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Chapter 15 - My Brother's Keeper

In the city hall building, Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra enter and are greeted by the Kinsmen survivor.

Kyle: Thanks for the help.

Kingsmen Survivor: What the hell are you guys doing here?

Cassandra: We came the turn on the fueling pump. You know how far we are from it?

Kingsmen Survivor: Just beyond the back exit and cut straight through the streets. You'll have to fight through those things though.

Cassandra: Hey, are you feeling okay?

Kingsmen Survivor: Me? Yeah, but he's not.

The Kinsmen Survivor leads Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra to sickened survivor laying in a bed, coughing.

Sarah: my god....this is horrible.

Jake: Is this how it begins?

Cassandra: Yeah... You ever seen this before? because this isn't like the Python Virus or-

Suddenly, two Krens Humans burst in and maul the Kinsmen survivor, along with the sickened survivor. Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra fight off another pack of Krens humans, before finally reaching the street and following the fueling line.

Kyle: We just have to keep following the fueling line. Should lead straight to the church.

Cassandra: I'm not going to turn into one of them...I certainly am not going to die like that.

Jake: You won't, Cassandra. I promise.

Sarah: Kyle, the Condemned are going to be here soon if we don't hurry!

Kyle: We're running out of time.

Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra finally reach the church/via pumping station.

Kyle: Jake, we'll take care of the pump.

Jake: Thanks, but if something happens, don't wait. Leave.....I mean it.

Kyle: Just make it short, man.

Kyle, Sarah and Cassandra tend to the pumping station while Jake walks up to the family grave labeled "Ferrell's". (The legal last name of Keera before her marriage). Jake, saddened, kneels in front of the grave.

Jake: Keera...baby, I'm sorry.....I'm so sorry I couldn't save you...I'm sorry I couldn't bring you home.....but you're in a better place.....with your folks.....the baby we could've had....the family....that's a better home than the one I'm at.....but no place is home without you.....I'll see you again someday.....look, Kyle is out saving the world and we got a chance to meet Dad....also, Kyle's going to be a Dad himself so.....so you gotta understand.....It's my little brother and I gotta look after him.....make sure he succeeds in the life I couldn't make with you....

Jake becomes tearful.

Jake: It would've been beautiful.....it would've been so beautiful...I love you....and I killed you.....Fuck, I miss you so much, Keera...I'm nothing without you.....I promise I'll see you in the next life....I promise.

Jake removes Keera's necklace from his pocket and places it on the grave. Cassandra and Sarah are standing guard while Kyle is attempting to pull the level to the fuel pump.

Cassandra: Did you think this place was going to be here?

Sarah: Did you?

Cassandra: no...I didn't want to say it in front of Jake.....but no....

Sarah: I didn't talk about it, but...loosing the beach.....loosing Ashley.....it almost killed me.....I think Kyle and being pregnant saved me.....we'll find a home again.....I don't talk about it, because I'm used to it.

Casandra: Used to what?

Sarah: Death. Loosing people closer to you. It changes you. It turns you into a monster that you never wanted to become.

Kyle is attempting to pull the lever down to the pump.

Kyle: Damn it! This pump lever is tight!

Jake pulls out his knife and hands it to Kyle, who takes the knife and manages to pull down the lever with it.

Kyle: Thanks.....

Kyle attempts to hand Jake his knife, but Jake rebuffs.

Jake: Just hold it....

Kyle places the knife in his holster, before Jake turns the second lever, activating the fuel pump.

Kyle: Woody. The fuel's coming through. Stand by.

In the church, Krens humans are heard from inside, banging on the other side of the door.

Jake: Late night choir practice?

Kyle: We got the fuel. Now let's get the hell out of here!

Jake: You think the old man rigged enough explosives to destroy the whole town? Could stop this infection!

Cassandra: No, he just rigged the pipes.

Kyle prepares an incendiary grenade as the Krens humans break through from the church. Kyle tosses the grenade as it explodes, creating a spiral of fire that burns the Krens humans to death. Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra enter the church.

