Inside the museum, past the original lobby and a few empty exhibits was the newly built food court. Most of the stalls were shattered and the food had been eaten or gone bad but what remained Ember and Jake were eating without compint.

  Their hushed conversation was loud in the otherwise silent room, Ember's brow was knit together with worry and suspicion clear on her face as she watched Jake intently.

  He pced his hand over hers as he spoke "Em, we'll get out of the city." His thumb strokes over her light skin lovingly, eyes locking onto hers trying to draw her attention away from her dark thoughts "I promise." He added and she suddenly looked up.

  "You know I hate empty promises." she snapped but the flush of emotion on her face fell almost immediately, she defted, looking guilty she shook her head "I'm sorry, I, I just really want that to be true. I...." Her voice trailed, she brought her other hand over to cover his "Who knows what's going to happen, we've seen things I never could have imagined. Today." She scoffed shaking her head briefly "I thought yesterday was the worst day of our lives." she ghosted, tone hollow and fading.

  "As long as I'm around I'll-" Jake stopped himself when they heard movement, they snapped their attention to the door, under the rge open arch that acted as two separate doorways was Creed.

  Jake stood up with a smile “Creed!” he excimed happily, Creed was limping, his leg had been wrapped and dressed best to their current ability and he leaned heavily on both Charlene and Monet, who were on either sides of him.

  Creed's expression brightened at the sight of them “You guys made it.” he smiled in relief. Gently Charlene and Monet helped him to their table, he sat down with a pained whine and settled on the opposite side of them “I'm happy to see you two.” he ended joyfully.

  Ember looked him up and down, searching him for injuries. He had plenty of small ones but she kept looking, she seemed rather stoney but she didn't say a word, she let Jake do the talking. "Are you up to speed?" He asked, voice turning soft which didn't really fit his expression.

  Creed's smile dropped and Jake felt the sting of guilt immediately, Jake stammered, but then Creed spoke "Yes." He sighed deeply "I, I'm sorry." Creed's voice shook as he looked down at his hands, one resting on his other to stop them both from shaking.

  "It's not your fault." Charlene assured rubbing his shoulder gently. She leaned into him just to be closer, so she could feel him against her. She looked down at the cans in front of the two and realized how dry her throat was, she looked away quickly "If anyone is at fault it's that prick Sani." she growled lowly.

  "I don't think he wanted this to happen." Creed said half sarcastically but the scowl on Charlene's face immediately made him regret it "I'm not saying I'm on his side." he quickly added, then sighed, rubbing his thumb into the back of his hand "I'm sorry." he whined.

  The screeching howl of the undead beast outside made them all jump. Charlene vibrated after she shouted, growling in exasperation. She took a deep breath and met Creed's eye again.

  "No, no. I'm sorry." Charlene replied shaking her head "I'm angry, not at you, I'm sorry, I." Charlene let her voice trail but she smacked her lips and spoke up "I feel terrible." her hollow expression looked up at Jake And Ember who both looked just as exhausted as she did "I'm sure you do too. God's….” her voice trailed with ache.

  Jake looked down, at his hands. Dread filling him, guilt. Suddenly his stomach hurt.

  Charlene leaned forward to hide her face from them, hand covering her lips but she kept her other hand over Creed's. Squeezing for comfort. She sucked in a breath and spoke with a stutter "I can't imagine what that kid is gonna feel," she hiccuped briefly and Creed took the brief lull in her words to reassure her with a quiet "It's Okay." before she managed to continue with “He's got no one now.” she sniffled.

  “He has us.” Monet spoke up, leaning forward to be better seen. Her brow was upturned but there was a wavering smile on her round lips “We'll be there, we're a team.” she added with a nod.

  “Right...” Ember trailed. Turning her head away she looked to the wall paintings instead, huffing, her chest was tight with so many feelings she couldn't pick one out of the coalescing mass of negative emotions that threatened to choke her.

  “Did you learn anything new from Bi? They were in there with you guys, right?” Jake asked.

  Creed shook his head 'NO' with a wavering whine, the pain in his leg wasn't something the two low milligram pain killers Charlene gave him would dull, his leg burned, the ache that raked up his calf felt like fire but he was steeling himself, trying his best to keep the expression off his face.

  “What are we going to do now?” asked Monet. She then looked around, dozens of empty picnic styled tables surrounded them and a few round and smaller seating arrangements were pushed to the side, stacked on one another. She blinked.

  The room was empty aside from them “Where are the Day's?” she added curiously.

  “Who knows.” Ember mumbled.

  “I think the bathrooms, they're trying to clean up I guess.” Jake said looking around despite knowing they were alone “Don't think that matters much anymore.” he added tugging at his stained colr.

  Creed let a reluctant whimper as the pain grew too much for a brief moment. The others' were polite to ignore it, instead Jake went on speaking like nothing happened “That one woman, um, Bernadina, she seems to have an idea but I don't if the rest of her group was on board.” he looked around hoping she would appear but she was true to her word, she left them alone.

  “Are they going to help us?” Monet asked. Creed leaned forward to rest his head on the table, using his hand as a barrier between the hard surface and his forehead. Charlene immediately went to rubbing his back.

  “Seems like it, they're like minded people, we all just want out of here.” Jake replied “We can find them, unless, uh, you guys hungry? There's some more cans, and uh, Phil already took a bunch of them for his family so I'm sure you guys can have what's left.” he said gesturing back towards the old sandwich chain that they used as their food storage.

  “Thanks.” Charlene droned tiredly, she had her eyes closed and kept herself rested against Creed, using his forward lean to prop herself up.

  “I'll get us some.” Monet said before she pushed herself up, she got a few unenthusiastic gestures of gratitude but she didn't need it, just smiling weakly at the two, she was gd she had her two best friends with her but the guilt and the loss felt paralyzing. The thought of “I should have known them better” fshed in her mind, Monet's expression darkened. Walking away with her back to the others, no one saw her lips waver or her eyes tear.

  Ember sighed. Forcing the st bite of her food down her throat, wincing briefly at the taste.

  Jake appreciated the time they were given but he was starting to get impatient, he was searching the room, looking for anyone else moving around or approaching the doorways, he watched Monet return and dish out a few rations for them, she didn't stay long, she went to check on Ewell, worrying her fingers against the canned food but trying to keep a meek smile on her face as she waved a quick farewell.

