Aftermath

 Imogene stared out the kitchen window at the creek beyond the backyard. Once swollen and angry from the relentless storm, the water had receded, revealing the muddy banks. She set down her cup of coffee, the warm ceramic grounding her as she debated the decision weighing on her heart. The road was clear now; she could leave.

The idea of staying any longer in what remained of her hollow, broken town gnawed at her. Her dad was out there somewhere—if he was even still alive—and she couldn't shake the thought that sitting idle was as good as calling him dead.

Her hands moved almost on their own as she prepared breakfast. Scrambled eggs sizzled in the pan, filling the room with the smell of butter and salt. She set two plates on the table, and just as she turned off the stove, Sam entered the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"Morning," he muttered, plopping into a chair.

Imogene hesitated before sitting down. "I think it's time to leave," she said, keeping her voice as steady as she could.

Sam looked up sharply. "What?"

"The creek's not flooded anymore so the road is clear," she continued. "We can finally get out of here. I want to find my dad."

Sam frowned, setting his fork down. "Imogene, that's crazy. We don't have supplies. We don't even know where he is. What are you going to do, just drive around until you magically find him?"

"I'll figure it out," she shot back, her tone sharper than intended. She took a breath to steady herself. "I can't stay here anymore, Sam. Either you come with me, or you don't. But I'm going to find him."

Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Fine. I'll go with you. But we're stopping for supplies on the way. No arguments. And-" he added, leveling her with a pointed look, "we need a plan. I'm not just wandering around aimlessly."

Imogene nodded, her grip on the table loosening slightly. "We're not wandering. The first place to check is his apartment—it's the best option. If he's not there, the second stop is his office building. He could've gone back there, it's more secure. You guys had all those metal door cover things, those things can't get through that."

Sam raised an eyebrow listenin to her ramble. "And what if he's not at either?"

She hesitated, her stomach twisting. "We'll figure it out when we get there," she admitted. "But those are the places he'd most likely go. They're close enough that we can hit both in one trip."

He tilted his head, considering her words. "Okay. Apartment first, office second," he said, his voice steady. "If we don't find him, we reassess. But we're not leaving without a plan B, got it?"

"Got it," she said quickly, relief washing over her.

"Good." Sam leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "We'll need food, water, fuel, and maybe a first aid kit if we can scavenge one. If the roads are rough, it's going to take longer than usual to get anywhere."

Imogene nodded again, her mind already assembling a checklist. "There's a Walmart a few miles into town—should still have something left. And the market downtown might still have canned goods."

"We'll check both," Sam agreed. "And if the roads are blocked, we'll figure out a detour. The truck's got four-wheel drive, so we've got some flexibility."

Imogene smirked, glancing over at him. "Medians are just suggestions, right? Worst-case scenario, I'll drive over one and pretend it's off-roading."

Sam raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You're joking now, but if you flip this truck trying to be a daredevil, I'm not helping you push it back over."