Let The Light In.

Chapter one: Yuna

Today is just like any other day. I wake up, go to the bathroom, eat breakfast, brush my teeth, kiss my boyfriend goodbye, and head to work. It's my routine—unchanging, predictable, and dull. But today, it's different. I wake up, go to the bathroom, eat breakfast, brush my teeth, and find my boyfriend's lifeless body lying in a pool of his own blood. The same damn nightmare, every single night.

I wake up in his arms, but we're not in our old apartment. We're trapped in an abandoned house, the exits boarded up, the windows sealed with rotting planks of wood. Outside, the sound of flesh tearing fills the air—groans and cries, not of the living, but something worse. It's been two years, but the fear never fades. I should be used to it by now, but I'm not.

Xavier's awake, his presence tense beside me. As the sounds grow closer, he tightens his arms around me, pulling me into him as if he could shield us from the horror beyond the walls.

"Go back to sleep, Yuna," he whispers into my ear.

Easier said than done. I give a small nod, pressing myself closer. He's terrified—I know it—but too stubborn to show it. I have to be strong for him. But also vulnerable. He needs someone to protect, yet also someone to protect him. It's a delicate balance, one I've grown used to walking for both of us.

I lean in and kiss his cheek. "You first," I say, trying to sound lighthearted, though the darkness around us makes it impossible to shake the weight of everything. He's always so serious; someone has to break the tension, even if just for a moment.

"I'm serious, Yuna. Tomorrow, we'll be walking all day. We can't afford any more delays. No matter what happens, we need to reach Baguio," Xavier said, his voice laced with that familiar seriousness.

I sighed inwardly. So much for keeping things light. "I know, I know. I'll go to sleep. You should get some rest too, you know."

He nodded but kept his eyes closed. We both knew the truth—just like every other night, neither of us would sleep.

When morning came, the weak sunlight filtered through the cracks between the planks, hitting my eyes and dragging me from a restless haze. I groaned, squinting against the brightness. I reached for Xavier, but my hand fell onto a cold, empty space. He was gone.

Panic surged through me, fast and unforgiving. My mind spiraled—what if something happened to him? What if he left me? My heart pounded in my chest as I shot up from the sleeping bag, scanning the room with wild eyes. No sign of him. I hadn't heard a sound—no scream, no struggle. Has someone taken him? Did he leave without a word?

My throat tightened as panic clawed at my insides. I cursed myself for relying on him so much. If he left, I'd be on my own. I needed him to be okay, even if he did abandon me.

But now wasn't the time to lose it. I forced myself to move, hurriedly packing our things, my hands shaking with urgency.

The door creaked open.

Xavier stood in the doorway, staring at me with a confused expression. His eyes softened as he approached, gently placing his hands on either side of my face.

"Yuna..." His voice was low, soothing. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

I hadn't even noticed the tears streaking down my face. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I... I thought you were gone," I mumbled, embarrassed by the way my voice wavered. It felt foolish now, panicking after being alone for less than five minutes.

His expression softened further, a mixture of understanding and guilt. "I'm sorry," he whispered, even though he had no reason to apologize. "I was just checking the house, seeing if there were any exits we could use. There's a back door in the kitchen. We can leave there."