Chapter 16: The World Was Expanding
Winter moved silently through the abandoned streets of the city, his every step muffled by months of accumulated dust and debris. Half-collapsed buildings loomed overhead, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement.
He kept his gaze forward, scanning for any movement, while his mind drifted—unintentionally—back to that woman, he didn’t know her name. The reckless woman he’d encountered just days ago.
He clenched his jaw, irritated that he was even thinking about her. It’s not concern, he told himself.
If anything, it was disbelief that someone so brash could last a single day in this city. The fact that she’d gone back the way they’d come had only added to his assumption.
She was probably already hiding somewhere, exhausted and scared.
Winter smirked to himself, dismissing the thought as quickly as it had arrived.
That crazy lady wouldn’t be scared.
His amusement faded as he neared the spot where he hoped to find the cache, the promise of supplies pulling his attention back to his mission. He needed to focus; he had no time to waste on distractions, least of all on someone as reckless as Her.
*****
Elsewhere in the city, Zara made her way cautiously down an alley, Leo strapped securely to her chest. Every so often, she glanced down, whispering soothing words to keep him calm.
As she had promised, she took him everywhere now. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than leaving him unsupervised. Plus, she didn’t have to waste travel time.