Here we are again … I'm embarking on a new journey of a fanfiction story. This time, we're going with a post-apocalyptic vibe. I recently watched The 100 on Netflix. I'd been intrigued to write a story based off that show/series of novels. I decided to write it for NaNoWriMo. I'm starting almost halfway through the month, but I'm determined to, at least, get something going. But, here I am in June and I'm still working on it.
Chapter Eight … On the Ground, in a Hurricane
Bella
Early the next morning, Emmett, Rosalie, Lauren, and Tyler packed up the rover to head back to Mount Weather to track the hurricane. Edward went to tell Alice that she was going with them so she could be safe from the weather, riding with Jasper. Eric and Mike were rounding out the group, heading back to Mount Weather.
I was sorting through provisions in case we needed to hole up in the drop ship for the storm. I was also beginning to pack up the supplies that The Ark had sent down with us. Mainly, it was medical supplies and equipment that would be compatible with the items in their medical bay. But, their batteries hadn't been fried. I would have an actual state-of-the-art hospital, complete with x-ray machines, defibrillators, and anything else a doctor could possibly ever need.
Rose walked into the drop ship, plopping down next to me. "It's been too long since we've had a chat. I noticed that you and Cullen are buddy-buddy," she said bluntly. "Are you bumping uglies?" She gave me a grin, arching her brow.
"Really?" I deadpanned.
"Come on! You and Cullen were holding hands and acting all coupl-y," she said. "Are you and Cullen a thing?"
"If you mean together? Yes, we are," I blushed, closing the bins with the medical equipment.
"Are you with him out of guilt or are you really with him?" Rose pressed.
"We've always had this adversarial relationship. Don't get me wrong, we were far from close on the Ark. We mingled together because of our families, but we never took the time to get to know each other. He thought I was entitled, and I thought he was a jerk. When in reality, we are very similar. We were too stubborn to see it."
"But, he threw you in jail," Rose snorted.
"He's also the one who got us to the ground. With my mother's help, of course," I replied. "We talked about that the first night away from camp. He apologized and together, we're moving forward. Will it be all warm fuzzies? Probably not, but he's been here for me since he caught us trying to help Angela and her baby. He transferred to the prison to protect us. Pike and his cronies were as corrupt as the day is long."
"Emmett told me a little bit," Rose muttered. "Halsted had a hard on for you and was …"
"Yeah," I gulped. "That's why Edward worked his ass off to get us down here, Rose."
"So, have you and Edward …" she trailed off, looking at me expectantly.
"No, Rosalie. It's not like we've had any time by ourselves. We've kissed, made out a lot," I blushed.
"Any gropage? Pleasure?" Rose purred. My face flamed. "I take that as a no."
"Rose, I'm … I've never done that," I admitted. "You know … had sex."
"You are on contraception, right?" Rose asked.
"As soon as I hit twenty, I had an implant placed," I answered. "It's good for five years."
Most women had a contraceptive implant put in their bodies due to the situation with limited space on the Ark. When women were ready to have children, it was removed and with the help of science and a lot of sex, a baby was conceived. Usually, after the birth of the baby, the women would have their tubes tied or get another implant. Men would also have vasectomies, as well.
With Esme, who had been raped, she had her tubes tied, but it was incomplete. Billy, her attacker, never had a vasectomy after the birth of his son. It was a perfect storm with his attack and Esme's cycle, ending up with Alice's conception and subsequent birth.
"It's gonna hurt," Rose said, breaking into my dark thoughts. "But, it's worth it in the end. I only wish I'd waited until I was with someone who cared about me as much as I cared about him." I looked at her, confused by her statement. "I lost my V-card to Mike Newton."
"Gross. Really?" I hissed. "He's … ewwww!"
"I know, I know. We were fooling around after the Unity Day party a couple years ago. One thing led to another, and we had sex. It was not pleasant for me, but Mike had a good time," Rose deadpanned. "We explored sex a few more times, but he was more about his pleasure rather than mine. It wasn't until I made love with Emmett last night that I knew what I'd been missing."
"How? Where?" I squeaked.
