Hunted

"**Hunted**" is the sixth chapter in MrPotassiumK's **Loud House: Infection of the Dead**.

## Synopsis

After a tragic death, Lori decides to hand over the mantle of her leadership. The group encounter a former FBI agent who warns them of a crime syndicate named The Piranhas.

## Plot

**Part 1: Forgive Me**

David recounts the story of an Iraqi kid who lost his sister, using this experience as a way to justify Lori’s request to bury Lola in Niagara Falls.

After arriving at Niagara Falls, the Loud family give their final words before they end the short funeral. Lana is distraught and does her best to deal with her grief.

Meanwhile, Carol is undergoing withdrawal and complains about it, which angers Becky. However, Dana has none of it and wants Becky and Carol to make up. Carol makes an effort to repair her broken friendship with Becky, but Becky refuses to forgive Carol. Lori then decides to offer Carol her drugs back to treat her withdrawal, but Carol believes she doesn’t deserve treatment. Lori tearfully lists the ways she mistreated Carol and wishes things could have been different before asking for forgiveness, to which Carol grants.

Away from the group, Ronnie Anne talks to Lincoln, wondering if Lana hates her for putting down a zombified Lola. Lincoln insists that Lana is avoiding everyone. She then wonders how many more of them will die before they reach Houlton. She then asks Lincoln for more information about the logbook. Lincoln reveals the name of the parents listed on the logbook, in turn, revealing whose parents aren’t in Houlton. Liam happens to overhear, and is initially upset, though he comes to understand why Lincoln has kept the logbook a secret. He too promises to keep it a secret.

Eight days later, with the group back on track to Houlton, Francisco feels guilty over what he did to Clyde and decides to apologize to Lynn. However, Lynn wants him to apologize to Clyde instead. Francisco promises to apologize to him as well before explaining why he beat Clyde, confessing his feelings at the same time. He then reveals what happened to the middle school, while also revealing that Margo was bitten by a roamer and succumbed to the bite. His first kill was Roamer Margo, which still haunts him to this day. He then hopes he, Clyde, and Lynn can start anew in the near future.

**Part 2: Cover**

The group listen closely to one of Tim’s cassette tapes where he describes the infection of the dead. The group members wonder why Tim never released this tape to the public. Lisa, feeling guilt over her actions and what happened to Lola, is determined to find a cure for the infection of the dead.

The next morning, while the group eats breakfast, Becky gets jealous as she watches Carol and Tad flirt with each other. D attempts to convince Becky to forget Tad as he flirts with her. However, Becky rejects his advances. To unintentionally add salt to the wound, Tad begins to sing to Carol, something he has done for Becky only.

Later, the group spots a car driving on the same road as them, though moving in the opposite direction. The driver fires his gun, though none of his bullets actually strike any of the group’s vehicles. Nevertheless, the group members are unnerved. Richard wants to chase after this driver while David wants to keep moving ahead. However, he acknowledges the threat and tells the group to be prepared for it.

Richard switches spots with Carol and Tad, now sitting in Chaz’s car with Sergei. He prepares for the unknown driver’s return.

Meanwhile, Liam proposes an idea: the group members should carry their weapons on them. David is open to that idea, though he wants to make sure everyone receives proper training first. Tabby, however, doesn’t want to carry a weapon because she is worried her mother will freak out. Liam reminds Tabby that her mother isn’t around right now (knowing that she isn’t in Houlton either). He convinces her to carry a gun, and in this moment, the two grow closer.

Sam is visibly upset, revealing her newfound fear of guns. She believes every time a gunshot goes off, someone ends up dying, which terrifies her. Luna comforts her by promising to protect her with a gun of her own. At this moment, the unknown driver returns, though the driver doesn’t fire any shots. Instead, the driver attempts to speed past the vehicles. Sergei gives chase, and when it catches up, the unknown driver starts firing again. This allows the unknown driver to seemingly escape until Richard starts firing as well, managing to blow out one of the wheels.

The vehicles all come to a stop and David, Richard, and Missy approach the unknown driver with their weapons up. The unknown driver states his identity, George Cane. He is an FBI agent with an office at Albany. George attempts to explain himself, stating that “bad people” are chasing him. However, he believes these people will not target David and his group because of their large size. Although not totally convinced, David plans to use George as an escort to safe passage, given that he is familiar with which roads are safe.

