All That Remains

[SnowStorm42]

Inspiration:


The Last of Us


The Walking Dead


In the year 2014 America seemed to be at its richest point in history in every way. The economy flourished, the military was grand and the most important factor technology advanced greatly. Doctors and scientists were finding cures left and right and finishing research on how to advance the human body or make soldiers that feel no pain. All seemed well until the Spring of 2015. An outbreak occurred when a scientist tried reanimating the corpses of soldiers who died what were deemed as "unreasonable deaths" in an attempt to make them super soldiers. The soldiers came back to life yes..but they had a craving for flesh. Soon The Dead plagued the streets and the U.S. military was nowhere to be found. Some theorized the government did this on purpose but theories became useless...because by the Spring of 2016, the infection carried by The Dead had gotten overseas and most of humanity ceased to exist.


Jump to 2026. Most of humanity is gone and The Dead makes up the majority. Across America safe zones were established but are now gone. Cities are abandoned and overgrown by plants, some flooded. Several cities in America, all near each other or a medium distance away from each other seem to have the most human survivors in them. These areas seem to have the last safe zones. The last of the humans are believed to be here surviving The Dead day and night along with other threats. Humanity's clock is ticking.


MAPs


General Map

(individual city maps coming soon)

Yorkstown: Yorkstown is possibly the safest of the remaining human populated areas. It consists of three safe zones all of which work with each other and are run by local police. Outside the safe zone there are many bandits but they don't usually attack the safe zones and stick to abandoned apartment buildings. The Dead are more secluded to indoors however there are quite a few roaming outside. There are abandoned vehicles all over Yorkstown and while its mostly apartment buildings the center of the city is filled with skyscrapers.


Threats: The Dead, Bandits, Jackelopes (average reports, mainly in the sewers and buildings.)


Safe Zones: Alpha, Bravo, Golf


Abandoned Safe Zones: Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Hotel

Pawnee City: A city of Bandit camps. The Dead crawl all over the streets of this city while Bandits sit in their fortified strip clubs, bars and houses. The bandits in this town are organized and most of them work together unlike Bandits in other towns and cities that fight each other. This place being so unsafe why is it marked on the map? One must go through Pawnee city to reach Dranesville from Yorkstown.


Threats: Hordes, The Dead (massive amount), The Coyotes (bandits) (large amount)


Safe Zones: None

Dranesville: A massive city full of apartment buildings and one or two very tall office buildings or towers. Lots of highways and streets. The Dead crawl all over the place but remnants of the military help run the city's two safe zones. Dranesville is full of supplies.


Threats: The Dead (large amount), Bandits (small groups of 4).


Safe Zones: Northdale, Safe Zone C, Safe Zone A(eradicated), Safe Zone B(abandoned), Northshore (abandoned)

Bevington: Bevington is one of the most dangerous and mysterious of the remaining cities. For some unknown reason after The Dead started to spread the infection and the years without humans went by it started to rain endlessly in Bevington. After years of nonstop rainfall the city was half submerged underwater. Many buildings fell or slanted due to erosion. The only way to travel around this city is by boat, highway, or more shallow areas, or makeshift bridges found between some buildings. There are camps of dangerous bandits here but few. There are also few of The Dead, maybe 3-7 per building and none roaming the streets being that the streets are flooded. There are many Jackelopes but all are spread throughout the city and in darker secluded areas. The biggest threat is possibly 'Maneater', a scientific experiment made when scientists wanted to bring back the Megaladon. Though the shark is not as big as the scientists wanted it is big enough to eat a person almost whole, and it is small enough to swim through the flooded streets of the city. This city is also abundant with supplies including vehicle parts and guns.


Threats: The Dead (medium), Bandits (few), Jackelopes (medium), Maneater (one)


Safe Zones: None


Abandoned Safe Zones: 4 in total with no names but 2 are submerged and 2 are abandoned.

The Projects: The Projects is a city of mainly factories with some apartment buildings. There are many survivors here and there are some traders. Its very sandy for some reason and windy although no one knows why, maybe the lack of trees. It doesn't matter though because of the fact that The Dead practically don't exist here, however there are many Jackelopes, most that travel in groups and they come out in broad daylight unlike most. Bandits also don't come through here so besides Jackelopes the place is mostly safe.


