AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is something that's turning out to be way too much fun for me, and with the season coming back soon, I just couldn't resist! It's based around an OFC, so don't like, turn around now. Otherwise, enjoy and share your opinions with me, hell just gimme a smiley face if you like it! Which I hope you really do, I've grown quite fond of it, myself.

VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

This feature is rated T for obscene language and mild gore, but mostly language.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but Emily Louise, Zane, Travis, Missouri and Grady Sinclair, Monty, Macy, Ray and Bo. Things that are unfamiliar and original in plot also belong to me. Anything recognizable does not, but to its respective owners.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

(Psalm 23:4 ESV)

Intro

It was Thursday, and after the past few months working at Monty's - who was really Boyd but didn't want to be called as such because it wasn't interesting or Frenchy enough apparently for an owner of a French cuisine restaurant, which just made me doubt the abilities of the older man that much more - I had learned that Thursday's meant that the business men would be funneling in for posh little dinners as they all tried to outspend and out prove each other on how big their pricks were. Because really, the amount of showing off that happened within these walls on a Thursday was just one big 'Mine's bigger than yours' fest that I sadly had to participate in, in one shape or form every week from six to ten.

The afternoon crowd was bearable, but after the clock struck six, it got so stifling that sometimes I had to take a smoke break right in the damn middle of it, which never seemed to piss Monty off more, which really made me wanna do it that much more in turn. Even with being his apprentice I knew I could get away with that shit, he saw me more as a little sister than any boss should see an employee.

I spent most of the dinner shift in the back kitchen with Monty – who was portly and small, with a round face and the biggest eyes on his face that he scared the shit right outta me when I first met him. Ray – a tall African man who had a way with food like no other, and a goatee hanging off his chin that sometimes made our sanitary standards in the establishment questionary. Then there was the little pastry chef Marcy who was on lend from a bakery in Boston that had the brightest red hair and a quirky smile that always had a joke on her lips, out of all the pastry chef's I had come across in the past few years, she was by far my favorite. She was like a little pixy that darted around the kitchen with unparalled enthusiasm. She made me sick sometimes too; she could be so damn peppy that I locked her outta the kitchen on more than one occasion. She made some mean baklava though if you asked sweetly enough.

Being that it was Thursday meant that our special was pea soup, I hated the stuff and it made me wanna projectile vomit like in the Exorcist more times than not, but it seemed popular enough and not too many of the patrons Monty had acquired seemed to complain about it, so I held my breath as we made it and waited for closing time to come. Another reason I took more smoke breaks than I normally did.

I was adding the final touches to a set of dishes full of pea soup for a table of six when the screaming started. My wish had finally been granted, I laughed to myself, and maybe we'd finally get rid of the pea soup. I spared a glance to Ray who was shaking his head in annoyance; we had this happen a lot. People wanting a free meal more often than not planted an undesirable in their food, screamed, and bam wham, Monty was paying for your meal. It made me hate people that much more. So with that thought, I disregarded the increasing noise and threw some more parsley onto the plate before motioning to Danny, the little teenage boy that had taken up a waitressing position a few weeks after I had arrived, to take the food out to the table. He was quick on his feet, though clumsier than I think any of us preferred, Monty though had this heart of gold thing going on and wouldn't let the thing go.

"Whatcha wanna bet that it was a cockroach?" I joked with a grin, turning slightly to my two companions. Ray immediately hushed me with a sly smile of his own before returning to the pâté, while Macy merely snickered in agreement.

We had only been a team for a few months, but we worked together with ease and acted like we had been together for years rather than months. It was a sore replacement for the four brothers I had scattered around the country, but they brought me some comfort when I was homesick.

"We're gonna be screwed with you and that mouth, girl, when the health department comes in for inspection." Ray chuckled with his heavy Louisiana accent, making Macy giggle and nearly coat the strawberry cheesecake with the chocolate syrup she was drizzling over the New York cheesecake.

