Inside the house, Elion watched the outside carefully from one of the third-floor windows. Daylight illuminated the deserted streets, but a few infected could still be seen wandering around. The situation outside remained complicated.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps and saw his brother Hael approaching.
—How's everything outside? —asked Hael, noticing his brother's tense demeanor.
Elion didn't take his eyes off the window, but replied calmly:
—There are fewer infected nearby; it seems they're moving away from the house a little. But the situation is still dangerous.
Hael frowned, a little worried, and asked him:
—Are you going out?
Elion nodded, knowing there was no other option.
—Yes, we're almost out of food. We finished the last pieces of bread at breakfast, so I have to go find more. Besides, I promised Althea I'd contact her friend Delma today.
Hael understood and, although concerned, said nothing more. With a sigh, he asked:
—Please don't go too far, Elion. I don't like you going out alone.
Elion gave him a calm smile, trying to ease his brother's anxiety.
—Don't worry, I won't go far. Where are the others?
—Althea and Max are with Stella —Hael replied, looking down, as if reflecting on the change that had taken place in the house—. Stella's room has become their favorite place. They spend more time there than anywhere else in the house.
Elion nodded, already familiar with the dynamics of the house. Together, they headed to Stella's room.
Upon entering, Elion shared his plan in a firm voice:
—I'm going out for a while. I'll look for food and also a place with signal so I can contact Althea's friend.
The others looked at each other. Although their concern was evident, they understood that it was necessary.
Elion looked at Althea and said:
—Althea, I need to borrow your phone so I can contact Delma —he asked calmly.
Althea hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. She left the room and returned shortly after with the phone in her hand. She handed it to Elion, who took it carefully and put it in his backpack.
—Be sure to tell Delma where we are, and tell her I hope to see her again soon —Althea said to Elion as he adjusted the backpack on his back.
Elion nodded.
—How long will you be gone? —Stella asked, looking at him with a cautious expression.
—I don't know, but if I'm late, Hael will stay and take care of everything. There's some food by the kitchen sink, in case you get hungry —Elion replied, heading for the door.
Hael looked at him with a mixture of concern and confidence. When Elion opened the door to leave, he said goodbye to everyone with a firm gesture.
—See you soon. Take care —he said, before disappearing through the doorway.
As he descended the stairs to the first floor, Elion took a deep breath. Everyone upstairs is safe, he reminded himself. When he reached the exit, he placed his hand on the doorknob; it trembled slightly beneath his fingers. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought: "Here we go". Then he pushed the door open. The cold air outside enveloped him as he stepped out, and the sharp click of the door closing behind him echoed like a farewell that was too heavy to bear.
Upstairs, Hael stood motionless, the echo of that sound weighing heavily on his chest. The shadow of worry clouded his face.
Stella watched him silently, then gave him a warm, almost motherly smile.
—Don't be sad, Hael. Your brother will come back. He's strong.
Althea, who had been silent until then, came over and took Hael's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.
—Stella is right —she said, looking at Hael seriously—. Your brother is strong. Nothing will stop him from coming back.
Hael looked at her, a little bewildered at first, but his eyes softened as he listened to her words. He smiled slightly and, with a renewed attitude, said:
—Yes, he is very strong.
Stella, Althea, and Hael stayed together, hoping that Elion would return soon. Each of them knew that the wait would not be easy, but the hope that Elion would return safely kept them united.
While Elion slipped away through the alleys, in another part of the city, a woman kicked down the door of an office at the top of an imposing building. The place was impeccably furnished: a large dark wood desk, a leather living room set, shelves full of books, and a huge panoramic window overlooking the gray city stretching to the horizon.
The figure that entered contrasted with that elegance. It was Delma. Her dark complexion glistened with sweat from exertion, and her short brown hair fell in messy strands across her forehead. Her deep, attentive brown eyes scanned the room with relentless concentration. She wore a dark, tight-fitting outfit designed for mobility and endurance; with discreet reinforcements on the shoulders and knees, it had a tactical, sober air, like the uniform of someone accustomed to covert missions. The suit, however, was stained with blood and dust, traces of the chaos she had gone through.
Before entering completely, she paused, looking at the broken door.
—I didn't think I'd ever come back to this place... — she murmured, with a mixture of frustration and memories.
Delma didn't hesitate any longer. She pushed her way through the furniture, messing up the place as she searched urgently for something. Hours passed, and finally, exhausted, she collapsed onto one of the sofas. She still hadn't found what she was looking for. She brought her hand to her face, then looked out the window, watching the sun begin to set on the horizon.
—Damn it, Felix... where did you hide it? — she spat angrily, clutching the gun tightly in her hands.
Just then, her cell phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. Looking at the screen, she recognized Althea's number. Without thinking, she quickly answered:
—Althea... sorry, I'll be a little late.
But before she could hear the answer, a deep, calm male voice came from the other end of the line:
—I'm not Althea. I'm a friend. Are you Miss Delma?"
