20 YEARS LATER: SUMMER
Aubrey awoke with a start when she heard an obnoxious pounding on her door. Sitting up she noticed the other half of her bed was empty, making her grimace. She knew exactly who was knocking and where they had been previously.
"Chloe! I told you not to let me sleep through the drop! Why the hell did you go alone?" The blonde asked incredulously as she ripped open the door.
"Morning to you too sleepy head, and I couldn't possibly wake you! You looked so peaceful," Chloe winked at her walking into the room. Aubrey immediately took notice of the cut on her girlfriend's cheek, and the lack of cargo on her.
"Let me guess, the deal went south and those dicklicks got away with our pills?" Aubrey rolled her eyes, getting a cloth to clean Chloe's wound.
"Very funny. The deal went fine Bree, and before you ask, I got jumped by a couple of Robert's guys. Which leads me to another interesting fact: I know where he's hiding," The redhead's megawatt smile took over her face, as disbelief spread over Aubrey's.
"No way, we've been looking for months. Are those two assholes still with us?" Aubrey asked clearly trying to figure out which question was more important.
"I got the drop on him from one of my connections in town. He and pretty much all of his men are down at the docks. And you know I wouldn't still be here if I left them alive. Come on Bree, you know me better than that," Chloe watched as her girlfriend started thinking out a new plan of action.
"Okay… When do you want to go and pay him a visit?"
"Right now works for me! Let's go,"
They walked out of the apartment and down into the street. When they were younger it was hard to ignore random sweeps that the military would do, dragging people out of their homes and occasionally killing them. Now it was just easier to ignore the people being dragged out onto the street next to them. Sometimes though it's hard for Chloe to pull her eyes away. Sure you can't have infected running around the QZ but there must be a more humane way to take care of them. She heard one of the scanners go off as a soldier pressed it against a young woman's neck. The redhead looked away as they pushed the woman on the ground and executed her. She heard one of the other men being scanned get up and try to run away. Aubrey grabbed her hand as they heard three gunshots cut through the air. Neither had to look back to know what happened.
"Let me see your ID's," A guard asked as they walked up to the checkpoint. Chloe pulled out both of their papers and handed them to the man. Both were acutely aware of a giant armored truck moving into the next sector of the QZ with them, something seemed off about it but they both thought to just stay clear of it.
"There you go!" She quipped happily. Somehow the redhead never lost her smile, if anything Aubrey found that her girlfriend tried every day to find something new to smile about.
"What's your business here?" The guard asked, a scowl on his face.
"Got the day off for once! We want to visit a friend." Chloe lied, her smile getting tighter.
"Alright, everything checks out, move on through," The girls didn't even get to thank the man as they started to walk forward before the military truck delivering rations was attacked; a bomb went off making the girls scramble back. There were screams about fireflies, and getting the upper hand, but Chloe was a little more focused on the ringing in her ears as she tried to keep up with Aubrey. Aubrey quickly got the door open to a familiar building and they ran inside.
"You're bleeding, patch up. Here," Chloe said examining Aubrey, she had a small gash on her arm; probably from shrapnel. Handing her a small bandage, she watched as the blonde tied the bandage around her forearm tightly. Nodding when she approved of the other girl's job, they then started off down the hallway.
"So I guess we are going with plan B, all the checkpoints are going to be closed after this. We're going to have to go around the outside," Aubrey rolled her eyes. Chloe shrugged and nodded.
"Outside the wall…?" Chloe asked tentatively, sure the quarantine zone sucked, but outside it was scary.
"I mean unless you want to let Robert go? It may be disgusting down in the tunnels but I don't want to cut our losses" Aubrey said quirked an eyebrow
"I mean it's an easier way to get to our gear rather than doubling back?" Chloe laughed at the blonde's disgusted face.
"Yeah but everyone who passes through the tunnel dumps there trash there and it's gross."
"Hey Aubrey, Chloe did you see that shit?" A girl asked walking up to them from where she was sitting in the hallway. They were in an old apartment building, most of the rooms had been locked and boarded by the military so those who lived here stayed in the hallway unless they could break into a room.
