“Tomorrow morning would be a good time to see what’s around in the supermarkets,” Varesh said. “Get out there while everyone’s at the protest or watching it on TV.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Owen said.
It wasn’t our allocated shopping day, but without discussing it, we’d all collectively agreed to stop following the rules.
“We could store the food in an empty apartment,” Laura suggested. “Use it like a communal pantry. Maybe on level three, so it’s convenient for everyone?”
Sadie stood with her back to me and only a hand-span of distance between us. She sent me a fleeting look over her shoulder. “Theo and I were talking about seeing what the other residents have left behind,” she said. “We could find plenty of dry goods right here in the building.”
No one argued over the callousness of raiding the homes of dead people. The more supplies we found on the premises, the less time we had to spend outside.
“Dustin has the master keys,” Tim pointed out.
“Leave that to me,” I said. “If he resists, I’m in the mood for a fight.”
Laura’s eyes shone with humour as she took in my expression. She clocked Sadie’s proximity to me, and a small smile formed. “Who’s up for the job of checking the supermarkets?” she asked, scanning the surrounding faces.
When Sadie moved away from me, I immediately felt her absence. “I’ll go if Tim comes with me,” she said.
Knife to the heart, but I’d messed up by volunteering for a different job.
“Can I help look for food?” Willow walked backwards on the treadmill, her eyes lighting up at the thought of rummaging through people’s homes.
“Me, too.” Ellie looked up from her phone for a second, then went back to staring at whatever had caught her attention.
“The more hands, the better,” Tim said.
I wasn’t sure I’d be here long term, but the others might be, and I’d do everything I could to make sure they were taken care of before I left. “If we need more weapons, Gavin’s place might be worth checking out, too.”
Owen pointed at me. “Yes. I forgot about that guy.”
“Does anyone object to starting in the morning?” Varesh squeezed Tim’s knee and pushed up off the couch. “We don’t need to do anything right this minute.”
“I’m all for getting a good night’s sleep before we kick off tomorrow.” Laura clapped her hands once as if adjourning a meeting. “Come on, girls, let’s go have dinner,” she said as Owen rose to join her. “We’ve got a bulk pack of chicken nuggets to work on.”
Willow groaned and turned off the treadmill. “Mother.”
Sadie let out a soft huff of laughter.
As the group splintered off into smaller conversations and goodnights, she tucked her windblown hair behind her ear and met my eyes. “Are you going to beat up Dustin tomorrow?” she asked. “You have a sparkle in your eye—almost like you’re looking forward to it.”
The corner of my mouth turned upward. “He’ll run as soon as it gets physical,” I said, “if he’s still here. Have you seen him since the hallway fiasco?”
Her brows pulled together, and she flicked a glance at the door. “I haven’t, now you mention it.” She wandered over to the wall and scanned the car park. “His car’s here,” she said, facing me again. “He must be in hiding.”
I took a couple of steps closer, watching the push-pull emotions play across her face. Instead of looking for an escape like she once might have, Sadie crossed her arms over her chest and stayed put.
“He can't hide for much longer,” I said. “It won’t take much to flush him out—and if we have to, we’ll break down his door.”
She shivered and stared at me. “It’s really come down to that, hasn’t it?”
I nodded. “He's becoming a problem, and we need a solution.”
Nine
sadie
“Has it started yet?” I tucked my mask under my chin as I reached the car park exit, overstimulated from breathing my own air.
