Page 14 of One Merciful Moment

Ashley refrained from saying it wasn't that easy. She needed her books and recipes. Everything was on the other side of the veil. Besides, she wasn't staying here long.

When the fire burned low, and the pot was empty, Boone stood and offered Ashley his hand, hefting her to her feet. They walked back toward the house, the night quiet except for the men talking behind them.

Boone pushed open the door, and the lights came on.

Soft, warm, steady, welcoming.

Ashley froze, blinking hard.

The bulbs glowed like they had been waiting for them, like the house had decided to wake up. Ashley stepped inside slowly, her breath catching.

"Boone?" she whispered.

He stared at the lights, jaw tight, eyes narrowed as if he didn't trust what he was seeing. But he couldn't deny it.

She touched the nearest lamp. It was warm.

Boone strode into the kitchen and turned on the faucet. Air bubbles sputtered until water came through the pipe in a steady stream.

Her heart thrummed. "What does this mean?"

"I don't know." He backed away from the kitchen.

Ashley stood beside him, the glow washing over his skin. She slipped her hand into his and squeezed.

Maybe this meant Everstill was changing.

Maybe a storm will come next.

Chapter 9

Boone

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The men congregated in front of the grocery store after sunrise, the sky holding that same pale, unmoving light Everstill always had. They'd gathered there every morning this week, rushing over as soon as they woke, hoping to find the shelves stocked again.

Apparently, Everstill decided to give them electricity back, but not food.

Copper stood with his hands on his hips, staring through the dusty front door like he expected food to appear if he glared hard enough.

Finally, Copper exhaled. "The groceries aren't coming back."

"Fuck." Vaughn turned and kicked the building.

Boone crossed his arms. "What makes you say that?"

They'd had food up until the power went out. It could return, too.

Copper rubbed a hand over his jaw. "When the original team built Everstill, we set up systems to keep us alive. Food was one of them. During storms, the veil pulled supplies through. Stuff that wouldn't be missed from the other side. Dry goods. Canned food. Produce from distribution centers. Whatever the veil could grab without anyone noticing."

Lately, Boone had wondered how the shelves filled overnight. Before now, he hadn't cared and never asked.

"It was tied to the storms. Every time the veil opened, the system refreshed the store. It wasn't magic. It was protocol. A safety net we built into the program," Copper said.

"Are your partners on the other side?" Mace stepped closer. "Can they get us out?"

Copper held up his hand. "No. I'm the only one alive. The others were killed trying to go through the veil back at the start."