I Have To Protect Them - Cleofis Drisen

Chapter Seven: Lost For Words Part 2

"It's all up to us. There is no civilization here, not until we make one. So what are we going to do? First I think we have no choice but to share, share food, resources" Cassandra said addressing everyone, except Harry questioned, "houses?" They glared at each other. "Maybe" she informed and Harry snarled, "fuck you!" "Really? How much electricity do we have? Until it's all used up and everything goes dark. I think 225 people in 220 houses doesn't make sens-" Allie pointed out standing up and she was cut off by someone yelling "KEEP WHAT'S OURS!" The voice was male and I looked to see who it was, only I couldn't tell because there were way too many people. Cassandra faced everyone claiming, "what is yours? Do you have money? Who you gonna pay? The things you need to live, food, clothes, the stuff in the stores, no one owns them." I nodded, agreeing with her and Will stated, "are we gonna fight each other for food? That's fucking crazy." "And that's because you have nothing and some of us have things that others want, right Will? Like houses or girlfriends?" Harry sarcastically grumbled, glaring at Will. Will stared back and shot out, "right Harry. I have no house. The place I used to live in is outside of town. It doesn't exist. You want me to live out on the streets?" Harry laughed at him, "you can live wherever you want, just not with me." Allie backed Will up by offering "you can stay with us." Harry got off the table and headed for the exit. "I don't have to listen to this" Harry huffed, while Cassandra approached him, pleading, "Harry. Harry, this has nothing to do with you and m-" but she was interrupted by a gunshot. 

Greg immediately grabbed me, pulled me to the floor, and covered me. I huddled into him and held on tight to his shirt. I was uncontrollably shaking from fear. I moved away from him to grab my backpack and I shakily unzipped my backpack. Greg gripped my other arm with a death grip as I moved. There was a bunch of screaming and murmuring, then it went deathly quiet. I grabbed my mask, turned the knob on my oxygen tank, and struggled to breathe. Tears brimmed my eyes and I grabbed Greg with my free hand. He squeezed me tighter to him. All of the sudden Campbell's voice spoke, "well fuck this. Harry's right. No one elected you king cousin. Anybody vote for her? Did they? Anybody elect her to speak on your behalf? No?" Cassandra came out from her hiding place and held her hand out as she shakily said " I don't want to be king." I wanted so badly to get up and cover her because I knew she was the only person that could keep us afloat, except Greg held me tight when I tried to move. "Don't you dare" he snarled down at me, making me freeze. "That's not what it looks like. Is it?" Campbell wondered, raising his gun to aim at Cassandra. I felt my chest tighten and I turned so that my face was in Greg's chest. I didn't want to see my new friend get shot, I really like her. "I've thought a lot about dying. I've almost gotten used to that, but I don't like to be afraid. Do you want chaos? Then fucking shoot me" Cassandra told Campbell. I felt my heart sink and I prayed that Campbell would just lower his gun. I immediately thought Campbell was an ass when he chuckled, "I don't want to shoot you. I wanted to get everybody's attention. This meetings obviously over. We'll be back when Luke gets here. Till then if anyone else is tired of listening to her, then you can follow me." Greg released me and I looked to see Campbell begin to leave. Harry, Kelly, and a few others went to follow him, but they all stopped abruptly when the door flung open. I knew why the second I saw Luke and my breath disappeared again. He was carrying Emily, princess style. She wasn't moving and hundreds of questions flooded my brain. She was either extremely sick or dead. Grizz followed right behind Luke and my heart knew from their expressions. She was dead.

I knew Emily was quite well because her parents were good friends with my aunt, so we had spent some quality time together. We'd hung out when her mom and my aunt would go out together. I really like her too. She was kind, smart, and super talented. As I watched them walk, time seemed to slow down. It felt like they were never going to get to the front, like I was going to be sick, my heart was going to explode, and my breathing made me dizzy. As I swayed, Greg wrapped his arms around me from behind. I started to cry into his sleeve of his navy sweater that he was wearing. As Luke reached the front, he commanded "somebody clear the table." Grizz and a few others cleared the crap from the table onto the floor. Mostly everyone gathered around the table when Luke and Grizz gently laid Emily down on the table. I loved how gently they were with her. Greg had lead me so that we were near the front of the crowd. It was like I couldn't move on my my own and my legs were broken. I stared at her lifeless body and took a shaky breath. I was trying and failing at staying calm. I could barely hear Luke as he spoke, even though I was only a few feet away from him. All of my senses disappeared, except for my sight. I couldn't hear or feel anything but pain, excruciating pain. "She died from a snake bite. Her whole body just shut down. We did everything we could, but we couldn't save her" Luke said shakily, and I whispered "anaphylactic shock", making a few people glance at me, including Grizz. When Grizz's eyes met mine, all I could see was the immense pain and anguish he was hiding. Grizz then said "so were gonna bury her tomorrow before it starts to smell. So I'm gonna need a couple of guys, Clark?" I flinched when he said 'it' because he should have said her. It's still her.