Mute

F I V E

Nicole's POV*

Maggie and Glenn returned, but not alone. Apparently, they ran into some people who were also at the Pharmacy. They came back with enough supplies to last dad for a while and help Carl until Shane and Otis return. I'm going to be honest, Shane scares the hell out of me. He has that crazed look when he looks at me. 

Sighing, I watch out the window, patiently awaiting the guy's arrival. The door to my room opened, revealing dad. He had that same bright, cheerful, hopeful smile plastered on his face, as he walked in. He comes in everyday and checks on my leg, seeing if it's healing ok.

"Hurting anywhere?" Dad asks, standing up next to my bed and unwrapping my leg. I shook my head, as he overlooked my leg. Bruises covered my leg, making me frown at the sight. He pushed slightly around on it, seeing where it hurts. I winced once he got to the middle of my lower leg, as pain shot through me. "Gonna need up to, im guess, two weeks until this fracture is healed enough where you could walk on it." Dad announces, going back to wrapping it up. 

I grabbed my board and my red marker, writing as dad waited patiently. "Did Midnight ever come back?" 

"No sweetheart he didn't." Dad sighed, shaking his head and heading out of my room. I huff, grabbing my mp3 player and plugging in my ear buds, pressing play and letting the music play. 

I stared at the ceiling, wishing i could get up and walk around. Maggie walked in, her face stained with tears. I take out my ear buds and grab my board and markers. "Whats wrong Mags?" 

"Otis.... he didn't make it back." Maggie cried, sitting at the end of my bed. I closed my eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. Maggie and I sat there in silence, heart broken from the loss of our friend, no he was our family.

Shane walked in holding a pair of crutches. His head was now shaved and he was wearing Otis clothes. Maggie gets up and leaves, not wanting to be near the man. 

Shane stared down at me, making me scared slightly. He had that look. That damn crazed look. He walked over to me and leaned the crutches up against the wall.

"Lets get you out of this bed." Shane sent me a small smile. I nod and raise up, wondering why dad isn't in here helping me. He's probably with Carl. I slowly swing my legs over the bed. Shane hands me one of the crutches, me putting all my weight on it, trying not to hurt myself. Shane hands me the other one and im set, now to get used to using them. "Take it easy." Shane whisper, to close for comfort. I think i'd rather go fast, cause the faster i learn to get use to these, the faster I get away from you.

I nod and start limping forwards, wobbling a bit then regaining my balance. This isn't as hard as I thought. I smile to myself and start limping around my room, Shanes eyes never leaving my body. 

"I think you're ready to go outside." Shane smirked at me. I looked away, cringing. Once again I nod, waiting for him to open the door. Once open, we walk down the hall, me struggling to get down the stairs.