Englishdude

Part 1:

She opened her eyes slowly. Darkness surrounded her. Memories of the past few months filled her head. She hated always remembering. Suddenly she felt the blinding pain. She realized, she wasnt where she had been last night. What had happened? Something in the corner of the small room moved.

"Whose there?" said Miriam.

"Don't move" said the thing.
She obeyed only because she didnt think she could.

"Who are you? Where am I?...ouch." she said twisting slightly on the bed to get a better view. It was a girl she didn't look that old. Maybe 15.

"Hi I am Becky. You're at the mall, wwe saw you get hit by the Locos' car." Becky said kindly.

"Whose we?" Miriam asked, getting up slowly and gasping due to the pain.

"Ummm.... I don't think we have a name yet." Said Becky, as if shocked she didn't know.

"Well help me up and take me to the we, you are talking about, so I can find out who they are." She didn't want to sound mean, but pain and confusion made her angry, always
had.

"Ok" Becky moved slowly from the corner across the room to the bed and helped Miriam get onto her feet.
Miriam was surprised for such a young looking girl she could sure lift a weight. Miriam hadn't seen any scales lately so she wasn't sure she was a weight. They ambled out the door into the main room of the mall.

"I just don't see why we should have helped her. The Locos' never like to leave anything unfinished." Said Lex. He was almost boiling with anger. He hated being second best to what he saw as a wimp and a loner. He also hated saving someone else if it meant putting him in danger.

"Lex would you rather she died? Huh, would you?" said Bray as forcefully as he could without pushing Lex over the edge. He hated the conflict between them. But if thats the way it had to be then thats the way it had to be.
Lex said nothing both of them knew Bray was right. Lex suddenly noticed Becky and the girl who they had been arguing about standing at the door. She didn't look too good. Stupid Locos they always ruined things mainly lives.

"Ummm..I can go if you want me to." she said. She didn't want to leave really she didn't. This place felt safe.

"Don't, its just Lex ignore him. He's just worried about himself. Please sit down." Bray said indicating the chairs.
Both Bray and Lex watched as she left Becky's side, and slowly but surely made her way to a chair. When she sat down they both released the breathe they had been holding.

"Hey, everyone get in here I want you to meet someone!" Lex yelled.
There was a shuffling noise and a few people appeared, she didn't know how, but Miriam felt that there were more people watching than just the one's she saw.

"Hi, I am Miriam, as you can probably tell I am British." She said as surely as she could trying to sound more confident than she felt.
There was a collective hi! and then suddenly everything went black."So how is she?" Asked Amber. She didn't really care she just wanted to know if she could trust this new girl.
"Ummmm...I gave her some herbal tea. It seems to be working. We shouldn't have moved her." Tai-San said.
"Told you so. But no Mr I am gonna save everyone, had to move her to 'safety' are you feelin dumb?" Lex said viscously, to prove his point.
"Look like you said the Locos' never like to leave anything unfinished. If we had left her there she would be dead." Bray said bluntly.
"Boys, boys whats done is done. Shes here now and all we can do is help."Said Trudy. 'Voice of reason' she thought. She almost laughed an hour ago she had been singing to a different tune.
Everyone looked at Trudy in disbelief. Was this the same person, who had been yelling her head off saying she was a danger and that they should throw her out.
"Look who's talking. I am right in saying you were the one who..." Lex stopped short, the look she gave him shut him up straight away.
"Come on you guys. How are we gonna tell if shes her to fight us, if we're fighting among ourselves." Said Salene. Hoping she could shut them all up.
"Salenes right. We need to know what her intentions are" Zandra said.
Becky sat there, her mouth open wide. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Come on guys, who do you think she is? A Loco? I mean really her take on all of us. I doubt she could of done that before she collasped and now she is bed ridden. She is probably looking for a safe place to stay, like the rest of us." Said Becky.How could they judge her? Miriam was exactly like all of tham a couple of months ago. Alone and scared.
"Yeah, Beckys right, she isn't a threat to us." Zandria always sided with Becky, because Becky was nearly always right. Plus Zandria had a feeling she could take her. Before the virus people had always thought she was a fighter. She didn't know why maybe she blended into the night, with her long black hair, plus she was quite slim. The only thing that gave her nature away was her eyes, they always seemed to be smiling. They were green. Just as long as people didn't mess with her she was happy.
"Ok, so you're right, but still we should be careful just in case." Said Jon. He was always practical, just like his clothes which were usually blue, but were black today. He didn't wear anything couldn't do anything in. He was quite young and was like the counterpart of Bray. With his blue eyes and brown hair, and his voice of reason.
"Ok, so we watch and in the mean time make her feel welcome."Bray said.
"What if the Locos come looking?" Lex asked.
"We do are best." Said Amber.
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Part 2:

Somewhere on the border of the city, someone was moving through the streets, from shadow to shadow. The person was watching a bunch of Loco guards, beat a girl. The person suddenly decided they weren't going to stand for it. They dropped the long black overcoat and bag, picked up a staff and ran at the guards.
Why were they doing this? All she had done was ask if they had food. She screamed as one of her ribs were broken by a well aimed foot. She almost collasped in pain, but she forced herself to stay awake she needed to get away.
Then suddenly they were running away, as one of them fell to the ground, writhing in pain. What had happened? What was going on?
"Hi I am Midnight Wanderer. Pleased to meet you." MW held out her hand to help the girl to her feet. She hoped she didn't look scary some say she did with her stern face, but she had soft features. She had green eyes, streaked blonde brown hair which was pulled back into a ponytail.
The took her hand and pulled herself ontot her feet.
"Hi, I am Rhiannon. Why did you help me?" She asked.
"You looked like you could use a hand." Said MW. Which was mainly true, but her apperance voiced a different opinion.
Rhiannon had long brown/red hair with purple tips, she had grey eyes and looked like a fighter, so why hadn't she fought back.
"Do you know a safe place to stay?" asked MW.
"Yeah, the Mall, but it will take us two hours to get there." Rhiannon said.
"So we will rest here for tonight and carry on in the morning. Yes?" MW didn't want to presume the girl was weak.
"Ok." She said.
The two girls found a abandoned shop and settled down for the night.
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Part 3:

