CHAPTER 22: 22: THE WORLD IS A FRAGILE THING

Zara bit down on the inside of her cheek as her boot caught on the uneven asphalt, her injured ankle giving way.

"Ah!" A sharp cry escaped her lips as she pitched forward, the searing pain shooting up her leg like wildfire. Instinctively, her hands flew to the bulge in her coat, shielding Leo as she twisted her body to take the brunt of the fall.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the cold, hard impact of the cracked asphalt.

But it never came.

Strong hands caught her mid-fall, yanking her upright with startling ease. The momentum pulled her close to man’s chest, The jolt sent another wave of pain through her ankle, and she hissed, trying to pull herself away, but the stranger held firm.

"Careful," the man said gruffly, his voice low and steady. His eyes narrowed as they flicked to her hands, still clutching her coat.

"Interesting reflex, considering you said it’s nothing," he murmured, a faint edge of disbelief coloring his tone. His gaze lingered on her too long, then to the coat. "What’s in there?"

"Nothing," Zara said too quickly. Her pulse spiked as she straightened, forcing her face into a mask of indifference despite the throbbing in her ankle.

He arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. His hands hovered near her elbows, debating whether to steady her again.

"Nothing doesn’t make people twist themselves like that to protect it," he muttered, but to her relief, he didn’t press further. His gaze dropped briefly to her foot. "That ankle’s done. You shouldn’t be walking on it."

"It’s fine," Zara bit out, adjusting her coat clumsily to shift the hidden weight inside. "We don’t have time for a break."

The man’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might argue, but instead, he turned and gestured for her to follow. "Try to keep up," he said tersely.

Zara bit back a retort, opting instead to limp after him, the throbbing in her ankle a constant reminder of her precarious position.

******

The world around them remained a wasteland of shattered buildings and skeletal trees, their branches clawing at the grey sky.

Zara limped after the man, her every step a careful balance between maintaining her pace and protecting her hidden burden.

He moved ahead of her, his rifle slung over his shoulder, his eyes scanning the ruins.

The man looked like he belonged in this world—calm, efficient, untouchable. Zara hated him for it.

"Here," he said, nodding toward a crumbling storefront. "We’ll check for supplies."

"Won’t people already have gone through them," she frowned at him.

Really?" he hummed, pushing the door open with the butt of his rifle. "I would never have thought of that."

Zara glared at him, resisting the urge to snap back. "There’s no need to be a jerk."

"Just pointing out the obvious," he said with a faint smirk as he stepped inside. His eyes darted across the dark interior, sharp and calculating. "There are places people overlook. We’ll check those."

"Why would they overlook anything?" she muttered, carefully easing her weight off her swollen ankle as she followed him in.

"Because most people are idiots," he replied simply, moving further into the store.

Zara bit her tongue, glaring at his back as she limped after him.

The musty smell of decay hit her immediately, and she coughed lightly, then deliberately made it louder to cover the soft, stifled sound of Leo’s cough from beneath her coat.

The man turned his head, giving her a sidelong glance that made her pulse spike. She fidgeted, her heart pounding as she felt Leo’s tiny fingers grip her shirt beneath the coat.

"Sounded like quite the cough," he said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

"It’s the dust. I’m fine," she said quickly, waving her right hand dismissively while using her left to adjust Leo’s position. She felt him burrow closer to her, his little legs tightening around her waist.

The man’s gaze lingered for a moment too long, and Zara forced a tight smile, throwing it at him like a shield.

"Must be really bad dust," he said dryly, his tone making it clear he didn’t believe her.

She clenched her jaw, her fake smile fading as his eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you going to look for supplies, or just stand there and analyze my health?"

He didn’t answer, just turned and walked deeper into the store. Zara exhaled shakily, her hands tightening protectively around Leo as she whispered, "Stay quiet, baby. Just a little longer."

They walked through the aisles, past shelves that had been picked clean of anything remotely useful. The man’s steps were light and deliberate, his sharp eyes scanning everything. He stopped suddenly near the back of the store, crouching near a section of broken floorboards.

