“This is Chakri and her mate, Johannes,” he says as he gestures at the couple.
The Lu’Mite nods her greeting as her black, scaled tail flicks anxiously, and beside her is a stout human man. His salt-and-pepper hair is cut short, and a trimmed beard covers his chin.
Johannes assesses us for a moment before turning back to Sovran. “They won’t bring trouble?”
Sovran shakes his head. “As I told you, they are hunted, but only within the city.”
“We aren’t seeking permanent lodging,” Xeni says as he takes a step closer. He’s wearing another of his smiles—thedisarming one I’ve seen him use so many times to calm others. “I have a village a few days’ travel from here, but my vehicle broke down on the drive to Atlanta. We only need to rest and devise a plan, and then we will be on our way.”
Johannes scratches his beard thoughtfully as his posture loosens. “We owe Sovran, and this is a haven for those on the run like yourselves.”
“Is that why you stay so close to the city?” I ask.
Johannes nods. “Sovran has a habit of finding strays. We wouldn’t be much help if we were further away. It’s a risk, true, but we’ve got systems in place. We’re well hidden, and if they find us, we have a plan.”
“We appreciate your hospitality,” Xeni says, his smile more genuine now.
Johannes takes his mate’s hand and waves for us to follow. They lead us into the clearing and along the building. Doors are numbered, though everything is painted in that same shade of green that blends with the surrounding evergreens.
Chakri notices how closely I’m inspecting their setup, and offers a timid, razor-toothed smile as she gestures around the estate. “Back before the world went to hell, this was a remote traveler’s stop. There was a small community, mostly shops and gas stations with a sprinkle of restaurants, but those were raided and torn down long ago. The roads leading here were destroyed in the war.”
She gestures at the building as we approach the far corner. “This was a motel. It had been looted, yes, but it didn’t hold the same appeal as those places that had canned goods and fresh clothing. Basics were left behind… beds, furniture. The solar panels were stripped of their copper, but over the years we’ve been able to repair them.”
“Let me guess,” Ego says with an approving grin. “That secret exit isn’t only used for getting people out.”
Chakri returns her smile with a nod. “Yes. Not everyone here is hunted… though many of us are. Some just wanted to leave the confines of the city and live without oversight. Over time, we made enough supply runs for this place to become functional again, but the first several years were rough.”
“Oh, gods, I can take a hot shower?” Sakane whines.
Xeni scoffs as he turns to him. “It’s been how long, exactly, since you had one? Twenty-four hours?”
Sakane frowns and gestures down his thin frame. “I don’t do well without pampering. This skin is not meant for harsh temperatures.”
“And here you are, headed into the wilderness to live in a remote village,” Xeni reminds him.
Sakane’s eyes widen as he registers that information. “Are there… showers there?” he asks with a cringe.
“There are, yes,” Xeni says behind an unsuccessful attempt to hide a smile, “but they aren’t always hot.”
“They… aren’t?” Sakane’s throat bobs in a heavy swallow.
Xeni’s grin spreads. “Don’t worry, if the solar’s on the fritz, you can bathe in the creek. Water’s warm there.”
“Thecreek,” Sakane squeaks, glancing over his shoulder like he’s considering risking it in the city to keep his modern conveniences.
Our new hosts chuckle as they open a door and lead us into a room with an assortment of chairs and loveseats spread in a random pattern. Johannes flips a switch up and down three times, but no lights come on overhead.
“A warning system,” he explains. “Each area has a hidden shelter, and if anyone unexpected ever shows up, everyone hides until this switch is flipped. It operates a bulb inside the shelter that tells them it’s safe to come out.”
“That’sgenius.” I glance around, wondering what else they’ve done in this place. “Simple yet effective.”
Johannes looks pleased as he opens a cabinet and glances over his shoulder. “I can spare two rooms while you’re here.”
“Anything you have is appreciated,” Xeni says, and we all nod our agreement. “We’re grateful for whatever help you can give.”
Johannes grabs two keys and leads us back outside. Where before it was eerily quiet, signs of life are everywhere now. Curtains flutter inside windows as people peek through, voices carry from somewhere in the background, and a few people stand at the far end of the building. They keep their distance but don’t hide their curiosity, and Johannes chuckles as we walk into a rear courtyard.
The building forms an L shape, and back here in the open space is a garden surrounding a series of solar panels. A few picnic tables sit in the shade, and a swing set waits beyond, with wooden swings swaying in the breeze. My attention moves back to the building as Johannes unlocks a door and pushes it open.
