Chapter Five
Previously:
The day hadn't even ended and Lee was already making a total in his head of how many lives had been claimed to this anomaly, he couldn't even guess but he knew one thing with a dread sureness.
The numbers of those lost would only keep rising while there was no one to save them.
Sienna didn't argue when Lee and Cameron showed up to defend perfect little Riley Kramer, it wasn't that she didn't like her or maybe that was the point she didn't like Riley. In another time and place where things were different maybe she and Riley could have been friends, both intelligent both close to the same age. Riley was the popular version though in many ways to Sienna and she'd not liked that comparison, not liked when teachers commented on how well the two would work together, or compared each other's work against each other. Riley with her perfect blonde hair and legs that went on for days, she was jealous even her parents seemed perfect both important doctors in the local hospital. Sienna had always secretly wondered why her parents hadn't enrolled Riley into Coates, then again everybody knew that Coates wasn't just a school for the rich it was for those who couldn't be controlled by normal schools. Coates where all the neglected kids were shipped off to when they acted out for attention, it had always been how Sienna had viewed the large school down the highway. She knew in some way her argument was petty but even so she'd been honest about anyone seeing James, kids had just seen the horrible reality of a fire with no adults to put it out or save those inside. She didn't think kids needed to see a broken boy who had no way of getting professional help, not that any doctor could fix him now.
"All the kings horses and all the kings men" she mumbled under her breath as she walked along side Kale the squeaking sound of the strained wheel's under the cart a constant behind them both as Lee and Cameron too over pushing it for Riley.
"And people say I'm a douche" Kale smirked down at Sienna as she blushed realising he'd heard what she'd said under her breath "I get it though. Dancing Queen is done for what use will he be to the world without his jive step or whatever the hell" Kale shrugged waving his hand in front of him down at his feet as they walked.
Kale had been a nice surprise in the end Sienna had admitted, everything about him told her she shouldn't like him from the way he dressed to even the constant smoking and horrible sarcastic comments he made about everyone. Kale wasn't someone who seemed to want friends, he didn't appear to be capable of tolerating anyone but his own presence maybe his sister Jacey too but even around her he dealt with her with a bored nonchalance. That moment though when he'd believed she was accusing his friends and maybe she had something had come out of Kale that she doubted anyone had seen before, a fire some sort of passion that was wrapped in a loyalty no one would believe Kale held for anyone. She was sure that there was other things about him that were redeeming but his loyalty to his friends had woke her up to Kale as more than a trouble maker. What had bothered her though, was knowing she had no one like that. She had no Lee or Cameron to do stupid things with or who stuck together even when it meant physically putting yourself in harm's way, she didn't have a Kale who would stand up for her when someone thought badly of her and it hurt. Intelligence had only given her isolation from others her own age. Even beautiful brilliant Riley had friends. So Sienna had decided then she would try to be Kale's friend maybe he'd laugh at her mock her for being stupid and naive that they could never be friends but the world had just changed dramatically and Kale was still around. Why couldn't this change too, something for the better at least?
"It's long everything keeps getting worse though Kale. It's not even been a day how much more bad news can we get? More kids would have been in cars how many are slowly dying or have because of..." they hadn't come up with something to name the big event that had taken all of the adults from Perdido Beach.
"The FAYZ" Kale chuckled shaking his head amused while Sienna looked at him confused as to what he was talking about he smiled ruefully and looked around him "It's only a phase get it FAYZ. F...A...Y...Z" She had to admit it sounded good "phase" this was only a phase something that would come and go but why the change in spelling "For a genius you're not all witty are you Fallout Alley Youth Zone, Sienna. It's the FAYZ only kids left in good old Fallout Alley now" Sienna smiled then as he explained it because she couldn't believe it had been Kale who had come up with it, both equally smart and funny she wondered what he was truly like without the sarcasm and weed.
"That's pretty genius Kale. The FAYZ it definitely gives us something to call this all" Sienna pumped her hip into Kale's then as they moved around the church wall, the side entrance had a gate where she believed they moved things into the building from when they either had food for the kitchens or even when they were having new furniture placed in.
