Zara’s hands trembled as she stroked Leo’s hair. Her mind raced, and her heart pounded with the weight of everything. She could hear the dics working on Winter, their hushed voices blending with the sounds of quiet sobs and murmurs behind them. She wanted to be strong, but exhaustion gnawed at her, and every inch of her body scread for a break.
"Mommy..." Leo’s voice, small and fragile, pulled her back to the present.
She leaned down, brushing her cheek against his. "Yes baby? You’re awake?"
"Uncle? Where is he?" he whispered, his voice shaky. "Uncle will be okay?"
Zara felt a pang in her chest. "Yeah," she said quietly, even though the uncertainty gnawed at her insides.
Her gaze flickered back to Winter, who was still conscious, despite the blood loss and the brutal wound on his side. His eyes were half-lidded, but there was a stubborn glint in them. He was trying to hide how much pain he was in, trying to act unaffected for her sake. It was maddening, seeing him like that, because he was far from okay.
The dics worked quickly, stitching him up with a calm professionalism that didn’t match Zara’s frantic pulse. They cleaned his wound and applied antiseptic with swift hands. One of them glanced up at her, offering a brief smile, but it didn’t reassure her.
"Everything is going to be ok," the healer said gently, noticing her worried gaze.
Zara forced a nod, but her eyes kept darting between Winter and Leo. She couldn’t help herself; she had to reassure herself that they were both going to be alright.
"Are you ok? There’s blood on you," soone said, reaching for her.
"I’m fine," she dodged the hand. But her words were hollow, even to her. She didn’t feel okay. " Please focus on him." Winter’s blood stained the floor, his skin pale, and his breath shallow. Her eyes flicked to him as the dic continued stitching his wound, and she fought the urge to rush over, to demand they work faster.
"How’s he doing?" she asked in a hushed tone.
The healer didn’t answer right away, focusing on Winter’s injury. "He’s tough," she finally said, glancing at the bandages they were applying. "The wound is deep, but it’s not fatal. We’ve got him stabilized for now. Just keep him comfortable and try to avoid any more stress. He’s gonna need rest."
Zara nodded but didn’t feel comforted by the words. She wasn’t sure if she would ever feel at ease again, not after everything that had happened.
"Will you be alright, Zara?" the healer asked softly. Zara looked up and saw concern in the healer’s eyes, but she just smiled weakly.
"I’m fine," she lied. "Just keep him alive."
The healer didn’t push further, finishing up her work.
When she and the other dics left, Zara exhaled shakily, finally allowing herself a breath.
Winter’s voice cut through her thoughts, low and gruff. "Still here, Zara?"
She turned quickly, her heart leaping in her chest as she saw his eyes flicker open. He was lying back on the cot, his face pale but his lips curled into a half-smile. The corner of his mouth twitched like he was trying to hold back a groan.
"You know, Zara," Winter’s voice, hoarse but unmistakable, cut through the haze of her thoughts. "You don’t have to hover. I’m not dying. At least, not yet."
Zara shot him a sharp look, her chest tightening. "You’re bleeding, Winter. You’re hurt—"
"Yeah, well, I’m not made of glass." He smirked, though it quickly faded when the dic pushed too hard on the wound. Winter winced, sucking in a sharp breath, but he quickly recovered, as if the pain had never happened. "You should see the other guy."
Zara clenched her jaw, fighting the swell of emotion that rose in her throat. She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. "You’re impossible."
"Maybe." His voice softened just a little, though his eyes never lost that spark of defiance. "But I’ve been worse. Military, rember?"
"I doubt you were fighting man eating zombies and mutated shit," she forced a smile.
"You’d be surprised," Winter mumbled, eyes sliding shut.
"Don’t go passing out on now, Winter," Zara teased softly, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.
Winter’s eyes flickered to Leo, who was still clinging to her side. "Leo doing okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Zara ran a hand through her hair, glancing down at the boy. "He’s scared. I don’t bla him."
Winter gave her a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "We’ll get him through it."
"You should be worried about yourself first, Winter." Her words ca out sharper than intended, and she regretted it as soon as they left her mouth. She softened. "You’re not invincible."
He chuckled, though it sounded like a cough. "Never said I was."
Zara’s breath caught as she looked at him, noticing how still he was, his eyes drifting closed for a mont. The light in his gaze dimd as the dicine from earlier seed to catch up with him.
"Winter..." She moved closer, gripping his hand, her voice trembling despite herself. "Hey! Don’t—don’t sleep, not yet."
His fingers squeezed hers, his eyes blinking open with effort. "I’m fine, Zara." His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried that stubborn tone she’d co to expect. "Just... a little tired."
But Zara couldn’t shake the feeling of dread, watching him struggle to keep his eyes open.
Before she could say anything more, the healer returned, observing Winter’s state.
"He’s just resting," she assured Zara, her calm tone cutting through the tension. "The dicine will knock him out for a bit. He’ll be okay. You don’t need to worry."
Zara bit her lip, staring at Winter’s still form for a mont, before glancing back to Leo, who had curled up beside her, eyes heavy with exhaustion. She didn’t know how to feel. Her entire body felt heavy, weighed down by fear and doubt.
"Get so rest," the healer advised, noticing her strained look. "You’ve done well. They’re both fine. Just... breathe for a while."
Zara nodded, her throat tightening as she looked down at Leo and Winter. They were both alive, for now. That was all she had, all she could cling to. Her hand slid to Leo’s back, pulling him closer to her as she watched Winter’s labored breathing.
