Me: ...I'm back, ...okay that's not weird.

Thank you to those who reviewed, followed,or favorited. You are brilliant people.

Will: not better than me. Nobody is better than me.

Me: my reviews are.

Will:*gasps* lies, stop this blasphemy at once.

Jem: it is, in a way,*raises his hands in mock surrender*, very true.

Tessa: very true, I agree. *Rolls her eyes* we know, ...its hard to beat you Will, but its been done.

Will: betrayal, what profanity. *adopting a hurt tone* it doesn't matter cause you don't own us. Cassandra Clare does, so...humph. And Charles Dickens owns A Tale Of Two Cities.

Me: no seriously, thank you to those who reviewed. You made my day.

And without further adieu, I present to you, chapter two...

Chapter 2

Will s POV

Will Herondale stomped down the first two stairs. Promptly, he whipped around and yanked the leather handles, pulling the doors to the inadequate shelter to a banging shut. Him and his best friend since second grade, Jem Carstairs, had recently found a place they could call their own.

It was a storm cellar right next to an old Victorian style home. Jem had insisted that they would be infinitely safer in the shelter than in the home. People would suspect a home, they would search it, leaving their safety compromised. Will despite his protests and snide, negative remarks, had agreed. He grimaced.

As if Will's thoughts had summoned him, Jem came speeding into the foyer. The previous owners of the home had spared no expense, even on the hidden storm shelter. Jem strolled up to Will.

"So, anything new?" Will glared at Jem. Jem grinned. His unfailing optimism was starting to irk Will. Just because you think something will get better doesn't mean it always will.

Negatively, Will remembered when he thought his parents and older sister, Ella, would get better. But no, the B-one virus had taken them too. That had washed all optimism out of him. Will, being unable to bear the grief of simultaneously losing three family members, had fled to Jem's house in the middle of the night. Jem had welcomed him with open arms.

When he returned in the morning to his home, he found no one living there. His younger, by one year sister, Cecily, had run away. In a frenzied state of depression Will had packed a suitcase with essentials; clothes, food, water, books, and even a little bit of money in case anyone still had need of it.

Jem's parents had contracted the fatal B-one virus. He had revealed to Will that he would rather run away than witness the death of his parents, he had already said his goodbyes. Will understood.

Of course he had, they were Jem and Will. One of the strongest truths the world had to offer. They left. To face the world together. Their friendship hadn't wavered one bit throughout their lives. It never had. It never would. Nothing could break them.

Will smirked at Jem. "Yeah, the world died. Where have you been," he grumbled out. Jem grinned, Will's negative mood never seemed to affect him. Bummer.

"Oh you know, just waiting for you to get your lazy self back here for the past twelve years. Its your job to brief me, " Jem retorted. Smirking.

"Ooh, is it now. My bad, well, I can't take the pressure of you waiting on me. I quit," Will rejoined. His voice was packed with sarcasm. "What do we have to eat?"

"Delicious Ramen noodles, along with some refreshing H2O." Jem was suddenly humor free, a frown occupying his face. So, what we had last night, Will translated. Will was beginning to hate Ramen noodles. Well, at least he was lucky enough to have food. But really, noodles everyday?

After scarfing down his food like a ... person living in a dead society, what he was hungry, he dismissed himself. He walked into his room and gently pulled a book off the singular shelf in his room, he settled down.

Looking down he saw what he grabbed, A Tale Of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. One of his favorites. He scoffed. Of course it was, he wouldn't bring a book all the way from his home if he didn't like it.

Opening it to a random spot in the book he started to read.

"…Nevertheless, not a moment was lost; not a moment! This Foulon was at the Hôtel de Ville, and might be loosed. Never, if Saint Antoine knew his own sufferings, insults, and wrongs! Armed men and women flocked out of the Quarter so fast…".

Okay. So he didn't want to read about death, that was understandable. Considering what situation he lived in. It didn't matter. He could feel Sleep wrapping it's icy fingers around his eyes and neck, steading his breathing and causing his eyes to fall shut. He let Sleep pull him under, into a dreamless night.

…

Rubbing his eyes, Will sat up. He heard a commotion going on in the direction of the kitchen. He jumped out of bed and ran down the hallway. Jem sat calmly despite the fact that the was dirt all over the floor and noodles spilt on the counter. In Jem's arms was a gray Russian-blue cat. Church.

Will frowned. And grimaced. He hated that cat. "What is he doing here," Will spat. No small amount of venom laced his voice.

Jem frowned at Will. "He found his way back to me." He grinned deviously. "He is staying." Whatever. Will headed to his room to pack. Last night at dinner they discussed and agreed, that they would leave to find a 'better place.' Will walked towards the front door with his tattered suitcase noisily trailing behind him. Jem looked at him and laughed.

"Will, aren't you forgetting something?" At Will's blank look, Jem's grin widened. "School," he finally burst out. Will facepalmed, of sorts. It was more of a smack on his face. What was the point of making people go to school when the world was crumbling? It was pointless. What did education matter? Nothing. The crippled government just wanted a way to control its citizens, Will concluded.

He tossed his suitcase down and marched to the door. "Well," he snarled," let's get going." Jem just grinned in his infectious manner, and walked to the door. He handed Will his schoolbag, Will hastily stuffed his books in there. Just in case, he thought.

Jem threw open the doors, causing the sun to shine down upon their heads in its full glory. They jumped out, with Will slamming the doors with an unnecessary hardness. They walked down the path, on their way to another day of school work and, in his opinion, torture. Together.

Thank you so much for reading. And waiting for me to post. I hope this did me proud. Please let me know if you have any...

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