"The Flicker" by H.E. Edgmon, Chapters 29–37

All of them collapse as soon as they get to Neverland’s shadow on the ground, all of them deflated.

Canned fish and deer jerky and pickled veggies, all homemade stuff in a stockpile.

A cyclone of dust swirls and swirls, only feet away.

The taste of the peanut butter cookies their meemaw used to make, before dementia took her away, years before the Flicker ever could’ve.

It’s all white linoleum and bright, fluorescent lights.

A little TV is playing reruns of some old sitcom they recognize but don’t know the name of.

Karen exchanges a befuddled look with the guard.

“As soon as our last convoy returns, we’re sending a militia to…” Karen smiles, pausing like she’s trying to find the right word.

It makes them envious, and angry, and sad in ways that are too big to carry right now.

They look at the screen to see which button is already lit up.
Level 3 — recreation and community resources.

Well … that sounds like somewhere a lot of other people are probably gon’ be, and Rose figures their best bet at living through this is not attracting any attention. Besides, the pharmacy ain’t gon’ be on the recreation floor.

Level 0 — asset containment.

Shouldn’t there be a clinic or something?

“We set up camp not far from here, because we wanted to keep an eye on what these guys were doing. Over time, we started finding ways to infiltrate. We planted a few people here and there....”

There’s a makeshift shower and a little outhouse that ain’t fancy, but get the job done better than a creek, for sure.