He felt trapped, even if he’s going out he still felt like he couldn’t get out. After charging his phone he would go and ask Curtz for another mission, any mission really just so he can leave.

Maybe catch word of how his home was doing.

Curtz did promise that they were on the look out for a new place for them to call home he wanted to be apart of that search too since he’ll also be with them. But Curtz had said the people looking were already out and traveling. So he was stuck here helping them keep their home afloat.

He was out early one morning and seen that a group was returning and they did not seem happy in the least. Curtz stepped out and looked at them and gave a motion. They shot the man right then and there. He forgot who these people were and what they could be capable of. But wasn’t Dr. Needle working on the cure? What if they tried it on him would it stop the infection?

Who exactly was Curtz?

From what he just saw he was sadistic, if that smile was of any clue. He also seems to hid his true self behind a fake smile. What could this guy be? Why would he need a Decoy when he had plenty of people to do it for him?

They cleared out the body and ‘washed’ away the blood before the early birds got up. He didn’t like this place, it felt even more hollow than before. He got up grabbed some breakfast then went to eat with Dr. Needle. Clicks was getting better at sign language and Rover comes along and tells him to get suited for the next mission.

“— • —     • •     • • •     • • •”

“GET OUT!” Rover yelled and Clicks ran back to his room to gather his added equipment. He went back made a show of ‘Not Looking’ to get his phone. “Clicks I swear!”

“Aw, why’d you stop?” Dr. Needle laughed and soon was pushed off the chair and Rover storming. “Rover! My word! How’d you know I like it a little rough?”

“Up in 5!” Rover barked and started walking to the door.

“Make it 10!” Dr. Needle called out then laughed when the door was slammed shut. “Oh my, if I knew he’d be this easy to tease I would have done so much sooner.”

“He probably would have just stared at you, see you later.”

“See you later Clicks... Wait!”

Clicks ran up the stairs and found Rover just reaching the door he was about to run past but Rover caught him by the collar of his uniform and was forced to stop. “You haven’t been sleeping properly, get some shut eye on the drive over.”

“— — •     •     •     — — • •” Clicks ran past him as he was let go and hopped in the truck. The truck was rowdy on the way out, Clicks initiating most of the chaos. On the way back they were so loud they brought some unwanted guests that was quickly taken care of.

Clicks settled down for a few moments before being called back out, the next truck was up and he quickly got in. Rover being too late to notice couldn’t stop him in time. He sat with the guys in the back, it was mostly quiet aside from some idle chatter. He wasn’t feeling his normal energy and figured that he spent most of it on the first trip. Getting out he was tasked to keep these Dead Walkers busy while the rest took care of getting medical equipment.

Turning on the music and keeping it low was enough to make it bounce off the walls. He wasn’t used to being in confined space but he made do with his skills as best as he could.

Until he tripped over a Dead Walker that took a hold of his leg and bit. Kicking it off he ran to a safe area. Turning his music down a bit more he checked his leg, it was shallow. Wrapping it up as tightly as he could and used his sock to cover it he went back out to finish his job. He was a bit more alert now and even lead some of the Dead Walkers into an elevator shaft.

Returning to the truck he kept mostly to himself and tried not to fall asleep. The ripped pants were covered up as he was leaving the building and got caught on the door. He didn’t have his kit with him so sewing it up to keep himself busy wasn’t an option. Destroyed uniforms were also replaceable.

He went down to see Dr. Needle and found Rover yelling at how irresponsible he was and Curtz for doing this.

“Clicks welcome home,” Dr. Needle said and then Rover gone off on him. Ignoring most of it he sat himself on the table and revealed his bite. “How did this happen?”

“What happened!” Rover yelled then went to the door locked it and covered the window. “I told you not to take on more missions and to get proper sleep!”

“Sorry, I didn’t know it would be at a hospital,” Click said and let Dr. Needle examine and clean it.

“You can talk?” Rover asked?

“Shocking isn’t it?” Dr. Needle said.

