Disclaimer: I don't own shit.
All or Nothing
Prologue
May 11, 2013
Piper
"Alex?" I wake up with a strange grogginess I can't seem to shake, trying to pull me back into the black unconscious but only reaching half way as I can't seem to see past the blur of my peripherals like I'm about to faint, the feel of a bumpy discomfort from a moving vehicle the only thing keeping me awake, "What the fuck happened?"
"Hey, you're awake," the familiar raspy voice of my partner Alex Vause sounds hoarse and distant from my foggy brain as I try to register her words, "don't try to get up kid, the drugs won't wear off in a little while." She turns her head towards me, eyes away from the road to meet mine. She has a look I can't quite place, is that guilt you see on her face?
Images of doctors, nurses, tubes and needles flash in my memory, and I mouthed a silent vaccine before the blackness starts to take over and my pupils become too heavy, my vision fades as the darkness ushers me to the unconscious.
January 21, 2003
Alex
Piper had been determined to leave after I asked her, again, to deliver drug money. Half the drawers were emptied as she packed all her belongings, ready to leave me in Paris and fly back to Connecticut. That was how it would have been if not for an unexpected call from my aunt, delivering the devastating news of my mom's passing.
My mom, Diane, she loved Piper and in, as if, a final act to keep us together, her death deters Piper decision and resolve to leave. Instead, Piper helps me book plane tickets to New Jersey where my mom lived in a two bedroom apartment I bought for her, while I transformed from pragmatic drug dealer to mental-emotional breakdown. And thank god that she did, because I was paralyzed for days from the sudden news. Mom did always say she was a keeper, told me not to fuck up.
We were on the first flight two days later after we'd finally finished all the packing, my eyes still red from last night as I cried myself to sleep, my head on Piper's shoulder blades and my arms around her middle, holding tight and refusing to let go.
Her eyes are red too, from lack of sleep or otherwise, she made no indication but she moved like a well oiled machine even as I could see from her face a sort of wary tired expression, keeping it together when I couldn't. Even while we were in the air she continued to keep active by writing a list of things we needed to do and calls we needed to make for the funeral. I didn't even want to think about it, so eventually falling asleep as Piper worked away.
I woke up then as we were landing with a head of Piper's blonde hair on my shoulder, tear marks on her cheeks and I realized it was time to wake up from my emotional stupor. Piper had been strong for both of us and wasn't given the time to process in favor of giving me the time to grieve. I know she loved her too.
The voice in the PA system told us it was time to go so I wake Piper from her deep sleep, she must have been tired to not have woken up from the PA. She realized we'd landed immediately and starts to get up to grab for our bags but I cut in, "Babe, I got it."
She smiled a little then, the first time for a while since I asked her to do a drug run. No, probably since I got too busy to notice.
I turned to retrieve our bags from the top shelf of the plane just above us and sighing silently, because, Jesus I am such an asshole, I thought. What kind of person asks her girlfriend to deliver drug money? Then have to accompany her to her mom's funeral and still have the decency to smile at her?
"I can carry my bag Al," she replied, our bags slung over my shoulder.
"You carried my bag to the plane, I'll carry yours out," I said shrugging, "meet you halfway and everything."
She smiled again while saying, "How poetic, Ms. Vause." I'd almost forgotten how easy it was to be with Piper when we're not at each other's throats or otherwise screaming with it.
We got off the plane, headed for our luggage and hailed a cab to the hotel we'd booked the night before, it was cold out in the middle of winter as we walked in comfortable silence between us lessening my tension from the stress induced couple of days. We arrive at the hotel around 11am. The room was spacious with one queen sized bed in front of a TV, a bathroom with a shower and bathtub, and excellent heating and air conditioning. Not the most impressive place we've stayed in but good enough.
We left our luggage at one end of the room, our bags on the table by the flatscreen television. I told Piper we should have lunch after I made a call to my aunt to tell her we were at the hotel and schedule to meet the next day to arrange the funeral.
From behind me I could hear the hustled sounds of the television Piper had turned on, probably the news, as I talked to my aunt about meeting up the next day at my mom's place where my aunt had decided to stay while she was in New York.
"Hey Al, have you finished calling?"
"Yeah, should we get lunch? Anywhere particular you wanna eat Pipes?"
"Not really, can we just get room service?"
She must be tired, "Okay kiddo," I replied. I ordered Piper's favorites from the menu by the telephone.
"Al, come and listen to this," she told me, a small amount of panic flashes on her face. She turns up the volume on the news, the female reporters smooth voice becoming clearer.
An epidemic caused by a mutated Cordyceps fungus has hit the streets of New York, causing many people to suddenly become cannibalistic and aggressive. It reportedly started early last week, it is unclear as to where this infection specifically originates from or how it came to affect humans. However, it is known that the infection can spread from bites, and inhaling spores produced by others infected. Civilians are advised to stay at home.
A loud knock on the door jolts our attention away from the TV screen, a voice came from the otherside, "Room service!"
