An Interactive Fic: THE FINAL /Ch.4D

THE FINAL
An interactive Walking Dead experience.
Rated T.  Warning: Explicit language.
Pairings: Felix & Marzia, Red & Russ. May be hints of slash.
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You and 84.2% of the readers chose A:
_{b) "It's faster going through the forest." - 10.5%
c) "It's safer going down the river." -  5.3%
d) "..." (Stay silent)  - 0.0%}

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Chapter 4, D: Sleeping Beauty

You've chosen to stick with the original path.

When the golden threads of the sun's rays began to sink beneath the laced silhouettes of forest resting on the horizon, the relics of the neighboring town that was their destination seemed to inch no closer from where they started from.

What's left of the group continued on, hollow honeymoon lingered on dried cheeks, step by heavy step on sun-kissed rails. Russ wiped away beads of sweat rolling down his neck, "Let's try to get there before dark," He cheered his tailing teammates on with a smile. "And find some food and shelter, kay?"

They replied with dull enthusiasm from strained voices, but it was at least feedback. Russ found himself frowning at the one man who had not spoken. "Cry?" He asked, walking over to check on him as Cry paused in his path, arching over his knees with the colours drained from his face. "You okay?"

He could have said yes, but that would have been a lie. That is, if he could lie. The very magic the man had over his words was gone as soon as his dry mouth opened to give no sound. Cry coughed and sputtered, falling to the ground on one knee.

Then came the attention he so dreaded. People that were now mere figures in his failing vision began to crowd around him, he felt as if thin air was being stolen from his lungs. Cry wanted to get up, brush it off, assuring them that he was fine. But his body said otherwise.

"What's wrong?" Red rubbed his shoulder worriedly. "You look terrible."

"Heatstroke." Russ answered, Cry gave an uneasy nod.

Minx laughed nervously in agreement. "Fair enough, water's been pretty scarce."

"Let's make it to the town first." Pewdie threw Cry's arm over his shoulder, and helped the limp man to his feet. "Then we'll get you some water and rest."

Cry mouthed a reluctant thanks.

There was a sudden drive that lifted them both off the ground. As Cry passed Russ, they exchanged unreadable looks beneath darkened blue eyes that seemed to converse for a brief moment, then Cry turned away. "Pewdiepie?" Russ called.

The Swede slowed in his path.

"Thanks," The word was simple, but pronouced. "... Bro."

"Felix is fine."

~*~*~*~

Like all other towns encountered on their way, this one lacked no different lifelessness. Hollow bodies dragged themselves in the streets of the ghost towns, of all age and sizes, their trueness washed away between the forgotten, grey alleyways and rusty-scented gravel.

Rows upon rows of abandoned houses presented itself with structures of futile defenses - ripped sandbags and torn doors, occupied with the same nothingness, though their owners not completely ungone.

They examined the sight from behind an old, flipped car. Red scanned the houses, one with a dimmed golden roof caught her attention. "That house seems relatively new, doors intact and looks steady."

"Let's try to sneak past these walkers then." Ken's face lit up. "If we-"

A sharp hush, a hand whipped in front of his face, and held him firmly back against the car by his chest. Pewdie stared into the blank eyes of a hissing walker inches away from their face with forced bravado. The zombie had blindly walked into them, but through misty, blank eyes, sniffed and gurgled at the foreign creatures before him. They froze.

Cry swallowed through his painful throat, just a little gulp, but it was all it took to drum on the creature's ears and light up the scorching scent of living flesh that burnt in its nostrils.

"SHIT!!"

The walker launched like a rabid animal, but Cry had ducked just in time. The car behind them landed on the cracked concrete floor with a loud crash, and turned the heads of many more.

Russ cocked his handgun and Red reloaded hers. Ken drew his axe and Minx armed herself to cover Pewdie, picking up Cry from the floor. "Get to the house," Russ shouted over the sudden chaos. "Quickly."

