𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗲 ( znation. )

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chapter two — "If anybody asks, we were nowhere near that bell!"

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫:
‧⁺˚*‧☾ 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐨𝐳𝐢𝐞𝐫 ☽‧*˚⁺‧

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Philadelphia. A place that Ashley only remembered existing because it was home to the 'Rocky steps'. And Rocky was the movie that was almost always playing at least once every three months. "Is that what I think it is?" Warren asked, driving past a flatbed truck that had a graffiti bell tied down on the bed of it.

"No way,"

"Wow,"

"Is that really the Liberty Bell?" Mack asked as Warren stopped the truck and Garnett climbed out. "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all inhabitants thereof. Yeah, that's it," He quoted. "Thanks for the hi온라인카지노게임 lesson," Ash muttered following Doc out of the bed of the truck. "3 years of the zombie apocalypse, you think you've seen everything." He remarked walking up to the bell. "Well, when everything went bad, they probably tried to save a little hi온라인카지노게임." Warren added walking up and standing next to Garnett. "Yeah, well they should've known the only thing you can save is yourself. Let's go!" Murphy complained, hanging on the open door of the back passenger seat.

"Hang on!" Warren called back, checking the truck's tank for gas, "If this thing still has fuel, and it does...If we get this thing started, they won't have to ride out in the open like that."

While everyone was talking Ashley already had the driver's door open. It wasn't locked or anything. Climbing into the driver's seat and checking around for any keys. But of course it wasn't going to be that simple. So, she took one of her switched blades and used it to pried the steering column open. Finding the set of wires that were connected to the ignition and cut them. "Red wire connected to the green wire. Green wire connected to the red wire," She sang to herself connecting each of the colored wires.

"I'll grab the jumper cables," She heard Mack say just as small sparks sprung from the two connected wires causing the engine to turn over. Grinning widely as she twisted the two hot wires together, burning her fingerprints. Putting the wires back in their place, placing the cover back on. Seeing a screwdriver on the floorboard and jamming into the key slot. "Or not..."

"If you wanna turn it off just jiggle the screwdriver," She announced jumping down the small foot that the truck was off. Placing her hot pointer and thumb into her mouth while using her free hand to shut her switchblade, and tucking it away.

"Damn kid where'd you learn that from?" Doc asked as she looked up to see all the attention was now on her.

"My dad owned this part used car lot, part chop shop. So, we usually got cars that didn't have keys. Usually no keys meant that the payout of each of the parts was pretty high." She replied knowing how it sounded. And yes, selling a stolen car was technically a bad thing, but her father wasn't a good guy to begin with.

"Never seen someone do it that fast," Garnett added his tone with what Ash could tell was some kind of approval.

Giving him a small nod, not knowing what else to do, as she walked back to the bed of the truck. Climbing in and standing next to 10k. "God bless the human race. 99% of them died. But there's still one jackass alive with a spray can." Doc scolded as Ash cringed slightly. "What?" 10 asked, noticing the change, "I'm pretty sure I'm jackass," She answered as his brows frowned, "Pretty sure?" He asked. She crossed her arms across her chest, "Black summer," He nodded understanding what she meant by that.

Warren was walking up to the driver's seat but a zombie crawled out from under. 10 quickly shot a small nut at it using his slingshot. "1,704," She counted looking over towards him. "Five," He corrected, looking over towards her as both their eyes met. She quickly rolled them, shaking her head, "Whatever."

"Murphy, you get in here with Warren and me. Everybody else, follow in the pickup. Stay close!" Garnett ordered, causing everyone to climb into their own seats. Ash sat in the middle of Cassandra and Addy, "We're not really going all the way to California with this Murphy guy, are we?" Cassandra question, leaning forwards towards Doc who was driving.

"That's the plan," He replied, glancing at her briefly before turning his eyes back onto the road.

"I'll strangle him before we even hit Missouri." Ash remarked picking the dirt from under her nails.

