After Dave dismissed everyone, the bunker slowly returned to motion.
People moved through the corridors carrying crates, talking more loudly than usual, laughter echoing through the concrete halls. The news of the campfire had spread fast. Even the air felt different—lighter somehow.
I walked down the familiar hallway toward the sleeping quarters, my boots echoing softly against the floor.
After a mission, I usually cleaned my gear first. Checked the rifle, replaced ammo, wiped dust from the blade strapped to my boot.
But tonight felt different.
Tonight we weren't soldiers for a few hours.
We were just survivors trying to remember what life used to feel like.
When I reached the bunk rooms, I could hear the familiar voices inside.
Johnson's loud laugh came first.
"I'm telling you," he said, "if Dave actually found marshmallows somewhere, this night is officially legendary."
Ted groaned from somewhere in the room.
"You think marshmallows survived the apocalypse?"
"Hope is important, Ted," Johnson replied dramatically.
Max chuckled.
"Hope doesn't magically create marshmallows."
"Not with that attitude it doesn't."
More laughter followed.
Most of the guys were stretched across their bunks.
Alex sat at the edge of one bed sharpening a knife slowly. Oliver leaned back against the wall with his arms folded. Ted and Johnson were lying on their beds, boots still on, talking across the room like a couple of teenagers instead of men who had just fought their way through a mall full of infected.
For once... nobody looked tense.
Nobody looked like they were waiting for the next disaster.
They just looked tired.
And happy to still be alive.
Johnson spotted me by the door.
"Well look who it is," he called out.
I stopped in the doorway.
"What?"
He smirked.
"You coming to the fire tonight, Gemini?"
"Obviously."
Johnson leaned over the edge of his bunk.
"You better," he said. "Ted already promised to embarrass himself telling stories." Seems like Johnson was getting along with the newcomers
"That's slander," Ted said immediately.
Max grinned.
"I've heard your stories. It's not slander."
More laughter filled the room.
I shook my head.
"Try not to burn the bunker down before I get there."
"No promises," Johnson replied.
The atmosphere reminded me of something from another life.
Like people getting ready for a party.
Sophie sat on her bed tying her boots.
"You're late," she said when she saw me.
"Late for what?"
"Looking normal for once."
I ignored that and walked toward my locker.
On the far side of the room, Annelise stood in front of the small mirror hanging on the wall.
She turned when she heard me enter.
And smiled.
She was wearing a soft yellow summer dress that flowed lightly around her knees. Her hair was loose over her shoulders, and for the first time since I'd known her she looked... carefree.
"Gemini," she said brightly. "What do you think?"
I studied her for a moment.
"It suits you."
She laughed.
"I haven't worn a dress in years."
"Most of us haven't. Are you looking to impress someone tonight, Annelise?" Sophie wiggled her eyebrows as she pointed toward the guys.
Annelise playfully glared at Sophie before turning her full attention to me.
"Are you going to wear one?"
I hesitated.
Then I opened the metal door.
Inside were a few folded clothes, spare ammunition, and a small cloth bundle I hadn't touched in a long time.
I pulled it out slowly.
The dark green dress was simple. Nothing fancy. But it was still intact.
I stared at it for a moment.
Sophie noticed immediately.
"Oh wow," she said.
I sighed.
"It's just a dress."
"You're actually going to wear it?" she asked.
"I think that's the point of tonight."
A few minutes later I stepped behind the curtain we used as a changing divider.
When I came out again, the room went quiet for a second.
Annelise's eyes widened.
"You look amazing."
Sophie smirked.
"Well I'll be damned."
I crossed my arms slightly, feeling strange without my combat vest and weapons strapped everywhere.
"It feels weird."
"You mean wearing normal clothes?" Sophie asked.
"Exactly."
Annelise walked over and adjusted a strand of hair away from my face.
"You deserve one normal night."
I didn't argue with that.
After slipping my boots back on—because I still refused to wear anything else—I headed for the door that was onto this side of the bunker.
"Where are you going?" Sophie asked.
"Courtyard?" Annelise added.
"Soon," I said. "I want to check on the kids first."
Annelise smiled softly.
"That's sweet."
I shrugged.
"They get excited about nights like this."
And honestly...
Seeing the kids always helped me remember why Haven Creek mattered.
I snuck out of the bunker room so that the guys would not see me. I could feel the teasing and the flirting flying my way once the guys see me like this. The hallway leading to the children's quarters was quieter than the rest of the bunker.
Most adults were preparing for the campfire.
But inside the children's room, soft voices and laughter floated through the air.
I pushed the door open gently.
Several kids sat on the floor playing with a pile of mismatched board game pieces. Someone had found an old deck of cards, and a couple of the older kids were arguing over the rules.
Mrs. Carter looked up from her chair when I walked in.
"Well look at you," she said warmly.
"Someone cleaned up nicely."
"Don't get used to it," I replied.
The kids noticed me then.
"Gemini!" one of the boys shouted.
A few of them ran over immediately.
"Did you go outside today?"
"Did you fight zombies?"
"Did you win?"
I laughed softly.
"Slow down."
Then I heard a quieter voice.
"Hi Gemini."
I turned toward the corner of the room.
Laura sat on one of the beds, holding her stuffed rabbit close to her chest.
Laura was nine years old.
And somehow... over the past year, she and I had formed a strange little bond.
Maybe because she was quiet.
Maybe because she listened more than she talked.
Or maybe because we both understood what it meant to lose everything.
I walked over to her.
"Hey kid."
Her eyes moved slowly over my dress.
"You look different."
"Good different or bad different?"
She smiled shyly.
"Good."
I sat down beside her on the bed.
"You excited for the campfire tonight?"
She nodded.
"Mrs. Carter said we can watch from the balcony."
"That's right."
"Will there be stories?"
"Probably."
She hugged her rabbit tighter.
"I like the stories about before."
Before.
Before the infected.
Before the world fell apart.
"Me too," I said quietly.
She looked up at me again.
"Are you telling one?"
"I might."
Her face brightened.
"Tell a good one."
"I'll try."
Across the room, one of the other kids yawned loudly.
Mrs. Carter clapped her hands gently.
"Alright everyone, time to start settling down."
Several groans followed.
"But the fire hasn't started yet!"
"You can watch from upstairs later," she said.
Laura looked back at me.
"Will you say goodnight before you go?"
I smiled faintly.
"I'm saying it now."
I stood up and looked around at the kids.
"Goodnight, everyone."
A chorus of voices answered.
"Goodnight Gemini!"
"Don't fall in the fire!"
I laughed softly.
"Good advice."
Laura hugged her rabbit and waved.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Laura."
I stepped out into the hallway again and closed the door quietly behind me.
From deeper inside the bunker, I could already see the warm glow of firelight flickering down the corridor.
Voices carried through the air.
Music.
Laughter.
The campfire had started.
For a moment I paused there in the hallway, listening.
Five years of survival.
Five years of fighting just to stay alive.
But tonight...
For a few hours...
We weren't fighters.
We weren't scavengers.
We were just people sitting around a fire.
And for the first time in a long while...
That felt like enough.
I took a breath and started walking toward the courtyard.