Chapter 96

- Narrator -

Xenon's group was extremely tense in expectation of the events about to play. They knew they weren't in the best of states, and from the looks of things, the other side was in prime condition. They had about eight people with them, coming in on two vans and one pickup. They clearly had a head-start in calling for backup, and they've arrived faster than theirs did.

The good news for them is that they didn't seem alert at all, except for a select few that were looking at every corner, trying to spot a walker or anything to shoot at. Xenon has wondered if they'd make the mistake of assuming they were dead, just because they parted ways when they met the horde of walkers. And it seems they did.

The governor's group had indeed discussed that possibility, wondering if the group they fought could survive given they didn't have a vehicle to rely on. The conclusion was positive, but they'd ruled them out as a danger because there was no way for them to stay in that area, especially not in close proximity to a horde as big as the one they spotted. They assumed they'd be looking for a way to go home, which would give them more than enough time to get the loot.

They waited a little while for them to get comfortable, luring them into a sense of security as they focused on moving the hardware, talking merrily between themselves.

Xenon took a deep breath and aimed his gun at the chest of the armed guard looking around. He wouldn't bother with a headshot, opting to increase his chances instead. Giving the signal, eight assault rifles began raining bullets on the men intending to steal the fruit of their hard labor, and although they weren't skilled marksmen or particularly experienced with guns, the damage they inflicted was undeniable.

The group panicked, uncertain of what to do in this unexpected situation. They were usually on the other side of this exchange, and now they were feeling dizzy because the tables were turning.

By the time they understood they needed to hide between the two vans, three of them were on the ground drawing their last breaths, leaving the other four sandwiched from both sides by enemies. Leading to a stalemate, as neither had a clean shot of the other, the three hiding between the vans could not even pinpoint where the others were shooting from, shooting randomly in the direction they heard the gunshots coming from.

"Keep your positions, as long as they stay there, it's our win." Xenon said through the talkie. The stalemate lasted a good ten minutes between them, Xenon advising them to save their ammo as they were running low. They were forced to leave most of their ammunition in the trucks.

"We're fucking surrounded, Merle!" Said a gruff voice, sounding almost hysterical. The four of them knew this was a truly tough spot, that the chance they wouldn't live to see tomorrow was diminishing as the minutes ticked away.

"Keep your goddamn mouth shut! Think I'm blind? I can see it myself you fucking moron!" Merle answered angrily, finding a good outlet for his stress in the tall man next to him, pointing his knife-shaped hand wildly in frustration. "We gotta wait it out, the others would've heard the gunshots by now. They'll be coming our way!"

As if hearing his prayer, two cars were running at full speed towards the source of the noise. Quickly understanding the situation the others were in, they stopped the car before they reached them and got out, separating themselves into two groups. They weren't able to communicate with them, as the people holding their communication devices were the first to die. This also meant that the situation was about to turn disadvantageous for Xenon's group, as they'd be the ones surrounded if they didn't move.

"Fall back!" Xenon immediately ordered once he took everything into consideration. They didn't want to engage in a fight they could potentially lose. Once their backup came, this whole fight would become ridiculously one-sided, therefore he found no reason to risk any deaths on their part.

"We can see the trucks." Shane reported through the talkie, a smile blooming on everyone's face as their savior was finally here.

The cavalry has finally arrived. A bit late, but they'd take that over no cavalry any time of the day. A red pickup was at the front looking 'bitchin' as Daryl likes to describe it, striking fear in anyone dumb enough to stand in its way. Which was the case of the four silly men about to leave their hideout to run for the trees, hoping to attack their assailants. Little did they know about the danger they were putting themselves in, as they noticed the approaching car, immediately understanding that a car on their side would not come from that direction in the first place. By the time they spotted the machine of destruction installed at the front, it was already too late for them.

* BANG BANG BANG *

The man at the front froze at the sound for a second, and it proved deadly, as his head was cut in half as a high caliber bullet impact his neck, his body turning into a human colander as it was riddled with holes.

Only one of them was quick enough to go back to his initial position, avoiding the tragic fate that befell his companions. The others at the back quickly understood that the battle was already lost because of the new additions, and their survival instincts quickly took over, prompting them to retreat as fast as possible. They ran to the cars they came in, though in doing so, they've exposed their backs to the mercy of their enemies who have never taken their eyes off them, waiting hungrily for a chance to strike.

Only one of them was wounded in their escape attempt, but it seems their greatest enemy was humans' selfish nature, as their companions who arrived first at the vehicles did not bother the extra seconds for them to catch up, understanding the looming threat the machine gun presented for their vehicles, as its bullets would tear through its carcass like a hot knife through butter. They ignored their friends' pleas, choosing to increase their chances of survival even if it meant sacrificing them, knowing full well they'd also be a good distraction for their would-be chasers should they decide to chase them, giving them an incredibly valuable head-start.

"Shane, follow the cars! Leave the rest to us!" Xenon said through the talkie, using [Sprint] actively to get himself in a better shooting position against the enemies stranded on the road with no way to leave them. The others followed his lead, albeit slower than him.

Shane, who was manning the machine gun, ordered the conductor to follow the other cars as they've made short work of the people next to their trucks. The abandoned men stood no chance against the offensive from all sides.

"We need the last one alive." Xenon said to everyone pointing their guns at the truck, which had the last survivor hidden inside behind the cover of the hardware.

"Drop your weapon, and get out! We won't shoot you." One of them announced as the occupied truck was surrounded from all directions.

"I ain't coming out!" The man inside snarled. "You want to get me, you better come inside yourself! If I'm going down, I'm taking everybody with me!" His voice was oozing desperation, rubbing the others the wrong way, knowing he would deliver his promise should they try to get in to take him out by force.

"You've clearly never heard of hand grenades." Daryl chuckled at what he deemed a silly last attempt, knowing they had more than a few ways to kill him.

"Oh yea, you gonna blow up the hardware you've fight so valiantly for, ey?" The man inside laughed hysterically. "I may be an idiot, but I ain't no moron!" Xenon grimaced, knowing he was right in his assumption.

Daryl frowned, not because of the man's words, even though they were true, but because of the familiarity he felt listening to the voice… Then it clicked, dots connecting in his head.

"Merle?" He blurted out in confusion.

"Daryl?! Is that you baby brother?" A feeling of euphoria suddenly rushed through Merle at the sudden discovery, as he was experiencing what it means to see light at the end of the tunnel that otherwise held certain death for him...