StoreTyler - Outside Haywood
"You've made the right decision," he said. This man was a fool, but not foolish enough for that, it seemed. "We won't meet again." Tyler then backed up, his weapon still trained on his aggressor. Neither of them trusted each other to break away first. Tyler only felt he and Katie were safe once he had rounded the corner. He then pulled his little girl into his arms and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He could finally get her away.
They were free.
***
He'd broken into a small single story home in order to get some rest. He placed Katie on the living room couch while he did a sweep of the building. When he felt that they were secured, he returned to his little girl's side and kneeled down in front of her. He placed his hands on her knees and gave her a weary smile. "We did it, Katie. We made it. Me and you." His breathing was ragged from running and his eyes still red from the tears. He pulled Katie into a loving embrace. "I'm so sorry. A lot of people had to get hurt so I could make it to you. That's-- It's not right. What I've been doing isn't right. He was a bad man, but I miss Brad. I miss Bex and Enrique and-and Lauren. She was good to you, but she..." He sobbed loudly. Where had everything gone? "But you're safe now. With me. That's all that matters."
Shannon - Haywood
They'd watched the scene unfold outside in silence. There was plenty going on to occupy their attention, but the silence between them felt awkward somehow. She realised that even if things were going more normally, she still wouldn't have had anything to say. She'd thought he had been dead for months-- Months that felt like years, strangely longer than her life from before. Eventually, she asked Danny if he wanted to go outside and help, but he had declined. It was only after things had calmed down that he began to move.
"I-I need to go talk to them," he said. He reached out, his fingers lightly touching at her arm. "Put some bandages on, okay?" He started to head downstairs, but she wasn't letting him go that easily. She grabbed a small roll out of the stash in the bathroom and hurriedly followed him out the door. She found him with hands up, trying to get the attention of the scouts. "Wait, everyone! We can't just fucking... Luke! We need to disarm the explosives!"
The one apparently named Luke straightened up and nodded. "Right, I wasn't sure when to bring it up, because..."
"Well, that's how it is, everybody. Thomas planned on blowing up your walls. Er, Tyler. Fuck! Whatever." He turned to Shannon and frowned. "We'll deal with this, alright? It's our damn mess." She watched as he and a few of the scouts began preparations for dealing with the explosives. She absentmindedly wrapped a bandage around her wound, trying to ignore the buzz of people around her. She let out a shaky breath and sat down on the front steps. They were going to have to bury Lauren now, and probably even more people as well. She just had to figure out what happened to her friends...
"Shannon!" someone yelled. The voice came from the courtyard beyond the line of vehicles. She got up and dusted herself off, hoping that it was Daniel with Emma by his side. She jogged down to the crowd of people to find James and the other people of Haywood huddled around a sobbing girl. As Shannon stepped closer, she found a sight she had never wanted to see.
Daniel was dead. If the grim looks of everyone around her didn't make that clear, his lifeless body cemented that fact. She never thought this moment would come. Never even considered it. Daniel had been the strongest of them, far stronger than she had ever been. Why did it always appear to be the strong ones? Why Lexi, why Daniel? And Poly and Dr. Johnson and...
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice breaking into a sob. She felt James wrap his arms around her and she truly began to cry. "I tried so hard." If only they had left earlier, if only.
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TheDoctor said
So...I just missed that whole event due to IRL issues, and from what I can tell it's over. So, I suppose I can't really come back into this?
No, it's fine. You can just say your characters were hiding/doing something to keep them preoccupied while everything was going down.
Tyler - Haywood Vicinity - Rob/Katie
Tyler wasn't sure if this guy had it in him to take the shot. Perhaps he did, and this was only delaying the inevitable. "Fine then, blame me. I don't care. But fire on me and you completely destroy my little girl's life. She's already lost her mom and her brother, so if you can live with taking away her daddy too... You better be a good shot. Imagine if you missed me and hit her instead. I can't say you'd live for much longer after that." That was it, wasn't it? This could end in the death of them all.
"If you fire, then I will be forced to fire back. You will die, there's no doubt about that. But if you let us go, you may live. My daughter will be safe. I can promise you that no one else will be hurt by my hands, but you probably wouldn't believe that. I just have to wonder how clean you'll be able to keep your hands. In this world, we all eventually get them a little dirty." He tightened his grip on the gun, but took one small step backwards.
