Abby POV

I sat down beside the fire we had just made for the night, taking the old scruffy maps out of my backpack and placing them down on the ground beside me. It's about a thousand miles to Chicago from Huston. It's going to be one hell of a walk. Maybe it will take us about a month for us to get there if we are lucky. Hopefully we can find some kind of transport along the way. Then we will have to find the actual Fireflies base, that alone could be a needle in a haystack.

I've gone over the notes of each log in the notebook Amos gave us. The last few months' entries have been hard to decipher. It states three large groups of Fireflies from different parts of the country have travelled to Chicago to regroup and come back stronger than before. They have new plans and are confident they can make a cure and rid the world of the infection. I wonder if they have found another immune person. Not many people knew about Ellie other than those in that hospital where my dad died, I think I'm the only one left who knows she's still alive and possibly where to find her. None of this really matters anyway until we can find where the Fireflies are holding up.

Levs not spoken much the last couple of days, it's not unusual behaviour for him really but I can see the sadness written all over his face. We were only at the ranch a short while but we had made it his home. He had friends there and now they are all gone and it's just the two of us left, again.

"Hey Lev, how you doing?" I looked over at him lent up against a stray log on the ground not too far from the fire

"I'm fine" his answer was quick and short not taking his eyes away from the flames

"I promise we will find the Fireflies and start a new life. The entries in this book seem promising. It's a hell of a better lead than when we went to Santa Barbara"

All I received was a nod in reply from him

The next morning we woke up early, the fire still smouldering and giving out a small bit of heat. It was time to start the long journey to Chicago. Finding a ride would be the best option but not something we came across regularly in the countryside. The only vehicles we had at the ranch were the ones that were from the locals and we couldn't get them to run anymore. The next best option was to try to make them into places to live or storage for food and supplies.

"Lev I think we should try hit some houses before we leave, look for some supplies on the way out of here"

"Okay"

The signs for Chicago were approaching on the horizon of the deserted highway. We were on the last stretch before hitting the big city. It's taken us weeks to get here but it feels like we have been walking for months on end. Most of the time on foot but luckily we found an old beat up truck that got us most of the way here.

We travelled North for about a week cutting through the Texan countryside trying to make the journey a little quicker and not to mention safer. Sometimes travelling along the highways are dangerous and riddled with hunters or the infected. The ruff terrain made it difficult at times with the long stretches of hills and mountains that ran through the vast majority of the land. There were lots of small towns where we were able to pick up supplies and stay the night. One of the best things about travelling here was that the Towns weren't picked clean yet. Texas was a big state and not many liked to travel this far south. The day everything went to shit most people stayed in QZ's or went North.

"So where do we start looking for the Fireflies?" Lev asked breaking my train of thought

"I don't know" I huffed

I really wasn't sure where to go. I figured when we got here I would just have a feeling, an instinct of where to go from my old Fireflie days.

The city is destroyed pretty much like most of the other big cities. They had dropped bombs on it in the early years when the infection started to spread. Most of the buildings were wrecked and had fallen. As we drove through the main streets we could see just how much damage was done here. It's one of the worst I've witnessed.

"Why would the Fireflies set up here?" Lev questioned, looking around at the devastation surrounding us

I sighed "I'm not sure, lets pull over and check the map"

We came to a halt and I grabbed my backpack from the back seat taking out the map and the black log book. I handed Lev the map and I flicked through the pages of the book looking for some kind of clue as to where they could be.

"Wouldn't they be in a hospital, if they were working on a cure?" Lev spoke

"No, not if they were setting up a base, the hospitals aren't easy enough to secure. They can set up a lab pretty much anywhere"

I studied the pages again reading each passage carefully "Fuck!" I shouted throwing the book on the dash "It's just no use it will take us forever to find them"

Lev picked up the notebook taking a look, his eyebrows knitting together. "Who's Willi?"

"Huh?" I brushed my hair back out of my face

"This guy keeps mentioning Willi. Here look at this" He opened the book and pointed towards a scribble at the bottom of the page 'Find Willi and you'll find the Fireflies' it read "So who is he?"

"Do you still have that visitors guide of Chicago we found is the last town?"

"Uhmm yeah" Lev reached into the passengers side door pocket and retrieved a bunch of flyers "here" he passed me the one that referenced Chicargo '10 must see places in Chicago'

I took it from him and opened "Of course! Fucking idiot" I laughed

"What?" Lev looked confused

"Willi, isn't a person" I turned round the leaflet to show him the picture I was looking at "It's a building! Willis Tower. It's the tallest building here look" I pointed out of the car window "I'm surprised it's still standing"

"Let's go check it out!"

I pulled up the pickup truck outside the Willis Tower building and looked out of the dash, it looked derelict, there was nobody around, no noise no anything. I felt a lump in my throat, my mind racing.

