his arm.

There wasn't any time to waste crying or feeling sorry for himself. In fact, he didn't feel sorry for himself at all. It was the price he paid for carelessness. He would sacrifice his hand any day of the week if it meant more time with his daughter. He remembered he still had a promise to keep with Elaine.

"Well..." Glenda started uncomfortably.

"I know about Kelsey and Julie." Randall narrowed his eyes and lifted up his remaining hand. "I was fading in and out a lot so I caught the gist of it while you were practicing breaking the news to me, Glenda."

Glenda shifted uncomfortably at the revelation, but did not respond.

"What happened is nobody's fault. But somebody will be held accountable for it. And when we find them..."

If Randall was capable of a malicious smile, he was baring it right now. He was darker now than he had been before.

"This has been a very shitty day. He will be the perfect target for my frustrations."
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Julie hesitated in replying to her kidnapper. He could have hurt her, but she wouldn't talk so easily. It wouldn't take him long to figure out all he had to do was hurt Kelsey to assure her compliance though. So she answered without emotion.

"Eli."
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Is that so?
Kelsey narrowed her eyes at the large man as Julie gave him the name he was looking for. He did not like this man.

"You should probably let us go." Kelsey told him bluntly. "My dad is going to be really mad when he finds you."
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Emmett looked from the older girl to the younger one. He didn’t outwardly react to her provocation, but his brown eyes fixed on her several long moments. In at least one of those moments, those eyes betrayed an almost imperceptible hint of anguish, before glazing over into a dispassionate stare.

“What’s your name?” he asked softly, breaking an uncomfortable silence.
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Is that so?
"Kelsey."

She told him her name flatly. She had been tempted to ask him why he cared, but she was curious to see where he went with this line of questioning. Maybe she could gleam something of his motivation from him.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Kelsey. Emmett rolled the name around his brain for a second. Okay.

He turned back to the older Asian girl, then pointed a gloved finger over her shoulder. “I need my bike. Roll it over.”

He stood there patiently, waiting for her to do as he asked. Thankfully, she seemed to recognise the precariousness of her situation, and did as he asked. When the motorcycle was on solid ground again, Emmett looked back to his captives once more.

“Thank you,” he said simply, then closed the door on them for the third time.

* * *

Eli was impressed with Randall’s waking words. He could only hope that if he was under similar strain, he would react as cogently and as bravely. The smile was kind of unnerving, but Eli couldn’t even begin to judge him for it.

“And we’re gonna find him,” Eli said, not bothering with any apologies or other consolations. Randall didn’t seem to be in the mood for that. “Whoever it is left a note. He’s about to find out that he’s fucking with the wrong–"

Eli cut himself off when he heard a sudden beep, and then a crackle of static. Then a deep voice came from the transceiver in his hand. It caused Eli to jump back, startled.

“Is anyone there still alive?”

It was a man’s voice, and it came through the device remarkably clear. Clear enough that Eli could tell the question was posed completely without emotion.

Eli offered searching looks to the others in the room. He didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t know if he was even the one that should do the responding.
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Is that so?
Randall snatched the radio out of Eli's hands. He didn't really know what was going on with the radio; but he was fairly sure it had something to do with Kelsey.

"Who is this?"
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
There was another beep, then the voice started up again.

“You know who this is.”

Again, the radio beeped, indicating the message was over. Eli blinked in surprise, then quickly grabbed Randall’s left hand, stopping him from pressing down and responding again.

“I’ll get Brandon, hold on,” he said, before pivoting and darting out of the room.

His energy had been renewed by this development and he stormed down the stairs loudly. When he reached the bottom, he addressed Maxwell, ignoring the half-conscious Jeff.

“Where’s Brandon?”

He didn't wait for an answer.

“Brandon!” he called out. “The asshole who took the girls left a walkie talkie in the truck! He just reached out!”
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Brandon had located a first aid kit a small office behind the bar and was badaging his cut knuckles when Eli called out to him. He dropped the kit instantly and made his way towards Eli. The kidnapper had reached out? How? A stupid question, why did that matter?

Eli beckoned him upstairs when he got sight of him and Brandon leaped after him sometimes three steps at a time. His wound complained at the exertion. Brandon entered the room to see tgat Randall was awake and seemingly not waning, he felt a thrill of hopefulness at that. He had a radio in his hand, Brandon wondered where it came from briefly before getting his head in the game. He gave a gesture prompting Randall to continue.
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Is that so?
Randall nodded to Brandon silently as he entered the room. He didn't much feel like extending pleasantries right now and he was sure Brandon understood.

