The Undying Epoch (Incomplete)

Chapter 13: Shelter

As the almost-sunset painted the city in hues of red and orange, we found ourselves standing before a shophouse, its windows boarded up like silent sentinels guarding a forgotten secret. The lingering tension from the intense confrontation with the abnormal lerker left an unspoken heaviness in the air.

Blair's demeanor, usually laced with banter and bravado, now carried a subtle weight. Hela, ever perceptive, noticed the shift and harbored a suspicion that danced on the fringes of her consciousness.

"Something's off with Blair," Hela mused quietly to me as we surveyed the shophouse.

The group entered cautiously, the creaking door echoing through the stillness within. The interior revealed a collection of remnants from a life abruptly abandoned – dusty shelves, forgotten trinkets, and an air of melancholy that clung to the surroundings.

As we settled in, Blair's distant gaze spoke volumes, his mind seemingly elsewhere. Hela couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his silence than he let on.

In the subdued light of the shophouse, we gathered in a circle, the events of the day weighing on us like an invisible burden. Sally, ever the tension-breaker, attempted to lighten the mood.

"So, that lerker was like Lerker 2.0, huh? Do you think there's a Lerker University where they take advanced classes in biting?" Sally joked, a smile breaking the somber atmosphere.

Blair managed a chuckle, the facade of normalcy momentarily restored. The group joined in, the shared laughter acting as a momentary release from the harsh reality outside.

Amidst the banter, my curiosity got the better of me. "Hela, where did you get those katanas? They're badass."

A shadow passed over Hela's eyes, a fleeting sadness that she quickly masked with a wistful smile. "They were my dad's. He was a collector, and these katanas were part of his prized possessions. He passed away a few months ago."

Blair, who had been quietly listening, offered a supportive glance.

"Blair was there for me when I needed someone the most," Hela admitted, gratitude evident in her eyes. "Losing my dad was tough, and having someone like him, makes the journey a bit easier i guess."

Blair, ever humble, shrugged off the acknowledgment. "We're in this together now. Friends have each other's backs, especially when the world goes to hell."

"Aww Blair's gotten a little soft for us, how sweet of him to call us friends" I jokingly teased Blair as he gave a rather scary glance at me.

Blair then proceeds to roll up his sleeve and i noticed a wound that seemed fresh. It wasn't and ordinary wound, it was torn apart. As if someone had bitten him..... wait. As if someone? Oh no. Is he bitten? Questions started to fill up my head but i can't seem to ask. I guess i didn't want to ruin whatever peace we were having.

As night settled in, the shophouse provided a temporary sanctuary, sheltering us from the unknown horrors outside. Little did we know that the shadows within ourselves, our fears, and the unspoken secrets, would continue to cast veils over our journey through this unfolding apocalypse.