"We've been living out of this van for weeks!" Said Nora. "I thought you had at least an idea on where to go!"
"Nora, it's only been five days." said Ren.
Yang rolled her eyes from the driver seat. "Blake," She looked at the girl in the passenger seat. "Where are we?"
"We're about two-hundred miles southwest of Vale."
Ruby replied, "wait, does that mean we're close to Vacuo?"
Everyone looked at Ruby, "What?"
"Why are you all looking at me?"
Yang replied first, "Do you see desert anywhere?"
"No, all I see is snow, and trees…"
"Then how would we be close to Vacuo?"
"I've never been this far from home! Don't judge me!" Defended Ruby.
Yang shook her head. "Anyway. The snow is getting pretty deep, we may have to go on foot soon."
"Ugh, we don't even know where we're going!" Complained Nora.
"This map says there is a small town about three miles from here. Maybe we can find a better vehicle to go through this snow.." Said Blake.
"Blake and I will scout ahead, when we find something we'll come back. If we're not back by morning, head to the town without us...but be careful." Said Yang.
"But!" Exclaimed Ruby.
"No." Replied Yang. "We'll be okay. I've been gone on runs for longer than a day before. Remember when we tried to go to Vytal? That trip took two weeks, and we didn't even find anything."
"That's my point! What if you don't come back?" Asked Ruby.
"We will, don't worry. But...if we're not back by morning follow the road into town, okay?" Blake suggested.
Ruby looked hopeful, but also worried, she nodded nonetheless.
The two girls left the van, Yang felt the harsh winter wind on her face. "It's even colder than it was yesterday."
They were on a two lane highway, the snow was four inches deep and there were empty fields in all directions. There were trees lining the creeks between the fields.
Yang looked off the road to her right then to her left, there were no buildings in sight. "Well, let's get going."
Wrapping their coats around themselves, they walked up the road in the direction of the town.
"So Yang…how's the hand?" Blake asked cautiously.
"It's…not too bad. The cold is weird with it though...like it feels like it's frost-bitten, but I know that's not possible." After a few moments Yang asked. "How are you doing...with everything?"
"I like that we're away from...there...him...but some of the people that died because of our plan...were people that I grew up with, people that I called friends. I feel horrible." Tears were now streaming down Blake's Face.
"I'm sorry...we shouldn't talk about this now...at least the cold will slow the walkers down…" Yang stopped and looked at the raven haired faunus. Okay...that didn't work...she hugged Blake. "I know it's hard...but things will get better."
Blake hugged her back. "We need to keep moving"
The snow was beginning to pick up. On top of that the sun was starting to set, making visibility a problem. After walking for half an hour Yang was beginning to worry they were going to freeze to death.
"Look." Blake said. She was pointing to a street sign that said "Washington street." Perpendicular to it another street that read "Main."
"Main Street would be our best bet…"
The girls took a right down "Main."
"What exactly are we looking for?" Asked Blake.
"Somewhere easily defensible..that doesn't already have people in it."
"This place looks deserted." They we're starting to see buildings lining the roads, most of them brick. Yang looked through a window on one of the buildings, it was hard to make out but there were definitely walkers inside. "Nothing but the dead...people nearby probably wouldn't leave these walkers in here…"
The wind was roaring around them. Yang was visibly shivering when Blake said. "What about this?!" She pointed to a one story building that looked brand new compared to all the other buildings in this town.
The front wall was almost entirely made of six inch by six inch glass blocks that obscured the interior. Above that attached to the cinder blocks were letters that spelled out "public library." The doors were made out of thick metal with small wired windows. There was a thick chain wrapped around the handles of the double doors, with a rusty padlock holding them tight.
Yang lifted the chain and saw rust from it was bleeding onto the door. "I doubt we can get in this way, unless we want to go back to the van first."
"Let's check around back?" Suggested Blake.
Yang nodded and the two of them headed down an ally on the right side of the building. She didn't know if it was instinct, or memories of dark allies from the old world, but Yang was uneasy. She walked with Blake behind her holding her fists up, ready for an ambush.
But they made it to the back of the building with no problems. Yang was starting to get worried. It had been two days since they'd been attacked by a walker. She knew they became less active in the cold, but it had never been this quiet.
The back door was metal but without a window, a sign on the door read, "County Library, Fire Exit Only" the door had a metal plate over the crease to prevent break ins.
