CHAPTER 39: 39: THE WORLD WITH MORE AT RISK

Snow crunched softly beneath Zara’s boots as she followed Mia and Kit through the winding back alleys of City B.

The frigid air stung her cheeks, and her breath misted with each exhale. She kept one arm around Leo, who was bundled tightly in an oversized jacket, his face half-buried against her chest. Kit darted ahead, his small frame moving easily through the narrow paths, while Mia led with a confident stride, her slingshot held loosely in one hand.

"We’re almost there," Mia said, her voice low and steady. Her eyes scanned their surroundings, flicking to every shadow and abandoned doorway as though she expected something to lunge out at any moment.

Zara glanced around. City B had been one of the largest in the country, taking days to travel through even with a car. These parts were places she had only ever been to once or twice before the apocalypse.

The city’s decay was obvious in the fading daylight. Snow blanketed rusting cars and piles of rubble, no less softening the edges of destruction. Windows were shattered, doors left ajar, and the occasional graffiti scrawled on walls bore warnings: STAY OUT or THE DEAD WALK HERE and a sour, metallic scent lingered in the air.

Leo stirred in her arms, his small face peeking out from beneath the patched scarf wrapped snugly around him. He squirmed with childlike curiosity, his wide eyes darting to the figures in front of them.

"Slow down," Mia snapped, her voice low but firm. She cast a sharp glance over her shoulder at her younger brother. Kit immediately slowed his steps, his head ducking sheepishly.

At last, they stopped at an inconspicuous apartment complex. Its facade was battered, but not enough to collapse—a rare sight in this part of the city. Zara shifted Leo’s weight in her arms as Mia led them not to the front entrance but to a narrow alcove on the building’s side.

Kit slipped in first, and Mia followed, gesturing silently for Zara to come. She hesitated only a moment before ducking inside.

The space was cramped but surprisingly secure. Stacks of debris and wooden boards had been arranged to form a crude barricade, and a faint smell of charred wood lingered in the air. The remnants of a small fire pit sat in one corner, and a couple of blankets were folded neatly against the wall. It wasn’t much, but it was functional. A place to breathe.

Kit grinned as he flopped onto a pile of blankets. "Told you it’s nice in here! We’ve been using this place for weeks."

Mia shot him a look. "Weeks is a stretch. We’re not staying here much longer."

Zara raised an eyebrow. "You move around a lot?"

"Safer that way," Mia replied. She leaned her slingshot against the wall and crouched to rummage through a crate. "Staying put too long makes you a target." She pulled out a tin of beans and tossed it to Zara. "You hungry?"

Zara caught the tin and nodded. "Thanks. But we have supplies of our own," she said, placing the tin on the floor.

Mia’s eyes narrowed. "You pitying us?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Zara shook her head. "You probably have enough for you two and we have our own things," she shrugged her backpack off her shoulders.

Zara’s brow furrowed as she watched Mia unpack a small kit of supplies—nothing flashy, just the bare essentials. It was clear the older girl knew what she was doing. Zara had to admit that surviving in a place as overrun and dangerous as City B required more than luck.

"Smart," Zara murmured, setting Leo onto the blankets, she couldn’t help but marvel at their resourcefulness. Despite her initial wariness, she felt a pang of respect for the siblings. They were surviving—thriving, even—in a place where most wouldn’t last a day.

Mia gave a small shrug, but there was a flicker of pride in her eyes. "You do what you have to."

Zara watched Leo toddle toward Kit, whose face lit up with a grin.

"Hey, little guy! You wanna play?" Kit reached into his coat and pulled out the battered toy car from before, rolling it across the floor. Leo giggled, clapping his tiny hands as Kit pushed the car back and forth.

Zara leaned back, her arms crossing defensively. She couldn’t remember the last time Leo had laughed like that. The sound tugged at something deep inside her. She guessed his curiosity overpowered his fear of strangers.

She blinked down as she felt something tug at her trousers. Leo stared at her expectantly and she crouched to his level. "What is it baby?" she asked gently.

"My toy, I want my truck," he held out his hand.

Zara smiled, glad he remembered not to take anything out of his space in front of people. What would she do with the smart little bean?

She pulled her backpack closer and put his hand in it, making sure to block Mia and Kit’s view. "Take it out."

Leo’s brows furrowed lightly as he concentrated and pulled out the truck from his space. It never ceased to surprise Zara with how things seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Leo stumbled over to Kit to show off his toy.

Mia sat down with her ration and watched the boys play. "You know," she said after a moment, her voice low, "Kit didn’t always smile like that. Not after... everything." Her eyes lingered on her brother as he knelt beside Leo, their laughter filling the otherwise quiet room.