David gets Lana to fix George’s car, to which she does, fast. However, before the group can leave, a group of survivors on motorcycles fire their guns at the main group, prompting them to take cover. The two groups exchange fire, and Lynn takes it upon herself to counterattack. With the intention of protecting Lana, George attempts to surrender, though the attackers still want to kill the group members. With Lynn attempting to counterattack, she manages to distract them, just enough for George and David to kill them. Lynn is unnerved, knowing how close she was to being killed.

George returns for Lana and tells her that everything will be okay. However, David points a gun at George’s head and tells him to get in the RV.

**Part 3: The Piranhas**

Worried about Lana’s well-being, Lori tries to comfort Lana, but Lana is more worried about George. Lana wants the group to spare George of whatever consequences they have in store for him. In the meantime, David demands to know why George shot near his people and why he failed to inform him that the attackers chasing after him are Piranhas. George explains that had he not shot at the Piranhas taking cover behind the van, he and Lana would have probably been wounded or worse. He is then surprised to hear that David knows about the Piranhas, which prompts David to reveal that he’s from Manhattan. Despite this Piranha encounter, David still wants to head to Albany, even if there is more Piranha activity there. George wants to head there too, not to escape from the Piranhas as the group previously thought, but to enact revenge on Sherry Crowley, the leader of the Piranhas. This information catches the group members off-guard, especially Vonda, who finds it hard to believe. George is surprised too as he didn’t expect to see Vonda again, having already seen her as a younger child when he visited her father. With Richard growing suspicious of George, he suspects him of deceit, and threatens to shoot him. However, David chooses to believe George and tells him to head back to the car to continue their trip. With Richard and Lori questioning his motives, David explains that if George has information on Tim Crowley, then he must also have information on the rogues. Richard, however, remains distrustful.

Now headed for Albany, George leads the way as he talks to the group with his walkie-talkie. He explains why he’s after Sherry and explains that any information he has on Tim would be in his office at Albany. The group question him about General Black, but before George could answer completely, Vonda frightens him, having snuck into his vehicle. David is frustrated, feeling like Vonda is being selfish again by sneaking away from the group. Vonda, however, simply wishes to speak to George privately. After David allows her, Vonda questions George about her mother. George doesn’t want to tell Vonda the whole truth for fear that it would make her hate her mother, but Vonda explains that she already hates her for leaving her and her father. George understands and tells Vonda more about Sherry. He explains that she runs a drug and human trafficking operation and that she was responsible for the murders of his wife and daughter. It was intended to make an example out of him to the FBI, but it only fueled George’s revenge mission. As George tells his story, a few Piranhas talk through radio, revealing their locations. This causes George to change course and head away from the highway. Vonda is angry at the fact that her mother gets to live while her father doesn’t. George asks how Tim died, which Vonda answers.

At sunset, the group parks their vehicles alongside some abandoned vehicles and sets up camp in a small field next to the road. As the group members eat, Missy asks about the status of the FBI. George reveals that the FBI suffered the same fate as everyone else; almost all of its members were killed or disappeared. However, despite seeing everything collapse around him, George believes that Washington, D.C. has to be standing. As he continues to talk, he notices headlights on the road and urges everyone to seek cover. His fears are quickly realized as the headlights are shown to belong to the Piranhas. Richard, knowing the Piranhas have already seen the campfire, doesn’t take cover but instead makes himself known. The small group of Piranhas questions him, asking him if he’s seen someone who matches George’s description. Richard lies, which the Piranhas see through. The main Piranha shoots Richard in the chest. Missy gasps, which the Piranhas hear. They immediately take cover and the main Piranha threatens to execute Richard if the rest of the group doesn’t come out. Once again, George is given an ultimatum: surrender or else the group suffers the consequences. However, Richard catches one of the Piranhas by surprise by stabbing him in the ankle, giving the group a chance to counterattack. The group members seize this chance and begin taking them out. One of the Piranhas radios for help, and help arrives in the form of a car. Becky decides to join in on the firefight and shoots at the car. However, all her shots miss, but Missy’s shots don’t as she kills the driver. The car crashes into an abandoned car, injuring Gus, a Piranha who is a passenger inside.

