The Outbreak Chronicles Book Two Crisis Ties

Chapter 22

I sat straight up when I woke up, coming out of a dream about Justine coming after me all burned and screaming that I could have saved her. It was still dark in the dorm and I couldn't see a clock to tell me what time it was. I did notice that Sam, Leo, and Nolan were gone. I didn't want to close my eyes again so I decided to see if I could find them and see what they were up to. I was quiet as I snuck by Sawyer and Aaron, but almost stepped on Micah, who had made a bed for himself on the floor.

I made it to the doors without waking or stepping on anyone and headed for the nurses station. At first when I got to the station I thought no one was there but then one of the nurses came from the coffee cove area with a cup in hand.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"Was just wondering if you knew where a few of the people from the dorm went?" I asked.

"You mean Leo, Sam, and the cute blonde boy?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I think they took the boy down to the cafeteria, he looked pretty shaken up, must have had nightmares." She told me.

"Thank you." I said and turned towards the stairwell.

"Wait." The nurse said.

I turned and looked at her; she was digging in a drawer of the station desk. She pulled out a king size Snickers bar.

"Give this to the blonde boy." She said as she handed it to me, "Poor thing had it rough the last week."

"Yeah I can't imagine how scary it was being out there alone." I told her and waved as I went on my way.

The cafeteria was easy to find, it had signs that led you the entire way from all the floors. I stood by the doors just looking in to see if they were still inside. I saw them sitting at one of the tables in the back by the windows. They had food in front of them but they weren't eating. Leo saw me and waved me over.

"Hey the nurse at the station said to give this to you." I said and handed Nolan the candy bar, I was rewarded with a smile.

"Sweet." He said.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Sam asked me.

"Shouldn't you guys be too?" I said.

"I kept waking up." Nolan said.

"We thought we would take him for a walk and get a snack, see if it helps." Sam said.

"Is it helping?" I asked.

"I feel better now that I'm not trying to sleep." Nolan said, "Does that count?"

"Nightmares?" I asked.

"Not really, more I haven't been sleeping. Too afraid that if I did I would end up dead." He said, "I think it'll take time for that to go away."

"You have us to help you." I said.

"Why are you up?" Nolan asked, "Nightmares?"

"You got it." I said and sat down next to him.

"Mind if I ask what of?" He said.

"Daisy and I got grabbed by these two crazed guys and after we escaped they found us and we killed one of them. The other used one of the girls that didn't make it to start the building we were in on fire." I said.

"How'd he use her to do that?"

"He tied her up and set her on fire." I said, "I saw her burning but there was no way to get close enough to put out the fire or put her out of her misery."

"Harsh." Nolan said, "I'm sorry that happened to you."

"I'm sorry you got left in there, if we would have found you while we were there we would have taken you with us." I said.