Zara leaned against the wall, studying Mia’s face. Beneath her hardened expression was a vulnerability that betrayed her age. "I can imagine how hard you have worked. I can see it too."

Mia’s lips twitched in the semblance of a smile, but she shrugged it off. "We just make do. You don’t get a choice, do you? If you want to survive, you keep moving, keep fighting." Her voice faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "Besides, Kit doesn’t have anyone else. It’s on me."

"And you’re doing an incredible job." Zara gestured around the room. "This hideout? It’s impressive. You’ve thought of everything."

Mia ducked her head, clearly pleased with the praise but unwilling to show it. "It’s nothing special," she muttered, fiddling with the strap of her bag. "Just a place to get through the night." But the faint blush creeping into her cheeks revealed how much the words meant to her, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

Zara smiled faintly. For all her hardened edges, Mia was still just a girl—one thrust into a role far beyond her years. It was cute in some ways.

*****

The next morning, Zara woke to the sound of Kit and Leo’s laughter. She opened her eyes to see the two boys playing with a makeshift toy—a piece of string tied to a button. Kit dangled it in front of Leo, who giggled and swiped at it with mitten-clad hands.

"Quiet down," Mia muttered from her spot by the door, her voice groggy but sharp. She had one hand resting on her slingshot, even in sleep.

Zara sat up, rubbing her eyes. "They’re just playing." Though she was worried Leo managed to leave her arms without her noticing.

Mia shot her a pointed look. "Noise attracts attention. Remember that."

Zara bit back a retort and turned her attention to Leo. It wouldn’t do to argue with a child. "Come here, sweetheart," she said softly. Leo toddled over, his cheeks flushed from the cold, and climbed into her lap. She kissed the top of his head, feeling the warmth of his tiny body against hers.

"We’ll head out soon," Mia said, standing and stretching. She looked at Zara, seemingly thinking about something.

"What’s wrong?" Zara asked, arching an eyebrow at her.

"Here," Mia said, passing Zara a thin metal wire and a handful of bits she’d scavenged. "I’ll show you how to make a simple trap. It’s not perfect, but it works for small animals. Saves your energy for bigger problems."

Zara watched closely, noting how Mia’s fingers moved with quick precision. The trap was clever, simple yet effective. She nodded in appreciation.

"Thanks. Here’s something in return." Zara pulled out a tin of powdered milk she’d been rationing. "When you’re trying to make this last, mix it with snow, not water. The snow stretches it further."

Mia arched a brow but nodded, stowing the tip away as though filing it in a mental list of survival tactics. "Alright, Kit! Let’s get going!"

Zara watched as Kit hurried to Mia’s side, chattering about some new game he wanted to teach Leo. She smiled faintly before turning her attention to Leo, who was busy fiddling with his truck.

Suddenly, a noise shattered the stillness. Feet pounding against the pavement echoed through the alley outside their hideout, growing louder with each passing second. Zara froze, instinctively pulling Leo close as Mia’s hand shot out to quiet Kit.

"What—" Mia began, but the words died in her throat as the sound of hurried, frantic voices joined the footsteps.

"They’re coming! Move!" someone hissed, their voice panicked and breathless.

Zara strained her ears, her heart racing. The people outside weren’t just running—they were fleeing. And whatever they were running from was close.

Mia grabbed Kit’s hand, her face pale. "We need to go. Now," she whispered, her tone urgent. "This is exactly why I didn’t want to stay here."

Before Mia could bolt, Zara grabbed her arm, pulling her back toward the shadows. "No," Zara hissed. "Stay still. Stay quiet."

Mia’s eyes flashed with frustration, but she didn’t argue immediately. Kit and Leo scurried over to their sides, clutching their respective protectors as the tension in the air thickened. The running footsteps outside grew fainter, but then another sound emerged, low and guttural, sending a chill down Zara’s spine.

The shuffle of dragging feet through the snow.

Zombies.

Mia stiffened beside her, her hand tightening on Kit’s shoulder. Zara motioned for her to stay down, her own breath held as the shuffling drew nearer. The creatures were close, their groans and rasping breaths filtering into the hideout.

Leo whimpered softly, and Zara pressed a finger to her lips, silently begging him to stay quiet. Across from her, Mia’s lips moved in a silent prayer, her grip on Kit unwavering.

Minutes passed like hours as the undead lingered just outside their hiding spot. One of them brushed against the barricade, causing a faint creak that made Kit flinch. Zara’s heart thudded painfully in her chest, but she didn’t move. Slowly, agonizingly, the sounds of the creatures began to fade as they shuffled further down the alley.

