Rise of the undead

Ava nodded, but no words came. Her hands trembled as she stared at the lifeless body at her feet, her mind struggling to process what she had just done. Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unchecked. She had never killed anything before. Never imagined she would have to. But this was survival.

After a few moments, she forced herself to move, taking a deep breath as she wiped her face. She couldn't afford to fall apart. Not now.

"Wait here," she told Abby, placing the metal pipe on the floor.

Ava grabbed the corpse by its worn brown boots, the sickly stench of decay making her stomach churn. Gritting her teeth, she dragged the body across the shop until she found a back door. With shaking hands, she shoved it open and hastily dumped the corpse outside, slamming the door shut and locking it.

Her heart pounded. She pressed her forehead against the door, inhaling deeply, forcing herself to calm down. When she turned back, she took in her surroundings for the first time.

A mattress store.

Rows of mattresses lined the walls, some still wrapped in plastic, others covered with blankets. It wasn't perfect, but it was shelter, and for now, that was enough.

Ava made her way back to the front of the shop, where Abby still stood frozen in the same spot. The poor girl had been through too much in one night. Ava knew they couldn't move again until daylight—it was too dangerous.

Determined to make the space safer, she locked the front door and dragged a mattress in front of it as a barricade. Then she pushed another into the corner of the shop, grabbing a blanket from a shelf before walking back to Abby.

Wordlessly, she draped the blanket over the little girl's small shoulders, wrapping her in warmth. Abby was still in shock, her red-rimmed eyes blank, and all Ava could do was be there.

Grabbing another blanket, Ava wrapped herself up and guided Abby toward the mattress. She sat down first, and after a few hesitant moments, Abby crawled beside her, seeking comfort.

"It's okay," Ava murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Silent tears slipped down her face as she pulled Abby close, holding her tight. "I won't let anything hurt you. I promise."

Abby wasn't her child. She was a stranger. But in this moment, they were all each other had.

Ava pressed a gentle kiss to Abby's forehead, cradling her against her chest. At only seventeen, she didn't know how to be a mother—but she could be something. She could be there. As Abby rested her head against her, Ava absentmindedly stroked the girl's blonde hair, her gaze drifting down to the bracelet on her wrist—the one Lucas had given her.

The moonlight caught the silver charm, making it glisten in the darkness.

A lump formed in her throat. She missed him. So much that it physically hurt.

If only she could see him one more time. Her heart was shattered, and she was lost. All she had left was Abby.

And for now, that had to be enough.

After a while, Ava finally drifted into sleep, holding Abby close. The two of them remained curled up in the corner of the shop, hidden beneath layers of blankets, until something woke them.

Ava stirred at the sound of soft clicking against the window.

Click. Click.

Her eyes fluttered open, greeted by the warm glow of sunlight streaming through the dusty glass. For a brief, blissful moment, she wished last night had been nothing but a nightmare. But the aching in her body, the cold air in the shop, and the weight of Abby beside her reminded her of the truth.

She was still in the nightmare.

Still trapped in this broken world, sheltering in a mattress store with a little girl who had lost her mother.

Ava shifted slightly, careful not to wake Abby, who remained curled up in the blankets, her small face peaceful despite the tear stains beneath her eyes.

Just as Ava was about to stretch, she felt a faint buzzing in her jacket pocket.

Her phone.

She had completely forgotten about it. Heart pounding, she fished it out and unlocked the screen. Only one percent battery left.

Her breath caught when she saw a message waiting for her.

From Lucas.

Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it, her fingers trembling.

"Ava, tell me that you're okay. You never sent a message back yesterday. Are you safe? Where are you? Me and Bladen found out there's a camp where all the survivors are gathering. If you can, try to get there—I'll meet you. Or do you want me to come find you? Please, let me know. I'm worried about you. I miss you like crazy and… I love you."

Ava exhaled sharply, reading the message twice, almost holding her breath. Attached was a map, pinpointing the camp's location.

For a moment, she could only stare at the screen, emotions swirling inside her. He was alive. He was looking for her. So long Lucas was still alive she still have hope in her heart to found him and see him again.

She swallowed hard before quickly typing a reply.

 "I'm okay. We lost the little girl's mother last night, but we were lucky to escape from the creatures. I'll find my way to the camp—don't come looking for me. I can't lose you too. I love you and miss you with every breath."

She hit send before her phone could die, then locked it and shoved it back into her pocket. She had to save the last bit of battery for an emergency. Power wouldn't last much longer—soon, the entire city would go dark.

At that moment, her stomach let out a loud rumble.

Ava blinked, realizing how painfully empty she felt. She hadn't eaten since yesterday. Barely drank anything besides that small bottle of orange juice. With everything happening, survival had taken priority over basic needs.

As she processed her hunger, she heard a small rustle beside her.

Abby was waking up.

The little girl blinked sleepily, rubbing her puffy, red-rimmed eyes. She had clearly been crying even in her sleep.

"Good morning," Ava said softly.

"Morning," Abby murmured, shifting to sit upright.

The cold air wrapped around them, a bitter reminder that winter was creeping in. Thankfully, Abby still had her gray hoodie, jeans, and sneakers. Ava, too, was bundled up, but the chill seeped through regardless.

"I think we're both hungry," Ava said, just as her stomach growled again.

Abby glanced at her and suddenly giggled.

It was the first time Ava had heard her laugh, and it caught her off guard.

"It sounds like you have a monster in your tummy," Abby giggled.

Ava couldn't help but smile, warmth spreading through her despite the cold. Soon, the two of them were laughing together, a small, fleeting moment of normalcy in their shattered world.

But as the laughter faded, reality settled back in. They needed food.

And that meant they had to move. With a newfound determination, Ava stood up, offering Abby a hand.

"Come on," she said. "Let's find something to eat."

 Abby nodded, slipping her small fingers into Ava's.