"There's a hidden bunker about a mile west of here. It was obviously never used, but it had everything we needed … a bed and time alone. Bells, he worshipped me," Rose breathed, pressing her hand to her chest. "I never .. I honestly never knew it could be that good."
I blushed a deeper shade of red, focusing on carefully packing the medical supplies. She helped me until we heard yelling. It was Edward, apparently losing his shit on Alice. Rose and I closed up the bins, hiding them underneath some fabric before going outside. Alice, who was easily half of Edward's height, was screaming at him.
"I don't have to listen to you!" she shouted. "You're not in charge of me!"
"I'm trying to keep you safe, Alice!" Edward argued back. "Going to Mount Weather will ensure that safety. A hurricane is coming … rain, wind, lightning, thunder, flooding! It's going to be bad."
"I want to stay here," Alice scowled. "I don't need you telling me what to do." She pushed him away, sprinting off into the forest, alone.
"You may want to leave without her," I said to Rose. I hugged my best friend. "I love you. Be safe."
"You, too," Rose said. "You've got the walkies? We'll reach out once we get settled."
I nodded and watched as she went to the rover, kissing Emmett. I turned back to Edward, who was tugging at his hair. I caught Jasper's arm, who was heading to the rover. "Where would she go?" I asked.
"We found this pretty meadow last night after the call from the Ark," Jasper answered. He pointed in the direction where she ran off. "It's that way, but Alice doesn't have the best sense of direction."
"Can you stay? You know what's going on and how to run the radio," I asked.
"I don't want to leave without Alice," Jasper said, giving me a half-hearted grin.
I nodded, walking over to Edward, who was angrily stuffing rations, flashlights, and supplies into a backpack. "Where are you going?" I asked.
"I need to get her back to camp," Edward snapped, checking the pockets of the bag. "She doesn't have anything. She just ran. Not thinking."
"I'm coming with you," I said.
"You need to get this place secured for the storm," he replied, jutting his chin to the drop ship.
"We've got enough people to delegate," I replied. "You got enough for both of us in there?"
"I'll need to get some more rations, but yeah," he nodded.
"I'll grab a radio and I'll get this place whipped into shape." I squeezed his bicep, running to Jessica, who was working with Austin and Jane at the water station. I knew her since she was my age, but not the other two, who were a little younger. We'd gone through medical training together, but Jessica did not want to be a doctor. She had the basics down, and was a capable nurse. She was also a fucking loudmouth. She'd get everyone ready to go. I told her my plan and she agreed to help get things settled. I darted into the drop ship, finding the radios, and giving one to her, Jasper and taking another one for me and Edward.
Edward was waiting for me, slinging the bag over his shoulders, and holding two canteens of water. His green eyes were trained on where Alice disappeared. Handing me one of the canteens, we ran off, following Alice's footsteps. We ran west, away from the drop ship and toward this mystery meadow.
By mid-day, it was humid, and the clouds were thickening over us. I called back to the drop ship. Jessica said that Alec contacted us. He said that the hurricane was changing course and would reach us sooner rather than later. I asked her to check in with Rose and the crew on the rover. A few moments later, Jessica radioed back, explaining that they were nearly back to Mount Weather, thanks to the familiarity of the terrain.
"This rain must be the outer bands of the storm," Edward said, putting on a hat, covering his hair. "Here, Princess." He handed me another hat, threading my ponytail through the back. "It'll keep the water out of your eyes. It was stinging my eyes a little bit."
"We're still on an irradiated planet. There must be residual fallout in the upper atmosphere," I said, zipping up my jacket.
"I cannot believe my sister ran off like that," Edward grumped, taking a sip of his water. "She's almost nineteen, yet, she acts like a little kid who is having a temper tantrum."
"I'm not condoning her behavior, but she's … she's got issues with your family and with how she came to be," I said, sliding my hand into Edward's. We continued walking. "Did you tell her about Jacob? About his relationship to her?"
"She didn't believe it. She said that I'm trying to sabotage everything," he huffed. "I may have to forfeit a relationship with my sister if she keeps throwing everything I say to her back in my face. It's her choice, her decision." He shook his head, looking at me. "I think we should head back. The wind is picking up and rain is getting harder."
I nodded in agreement, and we turned to begin our trek back to the drop ship.