"Shit." Said Blake. "How about I boost you up, then you look for the roof entrance?"
"Okay, but I'm pulling you up once I get up there."
Blake nodded, she moved to the wall and braced her back against it interlocking her fingers and said. "Up you go."
Yang put her foot in Blake's interlocked hands and used them to reach the edge of the roof. Once she grabbed hold it was easy enough to pull herself up. On the roof it felt like the temperature dropped 20 degrees.
"We better hurry…" Yang dropped to her stomach and reached down over the ledge for Blake to grab hold.
Blake jumped and pushed off the wall easily grabbing onto Yang's outstretched hand.
Once they were both on the roof Blake said. "Hey, there's….a….ha...ha...hatch….over...he...here." Blake was gripping her sides tightly. Yang noticed that Blake's ears were bright red, she guessed they were on the verge of frostbite.
Yang hurried to the hatch, she tried the handle but it was frozen shut. She stood up and kicked the latch as hard as she could and with an audible crack, the edge lifted.
"Here, let me see your knife?" Yang asked.
Blake handed her the knife without hesitation. Yang slid the edge under the slightly open hatch and pried with all her force, the knife did the trick. The hatch burst open and inside there was a ladder leading into a small room that looked like a janitor's closet.
"It's clear, let's get inside." Said Yang.
The girls quickly went down the ladder and into the room. Blake closed the hatch on their way down.
Yang whispered. "Hear anything?" Blake was standing so close, Yang couldn't help the flutter she got in her stomach. What the hell Yang. Calm down. She was lucky her cheeks were flushed from the cold or it would've been extremely obvious.
"No...maybe? Let me go first, it's easier for me to see in here. Okay...three…two...one." Blake slowly opened the door and looked out. "I'll yell if anything happens."
"But!" Was all Yang could get out before Blake was out of the room.
Yang waited for five minutes and decided she couldn't stand it anymore, but just as she was about to leave the door opened. Standing in front of her was Blake.
"All clear, we should stay here tonight, it doesn't look like anyone has been here for a long time. I found some blankets in the kids section, we can cover up with those. Then once the storm stops we'll head out for the rest of them."
"I agree, they'll be okay in the van tonight." Replied Yang.
"Come on?" said Blake as she grabbed Yang's hand.
Yang let Blake lead her, it was difficult to see anyway. Plus she liked the feeling of Blake's hand in her own.
"Here we are." Blake grabbed a few Blankets spread them out and then laid them on top of each other. "Almost like a bed?" She said.
"We should get out of these wet clothes…" Yang said it so fast she didn't realize the implications of what that truly meant.
Blake looked at Yang with a surprised look.
"What?" Yang asked.
"It's just a little awkward…we're friends and everything but like...it feels like…" Blake trailed off.
Yang noticed tears were starting to run down Blake's face. "Blake...I didn't mean anything by that. I just don't want either of us to get sick."
"I know...it's...just that Adam is still fresh in my mind...and I don't know if he's following us, or if he's dead. Or if he just doesn't care anymore. Not that I want him too." Blake replied through sobs.
Yang hugged Blake. "How about this. Since I can't see in here anyway you go behind that shelf, take off your wet clothes and I'll do the same over here. I'll be under the blanket when you come back, and as I said before I can't see anyway."
Blake nodded and walked over behind the shelf. Yang undressed to her underwear and hung her wet clothes on a nearby coatrack.
Then she climbed under the blanket and told Blake, "You can come back whenever you're ready."
Blake replied, "okay."
Yang could hear Blake walking back to the makeshift bed, she felt her lift the blanket and climb under it. Blake slowly inched closer to Yang until they were almost touching.
I want to touch her. Stop it! She's hurting right now. Yang thought.
"Goodnight."
Yang woke up to Blake whimpering in her sleep, Yang instinctively reached out and wrapped her arms around her. "It's okay."
Yang wasn't sure if Blake woke up, but she stopped whimpering and leaned into Yang's grasp. Yang kissed the back of her head and said, "I'll always be with you."
Blake's reply was barely audible but Yang heard it nonetheless "Thank you."
Yang felt hope for the first time since finding the bruises on Blake. And with that new found hope, came joy, as she drifted off to sleep. The woman she loved in her arms.
A/N
Sorry it took so long to finish this, just needed some inspiration.
But now the story is complete, stay tuned for a sequel!
Thanks to everyone who's enjoyed the first writing I've put out for others to see.