Chapter Text
"No, fuck you Yara! I wouldn't leave you guys behind." Lev shouted to Yara and Keira. Tear stains on his cheeks.
"Well we can't go back!?" Yara shouted right back at him, "She is fine—"
Lev didn't want to go to Santa Barbara. He wanted to go back to the island and convince their mom to come back with them, to escape this hell of a city. But it was a stupid idea—. She would never come with them.
This whole fiasco started when they met with Owen in the morning.
Keira had slept peacefully that night. She didn't even wake when Yara and Lev came in the room, or when they came to sleep on the blankets too. The fact that they were all safe eased her mind, she was able to drift of to sleep rather quickly.
Usually she hated the Seattle rain— But it calmed her, like background noise for her sleep. No nightmares like she had been having— and actual sleep instead of staying up, watching for her siblings. Scared to death that something would happen if she wasn't watching them at all times— if she didn't study their every move.
She only woke when Mel came into the room to change Yara's bandages and the stupid one on Keira's head. Once all the old bandages were swapped with new clean gauze all four of them walked out together, a fresh new day.
But when they came out the room and into one of the hallways Owen greeted them. They talked for a while, a bit awkward as Owen talked to Keira's own bandage rather than her face before he told them something.
"I'm gonna go to Santa Barbara when I can. Abby thinks it's full of shit but I have hope."
Keira noticed how it was very much "I" and "Abby"— not his pregnant girlfriend. There was clearly unfinished business between Owen and Abby— and Mel that Keira wouldn't meddle in, even though it made her feel jealous for some reason.
The siblings looked at him in confusion, "Where is….. Santa Barbara? What's over there?" Yara asked him.
He told them with a great smile that tugged tight on corners of his mouth about the place: That it's in California and that there is life there— good people, people that he had some sort of connections with. Then he paused and looked at them, "Would you wanna come with us? Me, Abby and Mel. Even Alice." he chuckled.
Mel didn't look happy to see she was last in his list of names, besides Alice. She let out a not so quiet scoff as she held a hand on her bulging belly— which somehow seemed even bigger than the day before.
Keira and Yara brightened up immediately. To get away from all this? That would be fucking amazing. A safe place away from all the wolves and seraphites, the two groups targeting them—? Who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to escape this hellish place—, and to get away from the stupid rain.
"We would love that…" Keira nodded, Yara did the same.
Owen smiled again, teeth and all. He seemed really passionate about this. Whatever was over in that area of California he clearly wanted to go as soon as possible. They talked for a bit more before he left, saying he had to fix something on his boat.
When they looked over to Lev he was frowning, cleary very upset with the conversation they just had, "Guys.. We can't go there what about mom on the island?"
"You seriously think we would be able to go back there and get her?" Keira told him. Lev wasn't stupid, far from it actually. He wasn't thinking straight, he was in denial.
"We have to try at least. I'm not leaving Seattle without her!" He shouted at her.
Mel looked away awkwardly, clearly listening in but it was hard not to. Keira didn't blame her.
Yara pinched at her nose and looked towards Mel, "Sorry, can we—."
Mel nodded and walked off, leaving the siblings to have their discussion privately— or not seeing as they were quite literally shouting at each other.
The moment she went through another door in the aquarium Yara rounded back on Lev, "What are you talking about? It's a stupid idea and I can guarantee you she'd be safer on the island than in Santa Barbara!" She said whilst barely taking a breath.
Lev shook his head the fastest Keira had ever seen, "You don't know that! She might be getting punished just because of what I did!" He was blinded by the guilt of his sins.
He still didn't know about Keira. He didn't read the letter nor was he there for her conversation with Abby. He truly believed that everything that was happening was all because of him. It was understandable why he felt the way that he did but it wasn't a good idea to just go strutting onto the island, take their mother and run away. It would never work. He was carrying the weight of all the guilt by himself. Not allowing his older siblings to help him with it, to take the brunt of it all. He was still so young, he didn't deserve this.
Keira tried the more gentle approach, "Lev.. we wouldn't be able to make five steps on the island before we get shot down. I know you miss mom I do too but she's safer there."
He didn't appreciate it, "I can make it— I will make it."
"Even if you do she is not going to come with you! Don't be stupid." Yara told him as sternly as she could but Lev wasn't having it.
"I can convince her!" Lev said, tears welling up in his eyes at the name Yara called him.
"We broke the rules Lev, that's all she'll care about!" Yara was getting angrier by the second.
"Lev she is set in her ways and she won't be convinced so easily— or at all." Keira told him and tried to grab onto his wrist.
He yanked away from her, "I'm going." he sniffled and tried to walk off before Yara grabbed him by the arm pulling him back.
