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Forty Five | 

Forty Five |

My heart was breaking. Truly breaking into little itty bitty pieces. My nose was running, and my eyes were leaking sorrow and tears. I cried as I clung onto Cam, he patted my back laughing like a monster!

"You didn't think to tell her honey mead is booze?" Leon hissed behind me.

Luna chuckled, "I thought it'd be a nice lunch surprise for her. She's been working so hard all week, let her have this moment."

"Easy for you to say, you don't have to go on a five hour drive with her!"

I tuned their babble out as I clung onto Cam. Who knew how long it would be before I got to see him again? No – no way. I wouldn't be able to do it! Cammy was my partner in crime. Much better company than Jax most definitely.

"We will see each other in no time," Cam chuckled, detaching himself from me, "You don't have to worry. Besides you've gotta go kick Maxwell's ass then come back ok?"

I sniffled, wiping my nose on my sweater, "I-I'll miss you Cammy."

He nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, "I'll miss you too Mira. Until next time ok?"

"Ok, that's enough," Leon sighed loudly, "Lisa get little miss drunkard in the damn car."

"Do it yourself," Lisa replied, tossing her braids over her shoulder, "I ain't your slave."

"Of all the woman," he groaned before tossing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

I wiggled trying to get free, "Let me go! I'm not done saying goodbye!"

"Yes you are, now shut up."

"No I'm not!"

"Goodbye Mira! Goodbye Lisa!" Luna called from the gates, "We are always here if you're in search of a home."

"We will!" I cried, waving my hands frantically.

Leon snickered, tossing me in the backseat, "Aw shut up and sleep it off."

I sighed leaning back against the seats. They still smelt a little like Cam and that was comforting. I settled down, my brain swaying slightly. It wasn't long before the lids of my eyes closed, and I was drifting off.

The moment I peeled my eyes open I realized I was back in dreamland with the other me – the one who called herself Mira. I was dressed in a simple, floor length pink gown. Here my hair was normally long and wild but yet now it was pulled back into a tight bun. The only thing that told me I was in her world was my all too pale skin.

My eyes skimmed the area with caution. My feet stood among a grassy, flowered meadow. In the center I could see her – dressed in all black at her little tea table. Slowly, very slowly I walked over to the table. Those green eyes looked up at me, amusement stirring in them.

"You took your time coming over. I'm offended, it's like you don't trust me," she purred.

My eyes narrowed, "What's the trick? Will my dress turn to blood? Or maybe bodies will rain down? Call me a monster and poke me with a stick perhaps?"

She grinned, showing a pair of sharp teeth, "No trick. Not this time. I merely wish to know what you'll do with Eric once you meet him. Of course, it won't matter, once I come face to face with my creator I won't hold back – his life will be mine."

"Your creator?" I asked with a frown.

She nodded, her green eyes shinning, "Haven't you figured it out yet? Who am I, or rather who are you in this place of yours?"

"I don't understand," I snapped, "This is a dream. A dream you control."

She giggled, "Am I truly the one in charge around here?"

What?

I shifted in my sleep before my eyes peeled open. I swallowed the lump in my throat and sat up, ignoring the slight pain in my head. It worried me – what was that other Mira talking about? Her words of Maxwell and of dreamland itself had new questions coiling around my brain.

I quickly became tuned into the noise of Country music.

"Not happening," Leon snapped as the music was changed to Rock.

"No," Lisa replied annoyed, "I'm not listening to this shit!"

"Well too damn bad," Leon replied with annoyance, "I only have that CD 'cause Annie gave it to me. Knock it off are you five?"

"You're such a tool, oh my god. It's a wonder anyone likes you," she replied with a snicker.

At this point, my dream was pushed from my mind as I sat up and looked between the two. It was a wonder they went this long without killing each other. I tilted my head to the sound of the current song, enjoying the catchy tune and amazing drum solo.

"What song is this?" I asked curiously.

Lisa glanced over at me, "Well look who's up. You recovered quickly, I'm surprised."

"Moby Dick."

My face turned towards Leon, "What?"

He sighed, "The song. It's called Moby Dick. By Led Zeppelin."

"Lead Zeplyn?" I repeated with interest.

Lisa laughed, "Yeah good luck! I bet she'd know John Denver."

They began to bicker once again making me sigh. My attention turned towards the window and I looked outside. We were traveling fast down a completely empty highway. It took me only two minutes of confusion before I spotted the sign up ahead reading: CITY OF ASHBORNE.

What? What?

"How long was I sleeping for?" I gasped.

"Not too long actually. We still have about half an hour to go, don't stress," Lisa replied putting lip gloss onto her lips.

"What you gonna go looking for a date?" Leon snickered.

She smacked him in the arm, "Screw you – my lips are dry."

"Sure they are brat."

"Ok," I broke into their bickering, pulling myself forward to lean between the two seats, "What's our plan? Who did you bring back with you?"

"We'll have time to do that once we park. Look there," he pointed up ahead in the distance where a large mountain stood, "we'll have to hike up to the entrance."

"I thought the City of Ash was a closed in city?"

He snickered, "It is dummy. A city undergrounds."

"Like if a billionaire made a bomb shelter," Lisa piped in, "They have a nice gym too – Junior and Alpha used to play basketball together. My brother was shit but he never missed a match against Alpha. They have an indoor garden where basically all their foods are grown. Trust me, you won't even be able to tell we're underground. I mean not really."

