The woman in front of him was scared to death of him. She was standing in front of him, begging him not to take her life. He had never really had something like this happen in front of him. Of course, he has seen many people beg for their lives but usually it was being said by people towards CoG soldiers. He has never considered it happening to him. Is he really that cold and scary looking that he could make a person crap in fear? He’s been out in this wasteland on his own for years now that he had never really considered it. Then again, he has never cared what people think of him but he’s not that cold to take an innocent life. He’s a scarred survivor, not a psychopath. He gives a sigh and holsters his fire axe.

“For fuck’s sake, will you stop your bloody begging? I’m not going to kill you,” he then looks to his right to see her crowbar right beneath the side of his feet. He then picks it up and gives it to the girl as sort of small gesture of good will that he doesn’t mean to kill her. She was right about that, that he wasn’t a murderer but he feels quite annoyed that it was quite apparent to her. Darren wants to show off a cold look to ward of psychopaths and people who plan to kill and loot him. He can’t afford not to die in this place and to truly survive you have to look like you would kill a hundred men just to live. However, it doesn’t really matter at this current moment. He knows that he isn’t a murderer. However, he never wanted it to be so cold as too make an innocent survivor beg for her life. He then reaches into his backpack and takes an apple out. He then offers it to the girl who looked like she had wet herself in fear.

“Here, take this and stop crying,” the apple sat on his hand as his arm extended towards her. He’s never been one to give food to other survivors but he just made her crap a brick in terror, so he might as well compensate her with something. He doesn’t exactly know why she was running but he hopes it was for the same reason as him, towards the peculiar noise. However, life is never always that kind. He looks around in caution. The last thing he wanted was a gunshot soaring through the back of his head. He hopes lady luck doesn’t try to screw him over this time around.

Rachael looked up at the man whom spared her. The crowbar she took without hesitation, any weapon is better than no weapon. His nonchalant attitude surprised her for a moment, even at a time like this, he had the confidence to hand a stranger a weapon.I guess I have the same look in my eyes as he does, she thought as she looked down at the weapon. The man reached behind him for something, she assumed it was another tool used for killing, but it wasn't, it was a small green apple. She looked at the spotless apple for a few moments, throwing away her fear of death for the time being," Where'd you get this?" she paused as she grabbed it and examined it a little more," I thought all these fruits were long gone, must have been off a survivor who looted a farm or something, have you ate already? is it safe?" She didn't even wait for a reply before taking a big bite out of the luscious green apple. The juices inside of it had dried up a bit, but the flavor of the apple hadn't changed all this time." It's been so long since i had an apple I almost forgot that they were my favorite fruit. If you'd like I can swap some foods with you...I have a few canned beans and a stick of beef jerky left, how's that?" She took another bite of the nostalgic apple as she remembered why they were talking in the first place. "Where are you going in such a hurry? Nobody runs through the forest as such speeds unless they're running away from something..." Bit's of apple and apple juice spat as she spook, some of the salvaged juices inside the fruit were now dripping down her chin.

The scared woman took the apple from his hand and inspected it for anything remotely poisonous. In these times it was a smart thing to do but to Darren’s eyes, it was rather pointless. If he really wanted to kill her he would have down the moment he set his eyes upon her. She took a large bite out of the apple and started ravaging it around her mouth. It was as if she had never eaten an apple in her life. There was one thing Darren noticed about her was that she talks a lot. So many questions came shooting out of her mouth. He wanders if she was some sort of journalist before all this. However oddly, Darren didn’t seem too bothered by this. It was almost welcome out here. Not many people, including himself, have much to say to each other. It’s almost as if not much has gotten her down.

Darren then proceeded to answer her many questions. “I found it on a tree. They’re not exactly long gone. Civilization has fucked off but Mother Nature has decided to stick around,” he then holsters his fireaxe onto his back. He wouldn’t be needing it for the moment as this girl doesn’t seem to pose any threat. “Of course it’s safe to eat. If I wanted to fucking kill you, I would have dug my axe into your skull.” The girl then started to try to offer some sort of compensation in returned but all Darren could focus on was her eating with her mouth full and dripping everywhere like a damn five year old. It started to annoy him.

