Morning

You awaken sore, but surprisingly well-rested. You rub the sleep from your eyes and as you sit up beneath the blanket a steaming travel mug of coffee is thrust before your face. You mumble your gratitude and look over to see Cassie, looking unbelievably well-rested and chipper.

"I cooked some potatoes too," she points to a hot plate topped by a steaming skillet of sliced potatoes.

The storm finally abated some time shortly before dawn and this, Cassie explains, woke her up. She took over watch from Ritter because he looked "super tired." You shove the sleeping lump of Ritter awake with the toe of your boot.

"Get up," you warn him and gulp down the hot coffee.

Ritter rises, stretches, and yawns. Before he can fully wake up you grab him by the throat while Cassie has her back turned.

"Never go to sleep and leave you lives in the hands of a teenager," you tell him. "That was real stupid."

"Good morning to you too," he manages through your **** hold.

He grumbles, but he accepts the chastisement. You check on Cassie's brother while Ritter gets his breakfast. You lay a hand on the man stomach just above the bandages and to your surprise his eyes flutter open.

"Cassie?" He rasps.

"No, but she's okay," you reply. "You're safe. We're going to get you to a...to a hospital."

He smiles slightly and then lapses back into his coma. You change his bandage quickly, discarding the used bandages in a bag so that Cassie can't see the amount of blood and pus still oozing from the wound.

"Alright," you announce loudly as you stand. "Ritter, finish up and help me get Cassie's brother loaded into the van. Cassie, make a last run through the store. Grab anything you think you might need, but make it quick.

Ten minutes later you are all loaded into the van, which is packed so tightly in the back that Cassie and her brother can barely move amid all the boxes and packages of food and supplies. You give Ritter one last look and he returns it with a smile and a wink. You shake your head in disgust.

"Here we go," you announce and pull out into the grocery store's parking lot.

Your tires splash through large puddles of rainwater as you begin to navigate the quiet streets. It isn't a long drive back to the mall, but you have a prickling feeling at the back of your neck that warns you things may not go according to plan.