“You knew? What else have you been keeping?”

“You two gonna kiss?”

“SHUT UP!”

“I’ve kept a lot of things, but my main source was Clicks himself. And it surprised me that he could talk, I thought he was a mute this entire time. You have some explaining to do.”

“No one suspects a stupid kid, if I want to know what’s going on then I’ll need to figure it out myself and to do that would be to play dumb.” Clicks said, “Be careful with those needles Dr. Michele.”

“So what have you figured out?”

“What do you want to know? Treachery? Betrayal? Who has beef with who? I know a lot of things Rover.”

“What do you know about Curtz?”

“Not much, he’s sadistic, hides behind a mask of fake smiles, doesn’t let Dr. Needle know about the people bitten.”

“What?”

“Bitten? What do you mean?”

“A night truck was returning and I was out wanting to see the sunrise. People go out and one of them was bitten. Curtz said something walked away smiling and the others shot the bitten. Washed away the evidence.”

“That bastard!” Rover growled.

“How am I suppose to work on a cure if I don’t get to see the infected? Well I got to see you but this is the worst.”

“You think its planned?” Rover asked.

“Could be, exhaust the Decoy enough to trap him here with no where to go? I’d say that’s a good plan.” Clicks said, “If that is the plan then...”

“I’m sure your family back home are still safe, you kept them alive for so long I’m sure they can keep themselves alive without you helping.”

“I hope, the Migration happens during the Fall and Spring and were right in their path. The Dead Walkers that were there were no problem at all, until the heard comes then it becomes impossible to go out.”

“You use the ones in town to know when to prepare for the migration?”

“Yeah, they are the only ones that knows when the migration will hit, I got a lookout point made on top of the warehouse to watch the locals.”

“Migration is like a bad storm, huh? So what do you mean you use the locals?”

“For one, they can understand us.”

“Those Bone Rotters can’t understand shit.”

“Quiet in here now isn’t it Dr. Michele? I talked to the ones in the tube, they were mad that they were being locked up. Docile now to I bet? I told them you were looking for a cure and to do that you needed their help.”

“They’re not fighting as often, I’ll admit.”

“The Dead Walkers have a certain understanding of hand signs and can understand our speech. They are still partly human, I know because I watch them just like any other. They have memories as well, from their past and after they’ve turned. They aren’t mindless, because some recognize me and try to imitate my dance moves. Then ignore me and continue on their way. As I’m dancing I take them to the stage and they gather. As you saw when you first saw me.”

“They are dangerous!”

“Some of them are, but the ones that were gathered around me were just there for the show, they knew what I was doing and played along. They even protect me from the ones that rush towards me. They can catch me whenever they want but choose not to, I think it’s because I remind them of their children or give them memories of when they go out drinking or clubbing.”

“And you still put yourself in danger.”

“They want a peaceful life, like it was. There was four Dead Walkers in the office at the warehouse just sitting in the chairs. I walked in and they just looked at me and ignored me. So I cleared it out and moved things around, I even talked to them. Not once have they bothered me or tried to attack me. There was another that didn’t even want anything to do with me, I set him up against the tree and I talked to him as well.”

“Fascinating, so they are still intelligent even after the Turn. I need to get more information about this but first. Let’s try this,” Dr. Needle held up a needle and Clicks was ready to kick the man away.

“Your brave against the Bone Rotters but still afraid of needles,” Rover said and held Clicks in place.

“They hurt!” Clicks yelled, “I’m also still mad at you for the last needles you gave me! I’m not even going to tell you anymore about my thoughts on the cure.”

“Your life depends on it now, so spill!” Rover said and let Clicks go.

“Fine! The Dark Red is a Virus? Treat the cure like an anti-biotic.”

“How do you know so much?”

“I spend my time listening to everyone, and because everyone lets their guard down around me I’ve figured a lot out. Simple answers to simple solutions. There are just something that work and some that don’t. Unless you’ve tried it all then you’ll never know.”