The Gone {GirlxGirl} [BoyxBoy] // Persephone

~4~

Previously

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Skillfully, Chase dropped to the ground, leaping up under its claw, shoving her machete through the underside of its jaw, straight through the top of its head. The creature didn't even have a chance as she pulled the blade from its skull, and it hit the ground with a sickening thud.

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Now:

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Quickly, Chase sheaths her machete and calms her breathing. She moves to where she left Ana. "72." Ana whispers, so quiet, Chase can barely hear her.

 "What?" Chase says, pulling back from the hug but leaving her hands on Ana's forearms. 

"You said you would be back before 100. I counted to 72." Ana laughs and flashes the brightest smile Chase has ever seen

. "Of course." Chase smiles back. "Now let's go back to the den," Chase says as she stands up, pulling Ana with her.

 "Why would we go back? You told me there was an art store." Ana grins. Chase laughs, but picks up half of the satchels and bags, leaving half for Ana to carry, and leads her into the town. 

"I haven't explored all the stores here yet, but I'm sure some other places still have supplies. Plus, a lot of stores I have been into, I didn't take much, so there's some cool stuff around here. Pick a building you want to start with, and we can head in." Chase shrugs.

 "I pick," Ana hesitates for a moment, "That one!" She jumps and points to an old building to the right of them. They walk over to it, and Chase yanks on the door as hard as she can until the lock pops, and she gets it open.

"I've never been to this one. After you m'lady," Chase says, bowing over her arm while holding the door for Ana, who is giggling.

"Why thank you, kind knight," Ana says, gives a fake curtsy, then enters the shop. Chase follows behind her, both girls coughing over dust. 

"Help me get a light." Chase coughs, patting the walls.

 "Do they still work?" Ana asks and helps search before receiving an answer. 

"Some do, some don't. Most of them have solar panels, but it depends on how the greenery grew around them and if it covers them by now. I have flashlights just in case, but the lights would be nicer."

 "Got it!" Ana says, flicking a switch. Suddenly, fluorescents illuminate the place, revealing a large store with home decor, clothes, and much more. "Oh my god! this is awesome!" Ana squealed. "Fashion show!" Ana says, running around and looking at clothes. 

"What do you mean, a fashion show?" Chase asks.

 "We can pick a bunch of clothes for each other and a few for ourselves, and we can try them all on back at the den!" Ana says, clearly very excited for girl time. Chase agrees, seeing as she wants to give Ana at least a taste of a normal life since she can't predict future chaos.

"Alright, princess, let's get moving, though, so we can see other stores." Ana smiles at Chase, glad she said they could. They both start shopping around, Ana grabbing some things to make the den more home-like. After filling up on clothes, fully knowing they will be back many more times since they didn't even look at all the different items, they head out and choose another building. Chase pulls her sleeve over her hand and wipes some dust off the glass window and cups her hands to the glass, looking in. "It's a convenience store... I think." Chase says, not totally sure. Chase Pulls her machete off of her hip, "Step back." Ana takes a few steps back, and Chase smashes the glass doors with the handle of it. She reaches in and clicks the lock, then pulls the door open and smiles at Ana, stretching a hand out through the door, motioning for Ana to go first. Ana smiles and walks in, stepping over the broken glass. Chase flips the light a few times, and nothing happens. "Time to take out the flashlights." Ana puts her hand out, waiting for Chase to deposit one into it. A moment later, both girls are shining the beams around the room, taking in the store. Bags of chips and juices and a dusty counter with a cash register on it. After taking in their surroundings, Chase grabs a ring of keys behind the desk, unlocking the different drink cases and such. "Help me fill up on stuff. Grab anything you like, just check expiration dates, and don't take anything with lots of milk, like yogurt or something. Other than that, most things are still good enough that we won't get sick." Chase explains, already picking up different things and trying to find dates on them. Ana gasps as she picks up cheese curls, her all-time favorite snack, and sees that the year is good. Chase laughs at her excitement and goes back to filling her bag with drinks and such. The girls walk around, exploring a few more stores and collecting new clothes, shoes, and whatever else Ana threw in her bags. Eventually, they make their way to the art store. Chase turns the handle and pushes the door open, allowing Ana to walk in first. Ana flicks the light and gasps as she sees all the different items in the store. She runs her hand over a wall of oil paints, in disbelieve that she can take as much as she wants. "Pick out some stuff, I'm gonna organize our bags a little, so we have more room," Chase says, sitting in the spinning chair behind the dusty wooden desk and rusted register. Ana walks around, taking everything in. She reaches out and grabs two boxes of charcoal and three boxes of oil pastels. "Set the stuff you want over here, and ill organize it." Chase offers.

"Thanks." Ana smiles, setting the boxes down gently on the edge of the desk. She walks over to the wall of oil paints and picks out one of each color, then does the same for the acrylics. After setting those down, she takes a bunch of different brushes, making sure she will have enough for even the most complex painting. Along with that, she finds some paint palettes, erasers, sketching pencils, and a whole lot of other stuff. Lastly, she grabs a few sketchbooks and a few canvases and an easel that she can put together in the den. "Okay. I'm done." Ana smiles. "For now," She adds after. Chase lets out a laugh and helps pack mule herself and Ana with all the bags, which Ana thought were impossibly heavy. The girls exit the shop, shutting the door behind them. Chase makes sure her machete is in reach in case she was to need it, and the girls set off in the direction of the den. The journey back was much the same, just more uncomfortable with the bags they were carrying. On the way back, they learned more nameless things about one another, and once they carefully slipped back under the waterfall, they dropped the bags to the ground with a sigh. "Those were so heavy." Ana pants, feeling sweaty and gross.

 "Yeah, I know, but at least we're back now," Chase responds.

"Let's go clean up and then come out here and sort through everything and have our fashion show!" Ana squeals, still very excited about the fashion show. Chase rolls her eyes and laughs, agreeing. Ana starts stripping in the main room, laying down her clothes neatly in the corner and putting her bra, underwear, and shirt on the bed blankets. Chase is looking at her with a brow raised and blushing cheeks, making sure to only look at Ana's face. "I'm not taking a chance of soaking my clothes again." Ana laughs and motions for Chase to follow her. Ana goes and sinks into the spring. Chase follows shortly after, taking in how at peace Ana looks, head tipped back, eyes closed. Chase can't help but wish she could make The Gone safer for her. She can't lose anyone else to this place. Not again. "Come on and get in." Ana breaks Chase from her thoughts with a soft voice and a small smile. Chase smiles back and climbs in next to Ana. They soak for a while, and eventually, start undoing their hair to wash it. Ana simply undoes her braid and looks over to see Chase struggling. "Want some help?" Ana asks softly, already making her way over. Chase nods and turns around, allowing Ana to have access to her hair. Ana delicately undoes each strand and combs her fingers through it once they are all out. 

 "Thanks," Chase says, getting lost staring at Ana for a few moments. Ana gives a smile in reply, and both girls go back and forth, dipping their heads under, washing the dirt from their face and dust from their hair. Once they are thoroughly cleaned off, Ana puts both of their hair back into the same styles. They climb out and dry off with some towels Ana grabbed back at the town. After drying, Ana pulls all the clothes out and takes any she chose for herself and any she chose for Chase. After, Chase takes what she got for herself and the things she got for Ana. 

"Okay, let's switch one outfit at a time. so pick one for me, and I'll pick one for you." Ana explains. She and Chase each switch their outfits, and Ana goes into the bathing room to change, and Chase stays in the main room. They both said once they were ready, and Ana stepped back into the main room, a soft smile on her face. 

"Wow," Is all Chase says when she saw Ana.