The group pulls him out, but before they can kill him, Gus reveals that Sherry is willing to spare the group members if they head to Utica. George must come too, and if they listen, then the group will be handed toll booth passes. If they refuse, then the Piranhas will continue to attack the group. Gus even claims that the Piranhas have the group surrounded. Fearing a trap, the group tries to think of alternative ways to get out of New York. George says they can go on foot, but they would have to forget about Albany. David insists that going to Albany is non-negotiable, however, Lori, knowing Bobby’s family are all dead except possibly his mother, believes they may have to skip Albany after all. She convinces a reluctant Bobby to tell the group to skip Albany, but before he could tell the group, Lincoln interrupts him to showcase his plan. Lincoln believes that if they pretend to capture George and hand her over to Sherry, that Sherry will be inclined to let the group go. However, he’s hesitant to go through with this plan because it means giving up George. George accepts this if it means the group gets to survive and claims he will just find a way to escape from the Piranhas again. Gus, agreeing with the plan, radios Bruna, another Piranha, and lets her know that the group will be headed for Utica. As a false show of appreciation, Missy has Carol stitch up Gus’s face, even though Carol has never stitched on another person. Lincoln asks Bobby what he was going to tell the group, but Bobby says it’s nothing important, continuing to harbor the secret.

With his car now wrecked, George decides to take a ride in Chunk’s van. As a roamer approaches, Tad kills it, though he feels a sense of uselessness after doing so due to not having contributed in the gunfight at all (as he doesn’t know how to use a gun).

**Part 4: Blood in the Water**

Taking shelter in an abandoned house, David, Richard, and George discuss the Utica meeting while Gus is sleeping. Richard believes they’re headed for a trap and wishes to just use Gus as a way to hammer a way out of New York. David doesn’t want to skip Albany, however, but Richard feels they should do so anyway. He doesn’t believe Bobby’s family is alive in Albany because of the heavy Piranha presence and he doesn’t want to risk his or Missy’s life on such a high-risk rescue mission. He feels Lori’s group would not contribute much to the main mission anyways, so if they leave the group to go to Albany, then David will not feel much of a loss. David, however, believes the Piranhas are reasonable. George backs him up, though he makes an exception with Sherry, who he claims is unpredictable. George also knows the value of family, so he wants to go through with the Utica meeting if it means Bobby gets a chance to reunite with his family. The men then come up with a plan to prepare for the meeting in case it’s a trap. While all this is occurring, Gus keeps pretending to be asleep as he eavesdrops on them.

Vonda talks with George and reveals she overheard them, though not too well. George tells her the plan, emphasizing the importance of the RV and Chunk’s van. Vonda hopes nothing goes wrong, that way George wouldn’t be forced to kill Sherry before she could find out why her mother left her and her father.

The next day, the group heads for Utica. While going there, D, Francisco, and Lynn bond over the topic of sports. Clyde then wakes up, causing the group to put their trip on hold. He is quickly reminded of his amputation, and though Lynn feels guilty, Clyde reassures her, thanking her for saving his life. The group members are happy to see him alive and decide to take a lunch break to catch him up to recent events. Lisa gives Clyde crutches, which he handles with ease.

As Gus eats his lunch, he explains that the Piranhas don’t attack civilians, only question them about George’s whereabouts. However, his explanation seems contradictory to the actions of the Piranhas they encountered before, causing David and Richard to distrust him. In the case that the group get attacked and he is killed in the Utica meeting, David wants Richard to take over as the new leader. Richard wouldn’t want to go through this if he were the leader, which makes him the right choice according to David, because if he is killed, that means Richard’s idea would have been the right one.

As the kids bond over tossing bottle caps, Francisco wishes to speak to Clyde. The kids are nervous, but Clyde decides to talk to Francisco anyway. Francisco tells Clyde that he admitted his feelings to Lynn. He then wishes for Clyde to do the same, which Clyde intends to do. The two make up and in commemoration of their new friendship, Francisco hands a baseball signed by him to Clyde. Clyde happily accepts the gift.

