Yesterdays Gone: SEASON TWO (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER) (Yesterday's Gone)

dining hall in an hour to break bread. One hour,” Rei repeated, then bowed his head, took a step back, then turned around and headed toward the hanger.  
    “See you in an hour?” Mary said to Desmond, Will and Linc, though mostly to Desmond.  
    Will tapped his head. Observe everything.
    Mary nodded, then headed up the stairs.  
    She immediately went to the window. Eli was bringing the men their bags. Just as he disappeared into the stairwell, the floorboards outside her room creaked, followed by a light knock on her door. “Miss?” said the timid voice.
    Mary opened the door. “Sarah, hello.”
    “Where would you like me to set these?” Sarah pointed at the two bags by her feet. “There are another two downstairs.”  
    Mary nodded, “Yes, may I help you with those?”
    Sarah shook her head. “Oh, I wouldn’t hear of it.”  
    Mary wasn’t surprised. “Thank you,” she said, then pointed to the corner. “The corner will be fine.”  
    Sarah brought the rest of Mary’s belongings into the room while Mary washed up in the bathroom sink. When the door closed and Mary was alone again, she resumed her watch at the window.  
    There were three homes in the compound, plus a barn and silo. There was also the hangar and another smaller building, the purpose of which a mystery. New construction had been started on the farthest side of the compound, and though the building was far from finished, the giant cross hinted at what it would become. She was also fairly certain the houses had basements, which gave the compound plenty of square footage to hide acres of unknown.  
    The generator belched, causing Mary to wonder again about the gas situation and how difficult it was to keep the generator fueled.
    Mary felt a sudden, and rather surprising flutter of hope. Sure, The Prophet was delusional, but the compound did seem safe. And wasn’t that what they were looking for – a place to grow their future and family? The world had changed and humans were endangered. Wasn’t it best to group together as closely as possible? The one thing that gave Mary the most hope was also the thing that made her most anxious – they had surrendered their guns; all of them. According to John, all guns were forbidden except in emergencies, or for the four main guards who kept watch. That had been The Prophet’s law since whatever disaster had happened in the immediate aftermath of October 15. And while that made the day-to-day safe, it also made the future terribly dangerous. What if the monsters broke through the compound’s defenses? Were just four men with guns enough, or could they get to the rest of the supply before it was too late?
    The hour passed quickly. Mary helped Sarah and her daughter, Rebecca, set six long tables, arranged in two longer rows of three, then went to the living room when people began to arrive. Desmond was waiting for her with Linc and Will. Paola, Luca, and Scott showed up a few seconds later. The group walked in a wide line to the table, the adults in a huddle and the children slightly behind.  
    “So?” Mary said.
    “We’re in a room together,” Desmond whispered, “The three of us. Most rooms have three beds, doubles, nothing fancy. The third floor is off limits, reserved for The Prophet, John, and Rei.”
    “And there’s something funny with Rei and John,” Will added.  
    “You mean The Prophet and John?” Linc said.  
    “No,” Will shook his head. “I mean Rei. Weird energy. Familiar. But unsure.” Will was stumbling, tugging his month-old gray beard.  
    “You trying to say the dude’s a bologna smoker?” Linc probed.
    Will shot Linc a look. “No. And if I was, I wouldn’t say it like that.”  
    “Welcome,” John declared as they arrived at the table.  
    Once everyone was sitting, The Prophet entered the house and took his place at the head of the table. When he arrived, everyone in the house stood silently, so Mary and the group played along, though not without a weird look or three passing between Will, Desmond, and herself. Linc gave an eye roll.
    “Thank you for waiting,” The Prophet said, “You may be seated.”
    As everyone sat down and their chairs squeaked into place on the wooden floor, The Prophet took the crystal wine glass brimming with a dark red in front of him. He raised it high, and the others joined, raising their smaller wine glasses, also filled with wine. The children appeared to have some sort of juice.  
    “Welcome to your first