"That's crazy. What's so special about him anyways?" Cassandra continued, shaking her head slightly. "His blood," Was all Doc was able to reply with before the car severed. "God!" He shouted as everyone grabbed onto something or someone to try and not get thrown through the windshield. The flatbed truck had severed out of the way of a zombie causing their car to sever as well. The flatbed turned to face the right side of the road, severing to a halt. Suddenly the cables holding the Liberty Bell down snapped sending the bell to fly down the road. Smashing into a small crowd of zombies before it collided into a building. "Yeah! I'd pay money to see that again!"

"The axel's broke,"

"All right, everybody get into the truck!" Garnett orders, causing everyone to groan, no one wanting to go back to squishing themselves into the truck. "Let's go, Murphy. I'm driving." Warren stated as she took over the driver's seat and Doc followed Ash into the bed of the truck.

🌁

"Enjoy. That's the last of the food," Warren announced as Murphy was already licking the wrapper clean. "God, I'm so hungry my big guts are eating my little guts." He complained, tossing the wrapper to the side. "You gunna eat all–" 10k had shoved the entire Twinkie into his mouth before he was even able to finish his sentence. "Selfish little bastard,"

Ash yawned widely, it brought tears to the corner of her eyes. "Here, I'm too tired to even eat it all." She held out half of the yellow sponge cake she had just torn off.

"What's the matter Ash, can't sleep?" Addy asked with a tilt of head before taking a bit of the Twinkie.

"Insomnia at its finest."

"We need to split up and look for food and water." Garnett started walking so he was now standing in front of the group. "Oh, if we can find a two way radio or even, like a satellite dish. I can try and contact that Citizen Z guy," Addy added.

"That's good. Okay, you and Mack do that. And the rest of us will look for food. Doc you take Cassandra, Ash and 10k. Warren and I will take Murphy. Stay close. Meet back here in an hour. Alright, let's go," The man ordered, clasping his hands together. Ash groaned softly before taking the last bite of the cake, licking the smallest bit of cream from her thumb. Pushed herself from off the side of the truck she jogged up to catch up with Doc.

🌁

𝙿𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚊, 𝙿𝙰

Doc was stood on a dumpster, struggling to try and  take a satellite dish off. "Hey, kid. Give me a hand with this, will ya?" He shouted over his shoulder towards 10k.

"I don't know why we stopped here in Philly. We should've kept going," Cassandra complained, scanning the area around them. "What, you don't like the Liberty Bell?" Ash remarked with a large yawn, watching the two guys try to break off the dish. "Doesn't the Citizen Dude know what's going on?"

"I think Addy can do something with this dish. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and pick up porn." Doc remarked, grinning.

"Never seen porn." 10 and Ash said in unison.

"You two never seen porn?"

"Really? Never?" Cassandra asked, looking between the two. "Before my time." 10 replied as the attention then moved to Ash, waiting for her response. "I've read smut, does that count?"

"Is it good?"

"Yeah,"

"Meh,"

"Mixed reviews, I see. I'll keep to my books then. Do y'all need help?" Ash asked walking up to the dumpster seeing the two struggling.

🌁

"Wait, so this Rocky dude loses this fight?"

"Yeah. Yeah but see, in losing, he wins. It's very zen." Doc explained as him and 10k where carrying the dish. Ash was walking ahead of them, turning on heel to look at them but making sure to keep walking (but now just walking backwards). "I don't think that's it." Doc tilted his head playfully, "Oh really, how would you know?"

"I've seen it like 20 times. The only movie my brothers would rent from Blockbuster." She stated blowing a bubble with the piece of gum in her mouth. Trying to use it to keep her awake.

"I'd like to see Rocky fight a Z. If he loses, he gets eaten." 10 joked causing Ash to let a scoff out.

Pressing her lips together, nodding her head towards Cassandra. Seeing her running up to catch up with them, "Where'd you go?"

