Paxton cleared his throat and looked down at the table. I remember noticing his eyes starting to water only briefly. “My daughter was in Elkhorn,” he said.

“Then I’m sure she’s told you all about it,” I said callously.

Paxton shook his head and leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “I haven’t seen my daughter in four years.”

I looked away from him, feeling uncomfortable. I hated it, but I didn’t care. All of us had been through crap, and from the looks of it, I had been through more crap than any of these people who sat comfortably behind their thick barricades.

“I just want a safe place to stay,” I said. “I’m able-bodied, so I can do my part here. And I’m tired of running.”

“Where did you go when you left Elkhorn?” he asked, ignoring my words.

I swallowed hard. “I tried to get back to Oakridge.” I could feel the lump in my throat forming. I hadn’t cried in such a long time, it would be stupid to start now. I clenched my jaw tightly and stared straight ahead. “Oakridge was just too overrun. There couldn’t have been anyone left. So, I met a group and started traveling to find a safe haven. But all we found were greyskins.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Everywhere,” I said. “To find a place like this seems…” I couldn’t find the words as I started to choke. I wouldn’t cry. I couldn’t do it. I had been strong for so long, now was not the time to give in to my emotions. “I just…I’m just happy I’ve found this place. If you will have me, I will pull my weight and do whatever it is you need me to do.”

Paxton sat for a moment, seemingly in deep thought. Sure, I didn’t like the guy. I felt like he had come in trying to bully me, but I didn’t care. There were far worse bullies outside these walls, and most of them were rotting as they walked.

“I have one more question for you,” he said. He sighed and cupped his hands together, resting his elbows on the table in front of him. His chin sat on his hands as his eyes bore deep into me. “Do you have any special abilities?”

I was too stunned to answer. There was no way he could know about that. I have only told one person about it. I could feel my breathing getting heavier and my pulse quickening. “What…what do you mean?”

“It’s a simple question that requires a simple answer,” he said. “Do you have special abilities? Powers? Supernatural?”