11:12 PM.

My eyes felt heavy as I kept watch at the window side. They longed to close and rest, but my mind refused to let them. I did not want to have a repeat of that dream again- and I feared it would be ten times worse after the events that recently passed. I looked over the room, most of the group were struggling to stay awake. They had the same problem as me, afraid that they might miss something and end up endangering themselves. They wriggled around trying to get comfortable on the rough carpet, sighing and tutting each time. I noticed a few would let their eyes fall, but their heads would suddenly jerk up once they realized.

"Can anyone not sleep, or is it just me?" Rainey asked, sitting up.

"Well not now," Leigh replied sarcastically, sitting up also.

"Let's think of reasons this could of happened!" Carrie suggested a little to eagerly.

"You worry me, Carrie," Esmé said, shaking her head.

"Could be some sort of pandemic, couldn't it?" Kyle pondered.

I listened as they sat and debated over the possible explanations. Listening to them all ponder and discuss this disease felt as if we were back in normal lessons having a class debate. It made things feel less frightening somehow, like there was some hope of it going away.

"I bet that girl infected us all," Esmé said rolling her eyes.

"Oh yeah, I reckon it was you know. Although there were quite a few people who had felt unwell that day." Jo's words rested upon silence.

"…What do you mean? Others?" Rina asked, becoming unnerved by the revelation.

"I was talking with Carrie before I met you guys this morning, remember Caz'?" Jo tried to get some back up from our scatter brained friend.

"Yeah, I remember. Our science lesson was going to be cancelled, because Mr Powell was feeling ill, and there were some other teachers who were going home aswell." She explained clearly.

"So this spread because of a few teachers and a student?" Charlie retorted.

"No! The school was barely full, people have been coming down with the sickness since last week- wake up guys!" Connie said dramatically, in her cynical tone.

"Do you think, maybe, it could be airborn…?" Gwen asked, growing weary.

"I sure as hell hope not." Cass said, bringing the discussion to a close with a disheartened blow.

2:02 AM.

I tried to sleep, but that I failed. I'd drift in and out, waking to the nearest scuffle of movement or bird squwaking outside. I know I wasn't the only one like this. We could never be rid of this aura of tension, all of us reeked of it. What worried me is that we couldn't stay cooped up in here for much longer, our supplies would only last us a day or two.

If we were to hope of sitting this out we'd need to get to the canteen, and get some proper food to sustain us. But out of all the risks I'd taken with my plans so far, I don't know if I could do it again. I'd pulled off every plan by the skin of my teeth, this one would definitely be asking too much of everyone. My attention diverted to the other group whispering intently. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but obviously they were being very secretive about it. This couldn't be anything good or else they'd be saying it infront of everyone.

"You lot planning something?" I asked assertively, sitting up. This caused Connie and Jo to awake in curiosity.

"Is there a rule against talking?" Tara asked rhetorically, with a sullen tone.

"You choose to talk at a time where the rest of us are sleeping, in low voices and altogether sounding one hell of a lot suspiciously," I said back, walking over to the group and kneeling down to their level.

"Look," Tara said, turning to me head on. "Our groups never talked to each other before this, we just hung out in pathways the same as you, doesn't mean we owe each other anything, it was just a case of being in the same place when all of this went down," She said, acting superior.

"It's strange how you never chose to say any of this when me and my group were coming up with plans to get out of there, and not only that but pretty much saving YOUR asses as a whole," I retorted, making my point clear. There was a few moments of silence as Tara looked round at her group, unsure of what to do.

"Fine," She gave in. "We were discussing how to get out of here."

I squinted my eyes in disbelief, are these guys for real?

"Have you even considered the bigger picture here? Whose to say it isn't worse out there, we've been in here just shy of 12 hours and you're thinking about getting out of here?" I put it to them.

"Well are you expecting us to just wait this out? It could be days- even weeks before someone rescues us, or worse…" Tara replied, angst in her voice. This caused most of the others to wake up.

"I don't know how long it's going to take, but the risk out there is a far bigger one than in here, and right now that's our only shot at staying safe," I declared.

"Oh yeah? And what about starving to death, won't that be a threat in here?" Tara said venomously.

"This food isn't gonna last us another day, so yes, untill then we need some more supplies before we come up with how to get out- safely." I continued.

"Erin, you're talking about the canteen aren't you? You want us to go to the canteen? That's a bit more of a risk than across the hall to the kitchen you know," Connie said negatively. She always knows how to make things sound more worse than they already are.

"I'm aware that it's a bigger risk, but it's our only choice," I said regretfully.

"So there's gonna have to be a group of us, right?" Gwen asked, coming to my aid.

"Ofcourse, any volunteers…?" I asked unsurely, looking around at their faces. Gwen smiled at me.

"…Besides Gwen and I," I said, acknowledging her.

"I'll help, it's about time I made myself useful," Carrie said, relaxing her head against the wall.

I noticed Tara making eyes at Matt and Emma, urging them to volunteer. There was something about this I couldn't work out, it didn't seem like a gesture of helpfulness.

"Me and Emma will help, even though I've helped with other things…" Matt said begrudgingly, mumbling the last words. Emma looked away in frustration.

"So that's five, we're gonna need a couple more… Come on guys, we've done a lot to save ourselves already so a little courage shouldn't be too much to ask for," I said, trying to coax some of them in.

"Fine, I'll go, but only if Esmé comes too," Rina said, nudging her friend. Esmé scoffed.

"What? What do you want me for?" She asked.

"I don't know… You got food from the kitchen, you're experienced," Rina said, trying to make Esmé feel better.

"Alright," She sighed in defeat. "But only if I get to be a lookout."

"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes.

"I'll go too, I don't mind," Lisa said nervously.

"Thanks Lise'," I nodded to her.

"So, what's the plan?" Connie asked, urging me on.