The Final Two

Chapter 6

In Keira's own state of current insanity, she kept to herself.  Others, not so much.  It was when Keira looked around she noticed who was in the room.  Keira, Brad, Bella, Alex, Talia, and of course, Becca. 

Bella, Talia, and Alex were huddled in their own group of three freaking out together.  Talia grabbed Bella by the collar of her shirt and pulled her in to yell at her.  Alex was crying with them. 

Brad was sitting with his knees clutched to his chest, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.  He was uncontrollably singing musical soundtracks to himself while he stared at a spider while it crawled on the floor. 

Becca was hyperventilating and crying in the corner of the room. She was shaking while curled up in as tight of a little bundle she could get.

This continued for what felt like hours and when she realized there would be no end in sight if left alone, Keira stood up dusted herself off.  She walked to the middle of the room. 

"Alright, everyone calm down..." she spoke but no one heard her over their own mournful sobs.  "EVERYONE SHUT UP!" Stunned, everyone's weeping subsided into quiet whimpers.

Keira stood in the center of the room. She felt their eyes on her. Everyone was staring into her and she saw their fear. True terror brewed in their eyes. She gestured and a few people stepped closer.

"Freaking out isn't going to fix anything.  We need to remain calm."  Keira looked around at all of them. 

She looked around realized that a change had to be made. She saw that Bella and Talia's makeup had been badly smudged in the last few days and they had mascara staining their cheeks from crying. No one's hair had been able to have been washed or brushed. They looked like a huge, heartbroken mess.

"It's gonna be okay. Everyone just take some deep breaths." Talia sprang up and hugged Keira as tightly as she could. Slowly everyone else joined in, even Brad.

"D-do you have the food bag?" Becca asked with a slight whimper. 

Keira nodded.  "But remember there wasn't much in it though. Hold on."

She got up and went to the bag of supplies and dumped it all down onto the dressing room floor. She crouched down and everyone else followed.

"Look at this.  I have a few things we might be able to use.  I have a charger, playing cards, and lotion." She listed the items as she put them back into the bag.

"Great! We'll be able to play cards while we wait to die!  Our phones will be fully charged to text ourselves!  Oh, and our skin will be nice and hydrated!" Alex raised her voice sarcastically.

"Listen it's all that we have!  We'll make use of it!  Look around the room for stuff then!" Keira shot back at Alex with a shove.

They all got up and started to search the room.  Keira was examining a clothes rack when Becca came over and tapped her on the shoulder.  When Keira turned around Becca attacked her with a hug. 

"Hey..."Keira squeezed her tight and stroked her hair gently.  "It's going to be okay, I promise,"  Keira whispered this to her as Becca cried into her shoulder. 

"S-Sarah.  She- and Onnikka.  And Luke.  And...you.  I'm, I'm scared." Becca whimpered.

"Shh, shhh. It's okay.  Take a deep breath."  Keira released the hug to look at Becca. 

She held out her hand and Becca took it, tight.  They walked back to where everyone had once again crowded in the middle.  Everyone looking somewhat disappointed.

"Did anyone find anything?" Keira asked.

Everyone shook their heads. 

"Well, there's nothing to really do.  I guess just chill out and try to calm down."  Keira let go of Becca's hand to give everyone another hug. 

After everyone else had calmed down somewhat, Keira walked over to the restroom and stormed into the largest stall, locking the door behind her.  She went over to the mirror and looked herself in the eyes.  She broke down in tears and held her face in her hands as she stung her cheeks with warm tears.  She was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Keira?  Are you okay?" It was Brad.

"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute."  Keira splashed some cold water on her face and unlocked the door. 

She walked out calm and collected.  She sat up against the wall looked at everyone.  Surprisingly everyone seemed calm.  Bella and Talia were playing cards and Brad and Ava were talking.  They were even laughing.  This put Keira at some ease.  She saw Becca walking over to her.  She held her arms out and Becca came over and laid on Keira. 

"Thank you," Becca said.

Keira just stroked her hair. But instead of calming down Rebecca started to get angry. Really angry. She suddenly pulled away from Keira's comforting embrace and warmth to spring onto her feet.

"At least thirty people are gone and dead. We're all we have left. None of this is ok!" Rebecca started to yell, startling everyone else. Keira tried to ease her but was pushed away. "We need to do something. It's time to fight back."