The End.

14

I woke up to the sound of gunfire. Lots of it. It sounded as if there was a minor war happening within a few miles.

"Carter. Get up." Kyle shook me awake.

"What? What's happening?"

"Just get up and get your things together."

"Hear those shots? We don't know who they're coming from and we can't risk it by staying to find out." Mali-Koa explained.

"Oh."

"How about we leave Alison some bullets and a note? Then if she comes back she can hang out here and we can come back in a day or two to see if she's here." Spencer added. I nodded my head in slight relief that she came up with that brilliant idea.

I ran back to the office supplies and grabbed a pack of pens and some sticky notes. Something leathery and robins egg blue caught my attention. A journal. With a few seconds hesitation, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my bag. Then I ripped open the pack of pens and clicked one on. On the note I wrote;

Ali, we had to leave. We'll be back in a day or two. Be safe. I love you. -Carter

Then, I reached into my bag, pulling out a box of ammo and attached the sticky part of the note to it so it wouldn't fly off. I clicked the pen closed and put the rest in my bag.

We decided to put the box on the floor right in front of the entrance door. If she were to walk in, she would stumble over it and find it. I realized that the only feeling I had left right now was hope.

Twisting my left wrist, I felt the bracelet and ran my right thumb over the engraved initials. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Okay, let's go." I said, encouraging the group. They all had their guns ready to go and aimed at the ground. Since the supplies we looted were already packed away in the jeeps, we were ready to go. I sped walked over to where I leaned my gun against the wall and I picked it up. It was already loaded, but of course, it was on safety.

Everyone was exiting the building, so I was the only one still preparing. Calum was right behind me, urging my slow moving body along.

I saw him give a slight nod and we walked out of the building in a ready stance. We could no longer hear shots, so either the person ran out of ammunition, or they were moving towards their next victim. I refused to believe either of them.

The hollowness in the pit of my stomach was back, only this time, I was getting used to the terrible feeling. I jumped into the back of the black jeep. And we sped away as soon as David got a head count and put his gun across his lap, ready for action.

I was numb. Numb to my feelings, numb to the stress around us. Then, I felt the person sitting in close proximity beside me grab my hand. I looked up and it was Calum.

He continued to hold my hand as silent tear drops streaked my face until we got back to the bunker. No one said much on our drive home and I was greatful. All I could do was play with Alison's bracelet.

--

That's what I like about,

You, you, that's what I like about youuuuuuuu

I sang along in my head as I heard a voice from the bathroom projecting a song. Curious, I proceeded into the bathroom to shower and find out who was singing.

The bathroom here was actually really nice, although it was conjoined (so there were no designated restrooms for boys and girls) it wasn't awkward. You walk in, and go to the left to use the restroom, and on the right are the shower stalls. There's only four shower stalls; but they are almost like rooms. There's walls and they go all the way to the ceiling for ultimate privacy. The bathrooms are the same way; with individual bathrooms. I haven't found it weird at all. You get dressed before you walk out of the stall, so it's the same as using someone else's shower and getting dressed before you leave. It is however, difficult when you forget your underwear. I actually had to make a checklist to go through my mind before I even left my room.