FOURTEEN|

55 Hours, 31 Minutes

SAM TEMPLE WAS on his back porch, sitting in a rocking chair, thinking about the FAYZ. It had been almost nine months since anything really bad had happened in the FAYZ. It was nine months ago when Diana had found out she was pregnant. Nine months ago when Drake had fought Orc and Jack. Nine months since Dekka had almost died.

"What are you thinking about?"

Sam turned and looked to see Astrid coming out of the house, opening the glass sliding door. "Everything. I'm thinking about everything. My life, mostly. What a hell hole this is."

"I agree," Astrid said, coming over to wrap her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "But think on the positive side."

"What positive side is there, Astrid?"

"Well, I mean, we're doing a lot better on food supply. Our Council system has been working fine. Everything had settled down ever since, you know, Drake Merwin last came to town."

"He's back," Sam whispered. "Orsay had that dream about him . . . I can feel it. He's here. His presence. I don't like it, Astrid. Something bad is going to happen soon."

"Come on, Sam, we both know Orsay was the outcast. I think her predictions and visions are wrong. I don't think it's possible to see into the future."

"What isn't possible?" Sam demanded. "Everything's possible in the FAYZ. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to shoot fire balls from my hands. Caine wouldn't be able to suspend gravity."

"But, if anything did happen, what's the worst that could go down? Caine is settling in with you, he's a good guy now. You and Caine, two four bars, together, could beat Drake any day. It's happened before, hasn't it? You and Caine beat Drake before."

"I know that, Astrid, but that was just pure luck. I'm sure everybody knows that Drake is my worst nightmare. And what am I supposed to do if he does come over here to Lake Tramonto? Be the hero again and save the day? It doesn't work like that sometimes. And, just saying, but we don't know for sure if Caine is on the good side yet. You have to think: he's done some pretty twisted things. I know somewhere inside, he's still mean and evil. He's my brother and all, but I just don't know."

Astrid hugged Sam tighter. "Well, all we can do at this point is prepare for what might happen. Be alert." She paused when he didn't answer. "I wish I could help in some way . . . But I can't. I'm useless. I have no powers, don't you see?"

Sam was taken aback. "Astrid, don't say that about yourself. You're not useless. You're the love of my life. The only thing that keeps me sane in the FAYZ."

"Same goes for me," Astrid agreed. "I mean, something bad is always happening to me in the FAYZ. Nobody liked me because of what I said about Mary. And then the Human Crew trying to kill me. And Drake trying to take Little Pete." She turned to face him. "Don't you see, you're the glue that holds me together."

Sam leaned forward, his forehead touching hers. His lips moved towards hers, and then he planted a kiss oh her lips. Her tongue pushed out of her mouth and entered his. They explored for a moment. Astrid had never kissed Sam like this for so long. But here they were, leaning over each others chairs, kissing.

It was getting hot. Really hot. So Astrid pulled away, as did Sam. "Thank you, Astrid, for thinking of me that way."

"Well, that's what you are: my glue."

"But, I mean, I've been such a jerk. Leaving you because you wouldn't have sex with me. Being mad over stupid stuff. I mean, there's always something that comes between us. And most of the time I'm wondering if you do love me after what I've put you through."

Astrid brushed her right index finger across his soft cheek. "Of course I love you. It's okay, we've already had the talk about sex, right? You know that I don't want that as much as you do. I don't wanna have sex until marriage. That's just me. It's who I am."

"But I've been dumb about things other than sex. And I'm sorry about that. I promise to do my best to keep us together. You're my everything."

"So are you," Astrid whispered. "And, Sam, I've already told you a million times that I forgive you. I don't blame you one bit. We're in the FAYZ. Things are bad here. Really bad here. The only good part of all of this is that we are all able to eat. That we're not starving anymore, like how it was at the beginning of the FAYZ. Now that was bad. This isn't anywhere near that."

It was silent for a moment as Sam looked up in the sky at the fake stars. It was probably just another vision trick of the dome. The barrier.

"Do you think something's gonna happen anytime soon, Astrid?" Sam asked. "It's been about nine months since we've ran into disaster. How long do you think it's gonna be before something else happens? Something that is probably gonna be really bad?"

Usually, Astrid had quick answers. But not this time. This time, she slowly turned to Sam and stared for a second. "I feel it, Sam. You do, too. We both know there's something that's not right."

"That's why I asked you," Sam said. "Because I can feel that something is coming. I have that feeling in my stomach."

Astrid sighed. "Well, I'll be here for you. Through thick and thin. I love you, Sam. Forever. And I won't let anything ruin that."

