EPISODE EIGHT :

TW: panic attacks, blood (this warning is for the entire episode)

Mr. Gladenstone cleared his throat and began to speak, “I know you must be very shocked by the demise of you teachers, but please everyone settle down and listen to me.” 

Everyone began to quiet down for fear of what happening to our teacher happening to ourselves. 

“You all have been inducted into an experiment. We have chosen your school to participate in a study of your species’ youth. This school is now your home and will be for an undecided amount of time. You will be supplied with the necessary requirements for your survival. Please, don’t try to escape. It will only lead to more… issues for you and for us too, so please don’t. Thank you for your cooperation. We will be watching.” He ended his speech and then left.

Just like he came he left. His dress shoes clicked on the ground with every step, and as he walked out of the gym no one tried to stop him. The room was in perfect silence. 

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“Evangeline? Evangeline? Evie?!” Someone was calling my name, “Evie, can you hear me?” 

I peeled open my eyes and the bright stage light burned my eyes. Barley moving my head I was able to register that I was laying with my head on Zora. For a moment I felt a wave of selfish happiness at the warmth emitting from her chest and the sound of the beat of her heart. For a moment I had a blissful smile on my face and then my world came crashing down on me once again. I remembered everything; the blood, the sound of the guns, the sound of the bodies hitting the ground with a sickening thump. It all came back to me within seconds of my awareness. 

I gasped and choked on the air. ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe!’. Everything was too surreal, it was too much. I felt as if the room was closing in on me. I closed my eyes and clutched the fabric of Zora’s shirt as if she could protect me from my own memories. Tears began to spill from my eyes. They were hot like fire as they streamed down my face leaving marks of tragedy on my cheeks. I tried to stop but I was drowning, being pulled down by the harsh waves of shock. Curling closer to Zora I began to hear the voices around me. 

“Evie! Evie, please! Please answer me!” Zora’s voice came from above me. 

She was choking on her words and I came to a realization that she must be crying. I felt her shaking hands around me as they desperately clutched me. Desperation radiated from her, she was in full scale panic but she was still trying to keep it together. I wanted to help but my limbs weren’t responding to me. 

“Lorie!? Lorie, Evie isn’t… she isn’t responding! Lorie I need help!” Zora sobbed. 

I turned my head slightly and saw Lorie. She had dropped onto her knees and she was shaking violently. Tears flowed from her eyes as she knelt over Mrs. Hembrok. Wails were the only response to Zora’s begs. She slowly raised her blood covered hands, took one look at them and then doubled over and began to sob with horrible body racking motions. She was in no state to help anyone but Zora continued to beg. 

“SHE CAN’T HELP YOU!!!” William screamed at Zora. 

He was standing over Lorie with the clear smear of horror on his face. He knelt down and pulled the shaking body of Lorie into his arms. A single tear ran down his face and he looked up to prevent more from following the first. Lorie sobbed into his chest while he held her and whispered comforting things. 

Zora turned her efforts to Andrew. She restated my condition and began to plead for his assistance. 

Andrew did not turn to look at Zora or my shivering form he sat still with this head between his hands. He was on the floor rocking himself back and forth. Laughter began to fill the room, Andrew had begun laughing hysterically.

“Everyone’s dead,” He muttered repeatedly followed by the laughter of a maniac. 

Zora’s sobbs began to increase and her grip around me tightened. She whispered my name along with comforting words. But, I couldn’t tell if they were really for me or herself. She cradled my head and rocked the two of us rhythmically. 

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The two of us sat together in silence filled only by sobbs, screams, and the manic laughter from Drew sitting not to far from us. We sat for what seemed like hours together feeding off each other’s comforting presence. I had run out of tears hours ago and now I was left with a pounding headache and a tear stained face. Zora had dipped in and out of consciousness but each time she slipped into sleep she jerked awake again and frantically looked around as if someone was going to sneak up on her. 

The restraints of my panic began to lift up and I was able to move again. I released my tight grip on Zora’s shirt, my hands ached. I raised my head off of her chest and lifted my head to look into her eyes. Her arms slackened from where they were clutching my torso. She gasped a little and then pulled me into a tight hug. It took me a moment to realize what was happening but shortly after I returned the hug fiercely. Although we were surrounded by horror and despair I was in my own bubble with Zora as I tried to focus on her warmth. 

She released me after maybe a minute of our long hug and looked deep into my eyes. The initial emotion in her eyes were happiness but it quickly fell away and was replaced by worry and sadness. 

“I’m okay. I’m okay, Zora.” I croaked, my voice not being used for several hours other than for crying had left it horse and faulty, “You don’t have to worry about me, I’m okay.” 

Tears began to pool in her eyes and she choked a bit. I pulled her back into a hug and leaned up against the chairs behind me. She buried her head into my neck as the last bit of water in her body streamed from her stormy grey eyes. I stroked her hair and pulled her into my lap, cradling her as she did for me. Zora was there for me while I was breaking into pieces and so I swore to be there for her as she collapsed into sorrow. I would be there for her no matter what. Snuggling in to her and shifting around to find a comfortable spot I fell asleep shortly after Zora. 

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A/N

1159 words

We’ll get into more action next episode, promise.

- love from QueenCobra <3 -

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