𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

51.. primrose, my little dove

"There's an old farmhouse we passed by on the way here. It's a bit of a trek, but it should be isolated enough for us to rest."

The group packed up their belongings and started the journey to the farmhouse. The night was chilly, and the sky was clear, allowing them to see the path in front of them.

They walked in relative silence, each lost in their own thoughts and worries.

After what felt like hours, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the farmhouse. It was a small, weathered structure, with a few crooked shingles and boarded-up windows.

"Well, it's not the Ritz, but it'll do for the night," Vince said, leading the way as they approached the front door.

One by one, they filed into the farmhouse, eager to find shelter from the cold night.

"Dibs on the top bunk!" Minho cheered, already hopping on from inside one of the rooms.

"Hey, no fair!" Frypan protested. "You always get the top bunk."

Minho gave him a snarky grin. "Survival of the fittest, amigo."

Vince rolled his eyes at their playful banter. "All right, children, settle down. We're all tired, and there's plenty of room for everyone."

The room was cramped and a bit dusty, but it was shelter. There was a fireplace in one corner, which provided a bit of warmth.

"You want to sleep with me or with Mary?" Bea asked Primrose, caressing the little girl's hand.

Prim looked up at Bea with a shy smile, her eyes wide and innocent. "With you, please."

Bea smiled gently, touched by the little girl's trust. She led Primrose over to one of the sleeping bags that had been set up on the floor.

"Come on, you can sleep right next to me, darling."

Primrose snuggled into the sleeping bag, her small form almost disappearing into it. Bea settled down beside her, pulling a thin blanket over the both of them.

Vince cleared his throat, getting the group's attention. "Alright, I know we're all tired, but we need to set up a watch schedule. I'll take first watch with Jorge. Frypan and Minho, you two can take second. Then we'll switch in the morning."

The group nodded in agreement, accepting the assigned shifts. Frypan and Minho grumbled a bit about having to take the second watch, but ultimately didn't protest.

Thomas slowly walked over to where Bea and Primrose were lying. He crouched down next to them, a gentle smile on his face.

"Hey, is everything okay here?" he whispered to Bea, trying not to wake Primrose, who was fast asleep.

"Yeah, she's good," Bea replied quietly, her eyes on Primrose's sleeping form.

Thomas nodded, his gaze lingering on Primrose for a moment before he turned his attention to Bea.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, his tone laced with concern.

"Good," she replied. "Asthma?" Thomas asked and she nodded.

Thomas grimaced a little bit. "Must be tough," he said softly. "Is it manageable out here, though? I mean, with all the dust and everything."

Bea nodded again. "It's not so bad," she said, her voice a little hoarse.

Thomas studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers. He could tell that she was downplaying her symptoms.

After a moment, he reached out and touched her shoulder, his fingers lingering for a moment. "You'll tell me if it gets worse, right? We can't afford for you to get too sick out here."