The smell of hot soup filled the engineering workshop.
For the first time in two days, people weren’t eating to silence their hunger.
They were eating because they believed there would be another meal tomorrow.
Children laughed quietly.
Someone found a deck of playing cards.
A group of students gathered around a battery-powered radio, turning the dial in search of a signal.
Static.
Nothing but static.
Noah leaned back against a workbench with a steaming cup in his hands.
“I never thought instant noodles could taste this good.”
“They don’t,” Elias replied, checking the workshop’s barricades.
“We’re just starving.”
“Let me enjoy the illusion.”
A few nearby survivors chuckled.
It was a small sound.
But in a world drowning in screams…
It mattered.
Elias stood before the whiteboard.
Their situation had improved.
Food for eight days.
Water for five.
Medical supplies were still critically low.
Batteries.
Fuel.
Blankets.
Medicine.
Every item had a number beside it.
Every number reminded him how fragile their survival was.
Sarah approached quietly.
“The woman we rescued…”
“She’s awake.”
Elias nodded and walked to the makeshift infirmary.
The woman sat wrapped in a blanket, her hands trembling around a cup of warm water.
She looked older than she had the day before.
Fear had a way of doing that.
“…Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
“I do.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“I hid under that kitchen counter for two days.”
“I heard people screaming.”
“I heard them begging for help.”
Her voice cracked.
“I didn’t move.”
No one judged her.
No one could.
Survival demanded impossible choices.
“My name is Emily.”
“Elias.”
“Noah.”
Sarah smiled gently.
“Welcome home.”
Emily stared at her.
“…Home?”
Sarah looked around the workshop.
“It isn’t much.”
“But it’s ours.”
A loud crash interrupted the moment.
Everyone turned.
One of the barricades had shifted.
Not because of the infected.
Because two students were arguing.
“This isn’t fair!”
“We brought back the food!”
“We deserve a bigger share!”
Another survivor stepped forward.
“Everyone risked their lives!”
“You weren’t even on the supply run!”
Voices rose.
Soon half the room was shouting.
Noah groaned.
“Here we go…”
Elias didn’t raise his voice.
He walked to the center of the room.
The arguments continued.
Until he picked up a heavy wrench…
And struck it against a steel table.
CLANG!
The workshop fell silent.
His gaze swept across every face.
“If we start fighting each other…”
He pointed toward the barricaded doors.
“…they won’t have to kill us.”
No one spoke.
“We survive together.”
“Or we die separately.”
He looked at the young man demanding extra food.
“Do you know why I chose only four people for yesterday’s supply run?”
The student looked away.
“No.”
“Because every extra person increased the chance someone wouldn’t come back.”
Silence.
“You’ll all get the same ration.”
“No exceptions.”
“Not because it’s fair.”
“Because it’s necessary.”
The room slowly settled.
Noah leaned toward Sarah.
“…He’s getting good at that.”
Sarah smiled.
“I think he hates every second of it.”
That evening…
The radio crackled.
Everyone froze.
A voice emerged through the static.
“…This is…
Emergency Broadcast…”
Static swallowed the words.
“…Military…
evacuation…”
“…Designated Safe Zones…”
“…Remain where you are…”
“…Rescue operations…”
The signal disappeared.
The workshop erupted.
“We’re saved!”
“I knew the military would come!”
“We just have to wait!”
Hope spread like wildfire.
People hugged.
Some cried openly.
Emily covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing.
Noah looked at Elias.
“You don’t look convinced.”
Elias stared at the silent radio.
Something bothered him.
The message had been too short.
Too clean.
Almost…
Recorded.
“What is it?”
He looked toward the dark window.
“If rescue teams are operating…”
“…why hasn’t anyone reached the university?”
No one had an answer.
Night fell.
The workshop lights remained off.
Only red emergency lamps illuminated the room.
Outside…
Rainwater dripped from broken pipes.
The infected wandered aimlessly between abandoned vehicles.
Everything appeared still.
Until…
A shadow moved across a rooftop overlooking the engineering building.
It wasn’t stumbling.
It wasn’t wandering.
It stopped.
It looked directly at the workshop.
The creature tilted its head.
As though listening.
As though…
Thinking.
Then it vanished into the darkness.
Far below…
Elias suddenly opened his eyes from a restless sleep.
A feeling settled deep in his chest.
Someone…
Or something…
Was watching them.