"We can't go there!" Yara was bent over to his level, almost spitting the words out.
"I'm not asking you too! I'll go myself." He yelled right back in her face.
"Oh so you're just gonna leave us here, take mom and not come back?!"
"No, fuck you Yara! I wouldn't leave you guys behind." Lev shouted to Yara and Keira, finally pulling out of her grasp
"Well we can't go back!?" Yara shouted right back at him, "She is fine on the island and that is final!"
With tears in his eyes he ran away from them.
Keira went to follow in his steps but Yara stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Let him cool off. We can get him in a second." She shook her head. Always the mature one.
Keiea took in a deep breath, her own voice shaky. "Okay…"
A sharp voice from the side caught their attention. Mel, speaking with Abby, "Issac's top scar killer suddenly had a change of heart? Nothing to do with Owen, right?!"
Why would she say that? Keira thought to herself.
Abby put her hand up, trying to settle things with Mel, "I haven't always done the right thing—"
Mel cut her off with cruel words, "You're a piece of shit, Abby!"
Keira wanted to budge in and tell Mel just how kind Abby really was, that what she was saying wasn't true in the slightest. She could have left the siblings to fend for themselves but she didnt. She crossed two bridges thousands of feet in the air even though she has a fear of heights just for them. She fought that fucking thing— just to save Yara. Not for any glory or for anybody else, she hadn't even told anybody of their journey. She did all of that out of the kindness of her own heart so why couldn't Mel realise that too?
"You always have been." Mel picked up her bag from the chair next to her and Abby, "I'm done with you."
She was about to exit before she paused and turned around to face Abby again.
"You wanna do right by these scars? Get out of their lives before you screw them over too. You ruin everything you touch…"
Fat tears rolled down Mel's face as she whipped around leaving Abby behind in the dust.
From where Keira was stood she could hear Abby's sniffling— she was crying.
Abby grunted and kicked the chair that held Mel's backpack just a second ago, "Fuck…" She mumbled and held her mouth, cupping it to keep the cries away.
Yara looked at Keira, a silent communication between them both. They walked towards Abby together, slowly as to not startle her.
"Abby?" Keira said softly.
She could see Abby's hands reach up to her own cheeks to wipe at them, as if it wasn't obvious she was crying.
"Nice shirt." She gestured to Yara, the one Mel had given her after surgery. She was still trying to keep her tears away, not able to look them in the eyes.
Slowly Yara stalked forward, "Are you… okay?"
Keira knew Abby wouldn't tell the truth but it's still nice to ask, just incase.
"How's your arm doing?" Abby said, completely different ignoring Yara's question.
"It's better than it was this morning…"
"Lev coming around?" Abby asked, changing the subject.
"He will. Eventually." Keira said.
Abby nodded, tear stains still obvious on her cheeks even when she wiped them.
"Do you wanna help us look for him? It's okay if not." Keira asked her, playing with her own fingers.
"Sure. Yeah." Abby said.
It would be a nice distraction for her, to focus on something other than the harsh words that were definitely replaying in her head. Keira could see the way her brain moved— could read her like an open book,
"He ran off this way." Yara led them down the hall. "Lev!" she shouted.
Keira put two fingers in her mouth, curled them and let out a sharp whistle, hoping for a reply. From the corner of her eye she could see Abby tense up at the sound.
"Lev! Where you?!" Keira's voice bounced of the walls.
"Lev please come back!" Yara shouted after there was no reply.
Abby trailed behind them, "Why doesn't Lev wanna go to Santa Barbara?"
"Our mom is still on the island and he's worried about what will happen to her because of us." Keira said.
"Should he be worried?" Abby asked.
Keira didn't want to think about that right now. It wasn't unheard of for parents to face the punishments of their own children's sins. Especially if it was a more serious crime like herself and Lev.
"He needs to focus on his own safety right now." Yara replied for Keira.
"What could happen to her?" Abby asked her as they walked through another hallway, a never ending place.
"Sometimes parents are held responsible for their children's sins." she said, "But our mom is so devoted, more than us—. I doubt anything will happen to her."
"Are there options?" Abby asked with her series of questions, "For helping her?"
"He can't convince her to leave. She would never listen to him. Nobody could." Keira said.
"We're more worried of what she'd do to him…" Yara finished for her.
"Lev—. Lev I'm sorry!" Yara shouted again.
"Lev!" Abby shouted.
They ended up in front of a fake shark. It brought a sad smile to Keira's face. "He loves sharks." She turned to face Abby.
That made Abby huff out a laugh, "Loves sharks but hates the ocean?"
