Rainie was suddenly jerked back into her soldier mindset the millisecond gunfire rang out in the yellow air. With the sun casting a milky golden glow over the soaked world, everything was slightly yellow. Her mother called it Tornado Weather. It was the same golden yellow light that was present in the eye of a storm.<br/><br/>Adrian abandoned the car he was half crouched behind and beelined it for Rainie. The Infected were now flocking toward the new sounds of human life, and they were in the open. The three of the survivors huddled in Rainieâ€™s alcove, Rainie between the two men. She had scooped up the lead pipe she had dropped when Nathan had suddenly hugged her and tucked herself into the shadows. She also took her backpack from Adrian and clipped it on.<br/><br/>The gunshots continued relentlessly, without sign of ceasing. Rainie recognized this as a fight for oneâ€™s life. And possibly the lives of others. She swallowed at the sudden tug in her gut that came from years of putting other people before herself. Her instinct was to save them, obviously. And it was the only thought that was on her mind.<span style="font-style: italic">I have to help! They need help!</span><br/><br/>Adrian gritted his teeth and reached for his sisterâ€™s wrist, holding it as if it could restrain her. He didnâ€™t like the look of this. It just screamed<span style="font-style: italic">â€™bad news, go homeâ€™</span>to him. It wasn't cowardice that told him to leave these new strangers to it, it was his need to protect Rainie. He had the horrid thought that if they went galloping off the save the damn day, he would lose her.<br/><br/>Adrian looked at her face, finding what he feared. Her face was intent, eyes almost desperate. His grip on her wrist tightened, and she looked up at him in irritation. Wordlessly she looked from Adrianâ€™s firm, disapproving expression, then to Nathanâ€™s. Something inside her whispered that even if she didnâ€™t matter, these two did.<br/><br/>Nathan looked positively conflicted. Rainie glanced from him to Adrian, trying to make up her mind. Protect these two, or the strangers? Her resolve wavered...<br/><br/>And suddenly the sound of stumbling, short footsteps pulled all three sets of eyes to look down the street. It was a boy, a very, very young boy, something small clasped in his hands and he ran as fast as his short, clumsy legs could carry him. He was gasping and crying desperately, his clothes told of much use, and he had a shock of bright red hair. He was headed straight for the burning bookshop, and he appeared to be searching desperately for something.<br/><br/>â€œHelp me, please!â€ The boy screamed.<br/><br/>Rainieâ€™s eyes shot open wide.<span style="font-style: italic">A child!</span>And she was off like a bullet, her wrist torn from Adrianâ€™s with nearly no resistance. She ran without care, straight out into the middle of the street. There was a car in her way, and she<span style="font-style: italic">flipped</span>over it like an acrobat, hit the metal roof, then catapulted off and hit the pavement running.<br/><br/>Adrian grasped the empty air behind Rainie, his eyes widening. He watched her flip over the car, and cursed her passion for parkour. It was one of the damn reasons she moved to this stinking city. He had seen the child, and realized a second too late what his sisterâ€™s kneejerk reaction would be. He bared his teeth in a growl. â€œFucking<span style="font-style: italic">cops.</span>â€<br/><br/>Cursing under his breath, he chased after her. â€œAlways gotta be the<span style="font-style: italic">fucking</span>hero, donâ€™cha!â€<br/><br/>Rainieâ€™s eyes were glued firmly on the small boy who was shouting for help, and attempting to find a way into the book store. Uncaring as to why he would be trying to get into the burning building, she ran up to him and scooped him up in her arms, and immediately sought shelter in an alley across the street.<br/><br/>She could hear Adrian cursing her, but she didnâ€™t care. In the tight alley which reeked of the dead, she set the boy down and crouched down to his level, her hands brushing over his cheeks, checking to make sure he wasnâ€™t actually a half-turned Infected. â€œSweetie, itâ€™s okay. Are you alright?â€ She whispered urgently.<br/><br/>-------<br/><br/>Fallon and company glanced up at the sound of gunfire, very close by. With no words exchanged, each man raised from their awkward half crouched positions. The epitome of organized, they fell into formation and made a half-trot like gait around a city block.<br/><br/>A Hummer could be seen in the middle of a steadily increasing onslaught of Infected, and it seemed that a lone man fought them off. With the briefest glances the soldiers determined the man was injured and fighting off the beginnings of the Infection. It didn't look like the fever had even set in yet.<br/><br/>Acting immediately, each of the four soldier completely clad in armor, not an inch of skin showing beneath their clothing, all raised their guns and opened fire.