Page 34 of Waves of Fury

We share the Snickers and then I open the Butterfinger next. Once it’s gone, my stomach grumbles in protest. Candy bars aren’t exactly a prime source of nutrition, but it’s all we have at the moment. I just hate that two people gave up their lives for us to have a damn snack.

The group must feel something similar because no one speaks. Elise continues to cry, despite how much it clearly bothers Kyle. Hope watches him with narrowed, furious eyes. Gerry keeps his face buried in his hands while Barb sleeps undisturbed. Slowly, my tense muscles begin to unravel their tension. The storm seems to have lessened in the last couple of hours. Soft pattering of rain can be heard beyond the ever-present groans and moans of the building.

Yesterday morning, when I woke up to get ready for work, I’d have never expected the building would be underwater and a holding tank for a shark. This shit is insane. I couldn’t have made it up if I’d tried. I imagine talking to my brother about this. There’s no way in hell he’d believe me. The image of his disbelieving stare in my mind has a smile twitching at my lips.

It’s gone, though, when I think of Frannie, who’s probably shark food at this point. Even if we wanted to retrieve her body, it wouldn’t be safe.

Slowly, the sounds of heavy breathing fill the air, and soon, Gerry’s snores. Everyone is wiped from our terrible morning. I think Tyler is napping too until he speaks.

“I tried to stay and help for as long as I could,” he whispers, a shiver running through him. “She forced me to leave.”

“There’s nothing you could have done.”

I believe this because if there were, he’d have done it. Tyler is that kind of guy. He’s not like Kyle—ready to bail on others when the going gets tough. This has to be killing Tyler.

“I really am sorry, Kell.”

It’s the second time he’s called me this. I’ve always been Kellen. Even back home. Never Kell. I like it.

“I know. Stop beating yourself up over it, though. It won’t change anything.”

He nods and lets out a heavy sigh. “Do you think we’ll ever get out of here?”

It’s looking less and less likely by the day.

Still, I give him the gift of hope. “We will. Now rest.”

This time, he sleeps. And finally, I do too.

Tyler

Yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap!

I wake to the sound of a dog barking in the distance, barely heard beyond the grumbling complaints of both the unsteady building and our crabby group. But it gives me hope for the first time since this whole debacle started that maybe there are more survivors out there. It continues to rain outside, though, which means leaving our shelter isn’t quite possible at the moment.

A shiver wracks through my body, making me fully aware of my state of undress. I’m wearing nothing but my boxers and Kellen’s jacket. Though it smells like him and oddly comforting, I feel at a disadvantage not being dressed. Sitting up, I locate my clothes stacked neatly in Kellen’s lap. We’ve slept away the afternoon and it’s growing dusky in our already darkened shelter. The few cracks on the outer walls that let in natural light don’t reveal anything aside from the steady stream of rain.

Careful not to wake everyone, I quickly pull on my clothes and shoes. By the time I finish, Kellen’s steady breathing has gone still. When I glance at him, his eyes are open and he watches me. Warmth tickles through me, chasing away the last of my chill. Before the dive and all hell broke loose, I’d felt the sparking attraction between us. I thought, perhaps, he was putting off gay vibes, but it wasn’t until we starting flirting that I confirmed it.

Kellen is so not my type. Hell, he’s probably as old as my dad would be if he were still alive. I’m not looking for a sugar daddy. He’s good-looking, though, in a classically handsome sort of way. Ruffled and now sporting a little scruff on his cheeks, he’s more real and attainable than he was when I first met him.

A little flirting at the end of the world never hurt anyone…

No, our fucked-up situation does that all by itself. I mean, sharks? Who’d have thought they’d be in the damn building. I sure as hell didn’t. Seeing Brian’s dead eyes and torn flesh will haunt me for a long time. And losing Frannie? That one especially hurt. I wasn’t strong enough to save her.

Now that I’m fully dressed again, I take in Kellen’s appearance. His jaw is tight and I can see the muscles in his neck are flexed. He’s in pain.

Fuck.

I was so exhausted after today’s hellish event that I completely forgot about his injury.

“Did you have anyone look at your wound?” I croak out, voice hoarse as though I’ve been screaming for hours straight. I suppose almost drowning will do that to you.

He gives me a slight shake of his head. “Everyone’s been sleeping.”

I scan the landing where the seven of us have crowded onto. Beside Kellen is my backpack. It’s no longer filled with the water bottles, which must have been transferred to the trash bag, and once again houses my belongings. I reach over and pull it into my lap. Unzipping it, I discover the first aid kit and my flashlight sitting on top.

“Here, hold this,” I instruct to Kellen after I switch on the flashlight.

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