Mall Rats Return

Mall Rats Return
139

Dee

Will goes of scouting trying to find a way into the mall other than the sewers…

"I wonder" Sal whispers "Tally I’ll be right back"

Tally sits with Andy and Leo, I walk to Dee and we turn our backs…

"What’s up"

"There used to be a hole in the basement wall, when the Chosen were here, Alice and Ned some how dug their way through the wall and dug their way out, thats how KC got out to get help and how Bray got in…"

"Surely it would be blocked off now, didn’t Alice move her bed down there when she needed space from everyone?" Dee asks "I remember being told about it"

"I can’t remember" I say "Damn"

"What?" I ask

"I can’t even remember where it was"

"It’s okay" I smile "It’s been a long time"

We both jump and go on alert as a bush moves…

"Just me" Will says walking in

"Well?"

"No go, any exits that would have been there are now so over grown you can’t find them, they are virtually impassable" He sighs

"What about the car park?" Sal asks

"There’s too much rubbish and decay to get past"
Will sighs "It looks like the only way in is going to be the sewers"

I look back at Tally, then at Dee…

"She won’t go down there" I say "And I don’t blame her"

"Me either, even Trudy struggled with the sewers when she has Brady" Salene sighs "And that was before nature started to reclaim the area"

"What do we do?" I ask

"Find the hole in the basement and pray it’s still there" Salene sighs "I never went through it so I’m not 100% sure where it came out, if only Alice, Bray or KC were here"

"Would they know where it came out?" Will asks

"I don’t know" Salene sighs

"We can ask them at least, what have we got to loose" I shrug

Salene

We walk back to Andy and Tally, I sit down beside them, I know even now thinking of Ned is going to still hurt a little…

"Tally, Andy" I start "You remember when we had that trouble and Alice and Ned managed to make a hole in the wall, do either of you know where it came out on the outside… It may be our way in, we can go on and pass Leo through"

I sit and let them have time to process what I am asking… I don’t even know if they would remember that way in…

@Zwenja @Jack

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140

CALLAN

Lottie looks sad and for a moment I’m tempted to ask if she’s ok but I decide against it, last thing she needs is a stranger prying into her business. Moving over to Bekah I silently start to help her with the coffees, we both pause for a second as our fingers brush before returning to what we were doing. We’d been something, once, but now we were just friends. We worked better that way and it made things less complicated.

Turning back to the table I grab the bread and left overs we had, it wasn’t much but if we were going to head into this peacefully maybe food would help quell some tension. ’Here,’ I put the food down and gesture to Lottie, ’help yourself, it isn’t much but you look like you could do with a bit of a pick me up. The jam is nice, I think it’s blueberry but I’m not entirely sure’

Giving Luc a look I make a subtle gesture for him to come and help us with the drinks, we really needed an action plan before this all went to s•it.

@Zandra @Tribelover15

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141

DANNI

I’d been walking for what felt like a lifetime but I’d finally reached the road the mall was on, or what was left of it. I hadn’t tried to hide myself, which was probably stupid, but my sense of self preservation was lacking after everything I’d been through.

I pause for a moment looking up at the sky, it was peaceful for a moment and I could almost pretend none of this was real, but reality is cruel and soon a cloud passes over the sun bringing me back to earth.

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142

Ryan

The hug Alice gave me felt very reassuring and made me feel safe, but it also sent butterflies in my stomach and warmth across my body. I tried to restrain my cheeks from going red and just flashed Alice a smile.

"Good, I mean…I’m glad"

I just hoped they were okay, even if I hadn’t seen Lex or Ellie in a long time I never stopped seeing them as my friends. I had looked up to Lex for a long time and seen him as my best friend. I had grown close to Ellie as well during the invasion of the Chosen and I couldn’t stand the thought or either of them being hurt or in trouble.

"Yeah, I don’t think I wanna spend the night outside on the street so we better get going" I agreed and hicked up the backpack again on my bag before starting to walk again.

