ꜰʟɪɢʜᴛʏ

✂︎Chapter Four✂︎

ROBIN STARED AT THE TV that was streaming the news live. He stared, his mouth hanging open.

Just on the other side of town, two people had been repeatedly shot and had still come at the police, being shot in the torso and legs, only stopping when one of the officers put a bullet in their head.

Robin rubbed his face as he grabbed the remote and shut the TV off. "This isn't good. This isn't good at all" he repeated, having nothing else to say.

Matt was wiping at his face, his breath going back and forth between short gasps and calm breathing.

They sat in the dark living room, the only sound being Matt's inconsistent breathing.
It took half an hour for Matt to finally come down from his state of panic and finally speak about what must've sent him spiraling in the first place. "My aunt and uncle aren't here," he murmured, his voice shaky and raspy. "They should've been back an hour ago. What if something happened? What'll happen to me? Oh god, Robin!"

Robin gave Matt a side hug and gave his shoulder some gentle pats. "I'm sure it's okay, Matt. I'm sure they're okay," he reassured, rubbing his friend's shoulder. "You saw the traffic on TV. I guarantee they're just stuck in that mess."

Matt sniffles and rubbed his face aggressively, taking deep breaths. He let out one long, shaky breath and lifted his gaze to look at Robin. "What would we do if they're gone?"

Matt asked it in such a cool manner, it set Robin off. His voice was calm and steady, just a tad raspy, but overall nearly devoid of all emotion.

Robin looked away and scooted away from his emotional friend, staring at the floor. "We'll pack food, scrounge up some weapons, stay here until shit gets bad, and hope that we're ready to face whatever this world becomes when we have to leave town," he said, thinking about every little detail and every situation that could force them out of the house, out of town.

In reality, Robin wasn't prepared for what the future held, and he prayed to whatever gods were above that they wouldn't be forced out of town and into the world before they were prepared. He prayed that Matt's Aunt Chris and Uncle Josh weren't actually gone for good.

///

Matt placed the last can in the cabinet below the sink, pushing the cleaning supplies a little more out of the way.

For the past three hours Robin had Matt doing any little task he could think up to keep his mind from wandering.

Chris and Josh still weren't back.

Robin went to the window and pulled back one of the blinds to peek out.

Everything was still. No one or anything stirred outside. The world outside felt dead, the only "alive" thing being the orange glow coming from the street lights.

Robin stepped away from the window and looked around. Matt sat on the floor by the cabinet, staring at the floor, breathing softly. Robin sighed and rubbed his eyes. Despite the two-hour nap, weariness seemed to pull at Robin's body and mind again. He went over and sat next to Matt. "What's the time?" He asked gently.

Matt looked up and stared for a minute, slowly blinking, before he let a soft 'Oh!' skip out. He clicked the little button on his watch and looked at it. "12:48 AM. Six hours and thirteen minutes past the time Chris and Josh were supposed to be back."

Robin looked away from his friend. He had hoped his friend's anxieties over his aunt and uncle had lessened over the past few hours, but they hadn't, not one bit.

They sat together, saying nothing, an uneasy silence falling over them.

///

There was harsh banging on the front door, making Robin and Matt jump. "Who the hell could that be?" Matt grumbled, glaring at the door as the banging continued.

Robin shrugged and peeked out the window a few feet from the door.

A familiar lanky frame topped with fiery red hair stood at the door for a moment before being his fist up and banging on the door again. Robin stepped away and looked at Matt. "It's Conner," he told his blond friend who slumped on the couch.

"Why is Conner here?"

Robin shrugged and hurried over to the door, quickly unlocking and opening it before Conner could start his next round of banging.

The redhead barged in, dragging someone behind him as well. A little girl clutched at Conner's shirt, her messy red curls untamed and sticking out all over.

Robin quickly shut the door and locked it once again, not taking his eyes off his and Matt's other friend.

Matt peered over the back of the couch and then sighed, hunkering back down onto the couch. Robin frowned at his friend's cold behavior and then turned to his other friend. "What's up?" He asked.

Conner gently pried the little girl's hands away and crouched down, whispering something then pointing over to the recliner that Matt's uncle usually sat in. He watched her quickly scurry over and settle down before he gave Robin an answer. "The parents are trying to get us out to the country. Mads and me weren't about to leave our hometown when it needs us."

Robin let out a little huff of amusement at his other friend's stubbornness. "I understand that's your reasoning, but why is Maddy with you?" Robin whispered the last part to avoid bringing the little girl's attention to their conversation.

Conner gave a little shrug. "She followed me out the door and no one stopped her. She just followed silently behind me and I walked just about a mile before she came up to ask to be picked up 'cause her feet hurt. I wasn't about to make her walk back alone or go back myself. So Mads came with me."

Robin sighed and rubbed his face. "Just keep an eye on her. Matt isn't doing so hot- his aunt and uncle haven't come back yet and it's been hours."

Conner nodded and went to sit on the couch Matt was laying on, lifting his feet up and placing them on his lap once he settled down. Robin looked out the little blurry window of the door, staring out for a long moment.
Headlights briefly blinded Robin, the sound of gravel crunching reaching his ears. He unlocked the door and swung it open, crying out, "They're back!"

Matt launched to his feet, jumped over the back of the couch, and charged out the door. The eager boy ran to the car pulling into the driveway.

The headlights went out and the car was dead, with two people climbing out of it. Matt hugged the closest person, being embraced by his aunt and his uncle once he made his way around the car. Robin stood on the first step and watched on, waiting for the little family to finish their loving greeting. Matt peeled away from his aunt and uncle and looked back at Robin, a grin spread across his face.

Robin stepped to the side, making way for his friend to lead the adults into the house. Robin heard Matt filling them in on the things that have happened since he got home, including Conner and Maddy showing up.

Robin also saw the unsure glance Chris and Josh shared at the mention of the extra children residing in their home.

The brunette boy frowned at the adults' silent response. There's no way they'd send away a bunch of children, right?