"Wait!" Mary cried out, just as Garvin's hand reached for the doorknob. Her voice broke, and a shiver ran through her as tears filled her eyes. "I'm terrified," she whispered. "Are we really safe out there? Did Scarlett actually take down all those monsters?"
Louise scowled, his voice harsh with frustration. "What the hell is this, Mary? If you're so scared, then stay here in the room alone. We've trained hard since Scarlett left, and now that she's given us the signal, you're getting cold feet?"
"Ease up on her," Mrs. Anderson interjected, her voice trembling as her hands gripped a gun. She was scared too, and her quivering fingers betrayed it. "We're all scared, Louise. This isn't easy for any of us."
Garvin looked around at them, his face serious but understanding. "Listen up, everyone." He spoke with a calm authority, his tone persuasive. "It's only the weak who let fear control them. But we're not weak, we're survivors. Keep that in mind. We must survive, no matter what."
