Freedom was fleeting, spoiled by storms passing through the area. I’d managed to hunt down another book, curling up on my bed and trying to let the story drown out the tempest raging outside. It lasted three days; On the fourth morning, I went outside to survey the damage. Branches from the oak trees lay everywhere, some bigger than me, and dug into the ground in spots. Shingles from the roof added to the mess, along with a few window shutters. I rolled up my sleeves, deciding to start with the smaller stuff. I worked for most of the morning, tossing debris into a pile.
“What are you doing?”
I looked up to see Liam watching me from the doorway.
“What does it look like?” I held up a twig.
He shook his head. “I mean, why are you out here without Finn or Dec?”
“I couldn’t find them.”
“I
