Untitled Story Introduction The darker it became outside, the more restless Ivy became. No one in the Compound liked the dark, so at 5pm prompt, the lights would gain full power and brighten every nook and cranny. Ivy and her best friend Elle were at a large window watching the sunset. Elle had sat next to a plant pot, resting her right arm on it, and in turn, resting her head on her arm. Her legs were curled up underneath her. Ivy was stood with her hands resting flat on the window. She gazed longingly at the small town below, which showed no signs of #life, except for the rats scuttling about searching for their next meal. Behind Ivy and Elle, was the food court; a few small diners with some tables outside. Two women were sat at the table and were discussing their jobs over a meal of spaghetti. Not very lavish, but it was the best they had at the moment. One of the ladies had apparently just told a joke, as her friend erupted into high pitched giggles. The joke teller, obviously amused at the sound of her laughter; joined in, and they both sat there for a small while laughing uncontrollably, clutching their sides and holding onto the table in order to maintain their seating. "You don't hear a lot of laughter these days, do you Ivy?" Elle said, solemnly, looking at the two ladies who had now begun to control their laughter. "Nah, can't blame people though, can you?" Ivy replied coldly, still looking out at the small town below. She seemed to be looking for something, her green eyes scouring below. Elle knew what she was looking for. It had been a week since they'd last seen him and Ivy got more agitated over it every day. Elle daren't say anything, because she knew what Ivy's temper was like. She had been on the recieving end of it a month ago because she had told Ivy she probably shouldn't leave the Compound. Ivy had had a bad week then, and she admitted she took it out on Elle which was unfair, but said she still would have shouted at her for that. Ivy wanted nothing more than to leave the compound and reunite with her older brother. Elle was worried, the Outlands were dangerous, even for skilled soldiers. She had lost an old friend out there, and Ivy was the only real family she had. Her mother was always too drunk to maintain an understandable sentence and her father had got sick of the alcohol, and left them both to live with a young woman, only a few years older than Elle. She still saw him sometimes, but it was always awkward. Elle would rather not bother. Ivy was more family to her than her actual family were. Ivy suddenly let out a yelp, and started pointing out the window, "There! There! I see John! Ah! He's come back! I KNEW IT!" Ivy started jumping on the spot in excitement. As quickly as she had begun she stopped again to look out the window at him again. He was quite far away, but easy enough to make out. He was covered in dirt and blood. His hair was matted down and scruffy, and his face was covered in stubble. Ivy was intensly watching her brother as he leaded a girl and 2 other men, each with their own weapon, into an abandoned house. He looked up at the Compound for a quick second as his companions entered the house, and he soon followed. Ivy squealed with delight as Elle looked on, a little shellshocked. She couldn't quite believe John had actually come back for Elle. Last time he had returned to the Compound they had a big arguement over Ivy's determination to leave the safety of the Compound and join him in his job. Ivy, however, had not lost hope even though they'd argued, she knew he would return. After all, he's her big brother. How could he not give her what she wanted? The next day Ivy and Elle met outside the water fountain at 12pm, in the main Foyer of the Hotel / Shopping Centre that they lived in. The Hotel and Shopping Centre had been two seperate buildings, however the survivors agreed to turn it into one building, knocking down some walls that seperated them, using the rubble to fortify the walls surrounding them. Ever since mankind was pushed to the brink of extinction, the remaining survivors had all banded together. Most of them settled and found ways of protecting themselves, building walls to keep out anything unwanted. This particular group of survivors, in which Ivy and Elle were a part of, decided it would be best to reside in the tall Hotel, as it meant they would all be in the same place, safely together. People all around Ivy and Elle were sitting with friends or getting their afternoon coffee and they decided to get a coffee too, but as they stood up Ivy squealed loudly, making a young couple sitting opposite them at the coffee shop wince. The girl watched with an unpleasant expression on her face as Ivy jumped up and ran over to the guarded doors of the Hotel, straight into the arms of her big brother. John was wearing a pair of dirty, scruffy looking jeans, with big boots that looked quite heavy to walk in. He had a camoflague jacket on, with a scarf around his neck which got in Ivy's face as soon as she wrapped her arms around him. They stood together, embraced in a hug that seemed to last forever. John had squeezed Ivy so tight she could barely breathe, but she didn't care. Elle sat watching, waiting for them to come apart so that they could just leave before their parents realised they were gone. John released her, held her by both arms and smiled. "Feels like I've not seen you in years!" he cried. Ivy turned around, and grabbed Elle's hand, yanked her up off the edge of the fountain and rested her arm on her shoulder. "Elle's coming too, she only decided the other day. We both wanna come with you and help you out!" John smiled, and hugged Elle with a vice like grip. "Oh jesus!" Elle shouted "Dude I can't breathe" she started coughing. "Sorry love ahah. Ahhh, I've missed you both, come on, we gotta go. I've been pissing about for too long with you two anyway, everyone'll be wondering where I am" He grabbed the straps of his big backpack that clattered ever so slightly when he wiggled it on his shoulders, and headed out the front doors. Ivy and Elle grabbed their bags and followed John out the guarded doors, turned back together, held hands, and looked upon their home once more, and left. The stench immediately hit them both like a punch in the face.