The truck slowed down as we approached the gate.

Nicky leaned over the side to look at the Stronghold, which looked fairly similar to the previous places. It had a tall chain-link fence and a bunch of buildings all clustered together, as well as guard towers with occupants holding guns, of course.

"I wonder if this is a quiet village-style Stronghold or one of those insane places that resembles the back alleys of Los Angeles?" Nicky pondered aloud.

As we slowed down, we could hear two women screeching at each other at the top of their lungs inside the Stronghold in some sort of intense disagreement.

Nicky rolled her eyes and muttered, "Hello, city limits."

My already-sinking optimism sunk even further.

Several people came outside as the quarrel inside subsided. "Hello, what brings you to- Wait. He's a zombie!"

They stared at Daniel, not running away, but certainly not coming any closer.

"We're from Ironwind Stronghold to the north," Daniel said with remarkable patience. "The third wave is coming early, and a cure was recently discovered."

"A cure?" one man asked in growing suspiciousness.

"Yes."

All four people started backing up, their distrust more apparent now than it had been before.

Nina called, "We just spoke with Giles from Riverbend Stronghold. He says hi."

"He can say hi all he wants. We aren't going to touch no mystery drugs."

By this time, they had reached the gate and slipped back inside, firmly closing it behind them and sliding the bolts to lock it. Had it been a wooden gate, this might have been more effective, but with just a chain-link fence, we could still see each other, which really diminished the effect of such an action.

Nina tried again. "Some people inside are likely infected. They'll start sneezing in a few days." She murmured to us, "Some are infected, right?"

"More than a few," I replied, watching the tower guards who didn't seem overly fond of our presence anymore.

"If you want, we can leave the vials of cure here for when they start sneez-"

"Go away! We don't want your drugs! Vaccines started all of this – we'll survive without them!"

"I think we just found one of the anti-vaccinator encampments," Nicky muttered. "The only way we're getting in is if Daniel and Trinity pull the fence down."

"What are you going to do with the people who start sneezing?" Nina asked them, raising her voice slightly to be sure they heard her.

"Isolate them or send them outside the fence, of course. Now go away!"

The last place had been reluctant, but they had heard us out. This place was something else. And they clearly weren't about to let us in.

Remembering the last Stronghold, I decided to issue an ultimatum to see just how serious they were. I raised my voice so they and most inside would be able to hear me. "Fine. If you don't want to welcome us in, we don't have to waste our time here. You now know the wave is coming early, so when you and a hundred of your friends start sneezing, you can drive to Ironwind and hope they have enough of the cure on hand for all of you."

My subtle threat of doom didn't faze them. "Get a grip. If we won't accept it from you, we aren't about to travel for it!"

I bristled at his tone and muttered, "I wonder if wrapping my hands around their throats counts as getting a grip."

Nicky perked up. "I'm all for trying that."

With an unfaltering show of bravado in front, and a growly Nightstalker and a bored redhead in the back, Daniel realized this situation wasn't about to improve. He turned the steering wheel and began driving away.

"We'll leave some extra vials at the next Stronghold that lets us in!" Nina called back as we kept going.

None of them replied or even looked sad to see us go.

Nina sighed heavily. "Well, we tried. How many were infected?"

"About eighty or so. Maybe more."

She turned around to stare at me. "You mean you weren't joking?"

"No, and they're about to discover that sooner rather than later."

She winced, and her eyes strayed back to the Stronghold behind us. "I wonder if there's any way we can go back and try to convince them."

"You won't convince that bunch. They weren't even considering it. Just leave some extra vials of the cure and sanity serum at the next place."

She regarded me. "Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"If they had made any attempt to hear us out like those at Riverbend, I'd let you take another crack at them. But they didn't. So instead of wasting our time on a group like that, let's go find another place that might be happier for the help and just leave extra vials there."

I could tell she didn't agree with my opinion, although she didn't argue or try to change my mind. Instead, she turned around to sit properly in her seat and faced the windshield. Not quite a cold shoulder, but the doomed people clearly weighed on her conscience.

~

       Daniel slowed the truck as we drove past the chain-link fence and open gates that surrounded fire-blackened timbers and a couple of unscorched buildings. Regular zombies staggered around the charred remains of the Stronghold, but the lack of wounds or scorch marks on their skin and clothing indicated they had wandered in after the fire.

"This didn't happen that recently," Daniel said.

"About a month ago," I guessed.

"And the last place didn't let us know," Nina said with a sigh. She unfolded the map. "We're a long way from the next Stronghold. We might get there by noon tomorrow."

"Let's keep driving then," I said. "We're bound to find some sort of shelter before nightfall."

"And even if we don't, we can still make Daniel drive," Nicky added. "I helped rewire the headlights, so I know exactly how bright those things are."

