Chapter 3
Pearl
Peridot was good at dividing the rooms up. Her and Lapis slept in Peridot's room while the kids and Garnet took Lapis' room. Bismuth and Blue took one guest room while Jasper and Pearl took the other. The whole house was a bit funny in its layout, being a refurbished barn, but it was nice to have a bit of distance between the rooms, something Jasper was going to take full advantage of.
As Jasper pulled Pearl into there room for the night Pearl was lost in thought. She was worried about the monster from the light house. Those eyes were burned into her skull. She was hoping that it wasn't going to find them before they got to the dock in the morning. Pearl wasn't paying attention to what Jasper was saying as they dumped there bags next to the door until Jasper's fingers wrapped around Pearl's waist.
Pearl gasped in surprise as Jasper kissed right behind her ear. "What's on your mind?" Her girlfriend asked from behind.
"That monster." Pearl said wrapping her arms around Jasper's "What if it comes back? What if it followed us? What if-"
Pearl was cut off with Jasper pressing her fingers into her hips. Pearl's knees gave a bit as Jasper kissed behind her ear again. Pearl bit her lip as she felt herself getting hot. Her hips were such a turn on spot.
"That thing won't get you babe." Jasper said into her ear "Your safe with us."
"But Jasper." Pearl said twisting around in her arms. Pearl didn't get to finish her sentence because Jasper's lips against hers had her suddenly distracted. Pearl melted into Jasper's figure as the giant trailed kisses down her jaw.
"Your heads full of worry." Jasper growled into Pearl's neck "Let me help you clear it."
"T-That's cheating." Pearl said holding back a moan as Jasper bit her neck gently. She was un-shamefully turned on. When she would become a worried mess Jasper would help distract her with jokes or games or maby a nice day out to her favorite places but after there first time, she had no problem turning Pearl into a moaning mess and the slender dancer welcomed it every time. Jasper was a rough lover but knew how to be gentle when she knew Pearl needed it. She always let Pearl set the pace though for it was a turn on for her.
Pearl managed to detangle herself from Jasper's arms enough to get them onto the bed. She had Jasper leaning against the head board before she climbed up onto her lap and kissed her gently. Jasper's arms were soon wrapped around her waist again, holding her in place. They kissed for a bit, hands wondering, light touches, until Jasper turned Pearl's head to the side to tug on her earlobe with her teeth.
"We don't have too if you don't want." Jasper whispered in her ear as her fingers ran up Pearl's sides, making her girlfriend shiver "Though I think my cloths look better on you then there's."
Pearl snorted before kissing Jasper again and tugging on her bottom lip earning herself a moan from the giant. "Really? Because I prefer them on the floor personally."
Jasper's face turned red and Pearl knew she had won that argument. Taking advantage of Jasper's surprised state Pearl ran her hands up her abs before unbuttoning her girlfriends shirt. Having only two buttons done up worked for Pearl. She easily made work of them before pulling Jasper's shirt open and pressing her lips to her neck again.
"Must be nice to finally rip your uniform up huh." Pearl purred into Jasper's neck after marking her already dark skin. She felt Jasper dig her fingers into her sides and it made her arch her back, pressing into her more.
"Not as fun as ripping yours off." Jasper growled back grabbing Pearl's wrists and pinning them behind her back, giving herself a moment to collect her thoughts. Pearl thought it was cute. If she got her flustered enough Jasper would just melt in her hands but its seemed that the giant didn't want to play nice.
Pearl bit her lip to hold back the moan in her throat with little success as Jasper leaned forward and bit down on her neck, leaving a deep mark on her ivory skin. Pearl's breath hitched in her throat as Jasper's fingers clawed down the arch of her back. "A-And you call me a t-tease." Pearl said exhaling sharply.
Jasper couldn't help but chuckle into Pearl's neck as she brought Pearl's hands from her back as she flipped over, pinning the slender dancer to the bed. She smiled down at her with her toothy grin and had Pearl biting her own lip in return. Pearl rolled her hips up into Jasper making the giants face redder.
"Because you are." Jasper said kissing Pearl's forehead before trailing down her cheek.
"Prove it." Pearl challenged as Jasper let go of her hands. Pearl's finger tugged Jasper's shirt off her shoulders as the giant pressed her knee up and in-between Pearl's legs.
"With pleasure." Jasper growled slamming her lips into Pearl's once more, pulling her up and helping her out of both there cloths.
0
Pearl doesn't remember when they had finished, put cloths back on, or when Steven had joined them, but Pearl woke up to being tangled up in Jasper's arms and legs with Steven wedged between them. Pearl took a deep breath and put her face back into Jasper's neck but before she could fall back asleep a sound came to her ears. A sound that her blood run cold and her body freeze in place.