"We were there Ashley, Hey, how is the east tunnel looking?" Aubrey answered trying to keep the bite out of her tone.
"Oh it's clear I just used it. No patrols. Where are you off to?" Ashley asked curiously walking with them down the twisting halls.
"Gunna go pay Robert a visit," Chloe said bouncing next to her girlfriend taking her hand.
"You too?" The other girl asked.
"Who else is looking for him?" Aubrey replied going through a mental list of competition she didn't want to deal with.
"Uh, Marlene. She's been asking around, trying to find him."
"Marlene? What do the fireflies need with Robert?"
"You think she'd tell me?" Ashley scoffed in disbelief.
"Well what did you tell her?" Chloe bit down on her lip. She didn't want to deal with the fireflies and she knew Bree didn't either.
"The truth, I mean I have no idea where he is hiding," She shrugged. The other girls both sighed in relief hoping that Queen Firefly had no idea where Robert is.
"Good. Stay out of trouble okay? Military's going to be out in force soon." Aubrey smiled at her not wanting the younger girl to get hurt. Ashley nodded and turned the corner entering a small room with the girls. A smaller blonde girl sitting on the couch perked up when her friend entered.
"I'll be safe guys. Hey Jessica the halls are clear if you wanna nap for a bit. I also brought some food." The smaller girl, Jessica, smiles brightly and waved at them as she scoots over on the couch for Ashley.
"Hi! The tunnels are clear, no signs of military or infected. Do I smell bread?" She asked excited once her friend cuddles up with her. Chloe and Aubrey smiled at the two girls, it was always nice to see what they could consider normalcy.
The redhead waved over her girlfriend to help her move a heavy entertainment center away from the wall. Behind it was a hidden hole in the wall that lead to under the building. Jumping down, both girls held back a dry heave as the stale air hit them.
"God, I told you they are throwing their shit away down here!" Aubrey gagged on the air. Chloe just shrugged and moved on. Walking over to the far wall the redhead started the old generator making the tunnel spring to life.
"Come on before you puke. Are backpacks are here still, thank god" Chloe laughed taking Aubrey's hand and leading her over to a workbench in the corner. They had hid their extra supplies in backpacks down there, this included an extra pair of clothes, flashlights and batteries, gasmask, and a 9mm pistol each. It's the easiest gun to get your hands on in this world, and a necessity to survival.
"Not a lot of ammo.." Aubrey inquired as she loaded her gun. She has a total of four bullets. If they're lucky they'll be able to pick some up as they go.
"Make your shots count then," Chloe smirked with a wink. Suddenly her stomach dropped. When you go day by day with your main concern being surviving sometimes you forget some situations are more dangerous than others. This isn't just illegally selling medicine to some family, this is going to be a shoot out.
"Chlo..? What's wrong my love?" Aubrey asked catching her girlfriend's sullen look. Putting her stuff down she walked over to the redhead and wrapped her arms around her waist.
"We just haven't done something like this in a long time, I love you," When she is scared or sad Chloe always gets this small, quiet voice, which contrasts her normal sunny disposition. It mirrors her absolute silence when they outbreak started.
"Hey, we are going to be fine Chloe," Aubrey smiles and tucks a piece of hair behind the other girls ear. "I love you too sweetheart." With those words she leaned in and kissed her softly. Chloe wraps her arms around the blonde's neck and leans back on the workbench. She pulls away from the other girl before anything can get too heated and smiles lovingly at the blonde.
"Thank you baby, now let's go kick ass. Boost me up?" Aubrey laughs at how quickly her girlfriend's attitude can change. They walk over to the exit of the tunnel which is a high ledge. Aubrey laces her fingers together and nods, running up Chloe steps in her hands and gets pushed up onto the ledge. Chloe holds her hand down and grunts as she pulls Aubrey up. They end up in a crawl space with a makeshift roof. Pushing it up softly Chloe checks their surroundings to make sure they are in the clear.
