Chilled to the Bone// Madison & Joel (The Day after Tomorrow AU)
The wind howled like a pack of hungry wolves outside of the large, dimly lit library, seeping into the cracks of damaged walls and doors, causing the small group of people huddled in a corner to pull one other closer. Joel just sat against the wall by himself watching them do so and instead of joining them for the warmth, tugged his hood farther on his head, hiding his face from both the chilly breeze and the gazes of the others.
It was clear that he didn’t want to be there, but he really didn’t have a choice –none of them had a choice. The storm had hit without a warning, just truckloads of water raining down on the people of New York, flooding roads and first levels of buildings. People had scattered throughout the streets, seeking shelter anywhere possible, and Joel and the others just so happened to end up at the library.
There had been more people with them and Joel couldn’t recall how they had lost all of them, but knew most hadn’t made it in the frantic battle to get to higher ground as the building had flooded and that some who had survived were only lost after the cold hit, not allowing them to generate enough heat to warm themselves after just being completely drenched.
Ten people (including Joel) was all that was left of them. However, he wasn’t sure if the number was going to stay the same much longer. All their food and water was almost gone, which really wasn’t a surprise seeing as the location that they’d now made their base for the past four days was a library and really wasn’t expected to hold food, plus the fact that most of group were suffering from some sort of injury. Joel was one of the few who managed to escape the journey through the Manhattan streets and to the library’s top floor with suffering nothing more than the chill and a ton of awful memories that were going to haunt him for the rest of his life –as short or as long it may be.
Joel knew they were going to need more supplies, like food, clothing, and blankets if they were going to live much longer, but also knew that he was going to have to be one of the people to actually go out and find these items since he was still physical capable. He really hated the thought of going out into the weather the awaited them outside, but he was not cruel (even if he’d convinced himself that he didn’t like or care for people) and was not willing to watch the small pack die slowly before him.
With a deep breath that fogged up the cold air he lifted his head and locked eyes of the huddle of strangers in front of him. “We need supplies.” He simply stated, letting no emotions be heard in his voice. “I’m going, but I need help…” The group looked back at him with big frightened eyes and Joel clenched his jaw in a mild frustration; he’d been hoping by now that they may have toughed up a bit and were going to be ready to fight for their lives when needs be, but none, except an injured man that would be useless, offered their assistances.
He couldn’t lie that he felt rather disappointed, but usually for Joel anger easily out did the feeling off disappointment and he looked back at the group with eyes that were almost as cold as the ice and snow the waited for them outside. “One of you is coming with me.” He slightly growled, leaving the part ‘whether you like it or not’ for them to finish for themselves and waited for someone to answer.
But there was still silence…
“You. You’re coming with.” The words had come out of Joel’s mouth before he even realized he’d even thought them, but he held a steady stare on the figured he’d just chosen. It was a young woman, who surprisingly didn’t look scared like the other, which he assumed was the reason in the back of his mind he’d picked her. But they had no time to dwell on it and he stood, still holding the stare. “C’mon, we’ve got to go.” He wasn’t going to give her time to refuse, knowing that if he did he might just change his mind on the whole situation too.