Pearl slowly lifted her head to look over Jasper's shoulder. Pearl forgot how to breath as she saw several eyes looking into the window. They looked all round in different directions as if it was looking for something. Pearl hadn't realized she was shaking or that she had woke Jasper up until she felt her girlfriend take her hand. She looked down at her and her face gave her away. A look of fear clung to Pearl and Jasper went rigged as well.
Pearl's eyes shot back up to the window as a growl came again. She felt a tear fall down her cheek as she watched a clawed finger raise and scrape down the glass, filling the air with a screeching sound for only a moment. It only took that moment for Steven to stir. He moved and went to speak but Jasper moved her free hand and clamped it over his mouth. Steven was fully awake in seconds. Pearl felt him start to shake as he looked up at her.
Pearl couldn't hide the fear on her face as the monster looked in the window again. She herd Steven whimper past Jasper's hand and it felt like forever until the monster finally moved away from the window.
"I-It found us." Pearl's voice whispered past a hitch.
Pearl slowly got out of bed an made her way over to the window. It was like walking on egg shells. The floor creaked under Pearl's feet as she moved. When she reached the window she felt Jasper come up and take her hand. Both girls looked out and saw the monster moving further down the side of the house. It would stop, look in a window for a bit, before moving on.
"It that what I think that is?" Jasper whispered in Pearl's ear. "In its shoulder?"
Pearl could only nod in response. Sticking out of the monsters shoulder, shining in the moon light, was the handle of Pearl's fencing sword. The monster would stop every feet few and growl, trying to scratch the sword from its flesh before going back to looking into windows.
"I-I don't understand." Pearl whispered as Jasper squeezed her hand tight.
She looked at Jasper as the giant reached up and ran her hand through Pearl's hair. When she took her hand back there were a few drops of blood on her skin "It tracked you."
Pearl looked to the clock on the wall to see it read just after 4am. Pearl looked back to Jasper for a moment before going across the room. Jasper questioned what she was doing as she got herself ready. As Pearl put her shoes on Jasper quickly grabbed her arm before she could get to her feet and go to the door.
"You got me messed up if you think I'm letting you go outside with that THING walking around." Jasper growled quietly.
"I need to see where its going." Pearl said back "If it tracked us here that means its tracking me. It doesn't think you all are here."
"Pearl-"
"If I can distract it at the back of the house then you can get everyone in the truck. I can run through the house and reach you before it can get me. Then we can get away."
"That is a horrible idea!"
"I don't see you coming up with a better one!" Pearl snapped "And besides do you want the others to wake up to that monster walking around the house in the morning? I don't think they can stay quiet like us."
"Pearl."
"I need to do this! I don't want you all to die."
"I don't want you to die either!" Jasper said a bit too loud. The giant grimaced as she looked away for a second, getting control of her voice again "Please Pearl... Seeing the lighthouse, I thought you were dead. I can't loose you like that ok? So if your going to do something stupid." Jasper let go of Pearl's arm and took her hand "Then let me be stupid with you, ok?"
Pearl looked shocked at Jasper.
"Don't cry Pearl." Jasper warned planting a kiss on her head.
Pearl felt the tears come to her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Pearl nodded before looking to Steven, who was shivering on the bed, before looking back to Jasper. "Wake the others, we mite need to run earlier then we thought. Give Garnet your keys. Help them get everything in the car before coming to the back door." Pearl leaned up and pecked Jasper on the cheek "Since you wanna be dumb with me."
"Can't let you be dumb alone." Jasper said with a smile.
Jasper quietly got ready as Pearl went back over to the bed. She pulled Steven into her arms and gave him a tight hug before pulling away.
"Steven." Pearl said gently "I need you to go wake Garnet up ok? I need you to do it quickly and quietly. The monster from the light house is back and I need you to be brave. Can you do that Steven?"
Steven was shaking but wiped the tears from his eyes. "I can!" He said giving Pearl his version of a tough face. "Serious Steven, activate!"
Pearl quickly covered his mouth as he got loud but let out a small chuckle. "Your so brave."
Pearl gave Steven a kiss on the head before helping him off the bed. All three of them shuffled out of the room quietly. As Jasper shut the door behind her Pearl reached out and death gripped Steven's shirt. At the far end of the hallway they could see the monster looking in the window. As if fate liked playing jokes, the door closest to it opened. Garnet didn't take a step out before spying the trio down the hall. Garnet pressed herself to the shadows of the room more as a growl echoed into the air. They watched her silently slip back into the darkness of the room as the monster clawed at the window.
"Change of plans." Pearl whispered as the monster moved away from the window. "Get everyone in the truck and wait for my signal to gun it."
"What signal?" Jasper whispered harshly as Pearl moved away from her and down the hall. "Pearl!"
