Chapter Text
Murphy's Pov
"Come on little doggies, I found a new set of digs I think your gonna like," I say to the zombies, I then notice one of them is dragging something and do a double take. "Hey, those are real side of Calloway's your dragging there, show some respect."
"Hey, friend." I hear from behind me and my little posse. I turn to see a man with a cap and tank top on with a shotgun on his back.
"Friend?" I say back trying to figure out his motives.
"Doing a little shopping uh?" He says while swinging his arms up.
"Presidents day sale," I say without thinking. He laughs at this while looking over at the nearest zombie.
"Those zombies of yours are pretty tame." He says with a grin on his face. Anger rises up as the thought of owning them is suggested and before I can stop myself, I speak.
"They're not my zombies, I would never own them. Can I help you. . . . friend?" clearly annoyed. His attitude suddenly changes and he pulls his shotgun from his back.
"You can start by stepping aside." He says then before I can do anything, he shoots all four zombies in a quick session.
"What the hell you do that for!?" I ask upset.
"Your Name Murphy?" He asks.
"Nope," I say while shaking my head slightly. He pulls something out of his pocket and presses a button. I hear Citizen Z going off about my description, abilities, and about keeping me alive at all costs. Then man hits stop and looks at me with a frown.
"Sure your not 'the' Murphy? Cause right now that's the only thing keeping you alive. Show me your bites." He says gesturing to my torso with his gun.
"I beg your pardon," I say right back.
"You heard me, lift up your shirt, let me see those bites," He smiles then, "Gotta make sure you're the real thing." I then undo the stylish coat I'm wearing and show him the bites. "Those are bites?" He asks looking stupid.
"They were, there healing nicely thank you." sarcasm dripping from my tone. "Okay, so what if I am 'The Murphy', whatever the hell that means, so what?" I say annoyed now. He starts laughing.
"So everyone and their uncles looking for you. Governments puttin a bounty on your ass." Crap, now I'm never gonna get any peace with the others and now mercenaries looking for me.
"I've gotta a whole van of Oxy if that's what you want. Listen, how about he take half and I'll just be on my way?." I ask, wishing for one of 10k's famous at the last moment shots. That boy can really shoot.
"How about I take the Oxy and you to California for that bounty." He says, no doubt starting to get agitated.
"Your gonna take me to California. . . . by yourself?" This guy must be joking, a lot of people have died taking me this far. This guy looks me dead in the eyes, completely serious.
"Dam straight." I suddenly start laughing at the very thought of this puny man getting me there when even the military even failed. The man becomes upset and I realize that he was serious.
"Sorry, Sorry. . . . You're insane." I say while trying to stop laughing. Suddenly, the man reaches for something and I quickly see its a taser but he fires it before I can move. After I fall screaming as the shock sears through me, he kneels down below me and looks me in the eyes smirking.
"That's right, I'm insane. You're my prisoner. Don't worry Mr. Murphy, I won't kill you, but I will hurt you real bad if I need to. Do you understand me? Do you. . . " His eyes suddenly go wide and he falls over and I see a blurry figure who I somewhat recognize. After a couple of seconds, I see that its Cassandra. I get up quickly while holding my head and look her over.
"Oh, I didn't know if I'd ever see you again." I see while brushing myself off. She starts making a weird noise and then suddenly jumps on me and nearly chokes me. "Yeah, good to see you too. All right come on. Let's break this up. Okay." I say while forcing her off me. She quickly tries to say what I can only assume to be the word bomb. "Bomb, Bomb bad. Yeah. Listen, it's not safe here. We need to get out of here, okay?" I then look down at her raggedy clothes in distaste. "First, you need a makeover, girl," I say. After a little while, she comes back out in a gold two-piece and a mink coat which looked fabulous on her.
10k's pov
After Warren somehow got water and we ran into the others, we rode into town and see it abandoned like many others. After a couple minutes driving, Addy speaks up. "Oh hey, my Spanish is terrible, but I'm sure this is what they were talking about." Mack then pipes up with another comment.
"I wonder who else heard that broadcast. . . 10 O'clock!" He suddenly says. We look over and Warren states the obvious, "I see them. Just keep going!"
Right after we pass them, Doc looks over at the woman and says, "Folks are friendly here in Cheyenne."
"Friendly ain't the vibe I'm getting. Let's find Murphy and get the hell out of Dodge." Warren says while looking around. I can't help but slightly flinch although no one seemed to notice. I still feel this odd feeling whenever he's mentioned, it kind of feels like anger but also something else.
"Cheyenne," Doc suddenly says, causing Warren to look over at him, clearly not amused.
"Whatever, okay, we all need to think like Murphy. Get inside his zombified head and I know that's a scary place to be, but where would you hide if you were Murphy."
Well, if I were Murphy where would I go? I suddenly spot something up ahead. "Hey, hold on!" I say to Mack how stops in front of the strip club. "You say think like Murphy." I say right before Doc chimes in, "Hell, they might as well have his picture on the sign."
[AN: this is where it really starts to branch off]
Meanwhile
Murphy's Pov
I'm just sitting here, waiting for the gang to show up. If I know them, they heard the broadcast and are on there way right now. I'm not worried at all whether or not they'll find me, the kid will know exactly where I'd hide. The only thing I'm worried about is whether or not he'll share this with the others and I'm slightly hoping that he doesn't. Imagine the fun we could have in here.
Suddenly, the door opens and light shines into the dark room. I know the kid told the others when the first thing I see is Warren. "Hey guys," I stop to take a drink, "What the hell took you so long?"
