Continuing on, unaware of the danger lying behind them still,
Mia listened to Ash's stories of his adventures in medieval times, with interest, though she tried to hide it.
"...And they even wanted me to become king, though now that I think about it, I probably shoulda decided to stay." Ash stated, shrugging.
"Yeah, but then I'd be totally alone." Mia muttered, thoughtlessly, though almost inaudibly, afterwards hoping he didn't hear.
"Ahh, so you admit you need me! Of course you do, you'd be dead already if I weren't here, kid." Ash stated, typically cocky.
Mia let out a huff of air, her face becoming red, "Yeah, right. I'd rather be here with my Grandpa Knowby. And he's dead. Never even met him."
"Well excuse me, Princess. You're just lucky you haven't been eaten- wait, Knowby?" Ash looked confused, as though he'd heard the name before.
"Yeah. Knowby. Is that what you've been trying to do? Use me as bait?" She stopped, placing her hands on her hips, glaring at him as he turned to her.
"Na kid. I wouldn't let you waste like that." He simply shrugged. Before he could continue, they both realized the sky was turning black, and was almost too dark to see. He muttered a string of curses to himself, as he grabbed her wrist, almost tossing her into a cracked and damaged, but stable, building nearby.
Mia fell to her knees, Ash pushing a desk in front of door, quickly rummaging through its broken drawer, easily finding what he needed; matches.
She glared up at him, "Hey asshole, what was that about?"
"Deadites like the dark." He stated firmly, looking around for loose wood to set aflame, and finding none, to his discontent, "More specifically, the night. You should know that." He groaned, starting his chainsaw, and cutting up the wooden drawers as the light through the gated windows began to dim evermore.
Mia closed her eyes as it went totally dark, hearing his chainsaw shut off, a small flame beside him lit up the room, and she opened her eyes to the small fire, now in front of her. Ash sat beside her, setting his chainsaw down by his other side.
"..Ash?" Mia peered up at him, crossing her legs, their eyes meeting when he looked to her, raising an eyebrow, "How long have you been here?"
"Depends on whatcha mean." She rolled her eyes, "In this post-apocalyptic city? 'Bout a week. Lot more supplies laying around than you'd expect. Seems like there was a war and we, the living, lost..." He looked to the fire, "Have any idea how hard it is to shave with a straight razor, and no shaving cream?"
Mia simply shook her head, chuckling, "No."
Ash nodded, "It's pretty damn difficult, kid." He sighed, "You're lucky you met me." He smirked, looking to her again.
Mia nodded, "I guess I am..." Ash looked some-what surprised as she looked away from him. Ash simply studied Mia. He knew she was a tough girl, if she wasn't she couldn't have made it this far. He watched the fire flicker over her soft face, he could tell the girl had been through a lot, but how much...?
"So," he started, "You're related to Professor Knowby?"
Mia nodded, looking at him, almost suspicious, "Yes... He was my grandfather. Why do you ask?"
"You said you never met him?" He looked slightly worried.
"He died the year I was born. He and Grandma got into a car accident, along with my aunt. It cause my mother severe PTSD..." She shook her head, "Why?"
"Do you know of his work, Mia?" He got a bit closer to her, prying.
"No. My mother never let us know." She glanced away briefly, becoming intimidated, "Why?!"
He shook his head in disbelief, closing his eyes, and letting out a sarcastic laugh, "It's just a hilarious coincidence... He originally owned that cabin where you said it all started, didn't he?" He glared at her, becoming upset, she simply nodded, moving away from him a slight bit.
The atmosphere became silent, tense, and awkward.
"Your mother's last name was Knowby, right?" He looked as Mia slowly nodded again, and he mumbled "I guess she was Annie's sister..."
"My aunt's name was Annie." Mia whimpered, shuddering, "Ash..." She placed a hand on his thigh, her voice shaking, "Why are you asking me these things?"
"They were all killed by deadites, kid. Not in a car crash. Your Grandfather had the book in that damned cabin." He looked her straight in the eyes as they widened in terror.
"How do you know that, huh?!" She shouted, standing, "were you there, Ash?!"
Ash stood, placing a finger to her lips, "Calm the Hell down, princess. Yes, I was there. It's how my damned journey started. I broke in before Annie even arrived. There was a recording, the Professor speakin' a passage from the book, even possessed and killed my girlfriend, Linda..." He looked down for a moment, placing a hand over where his silver pendant laid on his chest.
Mia shook her head, stepping back, "Oh my God... It all makes sense now.." She slowly moved her arms to hug herself, shaking, "My... My mother always shouted things about 'being a vessel for demons' during her panic attacks! She always complained of demons! Screamed in her sleep!"
