3 Years Later

Twice did the burly man came back. Gruffly grabbing and tossing us about as he checked up on our wounds. Strange to think that someone of his brute nature was the healer but what do I know anymore?

I wouldn't have thought I'd be sitting in some abandoned gym room with 2 people from my past and an aching leg. Yet, here I am. Listening to Nick and this brute of a man converse about the various injuries we all suffered from.

"Fell down an entire escalator. Should've seen it, Panic." Nick sighed, seemingly mellowed out after the brute gave him some sort of cig. The air in the room began to swirl with some sort of smoke that made my nose turn upright and my gag reflex pop up. Even in the dim lighting, I could still see how much of that white smoke clouded the air. My head spinning the longer I watched it swirl about.

"She f.u.c.k.i.n.g flew, right B?"

"Heh, that explains it." The man, Panic, chuckled as he let go of my leg. Allowing the appendage to fall down in a less than careful manner. His hands soon pushing down the sleeves of his flannel shirt, covering identical looking scars as he did so.

"Whoever took care of her before did a f.u.c.k.i.n.g fine job, all three of you are doing much better than I would've expected."

With that he began to pack up, stained bandages slithered onto his person as he grabbed his supplies. Shoving needles, threads, pill boxes, and clothes into several bags. All in a seemingly hap-hazard manner. Yet he had more experience than Ace when it came to these sort of things.

Panic let out a huff he slung his things on himself, soon kneeling next to Nick and taking the cig without another word. Taking one long drag as more smoke was added inside that tiny room. Even he began to ease up after that first puff which made Nick chuckle lazily at him. The two almost acting as if they were friends.

"Dare's been f.u.c.k.i.n.g you up I see?" Nick commented which produced a shrug with the other man. Pulling off his beanie revealing the crew cut that he adorned, rough hands running over the rugged surface.

"Sorta, it's been t.i.t.s up since you left Brutus. We gotta make sure that the routes are more hidden now."

A concerned look was shared between the two of them before the sounds of heavy steps started to rebound down the hall. Panic letting out a sigh upon hearing the noise. Almost as if he hated the thought of moving. Maybe he was enjoying being next to Nick? Enjoying whatever moment they were having.

Makes me wonder just what Nick's placement was in this place.

With that, the doors opened with a rattle. Dare, Shuck, and three others quickly piled on in. Covered faces and gloved hands shot out to grab at our bodies as we were all hoisted onto our feet. A hiss leaving my own lips as the first bit of pressure was applied to my legs, almost wobbling back onto the floor had the bruising holds of the men not kept me up.

Dare took one quick look at the smoke before cl.i.c.k.i.n.g her tongue. Those red taloned hands plucked the cig out of Nick's mouth and crushed it between the pads of her fingers. Not a single flinch coming out of her despite the way the embers bit into her skin.

"Did I say to give Brute some huh?" She hissed through clenched teeth but Panic barely registered it. Kicking off from the ground and sauntering away from her with a shrug. Mind barely there.

Dare let out a slow growl, snapping her head back to the us outsiders and simply pointed to the door.

"Let's get these f.u.c.ks moving! We're losing daylight!"

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After a bruising shove, I found myself sitting on the rumbling seat of some car. The sounds of wheels on gravel and distant birds was all I could hear as they covered my head with some sort of bag. The world now just one muddled blob underneath the heavy black cloth.

"Are you f.u.c.k.i.n.g kidding me?!" Jake tried to argue when we first started moving but was silenced with a grunt.

"Shut up kid." The voice of Shuck came as I heard a slight squirmish happen in front of me.

"Is this all f.u.c.k.i.n.g worth it? We told you that we don't work for anyone-who is left to tell?!" Jake exclaimed in frustration. His words holding enough truth for me to agree with them but I found no energy to start a revolt now. Passively letting my body be handed about as they situated me inside.

"We can't trust anyone in this sort of world kid. Thought even you would know that considering how you're still alive." Dare huffed. Now several of the men began to grumble as they sounded like they were struggling with something. Was Jake trying to fight against them?

"It's not my f.u.c.k.i.n.g fault that you're all paranoid freaks."

"Jake do you ever shut up?" Nick replied this time, even his tone seemed irritated.

