Damn I wanted to get this chapter out earlier today but due to my internet shutting down it was a bit difficult but thank the internet Gods that he problem was able to fix itself! I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you that review or fav/follow the story, I'm having a lot of fun with this fic and it's helping me to immerse myself further into the FTWD universe, which is a good thing because FTWD returns THIS SUNDAY! WOOHOO!

Anyway enjoy the new chapter and get ready for the official migration! lol

PREVIOUSLY

A few more pricks and finally it's over. Elyza place the needle onto the side of the dresser next us and reaches for the the wet rag she had made earlier. Gently she wipes at the mixture of blood and ink on my skin and when that is done I finally look down.

Matt's symbol is there and brighter than ever. I no longer feel guilt when I look at it, I no longer feel disgust. Matt was my family and although he isn't here physically, he is here with me.

"It's perfect. Thank you, Elyza."

I'm not ready for another relationship but not because of Matt. I needed to stop using him as an excuse. I'm just not ready, not with all this craziness that is going around. I'm not ready, but when I am I will go into my next relationship with no guilt gripping at my heart.

"Alicia, we need to be strong now. You need to be strong," Our eyes lock, a clash of green and blue, " The dead are gone, Clark. The living are hungry."

CHAPTER 9: Elyza Lex, Mood Killer

I take back all the mean things I said about Liza before, she is and will now always be my favorite person in the entire world. She can go out and help as many people as she would like if she came back every time with delicious, not mysterious cans,home cooked meals.

I shovel in another spoonful of squash soup and relish in the satisfying burn of several different latin spices. One of the neighbors Liza had helped had sent her home with a full pot of soup in return for her help in caring for the kind woman's ill husband. Liza being the amazing person she is graciously took the food as payment and shared it with the rest of us.

Never before had I seen our kitchen so full of life, or rather our living room. Ofelia and her father along with Travis took up the couch, while the remainder of us got comfy on the floor. Our bellies full of nice warm happiness.

Elyza was spread out beside me her white tank riding up as she rubbed at her swollen stomach in circular motions, like Biscuit behind her, she was in the midst of knocking out cold as a result of her food coma.

After days of eating from cans it came to no surprise how silent we all were, the food being our first priority over socializing. Suddenly Biscuit kicks out his left hind leg and connects it with my elbow causing me to lose my grip on the soup bowl and soaking my bottom half of my white t-shirt.

I can already feel the stickiness sneaking its way through my shirt and onto the skin of my stomach. No one took notice to my little accident, instead focusing on their own bowls in their hands. So with a sigh I drag my body up and off the carpet floor, careful not to let anymore liquid drip onto the floor.

Might as well take a bath already before the line to the shower starts up.

Opening the door to the bathroom I almost have a heart attack when I see Nick inside already but instead of yelling at him for scaring me I stop and stare. There is a very prominent bruise around his right eye and blood seeping from a cut above his lip.

"What the hell happened to your face?"

"Go away, Alicia..just go away." He pushes me back with the door but I push back trying to keep the door from closing.

"Just tell me what happen-"

"Nothing! Jesus Christ, just go away!"

"Nick, let me have a look at it!" He is much stronger than me and forcefully slams the door shut.

My knocking and begging for Nick to open the door draws the attention of Travis, who was on his way to the kitchen. He comes to stand next to me.

"What's going on?" I ignore him.

"Nick! Let me in."

"Nick is in there?" Now Travis is knocking, "Nick what's going on?"

I know he only means well but Travis needs to stop trying to help everyone. I place my hand on his shoulder and as gently as I can, I move him out of the doorway.

"Travis, stop. I got it, ok?" Reluctantly he agrees and leaves me once again by myself.

I wait patiently by the door til I no longer see Travis in sight. Tossing a stray lock of my brunette waves over my shoulder I knock once again, this time not as frantic.

"Nick. He's gone you can open up now," No reply. So i try something else, "Do you want me to get mom?"

