Frightened brown eyes watch my every move from across the room. He hasn't said anything since I came in but I know there is something he feels he needs to say from the way he fidgets in his spot.

His squirms. I snap.

"What the hell do you want, Nugget?" I stand in front of him now, arms crossed and a scowl on my face.

Nugget cowers away from me. He turns towards Zombie who had sat up in his bed to watch the situation carefully. Mother mode activated, I guess. "Is there a problem over there?" Zombie asks. Neither of us answer. "Private?"

Nugget turns back to me, flinching when I quirked a brow. "N-Nothing."

"Obviously something is wrong. You haven't stopped staring at me since I came in, not to mention the fact that you look like your about to shit your pants--"

"You were on the bus with me!" He blurts. Ah. Right. Shit. "You were hurt and I-- I wasn't sure if they were going to leave you or not s-so-- so I woke you up."

I pinch the bridge of my nose in annoyance. "And?  What's the big deal?"

"Did you see Cassie?"

Even if I did see this Cassie, how in the hell would I know if it was her? There must have been twenty kids on that bus with me and I kept blacking out because of blood loss. Unless... oh, Nugget.

They must have left her behind. And everyone knows what happens to the people left behind. If they weren't kids, they were a waste. I glance at Zombie out of the corner of my eye, face falling. Maybe everyone didn't know. Nobody in here seemed to.

"Is that who you were screaming about?" He nods. I want to lie. I want to tell him I saw this Cassie person, who is obviously important to him. His sister, most probably. But I don't know who she is or remember ever seeing anyone. I let out another sigh. "Never saw her."

I turn away from him before Sofia forces me to comfort him after destroying what little hope he has for his sister returning. But I can't let myself tell him to have hope because Ghost knows that his sister is probably dead, killed by Silencers like every other camp. It was weird, actually, how everyone magically was slaughtered after the soldiers came and got the kids.

I shove the thought away when I lock eyes with Zombie. He stares at me for a long moment and then, slowly, he nods his head and relaxes on his bunk. Zombie seemed a little upset that I didn't lie and protect the kids hopes and dreams but he also seemed accepting. I think he has been wanting to tell Nugget to knock it off about his sister for a while, he just doesn't want to deal with the sob fest afterwards.

Oddly enough, he seemed curious as well. About what, I'm not sure. I shrug off the feeling and snatch my new clothes and towel from my bed before sauntering over to Zombie. "I get total privacy whilst showering, right? Nobody allowed in until I am out."

"Course," Zombie replies. He nods back at the squad before looking back at me. "No one in the shower until Ghost is out or you will reprimanded. Understood?"

The squad mumbles out agreements. Flintstone, who apparently has a brain the size of a peanut, sends me a wide smirk. "That's a shame. Would've enjoyed the view."

I take a step forward, face twisted into a scowl. A large hand wraps around my wrist to keep me in my spot. I whip around to face Zombie before ripping my arm from him like he burned me. "I don't care if you're squad leader," I snarl. "Touch me and I will kill you."

Zombie raises his arms in defense. That stupid curious look is back on his face now. "Got it. I'm just giving you a fair warning, though, they only give you a t-shirt and underwear for the night. The jumpsuit is only for training and eating. Try not to kill Flintstone for staring, yeah? I kind of need him alive."

"Whatever."

I turn and walk away towards the bathroom when I hear Flintstone catcall me from where he sits. Anger settles in my stomach and I find myself freezing in my spot, desperate to say something to the boy who only thought with the incorrect head, but I catch Zombie's eye and he shakes his head lightly.

The only reason I am even listening to Zombie is because deep down, really deep down, like so deep down you'd barely even see it with a microscope, I know I have to. He is the squad leader. Besides, if I hurt Flintstone then I would hurt the squad, including me. Not worth it.

I ignore Flintstone and walk into the bathroom with my head held high. I could hear Zombie practically sigh in relief, then Flintstone and Tank continuing with their card game. Teacup grumbles something about them being pigs while Dumbo tells them all to talk about something else.

The showers are all connected, one long line along the wall with nothing separating them. I'm thankful that I asked Zombie for the private showering time because I know I wouldn't have been able to feel comfortable with the others stares as I wash.

I give myself ten minutes to wash this time. Showering is still something I have to get used to again, even though the water is just as cold as the lakes I've used to bath in at times. I'm worried someone will walk in and try something while I'm vulnerable, but I can hear their muffled talk and laughter in the other room and, somehow, I know they won't.

The t-shirt is made of thin material and, much like the jump suit, doesn't appear to be worn before. The underwear is, thank God, the same. It makes her feel giddy for some reason, the feeling of new clothes. It's like I'm Sofia again, standing in the dressing room of a nice store and trying on a new outfit.

I push the thought away quickly. She has to stay dead or Ghost will end up dead too.

The second I walk out of the bathroom, Flintstone is calling out to me again. "Damn, Ghost. Look at you."

I just began planning his death in my head. On a loop.

"Keep your comments to yourself, Flintstone."

I turn and squint at Zombie. I could handle myself perfectly fine, though I usually went for the more physical way of defending myself while Zombie seemed to prefer using words. I just always found my way was much faster. And more fun.

"Shut up, man," Flintstone calls. Zombie rolls his eyes at him, bringing a hand up to run down his face as he sports a tired expression. Something tells me that this wasn't the first time Flintstone talked back. "Just stay out of it."

"If you don't say anything, he won't have to get involved," Teacup retorts, sending a glare towards Flintstone. Apparently she was sick of his shit too. "So why don't you shut up?"

"Shut it, twerp,"  Tank growls in defense of his best friend. He's a major hothead, something I learned quickly. He didn't appear any older than eight, but he was strong in his build. The name 'Tank' was perfect for him.

"Guys, just listen to Zombie—" Dumbo begins. Poundcake is nodding in agreement with him. Oompa is sitting in silence, dark eyes flickering back and forth between each person speaking as if he is waiting for one of us to start throwing punches.

"Be quiet, Dumbo," Flintstone snarls.

I don't know what his problem with Zombie was, but--

"You're just pissed Zombie took your spot as squad leader," Teacup hisses.

Oh.

Flintstone opens his mouth to speak again and I send him a sharp glare. "Everyone just shut the fuck up."

"You shouldn't say that word," Nugget whispers from where he is now standing beside Zombie. "It's bad."

"I'll say whatever I want, kid," I reply, turning my glare to him.

"Don't talk to him like that," Zombie says immediately. His brows are pinched in frustration, skin wrinkling at the side of his eyes. "Everyone cool down. Now."

I shuffle over to my bunk, back straight and chin tilted up slightly. Never show someone you're scared. Ever.

In case you didn't notice, I'm not very good with people. Every person I've seen since the 3rd Wave I've either killed or watched die, so my people skills are a little rusty. Can you blame me, though? People are assholes.

Maybe I should have stayed in that forest and bled out. It probably would have been easier.