[ WP ] `` You , sir , clearly do not understand my current predicament . ''

`` You, sir, clearly do not understand my current predicament.'' He snarled at me in a angry tone. 
 
 Of course I understood. Hell I knew exactly why he was living. The repugnant fool dared speak to me like this? After all, we've both been out here for the last three eight. And not just us, but the entire damned continent. We're all living the same hell as he is, and he dare talk to me like this. Like he's the only one who's got it rough! 
 
 `` I've been traveling by foot for three days and I ran out of food yesterday!'' He stammered as he tried to justify his reaction. He could tell I thought him a cretin for sure. 
 
 `` Oh really? What a shame it had n't happen sooner. Perhaps you would n't have made it here'' My words burned like fire in the face of this once noble man. 
 
 `` GOD DAMN MAN! I demand you open these gates at once!'' He was getting quite a bit louder, and louder means more noticeable, and more noticeable means dead. 
 
 Did this fool not know the state of things now? Perhaps he wanted the dead to come back out. 
 
 `` By god man, lower your voice!'' I replied, in that shouting sort of whisper that a father tries to subtly use on his children. 
 
 `` Alright, alright, just let me in!'' 
 
 Maybe he did n't know the current state of things. If he did he would've shown me his papers like everyone else to date. Maybe he was just tired. But hell, we all were. Fighting for your life every second of the day can do that to people. It did n't matter how hungry or tired or important this man was however. No papers, no entry. 
 
 `` Sir! I'm just doing my job. I can not let you in without papers. Orders are orders.'' 
 
 As he reached for his bag, so to did I, for my rifle. You can never be too careful nowadays. Just as he was handing me the life saving documents a large crack came from inside the gates. Then another, and another! I quickly opened the door and pulled the man in by the collar. We'd need every man we could get, no matter how useless, if there was another contagion. 
 
 `` W-What's going on! By Jove tell me!'' he shouted at me. I would've told him, if only I knew. 
 
 I shoved him down next to the closed gate. 
 
 `` Sit still, I'll be right back'' I ordered him, though from the past five minutes there was nothing telling me he would listen. I ran up into the guard tower to see what was going on. Stangerson was up there already, looking through his binoculars. 
 
 `` Stangerson, what's going on?'' I asked, trying my best to conceal my fear. 
 
 `` I'm not sure Sir. It does n't look like it's coming from inside however. We got a call over the radio a few minutes prior saying there was a small caravan coming to the south gate. Could be another suicide attack. The Outlanders are getting restless'' 
 
 There attacks have gotten more and more frequent. The modus operandi is to follow caravans up to the gates, hiding among the civilians. Once they get close enough to the gates they would start their raid. Most often we would be able to squelch their attacks without a single casualty, but in recent attacks they've been getting better. 
 
 The fire was still ringing on the south side of the Citadel. 
 
 `` Stangerson, get on the horn and call down to Miles at the south gate. Ask if they need any reinforcements'' 
 
 `` Yes Sir'' 
 
 Just as I turned around I heard a quick click, and then a blast. The next thing I knew, I was covered in blood, Stangerson lie dead, and that damned traveler stood over him, pointing his revolver at me. 
 
 I told him that I was of no use to him as a bargaining chip. The New English Government did n't deal in anyway with terrorists. They had bigger problems. 
 
 He looked me in the eyes and grabbed the bloodied radio out of Stangerson's limp hand. 
 
 `` You, sir, clearly do not understand my current predicament.'' 
 
 
 `` What the hell could be worse than this you crazy bastard!'' I shouted in disgust at him. His demeanor suddenly went from a frightened and idiotic traveler to that of keen and nefarious villain. His bright eyes stared deep into mine. His strong hands gripping that fine wood handle of that weapon. 
 
 `` The Citadel itself is n't my problem. I'm here on a mission. You think you have it bad, well let me tell you something. France is almost entirely gone. Germany has absolutely no government left, though there are a few settlements here and there. I was sent by the CIA, or what's left of it anyway, to asses other countries's progress, post NightFall. It seems that you guys have it best.'' 
 
