All I Have Left

Chapter 3: Breaking Point

A few hours later I decided to make something to eat. The fear was so intense because the kitchen was right in front of the living room window. Trying to hide my fear from Bria was getting to be so hard to do. There are times when I feel perfectly fine and other times...other times I just want to break down where I stand. I have to be strong for her. I grabbed the bread, peanut butter, jelly and two sodas from the kitchen and quickly walked back to the living room. I made two sandwiches for each of us and noticed that she was asleep; I wanted her to have something to eat when she woke up. After I finished the sandwiches, I felt her move around in her sleep so I just decided to wake her up.

"Bria, get up. I made lunch." I said softly. For some reason, I didn't feel anything when I said that. She just moved a little and then turned over. I lightly shook her.

"Bria, come on, you have to eat." I said firmly. She slowly got up and took a sandwich.

"Are you okay Adrienne?" She suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You seem...drained." She replied. That's weird. I feel drained...and empty.

"I don't know honestly." I sighed.

"You know, you don't have to be strong for me Adrienne. This would scare anyone. We can be scared together." She said.

I sat there for a second, speechless and unable to move. Everything just...froze. I heard the muffled sound of Bria's voice, which was calm but moments later turned frantic. I could hear the screams of people still being murdered in the street right outside of my apartment. I could hear gunshots and glass breaking. It all hit me at once. I was scared. I couldn't be strong anymore. Lives were being lost outside of the false sanctuary that is my one-floor apartment. We weren't safe here, no one was safe anywhere.

"ADRIENNE??" I heard Bria scream. I snapped out of whatever trance I was in.

"Huh?" I said.

"Are you okay? You were just gone." She said. I shook my head, I could feel my eyes welling up.

"No...Bria I'm not okay." I sobbed. She didn't say another word and just pulled me into a hug.

"I understand...you don't have to be okay. We have each other, we'll be fine I promise." I could hear her voice start to fade away and the chaos outside took over and slowly got louder. I heard malicious screams, fearful screams, heartbreaking cries of victims, gunshots, knives being thrown, bodies dropping, glass breaking.

WHAT. IS. HAPPENING. 

Out of nowhere, I just broke down. I cried right where I sat. Fear took over me, more so the fear of losing my best friend. But fear nonetheless. Bria was screaming, I could tell by her face but I couldn't hear her. I couldn't hear anything. All I could do was break. I was scared out of my mind and nothing could bring me back. I look up at Bria who now has me cradled in her arms, tears streaming down her face. I can't protect her like this. I have to pull myself together. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths until I calmed down. I could still feel myself shaking and I couldn't breathe. But I took a breath. 

"I'm good...I'm okay now." I mumbled. I sat up and took a breath. 

"Adrienne, you don't--"

"No, I'm good." I stopped her. I sat in front of her and looked into her eyes. They were red and puffy. I instantly pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back. She hugged me back, practically killing my rib cage but I didn't care. It felt good because in spite of all of the deaths I've witnessed and heard in my sleep and throughout the day, she's still here with me. 

"So, what do you want to eat?" I said, changing the subject. Bria just shrugged. I got up and walked to the kitchen. I looked in the fridge and grabbed some eggs and bacon. Then I grabbed a box of pancake mix from the cabinet next to the fridge. I try my best to keep everything in one area of the kitchen. Less chances of being hit by one of the many things being thrown outside. Just then, I heard glass break and Bria scream. I dropped everything in my hand. Great, there goes our food supply. 

"BRIA GET OVER HERE NOW!!!" I scream. She quickly crawls to me, but not fast enough. A tall man, covered in blood from head to toe, ran in and grabbed Bria by her hair and she screams. 

"Let her go!!" I yell desperately. He just looks at me and smirks. 

"Try and make me."