Fragile Hearts [DANGEROUS FELLOWS]

⚠️FORTY-SEVEN: HARRY IN THE DUMPS⚠️

Since the infirmary couldn't be trusted, everyone huddled in the laundry room.

It had a little sink that could clean external wounds, and that was about it. The main reason you all were here was so Felix could put Lawrence's coat in the wash.

"So what even happened?" you heard Zion ask, and saw him standing in front of Harry, who was sitting in one of the little plastic waiting chairs.

Harry just shook his head. "I'll tell you later," he said, waving him off.

Zion sighed, turning and coming up to you. "You wanna spill it?" he asked.

"We heard a noise in the staff room," you recalled slowly. "We went in and he trapped us. Then it all..."

You trailed off, but Zion seemed to get the picture.

"Maybe he was one of those government people trying to assassinate you," Zion said, scratching the back of his neck.

Assassinate? You shook your head. "He was infected."

"Infected?" Zion repeated in surprise.

"He was the doctor that kicked us out of the infirmary," you explained. "But I don't know how he could've gotten the virus. I don't remember seeing any bite marks, and-"

"Injection," someone said, and you turned to see Lawrence.

"Like a needle?" Zion looked a little skeptical.

"Right," Lawrence said. "I saw a lot of those in Eugene's room. I have a nasty suspicion not all of them were solely sedatives."

"You mean a syringe full of the virus?" you asked, shuddering. Had they been putting the virus in Eugene to see how his body reacted?

"It's a possibility," Lawrence said. "But that would also lead one to assume they have somewhere to get the virus from in the first place."

"Forget about that," Zion cut in. "Who are you thinking injected the doctor with the virus?"

"There are a few possibilities," Lawrence pondered. "I don't want to make any early judgements... though I have a pretty good guess."

You were about to press him on it when Felix and Ethan came over, ending the conversation.

"We need to start getting an official plan in motion," Felix said. "Today. The longer we wait, the less opportunity we have to get everyone out in one piece."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" you asked. "I mean, Harry still looks really shaken. Maybe we should have a break."

Everyone glanced at Harry. He was staring down at the ground, looking dazed.

"More reason to start now," Ethan said.

"We wouldn't be going today," Felix said. "Probably not even tomorrow. But the sooner we get planning, the sooner we get going."

"We can whip up a plan in an hour, tops," Zion scoffed.

"We need to take our time," Felix argued. "It's gotta be precise. If anything goes wrong, anything at all, we're as good as dead."

"How hard could it be?" Zion asked.

Felix just shook his head. "Everyone finish up in here, and then meet me in my room. We'll start small for now."

He turned to leave, beckoning Ethan to follow, before anyone could ask any more questions. Felix was a lot more straight-to-the-point now than when you had first met him. It was admirable, how he could stay so orderly even in such a stressful environment.

"Are you two alright?" Lawrence asked. "Do you need anything?"

"Maybe about three stitches," Zion grumbled, rubbing the side of his head. He was only being dramatic... at least, you hoped he was.

"I'm fine," you said. "Just a little tense."

"Then go on ahead," Lawrence said, waving you towards the door. "I'll have a word with Harry."

You took another look at Harry, and you could almost feel your heart shattering. You'd never seen him look so broken before; he was always holding onto whatever shard of hope he could.

"That kid's got some serious emotional baggage," Zion said as he pushed the door open, stepping onto the grass. The laundry room was in a room at the side of the hotel, separate from the rest of the building.

"You mean, since the zombies?" you questioned, following him out, and as the door swung closed you could hear Lawrence start to say something to Harry softly.

"Oh, please," Zion said. "Way before anyone could've dreamed this would happen."

"What do you mean?" you pressed, itching to know.

Zion just shrugged, walking around the building to the front doors. "He never told me much about it," he said. "Just bits and pieces. Only Lawrence really knows the full story."

"Well, what are the bits and pieces?" you demanded, and Zion started to laugh.

"Alright, calm down," he said. "All I know is that his home life wasn't too great, and his dad up and left without much reason."

Zion grinned. "It's probably the reason Harry's such a momma's boy."

"Maybe you should be taking notes," you scolded. "You could learn a thing or two about kindness from him."

"Oh, excuse me!" Zion cried dramatically. "Don't come here acting like you've known him your whole life!"

"What do you mean?" you asked, feeling confused. What was he trying to say?

"It may be hard to believe, but Harry wasn't always the sweet guy you know and adore today," Zion announced. "Once upon a time, he had some mean anger issues. If you ever pushed his buttons just right-"

Zion clapped his hands together, making you jump.

"-he would snap."

"Really?" you asked in shock. You'd only ever seen Harry look angry once or twice, and you couldn't imagine him lashing out at anyone.

"Ever since you arrived, he's been more at peace with himself," Zion said. "I guess that's one thing you're useful for."

"One more thing than you," you fired back, and Zion put a hand over his mouth to cover his smile.

As the two of you walked by the dining hall, you felt your stomach growl. You hadn't eaten since breakfast yesterday, and you were dying for some warm food.

When you got to the second floor, you saw Ethan talking to Jay and Hailey. He was probably filling them in about what happened.

"Finally decided to show your face?" Zion asked Jay, hitting him upside the head. Jay just grumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

On the other hand, Hailey looked nothing short of terrified. Her legs we trembling, eyes wide, and she seemed she might burst into tears at any moment.

"Felix is waiting for us," Ethan told you and Zion. "Where's Lawrence? And Harry?"

"They're back in the laundry room," you explained. "What are we going to do?"

"Step one of the plan?" Ethan asked.

You nodded.

"We're gathering weapons," he said. "Because this escape is going to get pretty messy."