“For fuck sake, stop dribbling everywhere, you’re not a goddamn baby!” As he takes his small cloth off of his satchel belt, he starts to wipe the pieces of crumbs like as if she was a small child and he was her father. Suddenly in that one small moment he nostalgically saw himself as a father again. His paternal memories that he had kept so hard to lockdown in his mind was slightly opened a little to let a memory out. He see’s himself feeding his little girl Sophie many years ago. It was a happy memory feeding her; it was one of those few minuscule moments where he felt like a father. He then rushed back to reality and stepped back a little, stopping wiping the girl’s chin altogether. He’s never been paternal since the whole thing began. He couldn’t believe that he had witnessed something that he had long forgotten. An expression of disbelief and shock came to his face. Paternal instinct was extinct to him and yet it had shown it’s hidden face for a small moment. It was unbelievable to Darren.

“Umm…Sorry about that…I’m sure you can wipe your face yourself,” nervously replied Darren. He then shakes his head to bring himself back to his senses and speak normally back to the girl. “No, you can keep your stuff. I’ve already got some supplies.” He then picks his back pack up from the ground and closes. He proceeded to place it on his back. “I wasn’t running away, I was running too a gunshot that came from right over those trees.” He then continued to point towards some trees in the near distance. “It’s not that far and I’m away to check it out.” He then starts walking slowly towards the direction but he then stops and turns around. “You’re welcome to come along.” This was an odd action by Darren. Usually he would never bring anyone with him on his journeys but something about this girl doesn’t make him want to isolate her. He almost wants to thank her strangely. For the first time in a long time, he feels almost…Paternal.

Out of the thicket of trees he'd been originally watching for this attack from, a man stepped into the clearing, a man with a strong face and feral eyes that instantly put Cid on guard as he watched him approach, followed by a more cautious looking companion. He chose to ignore the second man, meeting the fierce gaze of the Wolf. "Well, depends if you were friends with this idiot." He said, finally. He took a long drag from the cigarette, watching. With his other hand, he lifted his pistol, but didn't aim it, showing it to the two. "Don't take another step, just yet, man. What are you looking for out here?" He squeezed his gun tightly. Elated to hear a response. He indicated with a thumb the body behind him. "If it's this guy, feel free to take a hike on down the road, there are more of his cult nearby."

He looked at the second man, seeing the fear in his eyes as Cid and his companion squared off. He decided to at least try to be a little kinder, hoping to not frighten these two men into another deadly encounter. He definitely didn't feel strong enough, after only minutes before fighting another man to the death, and something about the stance and eyes in the face of the Wolf told him that the man was sure to mercilessly kill him if only he gave him a reason to. "If you're hungry, I've got some soup inside. It's still warm, too." He said, not lowering the gun any further but hopefully implying he would if these two were friendly passerby. "Heheh, and hey, the only thing you'll eat, if you're Children like this fucker, is a bullet. Don't even think of trying to steal my shit either." He looked around, flicked his half-finished cigarette away, and waited for an answer.

Hopefully, his encounter with these three men today wouldn't mean a change in his regular, mostly solitary life. This was definitely the most people he'd seen in a day in months, and he scowled, remembering about a week ago when some sweet-looking girl had broken into his compound and almost made off with a bag full of his produce, only hours later he'd sent her off with some veggies for her 'and my friend back at the apartment.' Fuck it, he had more but the situation had made him tense since, and being attacked by that scout and now being accosted by these two mysterious men was pushing him. "What were you expecting to find here?" He said, slowly looking into the eyes of the Seer, oddly drawn by some sense of mystery.

The Wolf locked eyes with this new man, listening to what he had to say before saying "Do we look like Children of God to you? Armed with a baseball bat and a kitchen knife in raggedy old clothes? Come on, you have to know better than that. If you want more proof I can show you the fact that I have no tattoo on my arm but I think I've made my point clear." His eyes were still locked on the man, inflamed with a sort of passion toward protection. The Wolf then lowered his weapon a bit after the promise of food. Yes it was still risky for him to become completely disarmed but it didn't seem like this guy was going to hurt them at all. "We have no intention to steal any of your stuff, we've only stolen from those who have recently vacated this world as I'm sure you have as well."

