Zero

Chapter 4: Failure to sleep.

Once my fans are all taken care of, I feel my body slump as it comes back into my control. Sighing, I drag myself into the bus (they never closed it – the idiots) and stumble over to the couch before tripping over my own foot and flopping onto the piece of furniture.

"You all can go now" I mumble into the soft, pillowed surface.

"What are you going to do?" a voice that sounds like Warren's asks.

"Sleep." I mumble.

"Well, see. She's just going to stay here and sleep, and we can all go now!"

"Murphy!"

"What?!"

"Be quiet...I'm trying to sleep" I mumble.

"How are you going to get food? Water?" Warren asks.

I burst up into a sitting position and face the group, "Just leave already!"

Most of them look shocked at my outburst. Addy comes forward and sits on the couch next to me. I try to create as much distance between us as possible. "Why are you crying?" she asks.

"I'm not..." I say, reaching up to my face. Sure enough there is a moistness that isn't blood. Great. That means that I'm crying. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

"You are." She says, her voice soft, "What happened with your other group?"

"I'm nothing." I whisper, only to receive a confused look from Addy.

"Zero?"

"Exactly. Zero."

"You're not making any sense."

A dry laugh escapes my throat, "That's what they said. Always."

"Ok. Well, there are no Zs outside, we can go now!"

I ignore Murphy, "I don't want to start counting again."

"Counting what?" Addy asks.

"Down"

Realization appears on her face, "Oh my gosh. That's why you're Zero"

"Ten to Zero in such a short time." I mutter.

"Can we GO now?!" Murphy questions impatiently.

Addy looks to the others, who look back at her and then down to me (I feel their eyes burning into my skull). I know that they all feel some form of pity for me, minus Murphy. I hate pity. Always have. Always will.

"You know" Doc says, "We could use someone who isn't afraid to die."

I hear someone scold him (by harshly whispering his name) and speak up, "I understand what he was talking about. It didn't sound as harsh as you all think."

"Well, Zero, want to be a part of the team trying to save the world?" Warren asks.

"No." I state.

"See, she doesn't want to help. So, let's go, California awaits." Murphy says.

My head darts up, eyes wide, "Cali? Please tell me you aren't going. Anywhere but there."

"What's wrong with Cali?"

"That...was where we started our tour." I trail off after the first word, but they somehow manage to hear me.

"So?"

"People came out to see it. It was hell. Hell on earth, that day. Everywhere. Women. Children. I was supposed to see Jamie that day. Dad was supposed to bring him. Wanted to see us before we got started. Never happened."

"Well. That's wonderful. Now, let's go already" Murphy says.

"Give me a minute" I say, before getting up and proceeding to pack a bag – or two.

"Oh, so now she decides to come with?! Just great!" Murphy says, before walking straight out of the bus.

"If you're going there – you'll need me." I say pointedly, shoving items in my bag. In moments, I'm packed and ready to go. The weapons I couldn't take in my bag, someone else grabbed. Shouldering the (heaviest) bag, I follow the others out of the bus (after I closed the door and locked it), and begin walking toward their vehicles.

"I'll be back." I state, my gaze hard as I look over my shoulder at the bus.

A/N: If you like this story, don't forget to vote! Any comments or questions, or even constructive criticism you have, I would love to hear - so please comment! Thank you!