Mandy - Grocery Store. Walker, LA - June, Anastasia, & Cricin

Mandy read the note from June about Anastasia and nodded understanding why there was such a problem for the pair of them to understand each other. She turned to Anastasia and smiled brightly at her, held out her hand for a shake, hoping that gesture was understood by the girl.

Victor - Roof of the Grocery Store. Walker, LA - Augusta, & Malcolm

Victor thanked Augusta and Malcolm for their help, then started setting up for making dinner. Out of his bag he pulled a nice set of knives, that were not used to kill zombies ever thank you very much.

"Mind bringing the food up with you?" He called down to June.

Samantha - Baton Rouge Streets - Liam

Samantha had little to no hesitation as soon as Liam agreed to go back to the hotel. They had left a while back and luckily remained unseen with no followers.

"Can you.... Can you tell me exactly what happened? If you don't want to, could you tell me how you guys found Scarlett? Did she say anything about what had happened to her before?" Sam looked down at the young boy as they walked back tot he hotel. The streets had a little more movement than normal. Undead shuffling around here and there. Something must had happened to draw their attention. Fortunately, the two were able to go either around to another street or through some back alleyway. Samantha wanted to keep hidden, leaving no trail behind them, which meant they had to keep the killing of undead to a minimum.

"We'll just be going in for the stuff. We'll be back at the apartment before Abram even notices." She looked over at the boy and smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. She wondered what Scarlett's relationship was to this boy. Was she close to him or distant? It didn't really matter. Samantha told herself that she'd look after him until they got her sister back, but just him. She made no promises for the man named George.

Tremblay - Plaza - Katie/Scarlett/Floyd/Jess/Tremblay Community

A few days had passed since Tremblay questioned both Floyd and Jessalyn about their knowledge of Tyler. Neither had given him much information, but that hadn't necessarily been what Tremblay was looking to get from them. He never indicated to either of them that he had the man locked up, neither did he tell them why he questioned them at all. After leaving them to get settled into the community together, he'd given no indication to anyone what he planned to do.

The plaza was abuzz with activity, Tremblay having let it known that most work was cancelled for the day. He ensured that everyone would be at the plaza for his announcement, which no one was sure what it would be about. Those who were in the know figured it had to do with the growing tensions between Tremblay and Richard, but the man had let no in on that info. That is, except for Matt and Jon, who he had attending him while the parking lot was made a gathering place for the community-- workers and citizens alike. Dusk had fallen, and barrels were placed in the center of the plaza to light fires to illuminate the meeting. Tremblay was in good spirits, for he wanted this to be a large spectacle. The only community members not in attendance were KK and the younger children. Tremblay had ensured Katie would be with them, a locked door between her and the event outside.

As the group died down to listen to their leader, Tremblay's eyes locked on Jess'. He smiled at her. "Everyone, we have a very important matter to attend to," he boomed in a voice surprisingly free of his usual accent. It was a voice Tremblay had practiced well, for he was confident people listened better when he sounded more American. "There are a kind of people you all are aware exist in this world. When my friends and I came upon your doorstep, we sought to stop the fighting and force everyone involved to act like civilized human beings! Our efforts had not gone to waste, as we united the two warring groups of Baton Rouge and made an alliance. As some of you are aware, this alliance has been... strained, as of late. Richard Treis is an uncouth man, willing to kill others based solely on his selfish prejudices and desires. He represents the kind of people I hate to see in this world... And yet, they are numerous."

Taking a deep breath, Tremblay moved to the side of the stage and gestured to someone in the buildings to the right. The crowd waited for something to happen, but Tremblay continued talking regardless. "It's these kinds of people that threaten to destroy society. To ensure our future, I don't believe any longer that peace is a suitable solution." As Tremblay spoke, it became apparent why he had gestured a moment ago. From the buildings came two of his guards practically dragging a man into the parking lot. Though the bandages on his leg had been cleaned and made to look presentable, the bruises and scaring on his face indicated that he had been poorly treated recently. Tremblay looked toward Scarlett, who he'd allowed to attend this event. Once she recognised him as Tyler, he knew she would act out. Regardless, he continued, saying, "You all may not understand why I'm calling for such drastic measures. You may not understand the brutality of these kinds of people. I have brought to you all today, someone who is evil to their very core. Someone who represents everything we should be against." Jon and Matt would step aside as the two guards pushed Tyler down to his knees before the group, the light of the fires illuminating his worn out expression.

"I could give a very long list of the atrocities this man has committed, but I would like to back up my claims by giving a few members of our community the moment to speak on this man's character. I know a few here are well acquainted with the man, and I would like you to make clear why we can't continue to tolerate his existence any longer."

Monica - Dilapidated House - Emma/Ellis

It was early in the morning when Monica awoke Emma. The older woman gave the girl a pleasant smile as she stirred awake. "Hey," she said. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me in some supply gathering. I'd rather you did it than Ellis, though I understand if you're still too hurt." The pair of them had shared an awkward conversation with Ellis the day before, the boy having not said too much to them. Monica had told him she'd like him to watch their supplies while they were gone, though in truth, they really didn't have many supplies worth guarding. Monica simply didn't feel comfortable having the boy watch her back.

"Biter activity is low in this city, at least."