  Charlene assisted in gently feeding Creed who grimaced but smiled through it, the food wasn't rotten, just, Creed was nauseous before he took painkillers on an empty stomach and now just the smell of what he believed was beans made him want to puke, but he swallowed it down, focusing on Charlene's glimmering eyes rather than the pain in his ankle.

  Jake was drumming his fingers staring down at the doorway in front of him.

  His mind was racing; he couldn't even feel that Ember was watching him. Bored of noting every chip in the paint on the wall she dragged her head up off her palm and looked at him. At his pinched ears, his rge eyes and short tusks, she let out a deep breath taking in his features.

  She was trying to keep her mind on him. On surviving by his side.

  In her jumbled mess of thoughts, shifting between Jake, the group, she thought of that deformed beast and shivered remembered how the tissue of Its muscles tore in protest of Its own movements, she shuddered. The world had fallen so quickly and she was cursing herself for not forcing Jake to leave, but he's sweet, too sweet, they waited and waited, waiting for nothing. Then it was like she blinked and the city was in ruins, no matter the pn it was all too te.

  The roar of the infected Woolcat was muffled by the thick walls and reinforced gss but it still rocked them to their cores.

  Ember let out a short scream of frustration and smmed her tightly bound fist onto the table, tensing her fingers so tight her sharp nails stabbed into her palm threatening to break the skin.

  The food court was rge but Ember felt suffocated, her body was hot. She forced the expression off her face but the red flush of panic on her scaled cheeks couldn't be forced away no matter how hard she tried. She tugged at the colr of her red crop top trying to cool herself, drawing air her way.

  What were they to do? What should she do? Ember wanted to take control and drive them forward with a brilliant plot but there was nothing she could think of. No pn. No miracle to save them. Her fingers ringed around Jake's wrist without her noticing.

  Jake gnced down at her chipped nails then back up looking for the newcomers, or even the Day family. At this point he wanted anyone to show up and tell him what to do.

  Ember's eyes were on Jake but her gaze was far away, absent. She was deep in racing thoughts, never in a million years did she expect this. The city she always felt trapped in now a literal graveyard felt like something from her subconscious nightmares, the images of rotting fingers, flesh falling from bone and skin bckened and disintegrating, the twisted faces of people she knew now nothing but bloated corpses and skeletal visages.

  Ember expected life to be shitty but this was a level not even she knew was possible. The cynic in her wanted to ugh. The rest of her was somewhere between wanting to scream and sob or absolutely numb.

  She was over it.

  “Wait here.” her voice commanded which made the other three cock their heads in confusion, watching her walk away, Jake stammered but he didn't call her back, he let her go, he turned to look at Charlene and she just returned his look of worried bewilderment.

  Ember exited the food court from the east doorway and moved her way down the wide hall of empty cases and shelves, she stormed forward trying to seek out any noise, any sign there was a person about.

  Metal signs pointed towards exhibits long gone, she passed by a small but extravagant, the multi tiered custom shelf unit was absent of artifacts but held plenty of quotes and writings taken from Jaktu’s Scriptures.

  She passed by. Trying not to give the Gods much thought.

  The building was so quiet as her footsteps were the only thing she could hear, searching the empty halls she finally heard the echo of voices.

  Her head snapped up, looking for the source but she didn't see anyone, after a slight bite to her lip she just shouted out “Hey!” as she approached the corner leading towards the worn accessories exhibit, unfortunately it, like every other case, was bare, having been robbed clean. Confiscated by the Edgeridge government in an attempt to find a magical solution to the undead problem.

  None were found.

  Instead Ember just forced herself forward. Searching. Then a male's voice called out.

  “Uh, hey!” then Dern appeared, looking around the corner briefly to see Ember on the other side of the hall, he snuck out, moving away to quickly wave at her to draw her attention.

  Dern's awkward smile quickly forced them to meet eyes, his unfit joy met her agitated determination and immediately Dern backed down, his shoulders rose instinctively and he rubbed the back of his head “Oh, hi, Ember?” he asked. Brow pinched together.

  “Yes.” her voice came harshly, probably more rude than she meant, gring, filled with feeling. “We should have a meeting.” she added as she crossed her arms.

  “Oh, yeah, you guys done eating?” asked Dern as he and Bernadina began to approach her. Ember just simply nodded in reply and turned to lead them back to the cafeteria.

  On the other side of the museum in that custrophobic office was Monet, she stepped inside holding that tin can.

  The door creaked as she gently pushed it open, eyes scanning the room she quickly saw Bi crouched above Ewell, trying to comb out the dried blood that matted his hair with their fingers.

  Laid around them was a variety of first aid supplies, Ewell's face was wrapped in a precise mess of gauze and bandages exposing only the unmarred side of his face. His long shes were still shut, sticky tears and the minute smears of blood Bi missed when cleaning him up glued them shut, he was softly breathing but made no other noise or moves.

  Monet listened to his quiet wheezing for just a brief moment before she couldn't take it anymore. The sad sounds, Ewell's mewls and gasps broke her heart and she spoke to drown out the noise "How is he?" she asked, clearly startling Bi who nervously twisted to face her.

  They calmed down and slowly turned back to face Ewell. They sighed. "He'll have some scarring, the scales on his face had lessened the damage but I'm not sure how many scales he'll have left, a lot of them were chipped or torn off completely." Their voice droned, hollowed by pity and worry.

  Another haunting call echoed through the city, the Woolcat’s deep howl sounded again as the beast kept searching.

  “God's!” Bi threw their arms down onto their thighs, grumbling something Monet didn't understand “That is the worst sound. I'm going to hear it in my nightmares.” they added, sighing out the tension in their body they defted uneasily.

  Bi returned their attention to Ewell, his bandaged fingers twitched and Bi reached over to still the trembling. "There isn't, not,” they sighed again “ The outside of him will heal but I don't know if he's fractured his skull or if his brain is swelling, fuck, he could be bleeding internally for all I know…" Bi snapped, voice pitching high nearly cutting themselves off.