There not here

I opened the driver's door and stepped out onto the deserted street swinging my pack onto the hood of the truck. I rummaged through and took out the maps and placed them down, running my hands over them gently.

"Is this the right place?" Lev was now at my side

"Yeah" I breathed with a sigh

Fuck another dead end

I looked over at the map tracing the streets with my index finger, looking for any sign of where the Fireflies could be. I pulled the black book out of my bag and placed it next to the maps, flicking through the pages going over each scribble again and again.

There must be something in here

The anger inside me started to build and my breathing became quicker, the thought of yet another fucking dead end, dragging Lev accross the country again for nothing. All the shit I keep putting him through and for what some pipe dream. I clenched my fist and brought it down onto the hood of the car screaming in anger.

"Abby" Lev hissed "Demons!" he pointed to a group of runners heading towards us.

Lev raised his bow but I put my hand up "I've got this" I spoke through gritted teeth. I pulled out my machete from the back of the truck, gripping it tight in my hand, eyeing up the infected steaming towards us. The rage was already built up inside me and this was going to feel great.

I raised the blade above my head and ran towards them, slicing the first one's head off in one smooth motion. Another one was nearly on me, I kicked the sole of my boot at its stomach sending it flying backwards then driving the blade though its head, it's blood splattering on my face. I looked up and saw another one to my right "Your fucking dead" I whispered with a smile. I withdrew the machete from the dead corpse, taking it in both hands, ready to kill. Just as it got within swinging distance a loud bang echoed through the street and it fel lifeless in front of me. I looked around in shock back towards Lev who was standing there with his bow scanning the area around him.

What the fuck?

"Nice work!" a voice shouted

I ran back to Lev taking a defensive position next to him, I couldn't see anyone around just the deserted streets surrounding us

"Can you see anyone?" I whispered to Lev

"No"

"Don't worry we won't hurt you!" The mysterious voice shouted again

"Who are you!" I called back

"Oh I think you know who we are" a tall well dressed man appeared from the entrance of the Willis building "We are the Fireflies" a small group of heavily armed soldiers filled the area around us, their guns aimed towards us "you can put those down" he stepped in front of the soldiers and came closer to me flashing a smile at me "hello Abby, it nice to finally meet you"

I glanced back at Lev and traded a look of shock, how did this guy know who i was, I'd never met him before

"How do you..?" I started

"Me and you father were old friends" He took a step closer raising his hands towards me, I still had the machete raised ready to fight "I was sad to hear of his death" He placed his hand on the tip of my blade trying lowering it "please, come inside and I will explain"

Multiple loud screeching sounds came from behind us, I spun round, weapon raised. I could see a small hourd approaching us, including clickers. I took a step forward ready to fight then the well dressed man placed an arm on my shoulder.

"Go inside we have got this" He smiled taking a gun out from inside his jacket pocket

"Hey i'm Mia" a small woman with long blond hair introduced herself when we entered the large foyer of the Willis building

"This is your base?" Lev questioned looking around the abandoned room

"Oh no… we are set up on the upper floors" She laughed " This is just for show" she took a look over me with a raised eyebrow "Why don't we get you showered and changed?" she turned and headed for the lifts "Come on!"

I shot Lev a look "come on!" I laughed giving him a playful nudge in the arm

We followed behind her as she pushed the call button on the lift

"These actually work?" I questioned

"Yeah, pretty much everything works around here now" she said with a smile

We entered the lift and Mia pushed the button for the 96th floor . The elevator shook into motion and It started to move. Lev dropped into a defensive position, moving his arms out to brace himself. Mia looked at him with a frown.

"It's okay Lev" I laughed "It's just taking us up" I patted him on the shoulder

He straightened back up and crossed his arms feeling a little foolish

"So how many floors do you have?" I asked

"We have about 20 now. Each floor is different, we are going to the civilians barracks right now, you'll be able to get showered and changed then you can head to the mess for food, that's on the 92nd floor"

I looked up at the numbers above the door as we continued to climb. We came to a sudden stop at floor 73. Mia shuffled towards the door mumbling something under her breath, she started to push the close door button frantically. I reached to get my machete thinking we were going to be ambushed by a bunch of runners if they hadn't cleaned out the entire building.

The door slowly opened and a man in a white lab coat appeared, he had blood on his clothes and was carrying a box with 'Human organs' on the side

The doors shut again and Mia turned around to face us, her face had dropped "Sorry about that!" she hummed

"I thought you'd only cleared 20 floors?" I asked

The small room filled with silence as we climbed towards the 96th floor once again.

The hot water washed over my body, it was hot. Actual hot water. Not freezing cold like back on the ranch. It felt great against my skin. It had been a long time since I'd been able to do this, the water beneath me was dark brown and red. I felt like I was cleansing my body of the past few months of getting here.

