Chapter 2
Phobias
Phoebe was the first to wake as the sun rose, giving light to the earth and removing the darkness. She stretched her neck and then looked at Piper who was clearly awake but was staring straight ahead.
"Piper you ok?" Phoebe asks but when Piper turned to look at her she screamed and began to push away from her. Piper's eyes where glazed over and a low growl was emanating from her. Phoebe used her feet to push herself away and then reached for the door handle of the car when she heard her name.
"Phoebe what are you doing?" Piper asks as she was pushed against the other door by Phoebe's feet. "Phoebe wake up!" she yelled as she could tell that she was in a nightmare or just coming out of one.
"Piper?" Phoebe asks as she got another look at her middle sister. Her eyes were normal and she seemed more confused than ready to eat now.
"Yeah what are you doing?" Piper asks and pushed her feet out of her abdomen.
"Oh sorry I must have had a nightmare," Phoebe replied and finally got the door open and stumble out trying to get her breath as Prue came up to her.
"What's going on?" Prue asks while holding a gas tank.
"Nothing just a bad dream," Phoebe replied by putting her hands in her back jeans pocket as Piper got out.
"Hay where you did find that?" Piper asks while stretching her body.
"In a car in the ditch," Prue replied as Phoebe was still looking at Piper oddly.
"Did you think I was going to eat you?" Piper asks noticing her demeanor.
"No," Phoebe replied but did not make eye contact.
"Phoebe Piper is fine," Prue said with a little laughter in her voice.
"I know but I can't just get read of my worst fear overnight," Phoebe said and Piper could not help herself and started walking like a zombie towards her," Piper stop it, its not funny," she said but could not help but laugh a little at how she looked.
"Ok guys quit goofing off and get to sucking," Prue said while handing Phoebe a hose she found of course the comment made both of them snicker a bit.
"Is that all I am to you, the one who sucks," Phoebe said and took the hose.
"Oh by the way you should not go anywhere alone," Piper said as she went over to the front of the car and sat on the hood.
"It was right there Piper," Prue said.
"I can't believe she is still afraid of me," Piper said and tossed her hands in the air as Phoebe was going to the car in the ditch to siphon some gas.
"She's not," Prue said and sat on the hood next to her.
"Well she is not the only one having odd dreams," Piper said while rubbing her eyes.
"Dream of any buffets," Prue said with a smile.
"Funny and kind of," Piper said and looked away.
"Spill."
"Ok but don't get all freaked out and for god's sake don't tell Phoebe. It was weird there was a bunch of them over a body eating it," Piper said.
"I think that is normal considering what we've just been through."
"Yeah except I was not grossed out by it," Piper said and made eye contact in hopes for some kind of reaction that was not of fear or concern.
"Piper I still think it's normal," Prue said but she was concerned as Piper did not like to see cuts or blood even though she was a chef, it still grossed out a bit.
"Ok did it slip your mind that there was a body in the car, because I don't think you're getting the concept of my phobia," Phoebe said out of breath as she did her job of ciphering the gas quickly.
"Sorry honey but it looks like it's been there for a very long time," Prue said sympathetically.
"Ewe," Piper said while wrinkling her face.
"Here I went, I saw and I sucked," Phoebe said while handing Prue the tank of gas.
"I will get this in and we need to find a gas station or something to get water and some food and maybe a map because right now I don't know where we are," Prue said and started putting the gas in the car.
"Hell," Piper said as she got in the driver seat.
"You know I have been giving some thought to your alternative reality theory and I think you're right," Phoebe said as she got in the passenger side. "There is no way this could have happened overnight."
"That doesn't really help. I mean what if we get to the manner and there's no book or a manner to begin with?" Piper asks as Prue climbed in the back seat and shut the door.
"I was thinking about that too I might be able to Astro project to the manner," Prue suggested.
"And I think that is too far, Prue you could get lost somehow, its too risky," Piper added.
"Granted I've never had to do it that far but it is worth a try," Prue said as Piper started the car.
"Piper's right it's too risky and I know that I can't deal with losing another sister right now," Phoebe chimed in.
"Wow two for two you usually never agree with me," Piper said and gave a sideways smile as they pulled off and onto the road.
"Don't get used to it," Phoebe said and tried to turn on the radio but all she got was static on every channel. "And that was unexpected." She said with a snort.
Leo managed to get out of the building he was in and was now standing in the middle of the street surrounded by iron and steel abandoned buildings and cars. He had no idea where Piper was or her sisters and started to think if they were in this mess where would they go. "The manner," he said and began to look for a vehicle that would get him out of the city. He was just about to open the door to a car he found when he felt something hard on his back in the sound of something clicking.
"Ok man turn around slow," someone said behind him and Leo put his hands up and did what he asks.
"Thank god I thought I was the only one left," Leo said as a man had a gun on him while two others stood behind him.
"Looks like he is the living and not Wally," one said and lowered his gun.
"Wally?" Leo asks.
"It's our affectionate name for the dead," the man who was holding the gun replied.
"So you call them Wally?" Leo asks again a little confused of the nickname.
