In reply to Dominic Dubreton (msg # 170):

Mahmoud surveyed their surroundings as Dominic investigated himself and read the scene in what Mahmoud felt was an accurate understanding of how events could have culminated in Benson's disappearance and the appearance of the young corpse. The dark skinned Caravaner could sense that Dominic was stressed but the leader also seemed able to hone his focus when it was needed. He kept silent until addressed, he knew they'd be okay if they just all stayed as calm as possible in the group.

When Dominic asked if he could follow the trail, Mahmoud looked back down at the tracks, pondering. It wasn't about whether or he could or not, but if they should or not right then. Either way, he'd do as Dominic asked, they had no time for argument, and Mahmoud was a team player.

"I think I can track them. Yes. It's a real mess though.." There was always the off chance he'd just get them lost. The struggle amongst the footprints could also be the active employment of misleading tactics. But it was also likely that in the rush of the zombie attack and the ensuing scuffle with Bohannon that the tracks would point true. Maybe it was a bit of both. "They might be aware we can track them. They could lead us in a circle, but it seems like they left in a hurry, so we might have a shot."

In reply to Tom (msg # 171):

Wyoming was of course glad for what seemed to be genuine empathy from the other boy, even if there was little Tom could do to get him out of the cuffs. He was sure given some time he could improvise escape, but not with them watching him like this. Escape..He considered he'd almost rather be with these people, who seemed to be decent on the whole, compared to his own. His wish to get to his own group was increasingly predicated on the motivation to convince his people to drop this whole matter and work it out peacefully.

"Look you guys.. I'm not like the others in my group, and not all of my group are that bad either, its just been hard on all of us." He knew this was like beating a dead horse but maybe if they heeded his words it would countenance how trigger happy this side of the factions would be.

"We're all just kids, just trying to get by. Kentucky..He's going to try to get you to snap, to lose patience and start a fight so there won't have to be a deal, you can't let him do it, you can't let him manipulate you like that." He knew his own people well, even if he didn't want to think of what would happen, he'd seen this play out similarly before.

"We have two of your people, not just one. An older guy, and a younger one. They didn't let me talk to them, but I've seen them. Whatever they demand in the trade, just give them whatever they want, we need your supplies badly, I guarantee it." Maybe some information would help percolate the idea of somehow working this out peacefully, even if battle seemed to be expected no matter what.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Tue 14 June 2016.

Izzy listened to the others discuss the next step but also kept an eye on their surroundings, knowing that what had happened just recently to the last survivors right where they stood, could easily happen again.

"Dominic." She spoke up, catching Dom's attention, though also meaning to catch Mahmoud's and Luke's.

"Let Mahmoud see if he can follow the tracks. You, Luke and I should go back and tell the others, tell Karen, what happened." She offered up as a course of action, her features resolute except when she looked to Dominic there was a private softness to her eyes that said 'let me take some of the burden from you, lighten the load, please'. She had but one leg to stand on, but she'd proven it wasn't about to slow her down, she'd outlasted most of the others even on a bad day.

Apart from the logic of her suggestion, she also wanted Dominic close to her, oddly enough, so she could keep him safe like he watched over her.

"Also.. Maybe Karen can find Bohannon faster than Mahmoud can.." She was clearly, or not so clearly, meaning that Karen, who had a history in the military and police as a combined 'good cop bad cop' could elicit some information from Wyoming, their hostage, with some 'convincing'.

It wasn't noble, and she knew it, but they were being pushed to the edge, and now had at least two of their own likely held prisoner by the enemy. A group of kids, but still the enemy.

"You know this makes sense, Dom."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Tue 14 June 2016.

Luke ran his hands through his long, wavy dark hair, as he stood on the edge of the group, eyes closed, stressed out at where they found themselves, wishing himself uselessly that they were still in the Fortress Dixie, even if it had fallen to siege. It hadn't been a safe space, no safer than outside, but the semblance of safety had at least been there. Here he had to rely on himself, to rely on the others. All for one, one for all, and they were being picked off one by one, first by nature, and then by other people. It was fucked.

