Scarlett fedIce his dinner and grew restless in her room. She opened the door to hear the nurses in the hallway.
“Have you checked on Hannah?” one of the women asked.
“Not yet. I took her dinner, and she didn’t touch a thing. I already alerted Dr. Winters. We’ll have to insert a G-tube soon if she continues down this path. I can’t imagine what she went through,” the nurse said compassionately.
“She sits there, day by day, staring out her window. Dr. Meyers visits her, and she doesn’t even speak,” the woman said as she rolled a cart past Scarlett’s room.
Her heart fell when she heard about her neighbor. When the nurses passed, Scarlett and Ice made their escape. Like the last time, he stopped by Hannah’s door. She felt for the handle and pushed her way in, knocking softly. She walked farther into the room, hoping Hannah would see her and choose not to scream.
“Hi. I’m Scarlett. I’m staying next door until tomorrow. I wanted to say hello, and I understand. I don’t know what you’ve gone through, but I was on my way home when a missile hit our Humvee. It caused me to go blind. If you everwant some company, I’m staying in cabin one. Please remember, no matter how bad it seems, you’re safe here. My friends talked me into coming, and I didn’t want to, but it’s making a difference. If you need a friend, I’m not too far away,” she whispered, hoping the woman heard her.
She snuck back out with Ice at her side. Still feeling claustrophobic, she went outside.
“Hi Scarlett,” one of the veterans who drove the van into town greeted her. “It’s a bit late. Do you need to go somewhere?”
Thinking a slice of pizza sounded good, she asked, “Do you know what time the pizza place closes?”
“Oh, yeah. It closes at midnight. I’m picking up the teens then. I don’t understand the thrill of playing video games there when they have perfectly good ones here,” he grumbled. “Do you have a slice of pizza calling your name?”
“What time is it?”
“It’s ten thirty. I can drop you off and you can ride back with the kids,” he offered.
Checking her pocket for her wallet, she nodded. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Hop in,” he said, walking toward the vehicle. Scarlett commanded Ice forward, and they got inside.
When they reached the restaurant, he opened her door for her. “Don’t forget, be here at midnight. The older kids have a curfew of twelve fifteen.”
“I won’t forget,” she assured him before going inside. The place felt small, and the kids laughed while they took turns challenging each other at the games. She felt her way to the counter.
“Hi. What can I get you?” a young woman asked.
“Do you sell pizza by the slice, or do I need to order a whole pie?”
The woman snorted. “If I didn’t sell it by the slice, none ofthese kids would ever afford it,” she joked. “I have sausage and pepperoni, Hawaiian, cheese, and veggie left.”
“May I have a slice of sausage and pepperoni with a water?” she asked, pulling out her wallet. She fumbled for her card, unsure of what bills she had left. Scarlett held it out, and the woman swiped it before handing it back. The teens grew rowdy as someone took the lead in whatever game they played.
“Do you have tables outside?”
“Yes. Go out the door and take a left. There will be three of them about twenty steps down,” she directed.
Scarlett stepped aside while she waited for the server to pack her order. A few minutes later, she walked out, carrying her items.
She listened intently for any noise, realizing it might not be wise to hang outside alone, unable to see any dangers. The air felt slightly chilly, but refreshing. She found the table and sat, pulling out her food. Biting into the cheesy slice, Scarlett berated herself for her foolishness. Besides the jerk who kept destroying property, everyone seemed friendly. It’s not like Serenity housed serial killers.
Balling up her garbage, she placed it under her arm, hoping to find a receptacle. Scarlett decided to take the opportunity to practice with Ice, working on curbs and stop signs like Candy showed her. It’s unlikely many people drove the streets late at night if she made a mistake.
Deciding on walking to the grocery store, Scarlett gave Ice his commands and started down the quiet sidewalk. Ice stopped, signaling the crosswalk, and she smiled, recognizing where she stood. He led the way. Her shoulders relaxed and she breathed in the fresh mountain air, feeling a bit like her old self.
They approached the grocery store when she decided to turn around and head back toward the pizzeria.Ice stopped a few times unexpectedly and she lost track of how long it took to get there. “Let’s return. Rayne will be surprised when she sees how amazing we work together,” she said to the dog.
Ice halted and stood in front of her, making her readjust her hand. Her stomach dropped when he let out a low growl. A familiar scent filled the air, and she tried to place it while getting her four-legged friend to move. Ice refused to budge.
Scarlett sniffed the air again, catching a whiff of smoke. Ice finally took his position, and she directed him toward the community center, where the fumes seemed stronger. Her heart raced, and she increased her pace. The heat of something on fire drifted in her direction, and she stopped and touched the brick building beside her. Scarlett recognized the bakery, and the smoke seemed close.
The distinct smell of tar and wood burning filled the air. Thinking about the older women, she turned Ice around and raced to the back, recalling how many steps it took to the apartments. She pounded on Edie’s door.
