However, the sudden rumbling sound made the entire situation change in an instant. Like the sound of an approaching storm, the rumble carried a fear so palpable. Abraham felt his heart race faster. It was a sound he had heard many times before—the sound of a monster on the move.
Abraham quickly crept behind a large pillar beside the building, trying to hide as quickly as possible. He held his breath, trying to stay calm amid the rising tension.
In the distance, the survivors began to panic. They ran, searching for shelter. But before they could hide, a large, dark monster appeared from the shadows, striking one of them with terrifying speed.
A brief battle ensued. The remaining survivors began shooting in a panic, trying to fight back. But they were powerless. The monster was too fast and too strong. One by one, they were torn apart, devoured, and discarded like broken toys. Screams of pain were heard before everything went silent.
After all the victims were dead, the monster didn't leave right away. It gathered their bodies, moving them in an eerie way, leaving the supermarket now filled with blood and emptiness.
Abraham, who could only watch from his hiding place, tried to remain calm. His heart was pounding, but he knew that moving too quickly or carelessly would mean death.
Abraham felt grateful that the monster's arrival had allowed him to survive to see his daughter. "How could all of this happen?" he thought, feeling that the world he once knew now seemed like a mere fictional tale—a terrifying fantasy. Aliens, monsters, and the darkness that enveloped the world... this wasn't the world he had imagined.
Seconds later, the terrifying rumble faded away. Abraham took a deep breath and slowly emerged from his hiding place. He approached the bodies of the slain survivors, quickly gathering any supplies he could—rifles, ammunition, and a few other important items. After making sure no immediate danger was present, he hurried away from the area, his steps quick and cautious.
Upon reaching his hideout far from the city center, Abraham knocked on the door using the Morse code he had learned: duk duk duk duk duk. The door opened, and there stood Anastasia, his little daughter, eagerly greeting him.
"Welcome, Dad! Why does your face look like you're in pain? Are you hurt?" Anastasia asked worriedly, her big eyes full of concern.
Abraham smiled tiredly and shook his head. "No, I'm just a bit tired," he replied, while unloading his bag, hiding the exhaustion that had taken over his body.
He looked down at Anastasia, "Anastasia, I'm sorry. I wasn't able to find the UV light for you today. But I'll try again tomorrow."
Anastasia smiled brightly, though there was a slight furrow in her brow. "It's okay, Dad. We still have enough UV light for a week, the important thing is that you're safe," she said lovingly, trying to reassure her father.
Abraham felt a little relieved hearing his daughter's words. "Thank you, Anastasia... I brought you something," he said, trying to forget the weariness of the day.
Carefully, Abraham took a small teddy bear from his bag and handed it to Anastasia. "Tada! A gift from Dad for a good girl like you," he said, trying to smile despite his fatigue.
Anastasia's eyes widened in delight, and she excitedly took the bear. "Wow, thank you, Dad! The bear is so pretty. Where did you get it from?" she asked, full of curiosity.
"When I was looking for the UV light at the pharmacy, I saw a toy shop nearby. I remembered you really like teddy bears, so I brought this for you," Abraham replied, shrugging slightly.
Anastasia hugged the bear tightly, her smile growing even wider. "Thank you, Dad! This bear must have been really expensive if the world was still okay," she said with a small laugh.
"Come on, Anastasia, tonight I'll make something special, roasted meat and avocado for dessert," Abraham said with a wide grin, looking at his daughter who was holding the bear.
Anastasia immediately looked up with sparkling eyes. "Yay! Thank you, Dad! I love avocado!" she replied enthusiastically, then cheerfully hugged the bear as if sharing her happiness.
Abraham chuckled at the expression of pure joy. "Haha, I knew it, you really love avocado. Now your face looks like an avocado, you know!" he teased with a warm laugh.
Anastasia, hearing this, immediately turned with a surprised expression, her cheeks turning red. "Huh, really, Dad? If I turn into an avocado, I don't want to be eaten!" she said, her voice filled with worry, as though she truly feared turning into an avocado.
Abraham laughed harder at his daughter's funny concern. He sat next to her, gazing at her lovingly, then with firm assurance said, "Don't worry, if anyone dares to eat you, Dad will punch them!" A small laugh accompanied his words, but the smile never left his face, as if reassuring his daughter that all her fears were unnecessary.
Anastasia, hearing her father's confident words, slowly let go of her worries. Her face, which had been anxious, turned cheerful again, as if all her fears had vanished. "Yes, Dad is the strongest!" she said, shaking the bear joyfully.
Abraham smiled softly, watching his daughter sit at the dinner table. "Dad will cook for a bit. Wait here, okay?" Abraham said calmly, standing and walking toward the grill to prepare their meal.
"I don't want to, Dad! I want to help you cook so we can eat the avocado faster!" Anastasia replied cheerfully, her eyes bright with excitement.
Abraham chuckled, seeing the enthusiasm in his daughter's face. "Okay, but be careful with the knife," he said, paying extra attention.