"So what do you reackon Bray wants" said a tall fair haired, blue eyed 17 year old girl who went by the name of Aileen.
"I don't know, I am not Brays keeper." Said Jenz (OceanSea). She had brown hair with blonde streaks and dark blue eyes, she was 16.
"Yeah, but we all know who is." Said Andi giggling slightly. She was 15. She was rather like Amber who shehad been talking about. She had her hair in Zulu Knots, but they were redish brown, her hair also had orange and purple streaks in it. The strangest feature of all was, she had three small dots on her left cheek that made a triangle.
"No, she isn't" said Bray. Coming into the cafe with a smile on his face.
"So, what do you want slave?" Said Jenz, bursting into hysterics.
"Look can we be serious?" Bray both asked and commanded.
"Yeah, sure Bray whats up?" Said Andi, immediately turning serious.
"Well, its about the new girl Miriam, no-one trusts her,...and well I don't either. So we...I mean I have decided that you three should be the ones to watch her. So what do you think?" Bray said.
"Well I am in" Said Aileen. She wanted something to do.
"I don't know when you said 'we' did you mean Amber. She keeping you on a short leash. Oh, ok I'll do it, just don't give me the puppy dog look." Said Jenz. She couldn't handle Bray's manipulative side, she always caved in.
"Andi, what about you?" Said Aileen.
"Ok, but only for a while. I give it two weeks, we won't find anything." She didn't know why but she trusted Miriam.
"Good. I am glad you agreed, are you going to start now" He said looking towards Miriam's room.
"Why?" Said all three in unison. The room was dark, you know that dark black that seems to form shapes. The windows were boarded up, the only source of light was the shifting shafts of light that slipped through the gaps, that were cast by the moon. Zoot sat still and calm his eyes closed, he was taking everything in. Wating, waiting for his trusted to return.
The door opened, slow lazy yellow light filled the room. Ebony's shadow was cast pver Zoots face. He opened his eyes, registered who it was and smiled.
"It's time." Was all he said.
She smiled back and closed the door, sending the room into darkness once again.
FLASHBACK
=========
Zoot, Ebony and the rest of the Locos stood on the edge of the tree village clearing, it was one in the morning or there abouts. The only light came from the stars. 'New moon' thought Zoot, since Ebony had joined a new era had taken over the Locos. Zoot had been pleased enough to grant Ebony's revenge. She hadn't told him much, but it involved destroying things and he knew his tribe loved to do it. 'Well, no time like the present' He nodded to everyone. They lit there torches, and threw them at the huts and the forest floor. They scattered and headed for HQ as he had instructed.

Miriam woke up, she smelt smoke. She sat up and looked to her left. She shook Justin till he was awake.
"Something's on fire, we need to get everyone up." She said urgently.
He immediately sat up and ran out, shouting to get everyone up. Miriam ran out after him. People were already up, out and leaving the village. Miriam met Justin on the forest floor. They turned towards Rhiannons hut as they heard screaming.
Justin ran in, Rhiannon was shoved out the window, Sophie and MW helped her to safety. Suddenly the roof caved in on the side of the window. The door was blocked by fire and there was one single scream and then silence.
"Justin!" Miriam screamed, running toward the burning hut. She was grabbed.
"He's gone, we have to leave before we die too." Said Tim.
She struggled free as he ran with the rest of her tribe. She collasped on the floor in hysterics.
"Justin" She whispered, before she was knocked out by a falling branch, and was covered.
BACK TO THE MALL
================

The rest of the Mallrats had stayed in the cafe and were still there. They were asking the ex-freedom members what there tribe was like, how they had gotten into it etc.
Everyone was relaxed and no-one expected the sudden 'CRASH!" The front door had been smashed. There was the thunder of lots of feet.
"Mallrats, oh Mallrats come out come out, wherever you are." Taunted a voice.
Everyone ran to the stairs.
"No" Whispered Sophia.
The Locos were in the Mall and Zoot was standing in front of the Phoenix statue wearing a evil grin.
"Oh there you are." He said.
_____________________________________________
"Because, it seems there is an argument beginning." Bray said starting to walk towards the room.

