Chapter 38. Not Quite Home

  Raven left Wilkes’s office with a grin; the satisfaction of a job well done lingering in his mind. It wasn’t often he received praise, but this time, he knew he’d earned it. Securing potential allies at the town hall had been a gamble, but the future gains that could come from it were huge.

  As he made his way toward the cafeteria, the thought of a proper meal after days of rationed food was almost enough to distract him. Almost. On a whim, he decided to detour toward the greenhouse. What he found inside left him speechless.

  The entire ward had been transformed. Hydroponic farms stretched across every available space; the setup so dense they had constructed wooden walkways to navigate the room. Bright green leaves and thick vines covered the makeshift planters, vegetables in various stages of growth basking in the sun from the windows. The scent of fresh produce filled the air, a stark contrast to the usual staleness of their confined world.

  A dozen people moved carefully between the rows, tending to the plants with an almost reverent focus, pausing only to push their hands against the ether tank at the centre of the room. The glow of energy dispersing into the system pulsed faintly, and Raven realised just how much had changed in the short time he’d been away.

  He didn’t linger long. Food was calling, and curiosity pushed him to see what had changed in the cafeteria.

  Stepping inside, he was immediately struck by the level of efficiency at work. The kitchen, once a chaotic assembly of volunteers, now ran like a well-oiled machine. A handful of people moved in perfect rhythm, chopping, stirring, plating meals in seamless coordination. Along one wall, a row of bay marries kept pre-prepared dishes warm, ready for the inevitable lunch rush.

  Raven’s gaze caught on a notice pinned to the far wall. A structured schedule had been established, splitting the population into timed slots for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—an efficient way to manage the sheer number of people now relying on this space. The system seemed to be working.

  Then he noticed something missing.

  The shop.

  A flicker of unease passed through him. Had something happened while he was gone? He doubted Wilkes would let a disaster unfold without informing him. Pushing the worry aside, he resolved to find out what had happened, but first, he was getting some food.

  Raven scooped up the last of his stew with a crust of bread, enjoying the hearty warmth of the meal. The vegetables were fresh, and the meat had a tender quality, though he couldn’t help but wonder where it had come from. He hoped it had been acquired ethically—after all, meat wasn't in large supply at the moment. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and stood up from the table, stretching as he made his way towards the stairs.

  As he descended, he nearly collided with Henson, who was just entering the room. “Hello, Raven. How was the scouting trip?” Henson asked, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ve just come from Wilkes—he tells me you had an eventful couple of days.”

  Raven paused for a moment; the memory of the past few days still fresh in his mind. With a quick nod, he replied, “You could say that. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.”

  With the missing shop on his mind, Raven decided to ask. “So, about the shop—what’s going on with that?” He glanced at Henson with a raised brow. “It seems to have moved?”

  Henson's expression shifted, his tone becoming more serious. “Yeah. A few civilians got a bit... pushy about some of the restricted items. We had to relocate the whole thing to the warehouse. It’s where we’re storing the armoury now, too.” He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Had to take precautions. Things are starting to get... uncomfortable.”

  Curious, Raven tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

  Henson sighed, a flash of concern in his eyes. “A few of the newer arrivals—some of the younger ones, mostly—started banding together. They formed a small faction, and now they’re making demands for their services. Not to mention, they’ve been resisting orders, questioning authority whenever they don’t get what they want. It hasn’t caused a full-blown issue yet, but... the faction’s growing. If it’s not addressed soon, it might get out of hand.”

  Raven crossed his arms thoughtfully. “Sounds like trouble brewing.”

  “More like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode,” Henson muttered, looking uneasy. “We’ll see if it stays small or if we have to deal with it properly.”

  He bid Henson farewell and wondered if he should seek out Wilkes to offer assistance with the development, but he still had an itch to explore and he didn't think the matter needed his immediate attention. Heading downstairs he decided to check out the basement and the sink stone.

  The camp had been buzzing with activity all morning, but the basement remained a quiet refuge. With a deep breath, he stepped down the worn wooden stairs, his boots creaking slightly as they hit the old boards. The place hadn’t changed much since his last visit. The dim light cast long shadows over the stone walls.

  However, there was one noticeable difference. Rugs, vibrant and patchwork, had been scattered across the floor in strategic spots. Some were near the walls, others in the centre, where people now sat cross-legged, meditating. The air had a soft, calming scent, and in one corner, a thin wisp of smoke rose from burning incense, curling around the room like a silent observer.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Raven stopped at the base of the stairs, taking in the sight, his eyes drawn to Anny. She moved gracefully between the meditating figures, offering quiet words of encouragement. Her presence was a calm amidst the stillness, her hands light as she helped those struggling to focus or find their peace. The scene was soothing, and Raven could feel the growing ether in the room, flowing to its own rhythm.

  To his surprise, Sky was nearby, her slim frame hovering over the kneeling figures, offering assistance in her own way. Sky was less subtle than Anny—her voice was low but strong, her presence commanding even in such a serene setting. Raven watched for a moment, before his gaze snapped to Anny as she noticed him standing at the edge of the room.

  She smiled at him, a soft, knowing smile, and for a moment, Raven’s heart beat a little too quickly. He could feel the blood rush to his face, his pulse quickening in an instant. Anny’s smile seemed to reach deep into him, stirring something he wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge.

  Before he could collect his thoughts, Sky moved towards him, stepping away from Anny’s side. Raven’s stomach clenched. She was always too direct, but her concern seemed genuine.