Pearl silently lead Steven to Garnet's room and after he disappeared inside she tip toed down the hall to Lapis' room. As she turned the door knob the door flew out of her hand. She scrambled to catch it from banging on the wall as Peridot and Lapis came barreling out of the room. They both looked like they were going to cry but Pearl managed to stop the door and cover there mouths before the could scream. She looked into the room to see one big clawed arm inside. It was scratching at the bed. It moved around knocking things over with a growl. As it went to pull its arm back out of the window Pearl pushed Peridot and Lapis up against the wall and pinned them there. Pearl glanced over her shoulder and shook her head at Jasper and Garnet who were a few steps down the stairs. They paused and leaned back as another growl was herd.
"How did it get its arm inside?" Pearl whispered in Peridot's ear as she watched the monster from the corner of her eye.
"We had the window open." Peridot whispered back.
"Why?!"
"We were... uh."
"We were fucking."
"Lapis!"
"What?"
"Are you both serious? Its the end of the world with things that can eat you and do that." Pearl snapped through a whisper as she jerked her head towards the room "And you left the window open?!"
"You were getting laid too, don't act all proper about it." Lapis whispered rolling her eyes.
"We didn't open the window like dumb asses." Pearl spat back. She wasn't one to curse but oh lord would her and Lapis go back and forth like this time to time. When Pearl saw the monster move away she let go of her two friends and told them the plan.
As they both slipped back into there room Pearl moved down the hall to the room Bismuth and Blue were in. As she cracked the door open she could hear her sister crying. She got the door open just enough to see both girls sitting on the bed, Bismuth holding her pipe up to swing it and Blue pressed right up against her back, death gripping her shirt. The monster was at the window looking in.
"Blue." Pearl whispered. It took a few tries until her sister heard her but she turned and looked at her sister.
She motioned for her to breath, hoping her sister could see her enough in the dark. After the monster moved on Pearl skipped into the room, filling the pair in on the plan, and skipped back out. It took a lot longer then they all wanted, but eventually they found themselves all packed and ready to go at the front door. As the monster slandered by the front door again they all stood frozen.
"What is it doing?" Bismuth whispered as they watched it slowly go by the windows and disappear around the side of the house.
"It's looking for us." Pearl whispered back getting the majority of the eyes on herself. "It followed me and Steven from the light house."
The others didn't know what to say and Garnet didn't give them a chance.
"Whatever your gonna do, do it quick." Garnet said unlocking the front door and running out.
Bismuth and Lapis ran out after Garnet. Peridot closed the door, but kept it ajar. They watched as the three outside got to the truck quickly. They put there stuff in the back seat but before they could run back they herd the monster coming back. Lapis jumped into the back seat and shut the truck door silently as Garnet and Bismuth dove around the back and out of sight. Jasper pressed the others in the house into the living room and onto the floor. She pressed her back against the wall next to the crack in the door as Pearl and Blue kept the kids (and Peridot) still and quiet. It felt like forever until the monster turned the corner around the house again. Once it did Jasper stood and ushered Ruby and Sapphire out the front door. She watched them get to the truck and into the back with Lapis before sending Peridot, Steven, and Blue out.
All six of them managed to squeeze into the back seat and shut the door. Once they were in with all there stuff Jasper grabbed her girlfriends hand.
"Don't take too long or I'll be forced to embarrass you with some thrilling heroics." Her voice rumbled as she planted a kiss on Pearl's lips.
Pearl pressed her lips against her girlfriends before pulling away. After the monster passed by for a third time she watched Jasper, Bismuth, and Garnet all squeeze into the crowded truck. Once she was sure they were ready to go Pearl jogged to the back door and waited. Once the monster came around the corner it walked right past the back door and porch steps before stopping. Pearl opened the door slowly and snuck outside. As soon as she shut the door behind her she froze.
This was my best idea yet, Pearl thought as her hands started to shake, There's no way this could go wrong! Nice going Pearl. Less then ten feet from her stood the monster. It was facing away from her, out towards the tree line. She could see its blood stained on its arm from the light house. The jagged peace's of glass sticking out of its mutated arm. It was breathing hard and kept scratching at its shoulder.
Pearl took a few deep breaths, shoving her fear deep into the back of her mind. She crept forward and pulled herself up onto the railing. She crouched down and waited until the monster dropped its arms again to jump.
Pearl's hands wrapped around the hilt of her fencing sword. With all her strength she placed her feet on the monsters back and pulled. She pulled as hard as she could. The monster screamed and arched it back in such a way that the sword came out, sending Pearl flying back onto the porch with a thud. Pearl had the wind knocked out of her when she landed but her hand kept a tight grip on her sword as it clattered against the wood.
The world wobbled in Pearl's eyes for a moment but when she was able to focus she saw that the monster was looking right at her. In shear panic Pearl scrambled to her feet and held the sword out in front of her. Before she could think to swing she realized the monster wasn't attacking her. It was just... looking at her. Its many eyes darted between the sword and Pearl herself.
