The base vehicle cruised down the country road. Occasionally, they'd spot a lone zombie shambling through a field or by the roadside. Upon seeing the van, the zombies would charge, roaring, but the vehicle would speed past before they could reach it.
They'd wave their arms futilely, bloodshot eyes devoid of intelligence, filled only with primal rage.
At first, Serena stared out the window, hyper-alert. But as the uneventful miles accumulated, her tense muscles relaxed. Her head lolled against the seat, and she drifted into a restless sleep.
"Adjust left…continue straight ahead…"
Zephyr drove, occasionally glancing at Serena. Even asleep, she'd twitch, a sign her slumber was far from peaceful.
She must be exhausted, physically and mentally drained from the ordeal. He thought of his sister. Was she safe? Scared?
…
Serena woke with a start. The van was parked. Dusk had settled, painting the trees on one side of the road in deep shadows. On the other side, a steep drop-off.
"Zephyr?" He wasn't in the driver's seat. She sat up straight, a prickle of unease running down her spine.
She'd been asleep for hours, judging by the mountain road outside. The van sat alone on the silent road. Waking up alone filled her with a sudden panic.
"Zephyr? Zephyr?" she called, hurrying into the main cabin.
The cabin, though small, was well-appointed. A quick glance confirmed he wasn't there.
Just as her anxiety spiked, she heard the faint sound of running water coming from a small door nearby.
Water?
The door clicked open, and Zephyr stepped out. Steam curled around him. His hair was damp, and he was toweling it dry. "You're awake?"
"Yes. I…I overslept," Serena stammered.
"Not really. And you weren't sleeping well. Sometimes, the more you sleep in situations like this, the harder it is to wake up. Besides, sleep is a good thing right now."
His words made her feel slightly guilty. Sleeping seemed…irresponsible.
But she was exhausted. Between school and her part-time job, she was already sleep-deprived. Then the virus, the terror, the frantic escape…it had all caught up with her.
But Zephyr…that was different. Her sleep was involuntary. His…
"Want to take a shower?" he asked.
That confirmed it. He'd showered.
She was covered in grime from running and falling. It was intensely uncomfortable. But showering hadn't even crossed her mind. Clean drinking water was a luxury.
But Zephyr had not only showered, but with hot water!
"I found a spring. Filtered some water. Not drinkable, but good enough for a shower. There's soap and everything in there. Hair dryer's by the mirror."
Serena stared at him, dumbfounded. "If it's filtered, shouldn't it be…"
Using hot water just for a shower seemed incredibly wasteful.
"Drinking water's from the kitchen tap. If you're hungry after your shower, make some noodles. There are some in the cupboard, and some fresh vegetables." He had frozen dumplings, but that felt too extravagant now. He had flour and other staples, but the preserved meats he had weren't ideal for dumpling filling…
The food in the kitchen was the perishable stuff. He'd stocked the non-perishables in the storage area. He'd bought fresh food, figuring they wouldn't need to rely on long-term storage right away.
Noodles were a compromise, but Serena felt differently.
She'd been prepared to go hungry. Now, a hot shower and a hot meal?
If it weren't for the vivid memories of the day's horrors, she'd think she was dreaming.
This van was a mobile hotel!
As for cooking, she was happy to. She owed him that much.
"I'll go shower now," she said.
When she returned with their bowls of noodles, Zephyr stared, momentarily speechless.
Her bowl held a tiny portion. His was overflowing – noodles, egg, vegetables, sausage.
"I didn't see much in the cupboard. Figured we should conserve. Besides, this is all I usually eat," she explained.
Even a child would eat more, especially after such a grueling day. She was barely eating enough to take the edge off her hunger.
He wanted to tell her the cupboard held less than one-fiftieth of his food supply, that even without rationing, they'd have plenty until they reached her home…
"Let's eat," he said instead.
It had been a while since he'd had noodles. They were good.
Tomorrow, though, rice.