Chapter 73: Outside

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Outside

Soon, nightfall came. Killian stepped out of his apartment and walked towards Penelope’s home. After three knocks, the door was opened. Penelope was wearing a black long sleeve turtle neck shirt with black 4-way stretch cargo pants and Black tactical boots. Clearly, she had gone shopping at some construction worker’s shop. Killian raised an eyebrow and said "Construction suits you".

Penelope laughed and handed over a pair of new knee pads. "Here."

"What is this for?" Killian asked while he strapped the knee pads on.

"Safety protocol" Penelope said as she reached for her navy blue leather jacket.

Killian himself was wearing an all black attire as well. He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the navy blue jacket and said "Why the color change?"

"Well, all black is a bit...somber. A little of color will spice things up." Penelope said. "Aunty, we’re heading out now. Don’t open the door for anyone."

"Stay safe and don’t worry. We know." Aunt Mary responded. Nodding at Killian and saying "You too."

Killian understood that this family’s affection was based on his relationship with Penelope.

"Thank you, ma’am." He said and headed towards the 24th floor.

The journey from the twenty-fifth floor to the twenty-fourth floor took less than a minute.

When they arrived, the door to Apartment 2401 was already open.

Kai stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. He was also dressed entirely in black. Upon seeing Penelope, his eyes immediately landed on her jacket.

"Oh, wow."

Penelope blinked.

"What?"

Kai looked genuinely impressed.

"You brought fashion to the apocalypse."

Penelope smiled proudly.

"Someone has to."

Erik walked out from behind Kai, carrying a backpack over one shoulder.

He glanced at Penelope’s outfit before nodding.

"Practical."

Kai looked offended.

"That’s all you’re going to say? Practical?"

"It is."

Ben appeared from the apartment next door carrying his own backpack. He looked nervous.

Very nervous.

He stopped when he saw Penelope.

"You guys really look like you’re going on a mission."

"We are going on a mission," Kai reminded him.

Ben looked down at the machete in his hands, courtesy of Penny.

"Right." He whispered. Convincing himself that this was their new reality.

Nobody teased him. Not tonight.

After ensuring both apartment doors were locked, the group descended together.

When they reached the twenty-first floor, Erik paused and tested the heavy-duty gate one final time.

The metal did not shake, did not even make a sound. He nodded in satisfaction.

"It’ll keep them out," he said. "All of them."

Penelope knew he was right. Although Aunt Lucy and Aunt Mary could enter the space, Aurora was a different story. They did not know her real name, nor her date of birth. They could not form a contract with her yet.

The group continued downward.

As they passed the twentieth floor, Kai suddenly slowed.

He glanced down the hallway through the small window in the stairwell door.

"Huh."

Erik frowned.

"What?"

Kai pointed.

At the far end of the hallway, a woman with long blonde hair was walking toward Apartment 2002.

Even from behind, she was beautiful.

She moved with a strange sort of confidence, as though the screams echoing outside the building didn’t concern her in the slightest.

Without hesitation, she opened the apartment door and disappeared inside.

The hallway became quiet once more.

Ben blinked.

"Who was that?"

Kai answered. "I think the lady from 2002."

Erik continued staring at the now-closed door.

"Keep moving."

Kai nodded.

"Looks like she just checked on the vampire in 2001."

The team was silent, they had forgotten about the peculiar tenant Kai mentioned during the day.

They continued down the stairs.

When they reached the nineteenth floor landing, they found Jason.

The teenager stood alone.

A backpack hung from his shoulders. In his hands was a steel baseball bat.

He looked exhausted.

But determined.

When he noticed them, he straightened.

For a brief moment, nobody spoke.

Then Erik gave him a nod.

"You made your decision."

Jason looked down at the bat.

"I couldn’t stay there forever. I...I have read apocalyptic novels before...I...I can survive. I can wait for my parents." He said with red rimmed eyes.

"Were they at work when the red sun began?" Penelope asked Jason.

Jason nodded and said "They worked a lot. Always said they wanted me to have the life they never had." tear drops falling from his cheeks as he gripped the bat.

"Then...you have to survive for them. If they have not turned, they will come find you." Erik said to him.

"Yes. The novels always talked about being one of the first to collect supplies."

"Good." Kai said. "Collect supplies and keep them hidden."

