Back underground.

When you return to the shelter, everyone else goes back inside. Scarlet skips ahead but stops before going into the shack and turns to face you. “I know I don’t have to tell you this, but don’t tell anyone what we’re doing.”

“I wasn’t planning to, but why does it matter?”

She makes a face and looks down. “It’s unprofessional to be sleeping with the people you work with. Amari says we shouldn’t sleep with each other. I don’t want to get in trouble.”

You scoff, eyeing Scarlet. “What is she? Your mother?”

“As close as I have to one currently.”

You sigh and shake your head. “Amari would have my head too if she found out, so you don’t have to worry about anyone else hearing about what we just did…or anything else we might do in the future.”

Scarlet grins. “I bet you wouldn’t want Flora to find out either, right?”

“Piss off.” You retort.

You and Scarlet climb down the ladder to the underground portion of the shack. Kenji, Amari, Alexandra, and Flora are all comfortable. The couch is occupied, and all the bedrolls are sprawled out. There’s gear organized on the dirt—rifles, handguns, first-aid, and other survival equipment like tents, cooking sets, etc.

Kenji looks at you and cocks his head. “What were you two doing?”

“Walked around,” Scarlet says. “It’s the first I’ve had a chance to understand where we are.”

Kenji looks at her for a couple of seconds and nods. “Don’t get used to it.”

“It’s pretty here,” Scarlet continues. “But, since we’re all in a circle around you and Amari, I’m willing to bet you were going go into detail about why we’re leaving.”

Amari nods. “Yes, we were. Kenji, now that the rest are here, would you like to begin the discussion.”

“I will,” Kenji says. “It came to attention that we’re pinched in between them and the people of Billings due to our last indecent at the Heights living area. Amari has undoubtedly given hints that we’re a part of the ARS. The group we ran into in the Heights area were…uhm…”

“Isolationists,” Amari pitches. “My breakout wasn’t exactly sneaky, so Kenji is worried that they might try to make contact with the police **** in Billings and conduct search parties for us.”

“Right,” Kenji regains everyone’s attention. “I heard that there are already signs of a crackdown on gun runners in Billings, so it’s only a matter of time before they begin sweeping the area for people like us.”

“What about the living situation?” Flora asks. “Where will we be staying once we get to the next location?”

“I got it covered,” Amari says. “I’m familiar with the area. Tiny’s Tavern is important in our business.”

“Never even heard of it,” Alexandra says.

“That’s the point,” Amari sighs. “All of you listen. Any of the major questions will have to wait. I know that some of you are just dying to ask us, but we have to trust each other in the meantime.”

Kenji clears his throat. “For some of us, it isn’t the first time we’ve been here. And I’m not just talking about Warren. Scarlet and I have operated in and around the town that it’s located at.”

“Maybe we’ll run into McKinley,” Scarlet says with a light smile.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Kenji says, with the same light small. “Anyway, in all seriousness… We need to leave as soon as we can. It’s too risky to be sticking around here, but I don’t believe Billings or any of the others will go as far as Tiny’s Tavern in search of us.”

When Kenji stops there, no one has anything else to offer. So, you’re allowed to help organize all the gear for departure, which eats up the remainder of the day…

…

…

Flora sits next to you. Her mind seems to be somewhere else, as she recalls Kenji’s suggestion.

You aren’t sure how to open up with dialog this time, but you decide to go for it anyway. “You were amazing, by the way.”

Flora scoffs, nudging your knee with hers. “Shut up. What do you think?”

You have to think for a couple of seconds before you can reply. The fluctuating weather was one you weren’t used to. Still, you considered it better to travel someplace permanently instead of scraping the bottom of the barrel to survive the winter underground.

Billings was out of the question; Kenji made that clear enough, but doubling back to Tiny’s Tavern carried its complications. You felt a little stupid for worrying about it, but you didn’t want to run into Delilah, especially now that you’ve established something with Flora.

The stale, cool air of the underground shelter swarms around you and fills your lungs. Out of everything, you did not want to have conflicting feelings between two of the most important girls in your life. You didn’t know Delilah all that well, but you knew she was fragile, no matter how well she hid it. How would she react if/when she found out about Flora? There were a million things to consider here, and they were self-centered.

Flora again nudges you, inquiring your answer.

“I don’t know,” you say. “Tiny’s Tavern is just… where it all happened for me, you know? And now to go back…?”

“Are you scared of meeting Delilah again?”

“I am.”

“Good.”

“Good?” You whispered. “Why is that good?”

“That means you’ve developed strong feelings for me. And, even if you don’t decide to stay with me, it means what we felt was… real. A lover devoured me, not just a simple-minded man.”

Flora brought her knees to her chest and then exhaled. “I understand love is a powerful thing. It’s a verb. It’s a feeling that controls and compels its host, is it not?”

You mumble and look away.

“I’ll be heartbroken when you reconnect with Delilah, but I was always the girl that simply reminded you of your ex-companion so that I won’t take offense.”

“You don’t have to say that,” you cut in. “Not yet.”

“Warren… I’m not going to push away from someone you loved before me. I was the second choice. As I said, I’m just the girl who reminded you of someone else. You have strong seeds of love elsewhere.”

There’s no heat in your cheeks, just a feeling of split emotions that you hadn’t much experience for. Flora was so much more than Scarlet, Alexandra, Amari… she seemed much more human and put together than the others. She wasn’t a mindless follower or a lost dog, just someone trapped in a situation they didn’t want to be in. You felt wrong for building her up and leaving her. And yet, you didn’t feel confident enough to tell her whether or not you could altogether ditch Delilah for her. Your original #1, the girl that loved you despite knowing you and your profession.

“Get some sleep,” Kenji comes in through the hatch and catches you two awake. He pats snow from his hair and shivers. “We’re leaving tomorrow unless the weather disallows it.”

“Good night, Flora.” You tell her when she stands up.

“Goedenacht, meneer.”