Without a Whisper //Danger Days//

20. Two Worlds

"What the fuck..."

He cut himself off before vomiting all over the sidewalk. Korse seemed a little green in the face as well, but he managed to hold it together. Lola, on the other hand, was completely fine.

"You've been living in radiation for years. You need to adjust to air." The creature explained calmly. Val wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket before taking a few deep breaths.

"I can get used to this." He exhaled, regaining his posture.

The trio began walking deeper into the city, with Lola in the lead. Val didn't know how he managed to trust this thing so easily. It did just drop him off with a homicidal maniac and transport them across the country.

He was shocked that there was life outside of the desert. It was like being a kid going to Disneyland for the first time ever. The abandoned buildings seemed like a wonderland. Eventually the city began to wind down, and the group reached what looked like a suburban street. Houses lined the cracking road, and it looked like there was life in the area.

Without anyone realizing it, Lola had disappeared.

"Damnit, not again." Korse hissed.

"Do they do that often?" Val asked as they approached this new area.

"Yeah, but it's always at the worst times." Korse muttered, clearly disappointed.

Val saw somebody leave one of the houses, but instead of jumping to defend himself, he called out to the person.

"Hey! Excuse me!" Val waved his arm in the air. The person seemed startled before running back into the house. A few minutes later, they returned with company, all armed.

"Who are you?" A man with very curly hair yelled back.

"I'm looking for a group of idiots and a girl named Atomic!" Val responded. The pack of strangers put their weapons away and broke into a jog towards them.

There were four of them. A girl with dusty blonde hair seemed very worried to see Val and Korse in their presence, and a taller man with long black hair was downright unimpressed.

"What the hell? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be out here? How did you get here in the first place?" The one with the curly hair scolded in a hushed voice. Val and Korse looked at each other before looking back. 

"Look, we don't mean any harm, we just need to find these people." Korse spoke up.

"You do know who we're talking about, right?" Val asked, scanning the group. A slightly older man with shaggy brown hair let out a hoarse laugh.

"You mean those fucking Killjoys we picked up on the side of the road? They're probably long gone."

Something about that man's thick British accent sent something familiar off in Val's brain.

"Wait, I know you." He narrowed his eyes at the man, who seemed shocked.

"You're from London, yeah?" Val questioned him, certain that he knew the guy.

"Wait a minute, it's you!" The mans expression changed to one of cheeriness.

"Murdock Winton, I can't believe it!" Val laughed, giving the man a firm hug.

The man used to be his next door neighbor when Val was much younger. Murdock hated kids, but he always had a soft spot for the neighbourhood's local bastard.

"This kid was one of fucking worst kids I've ever met in my life!" Murdock cackled, his arm wrapped around the side of the now much taller boy.

"God, you were such a little twat." He teased, ruffling the boy's hair.

"Val, what's going on?" Korse whispered, clearly uncomfortable.

"Val!" Murdock scoffed.

"That's what they're calling you now!"

Val rolled his eyes, a small smile on his face. It was like Christmas dinner with his unknown relatives all over again.

"Yeah, it just works." He shrugged. Murdock gave him a harsh pat on the back before returning to his group.

"I don't care what this kid needs, we're helping him." Murdock declared.

"Amsterdam, is this a good idea?" The blonde asked the man with the curly hair, who also seemed a bit shocked.

"I mean, if Murdock trusts him, then so do I."  He shrugged, causing the quiet of the four to laugh.

"Oh, so we're trusting Murdock now, huh?" He put his hands on his hips.

That's when they were interrupted by three more guests. A young girl came running towards the group, followed by what looked to be her older sister and a woman with a dark red scarf over her head.

"What's this?" She demanded after she reached the group.

"Saida, this is Val and uh..." Amsterdam stopped as he looked over at the bald man.

"Korse." He let out a bitter looking smile.

Saida had heard that little name before, over Dr. Death's radio station.

"So, you've got a mass murderer and some puny looking white boy, both from the Zones." She bit the inside of her cheek, clearly not impressed.

"If I may," Korse stepped forward.

"Yes, I killed a lot of people, and yes, a lot of people want to see my head on a stick, but that was the old Korse. It was this whole brainwashing thing. I only want to help."

Saida narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms.

"Your friends are gone. I made them leave. I don't want to have your type around here."

Val was the next to speak.

"Look, we need them to come back home. We've got a dangerous situation back at Better Living Industries. I've lost a child in there, and we need them to help me get her back. Do you have any idea where they might be?"

The younger girl tugged on Saida's sleeve.

"What if they took them?" She asked, her voice was barely a whisper. Saida really didn't know how to answer that question. Linnea had grown fond of the visitors.

"Who's they?" Val glanced back into the city.

"Nothing we can't take care of." Murdock reassured the group, who seemed to tense up a bit.

"I don't want them to die." Linnea's lip quivered. The older, quiet girl put her hand on the child's shoulder.

"Hold on, they could be dead?" Val's eyes widened, granting him a chorus of "no, they couldn't possibly!"

But now Val was uncertain. Lola did say that they were in danger.

"Whoever they is, we need to check there first. I have a feeling that's where they'll be."

The group exchanged a few looks within themselves, before Amsterdam nodded.

"Okay, we'll help you. Saida?" He turned to the woman, who's face seemed sharp with uncertainty.

"I'll come, but only if it means getting them out of here. I don't want them to cause any more problems for us." She agreed, causing everyone to sigh in relief.

"Let's get going then!" The blonde chirped, trying to lighten the mood as they headed back to the city.