About five minutes earlier Lex had walked into Miriam's room.
"Knock, knock" Lex said.
"Oh its you" Saod Miriam. Not looking up from her book. In the few days she had know Lex he hadn't made an effort to like her so why should she bother.
"What you doing?" Said Lex. Knowing you wanted an argument made it that little bit harder to start it.
"Ummm...ok are you blind, or what? You can see I am reading, right?" She said with a smile of disbelief.
Lex thought that had that been a real smile she would have looked prettier, except for all the bruises. She had auburn hair that shone in the candle light (not that he had noticed) and green eyes, he had heard some where that the Celts had looked like that but it didn't explain why she was here and not in England.
"Well let me ask you this. What are you doing here? Why aren't you back in England?" Lex had wondered that since she had said she was British.
"We missed are flight home and than...Look why do I have to tell you? I mean I bet you would never tell me how you ended up here." Miriam was starting to get very angry, she didn't like being pumped for information that was personal.
"Just what are you trying to find out Lex. You want to know why I am hereis that it? Ok, I am here because I don't have an elsewhere to be, I am here, because my parents are dead, and I am lost in a city that I don't know, but most importantly I am here because when someone ran me over, Bray had the compassion and heart to bring me here! Well, do you have a heart Lex?!" She was yelling now and on her feet she didn't care now if she collasped again, it felt good to get the frustration out.
"See I don't think you are here for those reasons. I think you are a Loco spy sent to get more people to join or a new place to rule. Are you?! Well, are you?!" He shouted. He grabbed her arm and started squeezing to make her talk.
In a flurry of movement, he was twisted behind her. Pulled over her back and thrown flat on his back winded by the experience.
Hysterical laughter came from the doorway, Amber, Bray, Jenz, Aileen and Andi were there almost on the floor.
"Looks like you got what you came for Lex" laughed Jenz.
"What? A good ass kicking!" laughed Amber. She was laughing so hard now she could hardly breath.
Lex had gone red and was fuming if there was one thing he hated it was to be embrassed.
"What you lookin' at?" Lex got up and stormed out.
Jenz, Aileen and Andi followed him laughing all the way.
"Are you alright? Do you need to sit down?" Bray asked. Calming down enough to realize the girl was probably still hurt.
"I am fine. Although I would appreciate it if you would trust me ok." She said sitting on the bed
"Yeah, but you understand why we are cautious right?" Asked Amber.
"Yeah, I understand. I would do the same." She smiled knowingly.
"I'm fine you can go now." Said Miriam reasuringly.
Amber and Bray looked at each other and left.
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Part 4:

The next day MW and Rhiannon stumble up to the Mall's enterance.
"So we go in? There doesn't seem to be anyone in, so lets go for it" said Rhiannon.
"Maybe we should be more careful. There could be a back way in." MW said, she didn't like barging in.
"Come on, no-one is here lets go." Said Rhiannon as she dragged MW in.
They made there way into the centre of the mall. Someone was watching from behind a pillar. She had brown hair with mahogony highlights, she had deep blue eyes. She had three stripes across her forehead in black and a tear drop (dead centre between her eye brows) which was silver.
She stepped into the light and blocked their path up the stairs.
"Everyone, we have some vistors!" The girl yelled. There was a running noise from every direction. MW and Rhiannon were trapped.
"Who are you?!" Shouted Bray from the top of the stairs. He moved down them slowly.
"What do you want?" Amber asked from behind them.
"Phoenix where did they come from?" Asked Tai-San.
The girl that blocked the way turned to the girl that had just spoken.
"They came from outside right in through the front enterance." Said Phoenix.
"Are you Loco spies? Have you come to get her?!" Yelled Lex as he grabbed for one of them.
"Stop!" shouted someone from the top of the stairs.
Miriam came running down the stairs and hugged Rhiannon. What was she doing?
"Stop don't do that." Pleaded Miriam stepping in front of the two girls.
"What do you care? Get out of the way." Said Lex. He was still embrassed by their last episode, but this time he was ready for her.
"She's hurt. Rhiannnon are you ok?" asked Miriam.
"You know them?" Bray asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, Rhiannon's my cousin." Said Miriam.
Lex hadn't been prepared for that.
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Part 5:

"Well, Ebony has she befriended the traitor? I'd hate to think your new recriut would fail." Said Zoot eviliy.
"We haven't had any word yet..." She said then realised that he wouldnt be satisfied with that answer. "But I could go and find out." She said rapidly to try and make it part of the last statement.
MEANWHILE
"So Rhiannon, your Miriam's cousin. How ironic that you both come to us injured." Jenz said, tending to Rhiannon's broken rib and many bruises.
"Yeah that was kind of strange." Said NTG she was tall with dark brown hair and had blue eyes, she wore her hair up in a bun.
"I know, but we always got into trouble when we were little." Said Rhiannon.
"So Miriam lived here for a while?" asked cmonkey she had long curly brown hair and hazel eyes, today she wore a red top with black leather trousers and as ever her raindrop silver necklace.
"Yes, when she was 3, but then her Mum wanted to move back to England. I'm sorry I am not supposed to tell you this." Said Rhiannon.
"Why not?" Asked Aileen.
"Because she should tell you, its not my place. So what do you guys do for fun around here?" She asked.
"Not much, but about now Lex and Bray should be having another argument wan to go and watch" Asked Andi
"Can I come?" Asked MW from the corner of the room. Everyone jumped they had assumed she was sleeping.
"Sure, you can come." Said NTG.
"I think I'll pass I want some sleep." Said Rhiannon.
Everyone left and Rhiannon went to sleep.
BACK TO ZOOT
"Good idea Ebony. Now go put it into practice." Said Zoot with a smile.
"I'll leave right away." She said.
"Oh and Ebony carry on like this and you may find a position as my trusted advisor. I think I could lay off my old one." He said. He liked to give his people incentive.
She smiled and left to pack. Then headed for the Mall.
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Part 6:

