Say Goodbye to America/Issue 25

Stick to Your Guns
Austin: Well that’s just great. We’re split. There’s no telling where the others might be. You didn’t happen to see where they ran off to, did you?

His three companions, Eddie, Jed and Ted all shake their heads.

Austin: Great. How could a herd just sneak up on us like that? How many did we lose?

Eddie: Saw big Erik take one and go down. Must have been shot the way fell to the ground

Austin: >surprised< Shot? You’re saying one of our own shot Erik? Dammit! I thought I could trust them all

Jed: I’m surprised. Everyone loved Erik. Must’ve been an accident

Austin: No. That was no accident. Some psychopath wanted Erik dead

Ted: Well, what are the chances he’s here with us? Slim to none

Austin: >looks towards Ted< Oh?

Ted: Believe me. If I shot Erik with malicious intent, you’d all be dead too

''A man wakes up in the middle of the woods beneath a tree. He has heard the shots. He heard the screams. He heard the footsteps. He raises his gun as three figures approach. The figures see him and the one in front raises his in response''

Jax: Woah, woah, woah. Keep cool man. You put yours down, I’ll put mine down

''The figure wets his top lip and applies slight pressure to his left shoulder. He winces with a little pain''

“Bullet went through. Not long ago”

Vincent walks towards the man with and confused look on his face

Vincent: Chad? … Chad Montgomery?

The man nods his head

Vincent: You fought for Scott. So did we. It’s me. Vincent

Chad nods his head

Vincent:  Do you know what happened to anyone else?

Chad: Stephanie, Ryan… gone. Steven… he’s gone too. And I found Calloway. He didn’t make it. Biters got him

Vincent: We though we lost you at the massacre in the woods. Sophie and Tobias told us about it

Chad: Aye. I was there

Jonathan: How’d you get out? There were stories told, I thought no one else survived

Chad: I was shot in the arm. Corey helped me up, at the price of his own life. I made my way into the woods. I couldn’t go back home. I didn’t want to go back to Scott. I left it all behind. I found Calloway. He didn’t last long. And I’ve been on my own since. And I’m not going back to Scott

Vincent: Scott’s dead. We’re with Austin now. We were hunting Scott’s killers and got separated. As far as we know, we’re it

Two biters appear far behind the four

Jax: Okay Jonathan, take them out. Like I told you

Jonathan: I missed last time

Jax: Because you didn’t remember what I told you. And Erik’s dead because of it. Now make his death mean something and kill those two

Jonathan places his gun on his left shoulder and closes his left eye

PKOW

PKOW

He takes out both biters

Joel: Sun’s setting. We’re heading west. If we keep moving, we should reach town before the sun rises tomorrow morning.

''He looks back at his four companions, who are out of breath. Haley is bent over with her hands on her knees''

Joel: >sighs< Or… we could walk another mile in the woods and rest until tomorrow morning

Amanda gives him a thumbs up in approval

Joel: >breathes in< Fine. Let’s move. I’ll keep first watch tonight. Whitney, you’ve got second

---

Kurt: Todd, man! You mind slowing down at some point?

Todd looks back at Kurt, looks to the sky, then back at Kurt

Todd: Hmm… no. Sun’s setting. We move forward, then west. We’ll reach town by morning. Whoever’s smart will head for town as well. We’ll re-group with the rest

Zachary: I don’t think that’s a good idea. You remember what Lucie said about her family, right? I don’t trust Austin. If we see him again, … I don’t think he should keep charge

Vienna: Wait, what?

Todd: Who do you think should lead, then? I don’t like Austin or Vincent, but they have done a good job at leading us

Vienna: Hold on a minu---

Zachary: You could lead. Or Joel. A good person who is at the same time a damn fine leader

Vienna: Could I get a word---

Todd: I wouldn’t want to lead a group that large. This group of us five is all I’m capable of leading. And part of me thinks not all of us will make it to town. I just have an eerie feeling

Vienna: Hold the fuck up!

