How many people had she killed? She didn’t know. At some point she’d just killed because it felt so good. And it was so easy. And she knew she’d killed Aero. The way she’d killed him was terrible. And what she had done to his body afterward had been done with joy.

Her hands began to shake. There was a time when she knew who she was and what she was capable of, but now she had no idea. What kind of person could kill a kind person like Aero with such abandon?

She was as skinny as she’d even been in her life. There was carnage all around her. Dead bodies lay everywhere. There were cars and trucks abandoned in the road as if their drivers had suddenly just decided to stop for no reason. Some had corpses at the wheel, some just had blood on them drying in the sun.

She looked into the cars, hoping to find one with the keys still in the ignition. And a lot of them did, but none of them would start.

Shit.

She started walking. She had to find someone she could tell what was happening in Talas. But she wasn’t sure it mattered. She was pretty sure that whatever was in there was beyond the Committee’s—or anyone’s—ability to stop.

She kept walking. There was nothing else to do.

The Angel leaned back with a sigh, licking grease from her fingers contentedly. Her stomach was comfortably distended, and she felt a sleepy lassitude washing over her. For the first time in days she felt full and well fed. They had finished off all the meat. Of course, she had all she wanted, while she watched in some amusement as some of her weaker followers fought over the scraps of what was left. Tomorrow they would have to search for food again, but tomorrow was tomorrow and they’d worry about it when it was upon them.

Outside, night had fallen. The bloated greenish moon illumined the shadowy things that still slunk around the water pool. At the start of the feast the Angel had ordered her people to gather what utensils they could—there were still plenty of pots and pans on the household section—and she boldly opened a door leading outside, willed her new blade to her, and stood guard while her people gathered enough water for their needs.

Nothing had dared to attack them. The Angel had smiled scornfully. Even they recognized her power. Soon perhaps, they would willingly join her clan. For now it was enough to have their fear.

She was tired. She was sore. The thought of sleep was upon her, but she suddenly noticed a strange, somehow familiar figure stagger to the edge of the pool, fall down, and stick his face in the water, drinking thirstily.

Things moved in the darkness around him, as the Angel watched with interest.