"Me neither, babe," Sam said. "And I love you, too. More than you think."

She leaned against his chest, listening to his heart, and thinking about just what was coming next in the FAYZ.

Something was very wrong with Caine. Diana could tell. He seemed almost regretful. Like he wished he could take something back. But what? Diana didn't like it. And it was starting to worry her. So, she really wanted to get home to see what the hell was going on with him.

First, they had to go to Sam and Astrid's home. They very generously offered to watch Cassandra while Caine took care of his political business and Diana slept; she was exhausted. Although most mothers wanted to be with their daughters for many days after they were born, this was different. Diana loved Cassandra already, but needed some alone time. Caine wasn't much help when it came to the baby. He didn't even know how to hold her right. So it was Diana who had to take care of Cassandra every second. Diana needed to get some sleep, so she asked Sam and Astrid to take care off Cassandra. They gladly said yes. Which meant Diana got at least some sleep. And that long sleep made a huge difference; as soon as she awoke, she felt like Super Mom, ready to take care of Cassandra for all hours of the night. So Diana got ready, headed for Perdido Beach to pick up Caine, and from there, they both walked to Sam and Astrid's house to pick up Cassandra. On the way there, Caine was silent. Very silent. And Diana sensed that there was something wrong with him.

She got the vibe that he regretted something. And that was never good. So the entire walk was almost silent. She had her hands in her pockets as she walked, wondering just what the hell was wrong.

"This is their house, isn't it?" Diana asked when they came to an outwardly fashionable decorated home. It was the biggest house she had seen in the FAYZ. Or at least close to it.

"Yes," Caine said. "This is my brothers house." He past her, walking onto the steps, and she began to follow. He rang the doorbell to the right of the door and waited for an answer.

Instead of waiting, Caine tried for the knob. It easily opened and he and Diana entered. Already he saw Sam and Astrid making their way to the door. Diana rushed to the couch in the living room where Cassandra was lying. Caine was behind her, Sam and Astrid coming, too. They all sat down on the couches. Caine and Diana sat on the opposite couch of Astrid and Sam, facing each other.

"So, how was my baby?" Diana asked, already picking her up and rocking her back and forth.

"She was good," Sam said.

"She was amazing," Astrid added. "She only cried once and it was because she needed a pamper change. And I did feed her twice since she's been with us."

"Good," Diana said. "Well, thanks, Sam and Astrid. I really needed to get some sleep and let Lana's healing process kick in. But I feel a lot better now. Got lots of rest. I should be ready to deal with her all day tomorrow."

Astrid laughed. "Yeah, any time. I mean, she is kind of like family because Sam and Caine are brothers and we are their girlfriends . . . So , yeah . . ." Astrid stopped when she saw that it had became awkward.

So, instead of saying anything else that would make Diana and Caine feel uncomfortable, Astrid went to the bassinet Diana had brought Cassandra in, and picked the newborn up, handing her over to Diana.

"Do you want to keep the bassinet here?" Sam asked. "You know, 'cause we'll probably watch her in the future. That way, it won't be so much trouble carrying a bunch of stuff back home. Your house is about a mile away from mines, right?"

"Something like that," Diana agreed. "And, thanks. If I ever really need someone to watch Cassandra, I'll come to you guys. Thanks, it means a lot."

"Diana, we need to go," Caine finally said. He hadn't spoke in a long while. Astrid, Sam, and Diana were very suspicious of why he was so silent. "I need to talk with you alone at the house."

"Um, can you take Cassandra outside and wait for me? I need to do something," Diana announced to him.

Caine stood, took Cassandra from Diana gently and went to sit on the porch with Cassandra in his arms. At least the weather felt amazing.

Diana closed the door so that Caine wouldn't hear their conversation. "Astrid, Sam, thanks the most for being able to forgive us. I mean, we did some really fucked up things to you two. Not only to the both of you, but everyone. I can't stress how sorry I am, I really can't, I just feel so bad."

"It's fine," Sam said.

"Yeah," Astrid pitched in.

"No, it's not. I'm looked at as evil. For example, when Sam blasted Drake Merwin's arm when the FAYZ started, Caine was looking for someone to cut Drake's arm off and everyone was scared, but, not me, I enjoyed it a little. Like, how could someone be that evil? I don't know . . . I think I've completely changed for Cassandra. I've only known her for a day or so and I already love her." Diana turned, and, on the way out, told them, "Goodbye."

"Bye," Sam and Astrid called simultaneously.