Tyler wasn't sure if this guy had it in him to take the shot. Perhaps he did, and this was only delaying the inevitable. "Fine then, blame me. I don't care. But fire on me and you completely destroy my little girl's life. She's already lost her mom and her brother, so if you can live with taking away her daddy too... You better be a good shot. Imagine if you missed me and hit her instead. I can't say you'd live for much longer after that." That was it, wasn't it? This could end in the death of them all.
"If you fire, then I will be forced to fire back. You will die, there's no doubt about that. But if you let us go, you may live. My daughter will be safe. I can promise you that no one else will be hurt by my hands, but you probably wouldn't believe that. I just have to wonder how clean you'll be able to keep your hands. In this world, we all eventually get them a little dirty." He tightened his grip on the gun, but took one small step backwards.
Tyler - Haywood Vicinity - Rob/Katie
He raised his gun in response to the shouting, but frankly Tyler was tired of stand-offs. He almost shot immediately while the man spoke, but thoughts of the man he'd shot inside caused him to hesitate. He waited for the man to finish his drivel and pulled Katie close to himself. He couldn't afford to get shot, not after everything.
"I suppose you want to blame me for the dead walking around as well?" Tyler asked. He smiled despite the situation, unable to contain his amusement at this man's ridiculous assessment. "I don't know who this Robert man was, but if he went crazy, I seriously doubt that was any fault of my own. A lot of good men and women go crazy these days. To think, good people are willing to take aim at a little girl and her father." His face settled on a glare. This was a man from Haywood, so chances were he was aware of Haywood's sordid history. "Bruce Levi did not have to give up his own people for supplies. I did not need his help, but he was a selfish man. He saw an opportunity to improve his quality of life at the cost of others. Chances are, he would have found a way to do that with or without me! People are weak, if you hadn't noticed. Those men and women followed me, most of them blindly, just because I said the right words and put myself in the correct place."
His gun aim wavered and his movements became more animated. Tyler was tired of the accusations and tired of all these people. "The women Bruce gave me... I kept those women safe, something Bruce couldn't do. Where did all those graves come from? Haywood died without my help! You couldn't keep anyone safe! It was Haywood that killed those women-- Your people released the walkers and killed them all. You killed almost every single one of my men, some of them not so monstrous as the others. You didn't know them and you damn well don't know me either!"
"And-And Lauren... I liked her. She was kind to Katie, but she presumed she knew what was best for her. Katie is my daughter, so I am the one who deserves to raise her!" He unconsciously began to run a hand through Katie's hair, an action he had done so many times before. "I have what I want, and I just want to leave. I want to get as far away from you people as I possibly can. Katie is safest with me, not you. You couldn't even keep your own community safe, so how can you expect to keep my little girl safe? Lower your damn gun and let us go!"
He raised his gun in response to the shouting, but frankly Tyler was tired of stand-offs. He almost shot immediately while the man spoke, but thoughts of the man he'd shot inside caused him to hesitate. He waited for the man to finish his drivel and pulled Katie close to himself. He couldn't afford to get shot, not after everything.
"I suppose you want to blame me for the dead walking around as well?" Tyler asked. He smiled despite the situation, unable to contain his amusement at this man's ridiculous assessment. "I don't know who this Robert man was, but if he went crazy, I seriously doubt that was any fault of my own. A lot of good men and women go crazy these days. To think, good people are willing to take aim at a little girl and her father." His face settled on a glare. This was a man from Haywood, so chances were he was aware of Haywood's sordid history. "Bruce Levi did not have to give up his own people for supplies. I did not need his help, but he was a selfish man. He saw an opportunity to improve his quality of life at the cost of others. Chances are, he would have found a way to do that with or without me! People are weak, if you hadn't noticed. Those men and women followed me, most of them blindly, just because I said the right words and put myself in the correct place."
His gun aim wavered and his movements became more animated. Tyler was tired of the accusations and tired of all these people. "The women Bruce gave me... I kept those women safe, something Bruce couldn't do. Where did all those graves come from? Haywood died without my help! You couldn't keep anyone safe! It was Haywood that killed those women-- Your people released the walkers and killed them all. You killed almost every single one of my men, some of them not so monstrous as the others. You didn't know them and you damn well don't know me either!"
"And-And Lauren... I liked her. She was kind to Katie, but she presumed she knew what was best for her. Katie is my daughter, so I am the one who deserves to raise her!" He unconsciously began to run a hand through Katie's hair, an action he had done so many times before. "I have what I want, and I just want to leave. I want to get as far away from you people as I possibly can. Katie is safest with me, not you. You couldn't even keep your own community safe, so how can you expect to keep my little girl safe? Lower your damn gun and let us go!"