  “I’ve been worried about you,” Sky said, her brow furrowing slightly. “You disappeared after our group arrived. I thought maybe you’d been injured or something. No one tells our group anything. It’s like we’re all left to guess what’s going on.”

  Raven’s chest tightened. The memories of that night flooded his mind—how he had chosen to leave the hospital to avoid dealing with the hurt he had felt. He had hoped no one would notice, but of course, Sky did. Raven couldn’t look her in the eye.

  As he turned abruptly, ready to retreat, he could feel Anny’s gaze burning into him. A strange, uneasy tension filled the space between them.

  Anny watched as Raven left the basement without saying a word, a suspicion of what had happened the other night already starting to creep into her mind. Why had he left? Why hadn’t he come for dinner?

  She watched him go, her mind racing with questions, and Sky stood silently beside her, her own curiosity piqued.

  Raven moved swiftly through the doorway, his heart pounding with frustration more than anything else. He had not been expecting to see Sky, nor had he wanted to deal with whatever guilt-ridden excuses she was going to throw his way. The past was the past, and he had already made his peace with where she stood in it.

  But Anny—her expression as he turned away lingered in his mind. A mix of curiosity, confusion, and maybe even hurt. Damn it.

  He wasn’t in the mood to explain himself, nor did he think it was something that needed explaining. He had a bad night, made his peace with it, and moved on. He wasn’t about to drag Anny into that mess, not when he wasn’t even sure where he stood with her in the first place.

  Raven kept walking, his boots echoing against the metal as he climbed the stairs back up to the ground floor. He needed fresh air, space to think. Maybe he should check on Carlos, see if he had settled in properly. Or maybe he should go find Wilkes, see if there was any work that needed doing.

  Anything but dealing with old wounds that he had no interest in reopening.

  Raven found Carlos near the constructs, watching the machines churn out materials with fascination. "Enjoying the show?" Raven asked, smirking.

  Carlos shrugged. "Hard not to. Never seen anything like it before. Kind of mesmerizing."

  "Yeah, well, if you're done being mesmerized, want to help out?"

  "No complaints here," Carlos said, stretching. "But I’m not sure what I can do around here."

  "Let’s go see Wilkes," Raven suggested. "He’ll find us something."

  Together, they made their way across the plaza, stepping into the hospital just as Henson was leaving Wilkes' office. The older man gave them a nod before heading off, his face tight with tension.

  Wilkes looked up as they entered, rubbing his temple. "So, you’re aware of the internal tension going on, then?"

  "Yeah, got a brief rundown," Raven said.

  Wilkes sighed, leaning back in his chair. "One guess who’s leading the group."

  Raven didn’t even need to think. "Brad."

  "Exactly," Wilkes said, his expression darkening. "Didn’t you tell him you’d boot him if he played up?"

  "I did," Wilkes admitted. "Problem is, I have no proof. He just always seems to be present when trouble stirs, but nothing to pin on him directly."

  "Do you need me to do anything?" Raven asked.

  Wilkes shook his head. "No. I don’t think it’d help. You’ve got personal history with him, and if you get involved, it’ll just make things messier."

  "Fair enough," Raven said, crossing his arms. "Well, Carlos and I are here to earn our keep. Is there anything you need done?"

  Wilkes snorted. "More things than I can count. But for you two, right now, I’ve got something specific." He leaned forward. "I need you to focus on training. I’ve been watching my recruits, and even the officers aren’t close to taking on a brute the way you did. If another one shows up—and it will—I need someone who can deal with it."

  Raven exhaled sharply. "I barely managed last time."

  "Then get stronger," Wilkes said bluntly. "Find somewhere to train, test your limits, and if you find others who can handle it, take them with you."

  Carlos raised an eyebrow. "So, what? We’re just supposed to wander around until we find a death trap to fight in?"

  "If that’s what it takes," Wilkes said, dead serious.

  Raven considered for a moment before nodding. "Alright. We’ll figure something out."

  "Good," Wilkes said. "And Raven?"

  "Yeah?"

  Wilkes smirked. "Try not to get yourself killed. We need you."

  Raven moved through the plaza with purpose, heading toward the only person he knew who could help him grow stronger in any reasonable amount of time. He found Uri standing near a half-built section of the expanding perimeter, watching as the masons methodically laid bricks.

  The way things were shaping up, another dozen buildings would be secured once the next few sections of the wall were done. The workers built with precision, stacking three bricks thick with crossing reinforcements every so often to add stability.

  Uri observed the construction with fascination, her arms crossed as she leaned against a wooden beam. She barely glanced at Raven as he approached.

  "Hello, Uri," he greeted, stepping up beside her.

  She smirked. "I was wondering how long it’d take you to find me.

  Raven grinned, “Well you’re just so likeable.”

  "Actually," he said, keeping his voice even, "I was hoping you could guide Carlos and I in getting stronger. Maybe help us get more in touch with our traits. We need to be ready to face whatever comes."

  Uri finally turned to look at him, her golden eyes flicking between him and Carlos. A slow, knowing grin spread across her face. "You find interesting people, you know that, Raven?"

  Carlos raised an eyebrow. "I get the feeling I should be insulted."

  "Take it as a compliment," Uri said with a chuckle before turning her full attention back to Raven. "Alright. I’ll help. Did you have a plan in mind?"

  Raven exhaled. "Not exactly. I was hoping you might."

  Uri studied him for a moment before letting out a slow sigh. "Figures. Come on, let’s talk somewhere quieter". I’ll see what I can do to make sure you don’t die next time you go running headfirst into a monster."