"We're good, you ready?" Aubrey nods and they both hop out and take a deep breath. The tunnel lets out into an old pizzaria, nature had taken over flooding into the small dilapidated building. Trees and grass had started growing in the restaurant and out of the giant holes in the wall it was beautiful how the sun fell into the building. That was one thing that Chloe loved about this world, her silver lining besides Aubrey, how nature took the world back in the chaos. In the most dilapidated and broken down buildings you could always fine grass, moss, a tree, it showed life in the darkest places. Chloe loved it.
"We haven't been out here in awhile," Chloe quipped with a small smile.
"It's almost like we're on a date," Aubrey looked behind and winked at Chloe making her blush.
"Well, I am the romantic type," This made the blonde chuckle and blush back.
"You've got your ways.. Where did we leave the ladder?" The small gully was sunken in and grown over. The only access to the surrounding buildings is via a hole in the wall of a second floor landing. Chloe just shrugs and they look around, all the tall grass and slabs of broken pavement make it difficult to find.
"Got it!" Came a sudden grunt from Chloe who was crouched behind a car. She pops up holding the offending object and Aubrey walks over to help guide her to the opening of the building. "Lady's first?"
"Why thank you my love," Aubrey giggled pecking the redheads lips as she climbed up the ladder. "Even though I know you just want to stare at my ass,"
"You know me so well," Chloe said as she checked her girlfriend out before climbing up the ladder behind her.
When they get into the building it resembles all the others, broken down and ruined. Walking through Aubrey made sure to check the rooms they passed through for anything they could use. One room made her heart fall upon entrance though, it had a few bunk beds placed around the room, and painted handprints on the walls. The thing was that the handprints were too small to be anyone else's but children. Having grown up in this world it really was terrible when she saw other kids who also have to endure it. It was worse when there was no recent signs of kids anywhere to be seen.
"You coming baby?" Chloe's voice floated in from the staircase outside of the room. Taking a deep breath the blonde called back yes and went to head out. She walked out and saw her girlfriend peering down the broken staircase below them with her flashlight.
"What's wrong?" Aubrey asked worried.
"Spores, and a lot of them." Chloe sighed going into her backpack and pulling out a gasmask.
"No, but the path was clear last time?" Aubrey growled putting on her own gas mask. A few years after the infection broke out they learned it was caused by a certain type of fungus that affected the human brain. If a body wasn't strong enough to hold the infection the host would find a dark corner and die, causing the spores to spread. Considering the bottom half of this building was dark and partially underground it was the perfect breeding ground for spores.
"Let's just go, where there are spores there are infected." the redhead sighed as she dropped down the broken staircase onto the bottom floor. She was right, as soon as they both dropped down they could hear the infected monsters groaning and running. What scared them though was the yells of people who clearly weren't infected. It was easy for them to hear that there were three infected in the area, silently they agreed that they would get one each and tag team the last. Both quietly crept up behind a gurgling, twitching being and quickly wrapped their arms around their throats. It didn't take long for the life to leave their dead bodies and the girls were quickly able to take out the last one together.
"That was easier than I expected, they were only runners" Chloe said stretching out her shoulders.
"Yeah, but I would be more comfortable getting out of here," the blonde grumbled. Looking down she looted some ammo off a few of the bodies and stood up. She tossed some to Chloe as they walked up another staircase to the next level. Checking in a room to the side they fine a small first-aid kit and a note. Chloe, the ever motherly one shoved the first-aid kit in her bag while Aubrey read the note.
Hey Brother,
We were so close. I'm sitting outside the walls knowing I'll never see the inside of the zone. While waiting for the smuggler to show up, we heard a squad of soldiers approaching. In our panic, we ducked into this building in hopes of hiding from them. None of us noticed the spores until it was too late. We're all infected - we have a few hours, maybe a day at most. I hope the smuggler is still coming so that I can at least pass this note to you. I should've listened to you and come to the zone with you when I had the chance. Now it's too late. Take care.
-Mark
"God, it may be awful in the zone but it's better than being out here," Aubrey sighs, these notes aren't hard to find. The ones that are filled with regret, torn families, loss. They are heartbreaking and it sucks when you come across one.
