Chapter 210
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Eve was guarding the barn, making sure noone stole the food inside. The top of the barn was decorated with flags, collective flags, city flags, even confederate flags. Eve found it somewhat ironic that black soldiers were fighting alongside confederate flags. This place had enough guards for an attack from Endor, at least their citizens' militia. If Endor got reinforcements from Mason, maybe not. There were other thieves, desperate, displaced refugees all around. Not to mention the possibility of her comrades getting hungry and stealing rations from others. People here were anxious about president Mason's daughter. Some felt sympathy for her. Others were worried about retaliation. Endor might attack, motivated by vengeance. Even if the collective soldiers defeated them, people would die. Maybe Eve, maybe her comrades, or she might kill. Eve didn't like any of these options. But shortly before sunrise on the 23rd, Eve heard something near her location. As much as she hated the possibilities, they seemed to have found her anyway.
When she heard the noise, Eve hoped her imagination was just playing tricks on her. She aimed her rifle and said she'd shoot. Then she saw the figure. It was a man, Steven. Steven held up his arms and walked slowly towards Eve.
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Eve: Who are you?
Steven: Just a father. My family fled into the woods during the plague.
Eve: The plague's contained.
Steven: So we heard. Please, I just need to bring some food back to them.
Eve: If you join the collective army you'll get food rations, for yourself and your family.
Steven: I can't do that. I promised my children I wouldn't get killed. That I'd always be there to protect them.
Eve: I won't report you, but you have to leave, now.
Steven: My children will starve if I don't bring something back. So either shoot me, or let me take some apples. But either way, I'm not going back empty-handed.
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Eve thought about this. She knew that this guy was probably telling the truth. She didn't want to shoot a desperate father, trying to feed his hungry kids. But Eve had also sworn an oath to the collective army. The food was barely enough to feed them, without worrying about refugees. There were programs to help people like Steven, but their resources were spread thin. Eve remained uncertain what she should do, but she would have to choose quickly. Eve was torn. She wanted to help this man, his children. It hadn't escaped her attention that their mother wasn't mentioned, likely she was deceased. Eve could be shot for stealing food and giving it to an unknown. With 575 days until impact this threat scared Eve less, but it still scared her. In the end Eve decided she couldn't turn her back on Steven, not when she could see his face. Eve quickly snuck into the barn, grabbed some apples and bottles of water. She brought them back out and gave them to Steven. Eve then told Steven to get lost and never come back.