Archive of Our Own ^beta

The world seemed to fade in through white light in front of her. It was familiar. Abby felt through her spacial awareness that she was upright and she walked through the double doors, feeling like she was waking up from a dream. Abby opened her eyes and recognized this place once more.

It was the Aquarium café, strung up in Owen’s lights and festive decorations. It wasn’t the exact same as it had been when she had visited that time right before Christmas, but it still had the same jolly aura about it with fairy lights and a Christmas tree and stockings. 

But this specific set-up, Abby had been in it twice before.

This wasn’t reality, Abby’s real reality. It mostly felt like reality. However, it was more of a portal.

This hideout brought her to places of her past and places she’d never seen before to fight various monsters or factions. There wasn’t much to it besides just earning some glory and satisfaction. She did so willingly, and Abby got the feeling if she didn’t want to do this, she didn’t have to.

It wasn’t torture, in fact the first two runs she’d done were rather fun. Well, maybe not the last one, Abby had to admit. She had made it across five encounters and all the way to the boss, a bloater and other infected in a flooded garage, until she’d felt clicker teeth tearing at her neck. It was scary at the time, but now she felt fine about it. It mostly just felt like a dream or a game. Her last run had been harder than the first one, an increased difficulty, and she was going to try it again. Abby was determined to win this time, despite whatever temporary pain or anxiety or fear, she knew it’d be worth it at the end of the run.

Abby got close to the pinboard and then looked back at the entrance to the aquarium cafe. There were no upgrades to do before the first run so she just had to go out and do it. She hesitated though, listening she knew he was downstairs. She had seen him here during her two other runs. It was just sometimes he didn’t really want to come out to see her or the others. It was a bit disappointing that he didn’t immediately come up. He must have heard that someone joined him in the aquarium. Abby swallowed the slight tinge of disappointment knowing that curiosity would get the better of him, and she’d see him soon enough.

With a deep inhale, Abby pressed the first Polaroid, and was transported to her first encounter.

Round 1. Assault. Three waves. Infected.

Abby wasn’t particularly worried that she only started out with a pistol and a hammer. With this type of encounter she knew she could sneak up behind all the runners and take them out stealthily. That’s what she did for all three rounds to treat it as a warm-up, and her heart rate hardly rose at all, except for maybe when she had a bottle at a stalker and take it out with her hammer and then do the same with the final clicker, which she ended with two bullets in it’s grotesque skull. Another nice perk of this world was the rush of healing adrenaline she felt with melee kill, it was a bit addictive, she had to admit.

Then the hideout room came back to her, and the familiar voice immediately made her crack a smile.

“Hey there. I was hoping it would be you.”

Abby turned to Owen and tried to hide her smile in a smirk. “Were you, Owen? What took you so long then? You don’t greet everyone before their first encounter anymore?”

Silent for a moment, Owen was leaning against the railing, no doubt taking in her new outfit. It was a brown leather bomber jacket with various patches and paired with sunglasses and tight canvas pants.

“Well, this has happened about a dozen times now and sometimes the company isn’t as good for chatting. I still say hi at least each time though.”

Abby was aware of the other four people that showed up at the aquarium. Lev, Yara, Mel, Manny. She and Owen hadn’t really got into it much, though, what Owen talked about with the others. Abby turned to loot her crate and start trading for the next encounter. “Surely Manny is a good time.” Abby traded in tokens a shiv recipe.

Owen came around to walk behind her. “Well yeah! We had some good chats. I only saw him for the one run, but I hope he comes back soon.”

Abby upgraded her pistol’s stability, trying to seem nonchalant, “The kids not giving as good a chat?”

Owen scratched his beard, he was still in that tan, paint splattered hoodie of his. Abby wondered if he could have a change of clothes too like she could. “Well, they’re sweet and all. I do what I’m supposed to for them but they’re both very get in and get out. I’d like to get them to trust me more.”

“Hmm.” Abby hummed, signaling she was about ready to go. She wanted to know about Mel too but she wasn’t going to say it. Owen seemed eager to keep her there for as long as he could though, and brought her up himself.

