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After the cacophony of voices finally died down, Raven and her daughters extended a warm, if somewhat frazzled, welcome to Addy into their spacious abode. With the house boasting four bedrooms and Beth and Enid sharing one, there was more than enough space for a new member of their makeshift family.
10k walked alongside Addy as they made their way out of the RV. The solemnity on his face softened when he glanced over at her; the crunch of gravel beneath their feet seemed to punctuate his thoughts as they headed toward Raven's house.
"Thanks, 10k," Addy expressed with genuine gratitude, gazing towards the safe haven that was only a few steps away.
"Don't mention it," 10k replied, managing a smile despite the tightness in his chest. "I'll always be here for you, Addy. And you know what?" he added, his voice carrying a tinge of playfulness that seemed almost out of place in their world, "I never did trust Mack all that much anyway."
Addy's laughter was a melodic burst that cascaded into the quiet evening, catching him off guard. For a moment, he simply stared, spellbound by the joy that seemed so rare in these times. As the chuckles subsided, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a sudden, tight embrace. His arms lifted to return the hug hesitantly, cherishing the warmth and the moment.
But then, her grip loosened, and she stepped back with a grin that seemed to light up the twilight around them. "Wish me luck," she whispered before spinning on her heel to face the weathered door of Enid's house.
He could only nod, his voice lost for a moment in the complexity of emotions that Addy often stirred in him.
With a soft rap-rap-rap of knuckles against wood, the door swung open abruptly. Enid's presence filled the doorway; her eyes found Addy's and lit up with recognition and something akin to relief.
"Addy!" she exclaimed, grabbing hold of her arm and tugging her inside with unexpected strength. "We've been waiting!"
The joyous reunion was swift and left no room for formalities; Enid pulled Addy into the house as if they were in their own bubble of camaraderie. The door slammed shut before 10k's foot had even left the edge of the porch where he stood - still alone.
Behind him at a reasonable distance, Mack tilted his head to evaluate the situation. Doc stroked his beard thoughtfully while Roberta's gaze was steadfast on the now-closed door, betraying a flicker of concern. Garnette remained silent but watchful-a sentry who understood far too well what it meant to balance on the brink of loss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raven sat cross-legged on the cold concrete floor, her back leaning lightly against the stark white wall of the empty room. Silence surrounded her save for the soft whirring of the old tape player she had managed to repair just days before. In her hands, she clutched a series of small audio tapes, each labeled meticulously with a different name-evidence of interviews conducted with potential new members of their community.
