Happy 2017! As usual, I own nothing but the mistakes. No beta this time, but hopefully it's not too unbearable. Enjoy! Lots of zombie fun to come!
It's been three days. Three long, dragging days since they didn't come back and the knot in Robin's stomach is only growing and tightening. Sure, when Roland started to show signs of getting better without the medicine she had journeyed for, he relaxed, but not by much. He's not even sure if Henry even went with her. He could be dead in a ditch somewhere or taken by Gold's men and suffering a fate worse than death.
The sun is setting for the third time without them, he's watching the light fade when David steps out from the kitchen, "Roland's sleeping. I think he'll be fine. That's quite the fighter you have there."
"He gets that from his mother," Robin replies softly. He needs some of Roland's strength right now, or at the very least his will to hold out, because Robin wants to storm out on a rescue mission without so much as a second thought. "We should have left earlier today to find them."
"If we had, Roland wouldn't have had a hope in hell," David argues, just like he had earlier today. "They are fine. Henry wanted to help, he went with her."
"We don't know that for sure."
"We have to trust our gut. And she won't let anything happen to him." David has been trying to keep him calm since the moment they realised Henry was gone. Robin became angry very quickly. "Besides, we'd know if she were dead. Even as a zombie, she'd still make sure Henry got back to us."
Robin laughs, "You're probably right. Is it bad that all I can think about is that I don't want her to leave again without knowing her name?"
"That's gnawing at you, huh?"
"I wish she would trust me enough to tell me," he sighs.
"She does. Trust you, I mean. She wouldn't have traipsed around for miles only to come straight back to you if she didn't."
"Then why are we still calling her R?"
"You are so blind," David rolls his eyes.
Robin scoffs at the accusation, "What?"
David shakes his head and laughs a single laugh through his nose. "She said her name is the only thing that she has, and that may have been the case in the beginning. But now she keeps her name to herself to protect her heart," David says, Robin still so oblivious to where he is going with it. "The only reason to protect your heart is if you're worried about letting someone close enough to break it."
"We'd never hurt her. I'd never hurt her," Robin says quietly.
"And I really believe she knows that, but she seems like the kind of person who needs a little reassurance," Robin nods his head, still frowning. "Look, I think Roland will be able to travel tomorrow. We can head into the city and we'll find them." David slaps Robin's shoulder supportively, "We'll leave a note for if they come back telling them to stay put. If we can't find them, we'll come back and hope that they managed their way."
"I thought I was the mastermind?" Robin smirks, appreciative of all of David's effort and comfort. David only laughs in response, then the conversation quietens. "I really hope they're okay," Robin says quietly, a small wish.
"They are," David assures confidently, filled with hope. "Henry is smart and you know our little wild heart can keep herself out of trouble."
She wakes up groggy. The base of her skull is pounding and throbbing, the pain growing more and more with every second that passes. She wants to look around, but she is engulfed in darkness. There's a piece of fabric tightly fastened around her eyes, so tight that she can't even open them. Attempting to reach up and untie the knot, her wrists ache when they struggle against the cold metal of her restraints, her ankles not faring any better; she's stuck.
She battles with her restrictions until the skin on her wrists rub raw, her ankles also rubbed viciously by the yarn from what she imagines is rope. She groans loudly while slumping her entire body in defeat, no better off than she was before she woke. Things are foggy, she doesn't remember much. One minute she's avoiding danger from every inch of that undead ridden city and the next thing she knows she is tied to this fucking chair.
…..
That day hadn't been as bad at the one before. The first night alone all but tore her insides to shreds as she worried about Henry, panicked that trusting him with Will was the wrong decision - not that she had time to make a well constructed choice. And then she thought of Robin and her heart ached for him as she imaged the pain he would be feeling. David would have been using that annoyingly soothing voice to try and calm him down, but it wouldn't do any good. And Roland, she spared the longest thought for him, praying that he is recovering.
She was still reeling. She'd spent all day being turned around as she tried to navigate her way back to the south of town, but she was so lost. She hunted for Henry, tried to make her way back to Robin, but anywhere she went she hit a wall; danger lurked around every corner and sometimes she would literally hit a wall, a closed off street, a dead end.
She climbed numerous flights of stairs up an office building. She pushed her way through blocked doors and failed desperate attempts at survival; dozens of chairs were pressed up against doorways, filing cabinets were tipped over and broken open leaving useless paperwork scattered all over the floor.
