Sorry this chapter took a bit longer, but I have been busy with life as two people have passed away within the last two weeks. Here is this chapter. So go read.


Fairy Tail Fanfic

Disclaimer: I own this story.

Chapter 4:

Lucy's heart thundered in her chest. Fear was in everything she looked at. It was in the shadows she passed, the darkness of the mouth of the cave. Invisible eyes were on her from every angle. Every tall piece of dry grass brushing against her legs were fingers reaching up to snatch her. And the only thing that made her feel worse was the cold that was sofrosty on her skin, started to feel like a light burn. It was absorbed in her clothes and skin and there was nothing to warm her but the little heat she radiated herself.

"W-we need to light a fire," he said. "We'll freeze to death." He looked at the twigs on the ground, branches that were sure to ensure they're warmth.

"N-no!" Voice low, almost like a hiss. "We'll die if they see the light! This isn't a joke. I'll sleep high in a tree if you do."

And Lucy wasn't kidding. She could picture it vividly. Hugging onto a high branch like a koala while a fleet of Inflicted ran beneath her like a stampede towards the heat. And she would listen to the coachman's scream in agony as it would drown out to silence

"Fine." They walked closer to the mouth of cave, the deepness both a relief, yet, still withholding a horror they were yet to discover.

The cave was small and damp, but it provided much needed cover. It was the only thing that was protecting them. The crickets began to chip, which they both took as a good sign. They both found it hard to sleep, but in silence they took small shifts of guard duty, leaning against each other to gather warmth, a logical act.

When the morning came, they were quick to rise and leave. Hunger struck hard and by some bitter luck, they found a wild grown lemon tree. With nothing better around them to offer, they plucked one off, the firmness in their hands radiated a light smell. The taste … well, the taste was bitter had the stellar mage spat most if it out. The river flow was thick and wide beside them, acting as a guide. And due to being in a very in-land location of Fiore, towns were to be logically close to the water. Meaning both good and horrible things, and soon enough, they came across one.

It was small town, lifeless looking in its un-maintained with its long grass and partially broken houses.

Lucy crouched on her hunches as she wondered out from the tree line, making sure she was not visible above the grass. The coachman stayed back further in the cluster of the tree line, in the strong belief that the woman in front of him was the best bet to his survival, and would follow her until he came across civilization.

"We need to go in the town," Lucy said, pushing as much authority into her voice.

"Um, is that, like, a suicidal act?"

"We need dry clothes."

Huffing softly, "We can't risk out lives for clothes."

"We need food."

He couldn't argue with that.

Lucy was adamant about venturing into the more excluded houses or shops. From their position on the ground, Lucy could see one main road running down the middle; houses were most of them, but between them small paths and roads broke off and out of sight. They needed food for one, a change of clothes, weapons and transportation, but neither survivors could picture horse being left alive here.

Nearing the town, ears on high alert for the smallest sound, they closed around a small house. The yellow paint chipped away, and foliage growing wildly around them, they peeked in the windows.

"Empty," he said, before opening the unlocked front door.

The house had a dark and stale air to it, almost seeming to crackle. There was also an ordure, a smell of death that hanged with them. Not the Inflicted, no, they had no smell.

Checking in all the rooms, Lucy found herself in a teenager's room. A real prom queen in the making, crossed between a tease and a slut. She found some winter close – not that it was winter at all, but the blonde was covering every piece of skin she could, leaving her old wet close on the ground. Less skin to be scratched or bitten.

Peering around some more, she looked at herself in the mirror, she was a mess. Dirty, smelly, and really needed to brush her hair.

Locating a brush, she pulling out the stray leaf or twig and tied it back, creating a sense of control and order.

In the mirror, there was movement behind her.

The coachman – she didn't know his name, she realized. He had a very concentrated look, appeasing maybe when he watched her. It made her skin crawl and a dark thought sprung to mind, what if he had watched her undress? Repressing a shudder, she didn't make eye contact in the mirror, her instinct telling her not to.

The Lacrima was gone, broken, and there was no way to call for help. The Stellar mage looked for a bag. Locating one, she shoved one more pair of clothes in side and moved to the kitchen, making sure to stay light on her feet. The coachman was gone from the room, but a feeling of distrust crept over her.

There was some food in the kitchen, canned pineapple, and a few other things like paster bag – things that could otherwise could be easily cooked. But the true treasure was the box of packed water in the pantry. Ripping the packet open, Luce shoved as many as she could into the bag.

The water sources were wary to use nowadays. Magnolia ran on water that was inside the walls from various sources to make sure it was 'pure' – just in case it made another outbreak..

"We need some more food," Said the Coachman.

"Right," glancing to her right where he stood. "Question, what is your name?"

"Martin."

"Well it's nice to meet you Martin."

Together they looked for some food, there was canned Pineapple and a packet of noddles, and some plastic bags filled with pasta. It would have to do.

Outside the long grass waved in the wind. The backyard was fenced off, and with a quick look outside the window they deemed it safe to venture off.

They looked around in silence, peering into other people's yards. Everything was silent. It was a ghost town.

"We need transport." He said, "We can't go on foot. These things can outrun us, they don't feel exhaustion."

It was true, they didn't. In fact it made them worse than when they were alive. Somehow faster and swifter. Their organs must work, Lucy thought shortly, that's why they don't smell. Recalling on the carriage incident.

Her Keys were in there somewhere … Lost forever?

"Yeah, we do."

"Then what should we do?"

It suddenly occurred to her that she had simultaneously taken the leader role between them.

"Look around and find something. I want to leave here before dark."

"We don't know how many are out here."

"Exactly."

There was nothing. It appeared it had become a ghost town. Everything they could use as a escape was gone or broken, and neither had the heart to make some noise to make it fixed.

There was always the feeling that eyes were on them.

They came to a Tavern. The doors were open and hanging their hinges. The window's broken and their atmosphere darkened intensely.

"I don't want to go in," Martin said, sweating slightly.

Gulping, "We can't stay outside, and we can't go in all houses. But we need to find somewhere to go at the moment, and rest. There is accommodation upstairs. We need rest."

They're spontaneous campout in the cave didn't quite cut it.

Standing rigidly. "I won't go in."

Annoyance peaked up in the corner of her mind. Lucy adjusted her pack back. "I'm going in. Join me if you want."

Most of the chairs were pushed under the table. Lucy didn't know what she was expecting but it wasn't the neatness. The stairs were easy to locate.

Finding one room with an unlocked door, Lucy shut it behind herself before clicking it shut.

The blonde waited, for the steps of defeat of the fellow survivor, but he never came.

Rolling her shoulder back, the bag fell to the ground with a thud. Collapsing on the bed, sleep quickly took over.