How come every time I walk, you crawl?
Author: Tasminalice
Rating: M (language)
Length: 2570 words, approx.
Summary:
Blur the days,
sleep is not an option.
A Skins-themed apocalyptic story.
A/N: Second half of the Fifth part of This; Finality. Full author notes, in part 1 (see journal).
Not a very action-packed part, sorry kids. Next part up as soon as I can write it.
--
"JJ. First aid kit. The good one, from the house. Where?" Emily's voice cracked violently.
He spluttered something mostly incoherent.
"JJ. Where. Is. The. Fucking. Kit."
He turned, shocked at her tone.
"By the blue bag, next to Effy's tent."
Emily raced over, pulling it off the ground. Looking around, she sees Naomi sitting on a log, trying - and failing - to roll up her sleeve. Her eyes were less blank now, but her movements still slower than they should have been.
Kneeling in front of her, Emily roughly unzipped the bag and emptying its contents, before spotting an irrigation syringe and several bottles of codeine. Naomi held her sleeve above the wound, which was bleeding profusely.
"Jesus."
It was a dead-straight line, maybe half an inch thick, above the elbow joint. It ran without interruption most of the way across the outer side of Naomi's upper arm. A flaw in perfect skin, Emily decided. Grabbing scissors from the pack, she cut away the material
Emily ripped open a sterile pad and wiped the area just below the wound. She pressed the needle through the airtight packaging on the top of the codeine bottle.
"Nay. Naomi. Look at me." Looking up, Naomi eyed the syringe. "This is going to hurt, okay?"
"Do you know how to do it?"
Emily nodded. "I took a first aid class, a few years back. Never thought I'd use it for this, though."
Naomi clenched her jaw, and looked away.
Emily never had a big fear of needles, that had always been Katie. Injecting her girlfriend though, was different. Emily had to force herself to stop shaking, and take a deep breath.
Naomi hissed as the needle pierced her skin, Emily couldn't help but mutter a small apology. She pushed down on the plunger until all of the clear liquid was in Naomi's arm.
"That should kick in in a few minutes. JJ knows about this stuff, I'll ask him what we can do once we stop it bleeding."
Emily took a thick bandage out from the pack, and began wrapping it round above Naomi's wound, tightly. Taking a swig from the water bottle next to her, she offered Naomi some, who gulped half of it down. Pouring the rest onto a cotton sling, Emily wiped away the congealed blood on Naomi's arm.
They sat for a while, in silence. The forest around them was alive with noise and movement.
"Any better?"
"Slightly. The painkiller's taking effect, I think." Naomi smiled slightly. "That was impressive, just then."
"So glad I listened in that class. Just luck that you weren't in it, really. I wouldn't have learnt a thing," Emily beamed.
--
Effy felt nothing, for what seemed like hours after Thomas left.
Then she felt arms around her waist; soft, saw they were leopard-printed. Effy felt Katie's cheek pressing into her back, heard her quickened breathing. The contact was too much, it was far, far too soon for that -
Effy sprang away, leaving Katie kneeling on the leaves.
"Please, Katie," her eyes wide, voice broken. "It's - I can't - "
"It's okay.
"Panda, Katie! And Cook," Effy shook. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be her best friend."
"Just drinks and sausages, wasn't it?" Katie murmured.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't meant - "
"I know," Katie said simply. "You know where I am, yeah?"
Effy nodded, before taking off towards the stream.
Katie watched her leave, unsure of what she was feeling.
--
"I'm sorry JJ, what did you say?" Emily half-whispered, stepping closer to him.
"Panda - I tried, well, we all did, but - " He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "But now she's gone, and Thomas took her - "
Emily lungs forgot to breathe, her airways were welded shut. Naomi had her good arm on her knees, hiding her face.
"God - not her.. it's too much, I can't do this," she managed to eke out.
"Sorry, I'm sorry - we didn't mean, you were supposed to - " JJ's shoulders were hunched, his form wracked with sobs.
