The atmosphere inside the café was thick with tension. The sudden arrival of Maya had shifted the fragile balance they'd been holding on to. Naira and Kiran sat across from her, each of them sizing up the new addition to their small, makeshift group. Though Maya seemed harmless enough, the fear in her eyes told them that her survival had come at a cost. They could only wonder what kind of world she had been navigating out there alone.
The rain outside had picked up, a steady drumming against the windows as if the world itself were mourning the new reality they now found themselves in. It was the kind of weather that made everything feel heavier, the gray skies pressing down on the small, dimly lit café, leaving them with little light but the flickering bulbs overhead.
"So, Maya," Naira began, trying to break the silence, his voice even but filled with underlying concern. "How did you survive long enough to find us?"
Maya glanced down at her hands, the edges of her sleeves soaked from the rain. Her eyes were distant as she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like I said... I hid in the storage room. The office... it was chaos. People were screaming, running. I didn't know what was happening at first, but when I saw my coworker turn... when I saw him attack someone... I knew I had to get out. The storage room is usually locked, only accessible with the keycard. But it was my lucky day, I suppose."
She laughed bitterly, but there was no humor in it. "I wasn't the only one who thought of hiding, though. I don't know how long I would have lasted if others had found me."
"What happened then?" Kiran asked, her voice soft but urgent. She was struggling to digest the horror of what Maya had witnessed, but it was important to know as much as possible.
"The city fell apart fast," Maya continued. "Once people started turning... everything just broke down. I heard gunshots, people fighting, but I stayed hidden. The only time I left the storage room was when I knew the area was clear. I'd only grab supplies when I absolutely had to. It was never safe to stay in one place for too long. Eventually, though, I ran out of food and had no choice but to come out."
Naira rubbed his chin, thinking. "You were smart to stay hidden. But what about the others? Did anyone else survive?"
Maya's expression darkened. She looked down at her hands again, shaking her head. "I don't know. I haven't seen anyone since... since the first day. I don't know if I'm the last one."
Her words lingered in the air, heavy and ominous. The silence that followed was thick with the weight of what she'd said. If Maya was the last one, it meant that they were truly alone in the city. And if she wasn't—if there were others out there—how many of them had been turned?
Naira shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He needed to refocus. "Alright," he said, trying to shake off the unease settling in his chest. "For now, let's focus on what we can control. We've got food and water, we've got the upstairs storeroom stocked. But we can't stay here forever. We need to come up with a plan."
Maya nodded in agreement, her eyes now more alert, as if she was starting to realize that there might be a chance for survival if they worked together.
"Do you have any ideas?" Kiran asked, her voice tinged with hope.
Naira leaned back in his chair, surveying the café. The windows were still barricaded, but it wouldn't take long for anyone—or anything—to figure out that there were survivors inside. They needed to be careful. "First, we need to stay hidden. We don't know what's out there, but the longer we stay out in the open, the more we risk being discovered. We need to find a way to get the upper hand."
Kiran looked thoughtful, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. "We could fortify the café more. The second floor has access to the roof, right? We could create a way to monitor the area, keep watch over any movement."
"That's a good idea," Naira said. "We'll need supplies for the roof, though. If we can see what's going on outside, we can plan our next steps more carefully."
Maya shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "What about weapons?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "You said earlier that you were prepared. Do you have anything?"
Naira nodded slowly. "I've got a crowbar, and there are some heavy tools around here. But we need to be smart. We're not going to win a battle if we're caught unprepared. We have to avoid conflict as much as possible."
He glanced at Kiran, who had pulled her knees up to her chest, staring at the floor with an unreadable expression. "We can't stay here forever. Eventually, we'll need to leave."
Kiran's voice broke through the silence. "You're right. But where do we go? The streets are crawling with... them."
"Yeah," Naira sighed, feeling the weight of the uncertainty in her chest. "The question is, where do we go? And how do we get there safely?"
Maya, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly spoke up. "There's a place I used to go with my friends. It's a bit farther out, but it's a relatively secure building. We could try there. It's a lot harder to break into."
Naira glanced at her, surprised. "Why didn't you head there first?"
Maya shrugged, her face unreadable. "I didn't know if anyone else was there. It's not much, but it's better than staying in the open. It's on the outskirts of the city, though. It's a risk."
Kiran looked at Naira, uncertainty in her eyes. "If we leave, we'll have to go through the city. That's where the danger is."
"We'll have to be careful," Naira said, his voice steady. "It's a risk either way. Staying here is no guarantee of safety. We need to make a choice."
There was a long pause as they each weighed the options. The sound of the rain outside grew louder, the pattering of drops on the windows like a constant reminder of the urgency of their situation.
Finally, Naira spoke, his decision clear. "We'll go to your building, Maya. But we'll need to prepare. We'll scout the area first, make sure it's safe. And if we do go, we'll need to move fast."
Maya nodded, the hint of hope returning to her eyes. "Thank you. I promise it'll be worth it."
Kiran stood up slowly, stretching her arms. "We need to gather what we can—food, supplies. If we're moving out, we'll need to be ready."
Naira followed her lead, walking toward the storeroom. "We'll need to be quiet, stealthy. If we make too much noise, we'll attract attention."
Maya stood up as well, the tension in her shoulders visible. "I've got a couple of things I can carry. I'll help."
The three of them moved quickly but cautiously, collecting what they could: canned food, bottles of water, and anything else that seemed useful. Naira was methodical, checking every corner of the café to ensure they hadn't overlooked anything important.
Once their bags were packed, they gathered near the door, the weight of their decision settling in. Outside, the rain continued to fall, masking any sounds that might betray their movements. But Naira knew that every second counted, and as they prepared to step into the unknown, he could only hope they weren't too late to find safety.
With one last look at the dimly lit café, he nodded to Kiran and Maya. "Let's go."
And together, they stepped into the night.