Stay...Alive

Chapter 4

 Victorine woke up to a hand rubbing her back. She stirred a little and shifted to her left side. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Yolanda warmly smiling down on her.

"Horace kicked you outta bed?" she asked. Victorine nodded against the sheets. Yolanda patted her back again. "That sucks."

Yolanda took the pillow from under her, ready to toss it at Horace's head, but Victorine sat up and blocked the path. Getting the message, Yolanda put the pillow back. Victorine, her still heavy with sleep, laid back down with her head on Yolanda's lap.

"Aww..." Yolanda sighed, petting the little girl's head. Victorine stayed there for a little while, until Yolanda surely fell back to sleep, her back against the wall. At that point, Victorine crawled out of bed, and over to the dwelling's only window. The light was pouring through, and shining right onto Timothy's face. He looked so innocent when he slept. He facial expression was soft (save for a pimple or two) and without a single cringe. His eyes didn't even squint from the sunlight.

Looking out the window, Victorine observed the row of similar, block-shaped houses across the asphalt street. Each one was the same in color and design. No one was outside yet, so the street was peaceful and empty.

Well, it was empty until Victorine glanced far enough up the road to see Anita in her flannel, marching down the street with a bag slung over her shoulder. She had a grin on her face, that was a mix between a joyous smile and a "nobody can eff with me smile." She skipped down the road until she got close enough to notice Victorine in the window. Anita enthusiastically waved, and Victorine awkwardly waved back.

Not wanting Anita to come inside and wake up the whole house, Victorine walked outside and into the muggy air. Anita called, "Can you wake up those two little twats? I wanna show them a book or two!"

Victorine shook her head, knowing all too well what an exhausted Horace was like,

Asha peeked her head up the door. "Why are you guys up so early?"

Victorine noticed that Asha still had that smile on her face from when she fell asleep last night.

"Sleep well?" Anita joked. Asha nodded as her eyes widened. Victorine giggled a little.

"I thought I'd give those little craps a book of mine. It was banned in a bunch of schools for-" Anita began, but was cut off by a distant buzzing. A little tensely she continued, "And...it's about this-"

The buzzing turned into a ringing. Victorine located the sound coming from the intercom. The one they barely used. The one only used for drills that everyone knew about the day before due to rumors, and...

Victorine looked to Anita. For the first time ever, Anita looked worried as all hell.

Victorine's first thought was If Horace or Timothy dies-

But that thought was cut off by doors flying open and people filling out, stuffing their prized possessions in their pockets and constantly looking over their shoulders.

"W-what's going on?" Asha questioned as Anita threw open the doors.

"Get up!" Anita yelled to everyone inside. Most people were up, but clearly not enough. And not everyone heard her right away so she screamed, "GUYS! I'M NOT KIDDING! GET OUTTA HERE!"

She yanked Timothy right off the bed, pushing him the direction everyone was walking. Victorine grabbed Asha's wrist and followed right after them. More and more of the gang escaped from the house, Yolanda pushing everyone aside to catch up with Victorine. As soon as she could, Yolanda put a hand on Victorine's shoulder and muttered, "Calm down," even though Yolanda was only comforting herself at that point.