Danger

As I sat across from Victor, my eyes occasionally drifting to the sleeping couple on the couch, a peculiar thought nagged at me.

"Love," I began, my voice laced with curiosity, "could I have been a doctor?" The question lingered in the air, drawing his gaze.

His expression, as usual, was unreadable—he blinked, hesitated, and then looked away.

"You said we were together before the apocalypse, didn’t you? Surely, you’d know what I did for a living," I pressed, trying to unravel a thread of the life I could no longer remember.

His silence only fueled my suspicions. I leaned forward, crossing my arms. "Love, you better start talking before I bombard you with even more questions." My words were sharp, but he merely chuckled, his laughter frustratingly casual.

"You weren’t a doctor, love," he finally said, the humor still evident in his tone. "But you were a nurse."

The revelation hit me like a fleeting memory that refused to fully materialize. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"How come you never told me this?" I asked, my lips tightening in irritation.

"You never asked," he replied with an infuriating shrug before rising from his seat and wrapping his arms around me.

His sudden warmth momentarily dissolved my annoyance. "How are you feeling? Still agitated? Hungry?" His attempt to shift the subject was obvious, but his affection was disarming.

I pinched his shoulder lightly, making him chuckle. "Love, seriously," I said, stepping out of his embrace. "What do we do about them?"

I nodded toward the couch where the injured woman, Adelina, and her boyfriend, Hiroshi, were resting. Victor tilted his head, smirking.

"You tell me. It was your idea to let them in—" his sentence ended abruptly as I gave him a playful slap on the arm.

We waited for the couple to wake up, the stillness of the house amplifying every creak and rustle. When Hiroshi finally stirred, his bleary eyes darted around the room, taking in his unfamiliar surroundings.

"W-Where are we a-anyway?" he asked hoarsely, sitting up. Adelina remained asleep, her breathing deep and steady.

Victor wasted no time. "Nowhere, but you’re safe. We also need to know how you found this place," he said, his tone firm. "All the entrances should have been sealed."

Hiroshi rubbed the back of his neck, hesitant. "Not all of them," he admitted. "The side entrance we came through—it looked like someone had slashed through the roots that were blocking it. I didn't do it, of course. The roots looked thick, you'd probably need a chainsaw to break through."

Victor stiffened at the revelation. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darted to me, filled with unspoken worry. "Stay here," he instructed, grabbing his shotgun. "Hiroshi, you’re coming with me."

The two men headed toward the compromised entrance while I stayed behind, my heart pounding with unease.

Time dragged as I sat with Adelina, who remained unconscious. Victor and Hiroshi eventually returned, their faces pale.

"Someone’s been here," Victor said grimly. "We blocked the entrance for now, but it looks like whoever did this knew what they were doing."

Hiroshi nodded in agreement. "The cuts in the roots obviously looked like it was done on purpose and secrecy. This wasn’t an accident."

The weight of his words settled over us like a storm cloud. "We’ll need to keep a close watch tonight," Victor said, his voice low but commanding. He glanced at Adelina, concern softening his features. "How’s she doing?"

"Stable," I replied, though my voice betrayed my uncertainty.

There was something deeply unsettling about the situation. Whoever had slashed through those roots had done so with intent. But why? And were they still out there, watching us?

“I owe both of you my gratitude,” Hiroshi began, his voice unsteady as he lowered himself beside Adelina with visible effort.

His movements were sluggish, his words carrying the weight of an unresolved ordeal. “Everything happened so quickly last night. We only stepped out to grab some food, but then I got electrocuted inside a store. It knocked me out cold for hours,” he explained, his tone deliberate, almost pedagogical—like a teacher addressing young pupils.

Perhaps he is a teacher, I mused, though the circumstances didn’t allow much time for conjecture.

“Adelina tried waking me,” he continued, pausing to wet his cracked lips. His struggle for coherence was palpable. Anticipating his need, I handed him the glass of water I’d prepared earlier in case Adelina regained consciousness.

He accepted it with trembling hands, draining it in one swift motion, as though it might quench more than just his physical thirst.

“I came to just before sunset,” he resumed, setting the glass down carefully. “But moving was… difficult. By then, the night had caught up with us and drove us here.”

There was a weight in his words—a mixture of vulnerability and resolve that lingered in the room, making his gratitude feel less like a formality and more like an anchor in the storm of his disarray.

