The Safe Haven

The streetlights buzzed overhead as Leila walked in step with Jace and Ellie, the hum of the city around them subdued, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The night was unnervingly quiet, save for the distant crackle of a fire somewhere in the ruins beyond. The scent of smoke and decay lingered in the air, mixing with the cold bite of the wind.

They moved carefully, staying close to the walls of buildings, avoiding open spaces. Leila forced herself to appear at ease, but her every sense was on high alert. She could feel the weight of unseen eyes in the dark, though whether it was the infected or something else, she couldn't be sure.

Jace's apartment was only a few blocks away. He led the way, his movements confident but cautious. Ellie stayed close, her fingers tapping anxiously against the strap of her bag. "You sure you haven't seen anything weird?" Ellie asked, glancing at Leila. "You seemed spooked earlier."

Leila hesitated, but only for a breath. "Just a bad feeling," she muttered. "It's been too quiet lately."

Jace nodded, his expression darkening. "Yeah. I've noticed it too. Feels like the calm before the storm."

Leila didn't respond. It was worse than that. She knew what was coming, even if they didn't. And she had no intention of being caught unprepared.

When they reached Jace's building, he gestured for them to hurry inside. The stairwell smelled of mildew and old dust, a stark contrast to the blood-soaked nightmare she remembered. He led them up to the second floor and into his apartment. It was just as she remembered from before the world fell apart—cluttered, unorganized, with old takeout containers on the counter and a stack of laundry left unfolded in the corner. A half-empty water bottle sat next to a controller on the coffee table, and a sports magazine lay discarded on the armrest of the couch.

They weren't prepared for what was coming. They had no idea how fragile their world truly was.

Ellie flopped onto the couch, stretching out with a sigh. "Feels good to be inside," she said. "The city feels emptier every day."

Leila glanced at Jace. He was studying her, just like before. "You sticking around?" he asked.

She had stayed the first time. She had let her guard down. And in the end, it had cost her everything. Not again.

"Not tonight," she said, forcing a smirk. "I've got a place. Need to check on things."

Ellie raised a brow. "Since when?"

Leila shrugged. "Since always."

The first step was preparation.

Leila didn't have a place to check on. She had nothing. She was starting over from scratch. She needed supplies, weapons, allies—people she could trust.

Jace and Ellie were still her friends. Still kind. Still ignorant of the horrors they would bring upon her. She would give them the benefit of the doubt—for now.

But she wouldn't make the same mistakes twice.

She played along, keeping the memories of her brutal death locked inside. She let Jace and Ellie believe she was the same girl they had always known. And at night, while they slept soundly in their comfortable beds, unaware of the nightmare that would soon unfold, Leila was preparing.

She started with basic supplies. Water, canned food, medical kits—anything she could stash away without drawing attention. Every time she visited a store, she bought extra. Every time she passed an alley, she scanned for anything useful—abandoned bags, spare tools, even discarded clothing that could serve a purpose later.

She mapped out locations. Grocery stores, gas stations, gun shops. Places that would be ransacked when panic set in. If she moved early, she could get ahead of the chaos.

The next step was securing a stronghold. She needed a place far enough from the city to avoid the initial wave of destruction, but close enough to keep an eye on things.

Leila knew she needed people she could rely on. She had three months to track them down and earn their trust before the world turned upside down.

She met Mark and Darren on one of her many trips to a gun store. Mark was a survival expert—he moved through the aisles with a quiet confidence, scanning supplies with a practiced eye. Darren, an ex-soldier, carried himself like someone who had seen the worst and survived it. Their conversation started casually—discussing gear, weapons, preparation. But Leila knew these were the kind of people she needed. She listened, learned, and slowly inserted herself into their discussions until she became a familiar face.

Fiona came later. She was Mark's girlfriend, a nurse who worked at the hospital downtown. Leila made it a point to run into her, feigning an interest in first aid, asking about medical supplies. Fiona was sharp, skeptical at first, but Leila played the long game—winning her trust through small, calculated conversations. A joke here, a question there, until she was more than just a stranger.

It was a slow process, but necessary. They had no idea who she was—or who she would become to them.

At first, she eased into it, subtly probing their instincts. Asking Mark what he thought of different shelters. Convincing Fiona that stocking up on medical supplies wasn't a bad idea. Getting Darren to show her how to handle a gun without coming across as too eager.

She knew that if she asked too much, too soon, they would be suspicious. So she played the part of someone just getting into preparedness—curious, but cautious. Letting them take the lead, while she followed just enough to seem new to it all.

They questioned her, but she always had an excuse. "Just being prepared." "You never know." "What's the harm?"

And when they started humoring her, she knew she had taken the first step toward changing everything.

Weeks passed. Her stockpile grew. Her plans sharpened.

She finally found the perfect location—a remote compound, once used for hunting trips, now sitting abandoned in the woods. It was defensible, with only one main entrance and a creek running along the side.

The first time she saw it, something inside her settled.

This would be their sanctuary.

It was still a wreck, but with time, they could fortify it. With time, it could be the difference between survival and death.

She brought Mark and Darren to see it. She told them it was just a backup plan—somewhere safe in case things got bad. They agreed, even if they didn't fully believe her yet.

Fiona came later, her medical background invaluable. She started setting up a proper supply room, organizing bandages, antibiotics, and anything else she could get her hands on.

Jace and Ellie came too, but for them, this was just an odd hobby of Leila's. They didn't take it seriously. They laughed when she mentioned fortifying the perimeter, rolled their eyes when she started talking about worst-case scenarios. But they stayed involved.

And that was enough.

For now.

The months dwindled down. Time was running out.

Leila knew what would happen. The world would crumble. People would turn on each other. And Jace and Ellie would do what they had always done—look out for themselves, at the cost of everyone else.

But this time, she would be ready.

And when they betrayed her again, she would not be the one thrown to the wolves.

She would be the one hunting them.