Poisoned Waters | ✓

|𝟎𝟔| "𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝"

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐃 Station looked like a ghost town, Noah couldn't even remember the last time anyone from Everwinter had been there, even if it were five minutes from the community. Everything in the nearby vicinity was cleared to the bone; they'd done a good job when clearing it a few years ago.

   The Underground team parked the rovers in the bus garage a few minutes away from the Station and continued on foot. Upon reaching the entrance, Noah radioed in that they'd arrived. It was eerily silent when jumping the barrier and descending to the Central Line.

   Once the team had come to the platform heading to Ealing Broadway, Noah halted to regroup. "Aight, we're gonna make it down the Central Line to Liverpool Street where we'll meet the others. Stay close, quiet and alert. I don't doubt that croakers will appear further ahead, so it won't hurt being cautious." he explained.

   Noah walked along the platform, while others jumped onto the tracks, to search for any dead before they left. When he spotted a walker slouched on a bench, he pulled out his dagger, grappled onto its tattered shirt while it bit at him, and drove the blade through its eye. It fell limp.

   After discarding the body to the side, he stopped at the gaping hole of tunnel entrance. Noah scowled in disgust and flapped furiously, as a spider then dropped from its web—he wasn't too fond of them. "This shit is fucking sketchy, mate," the guy that had previously complained disgruntled.

   The team moved to the tunnel, as Noah jumped onto the tracks, and marvelled at how it seemingly grew in intensity. Zara tutted and took the lead, "Can we avoid wasting time, please?" She turned on her torchlight and led along the right wall.

   As the lights gradually faded, Monet paused beside Noah, "Afraid of the dark?" They gazed at each other in the slight darkness.

   "No."

   "Afraid of what's in it?"

   "No." he hummed. "I just really want to go home, I won't lie to you," She light-heartedly chuckled.

   "For a leader, shouldn't that be a little concerning?" The light had now completely disappeared, so Monet began walking and Noah instinctively followed. Walking behind one another, Noah inspected every bit of Monet's person that his light revealed, from the sleek blades on her back to her hypnotising hips.

   He'd forgotten to answer her question. "Hm?"

   "I'm saying, you're very unbothered, and ain't that even the littlest bit concerning for a leader?"

   "I don't like moving mad, I work better when I'm calmer," he returned flatly. They were soon nearing the others.

   "Well, that is a whole lie, mate, you were moving mad when I mentioned that Angelo guy," Monet peered over her shoulder. "Did he break your heart, or fuckin', like sleep with your girl, or something? 'Cause it ain't no lie that you're proper hurt,"

   "He's dangerous."

   "Dangerous how? These times, people can be dangerous from just having an infected paper cut," Her persistence irked Noah, but she did have a right to know what to be worried about, if West was so adamant on her staying in Everwinter.

   "Sooner or later, he's going to attack Everwinter, I don't know when or how, but he will. He's out for my head." he briefed. Monet hummed, as she kicked a few rocks beneath her feet.

   "Okay, you're paranoid. What did you do?" Noah looked incredulous, "Unless postcode wars are still a thing six years into human extinction, I'm assuming that you've done the worst. By the looks of your face, you have,"