surviving
-
-
brooke stammered into the door with her gun grasped as tightly as she could. the thoughts of jeremy writhing in pain replayed over her mind with every step she took, and she had to push the thoughts out of her mind.
the hospital was eerily quiet, and it was cleaner, more "picked up and tidy" then the day she and hensan had been there.
pushing the weird thoughts away she made her way through the hospital, stopping and taking any random supplies she could find.
finally when her exhaustion overtook her, brooke decided to find a bed, figuring that no one else was using them.
she quickly came across a room and turned to close the door, closing the blinds so that nothing would see her sleeping in there.
laying down she quickly drifted off, her dreams just replayed everything that shed caused to hensan, every ounce of pain he felt she felt in that second, leaving an uneasy feeling in her body.
-
*somewhere else*
The wind blew against the side of the house, startling the occupants inside. a chicken cooed impenitently as the gusts of wind picked up again.
"its okay peanut, your safe in here" wow in a zombie Apocalypse i talk to my chickens
the blue haired boy set the chicken down as it walked around with its friends in the room. "ill be back later girls" he called as he closed the door behind him.
it was too dangerous to leave them out as prey to be stolen by the zombies, so he converted a room for them in his beat up shack of a house.
making his way over to the room he slept in, he picked up a bottle and opened it, taking the last pill inside it quickly. "guess im going to have to find more.." he set the bottle down and picked up a sketchbook that lay on his bed. he pulled the pencil that rested behind his ear out and began to draw, he was obsessed with these creatures that roamed, and drew them every chance he got, which was often. his room was full of stacks of paper, all of the same thing, a zombie, wether it was missing limbs, or eating something or dead. the room was stacked to the top with the drawings.
once he had finished his drawing he was working on he got up and made his way to the kitchen, it was oddly dark and oddly cold. but the blue haired boy didnt care.
he picked up a green apple and took a bite out of it. savoring the taste of the last good apple he had. he carefully set the seeds down onto the table, keeping them neatly organized together to save for planting another day.
after he finished the apple he tossed the core out the window and sat down on the couch sighing as he had become bored. this was no life to live, boring and alone.
suddenly a large dog appeared in front of the room, the size of it large enough to scare a normal person, but the boy just reached his hand out and pushed it against the animals fur. "atleast i still have you and the birds" he smiled warmly at the thought
the large dog that resembled a wolf strolled over and collapsed next to the couch at his feet. content to be by his master.
"i feel bad bud, your barely a year and this is the world you have to see" the boy frowned but continued to pet the large beast as he lay next to him.
"well find a friend soon enough, we wont always be alone i promise" the boy stood up and stretched before plopping back down. drifting off into sleep as the dog protected him.
-
Asher felt achingly guilty, in his chest, in his stomach. He continued to say comforting things to Jeremy, at Jeremy, but the words were all kind of melting into nonsense. He jumped as he heard the door close. Brooke had left. God, he hoped to get supplies, to get help, not because Jeremy was going to turn, because Asher couldn't do it. Not on his own. Jeremy was out of commission, Claire was just a kid, and he was starting to feel the growing sense of despair like when he'd been left alone in the house. He placed a hand on the back of Jeremy's head, holding him close to his chest. He seemed to be struggling to breathe right, which brought a wave of concern over Asher, tightened his throat. "Breathe," he muttered, "Breathe in for 1, 2, 3 seconds, pause for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, out for 1, 2, 3, 4..." He followed his own instructions after he said them.
He noticed that Jeremy's chest was bleeding again, and didn't know what to do. Holy hell, he was so awful at precise things like this, and it looked like it was hurting a lot, and he didn't want to make Jeremy hurt more. He seemed like he was really doing badly, and Asher didn't know what to do. Jeremy was unraveling in front of his very eyes, like a well-loved doll. Torn apart. Once, one of his little sister's dolls did that, and when he went to the store with his dad he put an identical one in his cart. "Sh," he said, "Don't tell Julie." Asher didn't think he could find a spare Jeremy at the store. They were all ransacked. "You're not gonna die," he said, softly.