The lock on the door clicks and the door opens, though not fully but just enough for me to slip through. The growing stain on my shirt is the last thing on my mind as I take in my older brother, looking more disheveled than usual. I close the door behind me.

"Who did this to you?" I reach up to the bruise but Nick quickly turns his head away, " are you okay?"

Nick grunts in reply.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He shakes his head, his brows scrunching together in frustration and his eyes glass over. He's going to cry, "Hey, hey it's ok."

I reach out to Nick, rubbing my hand up and down his arm. He used to comfort me like this after our dad passed and I remember the feeling of safety he brought to me through such a small gesture and seeing as he isn't jerking out of my touch the effect is the same on him.

"It's ok, Nick." He rubs at his eyes furiously in an attempt to hide his tears but I pull them away and lead him into my arms. I can feel his shaky breath on my neck as he nuzzles closer and I tilt my head to the side to accommodate him, soon enough i can feel warm tears running down the side of my neck.

I tighten my hold and rock him slightly in my arms as he cries. Minutes later he is telling me of how mom had found him looking for more drugs and started to beat at him and I feel my blood boil on the spot. I want to leave and confront our mother but I can't, not yet. Nick needs me right now and so I stay in the bathroom with him and continue to hold him as he apologizes for all the bad things he has done and I listen and forgive each and every sin.

Half an hour has passed and i still hold Nick, he has stopped crying but I have yet to let go and I can tell by the way he clutches my jacket that he also doesn't wish for me to leave. We're in complete silence, taking in one another.

It's so silent that we immediately hear loud banging from the front door and voices speaking in the hallway. I detach Nick from me and go for the door, throwing it open and almost running into our mom and Travis. I'm in the middle of the hallway while Nick stands in the bathroom doorway.

There's a bright beam of a flashlight shone directly into my face, stunning me in my spot and I raise my hand to block the light. It's the military men from before, lead by the lieutenant. The beam leaves my face and that is when I notice a figure walking towards me, it's Elyza.

She wraps an arm around my waist and holds me close to her body, Biscuit is not far behind and takes a position in front of the two of us. Both Elyza and Biscuit taking a protective stance.

The bright light is back but this time it is gesturing us to the side and we follow its direction, leaning against the hallway walls. They must have come in earlier because now I watch as men pile pass me from the direction of my room carrying a very pale Griselda Salazar on a gurney. Liza follows alongside them, her hand never leaving the older latina woman.

Mr. Salazar tries to follow them out the front door but is stopped by Moyer.

"Sorry sir, only Mrs. Salazar."

"I'm her husband. If you're taking her to the hospital than I'm going too." Again Moyer stops Daniel, this time with a little too much force almost sending the elderly man flying into Ofelia's arms.

"We've got two names on our list to take to the hospital and you are definitely not the other name."

A weird feeling sinks into my stomach and Elyza must be feeling the same because her grip tightens and I can see her reaching for something behind her back. Her gun.

"We're looking Nicholas Clark."

Instantly I turn to face Nick, his face is pale and horror is in his eyes. I feel my own skin begin to crawl at the thought of these men taking away my older brother.

"Nick run!" I scream and he follows my order but there are men everywhere, blocking him in and pushing him towards the front door. I throw a punch out to one of the men who push him into the wall, missing his face and instead hitting the wall myself. My hand goes right through the drywall, leaving a gaping hole and I quickly yank my hand out.

Nick tries to make a book for the door but Moyers stops him by knocking him unconscious with the butt of his rifle and all hell breaks loose.

Mom is screaming and so am I, screaming for the men who are bending down to carry Nick to let him go. I'm throwing punches at anyone who is near me, missing more than landing. Daniel and Ofelia have also joined in pulling at the soldier's arms trying to claw them away from Nick.

Men are pointing guns at us, lights shining brightly into our faces. Those around me stop their fight but I continue forward not caring one bit what happens to me, as long as I can save Nick.

I can't lose more people that I love.

Suddenly I'm not in my living room.

