WARNINGS!

- CANNIBALISM; Somewhat graphic

A/N: Ok, so Martin, Ida, and Patrick haven't forgotten the others. Think about it, in any sort of apocalypse you HAVE to have a plan in case you get separated. In this case, if they become separated they have 48 hours to get to back to their last safe location before the rest of the group (those with Bella-Donna) move on. Martin's group is checking to see if this new place is safe. He won't just go and bring Belle somewhere he doesn't know she'll be safe at especially when she is only just recovering and their down another member with Jean having been shot and also healing. For those who have watched the show you know Jean is well, he's kind of the endearing nerd boy next door (can't really think of another way to explain it). Either way, Martin doesn't trust the people living in the hidden mansion. Ida, Patrick, and Simone however remain hopeful that this could be a safe place though for different reasons.

Please remember this is a version of an apocalypse and doctors are rare and few. The doctor (Margarite was the name I gave her) was never an actual 'doctor' but rather a scientist who worked with those that created the virus. Despite having Philip with her, her focus was on getting him mobile and surviving. Now, think about this. Today if a person needed to have a limb amputated they would be released from the hospital within a couple weeks with medication, orders for physical therapy, regular check-ups including a possible fitting for a prosthetic, as well as a therapy to deal with the loss. Philip had to deal with the loss while trying to survive but he wasn't only recovering from the amputation but the 'mini' heart attack that followed. He created his own prosthetic using scavenged materials with only one goal in mind, finding Bella-Donna. But why would this take 6 years? The answer is simple Margarite never planned on them reaching Denmark and finding Bella-Donna. Why would she help him when he was all she had left of that life? Why would she let him have his family when she does not have hers?

Margarite loss her husband and her children. I imagine they were younger than most of the group currently are (the majority being in their early 20's with Martin the oldest at 25). So they likely would have been in their early to mid teens or even younger when the first Rain came. The actress who played her, Lisa Carlehed, was 38 (which I've decided Margarite is) when she played this role. As such she would have been about 32 at the time of the first Rain and her oldest child at the most 16 if she was a teen mom at 16. For argument's sake let's say she didn't and had her first child at 20 which now means her oldest was about 12 at the time of their death which would be about Rasmus's age. Losing a child is heart wrenching but to know that you helped to create what killed your child? I can't imagine the complete despair she was in let alone the self-hatred she must have felt. I imagine that coming across the Andersen children, having them there in front of her would have made her snap. In front of her are the children of the man she warned, the man who by ignoring her warnings (and Philip's) killed her children. Why should his children live when hers didn't?

Anyways, if anyone else has questions feel free, I'm here all day. (Not really but I'll get back to you at the next posting or for Wattpad when my phone notifies me of a comment.)

Back to the Story

The Strange Mansion

Martin was walking around the lower levels of the mansion by slipping through the side door and down the steps he took notice of earlier that morning as the group went to the shower hall. He was careful to ensure no one saw him, slipping around corners or into alcoves when someone passed by. This had led him to a room filled with clothing, shoes, and other possessions. The clothes were much like one would find outside of this place and it was as he hid in this room avoiding those walking the halls that he found something unsettling.

His hand reached out to the metal shelf he was hidden behind and his hand lifted a pair of tiny sneakers with Velcro straps, shoes far too small for anyone but a toddler. Except they hadn't seen one even one that had grown into a child. Not once since arriving last night had there been anything that would show a child being here at any point. He had not heard cries, whines, nor shouts of excitement. There were no toys or pitter-pattering of little feet on the wood floors. There was absolutely nothing to show that there had ever been anything but adults here except these shoes. So where did the children that had worn the various children sized shoes that lined the shelf go?

"You're not fucking eating their food?"

"Yes, we are Martin." Simone said happily. Why wouldn't they eat the food? It was real food. For the first time in years she was eating something that hadn't come out of plastic or a can. An entire fresh loaf of bread, grilled tomatoes, and potato wedges. Why in the world we not eat? The three of them were happily stuffing their faces and their bellies for the first time in six years. We don't have to worry about rationing here and yet here comes Martin to ruin it! She had just been smiling and laughing with Ida and Patrick.

Martin looked at the woman who was their 'guide' for lack of a better word. "Who are you? Huh? What is this place? How can you have carrots and brea-"

"Shut the fuck up, Martin. They're just trying to help." Patrick cut in. Couldn't he see there was food here? It was the best they had in a long time. Yea, they hadn't starved with Belle making sure they didn't run out and were constantly on the search but everything was rationed perfectly. Belle made sure everyone got what they needed but for once they didn't have to worry about if there would be food for the next week or the one after that.

"I found kid shoes." Martin leaned onto the table locking his eyes with his second. Simone ignored him and continued enjoying her meal but Ida had immediately stopped as had Patrick at that. "See any kids around here?"

"They must have grown up or-" Patrick began.

"Or what?" Martin cut in.

