Jack's Diary - It is Ann - Day 73

*Early Morning*

            I went out and found some clothes to use as bandages and canned food (nearly expired, but still good). Mike refused to go back to base last night due to be almost unable to move so we had to stay put. It was probably for the best though. Also, a thought occurred to me: was Ann only teasing me about just how much control so had over our lives or was this something more sinister. Perhaps, she left Mike in such a state so that if I wanted to save him, I’d have to carry him back with him, giving her the chance to kill both of us. I’m not even sure that it was Ann anymore although Mike’s story is making me doubt this. He told me the last thing he remembered was being hung up in a room and that he saw a woman about Ann’s height and she had blood on her face (to hide her appearance, maybe). I then told him my side of the story of how I found him and what I found on him though I couldn’t tell him how I thought it was or at least not yet. Not until I was sure or at least until we got back to base where I could show him the dream written in blood.

*Noon*

            I’m keeping watch while Mike rests. No doubt whatever drug he was injected with is still in his bloodstream so he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold a gun if he needed to. From the rooftop to patrolling around city hall, I kept hoping I’d see something; a shadowy figure lurking or Ann, anyone I could blame this on so I could kill them. There wasn’t a soul or soulless around except for two that were licking up Mike’s blood from around the flagpole.

*Afternoon*

            Still nothing happening. Mike told me he remember one smaller detail, that the woman said, “Do not watch.” The words themselves weren’t as shocking as the realization behind them (not to mention, I never told Mike the exact words that were carved into his back so he couldn’t have been hallucinating). The message on Mike’s back was only meant for me and Mike was only the means to get it across in the cruelest way possible. Just as Ann said in the dream, she was interested in my adventures.

*Night*

            As selfish as it is, I am no longer worried about Mike as I am for myself. All this time, I’ve been looking for an excuse to put that nightmare to rest. Every time I had one of my panic attacks, although I’d never admit it before, I tried to convince myself it wasn’t real. It was all real. It is Ann. It is Ann. It is ANN! There’s no doubting it anymore. No theories and explanations. It’s her. Ann wants to watch a show and she’s willing to get involved to make it as entertaining as possible for her. And worst of all, I know that if I’d meet face to face with her again, I wouldn’t be able to defeat her. She could have easily snuck up on me last night and ended it there. Whatever she is, I know she’s too clever to be killed. This is all I know. I don’t know what powers she has and what intentions she has for everyone else at the base. I don’t care if Mike says no, we are leaving for base tomorrow even if I have to forcibly drag him. As soon as we get back, I’ll tell him, seeing as it is no longer just my problem anymore.

- Jack’s Diary

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Mike's Diary Day 73 - That's all I Could Remember

*Morning*

I passed out I don't know for how long. My body is all aching, can't feel my legs too. My back hurts like crazy, felt like its been carved by something. Sitting up was a struggle, lying down feels like hundreds of spikes thrusting up my back. I got no choice but to try to sit up while Jack was making breakfast. He told me what happened, and that's how I knew why my back and legs hurt like hell. He asked me what happened, so I told him what REALLY did happen. 2 nights ago I believe, when I was writing down my journal, I heard footsteps, well more like shuffles. I thought it was just going to be another craze, but when I was about to get up, I felt something stinging on my neck. I then woke up from that drugs, and was hung on a pool in a room, I saw my leg and what happened to it, but wasn't sure what she had done to my back. Her face was also covered with blood, though I couldn't really see since I was really busted up. She sent a final blow and I just passed out. Next thing I know is right now, that I woke up. He asked me if I could remember the features of that figure, and YES I'm pretty sure it was a woman. She was about 5"4 and thin build. I think, I wasn't sure since she caught me off guard and just stung me with a needle. Jack only nodded. I asked him what does that mean, but he only responded "I'll tell you when I'm sure myself, until I have a proof."

