Day 3.5

April looked toward Don when she told them to move on. She wanted to stay and help, but the fear was overcoming her. A spider was one thing. She was used to dealing with bugs, thanks to her background. After all, her father was a Ranger, and she camped out in the wilds with him more times than not. He was the one who taught her how to use a bow. However, oversized spiders... that was another thing. Just the eight eyes alone were enough to stop her in her tracks. So much so that Rebecca had to pull her with them when she noticed April wasn't moving. Perhaps it was because Rebecca had encountered a spider before that the fear wasn't as instilling as it was for April; that she was able to continue onward just like Noah.

Rebecca, April, and Noah continued to hurry down the road. The end of the webbing was in sight, but when they heard the shriek coming from behind them, April stopped in her tracks to look back in the direction of Don. Rebecca stopped as well since April stopped, and so did Noah since he did not want to run too far ahead. "April, come on!" Rebecca shouted as she took April's wrist. She thought a sense of fear might have overcome her again, but it was different this time. This time it was a sense of concern and worry.

"We have to go back!" April shouted with her voice filled with worry. "Don's back there! He's holding that thing off! We have to go back for him!" April tried to rush back; however, Rebecca had a firm grip on April and stopped her. "April! We need to keep going!" Rebecca retaliated. "But Don!" April called out; it was then that Rebecca yanked April toward her. She dropped the shotgun on the ground so she could use her other hand to slap April across the face.

The stinging feeling in her cheek caused enough shock to keep her silent for a moment. "April... I understand. Trust me, I want to run back there too. I want to aid Don. I really do..." April could feel Rebecca trembling since she had a firm grasp on her wrist. "However... we all know what Don is capable of. It is clear as day to any of us, including Noah who just met him yesterday." Rebecca was trying her best to keep calm. It was clear in her voice that she wanted to rush back there to help Don. Noah nodded silently.

These words brought a memory to mind. She recalled a time when Don came to her rescue. She had confronted a stalker and managed to land a few good hits; however, the stalker pulled a knife on her, and she froze. She remembered how she thought she would be stabbed in the gut and squeezed her eyes tightly out of fear.

When she opened them, Don was in front of her with the knife's blade in his hand. Don quickly dispatched the stalker by knocking him out and then proceeded to call the police. Then there was the time when Don had that Mosquitos stout in his hand. Even the times when she watched Don take out several men. Don always managed to keep a cool head and never once froze.

"You are right..." April commented sheepishly. Rebecca released her wrist after confirming that April would not run off to aid Don. "Don will be fine. In fact, I think that spider is the one who needs help." Rebecca said lightheartedly, which caused April to chuckle lightly. Noah followed up with a, "Yeah. Now that I am thinking about it, I kind of feel bad for the spider." April and Rebecca shifted their attention towards Noah with a [really?] look to which Noah replied with a, "What?" A moment of silence befell them where they smiled before they all started chuckling lightly.

"Come on, Let's keep going. We are almost there." Rebecca stated while picking up the shotgun, and both April and Noah nodded. When they reached the opening, they saw the remainder of the city and the clear sky. Here they decided to wait for Don, who caught up with them eventually. Though they couldn't help but feel that their earlier worries were in vain when they saw he was covered in Spider fluids.

"Told ya." Rebecca said. Noah shook his head with a tiring sigh, and April walked up to Don, who gave them a confused expression. "Everyone alright?" Don asked. "Yeah, yeah. No more heroics, understood?" April asked as she set her bow to rest so she could go digging through her bag to pull out a towel for Don. Don took the towel with a thankful nod and began to dry himself off. "And let you all get eaten? Yeah... no. If playing the hero keeps you all safe, then I'll do it. Even if I end up becoming the villain." Don's statement was firm; his resolve was clear, so much so that no one could provide a rebuttal.

Don looked around before saying, "From here, it'll be about an hour walk to Harris. I don't see any more bugs either, but we should keep our guard up. It seems most bugs are non-hostile. So as long as we do not intentionally piss off any bugs that come in our way, we should be fine. Other than that, I haven't seen much undead and humans... well..."

Don stopped speaking. Everyone knew what he was going to say. There was no telling how many people existed here or were even alive, for that matter. It wasn't like this was their world, and the apocalypse had just started. This was a different world where they were brought into to be contenders for some kind of test.

"Anyway, keep formation like before." Don finished. They all nodded and retook their formation. Don offered the towel back to April, but she shook her head with disgust since it had yucky spider fluids. So, Don just tossed it. April had no quarrel with it since she didn't think they would be able to wash it anytime soon, plus she had a few more.

