Final Crisis

Chapter 30

The four took time to breathe, having survived the sudden ambush by the insects and the infected.

Merin was still hidden under a table, and he stuck his head out.

"Is it all clear?" He asked, his voice barely audible.

"Yes," Bill helped Merin up.

"What were those things?" Russell said, his face contorting at the grimy bugs split apart on the floor with fluid spilled everywhere. "I hate bugs."

"Yeah, me too," Finn crossed his arms and leaned on a table, then opened his eye. He grabbed Merin by the shoulders.

"What happened? How did you and Julie get split up?"

"Huh?" Merin trembled slightly, fearful of Finn's calm yet anger-ridden demeanor. "I-It was a lot...that guy, right there," He pointed to Ron's slumped body, "he attacked us. He almost killed me, but Juliet saved me. She pushed me away and fought the guy off, but he used some electric thingy on her...I felt so bad for leaving...but that's what she told me to do. I mean, I came on this mission to help you guys, but I think I did more harm than anything else...she was distracted because of me..."

"Don't blame yourself, son," Bill said, taking Finn's hands off of him.

"No! I could've helped her! And now she's being taken away to whatever that place is," Merin tugged at his own hair. "It's my fault!"

Bill wrapped an arm around him and Merin buried his face in the crook of his arm, crying quietly.

Bill had killed upwards of thirty infected on his way.

"Don't cry."

Merin spoke, his voice muffled from the jacket. "She might be dead because of me."

"Don't say that," Russell interjected, "I'm sure she's okay. Both her and Raph."

"Hopefully..." Merin muttered, then separated from the group to sit on a table and look at a wall in silence.

"So..." Finn took his view off of Merin and towards Bill. "How'd you find him?"

He responded quickly. "I suppose I showed up at a good time. I found him running out of a building, looking panicked. I saved him from a few biters out there, and he gave me a quick rundown of what happened. I rushed inside the building to help, but by then they were gone. I'm sorry. Not too terribly long later, I got Bruce's text to come here. That's when I contacted you."

Finn nodded off during his response, taking the time to reload his gun. He was running out of ammo, so he needed to get back to the library soon to pick some more up.

Bruce burst through the doors, hastily making his way to them.

"What hap-"

"Werster's dead!" He spoke with finality.

"What?" Russell said, in disbelief. It was a little jarring to think that the man he had just been talking to a few minutes prior was dead somewhere. He didn't like him, but it still felt weird nonetheless.

"About time..." Bruce said under his breath as he approached them. "I need to get going. You all stay here, or go to your house, or whatever. I need to kill Reese as soon as possible."

"Okay hold on," Finn straightened himself up, "What exactly is your history with these people? You said you'd explain it to us, so now is a good time."

"Don't worry about it!" Bruce retorted. "I'll tell you when I feel like telling you."

"No, I think now is a good time asshole!"

"I haven't even known you for a full day. Why the fuck should I tell you my business?"