"Wait." Luke answered Izzy, interrupting at the end, his slim form spinning on a dime, eyes opening, hands falling but held aloft as if grasping the air, "You aren't going to let Karen hurt the kid are you? You can't do that, he's just a pimply teenager for fucks sakes." He was incredulous, having grasped what Izzy meant but not understanding the stakes at play, or perhaps understanding what was required of them as a group, but unwilling to just accept it blindly. He wasn't a soldier, but that didn't mean he didn't get a say..right?

Mahmoud listened to the Izzy's suggestions with quiet and respect for her opinion. He lived for the Caravan, and would do what the consensus bid, just as Norm, just as Christopher had done before he inherited the position of essentially Logistical Head of the group, and Group Uncle. He loved his people, and would do anything to protect them, even lay down his life, or someone else's. That didn't mean he liked it, but he could sleep on it, sure. But maybe that was just because he was always exhausted like the others.

As if taking the hard decision out of Dominic's hand as a point of sympathy and affection for the medic-turned-leader, Mahmoud cut in before Dom could.

"She's right, Doc." His eyes held a certainty, with an earnestness and compassion that betrayed what he was seemingly willing to allow to happen to help find Benson, and maybe their other supposedly captured friends. "Luke."
Mahmoud stated hard, catching the mustached man's attention as he threatened to break down in moral objection. "Luke, go with Izzy and Dom to the house and wait there. Protect the bag of rice, we'll need it later. No one's making you do anything you don't want to do, but this isn't about you, this is about the group."

He rarely spoke so sternly to anyone in the group, much less Luke. Focus turned back to Dom, and Mahmoud gently clapped a hand on the leather jacketed shoulder of the Frenchman. "I'll follow the tracks, Doc. I'll find Benson, if I can, or at least the treehouse these people hole up in." Smiling subtly, not out of poor taste but out of comradery, Mahmoud had a sureness in his voice and disposition that said he would not let Dominic down.

"Take care of our people, I will return just when you need me. We'll get through this. I know it."

He would wait just briefly to hear Dominic's reply before turning and moving to the foliage canvas of the deeper treeline, looking back once and giving a nod to all three of the his companions before disappearing through the bushes, and out of sight, rifle in hand.

With a little thought on his part Mahmoud confirmed that he could in fact follow the trail, though not before pointing out that he was just as liable to get them lost or walk them into an ambush than find Bohannon. With these possibilities running through his mind Dominic considered whether or not he really wanted to do this. After all if he walked the four of them into an ambush then the caravan would be as good as dead if they were captured or killed. Nor did he want to put anyone and Izzy especially into any unnecessary danger even if it meant potentially sacrificing Bohannon in doing so.
As if sensing this dilemma running through Dom’s mind, or perhaps  just as easily the fact that he was taking too long on this decision. Izzy made a suggestion of her own, eliciting a response from the rest of the group in the process and a protest from Luke over the prospect of torturing the teenager they currently had in their possession.

Dom had to admit it did make sense as Mahmoud would probably stand a better chance of following the trail without being detected without the rest of them following him, but all the same he wasn't keen on the idea of sending him out alone "Well...if you're ok with it Mahmoud, we'll head back and let you follow the trail, but no heroics, if you find them then get your ass back to Slaughter and tell us" He cautiously replied;  the last thing they needed was for them to hand over yet another hostage to the Lost Boys as their bargaining position was weak enough already "...same goes if you run into trouble or lose the trail, I don't want you taking any more risks than you have to" Dom finished, hoping that he was doing the right thing by letting Mahmoud do this. If he could track he'd do it himself but sadly Dom was a city boy, so it was down to Mahmoud to take all of the risks.

With a plan of action now decided upon, all that was left to do was to carry it out though not before he took care of final piece of business "oh and Luke...I will do whatever it takes for us all to survive...being nice is a good way of getting yourself killed out here" he said in an icy voice; fixing Luke with a look reminiscent of the one he'd given him the last time they were in Slaughter together "ok, lets get moving, best of luck mon ami and remember no heroics"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:52, Tue 14 June 2016.