"So where exactly were you planning to go to get the food" asked Dal.
"Well, the farm of course." said Bray, realizing it was really a question to tell Lex to prepare.
"Oh, no. Man why didn't you tell me I wouldn't of said I'd come then." Lex moaned.
"That's why he didn't tell you." Jack said.
KC laughed, and shut up as Lex dived for him.
"There you are." Said Zandria. She, Miriam and MW had been looking for Bray everywhere.
"Bray can we come too. Before you say no. I am feeling better and I am pretty sure all three of us can carry our own body weight in food. So what do you say?" Said Miriam.
"I was actually going to say yes. We could use some extra hands." Said Bray. He had noticed Miriam hadn't been so confident since Rhiannon had shown up.
"Oh, ok cool." She said smiling and picking up a sack.
"Lets go then" Said Lex. "The sooner I get there the sooner I can forget about it."
"Whats that mean?" Asked MW.
"Oh, Lex's true love lives at the farm." Said Ryan.
"What? But Zandra lives here." Said Miriam.
"No, we mean Alice." Said KC jumping away from Lex.
"Alice?" MW questioned.
They left chatting about the farm and the girls that lived there.
Suddenly when they were about half way there someone who was seriously hurt (or very good at acting) stumbled out of the bushes.
"Help!" Pleaded the person.
"Ebony?" Bray asked. What om earth had happened?
"Bray? I need help." She looked up she had blood all over her face and clothes.
"What happened?" Lex asked.
"They're still after me. I need to hide." She started to run but was blocked by Ryan who held her there.
"Get off I need to hide." She screamed collapsing in tears. She felt stupid, but it was the only way.
"Lets take her to the Mall." Said Bray and Miriam at the same time.
Everyone turned around and headed back to the Mall. As they left MW turned around looked directly at Zoot who had been standing in the bushes and smiled, then turned and followed the others.
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Part 7:

"So who do you like the best?" Asked Jon.
"I think Rhiannon's really nice, she and Miriam are really cool, they both promised to take me and Patsy to the fields." Said Chloe happily.
"I don't know. MW is really cool she said she would show me how to fight using a staff." Said Jack.
"Nah, Chloe's right, Rhiannon is the best, she knows loads of stuff about the earth." Said Dal.
Jon smiled this was one of the rare occasions where they could all just chat and not worry. Because they had finished their chores and they had an hour till dinner. He didn't really care about the question it was something to talk about while they passed the time.
Patsy came running into the cafe. She looked flustered.
"Ebony's here!" She yelled. She looked as scared as hell.
"We know, she needed our help, because the Locos were trying to kill her." Said Jack.
She took a deep breath, and it dawned on her that would make sense. But then,..
"But she was talking to someone, about a traitor." She said puzzled.
"What?" Said Jon.
"You mean someone at the Mall?" Asked Dal.
She nodded. Why though, why and to who was she a traitor? she wondered.
"Patsy who is the traitor?" Asked Chloe.
"Rhiannon." She said.
Jon got up and ran. He needed to find Bray and Amber.
_____________________________________________

Part 8:

This is how it is meant to be. Bray and me together. She didn't want this to end they had only got together last night.
"Bray! I have something to tell you!!...umm, am I interupting something?" Said Jon, as he came into Brays room.
"No, he doesn't need to tell you anything. Jon its not true I know my cousin." Protested Miriam as she was dragged into Bray's room by Jon.
"What's not true?" Asked Amber pulling away from Bray.
"Patsy just heard our ever so scared and unable to move Ebony telling someone that Rhiannon 'the traitor' had to be brought back as soon as possible." Said Jon.
"It's not true I know Rhiannon she wouldn't be a part of that bunch of morons." She argued.
"It's true . I'm so sorry." Said Rhiannon sadly as she came round the corner.
"What?" Miriam gasped.
"I was scared. I joined cause they seemed really strong and I wanted to feel strong, too." Said Rhiannon she didn't look up she felt too ashamed.
Miriam ran, it was all she could do, she was so shocked she started to sob. Jon ran after her, he wanted to say he was sorry. He thought she knew.
"I'm sorry Bray. When I came here I thought I could start again." She said.
"Then that's what your gonna do." Said Bray. He smiled as he went to find Ebony.
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Part 9:

He slowed down as he neared her room, he could hear her sobs already. He turned the corner to her room. There she was lying on her bed. He walked over slowly and sat down on the end of the bed.
"I'm sorry Miriam, I thought you knew." He said trying his hardest to sound sincere.
She sat up and turned her back to him and wiped her eyes, she didn't want him to see her like this.
"I am really sorry. I didn't know, I wouldn't have dragged you to see Bray if I'd have known." He tried again.
She turned around to look at hi, but couldn't look up to start with. She sniffed and wiped her eyes again.
"I know your sorry you don't have to tell me it was just a shock that's all, you know." She said getting the courage to look up.
Their eyes met properly for the first time. Something clicked inside both of them. Jon leaned closer, she closed her eyes. They could feel eadh others warmth on their skin. Then 'CRASH!!', they jumped apart.
"What was that?" Miriam asked.
"Something's up. Let's go." Said Jon.
The moment spoiled they ran out and headed in the direction of the noise.
Jon saw her first her flew down the stairs to the Phoenix fountain. Miriam followed noticing everyone was already there.
Ebony was lying on the floor moaning in pain. Bray was standing above her and Lex was standing next to him.
"What you gonna do now Ebony?! You are not taking Rhiannon ever!" Bray was yelling.
"I knew something was up. He sent you? Didn't he?!" Yelled Lex.
Footsteps pounded down the stairs. MW ran to Ebonys side, pushing Bray and Lex out of the way with her staff. She took her chance while everyone was running to their aid. She flew at Rhiannon knocking her out with her staff. Ebony got up. picked Rhiannon up slung her over her shoulder and ran with MW.
"Rhiannon!!" Yelled Miriam. Going to run after them. But Jon held her back.
"You'll get hurt." He said trying to calm her down.
"Let go, Rhiannon." She yelled again. It was too late she knew it. She slumped to the floor, she didn't know how but she was going to get Rhiannon back.
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Part 10:

With all that had happened Lex needed to talk to someone. The only one he wanted to talk to was Zandra. He walked into her room. She wasn't there. There was a note on the bed. He loved that she knew what he was thinking. He read the note:

'Lex,
Sorry babe, I really have to go talk to Trudy I promised her ages ago that I would go every week, but I didn't get round to it. Sorry I chose today, but with everything that has happened recently, I thought I would go now. So sorry speak to you later.
Bye Love you loads,
Zandra'

