Greetings Earthlings,
For the few that kept up with this story when I originally wrote it, I apologize for not writing the end sooner. I will take all criticism for that, so swear, scream, troll, I'll take it since I almost abandoned it. In truth I have never written an ending to anything, and it took me a long, long time to get over writer's block and get the confidence to finish this. I think I let a lot of comments influence my storylines and I strayed off the path I created for Oliver and AJ. Again, if you want to bitch me out, go ahead! Its frustrating getting invested in something like this and then not getting an end, I too know that. But if you're gracious enough to give this a read, I'd love a nudge in the right direction on how to end a story successfully. This chapter does not have as much sexy fun as my other chapters, but I needed to give AJ and Oliver the ending they deserve. Stay safe during these apocalyptic times.
AJ woke suddenly in her bed from a large figure pouncing on top of her. She peeled her eyes open, seeing she was trapped between Oliver's long arms.
"Wake up," he said, giving her a shake.
AJ rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head. It was too early for him to come breaking into her home already.
"Get ready, we're going."
AJ groaned and said, "No, not yet."
Oliver snatched the blanket and pulled it off of her. "We're going to Alaska, now."
"Wait, today?" she said, rubbing her eyes.
"Yes, today. I don't want to wait. Come on, get your stuff. Dress warm."
AJ grumbled, shaking herself awake as he sat back on the bed. She stumbled to her kitchen and started making a pot of coffee, in such a daze she accidentally poured some of the water on her counter. As it brewed, she took a quick shower and stuffed a backpack with her warmest clothes.
Oliver seemed very impatient as she drank a cup of coffee at her kitchen table, smoking a cigarette while coming to life.
Oliver grabbed her backpack, standing next to her. "Hurry up, we're flying."
AJ sighed and her head drooped. She hated flying. She hated airports, and she did not like being shot into the sky in a metal tube. Spaceships, maybe, but not commercial planes.
She never felt like she woke up as they drove to the airport right outside downtown. They didn't talk much, but Oliver looked extremely excited. She dearly wished she'd had Xanax or some sort of tranquilizer.
After anxiously going through customs they made it to their flight. Surprisingly the airplane did not have as many passengers as she would've thought. But then again, who wants to go to Alaska? She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to nap to make the flight seem as short as possible.
When she felt Oliver shaking her shoulder, she opened her eyes and looked out the window. Somehow, she had managed to sleep the entire way. They landed in Fairbanks, somewhere in the middle of Alaska. It didn't look as desolate as she imagined it would.
Oliver managed to rent a car outside of the airport, driving through nothingness for what seemed like hours. They weren't in a completely barren area, but homes were few and far between the farther they drove.
When they made it to their destination, AJ looked at the clock on her flip-phone. It was definitely daytime, but it looked as if it was midnight. She looked up to see a fairly small wood cabin. Nothing special, nothing fancy.
AJ grabbed her backpack and shuffled through the snow to the door, trying to avoid the freezing cold at all costs. Oliver grabbed his belongings and pulled a key from his flannel pocket, unlocking the door and letting her dash in.
The inside was already warm. She looked around curiously as Oliver dropped their stuff next to the door and started to wander through the cabin, checking lights and sinks. The furniture, the walls, everything was wooden, with the exception of an obnoxious number of blankets in the small living room and a large wood burning furnace. It reminded her of the motel. He had weird taste, something she wouldn't have guessed by seeing his own apartment in the city.
After thoroughly inspecting the cabin Oliver came to find her lying on her side on the couch, already snuggling with a blanket. "How is the heat already on?" she asked.
Oliver leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets. He shrugged and replied, "I have someone who takes care of it. I don't come here very much."
AJ sat up and turned to look at him. "So, um, why exactly are we here?"
Oliver came and sat next to her, pulling his pack of cigarettes from his pocket. "I have some books to return."
"Wait, what? Like to a library?"
Oliver nodded and lit his cigarette.
AJ was appalled, and quite frankly a little angry. They certainly did not need to fly into the middle of nowhere to return some books. He could've just paid over the phone or mailed them. "Are you serious?" she asked, convinced he was joking.
Oliver took a drag and gave her a serious expression. "They're very overdue."
AJ rolled her eyes, dramatically enough that he noticed. "Oh come on," he said, wrapping an arm around her and keeping her close. "You'll like it here I promise."
"Okay," she huffed.
"Get up, I'll show you around," he said, standing and pulling her up with him.
She took the blanket with, clutching it to her chest as he took her around the corner. He showed her a tiny kitchen and a surprisingly nice bathroom. As he led her towards the two rooms ahead, she stopped at a skinny door.
"What's in here?" She asked, pointing to it.
Oliver tilted his head to the side. "That's where I keep the monsters."
AJ's eyes narrowed suspiciously. That could mean a lot of things. She almost hoped there was a monster. Who knows, maybe there's some lab experiment gone wrong, or a secret mythological beast. Very unlikely, but a girl can dream.
She didn't break eye contact as she reached for the small handle. She moved as slowly as possible, testing to see if he would stop her. But he didn't, he just leaned against the wall and let her open it.
"Oh," she said, not sure whether to be intimidated or not. It was a small gun closet, but it was stuffed and not well organized. It looked to be all rifles, some of them very old and worn. With the exception of the Springfield he cleaned next to her and ones displayed in museums, she had never been so close to one.
Oliver started to rummage through the closet, going through the rifles in order. "Hm. I bet you'd be a Winchester gal if it wasn't so heavy. You'd look great carrying that. Ah, what about this one?" he asked, pulling one of the older looking one. He looked from her back to the gun. "Never mind, I wouldn't want to break your shoulder." He put it neatly back in place and kept searching. "Here we go," he said triumphantly. "Here, hold this."
AJ gave him a nervous look, uneasy to even touch it.
"Oh, don't be a baby. I don't just keep loaded guns around. Just hold it."
AJ sighed and carefully picked it out of his hands.