𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐔𝐌 (𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛)

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑆𝑖𝑥

I tucked my hands into the sleeves of Daryl's jacket and took in the dim foyer. The walls were barren and miserable. Whatever wallpaper they were once adorned with curled towards the floor in long strips, revealing cracks underneath. A massive staircase circled up to the second story. Laughter echoed from another room and a cold feeling settled over my stomach.

Lee closed the front door behind us and I turned to look at him.

"There's a room upstairs that you can stay in for now," he gestured to the staircase.

The wood stairs creaked painfully under my feet as I followed him upstairs. If I ever decided to sneak out, being inconspicuous would be difficult. We reached the second floor and Lee led me down a long hallway to a small room. A tower of boxes stood in one corner and a bare mattress lay pitifully on the floor. I stepped inside hesitantly.

"I'll send someone up with blankets and some clean clothes," I heard Lee say from behind me. I turned to face him and found that his hand was already resting on the door knob.

"Okay," I answered. Lee offered me a tiny smile before closing the door, leaving me alone in my new room.

A moment later, I heard the lock click into place. I felt sick. I listened to his footsteps fade away before trying the knob. Nothing.

So much for not being a prisoner.

A tall window stood across from me, letting in the afternoon light. I went over to it and examined the frame. It was painted shut with an offwhite color. Even if I managed to get it open, I'd have to survive a two story drop. I want my knife back.

A rustle interrupted my thoughts. I whirled around just as the door unlocked and slowly screeched open. A pretty Asian girl with loose black hair stepped through the doorway with a pile of folded clothes in her arms. A large gun was strapped to her thigh by a weathered holster. I want one of those too.

"I brought these for you," she said and closed the door behind her.

"I'm May. Nice to meet you."

I took the clothes from her and set them down on the mattress.

"I'm Charlotte."

"I know. Lee told me," May placed her hands inside her coat pockets.

"Thank you for the clothes. It'll be nice to wear something different for a change."

I decided that I liked May. She seemed nice enough, and it wouldn't hurt to have an ally in this place.

"I'll come back with blankets and some food," she said to me before locking the door behind her once again.

I went over to the clothes sitting on the mattress and looked them over. She'd brought me clean underwear, a grey pullover, and dark blue jeans.

May returned quickly with a blanket and pillow tucked under one arm and holding a steaming bowl in the other. I backed away from the mattress and allowed her to set down her things. I caught a whiff of the food she carried and heard my stomach growl.

"Here you go. You must be starving," May handed me the bowl with a warm grin.

I looked inside and found a silver fork resting inside some spaghetti. Without blowing on it, I picked up the fork and stuffed the food inside my mouth, not caring that it burned my tongue. As I ate, May moved the clothes to the side and covered the mattress with the blankets, placing a lumpy looking pillow on top as a finishing touch.

She reached into her coat and pulled out a water bottle and a faded yellow hand towel, setting it down next to my new bed.

"I brought you this, so you could clean yourself up. We used to shower at the ranger's station down the road but the water stopped working a couple weeks ago," she explained.

After scarfing down the rest of my spaghetti, I handed the bowl back to her.

"If you need anything else, just let me know." May's gaze drifted down my face.

"You have spaghetti sauce on your mouth."

✯✯✯

(𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 3/16/21)

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚.