The newly rising sun covered the vacant town street with an orange glow. "I cannot believe I allowed you to convince me—you may be seriously injured." My voice sounded over the small area between the Latina and myself. As always my words passed no effect on Santana. "Santana"
"I'm not going back there without them" Santana said not looking back at me as she moved around abandoned cars her hand clutched to her side. "You can go back if you want Quinn's been losing her freaking mind without you"
"She has" The question escaped before I could stop it and it was clear that Santana noticed the hint of surprise.
"I've known Quinn for a very, very long time. Not once in the time that I've known her have I ever seen her look at someone the way she has always looked at you. Quinn may think that her feelings for you were well hidden but Lucy gives her away more often than not." I felt a tingle hearing Santana's words.
"How long—"
"Far too long" The other girl cut me off, "There has never been a doubt in my mind that she—the point being that there shouldn't be a doubt in yours either, that look of longing, the clingy neediness of needing you there, that blondes in full tow for you." Santana's voice was distant even though she was inches in front of me.
"If Quinn's looks at me the way Brittany looks at you, when than I know I am one lucky, lucky girl" I could not see Santana's reaction, but after a moment she looked back at me. Before I could say anything the Latina leaped forwards her body heavily crushing me to the pavement. I felt the air escape my lungs in a sharp breath. The sound of clattering filled the air as Santana slapped her hand over my mouth. The girl's face was inches from mine as her eyes searched the distance I felt her wait deepen atop of me.
Shush she cooed softly still refusing to look at me.
"Where are we going" A male voice rang out rather loudly.
"Shut up" Another voice, this one raspy and hard to understand, growled it was followed by a slapping sound.
"Hey" the first voice growled.
"Tomas shut the fuck up" The second voice hissed. "God damn boy, I swear Mama Jane dropped you." Santana's eyes seemed to drift to a deeper brown as she looked down and looked directly into my eyes. Without a word Santana passed an obvious message, she slowly backed off and grabbed her side as she pushed herself against the hub cap of a car. The pain was evident in her face but as I leaned forward to help her the other girl shied away. She didn't speak as she shook her head gripping her side in a silent cringe. I nodded my comply and quickly gather myself before swiftly moving in closer on the anonymous associates.
"Hey, Jacob" The first voice called softly as something off in the distance set off a car alarm. "Do you think that's him" the man asked a little too excited.
"You better fucking hope that's him" Jacob responded as their footsteps tripped into a trot and then a heavy run. I ceased the opportunity to stand up and follow the men my far lighter steps hidden the thumping of thick boots slamming into the pavement.
"Jacob it's him" Tomas shrieked pointing to a shambling boy. As he passed the rising sun I recognized the Mohawk.
"Noah" I gasped as the football player jumped up and slid across the hood of a Jeep. A shot rang out and as the men hurried towards the fleeing boy. Before I registered the obviously idiotic move my mouth had opened my regularly loud voice screamed out towards the man. "Hey! You brain dead red necks" I cringed the moment I heard my own voice immediately wishing I had not done what I could not take back. Before I could think I found myself running down the vacant street with to very angry, very large, very much alive men shooting at me. There heavy Southern draws muffled most of the screams they sent my way though it remained very clear that if caught alive I would no longer be striving for twenty-seven. Just as I achieved the smoothest of ditches ever made I slid into another corner of doom. I cringed seen the street full of Clowns, each one facing my direction. The sun was in full view shining down like a beckon of shame. Before I could move before I could think every clown around me shifted their bodies shifted, it's obvious when a Clown is ready to move in, and they were defiantly ready to move in. I took a step back and as soon as the movement was made I heard a dreadful sound.
"There's the lil' bitch, Jacob." I felt my heart drop; again the time seemed to rush passed as that horrible sound screeched out again. Another Clown rearing back its head, the sound of dead-possibly-mutilated-dry vocal cords clashing into one another filled air the men dropped their guns and as if they knew the hoard passed me like a tofu-burger dashing to the unarmed men. As the pack cleared the wailing Clown was left standing atop a dumpster, another female, another Cheerleader, her red and white uniform in far better condition than the last. It was clear this girl had been dead for quite some time, but unlike the other the possibility of her kill zone being close could have been optional. The dirt and motor oil on her uniform suggested that she may have fought for the life she once lived. Obviously the fight ended fruitless nevertheless she had no clear death mark. Her skin gave away the age of her walking corps the disfigured texture and horrific smell that was evident even from my stand point said that the girl may have fought but she merely lasted a day or two. The girl's screeches grew louder as the sound of the men's screamed filled the air. I felt my stomach drop as a voice beckoned me to help. 'Don't be an idiot Berry' I felt a jolt hearing the voice of the Queen of my world. 'I love you but sometimes you can be so—regardless of your obsessive need to help it is time to be selfish love.'
