Death Before Disco: Hopeless Hearts trilogy book 1

I Can't Make You Stay

Party Poison POV

        It had been almost a week since we ran into Chemical Shot and Harmless Insanity, yet it felt like last night. The two of us had gone back to Fun Ghoul and Jet Star, the other Fabulous Killjoys very shortly after everything had happened, the excitement had lulled and Kobra had gotten bored, so we just left.

        After five monotonous days of moving around the bare desert and almost no sign of Dracs anywhere, we were out of supplies. Like, there was nothing left and a small trip was not going to save us from starvation and dehydration. We debated the topic for about an hour, the four of us. Eventually it was decided, we needed to go into Battery City to get supplies.

        Runs to Battery City were dangerous enough with a full stomach and clear head, but now it was going to be extra difficult.

        “We just need to stay on our toes and not get killed. Simple,” Ghoul said next to me smiling.

        “It’s not just that, if anyone gets hurt we’re pretty much out of any medicinal supplies. We would have to ask Dr. D for help and I can’t even remember where he is right now,” I said, trying to explain my unwillingness to embark on this trip.

        “Party, it’s a four person mission and besides, you’re the leader, you call the shots in the heat of the moment. If you weren’t there, it’s even more risky and someone is more likely to get hurt. You always make the right calls in tough situations. Us three kind of need you.” Jet said, tugging on his jacket.

        I knew he was buttering me up, but I still wasn’t sound in this trip. I had an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach, one I’d never experienced before and that really worried me. Instead of further protest, I sighed and grabbed my mask, heading towards the Trans-Am.

        I waited for Ghoul to get in the back of the car before climbing into the driver’s side myself. Twisting the key into the ignition, the Trans-Am made the rumbling, dying sound that meant that it would start, though the sound it made suggests otherwise, unless you were familiar with the way it ran. I shifted the car and we started to drive. A few minutes later, the place we had stayed in had disappeared and it was nothing but us, the desert, and the cloud of angry dust left in our trail.

***

        Hours later, the sun had started to dip over the tall hills that could almost be called mountains in the distance. We were almost to Battery City. It was in view, looming over the dry sand and empty landscape like a colorless black hole. As we approached, it only got bigger.

        “Did the city grow, or is it just me?” Kobra asked from the seat next to me. No one really answered, but we did give various reactions that suggested yes. We zipped into one of the tunnels leading into the metal and glass monstrosity.

        Surprisingly, no one was manning any of the checkpoints we passed. At the third one, I stopped, sure that something was up. That just never happens, they’re so uniform, they don’t just abandon post. I got out of the Trans-Am and walked towards the toll booth like structure. Inside of it and behind it, were bodies. Clearly some Killjoys had gotten here first, and recently. That meant we didn’t have much time before someone realized something had happened and sent lots of Dracs to investigate.

        I dashed back to the Trans-Am and started to drive through the tunnels even faster. And then, we were in the city. No one was around and we stashed the car between the end of the tunnel and a taller building. The four of us grabbed backpacks and split into two groups, me and Kobra, and Ghoul and Jet.

        “Good luck,” Kobra said to the other two as they dashed into the city to snag whatever supplies they could.

        Upon entering a small BL/Ind. supply shack, we came in contact with two Dracs. They seemed to also be raiding the shack. I lifted my gun and shouted, "Guns down, hands up."

        The two laughed, making us a little unsure of what they were. Dracs never show emotion. They lifted off the ugly, white masks to reveal one girl with long blonde hair and another with brown. "Sweetcheeks... chill," Laughed the voice of the girl who had dominated my dreams.

        "I saved your lives, and this is how you repay me," replied Chem as both girls turned to face us.

        I'm sure it was extremely comical, the looks of utter idiocy on both my brother’s and my faces. That was until, in my shock, I accidentally leaned on the alarm that would alert all of the Dracs where we were. "Shit," I muttered.

        "Nice going, Cupcake. Let's run," said Harm.  And that's what we did. As we reached the Trans-Am where Jet and Ghoul already were, a look of realization came to their faces. "Mirage..." muttered Harm.

        "There's no time to get your bike, get in the car and let's go," Kobra stated. "We have to bring you to Dr. Death-Defying."

        Chem laughed, "Believe me, we know him well."

***

        As protocol, we brought them to Dr. D. We let them go in alone, however Kobra and I could not help but listen through the door.

        "Hey D. Long time no see," laughed Chem.

        "Girls! I missed you! How have you been?" Asked Dr. D. leaving Kobra and I confused at how the know each other so well.

        "We were great, until this one decided to save a Fabulous Killjoy. Then, those Killjoys messed up our mission and left Mirage behind!" Ranted Harm.

        "Well, you've been busy. Now I meant to ask, are you sure that you don't want to join our ranks?" He asked them.

        "You know why we can't..." Harm's voice trailed off. I wondered what could be so bad that they couldn't join us.

        "I see. I think you guys should stay with the Fabulous Killjoys until it is safe to go back and get your bike," he stated softly, as if he were worried for their well being.

        "D, you don't need to worry about us," softly stated Chem.

        "I know," he replied, "But I can't seem to stop myself." We could hear the girls hugging him good bye, so we rushed down it the area where the two other Fabulous Killjoys were.

        "Hey Princess. I guess you're stuck stuck with us until Dr. D deems it safe to get our bike," Harm joked lightly, but her smile didn't quite meet her eyes.