No mercy (book 2 of dawn of the others)

Chapter 3

They ran through the building ending up on the outside of the apartment complex breathing with relief the Alley opened up to reveal the building Meme wanted to check for Socks in. He looked down at the ground and saw bloody footprints leading away from a wall that had faint traces of blood smeared all over. He crouched down and looked to where the footprints were heading.

"The footprints are leading to the building across the street," he observed.

"Well let's head over there shall we?" Ally suggested. As they walked over the door opened to show a man with brown hair who wore a purple and green vest and he looked at them curiously.

"What are you doing here?" He asked slightly hostile but trying to make sure he didn't come across as too hostile.

"We are looking for a person named Socks." Meme said with an even tone.

"Socks eh?" The guy crossed his arms and leaned up against the doorframe. "Yeah, I know him. He's in the building as we speak."

"What's your name?" Meme asked, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.
"Oompa, yours?"
"I'm Meme, This is Ally, Laff, Blaza, Woolf, Dino, Muffin, Joocie, and Nadwe." He pointed to everyone as he said their name. Oompa was eyeing the health packs that four of them had. Just barely enough for them.
"Come inside." he said as he made a gesture for them to follow him. Meme could barely contain his excitement, Socks was okay. He had to be. As they walked up the stairs they were in a large room. A person with purple hair and a purple hoodie was leaning over a limp person in an orange hoodie sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. Another guy in a suit with a dice mask was watching the newcomers cautiously. Oompa walked over next to the person in the orange hoodie who looked up to see them. He looked in pain. His usual bright brown eyes were dull. Even his yellow eye that illuminated his face in dark areas didn't have its usual glow. He winced as he tried to sit up more.
"This is Tbvg, and Oof." Oompa introduced them then he stepped closer to Socks within an arm's reach. Then he ripped out a knife in a hidden sheath that Meme hadn't seen. Oompa held the knife close to Socks neck who had no reaction except to shrink and attempt to make himself smaller.

"Alright listen up fellas, I've got a knife to your friend's throat. Only you can choose how this goes." Oompa told them. Meme took a step back in surprise. He reached for the pistol he had in his belt.

"You shoot me, I'll take your friend down with me, he's clearly very important to you." Oompa taunted. Meme crossed his arms to show he wasn't going to try anything. Meme was expecting socks to attack Oompa or do something at least, he just seemed like he was in way too much pain. He didn't even look like minded that the knife was at his throat.

"You see we wasted two first aid kits on your friend and I see you have four. Repay us the two health packs and I'll let go of your friend." Oompa negotiated.

"Meme we need these." Ally whispered to him as he started reaching to give To Oompa.

"Ally, we need socks." Meme whispered back to her.

"Do we though?" She questioned. Meme spun around on heels to glare at her.

"What did you say?" Meme asked furiously.

"It was only a thought said aloud Meme." Ally responded.

"I see you guys are arguing, what if I just kept your friend and you keep your health packs. Maybe this guy won't be a waste." Oompa said treating Socks like he was an object, something that he could own.

"No!" Meme shouted outraged. Ally grabbed his shoulder.

"Shut up meme! We need to discuss this!" She whispered to him.

She then looked at Oompa.

"Can we discuss this?" She asked him. He paused to consider the option.

"Don't take too long." He said after a moment of silence. Meme sighed with relief and turned his back to Oompa Ally and Laff did the same. They started weighing the options of having a weak and injured socks on their side and sacrifice possible health kits that might save someone. The other option was to leave Socks with this group and keep the health kits.

"What if we just ask them to show us the way to Mercy hospital?" She suggested. Meme looked at her, it was a smart idea plus more safety in numbers. So she turned to Oompa and asked

"What if you just showed us the way to Mercy hospital?" She asked him.

"In this large of a group? We're moving targets!" Oompa snapped. "We could get bombed by the military and In a larger group the infected could see us from farther distances." He pointed out. Ally started chewing on the side of her nail.

"What about the fact that if one of get incapacitated we have like three people to back up the people helping you." Ally countered. Oompa considered this for a second. He opened his mouth to speak but got cut off by Tbvg

"Sorry about Oompa, he's not usually like this." Tbvg started, Oompa glared at him. "What he was gonna ask was, What's in it for us?" he questioned.

"Well we would have your back in any bad situations, and we would help you loot stuff just in case you don't want to come with us when we get to Mercy hospital." Ally suggested.

"We keep our health packs and we can get our friend back." Meme added. Ally glanced at him in surprise. Oompa tensed up then he crouched down and put the knife closer to Socks' neck.

"I don't think I'll take that offer." Oompa spat.

"Oompa I swear to god you hurt him it's just a waste of health packs like you said! Another thing too is that I will shoot you if you hurt him." Oof said coming to the defense of the other group.

"And I won't help you when you're bleeding out." Tbvg and Meme said at the same time. They exchanged glances. Oompa glanced at each of them, his gaze went to the weakened Socks then back to the rest of them. His arm went a little bit closer to where the blade was practically touching Socks throat. Socks let out a low growl barely loud enough for Meme to hear. Oompa quickly moved the knife away and backed up. Socks looked up, his eyes were a bright yellow, his brown eye was dull still but the yellow glow from his other eye lit up part of his face. He stood up which seemed to hurt him because he winced and let out a whimper. He then leaped at oompa. Who screamed in surprise. Meme rushed forward to help him but Oof was faster and ran forward with the butt of his gun he smashed it into Socks skull. Knocking him backwards he bumped into the wall and stumbled disoriented. His yellow eye dulled down and he slumped back on the floor unconscious.

"Now do you want to keep him?" Meme asked sarcastically.