“Mel came through for another run too. Right before Manny.”

Abby looked at him from over the sunglasses. “So how awkward was that?”

Owen had told Abby the last time of Mel’s first run. Those two had bickered because Owen couldn’t understand why she’d be here and would want to participate in this game. He had also expressed concern on whether or not Mel was currently pregnant, and Mel had told him that she didn’t think she was pregnant, she felt normal and strong and capable. Also that in this paradigm it didn’t matter much anyway. Then she went on to do her run with little more words to Owen and focusing on finishing the job instead.

Owen’s arms were crossed and he looked uncomfortable. “Somehow it was even more awkward than the first time. She had on a different outfit, one from after Jackson that I remember her in… and she was definitely not pregnant. Like. We don’t know where it went.”

Abby didn’t know whether to be horrified or burst out laughing. She chose evasive measures instead.

“You’re kidding. Well…” This was already throwing her off her game. “You know what, I’m gonna go do this encounter see you afterwards. ‘Kay?”

Owen looked red with embarrassment, “Sure, sure. You go ahead. I’ll be here.”

Round Two. Hunted. WLF.

Abby sighed realizing this was a WLF round. It wouldn’t be that tough physically to go against them in this onslaught round, but it still kind of messed with her head to fight these people that once were her friends. 

Well, killed or be killed. With a mix of headshots and rejuvenating melee with her newly upgraded axe, Abby took out about seven of them. This hotel lobby was unfamiliar and small, but she quickly got the hang. A bullet caught her arm and pain seared, but soon the two minutes were up and Abby was transported back to the hideout mid-breath.

Abby released her breath and the pain in her arm was gone. Funny how this game worked, allowing so much pain to come into and leave her body.

She saw Owen, laid back and sprawled on one of the red couches, playing with one of the ornaments from the tree. He leaned up when he saw her.

“Welcome back. How was it?”

Abby scoffed, rubbing her bicep where the pain had been. It still hurt a bit, but not as much as an actual bullet should have.

“I did alright. Hey, why don’t you ever go on these?”

Owen was looking down at the ornament, a colorful whale, he mimed it swimming through the ocean. “Meh… Not really my thing.”

Abby rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses and went over to him. “C’mon, you’ve killed plenty before. Infected, Seraphites, whatever. And it’s not like this shit is real.”

Owen narrowed his gaze at her, “It is real, Abs. You died on your last run. That pain in your arm is real. I don’t know what else is necessary for things to qualify as real.”

He was somewhat right, but the difference was she got to come back. Though things somewhat looped, something told Abby she wouldn't be stuck her forever either. She’d just be here if she wanted to be.

“Okay fine, whatever. It’s real in a way. To whatever weird versions of ourselves we are here.” She got in closer to the side of the couch and poked him on the shoulder. He did feel real. “You don’t want to try it?”

Owen’s hazel eyes locked onto her hand that touched him. For a second she thought he was going to grab it, but he seemingly held back. “Not really, no. You go ahead. I’ll fix everything up for you with your trades.”

Abby sighed. “Okay.” She got her rewards and bought some recipes and bullets and upgraded her pistol. All the while, Owen stayed on the couch, watching her. After a minute he spoke. “I do like the jacket by the way. ‘ Salt Lake Crew’ on the back.”

“Gotta represent,” Abby agreed. “I think the whole outfit is good.” She pulled down the sunglasses to her nostrils and posed, sticking a leg out and turning to him. Owen’s eyes went to her tight canvas pants that were stretched nicely around her muscular thighs.

His tone was a bit halted and he stumbled through the words. “Yep. The whole outfit is very good.”

She couldn’t help but snort a laugh at that. “Right.”

Owen continued, “I told you last time too, but that black leather jacket outfit you were in was…” he whistled. “Wowza.”

Maybe it wasn’t smart for them to flirt, but Abby couldn’t help it. “Oh stop, I’m already blushing.” She adjusted her backpack and went back to the board.

