Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ashlyn pov:

I’m fucked. That thought is loud-louder then the sound of my heartbeat and blood rushing to my ears. I raise my pace up as I make a sharp turn to the tree. Dodging Tree trunks, hanging branches, and the absurd amount of debris. The sound of crunching leaves take up all my attention.

Well that and the sound of a raging pack of flesh eating monsters running behind me.

“Of course,” I mutter between ragged breaths. “All this for a lighter.”

I jerk my head side to side, briefly weighing out my options on what to do. Thoughts run through my mind. I knew I shouldn’t had took the risk to go into the town-it was a dumb idea. The dumbest decision I could ever make, maybe it’s the dehydration or the fact iv hadn’t had an eaten an actual meal since only god knows. My last lighter ran out and fire Is a key factor in survival and I refuse to die just because I couldn’t boil some damn water.

I jump over an root of someOvergrown weeds, landing hard. Pain jolts up my leg but I ignore it, focusing on running. The gate I hurdled thirty seconds ago didn’t hold. I can hear them tearing through it, wood snapping, metal screeching. Great. Just great. I huff out a breath. “Shit..!” My backpack is too damn heavy- not letting me run at full speed, my energy is low, my patience is even lower. The fact I even went to that god forsaken town just for one tiny lighter?! It’s so small yet it’s so helpful…as of right now it seems like I could have done without it.

The sound of an infected grabs my attention and I make an abrupt stop-but I’m to late. I barely have time to think before something slams into me from the side. I hit the ground hard—air knocked from my lungs, pain flaring up my shoulder. I thrash wildly, dirt filling my mouth, nails clawing at anything solid. A rotten face is in mine. Blackened gums. Missing jaw. Milky eyes that don’t blink. I’m trying to keep my distance but it’s too strong and im far too exhausted. “Get..OFF ME!” I yell as the undead man slammed my head in the dirt. It snarls and lunges. I yank my crowbar up just in time and its disgusting teeth sink into the metal instead of my throat. My hands shake as I wrestle it back.

Where’s my gun? My gun. My holster. Thigh strap. Focus, Ashlyn.

My hands is too preoccupied by trying to keep this thing from biting into me, and my gun is in my thigh strap. It pushes down on me. I can barely keep it back now. My arms are burning, and I’m seconds away from giving out. I feel the cool bite of desperation curl in my gut. I grunt as the sound of rumbling comes closer. God how did I manage to attract a whole crowd of theses thing! What was that one dumb quote my dad use to say about unwanted attention? 

My knife.

I slide my foot back, frantically feeling for the edge of my shoe. Click. The hidden blade pops out. I drive it up into the thigh. It groans, stunned, and I take my chance. I drive the crowbar forward and push him off me. I don’t even feel the recoil when I yank the gun out and unload. Once. Twice. Three times. Four.

The thing’s head cracks open, and it slumps like a dropped sack of meat. I’m lucky I didn’t use up all my bullets already, one bullet would have definitely not even made a dent in him. I collapse, gasping. Sweat and blood dripping down my face. “Son of a—” I grab my shoulder. Clawed. Deep. Hurts way to bad. “Perfect,” I mutter. “Just fucking perfect.”

And then I hear it—rumbling.

Not behind me. In front of me.

No time to rest.

I get back up and start darting. My hideout is way too far and covered in infected. Didn’t a pass a school on the way out of town? Might be a long shot but it’s all I have.

Chapter Text

Ashlyn banner pov:

I land a hard blow to a window and the glass shatters. Shit, that was loud. I look back down the the makeshift ladder I made out of wooden crates on a truck. I should have just broken a window on the first floor. I push my bag through the broken and crumbling window and follow close behind it, watching out for any sign of infected , or phantoms. Out of the two I’m hoping for an infected.

My boots crunch on the glass as I land. the sting in my shoulder flaring with the movement. I grunt, already regretting it. My eyes scan the dim hallway of the abandoned school—silent, eerie, with that stench of mold and rot that clings to your nose and never lets go. I see a bathroom door and dart for it. I sigh and slide down the wall. My eyes notice something taped on the stall door, barely hanging on. I squint.

“The government signed sheet: all rescue available is almost compacted, this will all be under control soon enough but as of now we transport all the unenforceable and vulnerable uninfected to safety. Read more to know where your transportation links.”

I scoff I tune my head to the side, focusing on getting my breathing on track. What a joke.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

The infected come out of nowhere- it started as a disease for older people. Bones would become stronger, skin would rot of their faces and body, they looked dead but still very much alive. The more it spread, the more people started to worry. A hospital somewhere in the south holding all the patients had a blackout, all medical maintenance machines shut down and that when people say the patients-snapped.

The infected people got out, started biting and spreading the disease. In the span of three hours all the states were on lockdown. The government put out statements to stay inside and hidden, but these things have enhanced strength and speed that if they broke in you might as well just go enjoy your last moments.

Me and my parents managed to get in a safe zone but it didn’t last long. They separated all adults, kids, teens and killed anyone older than the age of 60. Just as all the teens were about to get transferred to a bus to get to safety, infected got inside. It was bloodshed at its worst. They left us and I had to watch as my parents banged on the bus windows as they drove away. I don’t know what happened in other states or matter of fact what went down anywhere other then here, but the government bombed hospitals and clinics operated testing facilities. that didn’t work and they eventually bombed those too. People started freaking out separating and abandoned anyone who they suspected was infected.

