Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They were running. At near top speed. Again.

And it wasn’t even breakfast time yet. What a rip-off.

This is horrible. I just wanted a granola bar. Of all the ones to come after me, why’d it have to be a Zoomer. I hate Zoomers. It’s always Zoomers. This is absurd, there is no reason he was even there. What was a Zoomer doing in the supermarket on the other side of the city anyway? They like the highway area more ‘cause of all the open space to zoom.

Their train of thought was abruptly (and rudely) interrupted by the edge of the roof.

Great. This is great. This is fine. This is fine. It’s fine. It’s fine. We’re fine. Never mind, I'm going to die.

The gurgling noise behind them became concerningly loud. So they did the perfectly reasonable thing that all reasonable people would do; They spun around on their heels to meet the noise face to face.

“Wow you're ugly. No offense. Would you like a flower?”

“Grrrrr.”

“Y’know what, nevermiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnd. Imma take my granola bar and head home now, if you don’t mind.”

The Zoomer lunged forward, barely giving them time to dodge the attack before the infected fell off the roof and to the concrete.

And this is one of the plus sides to Zoomers; they’re incredibly stupid and will do stupid things. Like run off rooftops and fall eight stories to their death.

They checked the watch on their wrist as it buzzed suddenly.

Oh no. Sherbert’s gonna kill me.

“Look, I’m sorry. But at least I didn’t die.”

“You left the base before dawn, without even leaving a note, went all the way across the city, robbed a convenience store, ran into a Zoomer, and almost fell off a rooftop. What were you thinking?”

“Sherbert, I just wanted a granola bar.”

“So you risked your life for a granola bar.”

“It has chocolate chips. And I brought three boxes of them.”

“Did you check the expiration date?”

“Mhm.”

“What’s the date then? Without looking at the box.”

“Uhhhh,” Oh Gods, what was the date on the box? Was it October 23rd? No, 28th. Definitely the 28th. Why is there still good recent food in the grocery store anyway? The world is practically dead; who’s stocking good food in the store? I’m so confused. Y’know what, Imma just ask Sherbert; maybe they know.

“Earth to Athena. You gonna answer the question or was I right?”

“Oh, ya. It’s the 28th of October. Definitely. Don’t fact-check me.”

“Hmm.” Sherb proceeded to reach into Athena’s bag and take out the boxes.

Aaaaaaaannnnnnnddddddd I’m being fact-checked. Shoot.

“Fine, you win-.”

“Yes!” Victory is mine! Ha!

“-But you’re still grounded. You’re not allowed to leave the base alone again for three days. And you have to fold the laundry.”

Wait, what. No. No no no no no no no no no. No way. Not happening. Why laundry? Ugghh. Hold up, Liiiiiightbuuuuuulb. “Yay, I love folding laundry. Who doesn’t love folding laundry? Folding laundry is a great pastime.”

Sherbert rolled their eyes, not amused but playing into Athena’s sarcasm. “We'll, I'm glad you’re gonna love folding the laundry for the next three days. You’re so right; who doesn’t love folding laundry?”

“I know right! You love folding laundry, I love folding laundry, we both love folding laundry! Wanna go fold some laundry with me?”

Please say “Yes.”

“I’d love to, but I’ve got to go scouting. The place won’t scout itself! Have fun!” Sherbert grabbed their bowstaff and walked out the base’s door, off to scout for resources, damage to the base and any wandering infected that got too close.

Darnit. Almost got them to fold it for me. Might as well wither away from boredom while I get that done.

Athena passed through the base, enjoying the familiarity of their surroundings. The coffee table Sherb had made, the fridge Athena had found and stolen (Hey it still worked! That’s something), the concrete walls they’d painted a comfy grey; warmer than the usual grey concrete, the couch and the dining room table. Y’know the usual stuff you’d find in a previously abandoned but since repurposed apartment in Boston.

They slammed open the basement door and lazily walked down the stairs, dreading their newfound fate.

