Not once in my life have I ever appreciated being shot with a tranquilizer. It has not happened often, but I do not appreciate it severely even still.

Waking up in the back of a white van after being knocked out, wasn't something I expected to really be likely until I turned twenty-one. Yet, here I was at seventeen, waking up in the back of a van, that was on the move East.

"What the hell?" I muttered, scratching the back of my head. The world was blurry, dizzying, full of shapes I couldn't comprehend.

"You alright there, Locke?" Nicole asked.

"No. Those bastards knocked me out- Where the hell are we?" I said.

"Van. Where to? Not a clue, but I don't think we're in the treasure state anymore." Jacob answered.

I leapt to my feet. "No! That can't be right! We've got to get back!"

The back of the van had no actual seats, only benches, with no seat belts. The back was boarded in, cage like, as an extra precaution if we tried to escape. We wouldn't be able to. The way it was designed was the van would have to be unlocked from the outside, two secure layers needing removal.

We were zombie bait if something happened.

"Locke, we're not going back, not at the moment. We have to think of a plan."

"How long have you three had to come up with a plan?" I asked.

Jacob rubbed the back of his neck. "Well..."

"About nine and half hours." Nicole answered.

I gaped. "I've been out for nine hours?"

"Jacob was out for seven. Wasn't he, Nicky?" Callie said.

Nicole pulled Callie closer, ruffling her hair. "Yup and he drooled all over the floor."

"I... Can't deny that." Jacob let out a hollow chuckle.

I sat next to him. My hands and knees shook, my breathing faltered.

It started to sink in.

I was not getting to Jake.

Everything that happened in the past month came crashing down. Jake hanging up on Dad, that was the last time we'd spoken. That was the last time they would ever speak. Then Annie and Mason. Who knew when or if I'd ever see them again? If the last time we spoke would be the last time.

So many dead, everywhere. Families torn apart.

I just wanted my little brother back. To hold him and be some sort of family again. To ruffle his messy hair and tease him and protect him from this crazy mess. I just wanted some sense of normal back. Something I could control.

I tucked my head into my knees. I couldn't hold it back any longer. The world was so heavy and I was young and weak and tired. I sobbed into my lap.

Jacob tensed besides me. All eyes bore into me.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I cried. I took a quivering breath.

"Locke, what's wrong?" Jacob's voice was soft for once. His hand hovered over my back, before he shoved it into his pockets.

"I... I..."

Callie stood up, walking across the van to me. She pulled me into a hug. My breathing steadied.

"My parents are dead. My little brother is all I've got left, but he's in a Montana- I just want to get back to him." Finally, I had let them in.

"You could have told us sooner. We'd get it." Nicole grabbed my hand, squeezing it as reassuringly as she could.

Jacob let his hand hover again, before patting me on the back. I shivered. He wrapped an arm around me, Callie still holding tight.

"We were so close." I wiped my eyes.

"This isn't over. We're getting back one way or another." Jacob stated.

Nicole coughed. "Er... Locke, do you want to talk about it? Your family I mean?"

I shook my head as I pulled Callie into my lap. "I think... It's silly but despite getting nine hours... I think I want to rest my eyes a bit."

My eyes hurt from crying. Red and raw, some sleep would be good for them.

Callie yawned. Nicole moved to sit away from us again, nodding at my response.

Jacob pulled me closer, offering a more comfortable spot to sleep. I rested my head on his shoulder.

Callie buried her face in my neck. We both shut our eyes.

"I'm getting us back, you guys. I swear." Jacob's soft words were the last thing I heard before I drifted off once more.

YES! Back to regular-ish updates. I hope you enjoyed and let me know what your thoughts are. All writers want is a bit of feedback you know!

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