Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note: Hey hey, sorry for another late update, my beta has been quite busy and I didn't want to post without it being read first. I hope you enjoy this chapter… I have a feeling you will ;) I have tried to put lots of suspense in there and also lots of Faberry. I also want to take a chance to thank all of you for sticking with me so far on this story. It my first one and I am so flattered that you all are taking the time to read and review it. I love all the reviews, I get so excited when I see that I have them and can't wait to read what you all have said. It gives me so much inspiration and I just want to keep writing. I would also like to say that I got some of these ideas from the walking dead and felt I should mention that. Also in the previous chapter I should have mentioned that there was going to be character deaths, so I'm putting it in this one. WARNING: Character death.
I rode Sam's bike back towards New York City with Puck on Mike's next to me; we had to borrow theirs since we lost ours on our last trip there. I was regretting it, I had a bad feeling and I didn't like it. I didn't know if it was because we got trapped in there or not, I just knew that going back this way was a bad idea, but Sam and Mike insisted that it was being silly to pass up such a great opportunity so we all went with him. Mike led the way in the pickup accompanied by Tina, Santana and Brit. Sam followed behind in the jeep with Fin, Kurt, Blaine and Rachel. Puck looked at me as we rode along and gave me a small shrug. He wasn't keen about going back either, not because he had a bad feeling or anything, he just didn't want to go back somewhere where there is a mass army of infected waiting to rip our throats out. I couldn't imagine how Rachel was feeling, Puck and I were only there for a few days, she was abandoned and left there and now it must feel like we are taking her back. I couldn't leave her behind, I can't believe anyone would. I felt myself slipping again and begin to think about her, her eyes, her hair, her smile. I couldn't afford to think about that now. I needed to be fully focused, we all needed to be on high alert even though Mike and Tina said there was no needed to worry. But from my experience there is always a need to worry. Houses passed by as did broken cars and soon enough we were on the motorway that leads back into the city. We began to slow and I pulled out so I could see around Mike's car. There, up a head was the traffic jam that Mike told us about, to me it seemed like a grave yard, a vehicle graveyard. It gave me chills; no doubt there would be dead bodies in there, peoples belongings, the parts of their lives they chose to take with them.
Mike began to slow in front of us and shortly after slowed to a stop as we reached the cars. Puck and I stopped behind him and Sam behind us. I turned off my bike and stepped off, pulling my helmet off as I did so. Once all of engines were off silence rang in my ears, an eerie silence. I looked to Puck and he met my gaze with the same look I was giving him. Worry.
"See guys," called Mike, "there will be heaps of stuff in here that we can use. Spare parts, food, medical supplies."
He seemed very proud and very confident, Tina appearing at his side equally as proud.
"Well if this isn't the creepiest place I've ever seen than I don't know what is," Santana told us.
"It will be fine," Tina told her, "we've checked it out, and there is nothing to be worried about here."
Santana just nodded and grabbed Brittney's hand.
"Are you sure?" Kurt asked, visibly agitated "Seems like a great place for the infected to hide."
"There isn't anything to be scared of here," she repeated, trying to sound confident in her own words.
Kurt looked to Blaine and he just shrugged.
"Why did we all need to come Sam?" Blaine asked
"Well the more people we have the faster we can sift through everything," he told us, "and the faster we sift through everything the faster we can leave this place."
Good. So I wasn't the only one that this place gave the chills to. Santana and Sam both felt it as well and by the look I got from Puck when we arrived, he didn't like it much either. I felt Rachel appear at my side and stand close enough that we were touching.
"Well, I guess we should get started then," I say to everyone, "the less time we can be here the better."
Everyone nodded and went to turn away.
"Wait." Sam called.
Everyone stopped and turned back to looked at him.
"Whatever we find put it in the back of the Ute," he said pointing to the car Mike drove, "There are also bags in the back to help you carry back what you find."
It sounded like every other time we have gone on what we call a scavenger hunt, I don't know why he needs to tell it to us every time, he is just trying to be helpful I guess. We all just smile and nod, some give a quiet "yes".
This place was not only a graveyard for cars but also people. Dead bodies lay strewn throughout the area, in cars, on the road, everywhere and the smell was not welcoming at all. Puck and I kicked them gently as we passed, checking for any life signs; or what resembled life signs.
