Leila sat on the cold floor, hugging herself, while Samer struggled to ignite a small fire with some wood they had scavenged on their walk. He never imagined he would find himself in a situation like this: no electricity, no security, and in the company of a girl he knew nothing about, except that she had survived the same hell he had.
Leila huddled against the frigid wall, watching Samer attempt to light the fire for the fifth time. His features were indistinct in the darkness. His trembling fingers were too slow for the task, and the single spark he managed to generate died out, just like the flicker of hope in his expression.
Leila chuckled softly as she watched his persistent efforts.
"Are you serious?"
He lifted his head and looked at her, exasperated. "Are you mocking me? This is an ancient art. It requires skill and patience."
She shook her head, trying to stifle her smile. "I don't want to discourage you, but you are absolutely failing at this art."
Samer tossed the piece of wood aside and sighed deeply. "Great... So, we'll sleep in the dark."
Leila burst out laughing, then quickly covered her mouth, remembering they needed to remain as quiet as possible. But she couldn't stop herself from speaking again. "If you're going to stick with me, you'd better find some other useful skills."
"I have skills," he said with false pride, leaning back to reclaim some of his dignity. "I can run fast, hide well, and tell jokes at the worst possible moments."
She raised an eyebrow. "The last one isn't a skill; it's a pathetic way to escape reality."
Samer countered, "On the contrary! We need some fun so we don't go insane."
Leila looked at him silently for a moment, then conceded, "Perhaps... you're right."
Silence settled between them for a moment. After a few minutes of contemplation, Leila asked, "What were you like before all this happened?"
Samer looked at her, seeming to rearrange his thoughts. "I lived a normal life... a bit boring. I went to university, worked temporary jobs, and I only had one friend."
Leila asked, "Only one friend?"
Samer replied, "Yes, his name is Adam. We were inseparable." Samer offered a faint smile, which then faded. "But I don't know where he is now."
Samer's heart was heavy with worry. He was thinking about the fate of his family and his closest friend, Adam, and what had become of them after the catastrophe. He wished they were safe and hiding, just as he was. They were all he had left in his life.
Leila placed her hand on her knee, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Maybe he's still alive."
Samer nodded slowly. "I hope so."
Leila didn't want to spoil the mood further, so she changed the topic. "As for me, I was studying literature and working part-time at a bookstore."
Samer raised his eyebrows with interest. "So, you're the type who reads books instead of going out and having fun?"
Leila insisted, "Books are fun! When I read, I forget the world... and live a thousand other worlds."
Samer commented, "I'm not arguing, but do you think any book could prepare you for this new world?"
She smiled wryly. "Not exactly... but who knows? Maybe I'll find a book titled 'How to Survive a Hyper-Monster Invasion.'"
Samer laughed. "If you find it, let me know. I'll certainly need it."
At that moment, the sound of faint footsteps echoed down one of the bunker's passageways. Leila froze in place, and Samer gripped a small knife he had found earlier. They exchanged a look, and he whispered, "Stay behind me."
The footsteps grew louder, and a shadow approached the dark entrance. Leila held her breath, feeling her heart pound against her chest. When the man finally appeared, carrying a torch for light, she quickly took a step back.
But Samer froze, staring at the man with wide eyes before crying out in a choked voice, "Adam?!"
Adam paused for a moment, as if his mind couldn't process the name. Then, his eyes widened too, and he directed the torchlight onto Samer's face. His mouth dropped open in astonishment. "Samer?!"
Leila could only watch in amazement as Samer rushed forward to embrace the newcomer fiercely, as if the entire world had vanished for a moment, and all that remained was the reunion of two friends.
Adam hung the torch on one of the walls and produced some food for them. "You must be starving," he said as he distributed the rations. "Here, eat this. And you should know, we can't linger here for long. We need to move."
Samer and Leila took the food and began to eat.
Samer asked Adam, "How did you survive, Adam? Tell me."