"We can't let this keep going. We've got to leave, we can't stay - " Emily began, before she felt a hand in hers, and stopped.
Naomi knows, she thought. She already knows what's going to happen. Already believes in her.
--
"It's probably going to have to be stitched." JJ said, as quietly as possible.
Naomi's stomach dropped. "Fuck, are you serious?"
JJ nodded. "It's stopped bleeding now, but thats an open wound. It could get infected, and you could get streptococcus or an infection of some kind, then the only way of fixing it would be to amputate it, which is extremely impractical, because we don't have any - "
"JJ, stop. How would we stitch it? We don't have any needles or thread." Emily said, partly to herself.
"Christ. We are talking about putting more sharp things into me, Emily."
"I brought along my sewing kit." JJ stated, nervously.
"Um... why? If you don't mind me asking." Emily inquired.
"Well, its good for patching up holes in clothing, and tarpaulin. I brought along extra-heavy duty nylon for the tents, along with a good selection of needles. My mum said it'd be a good idea."
"Well, that settles it then. I like your arm, Nay. It's better to do this, than losing it."
Naomi swallowed. "I'll need more of that painkiller, please. But alright, I like this arm too."
"Later then, once we've eaten. I'd rather not do it around Katie, she might like, pass out." Emily said, with a grim smile..
--
They sat around the fire, no one talking, besides JJ. He'd found some salt to put with the noodles, making them marginally less bland.
" Because, you know, on a cooking course I went to, the instructor said that salt always makes a good meal great. And, well, I'm not saying this wasn't a good meal to start with, because it really wasn't, but I have to say, that - "
"Shut it, Jay," Naomi grumbled tiredly.
Effy was sitting next to Katie on a log, with Naomi and Emily sitting across from them. JJ sat in the middle, and the forest was all around. With only five bodies around the fire, their camp seemed impossibly quiet and empty.
Every time the wind made a sound through the trees, everyone reacted. They made a grab for weapons that weren't far from reach. No one wanted to sleep, even though it was gone eleven; far later than they had previously been going to bed.
Effy heard the rustling behind her, didn't have the energy to react in time.
"Jesus, it's fucking good to see you, yeah?"
Cook was standing behind her, his shotgun bent over his shoulder. He was covered in small scratches and welts, as well having a very, very ripped shirt.
"Cook!" Emily jumped up.
"Hey hey!" Cook grinned confidently. Even Katie gave him a hug, albeit a rather short one.
"Did you see Thomas, on your way?" Naomi asked him quietly.
"No, why? Where is he?" Looking around, he added, "and Panda?"
When no one answered, Effy did.
"She's gone, Cook."
"What, like. Gone, gone?" His eyes burned into Effy's.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"Fucking hell. When?"
"Just before we got back," Emily replied.
"She was - " Cook shook his head, covering his mouth with his hands. "Fuck." He took a breath.
"So where's Thomas?"
"He left, with her. A few hours ago."
Cook paused, considering, before sighing again.
"I didn't see him," Cook sighed. "Sorry lads. But you know our Thomas. He's a slugger, he'll be back soon. I'm sure of it."
--
Emily gave Naomi's arm two more shots of codeine before retrieving JJ's sewing kit from his bag. The first one hadn't really worn off from the first syringe. Naomi was amusing herself flicking her arm, hardly able to feel it. She was chuckling. but as soon as Emily began threading a needle, her smile dropped.
"Not looking forward to this, Emily Fitch."
"Sorry, Campbell. No two ways about it."
Naomi let out a long, drawn out breath. Emily shivered.
They were sitting on a blanket, slightly away from the others. Naomi had her left arm towards the fire, to allow Emily to see better. The wound had been disinfected again, and it had started bleeding gently.
Emily shuffled closer, her hands trembling slightly has she lifted Naomi's sleeve.
The deep gash was a dark red, blooming. The skin around it was slightly inflamed, and tender.
"We're sure about this?" Emily gulped.
"Fuck yes. I told you, I like this arm. I won't be able to feel it, anyway. Do it, before it wears off." Naomi gritted her teeth.