---
Olive spun around slowly in a chair, eating the pudding out of the cup with a plastic spoon. It wasn't gross at all, not moldy or anything-- there was probably nothing real in it. Thank god for the preservative revolution. She was distracted until she saw movement on one of the cameras, at which point she stopped her spinning, spoon in her mouth. Hm. A girl. She was stealing supplies. That was no good. She gave her chair another spin, tossed the empty cup in the trash, and took her gun from her waist. She wasn't a big fan of guns, but they weren't as optional when she was constantly in danger of being unceremoniously cannibalized. Luckily, being in America, she could get a gun easily. She made her way stealthily out of her post, and stalked down the hallway, keeping her center of gravity low to the ground. She knew that whoever this person was, she had a gun. Multiple... guns. And she was stealing supplies. Both things that were unfortunate for Olive. So, instead of barging right in, she peered through the doorway.
She was sleeping. She was sleeping on the bed. Alright, Goldilocks, here comes the bear. She was on a bed, which was quite convenient for Dr. Rogers. She gently shifted the girl on the bed, until it was optimal for putting on the restraints. With the way she was stealing supplies, and with the tiredness, she was a candidate for being sick. Olive put the leather straps over her wrists and her ankles, then over her torso. They were usually used for patients who were a danger to themselves or others, so it was appropriate for this sort of disease. Then, she grabbed a syringe, turned on the burner, and held the pointy end over the flame. She needed it to be sterile. Then, glad she was in gloves and a mask, most of herself totally protected, she took a small amount of the girl's blood. Now, she just had to test it. She placed it in the centrifuge. She was glad for her supplies. They made surviving much more interesting. Once done, she peeled away the bloodless gloves, and took a bag of fruit snacks from her pocket. She sat down on a chair near the bed, ate them, and waited for the girl to wake up.
-
brooke woke up after a few minutes, quickly freaking out at the restraints on her body.
turning she saw a girl sitting next to her "what the fuck!?! who are you, what are you doing to me?!?!" she struggled against the restraints, the small wound in her arm suddenly started to bleed with the thrashing but brooke ignored it, trying her hardest to get free.
"i have to go, please let me out! i wont hurt you. i have to get back to my friend hes hurt, he needs the supplies i took, PLEASE let me go" brooke begged the strange women, knowing that it was no use.
realizing she couldnt break free brooke relaxed, if she had any chance to escape she had to play it cool and relax.
"whats your name?" she said looked at the attractive stranger sitting next to her.
she studied the persons face, trying to read any expression she let off. "you were a doctor here im assuming?" brooke looked at the coat she wore before continuing "my mom worked here, lucy. she was a nurse, she was a good person, if you knew her then you would know she was a good person, and i am too! i dont need to be tied down!"
ian woke up and stretched, hed slept for a few hours and decided to go toss the chickens some food. after hed done that he opened the door, letting diego, his wolf dog out. "go get some food buddy" he whispered, pulling the harness over his large body. he relied mostly on the dogs hunting skills to bring back food, he didnt have a gun nor any other means of finding food so the dog was useful to him.
running along the trees diego followed a trail of deer, but lost it as the smell of death and blood crossed the path, meaning the creatures had found it before he did.
turning he ran off in a direction of the road, he knew it was safe from cars and the only thing he had to fear was the creatures, but this part was always empty, so he continued on. curiously he followed fresh tire tracks onward down the road, itd been awhile since hed met anyone other then his master. he made his way up the road, stopping for any smells of food. he smelled more humans but forced himself to ignore it, he needed food for his master.
he continued until he came across a few rabbits, he was much larger and quicker then them and quickly culled them, careful to avoid everyone he made his way back to his master, dropping the dead rabbits at his feet.