"What do you mean?" The man, the leader of this place spoke as he walked through a side door to the small dining area. "They're right outside playing." He pointed out the large window overlooking the balcony. Martin turned to see two children and his brows furrowed. "You're interrupting their meal. We don't use our old clothes any longer."

"What's the deal this hippie stuff you're wearing?" Martin asked. It doesn't make sense, it just doesn't. "Are you some sort of a cult or what?"

"I understand your . . . your doubts. I understand your questions too and your distrust towards others. I get it, I've felt that too." He's too calm. Martin glanced at Patrick to see he had fully relaxed back into his seat after seeing the two children but still there were too many shoes. Too many shoes for only two kids. Simone hadn't been concerned at all merely sat there enjoying herself and smiling at these people. Ida looked at him though with a look of confusion as though she didn't know which was right. "I've had that thought in the back of my mind." His hand settled on Simone's shoulder. "It wouldn't go away. Who can I trust? Is there anyone out there I can really trust. But we have done away with those doubts here."

"Those just poof, disappeared? How have you done that?" Martin asked him as he did his best not to narrow his eyes. You completely bypassed my question.

"By melting into one." The man moved to the head of the table. "It all boils down to, what do I fear if I'm not here? We are one and we are now. That's all that matters." That was probably the most cultish response you could have given right there. The man chuckles as he looks at Patrick stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth. "Is it good?" His hand rubbing Patrick's shoulder.

"It's delicious." Patrick says around a mouthful of bread.

"Good. Dig in." The leader looks back at Martin and walks to his side as he continues his speech. "We have no past, no name, and no gender. It's the end of the world, but we're right here, right now. And that's all that matters." Martin turns away from him to look at his people, his group.

"You're so full of shit, man. I've never heard of anything so stupid in my life."

"Enough, Martin. All they're doing is helping us." Simone glares at him, sick of his ungratefulness to the people that saved them.

"I'm sorry about Martin." Simone tells the woman that had been helping them. "He means well, really." He's just an insufferable douche that thinks he knows better when he really knows shit.

"You know sometimes people are terrified of the love that exists in this place." She says gently.

"We're not used to it. Love."

"You can stay is you want to. Settle down and become one of us."

"I think we have to move on." I need to find my father but after, after that maybe we could come back here. Maybe we could visit and I could introduce my family. Father, Rasmus, Belle.

"Tonight is our monthly celebration."

"What does that mean?"

"Once a month, we cook a nice dinner and then we all eat in silence and gratitude. You mustn't miss it." She tells Simone and she smiles.

"We will be staying for it, definitely. We already agreed we definitely would." The woman takes Simone's hand in her own. She reminds me of mom.

"You remind me of my daughter."

"I do?" Simone gave a hesitant smile and received a gentle one in return.

"Yes."

Simone is walking around when she sees Ida limping. "Are you alright?"

"Fine. Didn't notice it before with everything happening so quickly last night and then still being worried earlier but I think I twisted it last night."

"When you fell over that root leading us here?"

"Yea, I'm pretty sure I made it worse when I twisted it going back to the room."

"Come, then. We can see if they have a doctor." Simone moved to help her and they found someone who led them to a blonde man. He took them to a room off to the side and had Ida sit while he examined her foot. "She tripped over a root leading us here last night." The man shook his head.

"I'm not interested in what happened in the past." He said as he pressed at the side of Ida's swollen ankle.

"Mother-fucker!" The man jumped back in surprise and bumped into an open storage unit, knocking down a container causing its contents to spill onto the floor. "Damnit, that hurt asshole." He cleared his throat.

"Ida!" Simone looked at her unable to come up with words for the moment.

"No, it's quite alright. I believe you have a grade 2 ankle sprain. If that scream was anything to guy by you nearly completely tore the ligament. Fortunately, not though so you won't need surgery. It will heal on it's own given that you rest and keep pressure off of it. Unfortunately we are out of any anti-inflammatory medication" It was as he faced Ida that Simone bent down to pick up what had fallen to the floor and saw it. A tube-like capsule so much like the doctor Margarite had. She looked at the man focused on wrapping Ida's ankle and quickly pocketed it before picking up the rest.

"Um, I think I had an anti-inflammatory in my bag. Would it be possible to get it?" Ida glanced at her.

"Yes, I'll make sure it's brought up."

"Thanks." Simone says. Once back in the room they had provided the two of them for the night and her bag was in her hands she waited for Ida to fall into a nap. Simone She took the tube from her pocket and the one Margarite had planned to use on Rasmus. Examining them she found the only difference to be the capsules labelling, though she couldn't really understand it. The one from Margarite had a bright red square with an X through it while the other had a blue circle. Looking out the window she formed an idea.

Simone left the room with her bag and began her search for the man then. Finally, she found him and the man that appeared to be the leader of this place as she walked into a room where several people were sat in a meditation circle. "I'm sorry, but I really have to know. Who are you?" The blonde looked at her but gave no response. "Who are you? Ar-Are you connected with Apollon?" His mouth dropped just slightly and he looked towards his leader.

