Decrypted

Chapter 5

Yea i got four hours of sleep last night

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It was only until after Niall had explained his innocence countless times that Z finally began to loosen his harsh grip.

Niall insisted that he didn't know what was happening, and that all he knew was that he was going to find Harry.

"We need to get more supplies." Z spoke, holding up the gun and checking the magazine.

"Why? We'll be fine, we have all the supplies, we need to find them as quickly as possible." Niall pouted.

"Well, i dont know about you, but im thinking a bag full of cookies wont help us fight off feral ghouls wanting to rip us to sheds," Z spoke with a condescending tone, shrugging, "But i could be wrong, I've only been fighting them for 10 years."

Niall slightly frowned, "Fine, we can get your stupid supplies. Where do you suggest we go, Mr. i've-only-been-fighting-them-for-10-years-ghoul-hunter? Yea, right."

Z raised a brow at Niall, "You have no place to talk, from the way you ran like a dog with its tail between its legs yesterday, and from the way you were shaken up after I grabbed you, i can tell you defiantly haven't been doing this for as long as i have, Mr. Cookies-are-all-the-supplies-we-need."

Niall tried to think of something to say back, but he ended up just opening and closing his mouth.

"Thats what i thought," Z chuckled, a smirk on his lips, "And to answer your previous question, i know a free range chamber not too far from here."

"A free range what?" Niall squinted, looking up at Z for an answer.

"This just keeps getting better," Z laughed to himself, "A chamber where you can walk in and out freely for purchasing merchandise. A chamber is an underground area made before the apocalypse to live in to prevent radiation poisoning."

Niall nodded, "Sounds good to me, lets get going."

"After you, Mr. Cookie-"

"Really?" Niall turned around and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You're right, i dont like the 'Mr.' part either. You'll just be cookie."

"Yea, and you'll be douche bag." Niall spits, turning around and cracking a small smile to himself.

~*~

"We're here." Z spoke, cracking his knuckles and adjusting his body since he had gotten a little tired on the walk.

"Finally," Niall mumbled to himself, and looked up at the building and smiling, "Oh yea! I know what this place is."

"Oh you do? How wonderful!" Z fake cheered, mocking Niall's happiness, "Oh, woe is me, i forgot the name of this place! Would you happen to know it?"

"Uhhh," Niall's eyes searched the building but didnt find any signs, "A free range chamber?"

Z smriked, eye brow raising and mouth open about to say something.

"No, don't start. I actually do know this place. Harry talks about this place, he goes here." Niall explained, recognizing the the gigantic door from Harry's speeches.

"He shops here?" Z asked, wanting clarification.

"Yea," Niall nodded, thinking back on all the random junk Harry would bring back, "I know there's lollipops in here, Harry would always bring me back one-"

"Yea, yea," Z waved with a flick of his hand, "We dont want to spend all day out here, now do we? 'We need to get to them as quickly as possible.'"

"Ugh." Niall groaned, finding Z's mocking annoying. He began walking in front of Z, not bothering to wait for him.

They eventually made it into the chamber after crossing the big, metal, circular door. Their feet clicked against the metal and stomped down the stairs.

A couple of shoppers passed them on their way out, carrying some packets of meat and a hairbrush made from pin needles.

Z couple tell they were getting closer to the market by the way the sound heightened with each step.

He was right, with a couple more steps, they walked down a staircase that led them to the main shopping room.

Everything was metallic, no carpets or wood to be seen. A couple of regular ghouls worked the cash register and behind the counter, assisting the shoppers with their needs.

The shop was huge, with a diverse variety of objects being sold. Scrap pieces for inventions, food, home items, clothing, appliances and many more were scattered around the area.

Z's attention was instantly drawn to the radio section, and he began walking that way.

"Wait." Niall protested, instinctively reaching out for Z but recoiling it back. He walked closer to Z and looked around the store once again.

"What?" Z droned, turning back to Niall in annoyance with his arms over his chest.

"Well, i thought the mission was to look for Harry." Niall told, looking anywhere but Z's unamused eyes.

"Yea, it is. So go along and stop following me like a lost puppy." Z shooed him, waiting for Niall to leave.

Niall hesitated, keeping his head low. He had no idea where to begin.

"Look, we divide and conquer. I'll go ask the salesperson about Harry and you can ask the cashier, okay?" Z tried, trying to be nicer the second time around.

"But, i dont think Harry ever bought a radio." Niall weakly countered.

Z sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Fine. I'll walk you to the cashier. Want me to hold your hand as well?"

Niall pursed his lips, knowing Z was making fun of him. But, just to spite Z, he'd play dumb.

"Actually, yea. This place is quite scary."

Z shook his head and smirked, "It's an expression, cookie. Too bad you can't buy intelligence here."

Niall rolled his eyes and followed Z to the counter. A ghoul lady, non feral, stood behind the counter and looked at them with eyes the color of doughnut glaze.

"She looks scary." Niall whispered over to Z, looking up at him.

"That's rude." Z snorted.

"Will she attack us?" Niall continued to question, not yet trusting of the worker.

"No, shes not an animal." Z snapped, getting annoyed with the blonde once again.

"Hello, how are you today?" The lady groaned, looking at the space between Niall and Z.

"Just dandy, thank you. And yourself, Marge?" Z smoothly spoke, leaning his elbow on the desk.

"Oh, Zayn, what a pleasure to see you again. How's the wound doing? That wrap fixed you up?" She asked, still sounding half dead.

"It's perfect now, thanks to your help," He grinned, taking his arm off the table, "Now, I have a question for you."

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you happen to know of someone named Harry Styles?" He asked.

Niall was intently listening, watching her facial expressions as she thought.

"He's a Doctor and had curly brown hair. Really nice green eyes, a dimpled smile...ring a bell?"

She continued to stare, unblinking, as she thought.

"He's very nice, usually buys lollipops and scrap pieces," Niall describes, "Hmm, what else?"

He looks towards Zayn for an answer, but sees him by the radio table instead.

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Peace out dudes :) I hope you're liking this book as much as me!

Unedited asf