"good boy" ian praised him, picking up the dead animals and bringing them inside
-
Olive crumpled up the bag, now empty of fruit snacks, and tossed it in the garbage. The machine was done. She got up, even as the girl started shouting. She gritted her teeth, hating the volume of her voice, amplified in the quiet of the empty hospital. As Brooke talked, she took out the vial of blood from the centrifuge, and looked it over. Then, she took a slip of paper, pipetted a bit of the clear part of the separated blood onto the paper. She frowned. Then, tossed the biohazard waste in the bin. She turned to Brooke, well after she had finished talking. "Good news," she said, her voice with little inflection. "You're not diseased." She then thought about what Brooke had said. Lucy. Lucy, she remembered that name. Her face didn't change. She stepped up to her, and carefully undid the restraints. "I hope you don't mind. It's simply precaution. If you'd had the disease, I would have had to shoot you, and that's much easier when you can't run away." It wasn't clear if Olive's tone was friendly or hostile, joking or dead serious.
Olive considered the other things she said as she sat down on a chair across from Brooke. "I'm Dr. Olive Rogers. Have some fruit snacks." She tossed a bag at her. The things were everywhere, and due to the lack of people eating them, they weren't exactly a significant resource. She folded her hands in her lap, wringing her fingers together. She always found that to allow her to speak better. "Was your friend the one that was here a few days ago? With you?" She pushed her glasses up higher on her nose. "I could help you with that situation, if you'd like."
-
brookes heart dropped when shed said that. "ye.. yes.. where you here then?" brooke tried sitting up as much as she could before the girl untied her, before she explained what was going on "he.. he got an infection from the wound but its not a scratch or bite, its an infection from the cut itself. he.. he wasnt doing good when we left he kept begging us to kill him.. i have to get back to him, and the others" brooke looked at the girl trying to read her expression once more but couldnt.
"come back with me, ive got plenty of weapons as you can tell" she turned to the guns that lay next to the bed. "ive got a running car and gas, please youve got to help him!" brooke was too afraid to think about what would happen if the girl decided that jeremy was infected from the zombies, she didnt think about the risk of bringing a stranger home, instead she just begged for help.
"listen, he means alot to me, hes saved me countless times, its my fault hes hurt and i really like him, id rather him not die. you dont know how often youll find someone who cares about you in this mess of a world"
brooke stood up and stretched, but didnt reach for the guns. shed rather not alarm the girl by holding them. she looked away for a second before looking back up to meet the drs gaze. "come with me, but i have to leave, ive been gone for a few hours, we dont have much time left"
-
Jeremy didn't really know what he was supposed to do, now.
He wanted to sleep, really bad.
Nestled in Asher's arms didn't make it any easier to deny that urge. Especially when his voice had become quite a comforting thing to Jeremy. He focused on following his advice, in and out, one two threes, four five sixes. Just let the numbers take his consciousness away.
He wanted to, really bad, especially since his chest was beginning to hurt...really bad.
But he could feel himself bleeding, and didn't want to coat Asher in that. Especially not if he really was...infected.
Damn, considering hos much he had already bled, could he have already done everyone in? That thought made him sink just a little bit further into despair - he could kill himself a hundred times over, but he still wouldn't be able to protect them. He bit hard into his cheek, forcing that thought away.
He needed to stop that. Stop trying to give up, stop believing he was already losing. He needed to get a god damn hold of himself right now. For Claire. For Asher.
Pressing his palms down on the ground, he sucked in a deep breathe and pushed against it, forcing himself to lift a knee. He felt like his body was made of led - of needles piercing into his gut - but he couldn't keep leaning on Asher - literally and figuratively. All this messed up past and flashbacks aside, he was the most stable adult (sorry Brooke) they had, and he couldn't just do that.
He wasn't going to die. Asher promised him that.
"Im o-okay," he said, lifting his head to smile weakly at Asher. He rose a little bit more, wobbling and hunched on his feet but on his feet nonetheless, before plopping back down on the couch. He winced at the pain, but this was better than on the floor, where he'd just get in the way. He glanced over at Asher, then said softly, "I...I'm s-sorry for ye-elling...at you..." Though it was a bit foggy, the fight between them, he felt shame course through him anyway. He remembered just being so so angry, and throwing all of that on his friend.
