Zack sat on his bunk, leaning back against the wall as the door creaked open. Josh was organizing the small stash of supplies they'd managed to carry with them, his movements slow and deliberate. Both of them looked up as two young boys entered hesitantly, their faces nervous but determined.
The older boy, who looked about 14, stepped forward. He had messy brown hair and a protective stance, his arm resting on his younger brother's shoulder. The younger boy, no older than 11, clung to him, his wide eyes scanning the room nervously.
"Can we stay here?" the older boy asked, his voice steady but soft. "We… we can't stay in a room with our mom."
Zack raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"She's with the women," the boy explained. "And they said we couldn't stay there with her. We don't know anyone else."
Zack exchanged a glance with Josh, who shrugged. "It's fine with me," Josh said.
Zack nodded reluctantly. "Alright. Find a bed."
"Thanks," the older boy said. He guided his younger brother to two bunks near the door and turned back to Zack and Josh. "I'm Ethan, and this is Ben."
"Zack," he replied simply, motioning to Josh.
"I'm Josh," his friend added with a small smile.
Not long after, the door creaked open again. This time, a man in his 40s waddled in, his heavy frame making the floorboards groan under his weight. He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead despite the cool air.
"How did he survive?" Josh muttered under his breath.
"Luck," Zack replied, his tone flat.
The man glanced around the room, his eyes settling on an empty bunk near the corner. Without a word, he shuffled over and sat down heavily, the bed creaking alarmingly beneath him.
"Guess he's not much of a talker," Josh said with a smirk.
As if hearing the comment, the man finally looked up. "Name's Tom," he said gruffly, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.
"Zack," Zack replied.
"Josh," his friend added.
The man gave a brief nod before leaning back on the bunk, letting out a tired sigh.
The next arrival made Zack's stomach churn.
A man in his late 20s stumbled into the room, his eyes darting around wildly. His hands trembled as he clutched a tattered blanket, his disheveled appearance and erratic movements setting everyone on edge.
"I… I just need a place to stay," he mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Zack frowned, his instincts screaming at him to say no. The man's fear was palpable, but there was something unsteady about him—something dangerous.
Josh leaned closer. "We can't kick him out. Eight to a room, remember?"
Zack sighed heavily, his jaw tightening. "Fine. Take a bed."
The man nodded quickly, scurrying to the farthest corner of the room. He sat down, rocking slightly as he clutched his blanket. Zack couldn't help but feel like he'd just let in a ticking time bomb.
The last two arrivals came together.
One was an elderly man who, despite his age, moved with surprising agility. He walked with a spring in his step, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he looked around the room.
"This is exciting, isn't it?" he said cheerfully, dropping his small bag onto a bunk near the middle of the room.
"Exciting?" Josh repeated, raising an eyebrow.
The old man nodded enthusiastically. "A whole new world to explore! New opportunities, new challenges—it's like a fresh start!"
Behind him, his friend entered more slowly. The second man was also elderly but moved with difficulty, his steps unsteady and his expression weary. The first man immediately turned back to help him, guiding him gently to the bunk next to his own.
"Name's Walter," the energetic old man said with a grin. "And this here's Edgar."
Edgar gave a weak nod but didn't say anything, his breathing labored as he sat down heavily.
"He didn't take to the Ithra as well as I did," Walter explained, patting Edgar's shoulder. "But don't worry—we stick together."
Zack gave a small nod. "Zack," he said, keeping his tone neutral.
"Josh," his friend added with a small wave.
As the room settled into an uneasy quiet, Zack leaned back against the wall, observing the mix of personalities now crammed into the small space.
Ethan and Ben, the two young boys barely old enough to fend for themselves. Tom, a man in his 40s who seemed to have survived by pure chance. A nervous wreck of a man who might crack under the pressure. And Walter and Edgar, two elderly men—one full of life, the other barely holding on.
"This is going to be interesting," Josh said, breaking the silence.
"That's one word for it," Zack replied, his voice low.