I nodded and let Justine lean on my shoulder. I pulled the doors wide open and assisted him up the stairs to the cottage.The entrance hall interior has hardwood flooring and ceilings, as well as exquisite carpets and brown suede furnishings. A sofa and a futon mattress sat next to a fireplace mantle, with bookcases on each side. The kitchenette was hidden away in the rear corner, including almost new equipment. It was a bit of a shame they won't function without electricity.I walked Justine over to the staircase that begin right behind the sofa. The stairs had thirteen steps, and I had to assist Justine in climbing each one. When we made it to the top, we peered down into the living room beneath through the mahogany balustrade while he caught his breath and composure.Up here, the hallway consists of the following three distinct rooms, all of which were bedrooms. The first features two full-sized bedrooms, the second a king-size

 I was continually scanning our neighborhood and the entire parameter, looking for any indication of disturbance. The revolver on my hip seems completely at home, and with it constantly within range, I feel much more confident than I have in a long time. I can accomplish anything and endure anything with this firearm."What precisely are we searching for?" Peter inquired as he sat down next to me.He was gripping his gun so firmly that his knuckles seem to have been pale, and I could sense he was upset about it."We're searching for a vehicle that has enough capacity for us and as many provisions as we can load and carry with us," I patiently stated.Peter's demeanor was beginning to grate on my sensibilities, but I understood his concerns about our strategy. I understand he's only concerned about Justine and Ricky, who have become his best friends and brothers, and about me, and even about individuals we've only just

 I rested my forehead on his wide shoulder for a while, and neither one of us made any comment. We just remained there in quiet, appreciating one other's company. Relaxing in Justine's arms helped me feel a lot more comfortable and safer than anyplace else, and because this would be our final opportunity to create a safe environment and rest for a long time, I wanted to make the most of it. Because I don't know when I'll have another opportunity to cuddle up with Justine.He kissed the temple of my head and pressed his lips against my skin for a fraction of a second, sending thrills up my spine. "It's all right to feel terrified, Clementia. It's not an indication of immaturity.""I understand," I said.He was quiet again, his eyes fixed on nothing other than particularly. I could tell he was frightened because of the tightness of his jawline and the tight grasp he had over my shoulders. Justine has lost a large number of people sin

 Mayette still seemed perplexed as to how we could view things the way we do, and I could not really reckon of anything further to speak to persuade her differently. She groaned and decided to abandon her efforts to join us. "How are you preparing for resources? Would you need anything for your journey?"Ricky and Justine exchanged short looks. "Are you willing to offer?" Ricky inquired gently."You helped me rescue two of my kids. I figured a few supplies would be the minimum I could do.""We could always need additional supplies," said Justine. "However, I don't want to steal anything from your group that you may use in the future.""Don't be concerned," Mayette said, disregarding his worries. "Our restaurant had a fully stocked refrigerator, refrigerator, and pantry. Because you see, restaurants normally provide food," she mumbled and laughed. "The married couple that owned it had its own portable generator, so the

"Stick close," I urged, taking the initiative. Honestly, despite the fact that my gun abilities have substantially improved under Justine's tuition, I'm not really prepared to take leadership in most scenarios. But, in reality, neither was Peter. He wasn't bad with his weaponry, but he's impulsive, impatient, and would rush into a circumstance without properly appraising it. Especially if his mind was on his arguments with Diana rather than the work at hand. He trailed after me, hunkering down a little by my shoulder, his eyes scouring the parking garage for any hint of activity. I could hear Diana and Justine moving about above us, so I attempted to block out the noise of their footsteps and concentrate on the space in front of us. The door is adorned with a bronze number eight. There are windows on both sides of the entrance, but the curtains were closed, so we couldn't see inside without opening the front door. Peter and I double-checked our firearms to be sure they were primed a