  They quickly defted. Sighing deeply. "I'm sorry. I'm not a doctor. I've only taken a few first aid csses. I don't know what I'm doing." They finished, the sound of their teeth grinding quickly followed.

  "You're doing great." Monet assured. She moved and knelt down beside them, she looked down at Ewell's face, tried to study his reddened skin, he was so pale before she was surprised how different he looked.

  She saw his horn was jagged and broken hardly an inch off his skull leaving it much shorter next to the other, which was only chipped, still retaining most of the antler like branches on his remaining horn.

  Monet pinched her brow together and looked Ewell up and down, his sweater was torn up and there was grime and asphalt staining the striped fabric.

  "His poor little horn." she said, sounding a slight bit condescending though she didn't mean it, she was worried, trying to force positivity in her voice but it didn't nd.

  "I'm surprised his horn is the only thing that broke." Bi murmured "The Draconic sure are resilient." they added, a mix of envy and relief in their tone.

  Monet couldn't take her eyes off his face, swollen and covered in thick gauze. "I was hoping he was awake, he hasn't eaten since this morning." she said, setting the can of food down above his head.

  "Do you know him well?" asked Bi. Peeking up to steal a gnce at her.

  Monet's normally straight ponytail bounced back and forth as she shook her head "No, no. Not at all. I met him just yesterday." she scoffed, almost chuckling but without the humor "I knew his friend-" she choked, as if the realization Zeke was gone hit her all over again, stumbling she overcame it and tried to fix the flow of her words, clearing her throat she went on "I don't think any of us really know him, I, the rest of us are neighbors." Monet said with a ft tone that edged towards hopeful, a smile threatened her lips before she forced it away "Charlene is practically my sister, and, Creed, well. He's like a brother in w." she shrugged weakly "The Day's have lived across from us since Bill was born, Ember and Jake, we were friendly in the halls and at the apartment parties, I've known them all for years. I," she didn't realize it but she moved to gently pet along Ewell's hairline, better exposing his bruised face and bck eye.

  "I guess, I'm worried he'll feel like the odd one out." she let out a humorless chuckle, "I'm sorry," with a shake of her head she tried to hide the fact she was wiping the tears from her eyes "I should go." Her breath stuttered. Then she swallowed "I'll leave him in your hands," she turned to make eye contact with Bi, their eyes bagged and dull she could tell at a gnce how tired they were. "Maybe the others have come up with a pn." she said as she began to stand up, looking over the two of them briefly "Thanks Bi." she ended a bit awkwardly but she had a brief smile. Before she fled from the room, a rush of guilty embarrassment filled her when she saw Bi's bewilderment.

  “Bye?” they simply waved.

  In the food court Ember was returning through the doorway with Dern and Bernadina trailing behind her, gncing around she didn't see Barbara nor Sani, not that she much cared. She figured those in the cafeteria were the ones she could plot with, she didn't even bother searching for Phil. Deciding the Day's were best left to care for their distressed children.

  Creed didn't look up but Charlene and Jake did, hearing her approach. She saw Jake's smile return when they locked eyes and the warmth in his gaze made her stern glower twitch into a smile.

  “Hey.” Jake greeted, waving. Creed still had his head down against the table but Charlene gave a forced smile of welcome for the both of them.

  “Where are the others?” asked Charlene looking over the three approaching people.

  “Does it matter?” Ember mumbled, then she gestured for Dern and Bernadina to sit “I don't trust Sani, the others I'm sure will just follow along with what we think up.” Ember turned her head to look toward Bernadina “You seemed like you had something you wanted to say, so?” she asked as she moved to return to sit next to Jake.

  “Huh?” Bernadina stammered, looking briefly taken aback before the stern neutrality returned to her face “Oh, it's nothing.” she said curtly.

  “Yes it is.” came another voice. They all looked towards the south archway where Wanda stood, arms still crossed across her chest as she stepped towards them.

  “Wanda right?” Jake asked as she sat down, a few seats from Dern so she wasn't too close to the couple, almost across from Creed but a bit further down. She nodded and looked over the group of them expecting one of them to speak first. They all gave a mix of doe eyed and serious gazes.

  Wanda awkwardly cleared her throat, it sunk in that they were waiting for her to start and while she wasn't a fan of talking, or even the sound of her own voice, she waited no longer and took it upon herself to start this little meeting.

  As if seeking comfort she made a single gnce to Bernadina who minutely nodded back, the gestures going unnoticed by most of the other people sitting around them “There, when the military came and took all of the artifacts, we, well.” she swallowed, nerves rising “Bernadina and I may have hidden some.” Wanda murmured, adjusting her posture. She quickly tried to speak up, over the burst of voices and questions that erupted around her

  “Why haven't you used it?”

  “Magic's still around?”

  “What does it do? How many do you have?”

  “Go get it!”

  “You seriously have magic?”

  “Wait, wait.” Wanda waved her hands, startling at her own sudden movement “It's nothing crazy!” she excimed, looking between the shouting people “A few trinkets! Remember, museum of minor magic.” Wanda said shaking her head, her throat felt dry and her lips almost felt numb, she doesn't remember the st time she spoke so much and she gained a rising anxiety from it “We packed them up and hide them behind Bi's desk...” her voice trailed nervously looking towards Bernadina.

  “What?” Charlene shouted “Why haven't you gotten them yet?” she asked in exasperation, waving one hand while the other kept rubbing Creed's shoulder.

  “The others, uh, they-” “What, said no?” Ember interrupted as she rose her brow, cocking her head in frustration.

  “They wouldn't-” Wanda tried to defend but she cut herself off, now stammering not knowing what to say.

  “They're in the archive.” Bernadina interrupted. Suddenly the table went quiet. Some confused others just looked pensive.

  “W-What?” Charlene asked, looking at the sullen faces around her.

  “There are undead down there.” she expined, Dern put a hand on Bernadina's shoulder as she went on “After Lisa turned she attacked everyone else down there, we have the area blocked off.” she sighed “I've brought up going down there, but, not everyone agrees.” she said with a slight bite of annoyance in her tone.

  “I just...” Dern's voice trailed guiltily.