“No, really! That’s why I wasn’t really around last time, I was afraid I was gonna come off weird just staring at you in between encounters. I’ve just never seen you in makeup like that. You looked uh… really beautiful.”

Abby pushed the sunglasses back up to her eyes feeling flattered and embarrassed and more emotions than she could handle right now when she was about to do another encounter. “Oh. Thanks, I liked it too. I don’t know, maybe if I win this run I’ll wear that outfit again next time. Even though I died in it before.”

Owen smiled, elbows on his knees and hands clasped as he smiled at her from the couch. “Wear whatever you want, Abs. You’ll make it look good.”

Abby chuckled sheepishly and looked over at the board. Her feelings for Owen were so complicated, but she didn’t need to decide anything now besides picking which encounter to do in the future. For now, she was up against some more WLF.

“See you after,” Abby told him, ready for her next challenge and to escape the conversation, pressing the Polaroid.

Round 3. Assault. WLF. Decreased Enemy health, drop bombs on death.

Abby’s silencer and arm choke did a majority of the work for the first round and a half. Making her way across the map, she eyed the dead drop which requested a health kit, and a shiv which Abby promptly dropped inside. Unfortunately, right after thatshe was spotted by a woman with a shotgun and Abby caught some spray. Dodging and then deploying her arsenal more aggressively, Abby finished the three rounds, but needed a medkit by the end of it. Her heart was pumping, and then it slowed and a calmness hit her.

“Great job doing that drop, Abs.” Owen’s voice was the first thing she heard as she felt herself appear back in their hideout. “I got to bring you this guy, I know you like him quite a lot.”

Abby opened her eyes and blinked to see Owen standing there next to her reward. Her trusty crossbow on a red cart that Owen had pushed in.

She couldn’t help but smile. “You roll out the red carpet for everyone?”

Owen rolled back-and-forth on his feet, seeming giddy. “Well I’m a little contractually obligated to bring out the rewards, but I’m not often out here to present them. That’s special that I do for you.”

“Aww. Well, I am special.” Abby picked up the crossbow and couldn’t help but be in a good mood. She liked doing this, it was fun. It was nice to just be with Owen too, in this separate world where things didn’t really matter.

Owen watched her admired the crossbow, “Yeah last time with Manny I had to give him a stunbomb recipe. He wanted a gun, so he was pissed.”

Abby laughed and hoisted the crossbow over her shoulder, digging into her reward cache. “Wow, you did him dirty.”

“I didn’t want to!” Owen protested, he paused. “He did only lasted one more encounter after that though.”

“Aww.” Abby shook her head and moved to the token exchange, scoring on there being a hunting pistol that she could afford. “He’s not as good at this as I am, I suppose. What’d you guys talk about?”

She could sense Owen’s energy grow a little nervous, “Oh, you know. Catching up and all that. It was good to see each other and we hope to hang out a bit more. I told him I’d fill the hot chocolate dispenser with my hooch his next run.”

“That’d be fun. Do that for me next time too.” She glanced at the mission board. “You guys talk about me at all?”

Owen was trying to act cool, but she could hear the tension in his voice as he was trying to play it off. “I mean, I said I saw you a couple times, that’s about it.”

“‘Kay.” Abby pointed towards a Polaroid on the board. “Well, I saw he’s available to be my ally this round, so I definitely am gonna try that.”

Owen turned quickly to look at the board. “Oh! I didn’t see him on there. I thought only you and Lev, or Yara could be allies.”

“Seems not. I actually wonder if Mel could be my ally too. might be fun to catch up with her as well.”

The contained panicked face that Owen made almost made Abby burst out and laughter, but she kept it in, biting her lip and looking away. “Anyway, might as well keep this going, right? See you after.”

Owen nodded shortly. “Yeah, Abs. See you soon.”

Round Four. Capture. Seraphites.

Abby knew her time with Manny would be annoyingly short, but as soon as she saw that boisterous 6’2” ex-Firefly, Abby pulled him into a hug.

“Fuck. I missed you, pendejo.” Abby murmured to him, digging her face in Manny’s familiar shoulder, knowing they only had a few seconds before the round started.

