As Connor spoke, Cameron’s mind couldn’t help but link the information he was giving them to the settlement that was opening their doors to Omega’s remaining survivors. The logic behind it all, though, she was unable to really put together. Why would Avery and her people choose them, but not Hartford? They seemed like such wholesome people – would they really deny the rest of the world food when they showed such compassion towards her and Justin?

When he finished his explanation, she straightened her posture and took a step forward. “I understand your frustration with the, uh, Harbingers, but us,” she signaled to Justin and herself, “and the rest of our people are in no position to assist in battle. They’ve been through enough.” She scratched at her head in thought. “I’m barely able to travel as it is,” she explained as she lifted up her shirt enough to show the bandage wrapped around her torso. 

If her injury wasn’t enough to conjure any sympathy from Connor, Cameron decided to play up her exhaustion from the trip so far, and she spoke in a pathetic, feminine voice. “It’s a lot of information to take in. Do you mind if I have a word with him?” She pointed to Justin. 

Connor’s eyes narrowed as he paused for a moment, but he eventually nodded and waved at his men to exit the room. Cameron forced a thankful smile until the two were alone, and it drooped back to a concerned expression. 

“Justin,” she whispered as she positioned herself to directly face him, “I think they’re talking about Avery’s group. The food, the machinery…” Cameron’s head swiveled around to make sure no one was listening. “We can’t let them know that’s where we’re heading. They’ll [i]definitely[/i] kill us if they don’t decide to already.”

She used her forearm to wipe the sweat off of her forehead as she began to pace the room. “And, we gotta figure out why Avery chose [i]us[/i] and not all of them. It could be for much worse reasons than we thought.”  

Cameron didn’t enjoy being so paranoid, but at this point in her life, she had learned it served her more than being naïve and trusting those she met. Now, they’d have to figure out a way to leave Hartford whole, without an army behind them.  

“I think you should handle the diplomatic shit with them.  You’ve got a poker face like I’ve never seen.” Cameron couldn’t help but flash a faint smile as she said it. “Feel free to tell me if I sound crazy, but I think there are too many coincidences to ignore them.”