Chapter IX

They stood in the underground area for a long time.. Months went by, and by the time they all knew it, it was mid April. Hiccup couldn't move that well, due to only now having one leg, but he still managed. His wound was healing nicely, very good and the blood was cleared and done, since it was stitched and taken good care of, the only difference is that he was more silent than ever.

Everyone pitched in to help him around, especially Merida.

When they decided to leave, Hiccup was being piggy backed by Jack this time, instead of Kristoff as usual.

Rapunzel opened up the far end door with Anna's help, one swing open and they noticed the snow melting.

"Hey! The snows melting!" Rapunzel yelled to the others that walked to them, in a fit of excitement too before turning to look outside. Anna dashed out with Elsa following in pursuit, then so did Axel and Edward.

There was no sign of Tooth these past weeks, so they had to manage without knowing anything medical.

"Ah! I never missed the sun soo much!" Edward exclaimed, falling to the ground while the sun beamed onto him contently. Elsa laughed a little to his reaction before her and Axel did the same thing right next to him.

Rapunzel skipped out, until she looked back to see Kristoff, Jack, Hans and Merida lagging behind with Hiccup on Jack's back. Unlike how Merida was before, she didn't leave Hiccup's side and neither did Kristoff in case Jack couldn't hold Hiccup.

"I feel childish." Hiccup suddenly spoke up.

"How so?" Merida asked, looking at him.

"I've never needed a piggy back ride since I was litttle.. Four years old little."

Merida laughed a little after seeing the tint of pink over his cheeks while he just looked away.

Elsa dusted off any snow off her backside when she stood up, after Rapunzel said that they were going to leave without them, and so she dashed off to the others with the two males following behind.

Since they discarded their old vehicles due to the snow, and since Axel's group technically never had a vehicle, they walked around until they could find another car. Hans eventually pointed out that they should stop inside a place to warm up, and they did. Entering into a small, warm house that made everyone look around. Jack checked the basement with Hiccup, Merida and Rapunzel looked into the kitchen for anything that they could have to themselves, while Elsa and Axel searched anywhere on the bottom level. Leaving Hans to look upstairs while Anna, Kristoff and Edward were able to relax or help out if want to.

Hans walked up the stairs ever so quietly, his hand ran up the railing while he checked the rooms that were on that level- there he noticed a door had a sign stating not to open, due to the flesh eaters. He checked one room before showing himself a mischievous grin. One grab onto the white board that hung up, before placing the string over onto the cleared room. He left the infected filled room without a sign over the door while the empty room had it.

He walked down, while Jack walked back up to the second floor with the two females- Rapunzel and Merida- walked over.

"Theres two rooms cleared, one room has a white board saying it's full of them." Hans cleared his throat, a hand running through his hair.

"Okay, well I'll put Hiccup down and check out the rooms."

"I'll join with." Merida and Rapunzel said at the same time.

Once Hiccup was placed on the couch, the four of them- Hans included- all walked up to the door. As instructed, they ignored the door that had the sign. Hans stood back a little when they opened the far end door-

There came a couple screams, Merida fell to the ground with a flesh eater clinging right into her- her hand placed on the creatures forehead while she pushed it's head away, preventing herself not to be bitten. Rapunzel was pushed into a hallway door while Jack had to force two off of him which was nearly impossible.

"Hans!" Jack gritted his teeth while Hans pretended to look horrified- eventually running off and passing by Elsa and Axel, followed by Kristoff.

When no one saw him, he still grinned and unaware that Hiccup saw him clearly. Hiccup wanted to hoist himself up but he didn't have anything to hold himself up- so all he could do is wait with Anna and Edward.

"I have a feeling he did something." Hiccup whispered when Anna passed him, pacing around in the living room. There came a round of six shots- with yelling from Jack to watch his head.

"Why?"

"He's grinning."

Anna looked at Hans- she didn't see his grin.

"No, he's not." Anna looked at him, he shook his head and didn't bother to bring it up again.

The others made it out peacefully, and thankfully alive even though Kristoff was a horrible shot and kept nearly almost killing Jack. Hans pretended to look frightened, even though he did it himself to try and kill everyone.

