When August Ends

Sick

     It's been two days since I "saw" Andrew. JP is slowly but surely adjusting but I'm not. I think I'm slowly losing my mind but I have to act like I'm fine. I think Jack senses my hysteria, but he doesn't say anything if he does. I'm trying to convince myself I didn't see Andrew and that someone else saved me and JP from Chris, but the more I try to convince myself of my cracked sanity, the certian I become of his reappearance. I want to go looking for him, I owe him that and more but I can't bring myself to slip away. I'm afraid and don't want to make anything worse. During these two days we found Brandon, a nice guy who was on the maintenance team. He's been hiding in the rafters which is actually rather brilliant. By now we are entirely packed up and ready to move out. We have found a total of three working vans and two smaller cars. Troy's car and sweet Jon's. I sit on a picnic table inside the YC polishing a spoon since I need to do something with my hands. I feel fidgety and my hands are shaking. Suddenly a lengthy piece of rope, about six inches long, is tossed onto my arm. I look up and see Jack in his rollerblades. He crosses his arms. "Tie knots. It's more effective than polishing spoons." he says.

"Thanks..." I mutter.

"No one else has noticed," he says looking at his nails. I look at him uncertainly. He meets my gaze and raises an eyebrow. "Noticed that you're cracking." he concludes. I close my eyes and sigh.

"I'm not cracking, Jack." I reply quietly.

"No, you're just seeing Andrew everywhere." he says sarcastically and spins in a quick circle infront of me with his roller blades.

"I don't need to explain myself to you." I reply coldly.

"I didn't say you did." he smirks.

"You really think I'm crazy?" I ask, a lump welling in my throat and tears swelling in my eyes. Jack looks at me with sympathy for a moment.

"No," he says flatly. "You're mind is trying to deal with you're grief. You can't help it but you have to fight it. Next time you see-" he makes quotes in the air- "Andrew, close your eyes, and make yourself rememeber that you saw him die."

"Yeah that'll make things so much better," I reply in annoyance.

"It'll help rid you of hallucinations." he says shrugging.

"You're right," I sigh. I'm just going to say what he want's to hear so I can think in peace. I'm not about to make myself remember the image of Andrew I'm trying so hard to forget. "I'll try it." I say.

"No you won't," he says spinning in another circle. "Tie knots, it helps." he says and then he skates away. I sigh and put the spoon and rag down. I take the rope in my hands and begin tying and untying knots. He's right. It helps.

***

      By late evening we are almost completely packed and ready to leave. I carry my duffel bag out and toss it into one of the vans. I sigh and turn to walk back inside when I catch a glimpse of a person in the distance by the basketball court. I squint and attempt to see who it is. My heart drops into my stomach. It's Andrew. Just like he was in my dream. He's holding a pistol and looking towards the YC. I look at him and hear Jacks voice in my head.

Close your eyes, and make yourself rememeber that you saw him die.

    I'm not strong enough to see that in my head again. I'm not sure if I should go after him or call Jack out here and see if he sees what I can. I'm about to call for Jack when an earsplitting scream tears through the air. It's coming from inside and I rush inside omentarily forgetting Andrew. I get inside and into the kitchen to see a horrific sight. I see an infected I dont recognize stand beside Alyssa whose eyes turn bright red and she sinks her fangs loosely into Molly beside her who is screaming. "MOLLY!" I scream in horror. She looks at e in terror and then her eyes cloud over. I don't see the others and I have no idea how they go in. All I know is that two girls whom I love dearly have just been murdered before me eyes. All I can do is stare in horror as the three slowly walk towards me. My heart sinks within me because I don't have the heart to kill these girls even if they aren't themselves anymore. My heart is breaking and I put my hands on my head and let out a sob. Suddenly a thick chain wraps around the infected who got Alyssa and Molly. It is ripped backwards, it's flesh tearing in accordance with the chain. I see Jack behind it weilding his chain. He slashes it around the creatures face and I close my eyes so I don't have to see the gore of it being torn apart. I open my eyes again in time to see Alyssa leaping at Jack, teeth bared. His chain is still wrapped around the carcass of the infected and he doesn't have time to loose it. "HEY!" I shout and Alyssa pauses. She and Molly both swing to face me and I look at them sadly. "Jack run, now!" I say firmly.