ZRP-2 Chapter 8: Survivors One and All

Hibiki looked down.
"I just hope those two aren't fighting." She rubbed her temples. "Okay. Once the stormnlets up I'll try and find them. Wish we had more horses." And she laughed. "I was building my own motorcycle James. I know engines and all."

"I'll watch you back" She responded pulling herself away from the wall. "So long as you keep your heads about you then by all chances you will be fine"

"Well we rarely have our wits not about us," James remarked, and he gave a small smile to Hibiki. "Motorcycles sure, but what about cars?"

"Just stay safe okay?" Cristina said tapping her rifle with her finger idly.

"My dad taught me using a '67 Corvette." Hibiki grinned.

"Will do," Marcus said. James gave her a slight smile, nodding and saying "Not about to die in a gas station. Gotta have some style at the end of the world." Then he looked to Hibiki, and said "Okay then, come on and lend us a hand."

Hibiki followed.
"I know. Lets get this done."

Eve shivered. She cuddled closer, teeth chattering.

Estel held Eve a bit more tightly, the teeth chatter quite audible at this proximity. "What I would give for a hot bowl of soup," she said.

The three of them entered the garage, and started looking around. There was one thing in sight, a car raised on that hydraulic platform thing. Though James had as much of a clue of how to get it down, as he had of figuring out the virus. "Uh....Hibiki, do you know how to get that down?"

"I'd give my bow." Eve said. She rested her head on Estel's chest now, pressing as close as possible. "Estel? Cuddling isn't working that well."

Hibiki moved Nomad to the side and flashed her light around. "There." She headed over. "Stand clear."

James walked over to Nomad, and patted his shoulder in greeting before taking the reigns and pulling him back. "Clear," he said.

"Well what do you want from me Eve?" Estel asked. "It's cold out here in the rain, so unless you want to walk back to that shack I got nothing."

"Shack. We arent that far away. Its honestly the best bet to avoid hypothermia." Eve admitted.

Hibiki hit the button, and the hydraulics lowered the car. "Eh. Toyota Avalon. It'll do." She said. "Lets see..." she opened the hood and began to tinker.

"Let's check for gas," James said as he grabbed a hose. He wasn't going to siphon fuel, he just planned on sticking it down and seeing how much gas coated it. Like checking oil.

"In case you forgot, there are walkers that way Eve," Estel said. "Hell, they're probably still following us."

"So. Lets cross the bridge. We need to find a place to hide that is dry and can keep heat." She chattered.

Hibiki headed for a small office and kicked the door down. Entering, she started rummaging.

"What happened to staying out of the rain?" Estel asked.

"We've got gas!" James said as he pulled the hose out. "Not sure if the car will run though. What does the engine look like?"

Hibiki peeked out of the office. "needs a few smallnparts that are around here. I'mnlooking for the keys."

"It's too cold Estel. Either we find a place to hide or we might start losing toes."

"Can't we just hotwire the thing?" James asked.

"Dammit......fine, but let's make it quick," Estel said as she got up.

Eve stood. "Pick a direction."

"Ease...here!" She camemout with some keys. "Gather those parts." She pointed. "And any tools you can find."

James and Marcus did what she said, grabbing what they could find. Not that James knew what he was holding, but Marcus seemed a bit more in the know.

"Well....over the bridge for starters," Estel said in that tone reserved for answering stupid questions.

"Lets go then." Eve would follow Estel without pause.

Hibiki crouched. "Alright....is there a skateboard anywhere? And press the switch once to raise the car up just a bit." She ordered.

"Uh......I've got a rollerboard," James said ass he kicked the wheeled square over to Hibiki. Marcus tapped the button, and the car was raised a little bit into the air.

They climbed from under the bridge, and started walking across it. The rain was still pouring, and Estel briefly thought this was the worst idea, ever.

Eve slipped her bow on and raised her P90. She thought this sucked.

Hopefully they could find a dry place to rest.


Hibiki laid onto the roller. "And tools?"

Walking along the drenched road, Estel kept an eye out for some form of shelter, and found one in a surprising location: there was a path, a road really, that led to a ranger tower. She could see it, rising over the trees, a shack that was balanced on metal. "Think that will work?" she asked Eve.

"Yes!" She coughed. "Lets get up there right now." She was shivering badly now.

"Come on," Estel said, dragging Eve along as they headed for the tower. It took some time, but they got to the steps of a large stairway, and Estel pushed Eve forward. "Go!"

Eve stafted climbing the stairs. Leaving the P90 by her side, she started coughing again. She stumbled a bit, but soon reached the door.
"Y-you first." She handed the P90 over.

Shaking her head, Estel opened the door and pushed Eve in. "No, you first Eve. Move it!"

Eve stumbled and fell inside. She gotnup and crawled away from the door, leaving Estel to clear the small tower.

There wasn't much to clear; it was a one room place, with chairs, a desk with papers, and radio equipment. Beyond that, it was empty and Estel shut the door quickly, before clearing out a space under the desk and dragging Eve under it. ""How you feeling?" she asked.