Fortunately the gate wasn't locked as it normally would have been at this time of the evening but one thing was certain they'd not be able to get the cart through the gap way. Sienna finally turned back to Lee, Cameron and Riley and felt bad that she'd hadn't offered to help them Riley looked the worse but even Lee and Cameron still covered in soot slime from the fire and red eyed. Riley looked older though not in her usual way though she looked haggard and aged beyond her fourteen years, Sienna felt guilty at the pang of amusement that Riley didn't look so beautiful in this moment but she knew as night turned to day that after a shower and change of clothes Riley would be perfection once again. Why couldn't she hate her, not just dislike but truly hate. Sympathy she put it down to because she truly did feel sorry for what Riley must have had to endure to get not only herself here but also James.
"We'll carry him" rasped out Lee his voice was deep and rough still from the smoke he'd been passed out for hours and straight away he was in action again. She wasn't sure if she felt respect or annoyance at him, there was one thing she knew though and that he made her nervous call it paranoia but all she could think about was how he'd looked before running into that building. She'd caught him in her sight listening in on the conversation with the boy what he'd been saying about the odd thing happening to Kyle's hands Lee hadn't even waited then he'd been gone. Maybe she was just untrusting and looking for someone to point the finger at but Lee he was a mystery, other than a few times she'd barely even consider knowing him. Cameron was the nice guy she'd always known that of the three, Kale was the blunt and rude one but he was honest and didn't hide it. Lee though he always seemed to be there both Kale and Cameron willing to do as he wished, she thought he was dangerous and the memory she'd thought of earlier of him and Kale fighting there had been a familiar look he'd had before going into the fire and that was it that moment before punching Kale he'd looked the same. She knew logically she was over thinking and analysing everything, if Kale knew she was thinking it she'd probably get another harsh telling off with his usual taunting names of "copper top" or even "sweetheart" she wasn't sure which bothered her more.
"Yeah I'll go ahead open up the Church. You show them in" Kale pointed to me giving me a look "brace ya self sweetheart because the guys about to wake up something horrible" Kale said then darted off ahead as Sienna turned to James his eyes fluttering, she cringed at the thought of him being moved while conscious and almost couldn't stomach watching as they moved to start getting things in action but morbidly curious couldn't look away. It reminded her of the horror movies she'd watched in the past how she knew the victim was about to be killed gruesomely so she covered her face but always left big enough a gap to look between.
Riley showed Cameron where a lock was and the two of them lowered the one side of the cart as Lee moved forward and slipped his forearms under James' sweat soaked armpits. The moment Lee shifted him to angle James out he cried, not a weak and pitiful one she expected but an almost howl like a dying animal. Lee pushed Riley back then as she tried to move forward crying, Lee continued though his face set emotionless as he yanked James body forward and then heaved him up onto his shoulder. It was the first time Sienna noticed just how differently built Lee was to Cameron and Kale all three held similar physique all in great shape, Cameron was a little bulkier then Kale who was lean like a swimmer not that she knew if he did. Lee was all shoulders and broad chest as he seemed to hold the smaller body onto him, no wonder it taken both Kale and Cameron to drag Lee out.
"Leave the cart here we'll need it" Cameron said to Lee his friend not paying much attention other than to nod as he tried to make sure he held James in a way that caused him as little movement.
"What do you need it for?" Sienna couldn't help but ask as Lee moved around her prone position, Riley following close behind still wiping at her tired tear filled eyes. Cameron looked Sienna over then and shrugged his shoulders but his face looked as if he wasn't sure if to share a secret, she was already suspicious of the two this was only making it harder to try and push away.
"My dad's stock we're moving it. I can't do anything about the other stores but I'm not letting people trash it" Cameron told her and she nodded understanding but still thinking that wasn't all the two would be doing.
