Eight
theo
“Here we go.” Owen perched on the edge of the couch, elbows resting on his knees, eyes locked on the TV. “About time, too.”
It took the government until seven p.m. to agree on the next steps in virus management.
It was dark out, the streets quiet. Apart from Sadie and Dustin, we’d all gathered on the rooftop to hear the announcement.
My anticipation grew as the minutes ticked by, and when the premier entered the press room in her pantsuit and black-framed glasses, my stomach was churning.
One look at her tight mouth and unblinking eyes, and any hope I’d held onto died a quick death. She was about to deliver shitty news, and I’d heard about enough shitty news.
She stepped up to the lectern and faced the dwindling numbers of journalists and cameras, pulling her shoulders back and steeling herself. Her remaining chief ministers filed in behind her—a united front about to drive a bigger wedge between the government and the rest of the population.
Laura and Ellie sat on one side of Owen, Willow on the other.
Varesh occupied his usual standing spot off to the side of the TV, while Tim sprawled in an armchair with one leg crossed over the other.
We’d all dressed for the cold—jackets and hoodies, tracksuit pants and scarves—and I divided my time between low-level pacing and checking the door for signs of Sadie.
I hadn’t seen her since our hangout this morning.
“If they say we have to stay home all the time, are we going to do it, Dad?” Willow asked.
“I don’t know, sweetie.” Owen patted her knee. “Let’s just see what they come up with first.”
“It better be good news.” Ellie tightened her ponytail as if prepping for a fight. “Just give me lower infection rates or something. If it’s more depressing crap, I swear I’m going to lose it.”
“Take it easy,” Laura said. “We don’t need you flipping tables.”
As the premier addressed the room and waited for the noise to quieten, the door to the rooftop creaked open.
Half-expecting Dustin, I turned and found Sadie wandering over to join us.
The second I set eyes on her, warmth rolled through me and blood rushed in my ears, drowning out the world around me until all I could focus on was her.
Tunnel vision. Butterflies.
I exhaled slowly.
“Sadie, girl,” Tim called out. “Come witness the downfall of society in real time. Owen’s literally on the edge of his seat.”
“Have they broken the news?” she asked.
Her eyes sought mine, and I caught the hint of shyness in her smile. Whenever we saw each other, it was like meeting for the first time again, only the awkwardness disappeared faster. A few more days, and she might be comfortable around me from the outset.
“Just about to,” Varesh said, facing the TV. “Brace yourself.”
Sadie had piled her long hair on top of her head, and I inhaled her flowery scent as she stopped beside me. “What do you think?” she asked, looking up at me. “Bad news?”
I spared her a glance, still recovering from my reaction to her. “I can’t see it going any other way.”
The premier launched into her prepared speech.
“Thank you for your patience while we work through the most recent developments,“ she said. “We know it’s been a long and difficult road for the people of Victoria. You’ve shown great perseverance and understanding under trying circumstances, and we...”
“Yeah, yeah,” Laura said as the premier continued pumping us up for the incoming news. “Just get to the rules, lady.”
“This is going to suck,” Tim said as the speech dragged on. “I’d bet money on it… if I had any left.”
“…and due to the significant rise in infections and multiple mutations in the virus, we’ve been forced to take the measure of removing exercise privileges, along with limiting the two-hour window for essential shopping to once per week.
This will replace the current twice-weekly allowance as of tomorrow. Anyone who—”
Voices surged in the press room, and journalists cut the premier off to interject with questions, no longer concerned about basic politeness.
A weight settled on my chest as she held up her hands and called for calm, the acceptance in her eyes saying it all.
It would never be calm again. This was just a last-ditch attempt to contain a virus that had raged out of control. She knew it. We knew it.
Fuck.
As the activity exploded on the screen, the rooftop stayed quiet for a beat longer, then everyone spoke at once.
“They can’t do that.”
“We’re being treated like prisoners.”
“Might as well ditch the rules altogether. It’s not like it matters anymore.”
“I’m about to actually flip a table.”
Sadie stayed quiet. I didn’t say a word, my eyes losing focus as I stared at the TV.
Everyone turned restless, tossing out theories I wouldn’t give my energy to just yet. All I could do was stand still and absorb it all.
We’d hung in there for months, following rules, staying out of harm’s way. None of it made a difference. Ultimus spread faster each day. People were still dying.
Even if the virus magically disappeared tomorrow, we were already on the brink. In the next few months, it would reach the point that we lacked even the basic numbers to keep society functioning.
A movement at my side brought me back to the present, the shock of it grounding me.
Sadie’s hand slipped across my palm, soft and unsure, her fingers weaving between mine and shooting tingles up my arm.
The first time she’d initiated touch just for the sake of it, and I didn’t know if she was seeking comfort or offering it. Either way, my heart pounded, and I tightened my hold, taking in the rooftop and the people who’d become my closest friends.
