The Outbreak (The Nursery Nurse)

Seventeen

Charlotte had watched everyone leave with a wave before rushing upstairs once more to check on Autumn.

Her door was cracked open slightly, Charlotte peered her head into the gap silently and watched with a smile, she was asleep.

She backed away slowly, trying to create as little disturbance as possible.

She remembered how hard her own pregnancies had been and it made her heart sink instantly, a fierce fire of despair spreading through her body.

She stumbled on her feet slightly, raising a hand to her heart as she heard their blood curdling screams in the back of her mind.

Feeling overwhelmed she immediately made her way to the uppermost floor of the house, challenging herself on the stairs.

She pushed open one of the supply rooms, panting frantically.

She shuddered at the bile rising in her throat, trying to push her flashbacks aside she sat down in front of the wardrobe in the room.

She slotted her foot underneath it and grunted in frustration when she tried to do it with her other.

She pushed down on the cast until both of her feet were planted firmly underneath.

She laid back against the floor and started to do crunches. She had found over the past year that exercise was her best outlet for channeling all of her unbearable emotions.

She did them until her abdominal muscles felt like acid and she could hardly breathe anymore.

She removed her feet, still feeling the grief pumping through her violently and rolled onto her stomach, starting to do pushups instead.

She was rubbish at them, Reece constantly mocked her form and pushed her over her limits when she used to train with him.

Although she would protest and complain she secretly thanked him, she was able to do ten in a row now.

When she felt to exhausted to carry on she sat with her head in her hands for a few minutes, breathing frantically. The temporary relief of endorphins sinking into her, numbing her mind.

She finally felt strong enough to move, her body ached everywhere as she made her way down the stairs.

She tiptoed into Autumns room, slumping quietly into her window seat, once she was sure she hadn't disturbed her she shut her eyes.

Sleep greeted her effortlessly.

-

"How on earth do we get into this place?" Carly said angrily as the group observed the outside of the large building.

"Yeah I hadn't thought this far ahead." Marjorie said slowly.

Mia huffed in frustration, "Trust Marjorie they said, she knows what she's doing they said." She mumbled to herself as she walked towards one of the boarded windows.

The group watched her confused, she cracked her knuckles before grabbing each side of the wood that blocked entry.

She smiled as she yanked it from its nails effortlessly, discarding it on the ground. She raised her shotgun and pushed the barrel of it through the now exposed window, smirking as it shattered.

She turned back triumphantly, "Ta da!"

"That was almost impressive." Winter said walking forwards, Carly following close behind him.

"Careful Winter, that was almost a compliment." Mia challenged, he simply walked right by her, climbing through.

She watched with a smirk as Carly entered also.