Bri's group had food.

And, surprisingly, enough for everybody. It wasn't the healthiest food they could have had, but it was filling. Claire had been proud to announce that it had been her doing; she'd raided a supermarket while in the city the previous day. Miles, who hadn't eaten anything in more than a day now - and the same for everybody in his group - was like an animal, lunging for anything he could get his hands on. That was, except for Lia, who hung back and waited more sensibly to collect double the amount of food she might need. Before anybody could object, she carried it all towards the corner of the treehouse and sat herself down beside Percy, giving him a smile.

He was awake, today, and seemed to be calming down a little. He was still trembling and sweating and going between being too hot and too cold, but he wasn't unexpectedly lashing out any longer. Miles had explained, when they'd all first found him awake and improving, "It'll happen to all the Altered, too. Their bodies will start to grow used to the weird new feeling and they'll sort of succumb to it, I guess. They'll become less like wild monsters and more just like insane humans. Remember the man that tried to kill Aaron? How he couldn't control a single thing he did? Then think about the kid who was attacking Percy when we found him. That kid's moves were calculated and accurate, right? It's because he'd been infected for a few hours and his body became used to it. So, the Altered will gain control over their bodies, sort of, but not their thoughts. Their head will still be telling them to do the wrong thing, since the computers in there have basically seized control."

Aaron had looked stressed after that whole explanation. "So, Percy has no control over his thoughts?"

"You weren't listening," Miles had said with a shake of his head. "The Altered don't have control over their thoughts, because the computers control their whole brains. Percy, on the other hand, has a microchip that just controls his arm. So this is as good as he's going to get, probably. If one part of his body is confused, the rest of him is going to keep trying to fight it, making him like... this." He'd waved a hand at Percy.

Now, Percy was still in the corner, sharing a few words with Lia as they ate and he tried to keep his movements under control. Everybody else, including the members of Bri's group, was eating too, mpstly in satisfied silence. Miles was tearing open a biscuit wrapper with his teeth, while Aaron was opening something similar politely with his hands.

Miles' and Aaron's shift last night had been particularly uneventful, and Miles assumed everybody's had been. They'd all been too exhausted to say or do much. This morning, the sky was still dark, but the rain had ceased, leaving a tranquil petrichor scent hanging in the air and the windows spattered with raindrops that were struggling to dry out without any sunlight.

"So, Lia told me about the idea you guys had for what's going on," Bri started. Miles could tell it wasn't just to kickstart conversation, either. There was something Bri wanted to say. He'd seen her talking to her group, earlier, sharing the idea with all of them, too. "We're all on the same page. We agree."

"You didn't have any of your own ideas?" Miles asked, trying to sound curious instead of expectant.

"We did." It was Claire who spoke, sounding plain and matter-of-fact. "We were on the same road as you guys, but not quite as much. We knew there was a virus and it was only affecting the Altered, but the realisation that it was the computers is all you guys."

Bronte put in, "So that means no electricity or anything at all?"

Eira bobbed her head in confirmation. "Battery stuff works, though."

"Our phones won't last forever without electricity to charge," Aaron said uncertainly.

"Aaron, you don't even have one." Miles knew that Aaron was right, though. Phone battery usually only lasted a week at best.

Bri put her head in her hands and gave her eyes a rub. "I just don't get it. Somebody or something had to start this infection."

"That's where we're all puzzled." Miles was feeling a little more talkative now that he'd slept and eaten, though he was sure it wouldn't last long. He needed to get outside and do something - he was missing afterschool sport already. He was missing a lot of things already.

Thoughts of Harvey were dredged up again at that thought, and Miles put a hand on his stomach as it stirred. Now that he had food in his system, there was nothing stopping his body from throwing it all up again if he didn't force away the horrible thoughts of finding Harvey.

Miles suddenly stood up. "I'm going for a walk."

Everybody looked up at him. Luca gasped, "I'm coming!"

"I'd really rather -"

"Please?"

