Chapter 53: Home

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Home

The moment the elevator doors opened, Aunt Mary and Aunt Lucy immediately stood up.

Relief flashed through their eyes.

Then—

They froze.

Because something was wrong.

Very wrong.

None of the four spoke.

No jokes.

No laughter.

No teasing.

Ben’s face was pale.

Kai looked exhausted.

Penny quietly cleaned her katana.

And Erik...

Erik remained silent.

And a white wolf cub slept soundly in his arms, completely unaware of the heavy atmosphere.

Mary’s expression changed.

"Erik."

Her voice was soft.

"What happened?"

No one answered immediately.

Lucy felt her heart tighten.

Because Ben refused to meet her eyes.

"...Ben?"

Ben lowered his head.

"We almost didn’t make it home."

Silence.

The words seemed to freeze the room.

Lucy’s face turned white.

Mary slowly stood up. "What do you mean?"

Kai finally spoke. "There were too many."

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

"The zombies woke up early. They followed sounds. We got trapped." He continued.

Mary’s pupils contracted.

Trapped?

Erik nodded.

"We barely escaped. We....we weren’t as prepared as we thought." He stated. "It was pure luck we made it out alive."

Luck.

Mary hated that word.

She hated it.

Because Charlie had been lucky too.

Until he wasn’t.

Lucy sat down weakly.

Her hands trembled.

"Son..."

Ben immediately crouched beside her.

"I’m okay."

"I’m fine."

"I’m here."

Yet Lucy’s eyes had already become red.

"You almost died."

Ben froze.

Because she was right.

He had.

Kai lowered his head.

His voice remained unusually serious.

"We all did."

The room became silent.

No one knew what to say.

Finally—

Kai raised his head.

"Mom."

Mary blinked.

"I think you and Aunt Lucy should stay inside the space."

"No." Mary refused immediately.

Kai froze. "No?"

"No." Lucy also shook her head. "We’re not hiding while you children risk your lives."

"Mom." Kai said again.

"No." Mary’s voice became firm. "I will not become dead weight."

"You are not dead weight!" Kai’s voice rose for the first time. "You will become more of a liability if you stay out. Do you think we will be able to be out here in peace knowing you could be injured in a moment of carelessness?"

Everyone froze.

Because Kai rarely raised his voice.

"Do you know what I thought when that thing almost scratched me?"

Mary’s expression changed. "You almost got scratched?"

Kai’s eyes became red. "I thought..." His voice trembled. "I thought I’d turn into one of those things. And I kept thinking... What would happen to you? What would happen to Big Brother? To Penny? To Aunt Lucy? To Ben? I was terrified mom! I was terrified of what would come next!"

For the first time—

Mary saw it.

Her son was terrified.

Not joking.

Not laughing.

Terrified.

Kai lowered his head.

"I don’t want to bury anyone and I don’t want to be buried."

The room became silent.

Lucy’s tears finally fell.

Ben clenched his fist and whispered: "We were too close to death’s door. I don’t want to go through that again."

Mary looked toward Erik.

The young man sat quietly.

His face remained calm.

But she knew.

He was shaken too.

He simply hid it better.

"Erik."

"Hm?"

"What do you think?"

He looked down at the sleeping wolf cub clinging to his clothes.

Then quietly answered.

"I want peace of mind. Nothing more."

Mary’s eyes softened.

Then Penny spoke "Aunty."

Mary turned.

"We aren’t asking you to stay inside the space forever." Penny gently sat beside her. "When we’re home, you can stay with us. But when we go outside...you two need to go inside. That way everyone can be at ease."

Lucy hesitated.

Mary remained silent.

Unfortunately—

Kai shook his head.

"No."

Everyone looked toward him.

"No?"

His eyes had become stubborn.

"No."

"You stay inside."

"Both of you."

"We’ll come visit."

"But you’re staying."

"Kai—" Erik said. He understood Kai’s worry but he could also see his mother’s stubbornness. Neither one was winning this argument.

"No." Kai repeated. His voice trembling once again. "No, I almost died today. and I realized something. If something happens to me...I’m okay. "But if something happens to you..." His eyes became red again. "I’m won’t survive that."

Mary froze.

Lucy’s tears fell harder.

And suddenly—

Neither woman knew what to say.

Because the boys weren’t arguing.

They were begging.

Begging out of fear.

Begging because they loved them.

Eventually—

Mary sighed.

And for the first time since they returned home—

A faint smile appeared.

"When did this little brat become so stubborn?"

Kai smiled weakly.

Then—

He hugged her.

Tightly.

As though reassuring himself that she was still there.

Mary gently stroked his hair.

And for a brief moment—

Her gaze landed on the sleeping white wolf cub nestled against Erik’s side.

Curiosity flickered in her eyes.

But she said nothing.

Because right now—

There were more important things.

More important than mysterious wolf cubs.

More important than strange powers.

Because tonight—

The apocalypse had officially begun.

And all she cared about...

Was that her children had come home.

"Kai" Mary said gently. "We can’t hide forever. We can’t pretend this will never happen again. All of you will have to go out and do supply runs. We can stay in the space and promised not to put ourselves in danger, but we can’t hide forever."

Kai pressed his lips shut. Penelope knew now was the time to strike.

"Kai, both Aunt Mary and Aunt Lucy will be fine in the penthouse as long as we are here. They can go to the space in moments of danger, just like us. And when we go on our outings, they can stay in the space. It’s a win-win situation."

Kai looked at Penelope and took a deep breath. "Fine."

"Fine?" Mary asked.

"Yes, but you two must enter the space when we’re gone." Kai compromised.

Mary nodded her head like a chicken pecking for food. She knew this was the best outcome.

Whatever happened tonight had shaken all four of the kids.

"Everyone should go get some sleep." Erik sighed. "I’m going to go rest in the space. I want to go home." He disappeared before anyone could protest. To everyone’s surprised, the wolf cub disappeared with him too.

"Mom, Aunt Lucy, enter the space. Let’s get some rest." Kai urged. He refused to enter the space without them.

Ben nodded and said "Mom, let’s go to sleep." He reached for aunt lucy’s wrist and disappeared into the space.

Mary looked at Kai and said "Go get some sleep. I’ll enter the space with Penelope."

Kai was not convinced but he knew that he was acting irrational.

"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she goes in." Penelope waved. "I’m not tired yet. I’ll stay up a bit."

Kai snorted and disappeared into the space as well.

"Penny." Aunt Mary said.

"Hm?"

"The boy hasn’t returned yet." Mary said knowingly.

"He hasn’t?" Penelope frowned.

Mary’s eyes softened.

"You’ve checked the clock three times in the last five minutes."

Penelope blinked.

"I did?"

"Mhmm."

Penelope lowered her gaze.

"I was just worried."

Mary smiled.

"Worried for your boss?"

"Friend." Penny corrected instinctively.

Mary nearly laughed.

"Friend, then."

Penelope hesitated before responding. "He doesn’t really have anyone. He lost his parents young. He’s alone. We’re similar. The difference is..." Her voice softened. "I had all of you. He had no one." She looked toward the door. "Auntie. Isn’t he a little pitiful?"

Mary looked at her niece quietly and then she smiled.

"Perhaps." she said quietly. "But pity isn’t something a person waits by the door for."

Penelope froze.

Mary chuckled softly.

"Don’t stay up too late, dear."

And disappeared into the space.

Penelope couldn’t help but stand near the door. Waiting.

Just waiting to hear his familiar footsteps before going to bed.