"Shit, I forgot about that," I said turning to the direction of the door, "just leave it out!"
I took the trolley inside, positioning it by the table. Piper got up to help me with the preparations for our lunch. We were silent for a while as we focused on putting all the food, drinks, plates and utensils. Then Piper speaks up, "New Jersey is pretty near us, I hope everything turns out okay."
"Mmm-hmm," I responded in acknowledgement but not putting any real thought into the news.
I pulled on one of the chairs and gestured for Piper to take a seat, "Lunch is served."
She looked both curious and a little skeptical to what I had done but she took the seat nonetheless.
Over lunch we talked about the things we needed to do the following days to arrange the funeral, like which flowers my mom liked best, if she would have wanted a fancy dress or something less grandiose. That trip down memory lane was both emotionally draining and relieving at the same time, it made me feel like shit yet somehow better.
We phoned some places over the afternoon, search over the internet how these things usually go, checking off things from Piper's list tried to get organized before the meeting with my aunt the next day.
I stopped at around 4pm, satisfied at the work we had done.
"Pipes, I think it's time to take a break," I spoke from behind her, her fingers stopped from typing when my hand began to massage her shoulders, "you've barely slept the last 3 days."
"Yeah, alright."
She stood up and backed away from me. It felt like a slap in the face, however deserved it still stung to receive her rejection. I tried to convince myself it was just the stress. But in all honesty I was afraid, Piper had been so adamant on leaving and my mom was gone too. She was the only one I had left, I couldn't lose her.
"Hey, why don't you lie down for a while?" I suggest, "I'll get us some coffee downstairs."
She noded and I headed downstairs where I spotted a little bar counter and some tables when we entered. There was some shouting and a crowd of people by the entrance, I noticed as I went over to the woman behind the bar.
"Hey uh, what' going on over there?" I leaned over the counter to ask.
"Oh just this couple got in an argument," she let down the glass and rug, gestured to the coffee maker, "escalated kinda quickly. You wanted a coffee?"
"Yeah, one black and one double cream please."
"Alrighty."
While I waited for her to finish making my order, I placed my attention to the commotion on the other side. The guards were dragging a man away from the crowd, and there was a woman, I presumed was the wife or girlfriend, whose hand was bleeding. Whispers from the other table suggest something about the man having mental issues and bit the woman when she pointed at him as they argued.
"Here you go," she places two cups in front of me and I thank her, grab both cups, one in each hand and began my walk back to the room.
When I got back Piper was asleep on the bed, I suddenly felt a wave of fatigue wash over me too. So I left our coffee cups on the bedside table, save it for later, then crawled in bed with Piper.
When I woke up it was already midnight, Piper was still in the exact spot she had fall asleep on. I had gotten up to take a leak but I found myself with the realization that in a few days I would be burying my mom, the water in my eyes flowed as I sat there until I decided it was probably best to get as much rest before the busy days started up again. When I got back though Piper was seated up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?"
"It's okay, I have to charge my phone anyway."
She walked to her bag and retrieved her phone and charger, plugged it on the outlet by the bedside table. I get back in bed and pat the space beside me, "You should sleep some more before we get too busy and you regret it."
"Okay," she got under the sheets and said, "Good night Alex." I snuggle up against her, rounded her middle with my arms. She's silent and I thought for a second she's fallen asleep.
"Hey, Al. Are you okay?"
Concern laced in her voice and I think how lucky I am to still have her here, "Yeah, I am."
I lift her hair and kiss her nape while she intertwines our fingers. We were silent for a while before I say, "Thanks Piper."
The only response I got was Piper's deep breaths, an indication she was both asleep and she must really have been tired.
January 22, 2003
Piper
I woke up at 6am feeling rested, Alex's arms were still persistently circling my waist. It had been a few days since I've had enough sleep and the warmth from the body beside me was luring me to get some more sleep but today was going to be a busy day and I wanted to get a head start, so with caution as not to wake Alex I untangle myself from her.
After I had taken my long hot shower I went about planning the day ahead, funeral homes, flowers, and caskets while drinking the cold coffee Alex had forgotten by the bedside table. After checking all the schedules at 7:15, I decided I needed to call Polly to tell her I would be back to Connecticut next week and a lot of things she's missed, she would be awake by now to get ready for work.
As I was getting up, my hip hit the table and I groaned from the shot of pain. Alex wakes up and looks around, spotting me holding on my injured hip and reaches for her glasses.
"Hey, what happened?"
"Sorry for waking you up, I hit the table when I was getting up to call Polly outside so I wouldn't wake you. Kinda defeats the purpose now."
"Isn't it kinda early to be calling Holly, Pipes?"
"Well, I wanted to let her prepare…"
"Prepare? For what?"
"For when I go back to Connecticut, I don't have a place to stay."
"What? You're still leaving?!" her voice was a few octaves higher now.
"Alex…"
"I can't fucking believe you. After all this," she stood up and marched towards me, "my mother just died."
"I'm sorry about your mom Al," I was feeling a little defensive now, "but this doesn't change anything, I won't be your mule anymore."
