Path of the Dead - Working Title

CHAPTER FIVE

"Ok, but be careful. There's no telling how bad the situation in here could actually be." Without another word, she joined up with the party of ten and headed out for the bus lot to seek shelter while they wait for wade to come back with his brothers. As they made their way to the bus lot, something didn't feel right to her.

She turned back to see what it was that was giving her this odd sensation of dread, only to find that it was Mr. Iwakuni Madame who was giving off the odd feeling. Chills crawled down her spine as memories began to enter her mind, remembering how much of a creep he was when she was around him, and talking with the other female staff, apparently she's the only one who gets this kind of attention from him. She forced a stiff smile and gave him a polite wave and as they got to the bus lot, she forced herself to talk to him, "Mr. Madame, it's so good to know that you made it out alive with the others. How are you holding up after all of this?"

"I'm doing quite well, all things considered. And please, there's no need for formalities. Simply calling me 'Iwa' will do just fine for me."

"Oh, I don't mind keeping the 'formalities' as you call it. Not to sound rude, but at least until things start to calm down, I'd like to keep our 'relationship' on a more professional manner if you don't mind."

"By all means, my Dear. Be as formal as you'd like. However, in regards to your...'relationship' with that Wade boy...I suggest you end it before it gets you into a world of hurt. Now I know that might sound like I'm threatening you, but it's not I or any of us here who are going to be the one's doing anything. You're 'friendship' with him is going to end up putting you in a world of hurt, and I don't wish to see something like that happen to anyone: Especially to a beautiful woman such as yourself."

Emma felt a disgusted chill shake her to her core as she did everything in her power to not physically shiver as he gently caressed her face with the back of his hand. She took a step back and made a gesture for him to go ahead of her onto the bus, "If you please, Mr. Madame, it'll be much safer on the bus until we can get out of here."

He inclined his head and made his way onto the bus, but as he did so, he whispered into her ear low enough for only her to hear, "Your belief in those boys will be your undoing, Emma. And when that day comes, I'll be there when it happens." He pulled away from her horrified, not wanting to believe that he had threatened her the way that he did. Feeling that he had broken her defense against him, he began to try to work deep into her mind with reassurance, "But I'll do everything within my power to make sure something like that will never happen to you. You have my word. Do you understand?"

There was silence between the two of them for several seconds, Crucial seconds that was allowing Wade to get closer to getting to the bus, "Emma...Do you understand?"

Emma couldn't believe what she had heard, but she knew what he was referring to: The brothers were very destructive and aggressive, and were quick to fight anyone who didn't agree with their views, and did have a record to their names.

Three counts of aggravated battery, four counts of assault, six counts of attempted murder, sixteen counts of Criminal possession of a weapon, thirty-two counts of Death threat, and forty-five counts of intimidation. And that's just Zach's criminal record.

Jacob has the smallest of the rap sheet with mainly fifty-five counts of perjury. With that said he also has a bit of a violent sheet, but not as bad as Zach's, but certainly nowhere near Wade's sheet.

Out of the three brothers, Wade has been the only one who had been charged with killing anyone, but because the evidence had been tampered and mixed jury's, reasons were clear what had happened, but since there was no evidence on the brother's for tampering or intimidating the jury, they were found innocent. And the people who Wade had killed: Their parents.

Apparently the father was an abusive drunk and mother was a bipolar who was an expert in emotional manipulation. Both also had connections to several mobs and worked for them and was constantly sabotaging all sides as a career. Or so the brother's say. But nothing was ever confirmed or denied.

To sum things up: The brother's weren't afraid of doing dirty work, and were quite used to betraying and being betrayed. So in turn, Emma's back was against the wall: Does she stay with the bus and risk being seen as a betrayer to the brothers, or does she stay with the brothers, and risk being betrayed by them when things get too heated for them to handle and they need a scapegoat.

"What will it be, Emma?"

Her entire body was shaking from fear and indecisiveness.

What do I do? No matter what path I take, it will only end in my blood being spilt for my decision.

Iwakuni sighed, "Time's up. I'll make the decision for you." Before she had a chance to say anything, he snatched her up and carried her into the bus and tossed her into a seat. He turned to the bus driver with a stone face, "Time is up. We need to move now before things get worse than they already are."

"What about Wade and the others?"

"There's no way they have made it. Given their talents, I'm sure they would survive longer than most, but they have taken far too long to meet up with us, so I can only assume that they have been defeated and we are on our own. As far as I see it, they gave their lives to ensure that we survive and continue to push through this and honor them by staying alive through this crisis. Now I know that wade and I have had a rather uneasy history, but I still commend him in his sacrifice and my heart hangs heavy knowing that he has fallen to such a grim fate, but I know he would want us to move ahead and live our lives to the fullest. Now, please...don't let his and his brothers' sacrifice go in vain. Please, let us move on."

The student driver, as well as the other students that were on the bus, even a small portion of Emma, was moved by the speech that Iwakuni had just given and had tears streaking some of their faces. The driver wiped some of the tears from his face and started up the engine and began driving the bus out of the bus lot when suddenly they saw what looked like Wade coming from around the corner and from the speech that they had just heard from Mr. Madame, they immediately assumed that he was a zombie and began to freak out and scream. The driver swerved out of the way of the "Zombie" and picked up speed, putting as much distance as he could from Wade as fast as he could.

Iwakuni looked out one of the windows that were installed in the back emergency door and had a deceptive smile across his face from ear to ear, and a venomous look in his eyes, but had it concealed so the students around him couldn't see his true expression on his face.

I win, Wade....again. And this time, I have a prize.