“Whatever you do, don’t say anything to anyone about what you are, or about what I am. People have been killed trying to find us,” Quin whispers to me. “It’s better if no one knows. You should die before telling anyone who you are.”
Terrified by his last remark, I put the sleeve back on before we both descend down the ladder. Rena gives each of us a quizzical look as she notices my hair is full of hay and Quin is only wearing a towel. I go to take a shower while Quin follows Rena into the house for some clean clothes. Once I’m dry I put on my last clean pair of running shorts, a shirt, and a pair of flip flops that Rena found for me the other day.
The three of us sit silently in the kitchen eating lukewarm bowls of tomato soup. Quin cleans up the dishes while I tell Rena that I’ll take the next shift, and send her to sleep on the couch in the front room.
Terrance hasn’t improved much since I last saw him. His color is still terrible and the injury in his leg looks infected. Rena has placed an old folding chair next to the head of the bed so I sit down, pick up Terrance’s hand, and hold it tightly in mine, willing him to get better. I can sense Quin standing in the doorway, but I don’t acknowledge his presence until he sets his chair next to mine.
“Those Collectors,” I begin, “they weren’t the same ones that came after Devlan and me. How many kinds are there?”
“From what Rena told me about what happened to you, I’m guessing those were from one of the cities. The ones Terrance and I encountered are rogue Collectors, hired mercenaries kidnapping people for profit.”
We sit in silence, waiting for the other to speak. I know the next question I want to ask, but for some reason I’m not sure I want to know the answer.
“Why did you call me that?” I finally ask, my curiosity winning out over my nervousness.
“You mean Trea?”
“Yes.”
“That was the name you were given at birth. At least, that is what I remember from when we were kids. Devlan must have changed your name when he hid. You know it means three. My full name is Quintus, which means fifth.”
Terrance stirs a little then begins to thrash around, obviously in the midst of a nightmare. I begin stroking his forehead telling him he is safe, he is protected. This seems to calm him down and he drifts back to oblivion.
“What happened to you?” I ask, as I lean farther forward in my chair, closer to Terrance, away from Quin.
“I lived with one of the researchers who fled the Dormitories. He was supposed to protect me, but left when I was younger. I eventually found my way out to the Wasteland a few years ago and live in an abandoned home several miles from here. I help Rena and Terrance, and they feed me in return.”
“What do you help them with?”
“Terrance and I go out on raids to collect supplies. It used to be Mercer, Rena’s brother, and Terrance. Mercer was taken several years ago.”
“She told me a little about him, but I didn’t push the subject.”
More time passes in silence and my eyes begin to grow heavy. I must have fallen asleep because when I wake, I’m out in the front room on the couch with a blanket wrapped tightly around me. Light is filtering in through the windows. I rub my eyes, sit up, and swing my legs onto the floor. I make a quick stop in the bathroom then head back into Terrance’s room. Rena is sitting in her chair playing cards with an awake, but groggy, Terrance.
He grins upon seeing me and waves me over. His coloring is looking better, as is the gash in his leg. Rena deals the cards, including me in the hand. I ask her where Quin is, and she says she sent him to sleep in the barn about three hours ago. We play a couple of rounds, each of us winning a hand. Rena goes into the kitchen to make breakfast while I wander out to the barn to brush my teeth, since I haven’t done it in a while and can feel fur growing on them. Quin is not there from what I can tell, so I scrub until my gums are almost bleeding. When I return to the house, Quin is there in his old clothes, still damp from washing.
Breakfast today consists of oatmeal and canned peaches. We all sit and eat around Terrance’s bed since he can’t join us in the kitchen. I’m not that hungry, but I force myself to eat. The time goes by slowly; no one speaks, it appears we have run out of conversation. Rena and Quin take the dishes into the kitchen while I change Terrance’s soaked bandages and give him more painkillers. He dozes off, so I leave the room and begin to go back down the hallway when I hear Rena and Quin arguing. I change direction and head to the kitchen.
“You’re insane,” Rena practically screams at Quin. “You can’t go by yourself.”
“We need supplies, Rena. The shipment tonight is the last one until next month, you know that.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“Absolutely not,” Quin yells back, poking his finger at her. “You need to stay here. I can do this by myself.”
“A raid is a two person job, so I’m coming,” Rena shouts, her face getting red with frustration.
“I can go,” I chime in as I enter the room. They both turn and look at me. “If it takes two people I can go.”
Rena seems to accept the idea, but Quin emphatically shakes his head.
“Why not?” I ask him.
“It’s too dangerous, and you have no idea what needs to be