It wasn't long before we found a replacement for one of the bikes Puck and I lost on our adventure into New York City.
"The keys are still in it and by the look of it there is enough fuel to get back home," I tell Puck and Rachel, "It may be a quad bike but it will come in useful."
"No I agree Quinn, It will make up for the bike we lost," he nodded checking the bike, "and it seems like it is in perfect condition, it's been sitting here for a while but it should still work."
Puck jumped on and started it up. Surprisingly it started instantly and he drove it back towards the cars we brought with us. I watched him go and then went back to searching the cars. I walked up to a silver Sedan. The front doors were open, like the occupants had to get out fast, so fast they didn't even have time to close the doors behind them. I looked in the front seat; there were old food packets, CDs and some spare change. The back seat contained some clothes that look like they were just thrown in there in a rush. I sifted through the clothes, looking at sizes and if they are wearable. I picked the bag up off the ground next to me and began to fill it up. Pink shirts, denim shorts and jeans. There wasn't much but anything could be helpful to us.
"Did you find anything of use Quinn?" Rachel asked walking up next to me.
"Just some clothes so far," I replied looking over at her, "I haven't looked in the trunk yet."
Whenever I looked at her lately she took my breath away. I always thought she was beautiful but not like this. Her eyes, her face, her hair and her smile, it all make he want to stop what I'm doing and passionately kiss her. She walked over to me and smiled. I wish she wouldn't do that, as much as I loved it, I wish she wouldn't, it was so distracting. I lost all train of thought and when she reached me I pulled her in for a hug.
"Woah Quinn," she giggled, "what's this for?"
She wrapped her around my waist and I smiled.
"No reason," I told her shrugging.
I pulled her in closer and placed my hands on her lower back and looked into her eyes, I tried to steady myself but tripped on the bag of clothes I left on the ground behind me. We both fell, my back hitting the car behind me, Rachel's body flush with mine. We both started laughing at the same time.
"Are you okay?" she laughed trying to rub my back.
"Yeah I'm fine," I laughed back.
Our faces for inches apart and I wanted nothing more than to place my lips on hers. We both stopped laughing and just stood there leaning against the car looking at each other. I lifted my hand and slowly brushed a strand of hair from her face behind her ear. My fingers felt like they were on fire as my they brushed against her skin. She blushed slightly and looked down to our side. I instantly felt like I was missing something, I reached out and placed my hand under her chin and lifted her eyes back to mine. She was still blushing but didn't remove her gaze this time. I leaned towards her slightly and waited to see what she would do. I expected her to back away, but instead she moved toward me. My heart was racing a million miles an hour, I had never kissed a girl before, and actually I've never had any feelings for a girl before, but at this present moment in time I really couldn't care less. We both leaved in closer, I could feel the slight blush of her breath on my face. I was excited, probably more than I should be. I began to close the last of the gap between us.
"Quinn?" Puck called, "Where are you?"
Fuck!
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah Puck, I'm over here."
"Are you both okay?" He asked.
"Of course we are Noah" Rachel replied.
"I thought I heard a scream." He told us.
"I just tripped on my bag that's all," I said looking at Rachel, "Rach tried to save me but we both fell."
He looked at us both and then just shrugged, "Come with me, look at what I found."
I looked over to Rachel and her cheeks were still red, I cocked my head to the side towards Puck and she nodded. I put hand out for her and she took it and intertwined our fingers.
We found Puck standing next to a beautiful red Yamaha road bike, it looked heavy, no doubt it would be too heavy for me and Puck would have to ride it. However on closer inspection it looked like I may be able to ride it if I really had to.
"Wow, does it run?" I ask Puck.
"I don't see why not, it is in exactly the same shape as the quad we found," he told me.
"Fire it up then." I say waving my free hand toward the bike.
The Yamaha, just like the quad roared to life, however unlike the quad it was much louder. Puck quickly killed the engine and gave me a look, a worried look. Hopefully Tina was right and there was nothing here.
"I think I'll push this one back to the cars," he nodded at us.
"That is probably smart," I laughed at him.