He smiled and put the note down no the bed he couldn't really read all that well, but he got most of it. SO who would he talk to now. Oh, yeah what about Jermey, he couldn't talk to KC. (Jermey was 17 and was really like Lex apart from apperance. He had slick orange hair, and always had a single black line running from his left eye down to his shirt collar. He was taller but not by much.) Lex headed in the direction of Jermey's room. On the way he saw Pasty and Chloe in the cafe they were singing "Jermey and Andi sitting in a tree." Great now who am I gonna talk to, trust Jermey to get involved with someone in a time of crisis. He heard a shuffle behind him. He turned around and saw Miriam doing a form of Martial Arts by the Phoenix Statue.
Twist, kick, duck, punch, backflip. She landed hard and gasped as she remebered the injuries through pain.
"Ouch" Said Lex, coming down the stairs, and sitting at the bottom.
"What do you want?" Asked Miriam, not sure she wanted the answer.
"I first want to say I am sorry, than I wanna chat. So I am sorry for calling you a Loco spy." Said Lex and found he meant it.
She stopped mid-kick and looked at him trying to firgure him out.
"Ok, what do you wanna talk about?" She asked. Sitting down next to him.
"Well..umm, you really wanna talk?" He asked.
She nodded.
"What's with the violence?" Asked Lex.
"I'm gonna get Rhiannon back." She said plainly.
He looked at her in disbelief. Whan was she planning on doing this?
"When?" He questioned.
"Well, if I wasn't talking to you, I would pretty much be out there now." She said.
He realized she was serious. She must be crazy.
She got up. Pulled her top down into place and started to leave. Then stopped turned around and smiled.
"See ya, Lex." She said. Then walked away.
He turned ran up the stairs and saw Bray enter the cafe.
"Bray, Miriam's gone to get Rhiannon." He said, a little out of breath.
"What?" Bray asked. He was confused.
Amber came round the corner, maybe she would be more of a help.
"Amber, Miriam's gone to get Rhiannon." He said again.
"Ryan, Jon, Jermey, get here now we are gonna go on a rescue." She yelled.
When they were there they grabbed what they could and Amber, Bray, Lex, Ryan, Jermey and Jon, ran after Miriam, leaving Salene, Zandra, Tai-San and Trudy in charge.
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Part 11:

The Mall was quiet, first time in ages. There were a few giggles that broke through the silence, but this was nice for the tribe there had been so much noise recently it was a time to regroup and collect their thoughts.
Aileen, Zandria, Andi and Jenz were having a girl chat about everything under the sun, but kept returning to the subject of Andi and Jermey, hence the giggles. Tai-San was meditating on everything that had happened, in her room. Salene, Zandra, Trudy, NTG and cmonkey were looking after Pasty, Chloe and Brady in Trudy's room.Jack, Dal and Becky were messing around with some electronics and KC was bothering them.
Phoenix was sitting at the top of the stairs and taking in the emptiness. She was smiling this was exactly what the tribe stood for happiness and freedom. She was humming to a song in her head.
'I don't like to be alone at night,
I don't like to hear I'm wrong when I'm right, And I don't like to have the rain on my shoes, But I do love you, but I do love you.

I don't like to see a sky painted grey,
I don't like when nothings going my way,
I don't like to be the one with the blues,
But I do love you, but I do love you.' - Leanne Ryhmes 'I DO LOVE YOU'

The silence was broken when there was a crash from the front of the Mall, she got up. It was Jermey.
"Hey why are you back so soon?" Phoenix asked.
"Where's the rest of them?" He asked.
"What? Who?" She was confused.
"There not here? There not here, damn. I f only we hadn't split up stupid Loco's." Jermey said talking to himself.
"What do you mean?" Phoenix questioned getting worried.
"We ran into some Loco guards on the way. We got split up. They must still be out there." Said Jermey turning round to look at the enterance.
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Part 12:

They ran and slumped behind an upturned car. Lex looked around, he was worried where was Jermey.
"Where is he?" Bray asked the question everyone wanted to know the answer to.
"What if the Loco's got him?" Lex asked.
"All the more reason to go in there." Amber stated.
"So what do we do?" Asked Jon.
"What on earth?" Ryan said in disbelief looking at the enterance of the Loco base.
"What?!" asked the rest.
Ryan got up and walked towar the enterance. Yep, he had saw right. The guards, ALL the guards were lying on the ground, either unconcious or injured. The others followed.
"Man I am glad she didn't do anything eles to me." Said Lex.
"Who?" asked Ryan.
"Miriam." Lex said, as if it were obvious.
"Miriam did this." He said in disbelief.
"Let's find out." Said Amber. Walking through the front.

She was really angry and she didn't care if she had to injure or kill every Loco in the city till she found out what had happened to Rhiannon.
Zoot had never had his life threatened, he didn't like it. He had to do what she said cause he wanted to be able to make her life not worth living.

Amber couldn't believe what she saw. Miriam had Zoot at knife point, you know his back to her front and knife at his neck. Jon, Bray and the rest walked in beside her, they saw about 5 guards lying on the floor, possibly injured or worse and there she was completely unscathed (from what they could tell), holding Zoots life in the balance.