Manny hugged her back tight. “Abs. God, is it good to see you. You doing okay?”

“Yeah, I am. Owen’s been around in the aquarium. It’s been good chatting with him.”

The timer ran out and they both sensed it, Manny let go. “Let’s take these guys out careful and chat when it’s nearly done.”

For Capture it was best to take out the half dozen or so enemies quick as possible so they could get to the safe and unlock it. The two worked in harmony, Manny following Abby’s lead once she got a headshot on a Seraphite. The two let off shots and Abby threw a pipe bomb she crafted. With 40 seconds left just two were left, Abby’d been shot but she’d live. The Seraphites came into view and she and Manny took them out. A bit of panic stuck in Abby knowing they didn’t have much time to get to the safe as they jogged over there.

Manny took the opportunity to speak to her with their remaining seconds. “I’m glad to hear he’s there with you. Owen loves you, you know that? He loves you so much.”

Abby’s heart skipped. She knelt in front of the safe and fumbled the lock open, her hands sweaty and picking up the hefty amount of pills and parts within. “I know, I do too. I just—”

Manny put a hand in her shoulder. “Abs. Just take advantage of this place. Just be happy alright? You deserve it.”

This conversation was more stressful than the encounter to Abby. “I—I know I just...”

“Abs. Just do it. Okay? I’ll see you sometime soon and you tell me how it goes.”

“Manny, I—-“

There room cut out and Abby soon felt herself transported back to the hideout, frazzled and shook by the last encounter. She hated she had so little time with Manny, she needed hours to talk to him, like she could back him her other timeline, when they were best friends and roommates. Before that went so wrong too.

“Hey. You okay?” She heard his warm voice beside her, Owen was there holding two steaming mugs.

Abby sniffed and rubbed her eyes under the sunglasses, brushing him off. “Yeah. What’s that?”

Owen handed her one of the metal mugs. “Espresso with moonshine. For some reason there’s a lot of coffee in here now. Don’t know where it came from.”

“Hmm,” replied Abby, pulling her attention to the cup and taking a sip. She made a face at the strong taste but she figured she could get used to it. “Oh. Interesting.”

“Well, I think it’s good.” Owen scoffed and chuckled. He obviously still wanted some answers from her. He reached out a hand to her elbow. “How was seeing Manny, that go okay?”

The next sip was slightly better, it warmed her stomach up. “Yeah. It was very brief though. We got to say about ten words to each other.” Abby went down the stairs and sat down on the couch, pulling her backpack off as well. She was starting to feel a little tired, a little overwhelmed.

Owen went down beside her, looking like he wanted to put his hand on her shoulder or something, but he kept his distance. “Damn. I wish we could all be here at the aquarium at once. The rest of the Crew too, I miss them.”

The image of Manny’s face being blown off in front of her flashed in her mind. Something in Abby just snapped, how could they both be acting like any of this was okay and as if they didn’t remember what had happened?

“Yeah? Well, you all died. And it was my fault.” She clutched the mug and turned her head to the side, clenching her teeth.

There was a painfully long pause before Owen spoke up, breaching the subject. “I’m not dead here, Abs. I’m not a ghost or something. Here I’m alive and as are you.”

Owen put one hand on her arm over her jacket and squeezed, but just that gesture wasn’t enough, and he put down his mug and clasped her hand with his. His warm, soft, familiar hand. Abby bit her lip and looked down at it, that was real.

His voice was soft. “Can I just say something, Abby? I know it’s weird, and we probably shouldn’t even think about it because it wasn’t us per say but… I’m sorry about how things went down in Jackson. And Seattle. I fucked up a lot.”

“You’re saying to me? ” Abby could feel the tears welling until they finally spilled. “I saw what happened to you, how terribly things ended up. And I’m so sorry for the way I acted, for everything. If I’d just–”

“Abby, hey—-“ She felt his arms wrap around her and instinctively Abby buried her face into his neck and shoulder, his shoulder and chest where even here they were scarred with burns. The sunglasses were in the way and she pulled them off, now more comfortably pressed against Owen’s warm, live body. To be here next to him after everything she remembered was more than Abby felt she deserved.