“Don’t worry, we’re not accusing you of anything,” I said quickly, my tone perhaps too hasty. Out of the corner of my eye, I could feel Victor’s glare burn into me.

“I-It’s fine,” Hiroshi stammered, his unease evident. “Once Adelina wakes up, we’ll leave immediately.”

I exhaled, not in relief but resignation. “I don’t think she’ll be able to move for at least a few days,” I replied, glancing at Victor, whose glare only intensified, silently warning me not to extend any further invitations.

Lowering my gaze, I focused on Adelina’s frail form. Her sunken eyes, framed by dark, deep circles, betrayed her exhaustion. She had likely lost a significant amount of blood before they arrived here.

“She’s running a high fever from the infection,” I continued, addressing Hiroshi now. “And if she stays like this, dehydration will only worsen things.”

Pausing, I let the weight of my next words settle between us. “Her wounds are severe and need proper treatment. I don’t know where we can find the necessary supplies, but if you’re able to locate some at first light, it could make all the difference. Don’t worry—once we have them, I’ll take care of her.”

The silence that followed was punctuated only by Victor’s audible sigh. It wasn’t one of frustration, though—it carried a reluctant trust, as though he was conceding that, despite his reservations, I would handle this the only way I knew how.

Hiroshi didn’t answer immediately. His gaze lingered on me, as if carefully weighing the sincerity of my offer. Then, he turned to Victor, silently seeking his confirmation. To my surprise, Victor nodded.

“I’ll help you gather the supplies,” Victor said, his tone unexpectedly cooperative. “It’s been a while since I’ve stepped out there, but I assume you haven’t forgotten your way around.”

A visible wave of relief washed over Hiroshi as he exhaled deeply. “Thank you,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. His eyes glistened, betraying the strain of the past few days.

“Don’t mention it,” Victor replied with a soft chuckle. “You earned it, carrying that heavy barrel to block the passage. Besides…” He paused, his gaze shifting to me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “It’s good to have more people around.”

As he moved closer, Victor wrapped an arm protectively around my waist, a gesture that was equal parts tender and territorial.

“But,” he continued, turning back to Hiroshi, “I’ll need your help maintaining things here—especially with lookouts. I don’t make my girlfriend do the heavy labor," he nodded toward the small garden, his tone light but firm.

Hiroshi’s lips curved into a grateful smile. “Of course,” he said, his voice steady now, the weight of gratitude evident in his expression.

After our brief conversation, we left Hiroshi and Adelina resting in the living room and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. They’d need an early start if they wanted to gather supplies and return quickly.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching Victor as he skillfully prepared my favorite dish. The familiar aroma filled the space, comforting and nostalgic. Unable to resist, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him from behind, resting my cheek against his back.

“Thank you, love,” I murmured softly, my voice muffled against his warmth. “I really thought you’d send them away.”

Victor let out a quiet chuckle, turning to face me with his usual playful ease, a ladle still in hand.

“Do you think I’m that heartless?” he asked, feigning offense as he pouted dramatically. “I could never do that, especially knowing they’re both hurt.” He paused, tilting his head with a teasing grin. “Besides, if I had sent them away, you wouldn’t be able to do your job. And neglecting your duties as a medical professional… well, that sounds like some serious breach of ethics or something, doesn’t it?”

I laughed, his lightheartedness melting away the tension from earlier. “You’ve got a point,” I admitted, smiling up at him.

He leaned down, brushing a quick kiss on my forehead before returning to the stove. “Exactly. Now let me finish cooking before you start listing my flaws.”

I giggled softly, stepping back to give Victor space to finish what he was doing. The rhythmic clatter of cooking utensils and the comforting aroma of breakfast filled the air, creating a brief sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.

After a moment, I called out to Hiroshi to join us. He appeared cautiously, his steps steadier now compared to earlier, though his movements were still strained.

It was hard not to marvel at his resilience. To have been electrocuted and unconscious for hours, with only minor burns on his palms, was remarkable. His high pain tolerance was undeniable. Still, the thought of him carrying the heavy barrel Victor mentioned earlier seemed almost unbelievable.

I couldn’t help but glance at his hands as he sat down, the faint traces of burns serving as

quiet reminders of the ordeal he had endured. Whatever strength he had, it was not just physical—it was something deeper, something born of necessity and sheer willpower.