He smiled and rolled his eyes at me and began to push the bike toward the cars.
When he disappeared from sight I turned back to Rachel and smiled. We walked hand in hand back to the car I was going through before.
"Quinn?" Rachel said tugging on my hand getting my attention, "how often do you do this kind of thing?"
"A lot actually," I tell her thinking back, "whenever we go to a new place or whenever we need supplies."
She didn't say anything else, instead she went to the car and pressed the button which opened the trunk. I lifted the lid and looked in. There, inside was a full box of canned food. Fruit, beans, vegetables and it was all in date.
"Alright," I exclaim, "Score one for the team."
"What is it?" Rachel asked walking around to the back of the car.
"Food, a lot of it and its in date," I tell her , "it's not often that you find this much food that is still good to eat babe."
"What?" she asked giving me a surprised look.
Oh god… did I just call her babe? Why did I do that?
"We barely ever find this amount of food in date," I repeat as I lift the box from the car and turn away from her, hoping she didn't notice that I called her babe.
"Did you just call me babe?" she giggled.
I winced. Crap. She did notice.
"Um, I, ah," I didn't know what to say, "I.. didn't… you know…"
"Its ok Quinn, don't worry," she said coming over behind me and warping her arms around me.
Her arms around me felt so good, I wish they would stay there. But before I could think anything else of it she removed her arms and picked up the bag of clothes next to the car.
"Come on, let's take these back to the car" she told me and leading the way back to the cars giving me a chance to check out her ass.
Everyone was spread throughout the car graveyard, I couldn't tell you where everyone was but they were there sifting through the cars and other vehicles. I could see Kurt standing on the top of a caravan keeping lookout with a gun, Blaine was probably close by.
Rachel and I found our way back to where we were and started on the next car and once we had finished that one we moved onto the next. The day dragged on and we all got further and further into the cars. I think Puck and Finn were further in than us. Santana was on lookout and was standing on a mini bus closer to where we were.
"What happened in New York Rachel?" I asked stopping what I was doing.
"What do you mean?" she looked up at me, "You were there Quinn."
"No. I mean when you were there, before we found you?" I smiled walking over to her.
"Oh. I will tell you later Quinn, I don't think here is a good place share that story."
"Come on Rach please?" I say taking her hands in mine.
"I will tell you Quinn, just not now." She replied giving me a soft smile.
"Ok. But can you just tell me who it was that left you?" I asked giving her a pleading look.
She looked down and nodded, "Jesse St James, Sebastian Smythe and Harmony, from the Unitards."
I was in shock. How? Why? What? What they doing in New York? And a better question, what were they doing in New York together and with Rachel.
"What?" I ask.
However before she could reply Santana whistled altering us all to something. Rachel and I turned and looked back at her. She was pointing up a head, past us. I was confused and when I turned around to look at what she was pointing at I saw Finn and Puck come running, but they were staying low.
My stomach sank.
"Get under the cars and stay quiet," Puck told us.
I knew exactly what he meant. There was a horde coming. My heart started beating so fast I was surprised I didn't go into cardiac arrest.
"What?" Rachel asked as the boys ran off.
After that everything happened so fast, I looked up to Santana and she had pressed herself flat to the top of the mini bus. I grabbed Rachel's hand and pushed her underneath the nearest car. I pulled out one of the dead bodies from another car and pushed it against her and ran around the other side. I dived under too pulled another body next to me. We learnt to do this because the decaying smell of people's bodies hid our smell. I didn't know if everyone else had found a place to hide but I hope they did. I was pushed up against Rachel who was on her back and she was looking up at me with a confused look. I put my index finger to my lips and mouthed "shhh." She shrugged and shook her head at me obviously still confused. I was on my stomach so it was easy for me to lean down and whisper in her ear.
"We need to be really quiet," I told her, "There is a massive group of the infected coming our way and we need to hide and stay quiet."
Her eyes widened and nodded. I could see the fear in her eyes, I thought living in New York for that long she would have been used to big groups of the infected. I grabbed her hand and she intertwined our fingers and squeezed tight. I was just as scared and I was trying not to show it but it wasn't working. We had never been in this situation before, we knew we had to be quiet and we knew that the dead bodies will hide our smell. We just had to lay low and hope for the best. Rachel and I were pushed together getting as close as we could under the car hoping that the infected wouldn't find us.
