Anger is the danger. It's so dangerous that it can make us do things we normally wouldn't do and hurt not just our enemies but also those who we consider as allies by accident.
If we don't learn how to control it, many people will go away from us, and what will we have in the end then? ....Pure loneliness with no helping hand in sight, because we screamed at every hand that tried to help us.
It's a feeling that destroys our logical thinking; we don't understand anymore what we do, and we just become someone else. Someone we would hate ourselves.
Never let anger consume you...
_____________________________________________
~ Now the group walks through the forest, trying to find Chris, who ran away due to his fear, which controlled him.
Kai: Why the hell are we searching for this idiot again?
Niklas: He's a part of our group, and we can't leave him alone.
Kai: You really wanna see us dead, huh? Niklas: We need to save him! He made one mistake, and you want to leave him alone to die?!
Kai: He deserves it for leaving us like a scared cat!!
Niklas: Just shut up, man! You made enough problems yourself, you know.
Kai: Shut up.
The group keeps walking through these woods, but here they stop... A sight none of them had seen in real life before.
A deer is lying still alive next to a tree, while its guts are hanging out through a big hole in its stomach. It looks like someone has ripped it apart and eaten parts of these guts.When Octavia looks closer, she sees some teeth stuck in the body.A sight, which almost makes Ben vomit.
Ben gets down to the deer and caresses it, showing pure empathy and love for the deer. Quite typical for him.
Ben: What a sad sight... She looks so hurt... So full of pain.
Ben looks around again and spots a track of blood across the ground of the forest.
Ben: Seems like the deer ran away. From a bunch of deadheads. Multiple bite marks are distributed across the body. Some of the horde that attacked us noticed this deer before and tried to eat it. Deadheads eat animals too... Makes sense, I guess.
Everyone in the group just stares at the deer and listens as carefully as possible to not miss out on any detail.
The deer makes unbearable sounds. Like it's being ripped apart right now.
Niklas: We need to free the deer from the pain...
Everyone nods, but no one does anything. They all wait for someone to kill it, because no one wants to. I mean, killing what's already dead or seems dead with no feelings is different from killing a living creature in pain. But Niklas knows someone needs to do it in the end.
Niklas: I... I'll do it.
Niklas takes the knife, takes a deep breath, and puts the knife right into the head of the deer.
Niklas: Let's go...
Niklas glances at Octavia for a moment, being interested in her reaction.But her reaction was purely empathetic.
Octavia loves the wildlife... Animals too. But the deer would have died anyway. Either a quick and painless death or a slow one full of unbearable pain.
Ben: Good night, sweet deer.
Ben caresses the deer one last time, and the group continues to walk through the huge forest with no end in sight. It gives off the feeling like it doesn't have an end.
After a long amount of time, the group finds an abandoned hut where no one has lived for a long time.
Kai, looking at Niklas: You think Chris is in there?
Niklas: Not sure...Niklas walks towards the hut and knocks on the door.
Niklas: It's okay, Chris! We're here to help you. We escaped, and we just need you to get out... We won't hurt you. I promise. There are sounds to hear in the hut after Niklas said this.
Niklas: Chris? ...
Suddenly Chris runs out of the backdoor and into the forest, while everyone just stares at him in pure shock, and some people, like Ben, had a sudden movement, trying to catch him.
Ben: Chris!
Kai, full of his rage, runs after Chris. Literally a prey running away from its hunter. Kai doesn't stop and screams with anger; he cannot control himself while running after Chris.
Kai: Chris! You dumb fool! You will die for this!!! You dumb piece of shit!
Chris: Leave me alone!!!!
Chris runs, his breathing quickening, just like his crazy heartbeat with a heart that is trying to jump out of his body and run away itself, because it knows Chris isn't fast enough.
Niklas runs after Kai, hoping that he can stop him from doing what he wants to do to Chris.
Octavia, Jason, and Ben run after them too, but at a slower speed.
But suddenly, Kai grabs Chris by the shirt and drags him roughly down, and without hesitation, Kai starts beating Chris up.
Niklas: Stop! Now!
Kai: Why did you do that?! You had no right!!!
Kai pulls Chris up again and smashes him against the tree while punching him right in the stomach. With such hate and anger. An anger that most people in the group didn't see before.
