It was warmer down there, the windows blocked with old clothes and couch cushions, and a broken nightstand burning slowly on the bare cement floor of the laundry room. The house was barely half a mile from the country club, but still farther than Xochi or Hobb could have traveled on their own. Ariel had dragged them here, sliding them over the snow on a makeshift sled while the Partials, terrified of the infant bioweapon, had fled just as quickly in the other direction. For all Ariel knew, they’d gotten back to Riverhead before they died, and given the disease to everyone else. She looked at Hobb, bandaged like a ragged mummy and sedated on the floor, still completely unaware that his son was dead. He’d risked his life to save the child, which Ariel had never expected. She crept past him, past Xochi, past the wailing form of Isolde, to the last room in the narrow hallway. Nandita was sitting in the dark.

“The mushroom cloud is gone,” said Ariel. “No sign of anyone chasing us.”

“I imagine they’re somewhat preoccupied,” said Nandita. “Under the circumstances.”

Ariel sat across from her. Nandita had to see the gun in her hand, in silhouette at the very least, but she said nothing about it.

On. Off.

“You think Hobb’s going to last the night?”

“I don’t know,” said Nandita.

“I can’t help but think it’ll be easier for him if he dies,” said Ariel. “He sacrificed himself to save his son, and now he has to wake up and hear that his sacrifice didn’t mean anything.”

“His child did not survive,” said Nandita. “That doesn’t mean his sacrifice didn’t mean anything.”

The fire spit and crackled behind them.

On. Off.

Ariel wanted to shoot her now, to raise her hand and fire, but she didn’t. She wanted to rage and scream and yell and make this woman pay for the hell she’d put her through—for the hand she’d had in this entire, world-ending calamity. She didn’t do that either. She watched the orange lights from the fire dancing weakly on the wall, just out of reach of the room’s dark shadow. “I saw what you did with the chemical trigger,” said Ariel at last. “The night you dumped it in the fire, after Erin Kessler said she wanted to use it.”

“I didn’t want her to try anything stupid,” said Nandita.

“Looks like we didn’t do enough to stop her,” said Ariel.

“Looks like.”

On. Off.

“Why did you do it?” asked Ariel.

“Create the Partials?” asked Nandita. “End the world? Destroy your childhood? My list of crimes is long, child. I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific.”