Then came the phantoms.

No one knows how they showed up, maybe it’s a different stage of infection or maybe it’s a whole different disease. Skin turns black and smiles turn yellow, eyes bulg out of their heads. They would usually be completely silent but thanks to the fact one yelled so hard in my ear, I can hear them all now. They scream yell, and is a personal different type of hell. They are the worst of the worse.

I somehow managed to get out without being eaten or infected, and for the last 6 months iv been alone. Alone is an odd word, iv seen people. Most have gone mad making up cults and conspiracy’s. Groups of cannibals, groups who praise the infect like gods, groups which try to make a civil society but don’t end up going far, groups that claim we should all just die and give up fighting. Then the revolution, a group of individuals that believe there’s a cure. They use violence to have people join and refuse to go into any safe zones….dont know much about them.

I don’t know what my plan is, I just know I need to make it back to my mom and dad. I know they’re safe, I just have to believe that.
In a world full of flesh eating monsters, humans still manage to be the worst. Bye bye civilization and the human race.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

I grunt as the pain in the shoulder becomes all I can focus on, and the hunger in my stomach. I tied a pathetic piece of cloth around it hoping to hold up some bleeding but I need actual wrap and alcohol to keep it from getting worse. I look forward at the door leading out of the bathroom-that honestly has the worst smell of shit iv ever smelt. Schools are one of the first place people ran to hide, so I’m sure there’s not many happy surprises in here for me. I pull my backpack from my back and open it up. Might as well empty it out so I can run better, and then I’ll look around so I could possibly find some damn food maybe-

“Hey!”
A muffled yell comes from behind the bathroom door. I go still. It sounded..human…male. Real?

Another survivor

I pull out my handgun, heart thudding against my ribs. Can’t trust anyone. I quickly raise myself from the floor and walk to the door, standing for a second to make sure they weren’t coming in first.

I push open the door fast, gun raised—

———————

Aiden Clark pov:

5 minutes earlier…..

I look up from my uno card and think. Okay…this is my last chance. I slam down a green card and get up from my seat. “UNO!” the silence echoed through the trashed classroom and I sigh.

Yea this is wayyyyy less fun to do by yourself. I sit back in my seat and swipe all the uno cards off the desk. They scatter across the disgusting floor.

Iv been taking shelter in this damn school for a good month now, if I wasn’t already losing my mind before I definitely am now. I know I should move to a different area, I should already be a far away from this place as possible. It’s a magnet for trouble. But it’s still hard to move from the only place you can actually somewhat relax in, and that hasn’t tried to kill me yet.

Not that I would care, I’m only still here for my cousin sake.

The last place I was hiding got invested by a single phantom, and after that whole situation I’m still a bit shaken. I managed to drag myself inside this school and not die, so I’m saying this place is a godamn omen for safety. Still, i need to figure out a plan. I glance over to the pile of weapons that are all loaded and ready to go, and the pile of maps and other various papers giving me hints about where my cousin could be located. I lean in my desk.

1: I could leave the school and go off on my own to find a safety zone….wherever that is located at.

2:go off on and find Ben

3: simply die

4: join the crazy cult that’s not that far from this school. Temping

I tilt my head looking at the ceiling. 3 would be ordeal but 2 is what I want. Last I saw Ben he was being drove off to safety, leaving me behind. My brain runs through as I feel the leak from the ceiling drip water on me. I recoil back and do my best attempt to wipe it off. “Ugh, fucking gross dude” I mutter to myself. I don’t think iv ever wanted to take a shower this badly my entire life-

“CRACK!!”

A sound makes me freeze.

I tilt my head, eyes narrowing. That wasn’t the wind. Sounded like glass.

I reach for the gun iv been keeping in my waistband this entire month—my version of a best friend lately—and stand slowly. Another footsteps shudder. Definitely not mine. I chuckle and shake my head. Iv murder a thousand infected by now, why do they keep on wondering in?

I move toward the door and press my back against the wall, the small possibility of it being a phantom makes me hold my breath. I glance in the hallway just in time to see the door to the bathroom close. And infected wouldn’t open doors.. right? They would wonder around looking for something to eat on. My heart races.

A Survivor?

I quietly walk to the door, glancing at the broken window. I follow it to the glass on the floor, to the dirt marks of a shoe on the ground leading me to the boys bathroom. My eyes widen. This has to be a person. I face the door and tilt my head. What am I supposed to say? Better yet what if I’m wrong. Might as well.

“Hey!” I shout out. Seconds pass.

Before I know it, the door bust open and I’m staring at the barrel of a gun. I barely get my own gun raised in time. My finger tightens around the trigger on instinct, but I hesitate when I actually see her.

A actual person.

Short ginger hair clings to her blood-smeared face. Green eyes keeping eye contact, injured shoulder wrapped in what looks like a strip of old shirt. She’s armed to hell—guns, knives, backpack loaded with gear. She could kill me in six different ways and probably already thought through five of them.

But she doesn’t shoot. Neither do I.

