These Different Times (Nick Clark FF)

06.

Maddie opened up for us when we got there, flashlight in hand only to be pushed out of the way by her son, who quickly pulled me against his warm body.

I noticed that he smelled faintly of vomit but honestly, I didn't care. Not after what happened earlier. I just wanted to be close to him.

"Is she okay?" I heard Maddie say to my mother, who sighed.

"I think she had an encounter with someone who's sick. That's the only way I can think of what would...try and bite her."

Hearing this, Nick pulled away and made me look at him, "It didn't get you, did it?"

"No," I whispered, "No, it didn't. But I was so scared."

"It's okay," he breathed, pulling me towards him again, "You're safe now."

I nodded and buried my head in his shoulder again, hearing my mom asking Maddie where Travis was while the two of them made their way to the kitchen.

Nick took my hand and led me through to the living room, where Alicia was sitting on the floor.

"Monopoly?" I smiled, "Really?"

"It was my mom's idea," Nick explained, "I know it's dumb, but it passed the time."

"It's not dumb," I laughed, "It's a good game."

"Wanna play? You can take mom's spot." Alicia offered.

"Sure," I shrugged, falling down onto the floor on the other side of her, "It'll be nice to kick your asses again."

The two of them quickly began protesting, saying that I was the one who cheated the last time we played, which was completely absurd. The last time we played together, Alicia got so mad that she flipped the board.

"You cheated and you know you cheated." Nick muttered, picking up the dice while I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever. Just roll the dice, Pretty Boy."

**

We had been playing for at least an hour when we heard screaming coming from across the street and Alicia grabbed hold of her flashlight before she made her way to the window.

I went to follow but Nick caught hold of my wrist, shaking his head.

"Alicia, come away from the window." Maddie sighed as her and my mom came through from the kitchen, "Now."

"He's hurting them, mom. We have to help them."

"Nick," I whispered and he looked down, "What's going on?"

He glanced at both of our parental figures, his hand tightening on my wrist as he began pulling me down the hall to his bedroom. "Sit down," he instructed, closing the door behind him and he watched as I sat down on his bed, "People are getting sick."

"My mom said that," I murmured, "It makes them...like that man who grabbed me?"

"Yeah, basically." he nodded, "It's what I saw at the church."

My mouth fell open as I remembered his words about the church. "You were telling the truth," I whispered, "And I didn't believe you. Oh, Nick I'm so sorry."

"Hey," he shrugged, "Don't worry about it. No one believed me."

I gave him a pointed look, "That doesn't make me feel any better. What are the government doing about all of this?"

"Nothing," he said, taking a seat beside me, "They're not saying anything."

"Then maybe it's not as bad as people think?"

"No, it's bad." he repeated, falling silent when we heard his mom calling for him.

I followed him back into the living room, seeing everyone staring at the door which was covered by a curtain, "What's going on?"

Instead of anyone saying anything, we got our answer in the form of something scratching against the glass.

Nick took a look at us before taking a step towards it.

"What're you doing?" I hissed, reaching out to grab his hand, "Nick, don't you dare!"

He ignored us and quickly pulled back the curtain that was over and we all let out a relieved sigh when we saw that it was just a large dog.

"It's okay, it's just a dog." he smiled, letting the dog in and he quickly began rubbing the animal's fur in an attempt to calm him down.

"Nick," I breathed, spotting a patch of red on his coat, "Nick, he's covered in blood."

"Is he hurt?" Alicia asked.

Nick shook his head as he inspected the dog closer, "I don't think it's his blood."

The dog then let out a growl before taking off towards the window in the living room, barking loudly when he got closer.

I rushed after it, pulling the blinds open, seeing that there was a man standing at the end of their driveway and when he heard the dog's barking, he slowly started making his way towards the house.

"We need a gun," Nick said as he appeared behind me, "Mom, the neighbours have one."

"Okay," Maddie said quietly, "Let's go get it."

I stayed quiet and stayed put, watching the man come ever closer before he began wandering around the side of the building.

"Guys, what are we going to d-mom?" I turned to see that everyone had left, all of them having decided to go to get the gun.

Low growling came from outside, just by the door which meant that the man was already here and I looked down at the dog, "C'mon, boy. Follow me."

Instead, he started barking again and advanced on the man as soon as he set foot into the doorway and knowing that I wasn't going to be able to get him to follow, I reluctantly left him there, tiptoeing down the hallway, back down to Nick's bedroom, where I shut the door behind me.

**

I had curled up on his bed when I first heard the whimpering of the dog, pulling his blankets over my head in an attempt to block out the poor animal's death. I stayed there when I heard Travis return, calling for Maddie and I stayed when I heard the gunshot.

"Where's Taylor?" I heard my mom say but I still didn't move but a tear did slip from my eye.

"Tay?" Nick called, "Tay, c'mon babe, where are you?"

I flinched when he opened the door, not even looking at him when he came to sit beside me, "Hey, it's okay. The thing, it's gone."

"I-I tried to get the dog to come with me," I stuttered, "He wouldn't."

"I know. He was protecting us. Protecting you."

"What is going on?" I whispered as he wiped my tears.

"The end of the world apparently," he murmured, "But nothing will happen will happen to you. Okay?"

"Promise?" I whispered and he nodded, sticking out his little finger.

"Promise."

**

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