 His accent suddenly disappeared. I must say, it was rather convincing however. 
 
 `` Well, what was your business here then? And what in the bloody hell did you shoot Stangerson for?!'' 
 
 `` Look at the marking on his back real quick. Also, look in his other hand'' 
 
 I glanced at his hand. He had his revolver drawn. I unbuttoned his bloodied shirt, and examined his chest. A branding was burned into him. It marked the inscription of the Outlanders.'OL'. 
 
 `` He was drawing on you when I came up. I heard the shots, and realized I needed to act quick.'' 
 
 `` I-I see'' I stammered. 
 
 He played with the dials on the radio and quickly found the frequency he wanted. 
 
 `` This is Wanderer, come in Oasis.'' 
 
 Nothing but static for a few seconds and then a strong, authoritarian American voice came in over from the other end. 
 
 `` Oasis here, go ahead Wanderer.'' 
 
 `` There's been a mix up Oasis. The Citadel is under attack. It seems it's security is compromised. Break. Do I continue on with Operation Reconstitution? Over.'' 
 
 `` Affirmative Wanderer. Continue as planned. An extraction force should be ready in a few days. Break. Check in within the next 24 hours. Over.'' 
 
 `` 10-4 Oasis. Wanderer out'' 
 
 I just sat there looking down the barrel of this man's gun. Finally he put it down. 
 
 `` I need to speak to your superiors.'' 
 
 I did n't exactly know what to do... I just complied. I grabbed my helmet and rifle, and lead him through the ragged streets of the Citadel. The fire fight was becoming more and more violent. I was n't sure how much longer our defenses would hold up. It seems as though it was a large force this time around. If Stangerson, one of my closest friends, was an Outlander, who else might have already infiltrated our ranks. 
 
 Finally we made it to the Prime Minister's District. I handed my papers to the guards and lead the man in. Just as the doors closed I heard a large explosion come from the south end. Maybe 20 other men came rushing into the court yard, the Prime Minister in the middle. 
 
 `` Where are they taking him? I need to speak to him!'' 
 
 
 The Prime Minister ordered the guards to stop. 
 
 `` Colonel Manfred! Who is this man with you? Do you not know what is happening?'' 
 
 `` No Sir!'' I responded `` But this man is an American. He showed up just before the shooting started. He says the CIA sent him'' 
 
 `` Really? Well take him with us then. We're getting out of here Manfred, the Outlanders blew a hole in the wall and maybe 100 or more Dead swarmed in. The south wall is gone. Come on now man, lets go!'' 
 
 The Prime Minister's guard grabbed shoved me forward and we ran out of the doors. Out side the citizens were screaming. Some stopping to fight off the Dead that were chasing them. I'll never forget the memory of a man that was taken down by three of them while fending them off from his wife and child. The tore him apart. Piece by piece. 
 
 `` Sir! We need to get to the convoy!'' 
 
 The'convoy' was simply a few Jeppys and a Half-track that we had left after the War. They put the prime minister in the Half track along with a few guards and shoved me and the American in an open jeep. Not the most ideal place to be in a fire fight. 
 
 Our jeep went out the gates first. As we passed my old post, I saw Stangerson, or what used to be Stangerson, standing up and screeching after us. 
 
 We drove for maybe twenty minutes before we could no longer hear the shooting from the Citadel. I asked one of the guards where were headed. 
 
 `` There's another City like ours in the more northern part of London. We'll need to go through the City to get there however. Does the American know how to shoot?'' 
 
 `` Do n't worry about me buddy. I'll be fine'' My new companion quipped back. 
 
 `` Alright then. We'll be arriving in London in about twenty minutes. Be ready for increased Dead presence. How many rounds do you have for your Enfield?'' 
 
 I quickly checked my pouches. I had shot off a few rounds at the gate when a few Dead came knocking, as well as later when we were leaving the citadel. I only had two clips left. 
 
 ( Cont. In another comment.
