Chapter Three; Arizona

Jade West, the woman in charge, made her way through the basement of Hollywood Arts High school upon getting Robbie's walkie call, flashlight inspecting every nook and cranny of the region in which she walked, albeit she knew very well that it was safe where she was – just a simple precaution. Otherwise, she doubted Robbie would have lasted as long as he did, as well as Sinjin Van Cleef, should there have been any rotting zombies that intruded their perimeter. Not to mention, she added mentally to herself as she grumbled and proceeded her trek to the technology room the two nerds had managed to uphold, they had cleared out the school the day they got here.

What news the two could possibly want, she didn't exactly know (Hell, it could have been anything), but nevertheless she was entitled to hear and respond to it. She was the leader after all, proven that she was most likely to keep them all alive in a situation like this; and should anything happen to her, it was Beck who was to take her place and take charge. Granted, she found pleasure in shooting the brains out of zombies; especially if it was for one of her friend's protection…although, she really couldn't call Sikowitz, Robbie or Sinjin her friends to be exact. She chose to ignore them as much as possible.

And if they happened to get bitten, she would have no trouble shooting them, unlike how she would with the rest.

"Okay Shapiro, Van Cleef," she muttered darkly as she pushed her way into the room at the very end of the hall she'd been traveling just previously, switching off her flashlight as she stepped into the domain illuminated by a single lamp, and the un-obscured energy flashing from the multiple computer screens and widgets she didn't quite understand. "This better be good, I was in the middle of something."

"It's good, trust me." Said Sinjin as he gave a creepy smile, though recoiled quietly at her glare. "Tell her Robbie! Before I explode!"

"Um…" Robbie cast a weird glance at his comrade, who by now, should have been used to the stares he's been getting these past couple of years, "anyway Jade, we found something – a live broadcast calling out all the way from Hawaii. They've entrusted that there was civilization there, food, water…and also, no infection whatsoever." He pressed multiple buttons while he was explaining the situation at hand and adjusted the antenna upon one of the multiple radios. "Problem is, this broadcast had been dated over one year ago, and there hasn't been another since."

"So you're telling me that you two dorks picked up on an outdated, useless broadcast about survivors in Hawaii?" Jade summarized, her jaw clenching and her fist enclosing tightly around her flashlight, which she had yet to let go of.

"Basically. But we did find something else – there was another broadcast dated to be just a few months ago, and another by the same station, with the same message just a week back." Explained Robbie, holding the radio over to her face, "listen for yourself; it's from a service in Arizona."

Jade probably shouldn't have doubted them so much, she thought as she put down the radio – sure enough, after listening, a Convoy was not far off in the state of Arizona, and they were traveling to the safe Haven in Hawaii and broadcasting for any survivors out there. She didn't necessarily trust it though; who knew, a lot could happen in a week's time, and they weren't picking up any additional signal from the same station, then she doubted those odds very heavily. As leader, she had duty to protect those of whom were her friends, the closest thing to family that she's had in years and she's sure the other's felt the same way: mistakes weren't an option with her.

"You're uncertain," commented Sinjin, wide round eyes unblinking as he stared directly at the girl he had grown quite the affections for. "Trust me baby, it'll all be alright."

"Sinjin I will shoot you where you stand, even if you aren't bitten." She threatened dryly, leaning over with her hands gripping the side of Robbie's set up, eyes focused upon the radio right before her. "Keep an eye on it – if it plays again, we'll know for sure that there's people, and they're alive and not infected. I don't want any bullshit chances."

"Need a cigarette?" Asked Robbie, fishing one from his pocket with a small smile, "I don't want it, I want to cut down. I want to live long, you know?"

"You sneaky little bastard, Shapiro," She growled lightly as she snatched it from his palm, for once, thankful of his king-of-dorks presence. "You've done well, nerd."

"What about me?" Asked the other boy, glancing hopefully over at her.

"Guys, come on upstairs." Andre Harris's voice emitted from Jade's walkie, sounding bemused, "we've got some company."

"Company?" She inquired as she and the two other boys made their way through the muggy, grimy basement they had all been accustomed to walking in, "like what kind of company Harris?"

"You'd better come see for yourself – you won't be disappointed, promise."

"I don't need your promises."

When the three finally made it up from the basement and into the abandoned school hallway, they immediately turned to the east wing, where they had been residing within. It was the main lobby of the school; it had looked just as the rest of the building – ramshackle, as though an explosion had occurred several months before hand. They'd made use to it; sleeping in separate classrooms if they pleased, not taking waste in the water they had used only for showering purposes in the girls and boys locker rooms within the gymnasium. Additionally, the kitchen (connected to the indoor cafeteria, where they ate on some occasions) was close by as well. It was a perfect location.