"I don't think I can do that Quinn" My voice shook as I spoke out loud. 'Rachel, those men were trying to kill you three seconds ago, not to mention they were chasing Puckerman' "It does not feel right to leave two defenseless men to a hoard of monsters Quinn. 'If you want to help them than help them, but I'm going to say I told you so'. I shook my head. "I cannot just do nothing, even at the end of the world someone has got to keep their head"
"Who the hell are you talking to and what the hell is the fucking sound" Santana's voice hissed in a low yell. I jumped hearing the girl but didn't respond instead I raised my gun pointing towards the hoard. Santana stumbled towards me clutching her side. "Oh God" The Latina's voice trembled. "Oh God no" I started firing shots into the crowed watching bodies drop. "What the hell are you doing, those ass wholes are fucked Rachel" I fired off another shot before the Latina's hand hit my elbow and knocked off my balance. The sound of the undead call stop and I shot Santana a looked the confused even I as she pulled my gun from my hands.
"What the fuck" I hissed the Latina shook her head and turned her attention back to the Cheerio on the dumpster. I followed her line of sight suddenly wishing I hadn't. The girl's face twisted into anger, the Clown was anger, as in the breathing-expressive-thought-processed-living emotion of anger.
"Shit" Santana growled, she dropped my gun but did not pull her own.
"Santana" I all but cried as the Clown got closer. "Santana" I couldn't move my limbs something in me could not click I just could not move.
"I'm sorry" Santana's eyes filled with an emotion that very much confused me, the girl raised a hand gun and the look in her eyes as she pulled the trigger. The pain in her facial expression, it wasn't pain in her torso, nor the inability to work both eyes, there was something in Santana's face that confused the life out of me. The look of pure emotional distress as the built left the gun. Again the Cheerio's vocal cards clashed but this time, it wasn't a screech it was a real sound a real terrifying sound.
"Saaaa"
DOOO DOOOO DOOO DOO!
Santana did not speak as we made our way back to where I had seen Noah; the only sound was the soft thumps of our shoes hitting the pavement lightly. "You're sure it was him" Santana asked moving around the cars.
"I am most positive" I said peeking through windows. "He was right here; he was running from those men." Santana nodded yet I could tell she had her mind on something else. "Who was she" I asked softly, with the way Santana's attention snapped I almost wish I hadn't said a word.
"Who" The taller girls voice hide something but it was unclear what.
"The girl" I said taking a few steps towards the Latina that had stopped walking. "The Clown who—you knew her before" Santana nodded but she didn't look at me.
"Yeah, she was a Cheerio, we were all pretty close."
I shook my head "No I mean—". Instantly I felt regret for the decision as the Latina shot me a look that scared me more than the undead.
"She was a friend, she wanted more than that." Santana's brown eyes filled with a deep emotion I'd never seen before. "I didn't—I've been in love with the same girl for as long as I can remember. Her name was Amanda." The Latina started walking again looking ahead of us. "We sort of dated; for a while. It wasn't love, not for me. I'm not capable, I can't love anyone else. I tired" She didn't even seem to be talking to me, it seemed more like she was telling herself. "Amanda didn't—she got upset when I broke up with her telling me I was scared that I was a coward. That it was all for nothing; 'Brittany will never love you' those were exact words. I just stopped talking to her. I let her fall in love with me and I didn't even feel it back. I let her think that we were both in it for the long run, but every day I thought about someone else; every second I knew I wasn't capable of loving her back."
"But she still meant something to you" my voice was hesitant and Santana's choked up laugh hurt more than I thought it was going to. Not once had I thought that Santana Lopez would be the kind of person that would tear themselves apart for hurting someone.
"I used her" Santana said harshly the sound of pain and tears coating her words.
"Some people are there to be used" I felt my body shake hearing another voice. I spun on my heels my gun lifted to shoot, Noah's dark eyes pressed past me he did not seem to notice me at all. "Some people rely on it. As bad as that sounds Bonita, some people need someone to use them, to learn what it is. And it's far better to be used by someone that wants to beloved, I'd take that over someone that wants sex or money or just wanting to fuck with someone." Santana turned into Noah's arms as the boy approached her. "I've told you before stop tearing yourself up.
