The Hilton Hotel Union Station Store Room
St. Louis Missouri
Present Day

Luke Porter had been calling this store room in the Hilton home for a little over four days. Granted it wasn't exactly Graceland but it had four walls, a ceiling, an emergency light system with working lights, and a door. Compared to some of the other places he had been this was a suite and there were plenty of things to use as weapons if needed and supplies to make things a little more bearable. Luke pulled out his survival knife, some sticks he picked up a long the way, and began carving up some more arrows.

The building was so quiet it was easy to tell if there was someone or something in the building. It was just the way Luke wanted life on his terms and not having to worry about anything or anyone else. Although that wasn't usually the case about six weeks ago he and another fella by the name of Ryan Bishop traveled together. They basically did The Lone Ranger and Tonto routine which was helping others when they could and then moving on. Until they hit Chicago and they met up with a woman by the name of Candice. 
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Candice and Luke found that they had a lot of common interests, but Ryan wasn't sure about her. Luke had the same feeling too, but he had been living the life of a nomad four years prior to the outbreak. He was ready to stop moving and plant some roots for a while, but Ryan wanted to move on so the two men parted company with no hard feelings. 

Luke remembered that he and Candice had things going pretty good with one another for a time. They were living in a cabin just off of Lake Michigan and it seemed that Luke had finally found a place to call home. That was until Luke began noticing Candice was sneaking out at night. She said she was going to gather supplies, and have some alone time. One night Luke followed her and that was the night Luke realized Ryan had been right all the time. Candice was luring people into her cabin, gaining their trusts, and then at some point drugging them. Once the person woke up they discovered that they had been given to an Overlord in an outpost as a slave, and Candice would get a cut of the poor sap's goods.

Luke made his way back to the cabin and found the syringes Candice used for drugging people. He waited in a dark corner and when Candice entered the cabin Luke drugged her. When Candice awoke she found herself tied to a tree and gagged with a knife off to the side.

Luke stood there and said,[B] "I followed you last night. I know what your scam is and if I ever catch up to Bishop again I got a big I told ya so coming to me."[/B]

Candice struggled and growled as Luke said, [B]"Why do I get the feeling you're not saying very nice things about me and my family heritage? Anyway, you took what little freedom many other people had and destroyed it. Now this is the day that you will answer for what you've done."[/B]

Luke took two steps back, struck an arrow against a rock causing it to flame, loaded his bow, pointed it at Candice, and then quickly fired it at the cabin about 100 yards away. The side of the cabin was quickly engulfed in flames as Luke turned back to Candice and said, [B]"I poured some of the kerosene on the side of the cabin. You took away so much from so many now I'm taking everything you have away from you. Don't worry I'm only leaving with what I came here with."[/B]

Luke kicked the knife a couple more inches out of the way and said, [B]"Pretty painful to know that your freedom is just beyond your reach as you watch everything in your world be destroyed. I figure you'll either find a way to get that knife and cut yourself free, maybe you'll starve to death, or the walkers will get you. Either way justice is now served and I say goodbye and good luck."[/B]

Luke tipped his hat and walked away as Candice struggled and screamed through a gag as the cabin now burned through the night. 
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For the first time since that episode Luke smiled. He was finally at peace with what had happened, and now he also had a few new arrows to work with. 

Luke said, [B]"Okay time to go do some looking around and see what else I can bring back."[/B]

Luke began patrolling around the building with his knife ready to be used. Then through a hole in the wall he saw someone resting in a room. Luke was even more shocked when he recognized the person resting there.

Luke made a clucking sound to let them know he wasn't a zombie. He opened the door and saw Ryan Bishop. Luke smiled for a moment and shook his head. He said, [B]"If you agree not to say I told you so about Candice I'll give you two bottles of water."[/B]