The ever unforgiving sun hung high over the ruined landscape. Its heavy UV rays gave the wastelands an unnatural sepia tone, mostly void of any colors save for the few cactus that managed to survive, but even they seemed to be withering away with everything else.<br/><br/>A figure in the distance closed in over the wide horizon. His pace was steady and showed no sign of fatigue. Eventually he stopped at the edge of what used to be a major road, which now was broken and twisted as far as the eye could see and it was littered with destroyed and run down vehicles. After a short eye scan of the area, the man continued his walk.<br/><br/>Time was hard to judge these days, that is if you were someone who actually cared about it. Most people knew just two times; day and night and you really didn't want to be out during the latter of the two. Aside from the many wasteland thugs and creeps roaming around at night, there are still rabid and wild animals trying to survive just like everyone else, and their instinct is to eat first, ask questions never...similar to some of the raiders running around. The walker turned his gaze to the sun and the horizon that hung below it and figured he had only a few more hours left until night time so he continued on, merely glancing at the makeshift sign that read,<br/>"Shabby Town Ahead".<br/><br/>Surprisingly the town broke the horizon much sooner than expected. It was fairly well fortified, surrounded by large rusty metal sheets and salvaged chain link fence, all reinforced with long 2X4's. The smell of dry dusty air was almost overwhelming but it didn't take long to get used to, at least to the point of it being tolerable. The front entrance was lightly guarded, two men with crude pitchforks modified for combat stood before the front gate. They looked ragged and worn out, dirt and dust covered their faces around their tinted goggles. As the walker approached the guards held out their weapons and a third man emerged from behind the gate wearing makeshift light leather armor and a fairly large cowboy hat, and he was carrying what seemed to be one of the last surviving AK-47 machine gun. It could be for intimidation or the weapon was indeed fully loaded and ready to put down anyone in its path.<br/><br/>"That's far enough stranger..." the third guard spoke loud but calmly, aiming the gun towards the walker.<br/><br/>"We don't get many Walkers around here so you best state your name and business here in Shabby Town." the head guard spat out a large glop of blackness from his mouth, possibly some old chewing tobacco. The walker slowly raised his hands to show no threat and then slowly removed the white hood from his windbreaker off his head, revealing his rugged looks from long days of traveling.<br/><br/>"Name's Collin. And I'm just passing through. I just need a place to rest and I'll be out of here by morning if that's alright with you chief." His voice was steady and calm, masculine but not intimidating.<br/><br/>The head guard motioned for his men to ease off and so they did, standing back at their respective possitions. The lead guard shouldered the rifle then calmly approached Collin.<br/><br/>"Well alright then. The hotel is the third building on the right. They have booze, food and water there but it aint cheap so you best have something good to give 'em. I have men all over this town so you behave yourself and I won't have to kill ya, sound like a deal?" Collin simply nodded and proceeded through the gate as the two other guards widened the opening for him.<br/><br/>Once through the gates Collin could see the small town in its entirety. There weren't more than six solid buildings around, and most of those looked like they were ready to topple over any minute. Rusty shacks and cloth huts were scattered along the street edge. It was like a scene straight out of an old western flick and it didn't look any different from the other small established towns Collin came across over the years, save for the guards posted outside and it was surrounded by a salvaged wall.<br/><br/>As Collin made his way down the main street he could feel the sullen stares of the people roaming and bartering with each other. Their looks brought on a heavy feeling of envy mixed with pity. Most people didn't wander the wastes because of the dangers but the rest sometimes wished they were brave enough for it.<br/><br/>As Collin entered the  third building his nostrils were hit with an overwhelming scent of body odor, old whiskey and blood. This was definitely the popular place in town. The noise of multiple conversation, clanging glasses and shouting that could be heard clear outside was all stopped suddenly as Collin entered and the vibe changed drastically from how it was outside. Most of the residents here gave off a very unwelcoming vibe with the type of glares that could kill. Collin passed it off and continued to make his way to the bar counter uninterrupted. That was usually the case whenever any walker strolled into this setting. Regardless of how hard the stares would get, most would normally think twice before messing with someone who's been walking the wastes and surviving. But as usual, there was always someone who had to throw their weight around and validate why you don't mess with a walker...<br/><br/>"What'll it be walk.." a glass half full of whiskey sliding down the bar interrupted the bartender, who simply began to rub his forehead and sighed with frustration.<br/><br/>"He'll have that." a raspy voice spoke through a curtain of long mangled hair from the end of the bar.<br/><br/>"Not again Mortey." the bartender started but Mortey simply dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Collin removed his sunglasses and glanced down at the glass before sliding it back towards Mortey then looked back at the bartender.<br/><br/>"Just a room and some water." Collin spoke quietly. From the other end of the bar, a loud and almost menacing laugh erupted from Mortey.<br/><br/>"My drink not good enough for you? I offer you a free beverage out of the goodness of my heart and you disrespect me by returning it without so much as a 'thank you'?" Mortey slid his stool out from under the counter and made his way over to Collin. His steps were slow and heavy but did little to intimidate Collin. As Mortey drew closer his stench became stronger for most it would cause them to turn their head and cough, but Collin maintained his demeanor by placing his canteen on the counter for the bartender with a pair of well kept reading glasses as payment.<br/><br/>"Still got nothing to say? Do I have to work your mouth like a fucking puppet boy?!" Mortey shouted as he started to grab Collin by the jaw tightly. But that moment was short lived as Collin quickly smacked Mortey's hand away, dropped down and delivered a devastating left hook to the inside of Mortey's knee which caused him to nearly collapse to the ground, but not before Collin rose back up  and slammed Mortey's head into the edge of the bar counter, all in one smooth fluid motion. Collin held his grip on Mortey's head firm before letting him drop to the floor, half-consciously gurgling through his now mangled face. Collin then turned his attention back to the bartender who was almost startled by it.<br/><br/>"So is that enough for the water?" Collin questioned nonchalantly. The bartender simply nodded and took the canteen to the back. After a few minutes he returned with a small wooden plank attached to a piece of string.<br/><br/>"This is for your room, fifth one on the left at the top of the stairs. You just hang it on the door handle once your in so no one drops in and disturbs you. The glasses were enough for the room too unless you plan on staying another night." the bartender spoke nervously. Everyone simply looked on, most were still stairing at Mortey's unconscious body. Collin took back his canteen and wooden plank and made his way up the stairs and into his room.