There was a silence in the group. Zeke's arms went limp around Marisa, her words echoing in their heads. 

"Yeah, she's an idiot," Dylan said finally, pointing at Marisa.

"How are we going to leave?" Lany asked. "I don't know if you've noticed, but we don't have a boat."

After that, everyone started getting involved, stating their own opinions.

"We could make a raft, right?" 

"For twelve people? Yeah right. You're just as crazy as Marisa."

"We can just go back to the cave and wait for a helicopter to come by building a fire?"

"That's a terrible idea, the monsters will find us and we'll either be trapped or demon chow."

How about camping a different place each night?

"How about setting a fire far away from where we are to draw them away from us?"

"We already did that, Hedi! They're all just burnt out!"

"Then let's light them again!"

"GUYS!" 

Everyone stopped arguing, and turned their heads to Marisa. She was bunching up her fists by her side, her face hot with rage. "Do you honestly think I would suggest leaving if I didn't have some plan or at least good reason? I have it all planned out!"

Dylan pushed Eira and Orion, the people standing closest to him, aside, a smirk on his face. He turned around to face the group. "See? That is exactly why I was telling you guys that we should go. You should learn to listen to me more often."

Hedi shook his head. "Alright, that does it-" He started charging at Dylan, but Jayed ran to stop him. 

"Damn it, Jayed, I would have wanted to see Hedi mess him up," Lany whispered to the boy. Jayed tried to hide his smile.

"Hedi, we can't turn on each other," said Nico. "No matter how mad you are at him. When it comes down to it, we depend on each other for survival. If you beat Dylan up, what are the chances that he'll save you if you're in peril?"

Dylan smiled mockingly, crossing his arms. Hedi glared at him. The worst part was that Nico was right. Completely. They were a team, and they needed to keep it that way.

Zeke asked Marisa what her plan or reason was. She explained how she, Sparna and Liam had found a cave when they were looking for food and water, and how it had a bunch of messages and supplies in it. She said most of it was damaged from a rock fall, but some might have been salvageable. Plus, she explained how it looked like a person had been there, and how they might have records of some sort as to how to escape during an emergency.

"Do you remember where this cave is?" asked Ty.

Marisa clutched her head. "Well, um, I should be able to remember... there were some distinct landmarks I guess."

"Okay, so we're actually doing this I guess..." Lany gulped. "Are we splitting up?"

"If we want to ever leave, yeah."

"Geez, aggressive much?"

"I haven't slept in forever, let me be." Orion let out a laugh before quickly stopping himself. Marisa rolled her eyes.

"Well, if we're splitting up, I'm sticking with Orion," said Zeke, wrapping his arm around his friend. Orion smiled and nodded in response.

Dylan rolled his eyes. "Can you guys stop it with the PDA?" he joked.

Zeke dropped his arm, Orion and him standing in an awkward silence. It just dawned upon them that nobody else was aware of what had... gone down recently. 

"Great. You guys can come with me, same with Jayed and Hedi. Naya? Dylan? You two can make paddles and the boat."

"Pair the two jerks together? Of course," said Naya, scoffing. 

Marisa glared at her. "Eira can stay with you too, then. Anyways... Nico, Ty, Lany and Talon, you guys can get water for our trip. You can make some weapons to. And if you find time, you can help the 'jerks' and Eira with their boat making." Eira nodded nervously.

"Why are four people getting water yet only three are staying for boat making?" asked Dylan.

"It's a long trip to get water. Plus, we need a lot of people to hold the water they collect."

"I-I'm down," said Nico, trying to hide his worry.

"So, when do we go?" asked Zeke.

Marisa's face turned into one that was ready for a fight. "Now."

***

"I think we should have mentioned we don't know how to build a boat before they left," Naya said staring at the pile of sticks.

"I mean... we got a paddle?" Dylan said in fake optimism. Eira shook her head, holding up the pathetic leave and stick creation they had made.

Naya shook her head, sitting down on the ground. "It's no use. We failed. We might as well just go to the beach and drown ourselves."

Suddenly, Eira smiled, waving her hands in Naya and Dylan's faces to get their attention. She started doing a bunch of hand gestures, Naya following in confusion, not getting a word of what she was trying to say. Dylan stopped her.

"What is your deal?" He snapped. "Why don't you just talk? Maybe people wouldn't forget about you so easily if you did. Or maybe they wouldn't think you were just a useless follower."

Eira gaped. Her eyes quickly filled up with tears, her hands approaching her face to cover it. Without thinking, she ran off, quiet sobs coming from her figure.

Naya crossed her arms. "Why are you so rude?"