DOOOO DOOOOO DOOO DOO!
Noah lead us to an abandoned video store inside he'd left two girls were held up barricade inside. As we approached the heavy doors flung open and both girls ran to Santana throwing their arms around the hobbling Latina. "Santana" The both cried clinging to the girl. Santana made a face of pain but didn't voice it; instead she took the hug until it got to be too long of a hug.
"Enough" Santana's voice stung the air and both girls nodded there agreement moving away from the Latina. Neither girl held a look of hurt only understanding.
"Now that we're all back together can we just head back to the others" Noah's deep voice pulled the groups attention.
"We aren't all here" Santana said crudely her voice held a pain more than likely from her wounds, however I seemed to be only one that noted the sound. The looked that was exchanged didn't go unnoticed by Santana who rolled her eyes and clarified. "Alexander, where is he." Noah's face plummeted and a look of agony covered his deep brown eyes make them excavate.
"Santana—"The boy stopped short when the Latina passed him an unreadable look. "I tried to—those men they—they had us shackled and it was one of—the world isn't—they'd lost their minds." Santana looked at Noah piecing the boy's rambled story better than I. I wasn't the only one not following as the other girls looked at me confused.
"Fine" Santana's voice was pained yet again, though it was far more evident that this was not from the pain of her injuries.
"Santana" I began, to be honest even if the Latina had not stopped me I was not very prepared to continue. Nevertheless Santana did stop me; she held up her left hand in a silencing, manner and began to walk away from me.
"Let's just get moving."
DOOOOO DOOO DOO DOO!
There was no sound as we walked down the street not even the soft thumps of footsteps echoing the demolished roads. No one said a word, had it not been for the injuries Santana would have stayed silent the entire time. However the ache in her chest or ribs must have gotten to unbearable because the Latina began to breathe heavier as we neared the street to the house.
"Are you alright" Noah asked getting closer to the Latina with a helpful look in his eyes. When the girl's answer remained deep breathes Noah began to panic gripping the girl's shoulders. "Hey San, are you alright" He asked forcing the girl to look at him.
"Noah don't" I softly plead grabbing the boy's wrist. "She's hurt, you don't want to harm her more." The boy gave me a look of confusion but her let the girl go. The actions that took place after sincerely made me regret my words. As soon as the boy's hands were removed the Latina sprinted off, before anyone could move the girl was rushing down the road towards the house. Noah's deep voice carried as he called after the girl to wait. The boom of the deep voice sent a chill up my spine.
"Noah" I cried slapping the boy's Mohawk. He flinched and turned to me anger in his brown eyes. "Do you want us to die" I growled.
"I think it's a little late." Harmony's voice almost trembled. I spun to face the girl and the sight ahead made my stomach twist.
"Oh lord" I felt my hand tremble as the mob of Clowns neared us. Then once again I felt the chill, that ice cold chill run down my back. 'Run Rachel' Quinn's voice cooed 'there are way too many' "We've made it this far" I said aloud causing the group to look at me. 'And I would love to see you once again, for me run' I nodded and Candice voice her confusion.
"What the hell are we doing" She cried as they grew closer.
"Run" I screamed turning on my heels and heading up the same street as Santana.
The sound of Noah's footsteps followed me I could feel the need to look back but something in me said run, run for the house. Don't stop. Do not slow down, speed up.
"Rachel" Noah screamed from behind me the sound of his voice hit the pavement. I spun on my heels pulling my gun from my hip. The boy was fighting a disfigured-monstrous-bulk-of-use-to-be-hockey-play er, the oaf straddled Noah his beaten-half-eaten face snapped at the boy growling and husking as the blood-saliva mixture that dripped from his chin began to ooze down his towards Noah on the pavement. Hesitation no longer existed as I sent off a shot screaming the words 'Lock your lips' out to the boy on the ground. The sound of Candice screaming caught my attention as I snapped to the right. The red head was kicking off what was rightly described as a clown off of her legs. The body remained dead, not undead, deceased and limp on the girl's legs. The sound of an all too familiar cried filled the air and without thinking I sprinted up the hill and to the house.
DOOOO DOOO DOOOO DOO!
I shot off the last shot in my clip straight through the mushy skull of a tattered Clown. "Santana" I called rushing to the Latina's side.
