Free After the End by Bonnie Dee

real owners were still alive, they'd thank you for it."
    "I suppose you're right." Lila smiled briefly and the dimple in her cheek flashed again. "Some brave new world, huh?"
    She rested her chin on her drawn up knees, silent for a moment before she added, "I'm worried about my ex. It sounded like the hospital is overrun."
    "My mom works there, too and I haven't been able to reach her. I know how Deb feels. I want to go to her, but I guess we're all stuck with each other for a while." Ari thought he could probably make it on his own if they all split up, but some of the others would be helpless. It wouldn't be right to ditch them.
    "Guess so." Lila exhaled and started to climb to her feet. "And I guess we need to be a part of this." She nodded toward the escalating argument. "We're going to have to make some decisions and it's probably better if everyone's not yelling at each other—especially since they're all armed."
    What he wouldn't give to be back at training camp with someone barking out orders all he had to do was follow. He followed Lila back toward the others.
    "Hey," he said, and when everyone continued to loudly promote his or her own agenda, he repeated more sharply, "Hey! Listen."
    They all fell silent and looked toward him. Joe turned down the volume on the static-filled radio.
    "No one has to stay here against their will so if you want to go so badly, Deb, you should, but I believe we're safer staying together. We can find a way to accommodate what everybody wants to do. Derrick, you want a laptop? That's a good idea and we'll try to get one and food, too. Many of you are anxious to get home to your families. Let's talk about the geography of that, keeping in mind you'll probably have to walk all the way. Then there's the idea of trying to find some military personnel to evacuate us from the city."
    He drew a breath, hoping he'd covered all their concerns and made them feel "heard" because now he was about to shoot them down. "The problem is it's dangerous out there and we're on foot. Some of us might not be able to run fast enough if we had to, especially after what we've already been through." He indicated Ronnie with a flick of his gaze. "To me, it makes the most sense to spend the night here where we're fairly safe. In the morning, after we've all had a chance to rest, we can reassess the situation. Meanwhile, we'll send out a party for supplies, but the majority of the group should wait here."
    There were murmurs of agreement and he felt a surge of relief that there wasn't going to be any contention, then Deb spoke up.
    "I hear what you're saying and I appreciate the logic, but I'm going." She slung a rifle onto her shoulder. "I'm going now. If I can, I'll come back here with Julie and whatever news I find out."
    No one tried to persuade her anymore. Her determined face stopped their attempts. Lila said, "good luck" and Ann murmured, "be careful" as they watched Deb walk to the front of the store and check the street through the display window. She let herself out the front door, and Lila went to lock it behind her then stood, watching her disappear down the street.
    Ari felt like he'd lost one. At the same time he wished he could take off like that, too, but a glance around at the faces of the remaining members of their group reminded him why he couldn't. He didn't know quite why he felt a sense of personal responsibility for their wellbeing, but he couldn't seem to shrug it off much as he'd like to.
    Lila came back over from the door. "What now?"
    Ari thought about a course of action. "There should be a guard at the window, keeping watch. We'll take turns. There's no way to recharge our cell phones so we shouldn't use them except to periodically try to reach 911. Derrick, you and I will go for supplies. I saw a grocery store farther down the block, and a rent-to-own place where you can get computer supplies." He wanted Derrick along because the kid knew what he needed. Ari wasn't computer ignorant, but