"Hey, is everything okay?" Doc asked as Cassandra jogged up past them. "Fine," Was all she muttered as they finally reached the truck. "It's about time!" Murphy shouted, causing Ash to turn towards him, frowning at the group. Warren and Mack were staring down Cassandra. A look she knew all too well. The one that read 'stay the hell out of the way'. That's what she did, taking a spot next to 10's side. "What's wrong? Where's Addy?" Doc asked, looking around for the red head.

"Missing," Mack said emotionless.

"What?" Ash asked her body went limp, her arms dropped to their sides. She had always expected the word to be 'dead', but 'missing' was one that always caused her blood to grow cold. Her sister was missing. The two had gotten separated 2 years ago. The two were searching a gas station in the middle of the Arizona desert when a hoard of zombies came from nowhere and caused them to separate. Addy reminded her a lot of Violet which made her even more worried. She knew that Mack wouldn't just give up and return to group without looking in every crack. "Is she..."

"No. Taken alive."

"By humans." Mack snapped, taking more steps closer to Cassandra. "Who?" Doc asked, looking between each of them. As Cassandra's back hit the truck, "We thought you might know." Warren asked, tilting her head at the black haired woman. "Me? Why, why would I know?" She stuttered out, not letting her eyes look towards Mack. He then shoved a dusty, once white, IPad up to her face, "You recognize these guys?"

"No. Why would I?"

"Creep on the left was one of those 2 bikers in Jersey. With your friend, Travis." Warren said as Mack gave her the IPad. "I told you, I don't know that guy. And I don't know them either." She swiftly denied. Mack's anger finally snapped and he grabbed by her neck fully pinning her to the truck. Pointing his gun at her for good measure. "You are gonna start telling me the truth right now or I'm going to start blowing holes–"

"Mack," Garnett warned, trying to pull him a bit back.

"--in you until you do."

"Mack,"

"Do you understand me?"

"Mack! Put the gun away. Put the gun away." He repeated, getting Doc to finally get Mack away from Cassandra. "You're gonna tell us everything you know about these guys right now."

"Or I'll shoot you." Warren threatened as she was the one to hold her gun up to Cassandra's head. Causing Ash to take a step back. Knowing that if something were to happen she wanted to get out as quickly as she could. She looked between the 2 of them, "I can't go back!"

"Back where?"

Mack once again shoved her against the truck. Growing tired of her vagueness. "Where? Where? Where is she?!" He yelled, repeating it over and over again. His shouting caused a zombie to pop out which 10K quickly killed. "Crap," Ash cursed seeing Cassandra took this to run away. Following after her, but had gone down the opposite direction. Hearing what she was hoping was Cassandra jogging down some stairs. She turned to where the steps ended, tackling the person and pinning her arms above her head. "Get off!" Cassandra protested, struggling against her grip.

"Enough." Warren stated as the group had finally reached up to them. "Alright, Cassandra! No more bullshit. Tell us what you know. Now!" Garnett ordered as Ash looked up to see both Mack and Warren were on either side of her. While Garnett stood in front of her. She gave her a warning look, one that read that if she were to move they would end up back in this position. Climbing off of her and taking a spot in between Doc and 10k, crossing her arms across her chest before spitting out the now flavorless gum. "Alright, I know them. They're part of a group of survivors. A family of sorts – but more like a cult actually. Led by a man named Tobia Cambell. I can't go back there! I won't go back!" She explained, except the last two sentences were more of a demanding tone. Which Mack didn't like, "You'll do whatever the hell we need you to do to get Addy back!"

"You don't know these people. They're dangerous."

"So are we."