"Where's Rhiannon?!" She yelled at him.
"Shes...in a room over there." He said giving up knowing she would kill him if he lied.
She pushed him forward, he stumbled. She hit on the back of his head with the handle of the knife, knocking him out. She turned around, seeing everyone, she was a little shocked for a moment, then she kicked back into action.
"Bray she's in a room over there." She said pointing to the left corridor.
Bray and Amber ran together checking each door. When they reached the last door it was locked. Bray kicked the lock, the door flew open. There she was in the corner . She jumped up, when she saw them and ran to them. They rushed her out.
"Where's Miriam?" Amber asked as they got out and she spotted Ryan, Jon and Lex. Lex pointed to the enterance.
Miriam walked out dragging MW, who looked rather scared, followed by two girls. One was taller than the other, she had brown hair in a ponytail the bit in the tail was black, she wore black and had brown eyes. The other had long blonde hair in a bun with two front bits of hair that hung by her face. She had two blue lines on both cheeks, she wore stylish glasses and red leather trousers with a white sleveless top. They all met and ran back to the Mall.

"I should explain." Said Miriam at the meeting Amber had called. She looked aorund at the faces staring at her everyone was there, well she just had to say it, there was no other way.
"I am a leader of a disbanded tribe called Freedom. In it was MW, Rhiannon, Emma and Sophie and a few others." She said. When she said Emma the brown haired girl waved, and when she said Sophie the blonde haired girl nodded.
The Tribe looked amazed. No-one could speak, they were working it all out. It all fit and kind of made sense.
" So these are the Mallrats, as Zoot called you." Said Emma breaking the akward silence.
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Part 13:

"Well that was interesting." Said Alex a tallish, muscley, brown haired tanned hunk that was Aileen's boyfriend.
"Wasn't it just." Said Jermey, hardly believing what he had just heard at the meeting.
"Well, it was pretty obvious, you don't become a leader by being sweet do you." lex sai speaking from personal experience or injury he couldn't quite decide.
KC laughed who sat at the table opposite, Lex didn't have a clue just like the rest of them. Everyone had been shocked, he wondered what Amber and Bray made of this.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Bray asked. He, Jon and Amber were now questioning Miriam to find out her true intentions.
"I wanted to start again, when we disbanded my tribe, we promised never to mention it incase we started it again, we were in the southern province, see, so we wanted to stay secret away from other tribes and our possible destrusction." It had seemed simple to her and her tribe so why didn't they understand.
"I think I understand. So what do you want to do now?" Amber asked.
"Umm..I want to ask if we can stay here. So can we?"

"Two meetings in one day I could get used to this annoyance." Said Jack, eagerly awaiting the news to which the meeting had been called.
"Does anyone know what this is about?" Said Lex, looking at Jon.
"What? I may know but I ain't telling you." Said Jon.
Then Amber, Bray and Miriam walked in. Miriam sat with her group, Bray took a seat near where Amber was standing, and everyone went silent.
"Ok, everyone here? Good, well Miriam has asked for her and everyone to stay, but due to what happened recently I think we should vote them in." She said. "Well who wants them in?"
She and Jon raised their hands first and looked around. Then Patsy and Chloe put up their hands, slowly the whole tribe raised their hands. fter much consideration so did Lex after the look Zandra gave him.
"So thats decided." Said Bray, standing up. Amber sat down in his place.
"Ok, we need a name." He said bluntly. "Any ideas?" Bray said looking around.
Emma put her hand she wanted to be polite.
"Yes?" Said Bray.
"What about 'Mallrats', I mean people already call it you." said Emma.
"Let's vote." Said Bray.
Everyone's hands went up except for KC's.
"I don't like it." He said.
"It's only a name." Said Lex.
"It's not just a name its a future." Said Tai-San.
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Part 14:

It was a few weeks after, Rhiannon and everyone had joined. They really helped out a lot, but it was weird having soo many girls in the Mall. Hey more for the guys, thought Becky. She had been thinking about everything lately and the only place it seemed she could think properly was the roof. She sat near the edge of the roof, her blonde hair flowing across her face moving in the wind. She heard the footsteps of a pair of heavy boots she turned around, it was Miriam and Sophie.
"See you later Sophie." Miriam said, heading towards Becky.
"Bye." Said Sophie, heading back into the Mall.
Miriam crossed the concrete roof, she moved swiftly like a sleek wild cat. She wore heavy boots, black trousers and a dark purple/pink v-nack jumper. She had a pendant (which was of a book and a pair of hands holding it) around her neck. She sat next to Becky.
"Hey." She said.
Becky moved to make room politely. She continued to watch the world go by.
"Hey." Becky said.
"Look, I wanted to thank you, I heard from Bray it was you who convinced them not to throw me out when I first got here." Said Miriam in a rush.
"Hey, it was nothing." Becky said, turning and noticing the pendant. "Whats that?" She asked pointing to the pendant.
Miriam looked down realizing it was in clear view she hid it with her hand.
"Umm..before the virus I was baptised a Christadelphian, its the sign, it was my....Mum's." She said then gritted her teeth. She hated telling anyone anything from her past, she mainly talked to God about it even if she didn't admit it.
"Oh your, Christian, I didn't know they could be so violent." She said remembering what the others had told her, she had done.
"Well, I have a bad temper." Damn, I did it again stop opening up, it only hurts people in the end.
Becky looked back at the scene below them, the sun had begun to set on the city. Suddenly she noticed someone moving toward the Mall enterance.
"Whos that?" She said thinking out loud.
"Who?" Miriam asked.
"Down there." Becky said pointing to the figure.
"I don't see any...." Miriam went pale and stiff she felt sick, she had just seen the person. She ran, she needed to hide.
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Part 15:
"That was weird." Said Becky. 'Well I'll go and find Bray and tell him about that person near the enterance.' She got up, pulled the light pink sweater closer to sheild herself from a fresh chill. I was dark now. It was a clear night and the moon shone down on the roof casting strange shadows over everything as she crossed the roof. She reached the door and heard a yell "Sophie!" It was the frantic yell of a person in blind panick. She ran towards the yell.

