Slow Dancing- Troy Otto

9

   Scarlett changes into more comfortable clothes as she takes a nap to prepare for the watch tonight. Her dreams disturb her this evening, memories of the San Francisco bombings swarm in.

  ~flashback

  Scarlett was peeling out of town in her boyfriends car, swerving around people pleading for help and the snarls of the dead ones. Fear strikes her, making her blood run cold as government planes zoom overhead. The first bomb fell in the distance behind her making her eyes widen and her foot smush the pedal into the floor. Like dominoes the bombs cascade down onto the town getting closer and closer until the final one hits directly behind her. The car lifts up from the back end, the front bumper sparking as the metal drags against the harsh gravel. The car flipped and tumbled as fire and chaos spread around her hometown, destroying buildings that once captured childhood memories. Luckily the noise from the bombs distracted the dead long enough for her to gain consciousness, climbing out of the heap of metal she set out on foot. Feet slap loudly against the pavement as she fled the city, deafening booms following her as she ran. Finding another car wasn't hard as some had abandoned running vehicles, climbing into a muscle car she drove away in fear.

~end flashback

  Scarlett sits up violently gasping as remembers where she is, she throws herself out of bed and out of her cabin to get some fresh air. Stumbling towards the night watch post, Cooper sees her shaken up figure and immediately rushes to her side.

"Scar? What's goin on?" He asks frantically.

"I just.. I need a minute Coop." She says brushing him off as her gaze sets on the horizon, lost in the images of fire and the sounds of screams echoing.

"Scar- I can't let you wander off when you're like this. Julie said you could have a seizure if something triggers you." Cooper says trying not to anger her.

"There's... so much fire. I- I have to get out." She mumbles walking towards the gate, not paying attention to the onlookers stopping their evening work to stare at the girl.

"Scarlett, you're not making any sense.." Cooper says wondering what she's talking about as he follows her to the gate.

"I have to get out.." she mumbled again, wrapping her arms around herself as she trips over rocks and dirt.

"Blake! Go get Troy!" Cooper orders the other boy on watch, hastily Blake takes off in the direction of the Otto household in search of the man. "Scarlett, let me get you back to your cabin I-"

"NO! I HAVE TO GET OUT!" She screeches starting to take off towards the gate.

"Scar- DAMNIT!" Cooper grunts out taking off after the girl.

  Cooper tackles the small girl to the ground, holding her down by her wrists as she looks around frantically.

"The building is gonna collapse we have to go!" She cries looking behind him anxiously. In Scarlett's mind she was back in her city, on d-day.

"Scarlett what the hell are you on about?!" Cooper exclaims, entirely confused by the girl.

"They're coming! Let me go! They're coming!" In Scarlett's mind the dead were closing in, drawn by the explosions. She thrashes trying to break free but Cooper is too strong for her, she was no match for his grip.

"Cooper! Get off her!" Jake barks at him as the Otto brothers show up with Blake in tow.

"She's not makin any sense! She's trying to leave." Cooper grunts out as she continues pulling her limbs every which way to break free.

"They're coming! They're here! Let me go we're going to die!" She screeches starting to cry, in her mind death was coming for her. She start's hyperventilating, sweat dripping down her face as she shakes with terror.