Some time later, Bruna and another Piranha, Joan, see the main group’s vehicles approaching. They lead the group to a nearby bridge in Utica. On one side of the bridge is the group. On the other side of the bridge are the Piranhas, including Sherry. Sherry orders every single group member to step out of their vehicles. David gives Gus his pistol back and then handcuffs George. Before he steps George out of the RV, he tells him to head to Houlton once he kills Sherry and escapes. The group members then step out of their vehicles, many of them armed. Sherry asks who the leader is, which David answers. Sherry thanks him before claiming she was nervous to do this meeting as she feared walking into a trap herself. Sherry then tells the group to wait as she grabs passes for them. In the meantime, John and Andrew, two Piranhas as well as brothers, walk George across the bridge. Gus then whispers into Sherry’s ears, telling her to take Chunk’s van, which has weapons. Sherry agrees, sensing Gus knows something she doesn’t. She demands the group to hand over Chunk’s van, which the group are hesitant to do. David then comes to the realization that Gus overheard their plan and does everything to avoid handing the van. As Sherry orders Gus to take the van, George figures it out as well. George comes up with a diversion on the spot: screaming out loud that he has Vonda. He then leaps over the bridge and dives into the Erie Canal. Knowing Sherry wants him alive, George unlocks his handcuffs with a hidden key and swims away. As all of this is happening, David runs back to the other side of the bridge, telling the group to take cover. The Piranhas instinctively fire at the group, but Sherry stops them. She orders a few Piranhas to chase after George. In an effort to lead the Piranhas away, Carol has Sergei call Vonda over to their car, and the three escape from the scene. Sherry, unwilling to have her daughter shot as well, orders some Piranhas to chase after the car. Sherry then finally orders the Piranhas to shoot at David’s group. A gunfight ensues. Richard tries to escape with Missy using Chunk’s van, but Missy, unaware of the plan, is more concerned about the children’s safety. Instead, Chunk, Luna, and Sam take the van before driving off, leaving a couple of the survivors exposed. This leads to D getting shot in the leg. The survivors take D inside the RV where they are protected from its bulletproof armor. Missy, at the same time, is helping the kids get into Vanzilla while also fighting the Piranhas. Meanwhile, Sergei guns down the Piranhas chasing him. As the gunfire intensifies, Missy makes the decision to get Vanzilla away from the scene. Richard hops onto the driver’s seat, but just as he drives it away, Missy is shot in the shoulder. Lori goes into a panic state and freezes up. As the others run low on ammo, Lynn, Clyde, and Francisco decide to make a run for it. Roamers then appear from the other side of the street, leading Francisco to use his bat to protect the other two as they run to the RV. Lynn and Clyde make it to safety, but Francisco gets shot and is left wounded outside the RV. In a desperate attempt to save Francisco, Lynn runs out of the RV with her bow. But just as she makes eye contact with Francisco, John reluctantly shoots him in the head under Sherry’s orders. This snaps Lori out of her frozen state. The roamers, now coming out of Utica and towards the bridge, force the Piranhas to retreat. After the Piranhas retreat, the remaining survivors outside run to the RV. As David drives the RV away, the roamers consume Francisco’s body, leaving Lynn heartbroken.

Sherry laments the new problem she has now, in addition to George and the Barracudas. She plans to hunt them all down, except for Vonda. However, she is confused as to why Tim isn’t with Vonda. Nevertheless, Sherry intends to go to Albany to set up an ambush.

## Deaths

* Francisco
* Russ
* Margo (confirmed by Francisco)
* 11 unnamed Piranhas

## Trivia

* First appearance of George Cane.
* First appearance of Sherry Crowley.
* First appearance of Bruna.
* First appearance of Joan.
* First appearance of John.
* First appearance of Andrew.
* First appearance of Gus.
* First (and last) appearance of Russ.
* First mention of the Barracudas by name.
* Last appearance of Francisco.
* The end credits song is *Anchor* by Nova Amor.
* The title of the chapter, **"Hunted"**, refers to George, and later the main group, being targeted by the Piranhas.
* The title of Part 1, **"Forgive Me"**, refers to Lori asking forgiveness from Carol, as well as Francisco asking Lynn to forgive him.
* The title of Part 2, **"Cover"**, refers to the group members taking cover from gunfire from the Piranhas.
	+ One of the Piranhas states, "I could handle George. I'll give you *cover* fire."
* The title of Part 3, **"The Piranhas"**, refers to the new group the main group now have conflict with.
* The title of Part 4, **"Blood in the Water"**, refers to blood being shed over the Erie Canal, where the Utica Shootout occurs.
	+ Some Piranhas, including one that George shoots, have their blood mixing with the canal water.
	+ The title also alludes to the fact that, much like sharks, a piranha fish detects blood using their sense of smell and are attracted to it.
* The song sung by Tad to Carol is *Somewhere Over the Rainbow* by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.