They decided to do a bit of scouting for any food and water they might have been able to find along the way. To their luck, it seemed that this world did have bottled water and canned goods. All within the expiration date. Aside from the average harmless bugs such as June Bugs, and Beatles they did not come across anything hostile.

Now they were on South Alamo Street and getting closer to Harris, but they had to cross the San Antonio River. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until they heard the roaring of a truck engine along with various laughter, whoo-hoos, and screams of thrill. What followed up was the shattering of glass. Don, who had taken point, signaled them to crouch down and stay put.

They all followed the silent signal. Meanwhile, Don scouted ahead. Don took some cover behind a stalled car and peeked over the hood to see a pick-up trunk doing donuts. Simultaneously, Molotov's were being thrown all over the place, which was lighting the road ablaze. "Four guys in the back, a driver and a passenger... Aside from the Molotov's, they looked unarmed." Don noted.

The people in the back banged on the roof, and the driver would stop the truck. The people in the back got out and decided to take a smoke break while striking up a conversation. Aside from the driver, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Don took this moment to regroup with the others and inform them of what was ahead.

"So, what's the plan?" Rebecca inquired. "We could just wait it out. I am sure they will end up going somewhere else." Noah suggested. "Yeah, but what if they decide to just sit around for hours." April said. Everyone looked to Don, "I would rather avoid bloodshed if possible. Even if we have to confront them, I would rather not have to kill unless necessary." Don commented.

There was relief in Rebecca's eyes. She was worried that Don was going to become a murder or something. April nodded in agreement with Don, and Noah did the same. "So, should we try and move along?" Noah inquired. "I suppose. If they try to call out to us, just ignore them. They do not appear armed, and I doubt they would try something since we are the ones armed." Don remarked, and the others agreed. Everyone retook their earlier formation but decided to keep it close and tight.

As they may their way through, the others, who were all men, were giving them looks. Most of them were eyeing the girls, and one of them even tried to catcall to Rebecca. That was all though, no one tried to pull any fast ones. It even looked like they were going to make their way through peacefully until Don noticed something one of the men was wearing.

His eyes went wide for a moment before he grit his teeth in anger and pulled out his 1911 Rugar from his back holster. He aimed the gun at the man while calling out to the man he had his eyes on, hastily stepping toward him. "Where the hell did you get those!" Rebecca, April, and Noah had a shocked expression. April called out to Don. "Don!?" Rebecca raised her shotgun the moment she saw a couple men pulling out some switchblades. Noah seemed to stand back and just wait, unsure of what was going on.

"Oh..?" A deep, refined voice that was sinister to a fault had spoken up before the door of the truck opened. The passenger got out and made his way to the backside of the truck. "Is that lovely voice I hear April's?" A well-dressed man with slick black hair that was combed back and a physically fit physique had made his way over to the commotion.

The man pushed up his glasses as he started making his way over to April. April flinched back as the man drew closer. Don hastily drew out one of the S&W's to aim at the man, "Not another step, asshole." Venom could be heard coming from Don's voice, enough to kill even the strongest of creatures. "Doooonnnn... "The man bemoaned over Don's name when his black eyes drifted over to the man. His wide smile all but faded into a frown. "What a pleasant surprise." The man muttered with agitation in his voice.

Rebecca moved in front of April while keeping the others in her sights. April cowered behind Rebecca, fear unlike any other in her eyes alongside the shivering of her body. "You better get that gun out of my face asswipe! My boss here doesn't play around." The man Don had shouted at earlier seemed confident enough, and his lips curved into a grin.

Don was fingering his trigger; he was damn near about to pull it until the black-haired man spoke up, "I wouldn't test him, James. Don doesn't have a shred of humanity left in him. He'll kill anyone who gets in his way." Don's eyes shifted back towards the black-haired man. The man named James blinked in disbelief for a moment before chuckling, "Oh right, like one of those wannabes--"

BANG!

A loud gunshot resounded, and the man named James hit the back end of the truck and slide down it with a bullet wound through his skull. Everyone suddenly went on the edge and pulled out their switchblades and pocket knives. Rebecca cocked the shotgun to help them realize that she still had them in their sights, so they decided to remain in place. April and Noah had this horror-filled look on their face. The black-haired man sighed lightly and shook his head.

"I warned him. So, tell me, why did you kill the man, Don? What is your reason this time?" Don glared at the black-haired man. "He has John's necklace. It was a gift from his later father. Then there is Josh's ring, a gift from his later mother. Since these are your goons, you clearly encountered John and Josh here. Tell me where they are, NOW." Don's voice came out with a growl for demand. The black-haired man sighed once more.

"For someone so aggressive, you really are not that smart. I bet I could easily just walk away from all of this, and none of you would know it." The black-haired man remarked. "Enough! Tell me where Josh and John are!" Don demanded once more, fingering the trigger of his gun. The black-haired man smirked.

