•DESTROYED (Frerard)

8

I rested my hands on my knees, out of breath from the frantic running we had just completed.

"No time for rest yet Frankie" Gerard sounded above the alarm bells that we signalling our disappearance. "They're going to want to catch us again"

I sighed "more running?" I grinned to Gerard who was scanning the area for the clones.

"Don't worry Frankie, I won't let those bastards come anywhere near you" Gerard narrowed his eyes as he took my hand and pulled me along.

Fuck me, why does he have to be so... So..... Perfect. I frowned at my self as I relayed the words back into my mind.

"Where are we going!" I asked as I pushed along trying to keep up with Gerards stamina.

"Where do you think ?" Gerard teased "I hadn't been living out here off of nothing. You get to see my place"  

I swear he winked then, winking at me Gerard, you will be the death of me. I raised my voice "that's awesome gee!"

"You bet Frankie" he said as he continued to run.

The alarms were distant now, the clones were no where to be seen and the landscape was calm once again. Gerard slowed his pace slightly and said "we are nearly here"

He put two of his fingers in his mouth and blew. A high pitched whistle sounded that echoed around the environment. Gerard stopped walking and listened. Sure enough his whistle was answered, a lower ring came back. Which was obviously a good sign as Gerards face lit up "Ray" he whispered to him self.

Who is this Ray, he better be nice.. And friendly. I won't get along with him if he's not. Gerard let go of my hand suddenly as a tall broad shouldered man with big curly hair stepped out from behind a large Boulder.

"Gerard!" He shouted flinging him self at Gerard,  my Gerard. Please. Get your own. They hugged for a few seconds before Ray let go and said "we thought they'd killed you!"

We? How many people live out here.

Gerard flicked his blood red hair "nah" he turned to me "I'm indestructible" smirking slightly making it obvious he was aiming that comment at me.

Ray looked in my direction and said "who's this chap? He looks rather young"

Fuck you. I'm 18 not 8.

"I'm Frank" I said rather harshly, Ray walked over to me and extended an arm in greeting. I took his hand which was covered in a brown dust and felt very rough.

Gerard smiled to him self slightly as I let go of his hand and wiped it on the bleached white clothing I was wearing.

I looked to Gerard and said "can I see where you live?"

Ray chuckled and replied instead "Come see."

Wasn't talking to you.. But I nodded slowly with a hint of confusion in my eyes, Gerard read me and said "it's a bit further on yet, see those group of trees?" He pointed.

I squinted and looked. There was a small group of dusty cracked trees, trees? In a desert.. What the fuck? The rest of the landscape was barren and sandy, there were clumps of tumbleweed here and there with large boulders scattered over the ground. The relief was bumpy, dips and curves set in the earth created a rather beautiful spectrum of hot wasteland. It looked like a desert.

Gerard signalled for me to keep walking, I did so and picked up the pace to come level with him, Ray was a few steps in front.

"Who's that?" I asked simply.

"He's Ray"

"Well yeah.. But what's his background?" I asked intently, looking at the ground as small sandy rocks rolled along under my feet.

"He's my friend, we've known each other for years! Long before the apocalypse" Gerard paused "he's a great man Frank"

I turned up the corners of my mouth in a mutual respect "how long have you been out here? I mean like... What are you living off?" I was confused with the fact that Gerard was so healthy and fit when there was next to nothing around here.

Gerards eyes flashed hinted with mystery "you'd be surprised honey."

-

We had been walking for 20 minutes and my feet were hurting. A combination of these crappy shoes and the fact I hadn't done hardly any exercise whilst being kept in the prison made for an awful shooting pain in my ankles. "Are we nearly there?" I asked pitifully.

Gerard sighed "nearly Frankie."

"Frankie?" Ray questioned looking to Gerard with a blank and patronising expression.

Gerard blushed and looked at me, smiling slightly at Ray's comment. I looked back to the ground before Gerard tapped me on the shoulder "we're here" he chimed.

I looked up to see the mass of trees I had scoped out before, they were much taller than I expected and carried an abundance of pale washed out looking leaves that were long and thin. I stepped forward and placed a hand on the bark, it felt so good to be actually touching nature again. Never had the opportunity when I was in the prison.

Gerard put his hand on my arm and said "this way" I followed him to a large tree, much larger than the others. It's trunk spread thick at the bottom with roots that coiled around the ground below our feet. Gerard tapped 3 times on the trunk. A few seconds passed when a ladder made from what looked like vines and sticks fell down carelessly.

We're we supposed to climb this? Shit.

Gerard looked to me and said "I'll go up first Frankie. Keep behind me okay?"

"Uh yeah" I replied unsure of the climb that lay ahead of me.

Gerard took hold of the unsteady ladder and reached up, placing his feet on the bottom rung he pulled him self up slowly. Making it look fucking effortless. I was dreading my turn.

Sure enough, I wrapped my hands around the rung and pulled my self up, not ignoring the fact that I had full view of Gerards ass above me. It almost put me off. Almost. I crept up the unsteady vines, the ladder went up high and disappeared into the canopy of the pale trees.

I was out of breath with sweat that started forming on my brow line. I wiped it away quickly, not wanting Gerard to see how unfit I was. Reaching the top I brushed through the leaves that tickled my face gently. A felt a strong hand catch hold of my hand and pull. It wasn't Gerards hand it was too rough and Ray didn't follow us up. A new person... Great.

The strangers face appeared into view as I was pulled up onto what seemed like a platform made from wooden planks. I wrinkle my nose and brushed the white clothes down.

I cast my eyes up to see Gerard standing tall next to a buff man with a slight beard and well defined muscles. He had a friendly face with hazel grey eyes that welcomed me.

"Hello" he said in a small voice. I was expecting his tone to sound harsh but he had a very gentle demeanour surrounding his slightly abrasive appearance.

"Hi" I replied timidly. Shuffling in the small space that was close to the edge of the platform.

Gerard, stepping in seeing my socially awkward side begin to rise said "he's called Frank. I rescued him from the bastards that fucked up this world. He will be living with us okay?" It was a question but I don't think Gerard was accepting no as an answer,  because the guy next to him nodded and walked away.

I was left standing with Gerard on the edge of a platform feeling overwhelmed from today's experiences. I looked up to Gerard who was smiling happily.

"I'll show you round then Frankie" he cooed towards me.