Caelum and Leon beheld the doors to the gymnasium. They were currently closed. After resting for another day to allow Caelum to heal up, they made their way to the gym.

They had been very cautious and careful but thankfully didn’t run into anyone or thing dangerous.

“We’re finally here” Leon exclaimed as he looked at the door up and down. Caelum just looked at him and nodded feeling relief that they had just made it here with no incident.

Taking a breath Leon went up to the door and proceeded to open it up. It didn’t open up. “What?” Leon said as he began to pull at the door with all his strength. With one final pull, he gave up on the door.

“What the hell! We didn’t almost die just for the door to be closed!” Leon yelled as he started kicking the door with his foot.

Caelum didn’t feel like they had come for nothing. Taking a look around the area he noticed a few things. There were scuff marks on the floor clearly from the gymnasium door being opened a lot.

And after trying his hand at opening the door, with Leon grumbling behind him, he knew that it was heavier than it was supposed to be.

Coming to a conclusion he turned to Leon, “We probably need to get their attention somehow to open the door” he said.

“Dude the door’s locked or something, I doubt there’s anyone there. Sighing he slid down the wall and sat down.

Looking at Leon with a questioning look on his face Caelum said, “Aren’t you supposed to be the optimistic one, what’s with the defeatist attitude?”

“Yea, but I mean I just hope we didn’t waste our time coming over here for no reason. Sighing he put his head down.

“Ok, look do you have a piece of paper? I have an idea to see if we can get the attention of anyone on the other side of this door.”

Sighing Leo looked around and grabbed a piece of paper in the locker next to him. Still sitting down, he grabbed it and handed it to Caelum. “Here go at it,” he said as Caelum took the paper from his hands.

Taking a seat next to him Caelum took a pencil from his backpack and began to write on the paper. Looking over his shoulder Leon took a peek at the paper and said, “No way that’s going to work.”

Without replying Caelum stood up and checked out his work. In big, blocky letters he had written PLEASE LET US IN. WE HAVE A CAT

He slid the paper underneath the doors. Then he grabbed Atlas who began to protest at being suddenly picked up. Setting Atlas down by the door, not without a few cuts on his hands from Atlas claws, Caelum signaled at Atlas to meow.

Staring at Caelum on his knees pretending to meow was not a sight Leon expected to see. Laughing he said, “Bro you’re not going to get the cat to meow like that.”

Halfway through Leon’s sentence, Atlas suddenly began to meow as if he was in distress with the saddest face possible.

Turning around still on his knees, Caelum had the smuggest look he could make on his face. Going back to sit with Leon, all the while Atlas meowing his head off Caelum looked at Leon and said, “Any second they’re going to let us in bozo.”

Both let out a laugh and watched Atlas continue to meow his heart out.

A few minutes passed and Caelum was starting to nod off when he heard the doors let out a grating noise.

A face popped out and said, “Omg there’s actually a cat here… It's so cuteeeeee.” The doors widened a little and a girl stepped out and scooped Atlas up. “Aww their so adorable.” She had golden-brown hair and an olive tone to her skin.

Standing up Leon spoke up “Avery?” as he got closer to her at the door. “Leon! I can’t believe your safe!” She dropped Atlas and quickly ran over and enveloped Leon in a hug.

After a few seconds of reuniting with Leon, she turned and looked at Caelum. “Hey who’s this guy?”

“Oh, that’s Caelum, he saved my life I would’ve died if it wasn’t for him,” Leon said smiling.

Standing up and dusting his pants off, Caelum looked at Avery and said “Yea, so can we enter the gym, I don’t want to be in the open for too long.”

Agreeing they walked through the doors with Caelum picking up Atlas. Calling some people over to help her close the doors, Caelum saw that the doors were chained to two vending machines on each side, causing the door to be almost impossible to open from the outside.

No wonder the doors had felt way heavier than usual. This way no one could enter through their regular strength. Unless… it was that level 25 draugr. Shuddering at the thought of that monster bashing through the doors he hurried into the gymnasium.