A whole group of kids? Lord of the Flies, Children of the Corn? The two stereotypical scenarios flashed through Tom's mind, causing him to suppress a grin. He wasn't going to be the one dealing with the negotiations but doubted it'd take much to push Dom over the edge. Especially if Kentucky was doing it on purpose. Sounds like we've both got some convincing to do. he murmured, wondering what two kids could do to stop this from escalating.

At the mention of an older hostage Tom's head snapped up from his gaze at the cuffs. The older one...what did he look like? Maybe Joe had gotten out in time. After all even torn up he'd still be more then a match for most of the others. Of course "older" could be subjective, but if there was a chance... He tried to keep the hope to a minimum, in case it wasn't.

Lorenzo was glad to not be doing the brunt of the talking anymore. He made a quiet little "aha!" and procured his flask from his ratty, damp bag. The alcohol was lukewarm and burned his throat but he took a long pull, then settled his back further against the wall. His limbs felt heavy and his eyes were half-lidded.

He listened idly to the kids talking. A whole group of children were playing them like this? An angry look flinched across his face, but he didn't move or even bother opening his eyes. How annoying. It was disgraceful. He imagined, not for the first time, taking that Kentucky by his scrawny little rat neck. He was still miffed from, how he perceived it, the haughty way the kid had addressed them all.

Hearing they needed supplies didn't stir any sort of feeling in him other than annoyance. When he was with his old people, they robbed people. That was it. They didn't bother with all the games or jerking people around... Too much, anyway.

"We need the supplies too. More than we need the two hungry mouths returned," Lorenzo rasped to himself. He huffed. "Finders keepers. Tough shit."

He fell silent again, breathing shallowly. He was trying very hard to focus. After a second he opened his eyes to look at Tom. He offered the flask to the kid and gave it a little shake, glancing briefly to Wyoming as though to indicate the offer was open to him too.

Admonished by his people, Luke still appeared agitated but surprisingly kept himself from verbally protesting further. He was dissillusioned, but not the sort, at least not yet, to continue to rise up against the directives of the leader and the group overall. Though he could not fathom proceeding like they were, he knew deep down that he was not one to hold answers to these problems. It distressed him, and all he could do was shake his head slightly in disbelief, nonplussed and disgruntled. He would follow Mahmoud's order to keep an eye on the food they'd discovered, but he wasn't about to just roll over and give the OK to the other's missives.

Turning away from Izzy and Dom after Mahmoud departed, he ran a hand through his dark hair again, just wanting to be back at the house where there was a semblance of safety. He waited for the others to lead back. What more could he do but go along?

Izzy was glad that Dominic had not objected to her and Mahmoud's taking things in hand. Being leader did not mean that the man she'd grown so fond of had to take every decision without input from the inner circle, the people that had had his back for so long. In Zombieland a long time was ever longer.

Ever maintaining that stern solidness outwardly, there were always moments when Izzy's softness was visible, betraying the facade she endeavored to put on. Certain people she held close, her new family, could always bring out the tenderest vulnerabilities in her. Vulnerabilities the Lost Boy's were exploiting. She wasn't going to let that leverage be used against them anymore. Like Dominic told Luke matter of factly, being nice was a good way to get killed.

As they departed Izzy put Mahmoud's fate as far out of thought as she could. She believed he would return. She had to. He always had, so he always would.. It couldn't be any other way..

Luke walked slightly ahead and to the side of Dominic and herself as they walked what seemed like miles back to the house after getting over the fence once again. Taking these precious moments when she could, Izzy kept close to Dominic, seemingly keeping pace but really wanting to be close him. She'd raise a hand to gently hold onto the medic's shoulder, if Luke turned around it would seem she was just taking advantage of Dominic for leverage in moving in pace given her handicap. More to the truth, and they all surely knew this, was they she wanted to touch him as long as allowably. Who knew how things would turn out.

--

When they entered the house again, Isabelle wasted little time in engaging with Karen, whom she found near the prisoner's quarters.

"Karen." Izzy fully intended to precipitate events that had been discussed not far way with Dom, Luke and Mahmoud. She trusted Luke to keep his mouth shut and lope off to the kitchen to retrieve and guard the bag of rice they'd found earlier. If he said anything betraying the plan she would have to reprimand him. The fate of Benson and the group hung jointly in the balance.

