Ah, hello again friends and fans that may or may not be here. Welcome to my story! The next story! The non L4D storyline story that still has L4D characters! One thing I would like to bring up about this story, if you read the AN is that the story is going to switch between Sophie's POV and like, third person POV and im not sure if it shows up in the story but I used the horizontal lines to indicate a switch, so hopefully it shows up...
Anyway, enough goofing around, read the story and enjoy it!
Enjoy!
~ZombiesXBrainzz~
Chapter 1: Broken Memories
I sat on a tree branch, watching over the top of the walls of the city, I could see the tiny ant people move within, driving their tiny ant cars, but I wasn't close enough to see the very specific activities they were participating in. Small snowflakes fell as I picked at the rabbit meat in my hands, as far as small game goes, rabbit was definitely my favorite, and there was always plenty to go around. A twig snapped down below, "Soph!" My friend Darcy called up to me, "Come with me for a walk!"
"Okay, okay." I tossed the rabbit aside and jumped down. I had been sitting in that same tree for three years, watching the city, always wondering about my family on the inside. Even if I didn't remember much about them, I still cared for their safety. I was a hunter, just like Darcy which was cool in its own sense, we could jump to high places and we were pretty strong. We stayed with our smoker friend Max in a small shack in the woods not too far from the city, other zombies stayed away, we were a strong group together, and that was just the way it was in this world.
Aria looked out at the snow covered city from the kitchen window of the apartment she shared with her boyfriend Nick. She sighed as she moved a dish from one side of the sink to the other, wondering when Nick was going to be back from work. When they were rescued, the military tried assigning them jobs as best as they could according to skillset, and since Nick was a hardcore criminal, they sent him to work at the local grocery store keeping a close eye on him. Aria was a manager at a restaurant in town, she was fine with it, she always wanted to run a restaurant. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door, she wiped the soap off of her hands and answered it. Her friend Gina was there with her three year old daughter Thalia, "Hey Gina, come in." She invited them in.
Gina took her coat off, "I'm not bothering you am I?"
"No, no I was just doing dishes waiting for Nick to get home. Would you like some hot chocolate?"
"That sounds lovely, thank you." Aria walked into the kitchen and made up some hot chocolate.
Gina walked in behind her, "So were you still having that get together?"
"Yeah of course, it would be great to see everyone again you know, I haven't seen Rochelle in a while and I think we all need a break."
"Even Ellis?"
Aria nodded, "Even Ellis." She handed Gina a coffee mug of hot chocolate.
Ellis got back from his work day at the garage, he was tired and didn't feel like making dinner. He wanted to go to bed, but he didn't, Nick was due for a visit soon. Ellis hated the fact that he was being babysat by Nick and Aria, but it's what Sophie wanted, and he couldn't go against her dying wish. Ellis sat on the couch and looked over at the dingy blue Jansport backpack sitting in the corner. It was hers, it stuck with her throughout their entire journey, Aria gave it to him after they were rescued.
*Three years ago*
Sophia was gone, she was either one of those things or the military put a bullet in her head to stop her from becoming one, Ellis didn't know which he would prefer. Aria was a hot mess too, she had just found her sister only to lose her again. She had Sophia's bag in her hands, "Here..." She handed the bag to Ellis, "Aria... I can't, she was your sister." "Yeah, I've known her longer, I have a lot of memories of her." He took the bag, "Thanks Aria."
The bag sat untouched for three years, Ellis got up and grabbed it then sat back down. There were small tears in the backpack, probably from being old, he opened it. The first thing he noticed was her book, the Greek mythology one that she loved to read. Ellis ran his hand over the cover and opened it. On the inside cover she wrote her name, 'Sophia Vanderbilt', Ellis had never seen her handwriting before, he thought it was fitting for her.