Kai: You left us! You left me! You left!!!!
Kai continues, but as Niklas arrives, Niklas punches Kai in the face and kicks him away.
Kai falls to the ground, and it seems that he's in some sort of trance.
Niklas: Enough! Kai! Get a grip!
Niklas looks at Kai with an angry glare and stands in front of Chris to protect him from another beating from Kai.
Ben looks completely confused. Left him? Why does it matter so much?...
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Kai: The fuck?! He betrayed us and ran away!
Niklas: Stop! I won't let you continue, man...
Kai goes towards Niklas but stops when Ben, Jason, and Octavia stand with Niklas, with their backs towards Chris.
Octavia: This doesn't help now. We need a place to go to, and beating each other up will only get us killed and bring attention we clearly don't need.
Octavia says, while pointing at a group of deadheads walking towards them.
Niklas: She's right. We need to go now.
Ben, who is sitting next to Chris and treating his wounds, agrees but brings up a question.
Ben: Good idea, but where? The village is overrun, and we cannot sleep in a cave or in the forest tonight.
Jason looks down at his hands, looking around nervously while approaching Niklas, Ben, and Octavia. His fingers were fidgeting the whole time.
Jason: I... I think I know a place we could go to.
Niklas looks at him with a surprised expression.
Niklas: A place? Really?!
Jason: There's a place in the mountains with a sea and a bunch of different huts. We can go there.
Niklas: How do you know?
Jason: It...
Jason hesitates for an unknown reason.
Jason: It belonged to my father, who was killed a long time ago. It was supposed to belong to me, and it's safe there. Besides, it's the safest place I know.
Niklas: Oh... Okay. That sounds good; we can do that.
Octavia: Yeah....
When everyone is ready, Octavia can't stop looking at Kai. The way he started beating up Chris, with pure hatred and rage, triggered a memory in her. A deep memory she doesn't even want to have in her life. This hate, this power, this strength, these screams. It was all too similar.
She ignores these feelings and goes to Ben, who is walking next to Chris.
The whole group hikes now through the forest in a fast tempo. Niklas and Jason in front of everyone, Ben, Octavia, and Chris in the middle, and Kai further away in the back.
The deadheads walked to the blood on the tree that Chris left behind. Some of them are following the group. Niklas turns towards Jason.
Niklas: Do you have an idea on how to get rid of these deadheads?
Jason: I ... If we speed up and go to the Bodensee, which is on the way, they will most likely lose track.
Niklas: Good idea, man. Thanks.
Niklas turns towards everyone.
Niklas: We'll go to the Bodensee now! Just be careful and stick together!
Everyone nods.
Niklas: Oh...and Octavia. Hold your crossbow in your hands and shoot any deadhead that approaches us.
Octavia nods, feeling how important she already is for the group. Just because of her skills, but that's what matters the most right now.
After a while the group got tired, and the deadheads, which followed them, had already disappeared in the distance when they saw another wounded deer.
While everyone else was stressed and tired, Octavia observed the forest. The forest was her home, which she loved more than any place. It's a place she spent all of her time in. A place that helped her to feel at peace, even in the most stressful moments of her life.
The forest is beautiful and feels like a dream. The trees, which look like giants when she's lying on the ground or walking across the forest. The insects with their own little worlds in the forest create a feeling of being in a different world. Far away from the concrete roads and buildings. Every insect or little animal has their own story here, and some of them don't even know that it's the end of the world.
As she follows Niklas and Jason, she thinks...she thinks about how awful it is in the big cities right now.
So full of gunfire and panic when the dead people appeared. Here those deadheads just won, and everyone else lost. But at least it's quiet...so quiet. No scream is to be heard.
But whenever Octavia looks around, she sees the dead people around here. Some dead deadheads on the ground and a group of men all around her. A fear she still cannot make disappear from her mind.
_____________________________________________
~ After a while the group reaches the Bodensee, completely exhausted and empty.Not even anger is visible in Kai's eyes.
Niklas: Well... Here we are... The Bodensee. We could maybe take a break here and search through the boats and ships. There might be something to eat and drink.
Octavia: Sounds like a good idea.
Octavia says. She doesn't know anything about Niklas, but something gives her the feeling that he's good. But maybe it's just another foolish, naive hope.