The Seer looked at the man and hesitantly brought his knife to his side, he too was no longer as frightened as he was before, though there was obviously some lingering dread at the true intentions of the person who stood before him. Upon being asked of his expectations for this trip into the wild known as Central Park, The Seer realized it was his turn to speak but he didn't really have an answer. "We're looking for other people, the last people we saw were all Children of God." He said. "It's a bit of a long story but if you wish to know the extent of what we're trying to accomplish I would be happy the explain it to you over soup." His voice was deep and almost seemed a bit foreboding but he had good intentions. Including the dead man he had found in the forest, all of the people he had seen in the past 2 months had been Children of God, so it was nice for The Seer to find someone that may actually be able to help them in some meaningful way.

---

The Children of God

After what felt like a long time, the skinny man and the man known as Mike came to the room where Sarah and Matt were hiding. "Man, I really hope this isn't a bust, I mean I know we already got a few yesterday but there has to be somebody here man. What do you think Mike?" The skinny man said to his friend as he clicked the door open before hitting it with the butt of his gun so that it swung out and hit the wall beside it.

"We'll find someone I'm sure, you'll have your fun Steph, don't worry about it." Mike said as he glanced into the room Matt was hiding in before turning around to go check around somewhere else.

"I'm not worried about it, it's just fucking boring, that's all man." The man known as Steph said as he walked towards the room Sarah was hiding in. He opened this door a little slower and as he looked in a malicious grin appeared across his face. He instinctively raised his gun to point at the woman he found hiding in the room.

Matt heard the door smash into the wall and closed his eyes, trying to stay calm. They were here. Hopefully Sarah would last. She seemed like the kind of person who would avoid fighting at all cost, even if it meant giving up, and that was going to cost far too much. He didn't know if the CoG's were into torture, but he wouldn't put it past them. He heard two sets of boots walk into the apartment and stop. They didn't seem in any particular hurry and were moving slowly through the flat. He pulled the magnum from his holster as slowly and smoothly as possible, even though his common sense was screaming at him. If the intruder saw the front of the gun, he would know it was unloaded. Matt's only chance was to catch him from behind.

"We'll find someone I'm sure, you'll have your fun Steph, don't worry about it," a voice called a few moments later. Matt heard the boots approach the room and he pressed himself against the wall behind the door. The man would step inside. Matt would close the door and jam the revolver into his neck. Hopefully the man wouldn't fight back against a revolver muzzle pressed against his skull. Matt could negotiate his way out from there. Hopefully.

Matt saw a head poke into the room. He bent his knees, counting to five....four...three...tw- Matt blinked, slowly realizing that the soldier hadn't bothered to enter the room. He had glanced in and turned to the other one. He heard the door open and the boots cross into the other bedroom. Sarah! Matt was just about to run for her room when, to his surprise, he heard her speak.

Sarah had changed tactics completely. She knew a closed door wouldn't stop a CoG, and she knew there was nowhere to hide in the room. The bed sat on the floor, the closet was full and the window had no drapes. She would have attacked the first person to enter the room, but she had heard two pairs of boots. If she beat one of them, the other would shoot her. She threw both ideas out and instead decided to play one enormously dangerous bluff.

The door creaked open behind her. Sarah turned, facing a tall, evil-looking man in full CoG attire, including a rifle. He grinned, seeing her as an opportunity. It was now or never. Sarah swallowed her fear, straightened up and saluted, displaying the jacket and emblem. Without hesitating, she recited the oath of the Children of God in a steady, angry voice.

"Well look who FINALLY decided to show up! Where have you been?! Didn't you notice I was gone??"

The man stared at her, unsure of whether to return the salute or laugh. The bluff was working for now. The more aggressive she could be, the better. Sarah crossed her arms, scowling.

"I was sent out here last weekend. Didn't find anyone inside. On the way back out, I met a leopard. It's still out there, somewhere, and it almost killed me." She sighed in frustration, looking at her jeans. "It shredded my pants, so I had to find a new pair. I've been stuck in this stupid apartment for DAYS. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is, Steph? I thought we were BETTER than that!"

Matt was speechless, as was the other man. Suddenly he became angry. She was one of them! It had all been a lie! He had called for Amie when he opened the apartment. That's how Sarah knew her name. She was a CoG all along. Now he has three targets. For now, he decided to wait and see how the man would react.