Diana shut the door slowly and quietly, then stepped onto the porch, immediately noticing the nice weather, and seeing Caine staring at Cassandra while holding her. His look wasn't like he was adoring her, but it wasn't like he didn't like her either. He was just starting blankly. What the hell was wrong with him right now?

"Um, Caine?"

"Your ready? Good," Caine answered for her.

He stood up and started walking to the left of the yard, towards their house. The walk felt like forever to Diana because she wanted to speak, but didn't, afraid of what might happen if she did.

Finally, they approached the two-bedroom cabin Diana, Cassandra, and now Caine were staying in. This cabin had both good and bad memories. Bad from the long months that she had been alone, no boyfriend, no friends, no anything. Good memories because her baby, Cassandra, was born here. That's what mattered most.

Caine had held the door open for Diana, who was carrying Cassandra, when they entered the cabin. Diana gave Cassandra back to Caine again while she went to go make Cassandra another bottle in case she was hungry. Lake Tramonto and Perdido Beach had plenty of baby formula to give, since there was no other newborns in the FAYZ. When all the adults disappeared, the youngest child in the FAYZ was at least one year old. Since it had been a year and five months since the FAYZ started, seventeen months, that kid was now about to be three. And that meant there was no need of baby formula, so everyone gave all the baby formula they could scrounge up to Diana. She thought that was very kind of them since she had been very mean to everyone in the past. But she was a better person now. At least there was that.

Diana sealed the top to the bottle and made her way to the bed where Caine was holding Cassandra.

After Diana put a pillow behind the baby and put a blanket under the bottle so it could hold itself up, the baby was in a position where she could be fed without Diana having to hold the bottle.

"So, now that the baby is having her meal, we have about an hour or so to talk. So, tell me, Caine, what the hell is going on?"

"I need a break," Caine replied. "Diana, I need time away. From everyone. Time to be alone and think about this all. It's too much for me."

Diana's facial expression changed to a mixed emotion of sadness and outrage. "It's too much for you? Caine, I'm the one that squeezed a baby that weighs almost eight pounds out of my fucking vagina, and it's too much for you? I'm a mother and I'm only about to be sixteen! Are you leaving me?"

"No," Caine told her. "I'm not leaving you. Diana, I love you. But, you and I both know that I have evil tendencies. I just have to get away to know what to do. I really do want you because I love you. I just have to find a way to make sure I don't do anything I regret. I love power, Diana, I love being in charge, and I just can't give being in charge of Perdido Beach up. I just need time to debate on which I want more."

"So, you love power as much as you do me?" Diana demanded. "That's really fucked up!"

"No, no, no, not at all," Caine said. "But I need to think of a way to meet you and power halfway. I'm not breaking up with you, Diana, I just have to figure this out. Just give me some time. It won't take that long for me to think this over. I just need a little time."

"Caine, I gave you everything! I gave you my heart, my soul, and all I asked is that you be good with me! I even let you take my virginity!"

"It was my first time, too," Caine argued.

"I know that, but there was a huge difference; I wanted us to not have sex for a little longer and you wanted it now. You promised me you'd be good if I gave myself to you!"

"What do you think I'm trying to do?" Caine demanded.

"You can't leave me, Caine . . . I can't be in that place ever again."

"I'm sorry," Caine apologized. "I hope you understand." He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. It was very unusual, but it did happen because Diana saw it; as Caine's lip curled, tears rolled down his cheek. Not just one tear like she'd seen once before, but multiple tears. He squeezed his arms around her tight, tears dripping from his face onto her shirt, and said, "I love you."

Diana couldn't help but shrivel up, hugging her knees tightly tears pouring down her face, backing into the corner of the bed, against the wall, face buried into her arms. She didn't even hear Caine tell Cassandra goodbye and walk out of the door. All she could do was violently cry, tears coming down like a waterfall.

She felt like screaming, like hitting something hard, but the only thing that kept her from doing that was the fact that it was going to scare Cassandra. Her heart felt like it had just been ripped apart like it was a lions food. She was, for the second time, heartbroken by Caine.

This wasn't supposed to fucking happen! she screamed inwardly. I chose to be good and all of these horrible things start happening to me! I get pregnant, Caine leaves me, what else could go wrong? When I turned fifteen, I should have taken the fucking poof! That way, I wouldn't have to be here, going through this!

"You're all I have," Diana whispered as she looked at Cassandra who had just fallen asleep a second ago. Now that she was asleep, Diana let herself sob even louder, although even wasn't very loud.

"What am I gonna do?" Diana whispered. "What am I gonna do?"

FEAR