CHAPTER 42: 42:JUST WHAT HAD THE WORLD BECOME?

The morning was grey, the pale sunlight struggling through heavy clouds. Zara adjusted the strap of her bag, the weight of supplies pulling at her shoulders as she trudged through the snow-covered streets. Mia walked a few paces ahead with Kit and Leo, the younger boy skipping clumsily in the snow while Kit launched into yet another animated story. The crisp air carried the sound of Kit’s voice, high-pitched and excited, like a welcome reprieve from the grim silence that usually dominated their days.

"...And then Dad said it wasn’t just a lake; it was the biggest lake we’d ever seen. It went on forever!" Kit was practically bouncing as he spoke, his small frame somehow vibrant despite the cold and exhaustion etched into his face.

Zara’s eyes flicked to Mia. She walked stiffly, her back straight and her gloved hands tucked deep into her coat pockets. Every so often, her lips tightened at Kit’s enthusiasm, and Zara knew Mia was biting back words.

"Right, Mia?" Kit turned to her eagerly, his brown eyes wide with expectation. "It was so big, wasn’t it? You remember!"

Mia faltered, her steps slowing as tension rippled across her expression. Her shoulders hunched, and her lips pressed into a thin line. "I... I don’t remember much," she muttered, her voice clipped.

"But you said it was—"

"I don’t remember!" Mia snapped, the words sharp and loud enough to cut through the air.

Kit stumbled to a halt, blinking up at her with wide, startled eyes. Even Leo, perched on Zara’s hip, flinched, his small fingers tightening against her coat. Zara felt the ripple of unease between them.

"Mia," Zara said softly, her tone more reproachful than angry. She adjusted Leo in her arms, her gaze steady on the teenager. "You don’t have to take your frustration out on Kit. He’s just a kid."

Mia turned, surprise flashing in her expression as if she hadn’t expected Zara to speak up. Her mouth opened, then closed again, and for a moment, she looked as though she might argue. But then Zara caught the flicker of regret that Mia tried to mask, the way her hands twitched in her pockets.

"Sorry," Mia said finally, her voice low and subdued. She didn’t meet Kit’s eyes as she added, "I didn’t mean to yell at you."

Kit hesitated, his small face conflicted. Then he nodded, his voice soft. "It’s okay."

The tension eased, and Zara gave Mia a small, understanding look before shifting Leo’s weight.

Kit’s small smile returned, though it was tentative. He kicked at the snow again, his mood dampened but not entirely crushed. Leo snuggled closer to Zara, his little hands fisting in her coat as the group continued their trek.

Zara couldn’t help but glance at Mia, though. The girl’s jaw was set tightly, her face a careful mask of indifference. But Zara recognized the hurt there. Mia was still grieving, carrying the weight of her parents’ deaths like an open wound. Zara knew that feeling too well. She had lost her husband to the apocalypse’s chaos, and the ache of it still lived in her chest, sharp and unrelenting.

But grief wasn’t just pain; it was also anger, guilt, and helplessness. And sometimes, it made you lash out at the people closest to you.

Leo’s small hand patted Zara’s shoulder, pulling her from her thoughts. "Mama," he said, his voice soft but insistent.

"Yes, baby?" she asked, her lips curving in a faint smile as she glanced down at him.

"Kit’s story is fun," Leo murmured, his sleepy eyes lighting up as he turned his attention back to the boy ahead.

Zara chuckled under her breath. "It is, isn’t it?"

Leo nodded, his face brightening despite the lethargy that had clung to him since morning. Zara’s smile faded slightly as she thought about the previous night.

Flashback

They had camped in the remains of an old convenience store, huddled together for warmth amid the scattered debris. Zara had woken to a soft rustling sound, her instincts kicking in immediately. She turned to find Leo sitting up, his small frame illuminated by the faint light filtering through the cracks in the boarded windows.

At first, she thought he was just restless, but then she saw them. Objects that shouldn’t have been there—small toys, a crumpled blanket, and even a can of food—scattered around him. Things that had been tucked away in Leo’s hidden dimension space, his special ability.