I'm out in the open in a large dark forest and as I look around I find men and women in ragged clothes, armour attached to various parts of their bodies. The only light comes from the torches some of them carry. Men and women walk by me only acknowledging me with a bow of their heads.

The 'savage' looking people march ahead of me swords and bows at their sides, it's as if these individuals were going off to war..

That's because this is a war. I turn to the voice and my jaw drops, i'm speechless at the sight before me.

The girl next to me shares my very features; my green eyes, my long brunette hair, my strong jaw, everything. The differences between us are our clothes. Looking down at myself, I find that I'm still in my regular and I cling to my jacket in order to fight the ghostly chill that runs through me. My mirror image is in clothes similar to that of the people around us, the only thing unique being a piece made from metal with a long red fabric draped upon her shoulder. The other difference being black war paint smeared across her eyes, enhancing the green of her eyes.

"What do you mean war, what the hell is happening? Where am I?" I ask frantically.

These are questions for a different time. I brought you here to warn you. We have been through many wars together but nothing could have ever prepared us for this..You must be careful Alicia and you must be prepared to do what is best to insure the safety of your family. You have to protect her…

The image around is fading and as it does these loud noise invade my ears, screaming and crying. A faint pressure builds around my stomach growing in pressure with every passing moment.

"Who? Who must I protect? I don't understand, please! Help me understand!" The girl turns away from me and stares off ahead. I can see a small smile beginning to form but her eyes tell a different story, there is so much sadness and regret in those green orbs.

She is home for us, Alicia. Protect her for me, do not fail her like I have. I left her side too soon...she was right though, she's always right, we did meet each other again….

I'm more confused than ever, the noise and the pressure almost completely taking over. I follow my mirror image's gaze and find what has caught her attention. It's a girl.

The blonde girl from my dreams stands atop a hill, overlooking a massive metal doorway. MT. WEATHER , the lettering on top is barely visible over the lack of light. The men and women gather around her, there are thousands of them cheering and yelling. The blondes back is to me but I can' shake the feeling of familiarity. Was this the girl that reminds me of Elyza.

I have no more time to think and am jerked back through the air..

The living room is back, sans the soldiers, and I find my feet not touching the floor any more instead I'm being carried back and away from where the soldiers once stood. My feet are only set back down when I'm in front of my bedroom door.

It was Elyza's arms that held me and carried me here and I'm reluctant to lose contact with her. She opens the door and ushers me in and into the bed, lifting the covers and maneuvering me onto my side. The covers are drawn back up to my chin and she gently tucks some stray hairs behind my ear.

My mind is completely blank and I can't move or speak. What the hell just happened? Where was I just moments ago? Dealing with both my brother being taken and this mysterious..vision? Well this is just too much for me to comprehend. My body feels so weak right now as if I had run an entire marathon.

My eyes grow heavy and it's useless to try and stop them from closing,especially when Elyza runs her fingers through my hair. A dip in the bed by feet doesn't even startle me and I take comfort in the warm weight as Biscuit drapes his body on top of my feet above the blanket.

"I'm sorry that I held you back from attacking those men...I didn't know what else to do, Alicia. They pointed their guns and I just..God… I just panicked seeing a gun pointed at you," Her strokes stop and I listen to shuffling over her feet, my eyes now entirely closed, " You stay here and rest. Biscuit will watch over you while I'm gone."

"I need to help your mother clean up the mess in the living room and then I'm heading on over to see Moyers..I have words to exchange with him," I hear the door open, "I'll get Nick back, I promise you I will get him back."

Waking up the next morning is true hell, everyone is still reeling over the events of last night with what happened with both Nick and Griselda. Mom is trying to hide her tears away as she drinks whatever alcohol is left in the liquor cabinet. Ofelia and Daniel are not home, both probably went out in search of answers from the military men.

Travis and Chris went off early this morning talking quietly to one another about some building on a hill. I found out earlier as I had just woken up that Liza had left with the others last night, leaving Chris behind in order to 'help' the ill outside of these walls.