Ugh, here we go folks! The most boring show in the world where we do horribly boring things like fold laundry and talk about non-existent politics and upcoming elections. It’s official; the Gods have decided to punish me for my existence. Ok, what the actual fuck.

There was so much laundry. Two whole baskets full. One of which is practically overflowing.

Nope. Not doing this. Screw all of this. I have better things to do. Like read, or make sure the garden is tended to properly, or go break a playground structure. Anything but this.

“This is fine. This’ll be fine. This is gonna be epic.” Athena stood in front of the gate that guarded the playground in South Boston, double-checking their surroundings before hopping over.

I really hope there’s no baby zombies in here. Gods, those things suck. Time to break something.

Shit, fuck, shit, fuck, shit, fuck, shit, fuck, shit, fuck. Again?! Really? Uuugggghhhh! This is like a movie character arc now! Why always rooftops?! It’s nice up here but I don’t wanna fall and die! No, no I can’t die. I’m the wonderful, powerful, amazing, intelligent Athena who can never be infected or defeated by any force.

Another zombie. Chasing them across more rooftops. What a great way to spend one's afternoon. The playground was most definitely wrecked; Athena made sure of that much. Now they were jumping the gap between the roofs and sprinting.

They dropped down a layer onto a two story apartment roof and kept running. They turned the corner around a spot where the roof went up two stories and multiple walls met, looking back towards the zombie. They turned to make sure they weren’t about to fall off only to realize they had cornered themselves.

Oh no. At this point I’d rather be folding laundry. This is horrible. I can’t jump that high.

Athena turned to the zombie, of whom had slowed now that Athena was stuck. Athena braced to be bitten, knowing full well they couldn’t jump that high and that they’d left their dagger set at home. Like an idiot.

Sorry Sherbert, don’t rob anyone without me. Thanks for raising me. I appreciate it.

Crash.

Heh? What just happened?

Athena looked up to see a person standing over the newly smashed zombie. “Who are you? Where’d you come from?”

“I’m Sailas. Who are you, kid?”

“I’m Athena. How’d you get up he-?”

The person-Sailas, dropped their hammer, grabbed their head and gritted their teeth in…pain? It was hard to tell. “No time, just get away. Get as far as you can; it’s not safe here and I’m not a good person.”

“What? No! If you need help, I’m gonna get you some.”

“No, get away.” Sailas said, still holding their head as they shot daggers at Athena. “You’ll die. Get away.”

What’s up with this person? Screw this; they need help, and I’m gonna get them some.

“This is the base. You can stay here until you feel better. My roommate won’t mind.” I hope. I really hope Sherbert won’t get mad about this. No. This can only go well.

“You shouldn’t have brought me here. I already told you, I’m not a good person.”

“Athena. Who is this.”

“Haha, hi Sherbert. So ya see, they bashed a zombie’s brain in when I got cornered and was about to die. They seemed like they needed help so I brought them here. Nothing followed us so it’s ok. Plus, they seem hungry. Speaking of which,” they turned to Sailas. “Want a granola bar? They’ve got chocolate chips.”

“Didn’t I say you’re grounded and not allowed to leave without me? And why would you bring someone who very clearly has a serious issue, into the base? What were you, what are you thinking? Use your head Athena.”

“I did! They need help! I’m gonna get someone help if they need it!”

“Athena, you can’t just bring strangers here! You know that! You need to-.” They cut off, staring at Sailas. “Athena. Move. Now.”

“What? Sherbert, they’re fine.”

“Athena. Move.”

“I said I’m dangerous..”

Athena turned to see Sailas staring at them, their eyes suddenly red where white had been and a bright Orange color replacing the natural color of their eyes. “Sailas..?” Athena backed towards Sherbert slowly, not taking their eyes off Sailas. “Are you…infected?”