Threats: Jackelopes (medium), The Dead (very few)


Safe Zones: Normantown, Factory Heights Safe Zone


Abandoned Safe Zones: Downtown Safe Zone

Rotterdaime: Rotterdaime is a location that is mainly just plains. There are many of the Dead. In Rotterdaime there is an abandoned town called Woodsrow, which is filled with the Dead due to the fact that the town's government initiated a lockdown during the plague and now all the zombies are stuck inside...along with all military and gas supplies. To the north of Woodsrow is the Rotterdaime Laboratory which was researching plant life and helped in some fields of the super soldier project that started the outbreak. Some other experiments were done in the lab but no one knows what and few have dared to go near it and find out, while others simply never came back to tell the tale. Rotterdaime is only useful for supplies and resources being that no safe zones are here.


Threats: The Dead (very high in Woodsrow low on the outskirts), Jackelopes (low, in the labs) and Clickers (medium)


Safe Zones: None


Abandoned/ Attacked Safe Zones: Woodsrow, Rotterdaime Lab

 

[SnowStorm42]

A corpse laid on the ground. The corpse belonged to a man who stayed and fought to protect his family. There was something oddly familiar about him. A figure stood over the corpse, muscular and frightening wearing a black mask that would put fear into even a god. Neil looked down at his hands covered in blood. He felt his peers pulling him back as if to get him out of there. He stared at the corpse. He didn't know what he had just done. It wasn't like anyone else he had killed. Something felt off about this one.





Neil woke to the sound of a truck roaring down a street and his head feeling like a tree fell on it. He felt cold on his back and stickiness over his lips. His hands felt restrained. Neil's head bobbed sideways and he looked up his vision a bit blury. He looked around and saw guns, but his head didn't allow him to see the assailants. He could hear them taunting.





"Hey I'm talking to you you little shit"


"Can it he can't hear you"


Neil could hear and see now. He picked his head up to see a group of me. With masks. He couldn't see the driver because there was a wall. There were three guys in the back with him and he assumed two in the front. He smacked his head lightly on the truck bummed out by the fact that he was in the hands of the coyotes now. They argued over who would get to kill him. Neil moved his hands a bit and felt rope. Makeshift binds. Neil fiddled with the rope while they argued while examining each guy.


A few hours had past when he heard one of the men declare they needed a piss break. After some arguing they slammed the wall separating the back and the driver and the truck came to a halt. The doors swung open as the coyote furthest out left the truck.


"Make it quick we have to rendezvous with Gospel and the others"


Neil was surprised at the mention of Gospel's name. Neil sighed under the duct tape. He started muttering nonsense.


"What was that you shit?"


The annoyed coyote in front of him got up a bit out of his seat and peeled the duct tape off. Neil grinned. "I said you're an idiot" Before the coyote could strike or make a remark Neil leaped from his seat and head butt the coyote's chest. In a quick movement he spun around grabbing the startled coyotes knife and cutting the rope swiftly. He proceeded to stab the coyote who had sat next to him in the stomach when suddenly his head felt the force of a tree again. Within seconds the yelling arguing and cursing become indistinct and vague. And again black. The truck kept moving.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

"Shouldn't we-"


"No."


"But-"


Aqua eyes cast a glare of utter annoyance to the lanky man behind her.


His own brown eyes instantly found the cracked concrete interesting, a small blush filtering onto his face as he fiddled with the grey mask he wore. She, obviously being the one in charge, ignored the movement going back to focusing on the crowded streets below. It was a sea of movement, sloppy, stumbling motion mixed with the occasional horse grunt.


Wind blew softly past the two figures on the roof, wisps of faded blue hair flew over her shoulder as if in an attempt to escape the boundaries of her head. The girl's hand rested on the hilt of a white sword tucked into the loop on her right hip giving her something to figit with herself as the group of two awaited their pick-up. Her own mask, showed off her a character just as remote as she was, yet the white designs on the black mask held a sense of twisted beauty.


"Wendel's late."


The boy behind her remarked, stating the obvious. Sometimes, Gospel would have found it worth while to hit the kid upside the head. But then what kind of mentor would she be? Scowling under her mask at the thought of her own teacher, she stepped gingerly away from the crumpling edge of the building. The sound of rubber screeching filled the air around them giving the mob below something to move towards.


"Move."