What really worries me though is that Elyza still hasn't returned, I woke up to only Biscuit by my side and not the annoying blonde beside me.

The words from that woman from my 'vision' last night rocks through my head, was Elyza the 'her' I was supposed to protect? Had I already failed my job?

I decide to head back into my room, I need to get out there and look for my friend and I can't actually do that in these clothes. I change out of my now permanently stained top and into new white crop top and one of my many pairs of denim shorts. I finish the look with a blue flannel wrapped around my waist and my signature bomber jacket.

Tieing back some hair on the sides I decide to keep make a quick braid on the back of my head, the thrill of doing so isn't lost to me. I don't know why i enjoy braiding my hair so much, it's been a habit of mine ever since I was a kid, i guess.

I bypass all the negativity in the kitchen and head straight on the front doors, not daring to look back at my sorrowful mother. I throw on my sneakers and trek down the sidewalk in the direction of the military camp out.

Walking by a particular house something pink and shiny calls me. This was Claire's house, my friend from school and if I remember correctly her parents had pulled her out of school a week before the world turned to shit because of a family vacation somewhere in Paris, lucky her.

I walk towards the pink bike that is now leaning against the side of the house, the same place Claire always parked it when she came home from school. I run my hands down the cold metal handle bars and over the silver bell.

*ring, ring*

Well seeing as no one is using this beauty I may as well take it for a ride….it would make finding Elyza easier.

Yup thats as good as any excuse. Picking up the bike, I throw one leg over and sit myself comfortably on the seat. With a kick at the stand and a push off the driveway I'm off and back on my mission to find my missing blonde.

Riding the bike down, I make it only about 6 houses down the road when a familiar site has me pulling up on the curb.

There is Elyza, laying out on the hood of a rather expensive looking SUV. I ring the bike bell and she sits up. I have to hold back my gasp when I notice a large bruise on the side of my head, she notices my stare and sends me a grin.

"You should see the other guy."

"What happened?"

"Well apparently those military blockheads don't like it when you start throwing rocks at them through the fence, but in my defense I was calmly and politely asking them to open the fence so that I may have a little conversation with their head hancho."

Somehow I doubt that Elyza Lex had asked politely. I drop the subject, I'm way too excited to see the blonde in one piece, bruised but still whole. I give her my own grin and gesture to the car she is sitting on.

"Have you no respect for private property?"

"Is that your bike?"

"I'll ask the questions here, I'm kinda the law of these parts." I ride in circles around the street, not taking my eyes off the older girl.

"Yeah we already have our own lawful people here."

"That's federal, little lady. This here is my jurisdiction, everything from a simple fire hydrant to a mailbox they're all mine."

"Dork."

I'm relieved to hear her laugh and I gladly follow along, I need this.

"Hey Sheriff Clark, want to do something fun?"

I agree because really nothing really bad could happen in this jail of a town, right? This mischievous smile appears on Elyza's face and I instantly regret my decision. Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?

No surprise that Elyza's example of fun is breaking and entering the house of the SUV owner, though I got to admit It is kinda exciting doing something so rebellious. As soon as Elyza had picked the lock I rushed up stairs to the bedroom, I had only seen the woman of the house a few time but I do remember that she had a killer fashion sense.

It didn't take me long to find the master bedroom, it was huge. From the cal king bed covered in a million gold and white pillows to the glass chandelier, this room just screamed class. Without much thought I throw myself down on the bed and sigh because this was by far the most comfortable bed I have ever lain on.

"Jesus F. Christ! Their kid has the new drone! I don't even think this shit is out yet." Seems like Elyza has found their kid's room.

Deciding that the bed can wait I hop up and head straight to the custom wardrobe on the other side of the room, tearing my jacket off and shimmying out of my short. I walk the rest of the way in just my top and my red cotton underwear.

