Page 41

THEO

The room springs into action. Everyone frantically begins searching for something to defend themselves with. I glance around and notice there isn't much in this lounge that could serve as protection. Behind the bar, a few people cheer when they find corkscrews, and some people grab empty liquor bottles from the trash, wrap them in bar towels and linens, and slam them to the ground. When they remove the cloth, all that’s left of the bottles are jagged edges, ready to be used as weapons. A few also manage to find a box of unopened paring knives hidden in a drawer.

One by one, everyone in the group gathers their water and any remaining canned food and brings them to the center of the room. Once everyone brings their items over, silence almost entirely takes over, broken only by heavy breathing, as everyone waits patiently for Sara to speak. Sara makes her way to the center of the room, placing the flashlight on a table and aiming it toward the ceiling to cast a little more light across the room. She looks around, then begins to speak.

“I know we are all tired and scared, but the medical center has more space and fresh air.” She pauses, looking then looks around the room until her eyes land on me. “Theo, can you please explain the plan?” All at once, I feel everyone's eyes on me while I walk over to Sara.

“Thank you, Sara. The medical center is five floors above us—We just need to head up the stairs. Assume they are waiting for us, and be ready to fight. Form a single-file line and walk quietly.” I turn to face Sara. “If you think it's a good idea, one of your people and I can go up to make sure that the medical center is ready. With us moving this many people, I don't want to get there and not be able to get in. We’d be sitting ducks for Logan to attack. Sara, you want to go with me?” She doesn't respond right away.

“No, I'll stay here with everyone and make sure we have everything we can bring. Take Chris with you, and leave Tyler with me.”

I look over to Tyler. “Are you okay with that?” He doesn't answer me, just nods in agreement. I shift my attention back to Sara.

“Chris is going to need protection and must be able to keep up with me. Can he handle that?” I ask, purposely looking at Sara to let her answer. She looks over to Chris.

“Yeah, I can keep up with you, and I agree, I do need a weapon,” Chris answers.

“Here, use this then,” says Tyler, walking up and laying the extra axe in his hand.

Chris and I make our way to the door. The barricade is removed, and the door is opened. Before we leave, I turn so that everyone is looking at me.

“We will be back soon. Be ready to leave when we return. We won't be gone long, and remember what I said. This is now a kill-or-be-killed situation. That means if Logan and his group show up, don’t hold back. If they show up, it's to kill you. So fight like your life depends on it,” I pause, looking around the room at the many faces staring back at me, “because it does. Chris and I will move as fast as we can. See you in a bit.”

Outside the lounge, the hallway is dimly lit by moonlight streaming through the windows that line it. The air is stagnant and stale, and I catch a faint whiff of mildew, reminding me of the smell inside the library. Chris and I are careful not to make any sudden movements or sounds that could alert anyone to our presence. I occasionally turn back to make sure that he is following closely. He must be terrified. His jaw is clenched tight and he keeps looking back and forth around the area, a bit frantic. Beads of sweat have formed on his forehead and upper lip. His breathing is rapid, almost as if he is on the brink of a panic attack. I stop walking and turn to face him. Gently, I lay my hand on his shoulder, take a deep breath, and exhale slowly. After a few tries, he finally mimics me and begins to calm down. Once he is calm, we start walking again. As we approach the entrance to the stairwell, I hear a voice, causing me to stop in my tracks.

“Did you hear that?” I whisper. Chris’s eyes are wide and he is staring at me.

“Hear what?” I quickly turn around and shove Chris against the wall, my arm pressed against his chest and my hand covering his mouth. Slowly, I lift a finger over my lips to tell him to keep quiet. I feel his heart begin to pound rapidly against my forearm, and the rapid breathing starts again. I do the slow and steady breaths, making him mimic me again for the second time in the past few minutes. Once he’s calmed again, I lower my arm.

“Someone is coming down the stairs. I can hear them.”

Chris nods but stays silent. After a moment, the voices grow louder and clearer, sounding like a woman and a man. Chris starts to tremble as sweat drips down his face as he panics. I grab his face and make him look me in the eye.

“You’ve got this, okay? Just be ready to swing with your axe—grip it tightly—in case someone notices us. And don't hit me with it by mistake, okay?” Chris stays silent and just nods. I look down and see his hands shaking like a leaf.

“Don't move and hopefully they won’t notice us.”

The two voices are so close now, they sound like they’re practically beside us. Chris is so nervous and shaky that the axe he is holding taps against the wall, making the slightest noise. Oh fuck, I hope they didn't hear it. The voices go silent and their footsteps stop. My heart begins to pound so hard I can feel it in my ears.

“What was that?” the woman says.

“What was what?” the man asks, and I hear some shuffling sounds. “I didn't hear anything. Let's go, I'm sure it's nothing. Everyone is too scared to come out of hiding. They all know Logan is nuts.”

“Yeah, you're probably right,” the woman replies.

“If we do see anyone, then we kill them. Or he will kill us.”

Kill or be killed.

Standing with my back against the wall, I quietly exhale. I look over at Chris, pointing at my eyes, then at him, gesturing for him to keep watch and stay put. His eyes go wide and he shakes his head quickly and raises a hand. I ignore him and slowly begin to make my way into the entrance of the stairwell. I stop when the woman speaks again.

“Brent, I really think someone is here. I know I heard something,” says the woman.

“Karissa, there are noises all over the place. The ship is rocking. It could have been anything. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll go look. And if there is someone coming for us, I'll knock them out. How does that sound?”

“Thank you,” she says. They stop talking and I can hear the footsteps getting closer once more. Slower this time. I look back at Chris and he is clinching his axe so tightly that his knuckles have turned white. He stares helplessly at me. I lift my axe above my head with the blunt end down. Each step that gets closer, I feel my heart pound harder. Just turn around, don't make me hit you. Just turn around, don't make me hit you. The steps don't stop. I can hear Brent breathing. He is so close. As soon as he walks past the wall we are standing behind, I slam the axe handle down on his head. He drops instantly to the floor–knocked out, or dead, I'm not sure. I step out into view and stare at Karissa. She stares back at me, unmoving, with a look of fear in her eyes. She is just a few feet away.

“Shhh,” I say, pointing the axe in her direction. “Don't scream. If you scream, I will kill you. I heard what your friend just said– don't make me kill you.”