Ava And Ivy

17 (This Happened.)

*Ivy's POV*

I finished breakfast with slight regret of telling Ava that her question would be answered if we went to the laboratory, but at least she had not pressed about it while I ate my dry cracker and wallowed in self pity. I let myself think about how to explain everything instead, and wonder how we will even get to my former house when Ava owns only a mere bike, which I did not think would fit two humans comfortably.

This did not stop me from being surprised at the  fact she had even agreed to letting me return to the place of the explosion at all, especially when Ava had been so protective of me because of my injuries.

At the end I was still glad of her decision.

I borrowed some of her clothes and dressed, making sure to ask for a warm coat. The weather was getting colder with each day that neared winter.

I walked out and stood at the top of the ladder. I was unable to climb down. Not with the pain. Not with the large chance that I would fall.

"Oh, I forgot about that. One second." Ava shouted up at me before wandering into the garden and appearing again under my feet with a thick, long stick. After placing it down on the ground she then climbed up and walked back inside, returning with a rope.

"Ava. What are you doing?" She smiled and tied a knot around my waist, waving away my hands.

"I'll help you get down. Just trust me for once."

I watched as she placed the rope through the top rung and climbed down to the ground.

"Be careful, I'm not invincible. Lower yourself down slowly and try not falling." I stared at her in slight disbelief.

"Ah, and may luck be ever in your favor, correct?"

"I trust you trust me on this. Else would you rather stay and never leave?"

"Saying 'never' is such an exaggeration!" I remarked before reluctantly beginning to lower myself down the ladder.

I pressed my feet onto the rungs, but as soon as my injured foot hit I lost balance and stumbled back, barely holding on. Realistically I would have fell, but with Ava holding the rope tied to my waist her body-weight kept me hanging on. Even if by a thread.

I clambered down as fast as possible without breaking any bones and lay on the grass for a bit before being ready to get up.

"Can you hand me the stick?" Ava nodded in response and helped me up before handing over the makeshift crutch. I then followed her out the garden and to the neighbors house where she grabbed car keys from the ground. They were covered in dried blood.

"Don't get in before checking that it is safe." I suggested as she opened the car standing in the driveway.

"Yeah, it's all fine, get in." I pulled leg after leg forward until I was in the passenger seat and watched Ava get in the driver seat beside me.

I gave her a crash course on controls and prayed for us as she backed up into two zombies behind us. The crunch of their bones under the wheels made me want to puke.

And on our way we went.

I had to scream at her a few times to avoid turning into mincemeat, but the ride was rather peaceful otherwise.

Until she questioned me about the incident.