Alive inside (Book Three)

New Normal Part Two

Ch. 2

'New normal Part two'

[Early morning, Settlement]

The sun had not yet risen, Genevieve was oiling the knife she had kept as a memento from her beloved mentor, Amanda.

Wiping the blade clean, Genevieve sheathed her it, before looking out the window, the teenager sighed knowing she would soon need to find out who would come along, after leaving her room, the young scavenger shrugged her rucksack on which still donned her signature pink unicorn, stitched into the former backpack of Jenny, Genevieve pulled her boots on and began lacing them up.

Genevieve looked up and saw Summer sipping on a cup of coffee, the teenager nodded, she hoped she'd be with someone she liked for scavenging.

"Please be safe, Genevieve," Summer whispered, behind her coffee cup, the steam from the cup was helping keep her warm.

Genevieve nodded quickly again, looking back down at her last boot. "I will be," Genevieve whispered back, finishing her laces up.

Summer sighed quietly, fearing every day that Genevieve wouldn't return home alive, or at all.

After a few moments of silence, Genevieve stood up and exited the house, turning back, the teen looked at Summer again. "See you later," she said before closing the door.

Walking through the snowdrifts, Genevieve made a mental note to remember she should shovel the walkway when she got home.

Back in the house, Summer finished up her coffee and walked over to the sink, dripping to help prevent frozen pipes; the woman turned on the faucet and rinsed her cup out before setting it on the counter, upside-down where she usually put it.

Walking the half a mile, Genevieve let herself into the main building, being greeted by the watchman on duty. "Mornin', Genevieve!" The man said before rubbing his hands together to stay warm.

"Morning," Genevieve responded as she closed the door behind her and tapped her boots so she wouldn't track too much snow into the place.

The teen made her way to the board and traced her finger down the list of names, landing on scavengers for this morning, Genevieve's hand and mood dropped. "Fuck!" Genevieve growled under her breath, when she read the name beside hers.

Hours had passed and Summer was going for her usual off-day stroll, rain, sun, or snow, she always took a walk, saw the neighbors, talked for a while.

"How's Genevieve been?" Melissa asked, leaning against her porch's railing, sipping on some melted snow-water.

Summer tossed a shovel of snow off the walkway and thought for a second. "I think she's a little better, she hasn't complained about the new house rule of no lethal objects in her room," the woman answered as she took another scoop of snow.

Melissa nodded thoughtfully, remembering the horrifying event that spurred that new rule into existence. "Have you spoken to her about what happened?" the former nurse asked, bringing her cup up again before setting it aside and standing.

Tossing another shovel of snow, Summer handed the scoop tool over, and sat down. "No," Summer said, sounding a little flustered at her own answer. "Not sure if she wants to, or what I should say," the woman vented, her red hair pulled back in its signature ponytail, still did not impede its ability to annoy her.

Melissa scooped a bit of snow, and flung it into her yard as far as she could. "In that case, maybe the best way for her, is just to be there," the older woman suggested, the worry she felt over the teen she had watched grow up could not be overstated.