"Here," he said, gesturing for her to come closer.

Zara hesitated, her eyes narrowing. "What is it?"

"Storage," he said, prying the boards loose with his knife to reveal a hidden compartment. Inside were a few cans of food, a small medical kit, and a bottle of water.

"Why would anyone leave this here?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

"Hidden stash. Most people don’t bother tearing up floors," he replied, pulling the supplies out and setting them down. "We split it."

"Split it?" she repeated, her eyebrows raising. "You’re actually sharing?"

He gave her a look that might have been amusement. "Surprised?"

"A little," she admitted, crouching carefully and keeping her coat closed as she reached for a can. "You don’t exactly scream generous."

"And you don’t scream grateful," he shot back, handing her the water.

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks," she muttered, shoving the bottle into her coat.

"Don’t mention it." He leaned back against the wall, watching her with an unreadable expression.

Zara hated how he could switch from being suspicious to oddly helpful in the blink of an eye. It was confusing, and it made her uneasy. What was his angle? Why was he even bothering to help her?

She pocketed the medical kit, making a point to avoid his gaze. "So, what’s the plan now?"

"Same as before," he said, standing and slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "You follow me until that ankle of yours heals, then we go our separate ways."

"Right," she said, her tone skeptical. "Because you’re so trustworthy."

He smirked faintly, tilting his head. "And you’re an open book?"

Zara’s mouth opened to retort, but the words stuck in her throat. She snapped it shut, glaring at him as she adjusted her coat.

"Thought so," he said, already turning toward the door.

She resisted the urge to throw the can at the back of his head and instead focused on calming Leo, who shifted nervously inside her coat. "It’s okay, baby," she whispered. "We’re leaving now."

As they stepped back into the wasteland, the sound of distant groans froze Zara in her tracks. Her blood turned to ice.

Zombies.

He stopped abruptly, raising a hand. Zara froze, her breath catching as her eyes scanned the desolate street. A shadow moved in the distance, shuffling closer. Winter pulled a knife from his belt, his movements fluid and silent.

"Stay here," he murmured, his voice so low it was almost lost in the wind.

Before Zara could protest, he was gone, slipping into the shadows like a predator. She crouched low, her heart hammering in her chest. The bulge in her coat shifted, and she pulled the coat apart, allowing Leo’s head to peek out.

"Where are we, Mama?" he whispered, his dark eyes wide and alert as they darted around the desolate surroundings.

"We’re hiding for a bit, baby," Zara murmured, gently brushing his damp curls. Her frown deepened as she noticed the faint redness in his face. "Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere? It’s stuffy in there, isn’t it?"

Leo pouted, scrunching his nose. " ’M good... but I’m hungry." His small voice trembled slightly, and Zara’s chest ached.

"Of course you are," she said softly, rummaging through her pocket until she found the ration Winter had given her the day before. She unwrapped it quickly and handed it to him. "Here. Eat this, but take tiny bites, okay?"

Leo nodded, nibbling on the edge of the ration as she settled on the ground, easing the weight off her throbbing ankle.

Leo shifted against her chest, his tiny body warm against hers, and she couldn’t help but smile faintly despite the tension gripping her.

"You’re so brave, you know that?" she whispered, her fingers brushing through his messy curls again. It had unconsciously become a comfort motion for her.

Leo paused mid-bite, looking up at her with big, curious eyes. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm." Zara nodded, leaning closer. "The bravest boy I’ve ever met. You’ve been so good, even when things have been scary."

Leo’s lips curved into a small, bashful smile. "’Cause I stay with you, Mama."

Her throat tightened, and she kissed his forehead, holding him a little closer. "That’s right, baby. We stay together, no matter what."

Leo shifted a little, his brow furrowing. "The man...is not here," he whispered, his voice dropping lower as if saying it too loud would make Winter appear. "Did he go away? Isnt he scary, Mama?"

Zara hesitated. "He’s..." She searched for the right words, ones that wouldn’t frighten him further. "He’s helping us, but we can’t be too trusting, okay? Just like we talked about."

