Poisoned Waters | ✓

|𝟏𝟒| "𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬"

𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐍 Bridge was the final bridge standing across the River Thames in Central London, the other nine were destroyed to stop the crossflow of walkers. It stood on its last legs but still held power, still holding the rightful name of the city that once thrived.

The Everwinterian rover parked, facing the Valtan rovers a few hundred metres away.

Angelo stood in front of the largest rover with his arms crossed over his chest; he had just smoked a cigarette and looked as though he couldn't breathe. Jasmine wasn't sure if it was just nerves as well. It had been two years since the two leaders had last talked, it wouldn't be a shock if this first meeting was a little painful for all of them.

Noah stepped out of the rover with the rest of the masked team. Emmanuel and Carlton were holding onto Travis; he looked like he had been pampered, his shoulder-length hair was straightened and he looked well fed, they had changed his clothes and shaved his beard.

Once everyone was ready, Noah crossed his arms and waited for Angelo's order.

"Let him walk over then." Angelo shouted.

"When you tell me why you were having him and his friend move through that horde." Noah returned. It was only fair that he got something in return for not killing Angelo's soldier.

"Destroy you from the inside out. Sabotage you until we could completely set it on fire." Angelo simply answered. Noah inwardly scoffed, knowing anyone trying to do that would be dead before they knew it.

"Your end of the bargain?"

Angelo ordered for the release of Monet. She climbed of the rover, looking like she was still in one piece. They'd also taken good care of her, even though her new boots were a little uncomfortable. Noah felt the largest set of weight rise from his shoulders.

Noah signalled to the two men holding Travis. "Let him go." They obeyed and removed the handcuffs on his wrists. "Walk slowly, and don't do some dumb arse shit."

Travis looked at Noah for a moment, and he simply signalled for him to go. He seemed like he was expecting more from this, but Noah couldn't give a shit about this one man. He had the information he needed and was getting the person he wanted back, that's all that mattered.

West, however, didn't look too comfortable. He glared at Travis as he walked slowly. He leaned into Noah, whispering, "I still don't think we should let them off that easily."

"There is nothing wrong with this, West, all they want is their guy back, innit, and you want your sister back." Noah replied. Silence sat in the air, as Travis and Monet walking simultaneously was barely making any distance, it was growing more suspenseful and West was getting more flustered.

"There is so much wrong with this." he grunted.

West's hand reached for his gun, just as Mack distractingly spoke into Noah's ear. "Should we begin to retreat?"

"If we do, we'll cause suspicion. Best to wait until Monet is here and he's there. We haven't strapped a fucking bomb on him to be this damn cautious." Noah kissed his teeth at their apprehension.

"Noah," Mack heaved, Noah turned to look back at him. His glare almost looked like he was trying to warn him.

Just as Noah was going to speak on Mack's disconcerting appearance, West drew his gun.

It didn't even take a second for him to shoot his already loaded gun. The shot ricocheted the silent air, leaving everyone ducking in shock.

Travis fell dead with a thud.

West shouted, as Angelo and Jasmine and Joseph watched in rage, "That's what'll happen to the rest of y'all that try and mess with this community! Come anywhere near us and you'll eat my fucking bullets!" he screamed, brandishing his pistol with the intent to shoot again.

It didn't even take another second for everyone to lift their weapons. Everyone began taking cover behind abandoned cars and the open doors of their rovers. Monet made a run for it.

Joseph boiled with internal revenge. He had listened to his father's finishing bullet over a radio, and the murderer seemed far from remorseful—this demonstration from his counterparts was evident! He lifted a gun and aimed for Noah.

Angelo pushed him, changing the bullet's direction completely. Noah was his target, he was going to stop anyone that got in the way of that.

Noah wrestled West to the ground and disarmed him. West struggled beneath him and writhed with all his might. "Are you fucking dumb?! You've just fucked this all up, you fucking idiot!"

"Murphy! Murphy, baby! Stay with me, yeah? Stay with me, for fuck's sake!" Noah lifted his head, catching sight of the thick, red liquid soaking the the ground.

There wasn't meant to be blood.

Sasha was screaming furiously, as Murphy lay on her lap, struggling to keep himself awake.

Noah got up so fast and applied pressure on the area that was shot. His artery. He was losing blood fast. Noah could barely process anything.

Sasha was doing her best to stay focused but lost it all as she watched the Valtans retreat after creating this devastation.

Murphy's green eyes stared sadly up at Sasha, as Noah tried his best to support him. She gently wiped the tears that were soaking his slightly bloodied face.

He shouted for someone to radio back to Everwinter and get some help. Murphy was slipping away. Noah tried to turn him onto his side so that he wouldn't choke on his blood, but he groaned in agony.

For once, Noah didn't know what to do.

Noah fell silent. He wasn't sure how to reassure him anymore because he probably wouldn't even hear him.

Murphy had forgotten to put on his vest. Noah had told him to and he didn't, and now he was dying.

A fuzzy buzz ran through Noah's ears. He unconsciously stopped applying pressure.

Murphy's eyes held his lifelessly as he inaudibly mumbled his will and wishes. He touched the box in his pocket.

He finally exhaled. The buzz ceased and the setting sky darkened.

The tranquil silence was soon reminded of the low groans of the dead.

Everyone was anticipating his reawakening. Everyone was anticipating who was going to be strong enough to now kill him.

Noah's bloodied hands soaked his dagger. He barely hesitated to end his suffering.

He jabbed the blade into his left temple. His body fell once again and Noah threw the weapon into the black river.