"Sophie!Sophie!" Miriam yelled as she ran into the room she shared with Sophie and Emma. 'She's not here. Where could she be?' She heard footsteps, she recognized them, 'Sophie' she thought.
Sophie came round the corner. She was dragged backwards and a hand was placed over her mouth.
"Don't talk or yell, ok. Just come with me." Whispered Miriam, into Sophie's ear. She took her hand away from Sophie's mouth and took Sophie's hand in her's. She took her to hide.

'Nice place.' thought the 17 year old guy, with short blonde hair, deep blue eyes and lots of muscle and tanned skin. He had a green double line running down his left arm. He wore a white sleveless top and fawn pants and heavy boots.
Sophia came round the corner 'Who the hell?' She thought.
"Hey who are you?" She demanded, to the person with their back to her.
He turned, slowly. He saw her and flashed a dazzaling smile her way.
She felt herself go red. She started to telk, but no words came out. She was a little dazed, he was so fine.

Bray and Lex came round the corner arguing, Ryan in tow trying his hardest to break them up. Bray walked right into Sophia.
"I'm sorry Sophia." Then he realized she hadn't even registered it. He followed her gaze, there stood a guy he had never seen before.
"Who are you?" Demanded Lex who stood beside Bray.

"Tim!" Yelled MW, she flew down the stairs, and flung her arms around his neck.
"You made it." She said releasing him from her hug but holding him at arms length to get a good look at him. He looked well.
"Yep, I did. Hi I'm, umm Tim." He said to Lex then he stretched out his hand towards Bray.
Bray shook his hand.
"Bray." He said, smiling. "That's Lex, Ryan and Sophia and you seem to know MW." Lex and Ryan nodded and Sophia waking out of her day dream smiled.
"Everyone's here almost, Rhiannon, Miriam, Emma, me and....Sophie." MW said.
Tim looked to the floor. His smiled had disappeared. 'Sophie, I'm so sorry.' he thought, as repressed memories surfaced.
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Part 16:

Bray was pacing Amber's room slowly, he had one arm folded across his waist and his other elbow was resting on his fist. He was thinking. Amber was sitting on her bed watching him. She was trying to keep a straight face at his seriousness.
"It's weird." Bray said as he came to a conclusion.
"What is?"She asked.
"Well, it seems that the Freedom tribe is joining ours,.." He said. "And, well if anymore join we're going to have to find a second home for the tribe." Bray continued, looking worried.
"Oh,..so what do you suggest?" Amber said sarcasticly.
"Well, last time we got food I saw a..." He said sitting, staring into her eyes and forgetting what he was saying.
"You were saying?" Amber questioned.
"I'm sorry were we talking?" He said smiling. He leaned closer and kissed her gently on the lips, the kiss grew more passionate as she kissed him back.

In front of the Phoenix statue, sat Patsy and Chloe and Bob. Patsy and Chloe were playing a game. They were passing a ball between tham, but they had made a diamond shaped enclosure with their legs. In the background KC skulled and schemed, and Lex and Zandra were being playful. Jenz sat watching for a moment, looking up from her sketch pad, she sat in the floor just a little away from Patsy and Chloe who she was drawing. She looked back at the page and shaded an area, before the virus she had wanted to become an artist.
"Hey." Said Tim flashing a grin and sitting next to her. She jumped as she had not heard him coming. She regained her composure and continued sketching but not before saying:
"Hey."
Tim paused and waited to see if she would elaborate on her response.
"So, do you know where Sophie and Miriam are? I haven't seen them yet." He said wondering if they were avoiding him.
"Yep, they went with Trudy and Brasy to the fields about five minutes ago." She looked up.
"Oh, ok then, thanks for your help, Jenz isn't it?" He said getting up.
"Yep thats my name, no problem, I am here to help." She looked down at her drawing and then said, "And to draw."
He smiled, and nodded once then turned and headed out of the Mall.

"Tim! Tim!" Lex yelled running up behind him.
"Glad I caught you, we need your help getting the food from the farm. Will you help us?" Lex asked breathlessly.
Tim thought for a while, looked towards the fields and then said.
"Sure." He turned and followed Lex.
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Part 17:

It was midday, the farm was hot and smelly, but everyone was so tired they didn't mind. Alice stood on the porch, shovel in hand. She put it downand wiped her brow, then looked towards the road that lead to the city. Just as she did, Lex and a few of the other 'Mallrats' (as they had informed her they were called a few weeks ago), she saw a new face, male, not bad looking, but she liked Lex. She walked up to them.
"Hello, the usualthen?" She asked, to Lex making it clear she wasn't talking about the food.
"This is Alice? I thought you said she was scary." Tim said, coming up behind Lex and doing his best to drop Lex in it.
"You are?" She asked vaguely, scowling at Lex. Then returing the smile the other guy wore.
"Tim, I'm sorry my rep doesn't precide me, I've heard a lot about you." Said Tim, smiling even more, and shaking her hand.
"Thank you, I think, the foods over here." She said indicating the sacks.
A few minutes later Alice came out of the house, Lex was standing just to the left, (bending over).
"Where's Trudy gone?" Alice, said to anyone who was listening, trying to avert her eyes from Lex.
"She was here?" Lex stood up and turned around. He looked surprised.
"Yep, about half an hour ago. With a blonde girl and a bruised girl." Said Alice.
"Which way did they go?" Tim asked, a little more interested in what she was saying.
"If I knew that I wouldn't be asking" Alice said sarcasticly.
"They went back to the Mall." Said Ellie coming out of the house.
"Sorry Lex gotta go, see you back at the Mall!"Tim shouted over his shoulder as he disappeared down the road.
"Tim! Come back!" Shouted Lex.