She banked on there being very few of the dead up this high, plus there was the advantage of a good view of the city in the morning that would hopefully help her figure out how to reach the outskirts. Not to mention, it was the perfect place to sleep, she was exhausted.
She picked the eighth floor to stick on. Maybe she liked the number or maybe it was the partially stocked vending machine that caught her eye. She stared through the glass with the most wanton of stares then she looked the machine up and down to determine the best way to bust it open. She settled for smacking the glass until it broke away, sparing a second or two to make sure that she didn't attract too much attention and listened intently for any movement.
When she concluded she was in the clear she reached down to pick up the candy from among the broken glass but then something caught her eye, the smallest flicker of movement off to her right. Her eyes glued to that end of the hallway as she stuffed the candy packets into the side pouch of her bag. She creeped forward, her shoes crunching the broken glass so she froze in place and gritted her teeth quietly.
She took a small moment to think her options through but when they same crunching of glass sounded from behind her, she turned quickly on impulse only to be met with a strong smack to her face and a sheet of darkness before she was out cold.
…..
When she hears a door squeak open, her body stiffens immediately, feeling a sense of fear and fright she would give anything to push away. "Hello?" She asks quietly, praying for an answer and silence all at once.
"Who are you?" It's a female voice; sweet but focussed. "You've got three seconds or-"
"You'll what? Tie me to a chair? Blindfold me?" Regina sasses, a deflection of her panic. "Who the hell are you?" The blindfold around her head is untied quickly, pulled from her face, tearing strands of hair from her head with it without an ounce of care spared. Her eyes adjust to the bright light in her face until they focus in on her captor. Fair skin, desperate eyes, dark hair hanging long on either side of her captor's face.
The woman is clutching Robin's bow in her hand, and she's gripping it tightly. Her breath shudders when she asks, "Where did you get this?"
"What's it to you?"
Regina notices as the desperation washes over the stranger's face. She thinks she might be able to swing the discussion her way but then the door in the back of the room opens again and much older woman steps inside, crossbow in hand and more that ready to be fired in an instant, "Everything okay in here, Snow?"
"Yes, Granny," Snow replies and turns away from Regina for a second, "Leave us."
Granny leaves after agreeing begrudgingly and Snow directs her attention back to Regina. She wishes she could hold back the snarky smirk, but she can't. "Snow?" Regina asks, the smirk no where close to subsiding.
"It's a nickname," she grits back angrily. It obviously isn't the first time someone has questioned her about it. "Now, tell me your name or I might have to get Granny to deal with you after all."
It's not much of a threat, though the thought of the angry face with the crossbow does make Regina lull her head back and mutter the first name that comes into her mind, "Wilma."
"Wilma?" Snow scoffs.
"It's a nickname," she mimics cheekily. Her face aches terribly, especially when she yawns all of a sudden, stretching muscles that don't want to budge at all. She recalls the swift swipe to her face, "Is this your doing?"
Snow frowns slightly at her discomfort and shakes her head. Behind her there's a table laid with a number of supplies. There isn't any rhyme or reason to the particular objects, some medical supplies, tools, what looks like a toaster and a bottle of water; Regina's bottle, the one with the scribbled question mark. "You went through my things?" Regina asks when Snow comes back with a clean swatch of material and rubbing alcohol.
"We have to make sure you aren't dangerous," Snow explains, pressing the cold fabric to the open wound on Regina's face, and when she winces Snow apologises.
The fearful knot in Regina's stomach unties itself but she remains cautious. It only now dawns on her that she could be in the keep of a group working for Gold, so she treads lightly, asking, "Do I meet your standards?"
"I don't know yet," Snow says, "You've yet to tell me anything about yourself."
Regina groans heavily, "Look, I don't know you. You don't know me. I have no desire to hurt you or anyone you're with. I'm just trying to find my friends." Regina hopes that she can weasel into the tiny kernel sympathy that Snow holds for her. "Just… let me go."
"I can't…"
"Why not?"
"This" Snow reaches back for the bow and brings it between them. "I need to know where you go this."
"I found it," she lies. "A state or two back, it was left in a camp. I thought it might come in handy." Snow curses quietly, slumping her shoulders, so Regina asks, "Why is this so important to you?"
"It belongs to an old friend of mine," Snow confesses, rolling over a chair and slouching over, defeated in front of Regina. Either Snow and Robin really do know each other or this girl is an excellent liar, not a crazy thought given Gold's tactics, though Regina feels deep down that Snow is genuinely distressed.
"You were close?" Regina asks.
