I know I said I'd update every Friday (changing it to thursday, Friday is my busy day) But I got it to you early! I've already written three or more chapters so I'm just going to slowly catch u guys up, mkay? Good. Now for this...
Topkat90- yeah...that's kind of how I'd want to imagine it- that's the feel I guess I was going for, wether I knew it or not (Probally not...) But yes, my friends will help me of course and I will eventually get all those kids in line (=D)
sleepthroughthestatic- again, yes Alex's friends will help her in time, and Alex is really the relutant leader...I mean if you were forced to lead a group of 62 kids while there were kids older than you and the only reason you're picked is because you've read a book? How would that make you feel, I might be a little happy but my character Alex has a lot more guts than I do...
Chapter Three: The Plans
A bright light awakened me from my sleep. I gave a low moan…I didn't want to get up today.
I rolled over, to hand my hand over the side of my platform bed. But instead of gently caressing the carpet, my hand came down on cold hard ground.
My hand fingered around searching for the carpet, and when reddish dirt was the only thing found, I snapped my eyes open.
At first I was very disoriented, seeing only a bright light in my eyes and a strong dirt packed ceiling.
Groggily, I sat up and sighed as I looked down. Oh yeah…
The plot of the previous day came rushing into my head, a stomach sickness starting as I felt a pang of hunger.
Quickly, searching the heads, I was glad to see I was the only one up. I sighed and searched through my bag for a saltine cracker.
The salt made my lips dry and cracked, and I reached for my bag when I realized I had nothing to drink with it. I knew there was a Gatorade in my pack somewhere…
There was, and although warm, it tasted good to my almost starved stomach. I drank half before I stopped, sloshing the remains around.
I didn't know how much food was stored, or when I would take someone on a raid, the first of our group, so I left the rest for later.
I looked down on my other side where my 'workers' were, glad to see everyone still asleep there too. The jump was closer this time, only about six feet. I got ready to jump, but instead sat on the edge, my feet dangling.
I watched my friends sleep. Rose was lying on her side clutching her pillow tightly and mumbling something inaudible. Kenzie was curled up in a tight cocoon, using her blanket. Effie twitched every so often, but other than that no movement. Jasper tossed and turned and groaned, and I wondered idly how he didn't wake up his companions. And lastly Dylan lay on his side peacefully, his back toward me.
I yawned and stretched and then, jumped down.
My impact woke up the person closest to me who just happened to be Jasper.
"TOMATOES!" He said as his eyes flew open, and he sat up. He scratched his head in confusion, looking around, a glassy sleepy look to his eyes.
"Alex?" He mumbled, "What are you doing in my room?" He asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Wake up Jasper…your underground." I said with a sigh. He blinked a long slow blink, trying to make sense of my words.
"Underground…?" He asked, still asleep. I waved my hand.
"Look around." I told him and he did, gradually waking up. He finally looked at me, realization hitting him. He looked a bit happy for the upcoming day.
He was up in an instant, his mind wide-awake. He bounced back and forth on one foot, "So what time is it!" He asked. I swiftly glanced at him.
"Are you always this hyper when you wake up." I asked him. He didn't pause while he thought, but instead kept moving.
"Sometimes but only when I had no dinner or when something really exciting happens and sometimes when I watch a scary movie I get really hyper in the morning because I don't have enough sleep or when I eat to much candy…" He droned on and didn't ever end his sentence. I cut his off with a wave of my hand.
"Okay I get it!" I said, "Now just wait." Carefully, trying to be as light on my feet as possible, I padded over to Kenzie and lifted one of her arms to look at her watch, "It's about 5:00 in the morning." I answered, amazing myself.
My earliest time for waking up by myself was eight, and that was even a stretch. But I was glad by body had caught up to it's responsibilities and I would be waking up at this time now, feeling fully ready.
"Okay Alex…what can I do?" He asked. I looked at my sleeping friends. They looked so, peaceful…but I would need their help.
"Wake up Dylan." I instructed. He nodded and jumped over to Dylan's side.
I walked over to Rose and gently nudged her. She woke easily, and her reaction was mostly the same as Jasper's.
