Michael Hall

"*I don't deserve to be here. I've come to terms with that. I've had a lot of time to reflect on who I am, and who I've been. When I spoke to you at the clinic on the way here, about my sons... it really would've been different if I didn't think I had to kill everyone we encountered to protect us. Maybe Benjamin would've gotten his final moments with his little girl if I hadn't slowed Clyde down either while he was doing the right thing. And... you'd still have your best friend.*"
—Michael to Randall Forster[src]

Michael Hall is a supporting character and a former antagonist, as well as a survivor of the outbreak in Route to Paradise. At the beginning of the outbreak, Michael was at Willamette Parkview Mall with his two sons, Roger and Dexter. In an effort to protect his family, Michael and his sons took to killing everyone else on sight, which would eventually lead to Dexter's death at the hands of the mall's local survivors. Desiring revenge, Michael and Roger remain in the mall, until Roger is killed by the ruthless Edward Remar, forcing Michael to abandon the mall.

After spending a couple of weeks by himself recovering from the loss of his children, Michael would begin working with Damerae Badrick and his gang, The Rastas. While working for them, Michael helps to stop a train heist led by the mall survivors, killing Clayton Freeman in the process. But later on, after Michael is stabbed in the chest while trying to stop Clyde Rollins from escaping, and The Rastas go to war, Michael decides that he's had enough, and deserts The Rastas.

Over the next few days, Michael seeks shelter at an old slaughterhouse deep in the woods, until he is eventually discovered by Jim Butterman. After killing the Rastas chasing after Jim, Michael helps Jim get back to his feet, and learns that he is from the old mall group. At first, Michael has no interest in getting back involved with all of that, but after Jim leaves, Michael secretly follows him, leading to Michael once again saving Jim and Randall Forster's lives. However, Randall immediately threatens to kill Michael once he recognizes him as the man who killed his best friend, Clayton. Although reluctant, Randall decides to work with Michael for the sake of Jim.

Soon after, Jim would be captured by Derrick Williams and brought back to Badrick, leaving Michael and Randall to seek shelter elsewhere in Willamette. During their short time together, Michael begins to open up to Randall, realizing his previous mistakes and apologizing for them. Eventually, the pair of them link up with another small band of survivors led by Edward at Willamette High School. Although Edward is hesitant, he allows Michael to stay, taking Randall's word that he had changed for the better. It's here that Michael's condition begins to worsen as a result of a gunshot wound he'd taken from Derrick days earlier. In his last days, Michael is finally able to make peace with Randall, as well as Clyde. The school eventually comes under attack from Rastas, and because of Michael's poor condition, he stays behind to fend them off, long enough for his companions to escape.

## **Pre-Apocalypse**

Before the apocalypse, Michael worked as a farmer alongside his wife and two sons. At some point, his wife would die of unknown causes.

## **Post-Apocalypse**

At the start of the outbreak, Michael, in an effort to protect his family, took to killing everyone he encountered in Willamette Mall. It is known that Michael and his sons killed at least a few people, including Robert Morgan's sister and two friends.

### **Season 1**

#### **"An Unusual Team"**

Somewhere in the entrance plaza, Michael fires a single shot from his sniper rifle hitting Quentin Richards in the back of the head, killing him instantly.

#### **"Buddy"**

As Quentin's friends scramble for cover, Michael fires another shot, but misses. He turns to his two sons and calls them over, telling both of them to keep the survivors pinned. Michael lets his two sons do the work while he watches. After wounding another one of the survivors, Michael watches them race out of the entrance plaza and into the security room. He approaches his boys and says that their mother would be proud, this is their territory and they must protect it.

Not long later, the security room survivors come dashing out in an attempt to fight off the snipers. Michael immediately finds an exposed arm belonging to Helen Cullen and takes the shot, wounding her. Michael and his sons continue putting up a fight until it becomes clear that they're heavily outnumbered. Michael calls for his sons to follow him, however Dexter stays behind.

#### **"Guardian Angel"**

In the wonderland plaza, Michael fires a shot from his sniper, cutting off a group of the security room survivors. His son Roger also fires a shot hitting Robert Morgan in the chest. After firing a few more shots and not hitting anything, Michael and Roger rush off to spare the ammo.