@Trudy

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143

Cloe

What I could remember of the city was not the sight I was seeing right now, nature had taken over even more. It did remind me a bit of when the virus first happened and everyone just ran around trying to survive from hunger, cold or the tribe wars.

But I seemed to remember the right away to the mall or at least it felt right. “So this is the city?” Jamie said as he looked at the tall buildings being the country boy he was.

"What a dumb" Radar grumbled under his breath which made me roll my eyes. "If you’re just gonna complain you just could have stayed at home" I said and he just glared and grumbled even more walking on. We still had a bit to go at the city was quite large and we had just entered it.

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144

Zan

I heard Andy but I kept walking there was no point in shouting back though hopefully, things will be calmer when they do eventually come into the mall. Reaching the cafe I sit back next to Lottie “When he comes back he will be calmer, I’ve reminded him this is no longer the Mallrat’s home and we are infact guests, I mean forceful guests but still” I told her and moved the towel around myself again.
I hate wet clothes, really really hate clothes.

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145

Luc

Standing up I head over to the counter. I was thankful red had gone after the carrot top because I was ready to chuck them out “We’ve not even had breakfast yet and it feels like a long day” I mutter to them.
I glanced over when red gets back and hear her speaking to the other girl before turning back to the others “Here’s hoping there isn’t many of them coming back”

I was actually starting to dread today, who knew how many more would be returning to the mall.

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146

Lottie

I was starting to feel warm again and I had started to dry up a bit, my hair had gone slightly curly from being wet and it was slowly starting to dry. I blink looking then up at Callan and nod my head giving him a small smile. “Thank you, it sounds really good” I told him as my stomach growled a little now as I was seeing food.

I couldn’t help it, I was a little hungry so I started to prepare one piece of bread. Then Zandra was next to me again and I turned to look at her. “Yes, as much as it is weird that someone else lives here it hasn’t been the Mallrat’s home for a long time” I had to agree with her. “Is it bad to say I almost kinda like one of them, he’s seen more reason then the other one” I whisper to Zandra as I eyed Luc for a moment before looking away.

@Zandra @Danni

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147

CALLAN

Listening as Luc mutters I nod, ’it’s gonna be one of them,’ I agree. Of all the things to happen, being faced by mall rats really wasn’t how I imagined today would go. Sighing quietly I shrug ’from the sounds of it, we are in for a party… and not the fun kind but the annoying kind you really didn’t want to attend.’

I look around for a moment trying to work out how we should do this, it sounded like none of them really wanted to return but something had forced their hand, or at least that was the impression I got from the two drowned women. ’Maybe we should offer them something dry to wear, last thing we need is them getting cranky cause they are cold,’ I comment quietly, Bekah overhears and I almost hear her roll her eyes. ’What? We could have disarmed the traps…!’

Glancing back towards the sewers I take a moment before turning back to Luc, ’ao there’s at least two more, and a baby…’ I pause and shake my head slightly, ’a baby… in the city? God… bad idea!’ ignoring my own personal feelings I try and process my thoughts, ’I think we are going to have people turning up, we need to work out how to approach it without p•••ing them off because we don’t need a war, not when things have been going so well.’

@Zandra @Tribelover15

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148

Zan

I look at Lottie “I’ll be honest, we can’t really judge them too much as we have shown up unannounced on their doorsteps, so even though I want to punch one of them I am hoping once things become abit more civilised I wont have that overwhelming urge” I smirked slightly “Though I gotta say, I don’t think I’ve seen a tribe with so many hot guys, I mean really if the Mallrats had these back then I might have considered coming back” I say keeping my voice low.

“Though I think you have your own admirer,” I say motioning to the jacket wrapped around her “Good luck with that” I say and give her a small nudge.

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149

Luc

“A baby, why a baby? There’s the crying and the nappies and you cant do what you want when you want” I shrug “I don’t think I’ll ever get it” I pause “Alix, I love your fashion sense, can you short them out? I’m sure if you were in their position you wouldn’t want to be sat in wet clothes” I say looking at her.