“I said I’m dangerous. You just were too stubborn to listen. Now look at what you’ve done. I’m sorry Athena, I don’t want to hurt either of you but I can’t fight it anymore.” Athena and Sherbert watched as Sailas became fully infected, their veins showing clearly though their newly pale skin. Sailas smiled sinisterly before lifting the couch and throwing it across the room. Leaving a large crack in the concrete. “You were right Athena; I am hungry.”

Athena bolted towards the kitchen, barely dodging Sailas’ swipe at them. They heard a crash as they passed through the doorway.

That was a coffee table with an empty glass cup on it. Someone’s violent.

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING WE ARE ABOUT TO DIE!” Sherbert shouted as they pulled out their bowstaff and Sailas pulled their hammer out.

“I. WANT.” Hold up. That’s not right. “CORRECTION. I. NEED. MY. CHOCOLATE. CHIP. GRANOLA. BAR. I NEVER GOT TO EAT MINE EARLIER!”

“NOT RIGHT NOW YOU DON’T!” Sherbert ducked as Sailas swung their hammer at their head. “YOU NEED TO NOT DIE! WE BOTH NEED TO NOT DIE!”

“CHOCOLATE IS LIFE! CHOCOLATE OR NOTHING!”

Sherbert got shoved into a wall, using their staff as a barrier between them and Sailas. “NOT WHEN WE’RE ABOUT TO GET EATEN BY SOMETHING!”

“MAYBE THEY DON’T LIKE CHOCOLATE! WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY LIKE BITTERSWEET FOODS!” Who doesn’t like chocolate though? Imma have to talk with these guys if they say they don’t like chocolate. Those are fighting words. That’s a death sentence. Chocolate or Nothing. I brought an infected person into the base and now they’re wrecking it. “This was a terrible idea! I’m sorry Sherbert!”

“Apologize when they’re dead! Not now!” They said hitting Sailas in the rib cage with their bowstaff. “Stop admiring chocolate chip granola bars and help me!”

“Ok I’m coming I’m sorry!” Athena grabbed their daggers and ran straight for Sailas, who had their back turned to them.

Sorry Sailas. You seemed like a good person. Athena dug both their daggers into Sailas’ back as he bit into Sherbert’s bowstaff. Sailas fell to the floor as Athena pulled their daggers out of the infected’s back. They laid still at the pair’s feet. The base was trashed and torn up. A lot of damage had been done, and all the sound was going to attack every zombie that heard the fight.

“Took you long enough.”

“I’m sorry. Everything’s all messed up now. This is going to take forever to fix.” I am an idiot.

“It’s fine. The food is still fine and the walls are mostly intact so we should be fine. We should check outside for any damage before any other infected show up; especially where the crack is.” Sherbert motioned to the large crack in the wall from the couch. “We need to make sure that it didn’t go all the way through the wall. Infected could chip away at it to make an entrance way.”

“That’s the best idea anyone’s had all day.” This is my fault. If it’s damaged I'm going to fix it; Sherbert should focus on what they have to do.

The pair walked outside and around to the side of the base. There was nothing there, it was perfectly fine from the outside. Sherbert said the pair should split up and go around the base to check for other damage and meet at the front door. Sherbert went to the left, Athena the right. From the outside everything was perfectly fine. It was the inside that had damage. Athena was studying the walls closely when she bumped into something. Or someone. And it wasn’t Sherbert.

What the-?

“Mind if I steal a bite for the road?”

Athena screamed as Sailas shoved them against the base wall, grabbed them by the hair and leaded over to bite their neck.

Bang.

Sailas let go of Athena and fell to the ground, a wound in the side of their head.

What the heck? Who? What? Athena looked up to see a person, no, not a person, a robot, with bleach white skin and blue accents and what appeared to be clothes in a similar blue on and across it. Athena pulled out their daggers, holding them up in a defensive position. “Who the hell are you?”

“Greetings, child. My number is 024573776. I do not have any record of you in my memory systems. Who are you? How may I be of assistance today?”

Chapter Text

“Athena! What happened?”

“Sailas was still…alive, I guess. They almost got me. Then it showed up.” Athena pointed to 024573776. “It killed them.”