"Not like they are. Tobias and the others are worse than Z's. I thought I'd gotten away from them, but then Travis spotted me with you." She insisted, but her vagueness caused Ash's head to tilt. "Why are you so afraid of them?" Cassandra's head snapped to her, "You don't get it. You don't pick who you survive with. At first I thought I was lucky. They started out like everybody else. Tobias was smart. He was strong. He saved us." She quickly became breathless with each word she spoke. Ash felt her chest tightened. She had telt with her own fair share of trusting the wrong groups. Hell she was waiting for anyone from the Farm to pop up and whisk her right back into a cell. Watching the clock through the chain-linked fence knowing that in a few more ticks she would be dragged out and forced to fight for her life. "You need to calm down before you pass out." She tried to sooth, placing a hand on her shoulder. Taking Cassandra by surprise, but she still took a moment to take a deep breath before continuing, "But then Black Summer came, and everything went to hell. Somewhere along the way he lost his mind, and...and we lost our souls. And I am not going back there!"

"What are they gonna do to Addy?"

She shook her head, "Tobias has this weird control over people. He can make you do terrible things."

"What do you mean? Rape?" Warren questioned making her to quickly shake her head, "No. He'll use her as bait."

"Bait? The hell you mean bait? What do they rob people?" Ash questioned crossing her arms across her chest.

"Not just rob."

"Murder them?!"

"No! Not rape. Not murder. They don't just kill their victims. It's worse." She yelled and it was like a switch that turns on a light bulb flipped in her head. Letting out a heavy sigh as she put her thumb and pointer finger up to the bridge of her nose. "They eat them."

🌁

"There was this famer." Murphy started making Ash roll her eyes at him for the millionth of time today alone. "Had the smartest pig in the world, Arnold. This pig could read and do math, Arnold was famous. And then one day, the farmer's friend, he comes over and he sees Arnold tripping around on 3 legs. And he says to the farmer, "Hey, what happened to poor Arnold?" and the farmer says, "Smart pig like that, you don't eat him all at once." He joked laughing a bit. Ash narrowed her eyes at him, causing him to look at everyone else. Nobody laughed at his joke, "Oh, what? Too soon?"

"We didn't start out as cannibalis."

"Cannibals? How is that even possible? Everything's infected with the zombie's virus. If you kill it and eat it, you get the live virus." Garnett questioned, more like a wandering thought. "But if you eat it alive...We were people just trying to survive. Tobias saved me. First from the Z's. Then from the worst of humanity. He was a good man, then his wife got sick. She just couldn't take it anymore, and he was never the same after that." She explained having everyone's attention. "When Black Summer came and everyone else in the world was starving he swore he would do whatever it took to keep us alive. And he did."

There was a moment of silence, the uncomfortableness of the topic laid heavy. Ash let out a loud sigh, picking at the black hoodie material at her elbow. "I always hated cannibals ran into a few in Ohio. Wait, no Oklahoma? Or was Arkansa? One of the forgettable states."

"You don't remember?" Warren asked with a raised brow.

"I was sorta dying from dehydration. So, everything from that month is still fuzzy...at least I think it was a month."

"How'd you escape?" Garnett asked.

"2 words, underwire bra. Picked the handcuffs, and burned the place to the ground." This caused everyone to have this mix of scared and confused looks at her. "I jumped the fence and high tailed it to the nearest river." She admitted, smirking slightly. "Kiddo, you are just full of surprises." Doc remarked, shaking his head lightly.

Mack had grown tired of this conversations and gotten his backpack before starting to walk off but Garnett swifty stopped him. "I'm going back for Addy, Garnett do not try to stop me."

"Hang on, Mack nobody's gonna try to stop you. We're all going back we just need a plan." Garnett explained which calmed him down a bit.

"You don't understand! These people are worse than Z's! They'll kill all of you!" Cassandra expressed trying to get each of them to understand just how dangerous they were. But instead caused Ash and 10k to look at each other with the same look, there wasn't any way in hell they were gunna kill all of them. "Yeah, she's right. We need to look at the big picture." Murphy agreed clearly trying to get out of yet another one of their situations. "Shut up!" Warren and Garnett said in unison. "Do you know where they've taken her?" Garnett asked Cassandra while Warren stared her down trying to intimate her into saying the truthful answer. Which she did, slowly nodding her head yes.

