It was clear that the light in the distance was more than a single candle. As the group ran closer, they could see Emilio was fully illuminated by a soft, warm glow. Elizabeth knew the store well.

Moss & Fire was the local new age store. It was an absolute hit with the people who would come into Candles n' Things to berate her about the candles in her store having synthetic scents. As if she, a random 16 year old, personally was in charge of inventory.

She'd take a deep breath, push down every fiber of her being that wanted to point out to the yelling customer they were pounding down an energy drink while yelling about smells, and instead, make the customer Moss & Fire's problem. It was always the people wearing yoga pants and carrying random stones in their pockets that seemed to be the least relaxed. Hopefully Moss & Fire did them good because the store itself was beautiful.

The candle light in the store as they stood in front of it really accentuated the thought put into the space. While other stores had opted for easy to clean flooring, Moss & Fire had dark wooden floorboards. Their shelving units were heavy book cases with intricate carvings. The walls were littered with crystals and tarot cards. The smell of patchouli lingered in the air.

The entry to the store was a wooden door with glass panels. One had been smashed out. As they walked in, they could see the numerous candles lit and placed in various places, only adding to the mystical element the shop owners had tried to cultivate.

"Amy?" Emilio called out into the room softly. He nervously played with his wedding band. "Babe. Are you here? Do you need help?"

A figure slowly rose from ducking behind the counter.

"Oh," Emilio said disappointedly, "We were looking for someone else."

The woman had dark curly hair that fell past her shoulders. It was clear that the past days had not played well with her hair, as she had taken a scarf to try and fashion a headband. Elizabeth thought that she may be in her 40s or 50s, as her nasolabial folds framed her thin lips. Her brown eyes were large, despite her hooded lids.

"You guys friendly," the woman asked hesitantly "'cause this sure as shit isn't the way I want to be going out".

Elizabeth had many relatives and family friends in Bankstown, New South Wales. The woman spoke like them. It wasn't quite the time for Elizabeth to strike up a conversation about Lebanon.

"We should be asking you." Emilio placed his hands on the counter, as if to start an interrogation.

The woman wasn't shaken by Emilio's attempt at intimidation and stood her ground. "I'm friendly."

"How'd you make the fire?" Emilio didn't take his gaze from the woman.

She gestured around to Elizabeth, Gowan, then back to Emilio. "Same way you did. That gum wrapper thing was clever."

Gowan stepped forward, "You were watching us?"

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She nodded. "Sorry I didn't say hi. I watched you pocket the knives and didn't want to start anything. I just figured I'd keep my head down and wait for the lights."

"Wait," Elizabeth began to look around at the candles, "so you didn't pray over them?"

The woman shook her head.

Saleem ran his finger over one of the smooth candles near him. He picked one up and looked at the ingredients sticker on the base. No wax fell as he moved it. "They're not beeswax either."

The group looked to the woman again. This time their faces were a mix of apprehension and horror. Elizabeth had a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"I was just working with one for a while. It was easy to hide when I heard something. I thought I'd just light a couple more just in case, but then they just wouldn't go out."

Gowan tried to blow out one of the candles. Just like theirs, it remained lit. He took Elizabeth's hand surreptitiously and began to slowly get them closer to the door.

There was a solid door in the back of the store that Elizabeth assumed lead to the stock room.

The woman saw Elizabeth eyeing it. "I got the lock open and used that to hide. After ... I've seen what you people have been doing in the dark. I decided it was easier to do things solo. It still locks on the other side. I figured people would mostly just want candles so I left them out." She eyed the room. "I guess it looks far more like a trap though."

Saleem had helped himself to the door at the back of the room. "What's this?" He opened the door, pointing to small crystals that were lined up in rows of ten.

"Don't touch those!" She swooped over to Saleem, grabbing his arm. She gestured to an hourglass with white sand and a golden frame. "I've been using them to keep track of time." She clicked her tongue. "Certainly not as temporary as I would have liked, ay."

Saleem looked to the display of hourglasses that looked the same as the one on the floor. There were a few loose as demonstrations, but the boxes has been labelled "FULL HOUR HOURGLASS". He picked it up to confirm that each device did, in fact, count a full hour.

He looked back over to the shiny stones that had been placed and began to count. There were 12 rows of 10. Maths wasn't his strong point. "Uh, hey, how many times does 24 go into 120."

Gowan needed barely any time, "5. Why?"

Saleem looked back to the woman, "When did you start counting?"

"Dunno." She shrugged. "I mean, I had to spend a bunch of time avoiding everyone first."

"Everyone?" Emilio probed.

She gestured to the group. "You guys. There was another group holed up in Lux Heights."

Saleem cleared his throat. "It's just us now."

The woman nodded.

Emilio turned back to the group. "We have to strategise before we tell the others. There's a knife floating around. Floor boy is going to beg for it."

A soft thunk rang out as the woman placed the knife on the wooden desk beside the cash register. "This one?"

Emilio took the knife from the desk. He looked it over in his hands. "Not this one, but," his eyes closed, "this is helpful."

Saleem pat Emilio on his back.

The woman waved her hands in front of her frantically. "I didn't mean to spy or anything. I just-" She looked empathetically into Emilio's eyes. "There's been so much death. I thought I just might need ... It's a shame what happened to her, mate."

Emilio simply nodded.

Gowan squeezed Elizabeth's hand tightly, before approaching the woman. "You might be safer if you come with us. Elizabeth and I will go and liberate some more supplies. It looks like we might be in this for the long hall." He walked to Emilio and put out his hand for the knife.

Emilio begrudgingly obliged.

"No." The woman shook her head. "I think I'll stay here."

"What if there's others out there?" Emilio softened his posture. "We can help you. We've got a fairly safe place."

She shook her head again. "There's been too much pain in there." She gestured around Moss & Fire. "I like it here. If somewhere has to be my tomb, I'd rather it be on my own terms surrounded by nature and shiny things."

"Do you know how to get to the cinema?" Gowan asked.

"I know where to find you." She sauntered over to a candle, passing it to Saleem. "Would you like some additional light?"