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look?”
    “No, thanks. I’ll take them.”
    “You don’t even want to look?” She looked at
him, bewildered.
    “I see there’s a run on cheap places to live.
I’ll take three.”
    “Well, okay,” she muttered as she started to
gather the paperwork. “Now, you can fill out your paperwork, but
your friends will have to come in to fill out theirs.”
    “What time will Mr. Drayton be in?” he asked
casually as he sat down to fill out the paper.
    “Oh, there’s no telling. Depends on how good
of a time he had last night,” she said with a wink. He hurried
through the paperwork, gave the receptionist a deposit to hold the
places, and rushed back to Jonathan’s house.
     
    ∞∞∞
     
    Good news!” Aryl called out. Jonathan and Ava
were talking in the parlor, and he interrupted their quiet
conversation. “I found us jobs.”
    “You did?” Jonathan asked.
    “That’s great, Aryl, well done.” Ava
smiled.
    “Yep. They’re about the crappiest jobs in
town, very physical. Farm boy is going to be all right, but it's
gonna whip us pretty bad at first,” he said, holding up his hands
in warning. “The pay really stinks. But it’s a job. We start day
after tomorrow.” Just then, Caleb came bounding through the
door.
    “Jonathan! Aryl! Come with me now. We have to
hurry.”
    “Where to?” Jonathan asked.
    “To sign paperwork. I found apartments. But
we have to hurry.” Jonathan pulled on his coat and gave Ava a hasty
kiss as he followed the others out the door.
     
    ∞∞∞
     
    “So, Caleb, you wanna give us some details?”
Aryl asked. Caleb stopped short and spun around.
    “Here it is.” He took a deep breath for words
he was sure would have to come out quickly. “I’ve been to every
place that rents anything close to cheap. Everything is filling up
fast. There are three apartments available, all in the same
building. They’re pretty bad, I’m sure. I didn’t take the time to
look at them, but it’s a roof with winter coming. Just a place to
land until we figure out something better. I filled out some
paperwork and put the money down, but you two have to come in to
sign your parts.”
    “Okay but that doesn’t explain the rush,”
Aryl said.
    Caleb turned tentatively to Jonathan. “Look,
I tried every other place first. I didn’t want to go to him, but he
had the only openings I could find, I swear. I’m sorry, but there’s
been a run on cheap places since the whole damn world fell apart.
Anyway, he wasn’t in when I was there earlier. With any luck, he
won’t be in when we get there. We can just run in, sign, get the
keys, and leave.” Jonathan knew exactly who Caleb was referring to.
He stared at him with apprehension.
    “You’re kidding, right?” he asked, barely
above a whisper.
    “No, I wish I was,” Caleb said
apologetically.
    Jonathan put his hands on his head and turned
to walk a few paces in the opposite direction as fury welled up in
him. “You went to Victor Drayton for a place to live! Of all
people, Caleb?”
    “There was nothing else avail–”
    “There has to be something else,” Jonathan
growled through his teeth. “No.” He shook his head. “I won’t do it.
I’ll find something on my own. If you two want to rent from that
low life, good for nothing bastard, then be my guest.” He waved his
hand and started down the street. His angry pace was so brisk that
Caleb’s shorter legs had to sprint to catch up to him.
    “Jon. You know that I wouldn’t have done this
if there were any other way. I know your past with him. I tried to
do everything by myself, but the receptionist insisted you both
come in. That’s all you have to do, run in and sign. Trust me, Jon,
there’s nothing else available in this town right now. I’ve been
all over.”
    Jonathan continued walking. Caleb stopped and
called out, “If you want a roof over your head after Monday, this
is it! Hard as it is, you need to take it, Jonathan. Think of Ava.”
Jonathan stopped suddenly and