Emily wiped more leaking blood from around the wound, realised she didn't have four hands.
Looking back at the group, she called to Effy.
"Can you help me with his? You're probably the least likely to vomit or faint."
Effy nodded and sat to Naomi's side, grabbed a bunch of cotton pads and wipes.
"Just... hold them below the - yeah, like that."
Emily expected Naomi to flinch, to react in some way when she put the needle through the first time.
"Hurt?"
"I can kind of feel it. No, it doesn't hurt. Carry on."
Emily was very aware of Naomi's hand on her knee, rubbing small circles with the tip of her index finger.
Effy was wearing her characteristic smirk when Emily next looked away from Naomi's arm.
"What?" Emily smiled back.
Effy shook her head, and grabbed more antiseptic.
--
Katie's arm was again around Effy's waist, when Cook woke them up.
"Ef, Katie, guess wha - Woah."
Katie rose blearily.
"What the fuck, Cook?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"You were - " He paused.
"Yes?" Effy asked, her eyebrows raised.
"Nothing." He looked back out into the clearing. "Thomas is back. I told you, didn't I?"
Katie looked at Effy, grinning. She squeezed Effy's shoulder as she climbed out of the tent.
Before following her, Effy dug around in the pair of jeans strewn on the floor for her last cigarette, of her original pack. What a metaphor, she thought darkly.
Climbing out of the tent, Effy yawned.
"What time is it?"
"Half three," Cook replied.
Thomas was standing by the fire, wrapped in about seven blankets.
"Thomas." Effy nodded cautiously, not knowing how he'd react.
Nodding in response, Thomas went back to his noodles. She hadn't, in truth, expected him to come back.
Naomi had gotten up, which taken a while because she had to put clothes on gingerly over her arm. Emily stood sat beside her on a blanket. Katie motioned for Effy to sit beside her, giving her a warm smile.
"Right so, Thomas here said that the forest is crawling with those things, and - " Cook started.
"Not near here. Further in." Thomas mumbled.
"Yeah. So I reckon we should fucking get out of here. Because I don't know about you, but I'm sick of hiding and shit, yeah?"
"And where are we supposed to go? Leaving might be more dangerous," Naomi growled.
"Look, two of us have - "
"Shh. Radio." JJ was kneeling in front of the radio Naomi had picked up, carefully flicking the tuner.
" - this is a repeat message, broadcasted from police headquarters in London. An epidemic has decimated the population of England, leaving the infected in a state of homicidal bloodlust. We are urging people to stay in doors, and not to go out to look for friends and loved ones. Repeat, do not leave your homes, especially if you are safe and have supplies.
"The Prime Minister has been airlifted to America, where the threat of epidemic seems to have been subdued, due to early warning. We have - "
"Fucking hell. Of course the PM gets picked up in his helicopter, surrounded by armed guards. Never mind us, of course," Naomi huffed. Emily grinned at her.
" - a lot of Europe has been affected, including major cities in Spain and France. Recent reports have deemed parts of Ireland free from the infection. A government ferry is leaving Dover on the thirtieth of October, bound for a refugee camp set up by the UN, in northern France.
"Spaces are limited, measures will be taken to stop riots and violence. British armed forces have been stationed around the Dover harbour. Due to a lack of space, selecting will occur for ferry spaces. The elderly and infirm are unlikely to receive placings, we apologise for this. Again, a ferry will be leaving for a UN refugee camp in France, on the thirtieth of October. More details may be forthcoming, although - "
The radio broke into a wave of white noise. JJ fiddled around some more, but to no avail.
"So. A ferry, then? None of us are elderly or infirm, except Naomi here," Cook grinned.
After giving him the finger, Naomi rubbed her arm absentmindedly.
"That's our exit, though. Jay, how long would it take us to drive to Dover?"
JJ considered. "It depended on circumstances, but at a steady speed of fifty miles and hour... I'd say about three hours."
