Techz: I don't think anyone has an opinion anymore. I ask you if you like it and only one person speaks up. I will go ahead and start the series anyway. JUST TRY TO STOP ME NOW!

Natasha had picked up one of her tails and was inspecting the comb finish. 'Hmm, Zoey is even more depressed than usual. There is definitely something still bothering her. I don't know but I hope she's coping…'

"Right guys, get ready cause were only stopping at one shop.

Max had declared the plan, both morphs nodnodding their heads in what appeared to be a mutual agreement. A rare and assuring sign that let Max know that there wasn't going to be another scene like last time Zoe teased Natasha. He looked at Natasha who was looking back at him with her ember eyes. She quickly left the car to hide her face, it having heated up and become shaded bright pink. Max turned in his seat to see Zoe picking some dust particle off her left side shirt and flicking it away. Zoe looked up to see Max staring at her top, moreover her bosom.

"Perv!"

123

They were all out the car and in the parking lot. Natasha stuck by Max's left and would take a glance at him at regular intervals. Max was busy trying to cross road after road safely to notice any signs. He weaved around a car and made his way around another. Zoe was behind them both in her army like attire, looking sceptically at anyone within a ten-meter radius.

Zoe hated people. She found them weird with their bad habits. And the ones that go out their way to make others miserable, others lives miserable, hers miserable. They all deserve to rot in hell. She had never told anyone of the tragic events before max took her in. Max had been the exception to her paranoia and prejudice. Once the unspeakable was over and Zoe had lost faith in humanity, she shut herself off from the world. Max had found her by sheer chance and had taken her in. She had placed a lot of faith in him. Max was Zoe's savior and she wanted to mean something to him like he was to her but for now, she would try to protect him from anything that threatened or imposed even a scratch to Max.

Zoe slid over the boot of the car and fell in behind the pair again. Her stride was stiff and her face emotionless. Natasha on the other hand was trying to make small talk with Max, flicking her tails as she went.

"What delectable treat are you planning on testing today Max?"

"Hmm… I'm not sure. I will probably decide when we get there."

Natasha was unsatisfied with his answer and so tried a different question that was a little more… person.

"I do believe that they have a chocolate covered one or one that's been finely caramel coated with chocolate chips on top. Which one of the two would you pick first?"

Max thought for a second, Natasha finally getting an answer.

"I heard that they have the classic cinnamon. I might try that one."

Natasha rolled her eyes as she once again was foiled by his stupidity. It was a simple question really.

They entered the mall and made their way through bustling crowds, people dotted randomly as if this was the only place in the world that they could be. The trio weaved in and out of traffic and soon enough they had made it past the crying children, poorly trained vendors and an overpopulated arcade. Natasha was glancing into every window of every cloth shop. Imagining what each dress would look like on herself. Zoe had spotted a shoot' 'em up in the arcade and had become increasingly weary, the two people playing were co-operating in a timely and planned manner. Zoe turned away and continued on.

The que was long but surely enough, the three found themselves waiting between the Krispy Kreme revival enthusiasts.

"Hey, Zoe?"

The Zorua morph looked at Max with an inquisitive look. Her face was adorable but her frown got to him.

"What flavor are you getting?

Max let Zoe think and so asked Natasha meanwhile.

"You're getting caramel, right?

She nodded enthusiastically. Max was content with her choice and went back to the indecisive Zorua.

"I will probably have choco…"

"FREEZE, EVERYBODY ON THE FUCKING GROUND, NOW!"

A pissed off man bearing what looked like a semi-automatic rifle and wearing a poorly constructed heist mask, now had the store at gunpoint. There were whimpers of panic as most ducked to the floors and some outside the shop fleeing from the hostage situation. This was clearly a robbery.

"NOBODY FUCKING MOVES OR I WILL BLOW OUT ALL YOUR FUCKING BRAINS!"

Max had taken himself, Zoe and Natasha to a crouching position. The human and Vulpix were coward next to each other as the Zorua stayed statue still on the ground in a crouch of her own.

The man with the rifle had gotten a small bag and was collecting wallets from a table of poor victims. One man who looked rather tough had said something against the gunner and was asking him why he was doing this.

"JUST HURRY UP AND PUT THE FUCKING WALLET IN THE BAG OR IT'S BYE BYE FOR YOU!"

The man in question said his final word, angered he told the gunner:

"No"

*Bang*

The man fell back in his seat. He had been shot from point blank in the head. The gunner smiled wickedly and looked around with his sadistic joy. Blood had started pooling on the floor of the place and this was enough to set her off.

"AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO HEROES!"

