There were two more outside the hardware store.

Adam had a clear shot, crouched behind the mailbox on the corner, but decided against taking it. Too many ways to make a bad situation worse. He could miss, or worse he could attract the attention of a dozen others. No, better to keep moving and concentrate on finding shelter for the night.

It was another mile to get back home, and the debate was still raging in his head.

Home. The symbol of safety. He knew his way around, he knew where everything was. Home field advantage.

The attic would be perfect. His parents had never finished the third bedroom they planned up there, but they did get as far as plumbing it, so he would have running water and an actual toilet. He shuddered to think about holing up someplace without one. He had never liked camping and anyone else who had a bout of poison ivy in their crotch would understand.

Yup, the attic would be perfect.

Now he had to figure out what to do if his mother had clawed her way out of the basement.