"Murphy you son of a bitch," Warren says while glaring at me.
"Yeah, what she said," Doc adds in.
"Now now Roberta, is that any way to talk to an old friend?" I say getting up but am immediately shoved onto the bar counter. I notice the kid move to shove her off me but he then stops himself. The zombies who were just sitting there suddenly come to life.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey..." I say and the zombies stop moving. I notice the kid look around with what looks like fear and, something else that I sure he doesn't even realize, fascination, in his eyes, well, I might show him some more if he lets me. I suddenly turn to look at Warren who is looking straight at me. "That hurt."
"Oh, I'm just getting started." I'm about to make another comment when Doc suddenly pipes up.
"Now come on chief, Hey, don't forget the mission. Come on," He says then Warren lets go.
"You damn near got us killed and you did kill millions of other people." She says.
"Didn't you get the memo? The apocalypse means never having to say you're sorry. I was just following the prime directive of this mission, save Murphy's ass." I say then turn to and start walking off with them following me. "Lets not forget., if I die, party's over for the human race. If you want to blame somebody, blame that nut job Doctor Kurtz or your little buddy, Citizen Z."
Suddenly Mack pipes up, "Maybe we should tie you up for your own good" while walking towards me, but stops when Cassandra runs up in front of him.
The kid's eyes widen and then he looks at me with curiosity then back at her. "You're alive?" he says while Mack hugs her. She then starts hissing until he lets go.
Addy suddenly speaks out, "I'm sorry. What is she wearing? Is that mildly impractical for the apocalypse?"
I feel slightly insulted by this, "You try dressing a classy lady in Cheyenne, Wyoming." Doc suddenly blurts out about how the Z's are around.
I reassure them, "Don't worry, there friendly as long as I'm friendly."
"Come on Murphy, we got to get you to California," Warren says while taking a step towards me.
"Yeah, about California, after all the nukes and stuff, I'm not so sure I'm down with the whole saving humanity thing. I'm not so sure humanity is worth saving.
"You're going to California." Warren threatens. I feel myself starting to get angry.
"You don't even know if California is still there!"
Of course, after I say that, Doc has to put his two sense in. "Well look, if you won't do it for humanity, do it for yourself, Murphy. You need that vaccine more than anybody, have you looked in the mirror lately? You may be styling, but your turning zombie, brother." I can't help but snap as soon as he's done.
"Brother . . . . Maybe there are worse things than being zombie. Maybe being a starving," I look at Doc, "fearful," I then look over at Addy and Mack, "violent" I then peer over at Warren, "vindictive" and last, my eyes land on the kid. "human is worse. But hey! It's the apocalypse, let's have some fun. Let me show you what I've been working on."
I start walking off. "Come on, grab a seat. You're gonna love this." I look back to see that none of them have moved. "The apocalypse will still be waiting for us when we're done. Cassandra!" I shout for her to turn on the lights.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey! Ah, so nice to see so many familiar faces in the audience tonight." I say while noticing that the kid goes to try some of the liquor, but Addy takes it away. Shame, I would have loved to see the kid drunk. "Ladies and gentlemen lets hear it for the one, the only, Chantrelle." I run off the stage and put the music on.
She walks onto stage and Addy pipes up. "Oh. . . . my. . . god."
Doc speaks up too. "Well, I hope she ain't working for tips." I peer over at the kid and he seems to be in shock and Addy seems to notice too.
"Whoa, I'm having a deja vu," Doc says before he takes a sip of his drink.
Warren, of course, has to ruin the fun. "Murphy."
"I know, right? wait. It gets better." I say back, she just looks at me in disbelieve. Chantrelle starts going faster and faster around the pole. She suddenly shoots off the pole without her arm. "Ta-da!" I yell as I jump on stage. "I know, I know. The finale needs a little work, but hey, let's hear it for Chantrelle!" I say while tipping my hat and laughing. "Oh, come on!" I say as I realize that no one else is laughing.
Just as I'm about to say something else, we all hear a slow clap. I turn to see a man coming in through the streamers on the door. "Is this a private show or can anybody watch?" The man says and the others move to pull out their guns but the man moves faster and points his gun at the kid. "Ah... ah... .ah, leave your weapons right where they are. Don't make me have to shoot anybody" he says while looking the kid in the eyes. "There's enough zombies in this world already."
"What do you want," I ask, though I think I already know the answer.
"Your name wouldn't happen to be Murphy, would it?" The stranger asks. Yep, I was right.
After a couple of seconds, I reply. "Nope."
"Lot of people looking for you, Mr. Murphy." He says not believing me.
"That so?" I say as a challenge.
Warren then walks up. "This man. . . . He's our prisoner." I notice that the kid gives her a 'really' look while mumbling something about losing me too often.
The man seems to be agitated at this. "Well, he's my prisoner now."
Doc then joins Warren. "Uh no. Sorry. She's right. We got dibs on him.
"Yeah, And we're taking him to California," Addy says as she joins the others.
"No, your not. He's coming with me." I feel agitated as they talk as if I'm something to be owned.
"Where?" I ask.
"To the highest bidder. CDC in California aren't the only ones willing to pay for his blood." I snap at this.
"Why does everybody always talk about me like I am not standing right here? You know there's only one problem with all of your plans for The Murphy. I ain't going anywhere with any of you. Hit it!" I say gesturing at Cassandra. She hits the music and lights button and the zombies wake up. As I run off I notice the kid slip by the Z's and starts running after me and Cassandra.
AN: So how was that? Should I continue?