"That belongs to the past."

"This . . ." she held out the tube she's taken from his medical room. "You had this." The man agreed. "What's in it?"

"A sedative."

"A sedative?" She switched it into her other hand and dug into her bag for the other container, the one from Margarite. "Then how about this one? They're the same. It belonged to a doctor that tried to kill me and my brother." She tells him showing him the tube, with the red square and bold X on display.

""Let me see." He said and his entire demeanor changed as he saw the label. "That's something else. Give it to me." Simone moved away rejecting his order, lifting it up as she did so. "I'll take that." He told her with his hand outstretched.

"No you won't." she pulled out the needle attachment and put it together.

"Give it to me, don't do that. Pu-put it away." He said nervously. "Put it away."

"Why?"

"Put it away. You can kill us all with that thing."

"But why? What the hells inside?"

"Why did you bring it here?" The leader asked.

"Tell me what's in it." She stared at the blonde man who watched her cautiously. "Who made these?" Simone asked but had not expected the calm, friendly leader to move forward quickly and grab hold of her hand. "Where are the from?"

"Let go of the past." The leader told Simone as he locked eyes with her.

"I just want to know what's in it."

"Believe me . . . you don't want to." Simone looked at him and shook her head as she loosened her grip and he took it from her.

He didn't trust them or this place. It was wrong and for some reason the others didn't see it. All they saw was the food. But how did they get it? How long had this place been here?

Martin moved through the lower level again. He followed the buzzing sound of a mechanical saw which led him down a hall. He could not see much a side from a woman in an apron in what appeared to be a kitchen carving something as someone else moved about further inside. Stepping forward quietly he was caught by a woman that came from a hall that had been hidden from his view by the shelves that lined the wall. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm just looking for the bathroom." He spat out the first thing that came to mind.

"You're not allowed down here." She stared at him

"No? Okay." He stepped back.

"You have to go back upstairs." Martin did so and went to find the others in the set of rooms they were given.

"Martin. Martin." Simone walked forward once she caught sight of him.

"Listen." he tried to cut in only for her to continue.

"There's a guy from Apollon here."

"What?" He stared down at the blond.

"Th-there's something they're not telling us."

"That's what I've been saying. Something weird is going on. Come." He told her.

"Wait, we can't jus-"

"Come on." Martin repeated and led Simone down to the kitchen area he had seen before finding her. Walking into the kitchen, he stared. "They were just here." What the hell? The entire kitchen was empty of those he had seen down here and whatever they had been doing. "They were here a minute ago. Just now." Simone looked at him and then at the spotless kitchen, saying nothing. "There's something wrong with this place. I really think we should get out of here."

"No."

"Yes." He looks at Simone as if she was insane.

"He's from Apollon. We have to find out why he's here. Maybe he knows my dad." Martin looked away than remembering what Belle had told him. Frederik Andersen had left her to die and while he was going along with this little trip it was more for the fact he wanted to beat the fuck out of the man. He had no intention of killing him as Belle was safe and he had managed to find her but the man sure as fuck hadn't known she would be safe. "We have to stay." Martin shook his head at Simone's insistence.

"We leave in the morning and head back to the others, Simone."

A/N: Ok so for those of you who have watched the show this is the gruesome part. I am somewhat graphic on what he finds. Those of you who have not, don't read while eating or at any point planning to.

That Night, Celebratory Dinner

Martin had refused to join in the dinner and so only the other three of the group sat with the mansion's residents. Three long tables with white table cloths were set in a U shaper and candles were lit rather than using the lights. They sat at the front table where the leader and their guide also sat. The leader stood once the seats were filled.

"Welcome to this, our traditional monthly celebration. As usual we shall observe absolute silence both to honor the meal and to open up this boundless love that will flow through us from the meal, dissolving us as individuals. We are each other. We are in each other. We are nothing without each other. Now eat. I hope you like it." he moved to sit and then a person from each table moved to serve the food.

Meanwhile, Martin was stood in the kitchen once more, leaning forward on the metal island set at its center. I just don't get it. How could they have emptied this place so quickly? He dropped his head and sighed only for his eyes to land on the drain with a speckling of light red drops. Almost like blood someone tried to wash away. It was then he turned his head to look at the hall. His eyes locking onto the alcove where a large metal door was. He walked towards it anxiously. Pulling the door open his breath caught as the blue glow of the light hit him fully.

He was frozen in horror by the sight in front of him, by what it meant. The cuts were clean much like one would expect with a mechanical saw much like the one he heard earlier. There in the walk-in freezer hanging by two leather strap hooks was a man's torso devoid of head and limbs. Only a half inch of the neck protruded, the entire lower half carved away leaving an inverted V shaped carving [^], the arms gone and the bone, the humerus, the only one he really remembered from his high school anatomy course as the 'funny bone' had been pulled right from the socket. Only nothing was humorous about this. Finally regaining himself he let the freezer door go and it shut. Taking a breath he immediately lurched forward and vomited.