ZONED

IV

It happened in the midst of a pitch- black night. I was lying on my sack, just gazing at the metal ceiling. Wishing for sleep to come.  I heard a rattle, then a bang. I had sprang into a sitting position, and I could barely make out the silhouettes of ten people crawling past me. I panicked, grabbing one of them by the back of their shirts.

"Hey!" They had whisper-shouted. They broke free of my grasp. "Where are you going?!" I whisper-shouted back. The person stood up and faced me. "Fine. We're sneaking out. Leaving for good." I was on my feet in half a second. "Take me with you. I want out!" I whined, like a toddler. The man saw my innocence and desperation. "Listen, kid. I want to help you out... take you along. But, I can't. I'm sorry." He sounded as if he truly wanted me to come along. I had sighed and sat down on my sack. The man became one with the sea of darkness in a blink. I wonder if they ever escaped Zone Six.

---

"Did you sleep good?" Kimberly asks me that morning at breakfast. Sleep? Yeah right. "Uh- huh." I lie, spooning a bit of goop in my mouth. I'm not sure what it's supposed to be... maybe oatmeal? But, we've only been fed one other breakfast then this, and we've been held hostage here for almost three weeks now. I've probably only slept a week of those nights. Kimberly eyes me suspiciously. "Really? You look awful. Sleep deprived." I put down my spoon and look over at my table. After getting my food, I snuck over to Kimberly's table. They'd be quiet... they would let me fall asleep in my goop if I wanted to. Was I mad at Kimberly?  Maybe. Or I was just on edge because I actually was sleep deprived. I didn't have enough power in my body to decide.

When we have to get up (orders of the loud speaker), I slowly swing my legs over the picnic table bench. I make to stand but, my legs have different ideas. I feel myself tumble. My mind is in a haze as pain explodes from my head. I see the black blur the edges of my vision... I don't fight it. In fact, I shut my eyes, hoping to speed up the blacking out process.

A/N Sorry it's short, I just felt super bad for not updating.