*Afternoon*

I was just basically trying to get as much rest as possible, while Jack is guarding the building for the moment. He wanted to go back to base ASAP, and I mean "As Soon As Possible because I don't like where this is is going" kind of thing, but I insisted because I was to busted up to even sit straight up. He agreed, and he told me that we should go back tomorrow for sure. The situation was tense, well Jack was really tense all the time. I then spoke up and told him that I remembered a phrase that she said before that final blow. She said "Sshh.. Do not watch." Then boom. At that moment, Jack's expression was blank. I didn't know what to say so I just drank and closed my eyes.

*Evening*

Jack was hunting near the building, for rabbit or such, I just woke up and fever was at its climax. I can't feel my body, it was like I was completely paralyzed. I tried my best to calm down until  Jack came back. He re-bandaged my wound because the old one was soaked with blood. He told me once again that after he cooked and after we finished dinner, I should sleep so that I can feel better again tomorrow and take off back to base as soon as possible. I know, because he really doesn't like what is about to happen next if we stay here any longer.

*Night*
The moon is right on top of us, and it was about 11 PM by approximation. He told me to sleep while again he guards the door. He notices me writing, and now he's back looking tensely outside the window. I don't know what he's thinking at the moment. I don't know what he's keeping away from me, but secrets can sometimes backfire and kill you or your comrades.