I rolled my eyes at him in good humor and slouched against the counter, "Yeah, well, I say I have charms in other ways, so there ain't any worries, my love." Ray and Macy rolled their eyes at my antics as they continued working in silence. What a bunch of party poopers.

Suddenly the swinging doors that Danny had exited through, swung open with ferocity that it caused all of us to pause and look up at our boss, Monty, who was fuming in the doorway. His little pudgy face was beet red and he was muttering obscenities under his breath as he held tightly onto his arm. Under closer observation I saw blood seeping through his sausage fingers and leaking to the white linoleum at our feet. "Damn, fuckin, arrogant, goddamn pricks! I told the two of em to stop fuckin around in my restaurant or I was callin the cops! And what the fuck do they do? They fuckin BITE ME!"

"No fuckin way!" I gasped as Macy immediately dropped her icing utensil and moved quickly around the kitchen to Monty's side; Ray remained at the stove shaking his head at the stupidity of it all. He was like that. "Are the cops coming?" I asked lightly, slowly making my way to him. I wasn't any stranger to blood, having the most rambunctious four older brothers, but it always made me uneasy when it wasn't my own.

"Yeah," He muttered in disdain. "Little fuckers' friend called the cops. And the worst fuckin part is that the whole damn place cleared out after he did too, the two of 'em is out there, but the rest of 'em are goddammit gone." We all sighed at this admission. It was common rule that the first two years you didn't even break even when you were starting a business, but for Monty this was the third year and he was still barely scraping by. I wasn't too sure why he had hired me as an apprentice and flown me in from Dallas if this was really the case, but I think it had something to do with our grandfathers mostly, so I wasn't gonna question the man's kindness or motives. He was treating me pretty damn well, and I knew better than to knock it.

"Damn, Monty," Macy gasped as she removed his tight gasp from his arm. There was a massive chunk of flesh missing from his forearm, and the teeth indentations to prove it, if that wasn't enough for you. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach as the blood kept pouring out of him. I couldn't believe he was still standing! This wasn't the little nibble I had assumed when Monty had said they bit him, this was terrifying and I was suddenly glad I wasn't called on for public appearances up front very often.

"That's just nasty, man." Ray admonished stepping further away from the quickly paling man in front of us. "You think they sendin' an ambulance too?" Monty nodded in answer silently as he swooned to the left, Macy and I both reaching out to catch him barely in time before he suddenly slumped to the floor, taking the two of us with him.

"Maaaaan, I feel like shit all the sudden." He grimaced in pain, as Ray threw a dishrag at us to wrap around his arm, Macy immediately got to it, securing it as tightly as she could with a double knot and I sighed to myself in relief. I sure as hell didn't wanna deal with that task. "Go check on them outside for me, Emmy?" My eyes widened considerably as I glanced behind us to the deathly quiet dining area. I wasn't a pussy when it came to confrontation, had a rap sheet a foot long from when I was a kid trying to get out from behind my brothers, to tell you that, but the thought of going out there where the man that had bitten Monty was, was well, terrifying to me. What kinda man bites another one? Someone I didn't wanna fuck with, that's who.

Taking the multiple seconds of deliberation that I was sitting in as his queue to take action, Ray sighed to himself and grumbled about not being scared of any white collar man who takes bites outta people he moved around the three of us clustered on the floor and disappeared behind the door. It remained quiet for a moment before Ray suddenly shouted; "What the fuck you bastard doin now?" Macy and I both stared horrified at the doors as Monty writhed on the floor, saying it was too damn hot. "You better not fuckin try'a bite me motherfucker!" There was some moaning and shouting, and a bit of crashing that followed and I frowned at the noises, Macy's shoulder's started shaking as she tried to hold back sobs.

