The mall. What was once their home was no more. They could never go back. The boat was small, the journey long. It had taken what seemed like an eternity but finally they'd arrived.
What once was one of the most beautiful place's in the world was now covered in litter and caos. Amber had seen several of the old gangs since she'd arrived scared kids looking for somewhere to hide trying to make a new home. But how could this ever be their home? There were new tribe's here tribe's who wanted the Caos and the power. Just like the chosen and the Techno's.
At least the Mall Rats were together now all except for May who'd died on the journey. Once the fever had set in there had been nothing that anyone could do except wait. For three days she, Salene and Ruby had taken it in turns to watch over her but in the end it hadn't mattered.
Amber and the others now hurried along the darkened streets. It wouldn't be long before one of the tribes were alerted to their presence.
Part two:
Jay, Amber, Trudy and the others hurried from street to streetit was getting late tribes were wondering the streets and the last thing any of them wanted was to get court. Finally after hours of searching they came across an old school. Just outside the city.
"Jay, Lex come with me." Amber handed over her small son and hurried into the building.
The place seemed deserted there was paper and office stationary scattered across desks and thrown on floors. The place seemed deserted. Amber met up with Jay and Lex on the stairs.
"Nothing." Jay announced his arm slipping around Amber's waste.
"I think we should stay here tonight. It's not safe outside. We've no idea who we can trust." Lex and Jay agreed.They hurried back outside to gather the others.
Trudy stared down at her four year old daughter who was now sleeping on a blanket. It had been hard on her. She'd lost her father, her uncle Bray and now she'd been forced from her home. She just wished there was a way things could be how they were. She bent lightly kissing her daughter.
Part three:
Two days had past. Two long days of searching until finally they'd come across a mall. Very much like their old home with beds and room for everyone. Not that there was many of them left.
"Hi Amber." Trudy stood in the door way to their new caf�. Lex had been able to trade with one of the local farmers and had managed to bring back enough food to last a couple of months so that was one less thing they needed.
Trudy slumped into the seat opposite Amber's. "How's things with you and Jay?" Amber frowned.
"Not good. I don't know Trudy at the beginning it was great but now..." She paused staring down into her cup. "I'm still in love with Bray. I know it's crazy I'll probably never see him again but I can't help the way I feel." Trudy stood and moved over to the cuboard grabbing a plate.
"Does Jay know?"
"Not yet. But I can't go on like this. I think it's time me and Jay ended things.
Gel stood before her mirror. Finally she could do her hair without missing a stand. She saw Lottie standing in the door way.
"What do you want?" She asked pinning the final strand of loose her.
"Ruby wants to see you she says ..." The sound of the alarm Jack had installed cut her off.
The Mall Rats gathered on the balcony with whatever weapons they could find clutched in their hands the sewer door began to open.
Part four:
All eyes fell to the young woman of no more than 16 supporting a tall brown haired man who'd obviously been beaten up. Amber and Trudy hurried closer. As they did they saw the man. His face so familiar. Trudy halted for a moment unsure.
But Amber ran to them.
"Bray she whispered her hands going to his bruised face. His eyes opened and a brief smile played on his lips. Before his head lolled.
"Lex help me." Lex hurried over to them. He and Amber helped Bray to the nearest room. The brown haired woman moved forward.
"Hi I'm Jenny."
"I'm Trudy." Trudy stepped forward taking the woman's hand. "This is Salene, Slade, Ram, Ruby, Gel, Lottie, Jack, Ellie, Ebony and Jay." Jay nodded. But Trudy could tell he wasn't listening. He was still staring in the direction that Amber and Lex had headed in.
"How do you know Bray?" Jenny was seated at one of the tables in the cafe the Mall Rats surrounding her.
"We we're put together not long after the Technos caught us. We were made to work in the mines. Guards surrounded at first. They'd seemed to lessen after a while. Then a few months back we were released told that Mega was no longer in charge and that we couldn't go back to the city. Me and Bray did any way. Or at least we started to head back.
I met up with a couple of kids I'd been to school with. They explained about the city and that it wasn't safe. They were getting on a boat and us to join them so we did. It took a while but this was the first city we found. We figured maybe our tribe's might have come here. It was the nearest and even if they hadn't it was likely that a tribe who new them had.
