Apocalypse Grumps

River

It's been a few days since we brought Mark in. He's gotten a lot better and we've gotten acquainted with the nurses who run the joint. The thing with them is that it's only them, so they're glad to have some company. They even offered me to stay at the hospital alongside Mark while he recovers. The others brought my pajamas and I'll sleep with Mark on his bed at night. Since it's a small bed, he holds me quite close, which I don't mind. The only problem is that Arin won't talk to me. He avoids my gaze and always grows silent whenever I'm near. I don't get it.

The feeling of his arms snaking around my middle makes me jump a bit. He rests his head on my shoulder with closed eyes and a content smile.

"Shouldn't you be using the wheelchair?" I asked.

"I'm sore, not crippled." he responded in a relaxed tone, giving his voice the deepness that sent shivers down my spine.

"Besides," he added. "Jordan said I was well enough to go back to camp with you today. So that's a plus." he opened his eyes and widened his smile as he raised his head to look me in the eyes. I smiled at the thought of going back with Mark, then my smile faded as my attention was turned to Mark in the hospital gown. He still had his jeans on, but no shirt.

"What's the matter?" he asked, noticing my lack of smile.

"You don't exactly have a shirt." I put dully. "I mean, I don't mind you running around without a shirt, it's just fighting would be kinda difficult."

He gives me bedroom eyes, "You don't mind, 'ey?" I could feel my face start to heat up as his smirk grew larger. I mean, we haven't really done it yet. But was this the ideal place for that? Besides, I don't think either of us would know how to go about it.

Just then, we heard the screeches of tires outside. We tried to look through the small windows in the double doors that led to the waiting room to see outside. All we could see were two black vehicles parked in the parking lot while smoke trailed upwards from the tires. Mark took my hand and we ran the other way.

"Where are we going?" I asked frantically.

"Somewhere to hide!"

We turned a corner into a room that had a significant amount of damage; tables turned over, papers everywhere, the windows broken, and a teddy bear that seemed to be the cleanest thing in the room. While Mark looked around for some place to hide, I could hear them trying to bash down the front doors.

"Here!" I pulled him towards a closet that had multiple white, or at least at one point, lap coats strewn about inside. "We can hide in the corner and cover ourselves with these." He nodded.

We sat down in the corner of the closet and began to pile the dirty coats onto ourselves. Once we thought we looked convincing, we shut the doors and waited in darkness. That's when I heard the front door break open with a loud crash. Mark tightened his grip on my hand.

"We know you're here, 23. Come out while you still have a chance." a woman's voice boomed.

"'23'?" I whispered in confusion. Were these people not after us? Well, better to be safe than sorry. I could hear the trudging footsteps of one of them getting closer to where we were. They entered, and started to search the room. My heart raced as they came closer and closer to the closet. Then, the doors opened. I stood as still as I possibly could. There was a bit of silence, and he shut the door and exited the room. I let out the quietest sigh of relief I could manage.

After what seemed like hours, they left the building and drove off.

"Are they gone?" Mark asked.

"I think so."

We then emerged from our closet and then quietly looked around the corner and down the hall to the front doors, then slowly walked towards the double doors to see closer; their black vehicles were gone.