Hiccup wouldn't sit near him, whenever Hans would sit on the edge next to him, he would force himself to scoot on to the other side.

He was convinced he did something. But he would never get an easy reply, let alone no argument.

Once night fell, everyone - except the main three that were attacked - went to bed. Rapunzel was closest to the fire place, while Jack was sitting in the window paine of the bay window nearby. Merida rested against the couch where Hiccup was laying asleep.

"The moon is fully out.." Jack casually said to the others, causing them to look up and Rapunzel smiled.

"Yeah. The moon's so pretty.." Rapunzel looked down a moment until she looked right back at Jack- continuing on her sentence. "You know, you remind me of the moon, Jack."

He looked at her with an eyebrow arched. "How?" He asked.

"Well your hair is white, like the moon. You can act cold, but you are actually very nice. The moon's beautiful, so are you." Rapunzel's cheeks slightly blushed while she talked. He laughed a little, before replying.

"You remind me of the sun, then."

"I can see that." Merida nonchalantly replied, causing Rapunzel to giggle.

"The sun's warm, you have golden blonde hair like the sun.. You can brighten anyones day with a smile." Jack explained when Rapunzel looked at him, he looked back up at the moon until Merida spoke.

"The sun and the moon, eh?. Interesting pairing." She slowly moved herself down a little until she got nestled and comfortable against the couch, attempted at sleeping. Following her was Jack and Rapunzel, him sleeping at the window while Rapunzel slept near the fireplace.

The first two people awake were Axel and Elsa. The only thing they could do was past time by playing cards. Which of course, they played go fish.

"Do you have a three?" Elsa asked.

"Nope."

"Liar!" Axel looked shocked upon her smiled face and taking another card.

"How am I, a liar?"

"I know you have a three in there." Elsa looked up at time.

"Oh yeah, how?. I don't have any threes."

There was a silence until Axel, between laughter asked.

"Do you have a three?".

"I knew it!" Elsa hit his knee from leaning over to him. They looked over at Anna, who stirred in her sleep and then woke up to stare at them both with her blue eyes.

"Are you guys playing go fish?" She assumed between adjusting vision, rubbing at her eye. Elsa nodded while taking Axel's card, setting down her pair of threes. Anna lifted her head for a moment to see who was winning- which was Axel, little cheater- before putting her head down on the pillow.

The next to wake up was Jack, but this time Axel and Elsa were doing their own thing- which included reading together.

"What time is it?" Jack asked, rubbing at his eye. Elsa stood up a moment later, walking over a couple of people to get to Rapunzel, eying at her watch.

"Seven A.M."

"I've.. Never been awake this early.." Jack mumbled before looking outside to notice one thing- A bus. He quickly stood up- causing a pained sound from Anna upon stepping on her foot.

"Watch it!" Anna shouted in her sleep before her eyes fluttered open.

"Sorry- But I found a ride of transport." Jack cleared his throat, the yell from Anna also woke up Hiccup and Hans.

"What?" Hans sat up, yawning into his hand.

Elsa looked at Jack, before moving lightly between the others to the window. Climbing ontop of it, looking out and looked back.

"It's a bus."

"Yeah?" Axel asked.

"A bus, that holds over fifty kids. A bus that can help transport us around. We could clearly get away or hide in there whenever we're under attack." Elsa explained.

Anna gasped, her face lit in a smile before she stood up in a quick manner.

"That's perfect!" She yelled before a pillow hit her, causing her to stumble down.

"Shut up!" Merida yelled. Causing a laughter in Hiccup's sleep, clearly awake although he wanted to go back to sleep.

Once everyone eventually woke up, they all had to get ready. Jack made sure the coast was clear to lead everyone out.

Once at the yellow bus, he stopped them upon seeing movement inside.

"Jack.." Rapunzel looked at him.

"I'll look." Jack cleared his throat, opening the door with a small push- this caused more moment and running feet. He looked around, slowly and carefully with his fingers wrapped around his knife.

