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***
By the time they finished making their way through the sixth shop, finding nothing of use, the sun was finally beginning to set.
Saff led them out of the antique store they’d just searched, and stepped down off the sidewalk. After the third store, her side had begun aching so badly that each step she took was a battle. And after the sixth, she knew she had to stop.
It wasn’t particularly cold out yet, but chills had begun running through her body every few minutes. And as theyambled toward the library, she winced when another shiver rolled through her.
Maddie stopped, holding her in place. “Are you okay?” she asked, with more concern than Saff had heard from her before.
“Yeah,” Saff muttered. “Just need to sit down.”
Maddie didn’t look convinced, but she also didn’t push her on it.
They made it up the steps, but by the time they did, it felt more like Maddie was leading her, and not the other way around.
Saff paused in front of the large wooden doors of the library. “Its gonna be dark soon,” she said, and even the words were a struggle to get out. “We should probably get settled for the night.”
Maddie nodded, following her into the library.
It only took a couple of full breaths in the dusty air for the coughing to start. Saff winced, dropping her backpack to the floor as a string of coughs came out, each one sending its own shooting pain through her abdomen.
She grabbed the inhaler out of her pocket and expelled the medicine, drawing in a deep breath.
But still, it didn’t help much.
“Actually, I’m—” she coughed again, her body tense with pain. “I’m gonna stay outside tonight.”
Maddie paused, her backpack still in her hand as she was about to set it down. “What? Why?”
“Its too—“ Another cough. “I need the fresh air.”
Maddie pulled her backpack up onto her shoulder again. “Okay, I’ll stay out there with you then.”
Saff paused, looking at her. “Why?”
Maddie made a face that said she should’ve known the answer. “I’m not gonna stay in some creepy library by myself.” She stepped forward, putting her hand out in front of her. “Besides,if I need to save you or something in the middle of the night, it’ll be a lot easier if I don’t have to go find you outside first.”
Saff smirked, shaking her head slightly as she led them back outside.
It took her a few minutes to set up her mat and sleeping bag, while Maddie sat beside her, leaning against the wall of the front of the library. She’d tried to convince her that they should go around the side, where they were more hidden, but Maddie had insisted they stay there at the front. She didn’t want to risk missing her group if they came through, and Saff didn’t have the energy to argue—or move.
“You sure you don’t want any?” Maddie asked as she took another bite of her protein bar.
“No,” Saff answered, grimacing at the thought of eating anything while nausea roiled in her stomach.
“You really should,” Maddie said, munching through another bite. “Your body needs energy to heal.”
Saff grunted, laying down and pulling her jacket up around her neck as another shiver passed through her body. “You gonna put your sleeping bag out?”
Maddie took another bite, then wrapped the bar up, stuffing it back into her backpack. “No. I’m gonna stay up for a while and listen for them.”
Saff nodded, tucking her backpack beneath her head.
“So,” Maddie continued, stretching her legs out in front of her and crossing one ankle over the other. “Why didn’t you want to sleep in the library?”
Saff let out a breath, looking up at the stars. That was one positive of the apocalypse. Less light pollution meant the stars were always visible, no matter how close to the city she was.
“Asthma,” she muttered. “The dust makes it worse.”