"I know honey, don't worry we will be back in the zone soon enough. We find Robert and we come back," Chloe says as she pulls the blonde into a hug. She nods in agreement and they move on. Soon enough they are jumping to the ground out of the spore infested building out into an open alleyway.
"Finally some fresh air. That's the one thing about the outside I love. I hate the smell of the city." Chloe says taking her mask off and inhaling the clean air deeply. Sure they were still technically in Boston but with the lack of people like in the zone it definitely smelled better.
"Maybe you should ask CR for some of those air fresheners?" Aubrey asked laughing at her girlfriends antics watching as she spun with her arms outstretched in the open area.
"You know, if they weren't expired, that'd be a great idea," Chloe giggled once she stopped spinning. Together they walked hand in hand through the next building, the plank they used to cross the broken floor had fallen so Chloe had to jump down and retrieve it. Once they were able to cross the gap, they moved to the next building which was an abandoned office. The girls ventured into a small office which bled out into a small courtyard. Softly Chloe knocked on the door. A little boy no older than seven opened it and looked at her curiously.
"Hey little man," She smiled at him holding up a few ration cards, pulling them back when he reached for them. "No soldiers, none of Robert's guys. Got it?" The boy nodded and took the cards. Shutting the door he ran off to check.
"I remember having to do that job. God it sucked," Aubrey sighed looing at the door where the boy had been. Kids in this world had it arguably worse, they were either orphans in the QZ's serving in military schools, or trying their best to survive outside the protection of the walls. There was two knocks on the opposite side of the door and that told them it was okay to move out. Once they left, the silence they had been traveling in was broken. The courtyard and surrounding allies and buildings had been turned into a makeshift market/living quarters.
"Hey Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. How you doin' pretty lady? I heard you got some merchandise?" A man said walking up to the girls. He was a junky that often tried to buy pills off them.
"Not now Terrance," Chloe said rolling her eyes and trying to walk forward.
"C'mon no no, I've got a few cards..!" Terrance pleaded grabbing Aubrey's arm and yanking her back. The blonde was quick to pull her arms away and pin the man to the wall.
"Not. Now. Terrance." She growled making sure he knew they were serious. "And never, grab either of us again. Understand?" She snapped. He nodded and she promptly let go pulling Chloe away so she wouldn't start a fight in the middle of the slum.
"Fine, whatever. You don't have to get all huffy-puffy about it." He said fixing his jacket as they left. The slum was a little busier than usual. They walk through passing by a dirt fight going on in an enclosed courtyard. Chloe pauses for a second to stare getting annoyed at these strangers. Why would you willingly want to fight and hurt yourself in a world that's more than willing to do that to you already. People were standing in a circle around them cheering them on. Most likely betting on a winner.
"Where do you think you're going?" A man said standing up and in Chloe's way.
"Malik, sit down. It's Chloe and I." Aubrey said standing behind Chloe glaring at the man. Realization dawned on Chloe when she recognized the man from when they were younger. He came to the Boston QZ when they did.
"Oh, sorry you two. I didn't recognize you. Been awhile.." He said scratching the back of his neck embarrassed. "Go ahead." he said sheepishly stepping aside to let them pass. Malik had been guarding a smaller part of the living quarters. It was primarily made out of shipping containers and the side of a couple buildings. There was a man standing under a tunnel made by containers. Chloe nodded her head toward him silently telling Aubrey to follow her.
"I'm looking for Robert." She said quietly not looking at the man. She flashed three ration cards in front of his face. "He pass through here?"
"Half an hour ago. He went back to the wharf. He's there now." The man said shaking Chloe's hand taking the cards.
"Alright let's go." Chloe said cheerily looking at Aubrey with her bright smile. Only she could smile and bounce around even when they were pretty much going on a hit mission. Aubrey couldn't help a small smile tug at her lips as she rolled her eyes.
"This is going to be interesting," She muttered and followed the redhead.
Hey if you guys liked this pop over to my Tumblr: ProbablyRileyWorks for more! I'll probably start posting extras to these stories and universes as well as answering questions and doing prompts!