Quietly moving to my feet and making a decision, I quickly moved to the pantry where all the pots and pans were, grabbing an old iron skillet that had been Monty's grandfathers and that we used on rare occasions, I moved swiftly back to the doors and paused. Looking down at sobbing Macy and placid Monty, "This'll just take a second." I grinned cockily trying to take the seriousness out of the air. Tossing the skillet between my hands quickly, I tried to keep the act of nonchalance up and convincing for Macy.

Entering the dining room, I wasn't ready for the sight I was greeted with. When Monty had said everyone had left, he had forgotten to mention the part where most of the tables, walls, and floor were covered in blood. He also forgot to mention the three or four of them that had stayed behind, lumbering around the table and chairs like they were a bunch of zombies.

I spotted Ray easily, in a corner with a chair between him and the suit, tie and blood covered man that was snapping and clawing at him. Frowning, I raised the skillet a little higher in a defensive way that my daddy and brothers would be real proud of, as I quickly scanned the rest of the room, and to see what the other three were doing. They hadn't noticed me yet, but were instead huddled around a lump on the floor, making slurping noises. I didn't want to think about what or who that might be or what they were doing.

"Ray?" I called out, leaning against the wall carefully as I peered at the spectacle happening before my eyes. He spared me a glance for only a second before grunting in acknowledgement and returning to the task of keeping the bloody man away from him. It looked like it was getting harder. I figured that the only way I was gonna get Ray back into the kitchen, where I guess it was safe, was to distract the man. So, with that in mind, I walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. With the skillet. Skidding back quickly as he turned to greet me, I gagged. Half of his face was torn and bloody. He looked like a walking goddamn corpse. "I don't wanna hurt you, but you gotta fuckin relax!" I seethed as he lunged at me again, causing me to back up and bump into a table. I glowered at him.

"Goddammit, Emmy!" Ray shouted from behind the lil bastard, causing him to swing back around to face him. Ray was a lot closer than I think either of us had noticed his chair was discarded as he had now taken to trying to save me from this asshole. He threw a punch at the guys jaw, causing him to fall to the floor in a moaning heap. Taking this as a success, he quickly grabbed ahold of my arm and hauled me back to the kitchen, I spared one glance over my shoulder to see him getting back up and lumbering after us, I squeaked at the realization, Ray moved quicker.

Shoving us both inside; we nearly tripped over Monty, who lay unconscious by a rocking Macy. Letting go of me, Ray quickly moved to the tall bookcase that sat beside the doors and started pushing it to stand in front of the one door closest to it, taking his lead I moved to the other side and pushed the twin bookcase in front of the other door. Sighing I leaned against the now empty wall, breathing heavily I looked between my three friends. "Monty pass out?" Macy could barely nod in confirmation.

"You think those fuckin' coppers would be here by now!" Ray growled, dropping to his knees beside Monty, and placing two fingers at his neck, searching for a pulse.

"Just relax," I breathed. "Shit takes time in the city."

"Obviously." He muttered, shaking his head again in annoyance as he lead back and rubbed at his neck. "I don't know what we're supposed to do about Monty; I ain't got medical experience for something like this."

"He'll be fine!" I assured as the bookcase next to me shuddered as someone pushed against the door, and the moaning was suddenly too close for comfort. Shoving myself away from the wall, I tripped my way further into the kitchen. Crossing my arms, I growled, "What the fuck is up with these people?"

"I dunno, Emmy." Macy hiccupped. I felt sorry for her, she was terrified beyond her wits end, and I'm sure the fact that she was in a 'secret' relationship with Monty wasn't helping her emotional stability in this situation either. I wanted to go grab the lil' pixie and give her a hug, but something in my gut told me to give Monty and his sudden unconsciousness a wide berth. If those people out there were sick, like I was hoping they were, as horrible as it sounded, then it had to spread somehow and well, biting sounded as good as any other. So, they could stay over there, and me, I'd stay on the side of the kitchen that had the closest exit to the back alley. If shit went south, I wasn't above running like a scared little girl all the way back to my apartment.

