Page 66 of Us Deadly Few

“No, no. Not yet.” Ari gently urged her back down. “We need to give your body a couple more days to recover from the infection.”

“Nonsense. Winnie could run a marathon right now,” Winnie declared.

“What’s a marathon?” Derek asked.

“From my research on the Great Collapse, it was their code word for hell.”

“Sounds like my kind of fun.” Brock grinned.

“You would say that.” Serene glared at him.

As they spoke, Khalani’s eyes watered as she kept staring at Winnie like a lost piece of art. Her lungs were able to take deeper breaths. Her skin didn’t feel as tight.

“I missed you so much. I thought the worst. I didn’t know what to do.” The words tumbled out of her.

Winnie cupped Khalani’s cheek tenderly, her fingers cold. “Winnie was thinking about you the whole time, even in her dreams. You’ve been so, so strong.”

Khalani shook her head. “I haven’t felt strong. I’ve been so afraid.”

“That’s okay, sweet girl. Fears aren’t always so bad. They remind you of everything you have to live for.”

Khalani’s chin trembled as the Chief stepped forward.

“It’s getting late,” she said. “And Ari’s right, you need to rest. The rest of you must return to the house.”

Winnie grumbled, insisting that she was fit enough to ride adragon—whatever that meant—before laying back down.

“Can I stay with her?” Khalani asked.

“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” Ari hedged.

“Just for tonight,” she pleaded. “She’s the closest thing I have to a mother. Please…let me be with her this one night.”

A soft look entered Ari’s eyes as she glanced over at the Chief, who regarded her closely. Khalani didn’t know what the Chief saw in her expression, but she sighed. “Alright. One night.”

A small smile graced Khalani’s lips as Serene kissed her on the head and the others hugged her and left—Brock included, though his farewell was limited to a one-finger wave.

Khalani lay on top of the covers beside Winnie as Ari turned off the bedside lamp and offered her a gentle smile before closing the door.

In the peaceful dark, Winnie slowly shifted her cold hand until it touched Khalani’s. Without hesitation, Khalani intertwined their fingers, and they fit together like two puzzle pieces.

For the first time, her heavy heart lifted, floating freely in her chest like the pale moon hanging beyond their line of sight.

“Winnie?” she breathed out, staring up at the ceiling.

“Yes, dear.”

“Those white speckles that come out at night to rest beside the moon…what are they called?”

She could hear the grin in Winnie’s voice. “You mean stars?”

“Stars…” Khalani savored the word on her tongue. “What are they?”

“They’re like our sun, only burning millions of miles away in space. Some of them have other planets orbiting around them, just like ours.”

“Like ours?” She turned her head on the pillow to look at her. “Do they have people, too?”

“Before the Great Collapse, they were still trying to figure thatout—whether we were truly alone in the universe or if there were other beings out there. Maybe even doing the exact same thing we’re doing.” Winnie squeezed her hand tighter.

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