DUSK OF DECAY

CHAPTER 5

He just looked at her and smiled, and she could swear she would clap for his bravery. Even smiling in such a dire situation is an act of bravery. She was getting restless, maybe she could look for something in this room, a rod, a knife, anything at all, something she could use as a weapon to protect herself and him. She walked around the table that was kept in the middle of the room, covered in thick layers of dust – She doubted she would find something useful enough in this room. She rummaged through any shelf she saw but the wires were all over the place and lizards didn't make the search any easier - this place was a mess. It hadn't been cleaned for ages; it seemed as if no human had stepped inside of this place in decades. The table had a bunch of metal drawers which were stuck due to rust. As she kept pulling at them, Noah grabbed what seemed like a tiny wire cutter and stuck it inside the drawer and pressed it against the table to loosen the drawers a bit. They pulled the drawer out. Much to their disappointment, the drawer was empty. She was struggling to find a weapon in this desperate situation and the feeling of hopelessness was pushing her over the edge. All sorts of bad thoughts started running through her brain. Noah suggested that they moved forward or it wouldn't be long before they catch them. She agreed. They stepped out of the room and scanned their surroundings. The fear of the maniacs was palpable as she looked over her shoulder every 3 seconds. She had lost all hope of making it out alive and the thought of why this was happening to them made her want to cry even more. Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. They marched forward and kept their eyes open to any sign of danger.

"But why is this so bad?" A voice inside her questioned. "Didn't you always want to die? Weren't you longing for an escape? Would you really be upset if you didn't get a chance to survive? Would it really make a difference?" Did she have any plans for the future that she would regret not fulfilling? What future? She questioned as it seemed she had nothing planned. Would she really regret it if she was caught? Or would she regret it making it out alive? Suddenly, death seemed easier than life. These thoughts swirled in her mind.

Would it really make a difference to anyone if she was gone? The thought made her stop midway. The silence that followed the question was too loud for her to ignore. She found herself lost in a painful flashback to her childhood.

The memories flooded back with a sharp clarity, and she closed her eyes, as if trying to shut them out. In her mind's eye, she was transported to a time when she was just a young girl, struggling to find her place in a household that revolved around her parents.

Zara's little sister, was a tiny bundle of energy back then. Zara recalled the countless times she tried to bond with her, only to be met with puzzled looks and an indifference to her presence.

But it wasn't her sister who hurt the most; it was her parents' relationship. They were like two planets orbiting each other, locked in their own world, their love and affection evident in the way they looked at each other, spoke to each other, and laughed together. Zara often felt like an outsider, a spectator to their love story.

She remembered the dinners, where her parents would share stories from their day, leaning in close, their hands occasionally brushing as they passed the salt or shared a dessert. Zara would sit there, fork in hand, pretending to be part of the conversation but feeling like an intruder in their lives.

There were family trips, too. They'd go on vacations to beautiful places, and Zara hoped that these would be the moments they would bond as a family. Instead, it felt like she was tagging along, an afterthought in their adventures. Her parents would take long walks on the beach, hand in hand, while she trailed behind, picking up seashells alone.

Even in the quiet moments at home, when she needed someone to talk to, her parents seemed preoccupied with each other. They'd cuddle on the couch, watching romantic movies and whispering sweet nothings, while Zara retreated to her room, feeling like she was intruding on their love.

The pain of those memories was still fresh, and Zara couldn't shake the feeling that she was always the third wheel in her own house. She longed for their attention, their acknowledgment, their love, but it always seemed to be in short supply.

Zara recalled how her mother always seemed to escape blame, no matter the situation. It was as if her mother had an invisible shield protecting her from any wrongdoing. Even when it was clear to Zara that her mother had made a mistake, her father steadfastly supported her mother's decisions.

Zara had never witnessed her father questioning her mother's actions or suggesting that she could be wrong. Even in private, when Zara and her father were alone together, he never admitted to any doubts about her mother's judgment. It was a bond between them, a loyalty that seemed unbreakable.

This unwavering support from her father left Zara feeling isolated and frustrated. She longed for someone to validate her own perspective and acknowledge when her mother was at fault. It was a lonely feeling, knowing that she couldn't confide in her own father about her concerns regarding her mother's actions.

Noah looked back, asking what she was doing and telling her to hurry up. She took a few steps back, but then resumed running. The thought kept lingering in her head. Was it really worth it? The effort and the pain that came with this? She started coming to terms with death as she ran. She accepted the fact that this is how she would go. But what about Noah? He's sensible enough to be able to save himself and if anything, she'll just become the reason for him to get killed. she was lost in her thoughts when suddenly, she was pushed to the side of the rail track. "What did you do that for?" she asked Noah, he signaled her to zip it. She heard sound of footsteps. Multiple footsteps. They were approaching us.

Fear and dread overwhelmed me, she began to tremble. she wasn't scared of death itself, but of how it would come. She prayed silently for an easy death. A tall statured man appeared before them. Before she could process the situation, Noah had pounced on him. she watched in shock as they wrestled on the rail track. She heard screaming from the side. She looked towards the source of the sound and saw a girl almost her age and a heavily pregnant lady with her. Probably her mother and the guy was probably her father. She shouted at Noah telling him to get off the guy as he wasn't one of the men who were chasing them. She and the girl pulled at him till they finally broke his deathly grip on the guy's neck. They all stood there in shock as the man tried to stabilize. He was not one of the enemies but was one of the victims. Which means he could become an ally. The woman checked the man for any injuries he might have sustained as the man and Noah glared daggers at each other. Zara guessed she couldn't blame either, because of the situation they were in. If you aren't always on your guards. You are dead meat. She asked the man if he was one of the passengers. His daughter replied telling her they barely managed to get away from the men. The man shifted his attention to Zara. Something clicked in his brain. "You're the girl who ran away." He said. Noah interjected and asked the man what he wanted from them. The man scoffed. Rightfully so, there was nothing they could do or give him. The conversation stopped abruptly as a voice shouted from a distance "THERE THEY ARE!! GET THEM!!" Their feet seemed to have started working independently as they started running once again without giving it a thought.

Gunshots were being fired from behind as they were being chased by those asylum escapees. If they caught up to them, it'll be a painful death. With nowhere to go, this might just be their last stand.