Day Before The Rally

"...and that's when he shot all of them. They felt no pain, just....I don't know. I blinked as they fell to the floor, one by one. There is no forgiveness for people like him. I will kill him. I will kill Tremblay too, and anybody who threatens us from this point forward. I said before we had to become the monsters. That WE had to change in order to survive..." Hank paused for a second, his face overlapped by a scolding shadow. "I'm just sorry that we didn't change any sooner"

Floyd sat on the wooden floor of the house's porch. He looked up at Hank as the man spoke, sometimes letting his eyes escape to the side. He could just imagine what Hank had to see, the things he endured in those final days in captivity. He had arrived in the community a day after Floyd. There was an inner struggle building up inside the leader, a self worth battle against uncertainty. It seemed all Hank felt was anger and the desire for revenge. Despite him saying it was for survival, Floyd disagreed. Hank just wanted an escape from reality and step into the shoes of a stronger being. He wanted control for once - something he had not achieved since they stepped foot in Baton Rogue. Him and the others had been in inferior positions where they had to beg for their lives. Being put in that desperate position dehumanized Hank. It was sad.

"Not all of these people are bad. Some are actually good people" Floyd stated quietly. Hank looked down at Floyd, crossing his arms as he laid on the houses wall. "I don't want to hurt everyone Floyd. Just those that hurt us. Tremblay brought us here. He's as bad as the rest of them, I feel it. Look around. Guards with guns standing at all the exits? They're not letting us go that's for sure. It's simple. We fight them from the inside. Maybe round up people who stand against him, start a civil war."

Though Floyd was tired of fighting, he trusted Hank. So biting his bottom lip, the man nodded in agreement. "Yeah" he merely whispered, pushing himself up off the ground. Floyd then started going towards the entrance of the house, planning to talk to Jess. She had already been introduced to Hank. Before he could entered, Hank placed his hand on Floyd's shoulder. "We will get out of this, I promise"

Inside the home, Floyd headed to the kitchen where Jess was stationed with her little boy. He walked in and let his hip lay on the counter on the other side of her. He looked around for a bit, remembering that old house they had stayed at and what happened that same night. The kitchen looked similar, but had its differences, such as the window near the sink and the wooden cabinets on the walls. Anyhow, Floyd wasn't there to take a view of the scenery, he was there to speak with Jess.

"We'll get out of here soon. Hank has a plan. I trust em" Floyd started, looking at her one second, then down at the floor the next. Since he was reunited with her, everything seemed to have changed. Their relationship wasn't like it had been, but they weren't too far gone. Floyd felt as though he owed her for what happened. He left and she had to endure childhood and possible danger. Because Abram wasn't around, Floyd could only believe she had to survive on her own and everything she endured was on him. "How's he doin?" he asked in regards to Ben. He looked like a healthy child despite his circumstances.

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Two Days Before The Rally

"We were all supposed to come, but they didn't want all of us" Floyd continued, letting Alison listen. He was a bit more open with her because she seemed to actually care. She promised him that everything he had to say wouldn't leave the room and Floyd trusted her. It was usually hard to gain Floyd's trust, but this was different. She seemed to be the only one around the community that didn't want anything from him. Alison said that all she wanted was to help.

"How long did you know them for?" she asked, her voice not pushy or anything. The woman didn't even bother asking questions she knew Floyd wouldn't answer. He job was initially to report to Tremblay about all of her findings, but she was going against protocol at this point. She wasn't even supposed to do these kinds of things - counselling. She was a physical therapist, that was all. Sometimes though, she couldn't help but connect with her patients - who in this case - were also her neighbors.

"I don't know" Floyd finally answered honestly. Keeping track of time was pointless in this day in age. All that was important was doing what they had to do today in order to be alive tomorrow. Alison then wheeled herself across the room and got closer to Floyd. Slowly she started to reach forward with her hand as she spoke. "I'll do what I can. I'll speak to Tremblay and try and get him to get your friends" she stated, her hand now on Floyd's thigh. The man turned to her and made eye contact. He then bit his bottom lip and stood up quickly, forcing Alison to back sit up in her chair. Floyd fled to the door.

"Thanks doc" he said before exiting and shutting the door behind him.

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Day Of The Rally

Floyd wasn't really comfortable being surrounded by this many people, especially since he followed Jess to the front near the podium. He looked left and right at all the people gathered for Tremblay's little game. Their shoulders bumped into Floyd's which made the man fuss at every touch. He looked around for Hank, but couldn't see the man anywhere - understanding why he hose not to attend. Floyd didn't want to go either, but had to keep an eye on Jess, protect her. The noise was uncomfortable too, people talking and murmuring about without the realization of what was going on.

It all fell silent when Tremblay appeared before everyone, immediately starting his speech. Everything he was saying seemed to echo the things Hank had said to him the day before. There was a difference though, and that was that Tremblay was not so conform with the survival of everybody, merely his communities. It sounded as though he would sacrifice one if it meant the survival of the rest. There was no sense of mercy coming from him. He was not a good man.

"Let's go" Floyd said after seeing Tremblay make eye contact with Jess. All of a sudden though, guards came out to meet Tremblay on the stage. They had a man forced into their grasp and dragging him onto the podium. Floyd's brow pinched at the sight of the man they held. He turned towards Jess with squinted eyes. Then his gaze returned to Tyler - the unfortunate bastard. He now knew why Tremblay had asked them to give intel on Tyler - information that would be used against him at this exact moment. Floyd was now not so obliged to leave. It's not that he wanted too see what was to happen to Tyler, but needed to make out if his gut feeling about Tremblay was right. If Tremblay killed Tyler now, he would most likely split his own community in half and help Hank build an internal struggle.