"Alright." Randall tensely pressed the button on the radio. "What do you want?"
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
As Eli waited for the mysterious man’s response, he felt an anger boiling within him. It took him a minute to understand why.

In the thrill of discovering a connection to the girls – or their kidnapper, at least – it hadn’t even occurred to Eli to be mad about the time he and Brandon wasted, or the massive threat they had exposed themselves to in the warehouse. That was the closest he had ever come to being rotter grub, and now he realized he had done it for no reason.

For a brief moment, he was frustrated at Glenda for not checking the truck sooner. Then he was frustrated at himself for not checking it either. Quickly, though, he directed his resentment to the person who really deserved it – the motherfucker at the other end of this radio.

The sound of a beep brought Eli back to reality.

“I want Eli,” the voice said.

Eli flinched like he’d been hit. He didn’t see that coming even a little bit. How did this guy know his name, and why would he single him out?

”There’s a grocery store directly south of your position. Bring Eli. Come unarmed. I’ll be waiting.”

There was another beep, and the message ended.
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Is that so?
"He wants Eli?" Glenda was visibly taken aback by the odd request.

The request made Randall furl his brow. Out of everything they had, he wanted... Eli? Why Eli?

Whoever he was, Randall was certainly still pissed at him. He had made up his mind that he was going to shoot him for kidnapping his daughter. And that was only if he hadn't touched her. The consequences would be far worse for him if he had. But at least now they knew where he was.

"Eli...? Do you know this guy?"

He didn't sound suspicious of him, Eli had done more than enough to earn Randall's trust. But he concluded there must be some sort of history here. There had to be!

**********

Washing her mouth in a toilet bowl and drinking out of the tank was not something Willow could ever see herself doing. Even after the pandemic that swept the world, it was something she didn't see herself doing unless it was absolutely necessary. Yet here she was; she needed a lot of cold water and the toilet was delivering. After hugging Brandon, he had dismissed himself to bandage his hand while he gave her the hour she wanted and she intended to use it.

The cold water was helping to sober her up a little bit. It made her mind a little sharper and brought her senses back, and, if she consciously tried hard, she could even pronounce her words properly. While her body was still moving a little sluggishly and her stomach was uneasy, at least her mind was a little sharper. Sharp enough to know was going to regret the choices that led to this after she woke up.

Thank god I threw up... otherwise I would really feel like shit right now. She pondered as she looked herself in the mirror and dried her face off with the sleeve of her jacket.

She hadn't even drank that much... she was just an inexperienced lightweight. But nobody had to know that.

**********

Maxwell only took a few drinks to take the edge off. Unlike Jeff and Willow, he was clearly aware of his limits and adhered strictly to them. Too much inebriation was reckless and life threatening in a world where shit could hit the fan at any moment. In fact, he took advantage of Jeff being pretty much out and Willow being away to actually put the alcohol they had taken out away. Maybe, just maybe, if it was not on the bar calling to them, they would refrain from drinking any more.

At that time, Willow stepped into the bar, looking a little more solid than she had before.

"If Jeff out?" She asked, looking at his hunched over form still sitting at the bar.

"It appears that way. You look less wasted than you did 30 minutes ago though. I assume you had some water to take the edge off?"

"Out of the toilet." She confirmed.

"Well, that is fairly disgusting, but at least you didn't take it from our reserves. You still look a little shaky. Sit down before you hurt yourself and we are down a sniper too."
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Eli was dumbstruck. He shook his head at Randall’s question, and was almost positive he was telling the truth. He racked his brain for memories and came up with nothing.

“I got no clue who that is,” he said. “I mean, it’s hard to tell over the walkie, but I’m pretty sure I never heard that voice before even once.”

He didn’t know what else to say – to Randall and the others, or to the voice on the other end of the radio. He had to ask himself if the group might consider acquiescing to his random demand. He had to ask himself if he might acquiesce. If it came down to it, Eli didn’t think he could continue on with Randall if he somehow cost him his daughter, however indirectly. As much as he had grown to like and respect the guy – and as much as he thought those feelings might be reciprocated – he couldn’t imagine that was something either of them could get past.

He hated to be the one to ask this. Instead of the question, he wanted to give an answer. At the moment, he just didn’t have one.

“What… what do we do?”
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