Chapter 7
The undergrowth on the Northwest coast is thick, growing into dense hedges and lining every vacant lot. As the sunlight became brighter and seemed to saturate the air, invading every gap in her clothing, Jamie started looking for shelter; any kind of shelter.
At the edge of a muddy, cracked parking lot, she saw a small hole in a thatch of blackberry bushes. She ducked into the hole and crawled deeper in, feeling the thorns catching at her hoodie. Whatever animal had created this tunnel used it often, for it widened the further she went.
When she emerged on the other side, it was as if she had found a fairyland. It took her a few moments to realize she hadn’t accidentally entered someone’s house. Except for the fire pit at the center of the clearing, it looked like a shabby but
