Winter arrived before the Hales were ready for it.
The first snow had seemed harmless. People had gathered around the windows of the settlement that morning, watching white flakes settle across the walls and rooftops. Some survivors had even smiled. Then the temperature dropped.
The roads became difficult to travel. Supply runs became less frequent, food became harder to replace, and the settlement's stores began disappearing faster than they could be replenished. The atmosphere changed with the weather. People became suspicious. They watched one another more closely. And when supplies began going missing, someone needed to be blamed.
Iris remembered the accusation. She remembered how suddenly it appeared.
One evening, the settlement leaders called everyone into the main hall.
The Hales were already there when Iris entered. Benjamin stood beside Henry. Veronica sat near the front. Rose was on the other side of the room.
