DUSK OF DECAY

CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNING

Sitting on the couch, Zara was aimlessly switching through channels, bored out of her mind. It was mid evening. She heard a news anchor exclaim "10000 dead bodies have been stolen from the morgue- Yes you heard it right." She sat up straight as he continued. Turning the volume up a little to listen further. Apparently, similar incidents of morgues being looted have taken place several times, in several countries in the past few months. And the number of bodies being stolen only seemed to be going up by day. First 2000 from Brazil, then 3000 from Korea, then 6000 from Germany and now 10000 from the U.S. Little did She know, that this was the start of probably the worst nightmare in history.

She wondered why one would go through so much trouble to steal corpses? Was it related to organ theft? She thought it could be a plausible motive. "How much would one make by selling kidneys and hearts in black, that they have extracted from that many dead bodies?" Her sister, who was playing on the carpet with her dolls, looked at her with confusion evident on her face. Embarrassed by her vocalized thoughts, he gave her an awkward smile before she went back to playing with her toys. She must stop giving voice to her thoughts.

Corpses weren't the only thing going missing. Mental hospitals were being raided, taking away the elderly, children and teenagers. People were being kidnapped left and right, with no regards for age and gender. She had never seen such a tragedy in her life. It seemed that the world was in ruins and there was no hope left for it. She wished for an end to this horror. She was pulled out of her thoughts by the cries of a desperate man. A man who was crying for his missing wife and two children, who had gone out to purchase something special for their 6-year old's birthday. As the man sobbed and pleaded, her heart broke into a million pieces as she watched helplessly. It was heart-wrenching to hear the pain and suffering of the man as he sobbed, desperately trying to find his family. It was a reminder that all of us were vulnerable to the injustices in this world. It was a tragedy that nobody should ever have to endure.

********

After a particularly tough day at the restaurant, Zara comes home to find a care package from Noah waiting at her doorstep. It includes her favorite comfort foods such as hot chocolate, Waffles, mashed potatoes with garlic bread, a handwritten note, and a cozy soft blanket. Zara's hands wrapped around the care package, her fingers tracing the edges of the neatly tied bow, her eyes sparkling with gratitude after the grueling day she'd had. The thoughtfulness of Noah's gesture touched her heart deeply.

However, her moment of admiration for the package was abruptly interrupted by a sudden sensation behind her. A soft, lingering presence crept up from behind, causing a shiver to run down her spine. Before she could react, a fragrant bunch of sunflowers appeared in front of her face, their golden petals brushing against her nose.

"Achoo!" Zara exclaimed, her eyes crinkling as she sneezed.

Laughter erupted from behind her, and she felt a warm, arm slide gently around her neck, pulling her into a friendly side hug. It was Noah.

Noah: "Hello!"

Zara couldn't help but giggle as she turned to face him, the sunflowers still partially blocking her view.

Zara: "You and your surprise attacks!"

Noah: (chuckling) "Hey, I had to make sure you were properly welcomed home."

Zara's heart swelled with affection as she looked up at Noah, his warm brown eyes reflecting genuine care and affection. In that moment, the care package became more than just a thoughtful gift; it was a symbol of the kindness and consideration that Noah brought into her life.

Zara: (smiling) "Well, consider me properly welcomed."

Noah's arm tightened around her shoulders, pulling her into a proper hug. It was a simple yet heartwarming moment, a reminder of the connection between them.

Zara: "Noah, you have no idea how much I needed this today."

Noah: "I just wanted to remind you that I'm here for you, no matter what."

They spend the evening watching movies, and Noah's presence helps Zara forget about her worries. Zara couldn't help but feel her heart warming to the kind and considerate treatment he had shown her throughout the evening. It was like that gentle, enveloping warmth you experience when you first wake up in the morning, wrapped in the cozy embrace of your blankets, and the world outside feels distant and unimportant. It was the sort of comfort that made you want to linger in that moment just a bit longer, savoring the feeling of safety and contentment that washed over you. In that tranquil state, Zara realized that being with Noah was like waking up to a beautiful sunrise, a promise of a new day filled with warmth.

***

As Zara lay in her bed, the memories of that fateful night in her first year of college played vividly in her mind like an old movie. She could almost feel the same mix of excitement and uncertainty she had experienced back then.

The small, cozy restaurant was nearly empty, with only a few lingering customers, and Zara had already started cleaning up for the night. It was a place where she had started working at to make a few extra bucks, a place where she felt more at ease amidst the hustle and bustle of college life. She was an art student, and the vibrant and carefree atmosphere of the restaurant provided a stark contrast to the rigid and academic world she had found herself in.

That evening, as she went about her routine, she noticed a young man sitting alone at a corner table. He was wearing a lab apron, clearly indicating that he was a medical student. His table was covered in scattered papers, all of them adorned with peculiar shapes and lines, which he kept scribbling and erasing repeatedly.

"We are about to close, sir," Zara said, her voice laced with a hint of impatience as she stood beside his table, her arms crossed.

Startled, the young man looked up from his papers, his eyes meeting hers. He quickly gathered his scattered diagrams, which he insisted were representations of a heart.

Zara couldn't help but suppress a smile at the sight of the abstract drawings. "A heart?" she asked, unable to hide her amusement.

He nodded earnestly. "Yes, a heart."

Zara bit her lip, holding back a laugh. "Maybe if you come a little earlier tomorrow, I can help you with your diagrams," she offered, her curiosity piqued.

His eyes lit up with surprise and gratitude. "Really? You'd do that?"

She nodded with a warm smile. "I'm an art student. I have a lot of experience drawing stuff."

Noah couldn't hide his excitement as a smile spread across his face. "And in exchange, would you allow me to get you a coffee sometime?" he asked, his voice laced with hope.

"Sure, why not," she replied, her eyes betraying her growing interest in this intriguing medical student.

Noah gathered all his papers and picked up his coffee cup. As he made his way toward the exit, he turned back and met Zara's gaze. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Zara watched him leave with a sense of curiosity and anticipation. Little did she know that this chance encounter would mark the beginning of a beautiful connection that would shape both of their lives in unexpected ways.