Samuel’s POV

I found David in the kitchen, standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open, staring at its contents like they might rearrange themselves into something he could stomach.

“Can’t eat either?” I asked.

He slammed the door. “Everything tastes like ash. I tried coffee, bread, fruit…” He pressed his palms against his eyes. “What’s happening to us?”

The morning light streaming through the window made my skin prickle. I’d drawn every curtain in my room, huddled in the darkest corner until the sun climbed high enough that I could move without feeling like my nerves were on fire.

“Where’s Elena?”

“Where do you think? The library....