The Man Behind The Door

Chapter Four — The Man Behind the Door

Octavia’s POV

I followed the man through the ruined streets, trying my best to keep up with him.

The city was still in chaos. Broken cars blocked the roads, buildings had collapsed, and the bodies of monsters lay scattered across the streets. Every now and then, I heard screams in the distance, reminding me that people were still fighting for their lives.

I had no idea where the man was taking me, but I didn’t dare ask too many questions.

He had saved my life twice already. For now, that was enough reason to follow him.

After walking for some time, we arrived at a place surrounded by tall walls. Armed men stood at the entrance, watching everyone who approached.

I slowed down as I stared at the mansion behind the walls.

It was beautiful, with large windows, a clean driveway, and several vehicles parked in the compound. Unlike the buildings outside, it showed little sign of damage.

Was this place really safe?

While people outside were struggling to find food and shelter, someone had managed to keep a mansion like this in good condition.

The guards at the entrance immediately straightened when they saw the man approaching.

“Welcome back, sir!”

One of them opened the gate while the others bowed their heads respectfully.

The man walked inside without saying much, and I hurried after him.

More people greeted him as we crossed the compound. Some wore security uniforms, while others carried weapons. Everyone seemed to know him, and nobody questioned his decision to bring me along.

I glanced at him, growing more curious by the second.

Who exactly was this man?

Perhaps he had been wealthy before the apocalypse. Whatever the case, he clearly had enough power and resources to protect himself when the rest of the world was falling apart.

“Keep up,” he said.

I quickly followed him inside.

We climbed the stairs and walked down a quiet hallway before he stopped in front of a door. He opened it and stepped aside.

“Stay here.”

I entered the room slowly.

For a moment, I could only stare.

There was a large bed with clean sheets, a wardrobe, a private bathroom, and clean clothes neatly arranged on a chair.

Everything was clean and in place.

After spending hours running through ruined streets and hiding from monsters, I found it difficult to believe that such a place still existed.

I turned to him. “Thank you.”

He gave a small nod. “Fine.”

I hesitated before looking around again. “This is your house?”

“Yes. I own it.”

I blinked in surprise. “Oh.”

I didn’t know what else to say.

I had expected him to take me to a shelter where survivors gathered for safety. I hadn’t expected him to bring me to a mansion that belonged to him.

I lowered my head, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

I didn’t even know his name, yet he had brought me into his home and given me a place to stay.

Meanwhile, I had nothing.

No money. No safe place to return to. No idea whether my father was still alive.

Everything I had known was gone.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” I said again, my voice quieter this time.

He studied me briefly. “Get some rest. Someone will attend to you .”

He turned toward the door. “Wait!”

The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them.

He paused and looked back at me.

I hurried toward him, my heart beating faster. “Please, what will I be doing ?”

He looked at me for a moment before speaking. “Well, if you’re staying here, you have to do something. You can be a maid, a guard, or whatever else you’re good at. My assistant will make the necessary arrangements.”

He turned to leave.

I quickly reached for his clothes, holding them before he could take another step.

“I’ll do anything, please. I can clean, wash clothes, or do whatever work you give me.” I looked up at him desperately. “Please, can you teach me how to fight?”

He lowered his eyes to my hand, then slowly looked at my face. “You don’t tell me what to do here.”

“I know, but please happens if I need to go outside? What happens if monsters break into this place? I don’t even know how to protect myself.”

I swallowed hard. “Today, I nearly died twice. The first time, a monster attacked me, and the second time, another one grabbed me by the neck. Both times, I had to depend on someone else to save me.”

I could still remember the monster’s claws digging into my skin. I could still remember how helpless I had felt as it lifted me off the ground.

I had struggled, but I hadn’t been strong enough to free myself. “And the next time, there might not be anyone around to help me.”

I immediately loosened my grip, but I didn’t move away.

“Please,” I begged.

My fingers curled into fists.

For a moment, I remembered Adrian.

I remembered reaching out to him while the building collapsed around us. Even when I was terrified, I had believed he would come back for me.

He was the man I had loved for ten years.

The man I had planned to marry. I had trusted him with everything, believing that no matter what happened, he would never leave me behind big  he had chosen Vanessa.

He had looked at me and walked away.

He had left me to die.

My throat tightened as the memory returned.

I quickly lowered my eyes, trying to hold back my tears. I didn’t want to cry in front of this stranger.

I had cried enough already. “I don’t want to be that helpless again,” I whispered.

The words came out weaker than I intended.

I took a shaky breath. “I don’t want to keep depending on other people to save me. I want to be able to protect myself.”

His lips parted as if he was about to say something.

Before he could respond, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” he said.

The door opened, and a neatly dressed man entered. He carried a tablet in one hand and looked like someone accustomed to handling important matters for his employer.

He glanced at me briefly before turning toward the man.

“Sir, we’ve found the woman.”

Something changed in the man’s expression.

It happened so quickly that I almost missed it. His relaxed face became serious, and his attention shifted completely to the assistant.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, sir. Our people have confirmed her identity.”

A brief silence followed.

“Where is she?”

“She’s at the eastern checkpoint. We’ve brought her under our protection, as instructed.”

The man reached for his coat.

“Good. Keep her there until I arrive.”

His assistant nodded. “Understood, sir.”

I stood quietly, watching their exchange.

Who was this woman?

And why had finding her seemed so important?

The man had been about to answer my question, but now he appeared ready to leave without another word.

The assistant left the room.

The man turned toward me. “I’ll be back.”

I opened my mouth, intending to remind him about our conversation, but he was already walking out.

The door closed behind him.

I stood there for several seconds, staring at it.

He hadn’t even told me his name.

I sighed and walked toward the bed before sitting down.

At least I had a roof over my head for the first time since the apocalypse began. I had found someone powerful enough to protect me, and perhaps someone who could teach me how to survive.

But I still didn’t know who he was.

I didn’t know why he had brought me here or whether he would actually agree to train me.

I stood up again and walked toward the window.

From there, I could see the guarded compound. Men patrolled the walls while a few people carried boxes into one of the buildings. Everyone seemed to have something to do.

For the first time since the world fell apart, I felt a small measure of hope.

Perhaps I could survive here.

Perhaps I could become stronger and learn how to protect myself.

The apocalypse was still out there, waiting for another chance to kill me.

And this time, I intended to be ready.

But one question continued to trouble me.

Who was the woman the man had gone to find?

And why did I have a feeling that her arrival would change everything?