Chapter 2-The Survivors
Haruka gently laid the sick little girl in the backseat and closed the door. She looked back at Michiru talking to the new girl and felt a sense of unease. Food supplies being low as it is, now there would be two more mouths to feed.
When this all started, it was just her and Michiru, fighting through the mass of the undead and setting up their own fortress in the beach house. Slowly, they started to run into other survivors and before they know it, the group expanded to eight people, including a little girl they rescued and adopted.
Haruka glanced at the watch and saw that they were late to report back for about an hour. Hotaru would be worried. She snapped her fingers at the other two and then tapped on her watch. Leapt into her yellow convertible, Haruka started the car. When Michiru and Usagi got in, Haruka slammed down on the accelerator, eager to get back…
The wind whipped past them harshly as the car zoomed down the empty roads. Haruka glanced at the stranger in the rear view mirror and frowned. Usagi was bending down feeling Chibiusa's forehead and Haruka could see a suspicious-looking wound on Usagi's neck.
Before she could ask, Michiru started talking. "So back at the house, we have six other people. There is another girl that's about the same age as Chibiusa. I am sure they will become great friends."
"I am sure…."Usagi's voice trailed off. "I just want to say…thank you for saving me earlier and now trying to save my little sister. Once she's all better, we will leave." Usagi's eyes darted towards Haruka.
Damn. She's so sweet…Haruka groaned internally. "Is it just the two of you left? Your parents?"
"They died." Usagi bowed her head.
Michiru nodded slowly and once again looked at Haruka. She knew that look well and once again Haruka groaned.
"Then, stay with us. I am sure we can all manage." Michiru said to Usagi.
The ride back was uneventful and they finally made it back to the safe house. "Wait here." Michiru got out of the car and held up her flashlight. Two quick flashes and then two flashes responded from the roof of the house.
"Rei is our sniper of the group. That was "don't shoot us, it's just us" signal." Michiru explained.
Haruka picked up the little girl and carried her towards the house. Michiru and Usagi followed closely behind.
The minute they open the door, a little girl with raven hair ran straight towards Michiru and hugged her legs.
"Hi, Hotaru. Sorry, we are late." Michiru bent down and kissed the girl. "Can you go wake up Ami-chan?"
Hotaru nodded and ran off towards the back of the house. Usagi set down her bags and looked around in awe. The windows were painted black so she didn't see, but it had been months since she was in a house with electricity.
"How?" Usagi asked as she pointed at the lights.
"Makoto was training to be an electrician and she was the one that rigged up the solar panels," Haruka replied as she set Chibiusa down on the couch.
"Usagi?" Ami appeared in the doorway and gasped.
"Ami?" Usagi looked just as surprised.
"You guys know each other?" Michiru asked as she scooped up Hotaru onto her laps. "What a small world."
"We were in the same class back in high school, Ami was the genius." Usagi ran up to Ami and gave her a big hug. "I am so glad you are okay. So, you got into medical school? That's so cool…"
Ami's face turned beet-red and she stammered. "Y..yes. I did. Is your family okay?"
"Chibiusa and I made it…my parents didn't. Ami, please save my sister. She's been running a fever for about a week now and she's not getting better." Usagi lead Ami over to the couch.
Hotaru jumped off Michiru's lap and quickly ran over to the closet. She then returned with a heavy doctor's bag and handed it to Ami.
"Thank you, my little doctor-in-training." Ami patted the little girl on the head. Opening her bag, she pulled out her stethoscope and she started to examine Chibiusa.
Just then, four more young women gathered and stared at the newcomer.
Usagi looked at the group and felt intimidated. They all looked like they were straight from a model spread. The girl with the black hair had such an intensive stare that Usagi couldn't help but avert her gaze.
"This is Makoto, the one that knows everything about electricity. This is Minako, who just graduated from the police academy when everything happened. This is Rei, best archer and sniper of the group. This is Setsuna, she is the resident scientist, so to speak. Don't go into the room with the big red lock, that's Setsuna's lab, along with her two zombie subjects. Everyone, this is Usagi and this is her younger sister Chibiusa." Michiru quickly did the introduction.
