The Fall of Hope

Chapter 31

            “Day, wake up,” Alex whispered as she held onto the ladder that led to the top bunk and shook the twenty-four year old.

            David’s eyes opened and he turned to glare down at the seventeen year old, “What?” he asked.

            “Denny needs us,” Alex said, ducking down to the bottom bunk so she could shake Thomas awake.

            “Why?” David asked as he tossed a pillow down at Thomas.

            “The project,” Alex said, hitting Thomas with David’s pillow. “It needs to be done by this afternoon.”

            “What? Why?” David asked as Thomas sat up and looked around.

            “Lex? What are you doing here?” Thomas asked as he threw David’s pillow back up to him.

            “We have work,” Alex said. “So get up… and put some pants on.”

            Thomas sighed, “I’m going to kill Denzel. What time is it?”

            “A little after four,” Alex said. “And quiet down. If you wake Nick, I’ll kill you.”

            David snorted, “Aww, of course you will,” he said.

            Alex threw a shirt and a shoe at David as he climbed down the ladder, “Shut up or I won’t give you food,” she said, nodding to the table.

            “Did you wake Cora up to cook?” Thomas asked.

            Alex shook her head, “She’s been awake. Dylan’s team showed up an hour ago.”

            David shook his head and grabbed a piece of bread from the table, “What did Dylan say?” he asked.

“They took Evan,” Alex said, twirling strand of her waist length hair around her finger. “They came at night and only took him.”

“Something’s happening,” Thomas said. “They’re doing something.”

“They’re always doing something,” David said. “I’m getting tired of it.”

Alex rolled her eyes, “Everyone is,” she said. “Now hurry up, we’ve got work to do.”

* * *

            The attack happened ten minutes after Alex, Nick, Chase and Blake left.

            Jackie, David and Jake were packing the car and Denzel was helping them when it happened. Monsters filled the street and when she saw them, Jackie ran to the door, “Run! They've found us!” she yelled into the building before a Monster shot her.

            “Jackie,” David yelled when he saw her fall.

            Denzel grabbed David before he could stand, “Don't,” he said. “She's gone.”

            Jake stared at the spot where his best friend's body was and took a deep breath, “They've got us surrounded and they outnumber us,” he said. “We're going to die.”

            “Then we'll die fighting,” Denzel said as Rebels poured out of the headquarters and opened fire on the Monsters.