Chapter Four Of Nora Blackwell Dead Walker

We stood there, uncomfortable, looking around, feeling out of place. There were a few other people, but they were focused on what they were doing —eating, reading, and so on.

“Hiya, I’m Paula Quintero, and I’m the mom on the human hall. I help you all get everyone settled in, but first, everyone get some food, then I will come get you.” She smiled broadly, her brown eyes warm and welcoming, her black hair braided down her back. She wore a plain grey shirt with jeans, while her bronze skin seemed flawless, even though, if what they said was right, it is a dangerous place to work and, on top of that, to deal with a bunch of young adults.

We all headed to the buffet in the middle of the area and were shocked to find regular food like pizza, burgers, fries, and chicken, and anything you could think of. I grabbed some pizza, then headed to the nearest table.

Matthew sat beside me on the right, and Elian on the left, while Bethany sat beside Matthew, asking him questions like where he was from and whether burgers were his favorite, just because he was eating one. He just gave her one-word answers, hoping she would get the hint. She didn’t.

I glanced at Elain, who was quietly staring at her salad.

“You alright?” I asked. Elain went rigid for a minute before looking at me, and her brown eyes were filled with so much sadness. Matthew and Bethany looked up at us, but she went back to talking his ear off. Poor Matthew, he looked so thrilled.

“I’m not really hungry?” she replied, glancing back down at her salad with a sigh.

“I’m not really hungry either, but I know I need to eat. I will not die here.” I replied, anger in my voice, shocking myself. Elian nodded with another sigh and started to eat.

“Are you ok?” Matthew asked, looking at me, putting his hand on mine, and I couldn’t help but stare into his green eyes, which reminded me of the trees at the park I enjoyed.

“Are any of us?” I countered.

“Fair. I’m Matthew,” he said, and I wanted to be like Oh, I know because our maid lady said our first and last name every time she talked to us. Now that I think about that, it’s very weird.

“I’m Elain.” She spoke up, still nibbling on her salad, and again I wanted to snap Yeah, I know.

“Well, I’m Bethany Jackson of the Jackson Family.” Bethany bragged like we should know. We all stared at her, not saying anything.

“Anyway, what’s your name?” Matthew asked, batting his beautiful green eyes. Oh dear heaven, he was going to be a problem.

“Nora.” I smiled weakly.

“That name is beautiful,” he replied in a sweet voice.

“Everyone, come here,” Paula announced, cutting off our moment. Matthew took our plates to throw away. I thanked him, then headed over to Paula with Elain while Bethany followed after Matthew.

“Here's how this goes: you pick a room and it is your room alone, the moment you do, your name is imprinted upon the door, and that is your room until you change or leave that room,” Paula explained, like it was rocket science, when everyone was around. After dealing with young adults, I could only imagine the stories.

“Are the boys and girls going to be separated?” Another girl asked.

“No. As of this moment, you are considered adults, and we will not be responsible for whatever happens.” Paula said, which made some happy and others horrified. Mathew bumped my arm either by accident or on purpose, but the idea of me and me made my face burn red.

“Keep in mind, if you do something to someone without their consent, you will regret it.” Paula threatened, which made some start to talk about what could happen.

Paula smiled and told us all to pick our rooms, saying she would get us around 7:30 pm.

Everyone rushed, but I honestly went to the nearest door that didn’t have any name on it and picked it.

My room reminded me of those simulation games I used to play. It was big enough for a bed, a dresser, and a desk, with a door to the left. It was a small shower with a toilet sink. If a random fireplace and crates appeared, I was running.

I locked my door, putting my ear to it, and heard some clicking. Which, for some odd reason, made me feel safe, but then I noticed that there was no window. I opened my door, glancing around the hall, and realized it didn’t have any windows either. They had huge lights on the ceiling but no skylights.

I shut the door and decided to take a warm shower. The shower didn't look like much, but the water pressure was amazing, and the water got and stayed warm. As the water flowed over my skin, the walls I built around my emotions all day washed and away, and I started to bawl.

How could Ethan believe those messages so easily? I never gave him any reason to doubt me, and the same thing goes for my parents. Mom had computer access to everything I ever did and would check my bags, jeans, and whatever I had frequently. I remember one time she found white sand in my jacket pocket and freaked out. She took me to the police station, where I had a serious talk with them. They apologize when they figure it out.

The one who hurt me the most was Charlotte. She has been my friend since we were five, and she knows everything about me and what my parents had put me through. I always helped her, no matter what; I was always there.

I don't know how long I stayed in there crying my heart out, but when I got out, my eyes hurt. I found fluffy towels in the bottom drawer of the dresser, and the school uniforms and other stuff I needed in the other drawers.

Since we were still meeting later today, I put on the school uniform—a blue plaid skirt, black leggings, and a blue blouse.

After I got dressed, I looked at my old clothes on the floor and decided to throw them away, like my family and friends had thrown me away.

I turned the lights off, then lay down and sank into the softness of the bed and into uncomfortable dreams of being kidnapped and chased by my friends. I was jolted awake with a yelp as someone banged on my door. It must be time. I got up, grabbed the black loafers under the dresser, and exited into the hall.

Elain was standing by my door, dressed in the uniform, too, looking around. A good many did too.

“You ladies are looking good,” Matthew smiled, walking up to us in a button-up shirt, black dress pants, and church shoes.

“Looking good yourself.” I smiled, to which he winked and thanked me, making me go bright red.

We went to the crowd forming at the end of the hall, where Paula was stopping everyone from going past a certain point.

The maids from earlier were standing twenty-five feet from where Paula stopped us.

Looking at them all lined up made me feel uneasy. Their face looked copied and pasted onto different-sized bodies, hair types, and eye colors.

We waited for what felt like forever until an iron gate, looking like what should be on the front of the castle, fell, causing everyone to jump back and others to run. I jumped back into Matthew’s arms while Elain stumbled backwards onto the floor.