187 Compound (1/2)

Of course, his rage fit lasted all of about five seconds before he calmed down. After all, Laz knew that getting mad wasn't going to solve anything, at least not yet. There is a time and place to be angry and this wasn't it.

He already figured out who had taken Leona, it was just a question of where. They must have been ready to jump her as soon as she came in since Laz knew that Leona would have fought even harder had she been given the chance. The problem came from not being prepared to being jumped at home, something that Laz hadn't even considered.

He was still way to soft to survive in this new world.

Although Laz was worried about Leona, he knew she would be able to take care of herself, at least in the short term. He was more clear than anyone as to exactly how strong and tough she was. It was simply a matter of how calm she could remain under the circumstances. Telling someone what to do in the case of being attacked, kidnapped, abused, etc. is incredibly different from actually being in that situation.

Either way, that was how things are. Laz did another sweep of the house and found a back door had been broken open, allowing them access to the house. This wasn't the kind of town where there was a large crime rate so although people locked their doors, they didn't have alarms or cameras. After all, those things cost money that most people didn't have to use on that.

Laz sensed a car pulling up and walked outside, having finished with his search of the house. There was nothing there. He thought for a bit about where Leona and Reggie's mom was and figured he should put the question to Ruby when he got in the car since only she could contact Dee.

Opening the door, Laz sat in the front passenger's seat and saw Vivi with a half smile in the back seat while Ruby had a dumbfounded look on her face.

”What?” Laz asked.

”She. Can. Talk...” Was Ruby's only response.

”Well, it's not really talking per say... but yes. Is that a problem?”

”She's a talking dog...”

:And from what I've smelled from before, you're a talking blow up doll. What's your point?: This remark from Vivi got a glare from Laz who then turned back to Ruby, only to find that she hadn't been the least bit bothered by the insult. Maybe because she was still too stunned form the fact that Vivi could communicate with them.

”And?” Laz asked.

”And... this isn't a problem for you?” Ruby asked, trying to get thing's straight. Laz reached back and opened up the door while Vivi jumped out, already knowing what he wanted.

”I guess I got used to it. She's been talking for almost two years, give or take?” Laz said, thinking it over.

”She could always talk? Then why didn't she say anything?” Ruby had been over to the camper a few times and Leona had been over many times. Despite that, it wasn't like Vivi had ever said hi or anything.

At this point Vivi had got done sniffing around the house and came back into the car. Using her back paw, she pulled the door closed in a rather human way before planting her butt on the seat.

:There were three different smells besides Leona's from around the same time. Seems like she had just gotten inside and closed the door when the attackers fired while rushing her. Had she reacted fast enough, she would have been fine. But her smell trail shows that she hesitated and didn't move at first. After she was hit though, she sent at least one of them flying before the drugs took effect and knocked her out.: Vivi explained to both of them, transmitting her words at both Las and Ruby.

Laz nodded while thinking where as Ruby just stared blankly. She finally woke up enough to add her thoughts.

”She must had tried to understand what was happening before moving to protect herself. That's pretty common with newbs.”

”So where is she?” Laz asked Vivi.

:I'm not a bloodhound you know. The smells in the house were pretty easy to figure out since there was no breeze or anything. But as soon as they got outside they dragged her into a car and took off. That basically cut off any trail.:

”So now what?” Ruby asked, more worried than anything.

”I know who took her, I just don't know where they took her...” Laz said feeling a bit lost.

”Let's try their home first. I'm sure I can get someone there to give us details,” Ruby offered with a strange gleam in her eyes.

”I don't know where he lives... oh right... you can figure that out. Fuck me...” Laz said knowing that he forgot that Ruby had connections in this area.

”His name is Brian and he's the mayor's son. I don't know a last name...” Laz said while thinking about murder.

”That's easy enough, hang on...”

”Also, get in contact with Dee again and have her ask Reggie to do something about his mom coming home and finding this. The last thing we would need is the police called.” Laz said.

:I'm not sure if I should mention this, but it might be important.: Vivi said while looking at Laz.

”What's up?”

:There was at least one infected among the attackers... and they smell somewhat familiar.:

”What? How so? Someone we know whose and infected?” Laz racked his brains while Vivi went on.

:Yeah. I smelled him on you, the night you came back from the warehouse. I'm not totally sure as it was faint since you had changed your clothes which made the smell fade. But it was someone you came into close contact with that you didn't kill considering they were in this house.:

”Someone I didn't kill? Wait a sec...”