"Come on guys talk later" Kale shouted from the doorway into the church waving Cameron and Sienna to him, Lee had already carried a screaming James on through. The higher pitched cries of agony echoed in the hallways of the back area of the church none of them had been here before when they had been to church they were in the main area this was always off limits to kids. Nothing was restricted like that without adults though. "It's bad the guy he's screaming just I don't even know what he's trying to say and Riley is all blubbering and Lee" he whistled then giving Cameron a side glance "dude is some sort of detached or something maybe he hit his head when he went down in the kitchen he's acting off man. Told me if I called this kid a dancing queen again he'd snap me" Kale smirked though even if one of his friends had threatened him, Sienna held the threat a little more seriously though James was smaller than Kale lighter no doubt but Lee had thrown him over his shoulder with relative ease probably would have done it even easier had he not just been in a state of unconsciousness for inhaling too much smoke and fumes.
"Kyle's death hit him hard man" Cameron said while the three of them followed the cries of pain slowly none of them were eager to find themselves in the medical room. None of them knew what they could do for him, how were you supposed to offer help for someone's pain when you weren't even sure the full extent of what pain the person was suffering.
When the three finally entered into the room Sienna stayed back a little, while Kale and Cameron moved right into the middle but neither looking at James as he was clawing at the coot to the corner of the room. His eyes were wide as he snarled out through gritted teeth as if by yelling it would remove the pain, his fingers were white around the knuckles as he gripped the side tightly. Profanities left his mouth in a slur and then heartbreaking sobs for his mother like she could offer him help, Sienna realised then that James probably had no idea there was no adults. He'd been out cold since the crash and the accident had happened due to Riley's mother disappearing while driving.
"What do we do?" Cameron asked unsure but it wasn't like anyone had the answer but all turned to Riley, she felt pity for the girl her mind probably nowhere near its usual self from her own pain and exhaustion.
"Ease his pain" she whimpered out Lee reaching out and gripping her shoulder in what could only be described as a comforting manner much like the way Kale had done so to Sienna out in the plaza. "We need painkillers Tylenol. Ice packs for his legs, I need" she sobbed again but then gritted her teeth and swallowed it down "no adults?" she asked but already knew the answer shaking her head "I need to get the glass out of his face I need that first aid kit" Riley pointed to the green coloured small plastic case across the room behind Kale and Cameron.
"I'll get the Tylenol and ice packs" Kale offered with a shrugged response while Cameron grabbed the first aid kit and handed it over to Riley "I don't think somehow any of the kids are all that interested in pills and ice. I could go for some nachos though my stomach is eating itself" Cameron punched Kale's shoulder as her hissed and pushed him "What the hell man?"
"Not the time dude your gonna talk about your munchies while we're trying to do something serious" Cameron gave him a hard look and nodded his head over to Riley who had the first aid kit opened now and was looking through it with trembling hands.
"Kale go" Lee said then he was still beside the screaming and whimpering James, he was holding his hand now and it appeared that James was squeezing Lee's hand painfully hard "Get something to eat for Riley too. Bring extra for him maybe he'll be able to stomach something later" then Lee turned back to James and was trying to sooth him.
Kale looked to Sienna as she tried to keep her eyes on everything that was happening around her, his eyes asking her though if she wanted to go with him. She thought it was better to stay though, to finally show she wasn't about giving orders and would tough it out too if she had to. Sienna could see Riley unable to move the things around the first aid kit without shaking too badly and stepped towards her to help her with what she was looking for.
"Here let me help just tell me what I need" Sienna said then as Riley nodded and stepped back pointing to the small pliers and antibacterial wipes even a few butterfly stitches. "Just tell me what needs to be done your tired and upset you shouldn't have to do anything more" Sienna said with genuine kindness now as Riley cleared her throat Cameron was whispering to Lee about something.
"We'll help them once Kale gets back we'll head on out" Sienna would have normally questioned him but knew it was none of her business right now she just needed to help as everyone was trying to screaming boy.
