HIDEOUT

14. Do people change?

Sophie's eyes were fixed on the laptop screen, reading through the plethora of information about the outbreak. Despite her exhaustion, she was determined to stay awake and informed. Her fingers tapped on the keyboard as she jotted down key points and important facts in a small notebook beside her. As she read, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over her. The world had changed so drastically in just a few , and she was struggling to keep up with the constant influx of new information.

One of the most disturbing pieces of information she came across was how quickly a person could turn into a zombie. Her heart rate quickened as she read that it could take as little as a minute for someone to turn after being bitten. She shuddered at the thought of it.

As she continued to read, she learned that scratches could also lead to turning into a zombie, but the process was much slower, taking a couple of hours. She noted this down, making a mental note to be cautious around any wounded survivors they might come across.

She also learned that zombies had advanced hearing and smell senses, but their eyesight was still the same. This information gave her some sense of relief, knowing that they could potentially use this to their advantage.

Finally, she read that the smell of blood could attract zombies. This piece of information made her uneasy, as she realized the potential danger of any injuries they might sustain.

She also made a map of their housing colony so that it will be helpful for them during the lookout for food and even read a few articles on survival during crises not even leaving behind the possible theories behind the origin of the virus.

While she was doing all this Victor was watching her, the way she was so focused on her work reminded him of the past where she used to study like that for the exams.
He always admired that quality of her's.

Even now, as the world around them crumbled, she was still driven to gather as much information as possible.

As he watched her now, he couldn't help but wonder how Sophie had become so practical and bold.

He knew that she was always a sensitive and emotional person, but the apocalypse seemed to have transformed her into someone who was not only surviving but thriving in this new world.

He wondered if there was something that had happened to her, something that had made her stronger, or if it was just the dire circumstances that had forced her to adapt to this new way of life.But he knew better than to interrupt her, so he just lay there, watching the ceiling above.

Flashback

Victor: "Hey Sophie, when do we have to submit the science project?"

Sophie: "On 10th of this month."

Victor: "Oh okay. Wait, 10 means tomorrow. Can't you just say it's tomorrow? I would have otherwise thought that there is still time."

Sophie: (suddenly shocked) "Tomorrow?!"

She starts to tear up.

Victor: "Hey, what's up with you? Why are you suddenly crying? Did you forget to do your project?"

Sophie shakes her head.

Victor: "What's the problem then?"

Sophie: "Today is my parents' wedding anniversary, and I somehow forgot to wish them. I used to wish them every year early in the morning. How can I forget it this year?" She starts sobbing even more.

Victor: "Hmmm, so what's the big deal? The day isn't over yet, you can still wish them. Why is there a need to cry?"

Sophie looks up at him with tearful eyes and says, "You would never understand." She then rushes out of the classroom.

Victor is utterly confused. He thought that she was overreacting for such a small thing.

What he couldn't understand was that such small gestures meant a lot for some people, even if others thought that they were ridiculous. Sophie loves her parents deeply, and forgetting their anniversary is a big deal for her.

As he resumed his gaze towards Sophie, he noticed that she had dozed off on the couch. Her head was drooping low, and the laptop precariously balanced on her lap.

Victor slowly rose from his spot and delicately lifted the laptop off her lap, closing it before placing it on the side table. He then gently placed a cushion beneath her head, ensuring that she would sleep comfortably.

As he turned to go back to his spot to sleep, his eyes fell on something. He spotted the notepad and map that Sophie had been working on earlier.

Victor picked up the notepad and read the key points that Sophie had jotted down. He smiled to himself, realizing how typical it was of her to be so prepared and thorough.

After chuckling to himself, he made his way back to his spot and drifted off to sleep.