Zara stepped out of the store, pushing open the door with a cautious glance back at the shelves and aisles she'd just left behind. The sky was strange—an unsettling shade of red streaked with dark, swirling clouds that twisted and rolled like an angry sea.
She bit her lip, her mind returning to Leo, who was hopefully safely tucked away in the storeroom.
Even for a moment, the idea of leaving him alone had left her in knots, but she'd had no choice—she needed supplies, a plan, anything to keep them going.
She needed to learn more about this cache that those people had discussed. Zara glanced back at the door, worry prickling her mind. Leo would be fine, she told herself—she'd made sure of it—but her heart felt tugging back toward him.
Zara took a breath, steadying herself, and started forward, her steps light and cautious. Just a few blocks away, she reasoned. Just enough to check if there were any clues to a food cache left by others or a random house that hadn't been raided. If she planned on travelling inland with Leo, she needed everything.
As she passed a shadowed alley, the soft sound of shuffling caught her attention. Her heart stopped, and she flattened herself against the brick wall, glancing to the side.
A pair of zombies, their movements jerky and aimless, staggered past her hiding place. She held her breath, body tense until they vanished down the alley. Her pulse thudded in her throat as she exhaled shakily.
What am I doing? she thought, her eyes darting down the street. She wasn't even sure what she was looking for—her plan was a mess, half-baked, reckless. But it was too late to turn back empty-handed.
*****
Inside the store, Leo sat in the corner, his small frame huddled under a makeshift blanket. He'd been quiet like Mommy had asked, but he was bored. His toys were in front of him—blocks, a little car, a soft stuffed bunny. But his mind wandered as he fidgeted, wondering why he couldn't play outside like he used to.
He reached out, wanting his favourite ball with the bright red star. And then, as if by magic, it was in his hand, appearing without him even having to think about it.
Leo's eyes widened, and he clapped his hands, a quiet giggle escaping his lips.
"Ball!" he whispered as he clutched the ball, his tiny fingers pressing into its soft surface.
Leo didn't understand how it happened but was glad it did. He'd been wishing he could play with his toys, and now… somehow, he could.
A new thought struck him, and he glanced at the cans Mommy had put by the door. His tummy rumbled a little, but he was more worried about Mommy being hungry. She always looked so tired and sad.
He scrunched up his face, trying to think of something she might like. An image of a snack he'd seen her eating once popped into his mind. With a tiny gasp, he found himself holding it in his hand.
He looked around, but there was no one there. Was he magic like the hero in the story?!
Leo was going to tell his mommy! 'But she wasn't there,' he pouted slightly as he folded his arms. When will Mommy come back? I'm bored.
A noise near the store's front door made him pause, his head tilting.
Was Mommy back already? Did his magic bring her like the toy and food?
Curiosity tugged at him, and he crawled off his blanket, tiptoeing toward the sound. He'd almost reached the door when he remembered his mommy's soft but serious voice warning him to stay in the corner.
His hand dropped, and he turned, hurrying back to his safe spot. He bundled himself up under a big jacket and a crate, hiding just in case.
Mommy would be back soon.
He just had to be a good boy and wait.
*****
Zara slipped into another narrow street, trying to steady her thumping heart. She had spent the whole day running from zombies, and the sun was setting, painting the sky an even deeper red.
Why were there so many zombies all of a sudden? she thought, wiping the blood off her face. After this, she needed to find new clothing and wraps. Were they drawn to the increase in people in the area?'
She had spent longer than expected and needed to return to her baby. The store was a few ways away from her current location, but she had tried not to go too far from it.
She nearly collided with a group of people in her haste as she rounded the corner. She halted, shrinking back into the shadows. She'd been lucky enough to escape those zombies—no way she'd survive a confrontation with humans, especially if they were hostile.
The group stood close, speaking in low, hurried voices.
"...heard about the cache," one of them said, his voice raspy. "Was in City D when I caught wind of it. Whole thing's supposed to be loaded."
"Can't believe we're trusting this old rumour," another muttered, shaking his head.
"Whether we get any treasure or not, people will come for it too. We can just take their shit instead."
Zara's heart sank as she listened. From their rough voices and hardened faces, she knew they were trouble. Their restless glances and shifting feet gave away their desperation, like predators on the hunt. She took a cautious step back, keeping her gaze locked on them, hoping she could slip away unnoticed.
As she inched backwards, her foot brushed against a rusty can, sending it clattering across the floor. She froze, panic lancing through her as the sound echoed in the empty street. The group went silent, their heads snapping in her direction. She sucked in a breath, bracing herself.
