Halo | 18+

chapter forty five

- AURELIA JONES -

I turned off the safety on my gun, slipping it into the waistband of my pants.

The basement was dark, eerie and smelt like a mix of mildew and wet socks. I climbed the narrow stairs, stopping at the second to last one.

I hesitated turning the handle. I wish I could wake up from this nightmare, I wish I could pretend none of this was happening. I wish-

"Stop overthinking." Shoju's voice came softly, ringing through my head, "It's going to be okay, I'll protect you, I promise."

His hand was on the small of my back, protective and supportive. "I'm terrified. What if-"

"What if nothing. Stop working yourself up over something that could end up being nothing. But if worse comes to worse and this is what we think it is, we know how to deal with it."

Nobody wanted to say the word walker. Nobody wanted to think about it. And rightly so, but there is a very real possibility that this is a walker.

"Fifty percent of me wants to go out there and fight this thing and the other fifty percent wants to crawl away and hide." I admitted. "You'd be crazy to not think like that." He always knew what to say to calm me down.

I hung my head low and placed my hand on the handle, twisting it open. A gust of air rushed past and I lifted my head, walking down the dark hallway where my friends were waiting at the end.

Covered in protective gear and loaded with ammo, we looked like heavily armed soldiers in pyjamas. "You girls fall back until we give you the signal that we need backup. We're gonna run the perimeter of the house and see what we're dealing with."

I nodded, locking eyes with Angel who was already looking at me, "If you're not back in five minutes we'll come looking for you." She said, Rez shook his head but Angel glared, "Five minutes, Rez. Do you understand?"

He sheepishly nodded his head, "Yes ma'am."

Nobody moved. Nobody wanted to move. "I guess we'll see you soon."

I watched their backs as they left the house, front door opening and shutting for less then five seconds until Angel and I were alone. Alone with each other, our thoughts and two people who couldn't defend themselves.

It'd be better if checked the house, at least then we can outrun them and shoot just in case, if we get swarmed, who's gonna look after them?

"Do you think they'll be okay?" Angel whispered, sitting with her back straight and hands on her knees on the couch. I shrugged, "Do you think we'll be okay?" She asked again, adjusting her words.

"I don't know how to answer that question."

+ + +

Several minutes had passed and neither Angel nor I had moved a muscle.

We're too afraid, "We have to go out there. It's been long enough, they should be back by now." She said, "It's a big property, give them a few more minutes." I said, holding out hope that they'd walk through that door safe and sound.

It wasn't until a gunshot ran in the distance that we sprung into action.

I grabbed my gun, another gunshot ringing through, then another and another.

"That's four."

"One in the head one in the heart." Angel mumbled under her breath. We stood side by side, gunshot after gunshot, I counted them.

Sixteen gunshots before we finally made it outside.

It was dark, early hours of the morning as the sun only just peeked through the hills. I could see the light of the shots in the distance, my eyes following the two boys defending their lives.

A pile of them on the ground, more emerging from the tree-line, "Where the hell are they all coming from?" Angel asked me as we ran from one end of the house to the other, ducking behind the cars and the trees.

"I have no idea."

My heart beat against my chest so hard I was afraid it would fall out. We kept our distance, firing from afar as they dropped like flies.

"Did you end up finding out what the wildflower does? Doctor Jacks wrote about it in his notes." Angel said. Suddenly remembering everything I'd pushed away, a genius idea popped into my mind, "Oh my God Angel, that's all we need to fight back from these."

"Where do we find wildflowers on the boarder of Canada? I thought the white ones were only native to America? Back at the Capitol where we were staying."

My shoulders sagged in defeat as I peeked over the top of the car, grabbing Angels hand as we made our way closer and closer to the boys.

Our footsteps crunched on the grass, catching the attention of a nearby walker who suddenly changed it's course.

I had a plan up my sleeve, but I didn't want to alert the others because they would tell me it's a bad idea, but if Jace was right about these experiments and what everyone was saying is the truth, I might be the reason we survive this.

As much as I don't want to be the test dummy for all of this, there's no plan B we can afford to try. We've tried everything.

"Aurelia." Angel warned, "I know that face, don't you dare do whatever it is you're thinking of doing." She said, gripping my shoulder, "I need you to listen to me okay, don't even think about it." I replied quickly.

She shook her head, "No- we have to stick together-"

"And we will, but you have to trust me on this." I said, watching as the walkers stumbled over each other, gaining speed as they headed straight towards us, "I need you to go to the boys when I tell you too."

She shook her head again, "Angel- just do it, please. I wouldn't ask you if I wasn't one hundred percent sure."

Even though I wasn't even fifty percent sure this would work, Angel seemed to understand. "Follow the fence line, stay hidden between the trees, I'll distract them enough so you can get to the boys. Explain the situation and then meet me by the back shed near the entrance to the field."

She nodded, pulling me into a tight hug, "I love you, you crazy stupid bitch." She whispered, "I love you, but you need to go. This won't work if you don't hurry."

With a tingle in my spine and the grumble of walkers getting closer and closer, Angel crept away, her body leaving my line of vision as she ducked away beneath the trees.

"Come and get me you fucking assholes."

+ + +

Oh. My. GOD.

Guys... Aurelia is such a badass, I love her so much! Who's your favourite character? I love everyone so much but if I had to choose, probably Ollie!! I love my lil Ollie-Pop!

Are you guys also nervous? Do you reckon they'll survive, I MEAN- they'll be fine...

WC: 1,159