Death Within

Chapter 7

After John took a bath, he changed into a black compression T-shirt and a pair of military pants, securing a pistol in its holster on his right hip for emergency use. His body felt refreshed, but his mind remained sharp, knowing that survival depended on constant vigilance.

Before heading back to where Anna and the kids were studying, he made a quick stop in the kitchen. The atmosphere in the house was relatively calm, but John knew that keeping morale high was just as crucial as securing their defenses. He rummaged through their supplies and prepared a simple snack—some crackers, canned fruit, and peanut butter, along with bottled water. It wasn't anything fancy, but in times like these, even small things could bring comfort.

He carried the tray into the room where Anna was teaching the kids basic math and reading. As he stepped inside, he set the tray down on the table and said, "Alright, let's take a short break. You guys have been working hard. Eat up."

Leo and Margaret immediately perked up, their faces lighting up with excitement as they reached for the food. Anna, on the other hand, hesitated for a moment, looking at John with a questioning expression.

"Is this okay, John? We should be careful with our rations, right?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

John gave her a reassuring smile, leaning against the back of a chair. "Don't worry, Anna. There's plenty of food stored in the basement. We have enough supplies to last a long time if we use them wisely."

Anna looked at him uncertainly before nodding. "Alright, if you say so. Thank you."

The four of them ate quietly, the small moment of normalcy helping ease the tension that had been lingering in the house. Anna and the kids quickly returned to their studies after finishing their snack, while John took a seat by the window, positioning his chair so he could keep an eye outside while reading a book.

The house was located in a relatively isolated area, far from the city where the initial outbreak had taken place. Still, John knew better than to let his guard down. Every few minutes, he glanced up from his book, scanning the street for any movement.

Then, something caught his attention.

A lone infected stood in the distance, staring directly at the window.

John felt a chill run down his spine. The creature remained motionless, its hollow, red eyes locked onto the house. For a brief moment, he wondered if it had seen movement, or if it was simply standing there by chance.

Keeping his voice calm but firm, he said, "Anna, Leo, Margaret… stay quiet for a bit."

Anna immediately sensed the seriousness in his tone and asked in a quiet voice, "What's wrong, John?"

Without taking his eyes off the infected, he replied, "There's one of them outside. It's looking directly at the house."

At his words, the children tensed, fear creeping into their expressions. Anna instinctively reached for Margaret, holding her close as she whispered, "What do we do?"

John handed Anna a set of keys and a car key, his expression unreadable. "Take these. I want you and the kids to go to the basement. There's plenty of food and supplies down there, along with military equipment. Lock the door behind you and don't open it unless you hear my voice. No matter what happens, stay there."

Anna hesitated. "But what about you?"

"I'll stay here and monitor the situation. If that thing saw movement, we might be in trouble. I need to make sure it's not bringing more of them." His voice was steady, but there was a sense of urgency behind it.

Anna wanted to argue, but she knew John was right. She nodded quickly and turned to Leo and Margaret. "Come on, let's go."

Leo, still trying to act brave, took Margaret's hand and followed Anna as they quietly made their way to the basement. Once inside, Anna locked the door, pressing her ear against it to listen for any sounds from above.

Meanwhile, John grabbed his rifle and strapped on his plate carrier. Moving with efficiency, he checked the points of entry—doors, windows, any possible weak spots that could be exploited if the infected attempted to break in. Everything seemed secure for now, but he wasn't taking any chances.

After a final check, he made his way up to the rooftop, ensuring the door behind him was firmly shut. Once there, he raised his binoculars and scanned the area.

The infected remained in the same spot for several minutes, its head twitching slightly as if listening for something. Then, to John's surprise, it suddenly turned and sprinted away, disappearing into the distance.

John exhaled slowly, lowering the binoculars. He didn't like this. The infected weren't supposed to act like this—not from what he had seen in movies or even from his real-life encounters so far. It was almost as if this one was scouting.

He stayed on the rooftop for a few more minutes, ensuring no other infected were nearby before making his way back down. Stopping outside the basement door, he knocked lightly and spoke in a low voice. "Anna, open up."

The lock clicked, and the door creaked open slightly. Anna peeked out, her eyes filled with concern. "Is everything okay?"

John nodded. "For now. The infected ran off, but I don't like it. Just to be safe, we need to cover all the windows on the first and second floors. If it saw any movement or light, we might have been compromised."

Anna agreed immediately. "I'll help. Leo, Margaret, stay in the basement for now. We'll be back soon."

John and Anna worked quietly, covering every window with thick blankets and whatever materials they could find to block out any light from escaping. The house became darker, but John felt more secure knowing they were less likely to be spotted again.

Once they finished, Anna let out a deep breath. "This is starting to feel more real by the day."

John gave her a knowing look. "That's because it is. But we're still here, and as long as we keep making smart decisions, we'll stay that way."

She nodded, offering a small, tired smile. "Thanks, John. For everything."

John simply nodded in return. "Get some rest, Anna. We'll need all the energy we can get for tomorrow."

Chapter End.