We still had one another, a small community where we could feel safe—but it wasn’t enough anymore.
We needed action.
When Laura looked my way, her eyes reflected the same concern as mine, too concerned with the shift in mood to notice me holding Sadie’s hand.
“Time for a chat,” Sadie said, her voice low and intimate. “All of us. We need to work together and find a way through this next part.”
I sighed and squeezed her palm. No more coasting. “I know.”
In the space of one short press conference, everything had changed.
“There’s a protest planned.” Ellie sat sideways on the arm of the couch, swinging her leg as she thumb-scrolled on her phone. “Ten o’clock tomorrow morning outside the State Library.”
The breeze kicked up, and Laura held her hair back as she moved over to the main wall for protection. “Before you even ask, you’re not going.”
“Joke’s on you, mother,” she said. “I don’t want to go anyway. People are talking about taking weapons and fighting back. It’s about to get crazy out there.”
“I’m not going either,” Willow added, as if there was a chance in hell of her leaving the building. She had the treadmill going at a low speed, entertaining herself by coming up with new ways to walk.
None of us could sit still for long, too restless to relax and pretend everything was normal.
Sadie stayed close to me near the side wall, shamelessly using me as a windbreaker. Varesh and Tim were huddled together on the couch alongside Owen.
Still no Dustin. I didn’t like how much time he was spending alone. With only his shifty little mind for company, who knew what he was getting up to holed up in his apartment.
“Tomorrow morning would be a good time to see what’s around in the supermarkets,” Varesh said. “Get out there while everyone’s at the protest or watching it on TV.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Owen said.
It wasn’t our allocated shopping day, but without discussing it, we’d all collectively agreed to stop following the rules.
“We could store the food in an empty apartment,” Laura suggested. “Use it like a communal pantry. Maybe on level three, so it’s convenient for everyone?”
Sadie stood with her back to me and only a hand-span of distance between us. She sent me a fleeting look over her shoulder. “Theo and I were talking about seeing what the other residents have left behind,” she said. “We could find plenty of dry goods right here in the building.”
No one argued over the callousness of raiding the homes of dead people. The more supplies we found on the premises, the less time we had to spend outside.
“Dustin has the master keys,” Tim pointed out.
“Leave that to me,” I said. “If he resists, I’m in the mood for a fight.”
Laura’s eyes shone with humour as she took in my expression. She clocked Sadie’s proximity to me, and a small smile formed. “Who’s up for the job of checking the supermarkets?” she asked, scanning the surrounding faces.
When Sadie moved away from me, I immediately felt her absence. “I’ll go if Tim comes with me,” she said.
Knife to the heart, but I’d messed up by volunteering for a different job.
“Can I help look for food?” Willow walked backwards on the treadmill, her eyes lighting up at the thought of rummaging through people’s homes.
“Me, too.” Ellie looked up from her phone for a second, then went back to staring at whatever had caught her attention.
“The more hands, the better,” Tim said.
I wasn’t sure I’d be here long term, but the others might be, and I’d do everything I could to make sure they were taken care of before I left. “If we need more weapons, Gavin’s place might be worth checking out, too.”
Owen pointed at me. “Yes. I forgot about that guy.”
“Does anyone object to starting in the morning?” Varesh squeezed Tim’s knee and pushed up off the couch. “We don’t need to do anything right this minute.”
“I’m all for getting a good night’s sleep before we kick off tomorrow.” Laura clapped her hands once as if adjourning a meeting. “Come on, girls, let’s go have dinner,” she said as Owen rose to join her. “We’ve got a bulk pack of chicken nuggets to work on.”
Willow groaned and turned off the treadmill. “Mother.”
Sadie let out a soft huff of laughter.
As the group splintered off into smaller conversations and goodnights, she tucked her windblown hair behind her ear and met my eyes. “Are you going to beat up Dustin tomorrow?” she asked. “You have a sparkle in your eye—almost like you’re looking forward to it.”
The corner of my mouth turned upward. “He’ll run as soon as it gets physical,” I said, “if he’s still here. Have you seen him since the hallway fiasco?”
Her brows pulled together, and she flicked a glance at the door. “I haven’t, now you mention it.” She wandered over to the wall and scanned the car park. “His car’s here,” she said, facing me again. “He must be in hiding.”
I took a couple of steps closer, watching the push-pull emotions play across her face. Instead of looking for an escape like she once might have, Sadie crossed her arms over her chest and stayed put.
“He can't hide for much longer,” I said. “It won’t take much to flush him out—and if we have to, we’ll break down his door.”
She shivered and stared at me. “It’s really come down to that, hasn’t it?”
I nodded. “He's becoming a problem, and we need a solution.”