The Enemy U.S.A.

Chapter 17: The Innocent

"What state are we in?" Gabriella asked as Zyrax was stopping the ice cream truck in front of a house. They were in a neighborhood where the houses were large and the cars were expensive. But the house they stopped at had no car. The sun was at its highest point and this was the final stop for Zyrax and Gabriella.

"I don't know, some of the signs were knocked down." Zyrax responded.

"Why are we stopping in front of this house?"

Zyrax was getting annoyed. "I told you a little while back, we need to find more food, and this place looks like it wasn't ransacked yet."

Gabriella groaned. "Ugh, how long is this going to take?"

Zyrax scratched his head. "I dunno, maybe at least a half an hour."

"Why so long?"

"Why are you asking so many questions?"

"I just like wasting people's time."

"Just stay here." Zyrax said as he opened the driver's side door and jumped out.

"Wait, no!" Gabriella was exiting the truck. "Why do I have to stay here?"

Zyrax waited for Gabriella to go around the truck and face him so he could talk to her face to face. "Because I don't want a delicate little flower like you to get hurt." Zyrax removed his machete from its sheathe. "And besides, I was the one who save your ass, and you needed the help." He started to walk towards the front door.

Gabriella scoffed and ran up to Zyrax, grabbing him by the shoulder and turning him around. "For your information, in trapped my own mother in the hotel room!"

Zyrax there his head back and laughed. "Wow! I killed both of my parents, then found my friends, who were eaten by the way, and killed their parents and older siblings. Oh, and remember when I mentioned my group before, yeah, I had to witness them all getting torn apart by those, those things!

Gabriella tried to think of something else but couldn't. Since the outbreak she stayed with her mother, but her mother got worse and worse, eventually becoming one of the infected, attacking her own daughter. Gabriella never faced another infected since back at the boarder when she met Zyrax.

Zyrax turned around once more and out his hand on the door knob. He was about to try and turn it when Gabriella caught his attention.

"Did all of your friends die?" He voice was low, there was no hint of an attitude.

Zyrax sighed and turned around to face her. "No, not all of them."

"What happened to them, like, the rest of your group."

Zyrax rubbed his chin. "I got blamed for most of the group's death. One other person survived. His name was Josh. He called me out and left. I've never seen that son of a bitch again."

"If you saw him again, would you try and talk to him?"

"I don't know. Look, I told you what you wanted to hear." Zyrax turned away. "Look, are you coming or not?"

Gabriella smiled, "Sure, just let me get a weapon first!" She walked over to the ice cream truck and got inside. She came out with a .19 Caliber Pistol. She walked up to Zyrax and showed him her weapon.

Zyrax back peddled a bit. "Hey! Whoa, careful with that thing!" He studied Gabriella for a moment. "Do you even know how to shoot that thing?"

"No," Gabriella pointed the gun at Zyrax, then grinned. "But I was hoping you'd know and teach me!"

Zyrax ran up and slapped the gun from Gabriella's hands. "Rule number one! Never point your gun at an ally!" He bent over and picked it up from the ground. He was examining the weapon carefully. "Just, give me a second with this thing."