CHAPTER 14:

In the cafeteria, Arika was arranging the tables and chairs, forming a sort of makeshift fort in the center, something that would at least give them a sense of shelter. Meanwhile, Reize and Koen were looking for sheets and some old quilts in the storage room. All three were trying their best to feel safe, though their hearts were still restless.

At one point, while setting up the last chairs, Arika became pensive, remembering what had happened a few hours ago...

It had all started when they got that alert message from the state. A message that made the three of them fall into a deep silence, aware of the seriousness of what was happening.

After a few minutes, it was Reize who broke the silence.

—We'd better stay here for a few days… —he said quietly—. At least until we run out of food… or they come to rescue us.

But Koen didn't quite agree.

—I don't think it's the best idea... —he answered seriously.

—Why? —Reize asked, somewhat confused.

— We're in the center of the city... without people, it's going to be chaos. And if those things are still out there, soon there will be more accidents, explosions.... We won't be safe here for long.

—But if we go out there, we'll be exposed to those things... Besides, we have nowhere to go —Reize replied, with some fear in his words.

At that moment, Arika intervened, looking at both of them.

—Koen is right, Reize. Did you see that just at the beginning of all this there was an explosion nearby? We're not safe here...

Reize looked down, clenching his fists in frustration.

—But…What if we get out and something attacks us? What if I lose you?... —he said, his voice cracking.

Arika reached over, taking his hands gently.

—That won't happen... I will always be with you, just as you are always with me —she answered him with a slight smile, trying to reassure him.

After Reize calmed down a little, Arika looked at Koen.

—Koen... What do you say we wait two days? If in two days we don't get rescued... we'll get out of here and try to get as far away from the city as possible.

Koen nodded.

—Yes... that's fine.

Arika then looked at Reize.

—Do you agree?

Reize took a deep breath and nodded.

—Yes...

Coming back to the present, Arika snapped out of her thoughts, observing the small shelter they had set up. In her mind there was only one wish: "May we be rescued soon..."

At that moment, Koen and Reize returned with the sheets and quilts.

—We found this—said Reize with a small smile—. It's not much… but at least it will protect us a bit from the cold tonight.

The three of them began to place the sheets on the floor, creating a more comfortable space. They used the flashlights of their cell phones for light, avoiding at all costs to turn on the lights of the room, knowing that they could attract the infected that were still lurking outside.

After laying out the sheets, they arranged themselves so that the three of them could enter. Arika and Koen at the ends, and Reize in the middle, protected on both sides.

But even though they were already in bed, Reize could not sleep. His thoughts kept turning over and over to the idea of leaving the shelter. He turned slightly towards Koen and, in a low voice, said to him:

—I'm still not convinced about leaving here...

Koen, in his straightforward, no-nonsense manner, replied in the same tone:

—If you stay too long in a place like this… you die a slow death.

Arika, who seemed to be half asleep, let out a tired sigh.

—Will you two stop arguing? —she muttered—. The important thing is that we're together... that's what counts.

For a few minutes, silence reigned again. Until suddenly, Reize started sneezing several times, breaking the quiet.

The three of them sat up almost at the same time.

—Sorry for waking you up... —said Reize, rubbing his nose—. But I think it's getting colder, and that's affecting me...

—Use this sheet —said Arika, offering him one of her sheets.

—But what about you? You're going to be cold... —Reize replied worriedly.

Koen nodded

—She's right. If you sleep with a sheet, you'll get sick. Use one of my sheets.

—I'm fine, don't worry —Arika said with a slight smile—. I never get sick. Reize, on the other hand, is very prone to colds.

—Don't say that just to reassure us, accept the blanket I give you. —Koen replied.

—No, really —she laughed softly—. I've never been really sick. Maybe some slight symptoms, but nothing serious.

—Are you telling me you've never been to see a doctor? —Koen asked, genuinely surprised.

—Well... yes, I did —said Arika, somewhat embarrassed.