"I won't d-do that again," his eyes fell on Asher's gun, "I promise."
So for his sake, he'd try a little bit harder on living.
(c)trexgirl
(c)trexgirl
""
"Doctor, Doctor! I found some more pudding cups!" skipping along the corridors, the young bespecled female glanced around, frowning when she peeked into the monitor room to find just an empty chair. Has she gone off to poke sticks at the zombies? Oh, forgive her - dissect the corpses? She stuck out her tongue at the thought, before twisting on her heel and continuing down. She trailed her free hand along the walls, sucking in a deep breath of enjoyment. Since the two kids broke into the hospital, it had been a lot nicer, not having to deal with those pesky zombies. Sad though, since she had grown rather fond of Coco, Munchies and EXECUTIONER. What lovely people, those zombies were.
Perking up when she heard voice...es? Huh. Following the (plural) voices, the girl popped her head into the room that had once been a patient's named Rob. She scanned his sheet before entering, noting that he no longer needed to worry about being comatose since he was probably long digested in a zombie's gut. Good for Rob! He died painlessly, she was happy for him.
Coming in just as she heard the girl's words, she adjusted her thick glasses with a squeal, "Ohmigosh is this the girl who broke in? Hello missy! You and your guy sure can run fast! Hope he's not always that fast, if you know what im sayin'" she winked playfully, before giggling, "anyways, congratulations on not being infected! " she clapped joyfully, before glancing around the empty room. Leaning close to the doctor and covering her mouth to keep the secrecy, she asked Olive, "Was the boyfriend infected, Doctor? Did you have to, y'know," she pointed to fingers to the side of her head, and made a quiet gunshot noise while jerking it back, pantomiming taking the guy out of his misery.
Not waiting for an answer, she handed Dr.Olive the pack of pudding cups she had found in the abandoned cafeteria (now that the zombies were gone, they could better access the place!) so she could put her hands on her hips and quirk a pleasant brow at the two women, "Whats this I hear about leaving, though? And no time left? There always time to stop and smell the roses, y'know," she said, with glittering eyes.
(c)trexgirl
-
Asher was startled when Jeremy started to stand up, and almost suggested that he sit back down when he remembered there was glass on the floor, so maybe it was good that they were getting up. He tried to help Jeremy up, just a little bit, as he got slowly to his feet, collapsing on the couch. Asher kept standing for a second, still really fucking worried, still feeling a little sick with the concern for Jeremy. Then, he sat down next to him, clasping his hands together in his lap. He glanced back towards Jeremy again as he started speaking, watching him with a drained expression, not even realizing it. After he finished, he paused. Then, he laughed.
"Jesus Christ," he said, pushing his hair back on his head. He shook his head. "Don't. Don't be sorry. Fuck, I'm so sorry, for... I got way out of hand..." He placed his hand on his forehead, shaking his head more. He wasn't even sure if he could promise he wouldn't ever do it again. He was worried that he would break that promise, with the way anger tended to rise up in him like a hissing snake, spitting poison. "Fuck, I--" He triggered a flashback, almost intentionally. He should've never said that. He should've never let himself get out of hand like that. "I crossed a line I should've never crossed. I'm sorry." Even with the words out, the guilt didn't leave.
---
Olive was listening to Brooke's argument for why she should come with her and help her friend, and was rather convinced. She seemed honest enough, and also, Olive had the advantage of numbers and medical knowledge if it came to a fight. However, she pressed her thumb to her lip, turned her eyes up to the sky, and said "Hmmm..." like she wasn't sure yet. "There are some supplies I'll need to bring with me. Like antibiotics, obviously. Which are a rarity, so it would be nice to get something in exchange." She crossed her legs, glancing over towards the machines in the corner. "And it would be beneficial to test his blood. However, if it was a few hours ago, if he was infected, we'll be able to tell."