The two men stare at her in shock

Vienna:  What did Lucie say about her family? Why don’t you trust Austin and Vincent? And what the fuck, Todd?

Zachary: Lucie said that Scott and Austin kidnapped and killed her family. She doesn’t trust him and was forced to join us. It was compelling enough. She told us after Joel called some meeting at the docks. We shouldn’t trust them

Trenton: That was then. This is now. Scott is dead. He ruled with fear. Austin rules with respect.

Zachary:  Then what happened to Joe? Peter? David, Nancy, Hallie? Where are they? Austin said they found the guys that killed Scott. And they never returned

Trenton:  Maybe we’ll see them. Maybe they’re in town. I don’t know. Don’t lose faith. I believe they’re alive

Vienna: Can we go back to Todd saying he didn’t think we’d all make it?

The group looks at Todd

Todd: I just have some sort of eerie feeling we won’t all make it to town. Which means, we need to move as fast as we can

Carter, Izzy and Alicia have reached the loading docks from earlier that day

Carter: Did we lose Lucie again?

Izzy: She went with Joel. That’s all I saw

Alicia: They went west. We’re southeast. We’re gonna have to loop around in order to find them. If we can. They’re several miles ahead of us. That’ll take hours to catch up, even if they rest

Carter: And we can’t stay here.

Izzy: Town is west. I’m guessing they’re heading that way

Carter: Yes, but to the west are all the biters that just came down upon us. I’m not going that way yet. I say, we head south, then west, until we’re out of reach of the biters. I’m low on ammo. I’ve got a mag in my back pocket, and however many are in right now. My guess is there’s only seven

He checks his gun for ammo

Carter: Scratch that. I’ve got six in here

Alicia: Then we better move fast and keep to melee only. Or as best we can

Jed: So… Eddie. I guess now would be a good time to formally invite you to the group. How did Austin find you anyway?

Eddie:  We were on the road, Haley, Whitney and I. We had a small amount of food, one gun for each of us, little ammo and six knives. Austin, Ted and Vincent were walking in the same direction, said they were part of a bigger group and asked if we wanted to join. I said yes. On our way back from the docks, Erik was the first to talk to me. Seemed like a nice guy. I’m sorry he’s dead, I wished I knew him better

Austin: He was a nice guy. And whoever killed him is gonna pay

Jed: I’m sure it was an accident. Not everyone in the group is a good shot. Might have misfired and hit him.

Ted: I don’t know about that. If you’re not a good shot and he’s having trouble, get closer, or find someone who is a good shot. Trying to save him yourself is not the best choice

Eddie: Where are we headed, Austin?

Austin: South

Eddie: What’s south?

Austin: I don’t know. But we’ll find out

Chad: So where are the others? Dead? Heard the shots and the screams

Jax: Some are dead. Big Erik. Couple of others. Austin sent Joe and Peter and a few others. They didn’t come back. Probably dead

Vincent: We don’t know that, Jax

Jax: It’s the most likely explanation. They’d be back by now if they were alive

Jonathan: They could have been captured. Used for bait if they gave up our location

Jax: That’s worse. Subjected to torture. Those people are no good. They killed Scott

Chad:  I know who you’re talking about. I’ve seen them. Killed some. They’re crazy

Jonathan: So where are we headed, Vincent?

Vincent: We’re northeast. As far as I know, there’s nothing here for miles. We should head west. I believe that town’s that way. If anyone’s alive, they’re gonna head for town. Care to join us, Chad?

Chad: I’ve been alone for a while. I could use the company now

Brett, Clea, Julio and Adelaide walk out onto the street when suddenly a man gets out of a heavily armored Jeep, pointing a rocket launcher at the group

“Put down your guns”

Brett: I’d rather stick to them

“That’s my property you’ve got. I found her. I took her in”

Clea: People are not property

“That was the old law. Those rules are gone. My rules are in play now”

Brett: You’re Burt aren’t you? Adelaide told me about you. What kind of man you are

Burt:  Don’t use a threatening tone against a man with a rocket launcher. A loaded rocket launcher

Julio: Where the hell did you get that?

