Inside Nathan's room, both friends were having a serious discussion about what their next step should be now that they'd gathered some information about what they were facing. The situation was dire, but they both knew they couldn't stay idle any longer.
"So, if this is really like you said, and we're actually living through a zombie apocalypse, we need to establish some rules," Nathan said, pacing the room with a notebook in his hand.
"Yeah, but we also need a clear plan for what to do," Jake replied, sitting on the bed as he drummed his fingers on his thigh.
Nathan nodded slowly, focused.
"Alright. Let's make two lists: one for priorities and another for rules. Does that sound good?" he asked, rummaging through a drawer in search of a pencil.
Jake watched him and nodded.
"Fine. But remember everything we've seen in movies and video games. What would you put as our top priority?"
Nathan turned toward him, pencil in hand, and began jotting notes in the notebook.
"Food and water, obviously," Jake said.
"Got it." Nathan scribbled quickly, adding the word "priority" next to the note. "We should check the kitchen as soon as possible to see how much food we've got."
Jake shifted on the bed, crossing his arms.
"Don't forget weapons. We're going to need something to defend ourselves."
"Already wrote it down," Nathan replied, lightly tapping his head with the pencil.
"We also need to find a safe shelter and fortify it," Jake added, staring at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression.
Nathan frowned slightly.
"We're already in a shelter." He jotted down "reinforce the apartment" and added, "We just need to make this place safer."
Jake sat up abruptly, staring at him in disbelief.
"You're joking, right?"
"No. This is our shelter, and it's the best we've got right now," Nathan replied firmly.
Jake glared at him.
"But the door's wrecked, and it's far from where Cassie lives."
Nathan pressed his lips together, meeting Jake's gaze head-on.
"I know. But we can't just leave here with all the food while trying to make it to her place."
"Why not?" Jake asked, frustrated. His eyes were a mix of anger and desperation.
Nathan threw up his hands, exasperated.
"Why not?" he repeated, before fixing Jake with a harder look. "Maybe because we don't even know if she's alive. Or because if we leave without knowing what the streets are like, and we're carrying heavy supplies, someone could rob us—or worse. We could end up dead, eaten by those damn zombies!" he shouted, letting all his pent-up stress out.
They locked eyes, their wills clashing in a silent standoff. Neither seemed willing to back down until Nathan finally broke away. With a tired sigh, he spoke again, this time in a softer tone.
"You're not the only one who has someone they want to find," he murmured, lowering his gaze to the floor. "I have no idea what's happened to my parents. I don't know if they're alive or dead. And they don't have anyone else to protect them."
Jake remained silent, watching his friend as he spoke.
"They're older, Jake. If this has spread to other cities, it's probably reached where they are too." Nathan's voice began to crack, and tears started forming in his eyes.
Jake opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.
Nathan continued, his tone heavy with sorrow and desperation.
"Believe me, what I want most is to run out there right now and look for them. But I also know that if I do it without a plan, I'll die out there. And if that happens, no one else will go looking for them, because no one else cares. They only have me." As he finished speaking, tears began to stream down his cheeks, and he lowered his head.
Jake stared at him in silence, a weight settling in his chest. For the first time, he fully understood the burden Nathan was carrying.
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As Nathan cried, Jake could only watch him silently, unable to find the words to ease the situation. A sharp pang of guilt hit him as he lowered his gaze to the floor. I screwed up, he thought, clenching his fists in frustration before stepping closer to his friend. With some hesitation, he placed a hand on Nathan's back, trying to offer comfort.
"I… I'm sorry, man. It's just… now that I know these things are zombies, I'm even more worried about her, you know?" Jake said, his tone a mix of sincerity and awkwardness.
Nathan, still sobbing, looked up at him, his face a blend of sadness and anger.
"And do you think I'm not worried about my parents?" he asked, his voice cracked but full of raw emotion.
For a few moments, Jake didn't know what to say. The words seemed to stick in his throat, and the pressure in his chest grew heavier. All he could do was lower his head slightly and whisper:
"I'm sorry…"
Nathan didn't say another word. He abruptly got up from the bed, causing Jake's hand to fall away from his back. Without looking at him, Nathan walked to the door with determined steps, his body still trembling with emotion.
"I'm going to check how much food we have," he said in a rough voice before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him with more force than necessary.
