her hollow heart

chapter 08: our safe haven

Lucy's POV:

Another death. The air felt heavier now, like the weight of it was crushing us from the inside out. A few of us exchanged glances, searching for reassurance among the dwindling number of survivors. There were so few of us left, and it showed. Everyone was on edge, suspicious, defensive. Dylan, always alert, never missing a thing, was watching again. His sharp gaze locked onto Kasper this time, suspicion dancing in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking, and I had to stop him. We couldn't afford another death, not now. Not when every life felt like a thread holding us together.

"We need to move," I muttered to myself, the urgency creeping in. We were running out of time, out of food, out of options. "Hey, Dylan, can you gather everyone? We're leaving in about half an hour. I need your help," I asked, my voice softer than usual, trying to keep things calm. He nodded without hesitation, his eyes lingering on me for just a second longer than normal. He was always near me these days, always finding an excuse to talk or be close. It was obvious to everyone—Dylan was head over heels.

As he walked away, I gathered the few things I had left. A copper pipe, my tattered backpack, and Bunbun—my little stuffed rabbit, a relic of a life that felt a thousand years away now. My friends, the ones still standing, were the only thing that kept me sane. And now, Dylan... someone I could trust, someone who would keep my secrets no matter what. It was something I hadn't realised I needed.

Half an hour passed, and we were ready. Well, as ready as we could be. "Luce, do we even know where we're going?" Jace asked, rubbing his face with a weariness that had settled into all of us. "No," I admitted, "but I've got ideas. A mall, markets, furniture stores, anything that might give us supplies, a secure place. And if we're lucky, maybe a pharmacy for medicine and sanitation." Jace groaned, but we both knew complaining wouldn't change a thing. We had to keep going, keep pushing forward. Birmingham wasn't forgiving, and neither were the odds.We made it to the centre of the city and decided to split up. I paired myself with Kasper, not because I wanted to, but because I had to keep him away from Dylan. There was tension between them, and right now, we couldn't let things unravel any further. Dylan went with Mel to find a base. Kasper and I would search for medical supplies. The others scattered in their own directions, each tasked with finding something essential for our survival.

Mel's POV:

When Lucy paired me with Dylan, I saw an opportunity. He was head over heels for her, just like Tallon had been before... well, before I dealt with him. As we walked, the silence stretched between us, tense and thick, until I decided to break it. "So, Dylan, it's obvious you've got a thing for Lucy. I've got an idea... a proposal of sorts—"

Before I could finish, Dylan cut me off. "Melissa, I know exactly what you did to Tallon. And I know what you're thinking. I've been watching you longer than you realize," he said coolly, his eyes narrowing. "Anyway, let's focus. What do you think the team needs for a home base?" I stopped, stunned. He wasn't an idiot after all, and that made him dangerous in a different way. I collected myself and answered, "We need something secure. Somewhere no one can get in or out unless we want them to."

Before I could elaborate, Dylan grabbed my wrist and dragged me through the streets, pulling me along faster than I could keep up. I could barely breathe by the time we stopped. I looked up and blinked in disbelief. "A prison?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion."Yeah," Dylan replied, proud of his choice. "No one gets in, no one gets out without permission. It's secure. Perfect for us."

Well, that was easier than I expected. I wondered how the others were faring.

Lucy's POV:

I hated being paired with Kasper. I really did. His arrogance was suffocating, but I couldn't let him near Dylan. Not now. We walked in silence for a while before Kasper, true to form, couldn't resist running his mouth. "Lucy, why don't we ditch those idiots and run away? Leave them behind, especially that new guy, Dylan—he's practically drooling over you—" Something inside me snapped. I didn't even hear the rest of what he said. All I saw was red. My vision blurred, and the next thing I knew, Kasper was on the ground, bloodied and gasping. My heart was pounding, adrenaline rushing through me. "You deserved it," I muttered, my voice colder than I'd ever heard it. Without thinking, I brought the copper pipe down hard on his groin, a cruel smile tugging at my lips. He groaned in pain, but it wasn't enough to stop me.

"You talk too much," I said, watching him writhe. "Next time, keep your mouth shut." I waited for him to stagger to his feet, only to hit him again, satisfaction burning through me. He was dead to me. I couldn't trust him, and that meant I couldn't afford to keep him around much longer. But for now, I had to put up with him.

Eventually, we found a pharmacy. Small, barely stocked, but enough to get us through the next few days. We took everything we could carry and headed back to the centre of Birmingham. Dylan and Mel were already there, along with the others. Some brought supplies, others information about potential spots to raid. As we regrouped, the weight of our reality pressed down on us again. But at least now, we had a new home to look forward to—a prison. Secure, safe... for now.