"Zombie Dawn: Rise of the Hunted"

Chapter 14: A Moment of Peace

Chapter 14: A Moment of Peace

Filip's POV

The early morning light filtered through the cracked window, casting a soft glow over the room. It was quiet-eerily so-especially considering the chaos that reigned just outside. For a brief moment, it was as if the world had stopped, giving us a rare sense of peace.

I blinked awake slowly, the weight of everything that had happened still pressing down on me, but lighter than before. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I glanced to my side, and there she was-Rena, curled up beside me, still fast asleep.

For a moment, I just watched her, my heart tightening in my chest. Her face was so peaceful, so calm, the lines of worry and fear that usually marked her features completely smoothed away. She looked... vulnerable, but at the same time, incredibly strong. Even in sleep, there was something unbreakable about her.

I found myself smiling, despite everything. How was it possible to feel like this, to feel so drawn to someone, in the middle of a zombie apocalypse? But I did. Somewhere along the line, amidst all the chaos, the danger, the desperation-I had fallen in love with her. It wasn't sudden, like in the movies, but a slow, steady realization.

I couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it happened. Maybe it was when I first saw her fighting her way through that mall, so fierce and determined. Or maybe it was the way she looked at me when she needed help, trusting me, even when the world gave her every reason not to trust anyone. Maybe it was when I stopped her last night, stopping her from doing something I couldn't bear to see.

Whatever the moment, it didn't matter. All I knew was that she was special, and my feelings for her were as real as the world falling apart around us.

I reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, careful not to wake her. She deserved the rest. After everything she'd been through, she needed it. The weight of her past, the experiments, the revelations from those files-it would have crushed anyone else. But not Rena. She kept going, no matter how much it hurt.

Watching her now, I felt a swell of protectiveness. I would do anything to keep her safe, no matter what it took. She had so much ahead of her, even if she couldn't see it right now. And maybe, just maybe, I wanted to be a part of that future.

I sighed quietly, my hand resting lightly on her arm. This wasn't the world for love stories. It was a world where survival came first. But I couldn't help the way I felt. Even with the undead roaming outside, even with the constant threat of danger, my feelings for Rena were something real-something I didn't want to ignore.

She stirred slightly, her brow furrowing as if she was dreaming, and I quickly pulled my hand back, not wanting to wake her. She mumbled something under her breath, something I couldn't quite make out, and then settled back into her peaceful slumber.

I lay back, staring up at the cracked ceiling, my mind racing. There was so much I wanted to say to her, so much I wanted her to know. But now wasn't the time. She needed space, time to heal, and we still had so much to face. The military was out there, and they wouldn't stop until they found what they were looking for-until they found Rena.

I would be by her side through it all, no matter what. But for now, I let the quiet moment linger, savoring the peace of just being near her. Even in a world like this, love could still exist. I wasn't sure what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain-I wouldn't let her face it alone.

As the light grew stronger outside, I finally allowed myself to close my eyes again, holding onto this moment for as long as I could. Because even in the darkest of times, there was still something worth fighting for.