14
“No thanksss!” Sam said, dancing to music only she could hear.
“I could walk you back, but I’d feel better if you both just stayed here. You know, just in case what you saw the other night was something,” Erik said.
My stomach twisted. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
“I’ve got plenty of room. The doors all lock,” Erik said.
“What if you have a key and sneak into our room when we’re sleeping?” Sam asked.
Erik’s jaw muscles tensed. “I know you don’t know me well, but that’s not something I’m going to do.”
“What about creeper?” Sam asked.
“Sam,” I said, frowning. “Don’t call him that.”
“Shh!” Sam said, sloppily pressing her finger to her lips.
Erik sighed. “He’s not going to do anything either, and he doesn’t have a key.”
“Wish we would have brought your bat with us, Mel,” Sam said, holding up both hands. “Whatever. We’re probably all going to die anyway.”
I groaned. “We’re not going to die. People survived with electricity.”
“Yeah, but they weren’t used to it like we were. Everything in our world depends on it.” Sam set down her drink and crossed her arms. “Grocery stores will shut down. Where are we going to get food? Medical care. I mean, like, seriously. I didn’t want to scare you before, but this shit is serious.”
“Which is why you two should consider staying,” Erik said. “We call all watch each other’s backs.”
Sam pointed at him. “I’ll stay the night, but that’s the best you’ll get out of me for now. I’m still going to find a way to get back to my daughter.”
The door upstairs opened, and Erik placed his hand on the back of his waistband. “I’ll be right back.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Sam asked when he was halfway up the stairs.
“I think it’ll be fine,” I said.
“I’m still not sure that Dorian guy is okay.”
My eyes flicked toward the ceiling. “You seemed to have fun talking with him right up until he turned green and almost threw up on you.”
“I’m trying to learn everything about him,” Sam said, glancing toward the stairs. “But what if I’ve been worried about the wrong guy? Erik is kind of pushy about us staying, don’t you think?”
“Not really,” I said, biting my lip. “He’s just being smart. Safety in numbers.”
“You know how I am about keeping you safe from monsters,” Sam said, bopping me on the nose.
I smiled, giving her a half hug. “And I appreciate it, but I can take care of myself too.”
Before Sam could say anything, Erik came back down the stairs. “It was just Dorian. We’re all locked up, but if you’d like me to escort you back home, I can do that.”
“We’ll stay,” I said.
“Sounds good,” Erik said. “Dorian and I sleep on the first floor. The second floor is all yours.”
Sam yawned. “I think I’m going to head up. You going to join me, Mel?”
“I’ll be up after I finish my drink.”
“Don’t be too long.” Sam leaned close. She attempted to whisper, but her words came out louder than her normal speaking voice. “Did you bring your medicine?”
I exhaled slowly as Erik wiped up an invisible spill on the bar. “Don’t worry about it. Good night.”
“Good night,” Sam sang, waving her pinky. “Don’t do anything I would do.”
“I never do,” I said, biting back a laugh.
Erik chuckled as Sam wobbled to the stairs. He tapped the top of my hand with his finger.
“Should I help her?” Erik asked.
“She’ll manage,” I said, exhaling. “Sam isn’t afraid to demand help if she needs it.”
“I’m glad you decided to stay,” Erik said.
I sat down on a stool and leaned on the bar. “So, you believe me then.”
“Yeah, I believe you saw something and that it could definitely be a person,” Erik said, wiping the bar again. “I’m worried people are going to start snooping around when they can’t get what they want in town.”
“You haven’t heard anything more about what’s going on, have you?”
Erik shook his head. “Not really. I do think it’s bad out there, and it’s only going to get worse. That’s why I plan to just wait it out here as long as I can.”
“Sam needs to get back to her daughter,” I said, gliding my finger along the rim of my glass. “I’m going to go with her.”
“Walking?”
“Unless we can figure something else out,” I said.
Erik scratched the back of his neck. “Maybe if you can find an old truck. Something that wouldn’t be all computer chips.”
“That would work?” I asked.
“Yeah, I think so.” Erik hesitated as he took the final sip of his drink. “The problem is going to be finding something, and if you do, acquiring it.”
“Money?”
Erik shook his head. “Money isn’t going to be good anymore.”
“Are you suggesting we steal something?” I asked with a raised brow.
“I’m not suggesting anything,” Erik said with a quick laugh. “If I did suggest something, it would probably be to stay put, but I don’t have kids.”
“Sam is an amazing mom. Her daughter is the most important thing in her life,” I said, looking into my empty glass.
Erik crossed his arms. “Then why did she leave her to come here?”
“She wanted to help me with my mom’s place,” I said without looking up. “You saw it. That place would have needed a lot of work to get it into any kind of condition where I could actually sell it.”
The flames from the candles flickered on the walls. It was so quiet I could hear Erik breathing.
“Anyway, I guess none of that matters now,” I said, sliding off the chair. My legs felt weak, and I giggled.
“You okay?” Erik asked.
“Yes,” I said, biting