We were captured a few miles away. By the hunger. Slave traders." Jenny frowned she'd thought after the Technos that would have stopped but it hadn't. "We needed to escape so we teamed up with Sam and Deana a couple of travelers who'd been caught by the tribe. Any way we managed to escape. A couple of the gang members caught up with them. Bray took a beating. Defending Deana she was five months pregnant. Sam had left us to scout a head. He came back and helped fight of the tribe members.
After a long we ended up here. That's about it."
"Bray." Amber sat on the edge of the bed. Her hand stroking through his dark hair. God she'd missed him. Lex stood in the door way.
"I'll get Sal and Trudy to get the medical supply's together." Lex turned not even certain that she'd herd him.
Part Five:
Jay stood in the door way watching as Amber sat with Bray. She spoke soft low words to him. She wasn't even aware of what she'd said most of the time she just wanted him to hear her voice. To know that she was with him. That she wouldn't leave him. Finally Trudy had to drag her away. When she looked like she couldn't stay awake any longer.
"He'll be asleep until morning. Jack's given him some pain killers. Get some rest. Salene will stay with him for a few hours. And think of little Bray he needs his mum." Amber nodded reluctantly. She wouldn't be any good to anyone if she didn't get a good nights sleep.
Amber watched her son as he slept. He looked so much like his father. The same brown eyes. The same dark hair. Amber looked up to see jay standing in the door way watching her.
"You still love him don't you?" His eyes met hers. She couldn't lie to him.
"Yes. Jay I'm sorry I didn't mean to ..."
"It doesn't matter." He smiled. "It was good while it lasted." He shrugged his shoulders and left the room. That was the trouble with Jay. She never new what he was thinking. These past few weeks he'd been an almost stranger to her. She was glad it was over. It was time to move on.
Part six:
Jay the left the mall as the others slept. He hurried off down the street hiding from wandering tribes. He headed down a long dark alley way nodding to several people he had recently traded with. The door to the old warehouse was slightly open. He swiftly glanced around making sure no one was around before slipping inside.
Amber stood quickly as Bray stirred in his sleep. She'd given him another sleeping pill. She wanted him to wake up so badly but she new when he did the pain he'd be in would be unbearable. No it was best to keep him asleep as long as she could. She bent and lightly kissed his for head. Trudy was right she needed a break and while he was asleep he wouldn't miss her.
It was only as Amber left Bray's room that she noticed a slight movement at the bottom. She moved closer it was Lex. What was he doing leaving the Mall at 5 in the morning?
Part 7:
His head hurt. Bray frowned his eyes opening to glance around the unformilia room. He tried to pull himself up but the pain worsened. He lay still for a moment feeling totally useless. Where was he? Where was Jenny? Had she been caught? Had they taken her back? No. He shook his head regretting it instantly. Jenny had to have gotten away. So had he. If they'd have caught him he'd be dead now. Gritting his teeth Bray drew himself up into a sitting position. His dark eyes met hers and he smiled.
Lex stood in the door way to the old farm house. He climbed up the long stair way and walked down the hall. The end door was slightly a jar and he walked inside.
Amber moved closer to the bed her eyes meeting his. She saw the surprise in his eyes. Saw the joy in there depths.
"Hello Bray." His hand reached up his fingers stroking over her cheek.
"You're really here? I'm not dreaming?" Amber bent and lightly kissed him.
"You're not dreaming and neither am I Bray."
"How are you feeling?" Lex clutched the pale hand of his wife. Tai-San. He sat on the edge of the mattress where she lay.
"A little groggy." She tried for a smile but failed. Why had he been the one to find her? She only wished he'd leave her now. They both new unless there was a miracle she wouldn't survive. But Lex wouldn't face it. Well she had to make him.
Bray lifted his son in his arms. His son. He could hardly believe it. His child and Amber were here and they were safe with him. He'd spent so many nights lying awake wondering if they'd made it. He'd seen Trudy when he'd been taken away. She'd been his only hope. The thing that kept him going. That Trudy must have found Amber and she'd been through it before with Brady. He'd been so lucky that she'd found them.
"Amazing." Bray whispered his lips brushing his sleeping sons head. "He looks just like you Amber.
Amber was standing in the door way. A smile playing on her lips. They looked so good together. She never thought she'd see Bray hold his son but here the were. Right before her and she was going remember it forever.
"Amber what happened to Jenny?" His attention was on his son as he placed him back in his cot.
