Day 52: Preparing
The morning after Eli's departure weighed heavily on the group. His note, a stark reminder of the struggle he had faced alone, had been read by each of them, leaving a shared sense of loss and confusion. But for Luke, that sense of loss was intertwined with frustration—a simmering anger at Eli for leaving, for thinking that the best way to protect them was to abandon them.
Luke paced the museum's atrium, his bow slung over his shoulder, the familiar weight doing little to ease his agitation. The museum, their sanctuary, felt emptier without Eli, but they didn't have the luxury of dwelling on that. They had to move forward, had to be ready for whatever threats might come next.
"Damn it, Eli," Luke muttered under his breath, his frustration breaking through the silence. "You should have stayed. Running off like that… it's reckless. Foolish."
Cass, who had been sitting nearby with Ben, looked up. Her expression was calm, though tinged with sadness. "He was lost, Luke. He thought he was doing what was best for us."
"Best for us?" Luke snapped, his voice rising. "How is leaving us better off? We needed him here, with us. We could've helped him—faced whatever was tearing him apart together."
From across the room, Sarah, one of the newer members of the group who had joined them after the rain, looked up from where she was cleaning her gear. "It's not that simple, Luke. Sometimes people get so deep into their own heads, they can't see any way out except by running."
Derek, who had been standing near one of the windows, securing the makeshift barricades, chimed in. "Eli made a choice. We can be angry about it, but it's done now. We need to focus on what's next—how we're going to protect this place, protect each other."
Cass nodded, her gaze shifting to the group. "Luke's right about one thing—we need to be ready. This place is secure for now, but we've seen what's out there. The looters found us once, and the creatures... we know they're out there too. We need a plan."
Raya, who had been sharpening her knife in the corner, stood up and joined the conversation. "We should start by fortifying the museum. There are too many weak points—windows, doors, even some of the walls. If something big comes our way, we need to be sure it won't just break through."
From the group of three that had joined them earlier, a man named Dom spoke up. He had a practical, no-nonsense demeanor that had made him a valuable addition to the group. "We've got plenty of debris from the last fight. We can use that to reinforce the windows and doors, maybe even set up some barriers inside to slow down anyone who tries to get in."
The woman from the other group of two, Mae, added, "We should also think about setting traps. There's a lot of old museum equipment we could repurpose—tripwires, alarms, anything that would give us a heads-up if someone or something tries to get in."
Luke nodded, his frustration channeling into action. "We'll split into teams. One team secures the perimeter—windows, doors, any weak spots. The other focuses on setting up traps and barriers inside. We need to know every inch of this place, every possible point of entry."
Derek stepped forward, his voice steady. "I'll work with Dom on the perimeter. We can start with the ground floor, then move up to the second. We'll reinforce every entrance, make sure nothing can get through."
Sarah nodded, standing up and joining Derek and Dom. "I'll help with that. We need to make sure the barricades are solid, that there are no gaps."
Cass turned to Mae and Raya. "The three of us can focus on setting up traps and barriers inside. We'll start near the main entrance and work our way back. We need to make sure that if anyone—or anything—gets inside, they're slowed down long enough for us to respond."
Mae agreed, her expression serious. "We should also think about escape routes. If things go south, we need to have a plan to get out—somewhere to fall back to that isn't just another trap."
Raya, always focused on survival, added, "There are a few hidden passages in this place that we haven't fully explored. If we can clear those out and make sure they're safe, they could be our best bet for getting out quickly if we need to."
The group moved with purpose, each member taking on their role with a quiet determination. Luke's anger, while still simmering beneath the surface, was now focused on the task at hand. He might have been furious at Eli for leaving, but he wasn't about to let that anger cloud his judgment. They had a job to do, and they couldn't afford any distractions.
As Derek, Dom, and Sarah began securing the perimeter, Luke and the others worked on setting up traps and reinforcing the interior. They repurposed old museum displays, using the metal stands and ropes to create makeshift barriers and tripwires. The goal was simple: slow down any intruders long enough for the group to mount a defense.
Cass and Raya scouted the hidden passages, clearing debris and marking potential escape routes. If they ever needed to evacuate, these passages could be their only way out. They needed to be ready for any eventuality.
Luke, still directing the efforts, paused for a moment as he hammered boards over a weakened window. He looked out at the wasteland beyond, the red sky and green lightning casting an eerie glow over the desolate landscape. Somewhere out there, Eli was wandering alone, facing dangers they could only imagine. Luke clenched his jaw, pushing the thought aside.
Eli was gone, but they were still here. They had to survive, had to protect this place they had come to call home. If Eli ever returned, he would find a stronger, more prepared group waiting for him.
As the day wore on, the museum slowly transformed into a fortress. The barricades grew taller, the traps more intricate, and the group more unified in their purpose. They were survivors, hardened by the horrors they had faced, and they would not go down without a fight.
By the time night fell, the group had made significant progress. The museum was as fortified as they could make it, with every possible entry point secured and every escape route planned. They gathered in the atrium, exhausted but resolute.
Luke looked around at the faces of those who had worked alongside him—Cass, Raya, Derek, Sarah, Dom, Mae, Sara and Jay, the others who had joined them. They were strong, capable, and determined. They had survived the rain, the looters, and the creatures that roamed the wasteland. And they would survive whatever came next.
"Good work, everyone," Luke said, his voice steady. "We're ready for whatever comes our way. We've made this place our home, and we'll protect it—together."
Cass nodded in agreement, her gaze sweeping across the group. "We're stronger together. As long as we remember that, we'll make it through."
As the group settled down for the night, Luke found a moment of quiet. The anger that had fueled him throughout the day had faded, replaced by a deep resolve. Eli had made his choice, and they had to respect that. But if Eli ever found his way back, he would find a group that was stronger, more prepared, and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
For now, all they could do was continue to survive, continue to protect what they had built. The world outside was unforgiving, but within these walls, they had found something worth fighting for. And that was enough to keep them going.