heavenward | n.scatorccio

Four people. It had been about an hour since the number was decided, and now everyone sat in a rough circle, poring over hastily drawn maps. Shauna had spread out what few scraps of paper she had from her journal, and Julianna had taken a pen to sketch a rudimentary layout of the streets leading to the police station. She hovered near the edge, cross-legged on the floor, as discussions buzzed around her.

"Twenty minutes there," Taissa said, her finger tracing a potential route. "Twenty minutes back. But let's be real—fighting, scavenging, maybe figuring out how to actually get into the building? It's going to take hours."

"Yeah, which is why we do it tomorrow morning," Shauna said firmly. "There's no way we're doing this in the dark. That's suicide."

Jackie let out a sigh of relief. "Good. Because there's no way I'm going anywhere, just to be clear."

"No one was asking you to," Shauna shot back, not bothering to hide her annoyance. "Actually, let's start there. Who shouldn't go?"

"Javi," Taissa said immediately. "No offense, but he's a kid."

"None taken," Javi mumbled from where he sat, eyes wide but relieved.

"Coach Ben," Natalie added, glancing toward him where he leaned back against the wall, his crutches propped up beside him. He raised an eyebrow but didn't protest.

"Jackie," Shauna said, without hesitation.

"Hey!" Jackie looked genuinely offended.

"You scream every time you see a runner," Shauna said flatly. "Do you really want to argue this?"

Even though Shauna spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, Julianna could tell it was just a front. Beneath her calm words, she knew Shauna just didn't want to take any chances when it came to Jackie getting hurt.

Jackie crossed her arms and leaned back, muttering, "Whatever."

"Jeff," Taissa said, her tone final.

Jeff, who had been leaning awkwardly against the gym wall, nodded so quickly it looked like his neck might snap. "Yeah, uh, I'm good. Thanks."

Once they'd narrowed it down, the room grew quieter as they all exchanged glances. The tension thickened; no one wanted to volunteer, not really.

"Okay, so who should go?" Natalie asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was sharp, her tone no-nonsense.

"I'm going," Taissa said immediately. "No discussion. I'm not sitting around while someone else risks their life for something this important."

Shauna nodded. "Yeah, me too. I mean, it's not like I'm thrilled about it, but we need people who can actually handle themselves."

"Nat should go," Travis said, from where he sat next to her.

"Thanks," Nat muttered, her arms crossed.

Julianna glanced between them, her heart sinking slightly. She thought she might bean outsider to their tight-knit group. They had all known each other for so much longer.

Then Misty's voice broke through, sharp and eager. "I'll go!"

Taissa groaned audibly. "No offense, Misty, but I don't think this is the job for you."

"Excuse me?" Misty's face twisted in indignation. "I've been extremely helpful. In case you forgot, I'm the reason we have medical supplies."

"You're better here," Shauna said diplomatically. "We'll probably come back banged up, and you're the only one who knows what to do about it."

Misty deflated slightly, clearly disappointed, but she didn't argue further despite obviously wanting to.

"Who else?" Natalie asked, scanning the room. Her gaze landed on Julianna. "What about her?"

Julianna blinked, caught off guard. "Me?"

"You've been decent at clearing runners," Natalie said with a shrug. "And you're, not loud. You'll keep your head."

"Uh..." Julianna hesitated, her heart thudding against her ribs. Part of her felt weirdly touched—this was the first time she'd really been included in something, one upside to the apocalypse beginning. But did she really want to feel included when the task was practically knocking on heavens door?

"I think she's a good choice," Taissa agreed, surprising her. "She's smart. She thinks things through. We'll need that if things go sideways."

Julianna glanced at Shauna, waiting for her to chime in, maybe suggest Van or Travis, but Shauna just gave her a small nod, as if she agreed.

"Okay," Shauna said finally, her tone firm. "So, me, Tai, Nat, and Julianna."

Julianna swallowed hard, nodding stiffly. "Okay. Yeah. Sure."

Jackie let out a short laugh from her corner. "Wow. You're so lucky, Jules."

Julianna glanced at her, unsure if it was a genuine attempt at humor or some kind of dig. Jackie's tone was often hard to read, and Julianna didn't care to analyze it right now.

"Lucky. Yeah," Julianna muttered under her breath, staring down at the map.

"We head out tomorrow morning," Taissa said, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the group. "Get some sleep tonight, eat something if you can. It's gonna be a long day."

She didn't understand why one of the more capable people could've gone, but she wasn't about to back out now.

Julianna sat back, her hands curling into the fabric of her jeans. She tried not to think about tomorrow, but her mind was already racing. She wasn't sure what she felt more—nervousness, dread, or some strange, tentative flicker of belonging.

Misty approached Julianna with an uncharacteristic solemnity, handing over a backpack. It was slightly frayed but practical, clearly packed with care.

"Essentials," Misty said brightly, though there was a nervous edge to her voice. "First aid kit, flashlight, some snacks. Oh, and—wait—" She fished into the side pocket and pulled out a small Swiss Army knife. "Just in case. You never know when you'll need something sharp."

"Thanks," Julianna said, her fingers brushing over the bag's strap as she took it. She glanced up at Misty, who beamed at her, a hopeful glint in her eye. "I mean it. This is really thoughtful."

Misty's smile widened. "Well, just don't die, okay?"

"I'll try not to," Julianna said with a faint, nervous laugh.

Jeff approached next, lingering awkwardly before pulling Julianna into a half-hug. "Be careful," he muttered, his voice low and rough. "Seriously."

