The Weight of Silence

A cold breeze seeped through the shattered windows of their makeshift shelter, stirring the dust that had settled on broken furniture and abandoned belongings. The air smelled of damp wood and decay, a stark reminder of how the world had crumbled into ruin.

Inside the dimly lit apartment, three figures huddled close around an unconscious Lucien.

Selene sat beside him, gently brushing his hair away from his sweat-drenched forehead. Her fingers trembled as they traced his pale cheek, her heart clenching with every shallow breath he took. Still alive… but for how long?

Eris knelt beside them, her small hands gripping his arm tightly, as if her touch alone could bring him back. Her golden eyes were wide with exhaustion and fear.

Valeria, leaning against the wall, barely held herself upright. Blood had soaked into her torn clothing, the result of her reckless battle. Despite her wounds, her focus remained locked on her baby brother, her mind replaying the scene of him collapsing over and over again.

What did you do to yourself, Lucien?

The silence in the room was suffocating.

The weight of the past battle still lingered in their bodies, their exhaustion almost unbearable. But none of them could bring themselves to sleep—not when Lucien was still lying there, unmoving.

Selene exhaled shakily, her voice barely above a whisper. "We need to lower his fever… he's burning up."

Eris nodded weakly, wiping her tear-streaked face with the sleeve of her tattered coat. "I-I'll find water."

Before she could stand, Valeria pushed herself away from the wall and limped toward a nearby broken cabinet. Rummaging through its drawers, she found an old cloth, frayed but clean enough. "Use this."

Eris took it with shaky hands, then dipped it into a small bottle of water she had salvaged earlier. She wrung it out and pressed it gently against Lucien's forehead.

The cool sensation made him stir slightly, but no words left his lips.

Selene watched him, eyes filled with raw emotion. She had seen Lucien push himself before, had seen him work tirelessly to protect them, but this…

This was different.

He had unleashed something dangerous, something that even his body couldn't withstand. She didn't know what the technique had done to him, but whatever it was, it had nearly killed him.

Her fingers curled into a fist.

"Why did you use something so dangerous?" Valeria finally spoke, her voice laced with anger—not at Lucien, but at herself.

Selene lifted her gaze, her blue eyes filled with sorrow. "Because he had to."

Valeria clenched her jaw. "That doesn't make it right."

"He protected us."

Valeria looked away. She knew that. She knew Lucien had done it to save them, but that didn't stop the frustration, the helplessness, the ache deep in her soul.

She clenched the hilt of her sword. "I should've been stronger. Then he wouldn't have had to—"

"Enough."

Selene's voice was firm but gentle. "Blaming yourself won't change what happened."

Valeria's grip tightened.

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken emotions.

Then—

A distant snarl.

Eris stiffened. "There's… more of them."

Valeria forced herself upright, despite her body screaming in protest. Her instincts flared, warning her that something was approaching. Of course. We caused too much commotion…

Selene stood as well, though her body swayed slightly from exhaustion.

Valeria moved to the window and peered through a crack in the broken shutters.

Her heart sank.

A new horde was moving through the streets. Unlike the mindless creatures they had faced before, these ones moved with intent.

And leading them was something far worse.

A tall, grotesque humanoid with twisted horns and glowing red eyes stood among them, its presence commanding.

Valeria's breath hitched. "That's a Variant."

Eris's hands trembled. "A… what?"

Selene's expression darkened. "It's a mutated being. Stronger than regular zombies and beasts. More intelligent."

Valeria forced herself to breathe evenly. "We can't fight it. Not in this state."

Eris clutched Lucien's hand tighter. "Then… what do we do?"

Selene turned to her daughters. "We run."

There was no time to hesitate.

Selene carefully lifted Lucien into her arms while Valeria secured the last of their supplies. Eris, though still trembling, gritted her teeth and readied herself to move.

They slipped through the back entrance of the building, avoiding the main streets. The eerie howls of the approaching creatures sent chills down their spines, urging them to move faster despite their injuries.

The city was a graveyard of collapsed buildings and wrecked vehicles, but amidst the ruins, dangers lurked in the shadows.

Valeria led the way, her eyes scanning every corner, every alley. They couldn't afford to be caught out in the open.

A sudden noise—a growl too close for comfort.

Valeria whirled around just in time to see one of the smaller beasts lunging at them.

Her body screamed in protest as she raised her sword—

But before she could strike, a streak of violet lightning shot past her, hitting the creature directly.

Selene lowered her shaking hand, her breathing labored. She was reaching her limit.

Valeria cursed. "Don't push yourself."

Selene swallowed down her exhaustion. "I can still—"

A thunderous roar cut through the night.

The Variant had found them.

And it was hungry.

Eris let out a sharp gasp. "It's coming!"

Valeria's grip tightened on her sword. They couldn't outrun something that fast.

"We need cover," she muttered.

Selene looked ahead and spotted an old subway entrance, partially hidden by debris.

"There!"

Without hesitation, they made a break for it. The sound of thudding footsteps and snarls grew closer, but just as the creatures lunged—

They dove into the underground tunnel.

Darkness swallowed them.

The air was stale, the scent of rust and decay overwhelming. The sounds of the horde outside faded slightly, but they weren't safe yet.

Selene carefully laid Lucien down against the cold concrete floor, brushing a strand of hair from his face. Her hands were still trembling.

Eris sat beside him, her face pale with exhaustion.

Valeria took a deep breath, trying to steady her heartbeat.

For now… they had a moment to breathe.

But the Variant wouldn't give up easily.

And Lucien—

Still wasn't waking up.