Days of Decay

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning was an unusual one for Asha; she hadn't woken up in a warm bed for months, nor had she woken to breakfast being presented to her by a child before.

"Here, it's getting soggy," Sunny said as she placed the sloshing bowl of cornflakes on the bedside table.

Asha propped herself up on her elbows, her eyes barely open, and stared at the bowl. It wasn't made with milk, but with water instead, which didn't bother her too much. She was just happy to have a meal without worrying about where it would next come from. Her head still pounded which was to be expected, but it was feeling better than it did the night before.

"Thanks," Asha said, her voice a little gravely from sleep. She gave the girl a tired smile.

"Max wants you both downstairs quick," Sunny said before placing a bowl of cereal by Kit's still snoozing head and heading out the door.

The warm sun of the morning billowed through after her and made Asha smile even wider. She felt safe in the company of others, something she didn't think she could feel.

She turned around in the bed and focused her attention on Kit; she needed to wake him up, which was a challenge. He was one of those lucky people who could sleep through an earthquake, Asha on the other hand only needed to hear a whisper from down the street and she was wide awake. She started by poking his back, which then turned into light punches, which then turned into hard punches, which finally ended on a slap to the face.

"What the fuck!" He moaned groggily, cupping his freckled cheek and turning around to face his attacker.

"We've been summoned. Eat up," Asha grinned pointing at the bowl next to him.

He groaned and let out a big yawn before sitting himself up in the bed and grabbing the bowl. He wasted no time digging in and Asha joined suit. They ate without speaking for a few minutes before Kit broke the silence.

"How's the head?" He asked, though his speech was mumbled through half eaten cornflakes. He looked doughy in the mornings, his eyes puffy, cheeks begging to be pinched and curly hair waiting to be played with.

"Fine. It'll heal soon enough," she said as she spooned another mouthful in.

"This makes a change, doesn't it?" Kit remarked, his hazel eyes admiring the room, the food and then Asha.

"It's so weird, and warm," Asha smiled, putting the now empty bowl down on the bedside table.

She snuggled down into the covers revelling in the heat for a moment before throwing them off her. Reluctantly, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and nestled her toes in the shaggy carpet before hauling herself into a stand. "But, we have to get going," she started, though her mind quickly realised something. "Hey, we didn't do a watch."

"Oh yeah," Kit replied, his face turning to confusion. "Maybe we did, but we blocked it out of our memory," he joked as he got out of bed. He reached for his clothes and dressed quickly.

"I doubt that," she said. Though she was a little annoyed that Max didn't ask them to do a watch, she was grateful for a full night of sleep.

When they arrived downstairs, Asha saw Daisy and Finn quietly debating, dramatically waving respective books in the air on one of the sofas, Sunny putting Boe's hair into a ponytail, Piper redressing her thigh wound, and Max hunched over a large map with an inquisitive look on his face; he glanced up when they came in.

"Mornin'" he grinned; his deep voice resonated around the spacious room. "I hope you slept well 'cause we've got a long day ahead of us."

"Yeah, about that. Why didn't you wake us to keep watch?" Asha asked, sitting herself down next to him and peering at the map. Max had highlighted certain areas in different colours; it looked like a plan.