Is it... thinking? Pearl thought as she watched the monster. It shifted from side to side a bit as it watched her. A deep rumble was coming from its chest but it made no obvious signs that it was going to attack Pearl. It just stood there. Pearl herself was scared but confused. It had no problem attacking her at the light house so why wasn't it trying to kill her now? She was happy it wasn't trying to eat her of course but still.
A shuffling came to Pearl's ear. She tore her eyes away from the monster in front of her and looked to her right. Standing a few feet away was a zombie. More importantly it was a runner. It pulled its lips back and a wicked scream and lunged at Pearl. The same time, the monster screamed as well. Pearl saw the monster raise it arm and swing, its claw ripping through the support beams for the porch. At the last second Pearl ducked and ran under the monsters arm. Its claws sunk into the runner and Pearl pole-vaulted the railing.
Once on her feet she ran across the yard as fast as she could. Behind her she could hear the truck come to life and several zombies being drowned out by the monsters rawer. Pearl started to turn for the truck but a zombies body was thrown past her like a rag doll. Pearl's eyes went wide as she turned on her heals and aimed for the tree line. She could hear Peridot shouting and the monster roaring as she disappeared behind the trees.
Pearl ran as fast as she could. She knew these woods like the back of her hand. Her and Peridot would spend summers up here when they were little. They played so much in the woods they had created there own path through it. This served her well. She fully trusted Peridot and if her shouting meant anything other then fear she was going to get to the end of this trail and the truck will be waiting for her.
Pearl hopped over fallen trees and ran around rocks like a ghost. Behind her she could hear the monster growing faint for a moment but then suddenly get louder. As she ducked under a tree a huge trunk went sailing over her head.
"Seriously?!" Pearl shouted in annoyance as she ran.
The monster was thrashing through the woods after her. It was knocking down trees and tripping over rocks in its heist. Its inability to get through the woods like Pearl was her god send. When she saw the end of the path coming up Pearl was smiling ear to ear. The last bit of the path was thick trees growing on top of each other surrounded by sticker bushes. There was only enough room for her to jump between them and get through.
The second Pearl cleared the trees she saw a flash of black and orange. Pearl stumbled and rolled out of the way of Jasper's truck, just barley missing getting run over. Pearl rolled and landed on her butt hard as the truck screeched to a stop.
"Oh my God, I just hit my girlfriend!"
Pearl rolled her eyes and huffed as she scrambled to her feet. She ran and climbed into the bed of the truck as the monsters clawed arm shot through the thick trees she just came from.
"Go Jasper!" Pearl shouted in the open window to the cab.
"You ok?!" Jasper looked over her shoulder in shock as the monster came crashing through the trees.
"Drive!" Pearl shouted. "Fucking drive!"
The monster let out a ear shattering roar and Jasper hit the gas. Pearl flailed her arms and fell back on her butt as the truck shot down the street. Pearl pushed herself back to the window as she watched the monster. It scrambled around on the road a bit getting its bearings. It soon threw its head up in the air and froze.
"What's it doing?" Lapis asked.
The monsters head snapped in the direction of the truck and roared again. It suddenly took off after them and Peridot spoke up.
"Um, Jasper. I don't mean to rush you but could you drive faster?" She asked as the monster started to close the distance quickly.
"A lot faster." Ruby added in.
"How much faster do you need?" Jasper asked.
The monster roared and gave the giant all the answer she needed. Pearl was pressed as tight as she could be against the cab of the truck as the monster got uncomfortably close to them. When it got within its reach it flung its clawed arm out and slammed it down on to the truck, right between Pearl's legs. Pearl and a few others screamed as the claws dug into the bed of the truck before scraping back and ripping off the tailgate. As the monster threw the door away from itself Pearl tried to get to her feet.
Pearl threw her arm through the window as she got to her knees. Several hands from her shoulder to her hand held onto her as she got to her feet. They had a death grip on Pearl as she twisted her body sideways, ready to swing her sword if the monster reached out once more.
"In coming!" Bismuth shouted.
Soon the truck was swerving side to side as runners started slamming into and trying to catch the truck and jump on it. The kids were screaming in the back seat as Pearl started swinging the sword at every runner that got close to her. Bismuth and Garnet hung out the window and started beating the zombies that got too close as Lapis and Peridot took over holding Pearl the tightest at the back window with the kids. Pearl missed on a swing at a zombie and a runner slammed into her legs hard.
"Agh!" Pearl cried as she fell to her knees.
"Pearl!" She could hear Steven calling her from the cab through tears.
"I'm ok Steven!" Pearl yelled as she twisted the best she could with the many hands holding her and kick the runner in the face. The monsters arm suddenly appeared and sunk into the runner, ripping it off the bed of the truck, earning another round of screams. Pearl grunted in pain as she struggled to her feet again. Her right leg was throbbing as hard as her head.