"We leave first thing in the morning then! Exciting, isn't it?" Cook rubbed his hands together.
"Maybe you should ask all of us, Cook, before we rush off and make decisions." Katie stated indignantly.
"Wait, wait. We should put it to a vote," Naomi glared at him. "Democracy, and all."
Cook shrugged. "Alright then, Naomikins. All in favour of staying here, being pussies?"
JJ raised his hands, before realising no one else was doing the same. He lowered it.
"And, all in favour of driving to Dover in the morning, getting over to France and being safer?" Naomi asked, slightly imperiously.
Everyone raised their hands, except Thomas.
"I do not like this. What about our families? They could be out, looking for us. You suggest just leaving, not thinking about them?"
Thomas's words struck home. Before now, everyone had carefully pushed aside thoughts of their families. It had been crucial to survive, to forget. Not one face in the clearing didn't show regret or guilt.
"They'd want us to get out, to survive. I know that." Naomi's eyebrows were drawn together, her voice hoarse.
"We can't just leave them in England, whilst we fuck off to France, Naomi -
"I'm not saying that we fuck off, Katie. I'm saying that knowing my mum, she'd want me to go and find a cure to this. And I don't know if you've noticed, but these woods aren't exactly the safest place in the world. Yeah, they were good to start with. But now we know what these things are, we can get out of here."
No one argued with her.
"Furthermore, the radio said Bristol had been affected. Its a big city, you know? It was just luck that we weren't in it when this thing started. Their chances are slim. And frankly, I don't want to lose any more of you."
Naomi's words trailed off. Emily's hand found it's way to hers.
--
Later, when Emily was curled up into Naomi's chest, listening to her heartbeat, she voiced what she had been feeling.
"I'll follow you," she whispered. "I'll go wherever you go, because you're as much my family as Katie now."
Naomi hummed, buried her cheek in Emily's dark red hair.
"You don't need to follow me, you'll be with me. Right beside, with that rifle of yours."
Emily beamed into Naomi's collarbone.
"Will there be time for us, after all this?"
Naomi breathed.
"There is always time."
Rating: M (language)
Length: 2570 words, approx.
Summary:
Blur the days,
sleep is not an option.
A Skins-themed apocalyptic story.
A/N: Second half of the Fifth part of This; Finality. Full author notes, in part 1 (see journal).
Not a very action-packed part, sorry kids. Next part up as soon as I can write it.
--
"JJ. First aid kit. The good one, from the house. Where?" Emily's voice cracked violently.
He spluttered something mostly incoherent.
"JJ. Where. Is. The. Fucking. Kit."
He turned, shocked at her tone.
"By the blue bag, next to Effy's tent."
Emily raced over, pulling it off the ground. Looking around, she sees Naomi sitting on a log, trying - and failing - to roll up her sleeve. Her eyes were less blank now, but her movements still slower than they should have been.
Kneeling in front of her, Emily roughly unzipped the bag and emptying its contents, before spotting an irrigation syringe and several bottles of codeine. Naomi held her sleeve above the wound, which was bleeding profusely.
"Jesus."
It was a dead-straight line, maybe half an inch thick, above the elbow joint. It ran without interruption most of the way across the outer side of Naomi's upper arm. A flaw in perfect skin, Emily decided. Grabbing scissors from the pack, she cut away the material
Emily ripped open a sterile pad and wiped the area just below the wound. She pressed the needle through the airtight packaging on the top of the codeine bottle.
"Nay. Naomi. Look at me." Looking up, Naomi eyed the syringe. "This is going to hurt, okay?"
"Do you know how to do it?"
Emily nodded. "I took a first aid class, a few years back. Never thought I'd use it for this, though."
Naomi clenched her jaw, and looked away.
Emily never had a big fear of needles, that had always been Katie. Injecting her girlfriend though, was different. Emily had to force herself to stop shaking, and take a deep breath.
Naomi hissed as the needle pierced her skin, Emily couldn't help but mutter a small apology. She pushed down on the plunger until all of the clear liquid was in Naomi's arm.
