The Insiders

Chapter 14

Chapter 14- Sharlene

How can this happen? Is this why everyone was running the other way? Kim is pale. Paler than what death should look like. She is unbelievably skinny, I can count every bone in her body just from standing this far away. We stand there frozen. Tonight I've seen two people die. That's two too many.

" What is going on?" I break the silence. I look at Coren's hard face.

" I don't know," Coren responds as he turns towards me. " But we need to hurry and get back."

We lock hands again and continue down the hallway. No sight of anyone. We come to a stop when we reach room 124. Coren turns the door open and ushers me in. He takes a quick look outside before shutting the door. It's pitch black in the room.

" Coren," I begin to panic. " Where are you?" I try to move around but I'm stopped by a piece of furniture. Coren suddenly turns on the lamp by the door. I let out a big sigh of relief. I turn around and begin to inspect the room. The room looks exactly like mine and Amy's only it has an extra bed near the back.

" Do you know who's room this is?" I ask while walking towards the bunk bed. I gently touch the sheets, they're the same as mine. Coren chuckles at my question. I stop and turn to him.

" What's so funny?" I demand. I slowly walk towards him.

" This is my room. The bed you were touching is mine. The upper one is Thomas's and that extra one is Bryce's." I'm about a foot away from Coren but that's as far as I go because I'm stopped by a thought.

" Where are they?" I inquire. I look at the ground. I shouldn't have left them! What if they're dead! I try to shake that last thought out of my head. Coren takes a piece of my hair and pushes it back behind my ear. He doesn't drop his hand and I don't want him to.

" I don't know where they are." Coren says gently. He drops his hand but I grab it with my hand and hold it as I look at the ground.

" You tired?" Coren mumbles softly. I nod my head at him. I guess sleep might do me some good. He keeps hold of my hand and walks me over to his bed. He opens the covers and I get in and lay down. He gently puts the covers on me. He caresses my face. I stare at the perfection and beauty of him. All of a sudden he begins to walk away. I sit up quickly.

" Where are you going?" I ask. He turns back to me.

" I told you I'd look for Amy,Bryce and Thomas when I got you somewhere safe." He replies. He turns back around and grabs the door handle and begins to turn it.

" Please don't go," I beg. He stops turning the door knob but doesn't turn around. " Please stay with me."

He turns around and walks towards me. He sits by the bed on the ground.

" I won't go anywhere." He promises me. With that I can relax a little. I lay down and stare at the ceiling. I silently turn onto my side so I can see Coren. He's not looking at me. Even though I can see Coren, I still feel incredibly unsafe. I need him closer to me.

" You know," I say. " It might be more comfortable for you if you came into the bed with me." He turns around and looks at me in disbelief. I slide back in the bed to make room for him. He gets in. We're so close I can feel him breathing. I slowly close my eyes and let the scent of him lure me to sleep.