Runaway Brain (iZombie/Flash fanfic)

Chapter 9

***

Liv stood in front of the industrial brick building staring up at it. She turned to Clive. "This is it," she said.

"Are you sure?" Clive asked. Liv nodded. Clive took a deep breath. "Well, suspected trespassers is as good a reason as any to enter without a warrant I suppose."

"Why don't Barry and I go around back?" Joe asked.

"Good idea," Clive said.

"And I think Barry should change," Liv said as she smiled at him.

There was a whoosh of air and suddenly Barry stood beside them wearing his Flash costume a toothy grin spread across his face. "This better?" he asked.

"Yeah," Liv replied. She took his arm and lowered her voice. "Be careful. You know what's in there." Barry nodded.

In a flash Barry snatched Joe and disappeared to the other side of the building.

Clive stood staring after them as he shook his head. "Now I have seen everything," he said.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Liv replied under her breath.

"Let's go," Clive said as he led the way toward the door. He placed his hand on the knob and turned it. He wasn't surprised that it was locked. They stepped back and glanced around trying to assess the situation. Then Liv spotted an open window on the second floor.

"Look!" Liv said excitedly as she pointed to the window.

Clive nodded. "Yeah, but how do we get up there?" he asked. He quickly answered his own question. "The fire escape." They jogged over to the fire escape. The ladder was several feet off the ground. Clive leapt up to grab it and pull it down. He didn't quite reach it. He leapt for it again and still couldn't get it.

"I thought it was white men that couldn't jump," Liv said jokingly.

Clive shot her a sour glance which she answered with her blithe smile. Clive tried again, this time his fingertips touched, but he was still unable to pull it down.

"Alright, Lebron, how about you give me a boost," Liv said.

Clive nodded. "It's worth a try I guess," he replied. He bent over and cupped his hands together. Liv placed her foot in his hands and her hands on his shoulders. "Ready?" Clive asked.

"Yep," Liv replied and he launched her upward. It worked. Liv reached the ladder. "I got it," she said, but her excited expression changed when she realized she was simply hanging several feet above the ground without the ladder lowering. "Um, I'm stuck," she said.

Clive chuckled. "Hold on tight," he said as he pulled her bringing Liv down and the ladder along with her. "Maybe it's time to change your eating habits to put on some weight."

"Yeah, I'll get right on that," Liv retorted sarcastically.

Clive led the way up the ladder with Liv climbing up behind him. They soon reached the platform outside of the open window. "This must be how she is getting in and out," Clive whispered. Liv nodded. Clive peeked inside. "Looks clear, let's go."

Clive climbed inside first and Liv followed, ducking down as she crept into the building. The floor they stepped onto was mostly empty. There were some stacks of old boards and bricks, a coiled extension cord, some buckets of something or another, but that was about it. There were certainly no people or zombies.

"There are some stairs over there," Clive said, pointing across the floor. They made their way across to the stairwell, but just before they reached it, Liv snatched Clive by the jacket causing him to spin around to face her.