“What the-? Never mind.” They turned to the robot. “ Who are you, exactly?”

“Greetings. My number is 024573776. How may I be of assistance today?”

“Uhhh, o-ok. That-that’s different. Where did you, like, come from?”

“I come from East Boston Laboratory and Science Center.”

“Where’s that? I’ve never even heard of that.”

What is up with them? Why is a robot from East Boston all the way here? Heh?

“If you’re from East Boston, what are you doing down here?”

“I was sent out to scout for resources and potential life forms, specifically ones not containing the Corinova Gene.”

“The what now?”

“The Corinova Gene.”

“What’s the ‘Corinova Gene?’”

“I apologize but that information is highly classified. I am unable to provide you with that information unless I have your security clearance or have been given explicit permission by my creator.”

“Creator?”

“Correct, human.”

“My name is Sherbert.”

“Hello, Sherbert.”

“Who’s your creator?” Sherbert asked.

“My creator is called Rae.”

“Rae…” Sherbert’s face changed; their eyes glazing over with a distant stare. It wasn’t quite blank, but something else…

Sherbert looks weird. What’s up with them? Are they ok? Eh, they’ll be fine. They’re always ok! Because they’re the skilled, wise, slightly stubborn, survivalist Sherbert who will never be defeated or fall short!

Oh ya, this Rae person.

“Why is this Rae person at this Lab place East Boston thing?? Are they still human?”

“As of the current moment I believe yes.”

“Can you take us there?”

“Athena!”

“What? If this Lab/Science Center is secure enough that a human person built a robot and is still alive and staying there, there’s probably resources there! Besides, it’s been a really long time since there’s been any survivors. If this Rae person has survived this long, they’re probably like us! Just saying.”

“Athena, the last time you thought that said survivor was half infected, wrecked the base, and almost killed you. How do we know this’ll be any different?”

“We ask the robot!” Athena turned to 024573776. “What does your creator do?”

“My creator has been doing experiments since 10 ½ months before the apocalypse. They are a skilled scientist and the Head of the Lab.”

“Wait, so you’re a robot, and a scientist made you?”

“Correct.”

“What have they been doing experiments on?”

“That information is highly classified. I do however suggest you find shelter. My radars sense a large mass of beings carrying the Corinova Gene within a five mile radius of this building. Seeking shelter is highly recommended.”

“Heh?” What are they on about? What…-

“Oh no. Athena, get inside and seal the door behind you. Now.”

“What?” Athena turned their head to see a hoard of infected coming towards them reasonably quickly.

“Athena. Inside. NOW!”

“And leave you out here alone! No way! We’re practically siblings, Sherbert; we stick together! You have always helped me, I’m not leaving you against that alone!” Athena held their daggers up in a ready-to-fight stance, determination in their eyes.

“Athena, take the robot and get inside now. You will die out here; inside. NOW.” Sherbert raises their guard stance, preparing for the hoard. They knew this almost certainly this wouldn’t end injury-free.

“No time. Sorry Sherbert.” Athena ran to the open base door, leaned inside, grabbed the key ring off the wall, and set the door locks. They slammed the door shut, listening from the outside as the base’s emergency mechanic locks kicked in.

Sorry other two boxes of chocolate granola bars. You will be missed.

“ATHENA!”

Athena turned promptly to Sherbert and 02457-the robot, of whom had just raised their hand and shot multiple zombies. “The base is fine. I have the keys. If we stay here they’ll never leave.” Athena turned to the hoard. “And now we run.”

Chapter Text

“Athena! What are you doing?!” Sherbert shouted, stunned at Athena’s apparent lack of common sense. “You’re going to die!”

“02457-robot,” Athena turned swiftly to them. “man we need a better name for you, how far away is the lab you came from?”

“12. 743 miles Northeast.” They looked between the duo blankly.

“What’s the address?” Athena said frantically looking between Robot, Sherbert and the hoard, looking for anything useful. Alright; I fucked to this time.I really fucked up this time.