Once they were inside a group of kids closed the doors behind them. Finally, inside he and Leon took in the area, their faces filled with awe.

Inside the gymnasium, there seemed to be around 200 students. And they all seemed to be playing a role. Caelum had thought it would be disorganized, but he was mistaken.

The very back of the gym seemed to be where people slept, as it was filled with sheets and blankets arranged in an orderly fashion. On the right side were the bleachers and there were groups of kids milling about on them.

And the place that grabbed the most of their attention was the right side of the gym. There was a huge tent that seemed to be made from cloth and pieces of metal stabbed into the gymnasium floor to keep it standing.

Even more impressive was a group of students behind said structure practicing their fighting skills.

No way anyone could have been able to do that before the system. Looking at his hands Caelum knew even know he wouldn’t be able to do that. He had been able to decapitate a monster… who knew what more powerful people could do.

“Hey Caelum, you good?” Leon said.

Turning back be realized he had fallen behind Leon and Avery. “Yea I just got distracted sorry” as he ran up to catch up with them. As he got closer, he heard Avery speaking.

“Yea we got pretty organized thanks to Mr. Lopez. He’s the only adult here actually. All the other faculty are probably elsewhere.” When Caelum finally caught up Leon turned to him “That’s so cool! I really think we’ll be safe here” with that he turned back to Avery.

Mumbling yea under his breath Caelum kept walking behind them. Soon they reached the huge tent on the right side of the gym. “Anyways this is Mr. Lopez’s tent. He always wants to talk to the new people so just head inside.”

With that Avery went back to her post at the door. But not before giving a hug to Leon and a small wave to Caelum.

Leon’s face was fully red, and he was staring at Avery walking away. With a sigh, Caelum pushed past Leon and into the tent.

As he entered, he saw that Mr. Lopez was surrounded by around 20 other students. With Leon right behind him, he started to get closer when Mr. Lopez turned around.

“Why Hello. Leon, Caelum why don’t you join us” he said with a small smile on his face.

Caelum slowly sat down on the floor and so did Leon. A sense of safety seemed to permeate the air around the counselor. Something that relaxed him, a sense of home settled in Caelum.

Even Atlas seemed more at home cuddling up in his arms.

As he focused his attention on Mr. Lopez a few words appeared above his head.

[Michael Lopez- Mentalist Lv5]

Refuge at last.

As they settled down Mr. Lopez started to speak. “Good. Now hopefully we don’t have anymore interruptions. Now hopefully you all have come to terms with this, but the world is forever changed.”

He paused at that, gauging the reactions of the students. Continuing he said, “The only reason we are still alive is that we have worked together, and I expect the same from everyone here.”

A girl in tattered clothes raised her hand. “Yes, Samantha? Said Mr. Lopez. “I want to know how we are going to survive here.” Mr. Lopez started to speak when she interrupted.

“No, I mean as in food. That’s my biggest concern and the only reason I even came here. But after asking around it seems food is still a problem here as well.”

Mr. Lopez sighed and said “Yes food and water are our biggest problems. Thankfully, the water system in the school still works so the water fountains are usable.”

“We do have a system in place for getting food, however. The newest people to enter the gymnasium must go back and retrieve some provisions for the camp before we allow you to stay permanently.”

All the students began to shout. “That’s not fair I almost died out there!” “What the hell!” “I lost two of my friends and I have to go back!!”

With a wave of his hand, the atmosphere in the room changed. As if a spell had descended upon them the students calmed down. “We have to do this to survive. I am sorry but you won’t die out there. We haven’t lost a single person who has gone to get provisions.”

“If you truly cannot find food anything valuable will help understood.”

With that, he clapped his hands and walked away. Before exiting his tent, he turned, “You will leave in three days, be ready.”

Caelum didn’t realize he hadn’t moved until Leon grabbed his arm and shook him.

“Hey, how are you feeling? Leon said with a worried look on his face.

He replied saying “What do you mean? I’m fine we’re finally safe that’s all that matters.”

He still hadn’t noticed that his hands were shaking.