#### **"The Last Laugh"**

Hidden in the food court, Michael and Roger once again open fire on a small group of the security room survivors. Michael remains silent while his son yells out taunts at Edward Remar and fires rounds near him. Jacob Feldman starts firing up at them with a shotgun, and Michael tells his son to let him let him shoot so they can avenge Dexter once he's depleted his ammo. Once Jacob does run out of ammunition, Michael and Roger get ready to go down and finish them, but their plan is suddenly stopped when Edward jumps out at Roger and holds him at knife point. Edward demands Michael to drop his gun, but Michael instead tells him to let go of his son, or he'll kill him. Wanting to see how that plays out, Edward sticks his knife into Roger's chest and then throws the knife at Michael, striking him in the shoulder. Edward charges him, but Michael kicks him back. Michael looks down at his son, and believing him to be already dead, makes a run for it out of the food court.

### **Season 2**

#### **"Partners in Crime"**

Stepping out onto the balcony of the town hall, Michael looks at Damerae Badrick and asks him what he wants him to do. Badrick, without looking at him, says that he needs patience. He continues by saying that the bad blood between him and Edward should be resolved. Michael agrees with his boss that everything Edward did is in the past, adding that he has some value to them. Badrick turns to him and orders him to go to Edward's factory and settle the feud between them. He tells him that both he and Edward were found beaten and alone, yet both of them are now his lieutenants. Michael acknowledges his orders, and before he leaves, asks about the train coming into town soon. Michael is told by Badrick to travel to the train station to await the train's arrival once he's met with Edward. Michael nods and leaves.

At the factory, Michael walks up a set of stairs where he meets Edward. Ed looks over in shock and asks him what he's doing here. Michael explains to him that both and he are now lieutenants and will be working together - but not as friends. Edward accepts those terms, but then complicates things when he calls his deceased sons psychotic. Michael does his best to move past Edward's comment, and begins talking about the mall survivors and how Badrick wants them dead. He asks if his loyalties and set in place. Edward responds by saying that he Badrick trusts him enough to run an outpost. Michael goes on to comment on Edward's new leg brace, saying that if it got removed it would either be a chore or a dream to walk again. Angry, Edward replies with a rude remark about Michael's son, Roger, and how he was hanging from the ceiling of the food court for a while. Michael grabs his collar, but lets go when a Rasta walks over. The two of them bicker at each other for a moment longer before Michael informs Edward about the train and leaves.

At the train station, an urgent radio call Badrick informing him about the train being hijacked, makes Michael gather up all his men and speed off to stop the hijacking.

Pulling up along the train, Michael along with his Rastas begin jumping on the train. from either side. On board the train, Michael, seeing a clear shot on Randall Forster, aims and prepares to shoot. However, Clayton Freeman pushes Forster aside as Michael shoots, and Freeman goes down, dead. Michael smirks, getting himself back into cover.

#### **"Promise"**

Having safely made it off the train once it came to a stop at the station, Michael walks up to Benjamin Taylor, who scared off the hijackers, to thank him for his work. Michael asks about his alliance with Badrick and The Rastas', to which Taylor says that it isn't an alliance, it was manipulation and blackmail in order to get his daughter back. Michael agrees to back Benjamin up in getting his daughter back, having known what children mean to someone. Michael then gets into his car and escorts Taylor and his army to town hall.

At town hall, Benjamin confronts Badrick to tell him that the deed was done. Michael goes through with what he stated earlier and backs him up. However, Badrick then asks if they killed all of the robbers. Michael coldly says that most of them got away. Refusing to return his daughter, Benjamin and his army aim their guns up, but stop when Badrick threatens Sarah Taylor's life by holding a knife to her. His army speeds away.

Later, Michael approaches Badrick and questions what should be done with Mr. Taylor. Badrick states that his usefulness has run out. Soon after, Badrick assigns Michael his next task: wipe out the criminals holding out at a warehouse across town. Michael says he'll get on it when he can before walking out.

Michael slowly approaches Clyde Rollins who he sees helping Sarah escape. After Clyde assertively admits that he's helping her escape, Michael says that Badrick won't be happy about this. Clyde attempts to persuade Michael to let him go by mentioning his two dead sons, but Michael shoots back by saying that it was Clyde's friend, Edward, who got both of them killed; he never got to say goodbye. He finishes by demanding Clyde put the girl back before he kills him. It seems that Michael has convinced him after Clyde puts the girl back down, but suddenly a knife is drawn by Clyde and Michael is stabbed in the chest. Michael yells for help as he collapses. Clyde grabs the girl and runs. When some Rastas' come to Michael's aid, he commands them to go after them and bring the girl back alive.