Quiet rock music filled the car as I grew quiet. That meant there would only be one way in and one way out of the City of Ash. That would also mean there'd be eyes everywhere. Eyes that would show Maxwell everything. A sigh softly escaped my lips.

The car began to move slower, until he pulled into a parking lot flanked by thick maple trees. I gazed at them longingly. If Luna was here she'd have taps into those and maple syrup for breakfast. Yet here these beautiful trees were untouched.

Disappointing.

"Alright, let's go," Leon exhaled, shutting off the car and stepping out.

I followed suit, grabbing my bag and my sword.

"Leon, be a doll and grab my shit," Lisa giggled, wiggling her fingers towards him.

He snorted, "You wish brat."

"But how am I going to shoot if any zoms come our way if my hands are full?" she snapped.

I rolled my eyes at the two. A breeze pushed by us, tossing my light brown locks around my face. My fingers moved to push my hair back and I looked up at the bright sky. Despite it being a cloudy day, I was sure we'd get sun burnt on this hike.

"Let's go," Leon said.

I looked over at him. The man lit a cigarette and took a drag. I then noticed his strange attire. Over his leather jacket, he wore his own bag on his back as well as Lisa's. I shot him a smirk which he returned with a glare.

"Alright, let's get moving," Lisa called.

My gut clenched with pain and I grimaced, "Right."

Lisa led the way, hold her Desert Eagle in one hand, and pushing aside branches with the other. We stayed on a surprisingly well kept, simple dirt path that winded up the mountain. It was colder here, reminding me more of winter weather. It seemed we missed Spring Break by a few days perhaps.

"Hey, is Eugene still working up here?" Lisa asked suddenly.

"He is."

She bounced on her heels, turning to face him with a look of happiness, "Can we say hi? It's been so long – I missed him!"

I looked over at her in surprised. She seemed genuinely happy to know about this Eugene person. This did use to be her home, I reminded myself. Maybe he was a past boyfriend? Or just a friend of hers? I hoped for our sakes he didn't recognize us.

"I guess," Leon grunted, "But we don't have all damn day so move faster."

Lisa snapped back, "Sorry I don't want to get surprise attacked!"

I sighed, never a dull moment with these two, "I'll take the lead. This path goes all the way up to the entrance?"

"Yup," she said popping her "P" and tossing her braids over her shoulder, "Eugene keeps the entrance clean and free of zoms and the City of Ash sends him supplies. He lived in his cottage before the end and he still lives there now. My dad used to be good friends with him when we first moved there."

I could feel my cheeks blush. Stupid me, I was way off. I opened my mouth to ask her more about this man when a low guttered moan cut through the air. Then another, and another. For a moment we froze, our eyes scanning the trees around us. More than one, but...how many?

"They must have heard the car and followed us here," Leon cursed softly, "My fault. I should have been more careful."

"Can you tell where their coming from?" I asked remembering his special little trait.

He tilted his head, his eyes widening, "Lisa behind you!"

A group of zoms burst from the treeline behind her. She shrieked, raising her pistol. Two shots and two went down. Only more seemed to fill those places. Leon moved, grabbing her arm and hauling her back just as teeth bit into his arm. He grunted in pain making Lisa scream.

I blinked out of my daze, "Duck!"

They dropped to the ground as I pulled my sword free. Swing up, across then down. My blade moved just as Alpha had taught me – sliding gracefully like a knife through butter. The final three dropped and I sheathed my sword. Leon and Lisa sat on the forest floor, his arm gushing with blood.

"Leon are you ok?" Lisa gasped, pressing her sweater to his arm.

He nodded, his face contorted with pain, "I'm fine brat. I'll heal."

I bit my lip nervously, "How fast do you heal? What do we do?"

"Stop worrying," he groaned, pushing himself up to hold his arm, "We need to keep moving."

I nodded, helping Lisa stand. A cold breeze blew past us and I struggled to keep my hair out of my face. Once my hair was tamed, I looked down at the fallen zoms. My blade had really done a number on them, cutting right through their skulls and one of their bodies. Despite that all of them wore white outfits.

"They look like ex-guards," Lisa whispered softly.

I looked back at her, "Ex-guards? How can you tell?"

She frowned deeply, "Look at what their wearing."

I looked back to them and their white outfits. Paying more attention, I realized all five outfits matched. Each a pair of white slacks and a collar down white shirt with a fire bird on the breast. Over the shirts they each wore a white heavy jacket, and a white helmet. If what she said was true then how did they get into this state?

I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.

Suddenly, Leon's head swung towards me – his silver eyes wide, "Hey Mira! Look out!"

A moan sounded from behind me. Spinning I grabbed the hilt of my sword and came face to face with rotting flesh. A scream cut through my throat as I realized I was too late to pull out my sword.

Oh no!

I fell back on my butt, the zom reaching forwards my flesh. However, teeth didn't meet my flesh. Instead, a loud BANG sounded through the air and guts began to rain down over my face. My eyes widened and I looked towards the noise.

Up ahead at the path stood an old, dark skinned man with bright blue eyes holding a large shotgun. He looked at us then smiled, "Leon Piers and Lisa Stewart, it's been a long time, aint it? Welcome home."