Tyler - Outside Haywood
He shot before he even knew what he was shooting at. All he'd wanted was to leave and peace from this point, but he couldn't let anything stop him from leaving with Katie. The man lurking at the end of the hall slumped against the wall and Tyler realised exactly what he had done. He shook his head and looked toward Bex and the girl. He tried to convey to them he was sorry, but he knew it was a lost cause. He trained his gun back toward them in case they wanted to retaliate and stepped closer toward Katie.
"Goodbye, Bex." He took Katie by the hand and gently pulled her into his embrace. With one arm around his daughter and the other aiming the gun, he slowly stepped backwards and out of the hallway.
Bex - Outside Haywood
As soon as Tyler was gone, he shuddered and fell to the ground. He turned over so Emma and the man Tyler had shot was in his view. "You... He's your brother, isn't he? You told me about him... He..." Bex closed his eyes. "I've messed up. I deserve this." He coughed violently, his whole body starting to feel numb. He'd been nothing but trouble since this mess started. He'd fallen in with some bad people and he had only himself to blame. He hadn't even been able to stay sober, to maintain the promise he made to Terra. Perhaps he'd see her soon, if she even wanted to see him.
"At least... baby girl..."
Beckett died thinking of her.
He shot before he even knew what he was shooting at. All he'd wanted was to leave and peace from this point, but he couldn't let anything stop him from leaving with Katie. The man lurking at the end of the hall slumped against the wall and Tyler realised exactly what he had done. He shook his head and looked toward Bex and the girl. He tried to convey to them he was sorry, but he knew it was a lost cause. He trained his gun back toward them in case they wanted to retaliate and stepped closer toward Katie.
"Goodbye, Bex." He took Katie by the hand and gently pulled her into his embrace. With one arm around his daughter and the other aiming the gun, he slowly stepped backwards and out of the hallway.
Bex - Outside Haywood
As soon as Tyler was gone, he shuddered and fell to the ground. He turned over so Emma and the man Tyler had shot was in his view. "You... He's your brother, isn't he? You told me about him... He..." Bex closed his eyes. "I've messed up. I deserve this." He coughed violently, his whole body starting to feel numb. He'd been nothing but trouble since this mess started. He'd fallen in with some bad people and he had only himself to blame. He hadn't even been able to stay sober, to maintain the promise he made to Terra. Perhaps he'd see her soon, if she even wanted to see him.
"At least... baby girl..."
Beckett died thinking of her.
Bex - Outside Haywood
He shivered at the sight of Hex's dying body. The man got what he deserved, but it didn't change the fact that none of this was right. Bex couldn't shake the fact that his inaction had caused all of this misery to begin with. He had refrained from shooting Tyler back in the catacombs for some vague chance that the man would be different from then on, but that had been little more than the thoughts of a coward.
"Wait," he said, stopping Emma. He was finding it hard to speak, so he pointed down the hall. "Can't leave Katie." He swallowed hoarsely and made his way down the hall with Emma's help. They turned the corner to find the little girl sitting against the wall, her head buried in her knees. "Have to get away from all of this. Both of you."
As Bex reached forward to take Katie's arm, a man's voice erupted from further down the hall. "Don't touch her," it commanded. The coward in Bex winced and he stopped inches away from Katie. He looked up to find Tyler at the end of the hall, his gun pointed at Bex.
"Everyone's stopping by," Bex said slightly deliriously. His vision was already starting to blur. It felt almost familiar, strangely like he had taken a few two many beers.
Tyler took a few steps forward and Bex got a better look at him. The man's face was fixed into a menacing glare, but tears were forming around his eyes. "I know what you think of me," he said. "Bex, I'm not a monster. I just wanted things to go back to normal. We're all just a bunch of awful ungrateful people still stuck in the old world. I'm no different, but I thought... I thought a new generation would--" The man shook his head. "No!" His voice now had an edge to it, his anger clearly rising. "That's over now. It's all over. I wanted to kill you as I ran here, but now I see you're just a mess. You look like Brad, before I killed him. I didn't want to kill him, and I don't want to kill you now either. Besides, I guess you don't have much longer anyway."