Pearl readied herself for the next zombie when the surprise happened. As quickly as the monster started chasing them with a hoard it stopped. It roared and slowed to a stop. Surprising to everyone in the truck, the zombies started to stop too. Soon they were becoming dots on the horizon as the truck started to pass the first few houses into town.
Jasper
"So that's it?" Bismuth asked hanging out the window still.
"Looks like it." Garnet answered.
"Is everyone alright?" Jasper called over her shoulder as she eased off the gas a bit.
"Were ok." Peridot said.
"Kids are shaken up but good." Lapis said.
"I'm fine." Blue said softly.
"Were good." Bismuth said thumbing to Garnet.
"Pearl." Garnet said.
"Oh, I-I'm fine!" Pearl called through the window "A-Okay!"
Jasper glanced in the mirror and caught sight of Pearl's face, a grimace on her lips. She was lying.
Jasper's heart was pounding in her chest and she could feel her pulse in her ears. She thought she had run Pearl over then almost lost her off the back of the truck. This was not what she meant by thrilling heroics. Not even close. How could Pearl and Steven of even survived with that thing in the light house? It was beyond a monster. It was the stuff out of nightmares. As soon as her thoughts started they stopped. The truck started to groan and sputter.
"Ah crap." Jasper said hitting the gas, trying to get the truck to keep moving. "Don't do this to me."
"What's wrong?" Bismuth asked as the truck sputtered more.
"Were out of gas and I think-" Jasper said as the truck groaned loudly before shuttering to a sudden stop. "The beast finally died."
Jasper groaned before putting the truck in park and hopping out. The others followed slowly taking in there surroundings. Jasper walked around to the front of the truck and popped the hood open. She coughed and waved her hand in front of her face as a big cloud of black smoke billowed out. She propped the hood up and crossed her arms, grumbling to her self. The truck hand finally died and it pissed her off. She had worked hard to build this with her dad and sister. It had taken her months to save up for it then months after to get it to run. It not only hurt her pride but her feelings too. This was all she really had left to call home. Now its gone.
"Are we going to your place now?" Steven dragged Jasper out of her thoughts with his hand on her pants, tugging slightly.
Jasper smiled down at him and picked him up, placing him on her shoulder. She looked around to see they were several houses down from her place. She didn't even realize she was driving them all this way but it worked out. The dock was six blocks away and there wasn't a single zombie in sight. Well, none that could really hurt them. She even had stuff they could defend themselves with in her room. This was perfect.
"Yea, were going to my place now." Jasper said to there group as she looked around at them. "I got sports equipment in the house. We just gotta get by the few zombies that made it inside."
"A'ight." Garnet said. "Lets go."
They all got there stuff from the truck and got armed to move. Jasper was quick to get herself ready, putting Steven down to go over to Ruby and Sapphire, before coming up to her girlfriend. Pearl was sitting on the edge of the truck. She looked lost in thought as she rubbed her thigh. She could see several emotions move across her face. Pearl was bad at hiding her emotions on her face like Jasper was but better at deflecting questions.
Jasper came up to her and stilled her hands. "Where does it hurt?"
Pearl jumped at shook her head "I'm fine."
"Pearl." Jasper said. She took the dancers hands and moved them out of her way. Jasper placed her big hands on Pearl's thigh and started to rub small circles into her skin. She watched Pearl for her reactions and when she flinched back she kept her hand kneading the same spot.
"Its not broken." Jasper mumbled "Can you walk on it?"
"I don't think so." Pearl admitted looking guilty "That runner hit me pretty hard."
"No blood?"
"No blood."
Jasper nodded and placed a kiss on Pearl's lips. After she turned and kneeled down to let Pearl move herself onto her shoulder. Pearl always felt silly sitting on her girlfriends shoulder like this but Jasper liked it. It made her ego a bit bigger knowing that she could walk around with her girlfriend like this with no problem. She loved how light Pearl was compared to herself. She loved that she could throw her round and lift her with no effort. It made her feel stronger and her already high confidence always got higher.
Jasper kept one hand wrapped around the top of Pearl's thigh as her bat rested on her shoulder. The group slowly made there way down the street. They all unconsciously had moved so the kids were surrounding Jasper and Pearl while Bismuth and Lapis brought up the rear, Garnet and Peridot taking the lead. Blue was glued to Jasper's side as they moved. The giants eyes darted around as they walked. There wasn't a single zombie around that wasn't a crawler and she voiced her thoughts.
"That thing seems to call them to it." Pearl said absentmindedly running her fingers into Jasper's hair. "It happened at the light house too."
"When it chased us, it was calling them." Peridot said "That's why those runners came out of no where and started slamming into the truck."
Jasper frowned "Helped kill it is what they did." The giant grumbled to herself but relaxed as Pearl moved her fingers through her hair a few times.
