“Crestwood was here long before any of us got here,” Paxton begins. “It was founded 200 years ago by people who saw a vision of a peaceful and enriched life. It was meant to be a place of safety where people could go about their lives as normal. There was no such fear of infection, murder, or thievery. Since that time, the world has changed. Humanity has changed. However, human nature has not changed. We still want and need a place like Crestwood to offer us protection from those things. We have erected walls to keep out the infection, but the walls cannot keep out thievery and murder.

Murder? My heart jumps into my throat. Why is he talking about murder? My once-steady hands begin to tremble slightly. I glance in Gabe’s direction but he only stares at the ground in front of him. Why won’t you look at me?

“I don’t know how many of you have met Remi here,” Paxton says, pointing to me. “But she is the first of our town to be caught stealing. She broke into the headquarters building and stole a journal from us - one that kept record of all of our decisions as elders. And she stole a gun.”

I can feel the eyes of every person fall on me. I try to keep my hands from shaking but no amount of fist balling or tensing up keeps it from happening. I thought I had nerves of steel, but I guess I was wrong.

“Such an act cannot go unpunished,” Paxton says. “We cannot tolerate thievery within our town. All of us have enough to worry about without having to deal with thieves among us.”

There are a few snorts of agreement. I think I even hear someone say amen to Paxton. People will play Simon Says to the end of their days so long as they don’t have to think for themselves.

“But even worse than these crimes,” Paxton says, “is the crime of murder.”

This time, I’m the one that gasps.

“Yesterday, Remi used the gun she stole to kill one of our own soldiers,” Paxton says, his eyes on everyone but me.

“Liar!” I yell out, taking a step forward. I immediately feel two sets of strong hands grasp my arms, pulling me back to my spot. The crowd behind me starts talking, some yelling indistinguishable words to each other. I don’t care. My eyes go from Paxton to Gabe, neither of them looking at me. “I didn’t kill Skip!” Saying his name makes me sound even more guilty, I’m sure. “You were there. You. Mendez. Gabe. All of you were there. You know I didn’t kill anyone. I saved you!” My words are lost in the angry mob behind me.