Scarlett - Plaza - Floyd/Jess/Tremblay Community

Reluctantly, after being with Katie for several days helping her and tending to her wound, Scarlett had left the young child's side to attend some type of a speech that the Tremblay man had wanted to give the community. According to KK, it was something important, although she really never specified. Still, the woman assured her that Katie would be fine with the other children, allowing Scarlett the slightest peace of mind.

Amongst the many people, Scarlett felt awkward and out of place. There was still a lot of anger and fear in her but it had died down a bit since the first day they had arrived. Seeing that people were tending to her and Tyler's daughter had helped her calm down, but the anxiety of not knowing what had happened to Tyler never ceased. The young, blonde, woman hugged herself as she peered around, studying everyones faces. The sound of Tremblay's voice was what snapped Scarlett out of her paranoid state and forced her to look up.

The man spoke of someone named Richard, which quite frankly, meant nothing to Scarlett. She had came hoping for something of importance and yet here this man was, rambling about some sort of threat to him and this community. At least that's what she thought. It wasn't until Tremblay gestured to some buildings that Scarlett had actually began to pay attention. It was as if she already knew what was coming but she would have never been able to mentally prepared herself. The shock of seeing Tyler being dragged by the two men left her frozen, mouth agape, and eyes wide. She couldn't find it in her to form words nor to blink her eyes. As the men walked over with Tyler to the front of the group, Scarlett found herself moving forward. Her body seemed to have been working on its own accord and her brain was having to play catch up. She pushed past several people before she was at a full out run, soon forcefully shoving people out of her way.

"Tyler!?" Scarlett finally found her voice after having maneuvered her way around a guard, shouting at him 'don't fucking touch me' and ran past them to drop down to her knees in front of Tyler. She had felt many eyes on her but the ones that caused her to look up were Tremblay's. She glared intensely at him for a brief moment before looking back down at Tyler and reaching up, hesitating to touch him. "I'm so sorry.... Oh my god I'm so sorry." She wanted to reach out and hug him, or to place her hands on each side of his face and just hold him there, but she just merely knelt in front of him with her hands up to him but not touching him. "Katie..... Katie's safe." Her voice was a quiet whisper as she answered a silent question that she knew he would ask if given the chance. She didn't know what to do. Once again, the woman was stuck in a difficult spot. She did not want to make empty promises that she would get him out of there alive, nor that she would get revenge for him because that would ultimately lead to her death.

Recalling Tremblay's last bit of his speech, Scarlett looked at Tyler, making sure to lock eye contact with him. She had wanted to believe that his past would not be something that mattered to her. That it would be something that had happened and that he was going to leave behind him so that he could be a better father like he had told her, and she would not pry. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but after seeing how many times his past had come back to their small group, it left Scarlett with many unanswered questions. "Tyler.... Why do these men want you dead? What did you do?"

Jessalyn, Ben - Compound - Change

Floyd and Jess had been settled inside a house within the compound. If she ignored the guards at the gates with guns and being held against their will Jess could almost pretend they were in their own home as a family. Floyd was made to work by Tremblay but Jess hadn't been made to do anything as of yet. She wondered if it was because she had a baby or because she was getting special treatment for some reason.

She was in the kitchen working on some dinner for them, real dinner that included fish that had been caught and vegetables from the garden the compound had cultivated by using one of the buildings as a greenhouse. Ben was in a sling around her chest, sucking away on a pacifier that KK had given her along with the pack of baby supplies. Jess had accepted it begrudgingly, only because she knew Ben needed it.
Floyd came in and Jess felt herself thanking God again for bringing them back together. Sometimes she was afraid that it was all a dream and she would wake up again seperated from him. And even though he hadn't been as... friendly to her as before, her thoughts and feelings about him hadn't changed. She found herself at times feeling jealous of the girl, Imogen, that had been brought here with him. Was there something between them? Had Floyd met another woman somewhere and lost his feelings for her?
But when those thoughts came Jess had to push them away. There was no time for worrying about things like that. Maybe, after a little bit, Floyd would come around again and things would be as they were. She hated it when things changed.

Floyd came in and she looked up at him with her customary warm smile that she always had for him. It faltered a bit when he mentioned Hank and she nodded. She had met Hank alright. Hank scared her. There was something... dangerous about him. He was like a man at the end of a long rope, about the jump off the edge of sanity and hang himself.
But if Floyd trusted him Jess knew she had to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Her smile came back as she turned to give Floyd a good veiw of Ben. "He's got his pacifier and is hanging from his portable milk machine so he is content for now. I'm making dinner for us. It'll be ready soon," she said, taking his hand briefly before turning back to the food.

-------------------

Jess stuck close to Floyd in the large crowd. She didn't like this. It have her a bad feeling. She had left Ben napping inside the house in his crib. Tremblay had given them keys to the house and had assured her that she and Floyd had the only keys so she felt comfortable leaving Ben there for a little bit.
But this gathering, what was this about? A crowd in front of a stage was never a good thing. The last time she'd been in something like this Bruce had reappeared in her life. Jess swallowed hard. He was dead. He was not coming back.

Tremblay made eye contact and smiled at her Jess immediately clutched Floyd's hand. She didn't like the smile. Why was he looking at her that way?
When Floyd said they were going to go she breathed a sigh of relief but then he stopped. She looked towards the stage and gasped.

