CHAPTER 5

“Clara, please sit down, let's talk about this. If you want my attention—”

Clara didn't let him continue, “I have listed this property for sale.” She said, clicking on her phone and a ping rang instantly.

The bank had agreed to buy this house as well.

“They would be coming to claim it in the next five hours. I don't have anything of use here.” She said, not even bothering to look at him as she walked out.

Back in her car, Clara released a deep breath and relaxed her body.

The tension left her with ease but her heart still clenched. This was someone she had spent her life trying to love.

Although she didn't want to show it, it broke her from deep within.

Her past life had been lonely even with her husband, and reaching the realisation that it would be the same again, made it worse.

Suddenly, the image of a man flashed in her head.

It was Benjamin.

“Focus Clara. He isn't interested, and he has a daughter to raise.” She said to herself, inserting the key of the car.

Clara started the engine and pulled away from the house, forcing herself not to look back.

Her phone rang before she reached the main road.

“Clara, I've found a room,” Kyler said. “It's almost as big as a penthouse with a larger attic for storage, and the rent is good. The owner is letting us move in today. I'll send you the address.”

Clara nodded. Phase One was complete.

“Good. Take only what you need. Documents, clothes, and anything valuable. Don't waste time packing things you can replace.”

“Are you sure you're alright? You sound different.”

Clara swallowed. “I'm fine, Kyler. I'll see you later.”

She ended the call, and his message arrived seconds later.

After saving the address, she drove towards the supermarket.

She had too much to do and too little time. Rice, canned food, bottled water, cooking oil, medicine, batteries, toiletries, and warm clothes were only the beginning.

She needed enough supplies to survive months without relying on anyone.

By the time she entered the supermarket, dark clouds had gathered overhead. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but Clara barely glanced at the sky before grabbing a cart.

She moved quickly through the aisles, checking items off her mental list.

Outside, the wind strengthened, rattling the windows and sending customers towards the entrance. Weather alerts flashed across her phone, warning of severe rainfall.

Clara ignored them until the rain began.

It fell so violently that the car park disappeared behind a curtain of water.

All the provisions she needed were being packed into five carts, even the attendant was shocked at her.

“Just give me the price please.”

She hurried through the checkout, paid for her purchases, and took the carts outside the shop.

[Touch items to place into system storage.]

It was a mental question, but she didn't think she would get a quick answer.

Touch after touch, and the five carts were already in her storage space.

“Okay, I can go pillaging when the storm gets down.” Clara said, and then she turned.

It was at that moment, she saw him—Benjamin.

Benjamin stood beside a dark pickup truck, desperately trying to get the bonnet open.

His clothes were soaked, and rain dripped from his hair into his eyes. Emma stood beside him, clutching his jacket with both hands.

“Daddy, I'm cold.”

Benjamin immediately pulled her closer, wrapping his jacket around her little body. “I know, sweetheart. Just give me a minute.”

He tried the engine again. Nothing.

Clara's chest tightened. She knew that helplessness, the terror of watching someone you loved suffer while having no idea how to make things better.

Exactly when Kyler had been zombified.

“Benjamin!”

He looked up, startled. “Clara?”

“What happened?”

“The engine died.” He glanced at Emma, whose lips were trembling. “I thought I could get it running before the rain got worse.”

“Come with me. I'll take you somewhere dry.”

He hesitated. “You don't have to do that.”

“Your daughter is freezing, and this rain isn't stopping anytime soon. Come on.”

Benjamin looked down at Emma. Whatever pride had held him back disappeared as he lifted her into his arms.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

Clara helped them into her car, and Benjamin settled into the back seat with Emma while she drove towards the address she had arranged for herself.

The journey was painfully slow.

Water streamed across the road, and the wind shoved against the car hard enough to make her tighten her grip on the steering wheel.

“Are you sure you're comfortable driving in this?” Benjamin asked.

“No,” Clara admitted. “But I'd rather get us somewhere safe than leave you both out there.”

He fell silent.

Through the rear-view mirror, she caught him watching her.

There was something in his expression she couldn't quite identify, a mixture of gratitude and surprise.

But the way he stared at her, made a kind of heat settle in her stomach.

When they finally arrived, Clara hurried them inside.

Kyler was right. This place was very much spacious and she loved it.

She found Emma a towel and a blanket, then brought them warm water.

Benjamin settled his daughter on the sofa, carefully drying her hair before wrapping the blanket around her shoulders.

“Thank you,” he said again. “You didn't have to bring us into your home.”

“Would you rather have stayed in that truck?”

A faint smile touched his lips. “When you put it that way, no.”

Emma gave a small giggle, and Clara felt some of the tension leave her shoulders

For a moment, the room felt almost normal. A father caring for his daughter, rain falling outside, and strangers sharing a quiet refuge.

She had forgotten what ordinary kindness felt like.

Benjamin glanced at her. “You seem to have a habit of helping people.”

“It comes once in a while and I don't plan to continue doing it.” Clara said, her voice subconsciously cold.

His smile faded. He studied her face, but didn't push her to explain.

“Your marriage?” he asked carefully.

Clara looked away. “It's over. Or it will be, once I've finished dealing with everything.”

“I understand.” He lowered his gaze to Emma. “Her mother and I are divorced. It wasn't easy, but Emma shouldn't have to suffer because our marriage failed.”

Something softened inside Clara. Here was a man who had been hurt without allowing that pain to turn him cruel.

She wondered what it would feel like to be loved by someone who understood what love truly meant.

She quickly buried the thought, because she barely knew him. There was no need imagining silly things.

“I need to get back to my truck,” Benjamin said, rising reluctantly. “There's equipment in the back, and I need to find someone who can repair it.”

Clara glanced towards the window. The rain continued to batter the glass.

“Can't it wait?”

“I'd prefer not to abandon it.” He looked at Emma, then back at Clara. “I'll be quick. Would you mind keeping an eye on her?”

The question caught her off guard. He was trusting her with the person who mattered most to him.

“Of course.”

Benjamin approached her, his expression unusually serious. “I won't forget what you've done for us.”

Their eyes met, and for a moment neither moved. Clara became aware of how close he stood, of the warmth in his gaze.

Then he stepped back. “Stay safe, Clara, and thank you for this.”

“You too.”

She watched him disappear into the rain before closing the door.

The sky outside had darkened unnaturally fast. Clara's stomach twisted as she remembered what came next.

In her last life, the sky darkening meant the wave was coming.

The sickness.

In her previous life, people had developed terrifying fevers shortly before the apocalypse began.

Hospitals had overflowed, families had watched their loved ones deteriorate, and panic had spread faster than any explanation.

It was happening again. And anyone who couldn't fight the sickness would turn into flesh eating monsters.

“Emma?”

Clara turned towards the sofa. The little girl was curled beneath her blanket, her cheeks flushed and her breathing unusually shallow.

She hurried over and pressed a hand to Emma's forehead. The heat made her recoil.

“No,” she whispered.

Emma's eyes fluttered open. “Clara, I don't feel good.”

Fear seized Clara so violently that she struggled to breathe.

She knew what this fever could mean. She knew what might happen if it progressed.

And Benjamin wasn't here.

Clara gathered Emma into her arms, fighting the tremor in her hands.

She could face the apocalypse. She could fight for food, defend herself against monsters, and do whatever survival demanded.

But how could she kill a child whose father had trusted her to keep her safe?

Outside, the last trace of daylight vanished beneath a black sky.

Emma shivered against her chest as her fever was getting worse.

Clara bit down on her lips, “Benjamin, please hurry up.”