No place like home

chapter 4

Cora

It's later on in the evening and everyone seems to be around a large bonfire of sorts. I stand behind the small group of people while everyone talks and tells stories.

It's strange to see everyone so happy when literally death is outside the gates. I watched as my brother told stories to all the children and made them laugh and gasp.

"You're starting to look suspicious with your hood and mask up" Dan starts walking over to me. I simply shrug and continue staring at the blazing fire.

"O.M.G. CORA IS THAT YOU!" A girl basically shrieks while walking towards me.

Damn the one person I can't stand

"Abby" I reply dryly earning a look from Dan. "It's so good to see you! We all though you wouldn't make it on your own but you look amazing" I narrow my gaze a little and fake a smile, "well here I am. In the flesh" I retort with sarcasm she clearly didn't pick up on.

"Well it was nice seeing you" She perks, "likewise" She smiles and walks over to Dan, "see you later baby" She says kissing him. I mentally gag and physically roll my eyes.

I take a few steps away but she leaves. He notices the disgust in my eyes and chuckles awkwardly, "that my friend is one reason I'm not staying" I joke half-heartedly.

"Why do you have to leave?" He whines like a child, "I have my reasons" I repeat using the same excuse as I used on Noah. He narrows his gaze and sighs.

"What happened to that sweet girl we all knew and loved?" He jokes but I detect the seriousness behind his voice and hidden in his eyes , "she died... A long long time ago" I reply with the seriousness he didn't show.

"Is there a way we can bring her back?" He asks. I shake my head and he looks upset and disappointed, "anyway I don't understand why you want me to stay... You have friends and a girlfriend, extra food and water" I reply fiddling with the bracelet thats wrapped around my wrist.

"I don't have you" He admits with a half smile, "I missed you... Spent months looking for you" He says lowering his gaze, "that makes two of us then" He looks back up at me with shock.

"You looked for us?" I shake my head, "I looked for you" I correct. His shock transformes into sadness, "how long did you search?" He asks taking a step closer. "I don't wanna talk about it" He nods understandingly.

A small silence settles comfortably over us. He slowly steps towards me, taking caution. I smile sheepishly and move over so we're next to each other. He wears a smile and blushes lightly.

The fire in front of us dies a little so it's now classed as a campfire. Parents or guardians are collecting family and people are being told to return to their tents.

"Come on... You can stay in my tent" Dan says walking away, "what about Abby?" I ask crossing my arms. "She shares a tent with her sister across camp... She won't mind" He replied quickly and waved me over.

I jogged over to him and he opened a medium sized. He let me in first and I smiles timidly at him. "You can take that bed" He says pointing to a rather comfy looking camp bed. "Thanks" I mutter and sit on it.

"Lights out!" Someone yells and all the camp lights disappear. Dan lays down in his bed and takes a deep breath. I pull my feet up and sit cross legged on the bed. I fiddle again with the bracelet on music wrist and think.

I wonder what I would be doing if all this never happened. I could be, at the beach, at school, at a party, who knows.

God I don't even know the month or the day of the week, or even the time for that matter

It's hard living in a world where being "safe" Is just a dream. "Not gonna sleep?" He asks yanking me from my through train. "No" I whisper, he sighs and sits up. "You need rest if you're going to leave in a few hours... Please try" He begs. The last time I slept I had a nightmare. But it felt all too real.

"Fine" I mutter lying down. He does the same and in a matter of seconds soft snores escape his lips.

The world is bright again. I wake with sun shining in my face through the crack in the tent. I jump up and run outside, "it's over! It's finally over!" I yell out but nobody responds.

I low growl comes from behind me. I turn slowly and Dan looks at me with hunger in his eyes. "Please Dan" I beg.

I take a few steps back but get lunges for me and grabs me... He killed me.

And it repeated. Over. And over. And over.

I wake skiing and crying. I feel two arms wrap around me and pull me into them. Dan.

"Hey. It's okay. You're okay" He Coos stroking my hair and holding me close. I catch my breath again and calm down. "What happened?" He asked pulling away and staring me straight in the face.

I clench my eyes shut and he just hugs me again. I push him off lightly and he sits back, "just go back to bed" I push not looking at him. "Okay" He shrugs knowing he won't get an answer out of me.

A minute later there are scraping sounds and when I turn Dan is in his own bed. Right next to mine. "What are you doing?" I question quietly. "I know that if you end up going back to sleep you'll have another nightmare and want to be here to protect you" He says smiling sadly. Knowing damn well...

I'm scared to sleep.