When she finally grasped what was going on, she looked up at me, her face downcast and somber.
"So it wasn't a dream?" She asked hoarsely, "They really did reach us? And we're really the only ones left? And everything that happened yesterday…that was real?" She asked, her voice real quiet and sad. I nodded gravely.
"Yes…it's reality." Her face became washed with angst, and she curled up in a fetal position, and closed her eyes. She mourned quietly, saying things that I didn't understand but they were full of sorrow.
I left my friend to herself and woke up Effie. She, unlike the rest of us, was right on the ball when she awakened, knowing exactly where she was.
And lastly, there was Kenzie who took and eternity to wake it seemed, and Effie had to whistle her dog whistle in her ear before she finally started to groan.
Kenzie, although very pretty, had not slept well. I could tell because her usually silky blond hair was tangled and messy, her face was pale and white, and her under her eyes were a dark shade.
"Uggnh!" She muttered before she came into beingness, and she caught on pretty quickly.
We all walked over to Dylan and Jasper. Dylan had woken up and was rubbing his eyes. Jasper was still a bit hyper, but not as much.
He snicked into his hand when he saw Kenzie's hair.
"What!" Kenzie demanded hotly. He tried to unsuccessfully stifle a laugh.
"Nice hair." He snorted. Kenzie crossed her arms over her chest.
"Nice size." She shot back, and Jasper smirked.
"You two." He answered. And Kenzie's face flushed red. She was short, shorter than Jasper and it was rare that she got picked on for it.
Before anyone could say anything else, Rose stumbled over to us. Jasper looked at her, a grin across his face. Rose glared at him.
"Don't say anything!" She warned, tugging on the sleeve of her striped shirt.
"I wasn't." Jasper lied. Rose curled her lip back into a snarl.
"There's nothing wrong with mourning lost ones." She said defensively. I tapped my toe impatiently.
"Ahem!" I said, "There's work to be done." I hinted. Unlike the previous day, the looked at me.
I motioned for them to come up to the mound. Some grabbed their mattresses to sit on. Once we were all good and cozy, I sighed.
"We can't stay her forever." I said. A chorus of agreement followed.
"So where do we go?" Rose inquired. I thought for a moment, brining my eyebrows together.
"Maybe…my condo?" I suggested.
"Why there?" Kenzie asked. I smiled.
"Although it was summer break, people don't live in their condos…and usually there are little valuables there. And they've probably swept it by now so…"
"So they'd leave it alone for awhile?" Effie guessed. I was taken aback, noticing that she seemed to finish my sentences. I regained myself.
"Yes exactly!" I concluded, "Although just like here-it would be a temporary place, until we find somewhere better." I explained. Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Where would we find a better place?" Jasper asked. I shrugged.
"Anywhere! Somewhere where no soul would live, they hate isolation." I said, quietly thinking to myself.
"Where exactly did the people in the book take cover?" Kenzie asked.
"The main character lived in somewhere warm, and then crossed the state into a desert to find living humans." I answered.
"I'd rather not cross a state border." Dylan chipped quietly.
"Yeah, so do I." I agreed, "I would just be to hard to live in another state…away from all this." I said, extending my hands to everything.
"Well I don't mind state borders." Rose mumbled. Effie sighed.
"You've moved like 14 times." Ellie said, "Of course state borders don't matter to you."
"Let's get back on track." I asked, "We really need to work on not getting off track."
"What next…I mean how to we get to the condo?" Jasper asked. In the dirt, I drew a sloppy map with my finger.
"Okay…we're here." I started.
"The little star?" Jasper asked as I drew a star. I nodded.
"Yeah…and my condo's up here, inside the finger of the glove, almost at the tip." I said, pointing to the tip of Wisconsin's glove.
"How long would it take to get there?" Rose asked. I groaned.
"By car, and hour and a half…but we don't have access to a car, neither anyone who could drive us." I pointed out.
"By feet is our best guess?" Effie asked. I nodded.
"It may take awhile, and we'd have to travel by night…sleep during the day. It will be hard." I warned grimly.
"Oh, we've seen hard…and if anyone wants to survive that's what they're going to have to face." Dylan said firmly.