#### **"Warzone"**

With a bandage over his wound, Michael approaches Da'Jonte Woodward, a Rasta. He informs Da'Jonte that Benjamin Taylor will likely be arriving at the town hall shortly to start a war - he got his daughter back, the one thing that was preventing him from fighting The Rastas'. Before he leaves, he tells Da'Jonte to pick the right side once the fighting starts - their side. Walking down the stairs, Michael greets a returning Badrick. Furious, Badrick demands to know where the girl is, and Michael admits that she escaped with Clyde. Badrick yells in anger and orders Michael to get a Rasta at every window in preparation for Taylor's certain attack.

Not long later, Benjamin's army pulls up and the fighting immediately begins. It was a massacre, men dropping drop every second. Things escalate quickly as Taylor's army uses their RPG's to blow open the entrance to the town hall. As Taylor's men swarm the building, Michael yells for Da'Jonte to follow him out. However, when Benjamin himself goes to shoot at Da'Jonte, Michael pushes him out of a window to save his life. He then makes a run for it out onto the streets.

On the streets, Michael meets up with Badrick who orders him to get to the factory. Michael and Badrick hop into a car and speed away.

At the factory, Michael and Badrick enter to find Jackson Foxx beating the living hell out Edward for betraying The Rastas'. Michael says that he wants to see Edward die a slow and painful death for what he did to his sons. Before that can happen, Benjamin's army catches up with them and bursts into the factory, unleashing chaos. Michael makes a dash for cover while opening fire at the enemies. After some time, Michael lunges out at Edward and begins choking him, telling him that he's going to join his sons in the grave. As he's being choked, Edward manages to bite onto Michael's arm and tear a chunk out of it. Michael falls back yelling as blood spurts out. Edward jumps up and makes his escape. Michael makes it to cover and soon escapes the factory.

#### **"Fractured Beyond Repair"**

Sitting in a room at a hotel, Michael speaks to Jackson about the ongoing war in Willamette. Jackson, in an angry tone asks where Badrick is. Michael, however, does not care one bit, stating that he is done being Badrick's pawn. Jackson questions Michael, asking him if he thinks he's just going to walk out of here without any consequences. Michael suggests that Jackson should do the same, before grabbing his sniper rifle and standing up. It looks as if both men are about to engage in a fight until suddenly a horde of zombies appears out in the parking lot and a hidden sniper shoots Jackson in the arm through a window. Michael takes the chance to flee, stabbing a Rasta in the neck and pushing another one aside to escape.

### **Season 3**

#### **"State of Mind"**

Michael shoots a Rasta in the head, saving Jim Butterman from certain death. He approaches the old man and beckons him over to a slaughterhouse hidden in the woods. Jim gets up and tries to thank Michael, but he replies telling Jim not to thank him yet. Once in the slaughterhouse, Michael closes the doors.

A while later, Michael brings Jim a cup of water, apologizing for not having prepared a better drink, though Jim is appreciative anyway. After taking his seat, Michael gets right to the point, asking Jim why that man was tracking him. Jim struggles to speak as he explains that he was from a vile gang. Michael acknowledges Jim with a nod before saying that he knows who they are and he's not friendly with them either. He then introduces himself and offers a handshake. Jim shakes his hand and then goes on to elucidate that he was from Willamette Mall. Michael cuts Jim off to say that he and him are apart of the same story, they just haven't met yet. Jim looks on confused. Michael then explains to him his story of his sons and working for The Rastas'. Before he gets up and walks off, he tells Jim to get some rest and think over what he plans to do next.

#### **"Reunion"**

Returning from a hunting trip, Michael lays down a deer carcass on a table nearby Jim. He looks over and tells Jim that they'll be eating good tonight, proud of himself. Jim responds back by asking Hall why he's helping him even though he had conflict with Jim's group. He finishes by asking if it's really in Michael's character to do this. Michael begins cutting into the carcass as he tells Jim that he and his boys just wanted the mall to themselves which is why they trusted nobody. Jim furthers his questioning by asking why he never bothered to help anyone, not even women or children. Michael admits that what he did wrong, but he's changed now, saving Jim's life and all. Jim goes silent as Michael moves on to ask where Jim is going to go next. Jim says that he needs to get back to his group, and offers Michael to accompany him. However, Michael can't go back; people who know Michael from Jim's group wouldn't accept him. Jim stands, concluding that he can't just sit around not knowing the status of his group. Stunned, Michael watches the old man leave.

