Stay...Alive

Chapter 2

 Victorine waited near the entrance to the safe haven with Asha, Yolanda, and Jacey. It had just turned September, so the air was hot and muggy. A little gust of breeze went appreciated by everyone. There were no clouds in the sky, so the sun shone down hard. Victorine had spent her Summer running around with Asha and Anita, finding fun wherever they could. They swam in the ocean on the days it was approved, but often the water was too dirty to be in.

Gina was out with Frankie, again, and Parker was at his 'job' (doing things that are small but too hard for lazy people to do), again. And Lane was probably with some group of kids chugging milk until drowns again.

"You do ya think is gonna show up?" Yolanda asked Victorine, expecting a response. Victorine had been practicing talking and responding and all that jazz for a while. Usually, when Yolanda was practicing it with her alone, Victorine would respond. But when it was just another stranger, she would look to Yolanda...then back at the person...then to Yolanda.

"Horace and Timothy," Victorine squeaked.

"How about Pauline?' Jacey questioned. Victorine didn't respond.

"C'mon, remember what we went over," Yolanda reminded. Victorine stared up at Jacey with pity. Victorine knew what was going to happen. But look of hope on their faces was too bright to damper.

Soon enough, people began coming in through the entrance. Each one stiffened when the security patted them down, and each one sighed in relief when it was over. Everyone filed in one by one as the four of them watched with eagle's eyes. Asha kept muttering, "You're not the Picketts...and you're not the Picketts..."

When the Picketts finally entered, it took Victorine a second to recognize them. First of all, Timothy had gotten taller. Not as tall as Yolanda, but just about as tall as Jacey. And, as always, taller than Victorine. Second of all, Horace had his eyes knit into a scowl. Not his usual "I'm smarter than everyone here, what the hell," scowl. His was ten somehow more pessimistic than usual.

And as predicted, Pauline didn't walk through those doors.

"Hey, guys! I missed ya!" Asha tried to greet them with a hug, but Horace slid away and Timothy didn't hug back. "Where were you? Where's-"

"Where is my cousin?" Horace questioned. Panicked, Asha and Jacey look to Yolanda. Yolanda tried to stutter out an answer, but Horace repeated, "Where is Buckley?"

"Well...he...it's a long story, and...wait, where's Pauline?" Yolanda blurted out.

"Dead. Now, where's Buckley?"

"She's dead?" Jacey exclaimed. "W-what happened? What-"

"Just tell him where Buckley is," Timothy chimed in, his voice cracking a little.

"She...didn't make it."

"Oh, so he's dead, too?" Horace, swinging his bag over his shoulder scoffed. "Figures."

He started to walk away, but no one followed him. He stopped an turned around. Asha was frozen with her hand over her mouth. Jacey gripped Yolanda's hand. Timothy was on the brink of tears. Victorine sat still with her face blank with pity and a solemn acceptance of the inevitable.

"You guys gonna show me to you dump or what?" Horace asked.

When Horace walked in, the first thing he did was raised his eyebrows. "Bigger than the bomb shelter."

He set his stuff down on the couch, and his eyes went directly to Lane, who was sitting at the table.

"Who the hell are you?" Horace asked, a little angrily.