Broken World

Chapter 30

       I awake to my alarm clock to see that Calvin's already ready to go.

       "Morning," he says with a little smile.

       "Morning. How long have you been up?" I ask as I stand up.

       "About two hours. I always get up at five am," he says.

       "Wow, that's crazy. I'm going to get ready, and then we might head out early if everyone's ready," I say while stretching. I walk into the bathroom with jeans, a long sleeved shirt with thumb holes in the sleeves, a pair of socks, a hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste, hiking boots, and a jacket. I change quickly, brush my hair, brush and floss my teeth, and slip a beanie onto my head. I zip my jacket up and walk out of the bathroom.

       "Well that outfit looks cute on you," Calvin says, and I smile and blush.

       "Thanks. Let's round people up if we can. That way we can move out as soon as possible," I say.

       "Okay, I'll bet Dylan's already up, and I have no idea about Brody or Kasey," he says.

       "You find Dylan. I'll find the other two," I say.

       "Okay. Where do we meet up?" he asks.

       "The cafeteria," I say.

       "Okay, see you then," he says. We walk out of the room and take different directions. I go to the sleeping quarters and find them asleep in the same bed. I wake them and tell them to get ready because we are leaving as soon as everyone is in the cafeteria. I leave them to get ready and head to the cafeteria. I see Calvin and Dylan sitting at a table with their packs by their feet. I hear feet shuffling this way, and I look up from where I'm sitting on the floor. Kasey and Brody walk in hand in hand. I stand up, put my pack on, and walk towards the doors. The others follow me, and as I enter the outdoors I take a deep breath of fresh air. As soon as we get those gates up and kill the things inside the fence we'll be able to let people outside. I hear the murmurs of the group behind me, but I ignore them as I walk quickly to the entrance in the fence. I wait until we are at least four hundred yards from the base before I announce we are going at least three miles out. They don't even groan, but they seem happy. We scavenge what we can and make a pile in cars along the way. I have Dylan remember which cars because he's so good at memorizing things.

       "Group of azoms up ahead," Brody points out.

       "Then let's get ready to fight," I say drawing my knife. We move forward quickly in battle ready positions. When we get close the azoms come at us, and as we slash I recognize two of the azoms. "Mom? Dad?" I question. I freeze up and stare at these two azoms.

       "Delilah, what's going on?" I hear someone yell at me, but I ignore them. I begin to approach my parents and they stare at me. I see a recognition in their eyes, and I smile.

       "I've missed you!" I exclaim advancing toward them.

       "What the hell are you doing?" someone in the distance screams. I start running to close the space, and when I arrive they put their arms out in what look like happy hugs. I stretch my arms out, but arms grab me and try pull me away. It's too late though because I shove the person backwards and hug both of my parents. That's when I feel a sharp pain in my back, sides, and shoulder. I scream out in pain, but I deny the fact that they'd hurt me. Arms grab me again, and this time they manage to pull me away. I can't help myself, so I fight the arms to get back to my parents even though my back, arms, and shoulder are gushing blood and in complete and total agony.

       "Let me go! Those are my parents!" I scream. I fight against the arms that hold me because I want to get back to my parents, but one of the boys moves in and kills them both. "NOOO!" I howl. I scratch at the arms restraining me, and I kick backwards. The person just takes it like a pro. I'm screaming, threatening, and crying all in one. I'm cussing out and cursing the person holding me and the person who killed my parents. I want to hurt them, and I draw my knife. It's quickly taken away from me though, and probably for a good reason. The person throws me over their shoulder gently and carries me like a sack potatoes. As I'm taken back towards base I hear people open and shut car doors. When we walk through the doors to the base I stop fighting and just let the person set me down in a corner. I sit there a sobbing, shaking, whining, and bleeding mess. We only lasted like an hour because of my stupid meltdown. People walk around me, and I get some stares. No one seems to want to take me to the nurse even though blood is everywhere, and my wounds are on fire.

       "Dylan, Kellin's supposed to be up. Go get him. Make sure to warn him of her condition and tell him not to freak out when he sees her," I hear Calvin say. Kasey didn't even have a chance to bandage me up because we basically ran all the way back. I hear footsteps running into the distance, but I stay in my little corner and curl into a ball. I feel someone try and move me, but I cry out in agony as my wounds are stretched by movement.

       "I'll just leave you as you are because I'd rather not hurt you," I think that was Brody. I groan in pain as I lay there.

       "Holy crap!" I hear the gasp as the footsteps run closer.

       "Careful with her. She can't be moved without her being in pain," Calvin says.

       "Well sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm getting her up to Addison because if she lays here she'll bleed out," Kellin says.

       "No, if you move her you'll hurt her," Calvin says attempting to slip between Kellin and me.

       "I don't care if it hurts her. I'd rather see her in pain for a few minutes than watch her die," Kellin growls. Calvin looks like he wants to protest, but I stick my arms out in a 'pick me up' way, and Calvin moves. Kellin scoops me into his arms and starts walking towards the infirmary. As soon as he walks in all medics eyes are on me. They rush toward us, and before I know it I'm being worked on and fighting sleep. If I sleep I don't think I'll wake up. I stay awake for several painful hours, and when they finally move me to my own room I can hardly keep my eyes open. I struggle for hours to keep my eyes awake because I'm terrified of sleeping. I feel like crap, and I don't think my wounds could hurt any more than they already do. I here footsteps coming this way and look towards the piece of blanket that's being used as a door. Addison walks in, and I look at her hopefully.

       "Well, it seems you'll be okay, so if you want you can go to sleep. I won't let anyone in to bother you," Addison says with a sympathetic smile.

       "One, Kellin can come and go as he pleases. Two, if Zoe, Jim, Warren, Red, Alex, Kasey, Brody, Dylan, or Calvin want to visit they can, but make sure they know that if I'm asleep to leave me alone," I say.

       "Okay. I'm so sorry today happened to you," she says. She then leaves, and I hear more footsteps approach. I feel tears flowing down my face, and I let all of today's events flood my mind. I feel someone take my hand and pry my eyes open to see who's here.

       "Hey, babe. What happened today?" Kellin asks.

       "I saw my parents, and I thought the recognized me. Well I was hugging them then all this happened. I had to be dragged away and carried back. Now I'm here, stuck in the infirmary, and in more pain than you'd ever imagine," I say with a sad smile.

       "Aww, I wish I could be in your place. I hate that you're in so much pain," he says. I see tears in his eyes, and I know he's trying to hold them back. I pat his hand and shut my eyes.

       "I think I'm gonna sleep. You are in charge if anything comes up," I say.

       "Okay. I'll be here when you wake up," he says. I start to fall asleep after he says that, but I realize we're still holding hands. I fall asleep while his thumb rubs circles on the back of my hand.