For the next five days I sold almost all the fur rugs and coats in the town. I packed the rest in case the weather worsened or when we were tight on money. That was highly unlikely considering the fact that Katherine was hoarding about nine-hundred dollars in the car. That could buy one hundred or probably more of them…But I didn’t know about the price of fur coats from other states, so I couldn’t say for sure.

“Why do you need so much money?” I hoisted the belongings I couldn’t afford to part with, securely into the backseat.

My possessions consisted of my trusty guns, mint leaves, favorite books about myths, history and fantasy, a few pictures of my grandma and a dog she sewed together with mismatched rags and stuffed with goose feathers. I named him Mr.Raggy, a befitting title for such a sophisticated pooch.

“A lot of things outside this town cost more than a thousand dollars.” She said

“Really? With a thousand dollars you could probably live in a mansion here.” I marveled.

I hopped into the front passenger seat, two strands of my strawberry blonde tied at the center back of my head, wearing a dull blue flannel dress. Katherine was in a grape purple tank top and faded granite jeans. She shimmied into the driver’s seat and buckles my seatbelt.

“With a thousand dollars you could barely get a room the size of you.” She patted her hands on the wheel.

“Seriously?”

She gave me a teasing smirk.

“Take my word for it, nine hundred dollars isn’t worth anything in these lands…Also better say good bye to that bed yours” Katherine said, “from now on you’ll be sleeping in the car…Having cold feet?”

“No. I have slept in enclosed spaces before.” I shook my head.

During my hunting sessions, which would drag on for days, I slumbered in vacant tree trunks or bunny holes.

“Then we’re off.” She started the car, the engine purring to life.

We were heading to Central America, an area Kathy had not specifically scavenged from yet, but more or less knew the area due to her mother’s acquaintances. I intently gazed outside the window, the devil forest stretching on miles on end in the eternal grey sky; the car sometimes jerking from the occasional of the road.

Anticipation fluttered in my chest.