Marybeth, Iyisha, and Aljun moved around the room in silence, each of them preparing without needing to say what came next.
Iyisha strapped her pistol to her thigh and tightened it, then picked up the shotgun and checked it once, more to steady herself than anything else. When she looked up, Malcolm was already watching her, and the weight of that made her chest tighten.
It was dangerous.
But they needed gear if they wanted to reach Manhattan.
She let out a slow breath, trying to steady her heartbeat, then glanced at the door. In a few seconds, they would be out.
They couldn't use the stairwell. Too many walkers had gathered there after the noise. The fire exit at the end of the hall was their only option.
She gave Malcolm a small smile.
He nodded, but it didn't look like agreement. It looked like acceptance.
Iyisha glanced at Lance. He was watching them, tense, trying not to show it.
"I can stay alone," he said. "I will be fine."
