Ill Fate

Rogue Jacob led Cooper Black to a private cabin in the hospital. Inside, on a bluish-grey bed with white bedsheets and pillows, sprawled Carl Jason. Beside him, Li'l Jacob listened to 'MH21 – Go Low' via headphones.

"Hey…" CJ's voice had turned shaky and weak. 99 bandages covered 75% of his body.

"Hey!" Cooper waved back at him. "I heard about what you did, mate. You made us all proud. You made America proud, man! Just wait till you get better! All the news reporters and cameramen will be flooding the place like the Nile breaking free of its dams! The waters, ahem… I mean, the people are already making a queue outside the Bellevue Hospital gates, man!"

"Are you trying to make me feel better or to make me get worse?"

"Uh, both!" Cooper replied with a silly grin. "But yet, here, take this. A million dollars. I guess you need it more than I do!"

He handed him a roll of fresh bills, crispy.

"No, there's no need. The government'll pay for my expenses."

"Okay, if you think so. Yet, keep the money. It'll serve as a cash reward for your hard work. And don't forget – we still have to take care of the SATAN tower."

"W-what?!" CJ almost jumped off the bed. "Yeah, man, damn! I hate those zomboid freaks. Isn't the MIW involved in it?"

"Who else?"

"Then what are you waitin' fo', man? Go! Leave me here. If I ever even kill a zombie again, I'll sear my foot off, you get it? No more 'cleaning' jobs. I've had enough of this City Dogs shit."

"I know, right! That's why I'm here, giving you all this money. It's a one-on-one chance – take it or leave it."

"I'd choose neither!"

Cooper saw that Carl's mouth hadn't replied. So who did?

"This all ends now!"

He twisted around to see who it was, when the 'other' guy fired off with an AEK-971.

"Harrison? What're you doing?" he grabbed hold of Garison's gun. But Harrison also had the equal strength. "Where had you been, man?"

"Chillin'," Harrison yanked the gun off Cooper's hands and smacked at Li'l Jacob with the butte. "No man alive shall exit this hospital and that means YOU!"

Rogue Jacob aimed a punch for Harrison's head, but missed. Harrison ducked and knocked his legs aside.

"Yeow, man! Cool down!"

"Oh, why don't YOU cool down first?" Harrison whistled and another person entered the room, carrying Glock-22s in each hand. "Luther, you take care of the two lesser chum; I'm going for the thrill of the hunt."

Luther yawned and knocked LJ out cold with just one mighty punch. But RJ smashed a glass bottle on top of his bald head. Luther howled in pain.

"LUTHER!" Harrison lost his attention on Cooper Black for only a moment. And one moment was all that it took for Cooper to snatch the assault rifle. "Oh great!"

Cooper kicked at his face and knocked him out cold as well.

"Phew! I wonder since when did they turn into psychos?" It was good fate that he hadn't turned into one, too. Otherwise, he would've pulled the trigger instead of knocking them out. "Okay, arms out, folks! Let's hope nobody saw us with firearms inside a hospital!"