Chapter 9
"Jesus Christ you two, what the hell took you so damn long?" Stephanie demanded when Amy and Abigail finally made it back. "We got to get lunch on before the run this afternoon, and Cena was sent out to help work the fields."
The man was insanely strong, and Bradshaw thought it was hilarious to 'yoke him like cattle' and see if John's dumb ass could drag a plow. And he could. Scary strong. Lunch was sandwiches and chips; people would make their own plates, but putting out that amount of food was a pain in itself.
"Abbie's going on the run with me."
"Oh for fuck's sake!"
"Don't mind her, she's normally not so… colorful. She's pregnant, just out of the 12-week phase, so… hormones, I guess."
"Stephanie," A grinning kid with bright green and purple hair had come running in. "Hey, so, I got the prenatals."
"Thank the stars… thanks Jeff."
Stephanie really hoped Taker was able to hit the old town on the other side of the river. They had been scoping it for months, but the DOV had always been in the way. There was a pharmacy there or had been. From her understanding, the DOV didn't believe in medicine.
"Let's get the rest of the food on the table and get some lunch too. You can get a nap after if you need too since I know you're not used to this."
"Oh wow, really?!" Abigail grinned at Stephanie, noticing the slight glow she had going on now that Amy spilled the beans. "Congratulations!" Going out with Amy and Undertaker was a test, otherwise, Abigail would've remained here to help Stephanie. "I promise, I'll help out as much as I can with dinner, if we return in time." She had no idea how long they'd be gone for.
"Don't count on it, not with Taker in charge." Amy stage-whispered with a grin, patting Abigail on the back and went to grab some sandwiches and chips for the road.
"Umm what exactly are we doing again?" Abigail was going on some trip with Amy, but didn't know the details and wanted to be prepared. "Should I change?"
"Put pants on." Amy didn't want her legs to get burned on her crotch rocket. "And put a bandana on too." She tossed one to Abigail, smirking when she merely looked at it questioningly. "Wrap it around your head to prevent the sun from frying you up. We'll be gone a while and we're going to the neighboring towns to scavenge and pick up supplies. We might run into the DOV, do you know how to use a gun?"
"N-No I don't…" That made her nervous, so Amy handed her a dagger instead, which was inside a holster.
"For protection. Now go get ready, make sure to strap that around your thigh, and then meet me out front in 10 minutes. Don't be late."
"You sure you want to take the new woman?"
"There's something off with her."
"We all got our secrets, now don't we?"
Steve gave his old friend a pointed look, watching as Taker stepped out from behind the curtains that usually blocked his bedroom, trying not to flinch at the sight of the real face. He was the only person who knew what this man really looked like because he was the poor son of a bitch who pulled Taker's burning backside out of that fire. Steve had been passing through, thinking he could outrun what was happening. He had heard screams, a house had been on fire, and now… now he was the right-hand of the Undertaker. Snorting, he picked up the mask and put it on, hissing slightly. The bone was on the mend, thankfully. Taker didn't think it would be necessary to wear this thing much longer and, a second later, his face was… normal.
"Shit, you look like the male version of Red." Steve nodded his approval; Taker had even made himself appear shorter, more in line with normal-sized men. "Amy is taken with Abigail."
"She sees suffering." And Amy knew suffering. "Let's go."
Until Abigail knew, without a shadow of a doubt, she could trust the Undertaker, she would continue lying. It was the only way to survive in this world nowadays and, what these people didn't know, wouldn't hurt them. She wasn't here to hurt them anyway, only for help with the DOV to liberate the innocent and stop the madness. Hopefully, when the truth came out, everyone would understand. Sliding the dagger out of the holster, Abigail ran her fingertips over the blackish-blue metal and swallowed hard as it glinted in the sunlight. She slipped it back into the holster, strapped it to her jean covered thigh and headed out, meeting Amy exactly 10 minutes later.
