Chapter 20: We Were Only Gone a Few Hours

Day 14

As twilight sank deeper into the island's dense foliage, everyone gathered inside Gabriel's Cabin to share their modest dinner. The room buzzed with idle chatter—until Xenia walked in, her arms carefully cradling a sleeping infant.

All conversations died.

Marga, wide-eyed and chewing a half-bitten cassava root, was the first to break the stunned silence.

"What the heck? How did that happen? You were only gone for a few hours with Rafe!"

She pointed dramatically, and the silence broke into a wave of laughter and gasps.

Rafe, standing behind Xenia, blinked and took a sharp breath as a visible red tint crept up his ears. Xenia, already blushing, felt the heat rise to her forehead as she clutched the baby tighter.

In her inner monologue, she muttered, Hell no. I'm only 23. I still hoard stickers and can't parallel park. And Rafe? What is he, late 20s? Mid-30s with great skincare? Either way, absolutely not.

Anna, ever the romantic, leaned toward Irah and said with a smirk, "Well… that's not impossible. They're both at the right age. And I have noticed chemistry."

"I beg you all to stop joking," Xenia said, her voice somewhere between exasperated and pleading. "We found this baby in a cabin—alone. Probably abandoned during the outbreak. The nearby houses are infested with the infected. We had no choice."

"I saw it, Mom," Rico cut in nervously. "There was blood on the door of the fourth cabin. I think that's where Ms. Benny used to live. It's... it's real out there."

Anna's hand flew to her mouth. "No way… Ms. Benny?"

"The whole area's compromised," Rafe added, still avoiding eye contact as he adjusted the collar of his shirt. "We only explored four cabins. If we stayed longer, Rhys might've started crying and drawn the infected toward us."

"Wait—who's Rhys?" asked Brie, eyeing the bundle in Xenia's arms.

"I… named him Rhys," Xenia said, almost shyly, but with a thread of conviction. "It's a name from Welsh mythology. It means enthusiasm, passion. The island is SilverMoon Cay, and it reminded me of old stories… the kind with silver shores and glowing fire. It fits."

Cecil, sitting cross-legged beside the fireplace, clapped her hands in awe. "That's so cool! Rhys sounds like a prince!"

Nestor groaned and rolled his eyes. "Too much explanation. Did you even manage to bring my request, or are we raising babies now?"

"Easy, Nestor," Tenorio interjected, shaking his head. "We had to turn back early because of the baby. It wasn't safe to go farther."

"Still, we didn't come back empty-handed," Xenia said, setting Rhys down gently into a basket filled with rags that Brie quickly padded into a makeshift crib. "We gathered a few things."

Rico stood and started distributing supplies like a tired delivery man on his last shift. "Anna—first aid kit. Cecil—storybook." He hesitated. "Radio for me, because I've listened to the sound of trees creaking and my own thoughts for too long."

Xenia passed a folded, slightly torn map to Gabriel. "This might help us plan further trips."

Tenorio tossed a flashlight to Nestor. "Not the metal you asked for, but at least you can keep working after sunset."

The mood began to shift. Gabriel nodded in understanding, Marga silently handed Xenia a boiled sweet potato, and even Nestor, despite grumbling, muttered, "Fine. It'll do for now."

Still, Xenia felt the pressure of growing expectations. The reality was inescapable: the infection was creeping closer. Every request, every supply run, and now, the presence of a baby added weight to her already strained shoulders.

"We need to contact Conrad again," she finally said. "He has supplies, goats, medicine, probably even baby formula—if he's still willing to talk."

Gabriel sighed. "His heart is stone. If he says no, it's no."

"Then we ask again," Xenia said firmly. "Tenorio, Marga, and Gabriel—I want you three to keep exploring the north side of the village tomorrow. Focus on cabins with intact roofs or metal scraps. Prioritize medicine, baby care items, and fencing."

Gabriel nodded.

"Irah needs more medicine too," Anna added quietly. "She's getting weaker by the day."

"I know," Xenia whispered.

Rafe crossed his arms. "And you and I?"

"We're going to see Conrad," she replied. "If he says no again, I'll at least negotiate for two goats—a male and female. We'll build a pen and start raising livestock. Rhys needs milk, and who knows how long we'll have access to the forest trails?"

Tenorio glanced at the baby. "You think he's six or seven months?"

"Maybe," Xenia said. "He's light. Has a few teeth but isn't crawling yet. He's lucky to be alive. I can't stop wondering who left him, or why."

The room fell silent again, but this time not out of shock. It was a solemn hush. The weight of survival, loss, and the fragile hope that came with a single baby's breath settled over them like the dark.

Outside, a breeze passed through the coconut trees, rustling the leaves like whispers. Inside Gabriel's Cabin, the baby stirred slightly, and Xenia instinctively reached out and placed a gentle hand on his back, calming him.

"New mission tomorrow," she said, turning to her team. "But tonight, let's just survive one more night."

And with that, they all prepared for sleep.

Some with worry.

Some with dreams.

And one tiny new soul in the middle of it all—bringing unexpected light to their darkest days.