"That should kick in in a few minutes. JJ knows about this stuff, I'll ask him what we can do once we stop it bleeding."
Emily took a thick bandage out from the pack, and began wrapping it round above Naomi's wound, tightly. Taking a swig from the water bottle next to her, she offered Naomi some, who gulped half of it down. Pouring the rest onto a cotton sling, Emily wiped away the congealed blood on Naomi's arm.
They sat for a while, in silence. The forest around them was alive with noise and movement.
"Any better?"
"Slightly. The painkiller's taking effect, I think." Naomi smiled slightly. "That was impressive, just then."
"So glad I listened in that class. Just luck that you weren't in it, really. I wouldn't have learnt a thing," Emily beamed.
--
Effy felt nothing, for what seemed like hours after Thomas left.
Then she felt arms around her waist; soft, saw they were leopard-printed. Effy felt Katie's cheek pressing into her back, heard her quickened breathing. The contact was too much, it was far, far too soon for that -
Effy sprang away, leaving Katie kneeling on the leaves.
"Please, Katie," her eyes wide, voice broken. "It's - I can't - "
"It's okay.
"Panda, Katie! And Cook," Effy shook. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be her best friend."
"Just drinks and sausages, wasn't it?" Katie murmured.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't meant - "
"I know," Katie said simply. "You know where I am, yeah?"
Effy nodded, before taking off towards the stream.
Katie watched her leave, unsure of what she was feeling.
--
"I'm sorry JJ, what did you say?" Emily half-whispered, stepping closer to him.
"Panda - I tried, well, we all did, but - " He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "But now she's gone, and Thomas took her - "
Emily lungs forgot to breathe, her airways were welded shut. Naomi had her good arm on her knees, hiding her face.
"God - not her.. it's too much, I can't do this," she managed to eke out.
"Sorry, I'm sorry - we didn't mean, you were supposed to - " JJ's shoulders were hunched, his form wracked with sobs.
"We can't let this keep going. We've got to leave, we can't stay - " Emily began, before she felt a hand in hers, and stopped.
Naomi knows, she thought. She already knows what's going to happen. Already believes in her.
--
"It's probably going to have to be stitched." JJ said, as quietly as possible.
Naomi's stomach dropped. "Fuck, are you serious?"
JJ nodded. "It's stopped bleeding now, but thats an open wound. It could get infected, and you could get streptococcus or an infection of some kind, then the only way of fixing it would be to amputate it, which is extremely impractical, because we don't have any - "
"JJ, stop. How would we stitch it? We don't have any needles or thread." Emily said, partly to herself.
"Christ. We are talking about putting more sharp things into me, Emily."
"I brought along my sewing kit." JJ stated, nervously.
"Um... why? If you don't mind me asking." Emily inquired.
"Well, its good for patching up holes in clothing, and tarpaulin. I brought along extra-heavy duty nylon for the tents, along with a good selection of needles. My mum said it'd be a good idea."
"Well, that settles it then. I like your arm, Nay. It's better to do this, than losing it."
Naomi swallowed. "I'll need more of that painkiller, please. But alright, I like this arm too."
"Later then, once we've eaten. I'd rather not do it around Katie, she might like, pass out." Emily said, with a grim smile..
--
They sat around the fire, no one talking, besides JJ. He'd found some salt to put with the noodles, making them marginally less bland.
" Because, you know, on a cooking course I went to, the instructor said that salt always makes a good meal great. And, well, I'm not saying this wasn't a good meal to start with, because it really wasn't, but I have to say, that - "
"Shut it, Jay," Naomi grumbled tiredly.
Effy was sitting next to Katie on a log, with Naomi and Emily sitting across from them. JJ sat in the middle, and the forest was all around. With only five bodies around the fire, their camp seemed impossibly quiet and empty.
Every time the wind made a sound through the trees, everyone reacted. They made a grab for weapons that weren't far from reach. No one wanted to sleep, even though it was gone eleven; far later than they had previously been going to bed.