Owen murmured into her ear, “Don't blame yourself. Please. All is forgiven, okay? You know I love you, always.” He rubbed a hand over her back, calming her. “I’m just grateful to be here with you, let’s not overthink it.”

Abby steadied her breath and slowly got a grip on herself. She wiped her tears with her fist and lifted her head from his shoulder, composing herself. “Yeah. Okay, you’re right. I’ll try my best.” She pulled the copper mug back to her face. “Maybe finishing this will help.”

Owen chuckled and rubbed her back around in circles like he’d used to to calm her down. “Probably. I think I should just get this done.”

Owen took his hand off her as she stood and downed the last of the drink. He took her empty cup, “That ought to amp you up a little.” He hesitated and watched her put her backpack back on. “I’ll miss you, though. I get it’s been overwhelming and you need a break.”

Abby struggled to look him in the eyes and put the sunglasses back on. “Yeah. I just need to wrap my head around some things.”

Going up the stairs, Abby went and finished with her bartering, buying the shotgun and some parts and then upgrading her weapons. Taking her pills as well she was well equipped for her second to last encounter. 

“Ohhh, infected,” mused Owen, looking at the next encounter’s stats. “Weird mods too, good luck. Seriously.”

Abby studied the board, “Just this and then the boss. I’m loaded up, I’ll be good. I’ll get as many supplies as I can through the round for the boss.”

Owen’s arms were crossed and he was rolling on his heels again. “Well, I trust your judgement.”

Abby reached out and squeezed his shoulder. “Owen. Don’t worry. I’ll be back.”

Owen looked in the eyes, serious behind the sarcasm. “You better.”

Round Five. Assault. Three Waves. Infected. Raining Molotovs, Increased Speed after Vaulting.

Abby knew she had to try out this increased speed mod and jumped some crates around the shipping yard as she gathered supplies and dodged the flaming bottles from the sky. It was weird feeling her legs move faster than she anticipated, but still was a welcome addition. 

There were hordes of infected this time and it wasn’t easy. Abby knocked out some runners with her shotgun but soon got grabbed by a stalker. Struggling to push it off and seeing more approach, Abby shived the stalker and bolted to the other side of the map. She aimed her revolver at the clicker and took it out, catching her breath and crafting more supplies. The next rounds didn’t get easier, the infected found her quickly, she ran through ammo, and her reinforced axe was ready to break apart. 

The vaulting came into handy again in the third round, Abby managed to run far enough to heal after a runner had banged her up good. Soon it was just her and two evasive stalkers, one got his leg blown off and the other met her fists crushing its skull into the wall. Abby gasped for breath, feeling pain throughout her body, yet she still jogged to pick up as much loot as she could before feeling herself be torn away once more.

The sharp pains turned dull, pulsing through her body as she acclimated once more to the world.

“Ohh— Abby, hey you okay? You don’t look so good.” Nearly at once Abby felt Owen come up behind her and grab her by the arms, helping her stumble over to the couch.

“I’m—just get a med kit from my bag and I’ll be fine.” Abby’s head was spinning but she knew that’d do the trick. She closed her eyes and heard Owen shuffle through her bag, and get the kit. Those magic fucking kits, he wrapped the gauze around her arm and the pain just melted out of her into it. Abby opened her eyes. “Fuck. Yeah, that did it.”

Owen made sure the bandage was snug and looked at her intently, “What happened?”

Abby shook her head, “Oh, you know. Stalkers cornered me and slapped the shit out of me. I made it though.” She looked at the supply cache and squeezed Owen’s hand before she got up. “Hopefully there’s enough in here for me to buy some ammo. I need to stock up for the boss.”

Owen followed her from a distance. “Yeah, I saw what the boss was. It said ‘Rattler Captain.’ I’ve never heard of them. Looks like dudes in tank tops and helmets.”

Abby felt her blood run cold and went to the board to look. “Rattlers?”

She could feel Owen looking at her strangely. “Yeah. You know them? I guess it was after my time.”