Olive rolled her eyes automatically when the other girl entered the room. Just, instinctively. But she stopped herself, because she had pudding, so she was forgiven for being loud and generally irritating. And also squealing, which made Olive slap her hands over her ears. She hated that noise. So much. She glared at her as she skipped around all cheerily. Her relentless optimism was like some sort of immortal robot, storming its way down the hallways and lasering down anything in its path. It was remarkable. It might've also been that she'd snapped and gone manic, which was entirely possible. When she whispered something to Olive, she rolled her eyes again. She was going to pull a muscle. In her eye. "First of all, let's not make the heteronormative assumption that because they were in the same place at the same time, they were dating." She paused, taking a pudding cup. "And no, I didn't take him behind the shed and put him down. He is, as far as I know, alive."
She glanced back at Brooke, hands folded together in her lap. "As soon as you tell me your name, I can come back with you and help you with your friend." She stood, and pulled her bag off her back, starting to put things she knew she needed in it. Probably some sterile stitches, some stuff to clean the wound, serious stuff, narcotics so that the poor man would be knocked the hell out while she was burning the germs off of his body.
-
brooke looked neeviously as the other girl joined them but staid quiet.
When the girl had finished speaking she looked at her impatiently,
"My names brooke. Jeremy is the guy whoneeds help. Theres asher and claire too" brooke thought about jow much information she was going to spit out to this stranger, but saving jeremywas morw important.
"I have a functioning car. It can take us back and we can be there in 15 minutes.... and here" brooke paused before handingher one of her 3 riffles. "Just dont shoot me.." brooke muttered as she slung the other 2 over her shoulder and tucked the hand gun into the waist of her tight ripped jeans.
"Meet me out back with the supplies, ill have the car running to get the fuck outta here" brooke walked out and slid throught the hospital until she got to the door and walked out. She didnt care to stick around, she found help and thats all that mattered, she just wanted to get going.
Getting in the car she turned on the engine and leaned back, images of jeremy writhing in paim replayed over amd over maming her grow impatient.
-
She stuck her tongue out at Dr.Olive, having caught all the eye rolls. She didn't mind though - she liked the doctor in all her weird numbers-for-pictures thinking. Snickering at her words, Amy twisted a finger, "Aw c'mon doc! Let me have some romantic fantasies! If the boy had been a girl I'd have thought they were still a thing, too," she said with a playful pout, before grinning in relief that the boy wasn't dead. Turning her attention to Brooke, Amy smiled gently, "I'm Amy Hashimoto, it's nice to meet you," She blinked when she was given the gun, nervous. "But I don't know how to shoot!" she protested, but the girl was already gone.
Sighing, she examined the heavy weapon before slinging it over her shoulders. Welp, maybe she'd learn how to use it soon - oh how fun would that be? Turning her attention back to the doctor, her expression took on a more serious light, "You sure we should just pack up and leave? This could be a trap, y'know" she said softly, adjusting her glasses. She tilted her head to the side and sighed softly, "Aw, but she did look so sincere...Maybe we could bring half the supplies, then determine if we should stay after that? We are running low on food - and pudding cups."
(c)trexgirl
-
Jeremy reached out a hand and took Asher's. "Hey, its oka-ay," he said to the other, gently, squeezing his hand in a comforting way. He was silent as Asher talked, staring at their connected hands. Yeah...it wasn't cool, mentioning his dad...but he wasn't wrong. "I was going to try offing myself, Asher, you did what you had to," he said, firmly, before wincing at another wave of pain and letting his head fall back against the back of the couch. He looked up towards the ceiling, thoughtful. Then he said, "I killed him because I wanted to live. I didn't...I still don't want to die..." he chuckled, humorless, "but I could still turn, Asher. I could still hurt you, or Claire or Brooke and - I can't..I wouldn't be able to live with myself..." he sucked a shaky breath, looking back at Asher. "I don't ever want to hurt you, Asher."