The sun shone through brightly, after a cloud blocked it up, causing the bus to view a small kid, roughly seven years old. Jack raised his eyebrow before setting his knife down.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you." He said, the kid walked into a light slowly- her hair was pure black. Her eyes were pure hazel.. Her skin was as light as Elsa's, while her outfit was raggy and torn.

"My name is Jack, what's yours?."

"... E..." She could only manage before her eyes filled with tears.

Someone ran past the group, no one ever got a glimpse and they were noticed as a female, her panting and hoarse voice when she yelled gave it away-

"Emily!"

"Tori!" The little girl, Emily, shouted. She ran over, pushing Jack away to get to her. Jack's head turned, to look at the second woman only to find it was their missing member.. Tooth.

"Tooth! What- How.." He stuttered. noticing the little girl hugging at her leg.

"I had to find her.. I had to leave you guys." Tooth explained once everyone was inside the bus.

"Who is she?"

"She's my bosses daughter." Tooth said quietly. Emily kicked her feet around, back and forth, back and forth. Rapunzel smiled, handing her an apple that she picked earlier on.

There came silence after that, before Jack finally spoke up with a clearing in his throat before hand.

"What's wrong with her?".

The apple slipped out of the little one's hands, hitting the floor and they found Tooth's mouth agape before she closed the space, her fingers digging into her palm-

"Nothing! Nothing's wrong with her.."

"But her clothes, she has marks-"

"Jack! Leave it!" Tooth yelled, her head flew forward also as if she was bowing. Emily slipped off of the seat only to skip over to Tooth, holding onto her hand before she smiled warmly.

After that incident, Tooth eventually told them that she wasn't able to join them- reasons unknown. Jack insisted, even Rapunzel did too, but Tooth declined and Emily thanked Rapunzel for her generous and kindness for giving her the apple.

"It's sad she wont be back.." Rapunzel said, after seeing them walk off. Jack didn't reply, he didn't do anything except retreat to the back of the bus.

Merida and Hiccup watched his emotions change while walking- they noticed he felt guilty.

"Hey, how about.. We just ride on, how much gas is in this?" Anna tried to lighten the mood, skipping over to the steering wheel with Elsa and Axel following with.

"Halfway." Axel replied.

"Okay so judging by it.. Everyone can drive." Anna said shortly after.

"Except you." Elsa turned to look at Anna. There was a stifled laugh before Merida finally spoke up-

"Wait you don't know how to drive?".

"Excuse me, but you can't drive until you're eighteen."

"... I was driving by the time I was sixteen." Anna stared at the woman, in disbelief as if it was possible- then again, who knows where she used to live and what their laws were there.

It was soon decided that Jack was going to drive, and so Rapunzel switched her seats to sit near the front, just behind him. Everyone at least sat alone or next to someone- like Anna with Kristoff, Merida next to Hiccup and Axel besides Elsa. Hans and Edward opted to be alone, in the near back.

The bus was in perfect condition- minus all the blood on the edge, the paint job chipping and everything else similar to most cars. But it was for a good cause to use it when it should be used. At one point, Hiccup noticed that there was something wrong when they didn't come across any flesh eaters, it was if there was no more on the planet.

They went through a tunnel before reaching the new town, but however the bus got over raided. Not so much by a couple hundred, but they noticed that even the big heavy setted people were coming back from being bitten too- and how odd to now just run into them, but then again they were months into the apocalypse before meeting the red eyes.

One grabbed the rear end of the bus, picking it up and causing almost everyone to fly forward. The only two people that did fly forward was Rapunzel and Anna. They crashed into each other, both apologized before getting up by holding onto the edge of a seat.

"Jack, come on-"

"I'm trying!"

The infected heavy set let the bus down, but with how much pressure Jack had on the gas pedal, it sped forward only to swerve off of the road and hit a tree.

Everyone in the back were okay, Axel made sure Elsa didn't have any injures since she was the closest before he went to check on everyone else. Edward followed the idea, and Merida checked on Hiccup.

However, they noticed that the bus was over raiding by singular flesh eaters and the heavy one, with only three people knocked unconscious.

Jack was resting over the wheel, a few glass shards had landing on him, but nothing too serious. Rapunzel was laying on the ground nearby, unconscious while Anna was on the ground, in between two seats currently. The doors were being banged on by the hoard, cracking them at every chance- it was down hill.

