Two

The time of day was unknown since there was no sun, no moon, and no clock that wasn’t different from another just to make it harder for someone to tell time. One would say “noon” and another would say “5pm” and so on. You just had to roll with the punches. The sky gave no warning of weather, no animals around to give warn of storm, everything came when it did and there was no way to prepare for it, you just had to go with it.

The three of them, all crammed hazardly on the motorcycle, were headed further into what was left of a crumbling city. There were small explosions on whatever buildings were left, and surprisingly some were tremendously large. Once they entered, Emma, who had been driving, pulled them to a screeching halt that almost sent Maddox and Dean flying. Maddox had been behind Emma holding her waist tightly and Dean had been standing on an unseen part while holding on to Maddox’s shoulders.

“Um… you’re a crazy-a*s driver, did I tell you that? Jesus, you need to slow down!” Maddox huffed and stepped off with Dean, who was trembling like crazy.

“I mean, I do some stupid stuff a lot of times, not gonna lie, but SERIOUSLY. I thought I was gonna die. No joke. I’ve never felt so unsafe, I didn’t even know these things could go that fast-” she stopped.

Emma got up and let the motorcycle fall. Dean jumped as it made a loud clanking sound.

“What did you do that for? How else are we gonna keep going?!” Maddox started raising her voice but Emma placed a finger on the girl’s lips gently, signaling her to be quiet. She took her hand away and explained. “Have to be silent. They might hear us.”

Maddox leaned forward a bit and whispered, “who might hear us?” but was shortly answered by a distant hissing in a building that sagged on one side. Dean expressed a chill going down his spine visually and that’s when Emma knew these two had no full understanding of what was happening.

Who are they, and where have they been these past few years?

Emma signaled for them to follow her and the trio ran up the street as quietly as physically possible. They turned off and went down a flight of stairs into the subway station. It was a complete mess, old food was scattered everywhere, the whole place littered with bodies and debris. They found a derailed train and hopped inside, closing the doors behind them and sitting in a part where they were comfortable and hidden. There was no light except for the dim one just outside the windows and one from a few cars down. It wasn’t much but it was enough since they didn’t really need it. They had settled down and used what they could for comfort that was around them and hadn’t been destroyed.

“So,” Maddox wrapped a disheveled shawl around her shoulders, “if it’s not too personal, do you mind telling me what’s up with the freaky porcelain doll crap on your face? I mean, not that it’s not cool or anything but, it’s a little spooky once you really notice it.”

Emma shifted around and sat with her arms crossed on the top of her knees and her chin on her arms. There were goosebumps trailing her arm but she ignored them. Taking a deep breath she uncrossed her arms slightly so she could sign.

“Growing up was rough for me. I had a speech impediment and would severely stutter whenever I spoke. People made fun of me for years. Adults would mock me, even when I was a child. Eventually I stopped talking altogether. I never spoke a word, never made a sound, I refused to speak to anyone. People avoided me just the same, but at least they couldn’t hurt me.

“When things started getting bad around here, there were still people who had not noticed. My only friend was unaware and she would not listen to me no matter what I told her. I told her to stay with me and hide, but she refused.

“Days later, she finally saw it. Her entire work had crumbled into dust. She begged me to let her take us both home and find our families, but I told her it was not safe and that they would be fine. She did not listen. She tried to rally up the whole town to try and leave to somewhere safe but no one would listen.

“I did not want to see her like that, even if that was exactly how she treated me and my words. I stood up next to her and finally spoke for the first time in years. I warned them of what was happening and told them all to go underground where they will be safe. They all laughed at me, they called me foolish and mocked my voice. They threw things at me. Even in times of peril they all still act like petty children. No thought for their own.

“So I left them all, and I found a way to keep myself quiet forever, so they could never make fun of me ever again. Never.”

Maddox had been leaning closer to listen but felt off balanced and ended up just scooting over towards Emma instead.

“I’m sorry-” she stopped short when she realized her voice came out in a breathy whisper, her eyes shimmered with the first signs of tears but quickly went away as she cleared her throat. Emma nodded.

“I wasn’t going to cry, I swear. If you tell anyone I’ll kill you.”

Emma raised a condescending eyebrow and Maddox laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head.

“R-right. Sorry.” But Emma nodded once again, understanding and her shoulders shook in silent mirth. Maddox felt her face turn red with heat and gave a sheepish smile back, moving her hand back down accidentally on top of Emma’s hand. The two suddenly were still and they stared at the touching hands between them. When they looked back up they were both blushing and it grew when they made eye contact.

Maddox moved her hand away, embarrassed, and started to fumble over her words. This was something Emma hadn’t seen from the other girl before and was confused, it seemed out of character even if they had just met.

“Oh, wow, I, uh, I, mm, I’m so, ugh-” Maddox had started panicking but then she stopped abruptly and showed a face that Emma had mistaken for anger at first. It was determination.

“No, no, no apologizing, this is literally the apocalypse and I have nothing to be sorry for.”

Emma was genuinely confused and tilted her head with worry.

“Are you alright? You are not making sense.”

Maddox froze. Emma’s eyes widened with surprise as the black haired girl quickly grabbed Emma’s face in her hands and pulled her into a kiss. It wasn’t long, but it quickly grew soft and less hastily done until they pulled away, Maddox’s hands still gently holding Emma’s cheeks. Their faces both turned completely red and Maddox jumped away, tears in her eyes before she turned and plopped the rest of the way down on the floor, silent but shivering with tears.

Emma had to let herself relax before she shook her head and came up behind the other girl, laid down behind her as close as she could despite her small body, and wrapped an arm around her. She pressed a cheek into Maddox’s shoulder softly and fell asleep. Maddox stopped crying suddenly and felt a sense of warmth rush through her until a throat nearby cleared.

In the corner sat a smug looking Dean who had been trying to fall asleep but saw everything that went down.

“She’s a cute one.”

“Shut up! Shh! Go back to sleep you jerk.” Maddox snorted and blushed. Dean, who has normally so timid, gave a look of amusement.

“Pleasant dreams to you both.”