Rocking back and forth on my feet, I tried to breathe quietly as the four of us sat in an overly pregnant silence. I could tell Ray was too busy thinking and planning, and plotting like he usually did when he was silent. Macy was too busy having a mental breakdown to notice anything other than the still bleeding and gaping hole on Monty's arm. And Monty? Well, from here it looked like he had stopped breathing ten minutes ago. I didn't know if this was a good thing or not, but I figured my iron skillet would be finding out if he suddenly sat up and made a grab for any inch of me. Felt like I was in some stupid ass zombie movie at that thought.

"Emmy?" Ray finally asked, looking up from the spot on the floor he had been staring out since we had reentered the kitchen, looking down to him to meet his gaze, I tilted my head. "I think we need to leave. It's been a while, and I don't hear any sirens coming our way." Being the little sister of a Dallas police officer, I blanched at the idea of leaving a crime scene, but putting into consideration my own criminal background and the fact that bitches were trying to fuckin chew on you just outside, I wasn't too keen on staying put. The idea seemed fantastic to me. Macy however, had a different idea about the situation.

"We can't leave! We can't move Monty, and I'm not leaving without him!" Macy shrieked, wrapping herself more tightly around Monty's, what I supposed to be, corpse. I don't think she had caught on to the fact his chest wasn't rising and falling anymore like it had been. I also don't think she quite understood what was on the other side of those doors, not that I did either, but I knew it was dangerous and downright scary.

"Me and Em, we're leaving, with or without you, Macy. So make up your damn mind." Ray snapped, rising to his feet quickly, he was already at my side before I could blink. Both of us stared at Macy as she fiercely shook her head. Well, I sighed to myself, her funeral, cause I sure as hell wasn't staying around any longer than I needed to be. First on the agenda was getting back to the apartment where I knew it was safe and then I was conference calling all of my brothers, they had to know what the fuck was going on.

"Grab your shit." He demanded as he tugged me behind him, quickly I made a grab for the coat and hobo that hung on a hook by the back door and followed out after him, sparing Macy one last pleading look that she merely turned her head away from to begin whispering nonsense to Monty.

I didn't want to leave her, I really didn't, but it wasn't safe here and she was an adult. She could take care of herself. At least the back door we had left out of locked, so no one would be getting in that way, but Lord only knows how long the bookshelves would keep the patrons away.

Shoving my arms into the sleeves of my navy green bomber, after of course I had shoved the skillet into the big ass hobo that was now slung onto my shoulder haphazardly, we broke out onto the street. The crowds were the same as they milled about back and forth, admittedly smaller than usual but hey, no one was snapping at me here so I felt downright comfortable.

Looking up to Ray, "You get home to your big ass family. I'm going home." He sighed in agreement as he spared a tired glance down at me, silently telling me to be careful before he tugged me into the tightest hug, nearly squeezing the life outta me. This somehow felt like the last time we would see each other, I think he felt that tug in his heart too. "Tell the family hi, too!" I laughed as he finally pulled away.

"Will do, Emmy-boo." I rolled my eyes at him and his endearment with a heartfelt smile on my lips before we both disappeared into the crowd, going our two different directions. I knew he was heading for the subway, me I was walking the next ten blocks without a worry in my mind. I wasn't going to let myself think about what had just happened until I was home. I could cry there and not worry. It had only been my home for the past four months, but I felt safer there than I had since my father was alive. This really was saying something when your father was an ex-Marine.

The AC kicked on with a low hum as I slammed the front door of my little one bedroom apartment shut behind me. The farther from the restaurant I had gotten, the weirder people were. Everyone obviously knew some vital information I wasn't currently privy to, and it was freaking the fuck outta me. The only next course of action I could think of now was to call my brothers. Zane, Grady, and Travis were enlisted in the Army, Air Force and Marines, so I figured if anyone knew anything; it'd be one of them. I'd be checking in with Missouri, who was back in Dallas, too.

