"It's true," Ruby spoke up, her voice a bit hoarse from sleep. "He drove around a lot before picking this street." Ruby defended him. I nodded in slight understanding, glancing at Christian who had been listening in to the conversation.
"So we're lost? Great job nic.." Christian sighed, patting Nicole's shoulder.
Nicole groaned, rolling his eyes. "We are not lost.. We're just in an unknown location.."
"Oh yeah?" I raised an eyebrow. "Sure, in an unknown location where we have no idea how to get anywhere from?"
Nicole opened his mouth, hesitated, nothing coming out of his mouth.
Christian scoffed. "Uh huh, sure. Nicole, buddy, that's the definition of lost."
Ruby sighed, stretching her arms. "We're nothing but lost, at this point..."
"Well, at least we aren't surrounded by zombies." Nicole replied a bit more confident in his assumption. As if on cue, a low groan echoed from the alleyway nearby.
We all froze.
"…You had to say it," I muttered. "Now there's definitely going to be zombies around us, if not cornering us." I said, in a low, quiet voice but audible enough.
Nicole sighed, giving up and staying silent. We all stayed in silence, making sure that the zombie wasn't too close by. Eventually, the sound was heard again.. And to our misfortune, it was alot closer to us.
Nicole tensed, gripping the wheel.
"Okay, okay—nobody panic."
Christian immediately reached for his barely put together wooden bat.
"Too late."
Ruby peeked out the window, her expression scrunching slightly. "It's just one… I think."
I exhaled sharply, pushing myself off the van wall and walking over to a seat, sitting myself down. "Yeah? And how many times has one turned into ten?" The growl came again, closer this time.
Nicole cursed under his breath. "Alright, new plan—we are leaving."
"Finally, something logical.." Christian muttered.
Nicole slammed the gas. The van lurched forward—just as a figure stumbled into the road ahead.
Nicole stepped aggressively on the brakes, making a loud screeching noise. We all froze at who it was. It was definitely expected to be a zombie, but quite the opposite stood in front of the vehicle. A young looking girl, with a same age looking boy next to her.. Her clothes were dirty, along with the boys and ragged, her hair a mess; she looked like she had been ripped apart and then put back together, if I had to be completely honest. The male looked in better condition, but only slightly since his hair wasn't all in his face.
Everyone hesitated, but Nicole swerved away from them, leaving them both cold on the road.
"...turn back," I reluctantly said. Nicole looked at me like I was insane.
"What?" he scoff-chuckled. "No way in hell am I letting some strangers in our van." he said sternly, his voice firm.
"They're still human, we can't just leave them to die like that." I replied. He sighed sharply. Without further argument, he reversed slightly, with me opening the door. We could hear the zombies getting closer and closer by the second, as we still didn't move on. Once we were reversed enough, I was met with the face of one young female and one young male. Without saying anything, I let them in. They also didn't say anything, instead awkwardly got inside.
"Thank you.." spoke a quiet female voice, although quite deep. I just nodded, acknowledging the thanks.
Ruby had closed the van door, as Nicole's started driving again. Not too fast, at a decent speed. It was silent in the van. I could feel a thick tension between the female and the male.. so I spoke up.
"What's your name?" I asked the female. She smiled a little and spoke.
"I'm Axelle. That's.. Waylen." She spoke. I could hear the male– Waylen, snicker. I didn't question it or comment on it, but Axelle seemed obviously a bit irritated.
"What's so funny now?" Axelle asked, as her sharp tone caught our attention. "Not everything's a joke, you know." She commented.
Waylen, raised eyebrow, seemingly a bit irritated now. "Oh, is that so? What about you, then?" As soon as he spoke, I had to look away to prevent bursting out from laughter.
This.. duo is interesting. I turned my head back to them, the four of us staying silent, just to see how things would unfold between them.
Axelle scoffed irritatedly, "Jesus, learn how to respect your elders. So disrespectful.." Waylen rolled his eyes.
"That's just by.." Waylens voice trailed off as he used his fingers to count the months. "Three months. Only by three months! You can't be serious right now." Waylen stated, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, says the one still using his fingers to count. Besides, three months or not, I'm still older, no?" Axelle commented.
"oi, what's wrong with using my fingers to count??" Waylen inquired. Axelle just looked away, ignoring Waylen. Waylen on the other hand, didn't let it slide.
"Hey. Answer m–" he tried to get Axelle to talk to him, but Ruby interrupted.
"..guys! Please stop arguing, for the love of god. I don't think I want another Perry and Christian with us." She snapped, but not loudly. Axelle and Waylen looked over to Ruby, seemingly a bit confused by her statement. Immediately I just looked away, as for Christian, who was also listening, averted his gaze.
"...please, excuse us. I'm Ruby, that's Perry, Nicole is the one driving and that's Christian." Ruby introduced us to the two teenagers.
"Hi.." I muttered somewhat audibly, with an awkward smile.
Axelle and Waylen just smiled, as Waylen waved slightly at us. It was silent, the tension quite awkward. Until Waylen spoke up.
"If I may ask, what do you mean by.. 'Another Perry and Christian'?" He asked. Axelle nodded subtly, seemingly also curious.
Ruby stuttered slightly as she chuckled nervously. "Uh.. well.. long story. And oh boy is it annoying.." She remarked bluntly, pointing at me and Christian. I just crossed my arms, and turned my head away.
"Whatever the case, Axelle is definitely worse." Waylen stated bluntly while pointing at Axelle.
"Oh really? Says the one who's a pain in the ass to everyone." Axelle scoffed.
Waylen was absolutely fuming at this point, and snapped back at Axelle a bit louder this time. "What did you say?! That can't be true, especially when you're the one talking."
"Pfft says the one whose parents left because he cried too much as a child." Axelle fumed. Waylen went silent, but didn't seem to be bothered, even though that statement on Axelle's was a low blow, even for me.
"I have parents, thank you very much! And just because they aren't biological doesn't mean my real parents left me. Infact you didn't know them either. I'm pretty sure I'd be less of a pain than you." Waylen sneered, seething with irritation.
"Guys, guys.. seriously, calm down." Ruby interrupted, a bit concerned..
"It's never that serious, gosh.." Christian muttered. I turned to him, and raised an eyebrow.
"We're in a zombie apocalypse and that's what you're saying, really?" I commented as he looked up at me from his seat and scoffed.
"Yeah.. I mean, what? You gonna stop me or something? I doubt it full time." He spoke, crossing his arms.
"Well aren't you ridiculous.." I stated. But before we could continue, Ruby sighed sharply.
"See what I mean?" Ruby looked at both Axelle and Waylen. I turned to Ruby and just sighed. Christian didn't say anything for a moment, but broke the silence anyway.
"We aren't that bad, come on.." He said, looking at Ruby.