Fightback » 5SOS {au}

Three - Inattentive Gaurds

- K I R A -

I look out of the tinted car window, watching street lights flicker and raindrops slide down the glass. After we decided to head inland, we packed up the car and left Fawn's house. I've noticed things lately; how Fawn will always pull Marlene into her side protectively when one of the boys walk past. Or how Ashton will shoot me an addled look when he catches me staring. But one thing has changed, Ashton. His usual scowl has been exchanged with a soft demeanour. Much to everyone's dismay, considering he seemed so uneasy about having an extra mouth to feed (Marlene's).

Even though he made Michael sit at the very back of the car so that the little girl could sit next to her older sister, Fawn still pushed him away and avoided him for the rest of the drive to the petrol station. Luke said he lived where we were headed and it was about an hour drive, so we put as much gas into the tank as we could.

"Have you heard anything from your families?" I ask everyone before casting a sympathetic smile to Fawn. From the drivers seat, I see Ashton lower his head and his golden brown locks fall into his eyes.

"We checked, and we haven't found any of our families. That's why we were in Southern Sydney, we were searching for them," Calum says.

"But we know that heading inland will be our safest bet right now," Michael adds, fidgeting with the corner of his black coat.

I stay silent after that, I look at Luke's watch discreetly. 1:00am. I rest my head on the window and close my eyes, hoping to shut off everything and think good thoughts.

.

.

.

I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder, lightly shaking me awake. I see Michael's mellow eyes glow in the sunlight. When I'm completely aware of my surroundings, I notice the sun's up and we've stopped on the side of a long, two lane road. Miles and miles of grassy paddocks and fences are on either sides of the road, leaving little to imagine what biome we may be in. One thing catches my eye as I unbuckle my seatbelt and step out onto the street; a barn, a paddock full of cows, a windmill and an old farm house.

I walk with Fawn and Marlene. Michael hands us a pistol each with a wooden grip and a round of ammo. But Ashton stops him halfway, gently taking the weapon off Marlene with a warm smile and dimples.

"You can't give a gun to a little girl," He says whilst fastening a belt of bullets around his waste. Fawn wears her best grimace before strutting to the boot of the car, pulling out a nifty looking Swiss Army knife and giving it to her beloved sister.

"I decide what she has and what she doesn't have," She states with venom in her voice and I swear if her hair wasn't pulled back in a scrappy looking braid, she would have flipped it right in his face and walked away.

I flash an award winning, crooked smile before tucking my weapon in my jeans and trailing after her. I could hear Michael panting and Ashton stuttering, with what I imagine to be wide eyes and flushed cheeks.

Once we are all situated with effective weaponry, we stand in front of the house and observe it from the front porch. Calum and Luke equip their rifles at the ready and walk in first, covering each other's backs while scanning for zombies.

Ashton goes to head in next but Michael decides to beat him to it, leaving him alone with us three girls. I can't tell if he's annoyed that they made it his responsibility to make sure we're safe or if he's feeling pressured, but either way he looks pissed.

"Want to head in or wait till it's clear?" He asks us after a silence.

A faint crash was heard and Marlene shrieks. Fawn rests her hands on her shoulders reassuringly.