Page 61 of Say You'll Stay

“Let us see the baby.” Someone yells back.

Cole tilts his head, signaling her to show herself. It’s difficultnot to rush straight for him, but she goes slow and keeps her body angled to the side, blocking Lucy to prevent a clear shot. Most people wouldn’t gun down a baby, but that was before the world went to shit and now all that’s left are the types who might have no problem doing just that.

They’re waiting on the precipice of salvation or death, their lives in the hands of those who could be worse than Ray’s group for all she knows. The longer the minutes tick on, the more vulnerable she feels as adrenaline zings through her veins, begging for fight or flight and being allowed neither.

All it would take is a few well-placed bullets and their journey would end here. It would be better than dehydrating to death, she thinks, shocking herself with her own morbid thoughts.

Then, the gates creak and groan to open for a man who looks like he’s been granted a shower sometime within the last week. Maybe even the lastday.

“Looks like you found us at the right time. Welcome to Magnolia Hills.”

* * *

This place is untouched by the virus. Safe and welcoming, those first few bullets notwithstanding. It should be everything they’ve hoped for and it’s hard to find an argument for why it’s not as they’re led through a manicured Main Street and waving citizens.

Shops are open and families gather on green space. Someone’s passing out muffins and cotton candy from one of those big machines she’s only seen at fairs. The three of them have been gifted so many smiles that it’s becomeunnerving.

It’s as if the rest of the world isn’t dying outside that fence and Olivia isn’t sure how to react.

The leader of this town has given the grand tour and led them to a private room with running water, fluffy pillows, and clean sheets.

“We’ll need to keep the cat for quarantine,” he says evenly.

Cole shakes his head. “No.”

“It’s only for a week. Standard procedure. We have other pets here and we can’t be too careful. No one is sure yet what the virus does to animals. You can see her at the vet’s office any time you like.”

“We don’t even know that we’re staying a week,” he replies.

“Then you can take her if you leave before then.”

They are attached to this cat now. The idea of giving her to anyone, even for a few days, isn’t ideal. There is little option, though, when food and a hot shower are on the other side of their agreement. The cat is suffering too without supplies.

Reluctantly, Olivia nods and Cole fishes Flower out of the baby’s carrier to hand her over.

“Where’s the vet? You have cat food available?” she asks.

“Just up the road on the right side. You can’t miss it. And yes, we have all the things she’ll need.”

That’s all the reassurance they get before their cat is taken away and they’re left alone.

“This is weird.”

“Something ain’t right here.”

They speak in unison, and Cole lets out a relieved exhale. “I thought you were gonna be all for it.”

“Well, it’s nice I won’t lie. It looks perfect.”

“Too perfect?”

“Yeah. There’s no way there’s not some weird, seedyunderbelly going on here. And does that man even have a name? He wouldn’t say. It’s odd.”

He flops down on the clean bed in dirty clothes. “Real odd. Don’t like him. Got everyone here playing make-believe. You see how they talked to him? Like he brainwashed them all.”

“Off!” she chastises. “Not until we shower. I want to feel these sheets on my bare legs tonight without our dirt on them.”

He rolls away and onto his feet with a wince. “Forgot I’m a mess.”

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