Tyler!
He looked terrible. They had treated him badly.
"Floyd," she murmured, holding on to him with both hands. Tremblay spoke about Tyler being evil and how they 'could not tolerate his existence anymore'. "This isn't right," she said only loud enough for Floyd to hear. "He did a lot of things yes, but Tremblay is no better. How can he condemn Tyler to death?"

Then a thought struck her. "Floyd," she said, suddenly very anxious. "Didn't he have a child? A daughter? You don't think... Tremblay won't have her killed... he can't."

A woman suddenly leapt from the crowd and onto the stage, kneeling before Tyler. Who was that? She hadn't been in Tyler's harem, Jess was sure. The way she looked at him... no. It wasn't possible.
But then again, what had Tyler been doing this whole time? Had he made a new group? Gotten a new following? Or was it possible that he hadn't returned to his old ways? Could someone as dark as him change?
"This isn't right," she repeated. "Something about this doesn't feel right. Something is wrong."

Levi - Under Construction Apartments - Aubrey

"Asking someone how many people they've killed is a loaded question," replied Levi. "That's not the kind of thing I ask when I'm unsure."

Levi turned around and stared at her with his arms folded. She looked helpless at the moment, and certainly not a threat. Aubrey had admitted to something truly terrible, whether she understood it or not. She had lured those victims in here, and the secrecy her own organisation kept from her was telling enough as to what was done with them.

He wanted to trust her, but she was a siren, drawing in lost souls adrift in a black ocean until their bodies were torn asunder by the jagged rocks she serenely sat upon.

"Or she's just a good person in a bad position." he thought, though he couldn't help but remain cautious. Despite his misgivings, he did not regret helping her: whatever she was, she was certainly better than the psychopath who had accosted her earlier.

"There isn't a man, woman or child left who hasn't hurt somebody. I've done my fair share of hurting, but only when my life was at risk. I don't know if I've killed anybody... I never looked back, you see."

Ellis - Dilapidated House - Emma/Monica

Ellis agreed to watch the little bit of supplies that the two had, he needed somewhere safe to rest, and this was the best he could do for now. He sat against a crumbling wall with his knees to his chest, and thoughts dancing through out him. He now had plenty of time to think about everything wrong that has happened to him, but as his forehead begun to sweat, his eyes began to blur, and he could feel the sense of another blackout.

Tremblay - Plaza - Floyd/Jess/Tremblay Community

The man's mood visibly fell at the sight of his community's reaction. They were looking at this scene with derision, though Tremblay had expected that kind of behaviour. He needed them to be stronger to do what needed to be done, but he needed this affair to end in a certain matter for that to be possible. Jon was at his side, telling him to back down, but Tremblay ignored him. "Will no one speak?" Tremblay asked, his eyes looking pointedly toward Jess and Floyd. Perhaps they were less vindictive than he assumed.

Becca stepped forward to distinguish herself from the crowd. Her arms jutted out to point at Scarlett and Tyler as if she couldn't believe the scene before her. "Mike, what the hell is this?" she asked, her voice dripping with outrage. Becca always called him Mike when she was annoyed, which was something Tremblay didn't much appreciate in front of others.

With a heavy sigh, Tremblay stepped up to Scarlett and Tyler, looking down on them dismissively. "Tyler Salem once controlled a group of people that hurt and murdered others to get what they wanted." Tremblay watched as Tyler leaned forward to grab at Scarlett, pulling her into a hug. The two guards Tremblay had on them moved to intervene, but Tremblay simply held a hand out to stop them. He doubted the girl would want anything to do with Tyler after she learned the truth. "But that's not all. This sick man kidnapped women and raped them. Every single one of them were with child after he was done with them! He let the men that worked under him take advantage of them as well! He would tell you it was necessary, but we all know that is just an excuse of an evil and deranged individual."

The crowd's dissent grew louder at this news. Some weren't sure if it was true, but if it were... none of them really had any reason not to believe Tremblay. His eyes shining red from the surrounding fires, Tremblay continued, "He had a fighting pit where men fought like animals. The catacombs where he lived will be forever stained with the blood he spilt." Tremblay looked at Matt and nodded. "And even when Tyler's group fell apart around him, he continued his violent ways. He joined a new community, only to devise a plan to send it into chaos and kill one of its leaders. This man is simply rotten. He wants to kill me right now. He wants to kill all of you."

Scarlett - Plaza - Tyler/Floyd/Jess/Tremblay Community

Tears came rushing down Scarlett's face as Tyler pulled her in for a hug. She wanted to keep the man in that embrace and disappear so that no one could hurt him anymore. She sobbed quietly as she buried her face into his neck, listening to the barely audible words that he whispered in her ear. 'Sympathize?' The word circled in Scarlett's mind as she tried to make sense of what it meant. What could Tremblay say that was so bad?