He sat the book to the side and looked deeper in the bag, there were still some first aid supplies and some crumpled candy wrappers. Her clothes were bunched up in the bottom, he pulled out a faded pink tank top, a pair of black leggings, and a red and black lace bra, he recognized it instantly. It was the bra she was wearing when they were in the swamp, she was wearing the night he had sex with her, probably the best night of his life.
Ellis was kissing Sophia's neck, she seemed to be enjoying it, she was giggling after all. He stopped, "Ellis?" She looked at him with the bluest eyes he had ever seen, "Sophie, are you sure you want to do this?" "Ellis, I'm already naked with you in the shower. I think it's a little late to turn back. Besides, it was your idea anyway." She grinned, "What if something bad happens?" "Like what? I get pregnant? Ellis there is a minute chance of that happening on the first time." She teased, "You're right, you're right. Sorry I'm just nervous." "Don't worry, I am too." She kissed kissed him.
He smiled at the memory and looked back in the bag, the only remaining item was a blue fleece blanket. It was comforting to think of all the good times he had with her, but it also made him sad.
There was a knock at the door, "Ellis, you home?" Nick asked,
"Just a second." He put the items back and put the bag back in the corner, he opened the door, "What do you want Nick?"
"I'm sorry, did I ruin your happy ending?" He smirked,
"No Nick, I just got home."
"Whatever you say, c'mon let's go get some drinks."
"Don't you have to go home to Aria or something?"
"She won't mind, she's the one that makes me come here after work anyway."
"Maybe another time Nick. I have to work in the morning."
"You're no fun. See you tomorrow, you are going to the party tomorrow right?"
"At your place?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, fine, I'll be there." Ellis sighed, "You better show up or I'll beat your ass." Nick left.
Nick drove back to the apartment, it was late at night, he just wanted to relax. Inside the apartment Aria was wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, Nick smiled at how cute she looked. He picked her up and took her into the bedroom, she didn't move a muscle until he sat her on the bed, "Nick...?" She asked, looking up at him,
"You fell asleep on the couch, I was just putting you to bed."
"Shit..." She yawned, "I made food, it's in the fridge."
"Okay, I'll be in bed in a bit."
"Okay." She gave him a tired smile. He kissed her on the forehead and left the room. After he had eaten he headed to bed, as he took of his clothes he noticed a picture laying on the top of the dresser. It was a picture of Aria and Sophie, years before the apocalypse. They both had the same color hair and it was obvious they were sisters, Nick smiled slightly at the picture. He'd never admit it, but he actually had gotten to like Sophie, yeah she had gotten on his nerves, but she was caring and reminded Nick a little of himself. When she was gone, he cried to himself when no one was around, he didn't want to seem weak, especially in front of Aria. With a sigh Nick climbed into bed next to Aria and turned off the light.
"Something smells..." Darcy said,
"Well, when's the last time we did laundry?" I asked. She looked over at Max, he shrugged, "There you go, we have 3 smelly ass zombies wearing even smellier clothing." I said, walking into the shack.
Darcy walked over to the fireplace and started a fire, the living area lit up revealing our ratty furniture that came with the shack. The nice thing about this place was that it came furnished, the beds may have been old, but they were a place to lay our heads. Max sat on the couch, "We'll have to walk down to the river tomorrow." Darcy said,
"Hopefully it won't be frozen over." I said,
"I'll take care of it if it is."
"What are you going to do? Blow torch it?" I smirked,
"You're a bitch."
"But you still love me." I grinned and went into the bedroom that I claimed as my own.
The next morning I woke up to the sun shining in my face, "Darcy what the hell?!" I looked over to see her holding back the tattered curtains,
"C'mon, we have to do our laundry and shit, just because we look dead doesn't mean we have to smell it." I hissed at her, "Up."
"No."
"Get. Up!"
"Make me!"
"Fine." She grabbed my ankles,
"Darcy Lynn don't you dare."
"Get up and I won't have to."
"It's too early to get up."
"Suit yourself." She pulled me off of the bed, onto the floor,
"Bitch!"
"Shut up and get ready. We got shit to do." She left the room.