we meet again ¹ - the 5th wave

VI

the next morning we were all stood by our bunks as reznik inspected everyone. he walked up next to me. seen a small part of my bed was wrinkled. his fist then collided with my stomach i stumbled backwards a little, although it hurt like shit i walked back to my spot holding my chin up. even though i wanted to curl up in a ball on the bed and hold my stomach as i sob. "do you think that a small mistake like that on the field would give your brother vengeance?"

"sir, no, sir." i said trying to even my voice out as well as i could. he looked me up and down. "that dog, tobi. will be joining you guys later this day. when lights out he goes in his cage." reznik demands, on the inside i was thrilled to have my dog back.

after inspection we all sat at the table for breakfast, the food was horrid. i didn't have appetite either. "reznik has a soft spot for stomachs." zombie whispered to me, his hot breath tickling my ear. i looked over at him for a second before looking away. "not a talker?" he asked, "there's no point." i state before looking him dead in the eyes. "why not?" he asked furrowed eyebrows. "because i dont know any of you, i dont care for any of you, and i dont care to know or care for any of you." i said coldly. "what about nugget?" zombie asked raising his eyebrows at me, "he needs to learn the harsh truth of the situation, people change." i say back before looking back at the plain wall. zombie snorted at the words i had just said, i was half tempted to ask him what but didnt.

we were all now doing our laps, and even though i wasn't athletic being in the woods for how long i was you learn to run, and i was in the lead of everyone else, finished first. because i did so reznik made me do twenty knuckle push-ups every five he would press his boot harder angainst my back. i finished although my knuckles were scratched up and bleedling from the concrete i pushed it away.

we were all in the room for extra free time before lunch, reznik came in with tobi by his side as i was polishing my boots, a cage in one hand and a notebook and pencil in the other hand. everyone stood up straight by their bunks. his eyes scanned over everyone before walking up to me, tobi following beside him, he dropped the cage on the ground, "you a drawer? one of those artist who so called draw all their pain on paper that they cant say in words?" he asked in a mocking tone, when he'd say demeaning things like that we'd always have to say, "sir, yes, sir." and i did.

"dr pam told me about your fascination sent me with this." he said raising up the notebook and pencil before dropping it on my bed. "you're to train this mutt to trust every single person in here, got that?" reznik demanded, "starting with private zombie."

"sir, yes, sir."

"good."

after that awkward encounter he walked out of the room, i looked down at tobi with a sigh, "hi, boy." i say getting down to his level petting him, "tobi!" nugget exclaimed before running up to him, tobi recognized sammy off rip, sammys arms wrapped around tobis neck before pulling away. "does that mean amelie is okay?" i looked at sammy or nugget whatever, and shrugged.

we went to our daily twelve o'clock lunch. i sat between zombie and teacup just like breakfast. "we can start the training tomorrow." zombie said to me, i look at him his eyes, dammit why do they look so familiar, "okay." i replied simply before looking at the disgusting food, "you have to eat." he said, i looked at him once again, "if not you're not gonna have strength." he continued, "i dont feel like eating." i replied with narrowed eyes, "cant force you." zombie said with a sigh before giving up. damn right you can't.

after lunch, firing range, dinner, drill instructor,  and now we're back in our rooms for free time. i sit on my bed, tobi at my feet as i sketch out the face of matt, someone is beside me i can feel their presence. i look over to see zombie again, "can you leave me alone?" i asked looking up at him, his brown eyes pouring down on me, "nuggets back to crying about his sister, you know her, can you come and cheer him up." zombie said in a begging tone. "if i do will you leave me the hell alone?" i asked annoyed, "promise." he stated putting his hands up. "okay. deal." i say before getting up walking over to zombies bunk were nugget was hurled up in a fetal position, "nugget?" i say softly sitting down, "hey, come here." i say trying to get his attention.

i rub his back softly, "cassie wouldnt want you to be upset." i say, he turns around with a sniffle, "i want bear." he says sadly, his little puppy dog eyes pear into mine, "come here." i say holding my arms out, he climbs into my lap, "when cassie comes, she'll have bear, she holds onto him with her life." i say with a soft smile before wiping his tears away, "you remember when you, cassie, tommy, amelie and i baked that one cake for your moms birthday, and we made that huge mess? well when your sad think of that. it has your mommy, daddy and cassie." i say with a smile, he smiled imagining the day that we all had batter smeared on our cheeks, powder over the counters and floor, laughs spilled out of our mouths, tobi licked the batter off of sammys face making him exclaim a ew. i tear up at the thought of tommys face his laugh, his smile, "i miss my siblings too you know?" i say trying to explain that i relate to him.

"i love you, lana." he whispered so no one could hear my name, i smile at him, "i love you too, sammy." i whisper back, he reminded me so much of tommy. "now why dont you play with tobi? he looks a little bored huh?" i say pointing to tobi, nugget nods before climbing off my bed before playing fetch with a stick that we brung inside for tobi.

zombie looked at me with raised eyebrows, "wow, thanks." he spoke up, "dont look so surprised." i say narrowing my eyes at him before walking away and sitting on my bed again before lights out. nugget climbed over to zombies bed to do their nightly prayer.

i sighed, i miss cassie too.