"Yeah," she frowns, gripping onto the middle of the bow that is undeniably Robin's. "He saved my life before." Regina almost rolls her eyes playfully. She knows Robin's ego would inflate so easily. "My husband and I started travelling with him and his son but we got separated."
"Oh," Regina whispers, continuing with her lie and trying to move it along. "Maybe he left in a hurry and forgot to pick it up?"
"He wouldn't let another soul touch this weapon unless he trusted them wholeheartedly," Snow shakes her head, "He would sooner give his life that leave this behind. It's a part of him."
This warms Regina's heart. She knew that they trusted each other, but if Snow is speaking the truth then Regina has completely underestimated just how much trust he shares with her. "I'm sure Robin is fine. You make it sound like he can take good care of himself."
Snow's face perks up, studies her intently just as Regina realises her mistake. "How do you know his name?" Snow asks, staring deep into Regina's eyes.
"Uh," she panics, "You said his name before."
"No, I didn't," she retorts quickly, "I know better than to give away the names of my friends. You knew Robin, didn't you? Did you hurt him? How did you get his bow?"
She sighs, knowing already that Snow will never believe her. "He gave it to me when I came into the city," she says, ignoring Snow's loud scoff. "I know you said he would never give it to anyone, but he gave it to me, alright? He entrusted me on a haul for medicine, one which I failed. I should have been back days ago."
"Robin's sick?" Snow asks.
"No, Robin's fine," Regina groans. "It's Roland who's sick."
Snow relaxes at the mentioning of Rolands name. Robin has always come across as a good judge of character, he wouldn't reveal anything about himself to just anyone, especially his son, and her surprisingly sweet captor knows that.
"Is he okay?"
"I honestly don't know," Regina sighs heavily, aching at the thought. "He was slightly better when we left but…"
"We?"
"Just me, I came alone," Regina quickly adjusts herself, "I came into the city and got ambushed, then I got lost and... well, you know the rest." Snow sits back down. "I don't work for Gold," Regina assures, "And I get the feeling that you don't either."
"Never," she whispers, enough anger there to convince Regina.
"Please untie me and I promise we'll talk," she barters, "But as long as I'm tied in this chair, I can't trust you."
Out of nowhere, ignoring Regina's request completely, Snow pulls a small blade from a hidden pocket in her clothes and wedges it beneath Regina's neck. There isn't enough pressure to break the skin but it has Regina rattled and worrying. Maybe she was wrong and this is Gold's compound, maybe she dismissed the possibility that Snow works for him all too quickly this time.
"Is Henry with you?" Snow asks fiercely, pressing slightly harder into Regina's neck while Regina attempts to free her wrists again. "Is he with you?" Snow yells this time.
"No," Regina screams back, "I don't know any Henry!"
"Has it cleared up?" Henry asks from the floor. Will is prying away a wooden barrier from the window and looking out onto the streets. They are still brimming with zombies, far too many to risk trying to move again.
"Afraid not, lad," Will crashes down next to Henry on the floor and reaches forward for the little tins of snacks that were locked away in the desk in whatever store he led Henry to.
"We're never getting out of here," Henry whines, waving away the offered tin of fruit. His face loses colour when he holds in a deep breath, then exhales, "I'm so dead."
"Your immune, mate," Will laughs with a mouthful of peach, "You're fine."
Henry shakes his head, not in complete agreement, "Sure, the zombies are harmless, but Robin is going to murder me."
"Robin? Nah, I'll protect ya." Will nudges his shoulder, Henry smiling shyly after the gesture. "So tell me more about your lady friend. Tough cookie, she is."
Henry chuckles, "Yeah. She's awesome. Still don't know her name yet, but I think we're growing on her."
"She's a secretive little thing, then?"
Shaking his head, he explain, "She's just careful about who she opens up to. Don't take this the wrong way, but she's out of your league." Will scoffs, feigning insult, but it's all in good fun. "I think she's been alone for a long time, she didn't have Robin and David to keep her company like I did."
"David's alive, too?"
Will beams a bright smile when Henry nods and says, "It's been us and Roland for a long time."
"Smashin'," Will offers Henry another peach and he takes one, "Still no sign of your mum?"
Henry munches quietly on the fruit and shrugs his shoulders, "Robin knows where she is, I can tell. But I know we can't risk fighting for her. She'd want me to get to Boston."
"That she would. And we will." Henry's face drops ever so slightly, the smallest of frowns creeping across his face. "Then we'll go get her. Deal?"