Not Ben, a possibility infected girl. But she’s still someone heavily armed pointing a gun at my face. “You know you’re in the boys bathroom, right?” I smile cautiously. She probably got bit, even though it would be interesting I don’t think I should keep her around for much longer. They last few months my unhealthy habit to cope with humor have gotten much worse since ever. Our eyes stay locked for a second longer.

And then—like something clicks she threw the backpack back in the bathroom. I lunge at her. She fires. Misses. I tackle her to the floor, her elbow cracks against my jaw. Pain shoots through my face. I grunt and slam my forearm down to pin her wrist, I raise my around her neck so I can get a steady punch but she twists under me like she’s done this before. The gun skids across the floor. Both of ours.

I lock my arm around the mysterious women’s neck and slam her face first into the wall before she pushes off with her legs and headbutts me. I stagger back, blood trickling down my nose. Maybe I signed up for more then I expected. “Ugh-really?” I yell out before She sweeps my legs and I crash down hard. I roll before she can stomp me and grab my knife. She’s already got one out too. I swipe at her leg and manage to get just the edge, blood trickling through her pants “You wanna dance, sweetheart?” I hiss, circling her. “Fuck off, iv already had a bad day” she deadpans back. Her voice is oddly steady.

Clearly she’s not infected like I thought-but she did just attempt to kill me so who cares at this point. It’s kill or be killed.

I pause and glance at my gun across the room. At the same time we both dart to our guns. I grab mine and hear skidding. As soon as I turn around she’s sliding on her knees drawing the gun to my face. Hers in directly in front of my head while mine is pressed on her stomach. I can hear our panting.

We freeze. Two guns. Two triggers. One twitch away.

“Lower it.” She huffs out locking eyes with me. Hate to admit it, but she’s is extremely gorgeous. The closer I am the more details I can see. Freckles mixed in with dirt, her eyes is a sharp contrast to her skin, and I don’t think iv ever seen a burgundy redhead before. “You first.” I counter. We hold eye contact for a few minutes. “So you intruded on my territory, then attempt to kill me?” I smirk tightly holding me gun.

“You attacked me first, dumbass.” She spits out harshly.

“Yea because a person covered in blood with a visible injury totally is totally not infected.” I scoff.

“Well I’m not, what kind of infected holds around a gun and backpacks? Your survival instincts are clearly lacking.”

I raise a brow. That one slightly hurt my ego. “What are you doing here?” I pant. “Why do you think I’m here? Shelter.” she bites back. We stay still for a moment.

“Your not infected?” She asked fast.

“No”

More silence.

“So why are we trying to kill each other?” I smiled. I feel the blood from my nose leak into my mouth and leave a metal taste. She squints at me. “Take a step back on 3 then”

“1”
“2”
“3”

We both quickly keep our weapons in place and take a step back not breaking eye contact. “Try anything and you die” I threaten. She scoffed. “I would love to see you try” she countered. We watch each other for a few seconds.

“…aiden” I said finally.

She blink. “Ashlyn”

A long pause.
Pretty name.

A smile spreads on my face. “Wow…I’m actually having human interactions right now.” I said staring at her blank face. “Feels great”

She flashes a quick sarcastic smile at me and tucks her gun back in her thigh strap. She turns her back and starts walking back over to the bathroom. “Wait-where are you-“ I start before she interrupts. “To grab my stuff and get the hell out” she responded opening up the bathroom door. Are you Kidding me? Of course as soon as I finally get to see an actual person, they end up trying to leave immediately.

“Oh come on!” I beg following her in the bathroom. “You’re going to go back out there for what? To die? I won’t put my hands on you unless you try something first-“ I said mid sentence when I hear her grunt. I open my eyes. She’s bent over, one hand on her backpack and the other one clutching her shoulder. I mean one look at her and you could tell she’s been through something today.

“You injured?” I asked leaning on the wall. She stays still for a moment before ignoring me and throwing her backpack on the none injured shoulder. “If you wanna leave so bad then at least let me help you with your whole shoulder situation, because that little shirt piece is only going to leave you with an infection and bleeding out.”

She paused and we locked eyes again. Her eyes seem less dangerous and more… enticing. She takes a big breath out, clearly frustrated, and drops her bag.

Chapter Text

Aiden pov:

“Make yourself at home” I said opening up the door leading to the classroom iv been residing in. I hear Ashlyn’s footsteps behind me as I close and rebarracade the door.

I can call this place “home” as much as I want but that won’t change anything. It’s a dump. It’s dirty in here, blood and grim covering every surface possible. I tried my best and made a couple couches out of desk, put cloth over chairs, make a mattress out of backpacks, hell I even sprayed some expired air freshener to try to conceal the mildew smell, but it feels cold and lifeless.

I see Ashlyn’s eyes drift to the pile of weapons in the corner. I clock it immediately. “Don’t touch any of those” I said digging through the bin I keep majority of my heath stuff in My hands move on instinct, but my brain lags behind.

Why am I even helping her?

I’ve guarded these supplies like gold. Nearly got myself killed scavenging them. The offer to help her was a last-ditch, desperate gamble to keep her here. But now that she’s actually inside, sitting in my space… I’m not sure it was smart. This is the some women who head butted and kick me. Clearly she has a good amount of fighting skill, and I bet we are pretty equal. She doesn’t seem very trustworthy, or TRUSTING.

I just got tired of playing UNO alone.

