SCORCH

They passed by different cities that is filled with the searing heat of the sun. They all sweated profusely as they travel the whole state of California. They passed cities with massive population density, majority of it has turned into the dead as the other places that they have witnessed. Fortunately they were prepared for the trip back and forth, they managed to bring enough supplies to last them long out on the world of the dead. A few more drive finally drive at the settlement that they have been talking about. They arrived at Tacna, Arizona. Upon seeing the town Zachary was not that shock, seeing how a community would turn into something big with the help of the people.

The biters down in Arizona are yet to adapt to the warm climate of the state, unlike their northern counterpart. They managed to use that to their advantage in creating the community from the ground up.

"Quite a big town eh?"

"Yeah, Its not the verse but its amazing"

"Yeah, I guess your right"

As they get into the town they are welcomed warmly by the inhabitants. They shows Zachary around the town and it is incredible. Joel and Andre starts to drop by what they have gathered in Sacramento. As they got into the town a group of men looks at them from the top of the highway and putting up hand signs.

"I think, its different from what you had back in Maryland"

"Yeah, its amazing how big this has gotten"

"And in a warmer state right?"

"Yeah"

"But despite this, we plan on moving to Mexico, down to Sinaloa"

"Why?"

"Because, most of us has family down there"

"Oh"

"And you, where you going now that you're with us"

"Well, I'm just a vagabond, I'll probably leave even before the s-"

As Zachary explains his plans after his stay in Tacna, a man rushes towards them disturbing their discussion. He pants heavily as he tries to get Kane's attention, but Kane notices him immediately. He fell to the ground and asked for water, and so they gave him. He chugged down the whole water and took a massive breather.

"Okay? Are you calm now?"

"Yes sir"

"Okay Julian, que pasa?"

"There is the bad people, demanding something again"

"Brutes... shit"

"Brutes? Who are they"

"I'll tell you later, for now rest"

"Should I be worried?"

"No"

Kane grabbed his rifle from the car and approached the southern gate where the 'Brutes' are waiting. They stand on top of their hummers and annoyingly whistling, as if calling a dog. Thee 'Brutes' are waiting at the intersection and acting provocative to them. Acting as if they will not be attack by the people of Tacna, Kane shoots at them. They all started to get mad and cuss at them. Until the man on top of the hummer got down with a loud stomp. All of his goons became quiet as he stepped down to the ground, he raised a gun and fire multiple shots. They all are wearing light armor.

"All right, I SAW YOUR TRUCKS GETTING INTO THE TOWN, NOW WHERE'S OUR SPLIT!!!"

'hijo de puta' He whispered, as the man continued to shoot.

"COME ON!!"

Kane stepped out of the gate and two of the Brutes aimed their gun at him. A car appears behind him and driving slowly, one of the Brutes also approached the car.

"There ya go assholes, enjoy"

The Brute that approached them cheered in joy and so did the others. They were clapping as if it is their own spoils of war, they drove the car close to the group of Brutes. They started to check everyone one of it, some of their are firing in joy. Kane looks behind him, made an okay sign and smiled. They continued to look over the cheering men. They opened the back of the car and started to move some of the supplied until one of the boxes appeared to be stuck down on the trunk.

"A bit heavy this one"

More heads from the town starts to pop up, even more so some got out of the gate just to see them struggle. The man on top of the truck looked over and as soon as the message was about to render in his brain his whole team was already engulfed in the flames of an explosion. Zachary hears the explosion from the small open cafeteria that he is eating at. He stepped out to see a plum of smoke, 'damn' he whispered to himself and he walked to the gate where all of the people are cheering. He sees Kane being praised by the people, Kane sees him.

"Well, do you mind telling me about the Brutes?"

"Yeah, come follow me"

Zachary followed him, they got into a room where different people are talking about certain things such as their means of transport down south. They continued to walk among them all of them staring at him, they obviously distrust a new person. They got into Kane's office. He put his weapon on top of his table, he then grabbed two glasses and poured a neat drink of whiskey on both.

"I don't drink"

"Well, no Law will stop you"

Kane moved the glass towards Zach, he grabbed the glass and swirled the alcohol around. He took a whiff of the whiskey and it smelled like biscuits or bread. He touched the glass with his lip and took a sip. The roof of his mouth started to feel tingly, and as he swallowed a warm feeling fell down through his neck. He started to cough and Kane can only laugh at him.

"You'll get used to it"

He then finished the whole glass and put it down on the table, Kane offered but he has to decline.

"Well... about the brutes"

"The br- yeah tell me all"

"The brutes as the name suggests are angry people, they demand half of our supplied on a monthly bases, and like earlier since they saw us.. they demand half of our spoils"

"Was killing them justifiable?"

"The brutes , are not the community that we are facing as a whole"

"Okay, so what?"

"The brutes are those loud bastards that we killed"

"With the supplies?"

"The supplies were gunpowder"

"No wonder"

"Yep.. so"

He stood up and mentioned the community that they are up against. He walked to the back of the room and grabbed a boar. Zach moved out of the way as Kane dragged the wooden board. The map of Arizona highlights over 5 communities, but the primary ones that Kane will tackle are Tacna and Gila bend.

"Gild Bend, we call em bandies, they sent those Brutes because they hate em"

"I do not follow"

"They send the Brutes because they hate them"

"You just repeated it?"

"Those Brutes cause problems to the Town"

"Okay"

"They do not care killing all those crazies as long as the people that matters are still alive.. those Brutes created their own settlements"

He then turned to the bored and encircled a small area, a community south of Gila Bend.

"We counted 50 of them over them trying to make it their home"

"What will you do?"

"Let em do their thing and nick it from them"

"That's a bit rude?"

"Is it?"

"Yeah, maybe we can help them"

"They will not accept, weren't you listening? They'd rather be high as a motherfucker than accept help"

"oh, so live em alone and then-"

"Take over, morals are set aside when it means survival, you get it right?"

"Yeah"

After the small talk Zachary took a breather and stepped out of the office, he looks as the whole town starts to prepare for something. Everyone stares at him and he can feel it burning through him. He walked to the gate where the explosion happened in order to see it, he can still feel their stare. Some even look close up to him. Kane approaches him slowly.

"What are you really here for Zach?"

"I'm a Vagabond, no home... tomorrow I'll leave"

"We can't let you that"

"Why?"

"We told you too much"

"And do you think they'll believe If I tell them?"

"Are you planning to tell them?"

"No"

The people starts to surround him. He starts to feel uncomfortable, their faces glued on him.

"...."

"Well?"

"Okay, I'm looking for someone"

"...."

"Uhm, actually... no"

Zachary starts to run into the crowd pushing everyone in front of him. He slows down and successfully steals a dirt bike, not knowing how to drive it he just did what ever he can. The vehicle fires up and little did he know he is already riding. Andre aimed his sniper at him, Zachary is going on a straight line a clear shot. Andre still puts down the weapon.

"All right, we lost him... back to work, we're heading north tomorrow see what's up there"

They all celebrated. Zachary drives down and starts to see Ajo. As the night starts to loom in and the desert air freezes he follows the road down to the community. He just realized that he does not have anything, he starts to feel hungry and thirsty as he fell down on his dirt bike.