I didnt quite process what he intended until he began to punch out the glass. I jumped in surprise, wincing as the glass trickled to the ground. It sounded as loud as gunshots to me, but I tried to assure myself that it was not nearly as loud as I thought it was. That, in fact, it was relatively quiet considering the circumstances.
He grabbed hold of the bag of guns, dragging it toward him. I hurried to help him as he unzipped the bag and we began to stuff it full of the chips, cookies, and candies stored within the machine. It wasnt the healthiest assortment, but it was much better than starvation.
Cade zipped the bag tightly closed and sat back. I knew I should stop staring at him, stop watching the smooth play of skin over his lean muscles, but I couldnt bring myself to tear my gaze away. There was no smug male pride in his gaze as he caught me admiring him. Instead, a fierce longing blazed to life with such intensity that I found I could no longer breathe. In fact, I could no longer recall anything except for him.
It was the feel of Jennas gaze on me that finally tore my attention from Cade. I did not look at her; I was too ashamed to as I ducked my head and turned back toward the doorway we had come through. I had to force my thoughts away from him as I strained to hear anything, but it was eerily quiet in the large building. Too quiet.
Maybe I had only imagined that something was moving toward us over the garbage heap, but I didnt think so. I knew what I had seen, and the complete and utter lack of animals was too hard to ignore. Animals knew things we didnt. They sensed the impending approach of many different things and fled from them long before we did. I was beginning to suspect the aliens had the same effect upon them that an earthquake would, and that they were fleeing before we even knew the monsters were near. I was not about to ignore their more finely honed instincts in favor of my less than perfect ones.
Bethy.
Abbys soft whisper alerted me to the fact that we were ready to move on. Thankfully Cade had donned his shirt again and was now toting the bag. Jenna had disappeared from the room, but Abby and Cade were impatiently waiting for me by another door. Cade ushered me quickly into the room. He closed the door behind us, throwing the room into complete darkness. Terror erupted through me as swiftly as a bursting dam; I took a stumbling step back as the overwhelming urge to flee encompassed me. I could feel the walls closing in on me, crushing against my sides, ripping the air from my lungs.
Easy. Cades breath was warm against my ear as he whispered the word. His reassuring presence gave me a small measure of comfort. I was at least able
to keep myself from screaming or running away as I ripped my hair out. Then, to my horror and relief, light flooded the room. Abby was standing by the door, her hand on the switch.
Abby
Its ok; there are no windows in this room, Cade assured me.
I glanced rapidly around the room, not feeling at all relived as I took in the cramped, dark, and dreary space. It was a small bathroom with a urinal and a toilet. The sink was yellowed and dirty, the mirror cracked, and I was certain that it was only the stench of us that was blocking the stench of this room. For some reason, that I didnt even want to begin to fathom, there was a large drain in the center of the room.
Its like were stuck in an unending dirty, stinky hell, Jenna said softly.
I silently agreed.
We cant stay in here. Its a dead end.
Cade turned back around, he reached for the knob as the ground beneath our feet began to shake. My breath froze, a scream strangled in my throat. Sweat beaded my forehead as my jaw clenched in terror. Cade reached out and swiftly shoved Abbys hand down on the light. It didnt matter if there were no windows in this room; it was a relief to be plunged into darkness again. At least for them it was, it gave them a false sense of security. It gave me almost instantaneous heart palpitations. With the lights out, it felt as if the walls were creeping steadily closer to me once more. No matter how irrational the thought was, I could not turn it off.
The water in the toilet began to shake and splash as the ground shook and vibrated with a sudden, violent, wrenching motion. I jumped in surprise; a scream would have erupted from me if Cade had not slammed his hand over my mouth to stifle it. Stay calm Bethy. Its only going to get worse, and you are going to have to handle it if you want to survive. If you want your sister to survive.
I managed a small nod, and though I thought he was going to release me right away he clung to me, his arms strong and secure around me. It was the first time I sensed his fear, his uncertainty as to whether or not we would make it out of this alive. And if we were going to die, he was going to hug me one more time, and I was going to return it. I did not feel guilt as I took solace in his strong embrace for a brief moment.