Eve coughed again.
"Like shit. And cold. Really cold..."

"Dammit......okay Eve, looks like you win," Estel said. Quickly, she started to remove her clothes. "You're no good dead or sick, and frankly," she muttered as her own body finally started succumbing to the shivers, rendering her barely able to speak, "if I don't warm up myself, we're both going to be in the same boat."

Eve just curled into a ball, teeth chattering.

Estel wasn't fully nude; she kept her undergarments on, still unwilling to go all the way. But she did snarl slightly when Eve, as if oblivious to the situation, didn't follow suit with the removal of the clothes. That was when she caught herself, and realized Wow, when did I become willing to do this again? Another shiver wracked her body, and she thought, Oh....right. Before she did anything, she saw on the wall one of those boxes, meant for fire-emergencies. There was a fire-axe, an extinguisher, and a fire blanket. It wasn't the best but.....she stood and opened the box, grabbing the blanket. Then.....well, she did was she had to do, stripping Eve of most of her clothing, covering them both in the blanket and pressing themselves together.

All the while, she firmly reminded herself that this was just so they didn't catch a damned cold, or worse. Hell, she even spoke the words aloud. "It's just for warmth, it's just for warmth, it's just for warmth."

When Estel snuggled upmto Eve, the reason for her disrobing decline was apparent. Her skin was on fire, her face flushed with heat. Eve clung to Estel once the blanket was over them, her face buried in Estel's chest. She shook with cold like before, but as the warmth was shared, her shivering started to lessen. Not a lot, but enough.

Estel began to wonder if this was the best idea: the girl felt like she had a fever and it made Estel nervous that she was going to catch something. It was too late now though, what was done was done. She gripped Eve tighter, and pulling them both closer. All the while, rain continued to pound against the roof and windows of the tower, thunder crackling through the sky as lightning danced among the clouds.

"You're a good person." Eve said suddenly. "You're good." She closed her eyes. "I...I'm...cold...but I feel like mymblood is lava..." she whimpered. "I...I'm sorry...I'm...just making you...uncomfortable..." her chattering teeth managed to calm down, thankfully.

"Dammit, just shut up," Estel said. "I'm uncomfortable enough as it is like this Eve. Only reason I'm doing this is because I don't want to deal with your mother if you died. And also......we've lost enough people on this trip. You won't be added to the list dammit."

Eve...smiled.
"I...thank you." She said, then went silent. Her fever raged, but for nowmit was clear that, in dry shelter and with a blanket and warmth, she'd at least not freeze to death.
Of course, there was always sickness raging out of control.

Estel clung to Eve for a little longer, the warmth between them spreading all the way to her toes. "I say we stay like this for a few more minutes......then we get dressed and sit this out."

"Please. Don't let go..." she didn't loosen her grip. "Not so soon."

"Eve, it's already awkward enough," Estel said. "Are you really going to make me cling to you?"

Eve nodded...then passed out finally. She went sorta limp, but her hug was still pretty dang good. Her body was slightlymcooled off, but not by much.

Dammit, Estel thought as she felt the vice grip of Eve keeping her secured. She didn't have much choice at this point, except to stick to the girl.

Few minutes later...Eve began talking in her sleep.
"No...no...leave Laura alone! N-no!" She whimpered, her grip tightening. "No! Please stop! It hurts!" She whimpered again. Her back slightly arched, and she whimpered. "No! No more! You'll cut open my back!"
Her slight delirious ramblings faded away as Eve's nightmare escaped into reality.

Now Estel was getting uncomfortable; Eve's grip tightened and her freaking nails bit into her skin. "Dammit," she whispered, and wormed her way out of Eve's clutches. It involved peeling the girls arms off, but she managed to scoot back and rub her back gently. Thankfully, Eve didn't break the skin. "Must be some nightmare," she said as she watched Eve shudder.

Eve curled into the fetal position, softly crying. She looked pathetic, and then whispered something about her backnbefore her words became too soft to understand.

Feeling sorry for the girl, Estel made sure the blanket was covering her before she shook her awake.

Eve took awhile to wake up, and soon enough opened her eyes. She looked a little pale.
"Estel? D...did I pass out?" She asked, still a bit feverish.

"No, you just fell asleep.....but you had a nightmare. Nearly clawed my skin open during it," she said.

She was silent for a moment.
"My scar...that was my nightmare...the day I was given this scar." She reached for Estel's hand. "Im sorry."

Hibiki slid out from under the car. "Lift it a bit more please. I need wiggle room to get thismlast part in."

Estel, feeling a smidgen of sympathy, took the hand and squeezed gently. "It's fine Eve. That was in the past, and you can't live there anymore."

"Got it," James said as he pressed the button, raising the car a little higher. Marcus had left, both to help Cristina guard the place and because he figured the two could use some alone time. Not that they were planning anything of the sort--they had been apart for a day, after enduring a lot. Marcus figured they'd want to talk.