"They need to hold him still while you remove the glass from his face then clean out the cuts, the few that are too big will need these placed over them" Riley said in barley a whisper if she hadn't been so close to Sienna the girl may not have heard her over James' cries.
Lee and Cameron were quick to move into position then Cameron gripping James' arms and pinning them down while Lee held his head in place while avoiding his cut side. Sienna was nervous as she moved towards James as he begged for someone to help him stop them from hurting him, she bit into her cheek and began with shaken hands. Sienna tried to be gentle but some of the glass was in deep and so she had to wiggle them out slightly, Riley wiped at the blood that would drip from the deeper gashes as Sienna removed the pieces. The four worked together all in effort to try and fix the broken boy who none of them really believed would make it longer without real care even Sienna knew that none were positive about his survival. They continued on anyway though, Sienna sighed audibly when the last piece clanked onto the table top to the side and Riley placed a small butterfly stitch over part of his cheek and both boys released him. James didn't lurch though and start thrashing and screaming like he had been he held his hands over his face and cried pleading for them to make it stop.
"You should let me clean up your cut" Sienna said then to Riley but she refused shaking her head while slumped in one of the chairs as Lee and Cameron stood together near the doorway.
"I'll fix myself up once we've done all we can for James" she said firmly her hand reaching up and running through the sweat and blood covered locks of her hair.
When Kale finally returned he had filled grocery bags full of soda cans, chips, cookies even some cold cuts and bread to make sandwiches with but he hadn't forgotten the bags of ice and boxes of Tylenol. Everyone let Riley dig into her food she eagerly pushing food into her mouth, Sienna had even giggled when she'd downed an entire coke can and then burped loudly while all three boys had looked at Riley shocked. Cameron had placed a cover over James' legs and then placed some of the bags of ice either side of his legs so it was cool but not directly touching his skin. Lee was the one left to the job of forcing water and Tylenol down James' throat. None had liked to watch but James had refused to even try so Lee had held his mouth open and then dropped the pills down his throat and poured water as James gulped around it in panic. Not one of them had argued with Lee's approach to getting it done, Sienna had known that sometimes you had to do cruel things to get the job done and while it may have seemed harsh to other's she knew Lee had given James the only thing that may just be able to ease his pain. Silence filled the room after that other than his whimpers of pain no one spoke and Sienna was perfectly okay with that, she just stood there looking ahead as she nursed the soda giving her hands something to do as she held onto it tightly.
**~~**ABSENT**~~**
Edith Carp stood with her arms crossed over her chest annoyed as the little kids were sleeping, Eddie as she much preferred to go by hadn't been looking to become a babysitter. That wasn't her and she wasn't about to do this job with a smile on her face, the scowl only made it more obvious that the tomboyish girl wasn't particularly pretty in the way that other girls were considered. She kept her Boston Red Sox cap tightly on her head her hair knotted under the cap, she didn't know many kids around town if any at all because her grandparents home-schooled her. Tragedy had forced the older couple to react rashly and decide to isolate their granddaughter that decision had left her with little to no time around people her own age. She was about as comforting and maternal as a cobra but no one would listen to her no not pug faced Edith as one of the older males had called her who was friends with Lee who lived down the bloke from her. In the end it had been choices to either help out while they were still awake or asleep, Eddie hadn't needed much time to make up her mind she'd much rather deal with them while they slept. Other's weren't happy about it either but what could they say, argue with the kids who just saved someone's life and put out a fire it just made you look like a jerk and Eddie wasn't about to make herself disliked even more. So she'd bit her tongue and moved into the day care and done her best she'd say with what she could, a few of the little's were still upset wanting to be with their parents Eddie couldn't complain about that she missed her grandparents.
"Could you just watch them while I change her" Beth said her eyes still teary, Beth was the only person right now Eddie wouldn't be harsh too. She'd come into the plaza late seen the aftermath of the fire, Beth had lost her little brother in the flames and now she was burying her grief in taking care of little kids. She thought Beth should go home but knew how memories of family could make grieving even worse and without her parents there to comfort and grieve with her she knew Beth would be alone.
