The Best Part of Hello [sample]

05

"Common," Damon yells and bursts out into the storm. It's raining like I've never seen rain before and being in it is even more surreal. This entire thing has me gasping for air as Damon starts to lead us outside. I can't even comprehend the fact I am voluntarily out here. I feel as if I'm watching myself from a distance like I'm not even here. But this is real, it's all too real.

"Pick it up a bit," Evan roars at us over the sound of the wind and the rain. I can barely see; my hair is soaked against my face and the wind pulls me in all and every direction. I clutch at my jacket and pull it further around me for warmth, but it does little to help. Evan now leads. He's running fast and heading towards a broken door in the building opposite. I can just make it out, the end is near, and I start to let myself feel slightly relieved just as a gust of wind knocks me to my feet. I crash to the ground and struggle to pull myself up, each breath feeling like it's been knocked out of me. I have no strength and I consider for a second that they should all just leave me out here, but I can feel their hands pull at me and I'm suddenly standing. Evan has looped his arm through mine and is pulling me with him but I'm so gasped for air I feel like I'm barely moving.

But then we hit the other side and we push through, knocking the door completely off its hinges but the running doesn't stop there. We are still vulnerable to the storm here and there's no time to have a breather. Evan's clutching me so hard and I'm so convinced he believes he can't let go because his grip tightens as my breathing quickens. I can hear the others beside us and we run for what feels like forever, bursting through a maze of corridors and hallways.

It's a century before I feel like we are safe enough, and I let go of Evan as we all haul ourselves over the security gates and towards the duty-free logos. I consider for the first time since we came in here that we haven't seen another person. Not a security guard or staff worker, not a passenger. Not a single soul.

"It's there!" Tom yells and snaps me back into focus. We slowly jog to the entrance and I realize we haven't seen anyone because they are all here. Hundreds of people swarm inside, and that's only from what I can see. Most of the duty-free has been looted, and the rest stays lying on the floor destroyed. I can't see anywhere that does food, but I can smell it and my stomach protests at me in hunger.

The others feel it too.

"Shit, we didn't think this through," Evan punches the door. "They aren't just going to hand us the food, are they?"

"Jesus Christ," Sophie moans for the first time since this plan was put in action. "I thought you had thought of everything, Evan."

"Clearly not," I say slyly under my breath.

"They have to help us," Tom says with a point. "They aren't monsters."

"What do we do?" Damon questions. He sounds as wheezed as I feel.

"We go in," and before I can think any more of it, I push the door open and start to walk in. I can hear the others call my name, but I don't turn around, I walk – faster.

"Does anyone here speak English?" I announce. I can hear the door open from behind and I know the others must be behind. The further I walk, the bigger I see how the duty-free area is and a couple of heads turn to face me. A guy steps out from the crowd, dressed in a shirt and suit pants. He wears a lanyard around his neck and he looks as if he works here.

"I do," the guy says to me and I can tell he's British and I'm momentarily relieved. "I'm also fluent in Italian, everyone else here is Polish or French. I haven't been able to really get through, any chance you speak either?"

I stare at him for a moment and take in what he says. "Uh sure, I know French."

"That's great, you might have to stand on something to get everyone to listen," the British guy pulls out a chair and I climb onto it.