Burt: I’m not gonna tell you. It won’t matter. If you don’t give me the girl, I’ll kill you with it. If you do, I will not let you know where I got it because you’ll get one and take her back. I’m a smart man, I’ve figured shit out. Now just give me the girl, and I’ll leave

''Johnno and Kelly walk out of the supermarket nearby and see Burt holding the other four captive. Kelly gasps and Burt snaps towards her''

Burt: Put your guns down and get over here with these four now!

The pair follow his orders and he turns towards Julio

Burt: Any other surprises?

Julio:  Yes. In the shoe store, a...and the pharmacy. And maybe the clothing store

Burt:  Seriously? How many fucking people do you bring on a supply run? Do you have a massive group? What the fuck?

''Isaac hears the commotion and heads outside, soon joined by Rose and Griffith. They are met with the same hospitality as Johnno and Kelly. They put down their weapons and join the six on the ground. Savannah, hearing the commotion, heads outside and ducks behind a car. She sees her friends knelt down in front of Burt and takes the safety off her pistol''

Burt: There’s a fuck ton of you. I want all of your shit, including the girl. Then you may leave. And I won’t kill you. That’s it. That’s all I want

Savannah aims at the big man with the launcher and fires

PKOW

''It misses and hits the Jeep. Burt turns towards the direction of the sound and fires the launcher at the car, which explodes. Brett jumps at the large man and tackles him to the ground, punching the man repeatedly. Burt grabs the smaller, blond man and throws him aside. Brett rolls over once and lies face down. Burt stands up and is immediately shot once in the stomach. Then twice in the chest. He flops to the ground, where he is shot in the head. The eight kneeling on the ground look in the direction of the shooter. Sophie stands looking aimlessly with her gun pointed down at an angle, with Sawyer and Snow standing behind her. Sophie breathes heavily. Isaac stands up and runs towards his daughter. Johnno holds Kelly tightly, Clea and Adelaide run towards Brett and Griffith starts eating his energy bar''

Kelly: Wait, Johnno, wait. … Savannah!

''The pair run towards the recently exploded car. Kelly finds Savannah, launched a few feet from the car, dead.''

Johnno: Holy shit

''Johnno holds Kelly closer as the girl begins to cry. Sophie, Rose, Isaac, Sawyer and Snow run up to the couple and look upon Savannah’s corpse.''

Isaac:  Griffith, could I get a hand?

Griffith: Yeah

''He moves to help Isaac lift Savannah’s body while Sawyer makes sure everyone makes some room to move her. Sophie gathers her things and heads towards her car''

Kelly: Wait! Is she… is she gonna turn?

''Isaac and Griffith lower her body back down to the ground. Neither man looks willing to put the woman down. They look to Johnno, Kelly and Rose, who look too afraid''

Julio: I’ll do it. Just … don’t look. I know you won’t want to see it

''He takes out his knife and kneels in front of the woman. He takes a deep breath in, raises his knife up with both hands, exhales and stabs Savannah in the head. Isaac and Griffith, now aided by Julio, pick her up and place her in the back to Isaac’s F250. Snow runs out with a bed sheet and places it on Savannah’s corpse. Sawyer gets in the back and tucks the sheet under the woman so it doesn’t fly away''

Isaac: I’m ready to head home. Ready to bury her

''Clea and Adelaide kneel down at Brett’s side. He rolls over onto his back and begins to slowly sit up. He places his open hand on his forehead and slowly moves down his face until his fingers fall off his chin. He groans a little and is taken aback when Adelaide hugs him and gives him a kiss on the cheek''

Adelaide: Thank you, Brett

Brett: It was no big deal. I had the opportunity to take him down and I did. I just overestimated my chances is all. I’m ready to head home. It’s been a long freaking day, and I need rest. And maybe to check my ribs

''He stands up and heads toward his car with Adelaide and Clea next to him. Rufus and Arianna come out of the shoe store. ''

Rufus: The fuck happened out here?