The tone of voice left Delma silent for a moment, as if she were trying to process what she had just heard. The words "a friend" sounded dangerous to her. She sat up immediately, alert, and held the phone more firmly.
—Friend, you say? —she murmured cautiously—. Who are you?
Elion replied quickly, his voice clear and calm:
—Please calm down... I'm not an enemy. My name is Elion. I helped Althea when she was in trouble.
Delma hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to believe him, but then she remembered the conversation she had had with Althea two days earlier. Her tone shifted from cautious to relieved.
—The guy who offered Althea shelter? —she asked, trying to be sure—. So you're not one of those bastards trying to hurt her? Because if you are, you don't know what's coming.
Elion was alarmed and shook his head firmly.
—No, I'm not that kind of person, I'm just trying to help Althea. Besides, the reason I'm calling you is because the place where we were staying before has changed and Althea asked me to contact you to let you know.
Delma, who had been holding the phone tightly, sighed with relief.
—I see... —he said, her voice softening—. Can you give me the new address and... Is Althea okay?
—She's fine, don't worry—Elion replied confidently.
Elion gave her the address without hesitation, making sure Delma could find the place without any problems.
—Althea hopes to see you soon, Miss Delma —he added, his tone warm.
Delma smiled, albeit somewhat sadly.
—I'll come soon... but you'll have to wait a little longer. Things aren't easy around here. —then she laughed softly—. At least now I know you're not one of those idiots, and I can trust you to take care of Althea. I appreciate that.
Elion nodded, understanding perfectly what Delma had said.
—I understand. Take care —he said, listening to the final sound of the phone disconnecting.
When she hung up, Delma put her cell phone in her pocket and let out a sigh. Her gaze drifted around the room until it settled on a painting hanging on the wall. It was a vibrant painting, full of warm tones that caught the evening light. Just as the sun began to set, its last rays struck the golden edge of the frame. It reflected a faint glow that bounced off the opposite wall, creating an unexpected flash.
Intrigued, she approached the wall. The glint reflecting off the paint was subtle, but strange enough to pique her curiosity. Looking closer, she noticed a small rectangle protruding from the wall. It was covered by a layer of paint, almost imperceptible.
—What the hell? — she muttered to herself, staring at the faintly visible edge.
She picked up a small sharp tool from the desk and, with a careful touch, began to scrape away the paint. The base of the rectangle gave way with a soft crack, and as she removed the remains of the coating, she revealed a small box hidden inside.
With a satisfied smile, she deftly opened the box and found what she had been looking for all along: a USB drive.
A low laugh escaped her lips.
— Finally... Felix, I never thought you'd be so clever as to hide it this way... —she remarked, looking at the small device with admiration.
Feeling that time was running out, she looked out the window. The sun was about to set completely, gradually darkening the room. At that moment, something else caught her attention: a picture on the desk that she had overlooked.
It was a photo, a familiar image of Felix, Evelin, and a young Althea. Delma took it out of the frame, carefully tucking it into her pocket.
—I hope this is enough to fulfill my promise, Felix —she murmured as she turned to head for the exit, taking one last look at the small room.
—I'll help you... but only so that Althea will never have to hide in the shadows again.
Delma descended the stairs of the building with steady steps, the USB drive tucked into the inside pocket of her jacket. When she reached the back door, she paused for a moment. She pressed her ear against the wood. All she could hear was the whisper of the wind and some distant growling. She tightened her fingers around the gun she was carrying and took a deep breath.
—Come on, Delma... —she said to herself, pushing the door open with force.
The street unfolded before her like a field of ruins. Abandoned vehicles, papers fluttering in the wind, the air thick with dust and ash. Further ahead, a few infected wandered clumsily, still far away.
Delma didn't hesitate. She slipped into a narrow alleyway, sticking close to the peeling walls, her steps light and calculated. Her mind reviewed the mental map she had constructed: shortcuts, safe buildings, places where she could hide if necessary. She couldn't risk losing the USB drive... or her life.
A bloodcurdling scream echoed in the distance, and Delma stopped dead in her tracks. She looked both ways, gripping her weapon tighter.
—I won't fail... —she murmured, starting to move again.
As he moved through the shadows, every street crossing was a gamble. Every corner, a potential trap. But his determination was stronger than his fear. He had to get to Althea. He had to keep his promise.
Elsewhere in the city, at that very moment, Elion was also preparing to leave his hiding place and take to the streets. The sky was tinged with orange and red hues, as if the city itself were burning in a silent fire. Not far from there, in the café, the boys were ready to leave, each with a mixture of nervousness and determination on their faces. For all of them, that night would mark a turning point.
The sun finally disappeared completely, leaving behind a dull glow on the horizon. Darkness began to cover the deserted streets, while the moon slowly emerged, bathing the city's roofs and broken windows in its silvery light. The night was beginning, and with it, the real challenge.
The game of survival had begun again.