44 44. Making Plans part 2 (1/2)

Rose stood there for a moment, looking at him without saying anything, before turning away, her face both serious and worried.

”Did Frumpkin say she was okay, at least?” She asked, finally.

”He said she was alive. For now, anyways.” Jack said.

”Then we need to get going. We have to get to her before something terrible happens to her.” Rose said, her face gaining back some of its characteristic confidence. ”If we set out now, we might-”

”It's late at night.” Madeleine said bluntly, cutting her off.

Rose stopped and looked at Maddy, who was looking at her with her characteristic non-expressive stare. ”But if we leave now, we might- ”

”Jack said Ellie's a couple days away. And I'm tired.” Maddie said. ”I want to save Ellie as much as you do, but we can't do that now. We need sleep. And food.”

”But-” Rose started, but after a moment, she dropped her eyes and sighed in frustration. ”Alright, fine. We can find a place to rest up, and start again at first light.” She said.

She gestured to the area around them. Several of the buildings were still burning, and a thin haze of smoke still drifted about in the open space. The rest of the central square, where the village's public housing options would probably have been located, was almost completely destroyed.

”Any ideas on where you two want to bed down?” She asked.

Jack looked around the space. The choices in the immediate vicinity didn't seem to contain a whole lot of promise. The only possible option that he could see was a small wooden building towards the far corner of the square, which seemed to have avoided the rampaging fires. Though, even at this distance, it looked ramshackle and more than a little sketchy.

After a few more moments, Jack pointed over towards the building. ”We could try over there.”

Maddy and Rose looked over in the direction that Jack was pointing. Rose squinted at it, but Maddy just looked up at Jack and said ”No.”

Jack looked at her, confused. ”Why? What's wrong with it?”

”I'm not sleeping in a brothel with you.” She said.

”A brothel? How the hell do you know it's a brothel from all the way over here?” Jack asked.