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The cafeteria wasn't completely quiet, but the panic voices had lowered into exhausted chatters.
A few people sat. Their faces grey as they ate the little meal they could get from their homes and the cafeteria kitchen stall.
Grayson stood at the upper railing, both hands curled around the steel rails. His gaze swept across the few people below, fatigue lingering in his features.
His mouth moved in frustration.
"Shit.." he cursed under his breath, then turned to his side. A familiar figure approached him, blonde hair and slightly disheveled.
Conner closed the distance between them with a handshake.
"You good?" he asked, leaning against the railing beside him.
"Yeah." Grayson muttered, barely looking his way. His fingers tapped once against the railing. "Just tired of this place."
His jaw clenched.
"Been stuck here only one day and already feels like prison."
A smirk tugged on Conner's lips. "I understand that feeling."
Grayson looked at him for a second.
"No," he said flatly. "I don't think you do."
Conner's smile faded. The stillness between them settled.
Then he cleared his throat, "You think your dad's gonna come?"
"Think?" He chuckled lightly, his head turned to him. "I know."
He looked back over the railing. His eyes narrowed faintly. "If this is some evacuation thing, my dad's not leaving me here." His voice came even.
Conner glanced at him briefly. His finger rubbed against his lips as though contemplating his next words.
"How is he gonna get in?" He asked.
Grayson looked his way again. His brow drew together. "What do you mean?"
Conner's shoulder lifted up and turned, scratching the back of his neck. "Actually… I heard Nora talking."
"About what?"
"...Something about the road out."
He paused for a moment.
"Fog or some weird shit." He said, then added. "Couldn't hear everything, but i think they said, nobody could get in…or leave."
Grayson stood straight. His eyes sharpened on him without saying a word. Then, he muttered lightly, "So?"
Conner stared in disbelief. "You are not worried?"
Grayson let out a laugh. "About what?" He asked, then continued. "My dad's gonna figure something out. He can just send in a chopper." He said simply, his gaze drifted back below. "I am getting sick of this place."
He clicked his tongue as he continued looking around. His gaze soon fell on the blonde haired girl, her brown roots barely visible.
Nora.
He huffed a laugh, his eyes tracking her movements. Mason following behind her.
"Speak of the devil." He said, and Conner turned.
He continued. "Little miss control freak is already calling the shots. Soon, she is going to have everyone under her control."
His smile gradually fading. "More reason I have to leave this place." He said, his voice low. "I'm not going to take orders from anyone…"
He stayed quiet for a moment, "especially from her." His gaze intense and pinned on Nora.
Conner glanced at him, then returned back to the blonde head girl down at the cafeteria.
Suddenly—
"Guys…"
A voice from behind reaches them first. They look to that direction as Tommy walks to them. He looked like he had been walking around the school.
Conner lifts his hand giving him a small wave, while Grayson simple nods, acknowledging him.
About to turn back to what he was staring at, Tommy said again. "Look who I found."
Grayson didn't turn immediately. His eyes remained over the railing for a beat longer before he turned, already annoyed by what was coming.
Hazel was there. She just stared. Her lips parted then closed again. For a moment she wasn't sure if he was real. Her hands hovered in the air before she finally rushed forward.
"Grayson —"
Her voice cracked immediately. "I thought… I thought something happened. Everything's wrong, I couldn't.. I couldn't find anyone…"
Words spilled out fast.
Grayson let her talk into his chest, then he sighed and lifted a hand, patting her head like she was a child.
"Stop shaking." he muttered. "You're here now."
He glanced over her shoulder toward Conner, rolling his eyes like this was inconvenience more than emotion.
Hazel hugged him tightly, like she was afraid he would disappear if she let go. Her shoulders sagged as tension finally left her.
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The classroom didn't look like a classroom. At least, not anymore.
Chairs and tables were dragged across the floor stacked against the far wall, creating an uneven pile that shook whenever someone scraped past it.
Blankets were spread across the floor in loose rows, some already claimed and other left untouched as if no one was in a hurry to settle into sleep.
The air felt different now, more tired. Nora stood near the front door, hands folded as she watched the last few students settle.
"Boys, next room," she said sharply, pointing toward the door. "Girls stay here."
A few groans followed but no one argued.
They didn't have the energy left to. "The chairs stay stacked. We need space." She added. "And turn off your lights when you are done. We are not wasting battery tonight."
A few rolled their eyes at her demands, but still yielded. No one opposed.
A girl who laid by the side hesitated. "Do you think anyone will come by tomorrow?"
The room shifted at the question. Rain paused mid-step.
Nora didn't respond instantly. She inhaled first, "I can't say." She continued, "But, we have to be on a safer side."
Their eyes lowered, as silence followed. No one said a thing after that, it was easier that way.
One by one, small lights clicked off. The room dipped into a dim glow, only a few scattered beams remained as people adjusted to the dark.
Rain stepped deeper inside the classroom, moving carefully around already sleeping figures. Her eyes scanned untill it landed on Lily near the conner.
She was sitting upright, back leaned against the wall with a blanket pulled around her shoulders.
When she saw Rain, her expression brightened.
"You took long." She said quietly.
Rain's face softened as she knelt down beside her. "I'm sorry," she replied, brushing a hand over Lily's hair. "I had to grab a few extra things."
Lily narrowed her eyes a bit. "Like what?"
Rain hesitated, "Stuff." She gave a light shrug then continued. "You know….useful stuff."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a few snacks, placing them on her lap. "I bought extra." She added. "In case you got hungry later."
Lily glanced at them, then nodded once. "I already ate. Nora gave me something."
Rain eyes lifted then turned to Nora briefly. She still stood at the entrance. Her gaze returned back to Lily.
"Good." She smiled. "That's fine then."
A second passed. Lily's gaze landed on her head noticing something.
A band aid.
"What happened to your head?" She asked quickly, her hands hovering inches away.
Rain instinctively shifted her back. She lifted her finger towards the band aid then lowered it back.
"It's nothing. Just bumped into something."
Lily wasn't convinced, but she didn't push further. She adjusted her blancket, wrapping it around her.
The room around them had settled into quiet murmurs and shifting fabrics as people tried to get comfortable on the hard floors.
Nora's voice came through again. Softer but still firm. "Sleep early. We might need the touch lights tomorrow so conserve battery."
Rain exhaled and moved back, spreading her blancket beside Lily.
"You comfortable?" She asked.
Lily raised a brow in the dim light. "Why? You planning to babysit?"
Rain smiled faintly. "I could tuck you in, you know."
"I'm not a baby." She whispered flatly.
Rain lowered her voice, as she leaned closer. "You want me to sing you a lullaby?"
Lily's eyes widened in embarrassment. As her eyes darted around the room. "Don't you dare."
Rain laughed. "I'm just kidding." She said, as Lily's posture relaxed. She turned to her side while Rain adjusted the blancket over her properly.
"You won't go anywhere right?" Lily asked, her voice low barely audible.
Rain didn't answer quickly. She patted her shoulder twice. "I'm always going to be here. Don't worry."
The remaining lights clicked off completely.
Darkness rested fully in the room, broken only by the moonlight that spilled through the windows.
Around them, the room drifted into sleep. Some still restless, other already gone quiet.
But none of them really seemed peaceful.
Rain stared into the dim space ahead, her hands still close enough to feel Lily's presence.
The building was quiet, and somewhere in that silence it didn't feel like the day at ended.
It just felt like everyone had agreed to pretend it had.