After a few minutes Steph began to chuckle to himself. Mike had come to try to find out what was going on in that room and he just looked at Sarah confused. Steph turned to him and said "Mike, go get Maria and come back here, we need to converse with our 'comrade' here." He said with a bit of a laugh at the end.

"Are you sure you want me to do that man, I mean shouldn't we just wait." Mike said in reply.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about it." Steph said with a grin before Mike decided to turn and make his way out of the room. Steph turned back to the woman who was sitting there. "Strange that you act like we've met but I don't think I've ever seen you before. And you don't seem to have your dogtags, so what is your name, rank, and squad?" He said as he moved closer to her. He stood directly in front of her, placing his gun inches below her chin. "You know what, forget your name." He said with a large smile on his face. He raised his arm with his forearm exposed, the Children of God tattoo in full view, with dried drops of blood standing out against the black tattoo. "Show me yours. If you're really one of us, you'll have one like the rest of us. If not, I think you'll find that impersonating a Child of God will get you more than just a swift execution." His grin is wide, he's really enjoying this.

Sarah screamed at herself inside. How was she supposed to know they had tattoos? Her chances of convincing him were extremely slim, and they all hinged on a black emblem that she didn't have. She didn't hear Matt and couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't shown up to help. Maybe he was afraid too? Either way, her life was in her hands, and she wasn't about to let someone take it away.

She sighed again and rolled her eyes, as though the whole process was a waste of time. "Fine, whatever. If it makes you- look out!" She cried, widening her eyes and pointing over his shoulder. Steph turned instinctively, disregarding Sarah for only a second. It was all the time she needed. Sarah had hidden the baton in her right sleeve, the handle facing down, holding it with her wrist. The instant he turned, she dropped the baton into her hand, flicking her wrist and extending it to its full 20" length.

Steph immediately realized he had fallen for the oldest trick in the book. Furious, he turned again just in time to see the baton whip into his left thigh. The impact sent a shock wave all the way to his head. He yelled in pain, dropping to one knee, then lunging forward, determined to take this girl down. Sarah was already prepared, stepping back and changing her footing for a swing in the opposite direction.

Matt had heard the yell of pain. He realized Sarah had attacked the other man. Maybe she was only pretending to be one after all? He stepped out of the door and looked into the room. Sarah's eyes were blazing, her teeth bared and her body in a combat stance. The man known as Steph barely got off his knees when Sarah swung again, hitting him in the lower jaw. Matt winced as he heard a bone snap. Steph fell against the wall, blood dripping from his shattered jaw. Sarah didn't even give him a chance. Changing stances once more, she fired one last swing at Steph.

Straight into his throat.

The blow crushed his windpipe instantly. Steph reached for his collar briefly, trying to reach his neck, then hit the ground hard. He was dead. Matt couldn't help but stare at the body. Sarah has literally beaten a man to death. He looked up at her as she snapped the baton closed and shoved it into her belt. She grinned.

"Sorry for lying." She pointed at the dead man. "I was trying to...convince..." he face fell, as the realization of her actions hit her. She clamped both hands over her mouth to keep from hyperventilating. Matt rushed forward and grabbed her, sitting her down on the bed. Her eyes were dilated and she was sweating heavily. He grabbed her shoulders and shook them.

"Sarah! Stay with me! Hey, focus! They're still here. We need to go, okay?"

Sarah couldn't even look at him. She was almost in shock.

"I killed him," she murmured over and over again. "I killed him I killed him I killed him I-"

"Sarah!" Matt hissed, pulling her head towards his and forcing eye contact. "We. Have. To. Go. Stay with me, okay?" He paused. No response. "Okay??"

Sarah nodded slowly, her eyes slowly filling with tears. She let him help her to her feet and, one arm over his shoulder, lead her from the room and resting her against a wall. She closed her eyes, trying to stay calm but overrun with emotion. She was a killer. How could this happen??

Matt ransacked the house and body as quickly as possible. He loaded his satchel with food and bottled water, then slung the rifle over his shoulder, pocketing the ammunition without examining it. He grabbed the terrified girl by the arm. "Come on. Let's get out of here before his friends show up."

Sarah nodded slowly, and they both headed for the stairs.