Bex licked his lips and tried to keep focus. Tyler was speaking a lot, too much for Bex to mull over. "I just want my daughter," Tyler continued. "Then we'll leave together and never come back. We'll get out of this godforsaken city."
Bex closed his eyes and fell into a crouch. He tried to look up at Tyler, but his head was drooping beyond his control. "But, Lauren," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just, what Lauren wanted..." Bex's tears began to run down his face and drip on to the floor. "Emma, I'm sorry."
He shivered at the sight of Hex's dying body. The man got what he deserved, but it didn't change the fact that none of this was right. Bex couldn't shake the fact that his inaction had caused all of this misery to begin with. He had refrained from shooting Tyler back in the catacombs for some vague chance that the man would be different from then on, but that had been little more than the thoughts of a coward.
"Wait," he said, stopping Emma. He was finding it hard to speak, so he pointed down the hall. "Can't leave Katie." He swallowed hoarsely and made his way down the hall with Emma's help. They turned the corner to find the little girl sitting against the wall, her head buried in her knees. "Have to get away from all of this. Both of you."
As Bex reached forward to take Katie's arm, a man's voice erupted from further down the hall. "Don't touch her," it commanded. The coward in Bex winced and he stopped inches away from Katie. He looked up to find Tyler at the end of the hall, his gun pointed at Bex.
"Everyone's stopping by," Bex said slightly deliriously. His vision was already starting to blur. It felt almost familiar, strangely like he had taken a few two many beers.
Tyler took a few steps forward and Bex got a better look at him. The man's face was fixed into a menacing glare, but tears were forming around his eyes. "I know what you think of me," he said. "Bex, I'm not a monster. I just wanted things to go back to normal. We're all just a bunch of awful ungrateful people still stuck in the old world. I'm no different, but I thought... I thought a new generation would--" The man shook his head. "No!" His voice now had an edge to it, his anger clearly rising. "That's over now. It's all over. I wanted to kill you as I ran here, but now I see you're just a mess. You look like Brad, before I killed him. I didn't want to kill him, and I don't want to kill you now either. Besides, I guess you don't have much longer anyway."
Bex licked his lips and tried to keep focus. Tyler was speaking a lot, too much for Bex to mull over. "I just want my daughter," Tyler continued. "Then we'll leave together and never come back. We'll get out of this godforsaken city."
Bex closed his eyes and fell into a crouch. He tried to look up at Tyler, but his head was drooping beyond his control. "But, Lauren," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just, what Lauren wanted..." Bex's tears began to run down his face and drip on to the floor. "Emma, I'm sorry."
Tyler - Haywood
None of this mattered anymore. It was all about Katie. Everything had been for Katie's sake! Tyler imagined squeezing Sylar's neck until his head popped for getting in the way. He imagined sticking a knife until Bex's back until the man was unrecognisable. He imagined killing these people in so many different ways that he could just explode...!
But he kept his cool. He stared back at Sylar, his expression a mask of concern. He was about to plead his case, to wring his heart out to these people about just wanting to be with his daughter, but Enrique saved him the performance. The man went Rambo as the scouts fully cemented their divide and began attacking each other. Tyler jumped forward and shoved whoever was in his way aside so he could make a break for it. None of these people mattered anymore! Not Rudy, not Enrique, not anyone but Katie! He didn't care who fired on him, for he would shrug off every bullet that came his way until Katie was finally in his arms.
Katie.
Katie.
Katie.
Bex - Outside Haywood - Katie/Emma
In the hall outside, Bex stopped and placed Katie on the ground. He patted the little girl on the head and tried to mask the fact that his breathing was shallow and strained. "Stay here. Please, please stay right here and don't move." He gave the girl a small smile before leaving her. He readied his rifle and aimed it cautiously forward as he walked down the hall. Emma was just around the corner and it was likely Cain had stuck around to watch her. Perhaps Cain could see reason like Sylar, but Bex had no time to explain anything. He would have to shoot first, no matter what.
He entered the room and found Cain standing over Emma, his pistol pointed at the door. The man looked nervous, probably having heard the gun fire. He went to open his mouth, probably to ask what Bex was doing, but Bex cut him short with a bullet. The man fell backward as if pushed and crumpled against the wall. His blood ran down the crappy yellow wallpaper.