Jake sat in silence, staring at the door for a moment. Then, he let out a long sigh and collapsed backward onto the bed. He covered his face with both hands, muttering:
"Damn it…"
After a few seconds, he slowly sat up and reached for his phone. Unlocking it, the first thing he saw was his wallpaper: a photo of Cassie, smiling, her hair blowing in the sunlight of a bright, breezy afternoon. Jake felt a knot form in his throat as he ran his thumb over the image.
"What should I do, Cassie?" he whispered into the air, his voice barely audible.
The glow of the screen lit up his face, revealing an expression full of inner conflict. He knew Nathan was right. Leaving now would be suicide. But staying there, waiting while he didn't know whether Cassie was alive or in danger, was just as unbearable.
He propped his elbows on his knees and let his head fall into his hands. A part of him wanted to run to Cassie's house that very second. But another part, the more rational part, knew Nathan was wrestling with the same feelings. They were both trapped at a crossroads, with no clear path forward.
Jake took a deep breath and looked at the photo on his phone again.
"I hope you're okay…" he murmured, his voice cracking slightly.
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Minutes passed, and Nathan remained in the kitchen, counting how much food they had. He had pulled out every package, can, and bag, organizing them on the table as he tried to calculate how many days they could survive with what they had. He also filled every glass and container he could find with potable water. In that moment, he silently thanked himself for having installed a water purifier on the faucet—a small luxury that, now, could mean the difference between life and death.
As he finished arranging everything, the sound of approaching footsteps pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked up, and what he saw caught him completely off guard.
Jake stood in front of him, a backpack slung over his shoulders. Nathan frowned, silently observing him for a few seconds before finally speaking.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Jake let out a sigh, glancing away briefly before answering.
"I have to go," he said at last.
Nathan's expression shifted from surprise to anger.
"Are you serious?" he asked, raising his voice.
"Yes. I…" Jake struggled to find the right words, but he finally said what he felt. "I have to go find her."
Nathan closed his eyes for a moment, trying to keep his composure.
"Jake, we can go look for her later, together, but first we need to—"
"No!" Jake interrupted, his voice firm with determination. "I can't wait any longer. We both know the first hours are the most important. I can't sit here waiting until you decide it's the right time to go."
Nathan clenched his fists.
"This isn't about waiting for the 'right time,' Jake. It's about being prepared. We can't just leave without a plan. We need to make sure we can survive out there first. And when we're ready, we'll go together… like brothers." His words were direct, almost pleading.
Jake averted his gaze to the floor, avoiding eye contact.
"I can't do that…" he said quietly, before turning toward the door.
Nathan let out a long sigh, the weight of defeat settling on his shoulders.
"Nothing I say is going to change your mind, is it?" he asked, resignation in his tone.
Jake paused for a moment, not turning around.
"No. I'm sorry, but this is something I have to do. She's my world, you know that. I don't have parents or anyone else—just her."
Nathan wanted to respond, wanted to yell at him not to go, but the words got stuck in his throat. He knew it was pointless. Jake had always been stubborn, and that look in his eyes was unmistakable. Nothing would stop him.
"At least… promise me you'll be careful," Nathan murmured, his voice barely audible.
Jake nodded slowly and gave him a small smile.
"You know I will, man. We'll see each other again, sooner or later. I promise you that."
Nathan watched as Jake walked away, listening to the sound of him dragging the sofas aside to open the door. The sound of his friend's footsteps faded gradually, until silence once again filled the apartment.
He stood alone in the kitchen, motionless. Closing his eyes tightly, he tried to process what had just happened.
"Brothers, huh?" he muttered bitterly to himself.
A deafening roar pulled him from his thoughts. He turned his head toward the window and saw it: a storm was approaching. Dark clouds churned across the sky, and flashes of lightning illuminated the city at irregular intervals.
Another clap of thunder rolled through, shaking everything around him. Nathan shook his head, trying to refocus.
"I need to finish this quickly," he said to himself, as he began moving the sofas back into place to reinforce the entrance.
As he worked, his mind kept circling back to the situation. Everything had changed. The plans were different, and what had once seemed difficult now felt nearly impossible. Jake was gone, and he was alone.
But despite everything, his goal remained the same. It didn't matter how much he had to endure or what obstacles stood in his way. He would find his parents.
No matter the cost.