Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

Some alone time

The bunker had started to feel like a sanctuary, a place of respite in a world gone mad. Days passed by in a calm rhythm that Zach and Anastasia had almost forgotten was possible. The group had settled into a routine—morning scavenging trips, fortifying the bunker, and long evenings spent around the fire.

But tonight, Zach and Anastasia found themselves stealing a moment away from the others. They climbed to the roof of the bunker, where a small hatch opened to a flat, grassy space hidden from view by tall trees. The sky above was clear, stars shimmering faintly, and the crisp night air wrapped around them.

Anastasia sat on an old, abandoned crate, pulling her knees up to her chest as she gazed at the stars. Zach stood beside her, his hand gently brushing the back of her neck, tracing idle circles that sent shivers down her spine.

"You ever think about the stars?" Anastasia asked softly, her voice breaking the silence.

Zach glanced up, his blue eyes catching the faint light of the night sky. "Not for a long time," he admitted. "But now... it feels different."

Anastasia smiled, her green eyes soft as she looked up at him. "I used to think they were so far away, like they didn’t really matter. But after everything we’ve been through... they’re like a reminder. That there's still beauty out there. Even in all of this."

Zach didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he lowered himself to sit next to her, his leg brushing against hers as he leaned back on his elbows. He tilted his head to the sky, his mind wandering. "You know, I never really believed we’d get a moment like this."

Anastasia leaned closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "Neither did I. But we’re here, Zach. We’re alive. And we have each other."

Zach turned his head slightly, his lips brushing her hair. "That’s what scares me sometimes," he murmured. "I’m not afraid of the zombies. I’m not even afraid of dying. But losing you..." His voice trailed off, thick with emotion.

Anastasia lifted her head, turning to look at him. Her heart clenched at the vulnerability in his voice. "You won’t lose me, Zach," she whispered, her hand moving to cup his cheek. "I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere."

He met her gaze, his blue eyes filled with a raw intensity that made her breath catch. "I love you, Ana. I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere between all the chaos and fighting to survive, you became my world."

Anastasia felt tears well up in her eyes, her chest tightening with the weight of his words. She leaned in, their foreheads touching, her hands sliding to the back of his neck. "I love you too, Zach," she whispered. "I always have."

Zach closed the small distance between them, capturing her lips in a kiss that was slow and deep, filled with all the emotions they had been carrying for so long. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Anastasia’s fingers tangled in his hair, her heart racing as she pressed against him, craving more of the warmth and safety his touch provided.

For a moment, the world outside didn’t matter. The dangers, the fear, the uncertainty—it all faded away, leaving only them. In that kiss, they found something they hadn’t had since the outbreak began: a sense of peace.

When they finally pulled away, their foreheads remained pressed together, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. Zach’s thumb brushed her cheek, wiping away the stray tear that had slipped free.

"I don’t ever want to lose this," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I don’t ever want to lose you."

Anastasia smiled softly, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "You won’t. We’re stronger together, remember? As long as we have each other, we’ll make it."

Zach pulled her into his arms, holding her close as they sat in silence, the quiet of the night wrapping around them like a blanket. Anastasia rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was moments like this, moments of stillness and connection, that reminded her of what they were fighting for.

As the stars shifted overhead, Zach and Anastasia lay side by side on the rooftop, their hands intertwined. They didn’t speak, content to simply be in each other’s presence, the weight of the world temporarily lifted from their shoulders.

Zach shifted, turning on his side to face her. His thumb traced small patterns on the back of her hand, his eyes soft as they roamed over her face. "You know," he began, his voice low, "I never thought I’d feel this again. Not after everything."

Anastasia looked at him, her heart swelling with affection. "Feel what?"

"Hope," Zach whispered, his gaze never leaving hers. "You give me hope, Ana. And that’s something I didn’t think I’d ever have again."

She smiled, her hand moving to rest on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath. "You give me hope too, Zach. And as long as we have that... we’ll keep fighting. For us. For this."

Zach leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, a promise lingering in the warmth of the touch. When they pulled apart, Anastasia nestled into his side, her head resting against his shoulder. Together, they drifted off to sleep under the stars, their love a beacon in the darkness of the world they were trying to survive.

For tonight, at least, they had each other. And that was enough.