It was hard to breathe with all the trainers around me. I felt trapped, overheated and my mind instinctively screamed at me to flee from the enclosed space.

I couldn't just stop the elevator, rush out and embarrass myself in front of all of them though. So, I focused on breathing, fixating on the number of the floor.

The elevator could hold 4 people comfortably the most. But, there were more than 10 of us squished against each other.

I wasn't sure why so many trainers were here. It was still breakfast. But, most of these trainers had runs every day. If I had to guess they were eager to sprawl on their beds and unplug from chaos for a little bit.

On the other hand, I was going to the last floor as instructed by Chase. During breakfast, he came up to me to tell me the Commander needed to speak to me. He said it wasn't anything urgent, and yet I found myself throwing away my half-finished cereal, kissing Jake goodbye and moving to the 6th floor.

Once the familiar ding on the elevator indicated the 5th floor, and every last one of the trainers walked out, I was left alone. For some reason, I wasn't as nervous coming up to the Commander's floor as the last time. I did everything right on the first run. There wasn't anything bad that I could have been called for.

Except...

There is no way Chase figured out Amoxicillin was lost because of me and told the Commander.

I inhaled, suddenly trying to catch a bit of air. I looked at the number of the floor. I was overthinking it. It had to be. I impatiently awaited for the door to open.

I was met with the sunlight's glow streaming through the windows. I forgot how lucky Commander was to have the windows and not live in a complete metallic box.

"Aliana..." I spun around, my heart dancing in nervousness. I admit, after thinking about Amoxicillin and what Chase could have told him, I was scared. "Please, have a seat."

His hand moved my chair, indicating for me to sit down across his ginormous working desk. I followed his movements as he took a seat opposite of me. His eyes were the same. Soft. Caring. And yet, I wasn't sure if it was just a facade.

In this world, everyone had a mask, small or big, of their own.

"Chase told me you wanted to talk to me," I stated, simply and straightforwardly. I just wanted to get out of that room.

He observed me, noticing my finger that kept tapping the arm of the chair. "You seem on edge."

Obviously I was on edge. I didn't like him...Nor did I like Chase. Hell I didn't like anybody in Ground Zero except Jake.

I sighed, carefully and slowly choosing my words. "I'm not Commander, it's just been a long week."

"Right," he nodded, his hand moving across the keyboard of the computer. He squinted his eyes, trying to read the file. "Chase told me how the run was."

He started and my blood froze into tiny particles. I waited for him to continue, expecting the worst. "It all went to plant," he continued, scrolling down the pages and occasionally taking a look towards me. "You guys didn't get the amoxicillin which was a bummer. There wasn't any and yet a lot of our patients need it. But...overall, he said you did a good job."

"He did?" I didn't realize I asked out loud until the Commander gave me a look.

My voice was laced with confusion and shock. I waited there, seated, wishing I could take back what I said.

Suddenly his eyes softened and he spoke, "Chase can be hard to deal with and he might give you a hard time now...but eventually he comes around."

I wondered how Commander knew Chase so well. Maybe he was the first person to come to Ground Zero. Maybe Chase was this scared, lost person that found his way around with the help of others here. Or maybe he was always the way he was.

I only nodded, standing up after him. I figured he was done with my talk, so I turned to leave but his voice stopped me. "I appreciate this, Aliana. Your courage and willingness to help."

It wasn't like I had a choice.

I gave him a small smile, trying to form words. Maybe no problem? Maybe thank you?

Instead, I turned around, the elevator door closing the image of the 50 year old man that flipped my world upside down.

I couldn't wait to get to my dorm. I wanted to pick up my journal and start writing. I didn't know what. Usually my hand would just glide across the paper. The scrambled thoughts in my mind would eventually make sense.

A hand enclosed around my wrist. Suddenly, it pulled me behind the corner of the intersecting hallway. Chase hovered over me with ease and I had to look up to meet his dark brown eyes.

I swatted his hand, asking, "Was this needed?"

A glimpse of amusement crossed over his eyes. "How was the meeting with the Commander?"
I wearly eyed him, questioning why he cared. "Good, I guess."

"You're welcome," He stated, his white teeth porturing under his smile. He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. I created distance between us, furrowing my brows at his comment. He continued, "If I said you were the reason Amoxicillin was gone, it wouldn't have gone so well."

It struck me that he knew about what happened and the possibility that he chose to lie to the Commander didn't seem real. I looked at him, blinking once, twice, three times.

"Don't worry, if I wanted to tell him I would have already," He shrugged, reading my thoughts.

"How did you know?"

"Dylan and Cody are one of the best trainers here," he explained. "Cody is a great fighter and Dylan is one of the smartest. I knew Amoxicillin was there. So them losing it was definitely odd."

I looked down, sheepishly. Guilt washed over me especially because I kept it a secret, knowing that I would rather save myself than dozens of patients.

"Sorry," I whispered. Did I really mean it was the real question?

"Don't say sorry to me," For some reason I knew he didn't believe my apology was genuine. Somehow, Chase could read me without trying. "Say sorry to all those patients that won't be able to get treated."

I brought my hands up, a different set of emotions hitting me like a brick. It was a constant feeling I felt around Chase. Annoyance. "So we'll go someplace else and get the Amoxicillin."

He looked at me baffled. "You are going to go somewhere else?"

I stood there, contemplating my answer. "I'm a trainer now," I reminded him. "Isn't saving others kinda our job?"

"Didn't think you loved the runs so much," He smirked, leaving the silence unbearing. I knew what he was thinking. The late night right before the run when I saw him in front of the dorm of that girl that desperately wanted to be together with him. Him seeing the state I was in, distressed and terrified.

I muttered, "Whatever," and decided to turn around. I didn't have the energy to argue with Chase, and I didn't want to either. He will always have an upper hand with me because he is the one that talks to Commander about my progress.

He turned me around to look at him, grabbing me this time by the elbow. "You want to prove to me you're taking this job seriously?" He asked, his voice low. It seemed like he didn't want anyone to hear us, like what he was about to say was dangerous, and maybe even illegal.

I only managed to nod.

"Then meet in the back of the building tomorrow at exactly 2 in the morning."

I waited for more information such as for what, where, with who? But I didn't get any, so I asked.

"What are we going to do?"

His eyes were the one of mystery and darkness that only manages to allure you, trap you, hurt you. His smile was vindictive.

"That's for me to know and for you to try and figure it out."

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