The perimeter was quiet, too quiet. Brittney preferred the loudness of a real threat to this unsettling stillness.
It felt like the world was holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to happen.
She'd checked the makeshift fences, reinforced the weak points, and scanned the horizon for any sign of scavengers or other unwanted visitors.
Nothing. Just the desolate landscape stretching out under the fading light.
She returned to the shack, the air inside noticeably warmer, the scent of the stew lingering.
Martha was sitting by the small window, mending a tear in a worn blanket, her movements precise but gentle.
"Anything?" Martha asked, her voice soft, her eyes filled with concern.
Brittney shook her head. "Nothing," she said. "Just quiet."
Martha sighed, a sound that spo
