Disease
Chapter 38: Hope

The next day everyone got busy with the fence again. No one has spoken about what happened last night. My best friend still hasn’t left her room and just helped made breakfast before going back up again. Now that everyone finds out that she was pregnant they all agreed not to let her work outside as it might strain her and affect the baby. She’d be just with me here inside the house to do other chores.

I just helped with the preparations of those who choose to leave by sorting out the supplies they could bring in the storage just as I heard someone entered inside. There I saw Aspen who was on his way to the other side of the room where the tools and generator are.

“You’re packing?” he asked just as I nodded.

“Vince trusted me to do this since he is busy with the fence.”

Aspen didn’t reply so I returned my focus on the items I was sorting out but I felt him behind me shifting his feet.

“About the investigation...”

“Do you agree with them too?” I asked meeting his gaze as he bit his lower lip before turning away, “So you do.” I just mumbled when he didn’t say anything and I continued on working.

“It’s too risky. Vince has a point.”

“Then where are we going?”

“To still find the truth. But we are going to look at a different angle this time.”

I furrowed my brows as we locked eyes and he gave me a knowing smile, “What do you mean?”

“We’re going to our parents.”

“But you told me that’s too long of a journey.”

“That’s for the others to decide and for us to risk it. So, are you in?”

I blinked and this time I was the one who looked away. We did try to find a cure for Theo and now he isn’t the only one who got infected, Nikita too. I haven’t seen her since she got back from the dead last night. Even the others didn’t see her when they scouted the area before starting to work on the fence.

I feel like I am to blame for what happened. Everyone didn’t want to risk it but I did. And now we are given the same choice again. Stay and let the men who almost killed us arrive or leave and risk being out there in a road full of sickos.

I bit my lower lip before meeting Aspen’s eyes. I don’t know what to choose but I do know one thing. “I’ll go where my best friend goes. She needs me right now.”

Aspen nodded, “Okay.” before leaving me as I continue to work.

Vince escorted me back just as I finished working. I walked pass the rest of the gang as they finished the fence as I made my way upstairs. There is still a lot of work needed to be done but with what happened yesterday, the added workforce, and the rotation, the building became faster.

I just cleaned my hands before preparing lunch for the rest of the group. While I was cutting the ingredients, I felt a presence behind me and there I saw Elora. She just nodded at me acknowledging my presence before helping me.

A few moments later we are now setting up the table. The air between us is still heavy. I glance at Elora waiting for her to say something to me after what happened last night but still she didn’t spoke unless it has got to do with work.

After I followed her upstairs to her room she just dismisses me hiding under the covers as she cried. I just sat there on the bed watching her as I just found myself crying too. Everything is too much for her. For all of us. We just came here for a summer vacation and now we have to try to survive this outbreak.

“Elora...” I called her as she was on her way up to their room again, “Can I talk to you?”

She didn’t reply and just stayed still, her back facing me. I walked closer to her rounding around as I face her. She continues to stare at the ground not meeting my gaze.

“Do you already know about our situation?”

She didn’t say anything but I saw her biting her lip.

“Did Logan already tell you?”

I still didn’t get any response from her but I noticed how her body continued to shake.

“Elora...”

“I’m a baggage, am I?” she said sniffing as I quickly pulled her into my arms and she cried, “I’m making things complicated to all of you.”

“Elora, shh. No, you’re not.”

“But Logan... He wants to leave but now that he founds that I-I am... He wants us to stay. I don’t want to stay. I want to go with you. I want to leave.”

“Have you talked to Logan yet?”

She shook her head, “No, I am kind of avoiding him right now because I know I can’t convince him if he is set on something. He is stubborn like that and I don’t want us to fight.”

I lightly smiled at her, “Whatever we choose we are still going to have to risk something. The only question is do you still want to take it?”

Elora bit his lower lip before nodding, “Yes.”