Unbeknownst to Jim, Michael follows Jim from a distance and eventually ends up saving the man's life when he runs into trouble with a herd of zombies after discovering some of friends. After clearing out many of the zombies and eventually retreating, Michael emerges out to show himself to Jim and Randall Forster. Randall immediately recognizes the man who killed his best friend, and charges at Michael, punching and slamming him, and beginning to strangle him. Jim yells for Randall to get off Michael, and Randall reluctantly does. As Randall steps away with hatred in his eyes, Jim approaches Michael and asks if he followed him. Michael admits that Jim's words got the better of him, and he wants to redeem himself for all the things he's done, starting with this. Randall curses at and call's Michael a worker for The Rastas', though Michael swears he left them and now hates them just as much as they do. Jim pleads with Randall to let Michael have a chance to prove himself, and an indisposed Randall allows him to join them in their journey to Willamette High School.

#### **"The Mist"**

Along their way to the school, Michael leads Jim and Randall down into the sewers to take shelter during an extreme blizzard. Randall bickers with Michael over staying in the sewers until Jim stops them. They continue walking further into the sewer as Michael overhears Randall and Jim discussing Clayton's death. Randall then looks over to Michael and says that he better not be manipulating Jim. Michael promises that he's no longer a Rasta loyalist.

Once the blizzard passes, Michael climbs back out of the sewers and leads the other two by a quarry on the outskirts of town to avoid The Rastas'.

At the quarry, Michael quickly motions for his companions to get down. Ahead of them, Michael could see Badrick hassling a man he didn't recognize. Jim points out that the man is Dean Howards, someone from their group, and that they need to help him. Michael aims his sniper and attempts to get a clear shot, but is unable. A zombie stumbles up behind the three and Jim is forced to kill it, it's corpse hitting the ground and giving away their position. Michael gets up and runs off as one of Badrick's henchmen pursue them.

#### **"Red Asphalt"**

Hiding behind a tree, Michael confirms to Randall that he has two shots left in his sniper. A zombie tackles Michael from the side, and Randall saves him. Michael kills another zombie as it approaches them, telling Randall that they had no choice but to run this way back towards the horde. Suddenly, as they're fighting more zombies, Derrick Williams, Badrick's henchmen, finds a clear shot on Jim's leg. Michael runs over to Jim and helps the old man to his feet. Another shot whizzes by Michael, alarming him. As he's helping Jim get away, a zombie grabs onto Michael and pushes him aside. He yells for Jim to just go and get away. As he's holding off the zombie, two more shots are fired and one of them hits Michael in the shoulder, causing him to drop his sniper. Randall rushes over to assist Michael, unaware that Derrick had just grabbed Jim and began dragging him back away from the horde. Randall is forced to leave Jim, escorting Michael away from the horde.

### **Season 4**

#### **"The Greater Good"**

Escaping from the horde into a nearby town, Michael bandages his wound with some rags and takes shelter inside a laundromat with Randall. Still not friendly with Michael, Randall says that they *need* to go back and save Jim. Michael tells him that it would be suicide trying to rescue the old man. The two go back and forth, but in the end Michael can't force Randall to stay put, and so he lets him go back to the quarry, asking Randall to pick up his sniper if he were to find it. Randall bitterly says that he won't be touching the weapon that killed his best friend.

By the time Randall returns back to the laundromat, Michael is laying on a dumpster in the back-alley, surrounded by zombies. Standing up in pain, Michael spots Randall across the street from afar. Michael notices him carrying the sniper rifle and believes that he's about to be left behind. However, Randall fires one shot from the rifle into the air, distracting the horde over to him. Michael takes the chance to hop off the dumpster and squeeze past a zombie, emerging out of the alley. Suddenly, a different zombie pushes Michael into the wall, it's hand pushing into Michael's wound. He yells out in pain until Randall shoots the zombie off of him with the sniper. Randall rushes over and assists Michael down into the sewer.

In the sewer, Michael listens to Randall go on about missing the mall, and when he's finished, Michael thanks him for saving his life. Though he still won't forgive what Michael did to Clayton, Randall tells Michael that he's an *alright* man. The two of them then joke about Michael's sniper as they traverse through the sewers looking for an exit.

#### **"Gunpoint"**

Emerging out onto the street, Randall comments on how bad Michael looks. Holding a blood-soaked rag against his wound, he replies saying that his wound has festered and could be infected. Randall points out a nearby clinic, saying that they get stop there and then head to the school.

Randall searches the clinic as Michael stands by, looking around. As he's searching, Randall strikes up a conversation by asking Michael about his wife. Michael tells him that his wife died before the outbreak; he's glad she didn't live to see all of this. Michael continues saying that his sons blood is on his hands as much as the people who killed them - they were only staying loyal to their father. He wonders if they would still be alive if he hadn't wanted to kill everyone on sight. Randall looks at him and says that maybe they would, but that Badrick would probably get them too. Michael goes quiet not knowing what to say. As Randall finishes rummaging through the cabinets, he finds a box of opened bandages. He tosses them to Michael and he catches them, patching himself up.