Collective crying and the prayers of some masked the Zorua's actions. Zoe slid her hand onto the front of the glass counter she was against. She now had a plan of action. First: if she timed this right, then she could jump up and grab the ball point pen atop the display between the murderers checking. Zoe counted. 'one… two…' The evil, masked being moved to the next table. A few watched as the Zorua stood and then sat again.

Zoe now bore the pen. Now to execute the next stage of her plan.

"ALRIGHT, HURRY THIS UP FUCKTARDS. I WANNA BE HOME FOR YOUR MOTHERS COOKING!"

Zoe had shuffled a foot's worth and stopped before the man spun round once more. He turned back to the table to collect wallets. Max whispered to Zoe in a hushed yet worried tone, spotting the young vixen move away from him.

"What do you think you are doing?! He will kill you!"

Zoe whispered her next statement, to herself more than him

"Then I will die trying to protect those who I care about."

Zoe turned forward again in order to complete her mission. Max couldn't call out or grab her. The risk was too great.

Zoe waved to a group of mourning people in the far back corner of the room. One's attention was caught and after a few seconds of letting the crazy psycho scan the room, they looked at one another. Zoe motioned herself as crying and then motioned up. She had a finger man walk across her palm, point at them before showing the pen, pointing to herself and making a subtle stabbing motion.

The woman had turned to her friends and by a sick twist of fate had made themselves a target in order for the plan to work. The man with the gun was emptying a cash register when he heard wailing and crying double, ringing in his ears and stunting his concentration. The man walked over to the group of people at the table. The gunner held the riffle up and fired a single round into the ceiling. Plaster board showers the table, leaving foul dust in the wake of everyone crying. It was sickening to watch.

"WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU LITTLE SHITS, CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY!"

Zoe was so close, she had stood up and creeped along the floor silently. She held the pen firmly with intent to harm. She rolled the pen around her fingers uneasily with full knowledge of what monstrosity she was about to commit. Seven steps to close the gap. All she had to do was… Her plans were foiled as one of her boots squeaked against the ground, echoing through the now lifeless shop. This was it, one sound, one chance to live, a million to die.

Zoe rushed forwards and came closer, the man tried to spin around but was speechless as his voice box was pierced with the writing implement. Zoe then punched his chest which caused him to drop the rifle, the dull weapon clattering as it hit the floor. Max watched in both awe and disgust as the man slumped to the floor over his rifle. His throat had become a blue and red fountain as the pen snapped in two. Zoe now stood over the corpse of the fallen as blood stained her tank top.

People in the place generally rejoiced at their savior but as soon as the real danger was over Zoe left.

Max and Natasha both stood speechless at what had just happened. A selfless murder to save lives. Neither knew Zoe to be capable of hurting someone never mind taking a life.

Zoe trudged through the empty mall. She dropped the remaining, bloody pen as tears streamed down her face. She banked sharply to the right and made her way to a door marked 'bathroom.' She was crushed by what she had done. What did he think of her now? Savage? Carnivorous? She didn't know anymore.

Natasha had been with Max as they stood without a single word joining the freshly painted floor. Max started in a run, breaking into a full sprint following the trail of blood that was left at regular intervals. Max spotted the pen that had mixed into a pool of red and black. He had to find Zoe and fast.

He arrived at the toilet doors and walked right in, disregarding any competition that the sign stating 'female' could socially imposed. He burst in to the roaring silence that the bathroom held. Stalls lined the back wall, from which raptured breath could be heard behind a single closed door.

"Zoe?"

Nothing. The room fell silent except for the ringing in his ears. He waited for a full minute before he heard a sniffle. He strode to the door and placed a hand on it. Max sighed before asking in a calm and collected fashion.

"Zoe. Please open the door."

"No! Go away!"

"Zoe… Please let me in."

Yet again with the silent alarm in Max's head. A small click let Max in to see her. She sat on the seat, looking up through worried eyes as she hid her face between crossed arm, on her knees. She looked both anxious yet expectantly as his gaze bore down on her.

Max held his arms out and Zoe jumped up and held him close in his loving embrace. She wept into his shoulder as he held her firmly. He wanted to let her know that he was here for her. Zoe cried. Like the first time they met. He was her shoulder to cry on in such an empty and vast world. She felt complete with him but still desired more. She just couldn't tell him. Max let out a breath that riddled.

"Shh… Don't worry, I'm here."

Techz: There. Another chapter. Please comment and follow to let me had an accurate idea of who's reading this. If you don't have an account, then literally comment that you are following. Thank you for reading another chapter of DWIH. See you next time.