Effy heard the rustling behind her, didn't have the energy to react in time.
"Jesus, it's fucking good to see you, yeah?"
Cook was standing behind her, his shotgun bent over his shoulder. He was covered in small scratches and welts, as well having a very, very ripped shirt.
"Cook!" Emily jumped up.
"Hey hey!" Cook grinned confidently. Even Katie gave him a hug, albeit a rather short one.
"Did you see Thomas, on your way?" Naomi asked him quietly.
"No, why? Where is he?" Looking around, he added, "and Panda?"
When no one answered, Effy did.
"She's gone, Cook."
"What, like. Gone, gone?" His eyes burned into Effy's.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"Fucking hell. When?"
"Just before we got back," Emily replied.
"She was - " Cook shook his head, covering his mouth with his hands. "Fuck." He took a breath.
"So where's Thomas?"
"He left, with her. A few hours ago."
Cook paused, considering, before sighing again.
"I didn't see him," Cook sighed. "Sorry lads. But you know our Thomas. He's a slugger, he'll be back soon. I'm sure of it."
--
Emily gave Naomi's arm two more shots of codeine before retrieving JJ's sewing kit from his bag. The first one hadn't really worn off from the first syringe. Naomi was amusing herself flicking her arm, hardly able to feel it. She was chuckling. but as soon as Emily began threading a needle, her smile dropped.
"Not looking forward to this, Emily Fitch."
"Sorry, Campbell. No two ways about it."
Naomi let out a long, drawn out breath. Emily shivered.
They were sitting on a blanket, slightly away from the others. Naomi had her left arm towards the fire, to allow Emily to see better. The wound had been disinfected again, and it had started bleeding gently.
Emily shuffled closer, her hands trembling slightly has she lifted Naomi's sleeve.
The deep gash was a dark red, blooming. The skin around it was slightly inflamed, and tender.
"We're sure about this?" Emily gulped.
"Fuck yes. I told you, I like this arm. I won't be able to feel it, anyway. Do it, before it wears off." Naomi gritted her teeth.
Emily wiped more leaking blood from around the wound, realised she didn't have four hands.
Looking back at the group, she called to Effy.
"Can you help me with his? You're probably the least likely to vomit or faint."
Effy nodded and sat to Naomi's side, grabbed a bunch of cotton pads and wipes.
"Just... hold them below the - yeah, like that."
Emily expected Naomi to flinch, to react in some way when she put the needle through the first time.
"Hurt?"
"I can kind of feel it. No, it doesn't hurt. Carry on."
Emily was very aware of Naomi's hand on her knee, rubbing small circles with the tip of her index finger.
Effy was wearing her characteristic smirk when Emily next looked away from Naomi's arm.
"What?" Emily smiled back.
Effy shook her head, and grabbed more antiseptic.
--
Katie's arm was again around Effy's waist, when Cook woke them up.
"Ef, Katie, guess wha - Woah."
Katie rose blearily.
"What the fuck, Cook?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"You were - " He paused.
"Yes?" Effy asked, her eyebrows raised.
"Nothing." He looked back out into the clearing. "Thomas is back. I told you, didn't I?"
Katie looked at Effy, grinning. She squeezed Effy's shoulder as she climbed out of the tent.
Before following her, Effy dug around in the pair of jeans strewn on the floor for her last cigarette, of her original pack. What a metaphor, she thought darkly.
Climbing out of the tent, Effy yawned.
"What time is it?"
"Half three," Cook replied.
Thomas was standing by the fire, wrapped in about seven blankets.
"Thomas." Effy nodded cautiously, not knowing how he'd react.
Nodding in response, Thomas went back to his noodles. She hadn't, in truth, expected him to come back.
Naomi had gotten up, which taken a while because she had to put clothes on gingerly over her arm. Emily stood sat beside her on a blanket. Katie motioned for Effy to sit beside her, giving her a warm smile.
"Right so, Thomas here said that the forest is crawling with those things, and - " Cook started.
"Not near here. Further in." Thomas mumbled.