Letting out a breath that he hadn't realised he had been holding in, Bex dropped his rifle to the ground. He ran over to Emma and proceeded to remove the gag from her mouth. "I'm not making this mistake again," he said. "This time I'm getting you out. This time..." He coughed, blood running down his chin. Then he coughed again and he brought a hand to his stomach. When he moved it to his face to examine it, it was bloody. In his fervor, he hadn't realised that Cain had managed to get a shot off. He began shaking his head, tears forming around his eyes. "No, it's okay. I'll get you out. I'll get you out."
None of this mattered anymore. It was all about Katie. Everything had been for Katie's sake! Tyler imagined squeezing Sylar's neck until his head popped for getting in the way. He imagined sticking a knife until Bex's back until the man was unrecognisable. He imagined killing these people in so many different ways that he could just explode...!
But he kept his cool. He stared back at Sylar, his expression a mask of concern. He was about to plead his case, to wring his heart out to these people about just wanting to be with his daughter, but Enrique saved him the performance. The man went Rambo as the scouts fully cemented their divide and began attacking each other. Tyler jumped forward and shoved whoever was in his way aside so he could make a break for it. None of these people mattered anymore! Not Rudy, not Enrique, not anyone but Katie! He didn't care who fired on him, for he would shrug off every bullet that came his way until Katie was finally in his arms.
Katie.
Katie.
Katie.
Bex - Outside Haywood - Katie/Emma
In the hall outside, Bex stopped and placed Katie on the ground. He patted the little girl on the head and tried to mask the fact that his breathing was shallow and strained. "Stay here. Please, please stay right here and don't move." He gave the girl a small smile before leaving her. He readied his rifle and aimed it cautiously forward as he walked down the hall. Emma was just around the corner and it was likely Cain had stuck around to watch her. Perhaps Cain could see reason like Sylar, but Bex had no time to explain anything. He would have to shoot first, no matter what.
He entered the room and found Cain standing over Emma, his pistol pointed at the door. The man looked nervous, probably having heard the gun fire. He went to open his mouth, probably to ask what Bex was doing, but Bex cut him short with a bullet. The man fell backward as if pushed and crumpled against the wall. His blood ran down the crappy yellow wallpaper.
Letting out a breath that he hadn't realised he had been holding in, Bex dropped his rifle to the ground. He ran over to Emma and proceeded to remove the gag from her mouth. "I'm not making this mistake again," he said. "This time I'm getting you out. This time..." He coughed, blood running down his chin. Then he coughed again and he brought a hand to his stomach. When he moved it to his face to examine it, it was bloody. In his fervor, he hadn't realised that Cain had managed to get a shot off. He began shaking his head, tears forming around his eyes. "No, it's okay. I'll get you out. I'll get you out."
Shannon - Haywood
He pulled her into the house and let her go next to the stairwell. He began looking over her, his eyes wide with worry. "Fuck... Fuck! Where'd he shoot you? Are you okay?" Shannon slowly nodded and showed him the gash of skin now missing from her forearm. Danny shook his head. "Okay, no... Fuck. Bandages, do you have bandages?" When Shannon didn't speak up right away, Danny kicked his foot into the stairwell angrily. "What the fuck were you thinking?! You almost died! I mean, I thought you were dead, but--!"
She stood up and grabbed his shoulder with her good arm. It was a bit frustrating to be thinking of one of her arms as "good" again. "Don't. Just... Stop. You come out of nowhere and, and drag me away? Like I'm some stupid... stupid doll or something?"
"Doll? What are you-- What the hell are you talking about? You were about to be killed! Shannon, I--" He froze, shaking his head. "Is this even happening?" he asked. "I don't even know what Thomas was fucking thinking, and then you show up..."
Her grip on his shoulder tightened. "He's a bad man. He kidnapped women and he killed and he stole and..."
Danny brushed off her hand and rolled his eyes. "Okay, holy shit. Hold up." He let out a shaky breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Don't tell me that right now. It's too much to take in all at once."
She paused and looked down at her arm. "I'll... clean this up," she said. He furrowed his brow and looked at her like he was offended. She was going to tell him to get in hiding with the others when the gunfire started outside.
"Goddamn, what now!?" Danny exclaimed as he jumped up the stairs two at a time. She mentally put her injury aside as she quickly followed him. They both huddled at one of the upstairs windows to catch what was happening. The scouts were quickly dividing themselves in two, some against Tyler and some for him. Shannon watched as Danny brought a hand to his face. "What have I done?" he asked seemingly to no one. "I made him the leader and look what's fucking happened."
Shannon couldn't think of anything to say.