The trio stopped short when they neared the group; Trina and Andre were standing amongst four other people – Cat, Beck, Sikowitz, and another girl she had not recognized, who was embraced within Trina's arms. Jade lit up her cigarette and breathed out a puff of inhaled, sweet smoke, taking cautious steps forward. "Who's this, and where'd you find her?"

"Jadey," Cat sent a smile in her direction, gripping the unfamiliar persons arm, "this is Tori. Tori Vega – Trina's younger sister! Tori, that's Jade! She's the leader here, so you'll have to follow orders from her at all times."

"Oh um, hello Jade" The girl, Tori, flashed a nervous smile to her, which quickly disappeared as soon as it had come. It was true; the brown haired Gothic was very intimidating. "I'm Tori."

"Yeah, so I've heard…" Immediately, she didn't like this girl. There was something about her that set her teeth on edge. At Cat's frown, she lightened up, though did not hesitate to exhale a large puff of smoke in the new girls direction, who crinkled her nose and waved her hand in the air, attempting to get the scent away from her. "So, where are you from Vega? Where were you hiding? I want details. Now."

And Tori Vega's story began…for the third time that hour.

…
…

"Alright, listen up you guys." Jade announced with a grunt, standing from her position by the scorching fire they'd set up just hours after Tori's arrival and scanning the familiar faces – as well as the newest one. "Shapiro and Sinj found something today; a live broadcast from Arizona." She paused to gauge their reactions, and as expected, murmurs erupted over the nine of them. "There is a chance that there are survivors there. There is a chance – that, the infection hasn't reached that far yet. A chance. I don't like listening to you, nor do I like taking orders from anybody, but I need all of your opinions. In favor of going?"

In exception to Trina, all hands were raised; but not a word was spoken. They were playing it the easy way, no explanations needed, and she couldn't have that.

"Why, Trina? Why do you want to stay here?" She challenged, open for any suggestions and not giving away her side of the ballad; albeit she wasn't quite sure which side she was leaning most upon. She trusted most of their judgments', something she would hardly ever be able to say aloud, yet she had no idea what to follow: her gut, or her comrades?

"Because…" the eldest female cleared her throat warily, "I feel safer here and I'd rather not. I mean, you guys would all stay here for me wouldn't you? You love me too much to go against what I want!" Andre, who sat across from her, shook his head in a display of his disagreement. Jade smirked absently, a habit of hers she had no intentions of ridding herself of, and looked on upon the dispute that would likely follow Trina's words.

"It might be safer there though; there can be survivors, other people! Think about it, civilization…after two years. No infection, nothing we need to worry about. We're on the edge here every day of our lives." He argued, prodding harshly at the fire.

"Plus," Cat chimed from her position upon the floor, "we're running low on gas, food, and water."

"Yeah, all gas stations that we checked were sapped and we barely have enough food to last us an entire week." Agreed Beck solemnly, his features remaining expressionless as he sat beside the youngest Vega, dark brown eyes averted to the blaze within the middle of them. The sole of his shoe kicked soot into the logs, yet it remained unfazed, providing warmth in the dead of the night.

"And it's just plain boring here," Sikowitz murmured, more to himself than anybody around him. Everyone promptly ignored him, and resumed conversation.

"So you're willing to risk all of our lives here, especially mine, for a chance?" Argued Trina, and through her self-consciousness, providing quite the valid point.

"Vega," The Goth, the leader, averted her gaze to the youngest of the two sisters, "you've been quiet. Speak up."

"Well I-I think that…" She faltered, glancing over at her sister whom she had just been reunited with hours beforehand, "maybe we should go. It's our best bet, I think. Yeah..."

Trina stormed away.

Cat stood up beside her and took her hand within her own, smaller, warm fingers entwining them together with a firm squeeze of encouragement, as though she could read straight through the taller girl's uncertainty.

"Alright then," Jade nodded firmly, expression solemn. "Arizona."

So, here's chapter three! Finally the rest are introduced and plans are made. Heheh...I hope you guys liked it!

Thanks: Boo, and Jeremy Shane for your reviews! :) And also HowlingWolf4Life, TweedleDumb'N'TweedleFakeBoobs (love that penname hahah xD), and taylor1522 for story alerting and/or putting this story on your favorites! :D

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