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She traced her fingertips over the bare, damp skin, following the curve across the top of her shoulder. Then she reversed the movement, trailing back up into the base of her neck, grazing her nails through her hair. Saff’s arm tightened around her again, but this time her body seemed to settle. Like it was out of want rather than necessity.
A small tingle moved through Maddie’s stomach and chest as Saff adjusted, pulling her closer.
Maddie continued trailing her hand up and down along her neck and shoulders until she finally felt Saff settle.
A yawn pulled from Maddie’s mouth, and she let herself give in to the heat of Saff’s body. She leaned forward, resting her head against her chest. Then her body seemed to relax in a way it hadn’t in a very long time. Maybe it was the warmth of having someone beside her, or maybe it was having someone's arm wrapped protectively around her.
Or maybe, she thought, it was havingSaff’sarm wrapped around her.
And with that thought, Maddie drifted back off to sleep.
***
The next time she awoke, she instantly felt the lack of contact against her body. It felt cold and empty compared to before.
She turned over on the cot and listened for any sounds of Saff moving about the bunker.
But there were none.
That was a surprise. Usually, Saff returned before she awoke on her own, the noises gradually awakening her. But this time, her ears were met with cold silence. It left an eerie feeling in her gut. She didn’t think she'd woken any earlier than usual, which could only mean that Saff had stayed out later than she normally did.
Maddie rested her head back against the pillow case, turned to face where the familiar orb of light sat.
Minutes passed, then finally, when she was contemplating making her way outside and trying to search for Saff, she heard the hatch to the bunker open.
Her eyes snapped open, and she pushed onto her elbows until she sat upright in the bed.
“Saff?” she called quietly.
After a few moments, she heard the familiar voice. “Yeah.”
Something immediately felt off. Her voice—her tone—was different. Maddie couldn't quite place what it was, but she knew it was there.
“You were out longer than usual,” Maddie continued, a small twinge of unease bubbling into her chest.
Saff didn't answer, but Maddie could hear her moving around the room.
She shifted her legs off the cot, feeling the cold floor with her bare toes. And still, Saff said nothing.
Maddie waited a beat before picking up her cane and making her way to her usual spot at the table. Then she sat there, quietlywaiting for Saff to speak. Waiting for her to say anything that would make her feel like things were still normal.
But she didn't.
And after a few minutes, she heard the mug being placed in front of her on the table.
“Coffee is a few inches in front of your right hand.”
The way Saff said it sounded more robotic than ever. It sounded indifferent. And that indifference was almost worse than the angry way she'd spoken to her when they first encountered each other.
Maddie carefully moved her hand forward until she felt the base of the mug. She picked it up and blew on it before taking a small sip. Something in her didn’t want to give in. She wanted to force Saff to break the silence and say something.
Of course, a minute or two into sipping her coffee, that wasn’t happening. And the anxiety in her chest grew with every second that passed.
She took one more sip of the coffee, then set it down in front of her. “When do you want to go shooting today?” she asked, trying and utterly failing to sound nonchalant.
There was a split-second pause, then Saff answered in her new, cold voice. “You don’t need it.”
Maddie stiffened.