Rose: Long story. We’re heading home

Rufus looks to Arianna and the pair walk towards Rose’s sedan

Rose:  Oh, and no sex in my car. It’s dirty enough as it is

Arianna:  What?

Rose:  Your hair is all messed up and Rufus’s shirt is on backwards

Rufus looks down

Rufus:  … It’s a new trend I started

Rose gives him a look

Rufus:  Okay fine. You caught us.

Rose:  Oh, I don’t care about that. Just don’t have sex in my car

Kurt: Fuck. My flashlight died. Todd, I can’t see well

Todd: Shh. Keep your voice down to a whisper

Kurt: Okay, sorry, but my flashlight died

Todd: I can see that. Or rather, I can’t. But seriously, there might be some batteries or another light in Vienna’s bag

Vienna: I’ll check. Hold up

The group stops while Vienna checks her bag for batteries

Trenton: I’ll keep moving and see if we’re closer

Todd: Don’t go too far

''Trenton keeps moving forward, slowly moving his flashlight back and forth to scan the horizons for any movement. He tries to listen for any moaning or groaning or sticks crunching, but the sound of his footsteps drown them out. He can’t hear the whispers of his companions anymore. In fact, he doesn’t know where they are. He looks back, but keeps walking forwards. He doesn’t see them. He only sees trees in the blackness. Of course, he thought, tonight HAD to be a new moon. He keeps backing up until he walks into a tree. He stops, turns around, and hears leaves crunching. He walks towards the sound, and adjusts the brightness of his light. As soon as he gets the light to the brightest it can be, he is attacked and bitten in the leg by a biter. He lets out a yell''

Zachary: That’s gotta be Trenton. C’mon

Todd, Zachary, Vienna and Kurt run towards the screams

''Lucie wakes up to the sound of Trenton’s screams. She looks towards Joel, who looks back at her''

Joel: I know, I heard it too. C’mon everyone, let’s get up

Whitney: Who was that?

Joel: I don’t know, but they’ll need our help

The rest of the group back up their belongings while Joel runs towards the screaming, followed closely behind by Amanda

Amanda: Joel, slow down

''Trenton keeps screaming as he reaches for his knife at his side and stabs the crawling biter in the head. He closes his mouth and yells through his teeth. He grabs his flashlight and looks at his ankle''

Trenton:  Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck

''He applies pressure to his wound and muffles his yells once again. He opens his mouth and screams once more''

Trenton: GAAAH! Help! Todd! Kurt, Zachary Vienna anyone help! GAAAH!

''His screams draw more biters out towards him. He picks up his pistol in his right arm and his flashlight in his left. He puts his right arm over his left and aims at the biters. He shoots the closest one in the head. Then the one behind it. Then the third. He isn’t aware of the one behind him. As it nears him, he hears the sound of a knife being stabbed into a skull. Joel stands behind him, lowering the biter to the ground''

Trenton: Joel! The hell are you doing here?

Joel: What happened?

Trenton shows Joel the bite on the former’s leg

Joel: Shit

''He picks up his knife and stabs the biter behind him. He hears the cock of a shotgun behind him and sees Todd, Zachary, Vienna and Kurt behind him''

Zachary: Joel?

''Todd fires his shotgun at a nearby biter, which takes out one more near it. Amanda shows up with Lucie, Haley and Whitney and the three join the gunfight. While the eight keep shooting, Trenton counts his shots. He realises it’s too late cut off his leg, and he doubts his chances of surviving amputation. He fires his gun until he has one bullet left. He then places his gun up to his chin and pulls the trigger. Joel, Whitney, Kurt and Todd look at his slumped over body in disbelief, distracting them from the biters behind. One gets up close to Whitney and sinks its teeth into the back of her neck. She screams in agony before the walker takes another bite into her shoulder. Amanda takes out her knife and stabs the biter before laying Whitney down to the ground and stabbing her in the head''

Amanda:  We need to go. Now!