"Fuck that was great" I smiled wrapping the towel around me and stepping onto the cold tiled serfice of the locker room

"I've never had a shower like that before" Lev smiled

"It's been a while for me I have to admit" I walked over to the benches in the centre of the room where two fresh piles of clothes were sitting "Hey catch!" I threw Lev over a t-shirt and army cargos

He held them up against his slim body with a frown

"Just put them on" I laughed

I slipped on the t-shirt, cargos and boots and walked over to the mirror glancing at my appearance. I looked like a firefly again. Memories of me and Owen flooded back like it was yesterday, in our early days as recruiters. I miss that, I miss him. I turned back around and looked at lev, now wearing the same clothes as me "How about we go get some food?"

"Yeah!" he nodded his head eagerly

"Come on then!"

The mess hall was busy with all kinds of people in and out. There were makeshift tables across 3 large rooms with hot food being dished out from the hotplate. We both eyed up the food and made our way over. I could hear my stomach growling as the smell filled my nose.

"Abby" Mia cut me off "Can you come with me?"

I shot her a confused look

"It won't take long, Lev can stay here and mingle with the other teens"

"I don't know" I stared

Lev grabbed my arm "It's okay Abby, I'll be fine"

"Hmmm okay" I agreed

"Great" She chirped "this way" She walked over to the stair well with a little skip in her step

We climbed the stairs to an office on the highest floor that overlooked the city, the large windows made it easy to see the surroundings. I took a look around the room that was covered in maps and Firefly propaganda.

"Sit please" The well dressed man from earlier gestured to the table in front of him

Hesitantly I did as I was told, lowering myself into the chair "So who are you?"

"I'm Dr Hanson, Charles Hanson. Or as your father used to call me Hans" He smiled "You were so small the last time I saw you" Charles rummaged through one of the desk draws and pulled out a small black book, just like the one I had been given from Amos "You look just like him" He flicked through the pages of the book and slid out a photo, holding it up to me.

I took the photo from his hand, my eyes shot wide open and I looked at the image of my dad and Charles inside of what looked to be a lab, both of them smiling, they both looked very young, early twenties maybe.

"I've always kept hold of that photo" Charlies continued "He was a great man your father"

"Yeah" I breathed

"Abby, I know you have only just got here but I need your help"

I lifted my head and looked towards the older dark haired man in front of me "my help?"

"Yes" He reached out and took the photo from my hand placing it back into his book "We are making a cure

My eyes narrowed as I looked him over "How?"

"We know there is an immune girl…Ellie" he spoke softly "you visited her in Jackson and killed the man looking after her"

"How do.." I stared

"I have my ways. I need you to go get her and bring her back here" he looked at me with a stern look

"I can't" I breathed

"Why not?"

"She's dead" my heart rate rased as I tried to lie to him. I didn't know fully what had happened after I left her on the beach at Santa barbara but I can guess she was still alive. A girl like Ellie is hard to kill.

Charles drew a deep breath in closing his eyes "are you sure?"

"Yes"

He looked back at me and stood up, walking toward large windows gazing out of them "I'm going to ask you one last time Abby and I want the truth. Is she dead?"

"Yes, she's dead" I tried to persuade him "I killed her"

Another sigh came from the man standing at the window "Why are you protecting her?" he asked

The words took me by surprise "I'm…"

"Yes you are. I know she's alive" his voice became sharp

I didn't know what to say, I didn't want to get involved in this. I wanted to leave the past behind between me and Ellie. She let me live back on the beach.

Charles turned round and looked directly at me "Abby you're going to go get her and bring her back here"

"What if i don't" I questioned

"Do you know what we have been doing here?" He started to walk around the table closer to me "We are making a cure, just like your father was trying to do" he parched himself on the edge of the large office table next to me "So far we have been unsuccessful in our clinical trials. You see the immune girl got bit and then the fungus mutated inside her in a way we can't understand. We have been trying to recreate the circumstances but each time it seems to fail and we lose the subject" He paused and crossed his legs placing his hands on his knees "we started to test on rats, dogs, horses all that kinda stuff but over the months we have moved on. It's just not the same as testing on humans you see. Without the girl we just aren't making any progress"

"You still haven't answered my question" I huffed at him. I didn't like where this conversation was heading

"Well young adults and teens are perfect for the procedure" He stood back up and walked around me viewing some of the maps pinned to the wall "how old is Lev?"

I could feel my heart pounding, I clenched my fists and stood up from the chair with more force than I thought, sending it flying to the floor with a bang. "Your not touching him" I said through gritted teeth.

"Get me the immune girl and we won't have to" He turned around to look at me

"I'll fucking kill you"

He let out a laugh "we have over 200 soldiers here. Go ahead kill me. But we have already taken Lev to the testing facility and you're not going to get in there without me saying so. So I suggest you go get your friend, Ellie"

I couldn't decide what order to do the chapters so I thought i would throw in some more back story of what happened to Lev and Abby after the ranch.

Hope you guys like this chapter!