This isn't my first Icarly fic, but it is my first ever AU, so woo! I obviously don't own anything so please don't sue!
Summary: The United States and other parts of the world are under attack by an unclear enemy. The gang never got together and icarly was never created, therefore Freddie does not officially meet Carly and Sam until the attacks start.
Chapter 1
He was sixteen when it started, that much he could remember. He had been living with his mother in Seattle when the first wave broke out. It was pure luck he had even escaped the city before it succumbed to ashes. A young man, Spencer Shay, and his sister, Carly, who lived across from them in the apartment building offered them a ride out when the first warning came in. Spencer's father, who was in the military, was stationed in Arizona and the two of them were headed down to meet him. Freddie's mother, a natural born worrier, quickly accepted the offer to join them. They left on Tuesday morning exactly one week before the bombs came in and destroyed their home.
He remembers every detail of the morning he got into the car and began the journey that would mark the beginning of his new life. His mother woke him at 6 in the morning, bags already packed and everything ready. He showered slowly, wondering if this would be the last time he would ever be able to feel the calming pressure of the water on his back. He told himself that that was rubbish thinking, there would be showers in Arizona, and anywhere else he ended up in the next few years. It wasn't as if the world was actually ending.
They met Spencer in his apartment and Freddie was surprised to see not one, but two teenage girls on the couch.
"This is my little sister, Carly," Spencer motioned to the pretty brunette whom Freddie had seen around a few times. "And this is Sam," as Freddie's gaze landed on the other girl he felt a tugging somewhere inside him that made him uneasy. She wasn't smiling at him, but the glimmer in her blue eyes was enough to earn a small grin from him. Both girls were dressed relatively similar, in jeans and sensible shoes. Though Carly wore a pink knit sweater and light blue skinny jeans while Sam adorned a grey hoodie over a long sleeved tee and baggier jeans. Freddie himself wore black denim slacks and a brown pullover.
It was mid November and, although chilly in Seattle, he wondered if he would be hot when they got to Arizona.
"Ready to go?" Spencer asked the pair on the couch who nodded simultaneously. As Sam stood up to grab her duffel she eyed Freddie suspiciously.
"You go to Ridgeway?" She asked in a smooth voice.
"Yeah, why?"
"I've seen you around," she shrugged and followed Spencer out the door. When they reached the parking lot there were several other groups packing up cars and preparing to depart. Spencer owned a decent sized SUV, but with all the gear they had to put the back seat down so Freddie was left squished beside Sam who was in the middle between him and Carly.
"Where exactly is your father stationed?" Mrs. Benson asked not longer after they started on the road.
"Davis-Monthan air force base down in Tucson," Spencer answered.
"That's quite a drive."
"Almost a day's worth by Carly's calculations." Freddie chanced a glance to his right where to find Sam staring straight ahead emotionless. Beside her, Carly was reading a book.
"So you go to Ridgeway too?" Freddie asked.
"Went," Sam answered without turning to look at him.
"Do you miss it?" He asked. This caused her to turn and give him a look.
"Miss school? You really don't know me," she said and he could have sworn he saw the beginnings of a smile form.
"I think we had freshman English together," Freddie said.
"I don't remember freshman year and I certainly didn't pay attention in English."
"That was the year with Ms. Briggs," Carly chimed in, "certainly you remember her?"
"Didn't we have Ms. Griggs every year?" Sam asked. The car once again grew silent and Freddie shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He tried not to look out the window for fear that if he saw the city landscape disappearing he'd truly never be able to see it again. Yet, not starring out the window left little else to look at. He snuck continuous glances at Sam who appeared to be content looking straight ahead. Eventually he decided to close his eyes and try and sleep.
In his dream he saw his father. His brown hair falling over his warm chocolate eyes and that dopey grin his mother still reminisces about. He's smiling at Freddie, mouthing words to him and motioning with his hands. Freddie tries to run to him, to reach his father but he hears a scream behind him and turns to find Sam starring horrified. Her blonde hair is caked with dirt and blood, as are her ripped clothes. Freddie turns back to his father but finds that in his place is merely a rotting corpse. The last thing he hears is someone telling him to run before he's jolted awake.
He nearly jumps out of his seat and hits his head on the top of the car in doing so.
"What the hell?" Someone asks from beside him and turns to find Sam looking at him through drooped eyes. Beside her Carly is fast asleep against the window and his mother is also asleep up front.
"Everything okay back there?" Spencer asks and Sam mumbles an answer.
"Bad dream," Freddie murmured.
"Yeah, well I was having a pretty damn good one," Sam said sliding down in the seat and curling into Carly's side once again.
"Sorry," Freddie said but her eyes were already closed and she was back asleep. Outside the sky was dark and the scenery looked unfamiliar.
"How long have we been driving?" Freddie asked.
"We left at eight? So…about eleven hours."
"Aren't you tired?" Freddie asked.
"A bit," Spencer said, "I stopped at a gas station while you were all passed out and picked up a few energy shots so I should be good for another few hours. I want to get there before dark tomorrow."
"Alright."
"Look kiddo," Spencer said seriously, "a lot of things are going to change in the next few weeks, I think you should prepare yourself for the worst."
"The worst?"
"World War 3."
Thanks so much for reading! Please review and stay tuned!
