Survival or Struggle?

"Dr. Crane huh? He's still alive after all that bull?" CC asked after a beat of silence.

"Ah yes, he's alive and well. So is another associate, if you're wondering." Draven stated, rolling his eyes.

"We aren't and we don't care." Ashley snapped.

"Come now, don't be like that. What's a lovely chat between a few people?" Draven asked, obviously enjoying riling them both up.

"You sound like Vossler." Cc snapped in turn.

"Oh? Well, he can be a bit over the top. But I can be just as bad." Draven said. "Come quietly and no blood has to be spilled." Draven added.

"No." Ashley and CC uttered in unison.

It all happened so quickly, one moment Ashley and CC were standing together shoulder to shoulder, the next moment CC staggered backwards, a gunshot through his stomach. There was shock, a bit of pain, but above all; anger. CC stumbled to the ground, Ashley barely able to catch him in time.

"You ass! What the hell?!" Ashley screamed at him as he held CC close to him.

"I did say to come quietly." Draven asked, walking towards him and pointing the gun at Ashley. "Now this has to turn bloody. Get up." Draven added, tightening his hold on the gun with an evil smirk.

Ashley was about to get up, pulling CC up with him when Draven clicked his tongue at Ashley.

"Without your friend. You and I have business to finish. I almost got killed after your little stunt to get out of the hospital." Draven said, a furious growl reaching his voice as he said this.

There wasn't much for Ashley to do except do as he said. So, with hands raised above his head, he got up alone. CC groaned a bit in pain, and maybe uttered a curse word or two, but that was all. Ashley didn't know the extent of what changed himself or CC, but he hoped it was enough to save either of them. Dying like this wasn't the way either of them should go.

"Good, good. You listen to orders well enough when pushed. Come along." Draven said, forcing Ashley to go around him to the front of him and was lead away.

"Your friend seemed a bit quiet. Gave up already I see." Draven stated, laughing a little.

Ashley fought the urge to turn around and belt the guy across the face with his fist. But Draven had a gun, and Ashley wasn't looking to see if he could survive a gunshot to his body in any location. Draven kept him walking, about a football field away from CC before he stopped. Stopping like this, in the middle of nowhere, was never a good option. He didn't know if Draven was stupid or clueless. Ashley could hear sounds all around him. Zombies were still around, was this guy nuts?! He would be lucky to get away from a gunshot wound, let alone getting eaten alive.

"Now I have you where I want you. All alone and all mine to deal with." Draven said, smirking.

"Was there an innuendo in there? Or is it just me?" Ashley asked, looking at him.

That earned him a strong pistol whip to the side of his head, enough to send Ashley back a few steps. He earned the angry huff and smirked at him.

"Tough crowd." Ashley simply stated. A knife flicked open in Draven's hand as Ashley's head jerked up from the blow.

"Being a tough crowd is going to be the least of your concerns." Draven said, holding up the knife so Ashley could see what he was dealing with.

It wasn't a small pocketknife. It was one of those long switchblades, the ones that deal real damage if known how to use correctly. Ashley had a whole street to work with, but half of his vision was now obscured by blood via the pistol whip he had endured moments prior. So managed to dance away from the first few swipes of the blade. But the fourth one cut deeply across his chest, causing Ashley to grunt and try to further the distance from Draven and himself. Draven laughed, eyes wide and crazy-like.

"What? Can't stand a bit of pain? Your friend back there was able to take it just fine." Draven stated.

That was the first punch he was able to land on Draven. And not the last either. The first punch landed on the side of his jaw, staggering Draven and making him drop his gun and Ashley was able to land a few more before Draven was able to stab him in the hip with the blade. Ashley didn't shy away this time. He hurt CC, his best friend, his brother, and he was going to pay. Ashley felt the blade being yanked from his hip and he used the opportunity to punch Draven in the stomach before using his whole body to ram him into the side of a nearby building.

Ashley could pick up more movements, this was more than likely getting the zombies attention. That train of thought ended when Draven drove the switchblade into his collarbone, sending Ashley back and slamming into the wall across from it, before another stab to the leg was issued. Ashley sent a fist under Draven's chin in return. He shoved Draven away, causing the knife to come out with him. Ashley barely let out a wince before he staggered to Draven once more and a punch to his nose was issued, a crunch had Ashley a little more satisfied. Ashley made to move towards Draven further, but a piece of debris(a lead pipe from a crumbling building), was in Draven's hand and smashed into Ashley's leg. The same one with the stab wound. Ashley fell harshly, groaning a little.

Ashley tried to move, to get up, but stopped when he heard the click of a gun being aimed at him. He looked up and was staring into the gun that had been dropped in the scuffle. Draven was breathing heavily, angry, out of breath, worn out, and in pain. Ashley silently clapped himself on the back at that point. The gun aimed at his head, a little closer now.

"Any last words?" Draven asked him. Ashley stayed silent, glaring up at him.

"Fine." Draven said, Ashley closed his eyes. At least his death would be a quick one.




BANG

The bang had come from another direction and that made Ashley's eyes shoot open. He looked in front of him, and only saw a now dead Draven. A bullet hole in the guys skull. Ashley looked to where the gunshot had come from and sighed with relief. CC had a pistol in his hand, aimed directly at Draven, a glare that promised death on his face. And boy did CC bring it. And above all else, CC seemed fine. How...how head he healed that quickly? Ashley shook his head, now wasn't the time. He got up, slowly, and limped his way to CC, hugging him tightly. CC dropped his pistol and hugged Ashley back, voicing a sigh of relief similar to Ashley's.

"You all right man?" Ashley asked, looking CC up and down for injuries he should still have.

"I feel fine. Well, I felt fine a few minutes ago. Guess I heal quick?" CC said, ending the last thought in a question. Ashley shrugged, but was glad to know CC was okay.

"Yours seem to be healing up just fine too." CC said, brows furrowing. Ashley looked and saw one of his deep lacerations seam itself back together. He looked at CC, who shrugged.

"Who knows. Let's just get out of here, yeah? I have the supplies. Lost a few but the important stuff is still there." CC said.

Ashley didn't remark on losing a few items, he would ask when in the safety of the complex. As they were walking away, they each gave Draven's dead body a good swift kick in the nuts for good measure.

Notes