"I’ll be here when you wake up," Zara whispered, her voice quiet but firm. "Both of you."
*****
As Winter started to rest, his breath shallow and uneven, Zara couldn’t shake the feeling of vulnerability that gripped her. The room felt too small, the air too heavy. Soldiers sat in the corners, so tending to their wounds, others speaking in hushed voices. Civilians were scattered about, their faces etched with exhaustion and fear. The walls shook with each thundering bang that ca from outside, a reminder that they weren’t as safe as they had hoped.
Zara glanced around at them all—people who’d thought they were safe, people who had tired to make a place for themselves in this strange, new world. But how long would they last? Would they survive, or would they be wiped out like so many others? This place had seed like a safe haven, but now she wasn’t so sure.
The building rattled again, and she jumped. Another wave of panic flooded her chest, but she fought it down. They had been here before—hiding, waiting for the next attack. How long could they keep running? How many more tis could they survive?
"How long do you think this place will hold?" a soldier muttered to another, his voice low, tight with anxiety.
The second soldier shook his head, grim. "Long enough. The creatures, they’re too relentless. We have them cornered and there are no breaches to allow more creatures in. Its just those things—they just keep coming."
"Yeah," the first soldier muttered, "but maybe we get lucky this ti."
Zara caught the exchange, her heart sinking. Luck? That had run out a long ti ago.
Her mind wandered, racing to thoughts of the creatures, the ones that had torn through the city and the base. From the files shed found, she knew they weren’t just random. They had been created. Whether by the governnt or so twisted experint at the base, she wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t ignore the gut feeling that this place wasn’t as safe as they had originally thought. They were in danger, surrounded by enemies both human and not.
And that thing—the one that had attacked her—it had spoken to her. A low, rasping voice in her mind, echoing its words: Your lungs. What did that an? Why had it said that? What was it after? She had thought she understood the mist, but now... Was it trying to breathe on Earth? Was that what the mist was? Its source of life? Its als? She couldn’t stop asking herself these questions, but no answers ca.
Her gaze dropped to Leo, who was calm now, sitting beside her, his eyes slightly glazed from exhaustion. She grabbed a spoonful of the al that had been brought to them and fed it to him. He was so quiet and well-behaved that it broke her heart. The war inside her head raged while she tried to focus on him. He needed to eat, and she had to push her fear aside, just for a mont.
Winter stirred on the cot beside them, his face pale, and a groan escaped his lips. Zara’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t doing well. She could see it in his flushed skin, the sluggish way his body moved.
"Winter?" she whispered, her voice faltering as panic began to creep up her spine. Was it the infection from the bite? No. She knew better than that—zombie bites didn’t turn people into zombies. The mist did. But still, the worry gnawed at her. Was he going to make it? Was this how he was going to go?
Her hands trembled as she reached out, her fingers brushing over his forehead. He was burning up, sweat beading on his skin. Every mont he lay still, the dread inside her grew. She couldn’t lose him. Not after everything they had gone through. Not now.
"Winter," she breathed, barely able to keep her voice steady. "Please, don’t do this to . Do you need sothing? Talk to ."
He shifted again, groaning louder this ti. Zara’s heart dropped to her stomach. What was going on? She looked up, searching for a Doctor or sothing.
Then winter hissed, hand reaching for his side.
Without thinking, she grabbed his wrist, holding onto him with all her strength. "Winter, don’t you dare do this to !" Her voice was sharp, laced with desperation, the panic rising uncontrollably in her chest.
For a mont, everything froze. His breathing seed to stop. Zara felt the blood drain from her face. This was it. She couldn’t bear it.
"Help! Help!" She scread, feeling terrible for startling Leo but seeing Winter so still was a little too much for her already crushed mind.
Those around them tensed, the soldiers reaching for their weapons.
So doctors rushed forward, easing their way past Zara to get to him.
She held Leo, apologising for startling him while she watched them work. She hated this feeling of helplessness.
She could feel the stares of those around them, no doubt worrying if their safety had been compromised. She didn’t bla them. Winter had seed fine a few minutes ago.
Plus, she had assud he was fine because it hadn’t been a typical zombie that bit him. What if those mutated things were different? She looked at winter between the doctors. What if
Then—his eyes snapped open. They were blurry at first, but they focused on her as his hand squeezed hers, firm and reassuring. Zara’s breath caught in her throat as he blinked up at her, his voice gravelly but unmistakable. "I’m fine...still here, Zara," he rasped, the words barely leaving his lips.
Her heart, which had been racing, stilled in an instant. The flood of relief that crashed through her was so intense, she nearly collapsed. Her knees went weak, and for a mont, she just breathed. The weight that had been pressing down on her chest was finally lifted.
"What’s wrong with you? Don’t ever do that again," she whispered, her voice shaky.
Winter’s lips twitched into sothing that could’ve been a smirk if he wasn’t so pale, but his eyes were clear now, a familiar defiance returning to them. "No promises."
Zara laughed weakly, her throat tight. "You’re impossible," she said, but her voice was soft, laced with relief.
For the next few monts, everything settled.
The tension in the room didn’t disappear, but it was easier to breathe now. Winter was alive. He wasn’t slipping away.
But the fear still lingered in Zara’s mind, gnawing at her as she looked around the room again. The others were still here, still fighting, still hoping. But for how long? How long could they keep going?
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