Day 36: A Stranger Among Us
The tension between the group was thick as they walked through the ruined streets, each step slow and deliberate. The air was heavy with the scent of dust and decay, and the oppressive red sky cast everything in an eerie glow. Eli could feel the weight of every movement, every breath—nothing felt normal now that the woman, the stranger, was with them.
They hadn't learned much about her yet, and the unease hung in the air like a blade waiting to drop. Eli, Luke, and Cass had spent too long learning how to rely on one another, trusting each other in this shattered world. Now, with someone new among them, every instinct told Eli to stay on guard.
The woman walked in the middle of their formation, her head down, her eyes darting around nervously. Cass had positioned her there for a reason—so that none of them could take their eyes off her. She was cornered, surrounded on all sides, and if she tried anything, she wouldn't get far.
Eli walked beside Luke, both of them keeping a careful eye on her as they moved. Cass was at the front of the group, her knife still in hand, always alert, always ready for trouble.
"I don't trust her," Luke muttered under his breath, his hand never leaving the bow slung over his shoulder. His fingers twitched near the quiver, ready to draw an arrow at a moment's notice.
Eli nodded, his own grip tightening on his knife. "Neither do I. She could've run before. She chose to listen in on us instead."
Luke's eyes flicked toward the woman, who was walking with her arms folded tightly across her chest, her steps cautious and uncertain. "What do you think she's after?"
"I don't know," Eli admitted. "But Cass is right to keep her close. She knows too much now, and we can't afford to let her disappear. If she's hiding something, we'll find out soon enough."
At the front of the group, Cass's voice cut through the silence. "We're not stopping until we find shelter. Stay sharp."
Eli could hear the edge in her tone—Cass was on high alert, her senses tuned for any sign of danger. She was always like that, but today felt different. The presence of the stranger had shifted the balance in their group, and Cass didn't like it. Neither did Eli.
As they walked, the woman glanced nervously between them, clearly aware that they were watching her closely. She hadn't said much since they caught her, and every time she did speak, it was with a mixture of fear and desperation. Eli wasn't sure if it was genuine or if she was playing a part.
Luke's grip on his bow tightened as he watched her. "If she tries anything—anything—I won't hesitate."
"Neither will I," Eli said, his voice low.
The ruins around them were quiet, save for the occasional creak of broken debris shifting in the wind. The further they walked, the more the tension grew, every step feeling heavier as the silence between them stretched on.
They reached the edge of a large, crumbling building, the roof half-caved in, the walls scarred and broken. It was as good a place as any to stop for the night, and Cass signaled for them to enter.
Inside, the air was thick with dust, and the faint light from outside cast long, eerie shadows on the floor. Cass moved quickly, checking the area for any signs of danger. Once she was satisfied it was clear, she turned to the group.
"We'll rest here," Cass said, her voice clipped. "But we're not taking any chances. We'll keep watch in pairs tonight."
Eli and Luke exchanged a glance, understanding the unspoken command. They would take turns watching the woman, making sure she didn't try anything while they slept.
"I'll take the first watch," Cass said, her eyes flicking toward the woman. "Eli, you're with me. Luke, you'll take the next shift."
Luke nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the woman, suspicion etched into every line of his face. "I don't like this."
"None of us do," Cass replied. "But we need answers. And we're not getting them if she's dead."
The woman shifted uncomfortably under their gaze. "I… I'm not going to hurt you," she said quietly, her voice trembling. "I swear, I just want to survive. Like you."
Eli narrowed his eyes. "That's convenient, considering you were spying on us."
The woman flinched at his words, her shoulders hunching as if trying to make herself smaller. "I wasn't spying. I told you, I didn't know if you'd help me. I've been on my own for so long…"
"Save it," Cass interrupted, her tone icy. "You're alive because we haven't decided to kill you yet. So, unless you're ready to give us a reason to trust you, I suggest you stay quiet."
The woman nodded quickly, her eyes wide with fear. She didn't speak again, instead settling down against the wall, pulling her knees up to her chest. Eli could see the exhaustion in her, but he wasn't about to let his guard down.
As the night wore on, Eli took his place beside Cass at the entrance of the building, keeping watch over the ruined streets beyond. Luke settled down to rest, though Eli knew he wouldn't sleep easily with the woman so close by.
The air was cool and still, the distant sounds of the ruined world barely reaching them. But the tension between them—the unspoken fear of what the woman might be hiding—made the silence feel oppressive.
Eli glanced at Cass, who was staring out into the dark with a look of deep concentration on her face. "Do you think she's telling the truth?" Eli asked quietly.
Cass didn't answer right away, her eyes never leaving the horizon. "Maybe. But she's hiding something. People don't survive alone out here for as long as she claims without learning to lie."
Eli nodded. He had thought the same thing. The woman had been quick to explain how she had seen the rain before, how she had barely survived it, but her answers felt rehearsed—like she knew just enough to get their attention but not enough to be trusted.
"She's scared," Cass continued, her voice low. "But fear makes people unpredictable. Desperate. We can't afford to underestimate her."
Eli's grip tightened on his knife. "So, what's the plan? Do we keep her with us?"
"For now," Cass said, her voice cold and calculating. "She knows about the rain, and that makes her valuable. But if she gives us a reason to doubt her—"
"We cut her loose," Eli finished.
Cass nodded, her eyes hard. "Exactly."
The night passed slowly, the tension never leaving. When it was time for the next watch, Eli and Cass woke Luke, and the two of them kept their eyes on the woman as she slept. But Eli didn't sleep well, his mind racing with suspicions and questions.
Who was this woman? Why had she been following them? And most importantly—could they trust her?
As Eli lay down to rest, he couldn't shake the feeling that the answer to that last question was no.
And in this world, trust was the only thing keeping them alive.