Lucky propped itself up on its front paws and leaned close to Emma, sniffing the pork and peppers. Its eyes said it wanted a taste.
Emma felt deeply encouraged. "Someone appreciates quality."
Unfortunately, the plate was empty. None for Lucky.
A text alert sounded. She picked up her phone. Building management: "Dear residents, due to the unusual weather conditions, we must suspend power to the complex."
Several first-floor photos accompanied it. Overnight, the flood had swallowed the first floor and was closing in on the second. The electrical breakers were underwater too.
Leaving the power on would turn the entire flooded complex into a live electrical hazard.
Emma looked outside. Rain still poured down. The temperature had fallen to sixty-eight degrees. Under the heavy gray sky, distant objects remained vague outlines.
Predictably, the residents' chat was full of complaints. She scrolled back.
E-101: Someone drowned on the first floor of Building C last night. The elderly woman who was paralyzed. You should've seen her this morning. All swollen up.
C-601: Management didn't do anything?
C-902: They knocked yesterday. Nobody answered. Everyone thought the apartment was empty.
Apparently, the maintenance staff hadn't stopped all night, running between flooded first-floor apartments.
A-1401: I forgot to charge my phone last night. What do I do? It's about to die.
D-1201: We're out of food. Anyone going to the supermarket?
Over a dozen others joined in. The flood was climbing higher. Families with children had inflatable swim rings. Taking those along, the residents arranged to meet at the gate.
Emma looked at their apartment numbers as though they were idiots. Suddenly, someone withdrew a message. Building F, she thought. Her building. At least that one had some sense.
The chat quieted again. An incoming call from Mr. Wilson appeared. Emma answered. "Miss Bennett, are you all right?"
His voice was tight with worry. Without the leave she'd given him, he'd still be stuck in E City, watching the rain and fretting over the family he couldn't reach.
In her previous life, he'd stayed with her and her uncles' families. After the apocalypse came, he worried about his own family every day. Eventually, the E City base was built.
Then he learned that his wife and children were dead. It broke him. He never recovered, and died in the second year of the apocalypse.
"I'm fine, Mr. Wilson. I'm doing well. Listen. Buy food and down coats now. As much as you can. Don't let anyone see. Once the rain stops, leave E City. B City or J City. Either is fine."
He went quiet. He'd always known her as a sweet, reserved girl. She rarely sounded this serious. "Miss Bennett, have you heard something?"
He knew the Bennetts were wealthy. They weren't an ordinary family.
"Yes. I've heard something. That's all I know." Mr. Wilson had worked for her father before working for her. And there was Ms. Harris, too.
She ended the call. A little later, Ms. Harris called, just as she'd expected. Emma told her to buy and store food as well. Ms. Harris sounded cheerful. She and some other people had already bought plenty. Enough to eat.
Cooking three meals a day for Emma had been her job. As soon as the rain began, she'd thought to lay in food.
Emma paused and asked how many people knew about her purchases. Several, Ms. Harris said. Emma fell silent, but warned her to be careful.
After hanging up, she traced circles around Lucky's ear. It caught her finger in its mouth. She pulled free and wiped the saliva on its fur.
She loosened her ankles, took out a portable power station, and plugged in the treadmill. This time, she set it for an hour and a half and started running.
At the noise, Lucky stood behind the machine and watched. It put a paw on the moving belt and was immediately carried down to the floor.
After circling Emma twice, it approached from behind and jumped up. This time she noticed and moved to one side, giving it room.
They ran side by side. The little cheetah's legs moved fast, keeping pace with her. Emma watched the clock.
Half an hour later, it began to fall behind, its front legs weakening. Lasting that long was impressive for something so small.
She kept running without slowing for it. Lucky slid farther and farther back until it collapsed, panting, on the belt and rolled onto the floor.
Emma glanced back. So that was why it had been so tired yesterday.
It lay watching her back. After a short rest, it jumped on again. She didn't move aside this time. It ran behind her in fits and starts, resting when it got tired and then trying again.
The hour and a half passed quickly. The treadmill slowed. She walked for a little over ten minutes, drank water, wiped off the sweat, and moved to her next exercise.
Lucky crouched by the window, glanced at the rain, then back at Emma. Wearing the goofiest expression imaginable, it sprang onto her back.
Emma, in the middle of a plank: ...