"Good…so you know where I stand from. Preparations will need to be made." I said, and then got up and dusted off my sweat pants, "Best get an early start…Effie- will you do the honors?" I asked. Effie grinned and nodded and then we all covered our ears.
She brought in a big breath, and then whistled as loud as she could. Lots of the people sleeping down below woke up, groaning and rubbing their eyes.
"Sorry bout that folks, be we need to get going!" I said cheerfully. Some people glared at me, giving me dagger eyes from waking them up from their sleep.
"If anyone is still sleeping…please wake him or her up." I asked, noticing a few stranglers that where still in dreamland. A few of the boys had a bit fun, whacking sleeping people over the heads with their pillows. Beside, me all the girls rolled their eyes.
"Man, that looks like fun." Jasper muttered and Dylan agreed. I turned to my works and then glanced back down at my people. They were still groggy, sleep making them inattentive.
"I'm going to give you a few minuets to wake up…and then I'll tell you what we're going to do." I called, a few people nodded. I smiled and looked back at my workers.
"I think I'm going to give each of you a job." I said, smiling wily.
"Rose…you will be in charge of figuring out how much each person can carry. I think the seekers won't go here for a while…so you can use text books to test how strong they are." I instructed.
"What do I write it down on?" She asked.
"All teachers have pens and pencils and paper." Jasper said. She nodded.
"After, I'll take a few at a time and do tests." She told me.
"Just remember to use the same text book for everyone." I warned. She tapped her mind to show she already knew.
"Effie…you've in charge of bedding stuff. We're going to need all the pillows, blankets, and mattress we can find. Look around the school, but don't go outside." I told her. She nodded.
"Dylan, you're in charge of food. Take all the stuff from the store and from any other room in the store. Be careful though. We'll need mostly stuff that can last awhile and if you grab any meat make sure it's already cooked. Perishables we'll eat today and tomorrow." I told him, thinking over our eating plan carefully.
I looked at Kenzie and Jasper who still had no job.
"Kenzie you need to find all the useful things we can. Pencils, pens- little things. Maybe a book or two, and remember USEFUL things. Kay?" She looked a bit insulted, but nodded.
"And what about me?" Jasper asked. I gave a thin smile.
"You're going to have to use your brain for this one." I warned. He pouted.
"I hate using my brain." He muttered.
"Well this will be fun." I assured him, "You need to go around the school and find anything that would make our trip easier as in carrying things. Anything with wheels that can hold things, or if you find like sleds or something, or if you do find wheels, try to make something with them. Kay?" I told him. He nodded.
"You mean like the little yellow squares with wheels we use for dodge ball?" He asked.
"Exactly, and you're also in charge of find string or yarn…like I said, anything that's going to make it easier to carry things."
"What are you going to do?" Rose asked me, and I bit my lip.
"On sec, let's see…food and water, bedding, weight…." I counted off each thing on my finger, "I'll be making piles for people to carry after you bring me the measurements. Make a copy to send with one person to bring me…kay?" I asked her. She nodded.
"Let's talk to them now." I said, and turned back toward them.
"Listen up!" I called over the roar of their conversations. Their attention was on me.
"We can't stay here…so I have picked another temporary site where we can stay longer. Although it's a week walk away…it's our survival." I said. A few people moaned. I narrowed my eyes.
"If you don't want to make the journy…you don't have to. But just expect that the seekers will find you very, very soon…not a chance unless you follow me!" I told them, but then making my low dark and sinister, "It will be rough, and hard and you must listen and remember to what I tell you…agreed?" I told them. Jonah again, almost raised his hand but put it down quickly.
"First off, we'll have to travel by night. Today is preparation day…you'll get to sleep when I don't need you so you can walk all night. Effie will be finding bedding materials. Kenzie will be finding useful items, and Rose will be seeing how much you can carry." I said and then raising my voice, "Everyone will have to carry something, maybe a lot. No lying to get out of carrying a lot- because we'll just gives you more anyway." I warned. I saw my younger sister Anna scowl up at me and fold her arms across her chest.