Daniel had a faint look of alarm now that he knew Nicky had a hand in something he'd likely be relying on at some point. The sun was only a couple of hours from setting, so he had reason to worry.

I heard a switch flick a couple of times before he grumbled quietly, "I can't tell if they're working or not with the sun shining."

"All else fails, we can camp on the side of the road or I can drive," I said.

Nicky frowned at the back of Daniel's head. "They work. I made sure to test them. The other mechanics did too."

"I've seen what happens when you get your hands on coffee," Daniel retorted. "I'm halfway amazed the high-beam switch didn't make the horn play some sort of musical tune."

"I can arrange that without too much difficulty. It's just a few wires. Remind me to look into it once we get back."

"I'll pass. I need the lights more than a horn. The last thing you want me to do is hit a big pothole in the dark," Daniel replied firmly.

"I guess you're right," Nicky agreed reluctantly. "The truck would probably break down, and if this turns into something like the trip to Ironwind, Trinity might disown us."

"Don't tempt me to head back on my own," I warned them. "Between Daniel checking the bedrooms and locating some cats, I'm sure you can manage just fine without me."

"There are a few gas stations and small towns along the way," Nina reassured us, still examining the map. "We can't go near the cities or larger towns due to how many zombies will be around, but some of the smaller places will still be standing."

She had a lot of faith considering what we'd been through so far today. I turned my head to watch the scenery go by and dismissed it from my mind. If we didn't find a place, Daniel or I could keep driving.

~

       "We'll have to lure the ferals away," Daniel said as we approached a tiny town made up of about fifty buildings. Less than an hour remained until sunset, so we'd have to work fast.

I sniffed the air. "There's a Runner around, so keep your eyes open."

"Any idea if it's inside a building or loose on the streets?"

"I'm not sure, but it's probably wandering around."

"If I drive through the town, can you lure it inside a building once it shows up? While you do that, I'll see if I can get the regular ferals to follow me far enough down the road that they won't return by morning."

"I guess. But before I start locking zombies in buildings, which place do we want to camp in?"

"Let's pick a house," Nicky said. "I don't feel like sleeping on the floor tonight."

"What about the two-story one on that street?" Daniel pointed to the one he was talking about. "It has a chimney, so it might have a fireplace. The doors and windows also look intact. It's even got a balcony."

"As long as no zombies are inside, that'll work," Nicky said.

"Assuming we don't encounter the Runner before we get there, can you check if it's empty?" Daniel asked me.

"Fine," I replied. I had my doubts about how far we'd get before the Runner showed up. The second it heard us, it'd be on its way. It just depended on how far away it was and what was in its path.

Daniel drove down the street as regular zombies began streaming behind us. The number grew to thirty before we reached the house. I vaulted out of the truck and jogged to the door. The door was locked, but a quick sniff told me that mice and dust bunnies were the only occupants.

"It's clear," I said as I jogged back to the slowly moving truck.

"Good," Nicky said, "because here comes the Runner."

Sure enough, a much faster zombie was speeding through the crowd of red-eyed creatures behind us.

I jumped back in the truck. "Unless you want to listen to it all night long, we should lure that thing to the far side of town before we lock it up."

In response, the truck sped up enough to pull ahead of the Runner, which would give me enough time to break into a building in such a way that the door could close afterward.

"Let's try the bar," I told Daniel as we reached the edge of the small town. "The windows are barred, and the door swings inward."

He veered toward the building, and I jumped out with a small coil of rope in my hand. I quickly tried the door handle, which was locked. I stepped back and aimed a kick beside the lock so the hinges would survive.

With the crackling of splintering wood, the door swung open and banged against the wall. The truck was already a couple of buildings away, and the Runner was heading straight for me. I ducked inside and hid behind the door.

The Runner ran through the doorway full-tilt, and I promptly slipped outside and closed the door behind me. It didn't take long to tie the rope around the door handle and secure it to the railing, which prevented the door from swinging inward. Bars tended to be sturdy buildings, and I doubted the new occupant – who was now pounding on the door – was smart enough to pull the door open.

A sea of growls informed me the slower zombies were catching up. With an irritated glance over my shoulder, I sliced the unused rope free with my nails before running to the next house. I kicked in that door as well and jogged inside, locating the stairs without too much difficulty.

Once I was upstairs, I closed a bedroom door behind me and opened the window to watch the zombies below straggle into the house. Spending so much time in the back of the truck with Nicky must have really made her scent cling to me, since none of the zombies seemed to realize I wasn't human.

The stragglers watched their comrades enter the house and likewise crammed themselves inside. More zombies would be around town, but more than half were in this building, with some already scratching and growling at the bedroom door. It hadn't taken them as long to climb the stairs as I'd thought it would.