Discarding my purse without much thought, I tripped my way over to the coffee table where my laptop sat harmlessly waiting for me to use it, if I remembered correctly; it should still be on from when I left that morning. I was rather careless when it came to turning things off. Slumping onto the couch, I pulled the computer into my lap and logged back on before finding my way to Skype, where sure enough my four older brothers were waiting for my call.

Zane had his back turned to the camera, his army fatigues greeting me instead; he seemed tense as he leaned over whatever it was on the table in front of him. Grady grinned at my arrival and gave me a silent salute. Travis stared blankly ahead at his camera and barely twitched as I made my own silent greeting to the ones who were paying attention – we never usually started talking unless Zane gave us the green light, he was the oldest out of us and it just seemed to work that way after being raised by our daddy. Missouri was seen pacing back and forth in what I knew to be the house I had grown up in since I was fifteen, all the way back in the heart of Texas.

Suddenly, Zane swung around in his chair and faced the camera and all four of us. His face was tense and his shoulders straight as his lips were pursed into a tight line. He seemed worried. "What's happening where you guys are?"

Grady sighed, "Scott Air Force Base is secure. But they're talking about sending my unit into the city to secure civilians." I frowned, completely confused. This went unnoticed by my brothers as they continued to report.

Travis nodded, "Camp Lejeune is closing the front gates in fifteen. Commander says we won't be leaving once they do, unless the Secretary needs us."

Missouri finally faced us, pale faced and glassy eyed. "Local PD is gonna start directing folks to the CDC here soon. I hear they're working on a cure down here."

Zane nodded, his arms now crossed over his chest, "Fort Benning is closed, and I won't be leaving anytime soon." He paused, his eyes finally focusing on me, who sat eyes wide with my arms wrapped around myself, completely terrified. Their bases were closing, and it sounded like a national lock down. I understood there must be a virus outbreak or something, but why would they be closing down everything? "Emily Louise, you gotta get your ass to Fort Benning." I flinched at my name, as a chorus of agreements flew from my brothers.

"I-I dunno guys, wouldn't it be better to just, like stay put..?" I asked hopefully.

"No. You get your shit packed, and you get outta the city before refuges start flooding the highway. They're gonna be sending civilians to the CDC."

"Shouldn't I go there then, Zane? It's closer and-"

"Family of men stationed here on base are allowed to come, so you get your ass here and bring all your fuckin ID, and you do it now, Emily Louise, or so help me God!"

"C'mon, Emmy, just get in the car and go. We don't need to be worrying about you out there." Travis agreed, trying to smile at me in reassurance. I rolled my eyes. I didn't like the idea. I'd be with Zane, but with the rest of us scattered across the neighboring states that didn't make me feel all that better. If I was going somewhere, it was going to be where all four of them were.

"We'll all figure out how to get there after the Command relaxes, alright?" Grady added helpfully, they all nodded in agreement at his proposal. I frowned at Grady and his mind reading skills.

"Fine. But you gotta tell me what's happening! I almost got eaten by a fuckin customer, so explain what's going on!" I had thought it impossible, but all of their faces paled and slackened. Horror flashing behind their eyes, as on cue they all leaned closer to their cameras.

"Emmy," Zane whispered. "Tell us you didn't get bit. Please." He begged.

"Nah," I sighed shaking my head, thinking of Monty and Macy. "Ray saved my ass." They all let out a breath of air. "So that's how it spreads?" Nods. "Well, how do you stop 'em? Cause Ray has this mean ass right hook, and the bastard didn't even stay down for a second!" I exclaimed, motioning around myself widely for emphasis.

"Their head, you gotta shoot em or beat their brains out." My face paled now at Missouri's words. "At least, that's what I heard." He added shyly at notice of my reaction, but I had a feeling as I spotted a splatter of blood on the collar of his undershirt, that perhaps that wasn't just water cooler gossip on his part.

"So Fort Benning then? That's like what, a two hour drive..?"