  “What? You didn't want to go? Didn't want your girlfriend to? Too scared?” Ember snapped, her foot was tapping faster than her lips moved, long nails chipped and jagged tapped against the table before she stretched her hands, bending and unbending her fingers trying to physically release her frustration “We can't make choices out of fear anymore.” she said, smming a hand down onto the table which caused Creed to groan “We need to take risks and survive.” she looked between them “We're the ones who'll actually do something,” she paused briefly looking at Dern before deciding she didn't care enough to scold him again, his head was already down with a pout to rival a sad puppy “We stick together, stay focused, in and out.” she finished.

  “What, what even are the items anyway? Are they even going to help?” Charlene asked.

  “Magic is magic, we need every advantage.” Ember reiterated.

  “Just, little trinkets like I said, an illusionary ring, a cinders wand...” Bernadina trailed “And the gloves!” Wanda excimed “The, um, the Lizard Latch gloves.” she had a faint look of embarrassment on her face, chuckling before she looked back down at her p.

  “Cinder wand? We could burn them with it right?” Ember asked, perking up at the realization.

  “Yes, um, while the artifacts haven't been used proper in a few, well, who knows how many years.” Wanda scoffed, lowering her head “We were never allowed to use them but sometimes, well, things happen when cleaning.” she murmured looking up at Bernadina who had a simirly guilty looking half smile on her lips “It creates a small fire that shoots out of the base crystal,” Wanda's voice seemed to come easier now, eyes ever so slightly brighter “Kind of like a campers torch? It's not very rge but it'll start a decent fire with some kindling.” Wanda looked at Bernadina “I sure know.” she said with a tiny, nervous, smile.

  “Know what?” Monet's voice came from the south of the archway, she looked between them all with a twitching grin, brow raised as she happily approached, or tried to seem happy. “What's going on?” asked Monet as she sat down on the other side of Creed.

  Charlene greeted her with the warmest smile she could muster despite the circumstances, then she moved and with both hands began to speak, wordlessly letting Monet take over as she gently patted Creed's back before letting her hand rest on his shoulder.

  “We were just plotting.” Charlene said “They have magic in the archives but there are undead down there too.” she said, quickly catching her up to speed.

  “Oh.” Monet's expression dropped.

  “What do you have for weapons,” Ember asked before gesturing up and down herself “We clearly have fuck all.” she said in an attempt to be humorous but by Dern and Wanda's expressions they didn't find the joke “Guns? Anything?” she asked.

  “One.” Wanda said “In Bi's desk, it's theirs'-” “What?” Bernadina asked, cocking her head towards Wanda, she looked offended, almost hurt.

  “Bi hates guns, t-they hate violence, Bi wouldn't have a gun without telling me.” Bernadina shouted, nearly leaping from her seat if it wasn't for Dern having an arm around her.

  Wanda frowned, lowering her head again as she began to gently pick at her own nails.

  “Wanda.” Bernadina called.

  “Jorney kept coming by, it, it was just to be safe.” Wanda murmured, as if she didn't want to speak at all.

  “Jorney! The apocalypse didn't scare him off?”

  Wanda flinched “Before that.” she reluctantly replied.

  “What!” Bernadina smmed her hands down, pushing Dern off this time she stood up “Why didn't anyone tell me! I have a right to know when that piece of shit is around!”

  “He's probably dead by now!” Dern tried to appease, smiling, easing her to lower back into her seat.

  Bernadina swallowed deeply, body vibrating with anger before she forced her to settle down. Sitting back beside Dern. It was obvious she was seething.

  The table went quiet aside from Ember's drumming fingers, with a huff she grumbled and tapped her nails to draw everyone's attention “The pn.” she said and the rest of them started to slowly ease back into the other conversation, aside from Wanda, who remained compact and self conscious. “Do we have any weapons we can get to?” Ember sighed, surprised she even had to crify.

  “A few nightsticks, um, a taser..” Dern murmured, raising a finger and counting as he spoke “Um, oh, fire axe. And uh, Bi kept a bat in the side office, the one they and that kid are in.” then Dern raised his head, head tilting like a curious pup “So, four types? But, we have I think what?” he looked at Bernadina but after seeing her thin brows so closely pinched together in anger he turned to Wanda instead “Two? Three? Nightsticks?” he asked before readdressing the group.

  “So, four blunt weapons, a taser which I don't think will do much against the undead, and a fire axe.” Ember nodded “Okay,” she evened her breath looking around, trying to size up the new members “I think this could work. We've done more with less, where's the axe?” she asked.

  “With most of our other things, at the ticket booth.” Wanda expined pinly. Ember hardly heard her voice she spoke so quietly.

  “Okay but after we get the items and clear out the undead what do we do? What's our escape? The doors out front are still swarmed.” Charlene asked.

  “The side door too, sorry...” Monet added.

  “We could try the loading dock in the back, it's sort of like a garage. I'm sure there are infected in the alleys around here but it's better than the hoard outside.” Dern said, peeking up. He gained a tiny smirk “Me and Bernie know the pce pret-ty well.” but the moment the wanton expression came to his face Bernadina pressed her palm into the top of his head gingerly, quickly silencing him. Dern chuckled, giving a pleading but comical look.

  Bernadina flushed, looking at the incorrigible man under her palm she couldn't help trying to stifle the fondness on her face as he shouted out “Sorry!” with his eyes closed and lips smiling.

  Bernadina looked back to the group talking to quickly move on from the moment “There are two roller doors down there for deliveries, we can get out through there. We, we'll need the service cards...” she then sighed, lowering her head in slight defeat “Which are probably in Bi's desk.” she huffed.

  “Or with Lisa...” Wanda added, clearly unhappy.

  “I take it that's why you haven't left yet.” Jake commented.

  Wanda just nodded. Shamefully.

  “Who's Jorney?” asked Monet softly, looking between Wanda and Bernadina “Do we have to worry about some crazy guy coming after us?” she added nervously, brow twitching as she tried to seem innocuous, Bernadina's scowl however made her feel like she missed the mark “I-I-If that's okay!” she excimed, waving her hands frantically.

  Dern huffed, a shake of his head as he spoke “Some asshole who used to be our friend,” Dern snapped. His usually soft face suddenly looked scary, Monet startled, Dern was huffing, then he lowered his head and grumbled “Let's just drop it,” he gnced to Bernadina who seemed to have calmed herself down, now putting a hand on his toned bicep “Sorry...” Dern's voice trailed, looking up to meet Monet's eye apologetically.