As if on cue, the man himself began to list the crimes that Tyler had committed. Scarlett's sobs ceased but the tears still streamed down her face as she began to look up at Tremblay, shaking her head at after every word the man spoke. "No.... No." She merely mouthed the words, too appalled and in shock to speak any louder. 'Why is he saying this about Tyler? This is too detailed to be made up..... What if he's lying?' Scarlett acted as if she had just asked the question out loud, backing away from Tyler before turning to look at him. "Is it true?" She lifted her hand to hold the man's face up and once she spoke, her tone had changed completely. "Tyler..... Is what this man is saying true?" She couldn't hide the sound of disgust and slight anger in voice. She spoke louder now, a bit of confidence in her words. If what Tremblay said was the truth, Scarlett wouldn't bare to look at the man in eye anymore. The same people that abducted her and her sister might have been the same people working for him..... but if Tremblay was lying, what could she do? What about the community that he apparently try to send to chaos? Scarlett looked up to see Tremblay looking at Matt, an old rage forming inside of her that had formed when Katie's rib was broken. "You want your people to believe you, yet you have your men go around and hurt innocent children? You go out and send your pretty little Matt to go out and break little girls' ribs?" She had no real purpose for making the statement, but it served well to shut him up and the rest of the people that had now formed their own little side conversations about Tyler. Now she could have the floor to herself. She wanted the truth.

The woman had many questions that needed answering but she managed to not let her rage get in the way and stuck to the main point, "Did you rape all of those women?" Scarlett was now on her feet, glaring at anyone who tried to make a move towards her. She wished people would speak up and say it was all a lie. That these people Tremblay said that were in the crowd denied the accusations and riot against the absurdity.

Tyler - Plaza - Floyd/Jess/Tremblay Community

His throat had been burned raw, his face feeling like someone was pressing down on it hard. He'd tried not to, but Tyler had done his fair share of yelling in the face of the beating Tremblay had given him. The man had wanted to know everything, and Tyler had given it all up eventually. He couldn't understand why this man hated him so much-- no, that wasn't true, Tyler could very well understand why anyone could hate him. He just didn't get why Tremblay would go so far to get here.

Now, he understood. Whoever this Richard Treis was, Tremblay wanted him gone. He sought to use this mess as a means of spurning his group into doing it. The whole thing made Tyler sick. It reminded him of Haywood. It reminded him of himself. As Scarlett began to back away in disgust, Tyler fell forward, his hands catching himself before he fell on his face. He felt as if bile was rising from his stomach, threatening to make him sick all over the pavement. The light from the fires nearby were hurting his eyes.

Scarlett asked the million dollar question: was this man lying? Though Tyler was staring at the ground, he knew she was asking him. He expected someone to speak up and say it was all true, as Tremblay seemed to have gathered people to do just that, but no one said anything. A distressing silence fell over everybody, only the crackling of the fires and Tyler's ragged breathing being heard throughout the plaza. Tyler had to answer her, but he had no idea what to say. Yes. This isn't where Tyler expected to die, but could he have expected anything less? Yes. He knew he deserved this, but it had never been in Tyler's nature to give up. Yes. "Scarlett," he croaked, looking up at her. "What this man is saying... the truth is..." Yes.

"No. He's lying. This bastard is lying!" Tyler looked up at Tremblay, a fierceness in his eyes. Tremblay only stared back impassively.

The woman who had spoken before was talking once again. "This isn't how we should be going about this, Michael. There's a better way."

Tremblay could only look around at the crowd before him. Tyler could see that his cool demeanour had vanished, replaced by a noticeable worry. "Will no one say anything?" After Scarlett's declaration, Tyler knew that no one would take Matt's words for true either. No one wanted this.

Matt - Plaza - Lot's of People

Matt stifled a yawn, standing here with all these people watching was slightly getting on his nerves. It didn't matter, Tyler was beaten on the floor. This was the end of him, finally. Fitting, Matt liked to think. Ruining so many people's lives in secrecy that he dies in front of a crowd. A live one at that. Good, the dead didn't deserve to kill him.

He deserved to kill him, but Matt decided that it was adequate enough for this to be the way. Though it was never to late to bludgeon him with a rock. Leave the stupid Daughter alone, who cared what happened to her. He wasn't a monster, just a man who had been wronged.

He watched curiously as Scarlett went up to the broken Tyler, his face contorting in glee. "Oh, I think she's in love...How romantic!" Matt commented as the scene went on, he had to suppress a laugh when Scarlett commented on him. "I'm flattered" He replied with a smirk. A thirst of revenge behind his eyes. He whispered to Jon, "She's pretty quick in changing her interest on different men" Matt head turned to Scarlett, his face turning to a concerned expression.

"You shouldn't lie...You accompany this man without bother to ask a question and you lie for him!?...Tch, Or is this for show, and you really did know these things. But just didn't care?" Matt spoke sharply.

When he was sure she was looking at him, He mouthed silently 'Plus, she was Crazy. At worst, I helped her from seriously harming you or herself...you should thank me'

He turned to the crowd, "This man is disillusioned, he had ruined countless of lives. Taken many of others, all for his little dream that he is always right. He still believes it, He will twist your words till he has a knife in your back! Never have I met someone as monstrous as him" Matt stared at a moment before giving a shrug.

Some people were so hesitant to say something...It reminded Matt of Outpost...Him among the weak. Everyone flailing...surely they would all be gone now. He and Reggie were probably the only thing holding that cluster-fuck of a place down. But once again, no one spoke. Not a sound against the man. All they had to do was speak, but of course. Useless, Weak-minded.....

While Tremblay had turned worried, Matt smile had rather gently changed. A small smirk still stayed on his face, but his eyes shouted with the need to grab Tyler by the head and gouge his eyes out.

He was going to go free, somehow he would go free and People will fight for him. Truly this had shown Matt that people were tools.

"You still believe it don't you Tyler! That somehow you are right! That somehow you needed to do all these things! That you should get another chance. That this is everyone else's fault!" Matt glare was somehow cold yet with a hint of rage coming through.

"Do you still try to slither your way out of this!?"