An hour later, we could barely see a few inches in front of us. The rain was pouring down and it was miserable. Both of us were looking for a cave or some sort of shelter when I jammed my toe into something hard. I yelped out in pain. Edward bent down, pumping up his fist as his flashlight shone on an entrance to an underground bunker. I grinned, despite the biting wind and painful deluge surrounding us.
Using his strength, he opened the bunker, helping me inside and sliding in after me, slamming the door shut. We looked around, using the flashlights, seeing that it was undisturbed. There was a fine coating of dust on most of the surfaces, but the candles and supplies had been untouched. The best thing was that it was safe and warm.
Edward shrugged out of his soaking jacket and shook out his hair. "I'm going to light some candles," he said. "You might want to take off your jacket. Even though it's stuffy in here, you can get hypothermic."
"You almost sound like a doctor," I teased.
"I don't want you to catch a cold or get sick," he said, helping me out of my jacket and trailing his fingers along my bare arms. I shivered. "See?"
"It's not from the air," I chided. "It's your touch."
He gave me a soft grin, leaning down to kiss me gently. Pressing his forehead to mine, he whispered, "I know the feeling, Princess." He gave me another kiss, stepping back and pulling out the candles from shelves. I pulled off the mattresses from the bunk beds. I found some blankets and pillows in a cabinet. They were surprisingly clean. I tossed them onto the bed, sitting down on the couch and grimacing at the feeling of soaked pants against my legs. Tugging off my boots and socks, I questioned whether or not to take off my pants. They would get dry faster if they weren't on me.
Right?
Edward, who had disappeared into another room of the bunker, came out holding some clothing. I was shocked it was still intact, after seventy-five years of being locked inside. "I don't know about you, but these wet clothes are making me cold," he chuckled. "There's also a shower and toilet. I wouldn't use them, but there's a bathroom."
"I will take those clothes," I nodded, standing up and taking the proffered clothing.
He slid his arm around my waist, kissing my forehead. "I left a candle in the bathroom. We can lay our wet clothes on the floor," he suggested.
"Good idea," I said. "Try reaching the drop ships. See if Alice made it back to camp." I ducked into the dark bathroom and stripped out of my wet clothes into the sweats that he'd found. They were too big and had a slightly musty smell, but they were dry. Draping my wet clothes over the shower stall, I walked back into the living area. Edward was shirtless, trying fruitlessly to reach the drop ship from the couch. "Can't get through?"
"Either our signal is being blocked by whatever this bunker is made out of, or the storm is interfering with our call. It could also be a combination of both," he surmised. "All I get is static."
Sitting down next to him, I took the radio from his hands. I tried to fiddle with the knobs, but I got the same result of static. "We're stuck down here," I said. "How long does a hurricane last?"
"I have no clue," he snorted. "I can't believe how well this place was preserved."
"It was hermetically sealed," I said. "The exterior door was gross, but inside is quite homey." And clearly not the bunker where Rose and Emmett got it on … no lingering scent of sex. "I wonder if there was a generator."
"My guess is yes, but we're not staying here for very long. I'm not turning on a generator," Edward deadpanned.
"I never expected you to do that," I snickered, rolling my eyes. I sat back, closing my eyes and sighing heavily.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Tired, headache and just overwhelmed," I replied honestly.
"Well, we have nothing but time," Edward said. "We're stuck here until the storm lifts." He got up, rooting around in the backpack, pulling out a small bottle. "I do have some pain killers for your head. I've been sore from dealing with all the craziness of the past couple of weeks."
"Tell me about it," I sighed, taking the bottle, and shaking out two pills. "Sit on the floor. I'll massage your shoulders."
He arched a brow, but slid to the floor in front of me. I warmed my hands before gently running my palms over his smooth skin. I began gently kneading his muscles, shocked at how tense he was. He moaned quietly as my thumbs slid along his neck. "This feels amazing. Your hands … small, but strong."
"My medical training," I said, tapping my fingers along his shoulder blades. "In addition to learning all about the parts of the body and various operations, we also learn about different ways to treat our patients. One of them is massage therapy. You should have more massages, Edward."
"I'll add it to my to-do list," Edward retorted dryly. "Oooh, ouch! That … fuck me!"