Kyle: Is there a way out of this church?

Jake: An old underground route that was used during the old days. Keera's dad showed me this once when he was a preacher.

Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra enter the underground route from the church with the lower ground infused with radioactive fluid fumes.

Jake: Ugh...those damned radioactive fumes.

Cassandra: Hey, Kyle, your Dad thinks it's the radioactive fluid is the cause, right?

Kyle: Yeah, used it to heal everything and now it's killing everything.

Cassandra: If that's the case, then it looks like the radioactive fluid really is the cause.

Caleb speaks through Kyles' radio.

Caleb: Hey, Kyle! Zep spotted Condemned coming up the highway!

Kyle: Is the tanker ready to go?

Woody speaks through Kyles' radio.

Woody: Unfortunately, we'll have to leave her. The rig took too many bullets and leaking fuel, Kyle. I don't have time to plug all the holes.

Kyle: Son of a-all right, just leave it then. We're on our way back. Just get to the pickup zone.

Caleb: Copy that. We'll be ready to go!

In Charleston, Shawn, James, Marcus, Margaret, Maya and Jenny are walking through a camp that is abandoned.

Marcus: Odd....

Maya: What is?

Margaret: Last time, we were on patrol here....there were survivors....now, there's none.

Shawn: Maybe they all died....

Jenny looks around and finds a little girl huddled in the corner, before she then turns her head and yells to the others.

Jenny: Survivor!

Shawn, James, Marcus, Maya and Margaret look over at Jenny to see her approaching the little girl.

Jenny: Hey, sweetheart. You okay? It's gonna be fine. We're going to—

As Jenny prepares to touch the little girl, she turns her head, revealing to be a Krens human. Jenny screams.

Jenny: My god!

Shawn: What the fuck?! Jenny, get back!

The Krens little girl lunges, but Jenny shoots it in the head.

Maya: Jesus!

James: What the hell, man?! Was she Krens?

Jenny: I shot her....I just....I fucking shot her....she....

Margaret walks up to Jenny and touches her shoulder.

Margaret: Hey, it wasn't human, okay?

Shawn: I thought that shit couldn't infect humans! It only infects Condemned!

James: Well, it looks like it's affecting everyone now.

Jenny: My god....if it affects humans, then what are we gonna do? What if--

Suddenly, more Krens humans pop out and attack the survivors, but Shawn, James, Marcus, Margaret, Maya and Jenny manage to overpower and kill the Krens humans.

Marcus: Jesus Christ!

James: Okay, this just went from bad to worse.

Suddenly, the remaining survivors in the rig burst out of the rig entrance, aiming their weapons at Shawn, James, Marcus, Margaret, Maya and Jenny.

Marcus: Whoa, hey! Hey! Easy, we're human!

The Native-American Leader of the group approaches the five survivors.

Curtis: You! Survivors! You come here uninvited.

James: We come here looking for help for this fight...

Curtis: Help? It's just five of you. How do you bring me help?

James: We found a way we can stop this....

Margaret: Wait, what happened here?

Curtis: Isn't it obvious? Humans can turn into Krens...it's not just those monsters.....

Shawn, James, Marcus, Margaret, Maya and Jenny look amongst each other.

Jenny: Fuck....

But how do you offer help to us?

We found a machine...a way to stop this. A way to kill both the Krens and the Condemned....but we need help.....we need people to fight....fight with us....

Why should we? This world is dying....I say let the Krens have it. Earth has finally run it's coarse.

Shawn: You're comfortable with living like this?

Marcus: Hey, look....I was born here and raised here.

Just hearing this information, Shawn and James share a look as Margaret looks down.

Marcus: Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't recognize me, Curtis.

Curtis seethes at Marcus, who smirking.

Curtis: Little Marcus Howlett? You have grown. The little white cub raised by wolves has all grown up.