"All right everyone," Steve announced, when they were all outside the gates, motorcycles and crotch rockets as the smaller, yet faster and usually easier to handle cycles were called, lined up and ready to go. "You all got your weapons?" At the nods, he nodded too. "Saddlebags are empty, everyone has a flask and a satchel waiting on their bike. Water and dried rations in case we're out late. We're going to try crossing the old bridge again, about 2 hours out."
"The boss coming?"
"Doesn't matter. I'm yer boss. Get ready, we're leavin'."
When Amy glanced at him and then did a double-take, Taker winked.
Abigail had to wonder if Taker wasn't joining them on this journey today, after all, figuring he probably had other pressing matters to attend to. She sat against Amy on the crotch rocket and blinked when the woman told her to hold on as she took off with everyone else. The wind whipped over her and Abigail was never more thankful to have her long black tresses pulled back in a braid, understanding the need for the bandana now. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face, the scenery bypassing her in the blink of an eye and glanced over at the long red-haired man, wondering who he was. She didn't recognize him at all. Everyone else she had met, except him. Interesting.
Technically, she had only met these people because she hadn't had a day off yet. There was a lot more in Wonderful, but he wasn't about to ask mothers of young ones, kids, or old people to come out. Usually, only those Taker trusted and who could handle themselves were brought out because this got dangerous. In his absence, Wonderful's wall and border security had been tightened, knowing he had to trust his men to take care of the town. Those were the worst moments, the worst thoughts, wondering 'what if', whenever he ventured out.
As long as he was within the walls, nothing he didn't want there could get in. When he was gone, a whole new ballgame, not that anybody but a few knew that. They had come this way many times over the last year and, every time, the DOV had been in the territory. Taker was hoping today would be different because they needed that pharmacy. Canned goods would be nice too. Just items they could use and, if there was still room left in the bags and backpacks, things people had brought to carry what they could, then they'd move onto the other side, Stephanie's 'wish list' from the people.
Two and half hours later, they arrived at the town of Chestine and it seemed as though it was completely abandoned. Everyone halted their bikes at the entrance and had their weapons drawn, including Abigail. She had zero fighting abilities, so all she could hope for was having a lucky shot if they were attacked. Or someone to protect her. Following Amy, Steve, the red-haired guy, along with the others inside, their first priority was scanning the area to make sure no enemies, the DOV, and animals were around.
Animals had become more ferocious ever since the DOV had come to power, Abigail learned, which was just another reason she hated them added to the long list. When Steve ordered her and Amy to ransack the pharmacy, they went off carefully while the men started looking for food, canned goods, anything that was viable to bring back to cook and eat. There was also an abandoned gas station with actual gas, so they would fill up their bikes that way before leaving.
"Something's on your mind, Abbie." Amy pointed out the obvious. "What is it?"
Abigail sighed, hating how easily Amy could read her sometimes. "I was just curious who the redhaired man is since I haven't met him yet. Not a big deal, are these the prenatal vitamins Stephanie wants?" She waved a bottle at Amy, grinning when the redhead nodded and began stuffing them into the satchels.
"Grab all you can." Amy eyeballed the old gate that had been pulled down to block the pharmacy counter, looking around for the door. "We've been trying to get into his place for months; this is the first time we've been able too. And those saddlebags would hold a lot, on top of the backpacks everyone had."
She finally found the door and began kicking at it. A long time had passed, it hadn't been maintained, and it soon enough gave. All this medicine was outdated by at least a decade, but it would still -mostly- work. A lot of medicines got more potent as they sat, so they'd have to let the local doctor cut some things up for proper doses.
"Antibiotics… more pills… INSULIN." They had a few diabetics; this stuff was liquid gold for those people. "Abbie, grab all the medicines you can off the OTC shelves, we'll take all of this first and then come back for bandages and stuff." The redheaded man was such an ass.
Nodding, Abigail began filling her knapsack and backpack with all different kinds of medicines, not paying attention to the labels. She just swiped them all in the bag with her arm, going as fast as she possibly could. While she did as Amy instructed, Abigail suddenly had an idea and looked over at the redhead, wondering if she would be up for it.