It was true, I did like her fashion sense… Atleast she always looked hot in whatever she was wearing anyway.

“We’ll just have to listen to them and try and work out who is doing this, I mean those two don’t know each other and they didn’t know the carrot top so there has to be some kind of link other then the mall”

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150

Lottie

The moment zandra Said that it reminded me of saying Ruby had Said to me once many years ago. Not judge a book by its cover or based on first impressions, i guess i kinda forgot about it” i admitted sheepishly.

I then smiled and almost laughed, ”No offense to Lex, Jack and the rest but these are bit in another level”* i grinned a little. For kid me Jack had been cute but also boys had not really been discovered for me back then. I then the jacket around my shoulders and cant help but laugh. ”This has really been a strange and eventful morning”

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151

CALLAN

’Don’t ask me, I have no idea,’ I comment with a shrug, ’oh god, if more are coming there might be more!!!’ The thought of the mall filled with children didn’t exactly fill me with excitement, it would just end up a constant jump from birthday party to birthday party or worse!

Alix gives Luc a look but heads off to get the girls some clothes, they probably wouldn’t love her fashion sense but at least they’d appreciate the gesture, maybe.

’Yeah, we will just have to listen… and keep our heads,’ I comment, knowing full well Luc’s temper would be an issue if anyone annoyed him. ’Maybe don’t call him carrot top to his face either, might not be appreciated!’ I pause, smirking slightly, ’I also notice you’re not calling her carrot top…’

@Zandra @tribelover15

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152

Luc

“Ah there is a difference between ginger and red” I grinned “Hence she’s now red regardless of her name. Guys and ginger just don’t mix” I tell Callan honestly "It’s just weird… " I shrug “I hope we get a blonde or two, if they’re going to be flittering in here I wouldn’t complain about getting to know some of them” I whispered to him, I did love a blonde and fully believe in the term blondes have more fun.

“I am tempted to put you in charge of this, you think before you speak whereas I don’t and lets face it that probably isn’t going to change any time soon… What do you say, fancy being top man?”

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153

Zan

“Oh I’m awful at judging, it’s a really bad habit but I am going to try and keep it in check” I tell her “Can we have one rule where we don’t mention Lex’s name? I cant lie but I am so glad that he cant read so we wont need to deal with him”

“Who knows, maybe we get to have some fun while we’re here, cant be all work and no play” I say with a smirk.

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154

CALLAN

Listening to him I can’t help but snort, he really did have a one track mind, more so than I did!

’You’re only putting me in charge because there’s a baby…’ I comment before shrugging, ’but sure, even if it’s just so we don’t get into any more deep s•it because you can’t keep your mouth shut!’

Grabbing a coffee cup i motion to the others Bekah has poured, ’let’s go make nice until the rest arrive and then see if we can work out what the hell is going on, because it’s too early in the day to be dealing with this s*it.’

Walking back over to the table I put the couple of mugs down in front of the girls, ’Alix has just gone to get you some clothes so you don’t freeze, probably won’t be your style but it will be dry.’ I pause before gesturing to the cups, ’again, not the best but this is what passes for coffee in these parts, will warm your toes and ruin your tastebuds!’

@Zandra @Tribelover15

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155

Lottie

”At least you’re not alone in that” i assure her, not know her history with lex i do respect it and nod my head. ”Who?” i say and then add a smile to show i was planning to uphold my respect, but my eyes did go wide in suprise hearing her say he cant read.

I laugh softly and shrug my shoulders, ”It would make this trip intresting in other ways” i say in a low voice before Callen came up to us.

”Thanks again, it would be nice to have something fresh and dry on.” I also looked at the mug before wrapping my fingers around it. ”Coffee is in its rare things these days so im not picky”

@Zandra @Danni

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156

Luc

I grinned, this whole thing was going to need to be handled carefully and I really wasn’t the guy for that. Day to day running I can handle that shit but having to be diplomatic and careful in my wording isn’t me and I’d be a fool to pretend that it was.

