Next thing I know, I'm being rushed upstairs with the rest of the guests. We were allowed five minutes to pack all our stuff, but I'm done in two. I make my way upstairs to the top floors.

I'm pretty surprised how much it looks like the lower floors. The only differences are the lack of a lobby, and the top floor lacked any rooms. There's a industrialized kitchen and a lot of tables, but they have the only chairs.

"That's the meeting area," one of the soldiers says when I ask. He shrugs. "They were going to add more chairs and stuff, but they never got around to it."

"Apparently," I say, looking around. "Do we sit on the floor now like story time?" I add sarcastically.

The soldier grins. "Obviously. Don't you like hearing about how mutants are attacking?"

I like this guy. He's got the same sense of humor as me. "They're my favorite." I get another thought. "Hey, are we going to assigned rooms or what?"

He shrugs again. "I should hope. Maybe when all the guests are here."

Just then, Elf comes flying in. "Hi," she says breathlessly. "I thought I would find you here. You weren't your room, so I assumed you came up here. What happened to the rooms in here?"

"Meeting area," I say quickly. "They were planning on putting furniture in."

"Oh. Okay," she looks around again. "It's not much, but I suppose it'll do."

This makes me laugh. "What do you mean, it'll do?"

She shrugs. "Constance should be here any moment."

"Okay? I'm not sure what I'm suppose to say to that. I mean, all the guests should be here any moment."

Elf rolls her eyes and goes to talk to a soldier. I sit down on the floor. My leg throbs. Another soldier notices and comes to my side. It's the one who told us about the Creatures. "Are you alright?" she asks.

I nod. "I'm just tired."

"Don't blame you. Climbing up and down all those stairs is very tiring, no matter the condition you're in. And you're obviously not in good condition. What happened to your leg?"

"Creatures blew up my home," I mutter.

"Oh. You're the one who lost his pregnant wife." She ignores me glaring at her. "That's gotta be hard. I'm sorry. I know what it's like to lose a spouse to them."

"What?" I say harshly. She mentioned Becca so nonchalantly, it angered me. "Did your dear hubby lose his life fighting side by side with you?"

"No-my wife betrayed us and joined the Creatures," the soldier says with grim expression.

I immediately regret being rude. It was even worse dealing with a betrayal (never mind the fact I assumed the soldier was straight) , because you knew what was going to happen. They'd get the vaccination that started this whole mess, turn all mutant, and they could never turn back. You join for life.

I'm saved from saying anything when the room begins to flood with guests. The soldiers stands up and offers a hand. I take it. Once I'm in a standing position, she says, "I've got to monitor the other guests. Hey, what's your name?"

"Nate."

She smiles. "Nice to meet you, Nate. I'm Danny. Now get in line and get your room assignment."

I do as she says. This time, I'm lucky. My room is on the floor below. I immediately head to it, thinking about how a week ago, I was doing the exact same thing. Only there wasn't a threat of Creatures.

***

I'm asleep when the fighting begins. The booms shake the entire building, forcing me awake. I lay in bed, listening, trying to convince myself it's thunder. I can't.

I hear the knock and I'm first annoyed, because it's twelve a.m, then I'm actually grateful, because I don't like the way the building is trembling and it would be nice to talk to someone.

I get up and quietly cross the room. When I open the door, I'm surprised to see Elf standing out there. Of course. She must be terrified that the fighting is so close.

"Hey," I say quietly, opening the door wider. Elf steps past me and sits down on the couch. "I didn't wake you, did I?" she asks.

I shake my head. "Couldn't sleep," I admit.

She shrugs with her left shoulder. "It's terrifying, knowing they're right outside," she says quietly. "And they could bomb the bottom floors, and we could topple, and we'd die."

I crouch down in front of her and shake her shoulders gently. "Don't say that," I tell her. "We're not going to die. This building is strong. And the soldiers would stop any bombing before it happened."

"Like they stopped them from bombing your house?"

I open my mouth to argue, but it was pointless. She had a point. If the soldiers couldn't stop my house-and God knows how many other buildings-from being bombed, how could they stop the safe place from being destroyed?

"Look," I say. "Go to sleep. In the morning, hopefully the fighting has moved away."

She snorts. "Right." She stands up and turns to leave. As she places her hand on the door, she looks back at me. "How does this not bother you?" she asks quietly.

"How does what not bother me?"

"The fighting outside. Doesn't that scare you?"

I smile faintly. "Why do you think I couldn't sleep?" I reach over and open the door, allowing her to step into the hallway. "Go to sleep," I repeat. "Nothing is going to happen. In the meantime."

"In the meantime," she mutters. "Good night, Nate."

"'Night, kiddo."

She gently shuts the door behind her. Once her footsteps recede, I flop onto the couch, imagining life without the war. No constant fighting. No bombing. Zach and Becca would still be here. We'd be happy, Becca and I, with our newborn.

My throat closes up. I need to stop thinking about what I couldn't have. I get up and turn off the light, then fall back onto the couch. I'm out by the time I hit the cushions.