2. Chapter 2.

I scanned our surroundings through a haze of panic, my hands trembling violently. Through the shadows, I spotted the silhouette of a man standing near a doorway.

“Sir, please! Save us, please!” I screamed, but he didn't seem to hear me.

Desperation surged through me. I was far too weak to carry Noah, but the thought of leaving my brother behind wasn't an option. I ripped my heavy backpack off, flung it onto the pavement, and hauled Noah onto my back.

I stumbled forward, trying to run, but I couldn't move fast enough. Terror clawed at my chest. I could hear the sickening shriek of metal scraping against concrete as the Red Ones moved through the street, executing anyone caught in their path.

“Hel…”

Before the word could leave my lips, a pair of rough, heavy hands seized me from behind, dragging both me and Noah backward into the shadows.

We tumbled into pitch darkness. My heart hammered against my ribs so loudly I could hear it echoing in my ears. I couldn't see who had grabbed us or where we were, but a broad, calloused palm clamped firmly over my mouth, stifling my cries.

We stayed pinned in the dark for what felt like hours. Every breath I took sounded dangerously loud.

What if they find us?

Then I felt Noah shift weakly against my back, and I remembered his bleeding leg. If we couldn't clean that wound soon, infection would take hold.

“He…” I tried to whisper against the skin blocking my lips.

The hand tightened over my face, locking me in place as the terrifying shadows of the Red Ones glided past our hiding spot outside. I held my breath, terrified that even the rise and fall of my chest might give us away.

Clash... thud... crack!

Shattered glass cascaded onto the pavement outside. My fingers twisted into my shirt, gripping the fabric tighter and tighter as the heavy footsteps echoed right outside our alcove. They lingered for a heartbeat, then turned, continuing their destructive path down the boulevard.

A quiet exhale escaped my nose. It felt like a sick game of hide-and-seek, where getting caught meant instant execution.

I forced my eyes to stay open against the crushing weight of fatigue. Every time my eyelids drooped, terror snapped them back open. But eventually, exhaustion won, and the darkness pulled me under.

***

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a soft mattress.

I jolted upright, my chest heaving as my eyes frantically searched the room for my brother. I found him sitting on a wooden chair nearby, his leg wrapped in clean white bandages.

“Noah!” I cried, scrambling off the bed and wrapping my arms around him, my body still trembling from the residual terror.

“Why didn't you hide before the Red Hour?” a rough voice asked from the corner.

I jumped, spinning around to place myself between Noah and the stranger. “Who are you?”

“I saved your lives,” the man said, leaning against a workbench. His chin was covered in dark stubble, his hair unkempt, and deep circles shadowed his tired eyes. “Shouldn't you be grateful and answer my question first?”

“I'm Elara, and this is my brother, Noah,” I said, my voice defensive as I kept my hand on Noah's shoulder. “Our mother went out three days ago and didn't return. We came out to look for food so we could wait for her. We didn't know when the Red Hour was coming because our mother always handled the foraging. Her name is Mara Vance.”

The man stared at us for a moment before exhaling slowly. “I see. My name is Adrian. How old are you, girl?”

“Fourteen,” I answered, swallowing hard. “And Noah is nine. Thank you for helping us... but we need to head back to our tunnel to wait for our mother.”

I reached down to help Noah off the chair.

“If you walk on that leg now, his wound will reopen,” Adrian said calmly. “I can see you care about your brother. You’d be wise to stick with me for a bit. And as for your mother... I can help you look for her, if you want.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicion tightening in my chest.

‘Nobody works for free in the apocalypse,’ my mother’s voice echoed in my head. ‘No one is purely good. Everyone is just trying to survive, and they will do whatever it takes.’

“What's the catch?” I asked, my breath hitching.

“No catch, kid,” he replied.

I scoffed. “You're lying. I remember calling out to you for help back on the street and you ignored me. You were standing outside even when you saw the Red Ones coming. Why should I trust someone like you?”

Adrian sighed, setting down the tin mug he was holding. “Because I was tired of living. And I’m sure your mother was, too.”

“Lies!” I snapped, my voice shaking with sudden rage. “My mother wouldn't abandon us!”

“I’m not saying she wanted to,” Adrian said quietly, looking down at his worn boots. “But since this is your first time above ground, you don't know how things are out here. A lot of people choose to end it. Some just stand outside and let the Red Ones take them. I was planning on doing the same today.”

He looked up, and for a second, the hollow pain in his eyes made him look far older than he was.

“So why didn't you?” I asked softly.

“Because I saw you,” Adrian said. “You were terrified and small, but you were still trying to carry your brother on your back when you knew there was no surviving what was behind you.”

“Even if you say that, I still don't trust you,” I said firmly.

“I didn't ask for your trust,” Adrian replied. “But seeing you two gave me a reason to stick around a bit longer. I can help you search for your mother and keep you fed.”

I stared at him, torn between caution and necessity. I didn't fully believe him, but options were running short.

“Elara... he fixed my leg,” Noah chimed in gently, tugging on my sleeve with a small smile toward Adrian. “I think he’s okay.”

I looked between my brother and the stranger, taking a slow breath. “Okay. But first, we go back to the tunnel to check if Mom came home.”

Adrian gave a single nod. “Fair enough.”

***

When we stepped back out into the alleyway, the streets were deathly quiet. A few desperate scavengers were already creeping back toward the ruined mall in search of scattered supplies. My abandoned backpack was still sitting where I had thrown it; I rushed over and strapped it onto my shoulders.

Adrian lifted Noah onto his back to keep weight off his bandaged leg, and together we retraced our path through the shifting ruined blocks toward the storm door.

But when we finally reached the hidden entrance, the breath caught in my throat. My hands flew to my mouth.

“Wow,” Adrian murmured behind. “You two really are lucky.”

The heavy steel hatch leading to our underground home had been violently breached. Deep, jagged gouges from long blades covered the metal frame, the lock had been sheared off, and the storm doors hung completely torn from their hinges.

My eyes welled with tears as I stared into the dark, ruined mouth of the tunnel.

“What do we do now?” I whispered.