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Liam - With Samantha-ah-ah - Emotional bonding time

Liam huddled next to Samantha, keeping him from whatever may see them. He faintly looked up when she asked the question.

"I just found a group....and we were looking for supplies...and she just...entered. So we just went around. She didn't say much, but She told me she was separated from you. And had been looking for you..." Liam gazed at the floor. He wondered where she was at the moment...she had to be safe.

"I'm sorry....that you didn't reunite with her before she was....captured"

Tina - Apartment - Abram's Group

She was running through the apartment one last time to make sure she had everything she needed for the trip. This was likely to be the last time she'd ever see the place. It was possible she would soon part ways with both Jace and Caleb forever, and the thought broke her heart. She'd come to love them both so much. They were the family she never lost. "I'm sorry," she muttered in the living room, her hand touching at the half-finished mural she'd been painting. Field and forests of colour stared back at her, though it was the side of the painting that caused Tina's heart to ache.

"Katie," she whispered, looking over the girl's crude drawings. Tina had wanted to paint the girl and her lost friends on the mural, but she'd never got around to finishing. Now, it seemed, it would never be finished. She stared at the painting for perhaps a bit too long. She knew the others were waiting for her, so she made haste to the storage room when she came to her senses.

Rushing about the small room, Tina grabbed what she could to stash it into her backpack. She worked like a tornado, her small frame having to stand on tiptoes to reach the highest shelves. She managed to lose her balance in her rush and knocked the box of medical supplies on tot he floor. It bounced off the wall and spilled open, causing Tina to swear. With a grumble, she started to put it all back in place, but something in the wall caught her attention. It seemed that the box had knocked a panel loose in the wall-- a panel Tina hadn't been aware of. Gingerly, she removed the panel, her eyes widening at what she saw. Tina swore once again.



Without a word to anybody, Tina moved up next to Abram's window and gestured to him that she was all ready. She then climbed into Turisa's vehicle containing Leah and Liam, thankful she didn't have to share space with Adam, who was with Abram to give him directions to Outpost. Turisa would be following Abram while they drove out of Baton Rouge. Tina just hoped none of Tremblay's men spotted them on the way out.

Chae, Moksha - Main Street, Walker, LA - Ricky

"I'm sure we can find something."

Almost immediately Chae's demeanor changed. The hope of some release from... responsibility, even if it was inherently irresponsible in and of itself, was something that prompted her to at least try and regain her composure, if only to find the... now trio someplace that might have liquor.

"Let's go get sloshed, eh?" He had added, prompting an almost childishly excited gasp from Chae.

Ricky probably didn't realize how much she needed to hear that. The young woman didn't consider herself an alcoholic-- she figured people like that had much better tolerances to drink than her lightweight self could ever muster-- but she did drink. Often. What had started as a harmless college habit several years back had become something of a ritual for her in the days after the end. Her reliance on Miguel had only been part of what had kept her going this long.

Dry towns, to her, had become synonymous with what hell must have been like.

After the death of her grandmother, and the beginning of her now completely pointless trek across the south, a light buzz became an important, almost daily ally. She told herself that it wasn't a comfort thing-- that it was because she needed to be focused on staying alive, and analyzing her situation only led to pointless misery that could keep her careless. Repression, a psychoanalyst might call it. Pffft. Chae considered it an ancient and refined familial skill. So what if she needed a little extra help to avoid thinking about some things? Miguel was dead-- he wasn't even 18-- she fucked up. That's what she was, after all a fuck up.

Of course.

Failure in one life, failure in the other!

NEWSFLASH: Unemployed college drop-out; Drink, smokes, leeches off of old woman--

Then the world fucking resets! You could try to be useful, Chae... and--

And she couldn't even protect Halmonee.

Hell! She couldn't even find herself a proper group!
All she did was follow some kid with a map! For months, she just aimlessly followed some lost kid! Why make any decisions of her own? God forbid her weak shoulders bear any responsibility-- she'd collapse! Drunken comedian lady can barely handle listening to her music an walking! Just do what you did before.

Just do what you did before.

Nothing.

Well, is letting people die nothing?

Ha! She couldn't even kill herself.

But you let them die? You didn't do anything!

How long does that cat have? How long does anything you touch?

What a failur----

---"Really? I'd love to get 'sloshed,' or whatever, Ricky." Honestly, as she followed behind Ricky, a new pep in her step, she reminded herself it was better not to think about it, at least, herself. Wiping tears from her eyes, she placed Moksha, much to the kitten's chagrin, in a large empty pocket of her backpack, "Seriously man," Shaking her head, and using two hands, she viewed the map of Walker with a new clarity, "I feel better just knowing we're gonna get some booze. I really just... I don't know... I need a drink, I need to not think right now."

After wriggling about in his new cramped abode, Moksha popped his head out of a zipper hole with a squeak.

"I agree, Moki." Was Chae's immediate deadpanned response.

She continued looking over the map, and after a moment, spoke again, "There's a grocery store not too far from here," She suggested. It had taken her until now to notice just how tall Ricky was-- height had always managed to impress Chae, who herself flirted with nearing 6 feet, as she had to look upwards into his eyes she took note of the unique occurrence, "2 buck chuck on display might be gone, but people don't usually think to check out the back rooms... that's where they keep all the good shit." Tall, swarthy... and... rather handsome--- She shook the thought from her head-- "We could try a few liquor stores a few miles south, but, speaking from experience, those places get picked bone dry pretty fast..." she hadn't even started drinking yet for Christs sake! Was grief an aphrodisiac? "What do you think?"