The wardrobe doors open with a slight creek and I have to hold back my happy tears from falling at the sight of designer dresses. I pick out one of the many black dresses and look for the tag, thank god this woman is only about one size bigger than me. I lay the dress out on the chair beside me and reach for the hem of my shirt, pulling the cotton material over my head in one move.

I do a quick adjustment of my plain black bra before throwing the dress on over me. I get chills down my back at the feeling of cold silk across my skin, the dress falling a little below my knees. It's a simple sleeveless black dress with a modest collar and thick straps but when I take a look in the mirror before me and i'm stunned by how beautiful it really is.

The color contrast perfectly against my white skin and although it is a size bigger, it still hugs a bit at my waist giving me the image of a perfect hourglass figure. I pick up the fluffy white boa from the bottom of the wardrobe and wrap it loosely around shoulders. I look like an old Hollywood movie star.

I hear buzzing behind me and look into the mirror, it gives the perfect view of the doorway. There is a little helicopter drone flying back and forth in front of the doorway and the buzzing is followed by the cutest giggles I have ever heard.

Shaking my head at the childish woman in the other room I remove the boa and the dress and move onto a new outfit, this one being a shimmering black ballroom dress. I play around with the material before slipping into it, It's a tighter fit compared to the other dress. I decide to quickly take off my bra because of the extremely low dip in the front.

The buzzing has stopped but I take no notice, instead I'm struggling to pull the black zipper on the back up. Movement in the mirror pauses my struggle and I find my eyes locking with the reflection of Elyza.

She's in the doorway holding the little red drone tightly in her left hand, I can see her grip loosening and tightening around the plastic toy. Her eyes drop down and I watch as the blue orbs travel down the naked skin of my back stopping at my bottom and working it's way back up. When our eyes lock once more I notice a deep blush reaching her cheek.

She takes a few steps to me, not losing her confidence and not dropping our eye contact. WHen she gets to stand right behind me I can see how dark her eyes have gotten and how heavy her breath has become as her breath caresses the back of my neck. It takes all my strength not to turn around and initiate skin to skin contact with the blonde. Her voice is even raspier as she speaks.

"Need some help with the zipper?" I can only nod.

I wait in anticipation for her touch but not long. I jump when I feel her fingertips caress my lower back, slowly descending to the zipper. Eventually she grasps the small metal piece between her thumb and pointer and slowly drags the piece up my back, too slowly if you ask me but hey i'm not complaining.

Reaching the top of the dress her free hand joins its companion and she firmly squeezes my shoulders. During this whole process her eyes have never left mine. I watch as she leans forward and places a soft kiss upon my shoulder, leaving her lips there for a moment before pulling away.

I'm hating the dress at this moment because the material is the only obstacle between her lips and my skin. My body heats up even more as her hands trail down and find purchase on my hips.

She tilts her head up and I almost moan at the feel of her breathing on the back of my ear.

"Alicia…." Oh sweet god, say my name again! , "Alicia, tell me the truth….are you an alien?"

Yes I'll kiss yo-Wait, what?

"What?" I spin in her arms putting our faces mere inches from each other.

"Because this ass of yours is out of this world."

*SMACK*

"OW! Babe!" *SMACK* "Babe, stop-" *SMACK* "-hitting me with you shorts!" *SMACK* "FUCKKK! I think your button just hit me in the eye!"

My laugh is utterly obnoxious but I can't help it, seeing the badass leather clad girl frantically waving her arms in the air is just way too funny. My laugh gets even louder when said blonde takes a step back, slipping on the last dress I had tried on. Her arms flailed in the air but it was all for nothing, she still ended up flat on her ass in front of me.

The loud snort that pushes its way out of me and Elyza and I are both in shock at first but soon she is leaning over and clutching at her stomach with laughter.

"Oh dear god….I can't breathe….that was the most adorable sound I have EVER heard!"

"Stop laughing! It's not funny," Tears are running down the side of her cheek and the sight turns me a ridiculously darker shade of red, "SHOF OP, CLARKE!"

"What?"

"What?"

TBC