"Yeah sure. Or I could do it" she offered on a second thought suddenly feeling the need to care for Beth, that was strange to her though she'd internally been complaining about not being maternal and yet she wanted to wrap Beth up in a blanket and make sure she was cared for.
"No thank you Eddie" Beth said as she cuddled the little girl into her arms they weren't sure what the names were for some of the kids but then a lot of the people who had helped were simply calling them "baby girl" or "big boy" it seemed to be working okay so far.
A boy who had gone into the fire with Lee who hadn't called her names, he was kind of cute but Eddie would never admit that out to anyone with the girl Sienna had said tomorrow they'd set up something. Most people weren't confident the adults would be showing up too soon, whatever had happened wasn't something that was going to be a quick fix so there would have to be some sort of way to take care of the kids that couldn't take care of themselves. She wasn't sure how they'd get kids to do that knowing how she herself didn't want to be doing it and only the fact that they'd stopped a fire would hold so much power for so long. The older siblings were split some wanted to just dump their little brothers or sisters here to be taken care of while others were willing to help as long as they had somewhere to have their sibling. It was something for tomorrow though and honestly Eddie couldn't wait so it would be time for her to head back home, she wanted to sleep in her own bed.
Eddie moved over to the small desk area and took a seat in front of a laptop that said it had wifi but someone had already attempted to use it but no internet. No face-book updates, she wondered what they'd say anyway if they could post something "Just got free candy at store lolz" or something like "badass fire dudes just ran in and put it out. Who said kids weren't capable of taking care of themselves :P" that was all they needed. The news of everyone disappearing was still asked about, like anyone had an answer there had been all kinds of theories though. It ranged from government experiment, extraterrestrials who were harvesting the adults and even god, one girl had even quoted bible passages and wailed about the rapture and how we were sinners who had been left behind. Another kid had called her out on the fact that babies and children were considered innocent but that had turned into a petty immature fight about religion, in reality it was no different than how adults argued over religion. People were going to believe what they wanted to believe but none of them were going to get answers for how everyone had vanished by screaming at each other.
"Thanks for that" Beth said slumping into another of the spare seats arms now empty of babies or little kids, Eddie was pretty sure it was the first time she'd seen her without holding someone.
"No problem" Eddie said while pulling her cap tighter onto her head and wriggling back into the chair trying to get comfortable it was slightly cushioned but not much.
"I haven't seen you around before you're what thirteen?" Beth said while Eddie nodded, she would have guessed that Beth was the same age or a year older not that it was hard to guess ages now when everyone over the age of fourteen was gone.
"I'm home-schooled my grandparents try to keep me out of public schools" Beth nodded as her hand moved to her mouth and she chewed on her thumb nail, maybe it was a habit Eddie thought as she pulled lint off her t-shirt.
"I wonder if Coates is the same" Beth said more to herself Eddie didn't answer she knew Coates Academy was the expensive private school just up the high way. From the way her grandfather had explained it there was bad kids there the sort that he personally believed would benefit from a military school then some swanky academy where the parents threw around money as if to make their problem children go away. "Probably because I know some of the adults that work there are from town so they'd have showed up by now" Beth answered her own question, Eddie only nodded to show she was paying attention as she sat in the chair trying to rest she was tired now normally she'd be sleeping by this point.
"You can get some sleep Eddie. I'm not tired anyway and..." Beth stopped though as Eddie smiled over at the girl thankful that she was letting her have the chance to rest but not feeling right, she'd force herself to stay awake give her someone to talk to she knew how Beth felt what it was like to lose someone you loved.
"Tell me about him" Eddie whispered then as Beth smiled weakly and wiped at her eyes, Eddie had no doubt in her mind Beth wouldn't be able to sleep much if at all for a while she'd not leave the girl she'd only just met alone with her sorrow just like she hadn't been left alone with it when she had been the one to lose family.