“Trust me I’m not interested” she says. I can hear the fed up in her voice. I dig through some more and spot white, I pull out a roll of bandages and a nearly empty bottle of alcohol. “Here we go” I said tossing it to her. She caught both effortlessly and sat down on a desk.

Silence for a few moments.

“So,” I start. “Where ya from?” She raised a brow like the question was absurd. “Oh come on, I’m giving up supplies to you. The least I could get back is some conversation?” I beg. She doesn’t smile, but her gaze softens just a fraction. After a pause, she mutters, “alto.”

“Georgia?”

“No. Alto, Mars.”

I blink.

She rolls her eyes. “Yes. Georgia.” I smile. Okay, we’re getting somewhere. I can’t go 10 minutes without talking, so imagine going 4 months. “That’s funny,” I start. “I moved there a few weeks before the whole fall of civilization began.” I laughed. I would ask if we went to school together, but I mostly just skipped. “You do know we’re still in Georgia, right?” She deadpanned. I blink. “What part?” I’m confused. All that walking I did and I’m still in Georgia, really? “Savannah.” She replied unrolling the bandages.

I sigh and throw my head up. The amount of pain and tears I had while making my way here, I really would have thought I’m in like…Tennessee or somewhere farther away. But no, I had blisters on my feet for days and I ended up still in this state. My head plummeted down and I swing my feet on the desk I’m sitting on across from her.

“How did you get the nasty….you know” I asked circling my shoulder like it would explain the question better. She briefly looked up at me. “….Went out to this little town a few miles west. Thought it was mostly cleared out, figured I’d try to scrap whatever people left when all of this started” She pauses, wincing as she tightens the wrap. “Turns out it wasn’t so cleared.” she said. the blood seeps through quickly on the bandages. She looked around. “Why do you have so much supplies if you don’t even go out?” She asked in a lower tone. I inhale through my nose, slow and steady. “I used to. Traveled with someone for a while. We… got separated.” She doesn’t say anything. “Been here ever since,” I add with a shrug, like I’m not dying to know if the person I lost is still breathing. She shifts on the desk, pulling the edges of her jacket tighter around her. “Separated how?”
“Just… lost track. Smoke, chaos, too many of infected and phantoms. You know how it is.” I shrug again attempting to look unbothered.

“You travel with anyone?” I said switching the topic.

“Nope”

“You’ve been alone this whole time?”

“Yea”

I stare at her “Jesus, how are you even still alive?”

She brings her legs up to the edge of the table “How is anyone alive?”

Can’t argue with that. A quiet stretches between us, filled only by the soft patter of rain against the windows. It’s the first sound in hours that isn’t our voices or the creak of the building settling under its own weight. I glance at her. She’s staring at the floor now, her hands twitching slightly like she doesn’t trust stillness. I know the feeling. “I’ve got food,” I say after a beat. “Not much. Some crackers. Half a can of soup I didn’t hate. Not moldy.”

She look up. “Why would you offer me that?” She asked suspiciously. I shrug. “Iv been lonely the past few months, can’t a guy offer up some food?” Truth is I don’t know why I’m offering anything to her considering we just tried to kill each other an hour ago. She squinted. “It’s not expired yet?” She asked. I let out a dry chuckle. “Barely, but it’s the closest thing to not I have.”

Silence.

“Fine. I’ll eat. But I’m not sticking around.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care.

———————————

I take the can and dump it in the big trash bag iv been holding up in the corner of the room. The soup was chunky, tasted somewhat off and like it had years of flavor forgotten. The crackers were extremely brittle and I couldn’t tell if the small black dots were seasoning or dead ants. Ashlyn was mostly quiet and kept her distance while eating- it was nice to have someone to eat meals with again. I glance out the window at the rain.

Shit it’s going down hard out there

“Are you sure you wanna go back out there? It looks like it’s raining really fucking hard.” I said opening up a window. The wind blows in hard nearly knocking me off my feet. “I’ll manage” she replied dryly hoisting a metal rod in her hand. “Well, I guess this is goodbye Ashlyn?” I sigh turning around. She already halfway out the door. We met eyes and something in my stomach drops. “Thank you,” she says softly letting her guard down for just a moment before her gaze turn unrecognizable again. I smile wider. “Be safe” I return. Then As quickly as she came, she left.

The room turned cold again, I became aware of the feeling inside my gut.

I need to find Ben.

I glance again over at the pile of papers and guns. I need to abandon the school. That girl, she was out there for 6 months without dying. I’m sure I’ll stay alive if I try but if my brain turns on me….i can’t trust myself.

There’s a creek from farther away, not the way Ashlyn was walking. I straightened and I felt my body tense.

—————

Ashlyn pov:

I sigh walking down the dark hall. The food and bandages were a nice jester, I would have never done that. He was too talkative- and he chewed loud with him mouth wide open. Gross.

He was pretty normal looking, dirty but cleaner than me, blonde hair but you could tell his roots are black, makes me wonder how he even managed to find dye to redo his roots. Pretty toned looking, taller, dark brown eyes, tan skin, and a scar peeking out on his eyelid. The whole time he never stopped smiling, not once did I catch his face resting. Weird, were in a apocalypse there is nothing to be smiling about.

