Rise of the undead

After finishing their sandwiches, Ava felt her body start to relax again. She had finally eaten and drunk something after so long. A deep sense of relief washed over her as she leaned back slightly, savoring the warmth of the food in her stomach.

She glanced up at Briar, who sat tall on the other side of the room, her eyes scanning the street through the window. Her shotgun rested in her hands, ready for any potential danger lurking outside.

"How long have you been here?" Ava asked, breaking the silence. She knew it might be a harsh question, but Briar was clearly alone, and there was no sign of anyone else with her.

Ava watched as Abby rose from her chair, her small frame moving sluggishly. With a content sigh, she made her way to a nearby sofa and lay down, her full stomach making her drowsy.

Briar let out a heavy sigh, her fingers tightening around the gun.

"This was my daddy's café," she admitted, her voice laced with sorrow. "One of the creatures got hold of him and turned him." She paused for a moment before meeting Ava's eyes. "I had no choice but to end him before he ended me."

Her words carried the weight of a pain Ava could only imagine. She could picture herself in Briar's situation, faced with an impossible choice. The thought of losing her own parents—whom she would likely never see again—made her chest ache.

"I'm so sorry," Ava said softly, her voice filled with genuine sympathy. She knew that nothing could erase Briar's pain, but she wanted her to know she wasn't alone in her grief.

Just then, Ava felt her stomach twist—not with hunger this time, but with an urgent need. She realized she needed to relieve herself for the first time in what felt like forever.

She pushed herself up from the chair and turned to Briar. "May I use your bathroom?" she asked.

Briar turned to her, nodding. "Yeah, sure. It's to the left."

Ava nodded in thanks before looking toward Abby. "Do you need to go too?" she asked, knowing they hadn't had a chance to stop since they started running.

Abby hopped off the sofa, stretching slightly before nodding. "Yeah."

Together, they made their way toward the bathroom, leaving Briar at her post.

Ava hadn't stepped into a bathroom in a long time. The last time she had, she had taken the test.

She quickly used the toilet and washed her hands, glancing at Abby, who was still finishing up. Taking advantage of the moment alone, she reached into her jacket pocket, her hands trembling.

The test was still there.

 She pulled it out and stared at the small screen. The words stood clear as day: 5+ weeks pregnant.

Tears welled in her eyes, slipping silently down her cheeks. She rested a hand on her lower abdomen, her mind racing. What would this mean for her baby? The world had crumbled, overtaken by creatures that had stolen everything from them. How could she bring a child into this nightmare?

Would she ever see Lucas again? Would she even get the chance to tell him? She sniffed, wiping at her tears just as Abby finished and stood beside her.

"Ava, what's wrong?" Abby asked, concern shining in her eyes.

Ava quickly shoved the test back into her pocket and forced a smile. "It's nothing… just me being silly," she murmured, wiping away the last traces of her tears.

She spotted a pack of wipes on the counter, grabbed one, and bent down to Abby's height. "Here, let me clean your face," she offered.

Gently, she wiped away the dust and dirt, revealing the young girl's flawless skin underneath. Abby was sharp, brave—remarkable. Ava silently wished that her own unborn child would grow to be just as strong.

When she finished, Abby beamed at her. "Thank you, Ava," she said, skipping out of the bathroom.

Ava smiled at the child's simple joy, but as she stood and caught her own reflection in the mirror, a jolt of shock ran through her. She barely recognized herself. Her face was smeared with dirt, her clothes stained with dried blood. Bitterness settled in her chest.

Taylor.

The image of Taylor's death haunted her, threatening to pull her under.

Pushing the memory aside, she grabbed another wipe and quickly cleaned her face. She couldn't afford to fall apart now. She had to stay strong. After she finest cleaning her face she quickly undo her tow strain of braids what still lay on her side and pull her hair up and make a high pony tale on her head.

Once she was ready, she left the bathroom, finding Abby playing a hand-clap game with Briar. The two of them already seemed like old friends.

Ava pulled out her phone, unlocking it. Her battery was low—too low. She had to find the camp before the map disappeared.

Opening Lucas's message, she tapped on the location he had sent and walked over to Briar. "I was wondering if you could help me with this," she said, showing her the screen. "It's a survivor camp. My boyfriend said it's where everyone's gone."

Briar frowned. "Survivor camp?"

Ava nodded, handing her the phone. "I don't know much, but I trust Lucas. He might be there with his friends. Who knows who else made it?"

"If we leave now, we can get there before nightfall. We'll be safe," she added, turning to Abby.

Abby's face lit up. "My daddy might be there!"

Ava remembered Abby mentioning that her father had worked with the president.

Briar studied the map, then returned the phone. "You're going to need protection. It's a few blocks away, near the train station grounds."

Ava locked her phone and tucked it safely into her jacket. "That's a risk I'm willing to take," she said firmly. "I need to find Lucas."

"Because you have to tell him about your baby?" Abby's voice was small but full of certainty.

Ava's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected anyone to put it into words, let alone Abby who was only a six year old child.

Abby gasped. "I didn't know you were pregnant!"

Ava inhaled deeply. There was no hiding it now. She met Briar's gaze. "I am. But I found out the day everything went wrong. I never got the chance to tell him."

Briar was silent for a moment, then suddenly stood. "Then I'm coming with you."

Ava's eyes widened. "Briar, you've already done so much for us. We can't ask you to—"

"I'm not letting you go alone," Briar interrupted. "You need protection. You have no idea what's out there."

Ava hesitated. She had already lost so much—could she risk losing another person?

But Abby was already standing beside Briar, her eyes full of excitement. "Please, Ava. It would help us so much if Briar came along."

Ava looked around at the café, the food, the fragile safety of the moment. But it wouldn't last. She had to find a safe place—for herself, for her baby.

She let out a quiet breath. "Okay," she said. "You can come."

Briar and Abby cheered, jumping up and down in excitement. Briar grabbed her bag, stuffing it with water bottles and supplies for the journey. Soon, they were ready to go.

And Ava prayed that wherever they were headed, it would be safe.