"We can always fix it." Pearl said "We still need to get to the car wash and its the apocalypse. You don't have to pay for anything."
This perked Jasper right up. She got a bit of pep in her step and smiled brightly up at her girlfriend. Pearl smiled down unknown to her that she just made Jasper's day. Not having to pay for anything meant she could fix the truck up and not wait for parts to come in. It just made her happy, specially coming from a lower income household.
Pearl let out a giggle and Jasper looked up at her confused "What's so funny?"
"I swear, you two can survive anything." Pearl said before raising her hands over her head and waving them "Amethyst!"
Jasper's head snapped forward and she yelled out in excitement. Standing on a makeshift bridge between her house and her neighbors stood her younger sister. Amethyst was shouting and waving back at them. She looked just as excited as Jasper did.
"Go, will catch up." Pearl said tapping her girlfriends shoulder to be put down.
Jasper waisted no time in listening. She put Pearl down, leaning her on Blue, before getting out of there group and running towards her house. She was so excited to see Amethyst that she swung her bat and knocked a crawlers head clean off as she ran up the lawn and into her house. She took the stairs two at a time as she herd Amethyst tumble into there parents room calling her name. The sisters slammed into each other in the hallway and landed with a thud on the floor. They were a big laughing mess by the time the others got into the house.
"Where have you been?!" Jasper shouted as she got to her feet and hugged her sister tighter in her arms, picking her up off the floor "We came looking for you the day of and you weren't here!"
"I had spent the night at Vidalia's." Amethyst said with a laugh.
"She ok?" Jasper asked putting her sister down "Or?"
"I'm all that's left." Amethyst said with a shrug.
Before she could say more Amethyst heard the others downstairs and ran to see them. Jasper followed hot on her heals. As Amethyst jumped into the group, tackling most to the ground in a hug, Garnet managed to get out of the way while closing the door.
"Amethyst!" Ruby shouted.
"Your ok!" Sapphire added.
"Yay!" Steven yelled.
They all were a twisted mess of giggles and limbs on the floor. Jasper and Garnet were chuckling as they slowly got everyone to there feet. Jasper had to pry Steven off Amethyst's arms long enough for her to stand up. When she was on her feet Steven quickly reclaimed her arm. Ruby and Sapphire were quick to claim her back as well.
"How long have you been here Ame?" Jasper asked.
"For a while." Amethyst said. Jasper frowned as her vagueness.
"We've been all over town and we haven't seen you." Bismuth said. "Where have you been hiding?"
"Why the third degree?" Amethyst said a little annoyed. "I'm here now and everything is fine!"
"Woah relax." Jasper said. "Were happy your ok, ok?"
Amethyst looked away with a sigh but nodded. "So why did you guys come back here?"
"To get my sports equipment from the basement." Jasper said thumbing to the door in the small hallway under the stairs. "Need something sturdier for the girls to hit things with."
Pearl was closest to the door and was unlocking it when Amethyst jumped and grabbed her arm, yanking her back. "Don't open that!"
Pearl flailed backwards and went down falling into Peridot. Jasper frowned at her sister. "What was that for!" Jasper pushed past her sister and grabbed the doorknob, twisting it.
"Don't go down there!" Amethyst yelled running the few steps to her sisters side and yanking on her arm. "Please Jasper."
"What is so important that we can't go down there?" Jasper snapped at her sister.
A growl answered for her. As Peridot got to her feet and offered Pearl her hand the basement door swung out of Jasper's hand, banging into her and Amethyst. A runner came bolting out of the basement and dove at Peridot and Pearl. It wrapped its hands around Peridot's leg and she screamed on the way down.
"No dad! Don't hurt them!" Amethyst yelled.
The kids were screaming as everyone scrambled to get the zombie. The zombie sunk its teeth into Peridot's leg. She screamed louder as her and Pearl started kicking it in the face. Bismuth and Amethyst managed to grab the zombies arms and Jasper grabbed its legs and they all pulled. The second the zombie let go of its grip on Peridot, Garnet brought her cricket bat up and slammed it down into its neck. The zombie flailed for a bit but then went still as Garnet hit it again, separating its head from its shoulders.
"What did you do that?!" Amethyst shouted getting to her feet and going at Garnet "He didn't mean it!"
Bismuth grabbed Amethyst and held her back as Jasper grabbed her sister by the face, forcing her to look her in the eye. "Amethyst." She said with authority. Her sister closed her eyes tight but Jasper's tone made her open them again. "Look at me."
"tsk."
"Ame."
"What!" Her sister snapped through tears in her eyes.
"Tell me everything." Jasper said.
She looked over to see Blue shuffle the kids into the basement while the others helped Pearl and Peridot to there feet. Lapis was fussing over Peridot with Pearl but the short girl waved them off. "I'm fine."
"It bit you." Lapis said flatly.