"About, probably longer with all the traffic. You need to get going within the next half hour. Understand, Emmy? The next thirty minutes." I frowned at Zane as he tried to stress the point of my departure. They were all acting funny and I had a feeling that things weren't as kosher as I was being led to believe. Well hell, Missouri had tell me to kill the damn bastards if I came across any, so what else was the likely explanation?

"Alright, next thirty minutes, got it." I grinned, even though I knew it was going to take longer. I had to grab some shit, then walk six blocks to get to the parking garage where the Mustang was. That in itself would take an thirty minutes. Zane just wouldn't have to know; I'd find a back road toe Fort Benning and get there within the same time. "I better get going, so I love you guys. See you soon." I added before a chorus of 'I love you's' followed and one by one they signed off before it was just me and Missouri. He had always been the one I was closest with, even if he had left when I was twelve, we had this bond that not even when he ran off to Stanford could break.

"I'll try to get there soon, Emmy-boo. Don't take your time." I nodded. "You have your guns, right?" Another nod. "Good, don't forget them." Then click, he was gone. I sighed as I went to Google Maps. I needed a route to Fort Benning it looked like. I had only been there once, a few years ago after mom had died and I had been driven there by Missouri, so my know how on the roads were iffy.

Telling the computer to print the map up I quickly rose to my feet and made a dash to my room. Grabbing the black and white polka dot duffle from my closet I started throwing clothes and everything else I would need into the mouth of the bag, making sure with special care to add the last family picture we had to the top. My brother's looked so very different now than they did eight years ago. Hiking it up onto my shoulder I powerwalked back into the kitchen as I piled some snacks and water into a recyclable shopping bag, feeling like I wouldn't have to make any pit stops unless for a bathroom on my way I was satisfied and calmly made my way to the door.

Bending down slightly to grab the hobo I paused as I remembered the pistol, rifle and two shotguns I had sitting in the top drawer of my dresser and underneath my bed, making my rounds back there I shoveled the pistol in its casing and the bullets in alongside the skillet and told myself I'd load them later before grabbing the cases that housed the three other guns. Pausing again to grab the laptop on my way and unzipping the duffel slightly to shove it in. Grabbing the paper covered in directions from the printer on the short bookshelf by the front door along with my car keys I was ready to leave.

Traffic was iffy. I couldn't tell if it was better to be leaving the city or not, as it was fairly hard to do as both sides of the highway now consisted of an in rather than an out. I'd grown up in cities most of my life, but I'd never seen so many people coming at once. Considering that the only place now with all of these cars and people to drive was the shoulder of the road, meant for a bumpy ride. Or at least this is what I was planning on dealing with, since I was still trapped a few too many streets inside the city. It'd been forty five minutes since I talked to my brothers, and as I watched tanks and every other military vehicle funnel into the city and sweep the streets, I began to panic.

I considered for a moment turning around and heading for the CDC, it seemed to be the idea everyone else had, and if it was that large of an idea to spread like it obviously had, then well maybe I should jump on the bandwagon. I couldn't abandon my brothers though, they were the only hope I had left, the only family, and so I decided if I was going anywhere it was where they told me to. Zane knew best, he always had, and I figured the way he had been raising in the ranks for the past few years, that he always would. The official patriarch of our family he now was.

Sighing happily as traffic finally started moving in my benefit, I weaved the '67 Mustang in between cars and switched lanes, trying to ignore the group of infectees that were surrounding a man. I wanted to help him, really I did, but it was three to one, and if my father had taught me anything it was you don't take those kinds of odds in whatever circumstances. Especially in war, and dammit, that is what it looked like it was turning into.

