Everyone begins to realize what’s happening. They crowd over, looking anxious and pale. The kids cling to each other, unable to look as I begin performing CPR on Ryan. Jack howls into the night, and Penelope joins in.

“Come on!” I shout as I pump down on Ryan’s chest.

He’s completely covered in black smoke. When I push my lips to his they taste of coal. I will Ryan to breathe again. He can’t leave me. Not now. I don’t know what I’d do without him.

Suddenly, Ryan takes a sharp intake of breath. He’s breathing again, but he’s still unconscious.

I sit back on my heels, feeling overwhelmed. What are we supposed to do now? We’re in the middle of the street, completely exposed. We don’t have the train anymore, and Ryan’s out cold.

“We need to find shelter,” Molly says, taking me by the arm and leading me to my feet. “In case there are any crazies left alive around here.”

“Shelter where?” I cry, glancing around at the derelict buildings. None of them seem to offer adequate protection; they’re all falling apart.

Just then, I realize the dogs have disappeared. Once again, they’ve hurried off, sniffing the air, searching for danger on our behalf. Then from somewhere far away, Jack starts barking and Penelope joins in with her high-pitched yapping.

“I think the dogs might have found somewhere,” Molly replies. “Come on.”

She takes my hand, not wanting to let me go, even when I pull back to try and get Ryan. So I let her lead me away in the direction of Jack’s and Penelope’s barks, while Ben and Zeke carry Ryan’s unconscious body.

Penelope and Jack lead us all down a road that runs parallel to the train tracks. Up ahead is a strange-looking building that looks like it might have been some kind of power station once upon a time. It’s made of a series of buildings like silos. Beside them is a pyramid-shaped building that is completely rusted. There are no windows and the only way in is up a steep, narrow ladder. I’m so glad the dogs managed to find this place; it will certainly offer us protection for the night. With only one way in, we’ll be able to guard the door.

“Come on,” I say, scaling the ladder.

I push open the door at the top and step inside the strange building. I realize then that it’s not a power plant at all, but an enormous grain store. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Zeke, Ben, and Molly manage to carry Ryan up the steep stairs and into the grain store. Bree and Charlie come inside last. Zeke slams the door shut, plunging us into darkness. Then we all sink to the floor, exhausted.