Grabbing the mugs I head over “The only tip I can give is don’t let it go cold, it’s really really bad” Zane and Jaz had grabbed their own.

“Lets do basic introductions, I’m Luc, over there is Zane and Jaz” we didn’t know when the rest planned on coming but it felt pointless to not to do anything until then.

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157

Zan

I smile when Lottie replies, I like this girl already I wonder who else will turn up, oh god, can you imagine Amber busting in and trying to make a rota of who’s doing what, they’d be scrubbing the floors by lunch!

As the guys come over I pick up a mug “Thanks, for this, and dry clothes. I’m not a fan of being wet” I say and pause before quickly adding “Wearing wet clothes” oh god I’m really going to have to be careful with what I say, as usual, the words just tumble out.

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158

Tally

I listen to Salene speaking about that hole… “It’s how KC managed to bring Bray in the day that fruitcake tried to set off a bomb…” I whisper, a shudder running over me.

If those people inside the mall are Zoot fans? Maybe they choose the place because of that? I look at the building in my back. We’ve been away so long. Of course things would have changed… But honestly I had thought it would be a place of technology now.

Those guys we saw the day we ran away had freaking planes! And some science fiction laser weapons!

I noticed of course that Salene didn’t answer any of my questions. If someone else we knew is with her. She instead talked about other things. I know this tactic. But okay, everyone has things they rather not talk about.

I look at Andy who shakes his head, indicating he doesn’t really know or remember.

"I… It was in the basement… On the… South side? I don’t… It looks all different. I know they used a board from inside to cover it up later and from the outside…something else. There were other things in our leaders head to that time I think…" I whisper remembering the party and then the moment Trudy and Amber just wouldn’t show up.

I remember Brays panic… He was like a lost puppy. Back then I thought What an idiot! Crying around doesn’t help, but now… I understand him. I don’t want to think of this. Of my older brother having a part in this.

"Maybe… Maybe someone should go in. Tell them of it. So it doesn’t come as a shock when it’s still there. Imagine someone just breaking open a wall to your home, you understanding it has always been there…"

I look at Leo who still holds onto Andy. "Okay… Your uncle gets on cuddle duty now… Mommy goes and buys her way in!"

I say making sure Andy has him. “What…?” I grin "Think. We come all stomping in. God knows how many… And they have to think of sharing rooms with us… And food. Looking at the city I guess food resources did get even worse. So I go in…introduce myself, tell them about Leo and show them we didn’t come empty handed. I can imagine the guys in there fuck a baby… It makes noise… It poops… Eww…. Typical macho things. They like the sex and all… But completely close out the possible consequences. I’ll make them see I didn’t have exactly a choice…"

I look to Dee and Salene "I can do this. Really. Something gives me the feeling that as girls we might have an advantage. We don’t give away the “we came to conquer” air. We’ll bring them fresh potatoes, carrots, eggs and apples… Bet you anything they haven’t eaten eggs in ages… Don’t think there is chicken around here…"

I grab the heavy bag "I think if I then tell them about the possible hole… They let me look from inside…"

Andy doesn’t look happy. But he knows I wouldn’t say it if I am not sure of it. “I don’t want you fighting Andy. You’re a great brother and the best uncle. But Leo is and stays my child. My responsibility. In situations like now I have to make sure he’ll be safe. I want to see them myself. If they feel off to me… I am not staying anyway. Letters be damned!” I give him a hug, kiss Leo and him on the nose and then start to climbdown the ladder.

The alarm was set off. Unsure if that mbeans thd traps won’t work I carefully slide along the sewers wall. If some ropes are going here I’d feel them at once…

"Hello? I am coming through… I’ll bring food!" I shout up the way, trusting that this is the universal language for I’ll come in peace

@Jack @Salene @people in Café

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