She stated, taking off in a sprint towards the fire escape. They would only have a couple of minuets to get to the car before the horde would realize that there were two cars instead of just one. That is, if the two were lucky enough to make it down the street after all. Not bothering to make sure the boy was keeping pace, she dodged a trash can or two in the alley picking up her speed as the military grade vehicle came into sight.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil came to consciousness yet again as the tires of the truck squealed. His head hurt more than before. Now he was on the floor and he could see guns pointing at him. They had his arms tied again but the duct tape was off. Maybe they ram out. He was on the floor between the three men who were seated firmly in the back of the truck. The man he ha stabbed was still bleeding but applying pressure.


Neil sighed and lowered his head on to the floor in shame. Then he figured that they wouldn't kill him cause they themselves would get killed. So Neil figured he would fuck them over anyway.


"Why'd we stop?"


"Can it"


"Mad cause you got stabbed by a stray"


"Can it or we'll shoot you"


"You wouldn't shoot me cause you know the boss would kill you-"


One of the men hit Neil and sat him up then scooted to make room. The doors swung open. Down the street he could see two more coyotes. Neil sighed and watched as they ran for the truck which had plenty of room for the newcomers. Neil wondered if one of them was Gospel because based on the structure of the first ones body it was a girl. Neil quickly erased the thought as one of the men called to him.


"Not another word or we kill you"

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

The moment the doors opened, she started to will her legs to move faster. That was, until the sudden sound of someone tripping behind her caused her to pause for a valuable second. Turning, she forgot about her objective for a second grabbing her student's arm and ushering him a long. A movement that had been done to her many times before.


"Keep up, squirt."


She hissed out, pushing him ahead of her so that he could get to the truck first. Gospel's eyes scanned the area behind her watching the shuffling of a few undead in her general direction. They must have smelled them, which was not good. The last thing any of them needed was a fight in order to get out. It was only meant to be a simple scouting trip to begin with, not that she was letting her pupil out here by himself without any knowledge of the back routes. Gospel pushed herself into gear yet again, her muscles pushing themselves to the limit in order to get to the car. She was about ten yards behind Sam, 12 yards to the truck and retaliative safety. Her thoughts were cut short however, the feeling of something absently grabbing hold of her shoulder forced her from her own thoughts. The force of the grab was enough to make her stumble, her sword unsheathing in a swift sloppy movement cutting the face of an undead behind her. Saliva dripped from it's mouth, the body unflinching as if half the head had not just been scalped. Her eyes widened as it launched itself towards her not giving the girl enough time to rest for another swing. She was already off balance and falling back onto the hard ground.


Her body twisted at the last second, hand reaching for an object in her pocket, which shortly followed the overly loud sound of a gun being shot. Frozen, she watched the zombie sink to the ground without any fight. Shocked from the initial attack, Gospel scrambled to her feet without a second thought grabbing her sword and hightailing it to the car. She focused in on Sam putting a gun into his holster and for a split moment she was furious. Sliding in the back seat, she pounded on the glass causing the car to take off just before she closed the door behind her.


Gospel was more than aware of her furiously pounding heart followed by the dull pain that thumped in her shoulder where she had landed. Glancing to her shoulder, she only not noticed the piece of glass sticking from it amounts of blood soaking through her white shirt and staining it forever.


"Are you okay-?"


Her gaze snapped up to the boy beside her, a cold rage swirling in the depths of her blue eyes. She had yet to even acknowledge the others in the car. With a swift movement, she grabbed the boys ear like she was his mother. The force of the stern gesture caused him to let out a small whimper.


"What have I said about guns." Her voice was surprisingly calm considering the amount of pain she was putting Sam through.


"NOTTO USETHEM UNLESSITS A LIFEORDEATH SITUATION!!!!"


"And?"


She prompted patiently, her face hidden by her mask.


He was quiet, racking his brain to try and think of what else she had taught him over the past month.


"Sam did right."


Her attention shifted to the new voice, causing her to release Sam from her grasp ignoring his whimpers as he rubbed his now red ear. Her blue eyes found the other people in the car. Wendell being the one who had spoken in the driver's seat, his murky brown eyes looking at them in the rear view mirror. She scowled under her mask wanting to slap him for just being annoying at the moment. Suddenly it came to her attention that the others were giggling at Sam's pain. Gospel turned, giving the three in back a look saying for them to shut up. Scanning each of their faces for protest, her eyes widened for a second seeing a familiar blonde sitting behind her looking beaten.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil almost jumped out of his seat when he saw the girl get grabbed by a creature from beyond the grave. However soon enough she was in the truck holding the other coyote's ear. She reminded him of a less stern version of himself. Although his voice would be at glass breaking levels right now. It almost made him smile.