"She brought you here. She's fine as far as I know. Why?" Bray turned smiling.
"No reason. Now ..." He drew her against him his mouth claiming hers. "Tell me again how much you've missed me."
Part nine:
Lex watched as his wife slept. He was loosing her. Each breath she drew was weaker than last. She was his wife the one woman in his life, the only woman he'd ever love and he could do nothing to save her. He'd never felt this helpless in his life. She stirred and his eyes fell to her pale face. He didn't want to believe that there was nothing he could do. But it was true. There were no doctors and no one to help.
Bray watched her sleep. God he'd missed her. He bent kissing Amber's forehead before slipping out of the bed and swiftly dressing. He bent kissing his baby sons head, before heading from the room.
He found Jenny in the cafe. He was glad she hadn't left. She needed protecting. It was best the others didn't know just yet. But he did. He walked slowly over to her. She looked up then her eyes bright and elert.
"Bray." She stood and swiftly hugged him. "How are you feeling?" She took a step back. There was something wrong but he'd learnt not to ask.
"I feel fantastic." Jenny smiled and took her seat. Gesturing for him to sit opposite. It was funny realy Bray had helped her so much. He'd even saved her life but she still couldn't completly trust him.
"Lex?" Tai-Sans eyes opened to find her husband sleeping in the chair next to the bed. She new she hadn't much time left and Lex was exhausted. She couldn't do this to him. She tried to sit up but even that was become harder and harder to do.
Part Ten:
Tai-San waited for Lex to leave it had to be now, tonight. She slid her legs over the side of the make shift bed gritting her teeth at the pain she new would come. Still she wasn't going to give up. This was for the Lex the man she loved and that was exactly why she had to go. She couldn't allow him to watch her die. Every since the first time she'd coughed and there'd been blood present she'd known. Deep down she'd known. There were no doctors around no one to help and she was damed if she was going to make Lex suffer.
Gel watched Jay as he vanished down the long ally. She ducked behind a dumpster watching as he slipped through the half open door way. She hurried closer about to peer through the door when she felt the hard hand on her shoulder. She turned slowly. To see a tall black haired man grinning down at her. She tried to run but he was fast too fast. He caught her arm and dragged her in through the door.
Part Eleven:
"We've got company Jay." Jay turned frowning down at Gel. Well he'd known it was only a matter of time before someone wondered where he was going. Thankfully it was only Gel. The question was what was he to do now?
"Put her in the back. We'll deal with her later." Joe was frowning but did as Jay commanded. The Guardian stepped back from the shadows. Had Gel seen him? If she had there was only one thing they could do. Jay frowned. They were ready not yet. The Chosen and Technos weren't ready not yet. He'd just have to make sure Gel didn't say anything to anyone.
Amber was on the roof when Bray found her. She turned smiling up at him, loving everything about him.
Part Twelve:
It was dawn. Lex woke suddenly. He looked over at the bed but Tai-San was gone. Panic roared through him. She was ill. How far could she go without help. Not far. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the partially open door. He'd find her. He had to find her.
Ebony looked both ways before looking back into the room. Slade was still fast asleep. The best way to leave things between them for now anyway. Who'd have thought that during the celebratory party last night that she and Slade would have ended up in bed together? Not that it mattered this morning. She'd do things like she always did. Because she was good a one night stands. No matter how much she wanted to stay the best thing was to leave it. She scooped up her shoes and headed silently back to her own cold bed.
Brady smiled up at her mother and Trudy's heart melted. It was time for there walk and where was Gel this morning? She was supposed to help her with the dish's.
"Well I'm afraid sweetheart that we're gonna have to go for that walk tomorrow. Why don't you go and find Ellie and Jack." She bent and kissed her disappointed daughters cheek. Gel had a lot to answer for when she finally showed her face.
Jenny watched as Trudy started on the mountain of plates.
"Do you want some help?" Trudy smiled at the girl on a year or so younger than herself. She was so quite though. Bray had worried about her. There was something about her. Something in her past that both she and Bray had been so secretive about that was obviously still haunting her. But until she confided in someone whatever it was would always haunt her.
"That would be great thanks."
The rain began to fall and Jay new he had to get back soon. He watched as Zeb one of the Chosen took the body wrapped in a sheet away. He was frowning but still it had to be done. Now he had to get back. The plan was almost complete and in a few months the Mall Rats wouldn't know what had hit them.
