Through The Ashes

9

Jorn shot up, fear stirring her body anew. She looked down to see Mara, lying with her in her bed, her light snore filling the air.

It was dark and Jorn's skin was covered in a light sheen of sweat. Her breath was ragged as she stared down at Mara, her eyes tracing the perfect curve of her face, the peaceful expression that seemed so out of place in a time like this.

Jorn swallowed, her throat dry.

What am I doing?

The question bounced around her head, gnawing at her insides. She wasn't supposed to let anyone this close—physically or emotionally. It made things... complicated. Dangerous. But Mara's presence was an anchor she hadn't realized she needed until now.

She rubbed her face with her hands, trying to wipe away the bleariness that clung to her.

The room was still cloaked in shadows, the quiet of the apartment almost unnerving. Outside, the world continued to fall apart, but here, in this strange pocket of time, it was just her and Mara. And that felt... almost wrong.

Carefully, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, not wanting to disturb Mara. She stood up, the floor creaking slightly beneath her boots, and ran a hand through her damp hair. The cool air did little to calm the frantic beating of her heart.

Her gun was still holstered at her hip as she reached for it, sighing in relief. Jorn moved toward the window, peeking through the cracked blinds. The streets below were silent, a few shambling figures barely visible in the moonlight.

She leaned her forehead against the cool glass, her breath fogging it up. They were always out there—the Rot—waiting, prowling for anything living.

Jorn quietly left her room, taking out her pistol and checking the rest of the apartment to make sure they were truly alone. They had fallen asleep for what was most likely hours. The realization was threatening to send Jorn into another spiral.

When Jorn checked the living room, she realized Mara had placed a kitchen chair directly under the front door's knob. If anyone or anything was trying to break in, they would hear it. It was smart and for the most part, ensured they were safe.

What are going to do?

Traveling back to camp at night was a major risk. It didn't help that parts of the city were almost pitch black due to electricity being spotty.

For the little that they found, going back wasn't worth it right now. Jorn quietly holstered her pistol, tension still coiling tight in her muscles. Her mind raced as she stood in the living room.

Her gaze drifted back toward her room, where Mara still slept, curled up in the old sheets as if the world was normal again.

The apartment wasn't secure enough for a long stay, but it was a temporary shelter—a fragile bubble of safety in a world that offered none. Her instincts screamed at her to keep moving, to never stop, but right now, that wasn't an option.

We have to stay the rest of the night.

With the first break of dawn, they could slip out again. That was the safest plan, the only plan that made sense.

Jorn returned to the bedroom, her footsteps light but deliberate. She stood at the edge of the bed, watching Mara for a moment. The soft rhythm of her breathing was strangely calming, a steady sound amidst the war in her mind.

She sat down on the bed, resting her head in her hands.

Mara eventually stirred, her sleepy voice breaking the silence. "Jorn?"