I return to the broken window and peak the water thudding down hard. He was right-by an inch. I’ll still manage it will just be annoying. I would usually stay in the school till it stopped but with someone else here, I couldn’t trust it. You can’t trust anyone. People who are still alive and out in the wild are either ignorant, crazy, blood thirsty, or simply brainwashed with the government. I’m better off without them.

I look to my left farther down the hall, it’s dark and dirty with spray paint on the lockers. I have no idea where to go.

I don’t know where my parents are
I don’t know where the safe zone is
And I don’t know how to find both.
I pull out the map located on the side of my backpack. It’s all stained with blood and dirt. Some unhinged man gave it to me weeks ago, rambling about safe zones he’d passed. Maybe that’s a start. I look back up to the window. I should go father down the school, then exit the farthest entrance to the south so I don’t have to walk all through the rain. I tuck the map back in my pocket. I take a step but stop at the sudden yelp. Down the hall and around the corner. Where.
Aiden’s classroom was.

I blink. I hear something slam against a wall. I glance around. It’s definitely not coming from anywhere around me? More sounds of clashing. What is he fighting and imaginary person? I groan and hold my head. He isn’t any of my business, all he did was give me some food and bandages. I step up on the wall to prepare to jump back out the window. “Arg!” Down the hallway. It sounded painful and desperate.

…fine.

I smack my lips and quickly walk down the hall, making a turn and jogging to where is little base was. This is pathetic Ashlyn, he probably just tripped and- I come to a stop seeing his door wide open. I stay still for a second. Still not too late to walk away Ashlyn- I slowly walk up and pep In. No Aiden, but something else.

Tall and dark, skinny but insanely strong, black goop clingy on its body, from behind you can’t tell but the widest and most uncomfortable smile ever.

Phantom.

My stomach drops and my breath shutters. Any sudden sounds and it’ll hear me. Shit this is bad. Really bad. So bad I for once don’t have a single thought in my head.
Infected are somewhat easy to deal with, you have to shot them a couple times and they’re down, phantoms are a whole different breed. Insanely good hearing like me, stronger and faster, somewhat intelligent, and they don’t hunt you to eat you like infected-they hunt you to just kill you. To tear you apart for fun. Their only fault is that its eyesight is not the best.
I see the infected raise its head. I gulp down my spit and take quite steps to the side keeping my eyes on the door. I see its shadow start walking. Damnit, where the hell am I supposed to hide? And where the that man go? I swear to god, he probably expected me to come down here and used me as a decoy to get away. That little-

A hand comes and tugs me to the side , wrapping its hand around my waist. I reach for my knife but before I can the hand pins my arm to my side and covers me mouth tightly. My god. I struggle but the grip and strong and-the similar sent of gasoline and dirt hit me. This isn’t an infected, clearly. A infected wouldn’t be this warm. I settle tensely and look to the side where the shadow of the phantom is. The breath of Aiden shutters against my back. The phantom comes closer. I glance down at the floor, anything. There’s a glass bottle deserted on the ground.

Bingo.

I jab my elbow into his gut—hard enough to get the point across. He lets go instantly, and I swear I can hear his breath shake. I slowly lift the glass bottle. The phantom flinches. I peek around the corner, just enough to make sure it hasn’t spotted me, then hurl the bottle above its head, farther down the hall. It shatters, loud as hell. The phantom darts toward the sound just as a hand yanks me back—and we’re running. “Where the exit?!” I whisper breathless but urgent. I hear loud footsteps behind us.

“There’s not one on this end!” he shouted turning the corner sharply and slamming us into a door. We stumble into a dark room, and he immediately shoves his weight against the door. I follow suit just as the phantom slams into the other side. The wood groans. We struggle, bracing it.

“Shit, where the hell is the exit then?!” I growl, turning to him. Blood is dripping from a cut on his cheek, a bruise blooming at his neck. We lock eyes for half a second before he scans the room—bookshelves, broken computers, overturned tables. Pitch black. A library. “There should be a an exit to the roof over there,” he spits out nodding his head To the side sharply. The phantom struggles to open the door get more ragged and desperate, aggressive. The wooden door shakes like its seconds away from snapping. “We can’t hold this for much longer!” He yells pressing his whole body. I look around and spot the large dark brown bookshelf directly next to the door. “Can you hold this by yourself?!” I asked him. His eyes widened.

“Are you seriously about to make a run for it and leave me-“

“No, I can push the bookshelf next to you over the door and get us time to make a run for the rooftop.”

Leaving him wouldn’t be the worst idea, but I still have a sliver of humanity left.
He glanced at the bookshelf. “Fuck it, sure.” He grunted closeting his eyes. I let my hand grasp the door for a second longer before running to the self. I hear his sharp breath in. “Get ready to move when it falls!” I shout, wedging myself between the bookcases. I press my back to one, brace my feet on the other. My legs have always been stronger than my arms—simple physics. I push.“Ashlyn..!” Aiden yells out. “I know!” I snap back. I breath and put all my strength into it, my legs feel on fire. My body trembles as adrenaline pumps in my head and I feel the bookcase start to tilt.

