Don't Be Afraid

Chapter 10

Issac's POV

"Maddie!" I feel a thump and I quickly look around. I'm on the floor of my apartment. I'm safe, but.....Maddie's gone. I wipe the sweat from my forehead and pull myself up using the night stand. My head feels dizzy so I rummage through the cupboards looking for some medicine or anything. In the last cabinet I find a bottle of head ache pills. I don't even bother getting something to drink. I just dry-swallow the pills. Of course it doesn't taste or feel good, but I don't care right now.

There's a knock at my door and I hear Linda's tiny voice on the other side. "Issac? Are you okay?" I grab my shirt off the floor and pull it over my head as quick as I can.

"Yeah. I'm fine. You can come in." The handle turns and she cautiously steps in.

"I heard you scream so I didn't know if... y'know....You were hurt or anything." She plays with a strand of her hair as she talks and bounces on the heel of her feet.

"I'm fine. Just.....a bad dream." She nods her head and opens her mouth, probably wanting to say something, but closes it. Thank goodness. I don't feel like answering any emotional questions. I don't like emotional things at all.

"Well I just came to see if you were okay...." She turns to walk out but I grab her arm.

Lowering my voice I say, "We need to stick together. I have a bad feeling about this place."

"This place is perfect."

"Too perfect." I mutter under my breath.

"I heard that and you never want to stay in one place. I'm tired of hiding and always having to watch my surroundings and I want to relax."

"Trust me. This place isn't what it seems. It can't be-"

She puts her hand up, one of our signs for shut up, and narrows her eyes. "Issac. We barely survived out there. If you don't like this place.....then you can leave, but I'm staying." I swear, if it were possible, my heart exploded.

"You wouldn't come?" I probably sound like a lost puppy right now.

"No. I'm.... I'm staying."

"But we're a team Linda. Remember?"

"Yeah I remember. I remember starving, hiding, and being scared shitless. I'm not doing that again. Just stay here. With me." She reaches her hand out and I turn away.

"Why would I want to stay here.... with you? You were just someone who watched my back occasionally and messed everything up. I'm better off on my own." I grab my duffle bag and fill it with clothes, food, and water. I storm past Linda and feel her hands pulling on my shirt. I pause for a moment, almost reconsidering, but shake my head and walk out the door. I turn around to take one last look and see a small, broken Linda standing in my door way. I straighten my shoulders and start walking down the long, twisted hallways. When I reach the market area there's more people than I'd expect to be out.

"Issac?" I turn around and see Cleo. She's wearing a plain black shirt, black leggings, and combat boots. Her hair's in a braid and she's waving me over. She's pretty nice and cute so what the hell.

"Hey Cleo." I sit across from her in a booth. She has a huge smile on her face. She looks at my bag and then back to me. Her smile disappears.

"Leaving so soon?"

"I'm debating it."

"I thought we could get to know each other first...but never mind. It was a stupid idea." She gets up, but I pull her back down.

"I'm debating. Who said we couldn't get to know each other?" She blushes and sits down.

"Okay...."

"Okay. What do you wanna know?"

--------------------------

A/N

Hey guys! What did ya think? Issac might be leaving? *gasp* What do you think will happen? Comment and vote! Bye :)