"Hurry up you damn slow girl!" The brunette called out, climbing over the barbed wire fence with ease, laughter escaped her darkened lips. She watched as the younger redhead clamored after her, a smile splitting across her freckled face.
"Never!" She exclaimed, catching up to the older girl, face flush from the exertion. The older girl smacked her back and began to whistle. The redhead attempted to mimic the noise, failing horribly, causing the other to wince.
"Ell, you whistle piss poor."
"Well excuse me Riley!" The two burst out into laughter, silencing it as the approached the looming skeleton of the local mall. They stood looking up at it, before Ellie shoved Riley and raced into the doors.
They ran around, shoving and pulling each other as they scavenged the remains of stores. Ellie halted in her searches in the pile of damaged books, holding one up with distaste.
"What'cha got?" Riley questioned, looking at the worn thing before wrinkling her nose up in disgust. The faded cover read 'Twilight', the girls had heard of the pre-infection book, one of many that glamourized love with the undead. Ellie stood, skimming through it before shoving it into her pack with a shrug.
"Seriously girl?" The older girl cackled, placing a few books into her bag as well. Green eyes shot over to brown with a smirk and another nonchalant shrug. Both girls shouldered their packs and made their way over the fallen shelves and rubble.
"Why no-" The words died on her lips the moment she saw them. Infected. She looked over to Riley who was silently backing away, motioning for her to follow suit, she nodded and began to do the same. They had managed to get a few feet away before the ceiling crumbled behind them, alerting the horde.
"Shit! RUN!" Riley screamed, grabbing Ellie's hand, almost pulling it from her socket as they fled. Ellie could hear the screeches of the Runners behind them, and the sound of her heart pounding in her ears.
"WATCH OUT!" She yelled as more Runners had climbed from a store front, effectively cornering the girls. They had backed themselves into a heap of rubble, unable to even climb to escape. The two locked eyes, sweat dripping down their faces.
"To death."
"To death."
Ellie managed to slide out a metal pipe, striking the closest Runner across the face, its head giving a sicken crack as it crumbled to the floor. In that split moment all hell broke loose as the two began to beat back the Runners, each blow succeeded to make the infected retreat until few remained. That's when it happened, one had caught Ellie off guard, toppling her to the floor, teeth baring. She threw up hers arms in attempt to protect herself, only for it to sink its teeth into her arm. She let out a scream, kicking it off, and picking up her fallen weapon, hitting it over and over again.
"Ellie!" Riley's voice passed her ears, as she focused on the mashed face of the once Runner. She felt a pair of hands rip the pipe from her grip and then one across her face. Green orbs refocused, catching sight of a mirrored face of fright.
"It got me too."
Fuck. Fuck.
This wasn't happening.
"Riley…"
"You know what, let's just wait it out."
"Riley…"
"Ya'know, we can be all poetic and just loose our minds together." Ellie stared at her before a tired smile cracked across her face, she reached a hand out and grabbed Riley's, giving it a squeeze. Brown met green and the two stood in silence as they made their back to the bookstore, settling in.
Three hours later, Riley was the first to go, and you know what?
I'm still waiting my turn.