"Thanks you guys you didn't have to come with me." Said Trudy, to Miriam and Sophie.
"That's alright." Said Sophie.
"I'll see you later." Said Trudy, taking Brady with her.
Sophie and Miriam walked back to their room discussing their walk. Emma was there waiting for them.
"What do you think you two are doing?!" Emma was severly angry.
"What? Calm down Emma." Said Sophie.
"You know what! Why are you avoiding Tim?!" Emma asked. Sophie took the words in and looked at Miriam who was looking at the floor.
"You knew Tim was here, didn't you?! That's why you made me hide and why you insisted we went with Trudy wasn't it?" She said, starting to break down and cry. She turned and ran from the room.
"Thanks" Said Miriam vicously to Emma. She ran after Sophie.
"Sophie I'm sorry, but you know why I did it don't you?" She asked, now walking with her arm over Sophies shoulder. Sophie nodded and sniffed.
Suddenly they both bumped into someone with their back to them. He turned it was Tim.
"Sophie, Miriam." He gasped.
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Part 18:
"This is fun." Said Andi, her, Aileen and Zandria, were walking through the forest to the south of the Mall. They had been singing and laughing and chatting. The point of this whole excercise was so they could catch up on each others lives.
"I think it is. Who came up with the..?" Zandria stopped talking, they had walked into a clearing, it had a little tree village in it.
"What the hell?" Said Aileen, moving forward. It was abandoned so she wanted to look around.
"Aileen what are you doing? Someone could be here." Said Andi.
"HELLO! Is anyone here?!" Shouted Aileen to the trees, to show there was no-one there.
They all went into the nearest hut and started looking around. It was a small hut, and didn't have very much stuff in it. It had a bed in the corner and a chair and a small table. The room looked scorched.
"Hum, this is weird." Said a voice from outside.
All three turned completely mimicking each other, as they slowly crept towards the same window. They all looked over the window sill.
There stood two girls about 15 years old. One had shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore blue flares with copper studs down the seams and a purple tye-dyed top with a light blue Phoenix design on it. The other had brown/purple hair to the base of her neck, she had grey eyes, and wore black pants, a pair of black boots, and a dark blue leather halter top.

FLASH BACK
============
The camp fire was soothing, everyone was happy. All the problems of the past few days had been solved. Someone to Tim's left hummed, he looked over across the falmes, there sat Justin and Miriam. Justin was laughing at something Miriam had said. She looked at Tim and smiled. She had a great connection with everyone in the tribe, it was good that she was their leader. He looked around the tribes home, it was simple, cosy and safe. 'where's Sophie?' He thought.
Suddenly there was a blood curdeling scream from the edge of the camp. Everyone jumped up and ran towards the sound. There stood Sophie flaling, with her clothes a blaze. MW didn't think she just grabbed a near by blanket and dived for Sophie. They fell to the floor and MW rolled Sophie over until the flames died down. Tim rushed forward Sophie was sobbing, as he ran he saw someone disappearing through the trees.

BACK TO THE MALL.
===================

Tim, Miriam and Sophie just stood facing each other, they said nothing. What could they say? The last time thy had seen each other, their homes had been a blaze.
Round the corner came Phoenix, NTG and cmonkey.
"So anyway, they said..." NTG stopped, and stared, cmonket and Phoenix followed suit.
"What's going on? Is it a staring contest?" Asked cmonkey.
"Can we...?" Phoenix started.
Miriam ran, it was too much way too soon, first finding Rhiannon and MW, then seeing Ebony again, finding Sophie and Emma and now Tim.
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Part 19:

NTG, Phoenix and cmonkey, still stood staring and asking questions after Miriam had left. Sophie and Tim hadn't moved or spoken they just stood in silence.
"What is going on?! Hello earth to you two!" Shouted cmonkey.
Tim woke suddenly, from remembering what had happened.
"Sophie your drooling." He said, half laughing, half smiling.
Sophie woke up and wiped away the drool, she laughed and her eyes glistened.
"Lets go somewhere private, and talk." She said suddenyl noticing the audience.
"Oh, don't go its just getting interesting." Said Phoenix giggling, as they walked away towards the roof.

It was cold, damp, dark and misreable. Pretty much how Miriam felt right now. It was very handy having an enterance to the sewers in the Mall. She sat crying and feeling sorry for herself. Everyone had survived except the person she had really wanted to survive. Not that she didn't feel releaved for the rest of them.
Suddenly the manhole cover was moved, down the ladder came Tai-San, Salene, Patsy and Chloe. Miriam tried to wipe away the tears quickly. She failed, Tai-San looked straight at her and said:
"Patsy, Chloe, go and clean up and then go to the cafe dinner should be ready then."
She and Salene walked towards Miriam, as Patsy and Chloe walked off happily.
"Are you alright?" Asked Salene, then realising how stupid the question was smiled akwardly and turned red.
"Let's take her to see Trudy and Zandra." Said Salene.
"Yes I think they will do a better job of cheering her up than we will." Said Tai-San as she helped Miriam to her feet.
All three walked off to Trudy's room.

Andi, Zandria and Aileen were still in the hut watching the scene outside unfold.
"Come on guys."Said the dark haired girl.
About 20 kids walked into the clearing. Seeing this Zandria backed up.
"So we've finally found a home." Said the blonde girl looking around the tree village.
Zandria unforetunately knocked over the chair as she backed away. 'Crash' the noise sounded so loud.
The dark haired girl and a few others ran into the hut. 3 boys grabbed Zandria, Aileen and Andi.
The blonde girl walked in slowly she wore an evil smile.
"Oh, look we have competition, what do we do with anyone who gets in our way?" She asked.
"CRUSH THEM!" Was the reply. This didn't look good.
Both girls glared at the three Mallrats evily.
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