"It got my prosthetic, remember? I'm missing my left leg?"
"Oh yea." Lapis said blinking.
"Several zombies got into Vidalia's when this all went down." Amethyst said with her voice cracking. "Me and V managed to get out the window but she got bit. We made it about half way here when we got separated. I was being chased by several of those freaks when I got here. Dad managed to help me into the h-house but."
Amethyst choked on her words and Jasper pulled her into a hug.
"H-He got turned into one of those because of me. T-Then you and Pearl almost died cuz I ran and hid in my room instead of closing t-the back door when the runners herd you two talking." Amethyst clung to her sister tightly. "It all went to hell!"
"It's not your fault Amethyst." Pearl said limping over slightly and hugging the smaller girl. "Were ok see? And now your here and ok too."
"Yea sis." Jasper said messing up her sisters hair "Now you can come with us and we can get through this hell together."
Amethyst shook her head and pulled out of the girls arms. This bothered Jasper. She could see her sister was falling apart. "I can't go with you."
"Why not?" Jasper asked.
Amethyst didn't say anything. She just grabbed Jasper and Pearl's hands and dragged them into the kitchen. Garnet made it a point to usher the others into the basement. She gave the trio a look before planting herself in the door frame. Once in the kitchen Jasper pulled her sister to a stop and crossed her arms. Her intense stair had Amethyst twitching uncomfortably in front of her.
"I-I can't go with you guys." Amethyst said.
"Why?" Jasper said.
"Unless its a good reason your coming with us." Pearl said.
Jasper watched as her sister scrubbed the tears from her face before gathering her hair in her hand. She moved her hair over her shoulder and pulled down her shirt to reveal a nasty bite mark on her skin. It was black, deep, and oozing. "I-I got bit by one of the zombies that got in the garage after you two had managed to get out."
Jasper ran her hands up into her hair as her girlfriend covered her mouth and started to cry.
"T-They swarmed me but I managed to lock myself upstairs. After a few hours i-it started to turn black. When it s-started to ooze the zombies s-stopped pounding on the door and j-just left."
"Oh Amethyst." Pearl said setting forward and hugging the smaller girl tight. Her sister returned the embrace with just as much love and pain. Jasper started pulling at her hair and pacing the kitchen. This can't be happening. This can't be happening, Jasper thought. Not Ame. Anyone but my sister.
"H-How long." Jasper asked swallowing past the lump in her throat. "How long since you've been bitten?"
"Yesterday morning. I feel like crap." Amethyst said looking at her sister but clinging to Pearl who held her just as tight. "I-I'm going to die and become one of them... aren't I?"
Jasper looked at her sister but couldn't bring the words to her mouth. She pulled both girls into her arms and held them tight against her. She could feel there tears on her shirt and it only made her more upset. Yes, her sister was going to die. There was nothing they could do to help stop the inevitable.
"We won't let you." Jasper said putting her face into her girlfriends hair while running her hand through her sisters. "Will...will."
"Will help you pass without pain." Garnet said the words Jasper couldn't. She didn't want her sister to die. She didn't want her to turn into a zombie like every other person in there lives. She didn't want either option but it wasn't up to her.
"C-C'mon, lets go down stairs." Pearl said. "Lets spend time with the others."
It took a lot of coaxing but Pearl and Garnet got the sisters down into the basement with the others after making sure they weren't going to cry. Most of the day was spent rummaging through the basement. Peridot, Lapis, and Blue were each given a baseball bat. Steven was given a field hockey stick. They knew it wouldn't do any real harm but it made him feel important. Ruby and Sapphire gave there weapons to Bismuth and Jasper in exchange for hockey sticks. Bismuth got to work putting nails and other sharp object on the ends of the slender girls bats and reinforcing the hockey sticks. Blue helped Peridot keep the kids entertained while Lapis and Pearl rummaged through the house and gathered everything they would need, repacking everyone's bags. Jasper rummaged through the house and got into comfortable cloths she could fight in. After helping Pearl into better suited cloths herself they went about helping Garnet and Amethyst set up Amethyst's room just the way she wanted.
They now all gathered in the back yard. Bismuth and Jasper had just finished putting the sisters dad in the ground. Garnet had found some old pipes along the side of the house and made a makeshift cross. As she stuck it in the ground the group was silent. They had said there goodbyes and now just stood looking at the shallow grave. It didn't feel right. It felt like they were just throwing him away without a second thought but there was nothing more they could do right now for him... For anyone.
"I wish I didn't mess up." Amethyst said softly to her sister. "Then he would still be here and I wouldn't be dying."
"Don't talk like that." Jasper growled softly back "He wouldn't want you to blame yourself."
"It's not your fault Ame." Pearl said leaning her head on the shorter girl. "None of this is your fault."
"C'mon." Amethyst said sniffling and scrubbing the few tears from her eyes. "You all need to get going if your gonna get to the dock before sundown."