Keira nodded and laughed herself, but Yara paused, "Huh. He really opened up to you." Then she smiled herself, "Good."
"We bonded over our shared fear of dying…" Abby told her. Well that was putting it lightly considered the circumstances of how that conversation started.
"I don't know how to thank you…" Yara said and they walked up the circling floor.
"You don't have to. I did it for me."
She sounded sad as she told them. Keira thought back to what Mel had said, still not believing how somebody could say something like that. Clearly they had a rough history—, maybe Keira could ask Abby about it once they find Lev.
A sound pulled their attention making Keira whip around to face Yara, "You hear that?"
Yara fastened her pace towards the door, desperate to apologise to Lev. She didn't mean what she said. How she called him stupid. How she spat the words in his face. How she made him run away with tears in his eyes. That was almost the most worked up Yara had gotten— save from when Lev first shaved his head. The bruise from her hit was long gone, but the memory of her anger would always be there.
When she pushed through the door and walked into the room she jumped back with a gasp, it was the dog. She came running around the corner holding a squeaky toy in her mouth.
"Hey, it's okay. She just wants to play." Abby reassured her.
"She is a nice dog." Keira nodded and walked forward to pet her. She rubbed along her ears but the dog stared at her expectantly. Keira was confused what she wanted from her.
Abby laughed and walked forward, "Hey girl. Look." She stroked at the dogs head and then took the toy out from her mouth.
She showed the girls how to play with the dog. Keira had a try, ignoring the wet feel of the slobber on the toy and she chucked it, giggling to herself as Alice chased after it like it was about to disappear under her nose.
When she brought it back she went past Abby and Keira— instead she dropped the toy at Yara's feet.
"You wanna try?" Abby asked her.
"That doesn't seen like such a good idea." Yara told her, cautious of the sweet dog who was waiting so patiently.
"She's a good dog, Yara." Keira told her again— as if she didn't feel exactly like Yara the day before. Huh. All three siblings with a fear of dogs, kinda funny if you think about it.
Abby knelt down to grab the toy, handing it to Yara, "She won't bite, I promise."
Yara took the toy and stared down the dog who was shuffling on her back feet in excitement— then Yara chucked it.
Alice chased after it, squeezing it with her teeth making it let out squeaks as she trotted back over to them.
"Can I throw it again?" Yara asked Abby.
"I think she would love that." she said.
Yara threw the toy for Alice a couple times before they continued to find Lev. Surely he had enough time to calm down a bit.
They walked out to see the main room below them, they were on the balcony. The huge whale was almost eye level with them.
Keira whistled, looking below to see if she could spot Lev. Maybe he was down there?
"Why is he doing this…" Yara said and leaned on the railing, out of breath.
It was surprising to see her on her feet already, only yesterday was she hot to the touch, and barely awake. Now she was walking around like nothing even happened.
"Hey do you think— that maybe he could convince your mom?" Abby asked them both.
"If she saw him like this, she'd strangle him with her bare hands." Keira said with a sad smile, "There would be no point in trying to reason with her. That woman sticks to her own opinions and nothing could ever change that."
Keira couldn't bring herself to hate her mother— even now. She had nurtured all three of them, fed them from her own breast, helped them learn their all of their life skills, comforted them after their father had been captured and killed. It would be hard leaving Seattle, knowing that their mother was on the island, all alone— and Mary too. But hopefully they would care for each other.
"How much did he tell you?" Yara asked her.
"Not.. much." Then she looked back at Yara. "I heard some of your people calling him… Lily."
"Yeah…" Yara whispered, the words almost inaudible. "For a long time… I didn't understand why he was questioning the law. When he told me how he felt inside, I told him that he had to keep quiet about it." She let out a self deprecating sigh, guilty about her past decisions.
"I hoped that he would snap out of it. He seemed fine for a while, normal. But then he shaved his head… like one of the men. It was suicide."
Keira shivered at the memory, the sight of Lev crying on the floor with his hair covering the ground all around him. The little nicks on his head from where he had cut himself.
"Is that when you ran?" Abby asked carefully.
Yara nodded, "First I screamed at him. I hit him— God I was so stupid." she shook her head.
They stood there in silence, all thinking back on their past mistakes and troubles. What impact they had on the future and present.
Abby looked at both girls sadly, then she thought of something. "Hey. I have an idea."
They looked up at Abby, confused.
"Why don't we find something to cheer him up?" She pointed to one of the gift shops.
Both girls nodded and followed Abby.
"Why do you think he did it now—? Shaved his head, I mean."
"Last week he got assigned his role in the community. He wanted to be a soldier like Yara and I. But they decided he was to be a wife for one of the elders…" Keira told her.
