CHAPTER 43: 43: THE WORLD IS A FRAGILE PROMISE.

The wind howled through the skeletal buildings, biting at Zara’s exposed skin and stinging her cheeks. She tightened her grip on the small bundle against her chest. Leo’s tiny face was hidden beneath layers of scarves and blankets, only the faint puff of his breath visible through the fabric. They had been travelling deeper into the district and Zara had decided that even if they didn’t find the cache, she would try to leave City B for somewhere safer.

"Watch this, Leo!" Kit called, darting ahead and kicking at a clump of snow. The powder exploded in a flurry, and the ten-year-old’s laughter echoed in the frosty air. He turned back with a wide grin, his cheeks flushed with cold. "Did you see that? I bet I could knock down a whole tree!"

Leo squirmed in her arms, a faint huff escaping him.

"Kit, watch your step!" Zara turned her head sharply, her voice filled with worry. Her eyes scanned the uneven terrain ahead, littered with hidden ice patches and jagged stones masked by the snow.

Kit skidded to a halt, slipping slightly before catching himself. "It’s fine, Zara! I’m good at this," he chirped, flashing a toothy grin.

"You won’t be good at it if you break your leg," Zara shot back, her tone firm but laced with affection. She planted her feet and held out a hand as he stumbled toward her. When he grabbed it, she steadied him, her fingers tightening just enough to make her point clear. "Careful, Kit. We can’t afford injuries out here."

Kit looked up at her, his grin unshaken, his cheeks flushed red from the cold. "Mom always caught me too," he said matter-of-factly, his voice filled with a wistful pride that froze Zara mid-step.

For a moment, the snow seemed to fall quieter. Zara’s breath hitched as she met Kit’s innocent gaze. The word "Mom" hung in the air between them, foreign and fragile. She swallowed, managing a small, startled smile. "Well, I guess that makes two of us," she said softly, brushing the snow from his shoulder.

Behind them, Mia tensed. The shift in her posture was subtle, but Zara noticed the way her shoulders stiffened, the slight narrowing of her eyes. It wasn’t the first time Mia had reacted like this to Kit’s casual mentions of their parents, but Zara couldn’t quite put her finger on what it meant. Grief? Anger? Fear?

"Kit, don’t be stupid. Stop running around and focus."

Kit deflated instantly, his shoulders slumping as he muttered, "I was just playing."

Zara glanced at Mia, whose expression was as hard as the frozen landscape around them. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and her narrowed eyes flicked between Zara and Kit, guarded and distrustful.

"Mia," Zara said gently, "he’s just being a kid. He’s fine."

Mia didn’t reply. She simply turned on her heel and stalked ahead, her boots crunching furiously against the snow.

Kit stuck his tongue out at her retreating figure. "She’s such a bossy pants," he muttered under his breath.

Zara knelt down to his level, leveling him with a look that was firm but kind. "She’s just worried about you," she said softly, brushing snow off his jacket. "You’ve got to cut her some slack. She’s been through a lot."

Kit frowned, the spark of rebellion fading from his eyes. "I guess..."

"Come on," Zara said, ruffling his hair before standing. "Let’s keep moving before we all freeze."

They continued their trek, the silence filled only by the crunch of snow and the distant howl of the wind. Zara’s eyes darted between the children, her mind spinning. Kit’s boundless energy was a welcome distraction, but Mia’s guarded demeanour seemed a little too much. She understood the fear and paranoia that came with trying to survive in the apocalypse, especially if you had someone depending on you. But something about Mia’s behaviour seemed strange.

"Zara! Look!" Kit’s excited voice pulled her back to the moment. He was crouching beside a snowbank, cupping something small and round in his gloved hands. "It’s a perfect snowball. I’ll save it for Leo!"

"Leo’s a little too cold for snowballs right now," Zara said gently, shifting the boy in her arms as he let out a soft, sleepy sigh. She glanced down, her brow furrowing at the faint pallor creeping into his cheeks.

Kit’s face fell slightly, but he nodded. "Okay. I’ll save it for later, then." He shoved the snowball into his pocket, the gesture so earnest that Zara couldn’t help but smile.

As the wind picked up, Zara pulled Leo closer, her lips pressing against his temple. "We’ll stop soon, everything will be ok," she promised him, though she wasn’t sure if the words were for him or herself.

*****

By the time the sun began to set, the wind had picked up, and the cold was nearly unbearable. They found shelter in a crumbling building, its walls partially intact but offering little in the way of warmth. Zara set Leo down on a makeshift bed of blankets, his small frame shivering despite the layers.

His small face was pale, his breathing light and uneven.

Mia sat near the entrance, slingshot on her lap, staring out into the swirling snow. Kit, ever the ball of energy, tried to coax her into playing a game with him, but she waved him off with a curt shake of her head.

"Hey," Zara said, kneeling beside Mia. "You doing okay?"

Mia glanced at her briefly, then back at the door. "Fine."

"You’ve been ’fine’ all day," Zara said, keeping her tone light. "You know, it’s okay not to be fine sometimes."

For a moment, Mia didn’t respond. Then, quietly, she asked, "How do you deal with it?"

"Deal with what?"

"Fear," Mia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like...when you don’t know what’s going to happen next. How do you stop it from...swallowing you whole?"

Zara blinked, caught off guard by the question. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Mia straightened abruptly and shook her head.

"Never mind," Mia muttered. "Forget I asked."

Zara frowned, watching the way Mia’s hands clenched tightly around her rifle. "Mia—"

"I’m fine," Mia snapped, her voice a touch too sharp.

Zara sighed but let it drop. "Okay. But if you ever want to talk, I’m here."

Mia didn’t reply, but the tension in her shoulders seemed to ease just a fraction. Zara bit her lip in worry. She could tell that Mia had a lot on her mind but something was stopping her from opening up.

Later that night, as they settled into sleep, Kit crawled over to Zara’s side, his usual energy replaced by an unusual quietness.

"Zara?" he asked, his voice small.

"Yeah?" she replied, adjusting Leo’s blanket.

"You’ll stay with us, right? Like...forever?"

Zara stilled, her heart twisting at the vulnerability in his tone. She looked down at him, his wide eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear.

"Of course, I’ll stay," she said softly. "I’m not going anywhere."

Kit nodded, but his expression didn’t entirely relax. He lay down beside her, his small frame curling up as close as he could get. Zara reached out and ruffled his hair gently, her chest tightening.

As she turned back to Leo, her heart lurched. His small hand was clutching her scarf tightly, his face pale and drawn. When he coughed, it was wet and raspy, sending a spike of panic through her.

"Leo?" she whispered, placing a hand on his forehead. Her stomach dropped. His skin was clammy and cold, far too cold.

"No, no, no," she muttered, her voice trembling. "Leo, please. Don’t do this to me."

His breathing hitched, and Zara felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She pulled him closer, rocking him gently as her mind raced. There were no doctors, no medicine, no one to tell her what to do.