Chapter 4

Jaz looked up to see kids running up to meet her. She was glad to see them, but didn't want to talk to them. She didn't want to tell them what happened, didn't want to remember. Collapsing to her knees Jaz felt like she couldn't take another step. Two of the night watch boys picked her up on either side of her, bombarding her with questions. She stayed silent and mumbled something about wanting to talk to Jordan.

A small group had formed by the door Jaz could see Jared among them, they locked eyes and she knew he understood what had happened even without saying a word. He was one of the very few people who could read her like an open book; with everyone else she did it to them. She could see how the felt and knew what they were thinking. Her eyes fell back on the ground as the two boys, Anthony and Dustin carried her inside.

The second Jaz got inside her brother Justin rammed her, hugging her and thanking God that she was alright. The two boys let her go and she hugged her brother, also glad she had survived to see him again.

Jordan came up behind them saying, "Get her to the infirmary" witch was really only a small dentist shop that they used as a sick bay.

The boys began to pick her up when Jordan stopped them. "Not you two idiots, Nick." Nick was a very tall and muscular looking kid who was also usually very quiet. Clearly Jordan wanted to talk to her without having nervous kids around. It was obvious Jordan was frustrated by the way he had spoken to the two boys.

Nick scooped her up easily. She probably didn't even weigh half his weight, since she only weighed about 90 some pounds. Nick was one of Jordan's 'special' officers. There was a group of kids that acted as a higher authority who discussed problems and made sure other kids stayed in line. Jaz was one of those kids, although her being very small and a girl, she was still respected and could control people fairly easily. That's why she was part of the group.

The mall being divided into many different groups they needed some sort of authority. In total there was approximately 11 groups of kids but there was 20 kids in the higher group. Each group of kids have their own separate setup in the larger stores of the mall. Each group having to find food for themselves but once in a while a few people from each group will all go out scavenging at once and divide up whatever they find.

Once they reached the infirmary Jordan shoe'd out all but one nurse out. She was also part of the higher group. Nick laid Jaz onto a bed and sat down on the one beside her.

"I want to know what happened." Jordan said without feeling.

"Yeah I guessed that much." Jaz replied mockingly and look at the wall in front of her. She remembered helping out in here, she didn't know much about metical stuff but she knew first aid and often was the one to give people stitches when needed, since she was the best at stomaching it.

Jaz looked back toward Jordan, "if you want the short story their all dead." She said flatly, truly she didn't want to go any deeper into the story but knew she wouldn't be so lucky.

"The whole story, that's what I want to know. From the time you left to the time you arrived here." He kept glancing at Moriah. Jaz could clearly see that he liked her though she'd never seen them talk.

Jaz sighed and positioned herself on the bed so she looked into his eyes. "If that's truly what you want."

She told him everything, about finding the 7/11 kids and how some had died, then how they'd all been massacred and about how she'd got her injuries. She kept the story as undetailed at possible. She knew Brian had been Jordan's friend and the less she focused on it the more she could stay in control of her emotions.

By the end of the story Jordan was staring blankly at the floor and Nick had laid down on the bed and was staring at the sealing. Moriah was just finishing up Jaz's stitches on her side.

After a long moment it was Moriah who broke the silence and changing the topic. "Your one of the very few people who hasn't cried wile I've given them stitches, you truly are as tough as they say." Jaz gave a small laugh as if she didn't believe her.

"It's true though," Moriah smiled "even Nick teared up when I had to sew up his arm, and his cut was half the size of yours." they both laughed and Nick gave dismissive huff confirming Moriah's tail.

Jaz sat up and tried to stand when Moriah practically shoved her trying to get her to lie back down.

"I'll be fine, I need to get back to my group to make sure everything is alright." She argued, she really didn't want to have to stay in the sick bay.

Everyone looked surprised when Nick offered to take Jaz back to her store. Moriah argued but Jordan said it would be best for her to go back.

"Are you sure she'll be alright?" Moriah said worriedly trying to convince the boys that Jaz should stay. "What about if her stitches open wile your taking her back?"

"I'll carry her; if anything does happen I will bring her back immediately." Nicks voice was Deep but soft. Jaz remembered when she had first come to the mall, Jordan, Nick and some of their other friends were already here. Nick had been a bit shorter then he was now and skinnier with a 'going through puberty' kind of voice. He had changed drastically but even back then he was quiet. Although his appearance had changed the person he was did not.

Nick walked over to her and scooped her up like she was an infant and began walking to the door. "Come on I'll be fine to walk back on my own, I don't need to be treated like a child." Jaz felt awkward and honestly didn't want to burden him with having to carry her.

"Nonsense, you'll open your stitches." Jaz grumbled a fine and stopped struggling to get free. Even though she felt awkward about being carried like a baby she had to admit she was comfortable, Nick was warm and showed no struggle of carrying her. Before she realized it she was drifting off and fell asleep.

Through the hole time Nick was carrying Jaz he hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep, he guessed it was a good thing that he'd carried her or else she would have gone straight back to work helping others, ignoring the fact that she needed to rest. Jaz was just that kind of person, always looking out for others and ignoring her own needs. She was a kind and a strong person, he truly thought she should be the one Jordan was looking at all the time instead of the nurse Moriah; Jordan only liked her for her looks. If Jaz and Jordan were together they would be able to make the mall better but they showed little to no interest in each other; although Nick had to admit he wasn't sad that they weren't together. At least then he could like Jaz without feeling guilty, but he wasn't a leader, a good solder maybe but she deserved better; someone with a more powerful role.

Nick walked through the store over to the kids sleeping area. Only after he laid Jaz on a mat did he notice a group of kids behind him, waiting there wanting to talk to her.

"Go back to what you were doing and get someone to watch over your leader for a while but do not wake her." He said loud enough for all the kids to hear but still quite enough so Jaz did not wake.

"Who are you to boss us around?" one boy said and the others agreed with him. Most of them were between the ages of 8-12.

A different boy came out of the crowed and stood in front of Nick with his back turned to him. "You know he's right, go away, you know it's exactly what Jaz would say." They listened to him and slowly the group broke up.

"Your Justin aren't you?" Nick asked him.

"Yeah. I'm her brother so I can keep an eye on her and you can leave." He was only about 9 years old but he seemed very mature for his age; and he clearly was protective over his sister and wanted Nick to go.

He muttered a goodbye and walked back to the doorway of the store, something made him want to stay and make sure Jaz was alright but he knew better. Jordan would be waiting for him to return.