The moment they stepped into the mall, it was like they were entering a whole other world.
Apparently, unused malls with no power and no air conditioning made their own weather. It was definitely a 'who knew' moment for Sera, but she didn't mind it.
The air was cool where the sun didn't reach and hot where it pooled on the floor from broken windows.
Old air hung in the rafters like the ghosts of climate control, causing the beams over head to moan in protest.
Fake plants had gathered a layer of dust so thick, it was impossible to tell that the plant had once been green. The central court, the place where the main entrance was located, had been a fountain once; now it was a dry bowl with just enough suspicious slime that Lachlan was giving it the side eye.
Zubair went first, checking the corners and the broken glass. Sera could practically see the steam coming out of his ears as he calculated the sight lines and the best possible angles.
