“Yeah, yeah,” Laura said as the premier continued pumping us up for the incoming news. “Just get to the rules, lady.”
“This is going to suck,” Tim said as the speech dragged on. “I’d bet money on it… if I had any left.”
“…and due to the significant rise in infections and multiple mutations in the virus, we’ve been forced to take the measure of removing exercise privileges, along with limiting the two-hour window for essential shopping to once per week. This will replace the current twice-weekly allowance as of tomorrow. Anyone who—”
Voices surged in the press room, and journalists cut the premier off to interject with questions, no longer concerned about basic politeness. A weight settled on my chest as she held up her hands and called for calm, the acceptance in her eyes saying it all. It would never be calm again. This was just a last-ditch attempt to contain a virus that had raged out of control. She knew it. We knew it.
Fuck.
As the activity exploded on the screen, the rooftop stayed quiet for a beat longer, then everyone spoke at once.
“They can’t do that.”
“We’re being treated like prisoners.”
“Might as well ditch the rules altogether. It’s not like it matters anymore.”
“I’m about to actually flip a table.”
Sadie stayed quiet. I didn’t say a word, my eyes losing focus as I stared at the TV.
Everyone turned restless, tossing out theories I wouldn’t give my energy to just yet. All I could do was stand still and absorb it all.
We’d hung in there for months, following rules, staying out of harm’s way. None of it made a difference. Ultimus spread faster each day. People were still dying.
Even if the virus magically disappeared tomorrow, we were already on the brink. In the next few months, it would reach the point that we lacked even the basic numbers to keep society functioning.
A movement at my side brought me back to the present, the shock of it grounding me.
Sadie’s hand slipped across my palm, soft and unsure, her fingers weaving between mine and shooting tingles up my arm.
The first time she’d initiated touch just for the sake of it, and I didn’t know if she was seeking comfort or offering it. Either way, my heart pounded, and I tightened my hold, taking in the rooftop and the people who’d become my closest friends.
We still had one another, a small community where we could feel safe—but it wasn’t enough anymore.
We needed action.
When Laura looked my way, her eyes reflected the same concern as mine, too concerned with the shift in mood to notice me holding Sadie’s hand.
“Time for a chat,” Sadie said, her voice low and intimate. “All of us. We need to work together and find a way through this next part.”
I sighed and squeezed her palm. No more coasting. “I know.”
In the space of one short press conference, everything had changed.
“There’s a protest planned.” Ellie sat sideways on the arm of the couch, swinging her leg as she thumb-scrolled on her phone. “Ten o’clock tomorrow morning outside the State Library.”
The breeze kicked up, and Laura held her hair back as she moved over to the main wall for protection. “Before you even ask, you’re not going.”
“Joke’s on you, mother,” she said. “I don’t want to go anyway. People are talking about taking weapons and fighting back. It’s about to get crazy out there.”
“I’m not going either,” Willow added, as if there was a chance in hell of her leaving the building. She had the treadmill going at a low speed, entertaining herself by coming up with new ways to walk.
None of us could sit still for long, too restless to relax and pretend everything was normal.
Sadie stayed close to me near the side wall, shamelessly using me as a windbreaker. Varesh and Tim were huddled together on the couch alongside Owen.
Still no Dustin. I didn’t like how much time he was spending alone. With only his shifty little mind for company, who knew what he was getting up to holed up in his apartment.