Miles looked at Luca, who was pulling himself to his feet already. The boy was obviously itching to be out of the confined walls of the treehouse, so Miles let out a short breath and said, "Whatever."

"Don't be out too long," Declan warned through a mouthful of chocolate. "The Altered could've found their way here."

"Didn't ask for your advice," Miles said while starting down the ladder, "but thanks anyway."

He watched Declan's expression become one of repugnance before he continued down the ladder and could no longer see inside the treehouse.

Miles landed on both feet on the ground and took a few steps to the side, watching as Luca followed him down the ladder. Luca's movements were cautious and dreadfully inelegant.

"Thank you for letting me come," Luca said as he landed on the ground. His expression was complex, as it seemed to be quite frequently.

"Whatever." Miles started walking towards the gate of the property, hearing Luca immediately scamper after him. "Why did you want to come, anyway?"

Luca didn't respond at once. In the time that he waited for the younger boy to reply, Miles opened the gate and slipped out, not bothering to hold it for Luca, who was quick enough out to avoid being caught in the thing closing. "I don't know. You seem interesting."

Miles stopped walking just to let that process. "Do I?"

Luca nodded, averting his gaze almost like he was embarrassed. He shuffled his feet. "You're kind of cool."

Miles cracked a grin before he could help himself. "Oh," was all he managed.

Luca seemed more comfortable now that Miles didn't look as serious. "You're mean, though." He shrugged and started walking again, and this time it was Miles hurrying to catch up. "I kind of thought you were like the leader of the group or something. And you seem to know a lot about computers."

"Yeah." Miles scratched the back of his head with his left hand as to not disturb the wound on his right shoulder. "Once upon a time, that wasn't something I was proud of."

Luca wrung his hands, looking down at them. It looked like there was something on his mind, so Miles gave him a soft nudge with his own elbow. "Is there something you want to say?"

Luca looked up, big hazel eyes catching the moonlight. "Um, I actually did want to ask you something."

Milles let out a soft "Ah". He'd sort of guessed there must be something that Luca wanted if he was willing to leave the safety of the treehouse. It seemed odd he'd join Miles on a walk just to tell him that he found the older boy interesting.

Miles waited patiently for Luca to ask whatever it was that he wanted to. They walked currently along a desolate footpath blemished with countless cracks and spots and roots, breaking through the cement. Miles had not once seen a place in such bad shape, but he didn't hate it. It was fascinating to be somewhere that was so irrelevant to the world; somewhere so old and so damaged. The entire place was sort of endearing.

And safe. No Altered were in sight.

Luca mumbled, "I was wondering if you knew how to fix what's going on. I'm... scared for my parents."

Miles was shocked by the question. "I don't know how to fix it, Luca. We're only just putting two and two together to form some kind of idea."

"I know!" Luca said in a frantic rush. "I know, sorry. I'm just so scared. My parents have never done anything like that before and if this thing is affecting every Altered person..."

"We're all in danger. It's not just you." Miles had been attempting to sound reassuring, but it had just come out kind of selfish. "We're all in this together. We'll figure out the solution together, too."

"How long do you think that'll take?"

"Well considering it's been hardly two days since this began, I'm going to take a wild guess and say a lot longer. We're all still confused."

Before Luca could respond, there was a loud rattle against one of the fences bordering the houses the boys walked alongside. Miles froze and instinctively put a hand out in front of Luca, who fearfully also halted at once.

The fence rattled again; something was banging against it from the inside. The fences were wooden and too old to withstand much, Miles knew. Very slowly, he started to back away, pulling Luca with him.

There was another horrible sound as something hit the fence, and this time it was followed by the noise of splitting wood and a deafening clatter as the entire fence fell to the pathway.

Miles slapped a hand to Luca's mouth right as the boy opened it to scream.

"Calm down," Miles panted, staring at the figure that had just scrambled to its feet. "It's a dog."

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+1630 Words.

Couldn't help but introduce a doggo <3