“Aiden MOVE!” I shout letting go and making a run for the side. He quickly turned around and dart to me as the bookcase drops with a big bang. That’s definitely going to attract more. The phantom shrieks thrashing, the hinges creaking and shaking. “we need to go NOW!” Aiden bolting down the alley of books. I follow close behind.
He uses the shelves at a ladder as he moves up to a small hatch. I hear infected start running towards us. There was another way in?! Aiden bangs in the hatch but it doesn’t budge.

“Rusty peace of shit!” He yells out banging his elbow on it. I turn behind us and spot the infected running high speed at us. Maybe close to a dozen. “Why the hell did I come back for you?” I mutter, pulling my gun and firing. Phantom behind us, infected in front. And this idiot can’t open a latch. “You need to hurry, I don’t how long I can stall for us!” I yell taking out my other gun and shooting down the infected. They keep on coming. “ I know! Just give me a minute” he said digging in his bag.

“Why would you stay in the school if there is this many infected?!”

“They usually don’t come upstairs, they must have heard something!”

“You didn’t think to share that with me? What if I was planning on exiting downstairs?!”

“I barricaded all the exits possible, the phantom must have just banged down the door for the rest, little fucker” he said grunting while banging his crowbar on the edges. I hear a creak and glance at the hatch opening and the rain tumbling down. I start walking backwards still shooting at the infected. I shoot over my shoulder, walking backwards. Too many. I won’t be able to climb and shoot at the same time—
Aiden suddenly unloads his gun, covering me. I glance at him. We lock eyes. He’s actually being useful, wow. I fly up the selves and shimmy my way up the hatch and outside, cutting my arms on the rusty sides. Aiden follows behind and closes the latch tightly.

I look around at the rooftop. Covered in water, mostly empty other then electric stuff, and completely out in the
Open to the lightening. I run to the edge and look down. A few infected, but nearly empty. Where am I going to go after I get off the roof? I pull out my map again, shielding it from water with my body. Says there’s a neighborhood not that far away, maybe a 10
Minute walk or so. “So where are we going?” I hear him sigh from behind me. “IM going to a neighborhood, I don’t know what the hell you’re going to do.” I said digging in my bag.

“Really?” He groaned. “Your just going to ditch me like that?”

I roll my eyes, shoving the map back into my soaked bag. “I didn’t realize I signed up for a team project.”

Behind me, I hear the crunch of gravel as he steps closer, the rain slicking his hair to his forehead. “We just survived getting chased across half the school. Kinda feels like we’re already a team.”

I blink at the word team. more water drenched me. “Look, Iv been off trying to find someone for the the past few months. I’m not looking-“

“Your trying to look for someone?” He asked. I glare at him for interrupting me. “Yes”

“Me too, and we both lived in alto in Georgia right?” He asked stating the obvious. I shake my shoulders and nod. He talks to much. “The person you’re looking for… taken to a government safe zone?” he asks.

I freeze. “How do you know that?”

“Mine was too,” he says simply. “So doesn’t it make sense that maybe—we’re both heading to the same place?”

I stay quiet. He’s right.

“Where were you when they were putting everyone out on buses to government zones?” I asked squinting.

He sighs “me and…them were out during it. As you would probably know the government left everyone under 20 because infected broke out” he started slowly.

I nod slowly.

“Me and my cousin, Ben, the bus doors were closing to leave everyone and he grabbed me so we could get on but infected got ahold of me last minute and pulled me back just as the door closed.” He sighed.

Same bus my mom and dad were on. “My parents were on that bus” I mumbled. “See? We’re looking for the same thing here”

I glance at him, arms crossed, not bothering to hide the annoyance on my face. “And what? You think that earns you a free ride?”

“I think I’m less likely to die if we stick together,” he says, voice low, almost sheepish. “And maybe you are too.”

Lightning flashes. For a second, I catch the serious look on his face—not his usual cocky smirk or sarcastic bite, just tired, wet, and maybe a little desperate. I sigh, turning back to stare at the edge of the roof.

The neighborhood might be empty. Or it might be crawling with infected. Either way, it’s better with someone watching my back. “This is pathetic of you” I add. “I can handle myself, what I can’t handle is being alone for to long.”

Silence. He has a point, good points. He’s is strong-learned that when he pinned me to the ground, good with a gun, and fast. I can’t believe I’m doing this.

“You slow me down, I leave you,” I mutter.

He grins. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”

I nod once, then start heading for the fire escape ladder. “Let’s go.”

His footsteps fall in behind mine, and for the first time the silence between us doesn’t feel like a threat. It feels like a promise.

We’re in this together. For now.

Chapter Text

Ashlyn:

“Dad, please you look stupid!” I laughed as my he starts doing extremely technical ballerina poses. My mom lets out a sharp laugh as he tripped on his own foot crashing on the chair. “I’m just trying to be like you trooper, some appreciation would be nice” he grins pulling himself up holding his back. “I hope that bruises. You ruined the carpet,” my mom says with a roll of her eyes. Dad tilts his head and looks down at the floor. “Oh, I’m sorry, baby. I’ll make it up to you,” he teases, then launches himself onto her. They both burst into laughter.

I groan, plopping into the chair. They’re so corny. Suddenly, the TV blares and a bright red screen flashes across it.“Jesus” Mom huffs, whipping her head toward it.

“This is a national emergency. We repeat: this is a national crisis. All citizens must immediately seek shelter at the nearest safe location, such as town hall. If unable to evacuate, lock all doors and windows and remain hidden in a secure area.”

