The next day, we walked into the office of the real estate agent. The woman behind the desk, a middle-aged lady with a warm smile, looked up from her papers as we entered. "Ah, you're back!" she exclaimed, standing up to greet us. "Are you here to finalize the purchase?"
"Yep, that's right," I replied, giving her a nod. We brought the items we had agreed upon: medical supplies from our scavenging trips, some salvaged tools, a few handmade blankets, and other various items. In this new world, these were our currency.
The agent took the time to assess everything we had brought. She was thorough, occasionally consulting a list of needed supplies on her desk. Once satisfied, she flashed us a bright smile. "Everything seems to be in order. The house is now officially yours."
I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding. A wave of relief washed over me, and I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. "That's great to hear," I said, exchanging glances with Cassidy, Kaya, Hazuki, and Yan-Hua. Their faces mirrored my own excitement and relief.
As we left the office, keys to our new home in hand, I looked at the girls. "Well, looks like we're homeowners now," I announced, holding up the keys.
They responded with cheers and laughter. Cassidy, having recovered from the previous night, was the first to speak. "Can't wait to make our new place a real home," she said, grinning widely.
Hazuki chimed in next, her excitement evident in her eyes. "I'll finally have a proper place to store all my books!" she said.
Yan-Hua, ever the practical one, added, "I'm just glad we won't have to deal with motel beds anymore."
Kaya, who had been quiet up until this point, spoke up with a teasing smirk on her face, "Just imagine, all of us under one roof... it's going to be chaos."
I laughed, swinging an arm around her shoulders, "Isn't that what makes it fun?"
***
In the newly acquired house, the five of us huddled around an old wooden table, the remnants of a past world. Dust had settled onto every surface, and the air held a tinge of decay. Yet, despite its worn appearance, we all saw the potential.
"First off," I began, holding up a roll of blueprints we'd managed to scavenge from an abandoned architect's office. "We need to fortify the windows and doors. That's a must."
Cassidy, still with a bit of a hangover, groaned but nodded. "Do we have enough wood and nails?"
Kaya looked through our inventory list. "Yeah, we should. Plus some left over for repairs to the roof."
Hazuki peered over at the blueprints, pushing her glasses up her nose. "That's all good for the exterior," she pointed out, "But we should also consider the interior. We need it to be livable. Clean water, cooking facilities, medical room..."
I chuckled. "Ever the nurse, aren't you, Hazuki?" But I nodded in agreement. "You're right. It'll be tough, but we should be able to rig a rudimentary filtration system, at least for drinking water. And we can build a fire pit in the yard for cooking."
Yan-Hua was quietly observing, her expression serious. "What about protection?" she asked finally. "We need to be able to defend this place."
"Good point," I said, appreciating her practical thinking. "We can set traps around the perimeter. Nothing lethal, but enough to warn us of intruders. And I've been thinking about a watchtower..."
As we delved into the details, each bringing our own expertise and experiences to the table, I felt a warmth spread through me. This was more than just a group of survivors. This was a family, working together to make a home in this cruel, chaotic world.
Q: What is your dream home in a zombie apocalypse?