Twenty minutes later, I realized the reason behind the lack of movement that I had been dealing with. The military wasn't letting anyone out of the city, only in. And by the way soldiers were being shouted at and the way they were beginning to treat civilians, I didn't think that would be lasting too much longer either. I couldn't think of any other way out of the city than this one, I'm sure there were plenty but if I was understanding what was going on correctly, and from listening to the radio for the past forty like I had been I thought I was, then all of the other exits would be blocked like this one. I couldn't get out of the city, I was royally screwed. I didn't want to chance going to the CDC, because I was sure they were already full and with that many people I didn't want to step foot in that chaos.

So with some deliberate thinking, I finally decided to turn back around and go to my apartment. The complex was full of mostly older couples and families, so I figured the chances of it being safe was efficient enough. I knew I could barricade myself in like the radio was telling you to do too. One good thing was that Missouri had been right according to the news, the way to stop whatever these people were turning into, was to shoot them in their head. I didn't know if I'd be able to if it came down to it, but I figured I'd come to that bridge when needed.

Hauling everything down the stairs had been easy. Hauling everything back up, was the hard part. Everyone but me was fleeing to wherever they thought safe. I didn't know if they were the stupid ones or if I was.

I was on the fifth floor, I lived on the tenth and so I still had a ways to go when I came across the little old cat lady that I had had plenty of conversations with as I fetched my mail. She had been nice enough and didn't smell too badly considering her roommates were twenty or so felines. She was on one side of the hall, and I was on the other.

My first instinct was to tell her to go back inside and wait for one of her sons to come get her, I never got to act on this instinct as for when she turned to me, I noticed immediately the bleeding hole on the side of her neck. If I had been paying the amount of attention I should've to the news when I had been in the car, this might have been an easier concept for me to swallow, because considering where the bite was and the amount of blood on her flowered mumu, she should've been dead on the floor. Not limping her way down the hall towards me with a moan and over excited hand gestures.

Swallowing the lump in my throat I glanced back to the stairs I had come from, to her and the set of stairs on the opposite end of the hall that I needed if I wanted to get to my apartment. I had all my guns slung around my body like I was going to war, but my bullets were in the belly of my purse and none of them were loaded. The only logical weapon I had on me was the skillet. I didn't want to get that close to her, I decided very quickly. I was losing this advantage though as I stood there like an ass. I couldn't quite get my legs or feet or arms and hands for that matter to respond to the terrified commands I was sending them, instead I was left there with a terrified look on my face as the little old lady made a great effort to get to me.

"Oi! You gonna stand there all day or are you gonna get your tight little ass over here?" My eyes snapped immediately to the brash voice of a man, it had a heavy slur to it and I noticed with disdain that it belonged to the man I had been skirting around since I had hauled my belongings upstairs the first time. He creeped the shit outta me and I wasn't alone in this. The first word of advice I had gotten upon moving in was to avoid the 'tall, angry drunk man on the fifth floor' if I wanted to make it to my thirtieth birthday. Considering I did, I had paid that advice a lot of attention. I didn't particular want to go into his apartment, even if it was two doors away from where I stood and probably a lot safer than getting whatever cat lady had. "C'mon you little priss!" He hissed again, his small eyes narrowed dangerously at me as I finally made a move closer to the wall. It was hell or hell, I figured. At least with this one, I could escape outta the damn window.

Once I was within an arm's reach, he grabbed ahold of the hood on my jacket and yanked me inside his dark and odd smelling apartment. My nose wrinkled in disgust immediately, it smelt like a mixture of vomit, piss, vodka and stale cigarettes.

"You got any brains up there, girl? Or are ya just looks?" He laughed. Yes, my assumptions had been right; he wasn't a man to be around at all.

"Fuck you."

"That an offer?" He snickered with a wink. I nearly threw up. I should've stayed out in the hall, I decided quietly, at least she wouldn't have berated and raped me before she killed me, or bit me or whatever the fuck she was aiming to do to me. I didn't doubt for a second that this man had one or all on the agenda for me tonight. I wasn't too thrilled, and was trying my hardest to find the window I knew he had to have.

"What's your name girly?"