It replays on the tv, blaring into my ears. I glance over at my parents to see them already looking at each other. “Ashlyn go grab your shoes and some snacks, okay?” My mom said getting up and jogging upstairs. “What’s going on?” I asked slowly getting up from the couch. Me dad does an uneasy smile.

“I’m sure everything alright, mind grabbing the keys?” He said kissing my head while walking past.

…………………………….

I’m brought out of my thoughts by someone walking up next to me, Aiden.
“We should start thinking about where we’re going to sleep soon, it’s going to get dark in a few hours” he said motioning over to the sky. I glance down at the mess of maps spread across the sidewalk—government printouts about safe zones, help centers, and a compass that looks like it’s been through hell. Most of it is useless now. Months out of date.

It’s been a few days of dealing with Aiden and iv figured out a few things:
1: he never shuts the hell up

2: he never stops smiling

3: he’s clueless when it comes to
directions

4:he’s insane

5: I have no idea who this guy is.

And that about sums it up. No major issues so far—I haven’t had to stab him or anything. We’ve argued very consistently, but exhaustion kills the fire fast. No phantom sightings. No close calls with the infected. Yet. That kind of chaos usually shows up once a week, anyway. Aiden brought a few crumpled maps with hideouts and old safe zone markings. We’ve mostly been following those—not that it’s gotten us anywhere. We haven’t even seen another soul in the 2 days we’ve been traveling.

“You deep in thought again?” Aiden says—way too close. I glance sideways. Yep. Right up in my space. I missed something on my list: the guy has zero concept of personal boundaries. Such a pain in my ass, because of course the only person iv ever traveled with is everything i hate.

“Yeah, actually. And you talking isn’t helping me think any harder,” I mutter, sidestepping him while keeping my eyes on the maps. “Would explaining help?” He asked crossing his arms.

I roll my eyes but oblige. “Right now, I think we’re in this area—Richmond Hill,” I say, dragging a finger across the paper. “There’s a note about a government testing lab in Garden City. That’s maybe a three or four-hour walk, depending on the overgrowth.”

Aiden scrunches his nose. “Why the hell are we going to a testing lab? They bombed those after it became clear this wasn’t a ‘one and done’ outbreak.”

“Correction: they bombed the facilities with infected patients. From what I know, some are still active. We might be able to get information about functioning safe zones. They’d know.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Because I actually paid attention while the world was ending.”

“Fair enough.”

I gather the papers and stuff them in my backpack, folding the map neatly and sliding it into my pocket. I can feel Aiden breathing behind me.

“Okay,” I say, stepping back. “Do you know what personal space is, dude?”
He looks genuinely confused. “Why are you always so close to me? You don’t need to be a centimeter from my face every second of the day. I can’t stand it,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. He takes a big, and definitely overdramatized nod and steps back. “Noted. I’m not use to that” he laughed. I squinted. “Use to what exactly, personal boundaries?” I questioned. “People actually caring about that kind of stuff.” He adds nonchalantly. I open my mouth to say something else but ultimately decided to just turn around.

He must’ve noticed because he continued.

“You know Ashlyn, your pretty different from anybody iv ever met”

“Am I” I ask dryly.

“Yea, not insulting you or anything but your very- interesting.”

I raise a brow. “And what do you think you are exactly? Yesterday I watched you set an infected on fire with a Molotov bottle and MY lighter.” I spit stepping over a root of a tree. I hear him laugh from behind me. “What I’m saying is that your interesting because I know nothing about you” he said jogging up to be next to me. I dread what he’s going to ask next. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t push to have me tell him something, he doesn’t nag to get it out of me.

The sun’s dipping lower now, bleeding orange across the sky and casting long shadows from the wreckage of cars and collapsed buildings around us. The silence that falls between us is heavy—not awkward, just full. The kind of silence you learn to appreciate after everything.

“What do you want to know?” I sigh turning my attention back to in front of me. I hear Aiden hum while thinking. “If you tell me what you first thought when you saw me, I’ll tell you what I thought when I saw you.” He replied. I was thinking a deeper question, but this one’s okay. “I was thinking…what kind of dumbass screams “hey” at something that could be an infected or an phantom” I said bluntly. I hear him hum again. “Yea, maybe it wasn’t the best choice” he said itching his head. “When u first saw you the first thing I thought was that you looked like you had a shitty day” he smiled. That managed to get a slight smile out of me. He glanced at me quickly and his expression glowed, like it was some achievement to get a a barely there smile out of me.

“Sounds about right” I mutter looking out at all the cars with, trashed. Aiden clicks his tongue and digs in his pockets. “There’s an old thrift store two blocks over,” Aiden says, pulling the crumpled flyer from his back pocket. “Says it was used as a shelter at one point. Could still have supplies.”

“Or squatters.”

“Only one way to find out.”

-/—/—/—/—/

I swipe through the clothes and look down at my current wardrobe. A tank top that looks like it was dragged through hell coved in old dried blood and rips, cargo pants that are barely hanging on, and a small jacket that I only use as a pillow when I sleep. I sigh. It’s going to start getting cold soon, winter means snow and all honesty it’s already hard enough getting food now. not even being able to hunt is going to be bad. I mean tracking in snow across states is also very bad, you can barely run, can’t see what’s under you, I don’t know if I’ll be able to imagine how much more difficult this is going to make my life.

