The Resistance: Book 5 of the After The Event Series by T.A. Williams

and knocked twice. As they stood there waiting for Dena to unlock the door Ally’s eyes fell on the wooden boards covering up the windows. The house was located just on the outskirts of the safe zone and they had done everything they could to block it off from the outside world; still, she knew if someone really wanted to, it wouldn’t take them long to break inside.
                  Dena opened the door, allowing them inside, where Ally and Adam unloaded their bags. They had traded away most of the items they had found on their long trip here for a few useful items. Medicine, lighters, clothing and a few other useful items. Ally pulled out an old chew toy and threw it to Tiger, who snatched it out of the air and ran over to the corner of the living room to enjoy it.
                  “Any news?” Dena asked as she sat down on an old raggedy couch. Adam shook his head no. “We don’t have a choice then.”
                  “They said everyone left that area long ago.”
                  “I still have to see,” Dena said.
                  Adam looked to Ally, and she said nothing. They had already talked on the way over and they knew that Dena wouldn’t take no for an answer. Despite all evidence to the contrary Dena continued to believe that somewhere in the depths of the USC ruins her daughter was sitting there waiting for them.
                  “It’ll be dangerous,” Adam started. “We shouldn’t take Coby there.”
                  “I have to see it,” Dena said.
                  Adam’s forehead creased and his jaw clenched. “You want to take your son into a war zone?”
                  “I’m not staying here. I have to see it. Ally can stay here with Coby.”
                  Now it was Ally’s turn to get mad. She was more capable of defending herself than Adam and Dena combined and they wanted to leave her behind to babysit? Ally opened her mouth to say something when Adam caught her eye and shook his head no. Ally bit back her anger and got up and stormed out of the room. She made her way to her bedroom in the back and flopped down on the bed. They had washed the sheets and hung them out to dry but they still had a musty scent to them. Still, they were better than nothing. After a few moments Tiger came sauntering in with his chew toy firmly in his mouth. The dog jumped on the bed, dropped the toy and nuzzled into her side. Ally smiled and lay back on the bed, where she fell asleep.
                  When she woke night had taken over and there were a few streams of moonlight that were able to find their way through the cracks of the boarded up windows reminding her of where she was. Her stomach let out a low rumble, reminding her of what she had forgotten to do. Tiger tilted his head at the sound. Ally got out of bed and carefully made her way out of the room, and when she got to the hallway she could make out the dancing light from a candle coming from the living room. Adam and Coby lay on a mattress on the living room floor while Dena sat at the table staring at the candle’s open flame. She noticed Ally and straightened up.
                  “Hey Ally, there is some raccoon meat and leftover beans in the kitchen.”
                  “Raccoon meat?” Ally asked.
                  “Yeah, from one of the traps you and Adam traded for.”
                  Ally was used to hunting outside for hours just for the chance to kill enough meat to fill her stomach for a few hours. Waking up and having a plate full of meat just waiting for her was a strange, but great, feeling.
                  “Want me to heat it up for you?” Dena asked.
                  “No, I’m okay.”
                  Ally grabbed the plate from the kitchen and sat down at the table next to Dena. She gave Tiger a piece