Nano Z by Brad Knight

From there they were taken to another small room, together. From the looks of it, it was some sort of supply/janitorial room. There were huge industrial size spools of toilet paper and paper towels. Large white plastic jugs held liquid soap and were stacked in rows.
    “Another cell. Fantastic,” said Mack as he set up a seat for himself out of the various boxes of toiletries.
    “At least I’m not alone this time,” said Amber as she sat down in one of the corners. As soon as her rear end touched the floor, she took the bandages off her eye. They were barely hanging on and there was no real reason for them medically anymore.
    “You were alone?”
    “Weren’t you?”
    Mack remembered the sad souls that he was previously imprisoned with. The still fresh memory of the smell of the basement almost made him gag. He would’ve been happy that Amber didn’t have to endure the same brand of hell he was subject to for three weeks, but he suspected she went through her own version. Trouble was, he didn’t know if he should’ve asked about it and if so, how?
    If she wants to talk about it, she will. Don’t force it. Mack went over to check on her.
    “How’s your eye?” Mack bent over and got a good look at Amber’s eye. It was pretty much healed. There were no signs of infection.
    “Its fine I guess.”
    “Are you?”
    “Am I what?”
    Mack knew something was wrong. She wouldn’t look at him even though he was standing in front and over her. Instead she stared at his boots.
    “Fine?” Don’t push. Mack tried to hold back. It was hard, but he was barely making do. For him Amber had become like a daughter, or at least a little sister. There was no hiding his concern. Even for a strong willed man such as himself, there was no hiding it.
    “I… I don’t know.” Tears started to form in Amber’s eyes. The teenager was as tough as they come but what she endured over the previous three weeks brought the vulnerable kid out of her. “Jesus, I never thought I’d see you again.”
    “It’ll take a lot more than some heavily armed good ole boys and a bull meat puppet to take me out.”
    Amber wiped some of her tears and sniffled a bit. She tried to force a smile but it fell apart quickly. “Thank you. I would’ve been killed in there if it wasn’t for you.”
    “You’re a tough gal. I’m sure you would’ve held your own.” Mack sat down on the boxes he set up, next to Amber.
    “I just don’t get why.”
    “There are some sick people out there girlie girl. If you take away the threat of jail, they act on all the sick shit they have going on in their heads.” Mack poked his own head.
    “I guess I deserved it.” Amber’s words broke Mack’s heart.
    “What are you talking about? No one deserves…”
    Amber quickly leaned over and hugged Mack. She started crying lightly. That turned into heavy sobbing. At first he didn’t know what to do. It caught him by surprise. But he ended up wrapping his arms around her too, which made her hug harder.
    “They’d visit me, take turns. I tried to fight back but…” Amber’s voice was muffled due to her face being planted in Mack’s chest.
    “Don’t, you don’t have to tell me Amber. Just know that whatever they did, it won’t happen again, I promise. You’re safe.”
    Mack gently turned the teenage girl’s head away from his chest and up in order to make eye contact. “You’re safe now. I’m here. You’ll never be alone again.” Never.
    ***
    Amber fell asleep with her head on Mack’s lap. It took him almost an hour to follow her to the realm of the sandman. When he did, it was a deep sleep; the best he had since the storm shelter back in Wydell.
    Neither Amber nor Mack knew how long they were asleep. Much like the basement prison, no light got into the supply/janitorial room. However long they were out, it was more than either of them got since the outbreak.
    Sweet dreams were interrupted by someone banging on the only door to the room. From the