🌁

Ash and 10k were crouched down near the tip of the hill. Watching as Garnett walked slowly up to the gate that had Z's tied to it. "Aren't you hot in that?" 10 asked nodding his head to her fully black hoodie, "Just shoot straight, pretty boy." She teased glancing over at him. "So I'm pretty?" She pressed her lips together turning her attention back towards Garnett, who was talking to someone at the gate. "Always has been and will be, that is if the Z's don't get ya."

"That'll never happen,"

"You're right, this thing is hot." She remarked pulling the jacket up and over her head, dropping beside him before running off. "Ash," He scolded in a whisper only able to watch as she ran off.

Ash slowly made her way towards the trees that surrounded one of the sides of the fencing. Climbing up into it barely being able to hear the conversation that Garnett was having. Watching as he snapped his fingers and one of the men behind the gate died. The one that was currently talking to Garnett was now pointing his gun at him.

Taking the moment for when everyone's attention would be on the gate, Ash thought she could find Addy and get her out. Not needing to deal with any of their bullshiting. Pushing herself off the base of the tree so she was now over the fence. Making sure to roll when she hit the ground so she wouldn't break anything. "Garnett!" Addy's voice echoed, causing any form of a plan that Ash was to have been thrown out of the window. Popping back onto her feet and just as she was about to move a pair of arms wrapped around her. One went around her waist while the other went towards her throat. A piece of cold metal being placed up against her throat. "No sudden moves." A deep voice threatened before slowly walking her to the front of the gate.

"Perhaps we can make a deal."

"Tobias! Found this one trying to sneak in." The man's death grip on Ash's arm tightened as he dragged her along.

"Look what we have here, one of yours, I'm guess?" Tobias remarked as Addy glanced over towards her, but the blade against her throat caused her to not be able to fully turn her head. "Give me back my Sunshine, and you can have your precious Addy."

"What about Ash?"

Tobias looked over at her with a sicken smirk before turning his head back towards Garnett, "One or the other, but is she more important."

"Garnett be smart about this," Ash warned as she motioned her eyes towards Addy.

"If you harm her, we'll kill every one of you."

"Kill away. Frankly I've had about all the zombie apocalypse I can take. But of course, you and the girl and little Ash will be the first to die." Tobias threatened, causing Garnett to slowly look between the two of them before dropping his hand. "That's what I thought. Do you know the second rule of negotiation?"

"What?"

Tobias whistled, "The guy with the 50 caliber machine gun wins." The machine gun started to fire on cue. Ash was barely able to glance up towards the loud gun as the knife was still held to her throat. "You gonna give me back my Sunshine? Or do we continue this conversation in hell?" Ash rolled her eyes but quickly felt the knife start to deepen into her neck.

"Stop!" Cassandra shouted running up next to Garnett, "Let them go, Tobias!"

"What are you doing?" He asked, glancing over towards her. "What I should have done in the first place." She moved closer to the fence, "Let them go, and I'll come back."

"Don't do it. Kill them! Kill them all!" Addy shouted in a desperate cry. Ash's eyes widened looking over towards Addy pleading for her to shut up. The psychotic cannibals weren't just going to let that happen. The man holding Ash tossed her into the arms of another mans whose hands went right up under her boobs. She watched as Addy was let go and she ran into Cassandra's arms. The two exchanged a few words before Addy looked back towards Ash, "I'll see you and pretty boy later promise!" The red head shook her head as tears started to roll down her cheek, "Addy go!" Garnett grabbed Addy as Cassandra walked into the gate.

"Now what to do with you?" Tobias walked sinisterly towards Ash looking the woman up and down. Either she was nothing more than a piece of meat to eat or sell. Tilting her head to the side. In her 4 years in this hellscape of a zombie apocalypse she knew how to deal with a scum of a man. Her hands grabbed a hold of the men's arms around her waist, using it as a bar to pull herself up. Bringing her legs up and kicking them straight into Tobias stomach. "Suck my dic–" A butt-end of a gun was slammed into the side of her head causing her to knock out.