I sat on the windowsill and swung my legs outside before dropping to the ground. The closest zombies converged on me until I snarled at them. After that, they focused on the doorway again. More zombies kept trickling onto the street, but there was no way I'd be able to get all of them inside this house.

I shoved two last zombies inside and closed the door. With the last of my rope, I tied it shut. I flashed my teeth at the closest zombies on the street to discourage their approach. The rumble of the truck grew louder as Daniel returned.

"I'll lead them down the road and come back," he told me as he drove past, gaining the attention of the ferals near me.

Nicky tossed me another coil of rope. "I told you he'd use me as bait!"

I caught the rope. "You better pray the truck doesn't break down."

"Hey! Don't jinx it!"

I smirked at her and coiled the rope over my arm, wondering how many zombies I could stuff inside the next building.

Nicky raised her voice and called back, "Besides, vehicles only break down when you're in them or I'm burning donuts!"

The accuracy of her words had me grumbling under my breath as I went to deal with the numerous ferals appearing on the street.

It took us almost an hour, but Daniel and I finally had every zombie in this infested town locked up or lured away. As the truck stopped in front of our chosen house, I went inside and climbed the stairs in search of the balcony, where I caught the supplies as Daniel tossed them up.

Nicky and Nina would be happy to know the beds up here looked untouched, so if they removed the blankets, they'd have a soft base for their sleeping bags. I went back downstairs to double-check how secure the lower level was.

"A pellet stove!" Nicky groaned, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. "Didn't they think about what they were going to do if the power went out?"

"We can cook outside or on the balcony," Nina said.

I glanced out the window. "With the number of zombies around this place, I strongly suggest making Daniel put the firepit on the balcony."

"I'll go get it," Daniel offered as he disappeared out the door he had just come through.

I knew he'd jump right up to the balcony with it, so instead of offering to catch it, I said, "I'm going to see what I can do to barricade these windows so Daniel doesn't have any unwelcome visitors tonight."

Nicky looked up in interest. "I'll help. Or rather, I'll point at things that can be used and let you move them while I snoop through every room. It's been a long time since I've been in a building that hasn't been looted."

I snorted and went outside to see what large, unwieldy objects I could put in front of the windows to keep zombies from getting inside. The picnic table would be a good start.

~

       The thick clouds overhead blocked every hint of light from the moon and stars as I walked toward another store. No rain had fallen yet, but from the thick scent of water above, it was only a matter of time until it arrived.

A quick twist of my crowbar bent the door frame and popped the lock, allowing me to enter the building. I paced up and down the aisles for anything we might need for our trip. My lips peeled back in a grin when I found an aisle with an entire row of different-sized crowbars hanging on their hooks.

A nearby item also caught my attention. It looked like a hammer masquerading as a crowbar, but there was a curved blade that folded out along the handle. The label proclaimed it to be a pro wrecking bar, but my biggest question was how much Daniel would object to me storing such an object where Nicky could reach it.

One of the wrecking bars joined the crowbars in a spare bag. I'll have to hide it inside the back bumper or something. No, that won't work... I won't be able to reach it then. Maybe I can wedge it behind the jerrycans instead.

I continued scouring the store for any other heavy metal objects that could possibly be repurposed into airborne missiles if a Stronghold became hostile. A few of the larger hammers, socket wrenches, and other tools joined my pile.

Once my bag was full, I returned to the truck, where I was left with the fun task of concealing all these tools somewhere close to where I usually sat. There was no way all of them would fit beside the mattress.

Grumbling underneath my breath, I stuck the wrecking bar where the sleeping bags usually sat, and wedged it between the mattress and the side of the truck so it couldn't be seen. Then I shoved a couple of crowbars and some socket wrenches near it for good measure.

More tools were hidden beside the mattress, mostly close to where I usually sat. The ones near the tailgate were tucked under so they wouldn't fall out if someone opened it. No sense making my weapons cache so obvious. I glanced up to see yet another feral zombie coming down the street. I quickly stowed the last of the tools in various spots.

I was getting tired of trying to keep the nuisances away from the house, so it was time to go hunting and take a break. The zombie growled when it finally spotted me, and I decided to lure it to the forest instead of locking it up like the last five. When I jumped off the truck, the feral zombie gave chase, mistaking me for the humans it could smell.

As I jogged away, I glanced up at the house. The windows were dark, although I knew Daniel, Nina, and Nicky would still be on the second floor. The ground-level windows and doors were barricaded, so they were safe enough. Regular zombies wouldn't be able to get inside, and if they did, Daniel was more than capable of dealing with them.

Of course, with the doors barricaded, I'd have to climb up to the balcony whenever I wanted to go inside, but I planned on putting that off as long as possible. I might even just wait for them to come outside. It could be entertaining to watch Daniel break out.