“62 Moore Street, East Boston, Massachusetts.” Athena turned back to Robot, who was shooting the faster infected as they approached.

“Good.” That’s not too far from here. We’ll be fine. Thank the Gods for Robot’s literal finger guns. Very convenient in times like this.

Athena turned promptly to the hoard. “We’ll be fine if we start running right now.” This’ll be fun. This’ll be SO much fun.

“Athena.” Sherbert scoffed slightly. “What- Athena, are you trying to get us killed?! We are not going to some laboratory in East Boston with a robot-thing.”

Athena turned back to Sherbert. “If you lecture me right now, I will hit you with a granola bar.”

“Enough with the granola bars!” Sherbert threw their hands up before sighing. “Fine! Lab it is! But only because they are right there.” Sherbert gestured to the quickly approaching hoard.

Www Wuh oh. Athena thought. Time to go.

Sherbert grabbed Athena’s hand and Athena grabbed 024573776’s hand and the trio began sprinting.

“We really need to start planning these things in advance!”

“I had a plan, YOU decided you couldn’t manage folding laundry and you ran off again!” Sherbert remarked, very agitated at the entirety of the day up to this point.

“I already said sorry!” Athena shouted, jumping over a massive pothole in the concrete.

“Sorry won’t eradicate the hoard behind us!” Sherbert responded, grabbing Athena again and pulling the trailing teenager along.

“I know that!” The trio sharped left down a narrow alleyway, and Athena shoved a bunch of trash bins down, completely blocking the alley. “That should give us some time.” What now what now what now whatnow whatnow whatnowwhatnow? How did even this happen again? My confusion is through the roof.

“Smart thinking.” Sherbert whipped their head around, noticing the fire escape ladder hanging out of reach. “Up there,” they pointed to the ladder. “They can't reach us up there, and a bird’s-eye view isn’t a bad idea in a hoard attack.”

“If only any of us could reach the damn thing as I would.” Athena said with obnoxious sarcasm, “Shame we’re all too short.”

“I may be of assistance as of the present situation. My creator installed height functions to enable me to reach objects he cannot.”

“First they shoot an infected with a litteral finger gun and now they have ‘height functions.’” Athena does air quotes before turning to the robot. “What don’t you have, other than, like, a shorter name? And gender. Do you have a gender? Or are you non-binary like Sherbert? Both are cool, I don’t care, but do you have one?” Robot is really starting to confuse me.

“My creator has assigned my gender as male or none.” Robot confirmed.

“Good to know.” Athena remarked, smirking cheerfully.

“Great. Wonderful. Can you get the ladder down now before they break down Athena’s barricade o trash bins?” Sherbert tilted their head towards the pile as infected began to appear behind it, trying (and failing) to reach the trio.

“Of course.” He held his left arm up, and shot something. And whatever that something was gripped onto the ladder and brought it down to their height. He moved out of the way and began shooting more of the infected while blankly staring at them like they were an unpainted wall.

Wait a Gods forsaken minute.

“YOU HAVE A GRAPPLING HOOK IN YOUR HAND. SHERBERT, HE HAS A GRAPPLING HOOK IN HIS HAND. DID YOU SEE THAT?! THAT’S POGGERS!” Athena jumped up and down with excitement, completely amazed by Robot.

“Ya…” Sherbert trailed off, a look of doubt and confusion in their face. “Since when can you do that?”

“Since my Creator added the function in. He had trouble reaching things on higher shelves and was worried of falling from the foot ladder.”

“That..makes sense actually.” Athena thought aloud.

“Ya great, wonderful. Athena start climbing because they’re almost through.” Sherbert pointed to the smarter zombies moving the bins.

“Aah! Let’s go! C’mon robot, follow us.” Athena climbed hastily up the fire escape. “Once we’re all up here and not worrying about the hoard, let’s find you a shorter name finally.”

“Great plan Athena. ‘Cause 024573776’s name being shorter is top priority right now.”

