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( chapter ten, the impending horde. )
NICK COULDN'T SLEEP. His conversation with Sadie along with Alicia rears it's ugly head at him, how his little sister read him like a book and how his older sister wanted to name the baby after him — both kept him from getting rest, his eyes not able to blink closed and he stands from his bed, taking the carton of cigarettes with him to the balcony.
A sigh slips past his chapped lips, taking a cigarette from the carton and lighting it. Nick takes a drag from the cancer stick, inhaling the smoke before puffing the remaining out as the floorboards of the house creaks behind him. At the sound, he whirls around, involuntarily jumping in fright as the familiar figure of Troy stands at the doorway. Dirt covers the expanse of his face, his brown hair a mess as he tiredly leans against the door as he points, "That shit will kill you, Nicky."
Nick looks around, eyes flitting to the night sky before landing back on Troy, his brows furrowed as he softly tells the man, "Uh, you can't be here." Troy makes a face at his words, tired blue eyes looking around as he shrugs, "Here I am." He steps closer to Nick, his movement sluggish, obvious that he hasn't gotten much sleep since his exile. Nick notices, him gesturing to the chair by the door, "Wanna sit down?"
"No." Troy shakes his head, "I can't sit down, 'cause if I sit down then I'm gonna pass out. And I can't pass out 'cause I'm on a mission." Nick's brows pinch together at his words, confusion spreading across his face as he tilts his head to the side. Ignoring the vague statement, he states, "It's good you're alive." Troy smiles, his voice soft as he says, "I don't think you believe that. But you saved me in your own way, so. . ." He lightly shakes his head side to side, hands slightly going up from his sides before going slack as he continues, "I'm here to return the favor. There's a reckoning at hand."