Zara’s stomach twisted as she crouched beside him. "Leo," she whispered, brushing his tousled hair from his face. "What’s all this?"

Leo blinked up at her, his eyes bleary with sleep. "I... I don’t know, Mama," he mumbled. "They just came out."

Mia stirred nearby, sitting up with a frown. "What’s going on?"

"Nothing," Zara said quickly, her tone light but firm. "Just Leo being restless."

Mia’s eyes narrowed as she glanced at the scattered items. "How did those get here? They weren’t—"

She couldn’t explain the truth—Leo’s ability wasn’t something she was ready to share. Not yet. "Oh, uh... I must have dropped them last night when I was packing," she lied smoothly, scooping the items up and shoving them into her backpack.

Mia didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press the issue. She simply nodded, her gaze lingering on Leo for a moment before she lay back down.

Zara exhaled quietly, making sure everything was arranged in her backpack before pulling Leo close. But unease gnawed at her. Was something wrong with Leo’s space? Was it malfunctioning? Was it affecting his health? She glanced at her son, who had already drifted back to sleep, his small face peaceful.

Her chest tightened with worry. Whatever was happening, she couldn’t afford to let it get worse.

She couldn’t let anything happen to him—not after everything they’d already lost.

Flashback end

Back in the present, Zara watched Leo as he listened to Kit’s latest story, his face animated despite his obvious exhaustion. She adjusted his weight on her hip, her mind churning with questions she couldn’t yet answer. His soft, steady breaths against her neck were a reassurance she couldn’t afford to lose.

Ahead of them, Kit suddenly stopped, his head tilting as if listening to something only he could hear.

"What is it, Kit?" Zara asked, her voice cautious.

Kit turned to her, his expression thoughtful. "I think we should go this way." He pointed to a side street, the narrow path flanked by crumbling buildings and piles of snow.

Zara frowned. "Why not? It’s the fastest route."

Kit hesitated, shifting his weight nervously. "I just... I don’t think we should."

Zara studied the boy, her instincts flaring. Kit had an uncanny sense about things—a kind of "luck" that had saved them more than once. She glanced at Mia, who looked sceptical but didn’t argue. "Why not? I always follow what he says."

"Alright," Zara said finally. "We’ll take another route."

They followed Kit’s lead, winding through the quieter street. As they walked, Zara felt the tension in the air ease. Kit hummed to himself, and even Mia seemed to relax slightly.

But then they heard it—a distant, guttural groan, followed by the unmistakable shuffle of footsteps. As they emerged on the other side, Zara’s breath hitched.

Zara froze, her grip tightening on Leo. They turned back toward the main street they had initially planned to take. From their vantage point, they could see a small horde of zombies shambling through the snow, their movements slow but deliberate.

Mia swore under her breath. "Where did they come from? This area was supposed to be clear."

Zara’s eyes darted to Kit, who was watching the scene with a mixture of curiosity and unease. Her chest tightened as she remembered the moment he had insisted they change routes.

"Kit," she said slowly, crouching to his level. "Why did you want to go this way?"

Kit shuffled his feet, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I... I don’t know. It just felt... wrong to go that way."

Zara studied him, her mind racing. Could it be? Could Kit have some kind of ability, like her foresight or Leo’s dimension space? The thought was both thrilling and terrifying.

"Well, good call," she said, ruffling his hair. "You might’ve just saved us."

Kit beamed, his earlier unease fading.

They continued their journey, carefully skirting the horde and staying vigilant for any other threats. The air grew colder as the day wore on, and the shadows stretched long across the snow.

Despite the danger, Zara felt a strange sense of camaraderie growing between them. Mia, Kit—they weren’t just companions anymore. They were starting to feel like a team—a makeshift family bound together by necessity and shared survival.

But even as they laughed at one of Kit’s jokes or shared a moment of quiet understanding, Zara couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was closing in. The faint echoes of distant voices, the occasional glint of movement in the corner of her eye—subtle signs of gang activity nearby.

She tightened her grip on Leo, her eyes scanning the horizon. Whatever was coming, she would protect them. All of them.

For now, though, they had each other. And in this broken world, that was something.