“I’m just saying!” Athena yelled from the top. “No need to make it a huge deal.” Athena reached down and offered their hand to their robo friend.

Sherbert reached the top quickly afterwards, and the infected began filling the alleyway. “Quick! Help me pull this up!”

Athena grabbed onto the top ladder ring, and with Sherbert’s assistance, pulled the ladder back up and locked it back in its place.

“Ok, there’s no infected up here.” Athena said.

“Great. What now? Where exactly are we?” Sherbert looked around cautiously, double checking Athena’s check and scanning for ways the infected could reach them.

News flash, they couldn’t.

“We are currently 11.028 miles southwest of East Boston Laboratory and Science Center.” Robot interjected helpfully.

“Great. What now? Where do we go?”

“Why are you asking me?” Athena threw their hands up as Sherbert turned to them.

“Because you’re usually the one who jumps across people’s roofs to get around whenever you feel like it..? Why else?”

Athena paused for a second, cycling through four different facial expressions at once before ending on one of you’ve got a point. “Touche.”

“Let's just get moving. They’ll find some way up here eventually.”

“Right.” Athena looked around, and upon realizing where the trio was, gasped aloud. “We’re near the park I destroyed!”

“What?”

“I broke a playground structure earlier today. Before the whole Sailas breaking everything, robot showing up and getting-chased-by-a-hoard thing.”

Sherbert sighed and put their hand on the bridge of their nose, just wanting to be done with this.

Sherbert’s in a mood. Right then. It’s fine. We’re fine. We should start moving. Robot needs a better name.

“Let’s find you a better name robot.” Athena put their hands on their hips.

“We can do that while we get out of here.” Sherbert said as their eyes lit up, signaling that they had to get moving. “Which way, Athena?”

Athena looked up to the sky, noting the sun was at about the position of 8:45 military time. “That way. It leads towards Logan Airport. That’s our best bet.”

“The Laboratory is 5.69 miles north of the Port B entrance of Boston Logan International Airport, directly across the street from Excel Academy.”

“I’ve seen that place before,” Sherbert said, looking from Robot to Athena. They folded their arms in front of them, nodding slightly as they spoke. “It’s a high school.”

“Let’s go then!” Athena jumped slightly. They started towards the edge of the roof before jumping the gap to the roof across the alley. “C’mon you guys!”

Sherbet sighed and followed suit behind Robot, who was copying Athena’s movements as the trio moved across the city’s rooftops. It was about 78 degrees Fahrenheit outside, so the human duo was sweating quite a bit. Robot was a robot; he didn’t sweat.

“Hmm.” Athena jumped a gap and landed in a superhero pose. (Just for the fun of it.) They clambered up an uneven brick wall and stood high while gazing upon the city they’d loved their whole life. They put their hands on their hips and turned their head towards the tallest of the buildings in the area. “What to name a robot?”

“I dunno.” Sherbert shrugged, spinning their bowstaff between their fingers as they waited for Athena. “024573776. Interesting number; why not just a single number? Like 4 or 7?”

“Yes!” Athena jumped back down to Sherbert’s level, landing carefully. “Seven. That’s simple and easy to remember, and there’s three 7’s in your name already. Seven makes sense.”

“So, you both will be identifying me as Seven?”

“Yup!” Athena said, smiling sweetly. “Sherbert, Seven. Let’s go!” Athena raised their hands above their head. “ Adventure awaits!” Sherbert rolled their eyes and smirked, genuinely amused. They raised an eyebrow as Athena tried to monkey up a fallen laundry line, laughing slightly as they struggled to reach the ground after getting tangled in the line.

Sherbert helped Athena untangle themself, immediately after which Athena ran off again, crossing three rooftops before slowing and walking along the edge of the roof as the others trailed close behind.

“Did you ever go to high school, Sherbert?” Athena turned their head to them as they crossed over fallen boards to the other rooftop. “What was it like?”