"Deal."
Snow retreats immediately, leaving Regina breathing heavily in the chair as Snow bangs on the door, whispering something to Granny when it's opened. Preparing for the worst, Regina squeezes her eyes closed and clenches her entire body, waiting for pain to rip through her, but instead she hears the clinking of metal as the handcuffs around her wrists are unlocked and pried away. Snow bends to slice through the rope around her ankles.
Granny offers Regina a hand, "Come on, girl." Regina takes it quickly, something about the older woman frightening her into the action. "Congratulations, you passed."
"Passed?" She asks, struggling to stand upright, her body fighting against gravity, wanting to slump to the ground in exhaustion. "This was all just a test?"
Snow grips onto her elbow, helping her, "You lied when you said you don't know Henry." Granny wanders off out of the room again as Regina's head flips to Snow, confused. Then Snow explains, "I could have killed you and you still said you didn't know him. Now I know I can trust you."
Regina begins to stretch her limbs, allowing Snow to help keep her upright, ridding of the aches and pains that have gathered for the plethora of reasons, but it's her face that is throbbing. She reaches to run her hand over her cheek and feels the broken skin and raised lump. She hisses, it's a bad one. Snow gives her the same rag and disinfectant that was used before and a small pocket mirror that was in Snow's pocket. It's a deep purple bruise, black in some places. It's low enough on her cheek that her eyesight isn't impaired, but she got lucky with this one.
"Leroy can be a bit over-zealous at times," Snow tells her apologetically. "He saw the Robin's bow and knew he had to bring you to us."
"Do me a favour and make sure I don't meet Leroy for at least a few more hours, " she snaps the mirror closed and tosses it back to Snow who is chuckling the smallest of chuckles at Regina's sass. "How do you know Henry?"
"We were taking him to Boston," Snow says easily and freely. Regina is about scald her for the recklessness to just trust a person so easily with such information, but before she gets the chance, Snow comes back with, "Oh, come on, if Robin gave you his bow, he told you about Henry's condition and where they were going."
Regina doesn't appreciate the suggesting smirk on Snow's face and huffs out an unamused breath, "How many of you are there?" She takes the bow back from Snow's hand and reaches for the her bag tucked away in the corner.
"Quite a few, where…" she stutters when Regina tries to navigate the strange lock on the door, "Where are you going?"
Regina realises she hasn't a clue where she is or what she is doing, all she knows for certain is that Henry is out there alone and Robin is going to be worried sick, no doubt he's already made his way into the city himself. "I need your help," Regina turns back to Snow.
"Of course," she agrees, nods in a way to tell her to continue.
"Do you know Will Scarlett?" Regina asks and Snow's eyes brighten.
"Yes," says amidst a sigh. "He's who Leroy was looking for when he came across you."
"Well, Henry's with him," Regina tells her and Snow sighs contentedly, similarly both of them want nothing but safety for him and being lost with Will is much better than him being lost alone. "We were together when that wave of zombies swept through downtown. I couldn't get onto the rooftop fast enough so I had to run. I got lost in the streets of the city. I had to leave him behind."
"You had to survive," Snow corrects, then tells her confidently, "I know where they'll be. If it's really as swarmed as you're saying it is and Will is with Henry, he'll stay put but he'll go somewhere safe. We've moved around the city a lot before we found this place. All of our other hideouts were designated as rescue points if something like this ever happened." Regina sighs in relief. "We'll check which ones Leroy didn't get to and we'll go and get them."
Snow opens the door for Regina and she steps outside, there are racks or clothes, an abandoned register on the back wall. "Are we in a store?"
"Even better," Snow smirks. Together they walk passed Granny and a few unfamiliar faces into the wide walkways of a shopping mall. They're on the second floor, most of the store shutters have been raised, familiar stores that Regina never thought she'd ever see again. As always, she'll give credit where it's due, seeking refuge in a mall is impressive.
"This is genius," she laughs. It's faultless, flexible and she's almost fawning over the supplies they must have.
"It's perfect," Snow agrees. "We barely run low on much of anything, boredom is easily fixed. The undead are kept outside bar the odd straggler, but there are places to run if that changes. And the few times Gold's men have stalked through, we've managed to hide easily."
"Gold's men have been here?" Regina asks as they walk down the stationary escalator to the food court.
"Only a few times," Snow yells over to someone to bring across a water, "They are really looking for Henry and they will go to the ends of the earth to find him."