(c)trexgirl
-
Olive, putting supplies into her bag, glanced up at Amy. "We're not staying there. We'll kill them and steal their car if necessary." She wasn't, of course, packing the only testing supplies she had. There were plenty of centrifuges, plenty of pipettes, scattered throughout the hospital. The only resource she was particularly concerned about was the medication. She put it in the bag with hesitation. "This place is too good of a resource to just abandon." She kept her white coat on, but put on a winter jacket over it. She didn't want to take her white coat off. It was a part of her. She was a doctor, she was the only doctor she knew of, and she used the identity to keep herself sane, keep herself on her feet. The sharp lack of routine and order bothered her. She didn't let it show.
She got everything into a backpack, made sure her snow boots were tied up properly, and nodded to Amy. "We should go." She was glad Amy had mentioned the woman's sincerity, since she wasn't exactly good at being able to tell whether or not someone was lying. Amy, however, was more socially adept than herself, which tended to be helpful in situations like this. She tilted her head towards the door. "She's waiting outside." Not waiting for a response, she headed out, down the hallway, out to the back. She had already barred most of the windows, this door being one of the few exits, so she believed zombies wouldn't attempt to invade. She stepped out, noticed the big VW bus. She supposed that was it. She opened the door in the back. "How long of a drive is it? And how much gas do you have?"
---
Asher, whose head was down, suddenly straightened up with Jeremy touched his hand. He held his hand back, feeling his face flush and feeling embarrassed by it. But this wasn't straight behavior, right? How were straight cis dudes supposed to behave again? Having never been one of those, Asher wasn't entirely sure. He was pretty sure holding hands wasn't a big part of straight culture. Fuck, your friend is dying, Asher, now's not the time. He was tense as Jeremy spoke, explained, and Asher felt some painful mixture of relief and panic. He didn't want to die, but he was scared of turning, and Asher didn't want to admit how scared he was that he'd turn. He felt like he was maybe holding Jeremy's hand a bit hard, but it was comforting to him. He considered the options.
"Look," he said, after a pause. "I... I don't want you to turn, either." He hesitated, thinking of the last thing Jeremy said, in a way that was kind of moving. He didn't want to ever hurt Asher. Asher didn't even want to never hurt Asher. It made him feel kinda cheesy and choked up and shit. "Maybe..." That was a stupid idea. "Maybe... we can do some shit... tie you to the couch, or whatever, wait a while, see if you get crazy. It'll... you won't hurt anyone." He learned that idea from a werewolf movie. Also, he didn't want to tie Jeremy to the couch. What if he got panicked? Claustrophobic? That couldn't help him. He felt himself lean into Jeremy more. "I-- I don't want to hurt you either. I don't want to do something to you that'll hurt you."
-
brooke turned as the other two steppes into the bus. "Its about 15-20 minutes depending how fast i go. I have 2 cans of gas and a full tank..." brooke would rather not tell them how she got that much gas so she decided to change the subject as she turned on the ignition.
"How long have you been there?"
Brooke didnt take her eyes off the road when she asked the question.
Speeding up she voomed past the buildings and the dead.
"Why didnt you help us out the first time either?" Brooke swallowed the thoughts of the two new comers killing them or hurting them worse then theyve already been hurt.
But she didnt say anything about the thoughts, she just continued to drive.
(Ill make the ride longer then just my one post, ill give you a chance to reply in the car)
-
this is me with the lonely and no self control
Jeremy wasn't ever really a typical - well, guy. He didnt care to think much past his studies, or college. He didnt care for friendships, let alone relationships. His father never brought it up, always respectful of his privacy, and Jeremy was never curious enough to ask.
What was it like to care about someone?
He listened to Asher talk, smiling in tired amusement as he also lamented to not wanting Jeremy to turn. Good, they were on the same boat there. His smile fell, though, at Asher's plan. At how it still ended with Jeremy being a slavering monster. He felt Asher's hand squeeze his tighter, feeling the warmth through the chill creeping up his spine. He continued to watch the other boy thoughtfully, at the passion and fear in his eyes. No one had ever been there for him, aside from his dad of course, the way Asher always was. Maybe it was the fever adeling his brain, or the pain, or the growing numbness and certainty that his time was numbered, but suddenly he wanted to do a lot more than just hold his hand.
its like, the world could end in that very moment, but as long as they're by your side, you dont give a damn
"I want you to remember me, like this " he said, leaning closer, "as I am..."
