The sun had since passed its peak in the sky and was beginning its descent once again. Nicholas couldn't believe how fast the day had passed - it seemed like just moments ago, he was preparing for the start of the day. Then, Alissa got attacked, and he'd had to patch her up. Then the whole, running into Mattie thing. Now this. It had been an eventful day - though admittedly not any more eventful than the past two weeks. It was beginning to drive him to permanent exhaustion, both mental and physical. He didn't realize that he was still holding on softly to Mattie's arm as they walked, and only realized it when he wiped his face with the fist clenched around the machete. He let her go.

"Sorry," he said, face burning and turning red. "I think we're just going to have to go back to the Walmart. I can see how tired you are, and I'm not much better off myself."

He rummaged uselessly in his pocket, finding nothing and not even knowing what he expected to find.