The End Of Nothing And The Beginning Of It All

Chapter Twenty One: Henry

Hope was right. I can't believe I ever doubted her. I was still finding it all hard to believe but I knew she wouldn't make this up. I had someone I needed to protect now. It wasn't just me anymore. I made it my mission to find out what was going on. After speaking with Hope, I returned to the barrier to continue my guard duties. The guys all started chatting to each other as always. I was desperately trying to find a way to ask some questions without raising any suspicions.
"Have any of you seen that some people have gone missing?" I asked.
"No I haven't" one said, not really caring.
"Some of the oldies have probably just popped their clogs" another said laughing.
"Maybe they've been kicked outside for slacking" one joined in laughing
"It's not funny" I said defensively without thinking.
"What's gotten into you Henry. Have you been spending too much time with that Hope girl? She's trouble" he asked.
"She's isn't trouble. And what did you say about them being chucked outside?" I questioned angrily.
"Oh don't listen to them Henry. They're only messing around"
"If your girlfriend keeps slacking at her job maybe she'll be next" two of them joked together.
"Don't you talk about her like that. This is serious, people are going missing" I said back.
"Henry it sounds like you need to have a break. Go back and have a rest until tomorrow. We have not been informed about anyone being missing so I'm not sure where you've got this idea from but I would say it's probably just a made up story going round camp to scare people" the more senior guard who was on duty explained to me. I no longer have the patience or energy to continue to argue with them. But I think I had got some answers even if it was indirectly. I went back to my room to get some sleep. However, theories kept racing through my head as I closed my eyes. I could tell this was going to be a long night.