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They gathered their things and climbed back up the ladder into the metal shed.
The first breath of fresh air seeped deep into her lungs as she finally stepped outside.
Broad daylight illuminated each area of the clearing that had been hidden in darkness the night before. She took it all in, paying extra attention to the faint murmur of rushing water from the creek nearby.
As long as she felt up to it, the following day would be dedicated to exploring the area. Doing it immediately would’ve been best, but it also wouldn’t do any good to accidentally reopen the freshly stitched wound. As much as she hated it, taking it easy was the smarter move.
She led Maddie over to a small open area in the shade, then went to work.
It took longer than usual to gather up supplies and get a fire started, but eventually she had the freeze-dried meal boiling above a small fire.
“So, how’d you know about this place?” Maddie asked from where she sat on the dirt a few feet away.
Saff stretched one leg out in front of her, leaning back on her palms. “My dad built it.”
Maddie paused, as if mulling that over. “But you didn’t come here when the outbreak started?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Saff’s eyes wandered around the clearing, instinctively scanning for movement. “Wasn’t sure if it was still here.”
Maddie was quiet for a moment, then she let out a small hum.
Saff waited for her to continue, but she didn’t.
“What?” she finally asked, looking back at her.
“I don’t know,” Maddie said with a shrug. “Just seems weird.”
It was weird. Saff knew it was. But it was also normal, at least for them. And she didn’t know how to explain that to anyone else.
“So, what,” Maddie continued, “you just wandered around by yourself for almost a year and only recently decided to come here?”
Saff was the one that paused then. She studied the apprehension written across Maddie’s face, seeing the unspoken questions behind her lips.
Saff cleared her throat, but didn’t answer. Instead, she reached forward, stirring the food in the pot.
Maddie was quiet for a moment. Then finally she continued, “What happened to your dad?”
Saff’s hand slowed, the last image of her father’s angry face flashing in her mind. “He died.”
Maddie went quiet again, and Saff knew her well enough now to know that she wouldn’t ask anymore questions after that.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Saff stopped stirring for a moment. No one had told her that after he’d died. Not that she’d particularly wanted to hear it, but still hearing the words felt odd. It felt—wrong, almost.
The water in the pot boiled over, drops of liquid falling into the flames with a hiss as she reached to remove it.
“Foods ready.”
***
Saff had only managed to get a few bites down before the nausea returned. So rather than force it any further, she decided instead to check out the clearing and creek while Maddie finished eating.
It only took a minute for her to find the pipe that came up above ground and ran twenty feet out to the nearby creek. She followed it, easily spotting where it submerged into the running water.
