Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

calm before the storm

The soft crackling of the fire in the mansion’s grand fireplace filled the room, casting flickering shadows across the walls. Zach sat close to the warmth, his arm draped lazily over Anastasia’s shoulders. The rest of the group sat scattered across the large room, their makeshift beds providing some comfort on the worn hardwood floor.

Mei was humming quietly to herself as she inspected her blade, the light glinting off its sharp edge. Yeong Do leaned against the window, his eyes scanning the perimeter outside, while Aradhya rested with her arms behind her head, staring up at the ornate ceiling.

For a moment, it felt almost normal—like they were just a group of friends on some strange camping trip. The mansion provided a temporary sense of refuge, but they all knew it wouldn’t last. The outside world was still dangerous, and tomorrow would bring new challenges. But for tonight, they could breathe.

Mei broke the silence. “So, Zach, Anastasia... got any plans for the future? You know, after we get through all of this?” She waggled her eyebrows teasingly, clearly not able to resist stirring the pot.

Zach chuckled, squeezing Anastasia’s shoulder. “Survive first, Mei. Plans come later.”

Anastasia smirked, leaning into him. “Though... I wouldn’t mind a future that didn’t involve running from zombies every day.”

Yeong Do glanced over, his usual stoic expression softening into a faint smile. “Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll rebuild. Start fresh. Maybe have a life like we used to.”

Aradhya stretched, sitting up. “I’m with Ana on this one. A future where we can just... live, without fighting for every breath? Sign me up.”

Zach leaned back against the couch, his eyes wandering over the group. He felt the weight of leadership pressing down on him, even when they were at rest. These people were his family now. Their survival was tied to each other, and that meant he couldn’t afford to let his guard down. But as he looked at Anastasia, the woman who had become his closest ally and the person who had claimed his heart, he realized he had something worth fighting for that went beyond just survival.

Anastasia caught his gaze, her green eyes glimmering in the firelight. “What are you thinking about?” she asked softly, just for him.

Zach smiled, his voice low. “You.”

She blushed slightly but didn’t look away. “What about me?”

“I never thought I’d find someone in all this,” he admitted, his thumb brushing gently against the back of her hand. “But here you are.”

Anastasia’s lips curved into a soft smile. “I guess the world’s still full of surprises.”

Their quiet moment was interrupted by Mei’s exaggerated cough. “Oh, please. Get a room already.”

Zach rolled his eyes. “We’re in a room, Mei.”

“Then go find another one!” she retorted with a laugh, earning chuckles from Aradhya and even Yeong Do, who couldn’t hide his smirk.

Anastasia, laughing along with the group, leaned closer to Zach. “You’ll never live this down, you know.”

Zach shook his head, smiling despite himself. “I can handle it.”

The lighthearted atmosphere lasted a bit longer before Yeong Do’s voice brought them back to reality. “We can’t stay here forever.”

Everyone quieted down, their expressions turning more serious. It was the truth they all knew but had been avoiding. This mansion was a temporary haven, but it wasn’t permanent.

“We’ll need to move on soon,” Yeong Do continued, crossing his arms. “Supplies won’t last forever, and if a horde finds us here, we’ll be trapped.”

Aradhya nodded in agreement. “We need to start thinking about where we’ll go next.”

Zach sighed, knowing they were right. As much as he wanted to stay here, to enjoy the brief respite, the world outside wouldn’t allow them that luxury.

“Let’s take it one step at a time,” he said, standing up and stretching. “We’ll scout the area tomorrow, see if we can find any nearby supplies or a safer long-term shelter. But tonight, let’s just rest.”

The group agreed, settling into their makeshift beds. The fire continued to crackle softly, filling the room with warmth as they drifted off to sleep.

The morning came too soon, the sunlight filtering through the broken windows and casting long beams of light into the dusty room. Zach stirred, his hand instinctively reaching out for Anastasia. She was still there, lying beside him, her breathing steady and calm. For a brief moment, he let himself bask in the tranquility of the morning before the reality of the day set in.

They had work to do.

Zach gently shook Anastasia awake. She blinked groggily, her green eyes slowly focusing on him. “Morning,” she mumbled, stretching.

“Morning,” Zach replied softly, kissing her forehead. “We need to get moving.”

The others were already stirring. Yeong Do had been up for a while, silently watching from his post by the window. Mei and Aradhya were whispering quietly, gathering their gear as they prepared for the day ahead.

After a quick breakfast of canned food they’d scavenged earlier, Zach addressed the group. “Alright. We’ll split into two teams. Yeong Do, Aradhya, and I will scout the perimeter. Anastasia, you and Mei stay here and see if there’s anything useful in the mansion we haven’t checked yet.”

Anastasia nodded, though there was a hint of reluctance in her eyes. “Be careful.”

“You too,” Zach said, squeezing her hand before turning to Yeong Do and Aradhya. “Let’s head out.”

The scouting team slipped out of the mansion, the streets eerily quiet in the morning light. As they made their way through the neighborhood, Zach kept his senses sharp, his eyes constantly scanning for any sign of movement.

“So, what’s the plan after this?” Aradhya asked, breaking the silence. “Assuming we don’t find anything major.”

Zach shrugged. “We’ll have to keep moving. Maybe head toward the countryside, find somewhere more remote.”

Yeong Do nodded in agreement. “The fewer people, the better. Less risk of running into large hordes.”

As they continued their search, Zach’s thoughts kept drifting back to Anastasia. Even out here, with danger around every corner, he couldn’t help but think about the future they could build together. It was a strange thing to think about in a world like this, but it gave him hope.

Back at the mansion, Anastasia and Mei rummaged through the remaining rooms. Mei was in high spirits, talking non-stop as she searched through old cabinets.

“You and Zach are cute together,” Mei said out of the blue, her tone teasing but sincere.

Anastasia smiled, glancing over at her sister. “You really think so?”

“Of course,” Mei replied, tossing aside a pile of old papers. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”

Anastasia blushed slightly, her heart warming at the thought. “He’s... special.”

“I’d say so,” Mei agreed. “It’s not every day you find someone like him in the middle of an apocalypse.”

Anastasia paused, her thoughts swirling. Despite everything, she realized that she had found something more than just survival. She had found love—something she hadn’t even thought was possible in this world.

“Yeah,” Anastasia said softly, “he really is.”

As the two sisters continued their search, Anastasia couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of hope. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she knew they would face them together.

And that, she realized, was enough.