Where Is Your Rider (OFFICIAL WATTPAD UPLOAD)

Chapter 7

Tommy jolted awake at dawn.

He glanced around frantically in a moment of panic, struggling to get his bearings, and then he remembered where he was.

The fire had burned down to embers, still smoking and casting a faint glow in the dim light of the early morning. Ranboo was leaning against a chunk of rubble and Tubbo was curled up against his chest, both of them fast asleep.

Tommy shuddered. Ranboo still had his gas mask and glasses on, making it impossible to tell if he was really sleeping.

Wilbur, however, was glaringly absent.

Tommy frowned.

Wilbur had rejoined them later last night, the remains of a cigarette between his fingers and a bitter scowl on his face. The mysterious Big Q hadn't been brought up again, but Tommy had a feeling it wouldn't've gone over well if they had.

Cautiously, Tommy got up and slipped out of the makeshift shelter.

Then he saw him.

Wilbur sat up on one of the skyscraper's rusted, sand-scoured beams, gazing absently into the distance at where the heavy grey-green clouds were starting to lighten. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and he was... singing?

His voice was soft, but the words were clear as day.

"I heard there was a special place,

Where men could go emancipate..."

"What're you doing up?" Tommy blurted.

Wilbur shrieked, practically jumping a foot in the air and yanking out his pistol, snapping off several shots in Tommy's direction.

Tommy screamed and dove behind a rusted heap of rebar and concrete.

Over by the remains of the campfire, Ranboo lurched awake, drawing for his hunting knife. Tubbo blinked open his eyes, looking rather bleary, his hair even messier than usual.

Tommy cringed.

"Whasgoinon?" Tubbo mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Wilbur's face was practically red with rage.

"Nothing," he spat. "Bunker Boy here decided it would be hilarious to scare the absolute shit out of me."

"I didn't—" Tommy started to protest.

Ranboo groaned. "Well, I'm not gonna need coffee. You scared me bad enough that I won't be sleeping for the next week."

Tubbo snickered.

Tommy's face burned with guilt and humiliation.

"Damn it," Wilbur snarled, jumping down from the beam he was sitting on, pulling a pill bottle out of his pocket and dry-swallowing what he tipped into his hand. "Ranboo, Tubbo, prep the van and see if you can scrounge up something edible for the road."

"Mmmh, yessir," Tubbo whined, letting his arm flop over his eyes as Ranboo set him gently on the ground so he could stand.

Wilbur scowled. "I mean it, Tubbo."

Tubbo groaned, hauling himself to his feet and loping after Ranboo towards the van.

Tommy started to follow them.

He didn't get far. Wilbur grabbed him by the back of his shirt, yanking him around to face him. Tommy froze, and he almost yelped in fright, but Wilbur clamped a hand over his mouth, something violent and bitter in his eyes.