As we stepped inside, Alicia's father led us to a cozy living room where we could finally relax after the ordeal we had been through. He offered us seats and some refreshments, which we gratefully accepted.
"So, how did you all end up in such a dire situation?" he asked, his curiosity evident in his voice.
Alex took the lead in explaining our harrowing experience, recounting the chaos at the school, our efforts to escape, and the challenges we faced along the way. Alicia added details from her perspective, emphasizing how our group had helped each other survive in the midst of danger.
Listening intently, Alicia's father nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "It's truly a miracle that you all made it out alive," he remarked.
"We were fortunate to find each other and work together," the teacher said, expressing gratitude for our collective resilience.
Alicia's father then shared information about the current state of the city, explaining that various areas were overrun by zombies, and survival had become increasingly difficult for many.
"We're lucky to have this place fortified and secured," he mentioned, indicating that their home had been turned into a safe haven for those seeking refuge.
As we sat there, safe for the moment, a sense of relief washed over us. Despite the challenges ahead, we were grateful to have found a temporary sanctuary and to have survived yet another day in this new, unforgiving world.
I then asked, "When we're going here, I noticed that this place is fairly quiet even though it's surrounded by buildings"
"Oh, so you noticed. Indeed, this place should be crawling with undead, but the police forced draw their attention. The police manage to handle the situation at first, but then as time went by the situation immediately flip upside-down. The police got outnumbered to 100 to 1 and in the end they lost"
"The police force are in the middle of the city, we're just near that…" I murmured
"We need to leave, and find a place far from the city" Alicia said
"But Alicia, we only got settled in. We should take it easy for now" her best friend, Amy said.
"We don't have any time, those zombies might get here anytime now" she replied
"Alicia, we should rest for now. Loon around, everyone is tired" Alex said
"Alex is right, Alicia. You guys should rest first, you're all tired after all" her father said
Alicia hesitated for a moment, torn between the urgency of the situation and the need for rest. She looked around at our weary faces, seeing the exhaustion etched on each of us. With a sigh, she relented.
"Alright, we'll rest for now," Alicia conceded, her voice reflecting a mix of relief and concern. "But we need to keep an eye out and be ready to move at a moment's notice."
Her father nodded in agreement. "We'll take shifts keeping watch. Safety is our priority here."
As we settled into the comfortable surroundings of the house, a sense of calm washed over us. The soft ambiance of the living room, the warmth of the fire crackling in the fireplace, and the reassurance of being in a secure location provided a much-needed respite from the chaos outside.
Despite the looming threat of the undead, we allowed ourselves to relax for the first time in what felt like ages. It was a brief moment of reprieve, a chance to catch our breaths before facing whatever challenges lay ahead in this new world overrun by zombies.
"How about you all take a shower? We still have hot water," Alicia's father announced, breaking the tension in the room.
"A hot shower? Really?" Amy exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
"You guys should take a shower first, I'll get some towels and clothes," Alicia said, taking charge of the situation.
"Okay!" Amy replied eagerly, already heading towards the bathroom.
As Alicia and her father ascended to the second floor to fetch towels and clothes, a serious conversation unfolded between them.
"Where's mother and Lucy?" Alicia inquired, her voice trembling with concern. Ready for the worse.
"I'll take these towels to them, you should visit Lucy. Lucy's running a fever and needs your care…" then he pause for a moment
"Tonight, I'm planning on going to the clinic to get medicine and to bring your mother back," her father explained, his tone determined yet tinged with worry.
"What? No! The clinic is probably swarming with zombies!" Alicia protested, her anxiety evident.
"Alicia, your mother is still alive. She's inside her office, scared and alone. I need to go… your mother needs me," her father insisted, the weight of responsibility heavy in his words.
"But you don't know what's out there, Father! They're dangerous, fast, and agile! You might get killed..." Alicia pleaded, her concern for her father's safety palpable.
"Alicia, I'm sorry, but I need to go. If I don't come back by morning, leave without me. Your sister needs you," her father said, his voice filled with resolve despite the risks.
"Are you going to let Lucy grow up without parents?" Alicia countered, her eyes filled with worry.
"It's not like I have a choice, Alicia," her father replied solemnly, the weight of his decision evident.
Meanwhile, in the living room, the teacher tended to my wounds. "Augh! It hurts," I exclaimed as she tightened the bandage.
"Bear with it; I need to tighten it to prevent it from loosening," she explained, focused on her task.
"Is he injured?" Alicia's father asked as he descended the stairs, carrying towels.
