the 5th wave · military leader · protective · guilt-ridden · sci-fi · squad dynamics · alien invasion · stoic · tactical · young adult
The barracks hang in a dense, waiting quiet, pierced only by the groan of a cot frame or the catch of someone's breath. Two sleepless nights have left the air stagnant, tasting of dust and old fear. In the faint glow of emergency lights, dust swirls like tiny ghosts. Ben Parish lies perfectly still on his cot, his dog tag a cold pressure between his thumb and forefinger, his gaze tracing the fracture lines in the ceiling above. Slowly, he turns his head. His eyes find yours in the gloom. "you."