Chapter 1
Elias woke up in his bed as morning light crept around his curtains. He wore a rumpled white t-shirt and faded blue shorts. He looked at the clock on his bedside table: 7:00 AM.
He pushed back the thin blanket and got up. He changed into a clean blue shirt and comfortable black jeans. The fabric felt soft against his skin.
His small room reflected his interests. Zombie posters covered the pale walls. One large poster showed actors from The Walking Dead series striking a cool pose.
On the top shelf near the window sat a collection of zombie figurines, gathering a fine layer of dust. There was a Clicker from The Last of Us, a Tank zombie from Left 4 Dead, and several others.
His desk held only a simple PC setup—a black case and a single monitor, keeping things uncluttered. Directly opposite his bed stood a tall bookshelf crammed with comic books.
Bright spines of DC and Marvel superheroes mixed with Japanese manga volumes.
He walked out of his room and padded down the stairs.
Inside the kitchen, the warm smell of cooking butter and batter filled the air.
On the stove, a cast-iron skillet sizzled, and a golden pancake bubbled within. Someone was cooking breakfast.
It was his mother, Samantha Heart. She looked surprisingly youthful, perhaps in her early thirties, though Elias knew she was fifty.
She had a beautiful face, a slim figure, fair skin, and short, practical, dark hair. She turned her body as he entered, and her movements were fluid.
Samantha noticed him walk down the last step into the kitchen. "Good morning." She smiled brightly, and her voice was warm.
"Morning." Elias yawned, rubbing his eyes. He pulled out a wooden chair and sat at the small table.
A plate stacked high with fluffy pancakes sat waiting for him, steam rising and carrying the sweet scent of maple syrup.
He picked up his fork, the metal cool in his hand, and began eating the warm, buttery pancakes.
Samantha sat across from him, settling into her chair with a soft sigh. She poured herself a cup of coffee, its rich aroma mingling with the pancake smell. She took a bite. "So, what's your plan for today?"
"Nothing much, just the usual." Elias finished another forkful of pancake, the sweetness coating his tongue. He wasn't the type to party or go wild.
He much preferred staying indoors and losing himself in video games. Games were the only thing truly helping him recover from the loss of his father. His father had died last year from sudden heart failure.
"I'll be home late tonight, you can eat first." She spoke after taking a sip of her coffee.
"Okay." He nodded after taking a bite of the pancake on his plate, not planning on divulging further.
Now, slowly, they were starting to rebuild their lives after the tragedy.
After he finished eating, Elias stood up from the chair. He carried his empty plate to the sink, rinsed it quickly under cool water, and walked towards the front door.
"Have a safe ride," Samantha called after him, still seated at the table, sipping her coffee.
While walking through the living room, he passed a bookshelf. His gaze caught on a simple wooden picture frame.
Inside was a photo of him as a young boy, flanked by both his parents, their faces bright with smiles. It was a family photo from a time when everything felt simple and happy.
He touched the frame lightly before moving on.
He went outside, the cool air nipping at his face. He unlocked the door of the parked red car and slid into the driver's seat.
He started the engine, its familiar rumble vibrating through the seat. He drove the red car onto the quiet street. His mother had gifted it to him. It was his father's car. Samantha didn't know how to drive, so she'd decided to give it to Elias, who could.