"Bohannon is missing. Mahmoud and Luke found what looked to be a struggle. Walkers but people too, all in a scrap. Lost Boy's left one of their own behind, dead in the fight.." She filled the woman in, her disposition neutral and focused, unblinkingly trying to detect the emotions that would next flood through Karen, who was in a physical state that made her desperate, and soon a mental state that would make her even more so.

Holding out a hand, Izzy gestured for Dominic to pass her the bloody gun that was clearly and characteristically Bohannon's.

Once he handed it to her, Izzy would deliver it gently into Karen's hands. "Looks like he put up a good struggle. Mahmoud is tracking them, but these Lost Boy's have Bohannon. This Wyoming kid.. Maybe he knows something. We probably don't have much time though, they'll be coming to us soon. But.. maybe we can find Benson before then.." A keen, sharp, well nourished mind would likely have detected what Izzy and her co-conspirators were pulling here, but she was sure that Karen wasn't in a way to judge what was being told. And really, Izzy could well have been right, but regardless, events required Karen to use that particular skill set before she was too wounded, too immobile to do what they needed her to do..
This message was last edited by the player at 05:09, Tue 21 June 2016.

Quietly praying that he'd made the right decision in letting Mahmoud go out by himself, Dominic slowly made his way back to the house being sure to stay close to Izzy as he did so. Kidding himself that it was only so that he could help her if she stumbled on the rough ground they were crossing and not because he liked having her near to him.
Feeling her hand gently resting upon his shoulder, he offers her a quick smile before slipping an arm about her waist with the gesture allowing him to hold the attractive brunette walking beside him whilst maintaining the illusion of him simply offering her support. Not that there was anyone around to see them as Luke seemed to be doing his best to ignore them as he walked on ahead.
It was clear that he hadn't approved of the methods that they were planning on using against their guest and there was a time when Dominic would have felt exactly the same way. But that was before all of the deaths. Before Sierra had been killed because he hadn't pulled the trigger first; his act of kindness resulting in her death. Before NM was nearly murdered because he hadn't dealt with Sam like he should have done months ago. Before two of his people had been kidnapped by a group of homicidal teenagers who were holding them all to ransom. No, he couldn't afford to be nice; he had to make the hard choices, the unpleasant choices so that Luke and the others didn't have to.

Dominic would let his arm casually drop away from Izzy’s waist shortly before they came into view of the house; wanting to keep what the pair of them had a secret if only for a little while longer.
Once inside they would find Karen near where Wyoming was being kept with the medic watching with quiet admiration as Izzy set about manipulating the former cop into doing what they needed her to do before adding his own voice to the mix "before I may have been able to talk our way out of this, but now..." he let the rest of the statement hang; letting Karen fill the blanks in herself and reach her own conclusion as to what needed to be done. It wasn’t admirable but if it got his people back alive, then so be it.

Karen was pacing impatiently, frantically almost, back and forth past the door to Wyoming's room. She whipped her head up when Dominic and Izzy returned, wondering what they figured out about that gunshot. When Isabelle started speaking the wheels in Karens head started turning.

"Bohannon is missing." Son of a bitch left! "Walkers" Dammit, he's been eaten. "put up a good struggle... but they have Bohannon." No. Karen visibly sank. She took Boh's gun from Izzy, turning it over in her hands a few times, absorbing the weight of the moment. They all knew what was about to happen, and by the looks on their faces, Dominic and Isabelle wanted it to happen. Karen tightened her grip on the cowboy pistol. She took a slow, deep breath, like an athlete psyching herself up to compete. "Don't let anyone interfere. Got it?" she added abruptly before turning to burst through the door.


Karen levelled Bohannon's gun at Wyoming's head and stormed towards him. "We killed one of yours you rotten little shit!" She screamed at Wyoming as she shoved past Tom, knocking the poor boy over as she went. Lorenzo's position on the other side of the room kept him out of the way, so long as he didn't spring up in defence of the helpless captive. "He was trying to take a friend of mine. Where did they take him!? Where are your people hiding?! Where's Bohannon!?!" Karen grabbed Wyoming by the throat and jammed him up against the wall next to the door. She buried Boh's gun so far into the side of the boy's head it was hard to tell where the barrel ended and the skull began. "I'm only going to ask you so many times." There was nothing in Karen's eyes.