He pulled her into the house and let her go next to the stairwell. He began looking over her, his eyes wide with worry. "Fuck... Fuck! Where'd he shoot you? Are you okay?" Shannon slowly nodded and showed him the gash of skin now missing from her forearm. Danny shook his head. "Okay, no... Fuck. Bandages, do you have bandages?" When Shannon didn't speak up right away, Danny kicked his foot into the stairwell angrily. "What the fuck were you thinking?! You almost died! I mean, I thought you were dead, but--!"
She stood up and grabbed his shoulder with her good arm. It was a bit frustrating to be thinking of one of her arms as "good" again. "Don't. Just... Stop. You come out of nowhere and, and drag me away? Like I'm some stupid... stupid doll or something?"
"Doll? What are you-- What the hell are you talking about? You were about to be killed! Shannon, I--" He froze, shaking his head. "Is this even happening?" he asked. "I don't even know what Thomas was fucking thinking, and then you show up..."
Her grip on his shoulder tightened. "He's a bad man. He kidnapped women and he killed and he stole and..."
Danny brushed off her hand and rolled his eyes. "Okay, holy shit. Hold up." He let out a shaky breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Don't tell me that right now. It's too much to take in all at once."
She paused and looked down at her arm. "I'll... clean this up," she said. He furrowed his brow and looked at her like he was offended. She was going to tell him to get in hiding with the others when the gunfire started outside.
"Goddamn, what now!?" Danny exclaimed as he jumped up the stairs two at a time. She mentally put her injury aside as she quickly followed him. They both huddled at one of the upstairs windows to catch what was happening. The scouts were quickly dividing themselves in two, some against Tyler and some for him. Shannon watched as Danny brought a hand to his face. "What have I done?" he asked seemingly to no one. "I made him the leader and look what's fucking happened."
Shannon couldn't think of anything to say.
Bex - Haywood
He sighed in relief as he took the girl into his arms. He wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do, but he couldn't deny that Katie was rightfully Tyler's. Perhaps Katie would calm Tyler down and stop all this nonsense, but Bex knew that was unlikely. Tyler had become a bad man no matter what his intentions were. Bex had to admit he was probably a bad man himself at this point.
His eyes lingered on Lauren's dead body as he lifted Katie off her feet. He so desperately wished that things could have gone differently. Lauren had been good to him-- A friend. She hadn't deserved this. All she had wanted was a little girl to truly live. Why did it have to be like this?
Bex looked over at Daniel and stared at him warily. "Emma will be returned to you safely," Bex said. "I promise." He began to walk back to the line of cars when one of the scouts suddenly popped their head up from behind a vehicle. He aimed his gun in Tyler's direction and Bex froze in place. The man shot, but it went wide and missed Tyler easily.
"Thomas fucked us over!" he yelled. "These aren't bandits! This is all wrong!" More scouts began to yell and some began to argue. Further shots went off and Bex scrambled to get low. He slid in front of one of the vehicles, Katie still in his arms. He couldn't see what exactly was happening, but it was clear that the scouts were turning on each other. Bex could hear Tyler ineffectually yelling over the din of shouting trying to rally them back to his side. Some of the scouts yelled in his favor, but it was clear no one had much idea what they were doing any longer.
"I-I-" Bex tried to speak calmingly to Katie, but his mind had begun racing to process everything that was happening. He let out a strained breath and spoke into the girl's ear, "We're going to get to safety and we're going to save my friend, Emma." He then turned to Daniel amidst the chaos and nodded to the man. Bex couldn't quite talk to the man over the shouting, but Bex desperately wished he understood.
Still crouched low, Bex rushed around the vehicle, pushing through a couple of the scouts along the way. He hoped that no one would shoot him while he held a little girl, but-- "Bex!" someone cried, and Bex felt a bullet strike near his feet. He cursed out loud and straightened up in order to sprint to Haywood's gates.
"I'm sorry, Katie. I'm so sorry, we just needed to get out of there!" They needed to get to Emma, and then Bex would figure this all out. Lauren would have wanted the girls to get to safety. That's all Bex could think about as he sprinted past the gates and toward the building where Emma was being held.
He sighed in relief as he took the girl into his arms. He wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do, but he couldn't deny that Katie was rightfully Tyler's. Perhaps Katie would calm Tyler down and stop all this nonsense, but Bex knew that was unlikely. Tyler had become a bad man no matter what his intentions were. Bex had to admit he was probably a bad man himself at this point.
