The Apocalypse: Shelter

Chapter 4

Nick's POV

Riely turns on the light. We each find a seat and sit down. Once we get situated I begin to talk.

"So how'd you guys make it here?"

"We basically ran the whole way without stopping." Mickey says.

"Well we stopped to rest and eat at least," Riely says, "but we weren't going to stop for any unnecessary reasons because we wanted to make it here as fast as possible."

"How 'bout you?" I say directing my attention to Lauren.

"Well I went with Amanda to the field house. Abby, Raquel, Jordan, and Eddie were already there. We stayed there for one or two days, until the zombies broke through the door. They all got bit, while Amanda and I got out the back and ran onto the track. We tried to hop the fence but they pulled us down. Amanda tried to fight them off, but got bit and let them take her so I could run away. Then, a couple people in a jeep picked me up and said I could come with them to their camp, but I said I wanted to come back here so they dropped me off and went on their way."

"Wow," I say as I process the information, "Why wouldn't you take the opportunity to possibly be safe and go with them?"

"I don't know," she says, "We were supposed to meet here and I didn't want you guys to worry."

"She was here when we got here." Riely says.

"Yeah, but I wasn't here long before you guys got here." says Lauren.

"How long were you guys here before I got here?" I say to Riely and Mickey.

"Not long," Mickey, "Two, three days maybe. How'd you make it back, Nick?"

"Well, I made it out of the house by distracting them not long after you guys left, but you were long gone even by then so I started running. I eventually got tired, found a house and slept there for the night. I collected some supplies and left and I basically repeated that for the rest of my trip."

We sit there in silence for a while, contemplating what to do next. Finally, Lauren speaks up.

"I wonder what happened to Conlon."

Conlon is the high school we would have gone to next year if it wasn't for the whole apocalypse thing. Lauren's sister goes there and so does Morgan's. My sisters and Riely's sister went there too.

"It probably just collapsed," I say recalling how unstable Conlon is,"You know, because of the shaking we felt at Solomon."

I have been wondering what that was, but it didn't seem that urgent at the time to find out.

"Yeah, what was that?" Lauren asks.

"I have no clue," I say.

"So, what are we supposed to do now?" Mickey wonders.

That is a good question. I look at each of their faces and, not to my surprise, puzzled looks appear on all of them.

"Well I guess we can stay here," Riely says, "I mean there's enough room and blankets."

"But how long?" I ask. I really do not want to stay here that long since our families and friends are still out there. I want to see them again. I need to see them again. We sit there contemplating any answers until Mickey comes up with a more simple solution.

"Why don't we just sleep here tonight and figure it out in the morning."

We all seem to agree on that.

"I'll get some blankets!" Riely says.

She comes down a couple minutes later with a blanket for each of us. There are three couches perpendicular to each other with a large square coffee table in the middle of them. A small television, which probably does not work, faces all of them. The steps leading upstairs are on the opposite side and an open space just with cabinets, bins, and boxes full of random items is on the left side of the living space. They each pick a couch while I agree to sleep on the floor.

"I'm gonna miss this house." Riely says after we finally get situated and have all lied down.

"I think we're all going to miss our houses." Mickey says.

"I'm gonna miss my phone too." Lauren speaks up.

"Yeah." we all say in unison.

"I'm gonna miss my 'One D' and Ariana," Riely says, referring to One Direction, who I really don't like, and Ariana Grande, "Oh, and Bethany Mota," she adds, as she sighs, thinking of her favorite people from pop culture.

I think of all the country music I listen to; Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley; and remember a few songs which play over and over again in my head.

Lauren talks about rap music, while Mickey talks about Panic! at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, and Fall Out Boy.

"I wonder when we're going to see our families again." Lauren says.

I know that has probably been said excessively but it is a very valid question. None of us speak because we really don't know what has happened to our families. We haven't seen them since The End. I have not seen my sisters that live in Pittsburgh for a long time, as Riely is probably thinking the same about her sister in Philadelphia too. The room is silent as I hear only steady breathing. We all fall asleep somewhat peacefully for once.