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Jack's Diary - Day 46

     Stupid barbarians got the better of me. After we entered a new town and searched for a while (finding nothing), we were approached by what appeared to be members of a circus, wearing red shirts and blue pants. Their smug demeanor and their lustful eyes tipped me off as well as it did to the others. I wasn't expecting the gun fight to come so soon since I thought they intended to take us alive. I was instantly shot in the leg and didn't get a chance to shoot back. The others made a run for it, but Mike came back to help me out of the situation. We went into a nearby school and he took care of the wound. I don't know what it is about sudden incidents of pain that make you forget your problems because last nights concerned were forgotten and I fell asleep shortly afterwards.
     It was during this time that I had a dream. I don't dream very much or at least I didn't up until this point. I also didn't know I was dreaming until I'd woken up. I dreamt I was in the same situation with the men who had shot me. When they open fire this time, I dodged the bullet that had struck me before and the five of us killed them all. However, when I turned back, Mike and the rest were gone. It seemed weird and concerning at the time, but nothing I couldn't handle. I then searched around and in all the building we'd visited, but I found nothing, not even stray soulless wandering about. As the hours passed and about the time the sky should have begun to darken, the sky slowly turned green, casting an eerie green shadow on the town. My sight became blurred as the green shadows became darker and darker until the sky was black and I could barely see two feet in front of me. It all seemed strange when I dreamed it, but not impossible. Finally, I saw lights in the distance moving toward me, so bright that my vision seemed no longer limited. I thought for sure it had to be something good, at least better then staying in uncertainty. I approached the lights to find they were people on fire. They walked just like soulless, but they looked clean and completely human. I backed away to find that more were approaching from behind, from the sides of buildings, from every direction. I'd been cornered and they began to surround me. In their faces, I saw what felt like something familiar. It wasn't until I started shooting that I recognized the faces: they were all people I'd met, dead and alive. I tried to open up a path by focusing in one direction and even throwing the grenades I made to clear a path, but they were determined to keep me trapped. Just when I ran out of bullets and bombs, I drew knives and threw them. And that's when I woke up. When my eyes opened, I saw Mike across from me leaning nervously to right of a knife stuck in the wall. It seems that even in your sleep, you can throw knives with partial accuracy.
     "What the hell?!" Mike yelled at me.
     "Sorry. Reflexes mixed with dream throwing." I looked around the room we were in, "Where are the others?"
     "I told them to wait for us at the blue roofed dorm. I had to go back for you."
     I got up and started gathering my equipment. "You didn't have to, but I appreciate it. So I guess we're going to go meet up with them?"
     "Yah. Hopefully they're still there."
     "Alright." I started taking guns and other pieces of equipment out of the bag and attaching them to myself, "You lead the way. Once we find them though, I'll be leaving to do something."
     "To do what?"
     "To kill the people who attacked us."
     There was a pause.
     "Jack, we have to deliver the package. Besides, there's no telling how many of them there are."
     "There's no time limit on that package delivery and you've seen for yourself that I've taken on a great number of people before while injured and I still came out on top."
     "But what's the point in going after them? They don't have anything we want."
     I turned around to face him, "The point is that we're probably not the first to be attacked and we won't be the last. You saw the smug contempt they had for us. They were like some hounds staring at hanging meat in the window of a butcher shop. Anyone of us could've been killed in that gunfight: you, me, Lexi. And who's to say we won't get into another fight with them if we try to leave?"
     "It sounds like you want to kill them all. What if they're not all as bad as the ones we met? Would you really kill them all then?"
     "I didn't think twice about doing it when you got captured....... but you are right. I intend to find out who these people are. We're not safe with them around. We'll talk more once we find the others."
     "Alright," he answered.
     We exited the room and walked down the hall towards the exit when a nagging thought came to mind.
     "How did the others know to go to the blue roofed dorm?" I asked.
     "I told them to."
     "When?"
     "During the gunfight, just before I went back for you."
     "Exactly, how loud did you say it?"
     Mike looked over at me strangely. Within a few seconds, he realized what I was alluding to.
     "Shit!" he said as he bolted down the hallway. I tried my best to keep up with him, but I struggled to stay on pace with him. He exited and I followed, up one street and down another alley, all the time looking out for movement around us. It was already getting dark, much like my dream. Mike frequently had to pause for me so I could catch up. I'd never seen him run so fast. Within a few minutes, I could see a blue roof and a group of men standing outside. We hid behind one of the buildings, still far away from them. I was just about ready to chuck a grenade at them when I saw they were bringing two people out of the dorm by force.
     "Damn it," Mike whispered.
     I squinted and I could see they had Lexi and Jess.
     "Still think not all of them are bad?" I whispered, "What'd you want to do now?"
     Mike paused for a moment, considering the options. There were at least 8 people in red and blue (even at night they were easy to spot).
     "Why take them and where's Victor?" he asked.
     "I don't think you're going to like the answer to either of those questions," I answered.
     Lexi was still kicking and struggling when one of the men punched her in the stomach. Mike lunged forward and fired a shot, hitting one of the guys facing away from us in the back. The men began shooting toward us. I quickly drew my rifle while Mike ran across the street and hid behind a nearby building, and began shooting. I shot three men in the abdomen and back and I managed to strike one of the men holding Jess in the leg. He let go of her and she hid inside the building. I think Mike shot two of them, three if you count the first shot. The remaining men tried to drag Lexi to cover, but she continued to struggle even more (bite, kicking) so they threw her down and ran away. Mike followed after them. I ran toward the blue roofed dorm while Lexi stood up and ran into the building. I passed by the men still barely alive bleeding out. Making sure not to startle Lexi or Jess, I called out and made my presence known. I entered to find Victor bloody and bruised on the floor. He was still alive, but in bad shape. There were two dead men on the ground as well. Jess and Lexi were trying to help Victor by wrapping up his wounds.
     I went outside to greet the nearly dead. One was holding a gun and attempting to reload it when I shot him. Another looked like a prime subject to extract information from. I knelt down and held a knife to his throat.
     "I'll give you the option. Tell me where your base is and I'll let you die."
     He looked at me and laughed.
     "Is that suppose to be a threat?" I said.
     I stuck the knife under the skin of his arm, moving it back and forth, as he squealed in pain. I then ripped the piece of flesh I'd just loosed off as he tried to stop me. He was already weak so his struggles were in vain.
     "Yes, it is because I will torture you and keep you alive until you have what I want. From now on, you will be my prisoner and if you don't cooperate now, I ensure you, by the end of it, you will be begging me to let you die."
     I saw a spark of fear in his eyes. He knew I was serious and I was serious. He spilled the information I wanted along with his own blood. He told me why they attacked us (for food, supplies, and for the females) and his only defense was "Only the strongest survive". It would seem they all share this moto. I also was told the location of their base and just in case he's lying, I continued to torture him, telling him I knew he was lying. The answer still didn't change after all that time so I killed him. Jess and Lexi were so busy were Victor, they didn't notice my torture session. Afterward, I told them we needed to go to another building now before they came back, but I didn't want a similar situation to happen again so I waited for Mike. While we waited, soulless began showing up due to all the noise so I quietly took care of them (there weren't too many for some reason). When he returned, he led us to a building he saw while we were searching for supplies. Now, everyone is resting. I don't know what Mike plans to do now, but I know what I'm doing when the sun comes up, with or without Mike and the others.