Without breaking eye contact with Wy, Karen addressed Lorenzo. "Lorenzo, take Hank and whoever else you can find, set up a firing position on the street. I want all angles covered, I wanna know the second this little prick's friends come back. We're gonna be ready for them... Prick and I are gonna talk."

When had things become so complicated? When it was just him and Tom the only thing he had to worry about was food, shelter, and running when they couldn't tip the odds. The winter would have been near impossible without the others, at the very least he could have seen them going stir crazy being on their own. Would they have been in the area during storm if they hadn't joined the Caravan? What if they had found the other group first? Now...he shook his head in frustration as the others returned.

Glancing over he watched Dom and Lizzy head upstairs. Leaning on the chair's back legs he raised an eyebrow as Luke completed the trio of returning group members, fully expecting Mahmoud and Benson to be in tow. Or at least Mahmoud, at the gunshot a part of Hank had hoped the cowboy had ran into a group of zombies and only gotten one shot off. Sighing he dropped back down to all four chair legs before standing, seeing if Luke would follow the others upstairs or stay on the ground level.

Any hope of a debriefing was shattered at the sounds of a commotion upstairs. Shit. Grabbing his crowbar out of habit he rushed upstairs, an uneasy feeling settling in. What the hell's going on in there? He asked, looking between Lizzy, Dom, and the open door.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Thu 23 June 2016.

As the look of realisation of what had happened to Bohannon out in the woods slowly dawned on Karen's face, Dom had to question whether they really were doing the right thing in making the wounded cop do their dirty work for them. However she quickly managed to get herself under control before bursting into the room and holding Wyoming at gunpoint. He hoped for the kid’s sake that he would cave quickly and tell them everything they needed to know as Dominic doubted whether he could stop Karen now that she had started down the dark path that they had set her on. He just hoped that what they learnt would be worth the effort.
With the noise attracting Hank, Dom placed an arm upon the door frame to block any further progress into the room as he proceeded to explain the situation "They've taken Bohannon; needless to say Karen is less than impressed" he replied to Hank's question in a low voice "...I suggest you get your brother out of there, he's not going to want to see this" he continued; removing his arm so that Hank could carry out his suggestion before speaking to the rest of those currently gathered around the door into Wyoming’s "cell" "right, lets get this place barricaded before the shit hits the fan" today was not turning out how he’d hoped it would at all.

If anyone could make it, it'd be Joe. While the fact more of the group had escaped was miraculous a small part of him, a selfish part, wouldn't of minded if Joe was the only other one to make it besides the others in the house. Do you know how they're being treated? Stepping closer Tom could feel his heart speeding up. Any other questions or responses were cut short as Karen burst in like a bat out of hell.

What the... was all he got out before being brushed aside like an overgrown weed. Stumbling backwards he let out a small yelp as his elbow banged into the vanity, the shooting pain of a "funny bone" hit spreading through his arm. Throwing out his other arm he landed with a thud, head bouncing off the wall. What the fuck? Surprise and his arm took the force out of the question, making him sound more childish then he intended. Someone killed? Missing Bohannon? Shaking his head he felt his blood run cold at the sight of Karen practically strangling Wyoming and jamming a gun into the kid's head.

Stop! Getting to his feet he felt a brief wave of nausea and had to sit on the vanity, holding his arm till. He was going to have one hell of a headache later. Hurting him isn't going to make things better. He hated how childish he sounded. After all, he didn't know the full details, in the grand scheme of things his voice didn't have much sway in the group as a whole, sometimes he wasn't even sure what skills he brought to the group. But if there was some this thing with the Lost Boys could be settled somewhat peacefully, this wasn't it. Please. He didn't say anything to help Brady, and froze when Sam attacked NM; he wasn't about to let Karen hurt an unarmed, restrained kid who if there was any justice in the universe, he might someday call a friend.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Mon 27 June 2016.