The group arrives at the dock that is filled with boats and ships.
Niklas: Okay... We will go in pairs. Everyone will stay with someone else and get a boat they should search through.
Everyone nods.
Ben goes with Chris, Jason with Kai, and Octavia with Niklas.
_____________________________________________
~ Octavia and Niklas enter a huge, white boat, which seems like it was used by some rich football player or actor. Filled with different trophies and awards.
As both enter the boat, Niklas looks at Octavia, nods, and searches for anything valuable.
Octavia helps too but sees a collection of photos. Family photos... A happy family. Two smiling kids, who could make the sun shine in a storm with their smiles. A father, who hugs his wife, who is standing next to him. All of it seems so wonderful and so fake.... Like it's all a lie. At least in her eyes, because even the opposite makes her remember her pain, her sleepless nights, her fear...
Niklas notices how Octavia froze in one place and stands still.
Niklas: Is everything alright?
Octavia looks at him and answers... But this time with a bit of gratitude in her eyes.
Octavia: I'm okay. Just remembered something.
Niklas smirks.Niklas: You know, I... remember stuff too... Whenever I smell something, I remember places or memories, which I thought were gone already. That's okay.
Octavia smiles a bit.
Octavia: Yeah... That's true. It's weird...
Niklas: Yeah... Thanks, by the way. Thanks for helping us all and doing all that you did.
Octavia: No... No problem. I wanted to.
Niklas: No... Thank you. You risked your life to save all of us when you pulled the fire alarm alone in the crossbow club building. I'm sure no one would have done that.
Octavia: Well, thank you for saving my life too.
Niklas: I need at least someone who's reasonable and capable, haha.
He jokes, but that's clearly not the reason why he's glad to have Octavia in the group.
Both of them search through the boat without saying more words for now, but their eyes already speak for themselves.
_____________________________________________
At the same time Chris and Ben searched through an old boat, which belonged to a grandpa and is full of fishing equipment.
Ben: You okay, Chris?
Chris: Yes...
He says it quietly and looks down again.
Ben: Hmm... Okay. I know you're lying, but you don't need to talk if you don't want to. But you can always get help if you need to. I'm always there if you need an open ear.
Chris: Thanks...
They search through all the stuff inside, and while Chris looks through the shelves, Ben is staring at the fishes.
Ben: The fishes here are beautiful. Some are small... Some are big. But they all got caught. Every single one of them. So different, but the same fate.My father was a fisher too... He tried to teach me but got annoyed whenever I threw these fishes back into the lake instead of putting them in a bucket, hehe.
Chris: Why?
Ben: They're just fish. But sometimes, I'm just so full of empathy, and I wanted them to live. I'm a vegetarian anyways.
Chris: That is cool.
Ben smiles while going back to search through everything.
Ben: Yeah... You know, I always wanted to be a farmer but started working in an IT company because farming wasn't bringing enough money. My dream was to take care of animals my whole life. But that's how it is....
Chris: That's true.
Ben: Who were you?
Chris looks around and answers.
Chris: I didn't have a job. I was living with my parents. But I wanted to be a painter. It helps me.
While talking with each other, Ben notices Chris stuttering all the time a bit and mumbling some of his phrases. Seems like he has some anxiety.
Ben: That's cool. Painting is a great way to express yourself.
Both smile and keep searching.
_____________________________________________
~Jason and Kai are in a huge ship with multiple rooms that was used for tourists who paid enough to stay here for multiple days.
Kai looks at Jason.
Kai: I'll go to one end and you to the other one. Then we'll meet in the middle of this ship.
Jason: Okay.
Kai walks towards the last room, and as he opens the door, he sees nothing except a suitcase. So he opens it to see what's inside, and as he sees what's inside it, his limbs freeze in shock.
It's a suitcase of a guy he once beat up. His name was Aaron.
It's filled with random stuff. As he searches through the suitcase, his anger boils up. There's a mugshot of him in the suitcase.
Kai: Why the hell does this piece of shit have a mugshot of me?! Oh, I should've beaten him up much harder. He liked it that I was in prison, huh?.I hope he walks as one of those fucking dead things around this world so I can find him and beat him up again.
Kai slams the door shut and goes to the next room, where he finds brochures of an anti-aggression training course, which he was forced to go to before the world ended.