- Jack's Diary

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Jack's Diary - Day 43

     We stopped at the Valor's base and they held true to their deal of giving us half of the supplies though I still think that something was sketchy, especially when they handed Mike a piece of paper to deliver. If this message is as important as it appears, why are they trusting strangers to deliver it when there are much easier ways of communication still available? Anyway, we continued on our way and we have been on the road for about a day and we stopped at a gas station. For about four hours, I was standing guard (technically, I was sitting, but you get the point). The gas station had a few objects for sale, among the assortment being lighters, a few batteries, super glue, little toy trinkets you'd find in a fast food restaurant, various fluids meant for vehicles, and cans of shaving creme. I decided to grab and experiment with them in my spare time, but I always kept as eye on the outside (I've worked with chemicals and combining things long enough to be able to do it without looking directly at my hands). With the plastic casings lying about on the ground and other spare items, I began making bombs: smoke bombs, exploding bombs, and flash bombs (the same process for the flash bomb as before except I glued flint near the flame opening). I felt like a little kid playing with toys. I also made a brand new spear with a knife and the handle of a mop in the closet.
     As I stared off into the far distance, I could see a few stray soulless walking aimlessly about so they were no real threat. However, I thought I saw something moving in the nearby bushes across the road. As I continued to stare, I thought I saw a human head poke above the leaves. If it was a soulless, I highly doubt that it would've stayed in one place for so long. Besides, the head didn't look rotted. There wasn't a whole lot I could do. If I opened fire on the bush, it would attract soulless and if I went outside to investigate, I would be leaving my post and putting the others at risk, not to mentioned the fact that the hiding person would have the advantage; they see me and I don't see them. So, I waited out my time for guard duty and then when Vector came, I told him not to touch the weapons I made. I didn't tell him about the person in the bushes because it might have prompted him to go outside and confront the person. I also wasn't entirely sure it wasn't an animal and it was getting darker, making it more dangerous to be outside. Looking back, I should've take the chance and went outside to confront my enemy.
     I woke up in the morning with the others. We packed up our equipment and we were just about ready to take it outside when Vector came running in.
     "Our back tires are flat!" he said.
     We followed him out and he was correct. I took a closer look at them and they were more than just flat; they'd been slashed. While I was looking at them, Mike tapped me on the shoulder very calmly and nonchalantly type manner.
     "There's some movement in the bushes," he said quietly.
     I quietly got up as if I was done inspecting the tires while sneakily motioning for the others to go back inside. We both readied our guns and walked toward the bush. I saw the barrel of a gun just barely stick out from the bush and quickly fired with Mike doing the same. I jumped into the brush on the other side of the road about 10 feet away and I cautiously made my way to where the bush dweller would be. Mike grabbed a rifle off the back of the pickup truck and readied himself. When I reached the spot, I saw a small splatter of blood on the ground, but that was it. Suddenly, I heard something brush up against the shrubbery behind me and I quickly spun around and caught the knife wielding arm of a woman, just before the knife pierced me. She was about my height and had long blonde hair and an angry look on her face. I didn't know who she was, but she looked familiar. She was definitely the one we shot a few second ago because he left shoulder was bloody. She still tried to overpower and stab me, but I kicked her right left, punched her in the face, and then repeatedly swung her arm down until she dropped the knife. I then threw her into the street. She quickly drew a handgun she had hidden in the back of her belt, but Mike shot her in the lower back and she fell, dropping the gun. The shot didn't seem to stop her though and she crawled toward the gun. I kicked it away and pushed her back to the ground and sat on her.
     "Get off me reaper!" she yelled. She continued to groan and struggle.
     She wasn't holding still so I thought of a better idea. I asked Mike if he could go inside and bring me the spear I made. As he went inside, I pulled back the bottom part of her shirt and I found a bullet proof vest as I suspected. It explained why she was so lively.