"I will," Julianna promised, trying to ignore the way his grip tightened briefly before he let go.

Nearby, Van clapped Taissa on the shoulder with a playful but sincere "Don't get yourself killed," while Jackie hugged Shauna tightly, whispering something too soft for anyone else to hear. Travis nodded at Natalie, his expression stoic, but there was a weight to his gaze. Even Coach Ben raised his hand in a subdued farewell.

The four of them gathered by the entrance, exchanging glances before pushing the double doors open. The sunlight spilled in, stark and bright, a harsh reminder of how exposed they were about to be.

They moved cautiously through the school hallways, the only sound the dull scuff of their shoes and the faint hum of distant infected.

Shauna and Taissa walked ahead, their voices low but steady. "If we stick to the side streets, we'll avoid most of the hot zones," Shauna said, her finger tracing an imaginary route in the air.

"Yeah, but if we hit a dead end, we're screwed," Taissa countered.

Natalie and Julianna followed a few steps behind. Natalie glanced over her shoulder, her expression casual but her hand gripping her crowbar tightly.

Julianna nodded, glancing around the dimly lit hallway. She could feel the tension in the air, the shared unease that none of them voiced aloud.

They reached a corner, and Shauna held up a hand, signaling for everyone to stop. "Shh," she hissed, peering around the edge.

There they were. A herd of infected, at least ten of them, maybe more, scattered throughout the wide hallway ahead. Some stumbled aimlessly, while others stood still, their heads tilted at unnatural angles, as if listening. One of them jerked forward suddenly, its shoulder popping with the motion, its guttural moan sending chills down Julianna's spine.

"Oh my god?," Natalie whispered, her knuckles tightening around her crowbar.

Shauna scanned the hallway quickly, her lips pressed into a thin line. "There's an exit at the end," she said in a low voice. "We just have to get there."

"How are we supposed to get past that?" Julianna asked, her heart pounding so loudly she swore it echoed in her ears.

"We run," Shauna said firmly.

"They'll hear us," Taissa muttered, gripping her hockey stick so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"They already will," Shauna said. "We'll be faster."

Natalie let out a sharp breath, her crowbar angled at the ready. "On your count, then."

Shauna took a deep breath, her hand curling around the doorframe for balance. "Stay close. Don't stop. And don't look back."

What if she tripped?

"One..."

The counting didn't help.

"Two..."

What if her legs didn't work?

"Three!"

The group broke into a sprint, their footsteps echoing loudly in the empty hallway. The sound instantly drew the infected's attention. Heads snapped toward them, and then the creatures erupted into motion, their shrieks splitting the air.

Julianna's chest tightened as she ran, her legs screaming with the effort. Her grip on the bat was slippery with sweat, but she held it close, her focus locked on Shauna's back. The infected were fast, terrifyingly fast, and she could hear their snarls growing louder, closer.

"Keep going!" Shauna yelled, glancing back as they reached the halfway point.

One of the infected lunged, its clawed hands nearly grabbing Taissa's shoulder. She swung her hockey stick, the crack of it connecting with the creature's jaw reverberating through the hallway. It fell back, but another took its place, the horde relentless.

"There!" Shauna pointed ahead, where a barbed gate blocked their path. It was high enough to crawl under but low enough to slow them down.

"Go, go, go!" Taissa shouted, dropping to the ground and wriggling underneath.

Natalie was next, sliding through quickly and rising on the other side, her crowbar ready in case something followed. Shauna followed suit, scrambling under the gate as Julianna sprinted toward it.

She dropped to her knees, gripping the edges of the gate as she tried to pull herself through. Her cotton jumper snagged on the wire, the fabric tearing with a loud rip.

"Shit," she muttered, panic clawing at her chest as she struggled to free herself. Behind her, the infected were closing in, their snarls deafening.

"Julianna, move!" Natalie's voice cut through the chaos, and before Julianna could respond, Natalie was there, grabbing her arm and yanking her forward with a force that knocked the breath out of her.

The world tilted as Julianna was dragged under the gate, her jumper finally tearing free. For a split second, she landed against Natalie, her head pressing against Natalie's chest, both of their breathing ragged and uneven.

"Jesus Christ," Natalie muttered, her voice low but steady, as if the moment hadn't affected her.

It lasted only a heartbeat, but in that fleeting moment, Julianna was acutely aware of everything: the warmth of Natalie's skin against hers, the sharp, uneven rhythm of her breathing, and the faint smell of sweat and dirt clinging to both of them. Time seemed to stretch, every sensation amplified, but then it was gone.

Natalie pulled back abruptly, her grip firm yet careful as she hauled Julianna to her feet. Neither of them spoke as they stumbled away from the gate, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins, leaving their legs shaky and their minds racing. The world around them felt too quiet now, the silence only broken by their ragged breaths and the infected.

The infected slammed against the other side, their hands clawing at the metal, their snarls louder than ever.

"Holy shit," Natalie muttered, her eyes wide as she tightened her grip on her crowbar.

Shauna bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. "Everyone okay?"

"I'm fine," Taissa said, though her voice was shaky, and she kept glancing at the gate.

"Yeah," Julianna said quietly, her chest heaving. She glanced at Natalie, who was already looking ahead, her expression unreadable. "Thanks."

Natalie gave a small nod, "Just so we're even. Don't mention it." brushing past her as the group began to move again, leaving the snarling infected behind.

No one said it aloud, but the weight of the moment lingered in the air. And as they walked, Julianna couldn't stop replaying that split-second moment in her mind, the quiet intensity of Natalie's presence still lingering like a phantom touch.