Chapter 14: Chapter 13: Bump in the Night

Erica was right. Since we had a little time, and I didn’t really want to be a walking billboard for a restaurant that didn’t exist anymore, I climbed out of my pile of softness and began digging through the clothes for something to wear. Now that I’d vacated the nest I’d made, Erica started looking through it as well in the hopes of finding something that might fit her just a little bit better.

Eventually, I found a cozy t-shirt and a baggy hoodie that I paired with some jeans that looked nice and practical. Meanwhile, Erica had chosen a short dress in a very large size that just might work as a proper shirt. It honestly took a few tries to find pants that fit, the first pair I picked out were in my old size, but I just wasn’t big enough for them anymore. After that, it was just trial and error until I found a size that worked. Erica changed in the break room while I went to the restroom to do it, although she didn’t seem that bothered either way, oddly enough.

By the time I’d resolved my pant size issues and returned to the break room, the sun had officially set, and Erica had taken a seat facing the door. While we were walking, we had discussed sleeping arrangements. In the end, we decided we’d sleep in shifts, and tonight she had first watch. Trusting her to keep an eye on things, I curled up once again in the fabric heap and fell straight into what felt like the first truly restful sleep I’d had in ages. There were no dreams, no sun, and no pain. It was just the comfort of oblivion. 

That couldn’t last forever though. Soon enough, it was my turn, and I was gently shaken awake by my friend’s hand. She had started a small fire somehow, burning scraps of fabric so she’d have enough light to see. It was strange, it didn’t seem that dark to me, but I guess some people just have better night vision. I took a seat on top of the table, keeping an eye on the door, and readied myself for a very long night.

I did my best to keep my eyes fixed on the door and my ears open, but sustaining that kind of effort didn’t really seem reasonable in the long term. I needed to know if anything was coming, but I couldn’t just stay super tense the entire night. Slowly, I began to find a balance, allowing my mind to wander and my thoughts to drift while I opened myself completely to every sense. It almost felt like meditation in a way. As the hours ticked by, the nerves I felt at the start of my watch began to fade, and I simply resigned myself to waiting.

*scritch scratch*

It wasn’t much, really. I wasn’t even sure I’d heard anything at all, but in a fraction of a second every inch of my body was on high alert. If I was right, if I wasn’t imagining things

*scratch scrape*

There was something right outside.

With a quiet urgency, I woke Erica up and grabbed my pack, gesturing with a finger for her to keep quiet. The two of us stood close together in complete silence, waiting for whatever was out there to move on.

*scritch scratch*

…

*scrape CRUNCH*

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