Hans opened up the back window where only less of them were, shooting at multiple befire sliding himself out- earning a yell from Elsa and Kristoff on a command to get back.

Kristoff went for Anna with Elsa at his side. Anna rested on his back shortly, and Elsa ran to the window, following the same idea as Hans had but then noticed it'd be a bad idea to squeeze both Kristoff and Anna out at once.

"Well, I'm not leaving. We'll have to open the door-"

"And what? Leave Rapunzel and Jack here?!" Merida shouted, helping Hiccup onto Axel's back.

"Elsa, go, I'll find a way for Anna to get out." Kristoff said, Elsa felt hesitant before nodding.

"I'll grab her when I get out."

A moment went by, Elsa climbed out and then she held her hands up for Kristoff to slide Anna out. The window was big enough to do so, but what she didn't expect was a couple of red eyes marking her as theirs. Elsa felt a hand on her wrist, turning her head and seeing Hans had came back, or probably never left, and he pulled her away into a run. Kristoff held Anna close and shut the window after realizing that the back was also hoarding.

"What about Anna?!" Elsa yelled.

"Leave her-"

"I'm not leaving my sister."

"She'll be fine." Hans yelled in return.

Merida yelled after there was the top window of the door breaking, currently trying to grab Rapunzel and help Axel slide Jack from his entanglement with his arms around the wheel.

"We wont make it out of here, no one can make it out of here." Axel muttered under his breath before noticing Jack was waking up.

"Jack! We need help! Is the bus still stable?"

Jack rubbed his eyes, freeing his arms and mumbling something very unintelligent before realizing the bus was rocking, glass was broken and he had glass all over him. His vision was blurred lightly only to readjust and notice Rapunzel knocked out cold.

"Rapunzel!" He yelled, only for Merida to hold him back.

"Hold it, ye could be really badly injured."

"But I feel fine." Jack mumbled only to scream in pain.

"What?!"

"Yeah my leg hurts like a son of a bitch." Jack moved carefully only to sit on the back seat from the driver seat. Merida slid into the driver seat-

"Well, aside from the window, nothing should be broken." Edward pointed out.

"Yeah, but the tires could also have gone flat." Axel replied, almost loosing balance to the bus, hearing another window shattering. Hiccup turned his head before he rapidly tapped at Axel's shoulders.

"One got in!" Hiccup yelled when Axel didn't respond.

Merida pulled the stick back, making the bus back up only a little before accidentally ramming back into the tree-

"Merida!" Axel yelled. Jack grabbed his gun, turning himself to sit on his knee to perfectly aim and shoot the flesh eater square in the forehead.

"Okay, yeah ah suck at driving, yell at me later!" Merida countered back, driving back up only a few before realizing that the bus wouldn't be able to make it up backwards.

"Guys, the road is up, the bus can't go up." Merida put plainly before resting her head on the wheel.

"Then we go." Hiccup replied.

"The back window should be easy to jump out if now, since you ran over a few, not to mention theres a back door." Kristoff replied quickly only to run to the window. He gently set Anna on one of the seats, before shooting off any in the back and nearby side. He swung the door open after picking her up again.

"Guys-"

"Jacks leg is -"

"I can run, I just got to focus on Rapunzel." Jack yelled, standing up and ignoring any pain on his leg. Once he had gotten Rapunzel on his back, Kristoff and Anna were long gone- as well as Axel and Hiccup, Merida stood behind to help and they were able to run to the door.

Merida jumped down, shooting her crossbow in every direction before helping Jack down.

They noticed Edward still sitting in one of the seats-

"Edward!" Merida yelled.

"Go on, I don't want to." Edward yelled back before feeling Merida tug him out.

"We're not leaving anyone behind." Merida stared right at him.

Edward gulped quietly, only to nod and run out the door with the smaller woman at his side. They ran with Jack who had Rapunzel on his back until Jack's leg acted up and he was in agonizing pain, causing him to double over on the ground before blacking out..

He doesn't remember anything except feeling his body being lifted upward, Rapunzels leaving his when he wanted to yell.