"Sorry," I said, wrinkling my nose. "You've got a knot. Let me just try to ease it. I promise to stop if it continues to hurt." I gently put my hands back on his muscular back, feeling the power and strength under his skin. With a shaky breath, I pressed my fingers gently against the knot.
xx MWMA xx
Edward
Her hands … her strong, but incredibly soft hands moved over my flesh, and I felt every ounce of her in my crotch. My cock was getting so hard as she gently worked my too-tense muscles in back and shoulders. My chin fell to my chest as she moved her hands up to my neck, gently scraping at my scalp. I moaned quietly, pressing my hands into the cool floor, and thought of anything other than Bella's skin gliding over mine.
Because, fuck, I wanted that more than anything.
Moving inside her sounds even better … sliding into her wet heat …
Stop it, Cullen!
"Am I hurting you?" she asked, stopping her movement, but keeping her palms on my shoulders. "You got tense."
"It feels really good," I answered honestly, trying to keep the strain out of my voice. "Too good, to be honest."
Bella's fingers lightly trailed along my shoulder blades, before gliding to my collarbone, making me hum in pleasure. Her touch was like fire, igniting something deep inside me and only she could extinguish. As her hands moved lower, her lips wrapped around my earlobe, jolting me. "After everything that's happened, you deserve to feel good," she whispered, sliding her palms over my pecs. I closed my eyes for a moment before turning my head, capturing her lips. I managed to get up and pressed her into the couch, with my body over hers. Her hands gripped my biceps as she rocked against my thigh. "Edward … damn it …"
"What, Princess?" I asked, sliding my palms underneath her sweatshirt, feeling her smooth, soft skin under my fingers. I wanted to feel more.
"I've never done this before," she whispered, looking at me with shame in her eyes. "Had sex …"
"That makes two of us," I soothed her. "The women who I knew were not interesting to me. I didn't want to have any empty fling. To be honest, I wanted what my parents had … a deep connection, love wrapped all around, type of relationship."
"Really?" she asked.
I blushed, but nodded. "I don't want our first time to be in a bunker, but I would like to explore," I suggested. "I want to feel your skin, know what makes you feel good."
She bit her lip, sitting up and reached for the hem of her sweatshirt. I stopped her, kissing her deeply. "Let me, Princess," I murmured against her mouth.
Bella moved her hands from the hem of her shirt to my shoulders. I eased my fingers under the soft fabric, inching it up and revealing pale, toned skin. As I moved it upward, her breasts came into view. Fuck, she's so beautiful. I removed the shirt completely, staring her unabashedly as her chest heaved. Her breasts were a perfect palmful with dark, dusky rose nipples that were begging for my lips. I dropped her shirt onto the floor, and she grabbed my neck, kissing me fervently. I moaned when her warm skin came into contact with mine, making me shudder with anticipation. Her fingers danced along my spine as I slid my palms up her belly toward her breasts as our mouths moved in concert.
She arched back, wordlessly giving me permission to touch her. I palmed her breast, growling deep in my throat as I cupped her gently. She moaned, scratching her nails down my back, and grasping my ass, pulling me closer to her heat between her legs. My cock was rock hard, straining against my pants and boxer briefs as I pressed against her core.
"Oh, God," Bella moaned.
"You feel like a dream," I whispered, kissing down her neck and pinching her nipple with my fingers. "So soft and perfect." I traced her ribcage, kissing across her collarbones.
Her fingers tangled into my hair. She tugged gently on the strands, making me look up at her. Her fingers slid down my cheeks. Her lips quirked up as she felt my stubble. "You're perfect, too … scruffy cheeks and all," she murmured. "I want to feel this on my skin." Her gaze grew heated. "Touch me, Edward. I want to feel something other than fear and hunger. I want to feel joy … pleasure." She moved my hand back to her breast, brushing her lips over mine.
I pulled back, moving so I could look into her eyes. "You are my joy," I murmured.
She sat up, hugging me tightly. I could feel tears on my shoulder. I held her gently, caressing my hands on her back and whispered how much I treasured her. "I'm sorry," she sniffled.