Having left the clinic and now approaching the school, Randall and Michael are surprised when they find survivors outside the school. Randall rushes forward to reunite will all of them while Michael remains slowly stumbling down the road. When he does catch up to Randall, he overhears Dean Howards sorrowfully informing Randall that Jim didn't make it. Michael looks over at Clyde Rollins stepping forward, saying that he knows Michael; he was the one who stopped him when he was saving Sarah. Michael nods in agreement, confirming it was him. Randall tells Clyde that Michael has changed - he saved Jim and himself multiple times. Then, one more survivor steps outside: Edward Remar. Edward locks eyes with Michael and starts yelling out to the others that Michael is working for Badrick. Clyde and Dean calm Edward down by telling him that Michael has changed. Edward calms down and then heads inside with everyone else to catch up.

Inside the library, Michael goes to lay on a couch and get some rest.

#### **"Consequence"**

Still lying on the couch, Michael is suddenly awoken by Randall to check on him. After Randall comments on how pale and bad Michael is looking, Michael tells him that he's been dreaming about his family a lot. He says that if he hadn't tried to kill everyone he encountered, things would be really different, if he didn't stop Clyde, Sarah might've gotten to spend her last moments with her father, and Randall would still have his best friend. Michael sees Randall clench his fist, but he releases it and instead tells Michael that he's changed, he's not the same man, and if it weren't for him, Randall would be dead. Michael nods and softly tells Randall that his words mean a lot to him. He reveals to Randall that he's been longing to see his wife and sons again. Randall stands up and tells Michael to get some rest before exiting.

Later on, Michael notices Clyde reading a book, and asks what it is he's reading. Clyde awkwardly says that it's a children's book with pictures in it, just to take his mind off things. The conversation shifts to Clyde apologizing for stabbing Michael all that time ago. Michael tells Clyde that he deserved it. He then asks Clyde to help him up - he could use from fresh air. Clyde walks over and helps Michael up, then the two of them head outside.

Outside, Michael notices a recently dug grave, and Clyde confirms his suspicion that it was Jim's. Michael kneels down and apologizes for not being there to help Jim. Then, Claire Noble, Wilbur Wright, Solomon Reed, and Dean come sprinting out in a panic, yelling at the two of them to get inside. Michael, knowing that they had all just went to attack The Rastas', goes inside without question.

In the foyer, Edward, Benjamin, and Randall rejoin the rest of them, Benjamin informing everyone that Mike Simpson didn't make it. Michael stays quiet as the others frantically come up with some sort of plan. They ultimately decide that they need to be ready to burn down the school if The Rastas' attack them back. As some of the others head into the basement to find a way to torch the place, Michael stays upstairs.

Eventually, Michael is the one to spot the approaching Rastas'. He ducks down into cover, the others doing the same. The Rastas' light up the building, shattering windows and littering walls with bullet holes. Then, it all goes quiet... until a grenade is thrown through one of the windows landing beside Wilbur and completely obliterating the man. Randall helps Michael up to his feet and they escape with the others towards the back door. However, when a group of Rastas' pour in through the front entrance, the two of them are forced into the cover. Michael, holding a pistol, tells Randall to go, and that he'd hold them off as long as he could. Randall tells him that he doesn't need to do it, but Michael insists. Randall thanks him. "No. Thank you." Michael replies, nodding to Randall. Michael watches Randall run out of the building, then stands up and opens fire on a trio of Rastas'. He takes down two of them with headshots, but it hit in the chest by the third. Michael collapses and drops his gun. The third Rasta approaches, however, Michael reaches for the pistol and grabs it, killing the last Rasta. By now, the fire that had been started was beginning to engulf the school. Michael stands up one last time, aiming his pistol and shooting one more Rasta, before absorbing their bullets and falling to the floor, dead.

## **Death**

Killed By
* The Rastas'
* Himself *(Sacrifice)*

Wounded and slowing the group down, a changed Michael stays behind to fend off The Rastas' for as long as he can, giving his companions the chance to escape. He takes down five Rastas' before he is shot to death.

## **Killed Victims**

* Quentin Richards
* Clayton Freeman
* Seven Rastas
* Possibly one or more soldiers from Benjamin Taylor's militia
* Several unnamed survivors in Willamette Mall
* Numerous counts of zombies

## **Appearances**

Any episode with a checkmark over it signifies Michael Hall appearing in any way.