Blackout • NH

Chapter 18

Day 67, Monday, July 16th: 9:50pm

It's been week since we've been in the cabin. There is still no sign of Elliot and we are a bit concerned. He just disappeared when we were on the railway bridge. Where could he have gone? He couldn't turn back because of the Glaze Shadows. He would have been killed.

To be honest, my main concern is Niall at the moment. He is keeping to himself. Something is bothering him and I can see it. His face looks drained, his eyes no longer hold that sparkling blue just like his crystal geode, he doesn't talk a lot anymore.

We were all spending the day cleaning our weapons and counting the cans of food we have left. Liam, Louis, Aiden and Marion were all joking around about something funny they were talking about. Ellen was helping me with the food. Niall wasn't anywhere to be seen. I'm going to have to talk to that boy.

"Ellen, can you continue counting the food? I am going to head to bed. I'm too tired to continue this." I say, laughing a bit.

"Sure." she says back, continuing organizing the food by the type of vegetable or fruit that are stored in them.

I leave the room and walk upstairs with my lantern to light the way so I don't trip on the stairs and I head straight to my room. When I get to the doorway, I see Niall in the dimly lit room sitting against the wall with his head in his hands. Wearing nothing but a pair of sleeping pants. His hair is messy and it looks like he's been running his fingers through it.

I make my way into the room quietly, but he still hears me, looking in my direction before putting his head back in his hands. I don't say anything but I grab a pair of shorts and a T-shirt to change into, not caring that he's there. I turn away from him so I can take off my bra and put on my clothes before facing back to him. Seeing him with his head in his hands still.

"We need to talk." I say, setting my lantern down on the bench in front of the bed.

"What now Jodie?" He says, clearly annoyed and tired.

"You have been distant and quiet lately and you aren't helping any of us out with the food or weapon count." I say sternly.

"I haven't been distant." He says back.

"Yes you have. All you do is sit in this damn room all day and don't help us out!" I say, raising my voice a bit.

He pushes himself up off of the floor and storms over to me.

"Leave me alone Jodie." He says, angry. Still keeping quiet, making sure everyone downstairs doesn't hear our conversation.

"No. I am not letting this shit happen over and over again. Pull that stick out of your ass and start making a difference in this group! We need everyone's help Niall!" I say back.

"Don't you dare try to fucking control me." He says in a very quiet tone.

"I'm not controlling you Niall! We need your help and you don't do that anymore! We never see you anymore. I never see you. You broke our promise and stopped sleeping by my side. We always sleep by each other's side" I say in a quiet tone.

"Oh, cut it out with that bullshit." He smiles but the anger still lingers immensely.

"What bullshit Niall? Don't ignore what I just said. We need you and you haven't fucking helped us." I say very furiously.

"You have no fucking idea do you Jodie?" He moves closer to me.

"With what?" I say, clearly annoyed now.

"This fucking group doesn't care for me. This group is here to survive now. If we were to get ambushed by a group of other survivors, we would only worry about our lives, nobody else's." He says.