Jason adjusted the straps on his backpack.

"I will...Thanks."

No one spoke afterwards because they all understood.

Penelope stepped forward, looking at Jason in his eyes and sincerely saying "Be careful, don’t trust others too easily. Humanity will show its darkest side from now on."

Jason nodded.

"You too."

They walked down the stairs together, in silence. Each contemplating their future.

From now on, they would be sharing a building. Not as strangers, but as survivors.

By the time they reached the fifteenth floor, voices echoed through the hallway.

"No." A man’s voice rang out throughout the hall. It sounded firm.

"But—" a gentle voice with a sense of urgency said.

"No." The man repeated. This time, there was frost in his voice.

The group turned towards the sound and saw a man standing in front of an apartment door.

It was the newlywed couple that stood in the hallway.

The husband was wearing army green cargo pants and a black shirt. He was carrying a black backpack and holding a kitchen knife.

His wife stood in front of him with tears in her eyes.

"I’m coming with you," she insisted.

The man gently grabbed her hands and pleaded "No."

"Why?" she asked, her voice quivering.

"Because I need to know you’re safe." He said quietly.

She looked away, knowing that he was right.

"How am I supposed to stay here while you’re out there?" She asked.

He couldn’t help but pull his beloved into his arms. He wanted to feel her warmth, it could possibly be his last time hugging his wife. " Babe, I need you to stay home, so that I can gather supplies in peace."

The woman closed her eyes. Tears running down her cheek.

The screams from the city outside drifted through the windows.

Eventually, she nodded. He was right. She would become his burden if she went along.

Reluctantly, she pushed him away and said "You better come back to me."

The words were barely audible.

The man smiled, leaned over to kiss her cheek and said "I’ll do my best."

It wasn’t a promise. Both of them knew that.

Still, she nodded and slowly walked back into the apartment.

The door closed softly behind her.

For several moments, nobody moved.

Then the man turned toward them.

"I’m sorry you had to witness that." The man said Dejectedly.

Killian shook his head. "Don’t" That was all he said.

No apology was necessary.

Together, they continued downward.

When they reached the twelfth floor, Ethan and his father walked towards the staircase as well. .

Both wore backpacks and both held homemade weapons.

When Ethan saw Jason, his eyes widened.

"Hey!"He called out, grinning.

Jason looked surprised.

"You know me?"

Ethan nodded and said "Of course, we go to the same school."

"Yeah." Jason said.

"You’re the baseball star." Jason said as he shifted awkwardly.

Jason’s expression changed. For a brief moment, he almost smiled.

"Was." Jason said quietly.

"What?" Ethan responded, as he blinked.

"I was the school’s baseball athlete." Jason said.

This caused the staircase to go silent.

No one corrected him. Because everyone understood what he meant.

There was no school anymore.

No baseball team.

No tomorrow.

Just tonight.

Ethan scratched the back of his neck.

"Well... I mostly focused on studying."

Jason stared at him and then grinned.

"I know." He said.

"You know me?" Ethan asked, clearly confused.

Jason nodded. "Of course, you’re the straight A student that every parent wished they had. You always sat in the front row."

Ethan was clearly embarrassed by that statement.

Kai couldn’t help but say "The apocalypse really is bringing people together." Clearly finding his own words funny.

Ethan and Jason laughed at that.

Ethan’s father stepped forward.

"We’re heading toward the shopping district."

The newlywed husband nodded.

"Me too."

Killian looked at the small group standing before him.

A father.

A son.

A boy waiting for parents who might never come home.

A husband trying to return to his wife.

Survivors.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

"Then listen carefully," he said.

The hallway became silent.

"Do not fight unless you have to."

"Do not separate."

"If someone gets bitten..."

He stopped.

No one looked away.

"Do what has to be done."

No one argued.

Erik stepped forward.

"Prioritize water. Food. Medicine. Batteries."

Kai pointed at the baseball bats.

"And keep those."

Penelope smiled.

"And if you get scared..."

Everyone looked at her.

"Run."

Kai and Ben couldn’t help but chuckle at her words.

Ethan and Jason nodded and smiled.

The newlywed husband smiled.

Because despite everything—

Someone had finally told them the truth.

They weren’t heroes.

They weren’t soldiers.

They were survivors.

And tonight, that would have to be enough