There was a small gap between the bottom of the car and the body I placed next to Rachel which I was able to see through and see what was happening. I didn't dare to move, I lay there under the car holding my breath. It felt like forever for the drag of feet and low moaning to reach us. I hoped the hard beating of my heart wouldn't be heard by the infected that were stumbling less than a metre from our faces. Rachel's hand was still in mine and I was gripping her so tight, I couldn't tell if it was her shaking or me. One of the passing infected fell as they passed us, and I was pretty sure my heart stopped. Rachel's eyes snapped to mine, they were wide, filled with fear just like mine were. We both looked back to the undead that fell, it was struggling to get up when it stopped and looked in our direction. I didn't move, I wasn't even breathing. It dragged itself over towards us until I could have reach out and touched it. It began sniffing around the body I had placed by the car and I could feel myself begin to sweat. The nudging and pulling made it worse, I knew if they found us we would be screwed, we wouldn't escape, there was too many of them. It pulled the body away from leaning on the car and onto the ground leaving a huge gap where anything could see us. Another one came over and began to rip at the body, however the first one didn't like that and ripped it back. The body looked dry and almost decayed but when the undead ripped it apart it released a smell that I thought was going to melt my face off. I tried not to gag but I couldn't help it and when I did, I did as silently as I could. The look of disgust on Rachel's face mimicked mine, I could see she was trying as hard as she could to not make a sound. I very slowly lifted my shirt over my nose making sure that I wouldn't startle the fighting undead next to us. The undead moved the body away from us somewhat but it didn't relieve us from the smell. I sighed in relief when they quit ripping the body apart got up off the ground and began walking again with the rest of the horde.
Soon, the undead began to thin out and the moans began to grow quieter. However I didn't move and made Rachel stay where she was, I don't know why I made her do that but it turned out to be a smart decision. We heard quick steps moving towards us, hurried scared steps. Suddenly a body fell a few metres away from Rachel and I, it was Tina. She looked up and saw my face, a look of terror on her face. She gripped her knee, I could see it was bleeding but didn't know how bad she hurt it.
"Quinn," she pleaded as she tried to get up, "Quinn please."
I began to leave our safe space when Rachel grabbed my arm. I looked back at her and she was pointing toward the front of the car, there, I saw more feet being dragged in our direction. There was another wave coming. I quickly looked back at Tina and tried to signal her to get under one of the nearby cars but she wasn't fast enough. She hurried but couldn't do much with her knee, she managed to get half under when then infected reached her and were upon her in no time pulling her back out, her heart breaking screams echoed in my ears.
"HELP!" she screamed, "HELP ME."
My eyes filled with tears as I watched another of my friends be over-run by those cannibalistic monsters. I looked to Rachel and she was just looking at her, tears running down her cheek her hand still over her nose, I didn't know if it was to stifle the sobs or because of the still lingering smell.
Another gargling scream erupted from Tina's throat, "MIKE. MIKE SAVE ME!"
Mike would know better than to risk his life by leaving his hiding place and trying to save her, a lost cause now. She would have been bitten so many times and way beyond saving and we didn't have a cure, we weren't even sure if one existed. He would be hiding somewhere, I didn't know whether he was close by or far away, but I know he could hear her. It must be tearing his heart apart, I could only imagine what he must be feeling, unable to save the person he loves most in the world. Rachel and I had a front row seat and we watched as she was being torn limb from limb, unable to do anything to help her, screams escaping her mouth every so often. A sob escaped from Rachel and it caused one of the infected to look over in our direction. The tears were running down her face as fast as they were on mine. She let out another sob, which made the undead move closer to us. I placed my free hand on her cheek and made her look in my eyes.
"Eyes on me," I mouth to her and she gave me a small nod.