  “I'm sorry too.” Monet said, slowly looking away “I, I assumed he was one of the gang members you mentioned, I, um, I didn't know there was more than one gang. We,” she looked to Charlene for comfort, trying to steel herself to finish her sentence “Um, we just learned about the sun people?” she murmured, trailing off as she practically defted.

  “We have bigger things to worry about.” Ember huffed. “Back to the pn at hand.” she said with a zy waving gesture “We need to go grab those weapons, get those items, those keys, and we get the fuck out of this shitty city for good.” Ember shouted, smming her hand down, before raising it to gesture with a short wave “Okay?” she finished with wide eyes.

  “Okay. Yeah. You're right.” Wanda sighed deeply, shaking her head in frustration.

  “Then let's split up and grab them, meet at the archive door and get out of here.” Ember said sternly.

  After falling into their comfortable pairs Jake and Ember went to leave as Dern stood beside Bernadina. She was pale, a mix of emotions flooded away as she stuffed them down and put up airs, she rose from her seat “We should change pairs.” she expined, looking over at Ember as she stopped mid step “Unless you know your way around the museum.” she added before gncing at Charlene, then to Creed's lowered head “Do you want to wait with him?” Bernadina asked with a swift gesture.

  She nodded yes “I think he fell asleep.” Charlene chuckled halfheartedly.

  Ember looked displeased but she saw the logic in it, pouting before she dropped her shoulders and gave in “Yeah,” she nodded “Okay, wanna show me then?” Ember asked.

  “Wanda will,” Bernadina commanded which startled the mousy woman, she shot up like a spring and looked over to Ember nervously, like she was approaching a predator, a sheer cliff, something dangerous. Wanda nodded. “She and Barbra stacked the weapons before,” Bernadina gestured for Wanda to move and she obeyed, shuffling over to Ember trying not to bring attention to herself “She knows where to find it.” Bernadina expined. “Monet, correct?” she asked, now turning towards her.

  Monet startled much like Wanda, almost exactly like her really. She leapt from her seat and forced a very 'customer service' smile. “Yes ma'am!” she excimed.

  Bernadina gained a faint smile, amusement, or maybe embarrassment. Quickly nodding once at her “Me and Dern will take you to get the bat with Bi, we'll check in with them then meet back here at the main entrance, the archives door isn't far.” she added, then looked back towards the others “Is that alright with you?” she asked, noting the frown on Ember's face.

  “Fine.” Ember nodded, then looked to Wanda “C'mon.” she said with a jerk of her head, moving towards the main lobby. Ember at least knew how to get there.

  “You gonna be okay?” Charlene said, whispering to Monet briefly.

  She nodded 'yes' quickly. Instead moving to try and catch up to Bernadina and Dern. By the time they left the archway they saw Wanda turn down the far corner, assumingly following Ember.

  Monet followed the other two down the opposite hall. Passing by the same empty dispys she tapped the tips of her fingers together, she gnced back hoping to see someone but the halls were empty.

  Bernadina was leading with Dern nearly right beside her, half a step at most behind, slightly out of her rhythm but the way she moved never interfered with his long, somewhat overly animated, strides.

  Dern was swaying his arms, rocking his head, always making extra movements while Bernadina moved with grace and precision. They never once bumped into one another.

  Monet's sweeping gaze panned over Dern's billowing jacket and Bernadina's suit top, swallowing her questions she trailed after them, awkward, nervous, she was so in her head she tripped herself, stumbling a step but she managed to catch herself before she fell. She stiffened when Dern peeked back at her but a reassuring smile was all he needed for her to turn away.

  It wasn't far from the main entrance, the massive lobby was already in sight and they entered the long, empty, welcoming hall.

  The room was dimmed by the thick steel shutters but the panes of gss built into the arched ceiling let in a decent amount of light to keep the room bright enough to see, the artwork on the walls remained, some were damaged in the chaos, others were left alone, growing dust.

  They traversed their way through the dirtied lobby and towards the side room. Again Bi startled when the door abruptly opened, sighing deeply their shoulders slumped “Knocking.” they murmured before standing up, they were slumped against the wall before they rose. Sluggishly. They rubbed their face sleepily and muttered “Yeah? What is it now?” with slight annoyance.

  “Nothing.” Bernadina replied, she simply walked towards the destroyed PC and took the metal bat that was leaned against the chunky desk.

  “You're going to the archives.” they said pinly.

  Bernadina didn't reply. Just looked over at them with a steely expression, she waited a few brief seconds but when Bi simply looked away, shame and disappointment on their face, Bernadina turned back to the door, and the other two. She just nodded forward and Monet and Dern sheepishly parted, allowing her leave, Monet and Dern watched her march towards the main hall without a word nor change in her expression.

  Dern cleared his throat. Waiting. Letting her get a few steps ahead as he watched her leave.

  Monet tilted her head back towards the office, the door was left open, not cracked this time but wide open so she could see nearly the whole room, Ewell's ripped trousers and shoes stuck out from behind the desk while Bi leaned back, pressing their back against the wall while curled forward. Hands covering their face but Monet could see the deep frown on their plump lips, but no words of comfort came to her mind, no matter what she thought to say it only felt forced, or at worst patronizing.

  Then the sound of the couple departing startled Monet enough to look away, she was about to follow after them but stopped to give an unnoticed but apologetic smile towards Bi, with a short sprint she caught back up with them.

  Monet felt the air was tense, but both she and Dern followed Bernadina without disturbing her. Well, too much. There was still the edge on Bernadina's face, a slight twitch of discomfort she tried and failed to hide.

  Dern watched and Bernadina obviously took notice as Monet slowed a step, allowing herself to return to comfortably trailing behind them rather than walking at Bernadina's side. Dern however pushed closer so he bumped into Bernadina's shoulder, her gaze snapped to his and her stern expression met his goofy grin.

  She looked away but she couldn't help but crack a smile.

  The smile left as quickly as it came as they heard arguing by the ticket booths, the smallest growl left Bernadina as she stormed forward, twisting the bat in her hand she was close to sprinting before she saw who it was.

