ali

through the hou

ate, and it shat

eli

in the hallway, wrapped one arm around

m," I sai

d inside, and I grabbed the wheel lock, turning it hard once, twice, u

'd practiced it so many times

only reason w

es stocked with water, canned food, a first aid kit, and a radio. Near

eside me and pressed m

I whispered.

hy

so

chest, and I felt her te

m kept s

it st

ence wa

llway was chaotic. Wolves ran past, doors slamme

rushed pa

checked my ID at the gate every morning for a year,

truck him f

t down

d it. Just the hand. A

dn't

away from

s voice was ba

't l

ha

't l

di

t I did when I couldn't do anyt

lway we

quiet. Fini

bodies now: the guard and a woman from th

uldn't see it from

te was

hink. A raid from outside meant enemies. Enem

s wasn'

nt the posts were known. The schedule was kno

had wa

ho knew t

o knew the

water and canned food. Shelf two had the fi

lled the metal bo

card wa

oor in the packhouse: every armory, every supply closet, every exit. It

as g

, before the deaths. They'd taken the card an

nted me

e from outs

Slow. Stead

a v

tal

dn't

you're i

lmost gentle, as thou

here to h

ngers dug i

e for th

hand, applying just enough

voice said, "and no

he was five. She was

dn't

then laughed. Soft

were stubbor

steps mo

not

yself b

intercom

r of the safe room. Old. W

hrough, thin,

I kn

at

est s

it's

at the

e door.

ri