Having one of his guards be a boy roundabout his own age was cold comfort as trouble slowly edged forward, the light outside giving some indication as shadows cast over the floor of the room through the window.

Lorenzo's retort about the supplies wasn't entirely a surprise, but Wy was coming around to the notion that the guy was someone he could reason with, after all the man had promised to keep him from abuse at the hands of the others. "I understand, I do. I didn't want any of this to happen. you know how it is, having the leaders pull you into trouble.." Tom's question brought his attention back to the other boy, with Wyoming pondering just briefly as he considered the details.

"Well, y'know, grizzled and such. Wrinkles. I think he had.. green eyes, but I can't be sure. He wasn't a big talker either. Taller guy, too, I noticed." He answered, wishing to be accurate but he hadn't been privy to seeing the prisoner's that much. Wyoming often served the purpose of softening other groups or visitors/prisoner's up with his demeanor, but was then hastily withdrawn off the chess board.

When the flask was offered up Wyoming wasn't one to deny the gesture. He was, or used to be, a devout Christian, but circumstances had changed, and he could use the edge off honestly. "Really? Um, thanks man."

Another question from Tom, who seemed to have some connection with this guy that his people might be holding. Wyoming was about to answer the other boy again, but interruption came at an intense velocity he was not prepared for.

The blonde haired, wounded woman that was part of this other group burst into the room with maddened eyes. Instantly Wyoming recoiled, his hands tensing against his cuffs behind his back as he tried to step backwards, his brown eyes focusing like a laser on the barrel of the gun leveled at his face. "Don't shoot!" He cried out, the whites of his eyes quite visible as they widened in surprise and terror.

Tom was shoved aside, and she came right for him. There was little Wyoming could do as he was seized about the throat, the rage of the woman acosting him and his slim, diminished form assisting the dramatic hauling up against the wall next to the door. An audible thump emanated throughout the echelons of the house in the process, Wyoming gasping and gagging from the grip at his scrawny neck.

Such was the speed of the accusations and demands for answers that the Lost Boy had little time to process the assault. He certainly could grasp the sensation of the cold barrel jamming into the side of his head which caused him to struggle in his position, only to still when they locked stares and he realized she was likely serious and clearly unstable.

"Please don't do this!" But he knew that she probably would, and he groped the recesses of his food deprived mind for answers. "T-The woods, if it was my people, they took him into the woods!" It wasn't a specific answer, but there was little time for specifics and technically he was correct. Quickly this was becoming about buying precious seconds for someone to do something. He knew that even if he told her what she wanted to hear, if he had the information she wanted, she might still pull the trigger.

"Tom, Lorenzo, please!" He looked over to the others, his head kept in place by Karen's military grip but his young eyes pleading for some intervention.

Izzy was silently proud of Dominic for sticking to the plan, and well, the charade that was required to rally the group and get the answers they needed both, even if she wasn't proud of what they had to do overall. She'd anticipated Karen's response ahead of time, having come to know her quite well as one would in a group like theirs.

The other woman was injured both physically and mentally and even though it was dangerous, unleashing a Karen temporarily devoid of humanity was the best interrogation they could incite in a pinch. Though perhaps if they had had longer, Lorenzo's brand of intimidation would have sufficed.

Air moving quickly by Karen's stormy departure to the cell-room caused Izzy's hair to blow gently, and she brushed the bangs coolly and detached from her face, neutral and determined. Underneath the facade, she was crestfallen, but wouldn't let it show if she had a say, not right now.

She heard Tom be knocked aside, and the ensuing scuffle and yelling, and kept herself on the other side of the door opposing Dominic's, leaning against the wall for balance. Her gun remained holstered at her hip, not wanting to even contemplate having to threaten anyone to stay out of the way, though it could be conceived of considering the tensions as of late.

Observing Hank's presence, she listened to Dominic explain and allow Hank entry if only to retrieve his brother. Unspoken, she begged him not to intervene.

"This is the way it has to be, Hank."

