Rebel Heart

Lana stepped into the street and looked around. The people of the town were employed in maintaining and improving their new lives. Lives she'd helped destroy.

If she didn't get the Horsemen to safety, more might be lost. Greenie would find her or someone else would. She couldn't risk staying here too long. Restless, she returned to her room in the warehouse and lay on the bed, thinking hard.

Dark fell, and several of the lanterns in the warehouse were lit. Hers stayed dark. She waited for Kelli to find her and eventually rose, hungry. She and Jack joined the others on the street, going to the bonfires. Lana looked around for Kelli and saw her near Mike at the far bonfire. Kelli's features were drawn, her gaze distracted. She sat with a plate of food, not eating.

"Are you well?" Lana asked, approaching.

"Yes, thanks," Kelli said. "I'm so sorry! I forgot you!"

"I can find my way here," Lana replied with a smile.

"Go grab some food."

Lana did. The woman carving this night's kill gave her extra for Jack. Lana returned to sit by Kelli. When Kelli said nothing, Lana spoke.

"I met Melissa today," she said.

"Melissa's great with kids," Kelli said. "I spent the day at the medical facility. My little one hasn't been doing so well on his treatment."

"I'm sorry to hear that. There was nothing in the supplies to help?"

"Unfortunately, no. We're taking it a day at a time."

Lana felt for the quiet woman as she fell in to a sad silence. More soldiers in gray and black made their way down the bonfires, pausing to talk to Mike. Lana couldn't relax until they'd left. Jack helped her eat her meat and then finished off the rice and beans. She sat back, comfortable with the warmth of the fire. Kelli giggled as she fed Jack the remainder of her meal as well.

"Meat's hard to come by," Mike reminded them, crouching nearby. Though his words were firm, he patted Jack.

"Any news today?" Kelli asked.

"Just the usual. A few more stragglers, rumors of a new East-West War," Mike summarized with a shrug. "A few of more of the feds' secret supply facilities were found today. They were all open. Something must've happened to destroy whatever kept them locked. It's a good thing for any survivors out there. The military is trying to find them all and pull out the supplies before anyone else steals them."