Chapter 22: Shopping Spree

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Mike threw his arms up as the door slammed behind him.

"Yeah well fuck you, then!"

"Another fight?"

"She's doing my fucking head in!"

His face was lined, a beard that looked more like bum fluff sprouting. I thought I heard sobs behind the door.

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

"I appreciate the offer, but stay away from her. You'll only piss her off more."

I grunted in agreement. Truthfully, the thought of pulling Lacy together filled me with a black dread. All I wanted now was to crash on the sofa with a drink.

Ava and Jason had beaten me to it, ignoring the increasingly common domestic between Mike and Lacy. They looked how I felt. Faces pale and hair wild, they didn't speak. Didn't move as I joined them.

Our little trio had been out scavenging. In a ruined leisure centre, we'd found some vending machines full of sweets and crisps. Enough to keep us going, but no good food.

Taylor and David returned soon after us, similarly haggard. As the others filed into the function room for some food, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the hollow cheeks, staring eyes and bristly hair. Bones protruded like boulders from the face of a mountain.

For the first time in forever, I found I could comfortably go without a bra. Cat had initially bemoaned my boobs shrinking, but when she'd caught me punching another hole in my belt, the teasing had ceased.

It was another week before I was out again. Properly, at least. Of course I had guard duty and some short searches, but not a big expedition.

Ella had the, quite frankly inspired, idea to loot a sports store for bows and other real weapons, then go hunting. Joe and Mike took her out and returned looking distinctly like Robin hood.

After some mornings spent training, in which I found myself surprisingly good at archery, we decided to set out. Jason and Cat had the most bullseyes, surprising nobody more than them, but I'd been the most consistent. So, out I went, Ella carrying spare arrows.

Wet mist hung in the air between the barren trees. A few months ago, the forest floor would have been a carpet of crunchy fallen leaves. Patchwork of vibrant oranges, deep reds and faint yellow, the mottled beauty of autumn.

Now, the leaves had long since rotten away, leaving nothing but the damp, churned mud of winter. It wasn't yet cold enough to harden up to concrete, and the unending deluge left us caked before we'd even broken into the woods proper.

Ella was wrapped up tight, the only exposed skin her dark face poking out from the white wool of her hood. I shifted my quiver, the strap heavy on my aching shoulders. Carrying a pack everyday had begun to take its toll. My denim jacket had begun to fray under the straps, on top of just being generally filthy.

"Do you think we'll find anything?" Ella asked.

"I don't know," I said. "I'll be honest, Ell, I don't know the first thing about hunting."

She looked down, then back up at me with a forced smile. "We'll be okay! You always figure something out."

"Well, we won't need to rely on it for long. A month or so and it'll be spring. We can maybe find some seeds and get a little farm going. Although," I frowned. "I don't know anything about farming, either."

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