New Mexico had been playing nurse to a clearly struggling Cauldershore, making little progress of course but not leaving the man to choke on his own blood with no one there. It had given him reprieve from his own demons, the focus on the wounded giving him a positive sort of way of dealing with his own trauma.

He'd been hearing through the house well enough however, and could no longer stay aside when a commotion erupted in the hallway nearby.

"I'll be right back, okay buddy? Hang in there. Alright??" New Mexico tried to reassure an increasingly unresponsive, debilitated comrade. He patted the man's chest, and with a bloodied fabric tried to dab Cauldershore's mouth of some blood still oozing forth. The teen couldn't hide the worry in his eyes, but he had to see what was going on.

Machete sheathed to his thigh, he quickly donned the kevlar they had taken from the DEA van, just in case walkers had broken inside, or worse; people.

Arriving at the end of the hallway as Dominic was explaining to Hank the situation that was arising, NM's gaze narrowed in scrutiny and disbelief. "Letting Karen hurt the guy isn't going to stop his people showing up here, do you think they are going to trade our people back to us if we do anything to their own? And he's just a kid, we don't hurt kids, dude." He shook his head, morally objecting but also on a point of logic.

These were his own people though and he wasn't about to get into a physical altercation with them unless he absolutely had to.

"Cauldershore is fucking dying back here, and we're beating the shit out of a kid?"

After arriving a visibly despondent Luke had moved to the kitchen to check on the bag of rice that Mahmoud ordered him to safeguard. It was still as they left it, underneath one of the counters, lodged deep in a cupboard, precious more than ever. It was a temporary distraction only, though, as footsteps stomped the floor above him, and shouts muffled through the likely once-happy home.

Running a hand through his wavy dark hair, Luke tried to keep his breathing even and stay calm, the effect of being alone where he was without Mahmoud or Dominic nearby in addition the angst unfolding was riddling his already tepid confidence.

Feeling insecure, he withdrew his pistol from its holster, and, after closing up the bag of rice in its place, moved to the front living room of the house, keeping a lookout through the window because it seemed no one else currently was. "Fuck fuck fuck. Come on, people.." He wasn't okay with what they were doing upstairs, but he more than anything wanted to be safe. The mustachioed millennial felt utterly powerless, but nonetheless he kept his hand on his weapon, and his eyes peeled on the street outside. It was sick to think, but the arrival of those Children of the Corn would be a welcome distraction, and maybe just what they needed to stop what was unfolding upstairs.

Immediately Lorenzo sprang up. In about a split second he went from fighting off sleep to being completely enraged. For better or worse he could often go from one emotion to the polar opposite almost instantly- usually it was for the worse.

He was too mad to think hard on the situation. A crazy woman with a gun was bad. A crazy Karen with a gun was really bad. Why or how on earth she'd gotten past Dominic in this state was beyond Lorenzo. He was honestly not sure if she was bluffing anymore or if she'd totally lost it. This kind of pointless shit was something he learned to expect of gang bangers, not the Caravan.

He brushed past Tom, whatever he was saying fell on deaf ears. Lorenzo stormed up to Karen. For him this was less about Wyoming's life, and more about a skewed sense of honour and wanting to uphold his end of a deal. Couldn't do that if they gave a corpse back to Wyoming's people. His fist was clenched and it looked like he had half a mind to deck Karen flat on her ass. If it wasn't for the gun pressed into the kid's head he might have.

"Fuck off Karen!" he shouted. He wasn't really known for defusing situations. "Drop that shit! Perra estás jodidamente loco!"

He made his approach obvious so as not to startle her into shooting, and lunged to pin her armed hand by her side. With one of his own arms out of commission, there wasn't much he could do to stop her from twisting around and shooting him if she was so inclined.

Hopefully the small window of opportunity would give Wyoming time to do something to free himself from her other hand rather than whining and bitching. All the while a steady string of Spanish cursing came out of his mouth. It could probably be heard all through the house. While the others couldn't understand it, it at least made him feel good to cuss the situation out.

Lorenzo bursting into action gave Tom a start. Just like last night with NM and Sam. No... not like last night. He wasn't going to just sit back and watch others step up this time. Seeing the gun taken off Wyoming's head he made his move. Getting up he ignored the dull throb of his arm and reached out, aiming to pull the kid away from Karen and out of the room. Come on. While leaving the house was out of the question he could try and get him to another room, away from Karen.