He glanced up as he recognized Wendell's voice from the front of the truck. He didn't like that Wendell always had input. Nobody cared. Neil shook his head and looked back as the coyotes closed the doors and he felt the car start driving. He stared at the girl knowing it was Gospel now from the voice behind the mask. When she finally noticed his presence he waved with a very neutral almost silly face.


Immediately upon waving the coyote he irritated before was red with annoyance and anger. "What did I say?"


"Technically I didn't talk..."


Neil was quickly amused at the fact that the coyote started raising his gun but shook his head. "Talk all you want..but I'll make sure that your death will be by my hand"


Neil smiled and turned away from Captain Irritated. He looked at the coyote who he assumed Gospel was mentoring.


"You were almost fish bait out there champ. Can't let yourself get caught like that."


Neil felt captain Irritated hit him in the face again. He smiled. "Man you fairies get so easily offended. You know coyotes are supposed to be calm cool killers, not easily offended princesses."


Neil didn't know why he was taunting them. Maybe deep inside he knew he was scared that he wouldn't slip his way out of this fiasco like he always did. Maybe this time was the end so he might as well enjoy it. He then looked to Gospel "You ok shrimp?"

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Under the mask, her eyebrow twitched as the gun was raised and threats were made. She stayed quiet, watching Michael get pissed by Neil waving to her. It took her a long few moments, her heart thudding rapidly from more than just adrenaline. It was hard to believe he was here, it put her in a position where she didn't know weather to slap him or hug him.


Sprung from her thoughts, her eyes narrowed at him from the old nickname. Knowing that it caught Sam's attention, the last thing she needed was anyone else reminding her that she was shorter than everyone there. Even most of the girls back at the compound were taller than her by at least an inch.


"Put your gun away."


She stated calmly, a icy tone coating her voice with her gaze still centered on Neil.


Out of the corner of her eye she saw him hesitate, about to protest his mouth in middle of opening when she forced the full weight of her gaze on him. Shutting him up just as quickly without saying anything. Her gaze told him that she wouldn't hesitate to cut his hand off. Looking back to Neil, she sighed sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms.


"What a pain."


She grumbled to herself, giving him an unamused look.


"Really, I thought you would have turned tail and fled. To think you wasted time out there doing nothing."


She questioned, still watching him though her demeanor was more relaxed then what it had just been.


"So why did you let them catch you? Miss me that bad?"


She mused, leaning forward so that she was looking closer at him just to make sure he wasn't fooled by her friendly appearance. She wanted to smash his head into the wall for coming back after she had risked so much to keep him out for so long. Most Coyotes didn't even know who he was now. Not with the old generations dieing off and letting new ones filter in.


Gospel waited for him to respond, still struggling to hide her pent up rage. Her shoulder hurt like hell and she could tell she was losing blood from the way her head started throbbing.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil smiled at the man as he lowered his weapon. He missed the days a not when a weapon raised at him.wasn't even a question. Doing so caused churchbells to ring. Neil them turned to Gospel. How did he get caught again? His head throbbed really bad.


It started to come back to him. The music store. There was a girl and a ex cop on a rood nearby. He remembered now. "I let my guard down cause of some ex cop and a girl. Was scouting when I think Captain Irritated over here knocked me on the back of the head"





Neil thought about how Gospel was able to command with just a gaze now. He taught her well in a sense then. Thoughts quickly flashed of a mask that depicted calm and death at the same time. He shook his head a bit. He was about to ask a detailed question about how she got to her rank but realized it would raise questions.





"Boss man still alive or did a new heir to the throne take on the bounty on my head?" He asked. He remembered the boss was a psychopath. Neil did some bad things as a coyote but even the boss made him cringe. He remembered standing right next to him when out of rage he killed his right hand man and blamed it on someone he had been scolding so he killed him too. Despite that the boss was still very intelligent. Neil couldn't help but wonder how things were now.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

A smile came to Gospel's lips at the question. How far did he really think she had made it? Shrugging off her ow thoughts she sighed, looking at her shoulder trying to detract from the overwhelming urge to slap him for asking the question.


"The old boss was killed. He...was...was it stabbed or decapitated, Marco?"


Sam answered for Gospel somewhat to her relief. One of the older gentleman in front turned around, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to think before shrugging.


"Donno. Befor' Erik came to pow'r that fat guy was popp'd ev'ryone done thought one thing or anoth'r."