"Don't apologize," I said. "It's been a hellish few months. Now? Let's just focus on each other. I need to disconnect from the nightmare outside and connect with you. You are my joy. You are everything to me, Princess. Even if we just snuggle like this, I'll be happy."
"I want more. I want to feel you," she breathed, staring into my eyes. "We've got hours …"
"Which means, I can spend hours showing you how much I feel about you," I said, giving her a slow, carnal grin. "Now, where was I?" I kissed her lips, moving so she was perched on my lap. We lost each other in kisses, caresses and teasing for hours, never venturing below the belt. Our kisses and caresses were almost innocent as we learned what we liked and what we didn't.
I loved when she was perched on my lap, giving me free reign to touch her breasts. Her heat was also right above my straining dick, eager to dive into her. Bella loved me on top of her, feeling safe and secure. But, we just loved the freedom to explore our growing relationship. We talked, we laughed, we cried …
I apologized and she forgave. But, I would always feel guilty for putting her in the position she was in now … away from her family, on the ground.
I don't know how long we talked, but when our conversations turned into yawns, I blew out the candles, save for a couple to give us some light. We curled up on the pallet she made on the floor since the bunk beds were too small for both of us.
Early the next morning, I checked our clothes and got dressed. Bella was still curled up, with a mess of brown curls and half naked. She didn't put on her shirt and falling asleep with her skin against mine was something I wanted. I'd damn near kill someone to get it again.
Opening the door, it was still dreary and rainy, but nowhere near as bad as when we entered the bunker. I picked up the walkie talkie, going outside and calling the drop ship. "Cullen to anyone at the drop ship. Come in," I said, leaning against the metal bracing surrounding the door.
"Edward, where are you?" came a feminine voice. "This is Jessica at the drop ship. You guys left, in search of Alice, but never came back."
"We got caught in the storm," I said. "It was windy and rainy and there was no way we'd be able to get it back to camp in the weather. We found some shelter to wait out the storm. Did Alice make it back?"
"She returned about an hour after you left. We tried to reach you, but got only static," Jessica explained.
"I had the same problem, too, with the static," I replied. "It must have been interference from the storm. Then, we were in this underground bunker that had thick metal walls. Nothing was going to cut through that. Did you hear from Rose and the group we sent to Mount Weather?"
"They checked in and the storm has moved out to sea," Jessica answered. "They contacted us a few hours ago. We're waiting for you, but we want to start the caravan to Mount Weather."
"We'll be back soon," I said. "Cullen out." I clipped the walkie to my belt, heading back into the bunker. Bella was sitting up, holding the blanket over her chest. "Did you sleep well, Princess?"
"Surprisingly, yeah," she yawned. "Is it clear outside?"
"Misty and damp, but the storm is gone," I replied. "Our clothes are dry, obviously." I gestured to my black pants and black t-shirt.
Bella nodded, standing up and dragging the blanket with her. She walked over to me, sliding her arms around my waist. I held her gently, swaying us in the cool breeze. With a kiss to my jaw, she went into the bathroom and got dressed. While she did that, I answered the call of nature and did my best to brush my teeth. Bella walked out of the bunker a few moments later, putting her jacket on over her grey shirt. Her chestnut curls were pulled into a messy bun. "My socks were still a little damp," she grimaced, wrinkling her nose.
"Sorry, Princess," I chuckled, kissing her nose.
"I'll live," she shrugged. "Let's head back to camp."
xx MWMA xx
Bella
We made it back to the drop ship by mid-day. Things were being loaded into the rovers, but we heard shouting over the din of goings-on of the camp. Edward and I found Jacob screaming at Jessica and Austin. Jasper was standing off to the side, his arm around Alice, who clearly wasn't happy.
"Enough!" I snapped. "What's going on?"
"Jacob isn't coming with us to Mount Weather," Austin replied.
"There's a shocker," Edward deadpanned. "We knew this. It was discussed as we were driving back to camp."
"I want a rover," Jacob demanded. "And the supplies."
"No, you're getting this camp and the drop ship. The rest? That's on you," I retorted. "We know who you are, Jacob Black. We know your parentage and it's clear that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You tried to assassinate my father."
