Wildfire

                                    

                                          
(Three Years ago, Day 4)
                          
The night has come and gone, but it wasn't like anyone could tell because they were all underground. The only way they can tell what kinda day it is, is for the clocks on the walls. There is one on each wall in every room above the door. 
                          
The time was 9:00 o'clock in the morning when Garrett got up from the couch he was sleeping on. His neck hurt a bit due to the way he was sleeping so he began to rub his neck in that area. He took a shower last night, he was the best thing he felt in awhile. Sure, it's only been a few days since all this stuff had started, but it had felt like a year.
                          
A lady from the other group, he believed her name was Carol, had offered him a set of new clothes as she would wash his old ones today. She seemed like she was a nice person, short greyish hair. But something seemed to be troubling her, but what wasn't troubling anyone these days?
                          
He put on the new clothes that Carol had given him. A pair of dark blue jeans and a sliver shirt which seemed to be a size too small. Being a small person, his mother would always give him clothing that was bigger than him. He should clearly wear medium shirts and jackets. She would always say that he would grow into them. Well, here he was, a senior in high school and still nobody would understand that he wasn't going to grow into any more clothes. He thanked god that the shirt he was wearing was a little tight, it was better than the old days, maybe by dressing new he could forget about those days. After all, those days didn't matter anymore. 
                          
Walking slowly out of his room he is careful that he doesn't wake the others because they are still sound asleep. He started to slowly walk down the hall as he smiled to himself. He believed he looked good, in fact he knew he looked good. But what did that matter to anyone? Nobody gave a damn how you looked anymore. He sighed as he continued walking down the hall when suddenly, a ball bounces against his ankle and he stops, then looks down and picks it up. 
                          
It is a little red rubber ball, no bigger than his hand. A small boy comes out from the room where the ball came from. He is followed by a little girl. 
                          
"Carl, Sophie!" A female voice shouted from the room. "Be more careful!" A lady follows the kids out of the room. Her hair is a darker shade of brown and wears a purple flannel shirt. "I'm sorry about that." She apologized for the kids.
                          
"No need to be sorry." Garrett smiled as he gave the ball back to the boy. "You don't got to be sorry if you didn't hurt anybody."
                          
"I'm Lori by the way...Rick's wife." She said holding out her hand as Garrett shakes it and introduces himself. "This is Carl, mine and Rick's son. Sophie is Carol's daughter."
                          
"Good to meet you both." He said as he offered his hand to the kids. Carl is the only one to shake it though.
                          
"Mom...." Carl asked looking at his mom. "Me and Sophie are going to go to the arcade." Before he finished his sentence they were already halfway down the hallway.
                          
"I should watch them." Lori pointed out as she moved past Garrett.
                          
"Is Rick in there?" 
                          
"Yeah he is." Then she was out of sight.
                          
From behind him Garrett can hear a door begin to open and he turns around to see who it is. A black man emerges from the door and is rubbing his eyes. He stops suddenly and realizes Garrett is in front of him. "Sup?" The man mumbled tiredly. 
                          
"Hey." Garrett replied to him as he moved out of the way and the man walked down the hall. He turns back around and knocks on Rick's door.
                          
"Come in, it's open."
                          
Garrett opens the door and enters the room. Rick was just sitting on his bed when he entered. "Oh, it's you.....How did you guys enjoy your stay?"
                          
"Good, most of them are still asleep."