End Of Everything (Book 1)

23: Iris

*Claire's Pov*

I finally make it out just in time before it rains heavy. As I make my way to the house, droplets of rain starts to come down harder.

I need to hurry before all this blood washes off. I can finally see the treehouse get closer and closer to me. I use the rope ladder to climb up until I was inside the treehouse.

I sighed in relief as I seen Olivia in the corner. She's asleep and still covered in blood, she must've gotten here before the rain poured. I grabbed one of the blankets and put it on top of her.

I sat down next to her in pain. My feet were definitely blistering up and my back was killing me. Even though I was in pain, I couldn't help but worry about Johnny and the others. It didn't take long for the rain to get a nice amount of blood off of me. So I knew it was gonna be difficult for them to get through if they haven't already.

Suddenly Olivia starts to move drawing my attention. Her eyes flutter open. She looks down confused at the cover then to me. She smiles and gives me a hug.

"Thank God I'm not the only one who made it." She croaked out. I can hear in her voice that she was tearing up.

"The rest will be here I'm sure of it." I reassured her and myself. I really hope I was right, I couldn't take another lost today. Especially my husband, I don't know what I'd do without him.

"I really hope you're right." We unwrap our arms from each other and sat there waiting. The sound of rain and growlers outside echoed through the treehouse.

"How's your back?" She asked breaking the small silence.

"Well I can feel the adrenaline wearing off so not the best but it could be worst." I informed her. "I could have tripped on air in front of my crush, and try to lock myself in my room forever. Drowning my embarrassment  with a mix of chocolates and Sleeping with Sirens." I added teasing her. Her jaw dropped with a small grin on her lips.

"Wow okay one: it wasn't air, it was clearly a ghost out to get me. Two: I hate that you still remember that. And three: Shut up, Kellin is bae okay." We both laughed.

"Oh I know he is..or was. Damn we don't even know if him or any other celeb is alive right now." I sighed.

"Yeah you're right. It really makes me miss the old world. All we had to worry about at our age was boys, prom, surviving the already fucked up world ahead of us. Now it's the dead, the living, and whatever else this even more fucked world brings us that we have to worry about." I reached out for her hand and held it. I look at our hands then up to her sad eyes.

"Like the world before, we'll survive until we can't anymore. Fight until our last dying breath."

"Damn right we are." A very familiar voice uttered from in front of us.

We both whipped our heads to the voice. My heart almost jumped out of my chest as my eyes land on the man I love, Johnny.

His hair was drenched and the blood on him was barely there. His lips are curled into a small smile as he finished climbing inside of the treehouse. I stood up with wobbly legs and walked to him. My arms immediately go around his waist and my head crashes on his hard chest, as he pulls me in for a hug.

I start to sob into his chest as I hold him tightly. It wasn't sad tears it was happy tears and he knew that. He tries his best not to touch my injuries but fails. It didn't hurt at that moment, and I didn't care if it did or not. I just needed him to hold me and to still be alive.

"It's okay, I got you babe." He whispered in my ear, while one hand caresses my hair calmly. "We have to go. The others are below waiting for us. The horde will be here soon." He informed us. I sniffed as I moved my head off his chest to look up at his goregous face.

"It worked." I told him while a smile formed it's way on my face.

"Not yet babygirl. We still gotta drive up out of here." He chuckled.

"Can we grab these board games and blankets? Will need some type of entertainment on the road." Olivia suggested behind me.

"Of course lets bag it up." Johnny answered. After we bag the games in the duffle bag, Johnny went down the ladder to catch the blankets and the one pillow. With my bag on my back I head down the ladder next.

My eyes land on the rest of the gang. Simon, Troy, and Nicole were trying to get the garage door open, while Jenny and Robert stood watch for roaming growlers.

"We got it dudes!" Simon informed all of us as Olivia was coming down the ladder. The green mini van was pretty dirty but held enough seats for all of us. I can see boxes of rations in the trunk of the car through the windshield.

I walk to the car with Johnny by my side. While holding the blankets and pillow, Johnny goes to a mat that's in front of the door. He squats down and lifts the mat, revealing a car key. He picks it up, turns to Robert, and tosses it to him. Robert catches it with one hand and unlocks the door.

"Shotgun." Simon called out from behind me. We all pile in giving a blanket to Nicole, Troy, and Jenny whom sat in front of me, Johnny, and Olivia. Robert started the car and we drove off until we couldn't hear the horde behind us.

I cuddled up to Johnny as he stroke my hair. I couldn't help but think of the people we've lost to get here. Even after all our training we couldn't protect Dylan, or our home and the people in it. We failed but also learned something new about the growlers. We can definitely use it to our advantage, hopefully to rescue Dylan from those tyrants.