My boots have developed several holes, so hot sand pours onto my bare feet with every step. We've been dragging on and on through this desert for hours, and my clock says 12:00. My stomachs rumbles, and my mouth has never been more dry. My shoulder are covered with my extra bandages, so they won't get sunburned. But my arms are already peeling and glistening red. I can understand why it was so difficult to populate the west so many years ago.

We've come across a more sandy desert now, so when the wind blows, sand is pushed into our faces. Dante and I chat a little bit, behind the rest of the group, to ensure that no one falls behind. We are busy talking about our school experiences.

"Yeah, Mr. Zlen was hilarious! He always was trying to keep up with the trends. There are so many jokes from that class," Dante snorting with laughter.

"That's too bad. I wish I had him! I had Mr. Button." We laugh at the name. "He bought candy for the class, and would just sit and eat it in the back of the classroom the whole time. And then he claimed that we ate all of it, and stole it too!"

"Jeez. Teachers are weird. I guess none of them are really trained well. They follow what the government tells them to do exactly." Dante says, coming to a stop and shielding his dark eyes with his hand.

"I think I can see a building over there!" He points excitedly ahead.

I follow his arm, and suddenly have the thought, "run ahead. Leave everyone behind. You know you can't survive with them." It's like a command. I shake my head, my feet coming to a stop. "Kick the sand in their faces and run ahead. Now." This is the first time I've had one of these episodes in months. One of my feet steps ahead, but I quickly move it back. There is constant arguing in my head.

Go. Right now.
No! I can't leave them behind.
You know you want to go.
No.
There might be water there. If you get there first you will have all of it.
Stop! I do not want to leave them behind. I am not selfish.

I begin to count to 38, a special number. I feel warm sand on my knees, and am suddenly aware that I had sunk to my knees. I hear Dante asking me something, but all I can hear is the voice in my head, commanding me. I shake my head again.

I mutter under my breath," You are not going to leave." Over and over again. Precisely 46 times.

The voice retreats, and I release a breath of relief. But this relief is only temporary. I know it will be back.

"Naomi! Are you ok?!" Dante asks, kneeling in front of me.

I look up at him, and my black eyes look around me.

"I'm ok." I say in a small voice. He helps me up, and pulls me into a warm, comforting hug. I feel tears in my eyes as we break away.

"What happened?" Dante asks, concerned.

"I'll tell you later. When we get there." I reply, noticing that the group had stopped and was looking back at us.

He nods, before saying, "Let's go you guys! We're almost there!" In a cheery voice. He looks at me, before following the moving pack.

I am silent, and my eyes are on full alert for any sign of life. The walk to the buildings in the distance has taken longer than anyone expected. It's been exactly 56 minutes, and my watch reads, 1:04.

I suddenly hear Noelle shout, "look, over there! There's a shack or something!" I see her running a few steps over. The rest of the group follows.

When we all reach the shack, Dante and I take a look around outside, while the others sit down, resting in the shade of the roof. I spot a striped piece of wood, and a metal door.

"I think that this building was here to let people in." I shout to my companions.

"I just don't understand... why would they have just one building when there's so much space. If they wanted to secure the city-"

"They would have these every couple feet." Dante finished.

"Unless... unless they had some other type of protection. Something we can't see." I say, looking to the city, scanning for any sign of a barrier.

I hear a scream. A really high pitched scream. Dante and I exchange quick glances before running to see what happened. Adam is standing, pointing, his expression one of horror, to something we hadn't noticed before.

Dusty skeletons lay scattered as though in a line, a few feet away from the shack.

"What the-" I mumble, my eyes following the line of skeletons. They go as far as my eyes can see. They're making up the barrier! I think.

"I think there's an electric fence." I whisper to Dante. I see him pale under his carmel colored skin. But he agrees with me.

"Everybody, listen up. We have reason to believe that there is an electric fence surrounding the city." I announce.

I hear groans and muttering.

"How are we ever going to get there then!" Someone exclaims.

"We have to see if it's still operational. If it is, there must be someone who's running it." Dante says.

"How are we going to test it?" Noelle says.

"I don't know." I say, biting my lip. Something doesn't feel right. Like the electric fence isn't all there is. I suddenly have a sense of foreboding.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Falcon, a 10 year old boy, pick up a rock. And throw it. Right at the fence. Everything seems to go in slow motion. I push Dante out of the way, and run towards the rock. But it's too late. I watch it collide with something that's invisible, and feel the air get cold and electric. A wave of something is sent outwards, and I jump to falcon, pinning him to the ground and covering my head with my hands. As the electricity washes over my body, I feel something burst open inside of me. I let out a scream as the thing pours out of my body. The last thing I see is black smoke falling out of my hands, before letting my head fall down, and slip into unconsciousness.

           *******************************

I hear muffled screams, and feel arms on my shoulders. I open my eyes, and see blurry shapes moving.

"Naomi! Naomi!" I hear someone talking. "Her eyes are opening! Look!" The voices get louder and louder. I sit up, and immediately regret it.

"What... what's going on?" I inquire sleepily, clutching my stomach.

"Naomi! Lay back down! You're hurt!" I see Noelle in front of me. I notice we are inside some type of shelter. The shack. I am lying on my back, breathing in the dusty air.

"Naomi! You're alive! I thought you were dead!" Noelle says, laughing and hugging me. 

I smile, and say, "it takes a lot to get rid of me! So, is everyone else ok?"

"Yes! They actually are! And you saved that little boy! I was the only one who is good at doctor stuff, so that's why I'm the only one in here." She says, smirking.

"Can I go see them? I'm fine!" I say, actually starting to feel better.

Noelle looks conflicted, before saying, "why not." She helps me up, and when I try to walk, my leg almost collapses underneath me.

"Woah there tiger!" She says, putting her arm around my shoulder and helping support that side.

"Thanks." I say gratefully. As we walk outside my eyes squint in the burning sun. I see everyone sitting on the ground, waiting anxiously. I have barely looked around before I am met with a huge hug from Dante. I hug him back, happy to see that he's ok.

After checking up on everybody, and resting there, I check my watch. It is blank.

"No nononononononononononono!" I murmur, tapping it over and over again, 12 times. "Please! No!" I say desperately.

"What's wrong?" Dante says, noticing my frantic state.

"My watch! It's broken! I don't know what time it it! I have to know what time it is! What's the time what's the time?" I cry, grasping my hair and rocking back and forth.

Through everything that's happened today, I've stayed strong. But this breaks me. I've never not known the time. I get up and limp away, into the shade of the building. I see Noelle explaining something to Neil and Dante. I can just make out the words, "OCD" and my name. I look away, tears burning my eyes. I'm ashamed that I'm so weak.

A loud blaring sound interrupts the quite chatter of the people. I look up, only to see a rusty helicopter. Everyone shouts and groups together.

A loud speaker comes on, and says, "by order of the rebellion, you are all placed under arrest."

         *********************************