Mark helped Mari up to her feet. Mari accepted his help, hopping to her feet in order to rush over to Zero. Mari snatched Zero's hand, looking at it with worry as she asked him with concern. "Will you be ok? Does it hurt?" Zero winced as she pressed her fingers over his hand looking for a fracture, causing him to groan out through his teeth. "Mari... It hurts!" Mari bit her lip, easing up on his hand as she told him with watery eyes. "I'm sorry... You're bleeding..." Zero heaved a deep sigh, then wrapped his good arm around her to pull her into a one-armed hug. Mark saw blood begin to trickle down Zero's fingers from a line across the back of his hand, but Zero didn't seem concerned about it. Mari rested her head on Zero's chest and Mark quickly turned away from them. Helping Sean up onto his feet, he made sure that he was ok. Sean nodded with a soft chuckle, dusting himself off. Mark patted Sean's shoulder, telling him lightly. "We should start loading our supplies onto the truck Zero found for us. Then we should raid some of these RV's for any possible camping stuff that we might need later."

Sean nodded, telling him seriously. "If we split up, we can do both and cut our time in half." Mari stepped away from Zero to warn them quickly. "I wouldn't do that. Some of the RV's we haven't checked yet. And these Zombies get more activate as the sun goes down. If you want to split up, we should go in teams." Zero pointed to Sean and Mari, saying swiftly. "You two can start loading the truck. Keep your eyes open and if you run into trouble... Mari use the flares." Mari playfully saluted, then slunk up to Sean as she whispered playfully. "Stealth force." Mark narrowed his eyes on Zero as the thought suddenly burned into his mind. "You let Sean go hunting by himself..." Zero stiffened as a guilty look crossed his face. Mark closed the gap between them quickly to grab Zero's vest, slamming him back against the hood. Zero raised his leg to remove his hunting knife, pressing the tip to Mark's ribs in warning. Mari's shoulders dropped and she bowed her head, grumbling out. "And we're back... Guys..."

Sean rushed forward to push them apart as Zero told Mark truthfully. "I did. But I was always within range of him. I patrolled the area long before I let him go out there. I'm not stupid." Mark's grip on Zero's vest tightened, when he snapped back. "They could have moved in after your patrol! You could have been sending him into a hoard!" Zero clenched his own jaw, snapping back bitterly. "I think I have more experience with these things than you do, Lad!" Mark raised his fist and Sean snatched it to stop him. Sean wedged himself between them, pushing Zero's knife wrist away from Mark, snapping at both of them sternly. "Enough! Mark, Zero asked me if I wanted to hunt alone and I said yes! We agreed that if I wasn't back within a few minutes that he'd come find me!" Mark released Zero, grabbing Sean's shoulders instead to pull him away from Zero. Staring into Sean's eyes, Mark gruffly stated out with a panicked tone. "Why would you do that?! What if there was more of those killer bunnies out there! They could have swarmed you..."

Sean shrugged, calmly retorting with ease. "But they didn't. I'm fine and I brought back dinner. I've never hunted with a bow. It was fun." Mark's face turned stony. His fear for Sean's safety was overwhelming him. This wasn't a game and it wasn't supposed to be fun. This was life or death. Shaking his head firmly, he told Sean seriously. "You're never doing that again. You hear me, Jack?" Sean took a step back from Mark, heatedly replying. "Mark... Don't push me." Mark dropped both his hands and his attitude, watching Sean turn on his heel. Sean gently punched Mari's shoulder, grumbling out under his breath. "Mari, let's get moving. We're burning daylight." Mark closed his eyes, tilting his head back to sigh with defeat. Upon opening his eyes, he looked back to Zero who was sheathing his knife. Zero then started walking away, calling over his shoulder. "Come on. Let's get this over with. We can start with some of the RV's that I've cleared. I've seen some stuff you might want. I've already taken what Mari and I need."

