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She stood there, frozen, by the door for minutes on end, listening to every sound as it erupted outside.
Every gunshot. Every scream. Every—
Fire.She could smell it. Burning wood and plastic and everything else.
It wasn’t strong, but it was somewhere nearby. Maybe one of the other houses outside.
It could have been—
Saff.
She pushed up off the wall, a sudden wave of urgency flowing through her.
Maybe Saff would be able to stay hidden in the cell if people searched the house. But that wouldn’t matter if they were lighting the houses on fire. Not even staying hidden would protect her from that.
Would Josh see it if he were out there? Would he even remember that Saff was down there?
Or maybe he was too far away already, somewhere else in the settlement. He might not be there to help at all.
The thought of Saff being trapped behind bars while fire engulfed her sent so much panic hurling through her that her entire body began to quake.
She staggered back to the door, hands fumbling for the deadbolt.
It was possible that someone else in the settlement would remember she was down there and go to save her, but the chances of that were slim at best. And that wasn’t something she could leave to chance.
She’d gone with Josh and Nadia to the house immediately next door. It wasn’t a far journey by any means. She remembered the steps, the distance, all of it. She could easily make it back to the house where Saff was.
But could she do it fast enough to avoid whatever was waiting outside?
Maddie turned the lock.
It didn’t matter. It didn’t matter what she’d said to her.It didn’t matter that she’d lied.
Saff needed her.
Maddie ripped the door open and stepped out into the chaos.
Chapter thirty-one
Saff bolted between the shadowed crevices of two looming houses, her breath hitching with each pounding step until she reached the edge of the next sidewalk.
A bead of sweat trickled down her temple as she scanned the street, finally catching sight of the house where they’d stayed.
Without hesitation, she dashed across the asphalt, narrowly dodging a man with a small child as they hurried down the street.
She crossed the driveway and jumped over the steps, landing at the door.
In one swift movement, she turned the knob and pushed it open.
Unlocked. Not a good sign.
“Maddie!” she shouted, running further into the house.
No trace of intruders lingered within.
The house looked just as untouched as the last time she’d been there, which was at least one good sign. If raiders had gotten there first, it would’ve been obvious.
“Maddie!” she yelled again, running to the room she’d been staying in.