Terror By Night

Chapter 8

I wake with a jolt. Someone has slammed a door and the sound reverberates loudly across the gym. The cold has seeped through my thin bedroll and I shiver. My first thought is how I could really use a toothbrush. I turn to my left and see Zoe is still knocked out. Lucky her. Sitting up slowly, my eyes immediately go to the space where Xavier and Nolan are. Well, Nolan is. He too is sound asleep. Not surprising. Without a blasting alarm screaming in his ear, he could stay unconscious till noon. Xavier is notably absent. Curiosity causes me to take a harder look around the room. No sign of him. Hmm. That's odd. I wonder where he's gone, and how long ago he left.

The call of nature sends me to the girls' locker room. Again, I wish I had some way of freshening up. If I still had P.E., I'd have a bag stashed in one of the lockers for change out. I didn't think the day would ever come when I would be sorry I wasn't still taking that dreaded class. Wonders never cease lately. Before I head out, I take a moment to inspect the girl I see in the mirror. Long disheveled dark brown hair hangs in a frizzy mess around a pale face. There's a tiredness around my dark eyes. I stare at this girl. The one now living in a world where science fiction is now a reality. I may not give off the appearance of someone with all the answers. But the harder I gaze, I can see what's just below the surface. A determination. Maybe it's always been there. I was determined to get out of Two Egg. Now, my mind is set on survival, but not just that. There's a conviction that wasn't there before. I had thought I could live without my friends, my family. Funny how quickly that's changed. All it took was an alien invasion.

With one more deep breath, I make my way back to the main room. More students are slowly stirring awake. The teachers are all up, busy piling things up on different tables. A door opens to my far right and a teacher hauls in bags near bursting with unknown items. I stop in my tracks. It hits me that the doors are unlocked once more and people are coming and going. This is exciting. It doesn't take but a few steps to reach Zoe. She's sitting up braiding her hair.

She looks up and says with a voice still heavy with sleep, "I blame you."

I jerk back slightly. "Blame me? Blame me for what?"

"This," she says while she shakes her hair. Her fingers are tangled up in the curly locks.

I give a soft laugh. "It's my fault you look like a lion?"

She scowls back. "Thanks for that. Yes, it's your fault you let me go to sleep without braiding my hair. You know without my products and hair wraps, this mess happens." She pulls the curls out to either side of her head.

I can't help the laugh that slips out again. "Ah, Zoe. You're gorgeous. You know afro is really in this season. You wear it better than any New York model."

Her mouth pulls down around at the corners. She isn't convinced. I do feel for her but I'm in the same predicament. I tell her so. "Before you get too grouchy, look at my mane. It's crazy girl. I think a pack of squirrels snuck in last night and made their home in my hair."

I shake my head wildly, pretending to shake out the creatures. "Are they gone?"

It has the intended effect. Zoe laughs. "You know, I think I see a nut still in there. You could have that for breakfast."

"Ugh. If they don't feed us, I'll have to seriously consider it."

She glances around us. "I saw teachers coming in from outside carrying bags and boxes. Let's pray there's something to eat in at least one of them."

"Yes, I saw that too. If they feel safe enough to go in and out, then things must be looking better out there. Maybe they'll stop all this nonsense and let us go home." I give furtive looks to the exit doors. I haven't spotted any security yet. I wonder if they've downgraded the threat to nonlife-threatening.