[ WP ] It 's been 8 months since the zombie apocalypse . You fell in with a tough as nails roughneck group . When in the city looting , you come across a scavenger . He 's your best friend from before the outbreak and your crew unanimously decides to execute him ( he is armed ) .

`` God. DAMNIT!'' 
 `` Shut up. Shut the FUCK. UP.'' 
 `` I knew him before this all happened -'' 
 `` What if he was BITTEN and we do n't know yet?'' 
 `` Maybe. MAYBE, if we took the time to check -'' 
 `` You better watch your tone with me boy.'' 
 I took a step back. I swallowed the lump in my throat to no avail. It was stuck there. 
 Surrounding me were some of the toughest men and women I had ever met in my life. They survived Z-Day: the mass hysteria created by the outbreak, the lack of resources, lack of order. People, who had all been deemed normal, upstanding citizens turned to crazed beasts, and there were also the zombies. The hordes and hordes of zombies. This group of men and women had fought for their lives and had won. Except for one. That was me. I just got lucky I guess. I went home that day, left my job, like usual, at around 8pm. I drove through at Carl's Jr. Got a Double Western Cheeseburger... and now they want to kill my best friend. 
 `` Can I at least go talk to him first?'' 
 `` And plan your escape?'' 
 `` What escape?'' 
 `` Give us your weapon.'' 
 I handed over my revolver. 
 `` Just remember where your loyalties lie, Psydux4Lyfe.'' 
 They had made me choose a new name when they took me in. Part of the initiation process to join their brigade. 
 I began walking toward Derek, my best friend. And my worst enemy. 
 `` And remember each of us is armed, and ready to fire at the drop of a hat.'' 
 The only thing I could think at that moment was, `` I do n't have a hat to drop.'' They had taken it away last week. It was n't the time or the place to reply snidely so I just kept walking. 
 When I got over to Derek my emotions overwhelmed me. Not because I loved the guy, and not because I hated him, but because he reminded me of Stace. Seeing him, running into him, was the last thing I thought, would or, could happen. I thought everyone in my life had been taken, I tried calling, I tried finding, I gave up hope after weeks of no contact. Everyone in my life was gone I had told myself- 
... my family... 
... my co-workers... 
... my friends... 
... Stace. I loved her. Dearly. And Derek had been her boyfriend. 
 `` Hey Derek.'' 
 `` Ri-'' 
 `` It's Psydux4Lyfe now.'' 
 `` What?'' 
 `` What are you doing here.'' 
 `` Trying to survive. What does it look like?'' 
 `` Yeah.'' There was a moment of silence between us. I did my best to take control of my emotions, turning a sudden onset sob into a cough. It was n't completely futile. I only spoke after I had regained my composure fully. 
 `` You have to run Derek.'' 
 `` I'm not running.'' 
 `` I'm not joking.'' 
 `` Neither am I. If they're going to kill me, they wo n't be shooting me in the back.'' 
 `` I do n't think you know who you're messing with Derek.'' 
 `` That gang of meatheads you're rolling around with.'' 
 `` They want to kill you, execute you, cut your fucking head off.'' 
 `` Let em, I do n't have anything to live for anymore.'' 
 It was then that I saw the shard of glass clutched in Derek's hand. 
 `` Derek, I know we have our differences, I know how hard it's been out there. But fighting will only make what is about to happen worse.'' 
 `` I've been bitten.'' 
 Derek began to cry. He wept like a child for the better part of 5 minutes. I stood solemnly by his side. 
 `` Do me a favor. If you find Stace, tell her I love her.'' 
 I did n't respond. I just stood there. Like a mournful solider. 
 With that, Derek took the shard of glass and slit his wrists. Slowly. When he finished, he dropped the glass and took off full sprint at my new family. He flailed his arms trying to spray his blood as far as he could; to infect every person possible before dying. 
 Derek made it only about 5 steps before taking 7 bullets directly to the head. His body fell lifeless to the dirt. 
 I did find Stace. I never told her about Derek. 
 
 