🌁

When coming too she felt herself sitting first. Rope bounding her wrist and chest. Slowly blinking against the sun shining through the rips in the tent. Not helping the pounding in her head felt like a sledgehammer being taken straight to her skull. Tobias sat at the head of the table as Cassandra fed some lady across from Ash. Looking down to see that they had changed her clothes, keeping the black shorts that she had under her pants but put her into a bright neon pink lace bra.

"You're on, Sunshine." Cassandra looked over towards her seeing that she was now awake and mouthed a 'Sorry'. Tobias looked over towards her and smiled the same way he did before she blacked out, "Look who's awake, you know what let Pinky join you Sunshine."

Biting the inside of her cheek as she tried to remind herself of where she was. Along with the fact that she was still tied up to a chair she couldn't break through.

One of the men, who opened the gate, cut her restraints. Dragging the knife slowly up her cleavage to cut the rope causing goosebumps to raise. Her heart started to race and she swore that sweat was beading on her hairline. Not from the heat, but from the fear of what these people – no – men were willing to do to her. Holding and rubbing the red skin for only a moment before getting grabbed by her arm and pulled to her feet. "She can walk on her own." Cassandra declared, causing the man to let go of me.

Ash could only feel her take her hand into hers as the two walked towards one of the trailers. It all became one huge burl. Focusing on the fact that she was walking into an unknown situation with nothing to defend herself. She had been in this situation before but swore that she wouldn't let herself end up in any of these situations. Except that the dead were predictable. They eat, they roam, they snarl, and decay. The living was what scared her.

Swallowing harshly as the door was opened. Her mind made a sudden decision that she was going to fight her way out until her last breath. The door swung inward to reveal Doc in orange glasses, "Mmm. That's what I'm talkin' about." He acted clear as day. The two women looked at each other having the same confused look.

"20 minutes and no rough stuff."

"Define rough stuff."

"Sunshine will let you know." Tobias stated shoving the two women forwards. "Ooph, Sunshine." He said with the same obnoxious tone as the two climbed up the large steps, shutting the door behind them. "What are you doing?" Cassandra questioned. "Yeah you got a death wish or somethin?" Ash added hitting his shoulder. "Shh. The right thing, just follow my lead." He whispered as Ash could only shake her head.

The plan was for them to shake the trailer for a bit, then act like Cassandra teasered Doc. When they were going to come back for all three of them Ash was going to kick the first guy to come through. Making sure that Cassandra was going to deal with Tobias herself.

"Oh yeah, baby!" Doc held the door shut holding his gun out. "Oh my god!" He pulled out a large black switch blade from his back pocket and handed it towards the teen. Her smile grew as the blade popped out. "Love doctor in the house!"

"Oh, doctor! Oh yeah! Yeah, baby!"

Ash's head tilted, not because of the weird lines either one of them were saying but because she could swear she heard music coming towards them. "Listen, that's our signal." Doc whispered, confirming that it wasn't just in her head, for once.

"No, no, don't, oh! No! No! Ahhhh!" Doc screamed as a moment passed before the door was pulled open. Not letting a second past, Ash grabbed a hold of the side paneling of one of the cabinets. Using it to pull herself up and kick the man off and outwards. Dropping to the ground as Doc swung the gun in front of her and shot him. Tobias marched his way in. Shoving her into the wall before grabbing ahold of Doc. Cassandra jumped onto his back and plunged the prongs of the teaser into his neck.

Looking either side of the trailer before both Ash and Doc hopped out. She turned back just in time to watch Cassandra shove the teaser deep into his mouth. Quickly slipping off of him before hitting the button and lighting up the inside of his neck. "Cass," She called, getting her attention and motioning her head for her to join them. Slamming the door shut behind the black haired girl. "How do you feel?"

She panted trying to catch her breath before breaking out into a huge smile, "Amazing."

