Chapter 4
As they sat around the wooden dining table, the room was filled with the quiet clinking of silverware against plates. The meal John had prepared—a simple yet comforting pasta dish—was the first warm meal the three survivors had eaten in what felt like forever. The silence was thick, the weight of exhaustion and past horrors pressing on them. Wanting to ease the tension, John decided to break the silence with a simple question.
"So, how old are you guys?" he asked, his tone casual yet warm, trying to create a sense of normalcy.
Anna was the first to respond. "I'm 26 years old," she said, offering a small smile.
Leo, still cautious but slightly more comfortable now, followed, "I'm 13 years old."
Margaret, the youngest, hesitated for a moment before answering, "I'm 9 years old, sir."
John nodded, observing each of them carefully. He had already figured out that Anna was older than she looked. Despite her youthful appearance, the way she carried herself showed a level of maturity that came with being a medical student. Leo, on the other hand, had the lean frame of an athletic teenager, while Margaret had the small, frail frame of a child who had seen too much for her age.
"Alright," John said, leaning back slightly. "I guess it's my turn to introduce myself properly. My name is John Stewart. I'm a soldier from America, part of the Green Berets. I was deployed here on a mission to assist in evacuating civilians. I'm 29 years old."
His words held weight, and he could see the admiration in Leo's eyes upon hearing that he was a highly trained soldier. Margaret's eyes widened slightly, though she remained mostly quiet, simply absorbing the information.
"Where were you born, sir?" Margaret asked timidly.
"I was born in Texas, U.S.," John replied with a small chuckle. "Grew up in a small town, spent most of my childhood getting into trouble with my friends, and eventually joined the military. Funny enough, painting and music were always my favorite things to do in my free time. Guess some things never change."
He recalled that the original John Stewart also had a passion for painting and music. It was a strange coincidence, but it made it easier to blend into his new identity.
John then motioned toward Anna, signaling for her to share more about herself. She took a deep breath and began, "I'm Anna Williams. I was studying MBBS at UCL. I was actually about to graduate before…" she trailed off, her voice faltering slightly. She forced a small laugh, but John could see the sadness in her eyes.
She continued, "My hobbies? Well, I love reading books and listening to music. I always thought I'd be working in a hospital, helping people, but now…" Her voice faded again, and she quickly shook her head. "Anyway, enough about me."
John didn't push further. It was clear that speaking about her past brought her pain. He simply gave her a nod, acknowledging her emotions without forcing her to elaborate.
Leo went next. "I'm Leo Brown. My hobbies are playing football. I was visiting my granny when this… this happened." His voice was laced with sadness, and he clenched his fists slightly. "I don't even know if she made it…" he mumbled under his breath.
John could see that the boy was struggling to hold back his emotions. He knew what it was like to lose people, and he didn't want to give the boy false hope. Instead, he simply said, "You did what you could, kid. That's all anyone can do."
Margaret was the last to speak. "I'm Margaret Davis. I'm in Year 7 at school. My hobbies are watching movies and reading books. My parents used to take me to the library every weekend… before everything happened."
A heavy silence settled in again. It was clear that each of them had lost someone dear to them, but in this world, grief had to be put aside for survival.
As the two children began to yawn, John smiled and said, "Alright, you two should get some sleep. I'll take care of the dishes."
Anna immediately interjected, "Let me do it, sir. You've done enough already."
John simply shook his head with a small smirk. "I've got it this time, Anna. You all need rest. I'll take the first watch anyway."
Anna hesitated but eventually nodded. Before she left, John handed her a pistol. "For protection. Just in case."
She took it carefully, nodding in appreciation. "Thank you, John."
The three of them retreated to their shared bedroom. They had decided to stay together for safety, ensuring that in case of an emergency, they could stick together.
Once they were gone, John began washing the dishes, his mind occupied with thoughts of the day. These people weren't just strangers anymore. They were survivors, just like him, and in a world gone to hell, that meant something.
After finishing up, he did a full security check. The first floor had minimal windows, making it easier to secure. He double-checked all the doors, ensuring they were reinforced properly. Satisfied with his work, he grabbed his rifle and made his way to the rooftop.
From the rooftop, he had a clear view of the area. The base was far enough from the city to avoid the worst of the infected, but he wasn't careless. He scanned the surroundings carefully, the cold wind brushing against his face. He saw nothing for now, but he knew better than to let his guard down.
Leaning against the railing, he let out a deep breath.
"One day at a time," he muttered to himself, keeping his eyes on the dark horizon.
For now, they were safe, but tomorrow was a new battle.
Chapter end