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“I want to talk about moving back into the house I previously used here.”
“There’s nothing to talk about it. It’s yours if you want it.”
“I want it, but I’m tired of making all the sacrifices wherever I go. The food from the bunker, meant to feed me for months, was taken away and split up without my consent. I thought it would be better in Tolerance, but now all the meat’s going here for handouts. I’m done busting my back for freeloaders and deadbeats. I want to keep what I find when I go out there. It’s not like it’s needed for splitting when everyone staying behind gets a free meal.”
The people already committed to doing this supply run heard me easily.
“We’re the ones risking our lives,” Bram, the guy from yesterday said. “I don’t mind sharing. But I’d like more of a say in what and how much.”
Matt’s eyes swept over us and then the malcontent group not far away.
“Everyone is upset about the scarcity of food. Now might not be the best time to—”
“If there’s no incentive for risking our lives to gather food supplies, then what’s the point of going out at all? We can all sit on our asses and watch each other starve,” I said.
Matt shot me a look, and I shrugged.
“Why should I work my ass off and have nothing to show for it?”
“Fine. However much you can carry, you can take back to your homes to share with your people however you see fit.”
That news made a lot of people happy. A few standing in line even left the line to join those waiting to go out. Meanwhile, the haters smirked. I understood very well why. People who hoarded got robbed and beaten. Cold anger clenched in my stomach, and I knew I’d need to make myself a bigger target than anyone else.
“That’s perfect since I live alone,” I said, just loud enough to be heard by those nearest. “Would you mind holding onto my things until I get back?”
Matt accepted my bag from me, and I turned my back on all of them. Tor was watching from near the wall. Seeing him there lightened the burden. As much as I wanted to go to him, I went to Hasten.
The announcement that we could keep more of what we found changed things a little. To keep up appearances that I was cutting ties with Tolerance, I rode in the back of one of the trucks on the way to wherever Ryan had selected. There was a notable tone of hope and worry from the others. And none of the humans stayed in the trucks when we pulled up to the subdivision.
I worked with my usual group, taking care not to show any familiarity when we were in the open. We worked quietly and quickly inside the houses. Our group wasn’t the only one busting ass. There were a lot more supplies sent back to fill up the truck. So much so that some of us Tenacity folks had to ride in the cabs of the trucks.
Bram, a woman, myself, and Richard were squeezed into one.
“Heard you’re leaving Tolerance,” Richard said. “Can I ask why?”
I wasn’t sure if it was a sincere, or staged question, but considering our company, there was only one answer I could give him.
“I moved to Tolerance because I thought it would be safer. The fey I was staying with was nice and had a freezer full of meat. Then Adam broke up with me. The fey started acting a little too interested. And now the meat’s going to Tenacity. There’s no reason to stay and every reason to move if Matt holds true to his word. I’m tired of worrying where my next meal will come from.”
“Same,” Bram said. He looked at the other woman. “What about you?”
“I like food as much as the next person,” she said quietly. There was something about her that seemed off. She’d been quiet in the back of the truck, too, but had willingly gone with her group of fey and returned with a decent take.
“How many people do you two live with?” I asked.
“Too many,” Bram said. “I’m not sure if you’re lucky or screwed living by yourself.”
“I’ll go with lucky,” I said.
The woman glanced at me, her gaze flickering with pity before Bram glanced at her for her answer.
“Too many, just like you.” She looked out the window once more and didn’t join the conversation after that.
When we returned to Tenacity, there was the same bevy of activity as the prior day. Rather than going inside, I stayed by the trucks and started tucking the food I’d found into my jacket. After it was full, I loaded up a tote with everything possible, avoiding the heavier canned goods. I wanted it to look like I had a lot and succeeded, even though my arms strained.
No one protested as I left with my haul, but I felt every eye on me as I walked down the street.
Matt called my name, and I paused, watching him jog my way.
