The thoughts leave my mind instantly as I open my eyes. It isn’t true. Townspeople kill outsiders all the time if they think it will better serve them. Regardless, it makes me feel more at ease.

The door opens wide and beardy flips on the light, blinding me and sending a surge of pain through my head. Through squints I can see two men at his side, both carrying guns. Beardy seems unarmed but he undoubtedly has a knife or something.

The light shows me that there is a table in front of me with a chair on the other side. Beardy scoots the chair out and sits across from me, a large stupid smile spread across his face.

“I’m glad to see that you’re awake,” he says. “Would you like some water?”

“I’d like you to explain why you knocked me out and tied me to a chair. Then I would like you to kill yourself and burn for eternity,” I say with as much callousness as I can muster.

Beardy turns to his men and waves them away. They close the door behind them leaving only the two of us in the room.

“My name is Stephen,” he says.

“I don’t care.”

“What is your name?”

“Bill,” I say.

Stephen is stoned-faced. He stares into my eyes for a long moment before turning his face down to look at the table. His fingers tap the smooth surface and his knee moves up and down as if he’s already getting frustrated.

“You know if you don’t tell me the truth, I can make your life very miserable,” he says. “You know what we raiders are capable of.”

I have to keep myself from smiling. Stephen is no more a raider than I am, but I know he’s got to try and keep his edge. Next, he’s going to threaten to kill me or torture me.

“What were you doing in the hospital, Bill?” He says Bill very slowly as if to tell me that he will play my little game for a beat.

“I already told you,” I say.

He nods. “Yes, well, you told me two things. First, you were going in for supplies, then you told me that you were looking for someone.”

“Can’t it be both?” I ask.

“Why are you looking for Jessi Paxton?” he asks.

“Why? You know her?”

“I’m asking the questions,” he says.

“So am I.”

“You don’t have the right.”

“Neither do you.”

“You were trespassing on our territory.”

“There are no more territories.”

Stephen’s face is turning red beneath his beard. “I didn’t come in here to play games.”

“No, you came in here to intimidate me, but you won’t get that chance. I’m not afraid of you.”