"Have you ever met Wally?" the other man replied with a sneer.
"Hay my name is the Greek," Greek said.
"Leo," Leo said.
"This is Frank and Steve, listen buddy I hope you're trying to get out of the city because this place is crawling with them," Greek said.
"Yeah, I got separated from my fiancée and her sisters. My guess is they are heading out of the city as well," Leo said.
"You can come with us, we need some strong men, and do you know how to shoot a gun?" Greek asks.
"Yes but I used to be a medic in the army but I am retired now," Leo replied.
"A medic we could definitely use one of those, welcome aboard," the Greek said as a truck pulled up with two people in it. The Greek and the others walked around back and opened the metal door as it was a delivery truck of some sort. Leo went to step in and immediately notice two recognizable faces.
"Darrell, Sheila," He said but they both looked at him like they did not know him.
"How do you know our names?" Darrell asks while his son was on his lap. Leo tried to think of something as he realized he may be in some other kind of reality.
"You're a police officer right, I think I saw your photograph when you arrested some bank robber," Leo replied and Darrel nodded but was clearly suspicious.
"And my wife?" Darrell asks.
"Um it was in the article," Leo replied as he got in with the others.
"Ok guys lets keep the chit chat to a minimal we need to be vigilant, we could be rushed at any moment," the Greek said and hit the back of the trailer to signify the driver to go. Leo sat down across from Darrell and Sheila and tried not to look at them too much as he did not want to make them more suspicious of him than they already were.
Piper has been driving for an hour while Phoebe and Prue where sleeping and all she could think about was the dream she had. Occasionally distracted by the numerous cars abandoned and the one she had to navigate around on the highway. Belongings of all type, clothing, toys and other personal items were scattered about next to the cars. Whatever reality they were in it truly was the end of the world or at least the one they knew. Finally in the distance she could see what looked like a gas station and as her stomach growled from hunger and her lips dry from thirst, she felt a little relief at the possibilities this stock could offer.
"Phoebe wake up sweetie," Piper said while giving her a slight nudge.
"Don't eat me!" Phoebe jolted and then looked at Piper apologetically. "Sorry."
"It's okay and look a gas station," Piper said as Prue was woken up by her baby sister's outburst.
"What's going on?" Prue asks while sitting up.
"Hopefully a clean bathroom," Phoebe replied.
Piper pulled in and could already tell that the gas was drained of any remaining drops in the pumps and the place looked abandoned for years. "There might be some water," she said and put the car in park.
"Food, I am starving," Prue said as she got out.
"Whoa we can't just trollop in there, what if those things are there?" Phoebe said as she got out.
"Fine what do you propose?" Piper asks.
"Weapons, we need weapons oh and remember to hit them in the head," Phoebe said as she found a plank of wood with some nails sticking out of the end.
"Phoebe we have powers," Prue said.
"Yeah and how well did that work the last time," Phoebe said while looking at Piper.
"I think we are safe from a mob here," Piper said.
"Coming from someone who has an active power, I don't remember so I need to go all medieval on their ass," Phoebe said as she gripped the plank of wood tighter.
"Lets just go slow and look around ok," Prue said as she was too hungry to argue.
They slowly walked over to the front door and the glass was covered with grime as Piper used the sleeve of her shirt open it.
"Really Piper considering what your clothes look like right now you're worried about a little dirt," Phoebe said and Piper just gave a sarcastic smile. They walked into the relatively small gas station and were expecting it to be empty, but the shelves were at least half-full of canned food and other items.
"Thank god," Prue said as she went right to the food. Piper went to the coolers and looked for bottled water. There was no electricity so finding anything cold was not an option. Phoebe was looking around while she kept the plank of wood at the ready as she checked the shelves for flashlights and other useful items.
"Doesn't anyone think it's odd that the shelves are not cleared off?" Piper asks while bringing out bottles of water and putting them on the counter.
"No if this happened extremely fast it's possible people did not have time to gather anything," Prue replied as she put cans of food on the counter next to the water. Phoebe was next to bring what she got and after dumping the pile with the others it was clear her mind was somewhere else. Flashlights and batteries were normal along with aspirin and other medicine, but what through them were the condoms.
"What?" Phoebe asks as they just looked at her.
"Planning on getting down and dirty with one of the dead?" Piper asks.
"Cute and coming from you, considering Leo," Phoebe replied and then could see the worry in Piper's eyes. "Oh honey, I'm sorry," she said.
"Its ok I'm sure he's fine," Piper said unconvincingly.
"What's up with the condoms?" Prue asks as her curiosity was too much to just let go.
"If we find a stream we can put water in them and then use the bottles to boil the water," Phoebe replied.
"Its plastic won't it melt?" Piper asks.
"No not if you keep it high off the flame," Phoebe replied.
"And you know this how?" Prue asks.
"One of my friends in class went hiking and got lost luckily one of them knew how to survive," Phoebe replied as they heard some noises coming from a small room.
"What was that?" Piper asks.
"I don't want to stay around to find out," Phoebe replied as her body tightened. The noises got more intense as Prue found a bag to put the stuff in. They could also hear groaning coming from the darkened room.
