Across the Deadzone

Chapter 21: Ophelia

The showers were in a back room almost as massive as the warehouse just outside.
Well, half of the room was taken up by giant water tanks with pipes that ran outside to collect rainwater, and the other half were the actual showers. There were about ten stalls, each divided by a thin curtain of various colors.
Wystan was right behind me, his mouth hanging open at the operation they had going on here.
"You know," he began, heading to the closest unoccupied stall, "there was a time when I took showers for granted."
I nodded absently, pulling back the curtain of the first empty stall. The tiles were old and covered in sand, like a beach house, but surprisingly free of mold.
"See you in thirty," I told him with a devilish grin, snapping the shower curtain shut.

The shower water felt like warm summer rain. It splattered against my face and body, washing the days' sand and grime off my skin.
In the stall beside mine, Wystan let out a giddy laugh.
"I'm staying here," he said through the curtain, trying to keep his voice low so only I could hear him. "This is my home now."
I was about to say something to encourage that, telling him that he'd be safe, but I bit my tongue, knowing that he'd meant it as a joke.
After a time that felt closer to five minutes than the thirty that I wanted, the water shut off automatically. I let out a groan, grabbing a beige towel off the hook to help stave off the oncoming shivers. How had they rigged up that fancy water system in a place like this?
As I slipped my clothes on, the wave of tiredness finally hit me. I could only imagine how Wystan was faring, considering he wasn't used to early mornings and late nights like I was.
Tying my hair up, I stepped out from behind the curtain, fighting off a yawn. I was ready to curl up beside Timber and sleep in that giant bed.
Wystan wasn't finished getting dressed yet, so I called out to him. "You didn't fall asleep in there, did you?"
"Almost," he said, stepping out, fully clothed. "I'm lucky you called me when you did or it would've been lights out."
I poked him in the chest. "No, you don't get to make jokes. I'm still mad at you." I spun on my heel and made my way back to the main section of the warehouse before he caught up to me.
"You're mad at me for being concerned about your wellbeing?" he asked like I was being the crazy, reckless one.
Maybe we both were.
I ignored his query as I flopped down on my temporary bed. Timber hustled over and laid down at my side, absolutely exhausted.
By now, the warehouse was at maximum capacity, every bed filled. Turning to Wystan's claimed bed, I started, "We're lucky we got here when we did or we'd be sleeping on-"
Wystan wasn't paying attention, his gaze fixed on something by the door. Looking in the same direction, my eyes fell on a young woman, a baby cradled to her chest. She looked crestfallen and nervous.
I knew what he was planning to do and- contrary to popular belief- I did have a heart, so I didn't stop him, even as he got up and made his way through the crowd toward her.
I watched their interaction with grim resolve. The woman nearly burst into tears when he opened his mouth. He put a gentle arm around her shoulders and steered her back to his spot, quickly clearing off his mattress for her to take.
He turned to me with a sheepish smile on his face. "Do you think we could..." he trailed off, gesturing to the bed.
I sighed, pushing my stuff off the bed so he'd have some space before I scooted myself over. The woman and her baby were quietly positioning themselves on the other mattress.
Wystan laid down next to me so that we were facing each other. It reminded me of the sleepovers we used to have.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly. The lights flickered off above us, plunging the room into total darkness.
"I hate you," I whispered back but the words were more sarcastic than angry. "I have to share my bed with you and a dog, and now I have to sleep next to a baby."
He chuckled before falling quiet, thinking through his words. "I meant about me coming along."
"Oh." I hesitated for a second. I didn't really know how I felt as a whole. I was angry at him for risking his life, especially when he was so inexperienced. But I was also relieved. I wouldn't have to make the last leg of my journey alone. "I don't know."
In the faint light, I saw him nod, a lopsided smile touching his face. "Let me know when you do. Good night, Ophelia." He turned his back towards me, his breathing steady.
"Good night, Wystan," I whispered, closing my eyes in an attempt to sleep.

Sometime in the middle of the night- or possibly early morning- I felt something wrap around my middle.
My muscles tensed before I remembered that Wystan had been laying beside me when I'd fallen asleep. I tried to wiggle my way out of his grasp without waking him up, but to no avail. He had me in a vice-like grip.
"Wystan," I whispered sharply, not wanting to disturb anyone else in the warehouse. Still, Timber's head rose at the sound of my voice, and I reached over and patted her head.
Wystan groaned softly, mumbling something into my ear that I couldn't quite make out. Rolling my eyes, I wriggled around so that I was facing him, still pulled tight against his chest. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him.
His eyes- glazed and drowsy from the long day he's had- fluttered open, finally fixing on me.
"Is it time to go?" he asked groggily, still not realizing where his arms were, or the position we were currently in.
"No, not yet," I whispered.
"Okay." He closed his eyes again, falling back to sleep in a matter of seconds.
For some reason, a small smile crept onto my face, and I couldn't find it in me to wake him up again. Besides, it did feel good to be held, even if indulging in the contact felt like I was betraying Becka somehow.
Cautiously, feeling like I was doing something wrong, I wrapped my arms around Wystan, nuzzling my face into my chest, all while being careful of my injured arm. Knowing that he was once again in a deep slumber, I whispered, "I wish you hadn't come here, Wys."