"Good." Ash was matching her smile knowing that high, "Let's get the fuck out of here." She nodded before the two ran behind another one of the trailers. Doc glanced to see the two on either side of him watching as the truck blaring the music was coming closer.

"Sunshine!"

Both their eyes widen, looking at the other with the same confused expression. How the hell was this man still alive? Let alone being able to talk? "Thought you killed him?" Ash questioned. "Thought I did too." She remarked with a small head tilt.

The truck rammed its way through the front gate.Looking over to see that the psycho who had someone missed every shot with a machine gun, his head was whipped backwards as a bullet went flying through it. Shutting the switchblade with a soft smile. He was the one who gave Doc one of her knives. Which meant he still had her hoodie.  "It's now or never," Doc stated, bringing Ash back from her thoughts. He was the first into the bed of the truck helping Cassandra up while Ash hosted herself over the side. He then hit the side of the truck a few times, signaling to drive off.

Off the truck went. Driving as fast as it could back into the town. Ash had spent the last year going in and out of different cities. Running for people too scared of what was trapped in them. Granted they had a reason to be scared. Cities meant a big population, which meant more zombies to deal with. Believe it or not there are still places completely untouched after all these years purely because of the amount of dead that act like guards.

10K pulled back the band of his slingshot, aiming and hitting the multi-colored liberty bell. "My kinda town."

"If anybody asks, we were nowhere near that bell!" Garnett insisted as everyone silently agreed.

"I've always heard Philly was a tough town, but sheesh." Doc remarked as Ash gave him a soft smile squinting against the setting sun, "Zombies with attitude. Now please someone say they have my hoodie? Because neon pink doesn't exactly repel the Z's." 10k turned slightly and pulled something out from behind him, and handed it over towards her. "Couldn't exactly let the zombies mess your pretty little face up, could I?" She smiled, an actual real smile. Looking down at the heavy black ripped ball of fabric back up towards the teen looking back at her. He wasn't able to hide that his smirk was growing.

"You're a lifesaver, pretty boy," She kissed his cheek before grabbing the hoodie and slipping it over her head. Knowing where each and every single one of her knives were housed.

Doc let out a small playful laugh as 10k tried to turn his face away, but the pink shade on his ears gave him away. "I think you broke 10k,"

🌁

The truck's speed didn't help the coldness of the night air. The only people still awake were Garnett, who had switched places with Warren after the sun went down, Cassandra and Ash. All three shared the tight front seat as the rest of the group were asleep. Every so often the radio would zone in off the endless static to distant music that you couldn't understand if it was classical or 80's pop. That's how staticy it sounded.

Ash's arm rested on the small seal of the passenger window. Looking out at the different stars trying to count each of them to pass the time. That was the one thing she actually was thankful for at the end of the world. No light, no noise, no real pollution to worry about. Meaning the sky was finally seen for how she always saw it. For all of it different hues of blue and grays.

"Ash?" She hummed looking over, seeing the two of them looking at her with slight awe in their faces. "What's on your mind?" Cass asked, pressing her lips together.

"My sister, Violet. When it was a full moon, we'd find a car with a skyroof and would just watch the night sky be lit up with all the stars." She explained smiling softly her tone caused a small knot to form in each of their stomachs. They knew of that far off thought. She could tell by the sadden expression that Cass hadn't realized she had own. "Y'all can loosen up, she's not dead." A small sigh of relief was felt between them. As a once uncomfortable now normal tone of silence was laid upon them.

"How you feelin' after dealing with all that Cass?"

She took a moment before responding, "Honestly? Relieved that I don't have to worry about them. Glad that if they do try anything like that again I have friends that'll watch out for me." She took Ash's hand into her own, smiling softly at her which she returned.

maddie speaks!
i loved being able to use chapters
like these to not only help flesh
out ash as a believable character
(and not like she's just thrown into this world)
but also being able to write out her relationships with the different people part of the group.
i really hope y'all enjoyed this chapter <3