They began cooking together, enjoying the simple yet meaningful moment. The warm atmosphere in the kitchen was filled with laughter and joy. After preparing their dinner, Abraham sat next to Anastasia, who was enjoying her meal with great satisfaction.
"Dad, your cooking is really good!" praised Anastasia joyfully.
Abraham smiled proudly, responding to his daughter's praise. "Thank you, princess," he said, gently rubbing Anastasia's head with affection.
After dinner, they cleaned the table together. Abraham stood and approached Anastasia, who was busy arranging her toys. "Anastasia, it's time for your medicine," Abraham said gently.
Anastasia furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment. "Hmm... can I play with Mr. Bear for a little bit, Dad?" Anastasia asked in a soft, playful voice, her eyes shining with desire.
"Mr. Bear?" Abraham replied, slightly surprised, but his face remained warm.
"Yes, the bear you gave me," Anastasia said proudly, holding her small teddy bear.
"So his name is Mr. Bear, huh? Hello, Mr. Bear, nice to meet you," Abraham said, greeting the bear with a warm smile.
Anastasia mimicked the bear's hand movement as if Mr. Bear was greeting him. "Hello, Dad! Nice to meet you, I'm Mr. Bear, Anastasia's friend. Pleased to meet you!" Anastasia said in a small voice, moving the bear's hand as if it were talking.
Abraham chuckled softly, watching his daughter's happiness. "Alright, Anastasia, but don't play too long, okay? You might get tired later," Abraham said gently, stressing that she needed rest.
"Yay! Thank you, Dad! Mr. Bear also says thank you to you!" Anastasia replied happily, her eyes sparkling.
A few minutes later, after finishing her playtime, Abraham approached Anastasia with the arthritis medicine. His face was serious, though there was tenderness in his gaze. "Okay, Anastasia, now it's time for your medicine," he said in a soft yet firm tone.
Anastasia sighed, looking at the medicine uncertainly. "Hmm... okay, Dad," she replied quietly, her eyes slightly lowered.
Abraham patiently handed her the medicine. Anastasia stared at it for a moment, then with determination, she took the medicine, though her face clearly showed her discomfort. "Yeeek, this medicine tastes so bitter," Anastasia complained, grimacing, but she tried to hold back the tears that almost came.
Abraham smiled warmly and stroked Anastasia's head. "Good job, you were brave. I'm proud of you, Anastasia," he said sincerely, kissing her forehead, which still showed a hint of a frown.
Anastasia gave a small smile, feeling slightly relieved, though the medicine still tasted bitter. "Thank you, Dad," she said, gazing at Abraham with eyes full of affection.
"Alright, Anastasia, now it's time to sleep," Abraham said gently, touching his daughter's head as she lay in bed.
"Okay, Dad," Anastasia replied softly, but there was one thing on her mind. With her eyes slightly closed, she looked at her father. "Dad, can you read me a bedtime story? Mom used to read bedtime stories... I can't sleep without a story, if you want me to sleep, Dad..." Anastasia continued in a soft voice, full of hope.
Abraham paused for a moment. His daughter's words brought back memories of when his wife was still around. His face softened, though there was a faint sadness in his eyes. In the silence, he tried to suppress the surge of emotions that suddenly rose.
"Yes, I'll read you a story," Abraham finally said, his voice calmer. "What story would you like, Anastasia?"
"I want the story of the knight and the princess!" Anastasia replied enthusiastically, her previously tired face brightening once again.
Abraham smiled and sat beside his daughter's bed. In a soft voice, he began telling the story that Anastasia had often heard before, but it was always captivating to hear again.
"Alright, here we go. Once upon a time, there was a great knight who protected the princess from an evil monster..." Abraham's voice grew softer and more soothing. Anastasia looked at him attentively, her eyes half-closed, enjoying the story being told.
Abraham continued the tale slowly, calming his daughter, who was gradually drifting off to sleep. When the story ended, he stopped for a moment, ensuring his daughter had fallen into a peaceful sleep. He sat still, gazing at Anastasia, who was now deep in dreams.
After a few minutes, Abraham rose carefully, trying not to wake his daughter. He stepped out of the room quietly and closed the door slowly.
Outside, the night air felt cold. Abraham sighed, trying to compose himself before continuing his next task. His steps led him to the table, where the medicine box was placed. He opened the box carefully, then took the necessary medicine to treat the bullet wound on his stomach.
As he tended to his wound, his thoughts drifted back to the tragic event that had befallen his wife. The image was so vivid, as if it had happened just yesterday. Her smiling face, her body falling from a bullet—everything filled Abraham's mind. But even though the memory was painful, he held himself back from sinking into sadness, knowing this wasn't the time to mourn what was lost. There were more important things to think about.
Abraham finished treating his wound, closed the medicine box carefully, and then turned to the map on the table. With determined resolve, he began planning his next steps. The open map in front of him showed the route he had to take to find the UV Light and medical supplies for Anastasia.
Tomorrow was a crucial day. Abraham knew that they had to keep surviving, and to do that, he had to fight. He stared seriously at the map, preparing a travel plan that would guide him through all obstacles for the safety of his daughter.
Behind every step he took, there was deep love