Page 100 of One Forbidden Moment

He grabbed Jillian's hand, keeping her at his side.The store was too quiet.The air smelled stale, like the building had been closed for years.

Jillian."Moe?"

He stared down the aisles, studying the shelves.There were empty spaces.

Half the canned goods were gone.Rows of pasta were missing.The cereal aisle looked like someone had taken everything except two lonely boxes shoved to the back.

"Oh, no."Jillian's breath caught."This isn't right."

Every week like clockwork, the store would be restocked while the residents were sleeping.No one knew who brought the food.There were theories that it magically appeared because several of them had tried to stay up and watch for any movement around the store.But without fail, one morning a week, he unlocked the doors and the shelves were stocked.

Nourishment was one of the few constants in this place.Food appeared.Shelves filled.Produce refreshed.If the men didn't want to cook at home, they could go to the restaurant.It was the town's heartbeat.

"What day is it?"he asked.

"I...I don't know."Jillian closed her eyes."Let me think."She groaned and blinked."Tuesday, or maybe Wednesday.God, it's so hard to keep track of the days living here."

Moe moved quickly, his pulse hammering as he headed toward the produce section.Jillian followed, her steps sharp and uneven.

When they reached the bins, she grabbed his arm.

The tomatoes and cucumbers hadn't been refilled.The lettuce was brown, wilted, collapsing in on itself like it had been left out too long.

"Why weren't they refilled?"Her voice trembled."What's happening?"

He didn't know.And that terrified him more than anything Everstill had ever done.

"We're locking the store," he said, forcing his voice to stay steady."Nobody gets in.Nobody takes anything."

There was no way to leave Everstill to get groceries.They counted on the food supply.Without nourishment...

She nodded, panic rising in her eyes."What do we do?"

There was no reason to hide anything from Jillian.She'd jumped to the same conclusion as him.

"We ration what we have," Moe said."Until the next delivery."

Jillian swallowed hard."What if there isn't one?"

"I don't know," he muttered.

They locked the store tight and hurried down the sidewalk to the restaurant.Copper was in the kitchen, wiping down a counter like it was any other morning.He looked up when they walked in, and Moe could see the question forming on his face.

"We've got a problem," said Moe.

"Let's step out where it's cooler."Copper shut off the stove where a pot bubbled with water and motioned for them to go through the door.Moe grabbed Jillian's hand and led her into the main part of the kitchen.Only Levi and Wade sat at a booth at the front of the restaurant.

Copper tossed his hand towel over his shoulder."What do you need to talk about?"

Moe turned away from the others and met Copper's gaze."The store delivery never came."

The old man frowned, tilting his head."You're sure?"

"Do you really think I'd fuck around and make something like this up?"Moe exhaled harshly."We only have enough food for a month if we ration it all.Most of it will spoil before then.Once the others learn, we'll have more trouble on our hands."

The lights flickered.

Once.Twice.