Times A Ticking

7

"Saw what? I didn't see anything. Stop being weird." I say a bit too quickly, now I really sounded suspicious.

"Gabby." Adam sighs as he shakes his head and looks towards our parents. "You saw the thing. The dead thing that was alive. I.. I don't know how to explain it."

"How did you find out about it?" I ask in a low voice as I straighten my posture trying to seem like we were just having a normal conversation.

"I followed you when you went to go find Dad. The door was slightly cracked so I peeked in and saw that thing.. Rotting on the table but somehow it was moving. I don't know what the hell is going on Gabby." He explains as he leans against the wall.

"Neither does Dad." I admit and Adam's eyes widen in shock as he looks back at me. "He doesn't know how to fix this Adam. I know he doesn't. Dad's smart but how can he cure this man eating disease? Come on. Have common sense."

He runs a hand through his brown, wavy hair and shakes his head. "I'm not stupid. If he does fix this it'll be a miracle." He sighs before he stares me in the eyes. "Don't say a word to anyone about this."

"Well.." I say as I drag out the word. He huffs in dissatisfaction and shakes his head before he grabs me by my shoulders.

"You told Andre didn't you?" He asks and I nod my head. "Jesus. Gabby come on, you can't be telling him stuff like that. He's scared of everything."

"I don't remember telling him my Dad couldn't fix all this. I just showed him the man, well after Dad killed him. For the second time." I say and shutter at the thought. "But Andre, he's a bit well naive. He doesn't really understand what's happening, I had to compare this to a video game to get him to comprehend."

"He's just a kid." Adam says as he looks down at his dirty, dark blue converse. I stare down at them and then look up at him giving him a disgusting look. He laughs and shakes his head before rubbing my head. "Sorry if I knew it was the end of the world I would've dressed up better."

I laugh and then felt a hand on my shoulder, Adam immediately straightens up and puts a fake smile on his face.

"What are you kiddos talking about?" Dad voice booms from above me sending a chill down my spine. I take a deep breath before turning around to face him with a smile.

"Nothing. I was making fun of the way Adam was dressed." I let out a forced giggle. "I told him he could've at least cleaned his shoes, he tracked mud all in this nice place." I shake my head acting as if I was disappointed.

"Well you kids go watch your sister. I'm going to take Jenn, Lee, and Dianne for a little walk to discuss some things. Keep an eye on your younger siblings and Andre." Dad pats our backs before walking over to the corner where all the adults stood.

We watched as he said a few words to them before walking away and letting them trail right behind him. Adam nudges my shoulder grabbing my attention as he watches them all walk down a different hallway.

"What do you think he told them? Mrs. Deanna looked a little distress don't you think?" He asks and I shrug my shoulders and watch as they disappear behind a corner.

"I don't know, I'm not good at telling people's emotions like you are. She had a poker face on." I explain as I look away from Adam and back at the hallway.

"She was tense. Her shoulders were leaned back further than usual." Adam begins to start on his long journey of explaining how the body showcases emotions.

"Adam, I don't really care about that." I say as I hold my hand out and shush him with it. "There's rotters trying to eat us, I don't care to read up on body language. No offense."

"Yes insult me then make it better by telling me no offense. Good work." Adam say sarcastically with an eye roll. "What I'm saying is whatever he told them couldn't have been good. I wonder what's down that hallway."

"There's only one way to find out." I whisper under my breath before I start to walk away. He reaches out and grabs my arm yanking me back towards him.

"Gabriella don't be stupid. Dad would kill us. Why don't we just wait till everyone is asleep tonight then sneak down the hallway?" He implies as he stares down at me.

"I guess we could try but if we get caught I'm blaming it on you. Dad is easier on you since you're the only son." I say before crossing my arms and looking up at him.

He laughs and shakes his head before he sits down on the ground and leans his back against the hard wall. He pats the spot beside him and I lower myself to the ground and sit as well.

"We won't get caught. Dad isn't a light sleeper, neither is Mom. We just have to be careful with Zoey and Ruby since they are. Try to talk Mom into putting them in a corner or something away from us two. Pick the place furthest from that hallway." Adam explains as he stares directly in front of us at the two twins who were playing calmly in the floor.

"Oh really I thought I'd tell her to place them directly in front of hallway." I nudge his shoulder softly and he shoves me back. "Asshole."

"Language." He says and pauses for a second. "Bitch." We both laugh together and I bring my hand up to my mouth to quieten myself down.

"I want in." I look up to see Hannah towering over us. Her face was straight and I couldn't tell what she was feeling at the moment. Poker face.

"What?" Adam asks as Hannah sits down in front of us and crisscrosses her legs. She leans forward a bit and presses her finger on Adam's chest.

"I said I want in. That whole plan of seeing what's down the hallway. I'm going too." She says as she places her finger back down and lays her hands in her lap.

"No." Adam says as he looks between me and her. "You're too noisy. You're like Mom, if you see something scary you'll scream like a baby." Hannah leans forward with a sinister smile on her face.

"Adam. I'm the oldest here, if you refuse to let me go again. I'll tell Dad about that one time you.." He quickly cuts her off shoving his hands over her mouth.

"Okay! Just shut up please." He grumbles and she slaps his hands away and wipes her mouth. "Just stay quiet."

"Don't ever put your disgusting hands on my mouth again you twerp." She flicks his forehead before standing up. "If you don't wake me up I swear Adam I will-" He cuts her off again in a rush.

"I will, geez get off my back." He mumbles and she smiles in victory and nods her head before walking over to the twins and leaning down to play with them.

"Sometimes I wish I was the oldest. I'd knock her down in a heartbeat." He says as he punches the air making me laugh to the point I was starting to hold my stomach.

"No you wouldn't." I say after my fit of laughter and he breaks out a smile and nods his head before giving me a side glance.

"Yeah I wouldn't. She would still whoop my ass even if I was the oldest." He shutters and stands up. "I'm going to lay down on the sleeping bags Mom brought and rest a bit before we do that tonight. You should as well."

"I might." I say as he gives me a nod and walks off. I sit there watches as he lays down and rolls onto his side away from everyone. I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes.

"Hey can we talk?"