feel a bit safer knowing that I'm so close to an exit.
"My name's Liz, by the way. I haven't formally introduced myself" She extended her hand, Helen was taken aback by the formality of her introduction.
Helen shook it, "I'm Helen. Did you say I could I could get a shower here?" Her question sounded more abrupt than she meant it to be.
"Sure, I should have a spare towel you could use. Follow me."
As Helen followed Liz through the hallway to the bathroom, she noted how similar the layout was to Mark's house. They walked past a set of metal dropdown steps similar to the ones in Mark's house, in a similar spot where a set of real stairs had been ripped out. It may have been identical, which wouldn't have been surprising considering they were both recently new builds on the same estate. She wondered if every house had the same layout, it would definitely make defending the estate easier.
She also noticed how different the feel of the two houses was. When she had been in Mark's house, there was a distinct impression that it was a base of operations, purely functional. There was no decoration or personalisation, the only things pinned to the walls were maps and plans.
Liz's house was different. Helen looked down into the living area below and saw comfy chairs. There were four individual chairs and a grey two seater sofa. Two armchairs were from a brown set and the other two were completely mismatched, one being stripe patterned whilst the other had a bright green floral pattern. In the centre of the chairs were two coffee tables, one of which had a kettle and three mugs on it. It looked like Liz had people round to socialise whereas Mark used his house as a base.
Like the other rooms she had seen, Helen found the bathroom to be basic but bright. The tiled walls reflected the light that came in through the frosted window.
"The shower's electric so it'll get warm but the water pressure has slowly been getting worse. I suppose it was going to happen some time, we're going to try to locate the closest water treatment plant. Someone must have kept it going to keep a supply running for this long, we're hoping we'll be able to keep it going with as little bother as possible."
Helen took that as a polite request to keep her shower as brief as she could. Liz gave her a large towel that had been hung on the towel rail and left her alone. As Helen showered, she tried to remember the last time she had had one. She had grown so accustomed to cleaning herself with a small bowl of cold water that even a brief, mildly warm shower seemed like a luxury spa break. She dried herself as quickly as possible so that Liz would know she hadn't been long in the shower.
Washed and changed, Helen found the metal steps extended to the ground floor. She climbed down and collapsed on the couch, her body melting into it like the two were destined to be together. She heard Liz's voice faintly in the background but she didn't have the energy to open her eyes, within seconds she was asleep.
The hours passed as she slept, it was light when she awoke. She realised her head was resting on a pillow that wasn't there when she went to sleep, she was also covered by a blanket. Morning light shone through the overhead window, lighting up the room. She stood up and walked around, stretching her aching muscles that had cramped up after getting the chance to relax.
Liz walked into the room whilst Helen was looking round.
"You're awake? You've been asleep for nearly twelve hours."
Helen was shocked, she knew it had been more than a light sleep but she hadn't realised it had been so long. Her right arm was sore when she bent it, her ribs hurt and she'd already noticed the area turning red when she was in the shower. She knew now there would be a huge bruise on there.
"I can't believe I slept for so long. I bet Mark is wondering where I am."
"He went out earlier with Luke and Allister. I think they were going to move some of the bodies. It looked like a pretty
"My name's Liz, by the way. I haven't formally introduced myself" She extended her hand, Helen was taken aback by the formality of her introduction.
Helen shook it, "I'm Helen. Did you say I could I could get a shower here?" Her question sounded more abrupt than she meant it to be.
"Sure, I should have a spare towel you could use. Follow me."
As Helen followed Liz through the hallway to the bathroom, she noted how similar the layout was to Mark's house. They walked past a set of metal dropdown steps similar to the ones in Mark's house, in a similar spot where a set of real stairs had been ripped out. It may have been identical, which wouldn't have been surprising considering they were both recently new builds on the same estate. She wondered if every house had the same layout, it would definitely make defending the estate easier.
She also noticed how different the feel of the two houses was. When she had been in Mark's house, there was a distinct impression that it was a base of operations, purely functional. There was no decoration or personalisation, the only things pinned to the walls were maps and plans.
Liz's house was different. Helen looked down into the living area below and saw comfy chairs. There were four individual chairs and a grey two seater sofa. Two armchairs were from a brown set and the other two were completely mismatched, one being stripe patterned whilst the other had a bright green floral pattern. In the centre of the chairs were two coffee tables, one of which had a kettle and three mugs on it. It looked like Liz had people round to socialise whereas Mark used his house as a base.
Like the other rooms she had seen, Helen found the bathroom to be basic but bright. The tiled walls reflected the light that came in through the frosted window.
"The shower's electric so it'll get warm but the water pressure has slowly been getting worse. I suppose it was going to happen some time, we're going to try to locate the closest water treatment plant. Someone must have kept it going to keep a supply running for this long, we're hoping we'll be able to keep it going with as little bother as possible."
Helen took that as a polite request to keep her shower as brief as she could. Liz gave her a large towel that had been hung on the towel rail and left her alone. As Helen showered, she tried to remember the last time she had had one. She had grown so accustomed to cleaning herself with a small bowl of cold water that even a brief, mildly warm shower seemed like a luxury spa break. She dried herself as quickly as possible so that Liz would know she hadn't been long in the shower.
Washed and changed, Helen found the metal steps extended to the ground floor. She climbed down and collapsed on the couch, her body melting into it like the two were destined to be together. She heard Liz's voice faintly in the background but she didn't have the energy to open her eyes, within seconds she was asleep.
The hours passed as she slept, it was light when she awoke. She realised her head was resting on a pillow that wasn't there when she went to sleep, she was also covered by a blanket. Morning light shone through the overhead window, lighting up the room. She stood up and walked around, stretching her aching muscles that had cramped up after getting the chance to relax.
Liz walked into the room whilst Helen was looking round.
"You're awake? You've been asleep for nearly twelve hours."
Helen was shocked, she knew it had been more than a light sleep but she hadn't realised it had been so long. Her right arm was sore when she bent it, her ribs hurt and she'd already noticed the area turning red when she was in the shower. She knew now there would be a huge bruise on there.
"I can't believe I slept for so long. I bet Mark is wondering where I am."
"He went out earlier with Luke and Allister. I think they were going to move some of the bodies. It looked like a pretty
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