𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃, 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐨¹

𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙤 - 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
[ chapter zero—end of the line ]

Another hint of Nick's existence had sent Madison Clark into another spiral. The Clarks had ended up at the Mexico border, where they were ambushed by what they believed and hoped to be the military.

They'd come up to a fork in the road though from what they could see ahead was an old military base. Infected body parts surrounding the perimeter. The men pushed them into a truck, and Travis into another heading toward the other side of the base.

"Travis!" Madison fought with the guard for answers. "It's alright, Maddie!" Travis assured, fighting the men on either side of him to keep his gaze on Madison to assure her that he indeed would be fine.

The eldest Clark watched from the couch as her younger sister and mother searched the office they'd been placed in. "Anything?" Alicia asked, stepping back from the window.

"No," Madison answered, looking through a stack of papers. Nadia dragged a chair from the desk and stood on top of it. "Found something?" She asked, helping the girl to remain steady.

"I just thought we should check the roof." She shrugged, pushing the roof tile upward.

Alicia sighed as the girl shook her head. "We shouldn't have come here." She muttered, "I second that." Adaline mumbled, looking up at her mother who continued to search the room.

"We had to." Adaline stared down at her hands as she began to pick at the skin around her nails, biting her tongue in order to keep the peace between herself and her mother.

Adaline loved her brother, but she hated what he'd done to their family, addiction or not, their family would never be the same.

"No, we shouldn't be looking for him," Alicia argued. "Chasing him." Another sigh left her lips. "It always blows back on us."

Madison turned to her daughters, pushing the chair toward the desk. "Why is it you two only get along when you're bullying your brother?"

Adaline smirked, as her eyes met Alicia's who shared her grin. "Who said anything about bullying Nick? We're just agreeing that he's a big boy, making big-boy decisions." Madison raised her brows, "Ah." She mumbled sarcastically.

The lock on the office door clicked, and the door was pushed open by a guy not much older than her with brunette hair and eyes that reminded Adaline of the beach. "Hi. Sorry to keep you." He apologised, glancing around the room for merely a second as he made his way to the desk in the middle of the room. "I'm Troy." He placed a tray of hot drinks on the desk and offered Madison a seat, one she did not accept.

Troy nodded his head slowly as Madison stared back at him. "I, uh, spoke to my men." He began as he pushed the door shut. "You shouldn't have been handled so roughly."

Lee rolled his eyes, leaning back against the arm of the couch. "So, why we're we?" Alicia spoke up.

"You came from the border." Troy began, his eyes flickering back at Adaline. "Boarders dangerous."

Adaline scoffed, "Only danger is you and your men." Troy glanced back at the girl sharing a disingenuous smile. "I'm sorry you feel that way." He muttered. "We've had attacks-"