Zombie Exodus: Side Stories, Brody & Madison, scene 19

continued from scene 18

Brody and Madison share a glance before Brody answers. "We're gonna help you with your friends." He turns to Madison. "All we have to do is take one of them out, and the others will run. It's the right thing to do."

Madison rolls her eyes as Brody moves the Land Cruiser to a discreet parking spot down the street. The once vibrant suburban neighborhood now lies shrouded in an unsettling stillness. The twins stepped out of the vehicle, their firearms gripped tightly, moving with purpose across the cracked asphalt. Sarah moves behind them, drawing a sawed-off shotgun from her backpack.

The abandoned cars lining the road provide sporadic cover as Brody and Madison skillfully position themselves. Madison's demeanor is a portrait of calm, unwavering focus, her training from Uncle Nate rendering her an exceptional marksman. She takes cover behind an overturned sedan, her modified AR-15 cradled in her practiced hands. By her side, Brody clutches his shotgun.

The Cobras remain lined outside the house, weapons pointed at the entrance. Madison and Brody can see Sarah's friends peeking out from the boarded windows from the first and second floors. As they look again across the Cobras, three figures stand out.

The first has a tall, wiry frame concealed beneath a tattered trench coat and worn armor. A menacing scar etches down his left cheek. A well-worn fedora casts a shadow over his face. "Viper is their leader," Sarah whispers, her voice quivering slightly. "He's cunning, ruthless, and he doesn't back down from anything. That scar on his cheek? It's from a fight he won against another gang leader."

Next in line is a young woman wearing a black leather jacket adorned with patches that symbolize the Cobras. Long, inky hair cascades in a tight braid down her shoulder. Her fingerless gloves clasp the stock of her rifle with familiarity. A faint scar grazes her right eyebrow.

Sarah nods towards the sharpshooter, her tone turning cautious. "Raven is their sniper. She's got eyes like a hawk and hands that never shake. If you see her aiming at you, it's already too late. "

Lastly, an imposing figure stands among them, boasting a massive frame concealed beneath tactical gear. A collection of scavenged armor plates clings to his burly form. Tattoos peek beneath his torn sleeves, hinting at life before the outbreak. His unkempt beard and shaved head glisten with sweat. He wields a pump-action shotgun.

"Vincent... well, he's the muscle," Sarah says. "Built like a brick wall. He's a brawler and doesn't need much more than brute strength. They say he used to be a bouncer before all this. He never runs from a fight, even if everyone else does."

"So what's our plan, Brody? Since this is what you wanted to do," Madison says, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"All we need to do is take one of them out. The others will run," Brody says, pointing between the three Cobras that Sarah mentioned.

continue to scene 20