Imogen - Plaza - Matt/Scarlett/Floyd/Jess/Tremblay Community.

It has been a rough integration for Imogen since her arrival, Just like before when she was brought into Hanks group, Imogen was struggling to integrate into this new home, She didn't speak or interact much with the community that was here long before she arrived and didn't really trust a dam person and the only one she did was Floyd. Trembley was clearly the leader of this apparent community and although he is responsible for saving there lives, She would later find out he didn't save them all, even though it probably might not of been in his power to do so, However she didn't take to him to well either, after all they were traded like cattle for supplies and are now his forced to be his workforce, But still she did her bit and got on with it but made perfectly and bluntly clear not to have any of his guards provoke or touch her or she'll knock them on there ass, that didn't go down to well, But at least she was brutally honest from the start.

But since day one Imogen had been stubborn when answering the doctors questions and rather refused being checked over despite reassuring that she was not infected was not enough and Imogen wanted to wait for Aaliyah and the rest of the group to arrive but eventually the doctors reassured her that she meant no harm and just wanted to make sure Imogen was okay and not carrying any nasty injuries and that Aaliyah could check her over when would be able once she was brought here, She hesitantly went through the medical checks and answered some questions. A day later was when she found out about the rest of the group, Well if you could even call it a group any more, Only Hank, Heather and Aiden made it back. Hank would later talk to Imogen and tell of the fate of Seth, Jennifer and Aaliyah, Of Course it no doubt hit the remainder of the group hard, But Imogen flipped and verbally went all out on Hank blaming him for some of his decisions and the price they all had paid for it, Even after a shove and a couple of slaps, how the guy just stood there and didn't snap back at her was anyone's guest but the guards intervened and persuaded her to leave and cool off.

In between then and the current charade of this big rally speech or something, Imogen had been carrying on with her work she had no choice to do, But in between those in any breaks she was allowed she tried to speak to Heather several times but the poor woman was just out there and gone, after everything that had happened to her, the things she had seen with her own eyes had become to much and she was in her best guess mute. Other times she would spend some time with Floyd and talking with him, With him see was like the Imogen the group knew and not the emotional hot headed one they had seen over the last couple of days. However she noticed he had settled into a house with another woman..... Jess, Imogen believed she heard mentioned, She remembered her from when the woman tried to get Floyd when they first arrived and had a baby, Imogen never entered the house, She couldn't help but think there was something between them, Was the child his? Either way she never really interacted with the woman. Now Hank, Well this man had the look of Thunder upon him at one point or another and although she would never show it he does have a dangerous look about him, She felt the man was changing or maybe he was still pissed at her.

And that brings everything to fold here on this night where Trembley had assembled the community to the plaza, Imogen was surrounded by many people, it was a rather big crowd but it all seemed that from the small talk and murmuring that no one really knew what was really going on, Either way Imogen did not feel comfortable being here and from what she could see from where she was standing, The woman could not really make out Floyd or anyone she knew and felt out of place and uneasy. Silence fell on the place when Tremblay spoke as he began with talking about stopping the fighting and forcing people to act like civilized beings. 'Uh hello civilization has fallen' was a thought that rang out in her head, He was certainly saying the right things to begin with. It was not until he had his men drag out some guy and force him to his knees on stage, This sent alarm bells ringing and Imogen felt the need to leave quickly.

But things seemed to slowly change from there as a woman roughly made her way through the crowd and guards to make it onto the stage and knelt down to the guy, this made Imogen decide to hang around longer despite none of this probably had nothing to do with her and see what would happen next, was the woman his partner? Trembley spoke of this man's existence could not be tolerated any more, Did Tremblay bring everyone here to watch an execution? just what kind of ship was this guy running, it was reinforcing her gut feeling of not trusting him and it appeared it was right. The crowd around her started to dissent around her, she needed to leave but Tremblay then went on to list the crimes that this man name Tyler had committed, She remembered from her time in New Orleans of hearing rumour of such thing but never witnessed it herself, but this sounded more than rumour and Imogen was disgusted and shocked but the matter is, Was it all true? The woman on stage spoke up, backed away and asked if it was true before making a statement of one of the leaders men called Matt breaking a little girls ribs. "Sweet Jesus" Imogen said under her breath, She was moving through the crowd now she was not far from the front but did not want to be in the middle of everyone, The Tyler spoke up, a fire in his voice as he claimed that Tremblay was lying and a woman in the crowd spoke up after. It was certainly getting more active now and Imogen did not want a part of it, Where was Floyd when she needed him.

Hank - Sleeping Quarters - Heather

There was a single candle lighting up the inside of the near empty room. There were two sleeping bags and then seats that were occupied by two survivors. Life had blinded them both from what they thought they've seen. It was all insanity, astray roads of unclear proportions. It had hit them both so fast and numerously.

"....I'm lost here Heather..." Hank's newly sonorous voice whispered. "...I'm trying to put it back together..." he continued as his eyes stared at her with complete desperation. The man just looked worn down and defeated, as though all the options that he could think of could not fix anything that's happened. For him there was no way out, it was all just steps to get in deeper. Hank could sense how deep Heather had already fallen, and he was following her to that abyss. "...I don't know if I can."