—Bullshit... —Koen denied with a chuckle —. I don't believe you.

Entonces intervino Reize:

—What you say is true. As long as I've known her, I've never seen Arika sick. I guess she has an iron immune system... she's always taken good care of her health.

—Now I really envy you —said Koen, letting out a sigh —. Unlike you, I grew up in hospitals... I was sick all the time.

—Really? —said Arika, with some sadness—. I'm sorry... it must have been hard for you.

—Yes... —nodded Koen.

—The few times I was in the hospital, I felt strange… hospitals were always lonely… —added Reize —I guess you felt that way.

—That's right —replied Koen.

—But... in all that time you didn't make any friends? Any nurses or patients? —Reize asked, curious.

—As a matter of fact, yes —Koen recalled—. There was a little girl who always appeared to me. I don't know where she came from, but I always ran into her.

—Really? —Reize looked at him in intrigue—. And was she pretty? —he asked with a mischievous smile.

—Well… I don't remember well —Koen answered thoughtfully—. When I was 12, I had an accident and hurt my head… that's why I lost some memories. I only remember that I had a very unusual name…

—And what was it? —Reize asked.

—If I'm not mistaken… it was Althea.

Then Arika opened her eyes wide.

—Wait... Isn't that the same name as the girl we saw this morning? —she said looking at Reize.

—That's right! —replied Reize in surprise

—What girl? —asked Koen.

—Well, she's a little girl who was celebrating her birthday... —answered Arika

—Exactly —said Reize.

—She was at the other table, near where you were, she seemed to be about eight or nine years old —said Arika, explaining it to Koen.

—Wow… it seems that name is more common now —commented Koen.

—But back to the subject —Reize insisted—, you never found that girl again?

—No… I looked for her later, but no one knew about her. I only had her name, but I didn't remember her face, so they couldn't do much —Koen answered with some nostalgia.

—Imagine if you found her now —Reize joked —. She'd be our age and your first lost love. It would be a perfect romantic story.

—What? Nothing to see! —Koen exclaimed, embarrassed —. We were just friends.

—I don't think so… your face doesn't lie —mocked Reize.

Koen looked away, red, while Arika couldn't help but let out a slight giggle.

At that moment, Arika noticed something.

—Hey, Reize… Where's your bracelet? —she asked as she grabbed his wrist.

—Ah… I gave it to the little girl this morning —Reize answered with a smile.

—Why? —Arika asked, surprised.

—She seemed sad because her father wasn't with her on her birthday… I thought that giving her something might cheer her up a bit, so I gave her my bracelet.

—You have a very generous heart, Reize —said Arika sweetly.

—It's no big deal… —answered Reize, scratching the back of her neck, a bit embarrassed.

—I just hope that girl and her mother are ok —said Arika.

—Relax... I'm sure they are — said Reize—. Remember when we bought that bracelet, the seller said it was like a protection charm?

—Yes, I remember —laughed Arika.

—So I hope he will protect that little girl now —said Reize with a soft smile.

— Did you really believe that? You got ripped off pretty good —Koen mocked.

—It looks like I'm going to have to keep teasing you, Koen —Reize threatened with a mischievous grin.

—I don't think it was a scam —Arika interjected—. After all, that bracelet lasted you long enough… and you always have accidents.

—Arika! Don't help me like this... you're revealing that I'm clumsy! — Reize protested, laughing.

—Haha, I'm sorry —said Arika, sincere.

After a few laughs the atmosphere felt pleasant.

—I think we'd better try to sleep now —proposed Arika, settling in.

—You won't take the sheet, will you? —said Koen, looking sideways at her.

—No —Arika replied confidently.

—You're stubborn, aren't you … —sighed Koen.

—Well, let's stop talking and rest — said Reize, stretching —. Sleep well, boys.

—See you tomorrow—replied Arika with a small smile.

—See you tomorrow—said Koen, plopping down on his makeshift pillow.

Gradually, silence filled the place again... and the three of them finally managed to fall asleep.