"Hey Amy?"
"Hmm?"
"Since you guys have to use weapons and whatnot…I don't have any experience with fighting and…I was wondering if you'd help me with that. Maybe…teach me how to fight with my dagger? Just in case I need to defend myself if I'm gonna be venturing out like this in the future." Abigail felt stupid for asking, but the last thing she wanted was to have her head knocked or sliced off by one of the DOV. She didn't know if Bray had informed everyone in the castle and the DOV about her mission. "If you don't want to do it, I'll understand…"
"Who is learning how to use a gun?"
"Wear bells! What are you doing here?"
"Steve said we're to empty this place out, medicine and wound dressings are becoming a bit too scarce." The redheaded man held up a few bags, grinning broadly as Amy took in his hair, same exact shade as hers. "Also, feminine hygiene products." Because, as Stephanie had informed him, 'that shit ain't wish list, it's a necessity unless you want us to eat you alive'. He was good and would listen to one of his most trusted.
"Abbie, this is Chet. Chet, this is Abbie, she's new." Amy could play along, knowing well Taker didn't go out in what was considered one of his 'normal' forms. "Chet, mind raiding the tampons, pads, and Midol for us?"
He shook his head, not minding at all. "Amy… we need to see what's left in the baby aisles."
They were screwed on baby formula; that stuff had gone bad a long, long time ago. Milk was also something rare, though they sometimes found the powdered substance, stored in tubs, which meant it was alright to use. They were trying to raise cows, pregnant women, and babies needed milk. He wanted to kill Bray Wyatt, his face turning red at all the needless pain and hardship these people were suffering because that man had issues.
"Hi." Abigail looked at him for a second before taking a bag he handed her and began filling them up with the rest of the medicine in the cabinets. "I've got the baby aisle." Being around women that were breeders, she knew exactly what to search for and took off, not realizing 'Chet' was following her. "Diapers, need diapers. Baby powder – oh, I wonder if they've got cornstarch here…"
That was a necessity for babies because of rashes and sometimes, baby powder didn't cut the mustard. She knew that after helping a few of the women with their babies before Bray, once again, intervened and kept her away from the 'breeders'. Sickening. Now her face was turning red as she swiped as many packs of diapers in the bag as she could. It was a huge trash bag, far bigger than regular ones and…she hoped they could strap it somewhere on the bike to bring back to Wonderful.
"Did you need something, Chet?" She asked, finally spotting him and raised a brow when he merely stared at her, wondering what kind of issues he had. "I think we're pretty much cleared out for the baby stuff…"
"Two things," 'Chet' held up two stubby fingers, staring at her. "First, take the diapers out of their packaging, we can fit more that way." He watched as Abigail began dumping the diapers, crouching down to help her open them and replace them back into the bag. "Second," He smiled impishly. "Grab all the baby toys you can and smuggle them in. Not a necessity, but…" Happy, content babies meant less stressed mothers. "Teething rings, especially. I'll go finish up in the hygiene products, and then hit the food aisle." Most old places like this had kept an aisle or two for groceries. "When you're done, come help me and I'll show you what's safe to take."
Slick bastard, Amy thought, knowing the boss could teach Abigail and get to know her, see how she did, gauge her this way. "Chet, Midol!"
Abigail giggled at Amy's insistence for him to grab the Midol, shaking her head. "She's quite a character, isn't she?"
At his nod, she smiled at him and then grabbed the baby boys, teething rings, anything that would make a baby content and happy, as he ordered. Something felt…oddly familiar about Chet, but Abigail couldn't put her finger on what it was. Pushing those thoughts out of her head, she continued with her task while Amy finished up with the medicine aisle. Once she'd cleared the shelves of all that out, stuffing them in the bag with the diapers, Abigail made her way to where Chet was in the food aisle and approached him, seeing all the canned goods on the shelf.
"I really hope there's enough for all the babies in Wonderful, I grabbed everything I possibly could."