  Phil had his arms crossed on one side of the counter while Ember, Jake, and Wanda were behind it. Bundles of weapons in Jake's and Wanda's arms Ember was using her free hands to gesture wildly at Phil.

  “Bullshit, tell me what you're doing,” Phil snapped pointing towards the fire axe in Jake's hands “Whatever it is you have to tell me,” Phil demanded, pausing his commandments ad he turned his head as Sani approached, he was coming from the far arch, away from the main stand and towards the bathrooms. He walked,

  leaving Barbra to stare judgmentally at the lot of them, arms crossed over her wide chest.

  Sani looked around at the bickering group, watched as Wanda attempted to slowly creep back into the booth and away from them."Whatever you're doing is going to affect all of us!" Phil demanded. Scoffing, he gnced at Sani seeking affirmation before snapping back to mean mug Ember.

  "Actually Phil," Ember moved, leaning forward to pce her hand ft on the counter allowing her to press forward invading Phil's space and forcing him to recoil back "What we're doing has nothing to do with you, it's only gonna affect us, you know, the people who are actually doing something." she replied, teeth grit and voice filled with vitriol.

  Phil's face scrunched in offense, mouth fpping open and closed as he stammered out vague protests.Sani tapped his knuckles against the counter drawing Ember's attention, she cocked her head at him daringly and waited.

  Sani cleared his throat and let no feelings show on his neutral expression "What are you doing?" He asked but as soon as the words left dark lips he turned only his head and locked eyes with Wanda.

  She startled. A squeak of surprise left her before she blurted out "Going to the archives." without thinking. Her face twisted apologetically as she looked over at the very disappointed Ember. Her expression dropped to strained neutrality.

  "The archives?" Phil repeated.

  "Don't try and stop us." Ember replied. Eyes sizing up Phil as if she was expecting him to throw a punch or make some sort of dumb move but he just stared at her in frustration.

  "I-" Phil started but Sani's decisive voice cut him off "Why would we?" Sani's voice came evenly, a smooth deep tone that made it clear he was used to directing conversations. "What you're doing is beneficial to all of us, whether we help or not." as he finished Phil nodded along, agreeing as if he thought the same. Phil crossed his arms over his chest and gained a slight smugness to his face.

  "A pair of dicks. The both of you." Ember scoffed, shaking her head and hands in exasperation.

  "You're really not even going to offer to help? Pretend you're team pyers?" Jake huffed, his tone higher than normal, pitched with stress and annoyance.

  "You've made it clear you don't need us." Sani replied, he turned back and began to approach Barbara again, he rubbed his face briefly "Next time let us know what you're doing, then we could lend a hand." He finished, his back to them as he moved towards the cafeteria hall, Barbra kept her angry glower on Wanda who just shrunk into herself.

  "Really?" Ember grumbled as she watched Phil follow. Then she noticed the other three approach.Monet's brow was knit together watching as the others departed, trailing towards the cafeteria she assumed.

  "I hope they don't give Char any trouble." Monet mumbled, hand warming up her arm as she shook nervously back and forth, Dern took notice, following her sight line to see the back of Phil as they just missed the end of their argument.

  "What was that about?" asked Dern, looking over Jake and Ember to look at Wanda.

  "Nothing. They're not going to help so it doesn't matter." Ember replied harshly, shaking a hand as she calmed herself down "We'll do this without those asses." Ember added with a half humorous and half aggravated smirk. Then she moved to take the extra weapons from Wanda, she stumbled back before she realized what Ember intended, chuckling, Wanda’s face flushed red as she stumbled back.

  Ember didn't really notice her fluster as she took the bundle, more focused on the nightsticks she held "S-Sorry." Wanda chuckled.

  "Huh?" Ember remarked, raising a brow in question before she stepped back.She gnced at Jake and smiled "Let's get this over with." she said, with a tone and expression that didn't fit the situation at all.

  Jake nodded. His expression was much more dire but he tried to bring a smile to match hers, he swallowed, then moved to follow her. Wanda trailed after them, trying to hide in their footsteps.

  Bernadina rolled her eyes but moved to lead them forward. "We'll be going past the cafeteria, I'm sure Charlene will want to remain with her partner and that will allow us to avoid the others." she said, a quick gnce around to confirm the halls were dim and quiet, their footsteps nearly overtaking her voice but Bernadina kept on, voice even and neutral, like she was giving a practiced lecture "Two of us should guard the door while the others search. I can show you where we hid them-" "Wait?" Dern interrupted before bbbing out an apology "You're not going, I, I thought we agreed?" he said with a forced, awkward, chuckle.

  "I hid them." Bernadina stated pinly.

  "So?"

  "I can find it fastest, it'll be best if I go." She said calmly "We already agreed I would go." she added, her voice lowering, a stern command rather than her lighter tone. Bernadina tilted her head and with a brief look over her shoulder she made certain everyone was following her, Dern was closest to her with an adoring grin on his face but he was obviously trying to hide the worry that dulled his bright blue eyes, Monet and Wanda were trailing behind Jake and Ember who were both searching the halls for anything of interest.Then there was Debra.

  Bernadina paused, quickly looking back, longer this time to confirm that there was an extra person. She waited until Debra raised her head and met her eye "Are you going to raise issue?" she asked, causing everyone to suddenly realize Debra was there. They all shot her concerning and confused looks but didn't speak up. Waiting for her to speak instead.

  Debra shook her head no quickly, disrupting her bck bob, though it was already a far cry from well groomed "No ma'am." she replied. Returning to lowering her head.

  Bernadina looked forward again. Already moving to turn down the hall without needing to see it "We're moving quickly, culling any undead, taking the card from Lisa while retrieving the artifacts. Then we seal the archives." she paused. Swallowing briefly. "There were four other people who were attacked by Lisa. So. Five infected." Bernadina finished.

  "Fine." Ember nodded. She did a quick count of what they carried, Bernadina had given the bat to Dern to carry, she herself was carrying two nightsticks and a fire axe. Jake carried the st four nightsticks. More than she expected.

  The rest of the short walk was quiet, traversing through the dusty halls until they arrived at the blocked door. Pin. Unassuming. A chunky upholstered arm chair was pressed against it jamming the handle in the dented back, straining the polyester to the point it nearly tore.They all gathered around the seat, looking at the stained fabric.