"Poor kid." Abby mumbled.
"We thought he would be safe. Considering Kei was already married too, but it seemed that just wasn't enough." Yara continued.
Abby's eyebrows raised in shock at the news of Keira. She hadn't told her, it just simply slipped her mind. Abby would probably ask her about it when it was the right moment.
Keira ignored Abby's stare and walked up to a map on the wall, Yara besides her.
Abby showed them where Santa Barbara was, it was far… good. Then they look around the shop for a gift. Abby found a little shark plushie, it was perfect for Lev. He would love it.
Owen came in to talk to Abby leaving Keira and Yara to continue looking for Lev, Abby would come help after speaking with Owen— which sparked a bit of jealousy in Keira.
"Come on." Keira led her younger sister out of the room, ignoring the tange of bitterness she felt. But that didn't matter right now, what did was finding Lev and having an actual conversation that could sort out both ends.
"Lev!" Yara yelled down yet another hallway.
"Where is this kid?" Keira mumbled, getting tired of searching.
With more unanswered whistles and more calling out to the wind they ended up outside near Owen's boat. All of the seats reminded her of the ceremonial area back on the island.
"Surely he won't be out here it's raining…." Keira said and walked up to the metal fence blocking of the sea — only to gasp at the sight of a boat speeding away from the aquarium.
"What the—? Lev!" she shouted.
It was Lev. He was going in the direction of the fucking island.
Yara ran up to the fence, grasping at it with her one hand. "Lev!" she let out and anguished yell and yanked at the bar.
"Lev come back here!" They yelled at him as if he would be able to here them— He didn't look back, not once.
Thres sets of footsteps came rushing down beside them. Abby, Owen and Mel.
Abby ran up to the bars next to Yara. They watched as Lev's body got smaller and smaller the more distance he got from the aquarium.
"What's he doing?" Mel asked.
"He's going after her." Keira panicked. The rain and her sweaty making it hard to grip the metal bars.
"After who?" Owen asked.
"Our mom!" Keira trembled, scared for his future.
"She's gonna kill him, Abby." Yara turned to Abby.
Abby then turned to face Owen, "Is the boat ready?"
"Uhm… no not yet…" He said guiltily, not meeting her eyes.
"Well how much time do you need?!" she huffed at him.
"A couple hours…" he said.
"Hours? He will die before you're even halfway done with that stupid thing!" Keira yelled at him.
"Fuck…" Abby said, "We'll grab a boat from the marina— Catch up to him." Abby walked off.
Keira followed her, not missing a single beat. However when Yara made a move to follow them Mel put her arm across her.
"Hey! She just had surgery she can't go." she yelled at Abby.
Yara just pushed her hand down and moved forward again, "I'm fine.."
Keira would rather her sister stay here at the aquarium, safe. But she knew Yara would argue and she would eventually end up giving in. There was no time to waste on arguing who's gonna stay and who isn't.
"She's coming." Keira said sassily and pulled Yara to walk next to her.
"I'll go with you guys." Owen tried but he didn't get even two steps in before Mel called out to him.
"Owen!" The small woman shouted at him.
"They're heading to the fuckin' island, Mel." He told her, but Mel just looked at him more worriedly.
"Exactly!?” she argued.
He shook his head and looked down at her, "I'm not gonna let her go by herself…" Clearly not putting his trust in the two other girls to help Abby make it out alive.
More people meant it would be more harder for them to sneak onto the island unseen. It wasn't a good idea.
"Actually, you are." Abby told him.
Owen scoffed, "What? I can help."
"Yeah. By staying here fixing the fuckin' sailboat!" She looked almost sad as she said it.
"Get your priorities straight…." And walked off with the girls, leaving Owen and Mel standing in the rain alone. Safe at least.
—
The rain poured down heavily, soaking them to the bone.
"There's the marina." Abby pointed.
From behind them you could see the ferris wheel in the distance. They managed to gain a decent amount of distance in such a short time.
"I see it." Keira said.
Yara staggered behind them, her arm wet even through her jacket.
"Are you okay Yara?" She asked her worriedly. Maybe she should have stayed at the aquarium.
"I'm fine." Yara said.
But her features were screwed up, tense. Keira knew what she was doing— lying so Keira wouldn't worry. She used to do it a lot, it seemed that Yara picked it up.
They went down slippery stairs and had to jump down the rest as the steps were broken off at the bottom.
"How are we supposed to get onto your island without being killed on sight?" Abby asked them.
"There are blind spots on the coast we can boat onto. From there we'll follow back roads. Lev probably went that way too." Yara said.
"They're safe?" Abby asked.
