I make it back to the line well before it’s Emerson’s turn. They see me coming and frown. “Grace?”

I turn one of the ration cards in my pocket over between my fingers before I take it out. I hold it up. “You forgot this.”

Emerson’s eyes widen, but to their credit, they don’t say anything to give the game away, and I ignore the question in their eyes.

I keep my distance. I have to. Just to be sure. I focus on what matters: one card for Emerson and one card for Riley.

I bite my lip. “Find the others on your way home? I still have to collect something for Sofia.” I hope they understand my flimsy excuse. The traps seemed like the best reason to leave the others for now. Just until I know I’m safe. Until I know they are too.

Emerson takes a step toward me, but I shake my head. “Stay in line, please.”

“Grace…”

“Please.” I toss the card in their direction.

They snatch it from the air and immediately wince. “I will. I—”

“I’ll see you back home.”

Thirty-two

Emerson

We head home with two boxes of food, medication, and other essentials. Logan helps me carry one, pulling far more of the weight than I can, and Nia helps Riley. She’s laughing at something Riley said, and despite the fact that the boxes are heavy, the return journey feels lighter than it has…ever since I arrived here, probably. Today, it feels like we’re walking home with our future in our hands.

Logan is the only one who looks around her with a kind of frown, and I know what—or rather, who—she’s looking for.

“Grace will find her own way back to Hope,” I mumble.

Her half smile doesn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m worried too,” I admit.

The ration card burns a hole in my pocket, and I don’t want to know what she did to obtain it. I can guess, and that’s bad enough. My Saint Jude medal bounces against my shirt, and the sensation fills me with emptiness and comfort and resolve. Pray for us. Pray for Grace. I cannot lose someone else. Not again.

* * *

When we get back to Hope, Josie is the pacing in front of the entrance. She all but jumps when she spots us and immediately runs back inside to call out our arrival. By the time we actually reach the gates, every single person who can be outside to greet us is.

We place the boxes on the grass in front of us and collectively take a deep breath. The boxes aren’t too heavy, and the trek isn’t too long, but the combination is absolutely exhausting, and while my wrist is improving, this hurts. I waver.

Casey is the first to walk out to greet us. His eyes dart from the boxes to the four of us, though he keeps a distance, like we agreed.

“Where is Grace?”

“She went to check the traps on the way here,” I tell him. I hope to God my lie isn’t as obvious as hers. “She isn’t back yet?”