In Case It Doesn't Make Sense - Tumblr Posts

"We gotta - Mason - Mace! We gotta go NOW!"

The door shakes on its hinges, wood creaking as bodies push against it. Glass breaks in the back room, screeching starting to come from down the hall. She scrambles, trying to shove anything she can into the pack and wondering which way to go. He's just standing there, shaking in his spot as he stares at the door. She grabs his arm, trying to pull, trying to get him to snap out of it, to realize that they can't stay.

"Mason, please, I need you to move."

"Allison."

She pulls, pulls hard and almost falls when his weight hits her, still catatonic and unmoving otherwise.

"Mason!"

"Allison, you gotta-"

"MASON!"

"Wake up!"

Her knuckles were almost white, the grip on the knife almost painful as Allison jerked up. The movement was instinctual, a reflex from too many night's spent with one eye open. If it was anyone else, they probably would've wound up with the blade deep in whatever piece of flesh was closest. Perry's reflexes were faster than most, thank god. He caught her arm before she could make contact, his face a mask of calm as if this were just par for the course for him. And if there was a hint of concern in his eyes it was gone before she could be certain. The lantern flickered in the corner, providing just enough light in the dusty room for them to see each other, enough light for her to see her own shadow as it shook with adrenaline.

"You were having a nightmare," was all he said, his voice low and almost drowned out by the sound of her labored breathing. He kept hold of her arm, the grip almost bruising until she let the knife fall to the floor between them. "Started making too much noise. Didn't want it attracting any attention if there's infected outside."

"Sorry," she mumbled, scooting back once she was free from his grasp and running a hand roughly through her hair. She could feel the back of her shirt sticking to her skin, cold sweat clinging to her along with the remnants of her nightmare. He just nodded, not asking any questions or wanting any explanations. For that she was grateful. "Go ahead and sleep. I'll - I'll take over watch."

He watched her for a moment, those wheels in his mind turning so obviously that for a moment she thought he might argue. But the moment passed and he gave another nod, standing up and moving back to the sleeping bag he had laid out across the room. By the time he was laying down, his own gun next to him on the floor, her breathing had started to even out. She knew exhaustion would hit her soon but for now her heart was still racing and sleep wouldn't be her friend any time soon.