But then he paused, lifting his head and looking around, "wait - where's brooke?"
(c)trexgirl
-
She flinched, "well - we dont HAVE to kill them..." she said, following closely after the doctor, feeling like the gun on her back was growing heavier by the second. She quickly grabbed her own things and trailed the doc. She sure was cold...but she enjoyed that about the Doc. Made it that much sweeter that she let Amy stick around for so long.
Getting into the car, she let Olive deal with the questions as she fiddled with the gun straps.
(c)trexgirl
-
(So sorry about not replying guys. I MISS YOU ALLLLLL)
Claire covered her ears through the shouting and gun shots. She was up in the large room that she shared with Brooke. Sliding of the side of the large bed, she slowly made her way downstairs. She stood at the top of the stairs and rubbed her eyes sleepily. Her bear was in one hand and it had blood stains covering the surface of a dark brown bear that used to be a sandy brown. "Daddy...Mommy?" she asked as she approached the living room.
-
Olive glanced at the monitor on the car and nodded when it testified to what Brooke said. She folded her hands together in her lap, again twiddling her thumbs thoughtfully. She hadn’t been in a car for a while. There were a few by the hospital, but none she had the key to, and she didn’t like to drive anyway. “We’ve been here a while,” she said, vaguely. She felt they’d already given this girl enough information. She didn’t need anymore. The second question caught her a bit off guard, as she wasn’t really the type to spend time worrying about the “should have’s”. She shrugged to Brooke. “Well, we had our own problems we were facing. In case you didn’t see the morgue, we had to clear some things out.” She double checked her bag, more automatic than necessary. She had weapons in there, too, because she wasn’t sure if she trusted this woman, trusted that her friends were even still alive.
—-
Asher felt an unexpected tension in between them, something tight and palpable. He wanted Jeremy to be okay so badly that his chest hurt with it. And he was about to say as much, too, when he realized the words he said, that he wasn’t leaning in— holy shit he knew this wasn’t a straight thing. He knew it, but fuck, he didn’t have time to be smug because this might be the last time he saw Jeremy, this might have been four days of feeling so strongly about someone who was mostly a stranger that ended before anything real could happen. He didn’t know Jeremy’s favorite color. They never had a chance to go see an a shitty movie. He was about to be stolen away. Asher couldn’t keep denying it. But he could lean in, feeling the somewhat feverish warmth of his lips. And then he turned away, sharply, and Asher’s nose bumped against his cheek and he felt irrationally angry. “Brooke... disappeared. Didn’t say anything. I don’t know where she is.” The sense of mild despair at this thought returned. There were only four of them, and at this rate, he’d have to start caring for Claire alone, which terrified him. He didn’t trust himself to do that. At the thought, Claire appeared, also bloody. Damn, there was a lot of blood. “Hey, kid, sorry, are you okay?” He still felt weird about being called mom. He really hoped it was because he was a replacement, not because he looked like a woman or something in Claire’s eyes. It sort of bothered him, but he wouldn’t stop her.
-
brooke didnt give any answer other then a grunt to the heisitent replies from the dr.
Insteadshe focused on her driving. Leaving the questions unasked for now.
Pulling up onto the dirt road and into the driveway she brought the car to a halt. "Were here" she said the words dryly and stepped out of the car. She couldnt help not wanting to go inside, she feared that she wouldnt like what she found inside. But she ignored it and walked in.
"I found a dr..." she said to the boys, oddly close to each other. "I found help..." brooke looked at jeremy, hoping he wouldnt notice the bulket wound in her arm. As shed rather not explain it
-
Claire started crying at the sight of her dad. She ran over to her mommy and hugged him tightly. "Dadddyyyyy" she sobbed out and hid her face into her mother's chest. Her red curls were wild and in her face. Her clothes that used to be a pastel pink was covered in spots of blood and dirt. She looked like she was abandoned again in all honesty it was just the sick look of this apocalypse.