Chapter 73

Dust circles around my nose, forcing me to hold back a sneeze. My boss and owner of the grocery store told me to clean above the shelves, and I agree with him—it's nasty up here.

Grimacing, I dip my rag back into the water, then continue scrubbing like the dutiful worker I am. I need the money more than my pride. Therefore, I don't even look up when the popular girls in town walk past my aisle, whispering when they see me.

"Why is she working here, of all places?"

"Maybe she can't get a proper job, or maybe her parents are poor?"

"Probably."

I roll my eyes at the gossiping girls and keep on cleaning. It's hard finding work these days, so I'm just grateful not to have to step outside the wall.

My mother has trained me in material arts, and I know how to use a crossbow, but the infected scares the crap out of me. So do the mutated animals living outside. Ryan has pet lizards, giant ones, and I'm terrified of them—I let my mother care for