The Collapse of Mankind

Chapter Six, TCOM Part II

Cisco: Fuck! Okay, come on. Everyone get out.

The group all began escorting out of the van. Cisco aggressively slammed the door of the vehicle and looked underneath it.

Cisco: Gooddamn it. Infected trapped underneath the van. Everybody, keep lookout.

The dead but still somehow alive creature groaned, reaching out towards Cisco, trying to grab any part of his body to sink it's teeth into.

Nova: We'll deal with this now, then.

The group all stood outside of the van, staring at Nova in confusion.

Alexis: Deal with what? What the fuck is going on?
Nova: Ask Ellie.

Alexis turned to look at Ellie.

Alexis: Ellie?

Ellie sighed, looking at Alexis with sad eyes.

Ellie: Nova... thinks someone is stealing from the group and giving the supplies to what's left of Carter's group.
Nova: Think? I KNOW someone is stealing from this group.
Ellie: She thinks it's you, Alex.
Alexis: Me? Why the hell would I steal from this group? And why didn't you tell me about this, Ellie?
Ellie: I'm sorry.
Nova: Why wouldn't you steal? You're siding with Carter's group! You went with him after you split up from our old group. Yes?

Alexis' anger increased. Her fists clenched.

Alexis: How do you know that?
Nova: I heard you speaking to Ellie last night in the living room about how you went with him.
Alexis: Yeah. Because Hailey fucking stabbed me. He offered me medical help. I needed it. So I took it.

Sophia stood in the doorway of the van, watching the situation play out.

Sophia: Stop fighting!
Nova: Shut it, Soph.
Ellie: Don't fucking talk to her like that.
Emmyn: Come on guys. This is ridiculous. Nobody is stealing!
Nova: Was it you, Emmyn?

Emmyn walked back a little, with fear that Nova was about to hurt him.

Emmyn: N-no!
Nova: If neither of you admit it was you, we're kicking you both out!

Noises of Cisco grunting, trying to get the infected out from underneath the van were the only things that could be heard other than the group shouting at one another.

Ellie: You can't kick either of them out!
Nova: You're right, Ellie. We shouldn't just kick them out. We should see what everybody thinks.
Emmyn: I think you should chill out!
Alexis: I'm not gonna take this. You can push Em around but you can't push me around.

Jessica stood there, not saying a word. She was just watching, feeling useless and terrified.

Ellie: There's no way it was Alex. It was somebody else. It could have even been someone sneaking into our camp.
Nova: That's ridiculous. That's what you think?
Ellie: Yes.
Nova: Okay, fine then. Cisco?

Cisco stopped doing what he was doing for a second to reply to Nova.

Cisco: I don't know. Fuck! Just stop, would you?

Cisco continued trying to remove the dead from underneath the vehicle.

Nova: Well your vote counts for you and Sophia!
Emmyn: We don't need all these votes! What do I have to do for you to trust me? I'll do anything! I... I'll stay on watch every day.
Nova: The hell, you will.
Emmyn: I'll do supply runs whenever you need me to. Even on my own. I'll get food, water, medicine... anything. Just please trust me!
Ellie: You're making it worse on yourself.
Emmyn: I just don't wanna be on my own!
Nova: You should have thought of that!