When Malachi used his unique vision to check up on the people in the store and assess their situation, he observed that those on the second floor and those in the basement had each grouped up together with their fellow trapped humans.
Hmmm.
Due to the change of position he saw within both trapped groups, Malachi wondered why they all seemed to be getting close to each other, watching out for themselves.
Malachi could not quite describe it, but the distance between the group on the second floor and the ones in the basement, when he first checked on them, even when the zombies flooded the store's insides, suggested that the trapped humans were not all in close proximity to each other.
Especially the group in the basement—they had been so distant from each other that it was hard for Malachi not to be suspicious when they suddenly got closer to the point where their bodies touched.
Taking a closer look at the two groups, Malachi noticed something else that both groups had in common. A few of the humans held weapons in their hands. Not lethal weapons like guns or anything, but things the humans could makeshift into a weapon and call it weapons.
Malachi didn't even know if they were, in fact, weapons, but in his vision, the ones who held something in their hands did so in a way and with a position that suggested they were going to use it for self-defense.
It didn't take Malachi long to figure out why the stance of everyone trapped in the store had changed.
They must have heard the noises the zombies made when rushing out and the ones I just made now and immediately went on guard Malachi thought, as it did not make sense for them to suddenly have increased cautiousness only after the zombies had gone, which Malachi knew they probably had no idea of, since both groups of people were staring at the door that led to their trapped room without bothering to approach it and unlock it.
Seeing that everyone who had been trapped in the store was still okay, Malachi felt a sense of relief and deactivated his ability.
Taking several deep breaths to calm his rough breathing and collect himself, Malachi struggled to navigate his way around the dark store using the little moonlight that managed to make its way inside but barely illuminated the space.
Malachi was currently heading to the place in the store where he had seen a flashlight. He had only glanced at that place once, but he was able to still keep a rough image in his head as a memory.
Due to losing control over the fire spear, David would have to make another one again to brighten the space within the store, but Malachi refrained from asking that of his son.
He could ask his son, but Malachi reasoned that it was already hard on David with everything that's going on, so he gave him some space to gather himself.
Malachi could probably do more as a father, but the situation did not allow, nor was he also in the right state of mind to console anyone or be a confidant.
At the moment, Malachi could only believe in his son to find strength in himself and push on.
While navigating through the dark store with barely enough light was challenging, it was still manageable for Malachi with his enhanced sight and the little moonlight that made its way into the store.
After a bit of searching, Malachi finally found the flashlight he was looking for.
Using his enhanced strength to easily tear the sealed packaging, Malachi turned it on, and the area he pointed the light at was finally illuminated.
Fortunately, the flashlight was of the rechargeable kind, so Malachi didn't have to struggle to find batteries again after spending time searching for the flashlight.
However, considering how electricity seemed to have shut down after the crack in the sky event, Malachi figured it would be a wise choice to take a few battery-dependent flashlights and a lot of batteries as he packed supplies.
With his newly acquired flashlight, Malachi made his way back to his son, only for them to meet each other on the way.
David stared at his father with his red irises that signified his ability was still active.
Malachi returned the gaze, and neither of them spoke.
After a few seconds, Malachi moved to the side of David and placed a hand on his shoulder before speaking.
"Are you okay now, son?" Malachi asked David, who replied immediately.
"I'm not. I don't think I can adapt to all this, Dad," David said, his voice choking a little.
Malachi couldn't find the words to respond immediately and kept quiet.
After a few seconds of gathering his thoughts on what to say, Malachi spoke again.
"Even when things are tough, remember, you don't have to feel okay to keep going. Just do what needs to be done and keep on living, son," Malachi stated and dropped his hand from his son's shoulder before speaking again.
"Can you do that, son?" he asked.
David did not reply for a few seconds and seemed to be deep in thought.
After gathering his thoughts, David spoke again.
"I can do so, Dad. For the sake of my survival and my family, I need to."
Hearing this, a smile graced Malachi's face as he placed his hand back on his son's shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. Malachi then turned to face his son.
"For our survival and for our family, we need to," Malachi said as David faced him with a determined expression on his face and nodded.
For a few seconds, both father and son said nothing and just stared at each other with determination to keep living in this world when David spoke again.
"Can you stop squeezing my shoulder now, Dad? It hurts," David said as the side of his mouth twitched. He had been holding the pain earlier and thought his father would soon let go, but he could not hold it any longer until then. It seemed like his father had forgotten they were physically stronger now.
Hearing his son's words, Malachi quickly let go of his shoulder with a nervous laugh before pointing at the location he had gone to take a flashlight from.
"Go get yourself a flashlight like this and return," Malachi said, and David immediately went to do as told.
A few seconds later, the location Malachi was with his son got brighter.
"Now let's go check on the trapped people in this store."