End Of Everything (Book 1)

17: One For The Money

*Olivia's Pov*

*Nurses room*

A cool unsettling breeze comes from the broken window. The sound of thousands of growlers flooding the school swarms the halls behind me. I look to my left and see Claire in tears, with a dizzy look in her eyes, trying to keep herself up. I turn my head to look at my right and next to me is Troy, then Robert, Jenny, Nicole, Matt, Tyler, Simon, Johnny, and Sam.

"Eyes forward kid." The solider behind me demands me while nudging the barrel of his gun to my head. I hold back my tears as I follow orders. My heart starts to beat fast as I realize Murphey, the solider I killed body is right in front of me. I start to feel noxious and the tears just come out faster then I can think.

"Quit your crying bitch." Said the soldier that came through the window. He took his helmet off revealing a blonde fade and goatee.

"Call her a bitch again and I'll give her your gun and order her to kill you." Maria snapped on him and he backs off.

I look up at her confused on why she'd defend me. She was kneeling trying to comfort a scared shakey Dylan in the coroner, but he keeps refusing her comfort. She rises up and walks over to me while picking up the knife Claire dropped. She squats down and stares into my eyes.

"W...Why?" I asked her. She starts to examine the knife and replies with a calm and soothing voice.

"Cause you're not a bitch Olivia. You're a strong, smart, loving woman who I know is the one for my son. I've known you had a crush on him for years and it makes me happy to see you guys actually together. You're my favorite Olivia, that's why I want you and my son to be safe and to come with us." I was stunned at what she'd said. I closed my eyes, hang my head down, and clinch my hands on my knees. I finally get the courage to speak.

"N...No. We are not coming with any of you. We stand with our friends and we will sure as hell die with them, not with murderers." I look up to see her expression change from calm to strict in a instant. The hair on the back of my neck starts stand up, as she gives me a chilling glare that could intimidate a bear.

"You just proved to me that I was wrong about you. You're not as smart as I thought." She stands back up and observes us all lined up. I glance over to Dylan and begin to tear up as I see him all alone, holding his knees, looking even more lost then ever before. He looks up and our eyes meet. There's so much fear and anguish in his eyes, even from across the room, I can see the hurt in his eyes and that alone pained me.

"O...Olivia?" I hear Claire whisper to me in pain. I turn my head to see her struggling to hold herself up. Her eyes are full of sure will and determination as she looks at me trying to hold back tears. "W...We are not d-dying today."

I nod and start to reach out for her hand, but I was nudged again by the solider behind me signaling for me to stop.

I look up to Maria as she was contemplating something while slowly pacing back and forth. She stops in front of Matthew, unholsters her handgun, and aims it at his head.

"Pick one." Maria told Matt in a calm voice.

"W-What?" Matt asked her puzzled.

"Pick one...to die now." Maria demanded. "One of you killed one of my men and I don't appreciate that. It's only right to kill one of you here. And trust me a quick painless death is better than waiting umm, give or take seven minutes until that horde makes it's way up here to rip you all to shreds, now make a damn CHOICE!!"

Out of all of us, she really picks that asshole to decide one of our fates.

I damn near jumped out of my own skin as I heard the sudden sound of gunshots firing through the halls.

"Don't be alarmed, it's just my men buying us time from the horde." Maria informed us. I glance over at Dylan starting to get up. His hands are shaking as he walks over and stand in front of me.

"Sweety, you don't need to witness this. Go sit back down and cover your ears." Maria told Dylan in a somewhat calm motherly tone. Dylan ignores her, takes a deep breath, and exhales while clinching his fist.

"Olivia, take Claire to the back room and save her life like the badass I know you are." Dylan commanded.

I glance over to Maria, and she was about to rebuke his command but was cut off by Dylan. "Mom you are gonna let that happen and you're not gonna kill anyone of us, or else I'm not gonna go with you willingly."

"No...don't give up, don't go, don't do this Dylan I can'-" I bursted out crying but was interrupted by Dylan as he leans down and kisses me so sweetly on the lips. I put my hand on his face as I kiss him back and I immediately feel safe, like there's nothing in this world that could hurt me, like I can do anything. Our lips leave each other and I instantly miss them. He puts his forehead onto mine and whispers to me.

"I'll see you again. I love you always." My heart melts and tears start to go down my face.

"I..I love you so much." I whispered back to him. He stands back up, turns around, and makes eye contact with his mother.

"Now promise me that you won't hurt or kill any more of my friends, then I'll come with you." Dylan demanded his mother. Maria pulls her gun away from Matt's head and holsters it while not breaking eye contact from Dylan.

"I...promise." Maria vowed with a crooked smile on her face. Dylan nods, turns to me, and gives me the "okay" look. I stand right up and help Claire up to her feet, wrapping her good arm around my neck we made our way to the back room.

I turn the doorknob and open it to see a blue walled room with a rolling stool, next to the one green doctor beds, grey cabinets above the white counter with a grey sink, and a heart rate monitor with a blood pressure monitor wrapped around it next to the bed.

I set Claire up on the bed stomach first then pull up the stool next to the bed. I head to the door to shut it but was intercepted by Jenny who was carrying my bag.

"H-Hey D-Dylan said you'd need this." Jenny said teary eyed while handing me my bag.

"Oh thanks Jen. Hey I can use your help actually." I told Jenny while I set my bag on the counter. She nods, entering the room and closes the door behind her.

"W-What do you need?" She asked in a breaky voice. I look through my bag and pulled out a bottle of saline, a box of q-tips, white bandages, black thread and a needle, and tweezers setting them on a pan next to me. After washing my hands, I head over and sat on the stool with the pan then answered her.

"I need you to make sure Claire doesn't pass out. Keep her awake, still, and talking. Got that?"

"Y..Yes, I can do that." She walks over to Claire and holds her hand.

"I...I apologize in advance sis." I whispered to Claire, she simply just gives me a thumbs up. I grab the tweezers, then carefully start taking a shard out of her arm, she begins to groan in pain as I do.

After a taking out the rest of the shards and cleaning the wounds, I start to stitch them up. While I do, I noticed Jenny was sweating, shakey, and trying not to cry.

"What's wrong Jen?" I asked her as I finished stitching a wound on Claire's shoulder.

"N...N..Nothing."

"Don't you lie to me." I said frustrated with our situation. She sighs and looks at me with so much sadness in her eyes.

"T..The soldier that did this to Claire. H..He's brothers with the guy you killed. H..He g-got even."