Once he woke up, he only found Edward. Rapunzel and Merida gone from sight.

"Where.." He mumbled, eyes slowly closing before opening up- "Where is she?" He asked. Edward looked up from bandaging up his leg.

"Who?"

"Rapunzel!" Jack yelled, causing a hand to cover his lips.

"Shut up, we're not very far." Edward scolded before he spoke more quietly, more gently.. "Rapunzel is with Merida, we managed to get you two off the ground in time but we were both hoarded off and had to run separate ways." He explained.

"Merida is tiny, how-"

"Merida is stronger, Rapunzel is light. Puzzle it together." One tight tie, earning a hissing from Jack on the pain it sent. Some silence before Edward apologize.

"What about the others? Anna.. Kristoff, Hans.. Elsa? Axel.. Hiccup.." Jack felt woozy.

"Anna and Kristoff ran off before we could get to them." A pause. "Funny, so did everyone else."

"No, I remember seeing Axel with Hiccup, he had him on his back.. I thought they waited.."

"No, they up and ran. They probably thought we were with 'em." Edward explained before turning his body.

"Get on my back." Jack obeyed, forcing himself up and then onto his back, eventually falling into a sleep with the last movement of a run.

"Rapunzel.."

Merida groaned, falling to her knees with Rapunzel at her back, her breath panting and eventually forcing herself up until realizing-what if Rapunzel died- no she's breathing. Even so, being eaten isn't a way to go; dead or alive so she continued on until she basically didn't feel the need to, mostly because her knees kept buckling. Soon she found herself a very safe distance, placing Rapunzel up against a tree.

"Oh god." Merida rubbed at her calves. There was slight stirring from the golden blonde before seeing those wide green eyes open carefully and slowly.

"What happened?" Rapunzel asked after noting that her environment was the woods, as well as being only with Merida.

"Weel.. We got over run."

"I remember. The others.."

"Axel and Hiccup left, Edward and Jack had to go to the other part of the woods."

"And.."

"Kristoff saved Anna. Hans saved Elsa. And here we are." Merida watched the woman across from her, hearing a light oh escaping her lips before the red headed stood up.

"Everyone got out safely, then?" Merida nodded. Earning a small smiles from Rapunzel until it just faded off her face. There was no reply from the other female, in fear to give her the false hopes mostly anyone would give in this situation..

Time passes by rather slowly before Merida eventually had cleared her throat.

"Weel. We should get goin' also." She added after her throat finally found the words. The golden blonde nodded in a response before having help on hoisting up to her feet.

They ran off in a random direction, although it was toward the West. Unaware of what would or could happen, since both were short on anything... Food, water- water was very scarce, only two, three bottles at the most and same with weapons. Only Merida had her crossbow, Rapunzel at least had her frying pan plus Pascal, but what were those two good for?

Once they felt fatigue, Rapunzel noticed a warehouse with half the door open just a couple of feet from them. Pointing it out to Merida, they both darted towards it until the red headed lass stopped Rapunzel to go in, taking on any infected worth the chances of them having shelter for the night.

One, two, three.. Rapunzel count the seconds that would tick on her watch. Two minutes later, Merida trotted back out with a few blood on her pants, overalls and a little on her cheek.

"It becomes a habit to take these down quickly." Merida joked around when she saw her friend has gave her a weird look, before turning on the base of her foot only to walk back in. Rapunzel following quickly behind and slowly, quietly, and gently closing the door so no one would be attracted to that sound.

In the warehouse, it was filled with machines, some even had wood freshly cut- minus blood and guts. Merida grabbed a thin strip, snapping it in half with one boot on the edge, before snapping once more. She gathered it around her and Rapunzel before lighting fire with them, having to take roughly six tries.

"Have any water?" Rapunzel warmed her hands with the fire, eyes directing to Merida before seeing her female friend scramble around in her backpack, earning a laugh of happiness that lightly echoed but barely heard when she found two bottles.

"Here." Merida handed her one, both were still a little cold but hinting warm.