When silence finally returned, the group remained frozen for a moment longer, unwilling to risk breaking it too soon. It was only after Zara was sure the danger had passed that she exhaled, her shoulders sagging in relief.

Mia let out a shaky breath, pulling Kit into a tight hug. "That was too close," she muttered, her voice trembling. "If we’d left when I wanted to..." She trailed off, her eyes flickering to Kit and then to Zara.

"You don’t need to thank me," Zara said softly, a small smile gracing her lips. "I was just repaying you for saving my life."

Mia looked up, her guarded expression cracking as her shoulders slumped. "I wouldn’t have made it. Not with Kit. They would’ve seen us."

Zara nodded. "You stayed calm. That’s what matters."

Mia swallowed hard, her hands tightening protectively around Kit.

Zara glanced at Mia, catching the flicker of anxiety in her expression. For all her bravado, it was clear Mia worried constantly about Kit. It reminded Zara of her fears for Leo.

"You mentioned wanting to leave," Mia said abruptly. "Where would you even go?"

"Anywhere but here," Zara replied. "This city’s too crowded, too dangerous. What about you? Don’t you ever stay in one place?"

Mia shook her head. "Never. Staying still gets you killed. But if you’re serious about leaving, we could try heading through the inner city. It’s risky, but we’d avoid the worst of the gangs on the outskirts. If we make it through, we could head toward the surrounding cities."

Zara hesitated, weighing the risks. "Alright. I’ll follow you. I don’t know this place well enough to try on my own."

"Good choice," Mia said, her tone a mix of relief and determination. "We leave at first light."

*****

On the third morning, they set out before dawn, the city still cloaked in heavy silence. Only the occasional distant growl of a zombie or the crunch of snow beneath their boots broke the quiet stillness. As always, Mia led the way, her step careful.

Zara kept close behind, her gaze shifting to Mia’s rigid posture. Every sound, every flicker of movement drew a sharp glance from the girl, her hand hovering near her slingshot, ready to act.

As the group moved cautiously through the back alleys, Zara noticed the faint tension in Mia’s posture. It was a tension Zara knew all too well—the constant, gnawing fear of failing the ones who depended on you.

They paused behind a dumpster as voices echoed down the street. Mia signalled for silence, and they crouched low, peering through the gaps in the debris. A group of scavengers stood nearby, their conversation carrying in the cold air.

"Fewer zombies around lately," one of them said, a wiry man with a patchy beard. "But the supplies are running dry, too. Everything’s expiring."

"No kidding," another muttered. "If we don’t find that cache soon, we’re screwed."

"You hear about City H? Supposed to be a big base there. Safe zone," a third voice chimed in. "Might be worth heading there."

Zara’s eyebrows shot up, a seemingly secure base in City H? How sure were they about this information? Was it worth the risk of travel? did she have enough supplies to last the journey?

"And risk running into those psychos from the Black Fangs? No thanks." The voice of another broke her out of her thoughts. Mia motioned silently for her to follow.

The group moved on, their voices fading. Zara exchanged a glance with Mia, who frowned.

"Have you heard anything about the cache?" Zara whispered.

"Rumor," Mia replied tersely. "Everyone’s looking for it. Supplies, weapons, maybe even meds. If it exists, it’s probably in the inner city."

Zara considered this. If everyone was looking for it, her doing so would put her in the path of dangerous people. "What about City H? Heard anything?"

Mia’s brows furrowed. "Not much, everyone here only ever talks about the cache-"

"But Raph-" Kit interrupted her but clamped his mouth shut when Mia sent him a glare.

Zara’s eyes narrowed at the exchange, what was that all about? "If we’re heading to City H, won’t we have to pass through the inner city?"

Mia nodded. "Yeah. But we’ll be careful. The gangs there make the scavengers look friendly."

That night, as they huddled around a small, hidden fire, Kit and Leo’s laughter filled the air. Kit had fashioned a makeshift game out of sticks and rocks, and Leo was eagerly mimicking his every move.

"You’ve got a good kid," Mia said softly, her voice breaking through Zara’s thoughts.

Zara glanced at her, surprised. "So do you."

Mia’s lips curved into a faint, almost wistful smile. "I just hope I can keep him safe."

Zara nodded, her throat tightening. Again, she was reminded that this was a child who was trying so hard to protect her possible remaining family. She wondered what happened to their parents. Zara couldn’t imagine being separated from Leo, not knowing if he was alive or not.

As the fire died down, the four of them settled into an uneasy rest. Zara lay awake for a long time, listening to the soft breaths of the children and the faint rustle of the wind around them.

She had known only betrayal and hurt from people around then, save a few, since the apocalypse started, but seeing the siblings curl around each other for warmth, she pulled out one of the blankets from her backpack and covered them.