Koalas (Kyle O'Shea)

Chapter 6

She didn't. She must have slept for about four hour but now Melody was wide awake. Sweat clear on her forehead as she tried to calm her racing heart. She dreamt of her brother again. But it wasn't her brother. The reflective eyes proved this and he hunted her. Ready to place a worm in the back of her head to kill her, let one of them live in her head and wear her body as if it was its own.

Melody had tears in her eyes. Usually she would have woken up Kyle. He could always calm her down with his soft spoken words and his hand gently brushing through her hair. Now he was fast asleep and unaware of her her struggle.

After drying her eyes she chose to go to the kitchen again in hopes to find some dirty dishes to clean, maybe even eat some leftovers.

The solar light lit up the room in a gentle blue light. The young woman was relieved to see a few dirty dishes laying around and she cleaned them. She was so into her work, that she didn't notice the person at the door watching her.

"What are you doing here?"

Melody jumped in surprise and turned around quickly. She didn't hear anyone coming and didn't expect to be scared like that.

The woman took in Melodys appearance. Dark circles were under her brown eyes and she was quite skinny. Sure, nobody was or even could be healthy yet she looked a bit worse than everybody else.

"Doing the dishes?" Melody answered unsure of the reaction.

"This late?", Maggy asked.

"I couldn't sleep. I'm rather awake and do something, not just laying around and doing nothing."

"Well, you're supposed to sleep. Do you have nightmares?" Maggy responded.

Melody nodded, looking at the ground.

"About what?"

"My brother. He died to protect me from those.. those parasites. I.. I can't. Every time I fall asleep I see him. I see him warn me from those body snatchers, I see him with reflective eyes, I see his dead body. I can't sleep anymore. I'm scared they will find us any moment."

Tears were in her eyes. The older woman uncrossed her arms and walked towards her, taking the towel out of her hands.

"We are safe here." She told her firmly looking into her eyes. She placed her hands against Melodys cheeks and spoke firmly. "Nothing will happen to you. You are safe. Go back to your room and sleep!"

Maggy shooed her out of the kitchen taking the light with her.

"And don't let me find you again. You are supposed to sleep!"

Melody nodded and went back to her room. The men she shared the room with hadn't moved. Both were sprawled out across their mattresses. A smile appeared on her face as she moved to lay down to fall asleep again. She slept until the late morning.

"Wake up, you cuddly koala."

Melody groaned, trying to kick the person, who tried to wake her up. She missed.

"Fuck you."

"Yo, mate, language." Another voice said.

Melody turned to look who she would beat up early in the morning only to see Ian crouching next to her and Brandt standing at the door, grinning widely at the tired girl.

"Come on, it's time for breakfast you almost missed it and you're supposed to work with Sharon babysitting the kids."

Melody sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"I'm coming give me a bit of time."

"No time. Breakfast now."

He picked her up under her arms making her struggle to get out as he carried her into the kitchen. She still wore her casual clothes she threw on when she went to the kitchen earlier. Ian didn't let her down until they arrived at the kitchen.

"The koala arrived like you asked, Jeb."

Melody saw a few amused eyes looking at her. Kyle smiled at their antics. She just shook her head and grabbed a bit to eat before sitting down at the same table as Jeb.

"Didn't want you to miss your first day as a teacher." He smiled at her and she gave him a grimace.

"I'm here. I'm ready." She told him as she ate.

"Good. Before you all leave it's time for a small raid. Jared, Wes, Ian, Kyle, Aaron, and Brandt will leave by tonight."

Her eyes immediately went to Kyle, who looked at Jeb. Jeb told everyone it would be a needed raid. The storage would be empty soon. There was a sullen silence. Nobody wanted them to leave in fear of never seeing the men again. By now Ian and Kyle just like Melody had become a part of the group. People cared for them.

"Now lets get this day started!"

He kicked everyone out who had work somewhere else. Sharon took Freedom in her arm and told his older brother to come along. He grabbed Melodys hand and tucked her towards the room they usually stayed.

"Jamie, come along." Sharon said in a stern voice.

Jamie groaned next to Jared, who just smiled at the young teen.

"Come on, it won't be so bad!", Melody tried to convince him and Jamie reluctantly dragged himself towards her.

She ruffled his hair as he passed her and she followed him. Sharon led them to a big room. An old blackboard stood at one wall and the sun shined through the ceiling. A few books laid next to a unsteady wooden table. Jamie trotted to one of the chairs unhappily and sat down. There was a baby blanket next to the blackboard and a colourful box with even more colourful toys.

Sharon quickly explained what Melody should do. She was a very strict person, not lenient. Especially with Jamie, who wanted to do everything but sit here and listen to anything Sharon told him. Apparently she used to be a high school teacher and before everything went down she actually took a few books with her. So now she could use them to teach others.

Melody sat down with Lucia's children and played with them. They were very happy children considering in what time and what place they grew up in. Freedom had been even born in the caves with Docs help.

The room started to heat up the higher the sun rose. Sweat trickled off of everyone's forehead and Melody left a couple of times to get more water to keep everyone hydrated. Around midday when her stomach had already grumbled for some time Sharon announced it was time for lunch.

Jamie jumped in relief and happiness that he could finally leave algebra behind and ran out of the room away from Sharon. Melody smiled at his behaviour and after Sharon tidied the room a bit the women left together for lunch.

Most of the people were already in the kitchen eating and chatting. She saw Lily sitting at one table with Ruth, Trudy and a few others and joined them.

"I thought since you'll be alone in your room you could move your mattress to Ruth and mine's place until the raid is over." Lily told Melody as she sat down.

Right. Melody didn't realise she would be alone in her room. She dreaded the thought of waking up in the middle of the night and being alone. Although, she and Kyle had a bit of a tension she still preferred him over being alone.

"Yes, that would be great!"