Summary: She never knew what to feel about what happened. She never knew if people had to fight liked her. Though these last moments she had, all she could do was just . . . Think. Think of all that happened. {Movieverse}
Pairing: OC/Ben Parish (Zombie)
Changes to Character(s): N/A
Spoilers To: 5th Wave Movie/Book
Books Belongs To: Rick Yancey
Type of Story: Chapter-Filled
Quote: "The universe doesn't give you what you ask for with your thoughts - it gives you what you demand with your actions." ~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
A/N: Hi, Fanficters! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. "Don't Let Me Down" by the Chainsmokers ft. Daya was playing while I wrote this, and thought it was fit with the situation. Now presenting . . . Chapter 4: Safety's Calling. Enjoy!
~•~ Nicole Haynes ~•~
"What is that?"
I was woken up by the rumbling ground when Ramsey asked the question. We both got out of the tent and blinked against the bright light.
The whole camp was gathered around in a semi-circle at the entrance as a cloud came towards the awaiting camp.
"Ramsey," I said, startled.
"I don't know, sweetie," she said in the same tone.
We pushed past the crowd until we were at Tuck's side. We gained a better view of the approaching rolling clouds of dust.
The clouds cleared the closer they came till we saw the object.
It was a car!
An . . . actual. . . . working . . . car!
"I thought the cars didn't work."
I turned and saw a blonde girl with a confused look tell a man― possibly her dad― beside her. She was holding a little dark haired boy close to her as she too studied the phenomenon.
There wasn't only a car.
A line of buses followed the cars inside as the confusion of the people grew. How did they make the cars work? Electricity was wiped out from the Earth.
The vehicles paused and soldiers jumped from the their doors.
A man held up a speakerphone and addressed the remaining group of surprised humans. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Colonel Vosch from the United States army. My men and I are from the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base . . . We're here to help."
The crowd around us exploded with joy from the news. I smiled and hugged Ramsey from the adrenaline pounding in my veins.
"We're going to make it," she whispered.
Sure you are.
I jumped at the voice. The anomaly still caused a shiver to enter my bones whenever it made itself present.
We are, I told it confidently.
Vosch ordered us to go pack our items and to head to our designated areas. The message was split between adults and children.
Children headed towards the buses.
Adults to the mess hall for a briefing.
As I packed my stuff, a deep sense of worry was causing an ache in my heart. The Morgenstern twins noticed this and came to my side.
"Thank you," I whispered. "For protecting me."
"Don't worry, sweetheart," Ramsey said, warmly. "We'll still be together at Wright-Patterson. We'll just go in different rounds."
"You sure?" I asked, tentatively.
"Yeah," Tuck responded.
Then, he did something that surprised me.
He gave me a hug.
A hug!
I broke the walls of the rock wall within a few hours of knowing each other. Who knew? As quickly as it came, he left and joined the adults. I hugged Ramsey before following him out.
We walked towards the unused, dirty pool where we said our goodbyes before separating to our destiny. That destiny was freedom.
Freedom for some people.
Stop it!
I stood in line for one of the first buses when the family I saw earlier were stopped by a soldier. The blonde girl had a defiant look on her face while her father was confused as he argued with the camouflaged man.
I continued to watch as I slowly climb the steps when a boy shoved me forward. With a quick glare, I headed to the back of the bus.
Minutes later, the blonde girl and her brother climbed with one of the last teens. The boy sat down a few seats behind me near the doors.
"Alright, Sam. Alright," the girl muttered.
"Bear!" Sam exclaimed.
"What?"
"I forgot Bear, Cassie!"
"What, Sam? What?"
"Please, I can't go without him! Please!"
Cassie thought for a second before crumbling and told him to stay put, and that she'll come back. The boy looked at her with serious look. "You promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
She gave one last glance at him before running out of the bus. The boy looked around nervously when he saw me staring.
He waved me over to him.
I reluctantly stood up and sat beside him. Hasn't he been taught not to talk to strangers, I thought, surprised. I sat down uneasily and gave him a small wave. It might help his nerves, I thought.
"Hi, I'm Sam. Sam Sullivan."
"Nicole. Nicole Haynes," I said.
He smiled.
"What was your dad talking about back there?" I asked.
"Vosch wouldn't let my dad inside the bus," he said with a frown.
I nodded. "Yeah, they have a meeting place to be at for a briefing. He looked kind of annoyed though. What else did he say?"
"There . . . was a . . . a, uh, a threat in the camp," he remembered. "They had to stay behind for that."
"A what? Did he say―"
The bus' engine was ignited and a look of alarm went through Sam's face. "Cassie! Where's Cassie, Nicole?"
"She'll be back. They are just warming up the bus for the trip." I looked for any excuse to keep the young boy from panicking. "They did say it was hours away . . ."
The bus inched forward increasing the boy's fear. "Hey, wait! Hey! You're going to leave my sister," he shouted at the driver.
The bus driver must've been deaf because he didn't stop at all to the cry. I looked outside to see Cassie Sullivan running behind us.
"Hey, mister! There is a girl running after us. Stop!" I shouted.
I started to climb up the aisle, but the kids only pushed me back in annoyance when I swatted their arms aside. I could only shout at the man at the wheel with no results.
"Cassie," Sam sobbed. "Cassie."
I took a look at the back doors to see the last glimpse of the blonde girl hugging the tiny teddy bear in her hands.
~•~
"It's okay, Sam. It's okay."
The boy hasn't stop crying for the last hour and a half. My heart ached again at my lack of comfort that I gave to Sam Sullivan. I don't know how to calm him down or anything that made him tick.
"She'll be back," I tried to assure him. "She promised didn't she?"
He hugged me harder and nodded.
"Does she ever break her promises?"
He shook his head.
After minutes of tears and comfort, Sam's breathing became steady and his grip loosened around me.
"Feel better?" I ask gently.
"Yeah," he replied.
A thought entered my mind. "She'll join the adults when they arrive."
He smiled at that.
Sam looked out the window as the sky darkened around the beaten Earth. Stars glowed brightly against the murky darkness.
The bus speaker turned on and gave the kids a relieving message:
"We have arrived at Wright-Patterson― or Camp Haven if you wish. Your new home and protectors for now on."
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Please R&R.
- Soldier Of The Mist