Leading the way he sideswiped Hank, the second it took to realize who it was bringing him (and hopefully Wyoming) behind the older Lucion. She's gone crazy.

Things were getting out of hand. No sooner had Karen started interrogating the kid, that Dom found himself being confronted by NM, with the teenager laying into him about how Cauldershore was dying and how letting Karen beat the crap out of Wyoming wasn't going to help matters. Like Dominic didn’t have enough problems to deal with right now without having to worry about Cauldershore’s rapidly deteriorating health as well.  However before he was even able to try and explain the situation to him, Lorenzo launched himself at Karen in an attempt to wrest the gun from her control whilst spouting a string of Spanish that Dom was glad he couldn't understand.
Deciding that he'd better do something before the gun in Karen's hand went off and killed somebody, Dominic quickly moved to intervene "Back the fuck off Lorenzo! Karen we need him alive, I can fix holes but I can't bring back the fucking dead!" Dominic shouted; looping an arm about Lorenzo in an attempt to haul him off of the weakened blonde before one of them did something really stupid. The last thing he wanted was to have to perform some kind of makeshift surgery moments before having to meet up with the Lost Boys "The Lost Boys have Bohannon, and the only way we're going to get him and our other guy back without losing everything we own is if we take them back" Dominic explained irritably, hoping that the others would have some idea of how precarious the situation was becoming "...and the only way we're going to be able to do that is if he tells us where his friends are...so I suggest you start talking kid" he said directing the final part at Wyoming, casting the kid an extremely hostile look.
With any luck the prospect of being left with Karen would encourage him to spill the beans and tell them where they could find their friends. If not then Karen would just have to carry on encouraging him.

Didn't want him to see... Had they even bothered to see what had been found out before sending the big guns in? Moving toward the door Hank was pushed back a step at Tom's jail break. Putting out his free arm to catch the kid he looked between the two. Tom looked more angry then scared, and the other kid was going to have a nice little mark on his temple for a couple days. Making a mental note to stay on Karen's good side he gave them a quick smile before turning back to others, keeping the younger ones behind him. Or we could try and talk directly to their leader. If we go in guns blazing, more people die, and unless you plan on slaughtering a camp of kids we'll be watching our backs till we're out of the state. He sighed, I want our people back also, but there's got to be a way we can if not work together with them then at least be neighbors who wave to each other every now and then. Besides, assuming they haven't lasted this long by being pure bandits we'd be better off combining our skills.

The hand that had been on Wyoming's throat came around in a fist and connected with Lorenzo's broken arm. If he was gonna fight like a cop, she'd fight like a thug. As Dominic pulled Lorenzo off, Karen tossed Bohannon's six shooter on the bed. "His friends are gonna be here soon and we have jack shit! What the fuck were you doing in here? Jerking each other off?" Karen was overheated. She pulled off her jacket and tossed it on the bed too before running both hands through her hair. Words were flying around the room faster than Karen could follow. "No." She shook her head. "This is happening. Stay the fuck out of my way!" Karen darted for the door and left Lorenzo and Hank for Dominic to deal with.

"Tom!" She shouted to the boy at the end of the hallway. Tom and Wyoming had nowhere to go. "Wyoming's coming with me, don't you get involved! I told you, he's not your friend." Karen moved slowly down the hall towards them with a menacing demeanour.

Mr. Cauldershore was on the brink of death. A nasty fungal infection coursed through his body and was taking up residence in his lungs. Even if Dominic was able to treat him with antibiotics, it wouldn't have helped. He was dead the moment he took in a breath of that unpleasant water last night. Had he perhaps been in better heath to begin with, maybe he could have fought it, even just for a little bit longer. But since the winter, the Caravan had practically been living on scraps. At the industrial complex, they were almost out of food. Then when the storm came... Well, it was a miracle anybody made it out safely. Cauldershore sat in his bed, coughing up blood everywhere, suffering. After all the hell in the world, all the poor man could think was "I don't want to die."