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Katie nodded. “I did. ”

Juan drew her down into a tight hug again. “Thank you, Katie…thank you…”

* * * * * “I dreamed of my Mom,” Jason whispered to Travis in a slurred voice.

Startled, Travis looked up to see the boy had opened his eyes. Considering how strong the sedative was that Charlotte gave him, Travis was surprised to see Jason was awake. Next to him, on the bed, Jack continued to sleep, his tail wagging slightly.

“I saw my Mom. She’s okay,” Jason whispered in a hoarse voice. “She’s okay. ” The boys eyes slowly closed and he was asleep.

Next to him, Jack let out a contented sigh.

Travis looked cautiously around the room. He felt foolish, but whispered softly, “Hey, Jenni. Don’t go too far. We still need you. ”

If the ghost was truly in the room, he wasn’t sure, but Travis felt better saying the words. He sat back in his chair, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

“Stay close, Jenni. Stay close. ”

* * * * * Peggy finished checking in another survivor from the mall and rubbed her eyes. The line was getting shorter and people were getting settled. Soon she would be able to relax and eat the dinner that was cooling on the table behind her.

Looking up, she didn’t see anyone in front of the check-in counter, but the people that appeared next in line were staring with blank looks on their faces.

“Next,” she said again.

No one moved forward.

Then a small hand reached up over the counter and waved.

Peering over the counter, Peggy saw three kids looking up at her. “Oh, there you are. But where are your Mommy and Daddy. ”

“They got eated up,” the oldest girl said.

The two younger kids nodded solemnly in agreement.

Peggy didn’t know what to say.

“We need a room,” the oldest girl continued.

“Well, we can’t just put you in a room by yourself,” Peggy answered.

“Do we have to go outside with the zombies?” The little girl looked terrified.

“Oh, no no. I meant…well, come around the desk. You need to have a room with an adult taking care of you. ”

Obediently, the children came around the desk and stared at her. Feeling flustered, Peggy gazed at the little darlings pondering what to do with them. It was too late in the day to try to find someone else. They’d have to stay with her.

“Okay, well, you can stay with me and my little boy. I’m sure he will enjoy the company. ”

The three kids kept staring at her with their shell-shocked expressions.

Finally, the oldest girl said. “Is Christmas in your house?”

* * * * * Katie stood up and slowly stretched. Juan was finally asleep and Rosie was snoring in her chair. Looking over at Guadalupe, she saw that the old woman was still praying the rosary. The teenage boy was looking at a magazine. Katie blinked, then leaned toward him slowly, studying his face.

The boy slowly looked up at her. “What do you want?”

“Who are you?”

The boy blinked. “Uh…. why?”