Day 49: *Knock Knock* "Who's There?"
The museum was eerily quiet in the predawn hours. The thick stone walls, once filled with the echoes of history, now held only the soft sounds of breathing as the group slept in the fortified hall. The night had been uneventful—peaceful, even—and for the first time in days, they had allowed themselves to rest without the constant fear of what might be lurking just outside their shelter.
Eli, still wearing the knight's helmet, had managed to find a semblance of sleep despite the dull ache that throbbed beneath the metal. The helmet had become a part of him now, a protective shell that kept the world at bay. His dreams were a blur of faces and places, memories of a life that felt distant and unreachable. But for a few hours, the darkness of sleep had offered him an escape from the pain and the weight of their reality.
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the cracks in the boarded-up windows, Eli stirred, blinking groggily inside the narrow visor of his helmet. The world was still a blur, his mind struggling to shake off the remnants of sleep. But as he slowly sat up, something pulled him back to full awareness—a sound, faint but distinct, breaking the stillness of the museum.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Eli froze, his body tensing as the sound echoed through the stone corridors. The knocking was slow, deliberate, as if whoever was on the other side of the door was testing the strength of their defenses. He wasn't the only one who heard it; the others began to stir as well, their expressions shifting from groggy confusion to wary alertness.
Cass was the first to react, her eyes snapping open as she pushed herself up from where she had been sleeping. She immediately motioned for everyone to stay quiet, her finger pressed to her lips as she rose to her feet. Ben, who had been curled up beside her, clung to her arm, his wide eyes filled with fear.
Eli's heart pounded in his chest as the knocking continued, the sound unnerving in the silence. The heavy doors that they had reinforced the day before were now the only thing standing between them and whatever was outside. The knocks were steady, almost rhythmic, and the deliberate pace sent chills down Eli's spine.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Luke was already up, his bow in hand, an arrow nocked and ready. He moved silently across the room, positioning himself near one of the reinforced windows, his eyes scanning for any sign of movement outside. Raya followed, her knife drawn, her expression hard and focused.
Cass carefully unhooked Ben's grip from her arm, whispering something reassuring to him before stepping forward, motioning for Eli and the others to stay back. "We need to check this out," she whispered, her voice low but urgent. "Stay alert."
Eli nodded, the weight of the helmet grounding him as he stood. The sound of the knocking seemed to grow louder in his ears, each tap on the door like a warning that something—or someone—was out there, trying to get in.
Cass approached the door cautiously, her movements slow and deliberate. The rest of the group stayed close, weapons at the ready, their eyes darting between the door and the windows, waiting for any sign of danger.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The knocks continued, unrelenting, and Eli's nerves were stretched thin. Who—or what—could be outside, knocking with such patience? It wasn't the behavior of the WrathKin or any of the other creatures they had encountered. Those things would have attacked outright, trying to break down the door rather than knock on it.
When Cass finally reached the door, she hesitated, her hand hovering near the latch. The knocking stopped suddenly, and the silence that followed was deafening, every second stretching out into eternity as the group held their breath, waiting for whatever was going to happen next.
Cass leaned in closer to the door, trying to listen for any sound, any clue as to who was on the other side. But the silence remained, thick and oppressive, and for a moment, Eli wondered if they had imagined it all—if the knocks were just a figment of their collective exhaustion.
But then, a voice.
Muffled, barely audible through the thick wood of the door, but unmistakably human.
"Please… let us in."
The voice was weak, strained with desperation, and it sent a shiver down Eli's spine. Cass exchanged a wary glance with Luke, who had moved closer to provide cover. The question was clear in her eyes—should they open the door?
The voice came again, more urgent this time. "Please… we need help."
Eli's mind raced, torn between the instinct to protect the group and the desire to help whoever was out there. The world outside the museum was brutal, and they had seen firsthand how quickly desperation could turn deadly. But there was also the risk that it was a trap—a ruse to get them to open the door and let danger inside.
Cass took a deep breath, her hand gripping the latch. She glanced back at the group, her expression conflicted but resolute. "We open it slowly," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "If it's a threat, we close it again."
Luke and Raya positioned themselves on either side of the door, ready to react at a moment's notice. Cass nodded to Eli, and he stepped forward, ready to assist if needed.
With one final look at the group, Cass slowly unlatched the door, the old metal creaking softly. The door opened just a crack, enough for her to peer outside, her eyes scanning the dim morning light for any sign of movement.
What she saw made her gasp softly, her grip tightening on the door.
Eli's heart pounded as he leaned in, trying to see what had caused her reaction. Outside, standing just beyond the threshold, were two figures—a man and a woman, both ragged and gaunt, their clothes torn and dirty. The man was supporting the woman, who looked barely able to stand, her face pale and streaked with dirt.
Cass's voice was firm, but there was a note of caution in it. "Who are you?"
The man looked up, his eyes hollow with exhaustion, but there was a flicker of hope in them. "My name is Derek," he said, his voice shaky. "This is Sarah. We—we've been running. Please… we need shelter."
Cass didn't move, her gaze narrowing as she assessed the situation. "Are you alone?"
Derek nodded, his grip on Sarah tightening as she leaned heavily against him. "It's just us. We got separated from our group… there was an attack. Please, we're not armed."
The woman, Sarah, let out a soft whimper, her legs giving way beneath her. Derek struggled to keep her upright, his expression desperate. "She's hurt… please, let us in."
Eli could see the hesitation in Cass's eyes, the conflict between wanting to help and the need to protect their group. But Sarah's condition was deteriorating quickly, and it was clear they didn't have much time to make a decision.
Finally, Cass stepped back, opening the door wider. "Come in," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "But if you try anything…"
"We won't," Derek promised, his voice cracking with relief. He helped Sarah through the door, guiding her into the museum as carefully as he could.
As they crossed the threshold, the group moved to help, though their wariness was still evident. Eli kept his distance, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife, ready to act if necessary. But as he watched Derek gently lower Sarah to the floor, he could see the exhaustion and fear in their faces—these were not people looking for trouble. They were survivors, just like them.
Cass knelt beside Sarah, checking her over with quick, practiced movements. "She's dehydrated and weak," she said, glancing up at the group. "We need to get her some water."
Raya nodded, already moving to grab a canteen from their supplies. Luke kept his bow ready, but his posture relaxed slightly, the tension in the room easing now that the immediate threat seemed to have passed.
Eli stood back, his heart still pounding, but the rush of adrenaline was beginning to fade. The museum had been a place of safety, but now, with these new arrivals, the dynamic had shifted. They had opened their doors to strangers—vulnerable, yes, but still unknown. And in this world, trust was a rare and fragile thing.
As Sarah sipped water from the canteen, her eyes closed in exhaustion, Derek looked up at Cass with a mixture of gratitude and fear. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice breaking. "You saved us."
Cass didn't respond immediately, her gaze steady as she studied him. "We'll help you," she said finally, her tone even. "But you need to tell us everything. What happened to your group, and what you're running from."
Derek nodded, his expression grim. "I will. But first… we need to rest."
Cass nodded, signaling to the others to give them some space. As the group settled back, the tension lingering in the air, Eli couldn't help but feel a nagging unease. They had opened the door to these strangers, offered them shelter—but in doing so, had they invited new dangers inside?
Only time would tell.