CHAPTER 5 — “House at Night”

The house felt different at night.

Looser.

Less defined.

Kitchen, 2:13 AM

Kari sat on the counter, eating something questionable straight from the container.

“This is definitely expired.”

“Then why are you eating it?” Diego asked.

She shrugged. “I’m building immunity.”

“That’s not how that works.”

Across the room, Gage cleaned his rifle again.

“You’ve cleaned that three times today,” Tara noted from her tablet.

“Four,” he corrected.

Tara nodded. “Healthy.”

“It is.”

“It’s not.”

Small Moments

Jenny had stayed.

Of course she had.

She and Stephanie sat near the window again—quieter now, not talking much.

Not needing to.

Luke and Jackie had stopped by earlier—leaving behind parts, tools, and a vague sense that something had been upgraded somewhere in the house without permission.

Erin had texted coordinates for three safehouses “just in case ❤️”

Michele had sent a message:

Proud of you. Also, go to sleep.

No one listened.

Tara & Diego

“You’re improving,” Tara said suddenly.

Diego blinked. “That sounded almost nice.”

“It wasn’t,” she replied. “It was observational.”

“…I’ll take it.”

She tilted her head.

“You feel it now, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Something watching.”

He hesitated.

“…Yeah.”

Tara smiled faintly.

“Good.”

Stephanie (Watching Them All)

From her place in the room, Stephanie observed everything.

Kari’s restlessness.

Gage’s repetition.

Tara’s curiosity.

Diego’s growth.

Jenny’s… duality.

This—

this was the part she protected.

Not the missions.

Not the kills.

This.