Everyone now is back inside to have lunch together. It was eerie quiet and you could cut the tension in the air with a butter knife. You can obviously see that there is a division between the two groups right now. The ones who wants to leave, the ones who wants to go to camp, and us who are still hesitant about picking a decision.

We just continue on eating not minding the others. Only the sound of the utensils scrapping the plates, clink of the glass, can be heard. Until finally I heard someone cleared their throat. We moved our gaze to the head of the table where Logan was seating.

“Now that we are here together. We should finalize our decision so that Myla can now prepare based on the actual number who will be leaving. Raise your hands if you want to stay and wait for the survivors. But before that I want to remind everyone that they might bring you to camp with them however we don’t know how they’ll treat you when they found out about us.”

As expected Natasha, Olivia raised their hand. Erica, Natasha’s best friend, looks hesitant but she eventually raised it after glancing to her right where Natasha was. All eyes then moved to Sebastian and Jaden who still up until now can’t voice their opinions.

“How about you Logan? You kept on asking us. What do you want to do?” Jaden spoke up.

Logan bit his lower lip before his gaze moved to Elora who was just beside me. She just continues on eating but I noticed her hands shaking indication that she knows that her boyfriend is looking at her.

“Vince was right Aspen and I will just put all of you at risk if we stayed. So, no. I’m not staying. We’ll manage in the road.”

My eyes widen as I looked at him. He was so adamant to be staying yesterday and now he wants to leave?

I then moved my attention to Aspen who was just beside him and when our eyes locked I know he is the reason for this sudden change. What did he say or how he said it I don’t know but at least now we have one less to worry about.

“Well then.” Sebastian said slapping the table as we all turned to him, “If you guys are leaving. I’m staying.”

Natasha cocked a brow as she looked at him crossing her hands to her chest, “Why?”

“What do you mean why? Aren’t you happy that I am staying too.”

“Well you haven’t voice out your opinions until today.” Erica replied.

He shrugged before grinning teasingly, “Well who will stick with the three of you girls here if not me?”

Natasha rolled her eyes, “We can take care of ourselves just fine. Thank you very much.”

Just then Jaden chuckled, “If Sebastian is staying I’m also staying.”

“Seriously, guys?”

“What? The cabin’s a nice place. We’re safe. I can’t ask for anything else than spending the end of the world here.”

“It’s not the end of the world.”

“It could be.”

I smiled just as I feel the tension in the air gradually shift into a lighter one. Everyone seems to have felt the same way as we all looked at each other smiling.

“You really don’t have to stay on our behalf.” Erica said just as the boys smiled at her.

“Our reasons for staying are ours. Like you said, it’s our choice and we’re doing it.”

“Well... That’s settles then.” Logan finally spoke again, “Five of us will be staying and five will also be leaving.”

“Elora and I will make the preparations.” I said as everyone nodded.

For the next few days we are just busy on preparing to leave taking just the right amount that we’ll need for our travel. The others are still busy with the fence and we’re making a huge progress. Sebastian and Jaden just promised that they’ll continue on the rest of the remaining work now that the day of our departure is nearing.

“Is everything ready?” Logan asked as Elora and I are busy packing up in their room taking some of our necessities and clothing. Up until today the two hasn’t spoken yet. Although both of them finally agreed on leaving I notice that there is still an invisible wall between them.

“Yes, we’re all set for tomorrow. We just need to have a one last checklist later.”

“Okay...” he said nodding as I noticed his gaze moving to my best friend who was just behind me. I then took it as a cue to excuse myself.

“I’ll just prepare our food.” I said before leaving. I made a quick glance them as I reached the end of the hall making me sigh.

“I hope they’d work it out.” said a voice and when I looked up I saw Aspen on his way to his room. He’s sweaty and his shirt full of dirt.

I just gave him a small smile, “I do too. Not just them but for all of us before we part ways.”

Aspen nodded, “All of us will be fine.”

“I hope so.”

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