"Is that what you think this is?!," it's full on screaming match at this point, "God, you can be such an insensitive asshole sometimes. You knew what you were getting into, you think trips around the world are fucking free?!"
In response, I simply look her straight in the eye and say, "Fuck you."
The shock is evident on her face when I walk away and slam the bathroom door close. There was nowhere else to go so I just sat there, my back to the door and cried, sometimes wishing I had the resolve to slap her in the face and just get on the next plane home.
After some time, I sighed, got up and walked over to the sink to wash my face. My eyes were red and puffy from the crying, there were dark bags under them too, only 2 years and I looked so different from when I was 23 and fresh out of college even if I was jobless. Sick of looking at myself, I punch the mirror on impulse, resentment and anger. I can feel the broken glass pierce skin but the pain barely registers in my mind.
A sudden knock on the door takes my attention away from the broken glass, Alex's voice comes from behind, "Piper? I heard something breaking. Are you okay? Please, will you unlock the door…"
Thinking it was probably almost time to go meet up with Alex's aunt, I unlock the door but before I could get hold of the handle the knob twists and the door swings open.
Alex's eyes immediately darted to my bleeding hand, I muster all the resolve I have to keep my face emotionless and walk away from her while saying, "I'm fine, I'll pay for the broken mirror."
"Piper your hand is-"
"Yeah, well what do you care? I could have gotten shot in Brussels and all this wouldn't matter now would it?," I cut her off saying quietly, my face stoic but my voice full of resentment, "Just get ready so we can leave and get this day over with."
Alex just bows her head and walks away wide eyed. I almost feel sorry for saying what I did. Almost. But there wasn't a hint of regret when she asked me to carry that bag knowing I could have been killed if I failed, I remind myself.
I grabbed my sling bag next to Alex's backpack, neither of which we had unpacked and got some spare handkerchief I could use to wrap up my hand.
/
We arrived at Diane's place, a grand apartment on the third floor, by a rental car we'd called in yesterday, 30mins later than agreed. Alex rang the door twice, and again after about 3mins when nobody answered. After 5 more minutes, irritation was oozing out of me as I continually tapped my foot.
Sensing my irate mood, Alex decided to use the key she'd kept with her in case of emergencies.
Finally opening the door, Alex calls out, "Aunt Rach, you in here?"
Silence…
She turns to me, then points to the stairs saying, "You take the second floor rooms, I'll go check the kitchen and living room."
I nod to agree, glad for a little bit of space to lessen the tension between us. Watching her disappear behind the double doors, I head off to start searching.
The second floor came with a 4 step short stairs and an 8 step long stairs that were combined by a small platform in between. At the top, in front of the stairs, a little on the right, is the door to Diane's room. Next to Diane's room is Alex's and down the path is the second floor bathroom, where the door was open, indicating its unoccupied state. I'd been here a few times before Alex and I had gone traveling.
Diane's room was already slightly agape with some light seeping out. I knock twice before opening up the door fully.
"Hello?" I announce as I step inside.
The room was empty, Diane's old jacket hung on the armrest of chair by the table. The windows and cabinet doors were left open like someone had just been here but the room looked unused for days with visible dust settling on the surfaces. An old picture of Alex and her was on the nightstand, I walk towards it to pick it up but as I did, like an omen, a strong gush of wind blows from the windows that slams the door shut.
A startling noise resonates from the another room near me, just like the mirror at the hotel it sounded like broken glass. I walk to leave the room and as I open the door to look around I spot Alex's aunt inside the bathroom turned away from me.
I call out to her, "Aunt Rachel!"
I turn to the ledge to call out to Alex, "I found h-" I cut off as I see, from my peripherals, something suddenly moving towards me. Before I can turn to defend myself, I feel the wall, right next to the staircase, slam into my back and head. I raise my arms to push the my attacker but then I was punched on the right cheek causing me to fall down the 8 flights of stairs to the platform.
My visions dims but I can feel the adrenalines fighting back as my body struggles to remain conscious. I see the attacker and it's aunt Rachel but her face looked as though something was growing out of it.
I try to get up but the pain in my ribs from the fall makes me flinch. I look up and see aunt Rachel leap, her teeth bared and her eyes angry.
I close my eyes and lift my arms. It feels like time has slowed down and for a second it's completely silent. Then, a sound of something getting squished, then slammed. I can feel a warm liquid substance splash on my arms and clothes.
I open my eyes, there's blood everywhere and a headless body. I hear harsh breaths and look towards its direction to see Alex, golf club in hand and eyes wide.
"Shit."
A/N: OK. So this is the result of binge watching and playing, OITNB and The Last of Us. Dunno how to this is gonna play out so just bare with me. It's also the first time I've written anything so please be gentle. I won't pretend to be able to come at par with what either of those titles did. I bow down to them.
If you haven't played The Last of Us, I recommend it. All. The. Feels. In that game, just amazing. Hope you liked this.
If you liked it, let me know, if you did well then let me know too. Or not, it's your choice.