**~~**ABSENT**~~**
Lee pushed the empty cart while Cameron sat in it, the two were just happy to be out of that room with that kid James so the two had made an exit once the time had seemed appropriate. Lee was especially relieved because the screaming was getting to him his head was already spinning from everything but to hear as someone his age screamed for god to kill him, yeah that wasn't something he'd likely wish to hear again. So Cameron had dived into the cart like it hadn't just been the means to moving a severely crippled teenager and demanded Lee pushed him. He hasn't even minded as he pushed and ran with it while Cameron tried to stand and pretend he was surfing, in that moment they just forgot what was going on and goofed around like two kids and it was refreshing. It helped Lee believe that his friend was okay too, Cameron had been acted strange in certain ways since he'd woken on the sidewalk in the plaza but he could understand why Cameron was being off. He wasn't exactly acting like he normally did, it wasn't the time to but now where no one was watching and expecting them to act mature they were laughing and messing around as they headed to Cameron's dad's shop.
"Hit some handbrake her we're gonna drift" Cameron hooted out and Lee leant his weight onto the cart and shoved it at one side only as they squealed around the corner the cart almost toppling at the added weight and then righting itself and Cameron held his hand over his chest dramatically while Lee chortled amused "I thought we were going over then seriously your big ass almost sent us over" Lee pushed Cameron as he hoped out of the cart.
"I haven't got a big ass" Lee even turned his body to the side slightly to try and look at it "Louise said it's toned or something said I got a ass you wanna bite into" Cameron snorted that time then tilted his head up and laughed loudly into the night sky
"I wouldn't want to be biting into that ass but Riley's" Cameron whistled lowly then as Cameron waved his hands out in an attempt to draw the hour glass figure of a female, this in turn made Lee crack up Cameron was normally the respectable one in front of everyone but when it was just him and the guys he was just as bad.
"Even in the state she was in?" Lee asked he'd always had to be the guy who made the comments but didn't have as much honesty behind them if he appeared too interested in any other girl and Louise find out he'd suffer. He feared that girl like the coming apocalypse maybe even more.
"Even covered in sweat and dirt under it all it's still Riley Kramer" he enunciated her name like in itself it had more meaning then just a name, they'd had this conversation many times he believed Cameron was a little sweet on the girl but Riley was off limits it would always be that way and Cameron wasn't one to get attached.
"Louise isn't evil but she'd have love seeing Riley like that" Lee said finally it had been on his mind, he wasn't sure if there was others who would have felt the same he understood how insecurities and jealousy worked.
"Let's be real Lee every girl in our school would have enjoyed her not looking gorgeous and all flowing blonde hair. What's bad is she isn't even a bitch she's just not our kind of person" Lee got that they were one kind of clique as the adults liked to peg them and Riley was another as far as anyone was concerned both were bad to the other but reality was neither knew each other at all "She'll get some rest hopefully she needs it" Lee nodded agreeing "what was up with Kale being around that Sienna like that?" Cameron wiggled his eyes brows at Lee comically as he unlocked the front door to the shop.
"No idea you know how Kale is he gets into these things and it'll keep him occupied until his true love calls him" Lee laughed softly, Cameron only smirking at that everyone this side of Perdido knew Kale Mason was forever bound in holy matrimony with his pot. "Something about her kind of rubs me the wrong way. With the decision making and looks she gives me like I'm some sort of caged animal about to attack" Cameron stopped laughing at that comment Lee noticed and was curious what had seemed to knock Cameron from his humored mood.
"She did good with helping us calm the crowd down when you were out and she did okay with James face" Cameron said with little interest now "sometimes people just don't get along you know no matter how they act around each other. Look at Kale and Louise she hates his guts. Then again we can understand why but Sienna seems to get along with Kale and you two don't seem cool with each other. It's stress ya know all the stress of this crap we're all high strung and ready to explode" Lee nodded as they both moved into the shop closing the door behind him, what Cameron said was understandable to Lee not everyone was going to get along people were different and when everything went crazy people acted crazy so for all he knew the real Sienna may not seem to annoy him as much as she seemed to without even doing anything.