Gospel stayed quiet, her eyes closing as she listened to the conversation. Though, she knew Niel probably knew she was hiding detailed information about what had happened after she had helped him leave. Paying more attention to the rocking of the car, she kept her eyes closed her focus more so on trying to block out the numbing feeling in her shoulder.


"How far are we?"


She asked after a few moments cutting off the conversation about how the old boss had been killed.


"Approaching the bridge now."


Wendell answered her, remarkably not making any snide comment to Neil though she figured there was time for that later.


"Oh yeah, Chief. What do you want us to do with this guy?"


The guy sitting on the other side of Neil asked, though for the life of her she couldn't remember his name.


Thinking about the question, she strummed her thumb against her kneecap.


"I'll take care of that. Wendell, you are to report to Erik about the mission and nothing else. Sam will accompany you for further detail. Erik will hear directly from me about our guest."


She stated, her voice sounding a little strained. Hearing Wendell's grumble of 'yes, mam' she turned her full attention back to the glass in her shoulder. Opening her aqua eyes in order to tug slightly on the fragment, only to hiss lightly in response.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil listened intently to the Gospel and then Marco who Neil ever so vaguely remembered. It was a bit sad to hear that Jacob was gone. The man was a lunatic though. He killed as many of his own as he did innocents. Still though it was a bit sad.


Neil then listened as Gospel as she asked how far they were. His head throbbed. He figured he'd get a nap in before his execution came although something about being in Gospel's hands when they got there eased him a bit. He dozed off without a problem.


He began to dream about what his execution would be like, a few old memories involving Rachael, and then a few memories of past companions. One of them was a girl named Red. He had a similar run in with Red that he did with Gospel. Meet, get to know each other, get split up, find each other again. Neil just hoped that Gospel wouldn't meet the same fate Red did. Then another dream took over. Neil found himself staring at his reflection, but his reflection wore the mask. The two Neils debated pros and con's of each life. Both had good arguments. The dream changed again but it wasn't important.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

After what seemed like forever, the car pulled to a slow stop causing Gospel to reopen her eyes. Glancing out the window she took note of the garage space around them filled with other vehicles that they had salvaged over time. Her eyes moved to Neil and his sleeping form. It had been a few years sense they had last seen each other. Back when she was barely out of her teenage years....and he was about the same age she was now. Perhaps a few years older, it wasn't like she ever found out how old he really was. Age wasn't something that mattered much in a world full of the walking dead. Analyzing the blonde of his hair, the soft scrubble that had formed, and his always handsome features that hadn't seemed to change. She thought he looked the same from the Neil she had known. The Neil she had that stupid school girl crush on for what felt to be eons ago. Kicking him lightly, she ended her analysis watching him wake with a start after a few kicks.


"We're here."


She stated the obvious as Wendell turned the car off while everyone started to file out. Gospel waited for Neil to get dragged out by Michael while the others went straight to their duties or perhaps the bar. Sending Michael a look to say he was dismissed, she watched him nod before slip away quickly giving a glare towards Neil.


Gospel started walking towards an elevator knowing for sure that he was following her.

 

[SnowStorm42]

The dispearance of the sound of wheels moving made Neil leave his deep sleep. Gospel's voice completed the process of waking him up. He felt Captain Irritated grab him and pull him out of the truck dropping him on concrete, his hands still bound. Neil slowly got on his knees then one foot at a time stood up. "I have legs prick" Neil said as he walked away.


He then turned his attention to Gospel with a bit of a smile. "I think he likes me..although he's a bit touchy" Neil said jokingly following her into the elevator. The small bruises on his face ached and his head was killing him. He wondered how he was functioning right now and acting so witty.





"Before you turn me in or stall for time while I escape I suggest you get that cut patched up better." He said sounding slightly concerned. He examined her. She seemed stronger now and not just physically but in general. The way she stood, and the way she had commanded the guys in the truck. It was slightly scary..because a part of him was in that fear. He wasn't fully responsible for what she achieved but he was the same. If the old life didn't scare him so much he would've smiled. He then turned to watch the elevator door. He tried not to let his brain stray off too far or someone might confuse him for a zombie and cave his skull in early

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

She glared at him, rolling her eyes in annoyance as she stepped into the elevator and pressing a button.


"Last time I distracted for you, I got shot at. So no, I'm not helping you escape."