"I know, we've had a few close calls ourselves," Regina takes the water bottle from the hands of the shorter man who approaches them and judging by the guilt strewn across his face, she easily concludes with a smirk, "You must be Leroy."
"Listen, sister-"
"Don't worry about it," Regina forgives him off the bat. She probably would have done the same thing. "How did you get behind me so fast anyway?"
"We never go on these missions alone," he turns back and points at the small gathering of men. "There were a few of us." Regina waves shyly across the food court and snorts a laugh when the men all turn away shyly. "You got a name?"
"Uh-"
"This is Wilma," Snow jumps in, winking Regina's way, "We are going to find Will and Henry." At the sound of both names, Henry's in particular, people around them gather in closer, whispering to each other. "Then we are going to get Robin and Roland and bring them back here."
"They're all alive?" Granny asks from behind them when she reaches the bottom step of the escalator, the question aimed at Regina.
"Yes," she promises. "Roland is a little sick but everyone is else is fine."
"We'll take some medicine with us when we go," Snow adds earning an appreciated nod.
"How'd you do to get Robin's bow?" Leroy asks. "There's no way he'd just give it to you. Are you two an item?"
"Excuse me?"
"Leroy," Snow reprimands, ushering him away, then apologising, "He's a little blunt."
"I can see that," she crosses her arms tightly, regretting how easily she forgave him before. She doesn't know why she feels the need, but she announces to the group, "Robin and I are close. He's the first person I have truly trusted in a long time. I came here for medicine to help his son, maybe that's why he gave me a weapon. I'm not much good to him dead, am I?" Voices mutter among the group, most agreeing with Regina's explanation.
"What about David?" Granny asks quietly, turning in close to Regina to keep the conversation a more private, but Snow's smile drops and she begins to shy away from the small circled group that has gathered.
"David's fine," Regina says, unsure of the fuss. Then Snow's glance snaps back and her face flushes completely, her entire body losing months of built up tension. "What?" Regina asks, confused.
"He's okay? He's alive?" Snow asks with trembling lips and shuddering breaths, glistening eyes as hope fills her face.
"Oh…" Regina breathes out happily when she realises and touches her hand against her chest, "You're Mary Margaret, aren't you?" Snow nods excitedly, unable to keep the hope built up in her eyes anymore as it begins to drip down her cheeks. "He's looking for you," Regina laughs brightly, reaching over and squeezing Snow's shoulder while everyone around her celebrates the second bout of good news. "He's with Robin and Roland. We'll go get him."
"Now?" Snow sniffles into the handkerchief Granny passes her way.
"Right now," Regina nods. "Lead me to the your weapons, we'll kit up, and we will go and get your husband back."
"And your man, Wilma," Leroy shouts loudly, grinning from the back of the gathering.
It catches Regina's ear and she chuckles immediately, rolling her eyes, "And my man, apparently." Snow laughs through a watery smile and is swallowed up by friends who are excited about David's safety, and Regina gives her that moment. God knows, she wishes she could experience that relief for herself. If someone were to tell her Daniel miraculously survived, she'd float like a feather.
"You come with me. As much as Robin respects that bow, it's useless out there in my opinion" Granny jokes, ushering Regina away from the crowds to the locked store filled with mountains of weapons and ammunition.
"I think Robin would strongly disagree with...Whoa," Regina's jaw drops. She's never seen an arsenal quite like this one. "You've got quite a collection."
"Only the best to get our boys home," she says proudly. "Though if you want to forget Will while you're out there…"
Regina snorts a laugh as she admires the blade carefully packed in cases, "Not a fan?"
"Robin loves him, that's enough for me," Granny shrugs, "Even if I do want to kill him myself half the time."
"You know Robin, too?"
"Most of us do, and his boy." Regina picks up a gun bigger than she's ever seen before, surprised by the weight, listening to Granny who keeps talking behind her, "And let me be honest, I don't believe that crap about you two just being friends."
"Well, when we get back, you can grill him and he'll tell you the same thing," Regina retorts, ignoring Granny's attempt to poke fun at her. "Can I take this?" She asks, picking up a large knife. Granny nods, shrugs and grins at her impressively.
"Take what you need," Granny insists as Snow enters behind them. "You ready?"
"More than ever," Snow smiles, pulling around at her waistcoat, "You?" She asks Regina.
"Let's go."
Double rescue mission! Will the find each other or will they miss each other by a hair. Let's just hope Gold doesn't interfere this time around. See you next chapter. Thanks for reading x
