The Life and Times in the Zombie Apocalypse: Part 3: Homecoming

An Act of Valor

"We gather here today, after a night's rest from my return of my trip. I returned home yesterday with some new faces, good people. They were interviewed and accepted into Cranbury, however sadly, before he could even really know what Cranbury was like, this man, Ethan, passed away. Now he was stubborn, anyone that met him knew that, but he was a good man. See Ethan was a good man and I knew that, because he risked his life to save a young boy, a boy that sadly did not survive, but he tried. In my mind, in my heart.... Ethan died a hero and a champion. Even after Ethan was bitten he didn't stop to smell the flowers, no, he made sure his people got here, to safety because he was a Leader." Richard looked out among the crowd of people watching him speak. He eyes Mike, Maxine, and Travis but only for a moment. "The last few days I've heard have not been good ones." Richard continued speaking, turning things to what had happened while he had been gone. "I'm sorry that any of you endured the types of pain and grief here while i was away. I am back now, and trust me. Things will be better."

Donny walked away from the crowd of people, pushing by them if they didn't already move for him. Martin looked Donny's way and saw him head away from everybody else, so he followed him... leaving Richard still speaking.

Donny walked to a car that was parked along the side of the entrance into Cranbury, he grabbed the key wich had been sitting on the hood of the vehicle. Then he opened the door and got inside.

"Donny, get out." Martin said as he ran to the window, his voice was muffled.

Donny looked at Martin and the lowered the window. "What?" He asked with nearly no emotion.

"Get out here." Martin insisted.

"No. I'm leaving." Donny told him. Then he leaned out the window a bit and shouted. "Hey, open the doors!"

Todd, Melanie's father looked towards Donny and Martin. "You two heading out?"

Both men shouted back to Todd, however the answers were very different. Donny of course shouted yes, while Martin... no.

"Listen, if you're leaving. I'm coming with you." Martin told him. "so unlock the fucking door." He then walked around the car and went.to the passenger side door.

"Open the doors!" Donny shouted again.

This time Todd listened and opened the doors to Cranbury. Martin hit the window and yelled at Donny.

"Unlock the damn door!" Martin shouted.

Donny put the car into drive, the car started moving slowly, Martin said to open the door through the window again, then pulled the handle. The door swung open and he nearly fell to the ground, then hurried and hopped in the seat of the slowly moving vehicle and slammed the door shut.

"You're being a real jackass, you know that?" Martin criticized, as he looked at Donny, who was focused on driving.

As the two of them left Cranbury, Todd shut the doors, leaving what civilization that both Donny and Martin knew behind.

"You know it's not safe out here, right?" Martin asked Donny.

"Then go back." Donny told him as he stopped the car.

"I'm not letting you out here alone." Martin replied.

"Why the hell not?" Donny asked strictly.

"You just lost your wife, your brother isn't back yet, and you have two boys at home that need someone to fucking be there for them." Martin argued. "That's why I won't fucking leave you alone out here. I've seen men, good men get killed, I've watched it with my own two eyes Donny!"

"And so have I!" Donny yelled. "I saw people die in some of the most grueling ways possible!"

"Then why would you leave!?" Martin yelled.