Chapter 4: Between Thin Lines Part III

"Megan?"

Nikolai opened his mouth and looked at the uniquely dressed young worker. Nikolai saw that underneath her bulletproof vest was her orange mall worker's shirt.

"You don't make fun of me again."

Megan walked straight toward Nikolai because he was blocking the way to the escalators.

"Nobody makes fun of me again."

"Hey, hey. Wait. Where the fuck do you think you're going?"

"Where the fuck do you think, asshole?"

Nikolai signaled Greg and Matthew to follow him to the escalators and the other civilians stayed in the area.

"Don't think we'll let you go alone."

"And since when do you care about my welfare?"

Megan turned her back on Nikolai as she continued down the stairs. She made sure to look for places to pass through to stay unnoticed and not attract the attention of the dead. Nikolai stealthily killed the dead with a knife by embedding them in their heads, so did Matthew and Greg.

"Do you know what the fuck you're doing?"

Nikolai reprimanded Megan as he trailed behind her, close enough to keep an eye out for anything that might happen to her. They went on until they reached the entrance to Grand Mont Plaza that connected to Dark Horse.

"Are you going to keep giving me silent treatment?"

Nikolai asked the young woman, however she didn't answer him either at that moment. Walking out into the park Nikolai took advantage of the fact that they were in an area far enough away from the dead to force Megan to stop.

"I'm done with your shit you little bitch. I get tired of your diva attitude. I'm not going to tolerate you disrespecting me."

"And I get tired of your macho attitude. Who the fuck do you think you are? You're not more of a man for acting like a fucking redneck and a pig. You think you got a special pass or something to act like a fucking neanderthal?"

"You still owe me respect."

"I don't owe you ***shit***. You're not Jason, I respect JASON, not you. And what the fuck are you laughing at?"

Megan turned her gaze to Matthew who had his typical smile that showed his particular fondness for fights and arguments.

"Nothing in particular... Why don't you better guide us to that place you want to go and we'll help you? I for one am perfectly willing to do so."

Matthew commented, crossing his arms.

"Instead of you taking us to Jason, you're taking us to fucking strangers."

Nikolai showed his annoyance.

"Like I fucking know where Jason got to. If you don't want to come with me then turn around and walk away."

Megan threatened. Nikolai was tempted to do it but he knew Megan was using the cameras and maybe that was her ticket to finding Jason, plus he wasn't on such good terms with Ashley either to ask her for the favor.

"Okay... lead the way."

Megan nodded at Nikolai's answer and decided to lead them to Pink Flamingo Plaza. When they arrived they found something surprising, and that is that there were several bodies of some of the fallen piled up in such a way that they formed a cross.

Nikolai instinctively turned to look at Megan as he had a feeling she was going to say something.

"A group did this. They started killing them and piled them up. We need to stay very careful... they don't look like trustworthy people to me."

"You think so?"

"I think I'd rather put up with you than those people. I didn't like them... I think this is some kind of a sign. We must keep our eyes wide open, we don't know what we're dealing with."

"Or who... Where's the store, Megan?"

"On the second floor, Sergeant Phillips. It's in the candy store... I think you're going to understand my insistence on coming."

The group followed Megan up to the second floor. Dodging the dead and, Nikolai making use of his knowledge asked Knox to stop so he could apply dead man's blood and guts to his suit for camouflage.

"You don't have to..."

"No, I do. If you die I won't be able to find Jason and I don't think anyone will want to do me the favor of looking for him after what I did."

"So gentlemanly you."

Megan led Nikolai and the cops to the store where they proceeded to enter. Megan was uncomfortable beyond belief as she looked at the shelves and display cases of bloody candy. Finally they reached the door of the warehouse.