Mia looked up to Ash, tears in her eyes, "The damned book is the root of all that's fucked up in my life!" She sobbed, covering her mouth, she leaned into Ash, sobbing harder as his arms wrapped around her, attempting to console her. Sighing, he patted her back, waiting for her to stop bawling.
'The girl probably needs it...' He thought to himself. No matter how hardened they got, they were still human.
Seated in front of the fire once again, Mia's head in his lap, she had fallen asleep crying. Ash looked down at the girl, rolling his eyes as thoughts of her began to cloud his mind.
He knew it would be stupid for him to get attached, but he knew it was too late not to, who knows what will happen to her? He may have trusted her strength, but it was impossible to guess her fate... Or even his.
He had lost everything, he may as well avoid losing her as well.
"Fuck..." He muttered under his breath, causing Mia to stir. She looked up at him, studying his strong, scarred face as he was looking away from her.
His strength reminded her of David in his final hours. Remembering him when she had been locked up, unable to tear past the demon that took away her humanity, that she could only watch as David and the others tried to fight her off.
She closed her eyes tightly, her body tensing up as she recalled the memories of the traumatic events. Her friends screaming, panicked and confused, and she couldn't do anything but save herself... She was only alive because David refused to give up on her.
She felt Ash's eyes on her, so she looked up to him, seeing he looked concerned in a way.
"Feelin' better, Princess?" He asked, half-heartedly. She sat up, shrugging in response as she looked to the dying fire. Sighing, Ash stood to grab more wood, throwing it into the fire.
"So," Mia began, "I'm curious about something."
"What now?" He groaned, poking at the fire.
"What's the story with your hand?" She asked, ignoring his attitude.
"Cut it off." He stated, looking at her.
"Why?"
"Do you always ask so many damned questions?"
"Just answer me."
He sighed, "It got possessed. Yeah, just my hand, and yes, I built a new one."
"My brother's girlfriend had a similar experience... I find it hard to believe it just possessed your hand." She rose an eyebrow, looking him in the eye.
"..." Ash sighed, moving to sit next to her again, "What about you?"
She looked to her prosthetic hand, "Got caught under a jeep, tore it off to get to my chainsaw. I was being chased by a demon. Apparently."
Ash chuckled, "Been there."
Mia moved a bit closer to him, "And the chainsaw?"
"Found it. Used it to cut up my possessed girlfriend's head..." He looked away from her, "After your... aunt and I tried to stop some deadites, I decided it best fit as a new hand." His eyes returned to her face, "It wasn't until I was sent back in time that I built this hand."
Mia pondered for a moment, "So, let me get this straight... shortly after Linda was killed, and you got sent back in time, you rebounded with Sheila?"
"Sounds about right." He concurred, shrugging, "Actually, I almost kissed Annie."
"You've got to be kidding me," She shook her head, both disgusted and amused, "you move fast don't you?"
"Gotta live if you can, Princess." He smirked, "Can't live much constantly fighting deadites and demons... And apparently becoming official time travelers."
"No kidding..." She smiled softly, touching her prosthetic hand, to his metallic fingers, leaning into him as he did, just slightly,
"You never know what could happen..." She whispered, her eyes narrowing, she turned enough to place her bare hand on his cheek.
"At first you wanted to kill me, and now you want to kiss me." He paused, his serious face becoming one showing desire, he gave her a little smirk, "...Give me some sugar baby."
Slowly their lips came closer, hearts racing, and the dim red light shown through the cracked, gated windows. Their lips touched in the softest way-
CRASH.
The two gasped, jumping back, away from each other, both of their faces burning red.
Mia stood, rushing to the window, she looked out, "I thought you said they liked the night."
He groaned, standing, "They sun's never out here, kid. It's just coincidental."
Mia groaned, walking over by the fire, she picked up her chainsaw and clipped it to her belt. Ash did the same.
"Let's go." Mia said, moving the drawer that was placed in front of the door. She headed out, Ash following behind.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Mia turned her head towards the source of the sound, the window had cracked by itself. She stepped closer to examine. She squinted at her reflection, which suddenly gave her a wicked smile, her mouth dripping with blood, and eyes as demented as the Abomination's.
Mia roughly stumbled backwards, severely disturbed, she began to shake. Ash turned on his heel, moving to pick her up, "Hey, you see a ghost or somethin'?" He smirked, sarcastic. She took a deep breath, attempting to regain composure, attempting to give a witty response, she instead became quiet.
"...Mia?" Ash poked her cheek, to which she simply smacked his hand away.
"I thought she was gone..."