Leo’s small arms wrapped around her neck, and he burrowed into her chest. No doubt he was remembering the bastards who tried hurting them and led to her being in this state.

She hummed softly, trying to sooth him.

He suddenly mumbled. "But he makes you scared."

Zara froze, her breath catching in her throat. "No, love," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "He just... doesn’t smile much. Some people are like that. But he’s strong, and we need strong people right now."

Leo stared at her for a long moment, then nodded as though deciding to trust her word. "Okay," he said quietly, leaning his head against her chest.

Zara wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. She pressed a kiss to the top of his curls, her mind racing. The man wasn’t cruel, or at least he hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary in these times to be considered cruel but his sharp gaze and cold demeanor set her nerves on edge. He’d seen too much—noticed the way she adjusted her coat, how she ate sparingly. His suspicion felt like a coiled snake, waiting to strike.

If he found out about Leo... she didn’t want to think about it. Would he leave them behind? Take Leo away? He was pragmatic enough to see a three-year-old as a liability.

The thought made her hold Leo tighter.

The minutes stretched, each second an eternity. Then, a muffled thud broke the silence, followed by the unmistakable sound of a blade slicing through flesh.

"Mama?" Leo murmured sleepily.

"Yes, baby?"

"I don’t like hiding." His small voice cracked, tears welling in his eyes.

Zara’s chest tightened, but she forced a smile. "I know, love. I don’t like it either. We’ll be alone again soon ok?"

Leo sniffled, nodding against her. "You promise?"

"I promise," she whispered, her voice breaking.

The sound of footsteps snapping on broken glass jolted her from the quiet. Zara hurriedly tucked Leo back into her coat, fastening it quickly as the man reappeared, his knife dripping with dark, viscous blood.

Zara frowned, wondering why he always chose to fight closely against the creatures. Why not use the rifle?

She wanted to ask but held herself back. It was understandable due to the limited ammunition but... she looked up as him. His expression was as calm as ever, though his eyes held a fierce glint.

"Clear," he said.

He lingered on her coat for a beat too long, but then his gaze flicked to her ankle. "Can you walk, or do I have to carry you?"

"I’m fine," she replied, rising with as much composure as she could muster. She felt Leo shift slightly, but she adjusted her coat, masking the movement.

Zara straightened, swallowing hard. Her legs felt like jelly, but she forced herself to move, following him through the maze of debris.

*****

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the ruined city. They made camp in the hollowed-out shell of a building, the walls providing some protection from the biting wind.

Zara sat across from Winter, the flickering light of a small fire dancing across his features. She could feel his eyes on her, scrutinizing every move.

"Why are you out here?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Zara hesitated, her mind scrambling for a plausible answer. "Same as you," she said finally. "Surviving."

Winter leaned back, his gaze never leaving hers. "Surviving alone is hard. Most people travel in groups."

"I’m not most people," Zara shot back.

Winter’s mouth curved into a faint smirk. "That’s obvious."

The fire crackled between them, filling the silence that followed. Zara’s fingers curled around her coat, her mind racing. Why was he suddenly making small talk? How did she try to leave don here without a fight? Her leg was bad but she had some supplies now. Would he sleep? She couldn’t afford to let her guard down, not even for a second.

"What’s your name?" Winter asked after a long pause.

Zara blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Your name," he repeated. "You have one, don’t you?"

She hesitated, debating whether to lie. But something in his gaze made her pause. "Zara," she said finally.

Winter nodded as if committing it to memory. "Winter."

The tension between them seemed to ease for a moment, their unspoken suspicions lifting just slightly. But it was fleeting, and as the fire burned lower, Zara felt the shadows closing in again.

Tomorrow, she thought, pulling her coat tighter. Tomorrow, she’d figure out a way to keep her secret safe.

Leo needed to breathe properly; he needed to move, too. Staying in a stuffy, dark, little space without movement was not good for a child’s development.

She needed to take care of him, injured or not.

Even if it meant leaving the man- Winter behind.