Things had been quiet between them since that revalation.

What were they meant to say to each other after that?

Neither of them were sure, so they stayed quiet.

Andy knew one thing though: if Lauren couldn't get through that checkpoint, then he wasn't going either. Their parents were gone, lost or- or worse, and she was all she had left.

So what if she was a muti- mutant?

She was still his sister.

No wonder she had kicked off at the checkpoint.

They were making their way through the almost deserted city on foot, crunching glass and stones beneath their shoes. It felt like walking through some apocalyptic movie, except this was real life.

"All we need is the war paint," he said, hoping to get a smile.

Lauren said nothing.

Neither of them had really thought about it before, neither of them had even considered it, but there were plenty of cars still left in driveways or parked at the side of the road.

They weren't theirs; it would be stealing to take them.

Except-

Except this one was just sitting there, with the keys in the ignition and the door open.

There was no owner to be seen.

"Should we-" Lauren asked, reaching out to touch the door and then yanking her hand back like it might bite her.

"I guess it's not like anyone's going to need it again."

Having the car did make things easier.

Neither of them could remember the last time they ate. It must have been before last night, before the Checkpoint, before… everything.

So they stopped at the little grocery store, telling themselves when everything was back to normal they could return and pay.

There wasn't much left. The cash drawer was empty and most of the food had already gone, swiped from the shelves by earlier visitors. Still, they found some granola bars and biscuits, which they tore into eagerly.

A woman walked through the door.

So far the only people they had seen had been trying to hurt – or kill – them. Lauren held her hands up defensively and Andy shifted the pipe in his hands.

The woman hissed. She had kinda pinkish skin, Andy noticed, and large amber eyes with slatted pupils.

"People," she growled – there must be someone with her. Andy held the pipe in front of him. From what he'd seen of Lauren's powers, they looked defensive – she couldn't fight.

A man joined the woman in the doorway, a spear made of what looked like it could be bone in his hand. One of Lauren's bubble shields flared up between them.

"They're just kids Darce."

"Stay away from us!" Andy snapped.

"We don't mean you any harm lad," said the man, but the spear in his hand looked very sharp. "We're all mutants here."

"I'm not!"

Lauren's shield shuddered and almost stuttered slightly. The man sighed and lowered his bone spear slightly. "We're not here to start a fight."

The woman with him hissed softly and he touched her arm.

"We're just mutants who don't want to get shot to death. I'm guessing you're the same?"

"I can't go through the checkpoint," Lauren muttered. "And A- my brother, he won't go without me."

"Lauren," Andy hissed.

The pink woman's expression softened slightly. "How old you two?"

"Fifteen," Lauren replied.

The pink woman gazed at them for a long moment before speaking again. "You got den to sleep tonight?"