"Yeah. So I reckon we should fucking get out of here. Because I don't know about you, but I'm sick of hiding and shit, yeah?"
"And where are we supposed to go? Leaving might be more dangerous," Naomi growled.
"Look, two of us have - "
"Shh. Radio." JJ was kneeling in front of the radio Naomi had picked up, carefully flicking the tuner.
" - this is a repeat message, broadcasted from police headquarters in London. An epidemic has decimated the population of England, leaving the infected in a state of homicidal bloodlust. We are urging people to stay in doors, and not to go out to look for friends and loved ones. Repeat, do not leave your homes, especially if you are safe and have supplies.
"The Prime Minister has been airlifted to America, where the threat of epidemic seems to have been subdued, due to early warning. We have - "
"Fucking hell. Of course the PM gets picked up in his helicopter, surrounded by armed guards. Never mind us, of course," Naomi huffed. Emily grinned at her.
" - a lot of Europe has been affected, including major cities in Spain and France. Recent reports have deemed parts of Ireland free from the infection. A government ferry is leaving Dover on the thirtieth of October, bound for a refugee camp set up by the UN, in northern France.
"Spaces are limited, measures will be taken to stop riots and violence. British armed forces have been stationed around the Dover harbour. Due to a lack of space, selecting will occur for ferry spaces. The elderly and infirm are unlikely to receive placings, we apologise for this. Again, a ferry will be leaving for a UN refugee camp in France, on the thirtieth of October. More details may be forthcoming, although - "
The radio broke into a wave of white noise. JJ fiddled around some more, but to no avail.
"So. A ferry, then? None of us are elderly or infirm, except Naomi here," Cook grinned.
After giving him the finger, Naomi rubbed her arm absentmindedly.
"That's our exit, though. Jay, how long would it take us to drive to Dover?"
JJ considered. "It depended on circumstances, but at a steady speed of fifty miles and hour... I'd say about three hours."
"We leave first thing in the morning then! Exciting, isn't it?" Cook rubbed his hands together.
"Maybe you should ask all of us, Cook, before we rush off and make decisions." Katie stated indignantly.
"Wait, wait. We should put it to a vote," Naomi glared at him. "Democracy, and all."
Cook shrugged. "Alright then, Naomikins. All in favour of staying here, being pussies?"
JJ raised his hands, before realising no one else was doing the same. He lowered it.
"And, all in favour of driving to Dover in the morning, getting over to France and being safer?" Naomi asked, slightly imperiously.
Everyone raised their hands, except Thomas.
"I do not like this. What about our families? They could be out, looking for us. You suggest just leaving, not thinking about them?"
Thomas's words struck home. Before now, everyone had carefully pushed aside thoughts of their families. It had been crucial to survive, to forget. Not one face in the clearing didn't show regret or guilt.
"They'd want us to get out, to survive. I know that." Naomi's eyebrows were drawn together, her voice hoarse.
"We can't just leave them in England, whilst we fuck off to France, Naomi -
"I'm not saying that we fuck off, Katie. I'm saying that knowing my mum, she'd want me to go and find a cure to this. And I don't know if you've noticed, but these woods aren't exactly the safest place in the world. Yeah, they were good to start with. But now we know what these things are, we can get out of here."
No one argued with her.
"Furthermore, the radio said Bristol had been affected. Its a big city, you know? It was just luck that we weren't in it when this thing started. Their chances are slim. And frankly, I don't want to lose any more of you."
Naomi's words trailed off. Emily's hand found it's way to hers.
--
Later, when Emily was curled up into Naomi's chest, listening to her heartbeat, she voiced what she had been feeling.
"I'll follow you," she whispered. "I'll go wherever you go, because you're as much my family as Katie now."
Naomi hummed, buried her cheek in Emily's dark red hair.
"You don't need to follow me, you'll be with me. Right beside, with that rifle of yours."
Emily beamed into Naomi's collarbone.
"Will there be time for us, after all this?"
Naomi breathed.
"There is always time."