Zero Days

Jack wakes in the cold cabin, and every part of her hurts. She gets up to use the bathroom, an outhouse that is even colder than the cabin, and considers calling Sunsmile Insurance to get information about Gabe’s policy. Her phone’s battery, though, is down to 8%. She tries to get the electricity to work but cannot. Jack messages Cole to ask for advice on the electricity, but she has to switch off her phone soon because of her limited battery.

Jack checks the phone every half hour to see if Cole has responded, but—a few hours later—there is still nothing, and her battery is dead. Sitting on the front porch, reading a book she found, Jack hears a car approaching. She ducks inside, grabs her bag, and runs behind the cabin into the sand dunes. She hides for some time, grateful for the coat that blends in with the sand, until she hears someone whistling a familiar tune. Jack recognizes the opening notes of the song she and Gabe first danced to at their wedding, and she knows it must be Cole. He had messaged her, but when she didn’t respond, he panicked and jumped in the car. He can’t get the electricity to work, but he brought a battery pack so Jack can charge her phone.