"What's your skill set?" Rei asked bluntly.
Embarrassed, Usagi looked down once again. "I don't have any fighting skills…I suck at science and math…I don't know what I am good at…"
"So you have no skills at all…." Rei made a rushed judgement.
Michiru stepped up and held Usagi's hands. "I don't know why I know this, but from the moment I saw you, I sensed that you are important somehow. Plus, you said you were studying to be a teacher. Forgive me for being selfish, but I was hoping you could help my little girl Hotaru."
"Oh…what's wrong with Hotaru? And I've only been studying for two years, I don't know everything yet…" Usagi shook her head, unsure what possible way she could be of any help to them…"But I will try my best…considering everything you've done tonight, Michiru, I am forever in debt to you guys."
Michiru gave her partner a look and Haruka quietly led Hotaru out of the room. "Time for bed, little firefly…"
Once they were out of earshot, Michiru recounted the encounter. "Haruka and I were scavenging for food in people's apartment one day and we found her in a pool of blood, next to her dead father. She had a knife in her hand, and we think that she had to kill her dad. Anyway, we don't know how long she stayed there, and she was in such shock….she didn't say anything for the entire way back. At first, we figured it would go away once she felt safe here…but it's been months and she remained silent. She bonded with all of us and she seemed happier, but still wouldn't talk…"
Usagi felt tears welling up in her eyes and she turned to her sister. If Chibiusa was left alone…..if she had to fend for herself in this new cruel world…Usagi shuddered at the thought.
"I will try my best. I did take a few courses on child psychology back in the day, so I hope it will be useful…"
Makoto left the room and came back with a steaming bowl of noodles. She ushered Usagi over to the table and set the food down. "I am sure you are hungry. Here…Don't worry, Ami is very good at what she does, and your little sister will get better in no time."
Usagi's stomach growled loudly and she dove in. "Oh my gosh, fresh tomatoes. Where did you get this…"
Makoto sat down opposite of Usagi and beamed. "My dad used to have a garden and I learned how to grow stuff. I'll show you the garden tomorrow. Maybe you could help me out there too if you don't mind…"
Ami came over and put her arms around Makoto. "She's the electrician, farmer, AND chef of the group. This girl here is amazing." Ami pulled up a chair and sat down. "Anyway, Usagi, Chibiusa did need antibiotics. It started as a cold, but without the right medication, the infection spread and hence the high fevers. I just checked the loot and Michiru did find a huge stash of antibiotics. So, give her a few days and she will be good as new."
"Thank you, Ami."
Minako plopped down on an empty chair and started to clean her rifle. "So, Usagi, what's your kill count?"
"What?"
"How many zombies have you killed? How many people have you killed?" Minako carried on as if her questions were about what Usagi had for breakfast. She only glanced up when Usagi started to cough and choke on her noodles.
Usagi studied Minako's face to see if she was kidding. Killing people? Usagi had a hard enough time killing zombies, never mind innocent people. Perhaps she was lucky that she didn't have to, but she couldn't imagine herself pulling the trigger.
Before Usagi could answer, she felt a threatening presence behind her. Suddenly, a pair of hands pushed Usagi's head down and her hair was flipped over.
"What is that?" Rei demanded while pointing at the wound.
"Hey, what are you doing.." Makoto stood up. Minako pushed Mako back, then gripped the rifle and aimed it at Usagi.
"Ami, get over here. Does that look like a bite mark to you?" Rei tightened her grip on Usagi.
Usagi felt her heart pounding and as she looked up, she found herself staring down the barrel of Minako's rifle.
Haruka and Michiru showed up at the doorstep, followed by Setsuna.
The resident scientist and the doctor gathered around Usagi's wound and studied it. "It does look like a bite mark…."
Before Ami could finish her sentence, Haruka drew her sword and placed the cold blade against Usagi's neck.
"Don't worry, we will take care of your little sister….sorry we have to do this….."