Chapter Thirteen
I crept into the room where Landon was sleeping, being careful not to wake him up. He turned away from the door when it opened, groaning softly as the light from the hallway flooded into the room. I pulled the door closed as softly as I could. Landon was fast asleep on the king size bed. The window barriers were locked, so that if any bots were nearby, they wouldn’t be able to detect life here. They didn’t have any x-ray vision as far as we knew. Either way, the barrier thing had supposedly been working, since no one had been detected yet.
“Hannah?” Landon groaned as I changed into some pajamas that one of the girls had lent me.
“Hi, babe. Go back to bed, alright? I’ll be right there.” I smiled at him, zipping up a white hoodie.
“Can we talk?”
I looked back at him. He was sitting up all the way now, his blue eyes visible in the almost pitch darkness of the room.
“Yeah, sure. Turn on the light.” I smiled, motioning toward the old lamp on the bedside table next to him.
He nodded, turning the lamp on. Dim light now filled the room, cloaking some corners that the small light still didn’t reach.
“What’s wrong?” I sat down in front of him on the bed, crossing my legs.
“What’s up between you and Paul?” He stared me in the eyes, and I could see that he was close to tears.
“Nothing, why?” I reached for his hand, but he pulled it away as fast as he could. I drew in a sharp breath, hurt.
“I heard you two. You two talk more than we do. You hang around him more than we do.”
“Baby, that’s just because we sing together. I promise you. I love you, okay? Not Paul. Not anyone else.” I placed my hand on his bicep.
“You promise?” He held my hand in his, his voice breaking.
“I promise, okay? I love you.” I nodded.
“I love you too.”
Light flooded between the boards on the windows, burning into my eyelids, urging me to wake up. A wave of panic rushed over me as I wondered where I was for a second, my heartbeat racing. Then, each one like a punch in the face, all the memories slammed into me.
The robots. Those two whole years. The building. My mother.
I let out a heavy breath, closing my eyes.
Landon’s arms were wrapped around me, his nose pressed against the back of my head softly and our legs intertwined. My fingers were tangled with his, his thumb rubbing my palm softly. I turned, trying as hard as I could not to jolt him up.
“Hey, babe,” I whispered, running a hand through his hair.
He opened one eye, then the other, then both. He smiled softly at me, then I felt him go through the same thing that I went through. Confusion, panic, and then realization.
“Good morning,” He kissed my nose.
The scent of breakfast wafted up from the dining room, slipping through the crack under the door. Drowsy steps were taken from the rooms around us, people still in half-asleep stupors. Sleepy murmurs crept from the hallways, speaking of night terrors and sleepless evenings.
“Sleep well?” I asked, like I always do.
“Is there even anyone who sleeps soundly anymore?” He sighed, taking some wisps of hair from my eyes.
I sighed, knowing he was right. My nights are normally filled with flashbacks and night terrors, jolting me awake almost every time.
“Let’s go downstairs,” I tried to get up, but only to have him pull me back down again.
“But I’m lazy,” He whined playfully, “why don’t we just stay here...?” Leaning in for a kiss.
I pulled away, smiling.
“I’m hungry,” I grinned.
“But I want a kiss...” He frowned, reaching for my hand.
I ran out the door, knowing he was going to follow me either way. He bounded out after me, smiling as I sprinted down the stairs, racing him to the dining room. I was stopped as a big arm wrapped around my abdomen and picked me up.
I laughed as Landon set me down in front of him, his hand on my chin.
“Now can I get a kiss?” He pleaded.
I pressed my lips into his, wrapping my arms around his neck. He held my waist, bringing me closer to him.
“Get a room, gosh,” Lea whined as she walked by with Olivia. I laughed and he pulled away, embarrassed.
We sat down at the table after getting our breakfast, talking lightly and eating.
“Guys,” Iris stood up on her chair.
Everyone quieted down, listening intently to her.
“Today’s groups. Cooking is Josh, Nicole, and Sara. Cleaning, Helen, Rich, Jason, Leigh Anne, and Wendy. Search is Hannah, Landon, me, Milo, and little Bella.” she cooed, bending down to pet her, “Security...”
I looked to Landon. He had a hand on my shoulder, protectively as he stared at Paul, who was on the other side of the room.
I nudged his shoulder with my forehead, my sign to him to stop. He kissed my forehead and hugged me, and all the while I could feel Paul’s sad green eyes burning into the back of my head.