The two moved into the back of the shop then grabbing the boxes that they had earlier filled full of candy, there was only two large boxes that were unopened. The three other boxes were mixed of different candy that hadn't been taken before they'd got to the shop, Lee saw it as a good idea if the adults somehow came back and explained what had happened they'd just bring it back and Cameron's dad wouldn't have lost much money. If they didn't come back then there would be food, maybe not food that would be considered healthy but food none the less saved somewhere. Lee still doubted they'd have a problem with food though with all the houses and even the shops around the plaza and not forgetting Ralph's grocery store. Cameron had run into a burning building with Lee though so the least he could do was help Cameron with this.
"You should have seen how stupid they were being man I went into the grocery store in the plaza and they'd smashed up displays the candy, chips and ice cream was being taken by the arm full" Cameron continued Lee had noticed how ever since Cameron had started working here with his father that his friend seemed to always take stock of things like this even just going into the gas station for a soda he'd comment. It was one of those odd quirks that made him chuckle, one day his friend would no doubt take over this store or even find his own store magazines and candy didn't seem like Cameron.
"I didn't see I'll have to take your word for it Cameron. Kids were always going to go for the sweet stuff first, once it's gone we'll make a good dime off all this though" Cameron was shaking his head though at what Lee said he'd thought it was a good idea
"Kids don't have money and what use is it right now with no one taking money or earning it. We'll just hide it see how things are and should it be needed we'll give it out fairly" Lee just nodded it was Cameron's stuff if he wanted to give it out for free one day that was all on him but Lee knew if all the candy was gone and none was around that they'd be able to get a lot of cash for what they had on them right now "that's all of it let's get going" Cameron said locking up the shop again and moving behind the cart beside Lee and the two pushed it down the street.
Cameron had asked to go the longer way to Clifftop he hadn't said why he'd wanted to go that way but Lee knew it was because Cameron wanted to avoid anyone seeing them. The town was eerily silent between only their even breathing and the squeak of the wheels there was nothing, the car alarms had seemed to finally run out now no one coming to them. Lee was tired though from the entire day and was looking forward to just being able to sleep, he wouldn't be heading back down into Perdido after getting to Clifftop. He would get one of the keys for the suit rooms and would crash on one of those large and expensive beds with the foreign sheets that were so soft you could literally slide off the bed if you got in it too fast. Lee couldn't wait to feel himself curled up in a bed and just try and sleep, his own concern was what may haunt him while he was asleep. Would all of it play out as a constant reminder, would the screams of a teenager who would never walk again ring in the darkness of a smoke filled room as those he cared about burnt? His mind was thinking that even without being asleep he could only assume that once he found sleep the nightmares would be so much worse. Lee and Cameron struggled as they pushed the cart up the road that lead up to Clifftop the steep lift of it was proving to take even more strength which both was dwindling as the night progressed. It was early hours of the morning now the day had been grueling and as the two finally arrived at the top of Clifftop with the resort in sight they both smiled at each other relieved. Clifftop was a modern resort with a large pool around back and to the side an open area with tennis courts and even a small club house and connected maintenance building where they kept all types of equipment. The grass was perfectly well tended, Lee and Cameron had both worked up here last summer cutting grass and playing ball boy as a way to raise some money they had wanted to buy a beaten up mustang that they could fix together before they were old enough to drive. The both of them had gotten tired of it in the end and had taken what they'd earned and blown it on junk food and had hung out with the gang happy to remain kids for a little while longer. Lee had been pushing the cart around the side of the resort entrances the doors too small to push the cart in they'd use the staff exit around the side. Cameron had stopped though.
"What you doing Cameron? It isn't far now" Lee said wiping his forehead feeling the sweat over his brow then pushing his hair up off his forehead thinking about the showers that he'd get to use here as well he couldn't wait to try and just be, nothing but just being.
"That... I...it's. What the hell is that?" Cameron stuttered and struggled to get his words out while his wide eyes were fixed off to the side in the direction of the tennis courts as Lee turned to face the same direction looking for what had confused Cameron.
