4 Years later
"The end of the world was hell to people who were satisfied with their lives before everything. They missed people, places and things they've experienced. Ashley had a small room in an even smaller rented house in Chicago. She had minimal possessions and never asked for more. Ashley never experienced Chicago either. She went to school, played with toys and rode her bike. Her single mom worked long shifts and couldn't afford childcare. Which meant Ashley's independence started young. Ashley would prepare breakfast, cereal mainly and walk to school and walk home. After work her mom ordered dinner and then passed out. Ashley would tuck her in and their routine rarely changed. On Ashley's birthday she went to the movies sometimes, but Ashley never got to experience the world. Her father was uninvolved, he'd call here and there. Ashley never knew her parents so when the world ended, she mourned one person, herself.
"She mourned who she would've been, could've been. She mourned everything she would've had and couldn't have. She mourned every smile, every laugh, every stupid mistake she would've made like skipping school and getting caught smoking. She mourned everything she'd never have; everyone she'd never meet. She wanted to be a pilot, own a private airstrip somewhere remote. Somewhere with mountains. She would've married young, adopted a couple dogs, lived in a cabin. Her life would've been simple and cozy. She would've graduated top of her class, worked hard to achieve everything like her mom. That person is someone she'd never see in the mirror. Someone Kelly, Gallo, Makayla and Jay would never meet. Instead, Ashley who shoots first and asks questions later is who they know. The Ashley who could handle a horde on her own. The Ashley who wasn't scared of blood and guts. The Ashley who could leave the island on her own and come back.
"This version of herself was a survivor. Ashley didn't want to die and staying alive meant she'd have to adjust to what the world throws at her. She couldn't be the Ashley she wanted to be. Currently she was a killer. She'd kill anyone and anything to protect herself, Kelly, Gallo, Makayla and Jay. She has and would over and over again. So, when Voight and Maggie suggested the team save Ethan, she asked herself 'who the fuck is Ethan?' The common building was where they gathered for group events, meetings. She snuck in and sat beside Kelly upfront. Jay was on the other side of Kelly. Jay reached over and fist bumped Ashley. "Tomorrow we'll have another meeting to inform you and Makayla." Voight announced.
"Kelly nudged Ashley and she left the room. Ashley's only a teenager but everything she's experienced, everything she's done, everything she's been through has put her in the position to stand there and say she deserves a vote. She votes Ethan is dead, 2 years ago he was taken. She votes to save their lives and stay there. She doesn't know Ethan, but he must've been quite the man for them to even consider going back for him. Ethan made his choice, he saved his family. She's trying to save hers, her brother's, her dad's, Makayla's and Jay's. She votes to have all of them in her life for as long as possible. Because if she loses her loved ones for Ethan, for some reuniting wet dream Maggie has of rescuing a grown man. They don't want her involved and she understood that. She was fourteen after all, but they weren't going to pretend like she didn't deserve a seat at the adult table.
"In Ashley's treehouse Makayla was wrapped in the covers stirring. A mattress and bean bag chair fit in the cramped space. Ashley's sheets were gray, she had an antique floor lantern and solar twinkle lights were wrapped around the room. The walls were bare, and a backpack hung on a hook near the entrance. Nothing covered the small triangular window behind the mattress. Her room lacked knick knacks and personal items. The wood and yellow lighting gave the space warmth. Ashley flipped through one of Makayla's sketch books and lounged in the chair waiting for Makayla to wake up. Makayla slept like people before everything happened. Makayla's snoring reminded Ashley of her mom. Her mom sounded like a dinosaur sometimes. "Why are you watching me sleep like a weirdo?" Makayla asked, her voice was raspy.
"Makayla sat up and covered her bare chest with the covers. Her nest of curls was shoulder length. Her hair hung around her shoulders like curtains. The sun creeping in through the window made her skin glow. "I'm your girlfriend, I can't be a weirdo." Makayla gave Ashley a look. "How mad is my mom?" Ashley stood up and motioned towards the flap on the ground leading to the ladder. Kim and Kevin hated Ashley to say the least. "Go home." Ashley's tone was all Makayla needed to hear. Makayla pictured smoke coming out of her mom's ears. Makayla was supposed to be home at night. "Love you." Makayla got dressed and kissed Ashley on her way out. Leaving Ashley in her room alone. Ashley never said it back, but she loved Makayla. She just loved Makayla in a different way for all the wrong reasons, but she loved Makayla.