Whatever It Takes: Mutations

Chapter Fourteen

Strength in Numbers

October 2nd, 6:31 am

Current Location: Baltimore, MD

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"Wake up. It's time to go," Dad's voice said. I rolled over in an attempt to fall back asleep since my body refused to get active for the day. "Jeremy, come on man. We don't have much time to waste. Breakfast will be ready soon, and after that, we're packing up and leaving." 

I sighed deeply. "Alright. I'm getting up." 

"Good. Get your sister up too if you don't mind," he said as he walked out. 

I took a couple of minutes to wake myself up, every now and then rubbing my eyes and yawning. After I sat up in my bed, I looked over at Olivia, who was indeed sound asleep in her bed. I smiled, remembering the time when we were staying the night at John and Candice's house a couple of days after the apocalypse started. I softly and gently shook her awake, and she was in a good mood for the majority of the day. Then the smile I had faded because I knew that both of them had no reason to help us, yet they sacrificed their own lives. Sure, they chose to go with us, but they could've gone their own way. Everyone here except Navarez knew that neither of them deserved to die. 

Climbing out of the bed, I crawled over to Olivia and gently shook her and said sweetly, "Good morning little sis. It's time to get up." 

"I don't wanna. Sleep is a necessity too big bro," she said. I just stared at her for a few seconds until she turned her head to look at me, and she groaned in response and sat up in the bed. "Ugh, fine. Give me a few minutes to get ready." 

I hugged her, and she returned it. "Okay. Don't be too long, because Dad told me that we don't have a lot of time." 

"Yeah yeah, just get out of here," she said. 

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Everyone was sort of quiet that morning, even Navarez. It that that creepy feeling that made you want to get chills. Dad eventually tried to spark a conversation as he was eating his scrambled eggs. "Is everyone packed and ready to go?" 

"Yeah, with the few things I have," Braxton said with attitude. I frowned at him, wondering what was wrong. 

"What's the matter Brax?" I asked. 

He shook his head. "Nothing, it's just, I really don't want to travel like this again. Last summer was already bad enough. We lost Mom during that, remember?" 

Everyone was quiet for a minute until Dad sighed. "I know we lost Momma, but if we don't do this, Bryan could get killed, and hundreds of other people along with it." 

Then Braxton exploded with fearful anger. Tears welled up in his eyes as he screamed, "NO! I DON'T CARE ABOUT BRYAN! I WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE FOR ONE DAY! MOMMA IS GONE, AND I CAN'T LOSE ANYONE ELSE!" 

Silence. Nothing but complete silence throughout the entire bunker. Braxton was shaking with fear as quiet tears streamed down his red face. After a couple of seconds, I got out of my barstool and wrapped him in a hug. It didn't even hurt that much to hear that he didn't care about my best friend, because I completely understood where he was emotionally in his mind. Braxton was a strong child at the age of seven. When any of your parents die while you're at a young age, and he was six at the time, it's a very traumatizing experience. Now, I think it finally caught up to him. 

"Listen," I said, looking deep at his light brown eyes. I tried my best to keep my voice from breaking. "I know how much it killed you to see Mom die like that. It was painful for me too; for all of us, but I can promise you something."