Survive {Book One of the Survival Series}

Part 1.6: The Patch

Chapter Six

The gentle breeze that seeped through the boarded-up window did little to ease the bead of sweat that rolled down my forehead as I lay there staring at the ceiling, my legs shoved free of the covers as they circled my waist. The restlessness in my body grew the longer I lay there, so I pushed the covers aside and stood to my feet.

The dark apartment was quiet as I made my way past my dad's closed door and to the front door of our unit, picking my deck of cards up off the kitchen counter as I passed it. The hallway was silent and empty, as usual with it so late in the night, and if I didn't know any better, it'd be kind of eerie. I ran my fingers absently along the wall as I headed for the staircase. Small pieces of the chipping paint got caught on my fingertips, tearing off and falling to the floor in a slow descent. The air seemed still in the quiet hallway, my footsteps echoing softly along the walls.

I reached the stairwell in no time and ascended the stairs, stopping at the second floor and poking my head into the rec room. It was empty, of course, but I wandered inside anyway, taking a seat at one of the round tables. I set my deck on the table, glancing around the room with a small frown. Why was it so easy for everyone else to sleep?

With a loud sigh, I got to my feet again. I wonder who's on guard duty tonight...I bet they'll play a game with me. I picked up my deck as I made my way back towards the door, kicking aside one of the chairs. I had just made it to the door when the soft sound of footsteps reached my ears. Curiously, I peeked out into the hallway just as Jaymie came around the corner, tiptoeing her way toward the stairwell with her bag on her back.

I stepped out into the hallway, my arms crossed and an eyebrow raised as I spoke up, "What're you doing out here?"

Jaymie froze and looked back at me, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. Her words stumbled out as she quickly avoided my gaze, "I, uh...I couldn't sleep. Thought I'd...stretch my legs."

The sound of my chuckling made her look up at me and I nodded at her bag knowingly, "With your bag, huh?"

She looked away again, her grip tightening around the strap of her bag as her cheeks reddened, "Yeah..."

I smiled and, with a small shake of my head, walked passed her towards the staircase leading up, "At least it's yours this time...come on, let me show you something."

Jaymie took a step back as I passed her, shaking her head quickly, "I, uh, should probably get back to my room."

I paused with one foot on the stairs, looking back at her as I forced a sad look on my face, my bottom lip sticking out in a small pout, "Aw, c'mon, please? I promise it'll be worth it."

She looked at me for a moment, her big brown eyes contemplating, before sighing and heading towards me, "Fine."

My pout quickly sprawled into a toothy grin and she gave me a small smile in return. I held out my hand as she got closer, but she ignored it and stepped passed me on the stairs. Grinning, I guided her up to the top, all the way to the roof. The door there was slightly open, a brick keeping it from being fully closed, and I held it open as she walked through.

The roof held a lot of extra space; perfect for a rooftop garden bed and a makeshift radio station that we kept covered by a plastic orange tarp and thin sheets. A man sat with his feet propped up on the table there, a hat covering his face, and I motioned for Jaymie to be quiet as we passed the sleeping man and walked over to a ladder on the side of the access building.

Jaymie climbed up the ladder first and I started up after her. We were only a few rungs up when her foot slipped and I instinctively reached up, placing my hand firmly on the middle of her back to keep her from falling. She regained her footing and gave me a gracious but nervous smile before continuing up the ladder.

Once we reached the top, I pulled a blanket out of a wooden crate that sat up there and laid it out, smoothing out the edges before gesturing for her to sit down. Seeming a bit reluctant, she sat beside me, purposefully staying as far away from me as the blanket would allow. I sat with my legs stretched out, leaning back on my arms, and took a deep breath as we looked out over the city.

"I have trouble sleeping, too," I finally said as I exhaled loudly, "sometimes when I come up here and just look at the stars and the city...it helps."

The air was cool, not as stuffy as it was down in my room, but also not as chilly as I would have liked it. The night sky hung over us, shrouding the once well-lit city in complete darkness, but the stars that twinkled above were a beautiful sight to behold. It was peaceful; a stark change from the horrifying reality beneath them. I looked over to see her shoving her hands between her knees, mumbling quietly to herself as she looked up at the stars.

"Quiet. Dark. Stars," She muttered lowly, her fingers absently playing with a small hole in her jeans.

"What?" I asked, causing her to look at me questioningly, "you just said something."

With eyes wide, her face reddened and she quickly looked down at her lap, her fingers fumbling with one another as she replied, "It's uh...it's something that helps me stay calm, I guess. Keeps my thoughts from...panicking."

"Are you scared to be here?" I asked, the concern in my voice surprising even me.

Jaymie laughed nervously, "You're not exactly the most welcoming person."

"You're scared of me?" I asked, disbelief scrawling across my face. I wasn't that aggressive when we met, was I? I frowned but she didn't answer, only avoided my gaze.

"Because of that biter?" I asked, remembering the look on her face in the alley, "I had to do that, you know, he - "

"I don't really want to talk about that," she cut me off softly, not looking up at me.

"Sorry," I mumbled as we settled into silence, neither of us looking at the other. I leaned back on the ball of my palms, letting my head fall back to stare up at the stars.

"Are you going to leave?" I asked, breaking the silence as if it was never there to begin with.

Jaymie sighed rather loudly and looked up, staring up at the twinkling stars once again. She was quiet for a long moment and I assumed she wasn't going to answer. With a slight glance in my direction, though, she responded quietly, "I don't know yet."

"Want to know my opinion?" I asked as I looked at her.

She shook her head, not bothering to look at me, "Not really."

"You should stay," I told her anyway and she glared at me, turning her head to fully look at me. I stared back at her, a strand of my long hair falling over my face. I reached a hand up and smoothed it back before resting my hand against my knee and adding, "Joy seems to like you and we could always use another pair of hands."

"Your people don't really want me here," she pointed out.

"These aren't my people," I retorted with a laugh. She gave me an unamused look and I returned it with a small, nervous grin before sighing and sitting forward, turning my full body towards her. I thought for a moment before I spoke, my voice low and gentle, "They're just worried. You're a stranger, you pulled a gun on one of our own. I can see how that looks, but they just have to get to know you."

"You don't know me," she snapped back, the annoyance clear in her voice.

"You're right," I said as I was the one to look away this time, looking back up at the stars, "but I saw you in that house. I can't imagine being on your own this whole time with those things out there. Running, hiding, starving. You're not dangerous; you're just scared. Just like the rest of us."

"Is that you trying to convince yourself or me?" she asked quietly and I looked over to see the anger on her face. The unsure look on my own was enough to push her to her feet, "you have a good night, Zander."

"Wait, Jaymie!" I called but she ignored me, waving me off with a small hand. I watched her descend the ladder, sighing sadly before looking back up at the stars. Just like me.