“Let’s sleep on it,” Robby finally said. “Make a decision before we head out for work. How does that sound?”
“Fine with me,” Jenna said. “But I already know how I’ll vote.”
Robby and I went back to our room. We didn’t talk much as the day ticked by. I was deep in thought trying to figure out what was best for all of us and Robby was probably trying to do the same.
Hell, would Caleb even leave if Jenna didn’t? And could I leave without Caleb?
I wasn’t entirely sure how we got into such a mess when all we wanted was to find a way out of the mess we were in. There was no solution to the problems of our world… just more problems.
I’d fallen asleep early in the evening after Robby and I had dinner. All of the stress from trying to figure out what we were going to do had been exhausting.
I woke abruptly to find I was alone in the bed. “Robby?”
The room was chilly. I got up and wrapped my arms around myself as I walked toward the bathroom.
The door was open and Robby wasn’t there. He wasn’t in the hotel room.
I flipped the lock into place and peered out of the peephole in the door. The hallway was empty and the building was as silent as ever.
I sat next to the window and looked down at the dark, empty streets. My fingers lazily stroked Clover’s fur. She loved sitting by the window when she wasn’t eating.
“Where did he go?” I asked her but she just stared at me, judging me for not knowing.
Clover looked healthy again. Her fur was dry and silky. She’d put on a few pounds thanks to the cat food we got for free. Apparently, Clover was one of the few pets that lived in town.
I exhaled and rested my head on my hand as I stared into the darkness. “Oh, Clover. What should we do? You don’t want to go back out there any more than Jenna does, do you?”
She shifted around but she didn’t answer. Even Clover was unsure, although it seemed to cause her much less anxiety.
I shivered. I was tempted to crawl back into bed but I didn’t feel the least bit tired. There was too much on my mind to fall back asleep, even if I wanted to. Also, I wasn’t thrilled that Robby was mysteriously gone.
“I wonder if Caleb knows where Robby went,” I said getting to my feet. “Oh, I know! He probably ran to the store down the road before it closed to grab a few more bottles of water.”
Clover closed her eyes. She was probably agreeing.
I used the bathroom as if that would somehow make time pass by quicker. I didn’t.
A long sigh escaped from between my lips. It was like if I made it loud enough and long enough, maybe Robby would hear it.
My bare feet lightly tapped the thin carpeting as I walked back to the window. An orangish light flashed in front of the window.
I stumbled forward, falling to the floor as the whole building shook. My eyes were wide as I grabbed Clover from the window sill and set her down on the bed.
She stood there staring at me with round, frightened eyes. I was shaking as I cautiously went to the window.
Two blocks away, there was a building engulfed in flames. “Oh, my God.”
I pulled on my socks and slipped into my shoes as I sped to the door. Caleb was opening the door as I stepped out into the hallway.
“What the hell was that?” he asked.
I grabbed his hand and yanked him into my room. My finger jabbed the glass as my mind searched for words.
“Holy shit,” Caleb muttered.
“I don’t know where Robby is,” I said squeaking out the words.
Caleb’s head moved side to side. “Why isn’t he here?”
“I woke up and he was gone,” I said.
“I’m sure he’s okay,” Caleb said taking my hand. “You need to stay in our room until he gets back, though. I think it’s started.”
The words didn’t make sense. “What started?”
“The war,” Caleb said looking into my eyes.
Another loud bang rattled the walls of the hotel. Caleb dragged me across the floor and into their room.
Jenna was standing by the window, hugging herself. She turned around sharply at the sound of the closing door.
“What’s going on out there?” she asked.
“It’s started,” Caleb said. “I think we need to get out of here before this building falls to the ground.”
“Do you really think that could happen?” Jenna asked.
Caleb was breathing quickly as he looked around the room. “Yeah, I think so. Grab what you can. Let’s go.”
“We have to wait for Robby,” I said my heart pounding against my chest.
“I don’t think we can,” Caleb said. “We’ll have to find him out there.”
Someone ran down the hallway screaming. Jenna grabbed Caleb’s arm.
There was another boom that was so loud it sounded like thunder erupting from inside the hotel. More screams filled the air.
Caleb turned white. “Joss, I’m sorry. We have to go.”
23
Adam
“You don’t belong here,” Eva snapped.
I shoved my hands into my pockets but quickly removed them as if I was afraid I would need to use them. “Just heading home.”
“This is my neighborhood. There is no reason for you to be here,” Eva said between her lips. “You think you would have learned that lesson by now but I guess you never really were that sharp, were you?”
“Give me a break, Eva,” I said rolling my eyes. “I know you’re deeply in love with my dad but he’s still my dad.”
“What makes
