CHAPTER FOUR, PT. 2

The rescue mission

POV Gray

Two weeks passed and everything was still the same. There was no response from the government and the military was nowhere to be seen. Did they all die? Was everything they knew as society gone? There were no answers to those questions, just caos and broken people.

Life behind the walls of what was called "The guild" felt as life in a prison. If you went out, you died. If you stay, you are trapped. Life as everyone knew was gone. It sounded worse than it actually was but, the rules were pretty strict.

Gray sighed deeply and sat down. He had been laying on his bed for an hour trying to fall asleep, but it was impossible. There was no light turned on. Not in his bedroom, not outside. Keeping the lights out prevented those things from coming. He touched his forehead and bited his lower lip. How was this possible..? Everything was gone.

Someone knocked on his door, making him come back to reality. He stood up and walked up to the door. -Hey, Gray-

-Natsu... what are you doing here?- the pink-haired boy came inside his room without permission and started looking around.

-I couldn't sleep, so I figured I should come and pay you a visit- he sat on his friend's bed -So, what shall we do?-

-What do you mean?-

-I was thinking maybe some drinks? How does that sound?- Natsu proposed while making drinking gestures with his hands.

-You know its against the rules to get drunk-

-They don't have to know-

-Look, I'm not really in the mood for--

-With more reason you should drink! A beer will help you feel better- he smiled.

-Ha...-

-Um, 'knock knock'?- Both guys looked towards the door and met with Juvia who was standing there with a friendly smile.

-Juvia..? What are you-- Gray started to ask but got interrupted by Natsu.

-Oh... I get it now! You had 'plans'- he said with a grin on his face.

-What.?! No its not what--

-I'll leave you two guys alone then-

-Natsu, you can stay- Juvia said.

-Eh... Eh?! No, no. I'm fine I don't wanna do anything with him- Natsu stated.

-It's not that, you dumbass...- Gray answered him with a punch on his head. Juvia laughed.

-I just came to bring you some drinks- she pulled out two juice bottles from a bag -Which one do you prefer? There's mango... apple... orange--

-Mango its fine, thanks- Gray gently smiled at her after grabbing two bottles from her hands. Gray took a look at her feet and then back at her eyes -Looks like your feet is doing better-

-Yeah!- she replied happily -I can almost walk normally, thanks to Levy-

-Glad to hear that- he replied with another smile. Natsu looked at them both with a confused expression and then decided to get in between.

-Hey Juvs, do you like beer?-

-Beer?-

-We are not drinking, Natsu!-

-Yeah I like beer..!- Juvia answerd him.

-Then its decided. We're drinking today-

-Natsu we..!- Gray couldn't finish his sentence because his friend was already out of the room. -Guess we ARE drinking tonight...-

Juvia laughed and went inside his room -Then, its good that I just finished giving away all the beverages-

Gray followed every step she did with his eyes -I assume Erza is pretty happy with you-

-Yeap! Its not that hard. Everyone should help in order to make this place better. I'm in charge of distributing the food, Lyon watches the gate... What will your job be, Gray?-

-I...- He avoided Juvia's pretty eyes by looking at the ground.

-Hm~?-

-I'm--

-I'm back! And I brought Lucy!- Natsu entered the room with beer bottles on his hands and a bright smile on his face.

-You literally dragged me here...- Lucy complained. They could all see she was sleeping because of her messy hair and her pajamas.

They drank for some hours, laughing, telling stories, learning about their lives before everything happened. They ended up knowing each other and bonding. After some more drinks, Lucy fell asleep so Natsu decided it would be better to take her back to her room, leaving Gray and Juvia alone.

-Are you alright?- Gray asked her.

-Yup...- Juvia replied with her eyes barely opened. Her cheeks were pink and her hair a little bit messy. There it was. The same Juvia he saw in his aunt's house. And there it was. The same same feeling he had. Gray took the beer can from her hand and put it aside -No~! I hadn't finished it yet...- Juvia tried to reach his hand over his body without realizing. Gray's face was next to her neck and her perfume was as captivating as that night. Once she realized she wouldn't be able to reach the can she gave up and sat down again. -You're mean- she crossed her arms.

-And you are drunk-

-Gray... you didn't tell me what your job will be- She looked at him with curiosity.

-I'm in the hunting team-

-What?!-

-...- there was a sudden silence between both of them.

-That means--

-That means I'll go out of the walls and kill those monsters- Gray grabbed his pants with anger.

-But... why..?- Juvia asked worried -That's too dangerous...-

-I know... but someone has to do it, and Erza thinks I'm that person-

-I can try and talk to her...-

-There's no way she'll change her mind. If its not me, it will be someone else. Someone has to do it-

Juvia looked at him in the eyes and moved closer towards him. Gray followed her every movement and felt her warm and delicate hands gently holding his face towards her's. Gray closed his eyes as her lips met his while slowly moving. Gray touched her waist pulling her closer to him. Juvia slowly sat on his lap and moved her hands towards his chest. She broke the kiss and he pressed his forehead with hers, trying to make her look inti his eyes, but she was to embarrassed to look at him. He was happy. He didn't know what this feeling was, but he wanted more... he needed more... He could... feel it...