Most the clothes are very clearly worn out or not mad for our environment. I pick up a long sleeve, a regular shirt, and I random pair of jeans and pray it’s my size. “Oooo look at this” Aiden says from across the racks as i walk past him. He raises up a pair of boots, black combat shoes that look on the newer side. I nod my head coldly and turn.

Something else iv figured out is that he likes to show off everytime he thinks he does something good. Walks over branch without tripping? Looks at me for a reaction. Jumps over tall gate in one go? Asked if I’m impressed.

“There’s another pair of you want them, they look on the small side” he yells out. I stop in my tracks and glance at my current shoes. Converse that are ducked taped together. A few months back i got into a nasty fight with an infected at the beach, safe to say my shoes definitely have some water damage in them. I turn around swiftly and reach out for them. Aiden smiles proudly and plops them in my hands. I turn on my heel again-

“Wait” he says squinting at me.

I raise a brow and turn my head slightly. I see his thumb reach out to my face. Before I can back oway-better yet stab him his thumb is already rubbing something off my cheek. My body freezes. My brain goes still. “There you…go-“ he finishes before I back away quickly swatting his hand away. “Okay, we need some ground rules here” I said ignoring the fuzzy feeling in my stomach. He looks confused. “I’m not touchy, never have and never will. You are just TOO much in my space.” I sigh. He tilts his head.

“All I did was rub dirt off your face-“

“No actually- you get in my face all the time, you play with my hair when you think I don’t notice, you sit way to close to me, and you just did THAT.” I sputter stating my reasoning. His eyes widen and he slowly nod.

“Okay, rule one is don’t the queen”

“Don’t Make it sound bitchy.” I roll my eyes.

“Right because you aren’t that-you know what? Fine. If you can make I rule I want one too. You have to be nicer with your words.”

I blink. “Come again?” I said rubbing my head. “You have to be nicer- point blank” he replied leaning on the rack. He had to be kidding. “I am nice” I insisted getting ready to leave. That was a lie-I’m not nice. But I also don’t have the energy to try to be nicer. He stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “You know this isn’t going to work if we clash this much.” He stated. His smile looks more relaxed, eyes softer and eyebrows slightly raised. I groan and step to the side trying to get past him-but he blocks my way again. “What do you want to do? Go criss cross Apple sauce and make up a whole pact?” I said bluntly. He stays silent for a moment and then takes my wrist, forcing me to the ground. “What is wrong with-“ I start. “You said ground rules, let’s make them.” He said keeping his grip on my wrist. I wish I never said that. “Fine” I accepted sitting. “Let’s take turns”

“One” I start. “You need to keep in mind what personal space is”

“Two” he started. “ you need to be careful with your insults”

“Three, stop chewing so loud”

He gave me a look but continued. “Four, we share everything, clothes, supplies, bandages, you name it we have it”

“Five” I mumble. “We need to have each other’s backs. No running away if one of us gets caught with a phantom or infected” I said clear and clean. It’s a reasonable rule, not sure if we will be able to keep it considering everything. “Easier said than done” he smirked.

“And six, If we have any problems we talk them out. We need to trust each other so we can’t argue as much as we do” he finally finished meeting my eyes. I nod slowly and he reaches his hand out for a shake. I stare at it for a second. “Are you being serious?” I deadpan. “Humor me, please”

I shake his hand—some old-timey, dramatic 1960s-style grip—and his fingers linger on mine just a second longer than necessary.

“Okay” I said standing up. “It’s nereing winter so we need to layer more” I said eyeing his empty hands. “What are you wearing?” He asked standing. “Jeans, a long sleeve layered with another shirt” I said taking a look at them. The long sleeve is an army green while the shirt is a worn out burgundy red with a drink and beach name that iv never heard of or Been to. Kinda odd considering that we are currently no where near a beach. “Looks like you’re going to freeze” he asked skeptical.

“It’s not winter yet dipshit, we still have time to gather actual winter jackets and thick clothes but as of right now we can’t run with that stuff on.” I counter. What I want to ask if he has any common sense but I won’t for the sake of our deal. He nods and goes back to the rack of clothes. “Should I get the same orrrr” he asked swiping through the rack and briefly stopping to look at something. “Yea, just layer with pants. We should probably check the rest of this store for supplies, you said it was used as a shelter right?” I asked turning around to look at the dingy thrift. It was clearly used by someone for a few days, empty food cans on the floor and a makeshift Bed on the couch. “I’m not seeing much supplies, maybe it was emptied out before they left?” He said shrugging to me while walking off with a handful of clothes.

I linger for a moment. Something in my mind is telling me to drop my clothes, take the supplies and dip but….wouldn’t it be better if I did travel with someone? I would get out sticky situations faster, actually have someowhat good human interactions, external hands, and Aiden is clearly capable of helping me out with infected and phantoms, but it doesn’t feel right. If you travel in pairs a few things out of the three happen, one either dies, you get each other killed, or you kill each other. Iv seen it happen and I promised myself to never get involved but…..look where I am. I’m with a guy I can’t trust, don’t know and don’t like.

This better not come back to bite me in the ass.