Marcus: Yes, I have....and you knew my father....you and him were friends. He and his family has always shown great respect for the Native-American community.

Curtis: Your father was a good man....he took you in...I see that as beautiful....but beautiful has no place in this kind of world...

Margaret: It can be....look, you've seen how bad the radioactive fluid is affecting the world and now, us.... Humanity is on it's last legs....now you can choose not to the do anything and wait til the Condemned or Krens wipe us out....or you can make a stand and fight with us....to take back our planet....it may be destroyed, but that doesn't mean we give it to the fucking monsters.....

A small pause, before Curtis nods and turns to his remaining survivors.

Curtis: Men, we're taking back our planet...

The rest of Curtis's army nods, before Marcus smiles and then approaches Curtis.

Marcus: Thanks, Curtis....there's one more thing....we're gonna need a boat. A carrier.

Curtis winces.

Curtis: What do you want? Good news or bad news?

Shawn: May as well give us the good news.

Curtis: Well, I do know where one is.

James: And the bad news?

Curtis: I know where it is.

In Kinsmen, Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra manage to get back to roof fueling station as they spot Caleb and Woody across their direction in the other truck on the road with Zep's truck blocking the exit.

Woody: Kyle! Come on! We're good to go!

Suddenly, Condemned attack with Zep's truck being blown out of the entrance, initiating a gunfight and cutting the group from Woody and Caleb.

Sarah: Damn! We're cut off!

A Condemned curb stomps the crippled Zep during the gunfight. Condemned drones attempt to climb on the roof of the fueling station to counter Kyle, Jake, Sarah and Cassandra, who fight off the counter attackers. The shootout continues station, before Cassandra turns her head to notice human Krens from Kinsmen closing on their position.

Cassandra: Shit! Behind us! It's the towns people!

Kyle: Fuck! Cassandra! Jake! Take care of the humans! We got the Condemned!

Cassandra and Jake hold off the Krens humans while Kyle and Sarah hold off the Condemned forces. Caleb and Woody continue fighting the Condemned forces from their truck. Suddenly, Krens join in the fight as stalks emerge from the ground.

Jake: Shit, we got raddies too!

Sarah: This is getting bad!

Kyle: Keep holding them! Keep holding them!

The Krens and Condemned Drones engage each other, but mainly attack the Midtown Manhattan group as the battle progresses. The Condemned brutes join in as they tosses heavy objects at the group. One of the cars that is thrown accidently hits a fueling pump that begins to explode. The explosion causes a sign to fall, creating a ladder for the group to get to the other roof.

Kyle: Hurry! Go! Get to the other side!

Sarah, Cassandra and Kyle manage to get to the other side as Jake continues holding off human Krens.

Kyle: Jake! C'mon!

Jake: I'm comin!

Before Jake can cross, a Krens stalk emerges from the ground, destroying the sign.

Kyle: Jake!

On the other side of the fueling station, the human Krens and Krens drones advance on Kyle, Sarah and Cassandra, who open fire on the hostiles.

Cassandra: We're outnumbered!

Jake shoots at the human Krens attacking him, but runs out of ammunition in his assault rifle, forcing him to pull out his shotgun.

Jake: There's too many of them! We won't make it!

Kyle: keep them back! Keep them back!

Jake shoots down human Krens, but also runs out of ammo on the shotgun as well.

Jake: Goddamn it!

Jake tosses the shotgun, and soon realizes he is outnumbered by the pack of human Krens advancing on him. Seeing the overwhelming forces, Jake looks at Kyle, Sarah and Cassandra fighting off the Condemned and Krens forces, before looking down at the fuel rig of the tanker.

Jake: Fuck it.

Jake jumps down into the gas station as Kyle notices Jake unlinking the fuel rig from tanker.

Kyle: Jake!

Jake grabs a semi-automatic pistol, before looking up to his brother.

Jake: Go! Kyle! Jump now!

Jake shoots at the attacking Condemned drones, before he enters the tanker. Jake then starts it up, before driving off down the tunnel. Kyle talks into his radio.