Todd:  Town is this way, follow me!

Reagan walks up to the vehicles returning from their supply run

Reagan:  Hey Soph. Get what you needed?

Sophie looks down and nods he head

Reagan: I’ve got good news. Sent Alex and Jack to search for a new home. They found one. We’re hopefully gonna be able to fit us all in there

Sophie:  >sighs< Good, I’m tired of being in the woods

Reagan:  What’s wrong?

Sophie: Check Isaac’s trunk. You’ll see

''Reagan walks to Isaac’s truck and asks to open the trunk bed. He places his hand over his slightly open mouth and his eyes fill up slightly''

Reagan: Shit

Julio gets out of Rose’s sedan and walks up to Reagan

Julio: How is Danielle? Feeling better?

Reagan looks at Julio with tears in his eyes

Reagan: I… I don’t know how… You see, we were attacked by a group…. she … she…

Julio’s eyes begin to swell up and fill with tears

Julio: No… no no no no

Reagan: >breathes in< She helped us kill the attackers at the cost her life.

Julio puts his hands to his face and looks up to the sky, repeating no over and over

Julio: No, no, dios no. Where is her body?

Lisa: We buried her over there

Julio runs towards the direction Lisa pointed to and kneels down at her grave, sobbing

Julio: Oh, Mi amor. No.  Por favor

Lisa looks at Reagan

Reagan: Savannah died on the run. We need to bury her tomorrow morning. We’ll hold a service for her and Danielle. Right now, everyone needs to get rest. We’ll unload the trucks in the morning

Brett walks up to Reagan

Brett: Reagan, this is Adelaide Hill. We found her malnourished and on the verge of death today. Adelaide, this is Reagan Timm. He is our group’s leader. Took me in not long ago

Reagan: Nice to meet you. This is Lisa Anderson.

Lisa: Hello

Adelaide: Nice to meet you two

Reagan: If you don’t mind me asking, where will you be sleeping tonight? We don’t have a lot of tents

Adelaide: >looks to Brett< Can I stay with you?

Brett: I don’t see why not

The pair walk off towards Brett’s tent.

Reagan:  Everyone. I know this has been a sad day. Tomorrow, we will hold a service for Savannah and Danielle, and bury Savannah before we leave

Rufus: We are we going?

Reagan: Alex and Jack found a place not far from here

Alex: It can fit us all. We won’t be out in the open

Reagan: Tomorrow we head there

''Todd and Joel’s groups have finally reached town. Todd keeps his light up and walks forward. He looks left, then right. He looks in the distance and sees a heavily armored Jeep with a body in front of it. By its side is a rocket launcher, unfortunately unloaded''

Todd: Okay we’re clear

The other seven walk out of the woods, from the dark and towards town

Zachary: You were right. We wouldn’t all make it

Todd: I didn’t want to be right

''Alex Harris keeps watch to the south while Griffith Ward keep watch to the north. At one end of the line of tents, Reagan Timm gets out of his tent and walks towards Lisa Anderson’s. Nervous, he knocks on the fabric a few times, which wakes Lisa''

Lisa: Come in?

Reagan: I can’t open from out here

Lisa unzips her tent flap and Reagan walks in

Reagan: Uh… hi

Lisa: Reagan? What do you want?

Reagan:  What happened these past few days has made me realise a few things. I know that’s cliche, but it’s true

He pulls out his bucket list and a pen

Reagan:  The other day, I took my bucket list that I made when I was 17 out for the first time in months. I finally killed and cooked 10 deer. As I looked it over, I realised I had two left. Well, one actually

''He sits next to her and clicks his pen open. He then crosses out the words FALL IN LOVE but circles the words AND MARRY''

Reagan:  I guess, what I’m saying is… Lisa. Will you marry me?