Another flash hit her, sharp and blinding. She saw the image of a rifle barrel pointed right at her, a finger on the trigger, and a shot ringing out. Her vision returned, and she felt a surge of dread so fierce it nearly froze her in place.
"Did you hear that?" one of them muttered, and she didn't wait to find out if they'd seen her. Zara bolted from her hiding place, not looking back as shouts rang out behind her.
She didn't stop running until the familiar outline of the store appeared on the horizon, her lungs burning as she forced herself to keep going.
*****
A day had passed since Zara had left the store, and now she was finally back. She tried to circle around so the people didn't follow her to the store or Leo.
As she crept through the silent aisles, her eyes scanned every corner, searching for any sign of danger. Her footsteps were almost soundless as she made her way through the maze of shelves, glancing back occasionally.
Then she saw a figure moving through the shelves, almost too close to the hideout. She darted into a corner, pressing her back against the wall and holding her breath. The figure walked slowly, muttering to himself, "Swear I saw someone here…"
She stayed frozen, heart racing as she listened to his footsteps, which, after an agonizingly long minute, finally receded.
Why was someone in the store? Was Leo safe?
Letting out a shaky breath, she straightened and moved toward the storeroom. When she opened the door, her heart melted.
Leo was in his corner, wrapped up in his jacket with his tiny arms around his knees. As soon as he saw her, he brightened, eyes lighting up. "Mommy!" he squealed, running over to her and throwing his arms around her legs. She knelt, hugging him tightly.
"Oh, my little man," she murmured, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Were you good? Any troubles?"
Leo shook his head, his face proud. "I stayed in the corner, like you said."
She ruffled his hair, laughing softly. "You did so well, Leo. Mommy's so proud of you."
As they sat together, she let out a sigh, her mind racing as she thought about her next move. She had made markings on the walls, and small landmarks on spots she believed were less travelled; that way, she could move with Leo with minimal worries. She'd need to be smarter and more careful if they would survive here.
But as she glanced down, something caught her eye—a sandwich, slightly smushed but unmistakably peanut butter and jelly, sitting by Leo's side.
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. She hadn't brought it. "Leo, did someone come in while Mommy was gone? Or…did you go out?"
Leo shook his head quickly, his eyes wide. "Nope! I stayed here."
"Then…where did this come from?" she asked, gesturing to the sandwich.
Leo pushed the sandwich toward her with a proud smile. "For you, Mommy! Eat!"
Zara smiled softly, though worry gnawed at her. How had this gotten here? It was fresh and untouched. "Thank you, sweetheart." She gently coaxed him, "Are you sure no one was here?"
Leo just gave her a happy nod, "Nobody!"
She glanced down at the sandwich again, then back at Leo. "So…this just…appeared?"
Leo gave another nod as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Yeah! I just thought about it, and…poof! Here!" His words were a jumble of babbled explanations she could barely understand.
After a moment, she gave up, pulling out some rations for them instead. Leo's face fell a bit, a pout forming on his lips as he sulked, but he didn't argue. She handed him a piece of bread, watching him eat in small bites.
She didn't want to frighten him, but her mind raced with questions. It wasn't the first time she'd noticed strange things happening around him—there had been times when objects seemed to appear or shift when they were still hiding in the house. She didn't know what was happening, but one thing was certain: something about her little boy was different.
Could it be? She forced a calm smile. "Leo… would you… would you mind thinking of something else? Like, maybe… something Mommy might need?"
He looked at her, his eyes big and curious, but he nodded slowly. He closed his eyes, his brow scrunching in concentration. Zara's heart pounded as she waited, half-hoping it was a fluke, a child's game of make-believe.
After a few moments, nothing happened. She let out a shaky breath, willing her heart to calm down.
Who knew what else could be there if this sandwich came out? Leo's powers would not be out of the ordinary in this crazy world they currently are, but—a talent like that would make Leo a target in this dangerous world.
Thunder boomed in the sky, shaking the building. Leo squeaked in fear, diving into her arms.
Zara sighed, patting his back gently as she tried to calm him down.
It looked like it would rain tonight, so she needed to wait for the storm to erupt before she moved Leo. Hopefully, the markings she had put up wouldn't be swept away or changed.
Streaks of lightning and thunder filled the air, turning the world into a bloodstained painting. She would have to monitor him and make sure if he really had a space portal,
And in the quiet, Zara resolved to figure out what was happening with Leo. If her son had a gift that could help them survive, she'd continue to do everything she could to protect him.