Ann starred out the window, and onto the small porch. The Rotters she killed were still scattered about, and many more had been thrown outside with them when she had entered the house. The house was filled with them, but it was easy for her to lead them out.

Now she watched outside as figures moved about the trees. Her rifle rested against her lap as she sat with one leg perched along the window railing, and the other on the ground.

I wonder who they could be.

She watched as a small group of seven emerged from the tree line. Two of them were being moved with help. Both of them bleeding from something that had happened. The first man to enter stopped, and starred at the dead bodies.

She took this opportunity to open the window, point the gun, and shoot next to the mans foot.

"I hope you don't move!" Ann called out to the group.

Three guns flashed towards her body as she called out to them. The two holding the injured didn't risk hurting them by reaching for their weapons. They stood their in the open just waiting for Ann to make her next move, and she liked it. She puddled around for a while. Trying to decide what to say next was harder than she had thought.

"Well, if your not going to make any threats then you might as well lower your guns." She called out in an attempt to let them be at ease.

She noticed no children with them, mostly adults, as she glanced at the tree line to make sure none lay in wait. While doing that the three men had lowered their weapons, and the two injured had been set down to rest on the ground. The two that had held them up were now watching for any Rotters that might happen to scramble towards them during the conversation.

"Why don't you come inside? I dot want to see people die for no good reason." She taunted them slightly in the way she delivered it, sweet, but she knew that it was a lie.

"What do you want?" A man called out, obviously the leader as he placed himself high in his stance.

"Oh what's with the wants? Who said I WANTED ANYTHING?" Ann whined momentarily at the remark.

The man hesitated before talking to his companions. They must have agreed on the circumstances as they helped their two injured up to the doorway. Ann slipped from the window, and dashed down the stairs. Her feet
treaded lightly on the carpeted stairs. When she came downstairs the men were just opening the door.

Ann lifted her rifle up to waist level, and pointed it at them as they came in. "The two that are injured, and their care takers can go into the living room. The rest of you I want with me."

Three stayed with Ann as the other four left to the living room. They didn't seem happy about the separation, but Ann was calling the shots.

"So . . . I see that you are-um-military?" The leader spoke up as he closed the door.

Ann glanced at the two other figures who were prancing on their feet nervously, "So . . . I see that you are in need of some-um-medical experience."

The leader smiled wearily as he took the joke unfazed, "I can't feel like you want something. What is it?"

Ann rolled her eyes, and sighed, "Your right. I do want something, but it's more of a need. Yes, I'm military. Actual. Now, what is your name? You seem like the leader of your small . . . band of merry survivors."

The man smiled, stopped, started thinking for a moment, and then spoke, "I guess it couldn't hurt. Name's Brent. You are?"

"Irrelevant." Was all Ann said with a smile playing across her face.

The man, Brent, just opened his mouth, laughed loudly, and then finally spoke, "Very funny, now what do you want?"

Ann stated her mission plainly this time, but didn't reveal all of it, "What I want, or need really, is a person. I'm just asking you since you popped by for a visit."

Brent closed his eyes, and mumbled something that seemed like of course before actually speaking to Ann, "What do you want with this person?"

"Nothing that concerns you Brent. That is if you want to have your life back." Ann spoke this with authority as she noticed the challenge in power.

"Is that a threat?" Asked Brent, "If so, I won't help you a bit."

Ann sighed as she saw her slight mistake in wording, "No. Excuse me if I came across that way to you. Now, the name of the person in looking for is Ethan. Perhaps you know him? He's a young boy, about 16 or so."

Brent's demeanor changed as he heard the name. Ann could obviously tell that it wrong a bell in the man's mind. Now she wanted to see if he spoke the truth to her at all.

"Yes, I know that kid." Brent complied, "But it's been a while since I've seen him."

Ann wasn't so sure if that as she saw the bullet wounds on the two injured as they had been led away, "Oh really? Do you happen to know where he might be?"

"I thought I did." Brent glanced down, wincing slightly as he spilled answers out one by one.

Ann was hungry for the answers Brent was giving, so she pushed on, "Doesn't matter how long ago, dear. Just when you last saw him."

Brent rolled his hand over his ball cap he had on before speaking in a weary voice, "Thought he was still at his old base that I had left months ago. Showed up last night, and ran into a man in a particularly nasty group at the front gate. I believe that this boy your looking for has been dead for a while. We fought for a while during the brief exchange during last night."

Ann suddenly tightened the grip on her gun. Brent saw it and his eyes widened. He backed up slightly as his mouth opened to say something.

Ann released her grasp on her rifle, "He's still alive then. Thank you. Now enjoy your day here. I'll be gone before dark, and you can stay here."

Brent relaxed slightly as the other two who had pointed their guns at Ann leaned against the walls in slight joy. They had really hoped to avoid losing another person within a day.

••••••••

I think I have messed up this book so bad with this chapter.

The revival of old characters is a great chance for some more lovely drama.

How many people expected that great unpredictable plot twist?

I think I've just made this one of my favorite chapters to write so far.

I hope you enjoy!