"It's the safest option we have…" Keira told her.
They ran into an old train, grass overgrown outside. They started to pick up some supplies before pushing forward.
"Any chance Lev could change his mind?" Abby questioned them.
"Nope." Keira said with a pop and fished a rag off one the wooden seats.
"He's too stubborn…" Yara said.
But that wasn't enough for Abby, "Does he even get what he's walking into? After everything that's happened?"
"Thought he did… But he's got a soft spot for her." Yara replied.
Abby huffed, "I mean— it's his mom.."
"Yeah well she's not gonna see it that way— which is why we need to hurry up." Keira told her as Abby took her backpack off and started tinkering with the supplies she had.
"Okay. I'm done." She said and guided them out of the train, only to be stopped by a chain fence with barbed wire scaling on top of it.
"How are we supposed to get to the marina from here?" Yara asked her.
"Ugh, let's just go around." Abby stared at the ugly fence like it had personally offended her as she walked past it.
They walked through the looming trees and down into the split ground, filled completely with rain water that was thankfully shallow enough for them to walk through.
”Down here." Abby said, looking back at Yara as she walked down, "Yara be careful of that arm, okay? Keep it dry."
"Too late for that." Yara laughed humourlessly as she dodged a submerged dirted car.
They looked for any way to continue forward, Yara found a sewer door which led out. Abby held it open whilst Keira and Yara slipped through, then she made her own way out.
They finally got out of the water and onto the marina, most of the water had broken wreckage of walls and old boats.
Just as Abby went to climb up the ladder leading them to their path gunshots echoed loudly, even over the whooshing wind.
She looked at the siblings, "Yara stay on the dock. We can get a boat and pick you up here okay?"
"No, I can help you guys!" Yara tried.
"Not with your arm. We got it alright?" Keira consoled her.
"Kay. Keira come on." Abby ushered her to go up.
"Kei…" She whispered as both girls climbed up the ladder, leaving her and her throbbing arm on the wet dock.
"Could that be your people?" Keira asked Abby as they hopped a fence.
"Let's hope we don't have to find out." The wolf replied and gasped as they heard muffled yells of pain.
"Watch yourself…" She told Keira and squeezed through two skinny trees, then she yelled as she got thrown to the ground by a man— a bullet barely missed her face.
"Get down!" The man shouted at pulled her against a car.
Keira quickly squeezed through and ducked down next to Abby, a shining glimmer in the distance— a sniper.
"Abby, what the fuck—? It's a scar!" He started to raise his gun at Keira but Abby quickly countered him.
"Manny no!" She pushed his hand to the ground roughly.
"But it's a—" The man whose name was Manny started, confused. He tried to pull his hand out of Abby's bruising grip but she wouldn't let him.
"She's not— well she is but—. Fuck.. she's a friend, okay?" Abby was confused herself and she tried to explain herself. "Just trust me alright?!" She finally let his hand go, trusting that he wouldn't shoot Keira at the chance.
"Fuck! Abby I don't know what the hell you're doing but whatever." Manny said, staring down Keira who ducked her head as another bullet from far pierced the window above her.
"Shit!" Abby yelled.
"This sniper—! He's a fucking pro. He killed my whole fucking team." He told her.
"What are you even doing out here?!" Abby yelled over another ear piercing loud shot.
"The boats. We were supposed to hit the island tonight. Catch them of guard." His accent thick on his tongue. "Then this pendejo showed up."
Keira looked at Abby with worry, attacking this island? "Abby..." she whispered— then whimpered as another bullet whizzed past her.
Her brother was going to that island and there would be fighting. A bloodbath which Lev could get caught in the crossfire off.
"Fuck…" Abby said.
"I did send a guy to call for help. Backup should be on the way." Then he paused, thinking for a second. "Should be." He said, still wary of Keira.
"We need to get one of those boats. Now." Abby told him.
"Why?" he asked.
"Ask me later."
"Then I guess you're gonna help me take this fucker out?"
"Let's do it." Abby nodded then looked to Keira, "You okay?"
No…
"Yes."
I don't wanna do this…
"Let's take him out." Keira pushed herself to a crouch. She could hear her own heartbeat pulsing through her ears.
"If you see that light that means he's gonna shoot—" Abby started.
"I know, what a sniper is. Now pay attention!" Keira argued, no time to waste.
"Stay on my ass." Abby said, "Now, Behind that truck!"
All three of them sprinted at fast as they could behind a truck, one of the tires pierced with a bullet immediately.
"Stay low." Manny shouted, then angrily shook his head as they ran behind another car, "Killed my whole fucking team."
"Don't worry. We'll get him." Abby told him.
