“I can’t believe we found your family,” Matt chuckles as they settle in the big room their group was given.

Ekua nods. “Me either. It’s pretty wild seeing them after so long.”

“How long has it been?” Maybelle wonders, sitting cross legged on a top bunk.

“Uh, a few years?” Ekua says thoughtfully. “I left when I was thirteen, so… about six years. Almost seven.”

“Wow. That’s incredible.”

Matt nods in agreement.

“Maybelle, can you tell us another story?” March asks from the far end of the room.

“Sure.” Maybelle hops down from her bunk and trots down to the kids’ area. “What do you wanna hear?”

Ekua hums amusedly. “She sure has a way with those kids.”

Calvin smiles. “She probably gets it from her brother.”

Ekua turns to agree, then wonders, “Hey, where is Edison?”

Matt looks around confusedly and hums. “I thought he came in with us.”

“Me too. I swear I saw him in the common area,” Ekua murmurs.

“Hey May, do you know where Edison is?” Matt asks.

She looks up curiously. “He’s probably hiding somewhere. He wasn’t looking too good earlier.”

Matt tilts his head. “You don’t sound as worried as I’d expect.”

She shrugs. “We’re safe.”

She goes back to her story and Matt purses his lips, looking around the room. Calvin sits on a bed near the kids to listen to Maybelle’s story. Oren is passed out on a bunk below Isidra. Jonah’s also passed out, on a bed in the far corner.

Ekua nudges Matt’s arm with a chuckle and nods to the door. “Come on, loverboy. Let’s go see if we can find him; and find out what time dinner is. It should be soon.”

Matt follows her out of the room.

“It’s a bit weird to see you more worried than Maybelle,” Ekua comments.

“She’s used to him,” he sighs. “And I’m sure he’s fine. The way he’s been acting lately just has me on edge.”

“That’s fair.”

Matt rubs his face with a heavy sigh. “Do you know how long we’re gonna be allowed to stay here?”

Ekua shrugs. “Probably a while, if Charlie’s still cool. We’ll be put to work, but I doubt anyone minds that.”

He snorts in agreement.

As they turn a corner, Nathan gives them a big grin from up the hall. “Ekua! Wonderful timing! I was just coming to tell you and your friends that dinner is almost ready.”

“Oh. Awesome,” Ekua beams and glances at Matt. “Hey, have you seen Edison around? He’s not in the room with us.”

Nathan shakes his head slowly. “No, not that I can think of. Did he make it through the door with us?”

Matt’s heart falls and pounds in his chest, and his stomach twists uncomfortably. Edison had lagged behind when they left the shack and among the motions, Matt can’t remember seeing him on this side of the door.

“I’m… not sure,” Matt says, almost breathless with the realization.

Ekua looks at him. “You didn’t see him come through?”

Matt shakes his head. “I… he was lagging behind and I was carrying March…”

“Hey, chill, Matt. He’s tough. I’m sure he’s fine.”

Matt grumbles into his hands.

Ekua puts a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go get some gear so we can check out the front.”

He nods and they lead Nathan to the room. The group follows him out into the hall while Maybelle lags back with Ekua and Matt.

“Are you guys going to look for him?” she asks.

“Yeah. I’m not sure he made it inside with us,” Matt says.

“He probably didn’t,” she agrees.

He looks over.

“He’s probably cooped up at the shack again.”

“Why?”

“Why would he avoid a warm place to stay in this weather?” Ekua inquires.

Maybelle glances between them and hesitates for just a moment. “Last… last time we followed someone into a shelter this far into winter, Edison was traumatized. I’m fine and I trust your judgement, Ekua, but he’s… not the same.”

Matt sighs and nods. “Right. Should… should we leave him alone then?”

Maybelle shakes her head. “Not if you’re uncomfortable with it. He’s probably lonely right now anyway. He usually has me with him at least.”

“But you don’t want to go out after him?” Ekua wonders.

She purses her lips. “No. Not- not really.”

Matt shrugs his jacket and bag on. “I’ll do it then. He shouldn’t be out there alone, especially with the weather setting in.”

Ekua looks at him. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“Nah, you go ahead and stay here. You know these people, so you can vouch for all of us.”

“True. Alright. Just be careful, Matt.”

“Of course.”

Maybelle follows them out of the room and watches Matt walk up the hall. “Ekua, which way is the dinner room?”

“Just meet me in the common area,” Ekua chuckles.

Maybelle nods and trots after Matt.

“Aren’t you supposed to be going to dinner?” he asks when she comes up to his side.

“I’m going to see you out first.”

He shrugs.

They walk through the shelter quietly. At the end of their residential hall is the warehouse area, where metal shelves make aisles of supplies. Maybelle debates snagging a few things, but decides not to each time. These people have welcomed her into their place and she’s not going to shame herself with petty thievery, despite what the outside world has taught her.

When the warehouse comes to and end, they find the entrance. Stone walls narrow down to frame the single door whose window shows a stormy white world. The vision makes her stomach tighten.

“Where you headed?” asks the person guarding the door.

“Going to find one of our friends that’s still out there,” Matt answers.

They nod, barely interested, and prepare to open the door.

“Hey Matt,” Maybelle says and reaches for his arm.

“Yeah?”

“Take… take care of him. My brother needs someone who really cares.”

Matt smiles sadly and offers her a hug that she accepts. “He’ll be okay, May.”

She nods, then pats his chest and nods to the door. “Okay. Be careful. Stay warm.”

“I will.”

The guard opens the door and Maybelle holds her arms as cold flies through the opening. Matt pulls his hood up and walks out, disappearing in just a few steps.