"I did kill him, you dumb bitch," Jacob snarled. "He got what was coming to him. He was a worthless leader, just like all the Chancellors are … everyone except Aro Volturi. He got me the gun and onto this ship."
"Well, seeing as this is a ship for the guilty, you'll fit right in," I sneered with a cold grin on my face. "And, my father, he survived. He's not dead, but you will still be floated for your crimes."
"Newsflash, bitch, we're on the ground. You can't float me," Jacob laughed.
"I can. Your punishment is to remain here, at the drop ship, with nothing but the supplies inside. You will not be allowed access to Mount Weather, no matter how much you beg, plead," I growled. "Anyone who follows you? Their fate is the same as yours. No guns, no weaponry, no medical equipment, no rover. I hope you paid attention during Earth Skills … you're in for a crash course." I blinked to Jessica. "Are the rovers loaded up?"
"Finishing up now," she answered. "We were waiting for you and Edward."
"Come on, Alice," Edward called. "You're coming with us."
Alice looked up at Jasper, stepping away from him and glaring at her brother. "I'm not. You lied to me about Jacob."
"No, I didn't," Edward snapped. "He's your half-brother, like me. But, unlike me, he doesn't have a conscience. He's a self-serving asshole who will get you killed. Come with me, with us. You'll be safe. Winter's coming and …"
"No," she said, turning on her heel. She walked away and disappeared into the drop ship.
Edward looked crushed. My heart broke for him. His sister had turned her back on him, shutting him out, possibly forever. I reached over, taking his hand. His grip was too tight, but he squared his jaw, turning toward the rovers and hopped inside the one we'd driven back from Mount Weather.
Within twenty minutes, we were leading the caravan of seventy-two people to Mount Weather. Seventeen people decided to stay at the drop ship, either because they believed in what Jacob was preaching or they wanted to venture off on their own. Alice was one of those seventeen. Jasper, who wanted to support his budding relationship with Alice, was not. He was sitting in the backseat of our rover, grinding his teeth at Alice's betrayal.
The drive was slow-going due to the number of people we had hiking to Mount Weather. In the rover, without the crutch of hikers, we could have made it half-way there by the time we stopped. Unfortunately, we only made it as far as the river where we'd encountered the water snake.
Three days later, we were camped for the night, and Edward and I were on top of the rover, which had become our spot. He'd been quiet on the drive, upset over what had transpired with his sister. We decided to leave a radio at the drop ship with them to contact us at Mount Weather. Edward and I also spoke privately that first night, agreeing that if Alice wanted to join us in the mountain, she'd be welcomed. She'd have to prove her worth, but welcomed.
"Look at that," I said, pointing out something shooting across the night sky. "It's so pretty."
"I read that they were called falling stars," Edward explained. "On the surface, humans would usually wish on falling stars."
"But aren't falling stars space debris?" I asked.
"Mainly, but falling star sounds much more romantic," he replied, giving me a sad smile. "There's another one. Make a wish."
I eyed him dubiously, but he just kissed me before closing his eyes to make his own wish. I did the same. I wished that Edward knew how much I felt for him. He'd become my everything since landing on the surface. He was my best friend, my rock, my confidante … what I felt for him was beyond anything that I'd felt before.
"Did you make a wish?" he whispered.
I looked at him and nodded. "Did you?"
"It's already come true," he smiled, leaning forward to brush his lips over mine. "I …"
"Oh my GOD! Is that the Ark?" screamed Jessica.
We pulled apart, seeing a large fireball heading toward the ground. It was too small to be the Ark, but could it be the Exodus ship. The Exodus ship was a larger drop ship, a ship everyone to make it to the ground. Well, not everyone. It had enough room for a third of the people on the Ark. The rest would … die in space. Only the Chancellors and Vice Chancellors knew about Project Exodus. I only knew about it since I'd overheard my father speaking to my mother about it.
If the Exodus ship was coming down to the ground, that meant …
"It's not slowing down. It's going to crash!" yelled Austin.
A/N: Now we're up to the same point as chapter seven … what will happen next? Leave me your thoughts.
Pictures from this chapter are on my blog. You can find a link to that on my profile. I'm also on FB: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. Twitter, too: tufano79.
Thanks for reading!