He poked his head out and brought it back down as another bullet tried to go for him, "Fuck these trespassers."
"Trespassers?" Abby asked.
Keira remembered hearing some of the wolves mention trespassers at the hospital. Maybe this guy was one of them.
"The last few days. They came out of nowhere." he replied. "They're hitting us hard."
"Why?" Abby asked, trying to look for an opening, waiting for the perfect moment to sprint forward.
"Nobody knows!"
Keira saw that blinding glimmer go down, "Abby, now!"
They ran to another truck, this time he blew the entire windshield off. Clearly frustrated with them.
Then he waited, not putting down the gun. Not letting them pass. He didn't want them to bypass him again.
Manny grunted in annoyance, "Abby, Scar—"
Fuck you man. Keira thought to herself.
"—Through here." He whispered and showed them a gap between two cars. A way to get to behind another vehicle without being spotted.
"Go, go, go!" Abby yelled as they ran a bigger distance between two cars.
"Agh!" The man cried out, clutching at his arm as he practically crumbled to the ground behind the rear-end of the car.
"Manny! You good?" Abby asked worriedly.
"I-I'm fine. It's just a graze!" He doubled over in pain, red spilling from his wound and to his finger tips.
Keira looked around, the nearest truck was too far for them to just run to. The road was broken from the sides leaving the rest of the ground lower, filled with puddles but just low enough for them to be able to crawl past without being hit.
"Abby." Keira gestured to her, "We can make it if we crawl. Yeah?"
She looked over, examining the gap. Then she nodded. "Go as quick as you fucking can."
And so on their stomachs they crawled, frustratingly slow. Now she knew how hard it was to crawl on your stomach, elbow deep in water behind just barely tall enough cover— whilst bullets rained down near you, blowing pieces of the road away.
They were like snails, dragging themselves whilst dodging the shoes of countless people trying to crush them.
With a grunt she finally got behind truck. Out of breath and the front half of her body completely soaked. There was a gap underneath the truck, wide enough for them to sneak under and out the other end.
"Under the truck. Keira whispered to them.
Holding their breath they slid under. A tight fit almost making Keira panic as she got engulfed in water. Barely able to open her eyes, rocks and all alike swirling around the water and blurring her vision. She used her hand to clear her path— only to be greeted with the sight of a body, blood surrounding it and painting the water pink. She almost swallowed gulps of the dirtied water in shock. But she pushed through, swimming underneath it.
She broke to the surface behind another car, gasping for air immediately, "Fuck." she coughed.
Abby and Manny were right behind her. There was no time to take a quick break to catch their breath. They weaved between some more cars and ended up behind a truck with it's ramp sticking out.
"The street is fucked!" Manny shouted to them.
It was true. There wasn't enough cars for them to run forward and they weren't stupid enough to try and dodge all his bullets.
"Shit…" Abby mumbled, turning to her companions.
"Okay, what do you want to do?" Manny asked her.
Keira looked to the side, "There's a garage."
"Yeah but how do we get inside of it?" Abby said.
"We could use that cart for cover." Manny said, pointing to the cart on the ramp of the truck.
Abby walked up the slippery ramp and pulled the cart down. The wheels were stiff, "Good thinking."
And so whilst Abby pulled the cart sideways towards the garage door, Keira and Manny hid behind her.
The sniper shot at the cart without missing a single shot, blowing it to pieces— but Abby didn't let go, determined to make it.
"The cart's falling apart!" Keira yelled.
"We gotta move!" Manny yelled back.
And with a final shot the cart collapsed, leaving them out in the open— and they bolted at fast as their legs could carry them. They just barely made it into the garage as the sniper shot again.
"Fuck!" Abby shouted, "He's good— Keira you okay?!"
"Yeah…" Keira told her.
"No shit." Manny huffed. "We should be going after these guys instead of that shitty fucking island."
Abby picked up some supplies— and a wrench. "How is that still on?"
"Might be happening right now for all we know. I’ve been here for fucking ages trying to get past this guy. You guys are like angels from heaven..” Manny struggled to calm himself, to slow his breathing.
Manny and Abby lifted up the garage door putting all three of them back in the sight of the sniper.
They rushed to hide behind one of the hundred cars in this place. Abby lifted her head to check, only to almost snap her neck as she avoided another bullet.
The bullet hit the car, making a loud noise. In the not so faraway distance Keira could hear yelling— and for some reason the sniper started shooting at the window of cars they weren't even at yet. The screaming got closer.
"Demons!" Keira yelled.
"He's luring them to us!" Manny yelled.
The infected came running down, desperate for a taste of human skin.