She stated even though she was going to help him. She just wasn't going to be responsible for him like that last time. Turning to him, she took note of his slightly concerned look. Which she found abnormal, all this cheery smiling....it just didn't look right on him.


Gospel looked at her cut, waiting for the elevator to beep before opening up to a large hallway. Walking down the hallway quickly, she paused at a door, opening it and walking in with him. Behind the door was what used to be a full fledged hotel room with household appliances.


" Sit."


She commanded him, closing and locking the door behind them. With her back to him, she removed her mask, placing it on a small hook before turning to face him.


Gospel's bring blue eyes focused in on him, moving towards him with a knife to cut off his bindings. She avoided looking at him, sure that she must have looked way different from when he first met her at 17.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil felt bad that she had to take responsibility for his actions. But had she been there..it was just a series of messed up things. It negated all the pros of being a coyote. It made him reevaluate why he was there. He realized that he was only who he was because he was angry about her death.


Neil didn't say another word. He simply followed and obeyed. She was in control of his life right now so there was no messing around. At first the knife scared him but he realized it was for the bindings. "Thanks." He started to fiddle with his hands enjoying their escape from captivity.


Neil then looked at Gospel with a more serious face. Any signs of a smile or joy were gone because he knew now it was to business. "What's the plan if there is one?" He couldn't come up with any right now himself but he was already working the way he did. He was coming up with the most elaborate planed, backups if they failed, alternate scenarios. This was how he approaches serious situations where he knew his luck wouldn't help.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

She looked up at him slowly, just as serious as he looked. Gospel cut through the rest of his bound hands before setting the knife on the end table beside the couch. Gospel let out a quiet breath, her fingers moving gingerly to help him undo the abnormally tight bonds.


She had thought about how to get him out of this sense she had laid eyes on him in that car. But now it was suddenly like she couldn't think of anything.


"Erik. Is much more forgiving then...the last boss was. But, that's only if you're one of his favorites."


She mumbled, reaching for the first aid kit under the couch. Pulling out a tube of neosporin she applied a small amount to the cut on his eyebrow. Focusing on her work and what she was doing she hardly noticed his serious gaze. It felt for an odd second as if nothing had changed, that she was still there to clean him up after any fight or late night activities he would partake in around Pawnee.


"I'll think of something. Just rest here, no one in their right mind would bother you. I don't like unexpected guests."


She stated, smiling sickly sweet at him. An aura of annoyance building up around her making her smiling face appear even more nerve racking.


"Especially ones who suddenly turn up after a few years."


She continued purposely slamming the band aid on his forehead.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil nodded. It was good to hear that the new boss was a more forgiving person, but Neil had a bad case against him anyway. He couldn't count how many coyotes he killed since he left. True it was self defense but it probably didn't help his record.


He watched as Gospel applied the neosporin to his eyebrow. He smiled but didn't move as to not disrupt her. "This reminds me of when I finished that fist fight with Jimmy-O. Except you were applying more than neosporin." He remembered sitting in a chair and allowing bandages, rubbing alcohol, neosporin, painkillers, ice. Everything. He had challenged a coyote by the name of Jimmy-O to a fist fight and he had won but not before get his ass kicked a bit. Jimmy-O and his Irish friends split one day, but left peacefully. Neil hadn't seen Jimmy since.


It stung but hw knew it was for his own good. Then she smacked a bandaid on his head. "Ow" Neil said. "Sorry for popping in uninvited. Guess I shouldn't have left the music store." He leaned back in the chair and sighed. He let himself slip in the store and it was overrun in a heart beat. He wondered if the coyotes had gotten to his Jack yet. It didn't matter. Neither he or Gospel had a plan right now so until either of them came with something Neil was accepting the road to death.


An idea occurred to him but it was risky. That and a part of him wanted to stay a bit longer. The old part of him was clinging to this place. He also didn't want to leave Gospel. He missed having a companion especially one he knew well. He kept thinking trying to think of a better plan.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel glared at him lightly, sighing before turning to attend to her own injury. Pulling the piece of glass out of her flesh, she cursed slightly standing so that she could treat the wound properly.


"Just stay here for a bit, I have to bandage this up."