His eyes lingered on Lauren's dead body as he lifted Katie off her feet. He so desperately wished that things could have gone differently. Lauren had been good to him-- A friend. She hadn't deserved this. All she had wanted was a little girl to truly live. Why did it have to be like this?
Bex looked over at Daniel and stared at him warily. "Emma will be returned to you safely," Bex said. "I promise." He began to walk back to the line of cars when one of the scouts suddenly popped their head up from behind a vehicle. He aimed his gun in Tyler's direction and Bex froze in place. The man shot, but it went wide and missed Tyler easily.
"Thomas fucked us over!" he yelled. "These aren't bandits! This is all wrong!" More scouts began to yell and some began to argue. Further shots went off and Bex scrambled to get low. He slid in front of one of the vehicles, Katie still in his arms. He couldn't see what exactly was happening, but it was clear that the scouts were turning on each other. Bex could hear Tyler ineffectually yelling over the din of shouting trying to rally them back to his side. Some of the scouts yelled in his favor, but it was clear no one had much idea what they were doing any longer.
"I-I-" Bex tried to speak calmingly to Katie, but his mind had begun racing to process everything that was happening. He let out a strained breath and spoke into the girl's ear, "We're going to get to safety and we're going to save my friend, Emma." He then turned to Daniel amidst the chaos and nodded to the man. Bex couldn't quite talk to the man over the shouting, but Bex desperately wished he understood.
Still crouched low, Bex rushed around the vehicle, pushing through a couple of the scouts along the way. He hoped that no one would shoot him while he held a little girl, but-- "Bex!" someone cried, and Bex felt a bullet strike near his feet. He cursed out loud and straightened up in order to sprint to Haywood's gates.
"I'm sorry, Katie. I'm so sorry, we just needed to get out of there!" They needed to get to Emma, and then Bex would figure this all out. Lauren would have wanted the girls to get to safety. That's all Bex could think about as he sprinted past the gates and toward the building where Emma was being held.
Tyler - Haywood
BANG!
A shot went off, putting an end to all the shouting. The woman named Shannon yelped out in pain and dropped the gun she'd grabbed. "The fuck is wrong with you?!" Rudy yelled, spinning around to face the shooter, Bex. Bex stared back, looking surprised at his own actions. He then took a deep breath and aimed his gun toward Shannon's middle.
"Go," he said. "Go! Go in the damn house!"
Rudy cursed and grabbed Shannon. She squirmed in his arms. "No!" she cried "You don't understand! I can't-- I can't let them down again!" Rudy grunted and pulled her forcefully, dragging her back to the house. They passed by Katie, who was still on the ground. Tyler couldn't let this farce continue for much longer.
"Rudy wasn't the man we thought he was," was all Tyler could say to Enrique. He then raised his eyes toward the house. "Okay!" he yelled. "One of my people will be taking my daughter back! If there is a single shot fired upon them, then my hostage will be killed!" He turned to Bex and pointed toward Katie, hoping the man wasn't starting to regret being here. Bex responded by nodding dumbly and putting his rifle away. Slowly, he crossed the line of cars and made his way toward Katie. He reached out his hand to her.
"Please," Tyler heard him say. "Let me just take you to your father."
BANG!
A shot went off, putting an end to all the shouting. The woman named Shannon yelped out in pain and dropped the gun she'd grabbed. "The fuck is wrong with you?!" Rudy yelled, spinning around to face the shooter, Bex. Bex stared back, looking surprised at his own actions. He then took a deep breath and aimed his gun toward Shannon's middle.
"Go," he said. "Go! Go in the damn house!"
Rudy cursed and grabbed Shannon. She squirmed in his arms. "No!" she cried "You don't understand! I can't-- I can't let them down again!" Rudy grunted and pulled her forcefully, dragging her back to the house. They passed by Katie, who was still on the ground. Tyler couldn't let this farce continue for much longer.
"Rudy wasn't the man we thought he was," was all Tyler could say to Enrique. He then raised his eyes toward the house. "Okay!" he yelled. "One of my people will be taking my daughter back! If there is a single shot fired upon them, then my hostage will be killed!" He turned to Bex and pointed toward Katie, hoping the man wasn't starting to regret being here. Bex responded by nodding dumbly and putting his rifle away. Slowly, he crossed the line of cars and made his way toward Katie. He reached out his hand to her.
"Please," Tyler heard him say. "Let me just take you to your father."
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