"But you may not have to carry everything in your arms per say. Jasper will be going around the school to find things to make it easier. Dylan will be finding food…and don't think food is plentiful." I said, "You'll eat what you get or you don't eat at all. It's do or die out there!" I said. A few people whispered something to their friends in worried tones. I felt a flash of sympathy.
I looked down at all the people. There would be need to be about 11 groups of people doing things…and there was 62 people here…minus us 6 so that was uh…54 people…so that would mean roughly…five to a group and I would place the stranglers.
"Okay!" I said raising my voice, silently hoping my math was correct, "Everyone into groups of five…and if you don't have a group, I'll put you in one!" I instructed. People, just like the last night were in a flurry, grabbing people's arms and calling to people across the room.
"11?" Effie asked from my side quizzically, "There's only like six of us."
"Yes, that may be true…but…I don't know. 11 just seems," I gave a shrug, "Right?"
"There are only six of us here though." Kenzie reminded me impatiently.
"Yes I know, I'll control the groups that you don't have." I told them as calmly as I could manage, "And besides- who's to say there's always going to be five people helping me decide?"
Kenzie and Effie looked at each other, confusion seeping across their faces. Jasper looked at me with shock, Rose was looking down and Dylan's face was expressionless. I didn't pause on the subject.
"You're going to replace us?" Jasper asked. I shook my head.
"I never said that."
"You thought it though." Kenzie accused.
"You don't know what I thought!" I said angrily, and then turned back to the 11 groups.
Just like I thought…there were some people without a group. I noticed idly that they were more so either young or 'unpopular'.
I looked over the groups, which mostly seemed to be divided by age…but there were only about five, just like I had asked, in each group. And there was like seven people without a group. I could just make them form their own group…but no.
I hadn't known why I chose 11 to be the number, but as far as I was concerned, it was staying that way.
Quickly, I threw them into groups, trying not to notice some people's unmasked disappointment. Some people could be so…mean! I turned back and motioned for Rose to come and stand by me.
"Which group do you want first?" I asked her, waving my hand at all the groups. She narrowed her eyes, searching. Suddenly, she sucked in a sharp breath.
"What?" I asked frantically, trying to locate where she was looking.
"My brother's here." She hissed. I let my shoulders relax.
"Oh…" I murmured, "But isn't that good?" I asked. She shrugged.
"I guess." She said, dismissing the questions, "I choose that group!" She decided quickly, and I could see it was a spilt second decision, trying to get off the topic.
I followed her finger, and saw she was pointing at a group that included mostly fifth graders. I nodded.
"Okay! You get down, and I'll tell them. When you're done, send for one of the groups in here." I told her. She nodded.
While she made her way down, taking a few seconds to decide whether to jump or walk (She chose using the stairs) I searched for someone familiar in the group.
"Okay, the group with Kelly in it," I said and paused, pointing to Kelly for a double emphasis, "Follow Rose."
Then I looked back to my remaining workers, "Who'd like to choose their group next?" I asked. Kenzie went next, choosing the group that my brother, Jackson was in. He gave an evil grin and me and I gave him a warning glance as he passed beneath the mound.
Dylan decided next, immediately choosing a group with high scholars. I could have guessed that he would want to feel a slight bit more comfortable.
Jasper was next, taking an eternity to choose- muttering quietly himself about the pros and cons of each group. I soon grew tired and assigned him a group of kids from my class that included the last of the high school kids.
Effie came last, telling me politely that she really didn't care. I searched over the groups, purposely avoiding a group from my class.
When I set with a group, I saw her glance wistfully at the group of boys from our grade. I, on any other occasion, would have put them with her.
But, the boys in the group were wild and loud, usually going off onto a tangent about some inside joke that us girls would never get. And I knew, although Effie was a smart, she wouldn't be able to keep the boys down for her job. Basically, the boys in that group had that attention span of a squirrel.
I smiled when I noticed that there were plenty groups left for my work. One group would divide things into groups on how heavy they thought it would be. One group I would send all over the school to collect the items.
Two groups would get time to rest, but I would set out six double mattresses. The rest we would add to the pile. And the last group would take inventory.
The five remaining groups watched as I came down to them. I saw that most groups were from my class. I didn't talk yet. Instead, I grabbed six sets of doubles and placed them right up against the mound.