“I went for about two years before everything started. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t amazing either. It’s hard, I’ll say that much. A lot of papers to write and projects to complete by certain deadlines all while taking notes in your classes and then doing four hours of homework after school’s out. You meet good people, you get bullied, you find your clique, you pass or fail. Simple as that really.”

“What’s a clique?”

“A clique is a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.” Seven chimed in with the exact dictionary definition.

“Ya. Certain cliques didn’t get along with each other.”

“Oh that’s where I’ve heard the term ‘cliques!’ It was in that really old movie High School Musical™.”

“Yup it was. And it’s not that old, Athena.”

“It came out in like 2002. It’s old.”

“It’s not that old.” Sherbert scoffed.

“Sherbert, it’s 2024. That was 22 years ago. That movie is old. Old as the sun.”

Their argument continued for about twenty minutes with Robot just listening, interjecting with useful information when he thought he should.

“It is old!”

“It came out three years before I was born. It’s not that old Athena.”

“Wait, what?”

“I was born in 2005,” Sherbert sighed, “I thought I told you that.” They reached a hand down to the somehow beneath them Athena.

“You told me the day you were born, not the year!” Athena said as they reached up for Sherbert’s extended and leather gloved hand.

“You were born in 2011.” They pulled Athena up, stepping back and taking a breath before following the flower-loving child.

“Oh ya.” Athena stopped and bent over, their hands on their knees as they took a few deep breaths. “Water would be great right about-.”

Bang.

What the-? Athena stood up sharply, looking around in every direction they could for the source of the sound. Sherbert’s eyes reflected a mixture of panic and confusion.

Bang.

“Athena.”

Bang. The air whizzed quickly passed Athena’s face, as if something just barely missed her.

“Sherbert..”

“Athena! Find cover!”

Bang.

Thud.

Chapter Text

——————————————————————————
——————————————————————————

Bump bump.

Bump bump.

Bump bump.

Bump bump.

The noise echoed loudly, the world black with hints of colored streaks.

Bang. “Wha…?”

Voices. Faint voices. Of something familiar…

Click click click click.

Footsteps... But from where?..

The noise stopped in front of them.

“My child, it’s time to leave.”

“N-No... I’m n-not ready!…” they shouted, unable to look at anymore than the feet of the one on front of them. “I d-don’t w-wanna go yet…”

“You cannot stay forever. You must move on.”

“No... N-Not-not yet…they s-still n-need me…I c-can’t l-leave them n-now…” Stuttering. “I-I ca-can’t…”

Sigh. “You can only stay for a short while longer. If you wish to stay you must awake. Now or never.”

“I-I…I’m tr-try…ing…”

“Wake up my Child.”

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Chapter Text

“Athena!” Sherbert shouted, sprinting to Athena’s side. Athena what’ve you done Sherbert turned them face-up, noticing the dart in their neck. “What the?”

Footsteps.

Oh Gods. Sherbert whipped their head around, spotting a figure running opposite them on a rooftop cross the road. “Seven, how far can you shoot?”

“The distance depends on the type of projectile I am firing.”

“How far for a bullet.”

“As far as the gun the bullet would most commonly be fired from will cause it to travel.”

“Seven, follow them. Athena and I will wait in this building. Don’t come back until you’ve caught them.”

——————————————————————————

Come on. Wake up Athena.

Sherbert had picked the padlock keeping the chains over the door and (hopefully) infected out and carried Athena inside, relocking the door from inside and speeding down a flight of stairs. They entered (broke into, in legal terms) the first apartment they could and scanned the interior for infected before quickly bringing Athena in.

It was a small apartment with light blue walls and green couches, and three of the lights in the 4 room place were broken or burnt out. The only two working lights were the hall light and the bathroom light, so Sherbert left the bathroom door open to let in as much light as possible without opening the deep grey curtains. They’d moved the only still intact and sturdy chair into the center of the kitchen, leaving only an arm’s worth of space between the back of the chair and the granite countertop. Athena had been out for what felt like forever, but Sherbert’s watch said only about ten minutes.

