Hold Me Down (Peterick) ➳ Book 3

Fifteen

The reanimation room had once been clean, stocked to the brim with anything one may need to successfully change a human into just about anything one could dream of. However, it now lay in a state of disarray. Tables were upturned and smashed to bits. Stools were torn apart. Keyboard keys were embedded into the walls. Computer screens were scattered over the floor, making glistening patterns of glass everywhere.

At the heart of it all was someone desperate. Someone who needed more time, more hands, more knowledge. Because The Hurricane hadn't done this herself. She wasn't like Ryan or Kobra Kid or any of the other Killjoys who had years of experience and practice. And time.

The Hurricane was running out of time, and it wasn't the fear of Hayley's superiors—The Hurricane would take down any man or woman, human, alien, or robot who dared to threaten Hayley's safety—it was the fear of Hayley's body.

Sure the cut had healed like most wounds did; however, The Hurricane knew what Hayley hid from her. She knew the girl was dying, losing the will to fight the disease that was slowly claiming her body. The Hurricane didn't know what it was. Perhaps if she did she'd have more time. But she was alone, unable to contact any of the Klljoys, unable to talk to Ryan.

The door opened and Hayley stepped inside, skillfully stepping around the shards of glass littering the floor and making her way towards The Hurricane.

"Um, I, are you okay?"

The Hurricane still hadn't told Hayley her name, her story. For every step Hayley took towards building something real, something that would last, The Hurricane took two steps back. She couldn't risk what had happened long before the war. Attachment was not something she needed.

But as The Hurricane took in Hayley's pale, fading face, she couldn't stop the desire to open up.

"My name's Ashley, but most people called me Halsey."

Hayley's foot hit a pile of glass as she set it down in shock.

"Ashley?" she asked as she was lifted off her feet.

Ashley nodded in reply and carried Hayley out of the room.

"I'm fine," Hayley promised. "Really. You've been taking care of me, and I couldn't be more thankful."

"I have to get this glass out. I'm really sorry."

"Please don't worry about it. It doesn't even hurt."

Ashley blinked.

The paleness, the weakness, the slowness, the painlessness. All of it was adding up, too little too late.

"Talk to me. Tell me your stories. Please," Hayley begged.

So Ashley wrapped up Hayley's foot after removing the glass. She bundled up the girl with the fading orange hair, made sure she was comfortable, and talked. She talked about her mother, her father, her ex boyfriend Matty. She talked about all her dreams, her nightmares. She talked about what she could've been, who she really was beneath the exterior. She talked until she couldn't anymore, and then they were silent.

Each breath became slower, longer spaces in between. The faint beat of her heart could only just be heard. The seconds ticked by on a clock that had miraculously been spared. But then the last breath had been taken, the last beat made, and the clock shattered against the wall.

Time would forever be frozen at 1:58 am.

*

Milo was crawling circles around Astoria that night.

He had just mastered the skill the other day, and was determined to teach Astoria how to do it. At least that's what everyone assumed as Milo crawled around her. He was six months now—Astoria was three months—babbling away in pure happiness. The two babies seemed to bring light to the darkened bunker. They were not so silent reminders of why days were wasted underground. One day there would be a chance to fight, to create a safe world where everyone could live,and these two would be there to help it. Them and the other children growing up in this dark world. They would be the ones to bring the light back.

Kellin stepped into the room, receiving a round of greetings from everyone. This was his first time willingly hang out with the group after his less than memorable argument with Taylor. It had taken a while for him to come to the realization that she wasn't what he thought she was, and it took him even longer for him to swallow his pride and apologize. Taylor had taken it all in stride, but for Kellin it was a lot more than an apology.

Milo crawled his way over to Kellin, leaving Astoria to whimper in dissatisfaction. Alan was quick to pick up on her loneliness and scoop her up. She seemed to be very fond on the red haired teen, almost as much as the two individuals who acted as her parents.

"Hey, Ria," Alan cooed.

Astoria's chubby fingers found some of Alan's hair, and she tugged on, laughing in reply.

Milo turned in Kellin's arms at the sound. "Oh," he exclaimed, trying to reach some of Kellin's hair.

"Please no," Kellin muttered. His head had been the victim of Milo's hands before, and he was convinced he had a permanent bald spot.

Mikey, Tino, and Jack the newest addition to the group, laughed.

The door to the bunker opened and the scavenging team for the week entered.

They deposited their supplies, a pile significantly smaller than the last scavenging expedition, and collapsed around the room. They refused to say it, but it was apparent. The supplies in the nearest town were running out. Soon they'd have to find another place to scavenge, one further away. That meant more chances of getting caught, more chances of dying at the hands of an enemy.

Taylor entered the room with two bottles and a jar of baby food.

Milo looked at her for a moment as she handed Alan Astoria's bottle and said, "Mom."

Taylor's face was a mixed expression of turmoil and joy. Her own baby had died before ever saying her first word, one of the many things that would haunt her. But Milo wasn't hers.

And almost as if he could see the torment in her eyes, Milo began crying.

Before anyone could really react, Taylor had taken Milo and locked them in her room, no one failing to miss her tears.

Maybe it wasn't a happy day.