Chapter 3: Theft

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but breathing seemed more and more difficult with each inhalation, as if the fog seeping through the cracks of the hut was enveloping us both in its icy presence. I looked at Adell, his large eyes no longer reflected the innocence they used to, but a mixture of deep fear and bitter understanding. A fear that was no longer hidden behind fragility, but showed on his face like an indecriptible shadow.

That little boy I had raised, who laughed easily and clung to hope as tightly as he clung to my hand, was no longer there. In his place, there was a melancholy person full of regrets, someone who had begun to understand, perhaps very early on, the truth of this cruel world.

I shuddered to see that light of terror in her eyes. That gleam in his pupils pierced me in such a way that words were not enough to describe it. He was no longer the same Adell. The light of his bright smile was gone, overshadowed by suffering. And that weighed on me more than anything I could have imagined.

-So... do we have to run? -His voice broke, his tone cracked as if he found it hard to believe that this was the only way left.

I could clearly see how his hands were shaking, and for a moment, I wanted to comfort him, to reassure him and tell him that everything would be all right, that we would escape and find a safe place. But reality hit me so hard that I couldn't say a single word. He knew it too. Once we did there was no turning back. And although his fear was evident, something in him also hardened. I don't know if it was survival instinct or simply maturity, but at this precise moment, although anxiety dominated his body, his decision was clear.

-Yes," I answered, squeezing his hand tighter, making his weak bones creak under the strong grip. There was no room for doubt. I could no longer allow fear to take over our lives. We had to get out of there. I wasn't going to let Adell suffer anymore. Not after all we had been through.

I looked outside the hut. Night had fallen completely, and with it, a thick fog that covered the entire grounds. The faint rays of the moon barely made it through the thick layer of vapor, almost as if the darkness had become a blanket that enveloped everything around us. I heard the distant cries of the necrophages, echoing like an echo that made it impossible to forget in the vast stillness of the village. They were always near. Always on the prowl. Always looking for the opportunity to wipe out what was left of us.

The leader had imposed a curfew. No one was to leave their huts after dark. It was the only way to avoid attracting the attention of the necrophages. It was the only way to survive in this apocalyptic world. That very rule was the one that kept us from dooming ourselves.

I gently let go of Adell's hand and left the hut, trying to make as little noise as possible. The fog seemed to swallow everything in its path, enveloping every corner of the village. I moved cautiously, each step with extreme care, fearing that any sound might attract the attention of the dead. I knew the warehouse was near the leader's hut, a place only he and his group could access, but at that point, there were no more options. We needed the supplies if we were to survive. We had to run, but we also had to carry what we needed to not die trying, and I could consider it as payment for trying to harm my brother.

I slid across the muddy ground, dodging puddles and weeds, until I reached the entrance to the compound where the village's resources were stored. The warehouse was an old structure, worn down by the passage of time and rain, its cracked concrete walls no better than the huts in which we lived. The door, secured with thick chains and a rusty padlock, showed signs of deterioration. It was forbidden to approach. The last time someone had entered it was weeks ago, before the necrophages began to surround us more persistently than ever.

The chain was so rusty that it didn't take much force for it to fall. I grabbed a shovel from nearby and wielded it with both hands. I approached the lock and, with all the force I could muster, struck it repeatedly. The metallic sound of the blows was drowned out by the distant screams of the necrophages, but my heart was pounding, one false move and I could lure those creatures to this place, fortunately no one was out at this hour so I had plenty of time before someone came to investigate.

With a creak of the lock, the door gave way. There was no time to hesitate. I pushed the door swiftly, letting it open wide enough for me to enter. The silence of the warehouse enveloped me in a way that made me feel as if everything was watching me. The shelves filled with boxes, bags and barrels of supplies some in staggering decay, the space was slowly being consumed by damp and mold, and the few resources I could see were nearly depleted. Rations were minimal, meager. The stored water was no longer sufficient, and the canned food that was the only edible item appeared to have been opened and was half-eaten.

Each shelf I checked was emptier than the last. The sacks of flour, the jars of canned goods, the packets of rice, everything was nearly depleted. What was left was only enough for a few weeks, maybe less. And with the necrophages constantly stalking the surroundings, the possibility of finding more supplies outside of this village's borders was practically nil.

I walked slowly to the far corner of the warehouse, where the last untouched boxes were located. I had to take as much as I could fit in my backpacks, but each movement was more violent and desperate, it seemed that time had not spared the rations. I looked at the boxes with a feeling of helplessness. Was this all that was left?

Quickly, I began to fill the backpacks with what I could. Cans of soup, some energy bars, bags of rice, enough to feed two people for more than a month. I was not a heartless person who wants to see others suffer, I just want my brother to be safe.

My mind began to flood with anxiety, the fear that something or someone would discover us intensified as the seconds passed. I felt my hands trembling as I tried to pack one more pot of food. Fatigue overwhelmed me, but I could not give in.

I put what I could in my backpack and turned to the door, at that moment I heard a low rumbling sound as if it were an animal. It was low, like a murmur that seemed to creep as if in the shadows. In the distance the figure of a person in a corset taking staggering steps was visible in the darkness, apparently some necrophages had sneaked in. I was sure it was them, not only because of their figures, but also because of the disgusting grunts I could hear more and more, I was sure I had to leave quickly, I could not waste a second more.

With a sigh, I returned to the ramshackle hut where Adell was, secured the door and extinguished the candles that were dimly illuminating the surroundings.