Abby shut her eyes and focused on the memories from her other self. “I— I only remember some things. This other history gets hazy after Seattle. But me and Lev took your boat to Santa Barbara. We made contact with the Fireflies, we were going to go meet them—“

“Wait, wait, wait.” Owen grips her by the shoulder, “You actually fucking found the Fireflies in Santa Barbara?”

Abby stopped and rolled her eyes, knowing what he was going to say, “Yes!”

Owen lets out a bark of a laugh, “Fuck! I fucking told you! The regroup! Holy shit!”

Abby smiled for a moment at his reaction and nodded, but remembering the immediate pain that followed that moment, she couldn’t keep the feeling for long. Owen caught on and his face dropped in concern, seeing the look on her face.

“Abs. No, what happened?”

Abby couldn’t look at him and stared out the window. “Just… we got captured by these Rattler fuckers right afterwards. They’re slavers. They tortured us, fucked with us… it was months of hell.” Abby restrained herself from describing the full flashes of what she was remembering. She’d knew it would upset Owen even more than it was upsetting her to dig into it. “I can just… remember the starvation.” She gripped her stomach, remembering the empty feeling, how her muscles wasted away.

“Abby.” Owen’s voice was full of concern and he wrapped his arms around her pulling her close, putting his hand on her back and rubbing circles. “Fuck. Why didn’t you tell me?”

In full truth she didn’t want to remember or delve into those memories, “I don’t know. I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t want think think about that at all. And I didn’t even have to face them until now.”

Owen’s strong warm arms brought her close to her chest and another embrace. She’d needed this these past few months, years. Just human comfort. Hearing his heartbeat put her at ease and slowed hers from a potential panic attack or breakdown. Everything was alright here in this room with Owen. Abby inhaled his familiar scent and held him back with her arms. This world was something of a blessing, despite the violence she was brought here to do.

Finally, Abby let Owen go. “I should stock up for this boss battle. I want to make it through this time.” 

“Yeah, sure.” Owen dropped his hands and she heard him sniff, he’d probably cried a little. Fuck, Abby hadn’t wanted to distress him, she hadn’t wanted to distress herself either during these runs, but the more she grounded herself in this reality the more that seemed to happen. She snuck a peek at Owen over her shoulder as she crafted. She hoped this all could be fun again.

Abby upgraded and stocked up on supplies, she didn’t know what to expect but she had a good amount of ammo. Finally turning to Owen to say goodbye, his face was deadly serious. 

“Give me one of your guns, I’m coming with you.”

“What?” Abby was stunned. 

“I want to go in there and help you, I don’t have any guns of my own so I’ll need one or two of yours.”

Abby glanced at the board. “But you don’t… play this game. You never come along. Is that even possible?”

Owen shuffled into his cargo pants pocket and pulled out a small picture of himself. He pinned it next to the boss picture. “Yeah, it’s allowed. The rules can change. I want to kill these fuckers with you, will you let me?”

Abby stared at the picture and sighed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Well. You can have my pistol for sure.” Owen’s serious mouth turned up slightly as she handed it to him. “And I think I want to keep the shotgun, so take the rifle too.”

Owen took her rifle, which had been painted in a subtle zebra print pattern. He checked the gears and looked it over, before slinging it over his shoulder. “My backpack is empty, I don’t think this place accounted for me to come along. But I’ll make do with these, I’ll brick them to death, whatever you need.”

Abby couldn’t help but feel a bit bashful Owen had changed his tune on violence so quickly just for her. “I’m sure you’ll be a big help. But, you’ll be okay right? Like if you die, you’ll come back?”

This wasn’t something it looked like Owen had considered, rubbing his neck. “Uh yeah, probably. I’ll try my best to not find out.” He looked her in the eyes, “Worth it though, even to get to spend this time with you. Fight side by side.”

Abby bit her lip, reaching her emotional limit for the day. “Okay, if that’s what you want.” She put a hand on his shoulder and took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Round Six. Boss Fight: Rattler Captain.