Keira held her gun tight, and shot down a runner that gnawed it's teeth in her direction. It's blood coated the nearest car red.
An arm had split from one the infected by Abby's shotgun flying past Keira's view. The blood followed and splattered to the floor.
"Fuck off!" Abby yelled.
Manny kicked the last infected to the floor, held it down with his foot and blew it's face off with his own gun.
"Guys! Let's get up to the bridge." He ran up the stairs, both girls followed in his tracks.
They crouched behind another vehicle. The bridge was close— and so was the sniper.
"He's doing it again!" Keira cried in panic as the man started to shoot at the windows, luring more infected over.
A runner came bolting towards them, stumbling over it's bloody feet. It screamed out in pain as bullets from all three of them rained down on it's body, killing it quickly.
Abby reloaded her shotgun and raised it quickly as a clicker waved it's arms in her direction. The clicker fell to the ground— She paused for a second looking for any sign of movement, dead. She turned her focus to the next clicker running up to her.
Manny decked it with a brick. The creature screamed out and doubled over, giving Abby a chance to hit it down with her newly acquired wrench.
They fought down the remaining infected, all whilst dodging the bullets aimed for them. Even taking down one of those fucking shamblers— Keira hated those assholes.
"That all of them?" Abby questioned, wary.
"I can't hear anymore of them— although these bullets are ringing my fucking ears so don't take my word for it." Manny laughed, making light of the situation.
"Let's get to the bridge before he runs away!" Keira ran forward, being careful of that shining glimmer.
They ran past all the bodies of the infected. Past the cars and into a blind spot for the sniper, a wall covering them from his view.
"I can't wait to get my hands on this guy." Abby said angrily.
"Guys, over here!" Manny shouted, a small gap between the building leading to an elevator.
"Shit!" Abby said, almost slipping after she landed.
They hopped over and into the broken elevator that led to the sniper.
Keira breathed shakily— he was just behind those elevator doors, on the bridge, waiting.
"We can cover you, Abby. Open it." Manny said and leaned up against one of the doors, Keira next to him.
Cautiously Abby wrenched open the stiff door, "Go."
Keira raised her gun ready for the worst only to be greeted by the sight of—
Nothing?
The man was gone, out of sight. From their standing position Keira could not see him behind any of the fences or crates on the bridge.
"Huh—?" she whispered.
"Where'd he go?" Manny asked, confused himself.
"He couldn't have gone far he was just here a minute ago." Abby said and jogged forward.
She hopped over one of the fences, making her way down the bridge and towards the door frame.
"Get down. Down!" Manny shouted.
The sniper came out from the side of the door frame with his gun raised, shooting at Abby like he had a personal vendetta against her or something.
Abby yelled in shock as the bullet just barely missed her face. Then she jumped back over the fence to hide behind it whilst the sniper was reloading his gun again. "Damn it!"
"Fuck it!" Keira yelled. She jumped up from her own hiding spot and shot at the man as he stood still. She could see him recoil back as one of the bullets hit him— Then the coward ran away from them.
"Hey! ¡Maldito bastardo, vuelve aquí!" Manny yelled as the man started to run away.
They started to chase him down as he ran from them. It was like they were hunting him down and he ran like a wounded animal.
"He's there! Go! Go! Go!" Abby yelled.
They followed him down the elevator and past all the chairs. Manny threw a stun bomb, hoping to distract him with the smoke but the fucker was too quick— dodging the bomb like it was nothing. Clearly he wasn't about to let himself get caught off gaurd again.
"You see him?!" Abby yelled over the smoke— It had made it more harder for them than it had for him.
"There, there!" Keira yelled.
The man was sprinting away from them and into a restaurant, reaching up to pull the door down.
"Get back here!" Manny yelled just as the bottom of the door hit the floor.
"He's cornered!" Abby yelled and ran up to the door. She quickly crouched down and snuck her fingers underneath the door, about to pull it up.
But then Manny stopped her, "No." he whispered, "He'll be waiting." He gestured his head away. "Let's find another way in."
Quietly they made their way to the other side of the restaurant.
"You bring this asshole back to Issac, you'll be golden again." Manny told her.
"Yeah well that's if there is anything left of this guy when we're done with him.." Abby said sinisterly.
Keira didn't bother asking who Issac was. There was no time for any questions.
Abby pushed herself up against one side of a door, heaving. It did not open, "Ugh, Manny come help me with this."
Abby swapped door. Keira stood next to her and Manny came up to push himself against the door Abby was stood just seconds ago.
"Okay, 3, 2 —" he said.
They grunted as they pushed up against the door, holding the handles down, trying to open it with all their mighy. The thing barely budged under the force.
