Maybe After Tomorrow (Hatchetfield)

Chapter 20

Snow blew about in the air, making Henry and Ted shiver despite the numerous layers they were wearing. They trudged through about six inches of snow, Ted complaining about the water in his shoes at least once every five minutes. Henry's response every time was, "I did tell you converse were a bad idea."
     After about half an hour, they found themselves crossing into Clivesdale and approaching a huge building. It was completely white, at least three floors high, unless they just had exceptionally high ceilings, and too square to fit in with it's surroundings. Or really any place. There had obviously been no consideration for the aesthetic of the outside when it had been built.
     Nobody really knew what it was, it had always been there. But Henry and Ted suspected they had in idea for whet it might be. They approached a door round the back of the building and Henry took something out of his backpack.
     "What's that?" Ted asked.
     "Hair pin."
     "May I ask why you own hair pins?"
     "I'll leave that to your imagination." Henry grinned up at Ted before pushing the pin into the lock and jiggling it about.
     Ted's eyes widened, "I really hope my suspicion is right because I'd love to see that."
     "And what is your suspicion?"
     "You used to have long hair?"
     Henry stood up, pushing the door open, "Not a word to anybody."
     Ted laughed, his eyes alight, "Not as long as I get pictures."
     "Fine."
     The two walked inside the building, trying their best to be quiet. Ted wasn't sure he could do it, but he was determined not to fuck this up. He had to see Paul again. And he really wanted everyone else to enjoy their Christmas. Especially Henry. And he knew there was no chance of Henry enjoying it if Emma was miserable.
     The corridors were all white and the lights were unsettlingly bright. It was vaguely similar to a hospital. Except it was eerily quiet. No loud beeping, no doctors running back and forth, no angry people waiting, complaining of minor inconveniences as some people fought for their lives. Just silence.
     Until they turned a corner and were stopped by a man. His boots, trousers and jacket were all black, as was the hat perched on top of his jaw-length hair. He stood with his hands on his hips and wore a blank expression except for one raised eyebrow.
     "And just what do you two think you're doing here?"
     Henry didn't see a point in lying. "We heard from somebody who survived the meteor and suspected he might be here."
     "This person doesn't happen to be named Paul Matthews, do they?"
     "Yes, in fact, he does."
     "He's been giving us quite a bit of trouble. Saying he has to try to contact his girlfriend who survived. Even though there were no other survivors."
     "Actually, there were. There's Ted here and a few others living at my house. I managed to save them just after the meteor hit."
     The man's eyes widened, "You haven't told anybody of what happened, have you?"
     "Not a soul."
     "Good. We couldn't have anybody outside of Hatchetfield knowing."
     "We won't say a word."
     "Good."
     "Is there any way that we could see Paul? And there are a couple of others."
     The man sighed, then he smiled. "I'm not really supposed to, but if you've got other survivors living with you anyway... Who else do you need?"
     "Tony Green, a teenage girl named Deb and do you know anything about Pamela Foster?"
     "Hm, well, I know who the other two are here but ... hold on, let me check."
     He quickly looked on a computer, "Im sorry. Shes dead"
     "Oh. Okay."
     "I'll take you to Paul now. Oh, I'm general McNamara by the way."
     Henry nodded and they followed General McNamara to Paul's room.
"Oh, one more thing, this is my number so you can contact us if there's anything else you need to know. Or if you need to know about anybody else who may have been affected." General McNamara handed Henry a piece of paper.
Then he opened the door.
     Paul was asleep on a single bed in the middle of the room, wearing all black clothes. Ted walked over and shook his shoulder. "Paul?"
     "Ted?" he said sleepily when he rolled over. "What are you doing here?' then he looked over, 'Professor Hidgens?"
     "Paul, Emma's been so worried about you," Henry said.
     Paul sat up frantically, "Emma... How is she? Where is she?"
     "Asleep at my house. She's all right, apart from worrying about you."
     "How did you find me?"
     "I have my ways," Henry smiled, "Now, come on. We just need to get Tony and Deb then we can get home."
     Paul nodded and stood up, not anticipating the hug from Ted.
     "It's good to see you, Paul."
     He smiled at Ted and the three of them followed General McNamara to the other two rooms until the three of them were outside and Henry was explaining everything that had happened.
     "So, Ethan's been with you?" Tony asked.
     Henry nodded.
     "Is he all right?"
     "He's fine."
     "Good..."
     "What about Alice?" Deb asked nervously.
     "Worried. Everyone's been worried. But she's been okay."
     They walked in silence to the mall so that Paul, Deb and Tony could all get clothes and so that Henry could get presents for the kids. He had to make Christmas somewhat enjoyable.

"Where the fuck is Paul?" Henry asked as they were about to leave.
     They all looked around.
     "No idea," said Ted.
     "I swear to god, I am going to-"
     "Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm here. I just... I had to get a present for Emma."
     "You were three seconds away from me murdering you, Matthews," Henry said.
     "I'm sorry."
     "Let's just get home now."