     "Who are you?" I asked.
     Mike had just come back with the spear.
     "A member of the outpost you destroyed!"
     "The one back in Saint Angeles?"
     "What? Don't you remember all the bloodshed you caused or was my base just one of the few?!"
     I dragged her by her hair off the street as she kicked and scream. When her body was on the grass, I laid her down, sat on her again and shoved one of my longest knives through her left hand to pin it down and then shoved the spear through her right hand. I then hammered them in tight using a nearby rock. Her screams of pain rivaled those I heard from Jane the last time I saw her. Mike just stood there speechless watching everything transpire.
     "I usually don't take pleasure in torture, but I suggest you answer my questions or I might get carried away."
     "I owe the likes of you nothing reaper!"
     I slapped her.
     "Why do you keep calling me reaper?"
     "Because that's what you are! A bringer of death." She looked over at Mike, examining his confused look, "Oh, don't you know? He's responsible for the death of nearly 100 innocent people."
     "Now that's a bit of a stretch. Any person I murdered tried to kill me at one point so you can't call them innocent."
     "Not my friends back at my outpost you hid at. Not the leader of our outpost. They all attacked the people who were coming for you and anyone who didn't escape was either shot to death or eaten by the infected. And how do you repay us? By sneaking out the back like a filthy rat!"
     "That was not my fault!"
     "Yes it was. You brought them to our doorstep and whether or not they had a good reason to kill you, my friends, my brothers and sisters in arms died because of it. And let's not forget all of the people you killed when we captured you and your friends."
     "What? You expected me just to let you kill us? I definitely wasn't going to allow my friends to die."
     "It didn't matter in the end, now did it? Since they're dead now."
     At that sentence, I kicked her in the side multiple times. I thought I could hear the knife ripping through the flesh in her hand as every kicked pulled on her arm.
     "Jack, that's enough!"
     I stopped. The woman looked at Mike again, "You're all going to die you know. All of you."
     "What was the point of all of this? Why didn't you shoot me last night when you had the chance? Why'd you slash the tires?" I asked.
     "For the tires, I thought I'd speed the progress up for you. No need for them to suffer living through the abstract notion of hope with you around! And as for killing you, I wanted to stab you with my knife."
     "I've been stabbed before; it doesn't always guarantee death."
     "I wasn't trying to kill you! I coated that knife in the blood of an infected!"
     "You were trying to turn me?!"
     "Death is too good for you!"
      I turned to Mike who had a very uncertain look on his face.
     "I guess we''l have to look for some new tires and a jack or a new vehicle all together."
     "Yah..." His expression didn't really change.
     "Could you give me a minute with her? I need to finish things," I stated.
     He turned and walked back inside.
     "I was considering killing you quickly and painlessly, but I've changed my mind. I'm not going to leave you to become another empty soul wandering the Earth."
     I took out another knife and grabbed the rock. She looked back at me with determination, but I could see fear. I looked her in the eyes.
     "I suppose I am a bringer of death."
     I put the knife to the back of her skull and began hammering the knife the knife in. She screamed in horrible terror and pain realizing what I was doing. Her screams soon turned into a gagging sound and then she became silent. I took out the knives and wiped them off on her shirt. I then ripped off the bottom of her shirt and laid it over her head so the others wouldn't have to see it. I stayed outside. I noticed that Mike didn't look me in the eye, but insisted on getting to work on finding some way to get back on the road. I guess I should've expected it. He knew nothing of my past and perhaps if I broke this to him before that woman put her own moral spin on it, hints would've been different.
     I regret killing the woman the way I did. Her screams still echo in the chasms of my mind, mixing with Jane's. I don't know what has become of me. At the time, I did this without giving much of a second thought. I could have easily cut her spinal cord and it would have ended in a second. I feel nulled of the compassion I once had, but I don't feel lonely. I don't know if she was right, but I can't ignore the pattern; everyone around me ends up dying. Then again, we all must at some point. Perhaps I'm overdo.

- Jack's Diary

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