When August Ends

Don't Leave

"Come on, Maya, let's go back up." Stevo says quietly.

"I don't want to go up there with him." I say vehemently, shooting an angry glare at troy through my tears.

"Well you can't just stay here." Stevo persists. I just stand still, my gaze returning to Andrew. "Come on Maya." Stevo says putting an arm around me and I let him pull me along towards the wall. We climb up quickly and when I reach the top Troy awkwardly puts out his hand to help me up. I ignore him completely and hoist myself onto the platform.

"Okay," Troy says aloud and it makes me even angrier. I approach Grace who is sitting alone in the corner stone faced.

"You okay?" I inquire sitting beside her.

"Yeah," she replies softly.

"What did you do that for?" Stevo says in a hushed tone to Troy that isn't so hushed.

"She agreed it had to be done!" Troy snaps.

"I don't think that's what she meant when she said that." Stevo retorts in annoyance.

"I really don't care. I saved her life, and yours so you guys could be a little more grateful." Troy responds vehemently.

"Alright enough," Adam announces. He approaches and sits beside Grace. "We're going to be okay. I promise." he says calmly. "We need to come up with a plan though if we want to stay uninfected."

"We don't need a plan we need a strategy. What is there to make plans for?" Troy interjects.

"It's true, right now we just need a strategy to survive." Mace adds.

"We need to figure out what's really going on." Adam says calmly. "We need to see if there are others who aren't infected."

"I'm sure there are. I mean people here aren't stupid." Jon states flatly.

"Exactly and they need help, so we need to find them." Adam says. "Does anyone happen to have their phone on them? I didn't grab mind this morning."

"I do," I say pulling my phone out of my pocket. Blood laces the back of it but it's working and has service. One thing I never leave without is my phone.

"Of course you do," Mace chuckles.

"I have my phone too," Grace says pulling it out of her pocket as well.

"Start calling numbers," Adam orders us. "See if anyone picks up and if they do find out where they are and explain that we will come and get them." Grace and I nod. The first person I call is Rachel. I assume she's still in her room because it's only 8 am and she didn't work breakfast. Grace calls Chey. As the phone rings my heart pounds.

"Please let her pick up, God. Please." I whisper.

"What?" a groggy voice says at the other end of the line. "Oh thank God!" I shout. "Rachel are you okay?" I inquire quickly.

"I'm fine why, what's wrong?" she mumbles.

"Rachel lock your door now." I command.

"Wait what?" she inquires sounding a bit more alert.

"I said lock the door. Do it." I say seriously.

"What's going on?" she asks quickly.

"Is Chey in the room?" I inquire.

"Yeah," she says and I hear a clicking noise. "The doors locked but what's going on? Did you guys take food from the kitchen again? It mustve been a lot is Margaret coming to search the room?" Rachel chuckles.