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Saff didn’t bother mentioning that she was going to offer the first cot up for her to sleep on that night even before she’d found the second one. “Yeah,” she muttered. “Shower back there is working now, too.”
Maddie smiled. “Seriously?”
Saff pushed the cot up against the other wall. “Don’t get too excited. The waters freezing.”
Maddie’s smile dropped slightly.
“I’m gonna shower,” Saff said, peeling off her hoodie and dropping it onto the cot. “You wanna take one too?”
Maddie yawned. “I’m too tired. Maybe tomorrow.”
Exhaustion was already creeping up on her too, but after going so long without a real shower, it almost felt like a necessity.
She was in and out in less than a minute, barely able to stand the cold water as shivers ran through her body, causing the ache in her side to return. She changed into one of the plain old t-shirts and sweatpants she’d found before re-entering the main area.
Maddie had found her way to the new cot and already set her sleeping bag on it, along with the blanket she’d used the night before.
“This is so much better than the floor,” she said with a satisfied lull.
Saff’s stomach growled, and she made her way back to the bins of food. She opened one and began sifting through, searching for anything that wasn’t an MRE.
There were heaps of canned food, soups, and other things that did nothing for her appetite. Then, when she was about to give up, her hand stopped.
She smirked, pulling out a bag of buttered popcorn kernels
“I’ll be right back,” she muttered, grabbing the pot on her way back to the hatch.
***
“Is that—popcorn?” Maddie asked, as Saff walked back through the small tunnel into the main area of the bunker.
“Want some?”
Maddie’s smile grew wide as she pushed up onto her elbows. “Is that what you were doing up there? Making popcorn?”
Saff shrugged, bringing the pot over to her. “Found it in one of the containers.”
She poured some out into Maddie’s open palm, careful to keep the still hot metal from touching her skin.
Maddie slowly put one piece into her mouth. “Oh my god,” she said, laughing through a crunch. “This is so good.”
Saff smirked, popping a piece into her mouth.
“This place must be pretty well stocked,” Maddie said, taking another bite.
Saff grunted. “Its not bad. But not great.” She lowered herself to the ground, sitting on the floor beside Maddie’s cot. “Maybe enough for half a year. Or a full year with strict rations.”
Maddie nodded thoughtfully. “Did you find any asthma medication?”
Saff popped another piece into her mouth, then set the pot on the ground. “No.”
Maddie frowned, putting the rest of the handful in her mouth. “What’re you gonna do now?”
She’d thought about it off and on throughout the day, running through the possible options. Although none came up any better than the rest.
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “Keep searching any pharmacies I can find, I guess.”
“Aren’t you worried about it being expired?” Maddie asked softly. “Whatever medication you find.”
