The morning air was frigid as Alex made his way back to the small room he shared with Elara. The sky was a dull gray, heavy with clouds that threatened more snow, and the streets were quieter than usual. Most people stayed indoors when the cold bit this hard, but the desperation of the Rust Quarter would soon drive them out again, scavenging for whatever scraps they could find to get through the day.
Alex's mind was still buzzing from the conversation with Serena and Nia. He hadn't expected Serena to agree so quickly to his offer, but the truth was, there weren't many other options left. The Rust Quarter was becoming more dangerous by the day, and the only way to survive was by sticking together. Still, Alex knew he had one more person to convince: Elara.
As he approached their makeshift home, Alex's breath formed small clouds in front of him, and he pulled his coat tighter around his shoulders to fend off the cold. The small building they lived in wasn't much, but it had served them well for years. With luck, they could make it work for all four of them—Serena, Nia, Elara, and himself.
He slipped inside, the door creaking softly behind him. The room was dimly lit by the faint morning light streaming through a cracked window, and Elara was already awake, crouched near the fire as she prepared something in their worn pot.
"You're up early," Elara said without looking up, her voice rough from sleep.
Alex sat down on one of the rough stools near the fire, holding his hands out to warm them. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep."
Elara glanced at him, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "You've been acting strange lately. What's going on?"
Alex took a deep breath, trying to figure out the best way to bring it up. He didn't want to rush into it, but there was no point in delaying either. "I met someone last night."
Elara raised an eyebrow, her hands pausing in their movements. "Someone?"
"A girl named Nia," Alex continued. "She was getting roughed up by some kids in the street, so I helped her out. After that, I walked her home, and… I met her mother, Serena."
Elara turned fully toward him now, her expression guarded. "Okay. And?"
"I think they're in trouble," Alex said, his voice steady. "Serena's been taking care of Nia on her own ever since her husband went missing. They've been scavenging like the rest of us, but it's getting harder for them to manage. I offered for them to join us—scavenge together, maybe even live with us."
Elara's face darkened slightly, and she leaned back, crossing her arms. "You offered for them to live with us? Without talking to me first?"
Alex winced. "I know, I should've talked to you first, but it's not like we're doing all that well on our own either. Things are getting worse out there, and we could use the extra help."
Elara's eyes narrowed. "And what makes you think they'll be useful? Just because you saved them from a few punks in the street doesn't mean they'll be any good at scavenging. For all you know, they could slow us down, make things more dangerous."
"They're survivors," Alex said firmly. "Just like us. Serena's strong. She's kept Nia alive for years, and she's not the type to just sit around waiting for someone else to save her. She's been scavenging for as long as we have, and she knows how to survive."
Elara's jaw tightened, and for a moment, the only sound was the faint crackling of the fire. Alex could see the gears turning in her mind. She had always been protective of their little unit, wary of anyone who might disrupt the fragile balance they had managed to maintain. But at the same time, she was smart—she knew how hard it was to find reliable allies in the Rust Quarter.
After what felt like an eternity, Elara sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't like it, Alex. We don't know them. What if they bring trouble? What if they get in the way? We barely have enough for ourselves as it is."
Alex leaned forward. "I get it. I do. But think about it—if we pool our resources, we'll have more people to scavenge, more chances to find valuable stuff. And if they live with us, it'll be easier to protect each other. Serena and Nia aren't asking for a handout. They want to work with us."
Elara stared at him for a long moment, her face a mask of conflicting emotions. Alex could tell she was weighing the risks against the potential benefits. It wasn't an easy decision—trust was hard to come by in the Rust Quarter, and once it was given, it was easily broken. But they couldn't keep going the way they had been, not with the increasing dangers in the streets.
Finally, Elara spoke, her voice low and measured. "Alright. We'll try it. But if they prove to be more trouble than they're worth, they're out. I'm not risking everything for people we barely know."
Alex nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. It was a start, at least. "Agreed. We'll take it one step at a time."
Elara turned back to the fire, her expression softening slightly. "You've got a good heart, Alex. But don't let that blind you. Trust is dangerous out here."
"I won't," Alex said quietly. "But I think this is the right move."
Elara didn't respond, but her silence felt like reluctant agreement. For now, they had a plan.
Later that day, Alex led Serena and Nia to the small room he shared with Elara. The cold wind whipped through the streets, carrying the scent of snow and decay. As they approached, Serena glanced at Alex with a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty.
"I appreciate this," Serena said softly. "I know it's not easy to bring more people into your group."
Alex shrugged. "We're all just trying to survive. Figured we'd have a better shot if we did it together."
When they arrived at the building, Elara was waiting by the door. Her eyes were sharp, assessing, as she watched Serena and Nia approach. For a brief moment, Alex worried that the tension might be too much, that Elara might change her mind.
But instead, Elara gave a small nod of acknowledgment, her voice curt but not unfriendly. "Welcome. We'll see how this goes."
Serena smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you. We'll do our part."
Nia stood close to her mother, her eyes wide as she took in the room. It wasn't much, but it was more than what they had, and for the first time, Alex saw a flicker of hope in her eyes.
The four of them sat together, making plans for their first scavenging run as a group. The tension between Elara and Serena was still there, but there was also a mutual understanding—they were all in this together now. Survival was their shared goal, and in a world like this, that was the strongest bond anyone could hope for.
As the sun began to set over the crumbling rooftops of the Rust Quarter, Alex couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something new—something that might just give them all a fighting chance.