"Its probably just one, we can handle one I think we need to see if there is anything else here we need before we take off," Piper suggested.
"Fine then you go get it because apparently they don't want you," Phoebe said.
"Phoebe," Prue said after finishing putting the stuff in the bag.
"Well someone has to go get it," Phoebe said.
"Here dead person," Piper said as she started to walk forward and the thing that was making the noise emerged from the small room. Its jaw was devoid of skin and you could see the anatomy that made the jay up. Its eyes were glazed over like the others with a white film and devoid of emotion. It was pale and looked like it died of a wound to the chest as it looked fresh and open. Piper backed away and got ready to freeze it as Phoebe was also ready to do what she needed too. Prue stood next to them ready to use her power as Piper flipped her wrist and it frozen spot while stretching out its hands.
"Ok here we go," Phoebe said and gathered the courage to walk towards it.
"Phoebe wait, I can just leave it like that while you guys look around," Piper said as the thought of seeing someone's head smashed in was not a pleasant one.
"Piper would you want to be stuck like this, I mean look at it, its not human anymore we are doing it a favor," Phoebe said.
"Is that what you would do to me?" Piper asks as the thought that she could still turn never really left her mind since it happened.
"Piper your fine this is not going to happen to you," Prue said as Phoebe just stood silently. "Phoebe go ahead and do it, this is not our reality anyway," she finished and started looking at the shelves.
Phoebe took in a deep breath and raised the wooden plank with the nails facing outward. She held her breath as she brought it down right onto the dead man's head. Piper closed her eyes tight as the nails embedded themselves into the man's skull. Phoebe tried to pull out the plank as the man fell to the ground and was now unfrozen and had to use her feet to get leverage on his chest as the first strike did not do its job. She then finally was able to pull out the nails and came down again and again. The small little gas station filled with noises of bone crushing in wet thuds as the man stopped moving. Blood was pouring onto the already stained floor and some of it ended up on Phoebe. She staggered back somewhat exhausted as her body shook she could no longer keep the contents of her stomach contained in turn to vomit. Piper still had her eyes closed as she could hear the dry heaving of her baby sister. Prue walked over to her and pulled her hair back.
"You ok?" Prue asks.
"Yeah but that sucked," Phoebe replied while resting her hands on her knees.
"I know but it was the right thing to do," Prue said and they heard the door open and Piper exiting. They both looked at each other and Prue grabbed the bag while leaving with Phoebe in tow.
"Piper wait!" Prue said as Piper just started walking away from the car and onto the road.
"I can't do this," Piper mumbled while shaking her head.
"Piper," Prue said and grabbed her by the arm to stop her from walking any further. "I know this is hard but we did not have a choice."
"Yes we did, we could have just kept him frozen while we looked around," Piper said.
"All it takes is a bite Piper or just a scratch from one of those things and then we are infected," Phoebe said in defense of her actions.
"So you still think I am?' Piper asks as she looked at her baby sister directly in the eyes.
"No because it was different with you," Phoebe said but she still did not sound confident in her voice.
"You don't believe that," Piper said.
"Ok stop it; we will not turn on each other. Phoebe if Piper was infected she would be running a fever or something would be changing, but she is fine and its been at least 24 hours," Prue said in hopes to calm the situation.
"You just have to promise me that you will not do that to me, kill me that way," Piper said as her eyes began to water and she headed back to the car. Phoebe tossed the plank of wood she was holding as the thought of having to do that to any of her sisters was horrifying.
"Piper I will never hurt you," Phoebe said while going after her.
"And I will never hurt you," Piper said as she opened the car door. Phoebe grabbed her and hugged her.
"I'm sorry," Phoebe said and Piper put her chin on Phoebe's shoulder while hugging her back. Prue joined in and after a few moments they separated and got back in the car to continue their long drive to San Francisco.
"Shit did anyone get a map?" Piper asks.
"Yeah right here," Phoebe said and began to open it up to read it.
"Oh no missy you can't see that thing without your glasses," Prue said and took it away from a squinting sister.
"Right," Phoebe said and shrugged her shoulders.
"So what did we get to eat?" Piper asks and Phoebe began to look through the bag.
"Little wieners," Phoebe replied.
"Good at least we have condoms for that," Prue said while unfolding the map.
"Right now I don't care what it is, give me," Piper said and Phoebe handed her the little can of tiny hot dogs in a God knows what sauce.
The Queen of wands was looking over three empty glass caskets in a red velvet room as Pitivo came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"You seem depressed, that's more my job," he whispered.
"Discouraged and how could they just disappear I don't like looking like a fool in front of my clients," Jenett said while putting her hands on his arms.
"You are no fool Jenett," Pitiov said while she turned around to face him.
"I was so looking forward to the next step with them."
"As I, but we still have to diaries maybe there's a clue on where they're hiding," he said as he pulled them out of his coat pocket and placed them in her hands.
"Perhaps, it's fascinating the things people will reveal with ink and paper," she said and opened up Phoebe's diary while smiling.
To be continued...