Lisa:  Hmm…

Reagan gives her a strange look

Lisa: Oh, of course I would Reagan.

The two smile, embrace each other in a hug and give a slight kiss.

Both: I love you

''On the other side of the tent line, Snow begins to slowly creep out of her tent without waking her father. She sees Jack take over watch for Griffith and sees the big man walk to his tent. She passes a snoring Gina, Rufus and Arianna, whose closed tent moves slightly back and forth, Julio, who is still awake, Brett, whose bare arm is around Adelaide’s shoulder, Lawrence, who sleeps in his underwear, and what she assumes is Rose’s tent. She stops in front of Savannah’s vacant tent. She continues to walk past Geoffrey's tent and arrives at Jack Sawyer’s open tent. She takes one step inside''

Sawyer: Snow? What are you doing here?

Snow:  What do you think?

''She walks up to the sleeveless Sawyer and kisses him on the lips. He takes her off his mouth''

Sawyer: Won’t your father be mad if he finds you here? In my tent

Snow:  Oh well. He needs to understand I’m not his little girl anymore

Sawyer: Yeah, but I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a father’s rage

Snow:  He won’t hurt you. I promise

Sawyer: >smiles< Okay

Snow zips up the tent flap

Carter:  We’ve finally made it. Look, there’s the Bass Pro Shops

''He walks faster when he trips on something big. He looks at what he fell on and sees a dead body of a man with three bullet wounds in him. He looks again at the man’s head and sees a fourth bullet wound''

Izzy:  You okay?

Carter: Yeah. But this man’s not

Alicia: Can’t mourn him now. Let’s get in one of these buildings and get some rest

Main
Steven Yeun as Reagan Timm

Emily Beecham as Sophie Seamus

Dave Grohl as Isaac Ames

Tom Felton as Rufus StewertsonDarren Criss as Johnno Topsy Allison Miller as Kelly Blake

Brooke Nevin as Lisa Anderson

Jack Gleeson as Brett Lars

Alan van Sprang as Griffith Ward

Anne Hathaway as Rose Harrison

Javier Bardem as Julió Lopez

Recurring
Kelen Coleman as Arianna Davis

Summer Glau as Savannah Brooks

Mia Frampton as Snow Ames

Zachary Gordonas Sawyer Murphy

Nolan Gould as Jack Thompson

Joseph Pilato as Austin

Drew Barrymore as Lucie Thymes

Thomas Ian Nicholas as Carter Andrews

Kevin Zegers  as Vincent

Alexa Nikolas  as Gina Torrens (no lines)

Raul Esparza as Joel Masterson

Tom Hardy as Todd Meyers

Jude Law as Zachary Tompkins

Amy Adams as Alicia Monet

Dylan Riley Snyder as Jax Henderson

Tim Rozon  as Ted O'Neil

Freida Pinto  as Izzy Milton

Emilia Clarke as Adelaide Hill

Co- Starring
Sarah Hyland as Clea Lars

Jonathan Kleitman as Alex Harris

Justin Miles as Geoffrey Johnson (no lines)

Gary Oldman as Chad Montgomery

Nickola Shreli as Trenton

Gabriella Wilde as Vienna

Sprague Grayden as Amanda

Zooey Deschanel  as Whitney Smith

Tom Mison as Jed Crane

Ansel Elgort as Jonathan

Chris Hemsworth as Kurt

Cory Michael Smith as Eddie Jones

Emma Stone as Haley Browne

Mark Boone Junior as Burt

Deaths
Savannah Brooks

Whitney Smith

Trenton

Burt

Trivia

 * First (and Last) Appearance of Burt
 * Last Appearance of Savannah Brooks
 * Last Appearance of Trenton
 * Last Appearance of Whitney Smith
 * Chad Montgomery Rejoins the story after being presumed dead in "Where Angels Die"
 * The Title of this Issue is based on the Killer Dwarfs song "Stand Tall (Stick to your Guns)"