the quotation marks on my computer are fcked so its gonna look like ¨ instead srry folks

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After the two made up, Zayn was the first to speak.

¨So, what did you need my help for again?¨ He spoke with a cocky smirk, pulling away from his hug with Niall.

¨Finding Milly. She lived and worked with me when Harry was still around. I found her when i went back to Crimson Cove but only had spoke to her for a small amount of time.¨ Niall explained once again.

¨Why did you only speak to her shortly?¨ Zayn asked, a bit confused.

¨Well, she had to use the restroom, and when i tried to warn her about the berries she was picking, she was gone.¨ Niall recalled, shrugging a bit.

¨So, she either flushed herself down the toilet," He half joked, " Or, i think she might have been taken."

¨Or she made a run for it." Zayn suggested a bit solemnly, not wanting to upset Niall.

Niall was silent, knowing Liam had told him the same thing earlier.

"Do you know where she could've gone?" He gently asked.

"She mentioned the Grove," Niall spoke up, "But Liam said it was fifty miles from here."

"Yea, i dont think shes there," Zayn began, "What kind of berries was she picking?"

"Blood  blitz, but she thought they were bear berries." Niall quickly responded, a smile growing on his face.

"I wouldn't underestimate her, she must've known the berries were blood blitz," Zayn muttered to himself, beginning to think, "I think i might know someone who can help us."

Niall beamed; he knew Zayn could help them, after all, Zayn was the smartest person he knew. Besides Liam, but Niall doesn't count the AI.

"Who are we going to?" Niall asked, trailing behind Zayn as he began to walk. Liam noticed their movement and joined in.

"It's a surprise, cookie." Zayn mused, liking to tease his boy.

"I hate surprises, now tell me." Niall fake pouted, crossing his arms impatiently.

"You'll see once we get there." Zayn responded.

"Fine," Niall sighed, mumbling a little, "Thanks for helping me."

"What?" Zayn asked, even though he'd heard Niall the first time.

"Oh, i just said i really liked that tree." Niall shrugged, trying to play it off.

"No, i think i heard something like 'Thanks for helping me'", Zayn smirked, "And a little bit of 'I owe you my life.'"

"You know, i had a feeling you heard me anyways, so thats why i didn't repeat myself." Niall rolled his eyes, happy to be annoyed again.

Zayn just shook his head, a small smile on his lips.

~*~

Zayn banged on the door of an old train car just outside a subway station.

"Open up, i know you're in there!" He growled, banging once more.

It was silent besides the sounds of his banging echoing through the building.

"Dont make me rip this door off, Nine!" He continued his threats, prepping his gun to shoot off the hinges.

It took one bullet to hit the door for the owner to respond.

"What do you want, Z?" The person responded, annoyed and angered.

Niall oddly recognized the voice, trying to think back to where he heard it first.

"If you come out here and stop hiding like a little bitch, ill tell you."

Niall suppressed a laugh, feeling embarrassed for 'Nine'.

"Who's with you?" The voice turned suspicious, detecting another presence.

"My group," Zayn responded without missing a beat, "We wont hurt you unless you make us."

The voice let out a dry chuckle, "Why should i open it for you and gang of pansies?"

  "We dont have time for this bullshit. Open the fucking door, now." Zayn raised his voice, banging once again.  

"Piss off, you and your new group."  The voice turned a bit sour.

"Well, what the fuck did you expect?" Zayn hissed, "Stay with you? After you left me in a mall full of ghouls to fend for myself?"

He took a deep breath to calm himself, "You owe it to me, Nine. You left me to die."

There was silence on the other side of the door, until the clicks of unlocking rang out.

Niall released the breath he was holding, glad to be making progress.

The owner of the voice was a middle aged man with an eye patch, and a long, curly beard. His belly hung over his pants, but he looked to be muscular.

His brown eyes scanned over Niall and Liam uneasily, then rested on Zayn.

"What do you want?" He repeated from earlier, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

"I wanna know where you've been getting your blood blitz from." Zayn responds, looking him in his single eye.

"I pick them myself." He squinted his eyes.

"Let me repeat myself, i want to know who you've been getting those berries from."

"Let me repeat myself, i pick them myself." He growled.

"Dont lie to me. I know damn well you do not pick those berries yourself, i've seen you trade for them." Zayn called him out, growing aggravated.

Nine shook his head, "Im not snitching."

Zayn scanned the room, looking for something to use against Nine, but came up empty.

"Im not playing games with you," Zayn began in a low, steady voice, "Who the fuck gave you those berries."

Nine was silent.

"I will give multiple choice options for him to choose from," Liam began, "Common traders for blood blitz come up as Milly Evergreen, Joseph Saline-"

Nine stared at Liam for a second, "Where is the nearest gas station?"

"The nearest gas station is starfish gas inc., located two miles from here." Liam responded, pointing to the direction of travel.

Nine mused, "I'll tell you everything i know if i can have him as a trade."

"Deal-"

"No!" Niall interrupted, "Not Liam!"

He had to think fast, "We have Lea, shes just like him but a girl. We'll give you her."

"But she isnt here, how do i know you're not bullshitting me?" Nine narrowed his eyebrows.

"I promise shes around! Liam, how far is Lea?" Niall asked desperately.

Since Liam and Lea were the same make, and together for so long, he knew exactly how to track her. "Five point four miles."

"We'll get her to you, now, tell me who you've been getting the berries from." Zayn said.

"When we were in the mall together, i looted diamonds from the shop to trade with her as she requested. We met up at the Johnson's public school downtown. She ended up scamming me, taking the berries, diamonds, and my eye."  He explained.

Niall was a bit shocked, since this didn't sound like Milly.

But, he learned to always have his guard up, since it's unpredictable in the wastelands. It's something that's taken him a while to achieve.

Zayn nodded, exiting the cart.

"Liam, give me directions to the Johnsons public school."

And with that, they were off
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Okay friends we're getting closer to the build up, I'm trying to tie up some loose ends.

Have a good night! 💖💖

Also, check out my book Hell fun park! It's going to be so good dudes SO CREEPY IM SO PUMPED!

Unedited