She stated, walking towards a closed door on the other end of the hotel room. Walking inside, she carefully slipped her shirt off tossing it to the ground and analyzing the wound in her shoulder. Biting her lip, she poured a bit of peroxide on the wound. Her fingers clutched at the dresser in front of her, cursing loudly. Gospel took a long breath, watching the wound fizz as it was cleaned. Glancing down at the bandage around her midsection she inspected it for any sign of her stitches popping from the sprint earlier.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil nodded to her and relaxed in the chair. He turned a bit pink at the thought of her in the next room but he quickly brushed it off going back to thinking about a plan. He could always have gospel call a guard in while she gets Erik and then Neil could incapacitate the guard and make a run for it.


After last time though Neil doubted he was going to get out alive. Neil looked out the window to see the sun making its final descent. Neil sighed and wondered how the safe zone was holding up. His absence didn't make a massive impact but he had a lot of stuff he was needed for there.


He then looked at his ring and began thinking of past memories. Was there ever a time when things were simple? It didn't seem that way. Neil couldn't remember a day when things weren't upside down. Ever since she had died it seemed that luck and bad luck fought over Neil on a daily basis. Ceilings caving in to bandits taking his stuff to his days in the coyotes, to the incident in brevington and of course the visit to the north. The north was the worst place Neil had ever been. It was brief but it was maybe on of the worst experiences.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Ten or so minuets later and Gospel was back in the living room with a black tank top, her wrapped shoulder showing plainly under the thin straps. Her faded blue hair was swept into a sloppy ponytail, and she had a certain look of annoyance coating her features. Looking down at him, she snapped her fingers in front of his face causing him to dig himself from his thoughts and actually look up at her.


"Listen, I have to see Erik."


She started a look of utter anger crossing her features, though obviously not directed towards Neil. She just couldn't believe that the bastard had the never to come into her house and place a sloppily written note on her bed. Folding her arms a little painfully, she drummed her foot against the floor in thought.


"Stay here. It's not too safe at night. Besides, I may need your help with something when I return. It might get you're head off a pike."


Gospel grumbled, giving him a quick glance. The thought had just come to her attention, she had never had a guy in her house before. Not like this anyway....what was this?


Shaking her head softly, she let out a breath and moved over to grab her sword where she had left it leaning against the wall. Looping the sheath through her belt, she looked back at him for a second before looking away.


"There's beer in the fridge. Should be some left over mac n' cheese from the other night if you want that. The Tv works, I have a few stack of movies in the corner. So just....hang out here and I'll be right back."


Gospel whispered the last part, placing her hand on the knob to pull it open. Wavering in the doorway she turned to look at him this time allowing herself to hold his gaze. She wanted to tell him to stay, that there was an easy fix for this and she knew what buttons to push. But, most of all she wanted him to promise her he wasn't going to come back. If he left he was never going to see her again. The thought of going through this twice was overall too painful to really think about. After all, he was her first real crush. A girl doesn't just get over something like that quickly and just to have him in the same proximity brought back those feelings with full force. Annoyed with her own sappy thoughts, she shut the door and headed off towards the office determined to push everything into a dark corner and make sure it would never see the light of day again.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil nodded at everything she said or have a 'yes ma'a'm after she finished. He remained in the chair listening to her speak. Something about the way she took charge made him happy inside however his face remained neutral.


Her last statemtement made him smile. He was impressed with all the luxuries she had here. "Be safe." Neil called out after her. And then he was alone. He immediately went for the beer and Mac n cheese. He prepared the Mac n cheese and popped open the beer. He looked at the movies and saw a few good things here and there.


Something caught his eye. The Walking Dead. Neil cracked a grin and shook his head. The irony. It was season 3 on DVD. He looked at other titles. He decided to go with the walking dead and popped it in. When he sat back down to enjoy it he began to think. People filmed so many horror movies about zombies and the shows and video games were just as numerous. Who would've guessed it would actually happen? And no one knew the big reason why.


Neil kept getting more thoughtful with every bite of food and sip of beer. He then thought of the walking dead, a show he watched when he was really young. The bad guys in the show were usually in organized groups just as it was in real life. Neil just found all of it so ironic. He strayed from the show and looked out the window beginning to think even more. It was a surprise his head was still svrewed on right with all the thinking he did.


Within minutes of finishing the Mac n cheese Neil felt himself dozing off. He didn't want to but the feeling of weakness came over him like he was about to pass out. He tried focusing on the show.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel closed her eyes, taking a slow breath before tugging the door knob open and walking into the room. Her face held it's emotionless exterior, looking more confident then what she felt inside.


"Erik."


She stated in greeting, crossing her arms and making it a point to look like she was already way too bored with this meeting. Personally, she like Erik as a friend. He was only slightly older than her plus painfully obvious that every living girl here wanted to get into his pants. Excluding Gospel, who just crinkled her nose in disgust.

