[center][b]Finn Loughty // Nicole Brenn - Leaving Mall Parking Lot - Nathalie Soltero [@wolverbells] [/b][/center]



    Nicole felt as if she saw fireflies bringing light into a dark cave as Nathalie put her hand on her shoulder. She believed that dark cave was her and her brother's lives. She had such a kind soul and pure intentions that Nicole believed she was an angel from heaven that was sent to be help them out and perhaps be their friend. But many thing go on in a fifteen year-old girl's head. Too many thoughts to keep track of, including her brother's which tried to invade her moment of hope. [i]“Don’t get too close to people, Nic,"[/i] Finn told her one cold day over the crackling of a fire. [i]"They are either going to betray you or die because of a damn walker and you will never again be the same.” [/i] He told her this once upon a time when someone very close to them had passed away. After the incident, Finn didn’t talk for days and just like he prophesied, hadn’t been the same ever since. She didn't remember the last time she ever heard him laugh after hearing him today. Nicole shooed that thought away like a fly. She [i]wasn’t[/i] Finn and she wasn’t going to push something good away just because the world had decided to turn upside down. 

    Little did she know, but she shared the same sentiments as Nat - a longing for family. Memories that she had barricaded away for so long began to resurface. Flashbacks of when life when it was ordinary resurfaced to her mind. She remembered when step-father would take her out to their weekly movie dates. Her mother always had delicious plate food waiting for her when she arrived home from soccer practice. How could the world change so much and so fast? Tears threatened to come up and spill over but she was smarter than that. Holding them back and clearing her throat, she fixed her focus back on Nat, imagining the pain she must be going through. “I really, really hope you see them again soon. ”

   Detecting her brother’s hasty footsteps coming over, she took a tiny step back and smiled at her as if to leave that special moment just between them two. Returning the pack to Nicole, Finn frowned slightly as Nathalie refused his gift. He knew she was being genuine about not wanting it but he hoped that she knew he wasn’t going to back down. Even if it took stuffing it in her bag while she was sleeping, he was going to find a way.

[b]“Um, if y’all don’t mind I would truly love to just take a nap without having to constantly wake up to look over my shoulder.”[/b]  

“Of course! You can sleep on my cot. It’s not much but it’s comfortable,” Nicole said, keeping her voice hushed. Her eyes were sparkling like a kid at Christmas. She adored her brother but she also dearly craved the companionship of another girl who understood some of the things that only girls go through. “We have a place up in the trees that Finn just finished building. I think you’re gonna like it. You know, he used to work in construction before everything went down. He was real good too.”

   Finn remained quiet, listening in to their conversation as he led them to the exit of the mall into the spacious parking lot, trudging away with walkers. He didn’t like to reminisce about his past life or the people he was close to back then. It dredged up aching memories that he would rather store away in a cellar and never look inside. In comes Nicole and her words of hope and her rose-colored glasses, telling stories of their past lives and people they’ve loved as if it was the only thing that linked her back to normalcy. 

   His ready fingers tapped on his machete as he fixtated his eyes on his truck which stood a few hundred yards away, camouflaged behind a dense pack of trees. He crouched behind the building and turned to look at Nat, his voice just above a whisper. “We’ve got a truck over there behind some trees,” he said, pointing straight at the forest. “Hoping no one has found yet and taken it for a spin, we’ll hop in there and get the hell out of here.” 

    All the commotion in the parking lot earlier had slowly but surely brought a whole company of walkers over, making it even more difficult to leave. He led them near the gift shop where they first met, and guided them to go behind the buildings. They were still about a hundred yards off from the truck, poking out from among the trees. After taking a peak, he informed them that there were a few walkers roaming about there, but there were a little ways off and if they moved fast, they wouldn’t have to bother with them. But Finn had sorely miscalculated.There seemed to appear more and more as if out of thin air. He sliced the head off of one of them that started to get too close. 

     Throwing the car keys to Nat because Nicole didn’t yet know how to drive, he said, “Keep going and I will meet you both there. Nicole will show you where the truck is.” The extra weight from the supplies and his dangerously low energy was catching up to him fast. Sweat trickled down his temples as he attempted to plunge his machete into every one of their heads, letting out a curse word every time he did. He managed to take second to breathe before going in after them again. There were too many to take on. Even if Nat and Nicole helped him out, it would be a big risk and he would rather have them alive. “I will hold ‘em here!" He promised as he stared at Nicole, who's face was frozen in fear because she didn't want to leave her brother. "Nicole! Go, now!" Finn said, furious this time around.