From Zero To Hero Part Two: There And Back Again [COMPLETED]

Chapter 3: P.O.W.

"I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to protect you," Autumn looked into Ben's eyes.

"I don't need protection from kids," Ben scoffs.

"Excuse me! We're seventeen years old," Fif exclaimed.

"Who cares, man?" Ben says.

As soon as Ben tries to leave, his leg brace loosens making him feel pain again.

"You think you can leave without us, huh?" Autumn walks toward Ben, who was unable to stand.

"What the...hell did you...do?" Ben shakes.

"I control the brace. Without tightening it, you will feel the pain and won't be able to walk," Autumn kneels down.

"Again. You won't go out there by yourself. Is that clear?" Autumn smiles.

"Fine! You win!" Ben exclaims in pain.

Successful at getting Ben to stay with them, Autumn tightens Ben's leg brace, suppressing the pain and was able to stand again. The trio decided to head to the highest building, the satellite tower in order to contact Arlie. 

Back at Leiar's bunker...

"This is a masterpiece," Leiar mumbles as he dissects the watch.

"I've done it," Leiar grins.

Leiar successfully turns on the watch. He goes out of his room and tells Arlie that the watch was still broken. This news left Arlie hopeless. On the other side of the Wastelands were the trio travelling to a  sunken city. 

"What happened here?" Ben asked as they looked on at the city.

"An earthquake brought 'em down," Fif said.

"Be careful crossing it, might have sharp debris sticking out," Autumn warned as they started crossing the city. 

"Come on before the sun goes down," Autumn calls the boys.

Along the way, the trio encounter a tribe of men living in a building they entered. A fight broke out as soon as the one of the men violently attacked Ben. Despite being outnumbered, the twins now joined by Ben fought the tribe, who wanted to kill them for resources. The fight ended with lots of blood being spilled. 

"Shit! I can't take this!" Ben has a panic attack as he sees the lifeless bodies lying on the ground.

"Breath," Fif sits beside Ben.

"Look at us! We're covered in blood!" Ben stands up, exclaiming.

"Relax. In this world, it's either you kill or be killed," Autumn says.

"So you're saying this is normal?" Ben wipes the blood off of his shoes.

"Sorry to break it to you but yeah pretty normal," Fif cleans his dagger.

"We need to hurry before another tribe sees us," Autumn loots the crates and the bodies.

"Lets go, boys!" Autumn exclaims as she puts her sword in the sheath.

"How long till we reach the building?" Ben asks, wiping his sweat.

"The building's thirty miles away from where we are right now," Fif says.

"Great. So we'll arrive to the building in what? Two days?" Ben asks.

"Two days is almost accurate based on my calculations," Fif confirms.

"We still have a long way to go. Keep your eyes and ears alert," Autumn warns them.

Back at Leiar's...

"You know you can still escape this hellhole, right?" Leiar talks to a hopeless Arlie.

"How? You tried fixing the watch and yet it doesn't work," Arlie tells Leiar.

"You know your brother's a brilliant man and that he can fix anything. I'm sure he can get you back in time," Leiar said, comforting Arlie.

"You're right. Having Ben as a brother is a big plus. He'll never stop protecting me even if he hates me. I mean he'll do anything for me," Arlie replies.

"I wish I still had my brother. Having a family will always lighten your mood even in the darkest times," Leiar states.

"You had a brother?" Arlie is surprised.

"Yeah. I used to," Leiar looked at a damaged picture of him and his brother.

"What happened to him?" Arlie asked.

"He died of radiation during the first years of the apocalypse," Leiar recalls.

Arlie, feeling pity on Leiar, decides to offer Leiar help to find his children.

"What if I help you find your kids?" Arlie turned around, suggesting.

"The Wastelands is a vast land, not to mention dangerous too," Leiar replied.

"But with you, I think we can both survive the harsh climate here. Come on, I bet you're a survivor," Arlie chuckles.

"But what if they already found a new family?" Leiar sighs.

"At least you get to see them," Arlie smiles.

"And what if they're dead?" Leiar thought.

Arlie, unable to say anything reaches for Leiar knife, giving it to him.

"We find them. Dead or alive," Arlie says to Leiar.

Planning to contact his children, Leiar and Arlie also plan to travel the satellite tower.