 

[SnowStorm42]

The man who now led the coyotes turned to the sound of a familiar voice calling his name. He turned and smiled at the sight of his right hand woman. "Gospel. How are you? Here to debrief?" He asked with a bit of a soft voice. He wasn't a softy but Gospel was one of his favorites so he had a less aggressive approach toward her.


While the meeting went on Neil decided he'd have a look around the room. He wasn't going into drawers or anything but maybe he could find something to entertain himself. At one point he found a pen but he didn't want to go snooping through drawers for paper so he decided to just fiddle around with the pen.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

"Fine, well...not...exactly."


She sighed out, keeping her gaze level with his. His usual cold brown eyes watched her with certain interest as her words processed through his mind. Without invitation, she closed the door softly behind her and moved towards where he sat at his desk. Gospel looked at him seriously, folding her arms over her chest to calm herself a little more.


"The boy's caught a stray on the way here, as I'm sure Wendall has already informed you."


She continued fully aware that Wendall hated her and would do anything to get her position. Not that she was going to make that easy for him. She was the first woman to ever make it this far up the ranks and there was no way Gospel was letting some jealousy bump her back down. Standing before his large wooden desk her own blue eyes studied his features making sure that it was safe to continue before she actually did.


"His name is Neil. I'm positive you've heard of him so I'll spare you the details."


She watched his mouth curve into a slight frown, his mouth about to open to say something when she held her hand up. Her own cold exterior coming to the surface as she put one hand on his desk and leaned forward slightly to make sure that the point she was about to make would get across to him.


"There is, however a way to use him. I want you to exempt him. Take off his target on the condition that he never has any association with the Coyotes again."


Gospel paused, willing the lump in her throat to dissolve faster then what it was actually doing.


"Allow him to come with me to Bevington. Along with Sam, Wendell, and Neko. We gather much needed supplies, send it back with Sam and Wendall, the rest of us move on to Rotterdaime."


She stated, watching his eyes as the suicidal mission processed in his head. Gospel's eyes hardened, her hand clenching into a fist on his oak table.


"I'm going to get answers, Erik. One way or another."

 

[SnowStorm42]

Erik gave her request thought the look on his face a bit of a defeated one. Neil Hardwhick was up there with quite the rap sheet. But Gospel seemed very serious on the matter. Erik thought and began pacing. After a moments thought he looked her I'm the eyes. "He doesn't take his mask off except to eat or sleep and if he runs he is shot without a thought." He said in a bit of disbelief with himself. His predeccesor wouldn't have been happy st all with this decision..but he wasn't here. He smiled at Gospel. "To avoid any conflictions I'll let you be the one to tell him" he said not wanting to face Neil until he proved worthy of it.


Neil fiddled and fiddled with the pen. At one point it exploded getting ink all over his hands. "Son of a bitch" he said as he got up. He went around looking for paper towels but found none. He went through some drawers only to find some towels, papers and clothes, some of which made him pink. He sighed and looked the the ink on his hands. He was a mess. He was caught by the enemy and now a pen exploded in his hands. His music store was overrun and he was t back at the safe zone. Things couldn't be worse.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Nodding in thanks, Gospel watched Erik for a second longer before turning to head to the door. Pausing half way, she turned to look at the slightly elder man.


"Oh, and by the way."


She added, suddenly looking like the cat that killed the canary.


"I'm taking my favorite truck with me."


She mused, completing her tid-bit and moving back to the door.


Walking out of Erik's office she let out a long breath that she had no idea she was holding. It was beyond everything to just think that...he would be free of the burden leaving here had placed on him. Gospel started walking faster, wanting to get back to her house as quickly as she could. She just hoped he would take it alright. The thought of him being pissed at her for striking such a deal had crossed her mind for a second, but only the Niel she knew would have ripped her a new one. As far as she knew, he didn't seem to be like that anymore now that he turned all soft.


Pulling open her front door, she set her katana against the wall glancing over to the couch where she had last seen him. Furrowing her eyebrows, it took Gospel a second to hear the running water followed by another few seconds of noticing that there was a huge ink stain on her carpeted floor. Gospel's eyebrow twitched at the sight of the ugly black blob, her legs moving with out her consent and heading straight towards the sounds of life.


"NEIL!!?"


She yelled his name, pounding on the door.