  They looked down at the legs, wood carved to look like the paws of a Woolcat and Monet felt herself shudder at the sight. Small off seafoam colored lines of pnt matter stretched out from under the door frame and coiled around the legs, spiraling up towards the cushioned seat. A few minuscule sprouts and budding leaves branched from the vines. All still green, a light color that slowly faded into a minty white.

  Monet cleared her throat. “Who's going in again?” she asked with a nervous chuckle, gncing back to look at everyone else with a forced smile but upturned brow.

  Jake and Ember had knelt down to y out the nightsticks while Dern was fidgeting, staring a hole in the back of Bernadina's head. Wanda gave a meek shrug while Debra eyed the rest of them. All waiting for someone else to take lead.

  “Me and Jake will.” Ember replied casually, as if it was already pnned. She lined up their weapon pile.

  Jake nodded in agreement.

  Debra was about to speak but Ember, who had her back to her, didn't notice and spoke up first inadvertently cutting her off "We need two at the doors, guessing outta you three," she nodded her head towards Wanda and Monet before quickly looking around trying to scope out Debra "The rest of us will go." she finished before rolling out the night sticks, Ember kept the fire axe.

  Dern handed the bat back to Bernadina but his face didn't hold his normal grin, he looked perturbed, fighting the pout off his face Dern stepped forward to grab one of the nightsticks, Jake quickly snatched one to hand to him which he took with a nod, still not smiling.

  "Okay." Monet exhaled her words. Nodding. "I'll go." she ended with a strained tone but the fear on Wanda's face steeled her in her decision.

  "Fine," Bernadina nodded "Let's go." she gestured towards the door with her head but she didn't step forward.

  Jake stood up, he took a breath, a deep one. Filling his chest before he exhaled his worries and forced strength into himself. He pushed forward first, Dern moved to back him up but Bernadina pushed past him. She and Jake stood ready as Ember brought her axe down onto the thin vines, the severed bits browned near instantly while the filing stems recoiled back under the door like fleeing snakes.

  Jake yanked the chair away, breaking any st ties to the frame and tossed it carelessly to the side. Wanda whined at the sorry state of the chair. Jake gnced to Ember "Must be one right on the other side." he muttered as he moved towards the archives door.

  He reached his fingers towards the metal handle and took another deep breath, Ember braced herself, axe ready, until Jake opened that door.

  She saw a quick fsh of movement and she brought her axe down with a heavy sm, plunging through something squishy before driving a crack into the wood floor boards.

  She flinched as she looked up, the collective gasps of disgust sounded around her before she saw the ghastly sight before her.

  The first thing she processed was bony finger tips grasping towards her, she cried out in fearful surprise before she was yanked back, Bernadina gripped the back of her jacket and tugged, dragging her away from the undead at the door.

  Ember shuddered. An undead was glued to the door, what was left of their devoured torso was severed by Ember's powerful swing. The lower body now hung lifeless, legs limp, bent off the edge of dark stairs but the upper body was still very much animated. Cwing towards any movement that it could gleam from Its poor vision. Monet and Wanda gagged, the person, Monet didn't know who it was but she wouldn't wish this on anyone. The remains of what was a suited figure was pressed into the door, most of the clothing was torn away and ripped to shreds around them, absorbing blood and molding.

  Jake groaned a “Fuck!” as he covered his mouth, he took a step away from the door, peeking down the short staircase to make sure nothing noticed them, it was empty aside from the severed chunk of flesh that was the undead's lower half.

  The top half has a gnashing jaw, skin around the face gnawed and chewed while the stomach was completely ripped open, exposed rib-cage held a cobweb of roots and vines twirling around the empty space, pressing any organic matter against the edge of infmed muscle. There was a tangled mess of leaves and bckish sludge that shimmered between red and green behind the body, the slime encased the back of the creature, sealing the fabric, the hair, anything touching the door practically became a part of it. The stretching vines ran over nail marked wood in an attempt to fuse with the frame.

  It uselessly pawed devoured arms, mostly bone and slogging flesh wrapped in a growing yer of mildew and bark, towards the living group, gasping growls leaving Its broken jaw.

  “He must have tried to cw his way out...” Wanda murmured, near vomiting. She swallowed and looked away as Ember moved to put the creature down.

  Feeble hands reached up before they dropped limp, Ember split the undead's skull and finished it off, she fought off a gag, the congealing sludge caking her axe made her choke it down. She stood up straight, dragging the axe with her as she rested it against her shoulder, she looked down into the archives.

  The light from the hall poured down the short staircase and into dim archives. Small specks of dust shone in the flickering illumination and blood stained the warm brown walls. Monet and Dern dragged away the lower torso of the split undead and cleared the path, Jake went to move first but Ember was the one to take lead. Careful not to slip on coaguted puddles or the molds that began to culture them, they began a slow, careful descent.

  The room was still, eerily quiet. Immediately to Ember's right was another wall, panel trim was on the bottom half of the whole room and two chairs were against it creating a nice small sitting area, to her left, that was a much messier sight. There was a pile of gore further into the long room. Just ahead of them were lines of bookcases acting like walls, nearly the full height of the room the tops almost touching the ceiling. Boxes, books, jars and vials all were held there, once beled and organized now were thrown about and crushed, smashed on the floor during the chaos.

  Moving forward past broken gss and what looked like the remains of a Veriyn Ember kept the axe ready, securing her grip around the handle as Jake moved closer, hand on her shoulder as she led the group forward.

  With a gnce back to Bernadina she mouthed “Where is it?” before looking forward again, trying to keep her eyes scanning the room, searching for danger, they didn't hear anything. Nothing. Not even the buzz of light bulbs or the shuffling of someone moving.

  They advanced in a tight group, leaving Debra standing at the bottom of the staircase watching them, she twisted the nightstick nervously in her hands but she looked determined. Watching the group move forward.

  They neared the first bookcase, the towering shelves surrounding them suddenly made the room feel suffocating, a desk was further down, Bernadina shook her head 'no' when Jake looked back at her. The desk was well built, looked old, and decently kept. However it was a complete mess, drawers were ripped out with papers and stationary strewn about and scattered around the floor in what looked like a panicked ransack of the chunky telephone desk.

