Chapter XI

As Jake neared the bottom of the flight of stairs that he flew down. He came to an erupt stop. He couldn't believe what he saw, it was Tori and she looked exactly like she did the day she left him to go form a colony. Jake felt a rush of relief, love, worry, and weariness as he ran out of the stairway to go and hold Tori, unknowingly, into the hands of a Reanimated. He cursed inwardly as he heard a rang shout out, and saw the side monstrosities head explode spilling out the beings gray matter all over the wall. Wide-eyed Jake looked over and saw Tori coming at him with a smug look on her face as she neared him.

"Looks like you saved me this time, babe." Jake said from where he laid.

"Yea, well, it was time for me to start repaying you." Tori said as she started to laugh quietly as she pulled him up. The only thing Jake could think about was how good it felt to hear Tori's voice again after all this time.

"So what's the game plan?" Jake asked Tori.

"We are going to the colony you helped build." She responded

"My 'friends'?"

"Yes hun." At this response Jake shrugged and said ok as she started to lead him to the Humvee. Jake started to tell her that they needed to go get all of his weapons from his base-o-operations, when they heard glass start to shatter. Tori turned to see a petite Hispanic woman who looked piss and winded. She looked at Jake who eyes were on this woman, but there wasn't kindness or compassion at all in his demeanor. All that she felt was his rage coming off of him. It became apparent that this woman had tried to do something to Jake and he retaliated. Tori sighed quietly.

She saw and erupt movement from where Jake was then heard a gunshot go off and she felt herself fall. She looked up in shock at Jake, he didn't shot a gun, he took a bullet from one. She heard Areol shout something but couldn't respond, all she could think about was what Jake had done for her. Tori pushed him off of her and stood up, facing the woman who dared to hurt HER man. She numbly raised her weapon and opened fired, blindly. She hit the Hispanic woman in the chest, right leg, left arm, and both shoulders. As she neared the woman her rage became uncontrollable and she placed one clean shot right between the woman's eyes.

"Fuck me!" Jake exclaims from clenched teeth. He pushed himself up into a sitting position. "Tori, take your friend and go up to the ninth level and all of my weapons and equipment are on that level right next to the left." At this Tori nods to him, then looks at Areol and points to the building and takes off with Areol in toll. Jake exhales and pushes himself into a standing position, and walks to Tori's Humvee where he slides into the passenger seat. Then he notices all the people in the back of the vehicle. Turning around he looks at everyone back there.

"Who are yall?" Jake asks.

"We're survivors, our colony was overrun with Swarm." Said the military looking man.

"Swarm?" Jake asks.

"Yes, Swarm, its what we classified the dogs, cats, ro----" he begins.

"Oh, those are Scouts, not Swarm, they go and look for food for the herd then come the Carriers. This way is nice, easy, and simple." Jake begins, "Plus who cares what their called, as long as they can be killed, no?" At this the man's face starts to become red. "Oh, just so you know, where we are going people don't like those who act like they know everything just an FYI."

"Fine, we'll go your way, though just know we go unwillingly." The guy retorts.

"Don't care, just as long as I get you there alive." At this statement the man finally stopped talking. Jake sighed, and rested his weary head on the head rest and shut his eyes. Hopefully they get everything,Jake thought to himself, I have some weapons up there that need to be fixed. Jake heard a sound that originated from the Holiday Inn, he opened his eyes, and looked toward the Inn to see Tori and her friend coming back with multiple bags, letting him know that they got everything. He shut his eyes and allowed the darkness to overtake his weary body.