"Thank you." Rapunzel smiled warmly, as always. Taking a small sip that refreshed her right up before looking at her hands that were wrapped around the plastic bottle, zoning out slowly before Merida snapped to get her attention- earning a puzzled look.

"What? Sorry, I was.." Rapunzel traced her words off of speaking.

"It's nothing. Ah just noticed ye were just zoning off, didn't want anything to happen to ya if ye didn't hear anything."

"Thanks, but I'm fine." Another small smile, but Merida knew— that maybe in her friends' thoughts there was worrying about Jack, or the others.. Just like how worried Merida was about Hiccup, especially in his condition, but she didn't show it.

Through the cracks of the window, they found the sun setting. It was pretty early when they took off, but the time slipped by and eventually Rapunzel was given the first few hours of sleep. Using her arms as a pillow for her head while she curled her legs to her chest to keep them warm, since she was wearing Capri pants that made her lower calves sink into coldness.

Merida rested her head on the ground after falling back gently, her eyes watching the dull ceiling above her. There came a stiffle, a shocked gasp and with one quick movement from the red head- she was quick enough to see Rapunzel's eyes snap open.

"Rapunzel?"

Rapunzel panted a little, before sitting up. Rubbing at her wide green eye slightly.

"I'm sorry, you can go and sleep.."

"Ye've only been asleep for three hours." Merida remarked.

"Oh.. Well, I can't sleep.." Rapunzel confirmed, quietly.

"Nightmare?" Merida asked, confused. Rapunzel slowly nodded before tucking her knees to her chest with her arms wrapped around tightly. Merida bit at her bottom lip, before looking at the light. Escalating a time it'd be.

"Let me guess.. It's one in the morning?" She asked finally. Not turning her head.

Rapunzel looked down at her watch, giggling a little.

"1:05."

"Hell yeah." Earning small laughters from the both of them.

They forced themselves awake at night, playing random games if needed to, keeping voices low and then finally leaving at the break of the sun's first ray inside the warehouse.

Edward and Jack didn't get anywhere for a long time, barely any rest, barely anything to survive off of, with Edward having little to none experience in hunting while Jack would be in and out of consciousness, plus the barely able to walk.

"Well, we have to-"

"Don't." Edward scolded to the man on his back.

"What?"

"You've been telling me this for hours, 'oh we have to hunt soon' 'oh we have to find food!' Listen, mate. I'm not good at doing any of that." Edward finally put it out there.

"Well, excuse me, if I would like to live!" Jack countered in a snappy remark. Before there was a pause.. "How.. How do you not know.." He failed to finish.

"Well, for one.. I didn't have kids to take after, neither did I have hunting parents, I was always the one that was taken after and North didn't approve of hunting."

"So you got ripped, but not aware of your soundings."

"I'll drop ya mate."

"Fine, fine."

Obviously these two weren't doing good at.. being a duo.. But Edward wasn't the one to actually abandon, and Jack was the same. Once they reached a one part of the forest where Edward noticed in the right angle, there was a hint of a building. Didn't even made hesitation to hustle there, earning a couple yells from Jack.

"A building!"

"Yeah, captain obvious." Jack replied plainly.

"Shut it." Edward walked over to the said building, one look at the sign to realize it was a supermarket of a sort, so he walked in- until Jack obviously reminded him the reason why it wasn't lit up, bloody and everything.

"Right, zoned out.. Thought this was the world before.."

"So, let's get going." Jack replied, earning a nod from his Australian companion before walking off quietly in hopes it doesn't alert whatever is inside.

Eventually resting up near a river back in the woods, Edward set Jack down nearby it before letting the sun gleam over him once he fell backwards. Jack went to check his backpack, groaning in the realization that he didn't grab it.

"Hmm?" Edward finally asked with a push off his back to sitting position.

"Left it on the bus."

"What, your backpack?" Jack nodded.

"So did I.." Edward spoke softly.

A twig snapped nearby, causing them to turn their head that direction before Jack was ushered up onto Edward's back, and off they were again once finding the newly founded person to be one of the infected, and since they practically left everything on the bus- there was no chance of fighting.

How would they survive this? It was inhumane.

But Jack didn't care about his survival, as long as Rapunzel was alright...