CHAPTER 7

Clara shook her head gently.

“It's her,” she replied, looking down at Emma's trembling body.

Benjamin’s face paled even further. He hadn’t noticed Emma curled up in Clara's lap at first.

He stumbled forward into the room, now ignoring the objects that dangled in the air.

He dropped to his knees beside her, attempting to reach for her with trembling hands.

Clara immediately caught his wrist.

“Don’t touch her yet. She'll hurt you,” she warned.

Benjamin pulled his hand away. “She's my daughter… I don't care…”

“Well, you should… I can't care for two injured people.”

Benjamin stared at her, his breathing uneven.

He looked like he still wanted to argue until his eyes fell on the scratches on her body.

His face fell, eyes bearing guilt.

“Did she do that to you?”

Clara thinned her lips, nodding in response. “But it's nothing. I'll tend to them later.”

Benjamin looked away, his focus turning to Emma.

A pang of guilt tore through his chest as his eyes desperately searched her pale face.

“What happened to her?” he asked.

Clara took a deep breath, steadying herself.

“I-I don't know. She just suddenly developed a high fever. Then she started convulsing… jerking… scratching me… it was— it was a mess. I tried my best to keep her from hurting herself.”

Benjamin gave her a brief look of appreciation.

“Daddy… is that you?”

He immediately shifted closer to her, attempting to reach for her before changing his mind.

“Yes, Honey. I'm here.”

Like magic, her tiny body instantly stilled and her breathing returned to normal.

The objects, one by one, began crashing to the floor.

Clara blinked back her confusion, looking between Benjamin and the little girl in her lap.

“Is it over?” Benjamin asked.

“I… don't know.”

Her arm burned where Emma had scratched her, but she ignored it.

“Emma?” She called, but there was no response.

The two exchanged worried looks.

Benjamin leaned forward. “Sweetheart?”

The room remained silent except for the rain crashing against the windowpane.

Clara felt her blood run cold.

She shook her body, placing her ear on her little chest to hear her heartbeat. “Emma!”

Benjamin's face crumpled. “No. Emma, please.”

He picked her up, shaking her shoulders violently. “Please, Honey, wake up.”

“Wait!”

Benjamin stopped, turning to Clara with tears already pooled in his eyes.

Clara leaned in, watching carefully.

“There,” she said, noticing the faint movement in her chest. “She is breathing, but it's weak. Let's leave her to rest.”

Benjamin released a broken breath.

He fell to his knees, holding her tightly against his chest as he sobbed.

Clara stood, shaken.

He didn't even try to hide his tears, she thought to herself.

“She's all I have,” he whispered.

Clara nodded. She understood what he was feeling all too well.

They let Emma rest on the sofa, while they both sat on the floor, close to one of the windows.

“Why did you do it?” Benjamin suddenly asked, turning his gaze to her.

“Do what?”

He reached for her arm, gently brushing his thumb over the cuts Emma caused.

Clara winced in pain, withdrawing her hand.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to—”

“It's fine.”

They both sat in silence, watching as the streets flooded.

Only Clara understood what this flood meant. She made a mental note to make sure she doubled down on preparation when the storm was over.

She never wanted to be stranded as she was in her previous life.

“I did it because I know what it's like to lose the person you love the most,” she said, turning her face to him.

With a small smile, she added, “I also promised to keep her safe.”

A gentle smile tugged on Benjamin's lips as he searched Clara's face.

She wondered what he could be looking for.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked, her cheeks flushing.

“You look like someone I know,” he said simply, his gaze burning even deeper.

Clara felt her heart swell in her chest.

She immediately jerked her head away, focusing on the frantic drops hitting the glass.

The last thing she wanted was for this handsome stranger to see her blushing just because he said some basic words.

“I see,” she said, trying to act like she couldn't feel his eyes still lingering on her.

Benjamin chuckled, a rich tone that felt like dark chocolate on the tongue.

“What?” She couldn't help but laugh too.

“Nothing.”

Clara eyed him suspiciously before rolling her eyes. “Whatever.”

“But really, thank you. I will never forget this.”

Clara nervously cleared her throat as she rose to her feet. “We should check her again.”

They both walked to the sofa.

Clara placed her palm on Emma's body, nodding satisfactorily.

“The fever has reduced drastically,” she announced gladly.

Yet, she wasn't completely at ease.

She had seen people appear to recover before deteriorating again. She refused to mistake a brief improvement for a guarantee.

Then again, she wasn't sure if what Emma was experiencing was the fever people had before turning to flesh eating monsters or something else?

Emma finally stirred, her eyes peeling open.

“Daddy?”

Benjamin bent over her immediately.

“I'm here, Honey.”

Emma blinked slowly, looking confused and exhausted.

“My head hurts,” she complained, rubbing her head weakly.

“I know, baby. Just rest, okay? It'll soon leave you.”

Emma glanced at the objects scattered on the floor, some broken.

“Did I do something bad?” She asked, her little eyes turning sad.

“Oh, not at all, sweetheart,” Clara immediately responded.

Emma's lids fluttered as she struggled to keep them open.

“I heard something,” she whispered.

“What did you hear?” Benjamin asked gently.

“I don't know… It was… inside me.”

Clara and Benjamin exchanged a look.

Before either could ask another question, Emma's eyelids drooped. Within moments, she drifted back to sleep.

Clara began picking up the scattered objects, packing up the broken pieces and putting everything in place.

She still needed an explanation for what she had seen. Nothing from her past life helped her, except for those rumors…

Could it be that Emma had awakened an ability?

But she was just a child.

And why so early?

The apocalypse hadn't even started yet.

How many days did she even have left?

Like it could read her thoughts, a blue translucent screen appeared before her with a message.

[Dear Host, you have 10 days until the apocalypse.]

Clara's thoughts ran wild. 10 days?

Had the system tampered with the timeline? Or was there a glitch?

The lack of answers made her even more antsy.

Then another question crossed her mind, sending chills down her spine.

If Emma can awaken early, who else can?

Benjamin noticed the tense aura she was carrying about.

“Clara?”

She turned to see Benjamin watching her, his expression gentler now that Emma was resting.

“You should sit down. You've been on your feet this entire time.”

“I'm fine.”

“No, you're not.” He rose to his feet, making his way to her. “You're bleeding.”

She glanced at her arm.

The scratches were more noticeable now, thin red lines running across her skin.

“It's nothing serious.”

Benjamin retrieved a clean cloth and approached her.

“Let me at least clean it.”

Clara almost refused out of habit.

She had spent years being expected to endure everything without complaint. Accepting help had often meant giving someone another opportunity to control her.

But Benjamin wasn't demanding anything from her. She could simply tell by the look in his eyes.

He genuinely wanted to help.

After a moment, she held out her arm.

He cleaned the scratches gently, careful not to hurt her.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

Clara frowned, thinking to herself about what a weirdo he was.

“When all this is over, I'd like to repay you.”

Clara scoffed. “You don't have to.”

A faint smile spread across his lips. “But I'd still like to see you again.”

Clara's heart gave an unexpected little jump.

She immediately pushed the feeling aside.

This wasn't the time to think about romance. She had an apocalypse to prepare for and a brother to protect.

“Let's get through tonight first,” she said.

Benjamin nodded, accepting her answer without pressing.

Outside, the rain finally began to soften.

Clara glanced at the window, praying wherever Kyler was, he was safe.

In a few hours, she would need to set out and prepare like it was the end of the world.

Because unfortunately, the apocalypse was now closer than she expected.