"Zombie Dawn: Rise of the Hunted"

Chapter 16: Torn Between Survival and Feelings

Chapter 16: Torn Between Survival and Feelings

Rena's POV

The morning after the monster fight, I made a decision. I had to let go of the confusion I felt about Filip. In a world overrun with zombies and terrifying creatures, emotions like this could get us killed. I had to focus on surviving and making sure Leon and Filip did too. My feelings for Filip were a distraction-a dangerous one.

I steeled myself, deciding to work more with Leon. He was practical, and together, we could focus on the task of finding supplies and answers about what happened to me. I needed to bury whatever emotions I had for Filip and just survive.

When I saw Filip that morning, sharpening his big rifle, his dark brown eyes found mine. For a moment, I felt a flutter in my chest, but I quickly pushed it aside. I couldn't afford to get caught up in this.

"Leon, let's head out to check more of the city," I said, turning to him and ignoring Filip's gaze. "We need fuel and more ammo."

Leon nodded, already grabbing his gear. "Yeah, we should hit the northern part of the mall next. Could be something we missed."

Filip looked up from his gun, his jaw tightening. "I'm coming with you," he said, his voice flat.

I hesitated, trying to keep the tension between us hidden. "You should stay back, Filip. Someone has to make sure nothing gets into our hideout."

His dark eyes flashed with frustration. "I'm not leaving you alone out there. We stick together."

I didn't argue, but the tension was thick between us as we left for the mall.

Once inside, Filip kept close, his eyes constantly scanning for danger. He had always been protective, but now it felt like he didn't want to let me out of his sight. I focused on my sword as we moved, clearing out any stray zombies in our path. Every time I swung, it felt like I was cutting away at the confusion in my mind.

But Filip's presence was still there, hovering over me, pulling at my thoughts.

Leon's POV

I could feel the tension between Filip and Rena growing with every minute we spent searching the mall. Filip was on edge, more possessive than usual, and Rena was trying too hard to act like nothing was wrong. I didn't know what was going on with them, but it wasn't my place to get involved.

We split up to cover more ground, but just as I turned down a different corridor, I heard a crash and Rena's voice shouting.

"Rena!" Filip's voice followed almost immediately, and when I turned back, I saw the panic in his eyes. His rifle was up, ready to shoot as he bolted in the direction of her voice.

Zombies poured out of a broken window, swarming toward Rena as she slashed through them with her sword. She was holding her own, but there were too many, and I could see her getting pushed further away from us.

"Filip, we need to stick together!" I yelled, trying to keep him from doing something reckless.

But Filip didn't listen. He was already firing his rifle, his face twisted with anger and fear. "Rena! Get back here!" His voice was filled with raw emotion as he fought his way toward her, shooting down every zombie in his path.

Rena disappeared around a corner, lost in the chaos. Filip's eyes widened in panic, and he started firing more frantically, clearing a path through the undead. He was completely unhinged, driven by something more than just survival.

Filip's POV

My heart pounded in my chest as I tore through the mall, zombies falling one after another under the barrage of my gunfire. But none of that mattered. The only thing I cared about was finding Rena. I couldn't believe I had let her get separated. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios.

"Damn it, Rena!" I muttered under my breath, barely aware of the blood splattering around me as I shot another zombie in the head. I didn't care about the noise or attracting more of them. I just had to find her. The thought of her getting hurt, or worse, tore at me.

Leon tried to calm me down, but I didn't care. I was too far gone. "We need to move! She's out there!" I shouted, shoving past him.

I couldn't understand why I was acting like this. Why I felt this overwhelming need to protect her, to be close to her. It wasn't just about survival. It was something deeper, something I didn't want to admit to myself.

Finally, after what felt like hours, I heard Rena's voice again. I charged down the hall, firing at anything that moved, until I finally found her, cornered by a few more zombies. Her sword was bloodied, her body moving with precision, but I could see she was tiring.

"Rena!" I called out, and she turned, her eyes wide with surprise and relief.

I fired off a few rounds, clearing the remaining zombies around her before pulling her into a tight hug. I didn't care if Leon saw or if Rena pushed me away. All that mattered was that she was safe. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her.

"You're okay," I breathed, pulling back just enough to look at her.

She nodded, still catching her breath. "Yeah... I'm fine." But I could see the exhaustion in her eyes.

I didn't let go. "We're sticking together from now on. No more splitting up."

Rena looked at me, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in her eyes-something like understanding. But then she pulled away, straightening up and brushing herself off.

"Let's just get out of here," she said, her voice firm.

As we headed back to Leon, I couldn't shake the possessive feeling gnawing at me. Rena was trying to distance herself from me, but I wasn't going to let her go that easily.