They arrived in Santa Barbara, a section of the Rattler base Abby wasn’t too familiar with, with planters and storage containers. Abby was expecting a good amount of them and quickly started gathering supplies. Her heart was pounding already.

“It’s okay, Abs.” Owen told her, picking up a brick. “We got this. Don’t worry.”

Abby nodded but struggled to steady herself. What if she saw that large Rattler Ryan again or someone else she knew? She still could remember what they had done to her and Lev. Before Abby had time to think it through, the timer had run out and the Rattlers were heading in.

Owen crouched beside her as Abby peaked out from the planters. The Rattlers had dogs too, and they were getting close fast. There wasn’t much use in being sneaky for long. “On me,” Abby whispered, first letting a crossbow shot off on a dog and getting the handler in the head before she could cry out. It wasn’t much use though, as seconds later their disruption was noticed. 

“We’re going in,” Abby told Owen. 

“I’ve got you,” he responded, and they let off shots into the approaching Rattlers. Her hunter pistol was slow but Abby picked off another Rattler with it as Owen filled a heavily armored Rattler with rifle bullets before he finally went down. The so-called Rattler Captain was up top a structure with a skull painted on his helmet, and Abby only caught a glimpse of him before she was knocked back on her ass from a rifle bullet. 

“Fuck!” Abby swore, struggling to get back on her feet. Owen pulled her arm up but it shot full of pain. “Let’s run!” She told him as they moved positions. “Cover me!” Abby cried as she pulled out a med kit, wrapping her upper arm. There was no way she’d allow them to lose this fight. 

Another dog was one their tail and Abby shot a shotgun shell through it as a Rattler screamed in fury. “Fuck you!” Abby howled back, aiming her hunter pistol at the visored head.

Suddenly Abby felt herself lurch back, the hard wood handle of an axe at her throat, choking her. She could tell it was the Rattler captain and she panicked, squirmed, her eyes searching for Owen, her hands pressing the axe off her throat. Her mind was going numb as she strained, but that only made her remember this Rattler captain more, his cruel words to her, the way he beat her, how he’d been there when she and Lev were strung up on the Pillars to die…

“No!” Abby heard, and the clang of a brick against a hard helmet. The axe fell off of Abby’s neck and she coughed and sputtered, struggling to regain realization. Then she heard the bang of the Rattler’s rifle, and Owen’s fall backwards. Abby lost her cool, hurling her upgraded spiked crowbar into the Rattler Captain’s throat.

“Not this time,” Abby growled to the man’s slackening face before kicking his body back. There was only a Rattler or two left, and they were soon upon her. Abby dodged one’s machete and pummeled her melee weapon into the Rattler’s skull, feeling the rush. The last Rattler left was stuck hiding behind a building, and Abby decided to take a moment behind cover and take a breath and see how Owen was. He was crouched, holding a hand to his chest, blood seeping through his fingers. 

“Owen!” Abby yelped seeing the shape he was in. A flash of his still corpse came into her mind. Putting her hand on his wound, it was still warm and pulsing blood, unlike how it’d been when she’d found him in the Aquarium.

“I’m okay,” Owen choked out, pale and clearly on his last breaths, “Just finish it. You got this.”

“You’re not okay,” Abby insisted, pulled out her last medkit. “Take this.”

Owen pushed it back. “It’ll be over soon. I’ll see you again. That is, I will if you choose to visit.”

“Of course I will,” Abby told him, she put a hand to his cheek. She hated to see him in pain and extend his suffering, but she didn’t want to leave him.

Owen’s look to her left much unspoken, she knew he wanted to say more. “Finish it, Abs. Then just return again and it’s all good. Okay?”

Abby nodded, tears stuck in her eyes, clouding her vision. She could hear the Rattler goading her, saying terrible things to her, and Abby aimed her hunter pistol. The last Rattler woman came into sight and Abby pulled the trigger and she promptly slumped to the ground. 

Abby only had time to look at Owen before they were pulled out of this world, he was smiling, despite all the blood and pain. “I knew you had it in you,” he told her and she smiled sadly back, until they both faded away until a time that they were called again to return.