Dylan shrugged, crouching next to her. "I don't know. I just am."

"But there has to be a reason, right?"

"A reason why I'm an ass? No, not that I know of." Naya rolled her eyes. Dylan raised his eyebrows. "Why? Is there a reason why you're a heartless loner?"

Naya was taken back by his comment. She crossed her arms. "I don't have to answer you."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Do you have no filter? Like at all?"

Dylan shook his head in disappointment. "Those soft freaks have really done something to ya, albino. They've changed you. They've grown on you."

"What are you talking about? They haven't grown on me."

Dylan clicked his tongue. "Denial."

"They haven't! I don't even like them!"

"Denial."

"I'm serious! Why would I want to be friends with such sensitive losers?"

"Denial, denial, denial."

Naya wanted to slap him right there. She wasn't in denial! They weren't her friends! She didn't need friends! She didn't need anyone!

"Hey, snowflake?" Dylan teased. Naya glared at him. "Want to tell me why you hate people so much?"

"After you tell me what your reason is."

"I told you, I don't have a reason."

"Denial." Dylan looked up at her and smirked. "Everyone has a reason."

"Quite right." Dylan got up and started pacing as he collected strong sticks. "You know how I'm adopted?" Naya nodded. "Yeah, my parents don't give a shit about what I do." He picked up a stick, making sure it was sturdy, turned around, and chucked it at the tree nearest to him. 

Naya jumped, looking at the dent the force of his throw made on the tree. Dylan closed his eyes, releasing the pale hands he had just clenched. He let out a deep breath, speaking in a lower voice than he usually did. "They don't know my favorite color. They don't know my middle name. They don't know my fucking birthday."

Dylan turned around to face Naya, his hands shaking. "It's like I don't exist. It's like I'm just a random piece of trash they bought at the dollar store and completely forgot about the next day."

His shakiness moved up to his voice. "I know I'm an asshole. I know I'm a dick. I know everyone hates me. But at least they notice me! At least here I won't be pushed into the shadows and treated like I was never there in the first place!"

Naya stared into Dylan's eyes. They were eyes that were trying to hide all the pain behind them, all the heartbreak they had experienced. They shoved it further and further down. But Naya could see through it. She could see all of the emotions masked behind that emotionless disguise.

"Dylan-"

"No," he interrupted, fixing his hair as he looked at the ground, trying to wash away what just happened. He breathed in and out a few times, his voice and words much calmer. "It's okay, don't throw me a pity party or anything. That's not what I wanted."

"It's not a pity party, y'know," Naya said, adjusting her position so that Dylan was right next to her. "You're allowed to be mad at the shit life throws ya. You're not a wimp for letting it out." 

"You're one to talk, miss secretive."

Naya sighed. "You're also allowed to keep it in."

"I think I deserve to know after all that shit that I just told ya."

Naya thought about it, then shook her head. "It's not a big deal."

"It's definitely a big deal if you're hiding it."

That Dylan. He was really smart. He knew how to get things out of you.

"Fine. You win." Dylan smiled. "But I don't want a pity party either. Got it?" He agreed. "Alright."

Naya sighed. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. "It's not that different than your story, to be honest. You see, I grew up in-"

The sight of Dylan choking stopped her.

"What's going on?" asked Naya.

"It's okay..." Dylan started, clutching his chest. His voice was forced, as if he couldn't talk without trying really hard. "It'll go away in a second."

"You can't just ignore this! You can hardly breathe!"

"Gosh dang it, I just told you, I'm fi-OH FUCK!" Dylan rolled off of his seat, curling up into a ball. He rocked back and forth, coughing in concerning amounts. Naya put her hands to her mouth. Still coughing, Dylan stood up, and right as he got all the way up, he opened his mouth a vomited.

"Dylan!" Naya cried out.

"I'll be fine," Dylan said. However, he started to get a look of extreme lightheadedness. He clutched his forehead as he tried to get up. "I've... thrown up... a lot... recently."

Naya didn't know what to say. She was in plain shock as Dylan's face went pale and eyes red. Why hadn't he said something? Didn't he realize that what he had was dangerous? Naya tried to help him, but he slapped her hand away.

"Don't touch me," he snapped, quickly turning around so that he could throw up again. 

But he didn't throw up.

He was still for a moment, then, without warning, collapsed onto the ground.

"Holy shit!" Naya screamed. She ran towards the boy, crouching beside him. She shook him as she asked if he was alright. But he didn't answer.

His whole face was completely white, veins popping in his neck and forehead. His mouth was wide open, as if he were about to speak. And his eyes... his eyes didn't hold anything. Not pain, not hate, nothing. He had nothing to mask anymore.