Gunshots ripped through the silence of the town, triggering the cries of their undead crowd, which seemed to build up, denser and denser around them. They managed to fight their way around the horde, and into the front porch of the building. Ken hastily knocked down the locked white wooden door, and freed them into the safer area. "Barricade it!" Red shouted as she began to drag a sofa towards the entrance, Pewdie and Cry helped knock a grandfather clock on top of a sturdy pile of furniture.

The fight outside began to wear off, and the thudding out the window faded with the last bit of sun. The survivors found themselves sighing in relief in the comforting darkness. "Alright." Minx took a deep breath. "Let's check this place out."

"Me and Red'll go upstairs, clear out the bedrooms." Russ started making his way towards the stairs. "See if there are any food or water around."

Minx nodded, and walked off to examine the other rooms. Ken began to search the cupboards in the kitchen. Pewdie turned towards Cry as Russ and Red vanished up the stairs. "You okay?"

Cry smiled, and through dry, pale lips mouthed. "Let's follow."

Leading from the second floor was a long corridor with three rooms, Russ and Red's casual chatter can be heard from the last. Cry strayed away from Pewdie, and walked towards the first room.

The door creaked open, Cry wished it hadn't.

The pastel pink wallpaper of the little girl's room was decorated with stickers and crayon drawings and splatters of blood. Her soft toys littered in and around her toy trunk, and a few loyally beside her body in an orderly fashion. Her duvet cover ironed and printed with pictures of cartoon characters and fairy tale princesses, from the books that piled at the little bedside table. Her mother, cradling her little girl dressed up in a pink dress of satin, clutching a book named 'Sleeping beauty.'

And in her other hand a pistol. Light of the night illuminated the grey streaks in her hair, though her expression were so young. Eyes dull but not blank, open, still staring down with guilt at her peacefully dreaming daughter. Blood that poured from their temples stained the bed and carpeted floor, but not her soul.

Cry turned away from the sight, but didn't walk away. He turned his gaze towards his friend, who stared in an unreadable fashion at the bodies of the mother and daughter, then turned and stormed away from the scene.

Familicide. Cry thought, bitter knots churning in his stomach. He slowly approached the woman, and closed her lids.

"We found something!!" The shrilling voice of Red pierced the tension in the house. Cry walked out of the room without taking another glimpse, and shut the door behind him. He was greeted by Russ' excitable stare. "We've got internet... We've got internet. We can contact for help or find out if that dock really is help."

Cry smiled, saying with croaking voice. "Really?"

"Red's on it right now. I think this might be it." Russ stopped, looking around him. "Where's Felix?"

~*~*~*~

Ken carefully took out a few cans from the back of the cupboard, and examined them. This one was no good, for example. Cat food.

He placed the can to the side with the other invalids.

Ah, this one could. Baked beans, just two days off the Best Before.

"You're doing well."

Ken flinched, startled by the sudden voice that came from behind him.

"It's just me." Minx approached him, picking up a few cans and sachets to examine his findings. "At least we've got dinner, I'm starving."

"Yeah." Ken briefly answered.

Minx could see that he was reluctant to speak. Maybe she was a little harsh to him, it wasn't easy to feel responsible for an individual's death, but she wanted to let him know that- "Deaf's death is not your fault."

Ken froze.

Michelle can't help but find herself laughing to her blunt advances. "I don't mean it like that." She paused to think, cussing to herself for stuttering. "I meant..."

"It's okay." Ken chuckled along. "I know."

"Sorry if you've been feeling targeted. I'm just," She exhaled, toying with a sachet in her hand. "It wasn't exactly easy for any of us, but... suddenly left alone in the world is a little hard to take in. Deaf's little white lie made it no better."

You're playing as Ken / CinnamonToastKen for this Chapter. Your decision will decide what happens and who you'll meet in the next chapter.

Choose your reply:

a) "It's been hard on everyone, but you're safe now, right?"
b) "You're not alone, you've got us, me. I won't leave you alone."
c) "I'm sorry I had to lie to you, I promise I won't lie again."
d) "..." (Stay silent)

To be continued...