  Ember's breath was heavy, trying to ease it she began to breathe through her mouth, better than smell the scent of rot and decay that filled the room.

  Ember suddenly shot out her arm blocking Jake from going forward, she pointed, gesturing silently to an arm, a torn sleeve that was stained deep red swayed minutely, almost more like an occasional twitch rather than informed movement, Bernadina let out a short, horrified gasp, desperately she wanted to look away but couldn't.

  “Lisa.” She whispered. Informing the others.

  They backed up, slow, inching towards the door as Ember got herself ready. They all hid themselves behind the first row of bookshelves, gesturing for Debra to do the same she snuck behind the door, concealing herself almost completely.

  Monet had Dern in front of her and Bernadina behind, across from the opening was Ember and Jake, they all steeled themselves, took up their strongest stances.

  Then Monet, with a nod of affirmation from Ember, tapped her nightstick against the floor loudly.

  The undead spun, jerking its body towards the sound. The woman looked almost normal, her skin drained of life and eyes wide with infection but she seemed otherwise undamaged. Even still her brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, frizzled tips crusted with blood.

  Head cocking the undead crept forward, jerking and unnatural movements dragged through the debris on the floor, then gss broke under her heel.

  With a roar another infected ran forward, this one bitten bloody and missing rge portions of his face and arms, one hand had been completely chewed off leaving a bundle of leaves and blooming flowers to encase it, the lone, dwindling stems drooped towards the floor, bright red bulbs like droplets of blood. It carelessly threw itself into the bookcase rattling the entire thing, Monet gasped, flinching back nearly crashing into Bernadina but she stayed strong. Stayed in line, weapon ready and eyes slick with tears.

  Teeth gnashed together, chittering almost, as the zombie man searched for the source of the sudden stimution, then it crashed against infected Lisa, snarling it nearly knocked her over as it charged forward with a scream. Followed by another.

  Stumbling after the male infected was another, a female clerk by the remains but now she was just another in a long line of animated corpses, storming forward with their arms bent at odd angles and chests protruding forward. The first infected to cross the 'doorway' of shelves was quickly tripped by Monet's extended nightstick, Ember leapt forward as the creature smmed face first into the ground, uncaring how the cartige in its nose crushed into the soft remnants of its face, nor how it crumbled and filed before Ember stabbed down with her axe.

  She yelped in surprise, she saw more infected, heard their snarls as they encroached. Three more were there, Lisa's undead eyes trailed zily but the other two, a clerk and the remains of a custodian, screeched and charged forward.

  Barreling towards Ember she froze up. Eyes wide at the sight of her fellow Veriyn bloodthirsty and ravenous sprinting towards her.

  She didn't have time to react. Axe still embedded in the shattered skull below her.

  Dern and Jake both lunged forward, nightsticks beating the corpses to the side, knocking them off bance as Jake shoved the clerk to the floor by Dern and he returned the favor by tripping over the infected janitor.

  With growling protests the infected filed trying to drag themselves towards living flesh, biting towards Jake's ankle before he drove his boot down on the back of the infected's neck and smmed the nightstick down over and over, aiming at the head until the body stopped moving.

  His head snapped up at the sound of panting, he saw Monet, her eyes closed tightly as she and Dern damaged the other enough to finish it off. “Lisa!” Bernadina screamed. Calling out.

  Scraggly long hair blew from between shelves as Lisa's body charged forward. Snarling Ember ripped the axe from the undead's head and swiped hard, stabbing the bde into 'Lisa's' neck, the combination of Ember's furious swing and Lisa's undead momentum severed her head from her body.

  Bernadina excimed. Shrieking while watching Lisa's lifeless body crumble on top of the rest. Dern turned to comfort her but she pushed him away, forcing the disgust, the shame, the guilt and grief away too, she hid all feeling from her face and let out a wavering breath.

  Monet peeked around the corner and saw nothing else, no movement, no sound, she let out a wavering huff and whispered “I think that was all of them.” then she looked down. She saw Lisa's head still moving, a nest of vines twirling and grasping out from the hole in the stump of her neck “Oh Gods.” she whined, then Ember ended it with another swing of the fire axe. Debra stepped out, circling around the undead. She made sure she watched Ember kill the st one, seeing Lisa's severed head perish with her own eyes.

  “The card should be in her suit pocket.” Bernadina said “Left side.” she added quickly, looking away she made to advance, didn't even pretend she wasn’t going anywhere near Lisa's body.

  Ember let out a sigh that was almost a growl. Exasperation filling her she walked over to Lisa's body.

  Jake knit his brow together, inadvertently leaving Ember to search on her own. He was looking down at the sin undead, the bodies torn and eaten, skin ripped and gnawed. The green tint to their skin and the bckened infection that coursed through their veins like poison rotted the flesh and exposed the bone and wood that began to over take it like a shell.

  Lisa stuck out like a sore thumb. If it wasn't for the tendrils of curling fern that y dead and browning from the wound across her neck he would think she was living, uninfected, when she died.

  He tilted his head, Bernadina couldn't stand to look and she began to lead Dern and Monet forward, he was about to voice his concerns when Ember stood up, letting Lisa's limp arm fall unceremoniously. “I thought you said she was bitten.” her voice called out lowly.

  “What?” Bernadina stopped. Debris crunching under her as she listlessly eyed the carnage of previously organized treasures and research.

  “There's no bite mark.” Ember almost sounded accusatory, turning her head to look at them “How was she infected if she wasn't bitten?” Ember demanded. Staring. Gring. Suddenly she felt a rush of heat run to her head.

  “She was.” Bernadina replied. Her tone was lower than she meant and she suddenly hated hearing it. She cleared her throat and stepped towards Ember, Bernadina wasn't going to be called a liar with no proof.

  “Ember's right...” Monet murmured, having crept over opposite to Ember. She looked down at the body before she couldn't stomach it any more. Instead turning to look nervously at Bernadina. They all began to surround the manager's body, investigating her corpse in greater detail. Both her hands were pristine, her nails were hardly even chipped.

  Everyone shifted, clearing throats and stealing gnces. All looking towards Bernadina.

  “But, she was bitten…” Bernadina ghosted.