As the sun left its high point in the sky and started towards the horizon they were ready. They all gathered in the living room and only when Steven asked why Amethyst wasn't coming did the air get heavy.
"I'm not feeling too good buddy." Amethyst said with a smile as she kneeled down to Steven's level. "So I gotta stay here."
"Are you sick like Connie?" Steven asked.
Jasper couldn't look at there interaction. Her eyes wondered around the group. The others knew what had happened, Pearl pulled them aside individually earlier and let them know. Ruby and Sapphire figured it out on there own and promised to keep Steven in the dark. No one wanted to lie to him but they just couldn't tell him.
"Y-Yea." Amethyst choked out. "I gotta stay here so you can bring back help."
"Like what were going to do for Connie!" Steven said with a big smile.
"Just like with Connie." Amethyst said. Her gaze was soft and she ruffled Steven's hair before pulling him into the tight hug. Steven returned the gesture with ease and just smiled brightly at Amethyst as she let him go.
"Its ok Ame-bear." Steven said throwing Amethyst nickname out, making it very hard on everyone not to cry "Will come back with a doctor will fix you right up with Connie. I promise."
"You should get going." Amethyst said standing again and locking eyes with her sister. "Can't put it off forever."
Jasper grinded her teeth together as the others gave Amethyst a hug one by one and shuffled out the door. Soon it was just the sisters and Garnet standing in Amethyst's room. Jasper gave her sister a soul crushing hug as she held it together.
"Did you take the sleeping pills?" She asked.
"The whole bottle." Amethyst answered. "They work pretty fast. Dad always got the good kind."
"Love you runt." Jasper said into her sisters hair.
"Love ya to ya mush-bar." Amethyst said. "See ya on the other side. Don't join me too fast."
Jasper let her sister go and turned. She quickly walked out of the room and down the stairs then out the front door and left it ajar behind herself. Jasper made it a few steps away from the door before stopping. Pearl came to her side and handed her, her bag and bat. She silently put it on before pulling her girlfriend into a tight hug. She put her face into Pearl's hair and did her best to hold it together. It took about 10 minutes until it happened.
There was a single pop and Jasper twitched at the sound, squeezing Pearl tighter for a moment. After another minute Garnet came through the front door, shutting it behind her and making sure it was locked. They locked the whole house up. If they were ever able to come back they decided they would bring Connie's remains here and put her next to Amethyst and there dad in the back yard. They would try to find Connie's parents as well but they weren't too hopeful about that.
They stood there for a few moments before Garnet broke the silence. "Lets loot the neighboring houses for a few minutes before we start moving again." Garnet placed her hand on Jasper's shoulder for a moment before continuing. "After the three of us will swing b the carwash and the rest of you will go to the docks."
"Splitting up is a bad idea." Peridot said.
"If the monster comes back with all the zombies it will be easier to run and fight if we don't have everyone with us." Garnet said.
"4 of you can't fight." Jasper said bluntly "Don't want you to get hurt if we get swarmed."
"It will be safer." Pearl added quickly looking from her sister to Steven.
As the group split up into pairs and went into houses Jasper stayed in front of Jasper's with the kids, Pearl, and Blue. Jasper paired up with Garnet and were rummaging through her neighbors house making small talk. They commented on the weather and how they hoped to reach the docks without issue but not much else. They had there friendship built on mainly silence but a mutual understanding. After coming out the back door they herd a trashcan fall over with a bang. Both girls immediately crouched and readied there blunt objects. Jasper took the lead as she walked around the side of the house. They stuck close to the side of the house as they slowly came around the corner. On the far end of the house they could see Pearl come around the corner, her sword at the ready. Both girls locked eyes before Pearl jumped around the mess of trashcans between them. A girly shriek filled the air and Pearl stopped mid swing, her hand held up high in the air. Her face made both girls, and the rest of there group, who had come out of there houses and readied themselves at the three's posture, pause in confusion.
"Dewey?" Pearl said.
Note: Ok, so it was hard for me to kill Amethyst like this. I have an idea of all the characters I want in this fic and sorry to all the Amethyst lovers out there, she just wasn't a character I was going to keep around. I wanted her present but not for long. As the story goes on, another character will die, well two will as of right now, but it won't be for a while. I have a better idea on how this story is going to go from here on out and its gonna get interesting. Hope you all like it!
Any weird zombie ideas/quirks you want me to add? Let me know! I'm going for the basic all around zombies. Trying to cover all areas of the zombie spectrum from the running and crawling to the basic problem solving theories and hoard ideas. Smell and looks will also be added in here in a weird way. I'd also like to note though that my monster in here is something special. If you have a guess on what it is or what it can do let me hear it!
Leave me a comment, let me know what you think or any ideas you think I should throw in! All feed back in appreciated and loved!