Valerie Cherish's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Valerie climbed onto the wooden stage at dawn, running her palm along the curtain Mark had hung without a word. One shared opening night. Every settlement, every stranger, under one sky. She had three scripts in her pocket and a comedy she meant to win. But first, she needed Hazel to say yes to the invitations. Hazel found her there an hour later, a dog trailing behind her. She didn't climb up. She stood at the edge of the platform and watched Valerie pace. "You want me to send riders to every settlement," Hazel said. Not a question. Valerie nodded. Hazel was quiet a long moment. "We have a month of food. A van of armed strangers watching our gate. You're asking me to draw a crowd to our door." Valerie sat down on the boards so they were closer to eye-level. She didn't argue. She just said, "A full house. Strangers leaving as neighbors. That's worth the risk." Hazel looked at the empty seats a long time. Then she pulled a folded paper from her vest — a list of names, every settlement she'd already mapped. "Start with the closest," she said. "Bring bread. Don't mention the others yet." She set the list on the stage and walked away. Valerie held it with both hands. The invitations were going out.