I looked over the groups. I sighed and pointed to a group of girls my age.
There was Meghan and Monica, a girl with short fiery red hair named Mindy, a short girl named Demi, and a quiet girl with a bright smile named Vanessa.
"You five get to sleep. Two to a bed please." I said pointing to the doubles. They attacked it greedily, and it ended up that Vanessa got a whole bed to herself. I turned back to the other groups.
Then I pointed to another group that had some kids from my sister's class.
"And you get the other three." I said. Anna, was in the group, ran up and hugged me. I felt my face flush red as I pried her from my waist. She smiled and ran over to the beds.
I sighed as I turned back. I hadn't really looked the groups over until now. And I realized something, I couldn't quite tell if it was a mistake or not, but Kyle was in the groups…and he was looking right at me.
I couldn't tell if I was happy or angry with myself. I tried to ignore his dagger eyes, and pointed to one.
"You are in charge of putting items into piles depending on how much they weigh." I said.
"You can start with all these mattresses, pillows and blankets." I said, grinning. A few grumbled about 'heavy lifting' although I knew that it wouldn't really be that heavy.
I pointed to the group Kyle was in. "You are my messengers." I said letting the word roll off my tongue, "You have to run all over the school to find items. Just wait so I can tell you who to go to." Instructed. Then looking at the last group.
"And you will be taking inventory of everything….fun huh?" I asked. A few people groaned loudly, and I inwardly agreed with them. Wasn't the most fun thing, but it was needed.
"Uh, Erik?" I asked, flinching quietly- Erik was in the group that I labeled 'attention span or a squirrel…or maybe a spoon'; and then I had put his group in the most boring job. Smart Alex…maybe not your best move…I cursed to myself, "Go into any room and find paper and pencils." I instructed him, although I had little hope, "And DON'T get distracted!" I reminded him. He looked at me.
"Don't worry Alex- I won't get…Look! Brown soil!" He said, faking distraction. I glared at him.
"Just kidding…I won't." He said, and he flashed a big grin. And I believed him.
While he ran off, I turned back to my messengers. Five people...five people to find…hmm.
"David…go find Effie. She should be collecting…uh bedding." I told him. He giggled.
"Bedding…" He snorted. I ignored him.
"Fred, you find Jasper. He'll be making something to make travel easier. Copper," I paused, trying to decide whom to send him to.
I was momentarily distracted, as I remembered why we called him 'Copper'. That wasn't his real name, granted, we just called him that because of his noticeable copper colored eyes. Although you may think that copper eyes would be cute; well they are…on any boy except for Copper. Back on the subject.
"Copper- go to Kenzie. She'll be finding useful small things. Don't drop any of what she gives you." I told him. He nodded.
"Danny," I said addressing Kyle's friend, "Go to Dylan. He's finding food. And lastly," I said, allowing myself to look over at Kyle, "Kyle."
I chocked his name out, feeling a tingle fill my body.
"Kyle," I repeated, almost just for my benefit, "You're finding…" I almost said 'Rose' but I remembered she wouldn't have any items to bring.
"Kyle, you go with Fred to find Jasper." I said quickly. And looked down. He nodded.
"When he have your items, bring them back here and make a pile. People who are sorting…take from that pile. People that are taking inventory," I said, noticing Erik had come back, "You take a pile and write down what goes into it. After awhile, we'll switch. Everyone will get to rest." I said indicating to the already sleeping people.
"Now…go!" I called. I watched as Kyle left, feeling a flash of fear. I was afraid the seekers were there and they would catch him. It was silly, but still…I couldn't help myself.
The bond that we had shared as tiny second graders was strong, although a bit frazzled at the edges, I knew that it was still tightly wound together and could carry any weight that would come down on it….I just knew.
There you go! I like long chapters if ya haven't noticed...but that's how it works so deal...but most people like long chapters...
But the boy Kyle is the boy I actually do like, FYI but we don't hear much about him in the next chapter, but introduce a new charcter- or more so elabricate on a character you saw a snipit of in here. If you guess who it is, you get to decide something for future chapters- ohhhh! So review..... (Just a hint- it's a boy)