Chapter 1: Regretting Her Decision

Virginia (2040)

Natasha Reese woke up to a banging headache that made it hard to breathe. The pain sat heavy behind her eyes and pressed against her skull, she gasped, fighting through the sleepy fog until her lungs filled with air again. Sweat covered her skin, making her black tank top stick to her body, she reached out to the other side of the bed, hoping to feel the familiar warmth of her husband, Josh. The space was empty and cold.

She pushed herself up slowly and grabbed the wristwatch on the small table beside the bed. It was two in the morning, she had barely slept. With a quiet sigh, she swung her legs off the bed and stood up. She was still wearing her lounge pants and black tank top from the night before.

The headache reminded her that she needed medicine, so she moved quietly toward the small living room, which ran on solar power. The soft glow of the light surprised her. Not for any other thing in particular, but Josh was not in bed because he was right there on the three-seater couch and he was not alone.

Evelyn Carter rested in his arms, her head lying comfortably on his chest. Josh had wrapped one arm around her protectively, holding her close as if he had no plans to let go. Their bodies fit together too easily, too intimately. The sight sent an unsettling wave through Natasha’s chest.

She let out a slow, deep breath, telling herself she should not feel jealous, but the feeling came anyway. It was impossible to push down when she saw Josh like this.

A year had passed since the Hollow Plague turned the world upside down. In the early days of the chaos, Josh had brought Evelyn to the temporary base they had built together. At first, Natasha had seen no harm in it. Protecting an old friend seemed like the right thing to do. She had even treated Evelyn like a younger sister, sharing what little they had and showing her kindness. But now, doubt crept in. She wondered if opening their home to Evelyn had been a mistake.

With heavy steps, Natasha walked past them without making a sound.

She found her medicine in the cabinet, swallowed two pills with a full glass of water, and returned to the bedroom. She did not wake Josh. She simply lay back down and stared at the ceiling.

Her thoughts moved quickly to the beginning of everything. Before the Hollow Plague, she had been a special forces operative, trained for dangerous missions. When the outbreak started, her old team had reached out to her. They wanted her back to help with rescue operations and clearing infected zones.

She could have gone with them and used her combat skills and surgical knowledge to save more lives. Instead, she chose to stay here in Virginia with Josh. His family had resources and power before the collapse, and together they had fought hard to build this safe place. They had risked their lives for food, medicine, and supplies. Now the base felt stable, and safe. It felt like home.

But that peace had started to crack the day Josh brought Evelyn into their lives.

Natasha instinctively placed a hand on her stomach and smiled sadly. How nice it would have been to carry their child, to build a real family in this new world. But she knew it was not the right time. Not while the Hollow Plague still raged and the Aerion Vial continued to rewrite people into monsters.

“Maybe it is nothing,” she whispered to the empty room. “I am probably overthinking it.” That was what she always told herself to find comfort.

She knew their marriage was not perfect. Josh had always been a little distant, even from the start. He showed he cared through his actions and his steady leadership of the base. But romantically, he held back. He rarely expressed his feelings with words or tender touches, and that was the problem.

He was not distant with Evelyn. He treated her like something fragile that needed protection. Natasha understood why, she was tall and strong, built from years of combat training. Evelyn was slim and delicate, the kind of woman who made men want to shield her. Even Martha, Josh’s mother, treated Evelyn with the same tenderness.

Natasha rested her head on the pillow and closed her eyes. For now, she needed rest. The medicine would help, and tomorrow would be another long day.

Morning arrived without warning. Natasha felt better after a quick bath. The fever and headache had eased. She stood in front of the mirror and smiled at her reflection. She wore a blue tank top and combat pants, ready for whatever the day would bring. She combed and styled her short hair neatly and walked out of the bedroom.

Laughter floated from the kitchen as she approached. Josh sat at the table, and Evelyn was right beside him. Martha stood near the stove, moving with purpose. Natasha pulled out a chair and sat down quietly.

“Good morning,” Evelyn said first, her voice light and friendly.

“Morning,” Natasha replied.

Martha placed plates of food in front of Josh and Evelyn. Then she turned to Natasha with a sharp look. “You sleep like a log, Natasha. You are a wife, and you should act like one. If you were not out chasing zombies all day, you would wake up early like the rest of us and help in the kitchen.”

Natasha stayed silent. She had grown used to Martha’s constant nagging. Her mother-in-law had never approved of her from the moment she married Josh. It was Josh’s grandmother who had supported their marriage before the outbreak. Martha had always made her feelings clear.

Natasha looked directly at Josh, hoping he would say something in her defense. He kept eating and said nothing. He never did anyway.

Martha sat down with her own plate and began to eat. She had not served Natasha. Seeing this, Natasha stood up without a word, walked into the kitchen, and made a quick sandwich with a cup of coffee. She brought it back to the table and sat down again.

“I think it is time you start focusing on the house instead of chasing zombies,” Martha said suddenly. “That kind of work is for men.”

Natasha held her coffee cup halfway to her lips. Her eyes met Josh’s across the table. He was already looking at her, but he remained silent.