-I... I'm sorry...- she apologized. Gray moved his hands under her shirt and touched her waist.

-It's fine...- his hands gently brushed against her waist -...We should stop...- he noticed how Juvia was almost sleeping and decided to stand up with her in his arms and put her asleep in his bed. -or you might regret it...- he finished his sentence while slowly letting Juvia's head on the pillow.

The next, day Juvia abruptly woke up and rubbed her eye. Her hair was messy and it looked as if she had drooled once again. -Where am I..?-

-Good morning- Gray greeted her from the chair next to the window with a cup if coffee in his hand -How are you feeling?-

-My head hurts-

-You only had three beers-

-Ugh...- she was embarrassed -Oh! Did I sleep in your bed?! I'm so sorry!- She immediately stood up. It seemed as if she couldn't remember last night.

-It's fine. I slept on the couch-

-I'm sorry...- both of them remained in an awkward silence for some minutes. Did she remembered? Did she not? What was she thinking. Sometimes Juvia could be a pretty hard person to read.

-Anyway, I should get ready for my first day-

-Oh, right... You never told me what your job was-

-Hunter team- Juvia opened her eyes as if it was the first time hearing it -But the first two weeks are just training-

-I see...- Juvia looked down and then into his eyes -Gray...-

-Hm?-

-Did I do something... while drunk?- Gray barely let her see his surprise and rapidly denied.

-No, you just slept-

-Oh, that's good then... Well, I'll get going now-

-Alright... see you then-

-Yup- Juvia got up and slowly walked towards the door but suddenly stopped for a second and then kept on going.

-...-

Some hours passed and he had to go to his first training session. Gray changed into the uniform Erza had gave him before. A pair of black jogger-like pants and a black long-sleeved shirt. At least they were comfortable. He walked out of the building into the backyard and saw around ten people standing there waiting for something. He looked around and found Natsu and Lyon as well. -Oh, Gray. I guess you were selected as part of the hunting team- Lyon greeted him.

-Yeah... not my favourite kind of work though-

-Well, someone has to do it...-

Erza came into the backyard and everyone turned around to look at her. She walked with elegance and an authoritarian energy at the same time. -Alright everybody. If you are here today is because you've been selected to be part of the Hunters- everyone was listening to her words in complete silence -You've been selected based on the health check up you've received the furst time you arrived here. As a Hunter member, you should know there are some important rules you must follow, and if you break any of these your punishment will be severe-

-It already sounds scary...- Natsu murmured.

-First rule, if you get bitten by one of those things you'll be executed.- right after the first rule the mood of the people listening to her drastically changed -Second rule, if you leave a comarade behind, you'll be executed.-

-Who would leave a friend behind?- someone among the crowd asked.

-You would be surprised... Fear and panick can be really dangerous- Erza replied with a mischiveous smile on her face.

-...Ugh...-

-Last but not least, you should report EVERY single detail of your mission to us. Understood?-

-Yes!- everyone replied in unison.

-Good. Now, I'll leave you with your instructor... Gildarts come over here-

-Gildarts?- Natsu started laughing -What kind of name is that? It sounds like an old man-- until he received a strong punch in the head that made him fall on the ground.

-I hope that teaches you all to show me respect- He was tall, brown hair and had a small bear. His body was toned and most of the guys would be jelous of him. -Now, who wants to be my assistant?-

-Assistant?- Natsu asked from the ground.

-I suppose you'll be the one-

-What?! No! I've never--

-All decided then. Have you guys decided your groups?-

-Groups will be decided after the training finishes based on their results- Erza whispered into his ear.

-Oh, I see. Then, I suppose we are all ready to start- Gildarts helped Natsu stand up -The first thing you should know is you'll probably die-

-...-

-But you'll die a hero. It doesn't matter if you managed to kill a hundred, ten, one or none. The important thing is that you risked your life to save your people. You should be willing to save the lives of those you love and this place-

-...- Gray suddenly remembered Juvia's kiss. Why did he remember that? Could it be..? No. He promised himself not to love again. It couldn't be. Right..?

-If someone gets bitten, you'll only have two minutes before they completly turn. Their skin becomes more pinkish because of fhe boiling blood inside their bodies and their veins become very prominent to a point it looks disgusting. You cough blood and your eyes become black. You feel your body burn and desperate for blood-

-...- not a bird could be heared. The fear and anxiety everyone was feeling at that moment was indescribable.

-Throughout these two weeks, I'll be showing you how to fight and protect yourselves and others against those blood eaters. Lets start with the basics. Those things are fast. They are not like the usual zombies we saw on movies. They're fast, strong and will follow you until they catch you- Gildarts started explaining -You have two options attempt to escape and die or kill it. You may already know that they just die completely only if you destroy the head, but in order to do that you should be strong-

-Sounds like a joke... Who would want to fight those things..?- someone in the crowd whispered.

-Someone who wants to return life to what it was before- Gildarts replied.

-How did he heared me?!-

-If you want to be a hunter you'll also have to train your listening skills. You don't want those things to caught you by surprise, do you?-

-No... Sir...-

-Then... shall we begin..?- Gildarts smiled.