Mark reluctantly followed Zero, dragging his feet. At the first RV, Zero leaned against the side of the trailer and gestured him to go on inside. Mark opened the door, peeking inside and then made his way in. He made sure to keep the door open though. Digging through a few opened bags on the bed and sofa, he listened to Zero tell him from the doorway. "You should just come out and say it. It might make you feel better." Mark tossed a bag of camping supplies out of the RV for Zero to catch and set down more quietly. Without looking at Zero, Mark continued to look for things they could use, grumbling out sourly. "Admit what? I certainly don't have feelings for YOU." Gathering up some clothes, he heard Zero say coolly. "Admit why you don't trust me." Mark threw a bag of clothes at Zero, causing him to stagger back from the impact. Zero set it down casually though, his eyes never leaving Mark's. Mark tensed himself up, growling out. "You don't want me to answer that. Trust me." Zero stormed up into the RV, causing Mark to grab Becky defensively.

Zero kept his distance but snapped back. "That's my point. You DON'T trust ME. Why? I've saved both you and Sean. I trust you two enough to be around Mari even though I know NOTHING about the both of you. I only have Mari's word that you're 'good people.' Sean, I get. But you... I'll admit you make me uneasy. You want to protect him. I get that. I'd cut through a hoard for Mari too. But when it comes to me... you hold me at gun point... Why?" Mark squeezed Becky's handle, lifting his chin to answer honestly. "You gave me a bad feeling at first... and I've learned to trust my gut instincts. They've kept me alive. They've helped me keep Sean alive. I didn't know why I didn't like you at first... until you attacked me. You've killed someone. You've killed people. And to my knowledge, the people that cross that line... They are capable of anything to get what they want." Zero tapped his machete against his leg, admitting to him calmly. "Yes. I've killed people. I've killed six. Now you're going to ask me if they deserved it, right?"

Mark shifted Becky to hold her with both of his hands, giving him a swift nod in response. Zero took a slow deep breath, before answering bluntly. "The first one, yes. He was my boyfriend. I ran to him when the world went to hell. This world turned the man I loved into a monster. He began beating me... and one day... I got tired of being afraid of him. So, I slit his throat in his sleep. Then I cut off his hands and carried them around with me. A reminder to myself that I'd never let any person lay their hands on me like that again. After that... It's not so clear. Some of them probably deserved it... but to be honest. I didn't really care to find out. I will say that all of them were men. People I knew. People that I hated because they pushed me around before the world fell apart." Mark stared into Zero's eyes seeing that he held no remorse or regret for his actions.

Zero's eyes then became distant as he told him openly. "I remember hunting them down one by one through the city. Letting them taste how it felt to be the victim. When I wounded the last of them... I walked up on him and looked him in the eyes. He actually had the nerve to apologize to me... Like that would make up for everything him and his group of jackasses did to me." Zero's eyes then adjusted to look directly at him as he added in a dead voice. "I killed him without a second thought. Put an arrow right between his eyes. At the time, I thought... I'm making the world a better place because he isn't in it anymore. But then it hit me... This world changed me too. I had become a monster. And the worst kind... because I didn't hunt to eat or survive. I hunted for revenge. I was a victim in that other world... but it took this world to show me the monster lurking within me." Mark shuffled his feet uneasily, asking very softly. "Does Mari know? Were you hunting her...?" Zero inhaled shakily, turning to look out the RV door as he answered hesitantly. "I was. She doesn't know about any of it... Well, she knows about my Ex now... but nothing else."

Mark raised an eyebrow, asking coolly. "What changed?" Zero huffed sarcastically, answering with a weak shrug. "I don't know. I think... I think it was her laughter. I'd been backing up into the darkness for so long that to hear her laugh after falling in that ditch... She didn't let this world change her. She simply found a way to survive in it. I let myself go numb and she made me feel something again. She reminded me that this life is what we make of it." Zero's eyes met his again and this time they were softer. Zero shrugged at him, mumbling out under his breath casually. "Now you know. This world will test you, Mark. You'll do things that you never imagined that you were capable of... but you'll find that doing them is easy. Coming out of it is harder. I don't regret what I did... but I'll always carry that with me. I can feel the monster just beneath my skin. I've tasted blood and I know that I can do it again in a heartbeat. But I like to believe that I'm better because of HER. I'm the monster that keeps her from turning into one. I won't come out of this in the end. But I'll be damned if I let her become a monster like me."