"Something is wrong" Santana growled pushing the obviously heavy body off of her own. "The gates open" I followed the Latina's gaze to the heavy iron gated that guarded the house.
"Your eye is worse" I noted reaching to touch the girl's deep gash.
"I got that" Santana hissed pulling away her left eyes closed tight. I felt a twinge in my chest, a sting.
"Quinn" The large gates had not been forced open and the courtyards stood clear of any mess. Makeshift storage buildings and low lighting all around the walls set and eerie tone.
"It wasn't like this when I left" Santana's voice shook me as she approached. "God dammit" the Latina's panic chilled me as she rushed to the front door. When her tanned hand lightly pushed open the front door I felt my heart sink.
"No" I lunged towards the opening following the other girl inside.
Rubble, ruins, panic, chaos, the remains of our own as well as the remains of those we had never met. "Brittany" Santana screamed her voice full, she was belting. "Brittany"
"Santana" I cried moving towards the Latina in attempt to lower her voice. The girl ignored me and screamed again.
"Brittany"
"Santana you don't even know if—"The taller girl's body crushed mine against the wall her deep brown eyes all but black.
"Don't even think about finishing that sentence." The fear I'd felt from the girl in the past was never as intense as the fear I'd felt in this moment. Santana had threatened me a million times all of which I was too fearful to test, this time I knew better it was more than a threat it was a warning.
"I'm sorr—"Santana did not bother with my apology as she rushed down the littered hall to her room.
"What have I done" The taller girl sighed stepping passed body after body of fallen comrades. I felt my heart sink picking out my friends. Children, adults, I cringed seeing Shannon her heavy body blocking a door way.
"Santana" I called loudly grabbing the girl's attention. The girl looked at me coldly her breathing heavier than ever. "She's blocking this door." I said calmly. "She was protecting someone." Santana moved over to the large woman and sighed.
"I'm sorry" She said softly before raising her pistol and firing a shot into the woman's cranium. The sound echoed but Santana didn't flinch she pulled off her jacket and covered the woman's face. "Help me" Santana said kindly not looking at me. I knew she was speaking to me though. We moved the girl as kindly as we could Santana's injuries making it harder than it should have been. As we moved the lady out of the way the sound of the door's lock clicked. My heart raced as the door opened up, Santana flinched to full attention raising her gun. Neither of us expected anything alive behind the door.
"Santana" Though the excitement in the voice rang new, the heavenly sound of Quinn Fabray's vocal cords vibrating into the air brought the brightest of lights into my heart; I hadn't left that excited before. The blonde wrapped her arms the Latina burying her face in the other girls next.
"What happened" Santana's voice came out rugged and deep. The blonde shook but did not respond.
"It was her" Santana's eyes flickered with affection as another blonde exited the room.
"It was who?" I asked softly, hardly recognizing my own voice. Quinn's attention snapped from Santana's embrace and she rushed to me I felt all of the breath escape my body and it was not just the feeling of her arms tightened around me, the feeling of Quinn's embrace, knowing that she still remained alive, knowing that I could feel her in my arms it took my breath away.
"I shouldn't have left" Santana's voice echoed cold and pained.
"You had no idea—"Brittany's voice remained deep and withdrawn.
"But you did" Brittany's deep blue eyes flickered like Santana's but it clearly was not affection. "You knew something was going to happen. I should have listened to you, and I didn't."
"Santana you had no idea" Santana opened her mouth to respond to the blonde but Brittany cut her off taking the Latina into her arms. The smaller girl's tension visibly dropped as other girl pulled her tightly to her body.
"I was worried" Quinn said softly into my neck. I nodded pulling myself as close as I physically could.
"No one answered me" I said softly. "Who is she" Brittany stiffed as Quinn did. Neither of them speaking,
"Sue" My attention snapped down the hall where Noah and the girls stood drenched in blood. "It was Sue"
"But—"My voice came out week an unfamiliar.
"She was leading them, she's one of them, and even in death that psychotic old gas bag is evilly trying to destroy the glee club." Noah said crudely. Santana shook her head but Brittany sighed deeply in agreement with the Mohawk man.
"Santana's we saw her with our own eyes" Quinn said harshly.
(Okay so I'm really sorry if this chapter sucks and seems rushed it is. I know my updates are already unpredictable and take forever. But I've recently moved out of my parents house and into a place with out internet so until I can get wifi at my new place updates will be even harder than before. I'm sorry but I'm trying.)