"Emmy." I responded curtly, crossing my arms over my chest defensively as he flicked on a light and began moving about the room, searching for something it looked like.

"What's your real name? Huh? The one good ol' momma gave ya? I can spot a Southern Belle from a mile away."

Rolling my eyes, "It's Emily Louise. And I'm no Southern Belle, douche bag." I swear I heard my mom roll in her damn grave.

"You got alotta attitude for the man that just saved your life!"

"Yelling at my little tight ass to get inside really isn't filed away under that category." I snorted as he knocked a bookshelf over that was full of books and knickknacks to the floor with a loud crash. "What are you doing?" I asked frowning as he began disassembling the rather sturdy piece of furniture.

"Gonna board the doors and windows up once you move your ass outta my way." Saw that as a queue to leave, really. I wasn't being trapped in here with him for god only knows how long; I'd sooner fling myself off of the roof then do that deed.

"Then I'll just climb outta that window and be on my way." I stated firmly, moving away from the door and closer to the aluminum covered spectacle that I had finally spotted.

"Nah, your pretty ass is stayin' here. Ain't no place for a Belle like you out there."

"You ain't my daddy or my big brothers, so I'll be doing what I want. Thank you very much." I huffed, immediately frowning as the step I took made an obnoxious crunch. Looking down I was displeased to find an empty bottle of vodka demolished under the heel of my boots. He really was a drunkard.

"Big brothers, huh? Well I best keep you safe for them, girly." He grinned as he stood with the armful of bookcase and made quick strides to the door. Scowling at him I noticed with distaste the carpenter's belt hung around his waist, with a pocket full of nails and a hammer included. Lil' bastard meant business. I was surprised he could even function the closer I looked at the room. "I ain't gonna bite if that's what your pretty self is wonderin' about. You ain't my type." Oh, so reassuring.

"Yeah, that's nice. But my big brother is waiting for me, so I better get going." I muttered making my way quickly towards my window of freedom.

"That why you were goin' up the stairs when you shoulda been goin' down?" He asked curiously, sending a look at me over his shoulder that clearly told me he wasn't as stupid as I was thinking. "That's what I thought." He laughed as I had settled into a silence. He had a point, I couldn't get out of the sit like I wanted and I probably couldn't even get across the city to the CDC at this point if it was really spreading as quickly as they were saying. "Just stay here 'til the boss man says it's safe. I swear I ain't gonna touch your prissy ass." I swore as he began hammering the shelves against the door with volition.

Seeing no other way, I sighed, "Yeah. Okay, fine. But I'll cut your saggy ass dick off if you even look at me funny, got it?" He snickered at me.

"You look like my dead kid, girly. Ain't gonna be gettin' excited about your small ass anytime soon." For whatever reason, this made me relax. If only a little. He seemed to notice this and actually sent a toothy grin at me that didn't make my skin crawl. It really was the end of the world, I decided. "Names' Bo, by the way."

"Well, Bo, thanks and all." I couldn't let all of momma's lil etiquette training go to waste, could I? No, she'd be coming for me next if I even thought about it for a second.

"See. Lil' Miss Southern Belle!"

Growling at him, I dropped my bags to the floor unceremoniously and rolled my shoulders, "Shut the fuck up." Striding over to him, I paused beside him in front of the door and threw him a glance; nodding he motioned to where his hand was and let me replace it with my own and I helped him hold the piece of wood up. "You bi-polar or something?"

"Nah. Just don't like prissy little girls who try to be somethin' they ain't. But ya are a Southern Belle." I snorted at him. "Gotta be the goddamn apocalypse, stuck in here with one now." He laughed after he had hammered the final nail into the frame of the door. "You ain't that bi-polar fuck in the head shit or anything, are ya?" He asked with a wink.

"Nope. Just don't like creepy old drunkards who talk like they don't know a dimes worth of anything."

"Well, you're pretty fuckin lucky then, girly! I know a dimes wortha somethin'!"