Crimson Bonds: A tale of siblings amidst the apocalypse

Chapter 10: The savior

Ethan sped through the desolate landscape on his motorbike, his mind racing as fast as his wheels. The image of Lily's face fueled his determination, pushing him to go faster. As he neared the village, he could see the ominous sight of abandoned vans—zombie transports—circling the perimeter. His worst fears were confirmed when he saw the village overrun with the undead.

Ethan skidded to a halt and leaped off the bike, his heart pounding. The once familiar streets were now teeming with zombies, a grotesque sea of death that stood between him and the house where Lily and the other children were hiding. He knew he couldn't simply sneak past such a dense horde; he needed a plan to divert them.

Scanning the area, Ethan's eyes fell upon a nearby gas station. He remembered the cache of flares and emergency supplies kept there. An idea began to form in his mind. He dashed to the station, moving swiftly but quietly to avoid attracting attention.

Once inside, Ethan quickly gathered as many flares as he could carry. He then headed to the rooftop of the gas station, giving him a vantage point over the village. Taking a deep breath, he ignited the first flare and hurled it as far as he could into the opposite direction from the house.

The bright light and crackling sound immediately caught the attention of the nearby zombies. They turned en masse and began shambling toward the source of the disturbance. Ethan continued to light and throw flares, creating a trail that led the zombies away from the village center.

With the majority of the zombies drawn to the flares, the streets leading to the house were significantly clearer. Ethan didn't waste a moment; he climbed down from the rooftop and sprinted towards the house, staying low and silent.

As he approached, he could hear the faint sound of children's voices and the low murmur of adults trying to keep everyone calm. He reached the door and knocked softly, then whispered, "It's Ethan. Let me in."

The door creaked open, and Mira's relieved face appeared. She quickly ushered him inside and closed the door behind him. "Thank God you're back," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We were so worried."

"Is Lily safe?" Ethan asked urgently.

"She's downstairs with the others," Mira replied, leading him to the basement.

Ethan descended the steps and saw Lily huddled with the other children. Her face lit up when she saw him, and she ran to him, hugging him tightly. "I knew you'd come back," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

Ethan hugged her back, a sense of relief washing over him. "We're not out of this yet," he said softly. "But I'll always come back for you, Lily. Always."

He looked around at the gathered group. "We need to fortify this place and make a plan to escape. The zombies are distracted for now, but it won't last forever."

Mira nodded. "We'll do whatever it takes. Just tell us what we need to do."

Ethan took a deep breath, feeling the weight of leadership settle on his shoulders. "Alright, let's get to work. We need to survive the night and find a way out of this hell."

"Where are the other villagers?" Ethan asked, scanning the dimly lit room filled with anxious faces.

"They're hiding in their basements," Mira replied, her voice heavy with sorrow. "When those cowards started spraying zombies into the village, most of us went into hiding. But a few... a few couldn't make it."

"What do you mean?" Ethan's heart sank, fearing the worst.

"Mike is dead," Mira said, tears welling up in her eyes. "He couldn't run from the scene with his bullet wound and got bitten."