At first glance no one would have noticed it but because Lee had seen the way Cameron was looking at the individual tennis court he made sure to look at it properly. At first it looked like any normal court but then he could see how half way through the net the angel didn't look right only once you looked at it head on could you see there was something that cut the court off.
There was some sort of barrier.
Lee moved forward as did Cameron both of them leaving the cart behind suddenly finding something that was once again not supposed to be real but in this new world. The FAYZ. Kale's new name for what was happening to Perdido Beach. They didn't stop until the both of them were directly in front of this wall it was only as you got closer that it no longer appeared as it had, like an illusion but now it seemed an odd colour that neither of them could see through. Lee couldn't believe his eyes his hand raising but he was beat to it when Cameron touched it and then recoiled with a loud yelp of pain while waving his hand and then looking down at it.
"Oh crap that hurt" Cameron groaned looking down at his unharmed hand there wasn't a mark at all "don't touch that man" Lee moved closer though not to touch it but to get a better idea of it as he looked up and couldn't see where the wall ended and yet he could see the moon and the stars, what was going on.
"This is why no one's came" Lee said finally turning back to face Cameron "we're trapped man, this whatever it is, it's keeping us in and them out it's ..." Lee stopped though because he could see how terrified what he was saying had made Cameron.
"We can see the sky" Cameron whispered then moving to one of the fold out chairs to the side of the court and running up to the barrier and smashing the metal chair against it. Cameron simply bounced off it with the chair though not even a sign that he'd used all the strength he had to smash the chair against the wall "No we're not trapped. Oh god they didn't come the adults. We said man if the adults knew they'd show up to get us. It's keeping them out isn't it, are they even out there what if they aren't what if we're all that's left" Cameron was losing it now and Lee couldn't claim part of him wasn't too
"I don't know man" Lee replied because he didn't, he had no idea what this meant but it made it all even worse the FAYZ wasn't just about Perdido Beach having no adults now it seemed the FAYZ was the reality that they really were alone and there was no help coming. If there were even people on the other side, was the barrier penetrable in anyway if it was it certainly wouldn't be the kids locked inside that would break out it have to be the adults to break in.
"Do it" Cameron demanded manically then turning on his friend "Do it damn it Lee" he yelled breathing heavily "Do it hit the wall" Lee didn't understand what his friend thought him hitting the wall would do that would achieve anything other then what he had "I know Lee. Okay" Cameron said then his face morphing into something else then "I know so stop keeping secrets I saw you do it" Cameron rose his hand then and kept his fingers spread and directed to the wall "I saw you with Kyle shot it at the wall Lee this isn't funny anymore get us out of here man do it" Lee could only stare at his best friend though wide eyed, his secret Cameron knew and it didn't make him feel good not at all. Cameron had always known all of his secrets this was the one he'd wished to keep from everyone "I know Lee please do it man. You're a Freak just save us" Lee would never tell Cameron that with that one name Cameron had just broken his heart.
He was a Freak...
So he turned to the wall and screamed out in his pain, shame and rage directing it all at that one target hoping to end it all.
Sorry I didn't post yesterday I know I warned that I wouldn't be able to post every day but I had hoped I'd be able to find the time to be able to do that for you. Well I hope this chapter at least makes up for the day without posting, as always let me know what you think I'm really trying to make this something different and original that you'll all like. As always I want to thank those who have submitted character's to me to use and I hope you guys will let me know what you think of your characters. So a big thank you too HpHgPjGone, MyCrazyBeautifulLife, The Lady Cloudy, ShadowDude90, Stalking dream and DeathAngel80 and just another reminder guys I'm still accepting character's so far all of those that have been offered have appeared in some way I think. I haven't had any for Coates but I'm still unsure how I'm going to bring in Coates Academy but believe me they will be there, what I'm really looking for is some bullies so far all the character's are decent but flawed which is great but I need some out and out bad guys.