Jake! Jake, where the hell are you going?!

Ignoring Kyle, Jake gives a saddened look as he continues driving down the tunnel.

Cassandra: What the hell is he doing?!

Sarah: Is he leaving?!

Kyle: I don't know! Just keep fighting!

Kyle, Sarah, Cassandra, Caleb and Woody continue holding off enemy hostiles.

Sarah: I'm almost out of ammo!

Cassandra: Yeah, me too! I'm low on arrows!

Jake spins the wheel as he turns the truck towards the fueling station. Jake takes steady breathes as Kyle contacts him through his radio.

Kyle: Jake! What the fuck are you doing, man?!

Jake: Flipping the switch on these pricks! When I say jump, you jump!

Kyle: Jake!

Jake: Kyle. Listen to me. You have to jump, all right? There's not a lot of time.

Kyle: Whatever it is you're planning, you better do it now.

Jake: That's the problem right there, because you're going to get mad at what I'm about to do.

Jake sheds tears, putting the radio to his head.

Kyle: Jake, what are you talking about? Why would I get mad? What are you about to do?

Jake: God...I gotta say this, man.....I'm sorry, Kyle.....I'm sorry I wasn't there for you most of your life.....I'm sorry if you felt I abandoned you.....I'm sorry I wasn't your brother at one point, man.....It was too late for me and Keera to have a family, but there's a chance for you and Sarah that I'm gonna give you....you got one chance...you're going to be a great fuckin father....I'm so proud of you, little brother....so goddamned proud of you.....I love you, man....and tell Dad I love him when you find him, alright?! now, jump, you hear me?! You fucking jump now, goddamn it! Do it!

Jake tosses the radio aside, puts the tanker in drive as he drives towards the fueling station at an excessive speed. As Jake drives towards the station, he honks the horn, signaling the others to take cover. Sarah and Cassandra run off the roof of the fueling station as Kyle gives a saddened look with Sarah grabbing his arm.

Sarah: Kyle.....

Jake: Guess this is how it was going to be, Keera....it was never our story.....it's my brothers' story....

Jake drives towards the fueling station, running down many Condemned or Krens in his path. Jake calms himself and smiles, before he closes his eyes, accepting his fate.

Kyle: JAKE! NO!

Jake crashes the tanker into the fuel tank, creating an explosion that kills Jake, but also kills the remaining Condemned, Krens and human Krens. Time slows down as the fueling station explodes with Kyle, Sarah, Cassandra, Caleb and Woody taking cover to avoid the flames while many of the enemy forces are incinerated in the explosion. In a bleak moment, a devastated Kyle screams for his brother and rushes to the burning tanker but is restrained by Caleb. Sarah and Cassandra arrive on the scene as they both shed tears and give a saddened look for their lost ally as well as Sarahs' brother-in-law.

Kyle: Get off me!

Caleb: Kyle, it's too late, man! It's too late! There's fucking nothing there!

Kyle: I said get your goddamn hands off me, Caleb!

Kyle punches Caleb in the face, causing them both to fall to the ground, before Sarah attempts to stop Kyle.

Sarah: Kyle, stop! He's gone! Listen to me! He's gone! There's nothing you can do! Stop! Stop it!

Kyle: I don't care! Get the fuck off me, goddamn it! That's my brother! Let me get him out! Jake!

The destroyed truck and tanker explodes.

Sarah: Kyle! Stop! Just stop! Look at me! Look at me!

Kyle stops her struggling as Sarah grabs his face and makes eye contact with Kyle, calming him down.

Sarah: I'm sorry, Kyle.....it's okay....it's okay....

Utterly devastated, Kyle sheds tears and cries for the loss of his older brother as Sarah comforts him. Cassandra wipes her tears.

Cassandra: We have to go, guys....Kyle, your Dad still needs us.

A tearful Kyle looks down at the ground.

Kyle: Jake....

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