The Collapse of Mankind

Chapter Ten, TCOM Part II

Bang.

Each one of the smaller group members shut their eyes tightly, waiting for the sound of Alexis' body falling to the floor. But it didn't. Ellie opened her dark green eyes slowly to be met with one of Carter's men dead on the floor.

Cisco turned his head around to see Violet, Joshua and Madison standing behind a bush with their guns drawn. Smoke slowly raised from the tip of Joshua's rifle. Cisco nodded at Josh before turning around to face Carter.

Cisco: Open fire!

Both groups began firing their guns at one another. Cisco, Ellie and Nick ran for cover behind the van. Alexis hit the gun out of Carter's hand, making it fall to the floor. Before she could attempt to run away, Carter grabbed her t-shirt, dragging her to his vehicle to get her out of the way. The groups both shot at each other, trying their hardest to narrow down the amount of people on each side. Carter's group's number decreased every second. However, Cisco's group stayed the exact same. Carter threw Alexis into the back of his van, shutting the door so she couldn't get out. He took cover behind the van, taking his machine gun off safety mode.

Carter: You never fucking learn, do you?!

Carter peeked around from the side of his vehicle, doing his best to shoot the other group. Another one of Carter's men fell to the ground with a thud, blood running from a hole in his forehead.

Cisco: One guy left. Come on!

Nick peeked over at the last remaining guy. None of them could get an angle on him. He glanced over at a shrub in the woods and then over at Cisco, Ellie and Sophia. The other three were still taking cover in the woods.

Nick: If I could just get over to that shrub, I could maybe get an angle on this guy. Cover me, alright? Just shoot over towards him. It'll give him something to think about. Just long enough for me to make it over there.
Ellie: We'll... we'll try.
Nick: Yeah? Well, okay. Good... good. I just need the distraction. Okay? All right, on my go.

Nick waited until the guy took cover behind a tree again.

Nick. Go!

Ellie, Cisco and Sophia all shot towards the guy in order to distract him from Nick. He began running towards the shrub, gaining Joshua's attention.

Josh: Hey! What are you-

The remaining alive member of Carter's group came out from cover and fired a bullet at Nick's leg.

Nick: Argh!
Ellie: Nick, No!

Nick fell to the floor but luckily pulled himself along the floor and behind cover. Ellie, Cisco and Sophia watched him get behind cover. Sophia ran over to him, not being totally aware of her surroundings.

Ellie: Sophia!

Luckily, Sophia made it across to Nick without getting injured. He had his hand pushing down on the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

Sophia: Nick! Are you okay?
Nick: Well, he got me in the leg, but... I think... I think it went straight through... shit, I don't know.

Nick cried out in pain as he sat himself up straight.

Nick: I'm gonna be fine... I think. I'm gonna be fine.

Carter walked out from behind his vehicle with Alexis. He had a crowbar up to her head as he held her hands behind her back, hurting her shoulders and neck.

Carter: If you don't stop this shit right fucking now, I push this crowbar right through the kid's head!

Ellie turned to look at Cisco.