We need to keep moving; it’s not safe to stall here all day. C’mon Athena, get up.

Sherbert had already checked the apartment for supplies, but more importantly, a medical kit. Nothing. Whoever had lived here didn’t stay
very long after the start of the apocalypse, and they took whatever they could when they left.

A sound from the entry way startled Sherbert. It wasn’t an uncommon or threatening sound to most, but under the current circumstances it was incredibly out of place.

It was a knock.

Sherbert pulled one of Athena’s daggers from its sheath, moving carefully towards the door. Another knock echoed slightly, confirming it wasn’t Sherbert’s imagination. They moved the cover of the door’s peephole and saw a white and blue figure standing seemingly patiently in the white-stained-wall hallway.

Seven.

Cautiously, Sherbert unlocked the door, opening it just a crack. “Seven?”

“Yes Sherbert?”

“Is it just you?”

“No. I have who you asked me to retrieve.”

“Good. Are they infected?”

“They do not appear to carry the infection.”

“Get in quickly then.” Sherbert opened the door, and Seven pushed someone forward before closing the door behind them. Sherbert noticed the figure was blue and white like Seven but with far more purple and black, and they had a Sniper Rifle strapped to their back. Seven had his finger gun to the back of their head, and they made no attempt to do anything about it. “Put them in the chair in the kitchen.” Sherbert pointed to the chair they’d set out. “Tie them up with something if you can. I’m checking on Athena.”

Sherbert left Seven and the other in the kitchen and walked back over to the couch. They kneeled beside Athena, checking her pulse. She was freezing to the touch but her pulse was steady. Sherbert pulled a blanket they’d found over her and stood up. The spot on her neck where the dart had been had a small swell, but nothing overly concerning. Sherbert had already pulled the dart out and set it aside; the colors on the dart matched the new figure Seven had brought in, blue, purple, white and black.

Now our new acquaintance.

Sherbert grabbed the dart off the table and turned back to the kitchen, finding Seven standing guard in front of the figure. Apparently Seven had found a rope somewhere, because the being was struggling against some form of bondage. The figure’s most defining trait was the cat mask that covered their face, and their half-and-half blueish purple and white hair.

“What’s in the dart?” Sherbert held it up in front of their face for the figure to see.

“It’s a dart. Take a guess.”

Sherbert moved quickly and stood right in front of the figure, anger controlling their thoughts. “What did you inject my sibling with?”

“Relax, it’s just a sleeping drought. It’ll wear off in fifteen, twenty minutes tops.”

Sherbert scoffed and looked briefly at Seven. As if that made anything any better. “Why’d you shoot them?” Sherbert swung their head back to the masked one as they spoke.

“Because I wanted to slow you down enough to catch up. You’re the first survivors I’ve seen in my five years in this terrible city. Why were you three being chased by a hoard?”

Sherbert stepped back, alarm and concern filling their eyes and mind. Their mouth popped open slightly, too many questions and zero answers swirling in their head.

How do they know that? Who even is this person?

“None of your business. Now who are you?”

“None of your business.”

“Answer my question,” Sherbert spun the dagger in their hand for the figure to see, “Or I might let you taste this steel. Who are you and how did you know about that.”

The figure sighed and shook their head slightly. “I know about the hoard because I heard you yelling and saw you three sprint down the street and into that alleyway.”

“That’s only half of my question.”

The masked one threw their head back and groaned annoyed. “Will.” They tilted their head back to Sherbert. “My name is Will. And you must be Sherbert, right?”

Chapter Text

Apologies to everyone who enjoyed this, but between school, my home life and the career I’m working on building for myself, I unfortunately have to discontinue this and One Without The Other.

I may pick them up again eventually or even do a rewrite, but for now don’t expect updates. I apologize for the inconvenience, and I’m upset by this as well.

I’m working on publishing an actual book within the next two years, and I may post bits of that and the small spin off project here, but APUMATI and One Without The Other have to be cut for that to happen.

I’m incredibly sorry. :/