"Need help?" Keira asked— awkwardly just watching them struggle.
Manny shook his head and pulled away, "Fuck it. Let's just—" He got cut off by a bullet going straight through the back of his head, and tearing through his eye.
He let out one last pitiful groan before falling face first to the ground, his nose smashed onto the floor.
"Agh!" Abby yelled and fell with him, trying to reach for him. His blood splattered over her face.
Keira gasped loudly. Seeing the man who was fine not even two seconds ago dead on the floor. His blood spilled out instantly, coating his face. His eyes dulled so quickly— his mouth open in a forever scream.
Abby jumped back up as the sniper shot again. She threw herself against the door making a gap big enough for the two of them.
"Keira go!" she screamed.
With urgency both girls threw themselves over the thing blocking the door. As soon as they were I inside Abby pushed it back again.
"Oh. Oh. No…" Keira panicked.
This was not good. Not good at all.
Abby tried to wipe the blood off of her face but she only ended up smearing it more. "Hah!" She shook all over. "Oh fuck… Manny…"
They heard a loud noise, that same door he had disappeared from opening once again.
Abby's face went from being in distress, and panic— to being painted with anger. A look of wanting revenge. To kill this man with her bare hands. To make him suffer. To make him pay.
"Come on." She said— her voice almost unrecognisable.
They crouched down as they made their way out of the kitchen and behind the seats. Keira's knees were aching already. One of the doors were open, wind blowing through, the rain heavy.
Keira tried to see if she could see him through one of the windows, but from her low position on the floor she struggled to see whilst the blinds were down.
Abby slowly walked through the door, the rain blurring her vision. But the man was behind the door, slamming it into her. The handle smashed into her hip and pushed her out into the open.
"Abby!" Keira yelled as the man whacked Abby on the head with his rifle— hard. Her gun had fallen to the ground out of her hands with the movement and she had no time to react. Keira had to step in and help.
Keira barreled into the taller man as hard as she possibly could, pushing him away from Abby whilst she was catching her breath.
The man rounded on her, smacking her in the face with the back of his hand. Keira could feel her lip split under his blow, her teeth being pushed into the inside of her mouth, blood spilling instantly. "Ugh!"
Just as the man went to hit her again he yelled out in pain as his side got pierced with a knife.
"Agh—!" The man angrily shouted, turning to see— not Abby, but Yara.
He punched her face, hitting her to the ground. Yara fell on her side, practically going flying and smashing her arm onto the wooden boards.
"Yara!?" Keira yelled. Both worried and shocked to see her sister.
The man went to shoot at Yara with his gun, about to blow her entire body to pieces— But whilst he was distracted enough Abby yanked him back by his rifle and twisted him around, pushing him onto the railing. The wooden fence broke straight off, making the man and his rifle fall into the water. He did not come back up.
Everything had gone so quickly, like it almost never happened. It was a blurry fight— The only sign that it ever happened was the blood in Keira's mouth, the bruises that would surely form on Abby's hip and the blood on the floor from the man when Yara had stabbed him.
"Yara, are you okay!?" Keira slid to her knees checking on her sister who had fallen onto her stump of an arm. Ignoring her own bleeding and sore mouth.
"Y-yeah…" Yara said. "You?"
She was not okay. She had bruises all over her body, her lip was split and she just witnessed a man lose his life right infront of her own two eyes.
Keira just nodded, too focused on her injured sister. They helped each other back up, going up to Abby who was staring at the waves the man had created.
Keira spat the blood out to the side, the rain washing it away.
"Abby? Are you alright?" Yara asked.
"Yeah. Are you both okay?" Abby asked back, high of the adrenaline. Her hands shook and her voice was high. The blood from her friend still on her face, the rain failed to wash it all over.
"Mhm." Keira said.
"Who was that?" Yara asked, peering over the broken railing carefully.
"Shit. No one— It doesn't matter." Abby said.
"You know him?" Keira questioned her. It seemed like Abby knew more than she was letting on.
"Let's grab your brother and get back to the aquarium." Abby told them, ignoring her question, "Come on. We can take that boat." She pointed over to a boat in the distance.
"Okay…" Yara said, side eyeing Keira— a silent communication between them both. Abby was acting weird and they could both see it.
"How did you even get up here?" Keira asked as they trailed behind Abby.
"There was a stairway around the back that had an elevator with a working generator. You guys took the long way." Yara said and jogged down the steps.
"Are you— are you actually being for real right now?" Keira asked, not happy with the situation.
"Yes."
"Fuck my life…"
"Guys come on. Less talking more walking!" Abby yelled over the rain.
"Coming!"