Mark loosened his grip on Becky. He still didn't trust Zero. However, knowing more about him was a slight relief. Zero lowered his eyes to the floor, mumbling out softly. "If you don't want us to tag along with you because of me. I understand. I wouldn't trust me either. But you should be careful, Mark. I see the darkness in you too. If you lose your grip on it... You'll be lost to it. I'd hate for Sean to get caught between you and whatever sets you off on that day." Zero turned on his heel, heading back down the steps of the RV. Just as he reached the last step, Mark asked him in a light playful voice. "Is that why you put up with Mari's innocent attempts to kill you?" Zero chuckled to himself, answering without looking at him. "You can say that. I like to believe that it's her guardian angel reminding me to keep myself in check. Probably her deceased grandfather looking out for her."

Mark smiled just a tad, before telling him nicely. "I'm a strong believer that people aren't born monsters. They are made. And if someone is made that way... They can always be unmade. I don't trust you, but you haven't personally given me a reason not to trust you... So, if you want to tag along with us. I'd be alright with it. As you've said. You have more experience out here than we do." A small half smile pulled at Zero's lips, before he replied appreciatively. "I know Mari will love that. She's very fond of you two. Apparently, you both helped her through her depression before all this. I sometimes catch her singing songs with your names in them when she's feeling down. Seems to help her since her pills ran out..." Mark nodded a bit grimly, unsure what to say. He didn't feel like he deserved that compliment. So, instead he told Zero with a half smile of his own. "I didn't do anything special... The real heros are people like you. You look after her. You're there for her when she needs you." Zero gestured to the RV, mumbling out with a slight blush. "You should get back to it. It will be dark soon."

Mark politely turned to get back to work. Together they scavenged up a good amount of camping, hiking, and survival gear without having to go into too many unexplored RV's. They even got a few cans of gas that would help them last for a bit. Packing everything into the truck bed, Zero walked Mark around the truck to show him how the horse trailer worked and what to watch out for when driving with it. Mark was confident that he could drive the truck. The trailer would be a challenge, but overall, he had faith in himself. They eventually met back up with the others at the RV to enjoy dinner. Which felt slightly awkward with Sean avoiding him. Zero talked over their routine using Mark's map. While Mari and Sean played with Chica by the lake. As the sun began to set though, Zero folded the map up and told him. "We should get some rest. We've got a long drive ahead of us." Mark nodded, climbing to his feet as Zero called the others over. Once they were all close enough together, Zero told Mark and Sean. "There are bunk beds in the trailer, but it will be tight. We'll have to pair up for tonight."

Sean shuffled his feet uneasily, his eyes not meeting anyone's. Mari placed her hands on her hips, telling Zero confidently. "Well, if you're driving. Then I get first watch. You and Mark will need as much sleep as you can. So... maybe you and Mark can pair up?" Mark and Zero locked startled eyes with eye other, before Zero cleared his throat and replied sincerely. "I'd rather not. Sean can pair up with Mark on the bottom bunk. I'll take top. Chica can take the small sofa." Mari raised an eyebrow, suspiciously mumbling out. "Zero... you hate top bunk." Zero playfully tugged on her ponytail, sweetly purring out. "But you don't. You can switch with me and take it." Mari playfully swatted his hand away, looking to Mark for his thoughts. Mark looked to Sean. Sean's eyes briefly rose to meet his, before he nodded restlessly. Mark went in first, slipping down onto the bottom bunk. Behind him, Zero climbed up to the top bunk and groaned with discomfort. Was he scared of heights? Sean shut the door behind him, dragging his feet to the bed.

Mark made room for him, watching Sean look up at the top bunk with a worried expression. Above him, Zero told Sean in a tender voice. "Don't worry. Soundproof headphones. I just found batteries for my CD player. I'll sleep better than I have in months." Sean rolled his eyes, then very slowly laid himself down next to Mark. Mark was afraid to touch him. He wanted to apologize again, but he felt like it wouldn't be genuine. He was only worried about Sean's safety. He understood that, didn't he? He meant no harm in it. Mark reached a hand out but couldn't bring himself to touch Sean's side. He was starting to curl his hand back, when Sean reached back to take his wrist. Sean pulled his arm over him, forcing Mark up against him. Holding him in a loving embrace, Mark kissed Sean's shoulder. In his arms, Sean whispered back to him lovingly. "Maybe next time you'll want to go hunting with me?" Mark nestled against him more comfortably, purring out in a deep content tone of voice. "Sure. I'd love that." To Be Continued...