Broken World

Chapter 15

       "Good morning, babe," the first words I hear when I wake up.

       "Mornawhum," I say trying to say 'morning', but a yawn interrupts me. He starts laughing, and I join him.

       "The viscous yawn strikes again," he says sending us into another wave of laughter. I stand up and stretch, and then decide to get presentable and go see the people here. When I finish picking my hair off my hoodie, which is necessary because I have so much, I walk towards the door. I pause, turn around, motion for Kellin to come, and continue walking. As he follows me out to the people he plays with his blonde hair trying to get it where he wants it, without much luck.

       "Having some hair trouble there?" I ask about to start laughing at how hard he's struggling with his hair.

       "Yes, I am," he grumbles. "You know what it's fine how it is." I turn around and burst out laughing. His hair is sticking in all different angles, and it reminds me of spikes that are rounded.

       "You need to see your hair!" I exclaim through bursts of laughter. He turns immediately around and walks into the guys' bathroom.

       "You know what that is funny!" he calls through the door. "Well, at least now I have a mirror."

       "Good point. Want me to wait or go on?" I ask.

       "You can go if you want. I'll meet you down there," he says.

       "Okay," I say before turning and walking down the hall.

       "Well, hello lovebird one. Where's lovebird two?" Zoe asks as I walk into the room.

       "Don't start with that Zoe. You know how pissy I get when you do," I say a bit annoyed.

       "Yeah, I do. That's why I do it because you are hilarious when you are pissed," she says.

       "I know it is, but still I don't want to be like that," I say looking around to see how many people are here. There's the twenty from camp, five new girls, and seven new guys, including Kellin.

       "Yo, Max who are all these new people?" I whisper to him.

       Max, while looking at the people, replies, "Refugees. They come from states as speakers for their states, but then, as they've said, 'the states went to hell.'"

       "What do you mean by they 'went to hell'?" I ask afraid of the answer.

       "Remember how we saw kizoms? Well it appears it's spread a bit to other kids in all the states," he says confirming one of my fears.

       "Oh, lovely. Do you know how it's spreading?" I ask.

       "Bites and scratches according to the kids. I find it fascinating that we are living in a real zombie apocalypse, don't you?" he asks.

       "Fascinating and terrifying, but that doesn't matter. Where's Jim?" I ask desperately needing to go on air again.

       "Last time I saw him he was sleeping over there," he says pointing to an unoccupied corner.

      "Ugh! He's not there!" I almost scream, but I don't want to scare anyone so I whisper scream.

       "What's the matter, Delilah?" Max and I jump at the voice that has materialized behind us.

       "Geez you gave me a heart attack!" I gasp holding my hand to my quickly beating heart.

       "Sorry, Delilah, but what's going on?" Kellin asks.

       "I need to find Jim. This is so frustrating. Does anyone have an Advil?" I ask raising my voice at the last sentence.

       "I do," a girl says as she comes over. "Here," with that one word she drops a whole bottle of Advil in my hand and walks off.

       "Thanks," I call after her. She just waves her hand in the air and sits down along the wall.

       "Delilah, please come to the security office. I repeat: Delilah, please come to the security office," we all jump at the voice that comes over the intercom system.

       "How the frick did he find the codes to get into that room?" Zoe asks.

       "He's a hacker. He didn't need codes," I say.

       "Good point," Max says.

       "I'm going. Anyone know the way?" I ask.

       "I kind of do," Zoe says.

       "Then lead the way," I say. I follow her through the building. After a few wrong turns, we get to the security office.

       "Here we are. I'm going back down. Bye," Zoe says.