We kept eye contact but she was still sobbing, trying to keep them quiet. I was so afraid for our lives and worried about Rachel I didn't know what to do. The undead that heard her was walking around our car, bumping into it every so often making me jump. I looked down at Rachel's trembling lips and then back up to her eyes. I slowly leant in closer to her face weary she might make a noise, she didn't pull away, instead she held my eye contact and her sobs began to stop. I moved in closer and I could feel Rachel's erratic breath on my face, I wanted this to happen. I didn't move any closer, I was afraid that her reaction might alert the horde to our whereabouts. We stayed looking into each other's eyes before she closed the gap and pressed our lips together. The sparks flew as our lips fit perfectly together and began to move as one. Her lips were so soft and I could feel myself melting into her, loosing myself in her. I moved the hand from her cheek to the back of her head, intertwined my fingers in her hair and pushed our faces closer together. It was better than I ever imagined but I didn't push my luck and didn't try to gain entry behind those magnificent lips. I could feel her smiling under my lips and I pulled away and looked into her eyes. They were still full of tears but she had a slight smile on her face. I placed our foreheads together and closed my eyes and wish that we could escape this place and erase what we just saw.
I looked over and between the legs of the undead saw there wasn't much left of Tina and the undead had begun to disperse, neither Rachel nor I wanted to look over to where Tina was after they all had moved on, instead we just looked at each other not saying anything. We all stayed in our hiding places for a while longer, but then I decided to venture out and see if it was safe. I pushed the body away that was left on my side and rolled out from under the car and snuck around the front. My heart was threatening to jump from my chest, I peeked around to where Tina's remains lay, there was nothing in sight, no sign that the undead where here at all except the bloody pile near the base of the car that Tina tried to scramble under. I placed my hand out and helped Rachel out from under the car, she didn't look to where Tina was, and I knew it would be way too hard for her. She looked to me and her eyes were red from cry as I imagine mine would be. We silently began to walk back to the cars, we didn't touch, just walked side by side. I looked up and saw Santana sitting on top the of mini bus with her head in her hands, Brit next to her trying to get her off the top, no doubt Santana saw the entire thing, just like Rachel and I. Everyone will have heard what happened with the screams, but I don't know how many people saw.
No one spoke when we first returned back to the cars, we just stood there and looked at each other. Mike was sitting on the ground with his head between his legs and his hands on the back of his head, he looked like he was going to be sick, I don't blame him, I think I would be sick if I was in his position too. Kurt was in Blaine's arms, sobs coming from both of them, Finn stood against one the jeep with his arms crossed, not looking at anyone. Sam and Puck both stood there, a look of shock on their faces, I couldn't tell what they were thinking, it's not often those two are left speechless. Brittney was crying in Santana's arms and Santana looked like she was trying to keep herself together. No matter how many times we lose someone we love it didn't get easier. I just realised that I had been present and seen every single one of my friend's deaths.
Finally Finn spoke, "Should we… I dunno, should we go home?"
He seems to struggle speaking through his sobs. Kurt and Blaine just nodded and headed back to the Jeep.
"Yeah I suppose we should," Santana nodded and guided Brit to the pickup.
Puck looked at the rest of us and then down to Mike. He was still sitting there with his head between his legs. Puck nudged Sam and indicted towards Mike, Sam seemed to know what Puck was on about and they both went over to either side of Mike.
"Come on buddy," Puck said putting Mike's arm over his shoulder while Sam got the other.
Mike was white as a ghost and looked rather unresponsive. The boys led him over to the Jeep and put him in the back seat where he just laid down. While I watched the boys with Mike, Rachel had made her way to the pickup and hopped into the back seat behind Santana in the driver's seat. That just left Sam, Puck, Finn and I to ride the four bikes back. Puck mounted the red road bike he found and fired it up, Sam jumped onto his that I rode here, Finn climbed aboard the quad, which left me with the bike Puck rode here. I climbed on and started it up. It will be hard to ride back by myself, trying to concentrate after everything, Rachel and I kissing and Tina being right there, calling for the help that we were unable to give. Tears streamed out of my eyes as I rode back towards home, Sam rode up next to me and gave me a 'are you going to be okay?' look. I simply smiled in return. I didn't know if I was going to be ok. I didn't know what my emotions were doing, I was happy because of the kiss but sad because of Tina, and I didn't know how to act, laugh, cry, scream, have a breakdown, all I knew is that I needed to get back without crashing so I needed to concentrate and put these emotions away for a later time.
That was always easier said than done.