"He fell from the second floor, luckily no broken bones," the teacher replied, giving a brief update.
"Lucky for me then," I said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood as the teacher tightened the bandage further.
"Towel?" Alicia's father offered, extending a towel towards us.
"Thank you," the teacher said, taking the towel from him.
He also handed me a towel, which I gratefully accepted, ready to wash away the grime and fatigue of our harrowing ordeal.
Inside Lucy's room, Alicia approached her sister with concern evident in her eyes. "Hey Lucy, are you okay?" she asked softly.
Breathing heavily, Lucy managed to respond, "A... Alicia?"
Alicia gently placed her hand on Lucy's forehead, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. "You're burning up!" she exclaimed, quickly wetting a towel and placing it on Lucy's forehead to help cool her down.
"Sis... are you... okay?" Lucy asked weakly, her voice barely audible.
"Yes, I'm okay Lucy. Don't worry," Alicia reassured her, her voice filled with tenderness and care as she stayed by her sister's side, determined to comfort her in any way she could.
As Alicia continued to comfort Lucy, her father entered the room carrying a bundle of clothes and a warm towel. "How's Lucy doing?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
"She's not feeling well, Dad. She's running a fever," Alicia replied, her voice filled with worry.
Her father approached Lucy's bedside and checked her temperature. "You're burning up, sweetheart," he murmured, placing a hand on her forehead. "I'll go to the clinic tonight to get some medicine for you."
"But Dad, it's dangerous out there! The clinic could be overrun by zombies," Alicia protested, fear creeping into her voice.
"I know it's risky, but Lucy needs help. Your mother is still at her office, and I need to get to her too," her father explained, his tone resolute.
Alicia nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Be careful, Dad. Don't take any unnecessary risks," she urged, her eyes pleading with him.
"I'll do my best. Take care of Lucy while I'm gone," he said, giving Alicia a reassuring smile before heading out of the room.
Left alone with Lucy, Alicia gently wiped her sister's forehead with the cool towel, trying to ease her discomfort. "Hang in there, Lucy. Dad will be back soon with medicine," she whispered, hoping for her sister's swift recovery.
In the garage, I scoured the shelves and corners for anything that could be of use. Alex's footsteps approached quietly, his expression heavy with worry. "Hey," he said softly, catching my attention.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, worried as I approach him
"It's just... this world is messed up, isn't it? I never imagined myself having to... to kill someone," he confessed, his eyes reflecting regret and fear.
"I'm scared, Liah. Is this what our lives have become? Surviving by doing things we never thought we would?"
I paused, unsure of how to respond to his vulnerability "Alex…" I don't know what to say, "Um… I… don't know" I said, I couldn't come up with comforting words…
"You're not very good at this comforting stuff," he teased, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Thanks," I replied dryly, though a hint of amusement softened my tone.
Sitting down on the floor, Alex's gaze turned introspective. "Hey, Siah. What do you think will happen to us now?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"The future... it's hard to say," I replied, joining him on the floor.
"If we did escape here, find a place to stay. Then what?"
"What do you mean?" I asked
"For now we have a goal, and if we did achieve that. What do we do next?"
"Survive, live…"
"That's what scares me," Alex admitted, his gaze distant. "Even if we manage to escape this place, find safety... then what? Can we really build a life in this world? I don't want Alicia to live in a place like this."
I sighed, feeling the weight of his words. "None of us asked for this, Alex. No one was prepared. We're all just trying to make sense of it and keep going. It's scary, I won't deny that. But we have to keep moving forward, one step at a time. It's not about having a choice anymore; it's about doing what we have to in order to survive."
Alex nodded, his expression a mix of determination and resignation. "Yeah, you're right. We'll figure it out as we go."
With that, we lapsed into a contemplative silence, each lost in our own thoughts about the uncertain path ahead.
As we sat in the garage, deep in conversation about our uncertain future, the door suddenly creaked open. The teacher stood there, a playful smirk on her face as she interrupted our serious discussion.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" she teased, her eyes flickering between Alex and me.
Caught off guard, I glanced at Alex, who shrugged with a sheepish smile. "Um, hi ma'am," I greeted awkwardly.
The teacher chuckled softly. "Well, it's your turn to freshen up. We still have hot water, so make the most of it," she said, teasing us gently.
"Right, we'll do that," Alex said, standing up and stretching.
I followed suit, offering a small smile. "Thanks, we'll be quick," I said.
As we made our way inside to take our turn for a shower, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the small comforts amidst the chaos of our current situation.