[center][b]United States 4:00 PM (CST)[/b][/center]
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[i]Home...[/i]

Bethany got up and shuffled off the bus. A few people got off at this bus stop, so at least she had numbers on her side. Her eyes warily swept the surroundings, and she followed a guy across the street. She didn't really know him, they hadn't said more than a couple of words to each other, but having company made her feel safer. On the other side, they went their separate ways. Bethany hurried her feet, heading for a temporary haven. In her mind she calculated the weaknesses and strengths of having her house as a hideout for a zombie apocalypse. Unfortunately, there were too many windows, and the stairs were sturdy. Most of what they owned were downstairs, and they probably wouldn't have enough time to move things up in case of an emergency. Seems there weren't many options in her area for someone trying to hole up in a zombie apocalypse.

She unlocked her door and let herself in, making sure to lock the door behind her. Even though her dreams were only dreams, they still haunted her outside the borders of their realm. She sighed, got herself a snack from the pantry, and made her way to the computer. She'd relax for a bit before doing her homework. She was tired because she had woken up very early, but she did not intend to fall asleep. What would await her in the land of dreams would be nothing but more nightmares, more agonizing decisions, more terror, and nothing but despair in the end. She absorbed herself in a game, with luck, the terrors of her nightmares would fade.

Like clockwork, her brother got home 30 minutes after she had arrived home, so she closed her game and dragged her backpack over. At least her homework would help to occupy and exhaust her brain. Maybe if her brain was tired enough, she wouldn't dream. As she worked on her homework, she played music in the background. The assignments she had would take time. Plenty of time. She might not be done with them until after dinner, and that was good. It was something to focus on. Something to distract her. The terror of her dreams was fading, but by nightfall, it would be back in full force. For now, though, Bethany found peace.