"Dude, you've literally didn't tell us what's going to happen to us. You can't blame me for being just a little bit angry," Jake grunted as the car rocked, "for being moved like f.u.c.k.i.n.g cattle"

The tell tale sound of flesh being slapped resounded in the air causing all other commotion to cease. A betrayed gasp was all that was left of Jake's resolve as a body was suddenly pressed into me. Shoved into submission as the two of us hurried to keep upright.

"Can you, for once, trust in me and keep your mouth shut? Can't you follow even the simplest of orders?!" Nick's voice raised, but this time more foriegn. Having the volume and the bite of a command yet the quiet hiss of a threat. Shoving him into me once more as emphasis leaving our shared companion a sputtering mess.

I could only lean into him for comfort.

The ride was quiet for the most part. Few words exchanged from those within. It made everything all the more unnerving as I felt my body jump and quake at every little jolt.

I never did like not knowing what's going on. Perhaps it was the constant need to figure out what my next plan is. Figure out my exits if need be. What sucks is that I really don't know where I am anymore. Who knows how far we traveled while we were on the helicopter. Where we anywhere close to that mall? Anywhere close to my old house?

Where we getting farther away with each spin of the wheel?

A dry gulp made its way down my throat as my hands shot back up to my skin. Familiar habits back in used as I felt nails dig into flesh. Anxiously carving away my worry the longer we stayed on the ride.

When a soft tap hit my side, I nearly yelped. My head whipping over, somehow thinking I'd see the source, only to feel hands rip my hands off my face. The grip warm and familiar as it gripped tightly to my wrists, a muffled grunt of disapproval was all I got before it let go.

My mouth opened to question the movement when the tight lipped whistle of Dare interrupted. Almost immediately all movement ceased. The air hung high as even the birds seemed to have disappeared.

"What is it-"

"Shut up Shuck." Dare hissed, the hands patting against something soft was all that came after. That is until the sounds of her nails tapping against some sort of object, her breathing heavy and haggard.

A moment passed in high tension until she let out another whistle. Multiple exhale of relief came from those within the vehicle as all went back to normal. The car smoothly gliding against the gravel once more.

"What the f.u.c.k Dare." Nick spat out and was replied with a nearly perfect laugh. The only difference was the slight hitch in her voice. The presence of unease.

"Just you wait till you get to Adder."

"Adder? Why Adder, aren't we going to Lionhea-"

"Not anymore Brute. Not. Anymore. More."

"Shit… No you're kidding."

Silence was all that answered Nick in that moment. Dare refusing to answer him, or really anyone else in that car. Something about those two names, Adder and Lionheart, must have some high value to elicit this sort of response.

Without warning, the cloth over my head was ripped off. I hissed as I felt my hair get pulled from the force of it all. Light hitting my eyes in one painful second that I tucked my head underneath my arm. Desperate to get away from the sudden changes to my environment.

"We're here." Dare sighed, somehow commanding the other men to move with just those two words. The doors creaked open allowing more white light to spill into the tiny enclosure. Part of me unable to move still from the sudden sensory input but was forced to regardless. Hands, once more, grabbing my shoulders making me curse at them underneath my breath. Sure that I was gaining bruises each time one of those f.u.c.kers touched me.

My landing back to ground was less than graceful as I crashed on my weak legs. Feeling tiled flooring hit my knees as I felt the warmth of it underneath my palms. Jake's body soon landing next to me in a similar manner.

"Jesus, keep throwing me around why don't you." He muttered with such disdain that I couldn't help but snicker at it.

"Get used to it, I doubt this is the end for us."

I blinked up at him, my eyes adjusting with time to the new lighting, when something caught my eye instead. Just past him, was a tiny brick building. It was a gentle looking structure with cracked walls and ivy seeping in. What got me was a strange set of ladders coming from the side of it. Then on the roof of it. Then one more set disappearing up high into flora of the trees above us. Massive, organic plant life that was spaced about enough for both coverage yet sunlight to come down in blanketed rays.

I gawked the farther I went, head tilting backwards to just barely catch the network of bridges spanning across the treetops. Hidden houses peeking from the gaps in the leaves. It was breathtaking to say the least. A nice change from the carnage that is the post-z world outside.

"Welcome to River Heights." Nick grumbled as he, too, was stumbled over to where we were. More lucky than us as he was able to stay upright. Crossing his arms as he took in the sights.

"Enjoy it while it lasts. Not sure how Adder will react to us being here."