Kai: No! This can't be real! I have no problems! Why do I see all this?!
His voice cracks at the end as he gets louder, and his breathing starts quickening.
He destroys the TV and starts ripping these brochures apart as he suddenly hears a laugh. A laugh, which reminded him of his past. A laugh, which made his blood boil up again.
His mother: You're a disgrace to your family! You're nothing! We hate you!!!!
Kai punches his mother, but his punch goes through her, and she disappears. A hallucination...
Kai: I'm not! No!
His mother appears right behind him again.
Mother: Your brother hated you! You can't control yourself! You're a monster! That's why he left you!
It was right to never help you! We just wanted to get rid of you!
He throws the TV towards her, and she disappears just like the time before.
Kai: Aaaah! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!
He screams with all power out of his lungs. He screams and beats against the wall till both of his hands turn red, covered full in his own blood. The blood on his hands only mixes with the salty tears, which roll down his cheeks.
Kai: No... No... No... I'm not... I'm not...
He slowly lies down and looks at the TV he has smashed.
Jason walks up towards Kai.
Jason: Oh damn... What did you do? Let's go to Ben. He'll patch you up.
Kai looks down at his shaking hands and agrees.
As they walk out, they see Octavia and Niklas leaving with a backpack full of food and medics and Ben and Chris with another bag.
But just in the moment when Kai wants to go to Ben, around 10 deadheads appear in front of them.
No one was guarding, no one was listening... everyone was distracted, and now they have to fight.Well, it's their first day in an apocalypse. Of course they weren't prepared.
Niklas: Okay. Everybody. Go to Ben and Chris and stay all together. We'll fight them. Only 10...
Octavia: Wait, no! There's more!
Jason: Some are coming from here too!
Niklas: Damn it! ...
Ben: What now?
Niklas looks around and doesn't know what to do. All of his ideas just have flown out of his head. Every single one of them...He fails... Niklas fails again and again and again.... He starts doubting himself. The truth is, he always doubted himself.
Jason: What now?
Niklas: I don't know..... Get ready!
As a deadhead approaches Niklas, an arrow suddenly flies through the heads of two deadheads.
Kai: The fuck?!
Suddenly three arrows shoot out of the woods into three of them, and they all fall to the ground.
The group starts killing these things. One after another, while any deadhead that tries to approach the group is being killed by the arrows coming from the forest.
Kai kills one with an axe he found and Jason with a bat he found. These things are slow, but if they lose focus, a single bite might end severely. They don't know anything about these things. But somehow people turned into them.
Octavia kicks them away while using her knives, which she carries with her apart from her bow, to kill them.
But whenever she reaches a distance, she uses her crossbow and always hits. Just not as good as the arrows out of the woods.
Blood splatters fly around the air. Guts are rolling out of the stomachs of the deadheads. More and more. One after another. They're all falling down.
Chris looks at this scene occurring in front of him. His hands were shaking while hiding behind Ben. In the same moment he is tempted by the wish to run inside a boat, lock the door, and hide, waiting for everything to end.
He doesn't... Not because he changed, but because he's more scared of being beaten up by Kai.
Kai, meanwhile, has a face full of blood. A face with no skin color left. He's all red now. Looking just as if he's a real monster. One that you can't even see in a horror movie, but one you only see in your nightmares.
After a while the fight ends, and a white, 40-50-year-old man, who has a grey beard and dark sunglasses with a bow in his hands and a load of arrows on his back, walks out of the forest.
Niklas: Who are you?
The man takes his sunglasses off, and there it is.... How is that possible, everyone thinks.
Chris: ...
Ben: That cannot be true.
Octavia: Oh my... Wow...
Niklas: That's just....
Jason: He's blind...
Kai: You could've killed us!
The old man smirks.
The old man: Yeah... if I wanted you dead, then you'd be dead.
Niklas: Whoa re you?
The old man:I'm nobody.
The old man is about to walk away. In the same moment, as the night approaches already and the moonlight reflects on the lake.
Niklas: Wait...we need somewhere to stay tonight. Please.
The old man: No... I saved y'all. That's enough.
Octavia: We'll die here.
The old man: Good. But one night! And only one night! Follow me
_____________________________________________