"We did encounter them. Can't you see, they are dead. Why do you think that man had his belongings. Tell me something, Don do you plan--"

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Three shots went off; all of them came from Don. All of them were headshots. Don had killed both men from earlier along with the black-haired man. Everyone was too shocked to move. They did not think Don would just kill them off without a word. This went entirely against what Don spoke of earlier about not having senseless bloodshed.

Don recalled there was a driver and started to make his way toward the driver's seat. The driver was trying to start up the engine, but it seemed something was wrong with the truck. Don yanked open the driver door and pulled out the final guy who looked like a teenager, probably someone younger than Noah and April.

The kid looked scared and was shivering while putting his hands in front of his face. Tears were streaming down his face, and he was weeping with a soft "No, no. please..." Don aimed his 1911 Rugar at the kid, but April had called out to him just before firing.

"Donathan!"

This managed to stop Don from pulling the trigger and gave April enough time to make her way beside him. April was now beside Don, so she took his hand with the gun in it. "Donathan..." April called in a more soft tone which drew his attention toward her. She could see the look in his eyes. Lifeless... this wasn't the same kind of look that Don normally had. Sure he had a tired expression or even a cool and calm expression; this one however looked more... cold.

Even though April had never seen such a look, she knew that Don was still in there somewhere. After all, calling out to him managed to stop him. "Don, it's okay." April's voice managed to reach him, and she helped him lower the gun. Life started to return to Don's eyes thanks to April's voice. "April..." Don murmured as if he was in a daze. It didn't take a moment for him to realize what had happened. He could see Noah and Rebecca's expressions and the kid who had pissed his pants on the ground in front of him. Even the look in April's eyes told him.

Fear.

'I really haven't changed...'

"I see..." Don muttered and holstered both of his guns, then turned away. "I am sorry, April." Don made his way around the other side of the truck. April knew something was wrong. Don never really apologized, and when he did it meant that something happened or that he knew something was wrong.

Sure, she had her reservations about rushing after him which came out of fear, but she also did not want to leave him alone. She could sense pain in his voice and saw hurt in his eyes. April ignored the kid on the ground and followed Don. Rebecca and Noah released a breath they had held out of anticipation before making their way toward the kid to see what was going on with him.

"Don, are you okay?" April asked as she watched him remove John's necklace and Josh's ring from the corpse. Don was silent. "Don, please answer me." April spoke up. Don was still quiet. April placed a hand on Don's shoulder. "Don," April called to him again. Don pocketed both the ring and necklace before turning to look at April.

"I am fine."

Don told her; however, April shook her head when she saw the pain in his eyes. "You are lying. Tell me what is wrong. I am here for you. I always have been, and I always will be. Just like how you were for me." A firm statement held by a bright resolve. Don's lips would part; he wanted to tell her everything. His words caught in his throat about his past, his family, and why he chose the path he did; however, his words were caught in his throat. He could not speak; only thoughts would flood his mind.

'You are too good for me...'

'You are too pure for me...'

'I will only taint you...'

'So why... why are you still here? Can't you see I am a terrible person? Can't you see I am a bad person? Can't you tell... I am a killer.'

Don closed his eyes and let his mouth close to form a small smile. "You should go see what's up with the kid as well as the others. I am fine, I promise." Don stated, not telling her what he truly wanted. April stood there for a moment in silence. She wanted to pester him more, but it seemed like he wasn't going to budge. "Okay," April said with a sad expression before heading to Rebecca and Noah.

"It's for the best..." Don muttered before pushing off of his feet and walking a few feet away to take a smoke break. As April approached Rebecca and Noah, who were consoling the crying kid, April asked them what was going on.

"The kid here has been with those guys for a couple of months. Those guys apparently murdered the group he was previously in and took him as an extra body to be used in case they needed a scapegoat. If he tried to run, they would have gunned him down. So the fear of being killed has kept him in their custody. He is a victim here."

Rebecca explained and April nodded, "I see." She glanced at the kid. "Hey." April squatted down beside him, and he ook at her. Perhaps it was April's pretty face or maybe the fact that April was the one who saved him, but he had a soft blush on his cheeks when he looked at her. "It's going to be okay. We aren't bad people. So we won't hurt you. Would you like some water?"

April asked with a soft smile. The kid's face lit up like a light. April tilted her head cutely in confusion as she awaited his answer. Rebecca sighed lightly since she realized that this boy now had a crush on April. Noah shook his head knowing that this boy had no chance in hell with April since April was madly in love with Don. Well, according to what Rebecca said when they first met and how she seemed to act around Don.