The man silently stood up from his chair and moved to pull the curtains to the side. He peeked slightly through the window to see a majority in the plaza. People gathered by the mere call of their leader, nobody absent but Hank and Heather it seemed. As he closed the curtains back up, he said "I can't see anything right now." His words did not imply there was anything wrong with his vision, but meant it symbolically. His lack of vision was a symbol for his inability to cope with their current situation. He wanted to escape, but there was nowhere to run.

Therefore, the only way he could cope with the pain and blame of losing friends - family - was to let it all out. Hank reached for his chair and started to drag it towards Heather until it sat right before her. He rested on it and took her by the hands - her desiring such grace or not. Silence took over the room, Hank no longer speaking, but letting his gestures speak for him. He closed his eyes and leaned forward until his head touched hers. Both their faces pointed towards the ground now, silent, still. "Please let me back in" he whispered even more peaceful than before. Deep down he was still building himself up to do the unimaginable, but wanted to believe there was someone on his side - someone that would be there when he returned.

Heather - Reality? - Hank

Voices. Shapes. Time.
They all passed before her. All meaningless.

She was poked and prodded, hit, yelled at, laughed at, moved from one place to another like a piece on a chess board. She might had been raped by their captors but in truth she didn't know. She couldn't seperate nightmares from reality anymore. That was what happened when your reality became a nightmare.

She didn't eat, barely slept, didn't move without force and didn't make a sound. If she hadn't breathed and blinked she could have been mistaken for a doll or a statue, just as lifeless.

Aaliyah... Seth... Jennifer... Imogen... Floyd... DeSean...

Gone...
All... gone...

She watched their faces go by in her mind like a neverending loop. Aaliyah's laugh... Jennifer and DeSean holding hands... Seth's shy smile... Floyd's gruff voice...

All gone now...

She had screamed herself hoarse and cried herself sick when they'd been forced to watch Aaliyah and Jennifer's deaths. One of the murderous demons had smacked her so hard she had lost a tooth. After that she'd shut down. Not even Hank could reach her. Nothing registered. It was all meaningless white noise, like she was watching static on a TV screen.
Gentle, kind Aaliyah...
Beautiful, strong Jennifer...
Gone. Their lives snuffed out quickly and brutally.

The liberation of her and Hank and been equally as meaningless to her. They were taken from one kind of captivity to another. The nurse's part of her mind recognized that she had been placed in some kind of medical area and was being observed and treated for PTSD. Some woman who thought she was a doctor tried to get her to talk about what she had been through but Heather spoke to no one. Not even Imogen. In truth Heather hadn't even recognized the girl as Imogen, but as another faceless person that wouldn't leave her alone.
They kept them together, her and Hank. He spoke to her, told her things, tried to reach her, but it was all still white noise to her. She never responded or gave an indication she even understood what he said, which she didn't. But hearing his voice every day kept her from finding a way to slit her wrists. It was her lifeboat, the one thing she recognized as familiar in the surrounding haze.

Then his voice changed. He spoke to her in desperation, wanting her to come back. It was hard to struggle back. She didn't want to. It was easier to stay in the void of white noise, of meaningless existence where nothing mattered anymore.
But the strong did not take the easy way.
So she struggled. For him, she struggled back through the white noise and the haze. She focused on his hands taking hers, on his head touching her own, on his voice guiding her back to him.

And, for the first time in days, her eyes focused.
He came into view.
"Hank..." she said, her voice nearly a whisper from disuse. When he looked at her and she was able to see his eyes her own teared up. Moving slowly, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around him, pressing her forehead against his shoulder.

They were broken, but not ruined.
They could survive.
And maybe... maybe they could live again...

Ricky - Main Street, Walker, LA - Chae, Moksha

Ricky was a little surprised at how enthusiastic Chae was to get drunk. Then again, drinking was probably one of the few ways the survivors managed to go to sleep at night now. He could understand that. He was mostly just glad he didn't need to be drunk to sleep decently at night. He didn't think it would be too bad, then, if the two of them got buzzed and relaxed for a bit. The trick, though, would be to find a safe place to do it. While he thought about that, his companion seemed to be getting more and more excited. Clearly this woman was troubled. Unfortunately, there wasn't much he could do for her.

In anticipation of having to go into a rather popular area to find something to drink, the man drew his revolver and double-checked that it was fully loaded. Then he put it away, and made sure it was tucked in front of his shirt so he could get to it if necessary. He then pulled out his knife again and shifted his grip several times, feeling nervous now that they were getting ready to go some place dangerous. His companion suggested they go check out a grocery store, and he figured that was probably a good idea. He certainly didn't think that any of the liquor stores she mentioned would have anything left. "Let's try the grocery store. I'm not convinced most people are focused on getting hammered now to begin with." he offered in reply. Then he noticed the woman staring at him, and he offered her a smile, wondering if he had something on his face.

That was pretty well a given, though, considering how much dirt there seemed to be around, these days. They reached an intersection, and he paused there to look around. "Which way?" he asked his companion, thinking it would be better to ask the woman with the map, than to try and guess. He'd gotten lost a few times due to that. Mistakes weren't so bad when there were no zombies around, but the undead had a tendency of appearing out of nowhere when people started screwing up. The last thing he wanted was to run into another group of the things, so for now, he would stick to the map, and worry about exploring later. Much later, probably, if he had his way. Once they found something to get drunk on, it would just be a matter of holing up some place for a bit. After that, he supposed they would have to make a decision. Right now, there was almost no point in planning ahead, since they could very well end up dead by the time they got to the grocery store...