Chemicals

7

Ivy crosses her arms, her eyes flicking between us. "Look, I get it. You don't trust me. But staying here isn't going to keep you alive much longer."

Ethan frowns, but it's Carmen who speaks up first. "And what's your plan, Ivy? What makes you so sure we'll be safer with you?"

Ivy glances over her shoulder at the guys lingering by the truck, then back at us. "We've got a base. Up in the mountains. It's far enough that the rising water levels won't reach us. There's shelter, food, supplies. We've been stockpiling for weeks."

I narrow my eyes, still not convinced. "The mountains? That's miles away. How do you know it's safe up there?"

She shrugs, shifting her weight. "The water hasn't gotten close yet. And at that altitude, it's unlikely it ever will. Plus, we've got fresh water from a spring, and plenty of high ground for visibility. You're sitting in a supermarket, waiting for everything to collapse around you. Ethan's jaw tightens, like he's considering it. 

The moment Ivy says the word water, something inside me twists painfully. My chest tightens, and for a second, I'm not in the supermarket anymore—I'm back at the beach. Back when everything started to fall apart. I see my parents, coughing, their skin turning pale and blotchy, the virus spreading through their veins like wildfire. It was quick, agonizing, and no matter how much I tried to help, nothing worked. They'd been exposed through the water. Everyone had thought it was safe.

I blink, trying to push the memory down. The images of their faces, their pain, still haunt me. I haven't touched untreated water since, and every mention of it sends a chill through me.

"Water up there might be clean," I say, forcing my voice steady, though my mind is racing. "But what happens if it's not?" Ivy glances at me, clearly not understanding the weight of my question, or the fear behind it. Ethan shoots me a quick look, like he knows exactly what I'm thinking. But I can't let that fear decide for me now. Not again.

Ivy narrows her eyes at me, sensing the tension but brushing it off. "We've been up there for weeks. No issues with the water. It's fresh from a spring, not the contaminated stuff down here." Her voice is casual, like she's trying to calm me down, but it doesn't help. Ethan steps forward, glancing at me before addressing Ivy. "Even if we believe you, how do we know your 'base' is still safe? The mountains might keep the water away, but that doesn't mean other things can't get to you." Ivy smirks, crossing her arms again. "We've got it locked down. High ground, plenty of space, and we've made sure nothing gets in that we don't want in."

Her confidence unsettles me. I know what it's like to think you're safe, only to have it ripped away in an instant. I've seen how quickly things can go wrong. I can tell Ethan's on the edge, too—he's always been good at reading situations, and right now, neither of us is ready to trust her. Carmen breaks the silence, her voice quieter, cautious. "And why bring us in? You have your crew, your supplies. Why add more people?"

Ivy tilts her head, almost like she's amused by the question. "Because numbers matter. And we can't do this alone forever. We need capable people, and Ethan's always been handy with fixing things." She shifts her gaze to me. "And, I don't know, Kiya—maybe you're useful too."

Her words hang in the air, sharp and condescending. My muscles tense, but I bite my tongue. I don't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she's gotten under my skin. Ethan glances at me, waiting for my response. The others are watching too, but my mind is still caught on that one word. Water. And everything it's cost me.

Finally, I shake my head, meeting Ivy's gaze. "We're not making any decisions right now." My voice is steady, even though I feel anything but. "We'll think about it." Ivy shrugs, her smirk returning. "Take your time. But don't take too long. That water's rising faster than you think." She turns, walking back toward her truck, her crew following close behind. The engine roars to life once again, the sound rumbling in my chest as they drive off into the distance. The tension in the air lingers long after they're gone. Carmen looks at me, concern etched on her face. "You okay?"

I force a nod, but the truth is, I'm not sure. Because now we have a choice, and either way, it feels like we're gambling with our lives. watch the dust settle as Ivy's truck disappears from view, the low hum of the engine fading into the distance. The silence that follows feels heavy, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I can still feel my pulse racing, but I'm doing my best to mask the unease creeping through me.

Ethan shifts beside me, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares out the window. He's the first to speak, his voice low. "She's right about one thing. We can't stay here forever." Carmen nods, but her expression is conflicted. "Yeah, but running to the mountains with people we barely know? Feels like jumping from one problem into another."

Frank, who's been quiet this whole time, finally speaks up. "We need to weigh our options. Supplies are dwindling fast. If there's truly a safer place, we have to consider it." He looks at me as if he's waiting for my approval. I clench my jaw, weighing the possibilities. Ivy's offer could be exactly what we need. But trusting her feels like a huge gamble, especially given everything we've seen and everything I've lost. My mind flashes back to my parents, to how I couldn't save them. Could this be another trap that ends with us losing everything?

"We have to think about it," I say, my voice steady but my mind racing. "It's not just about surviving the next week. It's about surviving for good. And trusting someone like Ivy... we need to be sure." Ethan's eyes flick to mine, and for a second, it's like he's reading my thoughts. He's conflicted, I can tell. There's history there, but even he isn't certain Ivy can be trusted. "We'll give it some time," Ethan finally says, nodding in agreement. "We can't rush this decision. But we also can't afford to sit around too long." I take a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling over me like a heavy blanket. "We'll think it through. Together. No one decides alone." The group falls quiet again, but this time it's different. There's a silent understanding between us. 

We're in this together, whether we stay or leave. Whether we trust Ivy or not. Carmen looks at me, concern flickering in her eyes. "Whatever we decide, we decide soon. We don't have much time."I nod, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "Yeah," I murmur. "Soon."

For now, though, all we can do is wait. And hope that we make the right call before it's too late.