Denver pulled away from the mirror and walked to the two women. Their little group had a new member. He didn't realize that Ashley had arrived. They were discussing Mr Ross's state. The man was still asleep, breathing with difficulties.
"Hey, are you okay?" Ashley had a small smile on her lips. Denver promised to fetch her brother, but they found the opposite in their lobby. Nonetheless, Mr Ross had returned.
Denver looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. "Something must have happened when we were out there. Nonetheless, we found each other."
Ashley shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Freddie said… this strange mimic captured him. It was like a spider and strew webs to catch him. When he woke up, you were there next to him. The mimic was gone… as well as the webs. He just carried you back here. He also dragged Mr Dayton's body back.
"He said you might get upset about that." She chuckled, hiding her reluctant gaze. "Your guide said he shouldn't tamper with the bodies. He just… he couldn't leave Mr Dayton out there to get picked on by the mimics and animals."
"I understand. It's a heartless guide. Adjustments should be made to cater to familiar people." Denver wore a tired smile.
Whether it was bad or not, he would just deal with the consequences when they came. Contingencies were all carved deep into everyone's minds. Their Dandelion Apartments was old, but it didn't mean it couldn't handle a few shakes.
Ashley nodded and murmured about telling her brother about it.
Denver didn't have to do anything in the infirmary anymore. He decided to leave. Also, he felt hungry. His mother followed him without a sound, letting the nurse watch over her post and patient.
"…I'm sorry. I must have scared you," Denver whispered when he was alone with his mother. "Don't worry. I won't leave you like that."
"This is the second time." Taylor, his mother, spoke without warmth. "Next time, you'll die. You're so careless. You know we need a paramedic on standby at all times, but you keep going out there. Leave the supplies to the others. Why do you want to die so early?"
Denver pursed his lips into a line. "I'm sorry, Mom."
Taylor looked to the side, past the frames of the first-floor windows. "You think we can give you something like that? He's only lucky Freddie went against the guide and brought him back. Do you think someone will pick you up when you die?"
"No." Denver sighed inwardly. "What he did is dangerous to everyone. Don't worry. I won't let anyone come here to hurt you."
"You do that." Taylor took a turn to attend the activity happening in the inside parking lot.
Denver could only watch her leave. He wanted to pay proper respect to Mr Dayton, but he chose to pass on it. He only watched from where he stood.
The Dayton family held a small funeral for their father at the inside parking lot. A tall mound of earth was beside the deep hole meant to be his grave. The man's old lady stood next to his crying children. They were upset and devastated, but no one could be blamed. Their father had always gone out to buy supplies for everyone in the building. He was tough and well-built.
That mimic from last night was just too powerful for most humans.
"Denver…" a weak voice called out his name. Denver turned to an old man by the side. It was the old guard. His deep and worried gaze made Denver pass on eating for now.
…
"I found this next to the perimeter fence." The old guard showed a photo of a strange symbol through his old smartphone. He looked up at the man. "Do you think… a group of marauders had tagged our building? Should I remove it?"
Denver sighed in his mind. The worst scenario slowly played before his eyes. For two years, they hadn't had marauders raid them. However, the nearby shelters were hit and decimated within a day.
He looked at the old guard. "I'll get a few things we could use to keep them out. The gun shop should have been looted long ago, but I might find something useful. Call me when you notice anything suspicious. Try to find hiding spots. We don't know how good those thugs are."
The old guard locked his phone. "…Denver… why don't you just… leave for The Garden today? I'm sure the kids won't take it against their parents…"
"I doubt your granddaughter will leave you behind." Denver chuckled. Everyone must have heard his father's legal wife calling for Denver and his mother to come to the nearest megacity, The Garden. It happened almost once a week recently.
"It's better for her to get mad than die out here. She's also… old enough…" The old guard held onto his phone tightly. "Denver, we can't let those marauders get past us. The people in the building… my granddaughter… They shouldn't experience anything that can scar them for a lifetime. You're right to say that it's better for the mimics to come instead."
Denver lowered his gaze. "…Grandpa, don't get too emotional. I need you to focus on guarding the building. If you start crying during your shift, we might miss something."
The old guard laughed. "You're right. I should give it my all to cover for everyone. You should leave as soon as you're ready, Denver. Oh, here… Mr Wells wanted me to give the card back. Do you think those marauders saw them using that?"
Denver received a debit card from the old guard. "Maybe. Everyone still needs money for the guarded places. They can't raid the supermarket, only those who buy from it."
"Take care, okay? We're all depending on you."
The old guard resumed his duties. Denver left for breakfast, only to set out an hour after eating. It was still early, and the marauders were still active. However, Denver had to act fast. Those guys knew that humans sleep at night. They might act with the cover of the shadows.
…
Denver left the building with an empty backpack. He planned to grab a few things from the supermarket before heading to the gun shop. Meeting a mimic in broad daylight was rare, but he was so sure that it happened a lot to other groups. Otherwise, the essential stores wouldn't arm themselves against these monsters. Not that marauders hadn't dared to rob them before.
"There will be a lot of humans in that place…" Denver exhaled and focused on his task at hand. He had to accomplish something before the old guard saw movement outside their building.
The man pulled on his backpack's strap and crossed the street. He took the path leading to the only guarded place in Abels Creek, the supermarket.